Queen of Ragnarok

by Dylan Keefer

  “Nobody touches my friends.”

  “You say that after roasting me in one of your attacks?” I retort.

  She flicks her hand at me, without looking around.

  “Heal yourself.”

  “I cannot move yet!”

  The real Deabush slipped behind Alice as the real Medpack took out one of them and pushed into the Vulpine who was trying to attack the real Alice.

  Valush grabbed me slowly drawing me as she and the Mata King had a stare off, “Joshua you coming or not?”

  “Almost there!”

  Almost there, I smiled.

  “What in the!”

  “Eunochs!”

  Mata King screamed, I felt a fear instantly. A Berserker’s roar. The next moment he pushed past Valush’s attempted Believer Axe, pushing her to the side, Medpack engaged him but with the knives, he took direct hits and still pushed her down. Alice drew a great sword and swung hard but he used his arm and threw it wide pushing her down.

  Deabush loosed one arrow rupturing his armor, he swung down at Deabush armorless, only for Joshua to slide in his sword at the last second parrying. Deabush was on the ground disheveled. Medpack quickly got up as a Eunoch rushed through the crowd of us.

  “Everyone drink the potion!”

  It was great sword for great sword and they went at each other like rabid animals. But Mata King was stronger and pushing Joshua back with his strikes.

  I let the illusion go and cast, “Black Wonderful!” I twirled from a lunge of two Eunoch arms and slip under one’s open leg to grab unto the great king’s armored boot.

  “Hmm?” The Mata King looked at me with a soft curiosity.

  “Takomundo.”

  He shot off into the sky hitting the roof, sending fragments of rock off the upright.

  Joshua takes me up by my shoulders.

  “I am starting to like that spell.” he says.

  I smile but Joshua swiftly pushes me low from a swinging Eunoch’s arm.

  I take out the prepared Sliverine potion and drink. I feel my body get sucked backward by a firm tug, when I touch ground again in a short slide. Head whipping around, I see Valush’s sore face, Alice’s annoyed face and then Joshua moved out of the shadow of my feet next to me.

  “Medpa…where is Forever Flair? Deabush too?”

  They slipped in from the shadows next to the walls. Deabush breathed out a sigh of relief.

  Medpack said Deabush wanted to take out that Black Mage user before he came back. If that is the case, there was no escape for the Mata King.

  “Well the way is clear now, let us go further down the Underdark.”

  Chapter 16

  The sizzle emanated stridently throughout the base.

  “Ron?”

  He looked around as Joshua was sleeping, slumped over the counter rooted to the wall.

  “You came back! Was the quest a success?”

  “Yes, Joshua and Denise did it perfectly. I was there, I saw them.”

  I nod favorably to that.

  Joshua has been busy questing with Ron, my mother and Xavier. Xavier I could not see and Joshua was straight sleeping. Might as well ask him, “The haul, you manage to get anything out of it?”

  I wanted to make sure the guys were not taking everything for themselves and leaving the young one out of it. I should not expect that of Joshua, but I was not too sure of Xavier.

  “Oh I am fine really, I do not need anything…” Ron mumbled.

  I look to his sides, he had a longsword and small axe. They looked rugged and simple. Breathing out my nose, I nod at him. But as I draw myself back I utter firmly, “Go back to the haul and take something. It does not matter if you cannot use it. Otherwise you sell it, either way you benefit. It is not like you are a rich powerful player. You are young you need items for yourself, alright?”

  He nods.

  “Go, as in now.”

  Taken aback by my directness he moves towards Joshua nudging him. Joshua stared at Ron but I interject, “Give the boy something,”

  “Hmm? He said he wanted nothing,”

  “Give him something,” I said more intently.

  Joshua shrugs and opens the neutral inventory, Ron chooses a longsword out of it. But this one was better than his current weapon.

  Ron leaves with that, then I slap Joshua upside the head.

  “People love to hit me rather than talking to me, it is getting annoying.” Joshua said blandly.

