by J. T. Wright
Therefore, guarding the entrance and exit to the Trials was considered an honor only entrusted to the most loyal of veterans. It was a vital task to make sure all ran smoothly.
Generally, permanent Trials only had one entrance, which could also be an exit. No matter how far you went down, you could always come back the same way. Of course, that meant battling the same monsters, traversing the same traps, and solving the same puzzles once again. As a result, many Adventurers lost their lives trying to leave a Trial even after they had explored it.
That was why the second option was more popular. Return Scrolls and Stones held spells that would teleport you directly back to the entrance and leave you not far from the Adventurers Guild Hall. Scrolls and stones could be found in the Trial or purchased at a hefty price. The stones were particularly expensive as they were reusable and rechargeable. Adventurers often saved for years to buy the stones, because recharging them was significantly cheaper than using a scroll.
Today a Level 45 Sergeant of the City watch had the honor of standing guard at the teleport exit. When the familiar flash of an exiting party appeared in the stone circle at the center of the walled compound, the Sergeant sighed and stretched. He was prepared to deal with another group who would likely try and hide their real earnings, even knowing that lying to a Level 45 Guardsman with a Level 20 Truth Sensing Ability was impossible.
All groups paid a fee for entering the Trial. The Duke was rather generous in this regard. He only charged 1 silver per group. Many cities charged far more and even took a percentage of any gains. The Duke preferred a flat rate, but he did require that certain herbs and ores, as well as 30% of any Beast Cores found in the Trial, had to be sold to him.
Most didn’t mind this; the Duke always paid a fair sum for these items. However, some felt they could get a better price for their goods elsewhere. The Duke set a rate and never haggled. Those few who wanted more were the reason a Guardsman with Truth Sensing was always stationed at the exit to the Trial.
Truth Sensing had seemed like a Godsend when the Sergeant had the chance to learn it 20 years ago. And in a way, it was. It guaranteed him promotions and job security. It also meant he was well trusted, as a dishonest man could never even learn the Ability. On the other hand, it meant he got to spend his days arguing with liars and cheats, and it gave him a rather jaded opinion of certain officers above him. That opinion was why he was a Sergeant and not an officer. Not that he complained too much. He led a comfortable life, even if it was frustrating from time to time.
The Sergeant was leaning against the compound wall when the flash appeared, but he immediately straightened and unconsciously straightened his uniform while checking the short sword at his waist. His face hardened into a professional glare as he prepared to collect the Duke’s due, but it softened into almost a smile when the Duke’s daughter and her companions appeared on the teleport platform.
Many noble parties could be difficult to deal with, but Kirstin was known to be friendly and generous, her friends polite and well behaved. Maybe the Sergeant would make it to shift change without having to demonstrate just how little he cared about the reputation and connections of people who wished to benefit from the Dungeon without abiding by its rules.
However, the Sergeant was taken aback when he saw the scowl on Kirstin’s face. Obviously, things hadn’t gone well this time. As the group stamped down the stairs towards him, he was even more surprised to see a young boy struggling to keep up with their hurried pace.
People of the Infinite World Awakened to their Statuses generally between the ages of 12 to 15, so it wasn’t unusual to see young Adventurers, but they didn’t enter Trials. In fact, that was the law in Al’drossford, you had to be Level 15 to delve the Dungeon. The boy, practically running at the heels of the Duke’s daughter, couldn’t possibly have been Awakened long enough to be Level 15. He barely looked old enough to have Status.
The Sergeant ’s face hardened a touch. Duke’s daughter or not, the law was the law, and she was about to get an earful.
“Lady Kirstin,” he said respectfully but sternly.
Kirstin tried to smile at the older man, but it came off as a slightly less-pained scowl. “Sergeant,” she acknowledged, “no herbs or ores to report, and only one Core. We would like to sell it here.”
