by Mark Summer
“I have gathered you all here on a secret mission”
The knights all bowed
“You are to find the Aeon Swords, they are locked away in the temples one in the forest the other in the orc homeland, another lies under the sea and the last is with me.”
The man beside her pulls out a long sword and hands it to the queen. My family has been the guardians of this sword for generations, many lives have been lost in defending it form the orc hordes. The time has come once again to find the others and awaken the sleeping god himself.
The knights nodded
Go now and make your queen proud
The darkly armored knights got up and walked the court of the room.
The queen sat down at her throne, while the evil wizard grinned
“Very good my queen, Very good”
“Freeze,” said a Voice
Sophia wearing peasant clothes walks into the Queen’s chamber. Sophia was holding a small box and smiling up at the evil wizard. He was frozen in time, the queen was as well.
“It’s so strange to see them like this”
She placed the box down and out flew Tyke who flew in the chamber.
“What do you plan with this character”
“I wish to use her to expand my reach, inside the queen is the secrets of where the Aeon swords are at”
“Why are we still playing this silly game”
“Because my child, the swords are much more than a game item in them hold the secret to the game’s soul. The game is connected somehow to the outside world. We will use the swords to awaken the Soul and enter the real world.
Sophia shuttered at the fairies words then something hit her.
“Master, who will go to the outside”
Tyke turned toward Sophia who and flew close to her pretty face
“We are one, my child”
Chapter Twenty One
Away from the palace Cleo and Vance climbed the small mountain in search of the Hermit
“So what do you do when you are not playing the game”
“What do you mean”
“I mean do you go out and do things”
“Like what”
“I don’t know I’m just trying to make conversation”
“I’m a single mother, I got pregnant in high school, I don’t have fun, I can not afford it”
“Couldn’t your family help”
“What family”
“Sorry, I’m sorry”
“It’s life I love my son, that is why I’m playing this stupid game”
“For the money”
“Yes, for the money, but it was a way to connect with him”
“How does he play if he is in a coma”
“His mind is not dead, Vance he has played many different characters, but I have never told him it’s me”
“What you mean you never meet him”
“I don’t know who he is anymore, this world is all he has ever known, it is his reality, it is what keeps him alive”
“But how is that possible”
“I don’t know, his father knows better than I do”
“I thought you said he died”
“Let’s get off this subject the Hermit is over that next ledge”
“Alright fine, My dad died too”
Cleo didn’t answer but continued walking”
“It is kinda funny I sold you the Moon Rock in order to raise money to go to Fiji, I wanted to bring Pete because it was my dad’s favorite place in the world”
Cleo sighed and climbed her mind racing
“You know it’s not right what you did”
“I know, listen we were stupid and it’s not like he is the bad kid he is just confused”
“No, I mean selling his VR in the first place”
“I guess so, I just wanted to go to Fiji, I thought it would be good for him”
“I think you are both fucked up”
The two climbed up the ledge and found themselves in front of the small house built into the side of the mountains.
“wow that's a pretty cool house”
They walked up to the door and knocked on it”
A window flew open and older blind woman shouted at the two
“What the hell you want”
“Are you the hermit of these mountains”
“Who wants to know”
“We are seeking supplies for our quest”
“You have Gold”
“We do”
“I’ll be right down”
They waited and heard the loud noises coming from the inside of the house finally the door to the house opened and the hermit lady stood there.
“It costs fifty cold coins to come in”
Vance shrugged and Cleo opened her purse and gave the lady Fifty gold who took it greedily and weighed it in her hand.
“That feels like fifty alright come in”
The two followed the strange hermit into her house
“Be careful, hermits are tricky” whispered Cleo to Vance who wasn’t really really paying attention but marveling that he strange old stuff littered around the house.
“So what are you after”
“My company needs more magic can you help him”
“I see, of course, I have options for that”
And I seek the temple key
“What are you talking about”
“The fire temple key, I know you have it”
“I’m a simple hermit what would I have any use for a temple Key”
Cleo grabbed the hermit by the neck
Vance steeped in
“Cleo what are you doing”
“The bitch always does this, I’ve played this hermit a thousand times and this is the only way”
“Let go of me witch”
“Come on Cleo your acting insane”
“Where is it”
“It’s over there by the clock”
Cleo walked over to the clock and picked up the key and walked over to the hermit
“How much”
“Nothing just get the hell out of here”
“and the potion”
“Yes whatever”
Cleo left the Hermit alone, They walked out of the house and Cleo threw the potion at Vance
“OK what the hell happened”
“After playing the game a thousand times, I found some shortcuts manly I can use my imitation skill to get what I want”
Vance noticed that Cleo’s impatient skill was off the charts
“Wow, you are the best player”
Chapter Twenty Two
Pete made it to the temple’s entrance, the height made Pete nervous and he could hardly breathe. The game was alive all around him it seemed to be breathing, the last few times he played things seemed to be getting better and better. Pete was afraid of this new game it seemed like someone could get lost in it. The door to the temple was locked and Pete knew of a secret entrance. If it was still there he would use it to gain entrance before the other two showed up.