  “Here I thought you wanted a kiss.” I joke with him.

  Joshua smirked, “That too,”

  “Dream on lover boy, Joshua seriously though, you need to be more assertive, you are the commander.”

  Joshua lamented, “I can’t force the kid.”

  “That is foolishness because that is what a leader is for. He is too kind for his own good and even I realize that. Sometimes you have to make people help themselves. Because they usually won’t, so as the leader you make sure they are taken care of.”

  Joshua flexed his face in thought, “Oh ok,”

  “You making me do your job for you?”

  “I am tired girl,”

  I almost laugh, “Whatever, ahh here we go.”

  Two of the Warrior Ferrets with Neil behind them brought me my infinity chest.

  “Thanks, go on.”

  The ferrets nod and leave as Neil stooped to the side of the chest. I opened it and all my items rush out and spread into a wide breadth in this slightly obscured cloud of air. Suspended the items rotate and twist endlessly, I hear some ohs and ahs.

  Looking behind me Bain and J Ron had came up.

  “Hey guys, Joshua you look tired.” Bain says.

  “Do I?” Joshua said, like it was just a simple speck on his day.

  So it was just a part of his busy schedule, where we tried to do at least three small quests a day as a group. But we usually end up overdoing it and pulling off ten or more.

  “Well, are you logging out?”

  Joshua gets up, squints oddly. Bain pushes him. Joshua merely nods his head like a drunk man.

  “I might.” He said blandly after some thought.

  I step closer, “I want you to come with me.”

  He opens his eyes wide at me. ”Where?”

  “Not now, tomorrow if you can. I want to test something, I already asked Medpack, Opa and Alvain.”

  Joshua looks back up at the items, “Ok we can do that.”

  I twirl, “Neil?”

  I move my hands around and motion my many useful robes and gear, that rod I do not use as much but I like into the chest.

  “Yeah,”

  I close the chest and the items slightly wiggled before they all fell earthbound. The resulting clanks, thuds, and riveting bellows from clashing metal and reverberating wood had me shaking.

  “That was louder than I thought it would be.” I looked around I could not find a clear spot to walk on. “Neil, put these things in the party inventory we need to sell everything else.”

  “Got it,” Neil laid his hand out and another chest appeared. It was small centered in the palm of his hand. He squeezed it and as he waved his fingers free, the chest grew and opened up. The items got swept up in a gust of wind moving into the chest swiftly. When it took up everything, it closed and reduced to the size of my pinky finger.

  Neil closed his hand and lifted his fingers, it was gone.

  “Hey,”

  I turned to look at Bain who came to face me.

  “Oh, ahh…”

  “I am going to check on the weapons. I might go fight a Ogre or two.” Neil says nudging Joshua. But Joshua groans and stalks off. He must be tired.

  Bain was about to say something.

  Which reminds me, “Take J Ron, show him how you tangle with a Ogre.”

  Neil shrugs, “Come on little man.” J Ron jumps up with fists clutched, a firm nod, “I am ready.”

  Neil almost laughs but leaves with J Ron following behind him.

  “Ok hmm, how are things
with you?”

  Bain makes this sort of shocked face but I realize it was him scowling just not with his eyes, his next statement seals this for me.

  “Like I was being thrown off a cliff into a skewer…” He said bluntly.

  “That is violent…trouble at home?”

  “Nope, my eyes do not deceive me.”

  I try to grasp his coded messages but honestly I get tired and ask outright, “please tell me what is wrong?”

  “I tell you, you will get mad.”

  I have a feeling his pain is being directed at me, I try to step lightly into the truth with him.

  “So, what could piss me off, knowing me I would suppose…” I was even making hand gestures. Following his eyes as they follow me, there was no warmth in them.

  “Anyways I am going to Erothlion City yes?” Bain asked with smug dissent.

  Change of subject, I stop and looked at him.

