by Bruce Sentar
I quickly pulled up Sprint and it looked like I was a bit over halfway to the next level. I wondered how much it would improve but if Missy’s example was any indication it wouldn’t grow by much. Then again how high could we level all of these?
All of a sudden, Ajax made the connection. That was the point; for everyone to make their own class. They would use the skills they liked more, and they would train themselves into a unique class. That left two large questions to decide on- what role to play and what skills to focus on.
In RPGs, there were three general roles; tank, damage dealer and healer. The roles were pretty self-explanatory but that was the most simplistic view. It split more from there, but that was a decision for later.
He liked the girls, but he wasn’t going to bet on it lasting. He did need to be able to solo, so he couldn’t completely dip away from being a damage dealer. Looking at the girls Sky obviously wasn’t going to be much of a tank, especially given her choice for a bow.
She could go for the typical hunter class they had pets that could serve as the party’s tank at low levels after all. But damn, such defining class features can’t really be counted on. Ajax felt like those would be either strokes of luck or take extreme dedication. On the other hand, pet classes were notoriously good for solo gameplay.
“We should be using our skills and training our stats. Have either of you used your stats from leveling up?” Both girls shook their heads. “I feel like we should save those stats for when we know what direction we’ll be taking for our characters.”
“When I gained my first agility stat I worried that increasing my stats would make it harder to train them up.” Ajax continued.
“I was the same, but mostly I wasn’t sure what path I was going to take for this character.” Sky bobbed her head in agreement.
“What path will we all be taking?” Sky asked them both her tone serious. Ajax realized while she had a fun side to her, she wasn’t playing around when it came time to getting shit done. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was a professional gamer he might recognize.
“I don’t want to lose my ability to solo, at least not unless we find there is a mechanic to adjust our characters. A pet class would be easiest, but I was thinking that wasn’t immediately possible” he worried his comment about soloing made him seem selfish or uninterested. Luckily, both girls seemed to completely agree and nodded to themselves like it was completely reasonable.
“Ha bows are mine; hunters are my favorite. I will definitely be some sort of archer.” Sky smiled. “Will you protect me until I can figure out how to tame a bear?” She batted her eyes and Ajax felt like he was being manipulated. Though maybe it would be okay, just for a bit.
Ajax coughed looked to Missy to save him from Sky who was growing bolder by the moment.
“Oh, I want to go crazy. give me some two-handed weapons and I’ll become a whirling dervish of blades.” She paused for a moment before dropping a fist into her other hand. “Whirlwind, that’s the next skill I need to create. Then I need throwing weapons for those annoying fights that punish melee.” Missy was nodding to herself as if she found her perfect path. “I’ll play like a barbarian or fighter class. Moderate defense and high damage, focusing on multiple target damage always works well in the beginning. I should be able to act as a tank for now, but I won’t be any good if we get to a dungeon with a real boss.”
Ajax was amazed she’d picked apart her role to this extent in just moments. Comparatively, he felt lacking. Was this the difference between a casual player and someone who did it for a career?
Sky nodded at that “So I’ll be an archer, you a fighter now, which leaves a caster.” She looked over at Ajax “Also makes it easy to break up look while we are in a group. I’ll take dexterity gear, Missy strength gear, and Ajax the intelligence gear.” Ajax thought it made sense, however, there was one problem. Ajax had no magic. He had no idea how to cast a spell in this game. Though, if he could cast a spell, he had no problem becoming the mage in the group.
“So, I guess we need to start working out?” Ajax wasn’t going to lie, he looked forward to both these women working out and getting sweaty. However, he still hadn’t really figured out what he was going to do. If he wanted to be a mage he needed magic. However, he had yet to even see magic in the game.
“We can jog up and down the caravan for stamina and some dexterity training. Push-ups will have to wait till we camp, or maybe lunges would work?” Missy tested her idea and began performing lunges as they walked along with the caravan. Ajax didn’t know how to train anything besides stamina, strength, and agility. Without a better option he joined the girls thinking that a baseline level of these stats would at least not hurt in the long run.
At least they had a plan coming together, even if Ajax wasn’t able to do his part yet.
CHAPTER 11
As the trio continued on the road away from the city, nine figures faded back into existence. Richard and his eight contract slaves hurried into an alley lest they be recognized.
Eight dead sets of eyes looked to him for instructions. Richard was boiling in anger. That man, a meager plebeian, dared to walk around with MY woman. Only a Waltz like myself is worthy of a beauty like Missy. He could feel his pulse reverberate through his forehead, his vision blurring from the strain of his anger.