She passed him a bright red Beast Core that had dropped from the third-floor guardian. Hearing the truth in her words, the Sergeant took the Core and handed it to a clerk sitting at a desk nearby. The clerk Appraised the Core and, after making several notes in a ledger, the clerk took 20 silver from a strongbox and handed it to Kirstin.
Kirstin accepted the coins with a nod and a twist of her lips. Twenty silvers was the price for a Level 2 Core. She’d been hoping for more. This had not been a profitable delve. But even the Duke’s daughter wasn’t allowed to haggle. She pocketed the coins and started to walk away but was stopped by the Sergeant.
“About the boy, Lady Kirstin, he can’t possibly be...” The Sergeant started slowly, warming up to a blistering lecture, but he was cut off before he could get up to speed.
“Boy! That’s not a boy, that’s a burden!” She blurted out the words and had to bite her tongue before she said something she shouldn’t. Her father demanded that people preforming their duty be given the respect they deserved.
Both the boy and the Sergeant flinched at her outburst. The Sergeant gave the cowering boy a puzzled glance and then asked, “Did you find him wandering alone? I’ll take charge of him if you wish. I need to know how he got in.”
“It’s not a boy, Sergeant,” Kirstin cut him off with a sigh. “It’s a Summons.” She held up her right hand to show the Sergeant an intricate mark that was now located on the back. It was the same hand that had crushed the Summons crystal. “He’s my reward for defeating the fifth-floor guardian for the first time.” A bitter laugh escaped from Kirstin. “Or maybe we defeated him improperly and this is my punishment.”
“A Summons,” the Sergeant muttered. “Never seen a Summons like that. Is he...?”
“He’s exactly what he looks like. A worthless, powerless child,” Kirstin hissed and almost spit. Only the thought of both Lyra and the Sergeant taking her to task for unladylike behavior keep her from doing it. “It’s been a long day, Sergeant. If you don’t mind.” She gestured to the exit.
“Of course, Lady Kirstin, be well.” The Sergeant stepped aside to let the group pass. He watched them walk away, past the Guild entrance and the carriages waiting there to offer transport. It was a long walk back to the Duke’s fortress, but despite the long day, Kirsten had decided to foot it home, perhaps to blow off steam.
The Sergeant’s attention was on the boy’s back. The Summons was struggling to keep up with the pace set by his master and her much longer legs. One of the Sergeant’s hands reached up to rub at his chin.
“Worthless and powerless,” he said absently. “Don’t think I’ve ever seen anything come from the dungeon that can be described like that.” Another flash appeared behind him, and his attention was drawn from the boy to another group exiting the Trial. Back to his duties.
**********
The Al’dross had long kept watch over the city named after them. Descended from royalty, they had their pride, and the city reflected that. They were benign overlords who insisted on order and fairness. Their city was kept neat and clean. The Trial and public works made sure everyone was fed and employed, and, while it couldn’t be said that everyone was happy all the time, for the most part they were safe. Not to say the city didn’t have its dark side, but corruption was closely watched and stamped out when it could be stamped out.
Al’drossford was not known as one of the world’s greatest or most beautiful cities. The Al’dross family preferred straight lines to artistic ones overall, but there was plenty to see. The buildings were well-built and well-maintained by city law. Magnificent fountains and historic statues could be found sitting in the many public squares of the large city. It’s tower
ing walls and well-defended bridges could be said to be marvels of engineering and military know-how. But the summoned boy saw none of it.
His eyes were planted firmly on the cobblestone road and the heels of his master. He’d learned an interesting fact during this mad dash to wherever she was going. It was that if he strayed too far from her without permission, he experienced pain. Not emotional, I miss my master pain. No, it was physical, a burning pain. He was less than an hour in the Infinite World, so he had nothing to compare it to, but it was far worse than the burning in his legs and lungs that came from trying to keep pace with the Adventurers.
He knew that his Stamina was connected to his Constitution Attribute, and his Speed to Agility and Strength. He had wondered if the numbers next to those Attributes in his Status were high or low. Now he was certain they were low, very low.