  “Yes sure, you and Valush will be going. I need you to go gather info on the Kingdom of Pain for me. I am doing my part by scouring the forums. But I need eyes and ears. Ever since we beat them and reached Pantilla I sensed this dread. I do not know if they will do anything but we need to be watching them as they are watching us. You feel me?”

  He nods and mutters, “don’t worry I’ll deal with it.” He leaves. That was oddly quick.

  I call, “Hey!”

  He turns, “Celina,”

  I ask with concern, “You sure you’re ok?”

  Bain smiles, “Yeah I am fine, just tired is all.”

  “Ok.” I said contently.

  Chapter 17

  “Between this and the last time, I am sure now.”

  Even if he said it, I would have considered it just as well.

  “As long as everyone is happy, I am happy.” I replied.

  He giggled, “That is not something you should worry yourself about. Neil does the behind the scenes,”

  “While you lead the pack.” I finish for him.

  “Honestly I do not feel like the leader.”

  “Better you than me, I am more the behind the scenes person.”

  Joshua scoffed, “Not with that staff you ain’t.”

  I playfully nudge him.

  Casting my gaze at the many patrons other than me and Joshua, I can only hope Medpack succeeded in stealing that chest. She and Mom play the game at a rate of almost all the time. So I can rely on them being online. I would say it is a obsession but who was I kidding.

  Their obsession was my benefactor.

  I take the rope and dangle the piece of fish in front of Joshua. He draws back out of shock ogling me through the corner of his eyes.

  “Nah, I already ate.”

  I cut my eyes at him, I wonder in the back of my mind if we were being watched.

  It was not like I was hiding but I did not try to act in any way that would give me away. It was a long day and we had many more things to do before the day is up.

  I pay the seller and nudge Joshua. He smiled.

  “Come on,” I say.

  Now I can look around more closely. On the island of Backa, the towns were on the outskirts. There were no cities, lore told it was impossible for the people to grow due to the exhaustive Beasts and Monsters that roam to kill and devour Humanoid meat.

  Gallivant Gang is known well on this island. Most custom items sold here were from the Witches of Light. So I could see that they were enforcing the lovely monopoly. Alice already called me and told me that those that do not pay a steep toll, fear attacks from them.

  It was not like the Guards can do anything about that, if a bunch of players decide to attack outside of the city or town, you were on your own.

  The other group that was here was Saturn Curved, but because they were a huge group, they had little desire to try and stem local problems. As long as they get their dividends from their members, there were no complaints.

  Neither group would mess with each other’s business which made for good business, I reach the corner of a chapel. Wrapped up quite tightly in a cloak was Alice with Medpack.

  “You got it?”

  Alice lifted the cloak to show her face and nodded quickly before returning it over her eyes. I only step to the left, and Alice passed me. Medpack came close and slipped me the chest, I took it and absorbed it within my jacket.

  Alice and Joshua move off.

  I hear the whistle. Me and Medpack whip our heads around to see a guard running towards us.

  “Yup we need to move!” Medpack utters pulling me as I rush into a sprint.

  The stream of bodies were like blurs, as we left the dreary buildings of wood and linen, they were low, and had a full grown woman stooping.

  The smiles, only these we would miss. We reached the outside, the ground was tough and cracked. As if it has not seen water in years. But with a purplish hue, the stones reflected this warm glow leaving a depressing atmosphere.

  Nothing but mounds and arid hills in my sight, the few trees had fruit. But Opa told me they were poisonous.

  I stopped, Medpack had already started casting. Covered by Amander’s and Opaula’s Shield, it was that kind of intrigue, surrounded by ten men. At least I had someone with me this time around.

  Two rushed at us. No talking? A blast of fire gathers around both of us but we stood there looking quite calmly as Opa took out five guys and were chasing the others. Alvain threw a blast of fire and cut off their path.