Pete scanned the temple walls and found a small crack in the west side of the temple. He took off his pack and placed in the bush beside the crack. There would be supplies in the temple. He dug his way through t the dark tunnel that leads to the basement floor of the temple. The map changed in his overview to that of the temple.
Once inside he was in a circular chamber of fifty by fifty. Large touches light up the whole area, Above him, he sees a bridge extending from the upper floor.
I’ve been here before he thought there is an old man in the corner dying of thirst
Pete was right about this as he walked to the corner, sure enough, the man was awakened by the young man’s footsteps.
“Sir, are you friend or foe
“I’m neither, I seek the to defeat the master of this temple
The old man chuckled to himself
You are a fool, not a friend or foe but a damn fool
Why is that old man
B
ecause the master of this temple uses black magick
I don’t care he has stolen a lady of the forest and I have come to bring her back
There is a bird or what I would call a monster it lives in the temple’s giant holes. This place was built long ago and has been abandoned by the royal family. It has been taken over by many masters but the new one is an insane monster.
I plan on defeating this insane monster could you tell me how to get to his chamber where he keeps the lady of the forest.
I can not because I too have come for the treasure of the temple
I just told you I don’t come for the treasure but the lady
I see in your eyes you too seek the treasure
Pete rolled his eyes this is pretty bad the game is still far from perfect.
But since I’m old and dying of thirst I will give you the knowledge within me and you will use this knowledge to find the way through the temple
Pete nodded in approval
Very well young hero the pillars over by the wall
are light as feathers but hard as the rock they can be moved and stacked on top of each other to create a staircase that will lead you to the main floor.
Pete forgot about the pillars the old man had proven useful he turned to walk toward him when the old man continued
Before you leave me, could I ask a favor
What is it
If you could find me some water to drink like I said before I’m dying of thirst.
Pete nodded, but he didn’t do what he asked the other two dip shits would be at the temple soon and he hadn’t any time.
Please young hero
I will find you what I can, Pete, as he pulled and pushed the pillars stacking one after the other to reach the bridge overhead. It took a lot of strength and stamina to do this task and when he finally got to the bridge he needs some time to rest. He walked the narrow bridge into the larger main chamber. Pools of water and fresh marble lined the hall. the place looked clean and there was a fresh breeze flowing through the area. The ceiling was tall and there was spectacular glass art on the windows. When the sun hit it the colors would dance off the floor.
Pete was dumbfounded by the beauty of the place that he didn’t notice that Vance and Cleo were walking in the same direction and if they had been looking they would've dodged each other. Instead, they bumped right into each other
“Pete what’s up bro”
“How did you get in here”
“Cleo beat up an old lady for the key”
“I didn’t beat up anybody, I just used imitation, the question is how did you get in here”
“I have my ways,” said Pete folding his arms with a smug look on his face
the old man started to cry and his voice rang through the hall
“You went through the crack in the wall”
“what crack,” said Vance
“There is a secret crack in the west side of the temple and it leads to a basement with an old dude who is dying of thirst”
“Maybe,” said Pete
“You didn’t get him water did you”
“Maybe”
“Great,” said Cleo
“What, does that mean”
“It means in a couple of minutes the bird of the temple will be awakened and fly through the chamber and we will have to fight a very powerful creature”
“Well that doesn’t sound so bad”
“It is bad, I wanted to avoid the bird hence why I got the key instead of the crack in the wall”
“I can still get the water to the old man,” said Pete
“It’s too late”
“Why is that”
Cleo pointed and Pete turned and saw in horror a giant red bird with evil eyes staring at him. The three got into combat positions
“What are our chances”
“Not good,” said Cleo
Chapter Twenty Three
John Smith nothing special about John Smith, White as snow his hair black as night. John had always been invisible he was the kind of guy that sat in the back of the room at parties. But John had something deep within him he knew in his heart he was designated for greatness. He had a deep love for games and wanted to be apart of the industry. So he kept his head down and his grades up and after college applied to every gaming company in the world. HE would have taken anything, rejection after rejection started to eat away at Johns soul. But something came in from an unknown gaming company, named harsh entertainment. It was developing a new video game., a full immersion VR RPG named Wizard lords. The technology was beyond anything John had ever seen it must have been like five or ten years ahead of its time. John had found his new home, he worked his way up to become the creator’s personal assistant.