He tried not to think about it. Tried not to wonder what would happen if he collapsed and his master left him behind. Would he simply feel agonizing pain forever? No, he wouldn’t think about it. Just keep up.
Occasionally the party’s members, other than Kirstin, would shoot him sympathetic or worried looks, but none spoke up. It wasn’t their business how Kirstin treated her Summons, and honestly, they shared her disappointment in him. So, while Lyra occasionally thought about pulling him along, and Dirk and Joel thought about picking him up to carry him, they didn’t. Allen and Mathias had even quietly placed bets with one another as to how far he would make it before he collapsed. While this might seem heartless, he was only a Summons after all.
Some of the city folks and guardsmen did give the group startled looks as they passed, but none spoke out. The Duke’s daughter was well-known and well-liked, and if she thought the red-faced boy should run the mile uphill to the Duke’s fortress, then she probably had her reasons.
As for Kirstin, she was doing her best to forget the boy existed. Not that the wheezing noise he made or the intricate tattoo-like mark on her hand would let her, but she could try. She spent the thirteen minutes it took to reach her home making a list of the things she needed to get done if they were to enter the Trial again tomorrow. Generally, after a successful crawl, a party would take a few days off to train and rest, but Kirsten hardly counted today as a success. So, weapons and armor needed to be checked, supplies gathered, rumors about changes in the Trial listened to. So much needed her attention!
Kirstin counted her chores and the boy did some counting of his own. It seemed every few minutes he received another message.
Loyalty decreased due to poor management. Loyalty now 62.
Loyalty decreased due to poor management. Loyalty now 60.
Loyalty decreased due to poor management. Loyalty now 58.
He amused himself by wondering what number it would be when he was finally allowed to catch his breath. 50? 40? It was impossible to know since he had no idea how far they were going. He also wondered what the numbers meant. Was it good or bad that they were going down? He did sense his attachment and unconditional obedience to his master lessening with each Point that ticked down, but that was terrifying. He had come into this world with that bond, and if that bond disappeared, what would happen to him?
He tried to think happy thoughts about his master. She was pretty, other people seemed to like and respect her, her hair was shiny. It didn’t work, though. The number continued to decrease. It was entirely beyond his control.
By the time they reached the fortress gates, the Loyalty number had reached 49. Was it his imagination, or was it slowing down? Only one Point down this time not two. Was that significant?
He was so wrapped up in his wondering that he didn’t notice that the party had stopped to talk with the guard at the gate. They stopped, and the boy learned two new things. The first was that a 12-year-old boy, running directly into the back of a large man wearing metal armor, made an interesting noise. The second was that it hurt, a lot. He fell to the ground, clutching his face, while everyone turned to look at him.
The gate guard looked shocked and asked him if he was alright. Kirstin had only given him permission to talk to her group, so he said nothing. Instead, it was Kirstin who spoke.
“Pay no mind to the idiot, he’s fine.”
Was he an idiot? He didn’t know. He knew his head hurt, and his legs were already starting to stiffen from his forced jog. He knew that it was difficult to stand up. He was so wrapped up in all these things that he missed the subsequent conversation between his master and the guard.
By the time he was fully on his feet, the group was already moving again, and he could only follow them through the gate, and into a tunnel that lead through the wall. It seemed impossibly long, although it was only about forty feet before they passed another gate and reentered the world of sunlight and open air.
After the second gate, the party split up, each of the six going to take care of their own tasks. Only Lyra stayed with Kirstin. The two needed to change into more appropriate clothing before reporting to the Duke about their day’s work and plans for tomorrow. The boy followed mindlessly behind for a few steps and then stopped, as Kirstin whirled on him.
“Why are you following me?” she demanded of him, angrily.
The boy was confused. “You are my master. I have to follow you.”
“No, you can’t! I won’t have it! It’s like having my biggest failure stalking behind me!” She shook her head fiercely, and her hands balled into fists. “Go do something, anything, just be away from me.”
