by Dylan Keefer
First cannon, waiting, I bring up the party screen and see the others are alive and on the brink of no return.
“Black Wonderful and Neil,”
Just a little more, I hear his voice, “Blast, you ok?”
The first present is sent and I fly off the step. I get up run to the other one. I grab the cannon swinging it too far, I hold it and bring it level as the ship turns more.
The cannon fires, a lot of dust overcomes me. I look behind me to see Mom had crushed through. She had a slim lining of water droplets spinning around her head with her hair greatly frazzled and on end.
“Mom,” I barely manage to croak out.
“Dear, you ok?”
The next cannons go off without my assistance leaving me holding my ears from the shattering boom that reverbs. Mom stands tall among the flung shards of wood. I look behind me to see the front of the frigate was literally gone. I could pick out rooms on the inside.
Actually it was lower now, the frigate was diving front first under the sea.
“Yes Neil I am ok.”
Mom just stared at me and everything around her. I speak, “Around so much and this prima donna still ends up being a pain,” as I gestured towards Gwendolyn.
Mom got flustered, “I am sorry, she was something else.”
I wonder if that was the power of a truly powerful player, I guess I will never attain that. Even now, a ping, I look up.
You gained the prestige of a Joke of a Cannon Operator, you gained, four percent chance to pulling off explosive attack, two percent resistance to black powder burn, two percent chance of lucky accuracy. You can operate any cannon to a basic level.
I blink, well at least I was learning. Mom weaved a five sign seal over Xavier. She called it out, ”Water’s Lume.”
I see a upsurge of water hit the roof, it splashes out after a second revealing Xavier’s shivering frame.
I step up to him laughing, “You ok?”
He looks up, “Ah no, what,” He saw Gwendolyn and flexed awkwardly.
“She is down for the count now. Come on.”
Mom blurts out, “Oh that reminds me.”
She lifts her foot and kicks Gwendolyn, a blast of wood and air shoots out, lifted us into the air, me and Xavier fall on our back from the rigorous shockwave that hit us from her kick. A huge gaping hole in the ship’s hull, that took two cannons with it down to the bottom of the sea.
I stare at Mom, she smiled at me and said, ”Good riddance,”
“You have that much power in your kick and still struggled with that woman?”
Mom flexed her lips in a taut of thought, “Surprised me as well, I guess that means I have to get better.”
She was of Godly status, there was no better for her. Well there was battle experience. Maybe I should suggest to Mom to go to Norurt, she would learn a lot there as she was now.
“Forget it come on.” I say.
We reached the top floor of the ship and I almost groaned in pain. At least the pain of my pocket, the whole ship was a mess. That and there at least twenty baddies lying around on the ship floor wondering where life hit them.
Behind the ship, were two dancing columns of water. Beyond that and higher yet, was a spurts of slow moving water around the ship in wide breadths. It felt like I was riding through water donuts, I would assume those were my mom’s doing even if she was not thinking of doing it.
Neil was sitting on the edge with Alvain holding the wheel looking to the side wearily. The flagship, I could see it clearly far away.
“Forget that ship, we should dock at Walaborn for now. Looks like we got our experience whether we like it or not,”
Neil rolled backward and came down to me avoiding a pot and a sword on his way.
“What about the woman, she will not stop at this.” He utters to us.
“No, but talking with her, I realize a few things. Neil you know the leader of either Gallivant Gang or Witches of Light right?”
He looked unsure, “Nope, never met them.”
“You think Nevas has?”
“Maybe… why?”
“I think to beat that woman we need to go to the root, we really need to contact one of them.”
Chapter 25
I threw the dice, two fours. An uproar of cheers and applause.
“Alright, double or nothing on this one, what you say?” The man with a golden tooth and ragged clothes asked with peering eyes. Everyone was peering at me, their collective breaths held in suspense on my answer.
I hug Killon, “Nah I am good.”
“Awww come on,”
“Girl you were almost about to take this man to the poor house.”
“Yellow belly!”
Damn, everyone really wanted to see me lose my money. I wave them off, “I am good.” The golden tooth man gave me my winnings and with a bit of bravery kissed me on the hand he slid them into, eliciting a dark set of narrowing eyes from Joshua. I bowed and take my leave.
Joshua felt compelled to let me know after a while, “You might want to wash that hand.”
I cut my eyes after him, “worry about your own.” He frowns at me.
We reach the restaurant with Alvain, Killon, Bain and Xavier sitting in a corner around a large table, the window overlooking.
After we sit down, Joshua nudges Alvain which got him a sleepy stare from the Fire Mage.
Joshua now, “Hey captain, so after unloading this stuff where are we going next?”
Alvain stared then he looked at Bain, whom shrugged then he went back to staring at Joshua, “What?!”
I clarify, “Neil is not here, so you are captain.”
“What?!”
I frown, “were you not told?”
“No, I thought that was temporary.”
“Yeah no, you are the skipper.”
“I remember that.”
Iced apple drinks are put before us.