I am a Waltz. If someone dare take something from me, I will kill their entire family. No, I’ll capture them and torture them till they beg for mercy. Ah, yes, then kill their family in front of them. Just to make them weep before taking everything they dared deny me. Then, only then, will I consider ending their miserable existence. Not that anyone would care if someone so base were to disappear.
That idea in mind, his vision started to clear. He saw his eight contract slaves still staring at him, waiting for instructions. They were all caught up in contracts to the Waltz company, some initiated by him. Now they were in crippling debt and owned by him.
If they ever misbehaved or terminated their service through any means, their debt would fall to their family. They would just pass on the problem to their loved ones. More than one of these were here because their parents committed suicide, passing the contractual debt to their children. A selfish last act to escape the debt.
He was angry and more than tempted to have one of these debtors ejected from their PIU. They deserved to be flogged to death for their failures. He’d give them another chance or find some way to break even in his investment. They still had value after all.
But first, he needed to clear his head a bit. “Drag Natalie over.” Richard looked at her pretty form, much better than her anorexic self outside the PIU. He’d ordered her to make herself look as much like MissyQ as she could. She might have passed for Missy while he was drunk before, but now having had the real thing before him earlier, she was trash.
Natalie was dragged forward by two of the men. Her head limp and hair messily strewn forward over her face. Richard grabbed her by the throat and pulled her forward, just in front of his face. Her hair fell back to reveal a pretty face that matched Missy’s, only lacking any emotion. Any light that once existed in her eyes had been extinguished long ago. He enjoyed the subservience, but he so desperately wanted a new toy to break in.
Richard watched her. This wasn’t uncommon amongst his contract slaves. In the real world, hurting them would risk their death, and a death at the owner’s hands would void their debt. In truth, it was what they wanted. However, in this game Richard knew they would just come back. Here he could kill her as punishment and she’d be reborn anew. She could make it up to him in her next life. He could feel a pull on the corner of his lips at the thought. This game is amazing.
Not long after, three identical corpses lay in the alley. A form began to appear amongst them. Natalie respawned, looking even more dispirited. Her beauty consumed by her despair. Standing their like a lifeless puppet, she didn’t even flinch when another slap struck her in the side of the head. She tipped over like a life
less rag doll.
“I wasn’t sure if it was worth coming here, but you seem tougher than I expected” A voice came from the edge of the alley.
Richard turned away from Natalie to see a cloaked figure walking towards him. He sighed. Another waste of his time. Plebeians were everywhere and were only begging for their own destruction as far as Richard was concerned. “You better be bringing me something worthwhile.” His voice came out hoarse and cold.
“I do. An offer. We the Bloodmoon Bandits have targeted a caravan. The other adventurers that you had a conflict with earlier are escorting them.” The cloaked man paused for a second. “The adventurers are powerful, we want you to aid us in killing the caravan.”
“Oh, you want our help?” He smirked, settling his body preparing for negotiation. “I don’t normally work for others, so how about this. You all now work for me?”
“You must be joking. You may be powerful eventually, we all know that adventurers don’t start out that way. You need to grow before you are worthy of leading the Bloodmoon.” The cloaked figure took a defensive stance at the edge of the alley way.
Richard may have some issues, but he knew how to bargain. Slipping into an organization and taking over was practically the Waltz way.
“Fine, fine. We’ll come help you take the merchant caravan out. But we need to make a few agreements before hand.” Richard walked forward and slung his arm around the cloaked man. “We can become partners after all.”
CHAPTER 12
After the caravan camped for the night the trio sat around the camps the caravan had provided. The girls were still grinding their stats. Halfway through the day they had hardened their resolve and put their unspent stat points into their desired paths. Ajax had abstained. Without spells. it didn’t make sense for him to start investing in stats that he couldn’t use.
“How do you think we make spells?” Ajax asked neither of them in particular. Missy got up and stepped away from the tent and faced away from the rest of the caravan. She had a serious look on her face and took a wide stance.
Ajax and Sky watched her as she set a firm stance her legs out wide knees bent. “Ka-me-ha-me-HA!” her wrists held together with her palms out wide she spoke each syllable louder. She strained her muscles, her face focused and her open palms out together. Nothing happened, no explosion of ki.
“Damn, I know I’m not a Saiyan but still kinda disappointing.” Missy stood up from her stance and walked back to the tents.
“I wish it worked. Damn I wonder if there are skills like going Super Saiyan.” Ajax thought Goku would be a great design for a character but then again probably not possible to be that overpowered. He wasn’t the main character in a story.
“Ajax, there are probably buff spells out there. There probably won’t be one that sets your power level over nine thousand though.” Sky joined the reference.
“Over nine thousand!” both Ajax and Missy joined her at the end of it. The three of them laughed together.