Now the creator was in his office standing just a few feet from him with his eyes glued on him like a bird of prey.
“You want me to form a fellowship to find the sword”
“You are the number one player in the game”
“No, I’m not, not anymore”
“You don’t need to be modest, I’m not mad even though it says in your employment contract that playing Wizard lords on company time is forbidden. I’m willing to see past this if you if you play ball.
John knew he didn’t have much choice, so he nodded
“Great come on”
“What now
“yes right now the world is at stake”
Alright
“Here is a list of the top ten players in the game”
John walked with Seth to the elevator took them to the companies helicopter
When John saw the helicopter his mouth hit the floor, it was something out of a marvel movie. Futuristic design metal chrome and what looked like turbo boosters.
“I call her Barbelo”
“Why”
“In gnostic tradition, Barbelo was the first human she was god before god, a goddess with a dick or a god with a pussy”
John didn’t really understand Seth but knew to nod when Seth talked nonsense.
“Get in John”
“Where are we going” said John strapping into the futuristic Helicopter
Our first stop is the Nancy King she lives in Atlanta Georgia.
“That’s across the country”
“Hold on to your hat”
“I’m not wearing a hat”
“It’s a expression dude”
They flew to Nancy King’s house in less than a hour and got out the helicopter the sound alone awoke the entire neighborhood.
John felt like the first time in his life the center of the action
Seth knocked on Nancy’s house and asked to come in
“Who the hell are you”
“Maim my name is Seth I’m the CEO of harsh entertainment how would you like to make a hell of a lot of money
The woman looked at Seth and John
“What are you talking about”
“Can we come in”
“No you can not, you crazy little man, you come in with your fucking helicopter scaring my children”
“We need to speak to Nancy are you, Nancy”
“That’s my daughter, what do you want to speak to my daughter for”
A loud scream from upstairs is heard and the mother at the door runs to see what the scream is about Seth and John follow closely
The mother knocks and opens the door to her daughter's room.
Who has just taken off her headset
“Child what the hell are you screaming about”
“I just made it to level fifty”
“I told you to stop playing that silly game and do your homework”
“but mom, it’s level fifty only two other players made it that far”
“I don’t care you are going to do your homework”
Nancy noticed the two men standing behind her mother
“Who are you’
“Nancy how would you like to make it level 60”
“Mom, who are this men”
&
nbsp; The large black woman picked the two men by the ears
“I told you weirdos to get out of my house and I mean it”
Outside returning to the Helicopter Seth turned to John
“I don’t know what went wrong”
“Can I make a suggestion sir”
“Please that is why you are here”
“Maybe we don’t land in peoples front yards with a superhero spaceship and ask little girl’s to join us is a crazy mission”
“Right alright, lose the helicopter we will rent a car, who is next on the list”
“It looks like Pete Adams”
Chapter Twenty Four
The bird let out a long stretch. It was the Firebird
What can we do here
Look I fought this bird alone, with two other people it shouldn’t be that hard said Pete
But your levels have evened out
how is that possible
because of Vance
Why what did I Do
you are a lower level so it averages us all out said, Cleo
so what I think we can still defeat, its a stupid bird said Pete
enough said, Vance, as he ran toward the bird
but the bird just picked him up with his beak and swallowed him whole
Shit that's not good
Can’t you do something
what do you want me to do
Pete took out his long sword and charged at the bird
The bird picked up Pete and ate him as well
“Idiots said Cleo who stood alone behind her the temple door flew open and in walked a large man wearing black armor. In his hand was a long sword and he walked toward Cleo who charged her magic. Green energy warped around her. But the man in black just stuck out his hand and an iron color wrapped around Cleo trapping her. The man in black walked up the bird and froze the bird in its wake and went into the boss's chamber.
Cleo on the floor was stuck
She screamed Exit
The game stopped and she pulled off the game head seat and saw Vance pull off his they walked into the living room where they saw Pete struggling with his Vance helped him. And they all stood in silence for a second
“So what the hell was that”
“It seemed like some kind of glitch or something. said, Cleo,