“Alvain, the skipper is below the captain, so that makes you captain in his absence.”
“Ohhhh…” Alvain finally said.
Xavier bursts out laughing. I shake my head, “Anyways we sold some of the stuff and got some good share to pay for the repairs. Killon, you deal with the small stuff…”
“Of course my queen,” He smiles deviously.
“Good…good…”
We both drink to that.
Joshua speaks out loud, “You guys get creepy too often, it is only Septhim.”
I hit Joshua on the shoulder.
“Stop it,” I tell him even though I am smiling.
In the game, there was a moral complex, where Blood Knights were deemed evil and Paladins were deemed good. It was all allowed within the game rules as long as it added to the fun and depth of the game.
So the game had its own laws even if few, these laws were only enforced within the confines of the cities and towns, outside them you were free to do as you pleased.
Septhim was illegal in every town and city. It was a rare fruit that had little value to players other than tasting good, so only the NPC’s in the black market desired the fruit and paid top dollar for it. But we had to smuggle it in. from the docks to the sellers.
Each town had a black market, but sneaking wares in and out of it was not easy. The town guards were always vigilant. Work in the dark side of the world long enough and you get prestige such as Smuggler, Assassin and the like. Killon was a Smuggler and a good one at that.
Other things that were banned in town were sugar due to religion, Bernaril and Chaos Crystal due to their dangerous nature.
If you’re wondering, no this drink is not sweetened with sugar but by Dontha Berry extract.
“So you should move to Backa for now, Victor wants to go on a quest there.” I said to Joshua.
Xavier looks at me sideways, “you talking the Maria’s Shield Quest?”
That involved a path traversing through the four places, each would be dangerous and end of each would be a boss. The last boss was supposed to be in this aband
oned stadium near the center of the island. It involved a request to save Maria Newsberry from a horde of Goblins that took her to the stadium to supposedly sacrifice her to some God.
“It has to be a small group and I cannot come.” I reply.
“Why?” Xavier asked.
“The quest allows four people only, no Mages allowed. So that means this will be a test of endurance and it is only muscle and non Mage players that can go. I arranged for Medpack to give Victor some healing potions because you are going to need it. We do not gain access to the last part any other way, we have to do this quest to gain access to that stadium.”
“Me and Victor huh…wait who else is going?” Joshua inquired.
“Xavier and Deabush.”
Bain snorts.
I looked at Bain as he leaned back in his chair after that.
I roll my hand towards him, “Problem?”
He frowned, “Xavier and Deabush ain’t muscle,”
Xavier interjects, “I can do well enough you know.”
Bain floats his eyes towards him. I reply, “Even if you say that, Neil and Opa cannot go. Me and Opa going hunting if you get my drift,”
“For who?”
“Some king, a Mata King perhaps. If you were suggesting yourself, Alice has not finished your sword yet. So you cannot go in unprepared. Besides I need you to help with Neil’s follow up on the Gallivant Gang.”
“I am tired of hearing about those idiots. I know so much about them I can rip them myself, without all of you guys’ slow planning.”
“What… you got an idea? Sounds like you prefer we just run in and obliterate everything.”
Bain looks me up and down, “Pfft…not like it matters…”
“Yeah, no, that is not the way. That will just breed discontent which will get us attacked later down the line.”
“This coming from a woman who was about to attack Golden Blaze’s ship?” he uttered under his breath.
I smirked at him, “I never denied having teeth. Anyways I think that does me some good service naturally. To Ragnarok…”
Everyone picks up their drink and we cheers to that.
Chapter 26
“You out and see anything?”
The wind blew harder. I fidget slightly.
“Man… nothing at all…Hey Valush, you sure the bastard stalks here?”
”Of course, he makes his rounds on his lower tier members to show off on them on a regular. Make them revere him in his greatness.”
I threw my hands about earnestly catching the sight of every player passing on the street. The tight high walls of the alley shielded us from the sun.
Dark arms stretched and gripped the rough exterior, I glower across the street. My Identify picks out someone of the Kingdom of Pain group.
“There…” Valush, Mom and Opa moved their heads to see.
“Ah, looks like the meeting is starting…” Valush smiles intensely.
I shoot a glance at her, “what you getting excited about? It is not like we can attack him in the city.”
Valush did not look at me, she only contently speaks, “You little baby, you think I am afraid of the guards. I defeated a God! That King going eat my feet,”
“Even if you say that, Medpack finished off the Dragon God, so calm down we are not attacking him here like a bunch of mad people.”
Valush looked at me and then walked forward. Damn this infernal woman what history those two have anyway?
Valush reached the middle of the street. I stepped close behind her and held onto her dress, enlisting a dour stare at me before her head whipped back around. Her eyes wide, I glance in the direction she was looking.
There was this big brawny man in a thick white cloak flanked by huge Mulu wearing cloaks as well. They were shadowed.
Valush tightened her fist and I stuck close. Opa and Mom were some distance away watching us.
His eyes see us. He stops. As he blinks, Valush sticks out her tongue. The man stares for a good series of seconds. Then he throws his head back laughing out loud.