  Opa ran in, one swing sends two flying. Opa trips the third, kicks down the fourth. Slaps the third back on the ground ending him only to get stabbed by the fifth, Opa gripped the knife hand, pulled on the fabric and slung him our way.

  We separate and he hits the ground rolling through the flames behind us.

  I look around, “we did good.” Alvain and Opa came to my side. The fifth and last one struggled to get up, he shivers as he sees us approach him.

  “Ah chill, we won’t hurt you.” I say in my nicest tone.

  He winces at my words, his now dirty black hair was littered with specks of stones.

  I take out the chest and hand it to him. He takes it with wavering eyes jetting from me to Opa.

  He started speaking, “Why give me…”

  I cut him off, “It is not empty, you can open it and show it to your boss. What’s his name, Shane-Twenty-Seven was it? Let him know we of Ragnarok stole nothing…for now.”

  I turn and quite dramatically, I stop and twirl around emphatically.

  “Also let him know I said hi.”

  Chapter 18

  Noise, some thuds and raised voices. I do not know who was arguing outside but I am not going out there to find out.

  “So this is the dress, you can use…”

  It was good to be around females in this game again, right now this changing room was reserved for us. Sometimes a girl needs a break from men for a while, especially those war like men outside.

  I speak more fluently as I balance with this new Breastplate. It was lighter but it covered my whole chest and tummy tight.

  “What does…”

  Alice looked up, “That would be good for resistance. You know you can go back to wielding a staff again since you have the Gauntlet, you could deal some damage now and then when you are attacked.”

  My eyes glance downward at the Gauntlet of Grace, I could, but honestly I sucked at combat. I was a healer not a fighter. The only reason I used to carry a staff back then was to give me extra magic affinity, which I get way more with this gauntlet without the extra weight.

  More magic affinity can aid for a variety of things from faster casting, resistance, penetration. Even then Medpack was way faster than me. She was there trying on these leggings that resembled one of that fashion’s house leggings. Alice enchanted it, plus the shoes too.

  The shoe looked like some fluffy wild fur with high ankle border, it tapered and rose slightly just above that.

  Alice’s enchantment for this boot was what interested me, High Asuna Boots - When you get atta
cked flat-footed, that attack always misses, works on each subsequent player once.

  “I want those boots.”

  Medpack laughed, Alice chimed in, “sorry I was trying to make two but one of them did not turn out so well so I discarded that. I will make one for you I swear just give me a while.”

  I grunt, but I reply after looking over the dress, “how do I wear this?”

  Alice nodded, “you can pull it over the armor. I could not add much to it…too thin…”

  Medpack twirls around, “Do we have to wear matching clothes?”

  “The contract said their clothes, it did not say anything about looking like twins.” I retort.

  “I do not even go out that much, don’t really think these clothes will get that much promotion.” Alice replied back.

  “Yeah, you usually stay at the base when most of us are offline. That won’t matter. Remember we are watched immensely.”

  “But me, you and Valush are going to be wearing the same dress?” Medpack asked.

  “Valush’s not wearing any of this, she has her own big fashion house funding her only. Besides she would be committing a conflict of interest if she wore this.”

  “Not if she did not know.”

  I look at Medpack, Alice stared up at me. The smile on my face faded after I shake the idea around in my head, “Nah, Valush will kill me if I did that to her.”

  “Kill who?” I shiver in fright at the familiar voice.

  We turned and saw Valush entering closing the door behind her. She looked sad but I did not question it.

  I curtly reply, “No we were talking about the clothing deal and how you cannot contribute since you getting way more lucrative clothing and money.”

  She stares at me with this blank face. But I felt some weight behind it, she looks at Alice now, “Those clothes look better to me, the shoes suck though, burn that…”

  Medpack stared down and looked flustered. Alice laughed, “The fashion police still live…”

  I utter as I turn, “Maybe you can tell me how I should wear this, I still have to wear their lookalikes but it has got to say ‘wow’ you know?”

  Valush finally smiled, “Girl you don’t need no help with that,”