“But, but what should I do?” the boy stammered.
“Look at you, you can’t even walk a mile! Go train! Run, jump, swim anything! Just go make something of yourself.” With that, Kirstin spun on her heel and left. Lyra gave the boy a look and a shrug and then followed.
The boy wanted to follow as well, but he had been ordered to stay away, and his feet wouldn’t allow him to move forward. Panic set in as his master got farther away. If she got too far, there would be pain....but there wasn’t. Was it because he was obeying her order? If she ordered it, could he be separated from her? That must be it!
The boys breathing calmed as the expected pain didn’t come. It was still ragged, but it wasn’t forced anymore. He looked around him. They had passed through one wall and entered a huge open area. A few hundred yards from the first wall, a second rose up. He wondered if there was a third beyond that. What else could be behind that wall? Between the first two walls...
It was rather beautiful. Stone pathways wandered past fountains and flower beds. Ornate hedges and fences lined the pathways guiding people away from more delicate flowers and foliage. And the people! There were people everywhere, and some glared at him.
He realized he was standing in the middle of a busy road that led from the gate to, presumably, the Keep? This was a castle, a fortress? Palace? People were working. He moved to the side quickly and continued watching for a moment. Soldiers, gardeners, craftsmen, merchants, and nobles all moved about their business. Most with a speed that implied they had somewhere to be, though some seemed to be enjoying strolling amongst the gardens.
It was all completely overwhelming to the boy. Everyone was well or at least neatly dressed, even the people he assumed were servants were finely clothed, at least compared to himself. He was dressed in a simple white shirt with long sleeves that was mostly tucked into brown trousers; his run had left him somewhat disheveled. His shoes, well, they were barely shoes, more like slippers, fragile and soft. Compared to the neatly uniformed soldiers and servants, he looked like a beggar. If you placed him next to the nobles and merchants in their fine brightly colored silk, he was an insect. The boy was experiencing the feeling of shame, but fortunately, a message interrupted his confusion and bewilderment.
You have received an order. You are to train yourself by your master’s command. The order is open-ended, you may choose how to train. Your training may focus on Strength or Agility. Choose.
The boy’s mind froze. Which was the most important? The messages kept c
oming.
You have thirty seconds to decide. Failure to begin training will result in punishment.
Punishment? Punishment meant pain! Right? Pain was bad, let’s not be punished! The boy’s brain raced as he tried to decide.
“The master was displeased that I had trouble keeping up. Which training will help me improve so I can keep up next time?” The boy asked out loud, mostly to himself. However, wherever the messages came from, his question was taken as a decision.
You have chosen to train in Agility, Strength, and Constitution. This meets the expectations of your master’s order. Begin training. Run.
No, no, no, he couldn’t run anymore! He needed something else. Before he could open his mouth to change his decision (had he made a decision?), another message came.
Training has been determined. Begin training or suffer the consequences. Punishment will begin in 10 seconds.
The boy began to run.
Loyalty decreased due to poor management. Loyalty now 47.
Chapter 3
Lyra opened the door to Kirstin’s private chambers and stepped aside as her lady entered. Kirstin strode in and unbuckled her sword belt. She wrapped the loose ends of the belt around her scabbard.
The sitting room she stood in had two sofas and three chairs all tastefully upholstered in expensive blue fabric, but she resisted the urge to toss her sword down on the nearest one. She was a Level 19 Duelist; her weapon should be nearby. And, as a noblewoman, it was beneath her dignity to strip in her sitting room, which meant she had to make it to her bed-chamber to change out of her finely crafted and sweat-stained clothing.
“Shall I help you change, Milady?” Lyra inquired dutifully as her mistress stood still in the middle of the room. As a party member, she spoke freely and carelessly to Kirstin, but in the Keep, she was a servant before she was a friend. Lyra must observe every protocol of her duty. Kirstin may not mind, but others, some looking to find fault with the young noblewoman, certainly would.