He is quite peppy that day. He approaches and we all stand across from each other mostly sizing each other up. He begins first drawing his hood back.
“Well if it ain’t Celina, how are you?”
“Fine,”
“Fine? Could I make your day finer?”
I ogle him as he stepped closer almost next to Valush. Valush was staring at him viciously but if he noticed he was ignoring it. His eyes were pinned on me right now and I felt the pressure.
I maintain the contact.
“You could by backing off.”
He blinked for a second, “and what should I back off on, dare I ask?”
“The bow,”
“Hmm?”
“We can work together, we don’t have to fight.”
He smiled brighter, “You are quite bold I must admit but no, we prefer being on top.”
“Ok, how about I offer Gwendolyn on a silver platter.”
“Gwendolyn of the Witches of Light?”
“Yes,”
“How?” He asked slowly.
“You see she is chasing me but I found info on how her pet project works. The Witches of Light distribute a lot of items but they are of weak quality. They also sell limited and rare items just like you. Get rid of them, you can run that marketshare.”
Mata King squinted at me but nodded favorably at what I said, “Continue…”
“We can destroy her together, I am sure if we work together we can make a powerful force to be reckoned with.”
“For what benefit?”
“You would be our most honored partners, especially when I get all the Godly weapons. You can borrow some if you want.”
He laughed out loud, “Oh this is rich, you overconfident little queen, you know no pain, do you? Well looks like I would have to teach you.”
“You come after me and I will make you pay, you realize that right?” Celina said firmly.
“Make me pay, funny…I could swear I was paying good money to get good information on you. It pays well, I mean I know Deabush and…Xavier, is that his name? Yes, they are currently in Backa doing the legendary Maria Quest.”
I stiffen, Valush nudges me and steps forward, “You paid for some bad info old friend.”
The Mata King finally looks at the blond beauty, he shallows hard as his face lightens with a bright smile, “Hey Vanessa, you are still living?”
“Quite handsomely without you,”
I look between them.
“Do not say that, you act like I was never there in the first place.”
“You anywhere is just as chaotic.”
Mata King groans and frowns at her, lifting his hand as he was about to say something to her. He closes his mouth and looks my way, the smile returns.
He moved his face closer to my face, “Anyways, I know you like a book, I do not want to be no servant. I want the whole thing Celina.”
He pats Valush on her shoulder and leaves with a raucous laugh to compliment his good mood.
Chapter 27
“He’ll be watching us, watching him.” Neil said as he looked across at Valush who waved him off.
“Neil, keep your conspiracy theories to yourself.” Valush says.
I still was sitting wondering. Behind me in the conference room was Alvain, he came up and sat next to Neil as he snapped his finger at me.
“You ok?”
I stare shaking my head morosely, “No, I am not, someone is leaking information in my group. Neil you were hiring,”
Neil looks at me then at the others, “I cannot give you anything other than that I do not know.”
“You say that and here I am about to kick you from this group.”
“Damn girl you have high standards.”
“You damn right I do!”
Alvain chipped in, “At this point it has to be someone at that particular time. Me, Xavier, Joshua and Killon,”
Neil utters, “once a smuggler always a
smuggler? He is involved with the underworld so selling information in that underworld should not be hard for him.”
I groan, “Xavier and Deabush could be selling themselves out.”
“Then why did Deabush make it so hard for them back when we were in the underdark?” Valush sweetly asked.
“True, good point there.” Neil agreed.
“Xavier?” Alvain throws out there.
“Maybe, but he does not seem like the ty…” I freeze my body but my mind was running at break neck speed until it stalled. I looked up at my friends.
“Bain…”
Neil flexes his face in abject horror at me. But I show him my palm, “Gwendolyn said that someone told her where I was.”
Neil shrugs, “I thought it was another player.”
“Maybe it was, but even I had to admit, it seemed funny. Unless it was the Mata King himself, it was their territory.”
Valush bobs her head from side to side as her eyes shoot upward, “That man would never sell an advantage, he is not the type. But Bain…sounds iffy. I am feeling more Killon.”
Neil nods, “yeah, Bain is a lot of things but he would not do that.”
I guess that might be right. My plan to subdue a rival business went up in smoke. But it was unlikely at best.
As for the Mata King, he seemed to be a lazy king and probably would not seek them out literally. As long as I avoided his territories, but the Underdark, if I could clear his people from around there it would be a good plus.
I would have to wait on the others to get back.
Still there was a lot to do.
“Hey Celina.”
I look at Valush.
“That idiot cannot interfere with their quest so don’t worry.”
Neil scoffs, “True but he can do what he does best. Camp nearby and wait for them. We did the same thing to you once.”
That is true. Camping was a gamer’s term for the action of waiting on another player to enter into an area and attack them unsuspectingly.
Since it was impossible for players to game out when engaged with the enemy it was an effective and annoying tactic that weaker groups use against stronger ones. Attack them when they are mostly likely to be weak, right after a major boss battle.