Ajax was happy that the three of them could relate and be nerds together. He never really thought he could have that sort of connection with a woman, let alone two. It was strange, he felt like he’d known Missy forever and they connected like old friends. He found himself staring at her, taking in her curves while she was laughing.
A broken branch caused them to stop and turn. A flush crept up Ajax’s face. Captain Remblar came close enough to make out his features along with two other men close behind him.
“We heard one of the girls scream. It looks like everything is okay though.” His voice was flat, though somehow, it communicated he was clearly upset. Both men behind him had a slight flush to their face; they had been drinking. Ajax felt caution creep into the back of his mind, wondering why Remblar would bring them.
“Sorry, we were trying to use magic,” Missy spoke up with a touch of embarrassment rising in her cheeks. She didn’t seem concerned about the two inebriated guards, so Ajax tried to calm down and let go of the tension that was building.
“I had heard all adventurers could use magic. Those that disappeared two months ago at least may have.” Captain Remblar reassessed the group. “Though all of the ones I saw back in town were… green as a new recruit.”
“Ah, yes.” Ajax stepped forward between the guards and girls. “All of us have the potential for magic and yes we are new to adventuring.” Remblaar nodded at that. Ajax continued “We have the potential, but we don’t know any spells yet. Do you have anyone in your guard that could teach us a few?”
Remblaar looked thoughtful for a moment like he was considering if it was worth helping them. “One of the merchants, Danica Masdit, has some magic. I’m sure you could strike a deal for her to teach you the basics. Merchants never turn down fair coin.” Remblaar reached around his waist. Though Ajax couldn’t see it he guessed he has a magical pouch like the adventurers.
“Here, the main reason I came.” He tossed three sacks that the trio caught. Each one had their 10 silver and 200 experience. Ajax smiled, but it quickly shifted to a frown. He’d likely be broke again after this conversation with Danica tomorrow.
After Remblaar left, the three settled down for the night. Ajax had bought a tent at the supply store before leaving town.
All three of them had heard that debuffs would appear if the players spent too much time awake in the game. Ajax realized with how real the game was it would be entirely possible to forget about your limitations. They were still human back in the PIU, and they still needed rest even if it was while playing a game.
Stepping into the tent was different though. As soon as he passed the threshold, he stepped out of the LR gate back in his personal space.
“System, what’s happening?” Ajax asked the open space.
“In the game anytime you enter a tent, inn room or similar temporarily personal space you will be brought to your actual personal space. This is to prevent unwanted interaction with another player while they are sleeping.” System said.
That made sense to Ajax, likely BRG realized one of the easiest ways to piss off their customers was to kill them in their sleep. Of course, there might be some less savory things that could also be done. He needed to step out and tell the girls.
It occurred to Ajax that each of them would be heading to their own personal spaces for the night. It was completely normal, but Ajax couldn’t help feeling disappointment at the group separating.
He ducked back out of his personal space through the tent. The girls hadn’t entered their tents yet and Ajax felt some of the tension leave him. Why was he so worried about this?
“Girls, tents lead us to our personal spaces.” He said watching for their reactions. Were they going to be disappointed that they were separated or excited? Ajax again wasn’t sure of himself. Why did these girls reaction mean so much to him? They had only known each other for a day, and even that was inside a game.
Missy and Sky didn’t react. At least, not a first. Missy let out a defeated sigh, and Sky seemed thoughtful.
“Or we could all meet in the same personal space.” Ajax blurted out. Again he doubted himself as soon as he’d said it. Why was this so important to him?
Missy smiled though and all those doubts and worries faded. “That sounds fantastic. After all this…” She gestured with a wide sweep of her arm “…it would be weird to be alone.”
“Yeah” Ajax latched onto the excuse Missy had offered. “It just feels weird and isolated to go back to our own personal space.” That was it- the camaraderie they had established. He didn’t want it to dissipate by separating even if it was only to sleep. Camping in the small circle together had meant something.
“That… Yes, I agree. We should stay together as a party until the quest is over.” Sky seemed to find her reason.
Ajax felt some tension in the air for a moment as both girls looked at him. He realized that they were waiting for him. For him to invite them into his own personal space.
He cleared his throat. “Let’s go
into my space.” Ajax held his tent flap aside as he realized he wasn’t sure if it would work.
“System, can you let Missy and Sky enter my personal space.” He hoped his AI would support him in this.
“Of course Ajax. I shall prepare a campsite for them.” System said.
Ajax smiled and held the tent flap as the girls joined him inside.
His smile dropped when he entered. His personal space had transformed. He had walked out of the LR arch as he always had, the rough shack was the same, however, the field now had a cluster of trees with wild rose bushes in full bloom dispersed between them. The bushes seemed to have discarded some of their petals into a small trail leading to a campsite complete with a fire and three tents.
