“It is the best option so you all can train.”
Tuomas agreed, though he wasn’t quite sure Elana would go along with it.
“Where is she, by the way?” Nick asked.
“She had to run an errand out to the market she wanted something specific and wanted to get it herself.”
He nodded, “Got it.”
There was chatter for the rest of the meal, Alissa and Donovan were talking as Nick and Tuomas were doing the same. Charlotte sat quietly, she was trying to focus, she wanted to try and listen in on both conversations without being a part of either one. She noticed a figure walk in to the hall, she looked over to see Elana had returned. She made her way over to Tuomas and interrupted his conversation. Tuomas whispered into her ear, and she nodded at his words. She looked over at Nick and mouthed some words that were inaudible to Charlotte.
Charlotte finished eating, she stood and left the dining hall and headed for her room. She slowly looked around her as she took her steps. Visions flooded her mind of her past, seeing old games and the times she ended conflict with words. Her days as a moderator at the company Grashers, her father’s company. The times she helped him out of bad deals and poor game decisions but it didn’t matter after Cogs. That game still led to the companies collapse. She could think of the last time she helped her father, she lost her patience with her family and the company she was tired of their acts and using others to manipulate other companies to their actions. She remembered seeing Tuomas in the Cogs of War incident.
That was Grashers last game, Cogs of War was a war simulator with a twist. Bringing elements of wars from the nineteenth and twentieth century, to the future. Meeting against forces that were not of this world. At least that is what I was told, who knows how true that statement was. She tried to remember what the papers she read had said, how the survivors described the games, how they felt like they had lived through the front lines of The Great War.
Living in the trenches, fighting with weapons that killed people in one hit, by destroying their digital body with rounds larger than a fist. Many died from their characters choking on gas. Something that had been outlawed long before any of them were born, or their grandparents were born, as Charlotte thought about it more.
Charlotte made it to her room and she prepared herself for a quiet night. She pulled out a small leather covered journal and flipped open to a blank page and pulled out a pencil and began to draw. She sat down on her bed and thought about the scene she was going to draw. She scribbled a rough rock face into the parchment. She stopped halfway and realized she was drawing a face, his face. She closed the journal and placed it on her nightstand. She blew out the candle and laid her head down on her pillow and closed her eyes.
***
Two more days had passed and the Inn and merchant shop had opened. It was a huge success for them. The location was right next to the city wall gate so it was one of the first places that people saw as they came through. The morning light hit the window of Donovan’s room and the light hit his eyes, waking him. He sighed, “Back to the forge.”
He rolled and sat up and began his day.
The forge was hot and he began. The day that the Inn open Sir Belthor showed up and had asked him to help arm the city guard with better equipment, since the other blacksmith had fallen ill, he knew that Donovan’s steel was better quality. Donovan accepted and had already made the test set of armor for Sir Belthor. Sir Belthor was surprised in its quality and maneuverability for himself and what this for his men, and his willing to fit each guardsman at full price was a shock to Donovan. The days were busy for him, and he was glad to get his mind off of the reality of what he was doing. Alissa visited him often bringing him food and drink. She sat and watched him, he had her help test some of the swords, so they were made well before he put them in the ready pile to send off to Belthor. He enjoyed her company; the forge area was large and none of the servants ever came down. She did work on her herbalism while she was down there, sometimes bringing back bits of new concoctions to try and work for them.
His arms were pitch black with soot from the fire and his face red from the heat, but he kept hammering on so he could help in any way he could. He didn’t realize how hard Scott’s death hit him. He never really talked to Nick or Tuomas, but he always found conversation with Scott. Alissa and Charlotte had spoken with him, mostly Alissa, but it was different with them than another guy.
“How are you doing Don?” Alissa asked him as he was deep in his thoughts.
He stopped and looked at her, “Physically I’m fine, mentally. Well that is a different animal.” He paused and looked back at the sword that he had on the anvil, “I just don’t know how this is going to end anymore, not sure if we really need to rely on anyone but ourselves. The fact that we are here is something that just is, we have to live with it until Nick can recover.”
Alissa had a sad look on her face, “Don’t you want to go back to the real world?”
“At this point I don’t know, life is relatively easy if we don’t fight, and living here is way better than my living conditions back home.” He let out a heavy sigh, “I think Scott’s death is hitting me harder than I thought it would. He was my friend, and the only guy in the group I really bonded too.”
“I understand. I miss him too. He wasn’t like every other guy I know... knew. But I miss the idea of doing things my way, this is so different, you can’t mimic reality it doesn’t work, the idea of everyone having freewill in the real world then everyone here is digitally constructed, you would eventually run out of options. Then there is having a family with someone at some point, never having someone to lead on once you pass.”
Donovan looked back at her, “Never thought about it like that.”
“You just need to understand there is more there than there could ever be here.” Alissa smiled at him, “I am going to run and head down to the Inn to see Nick and Elana. Need anything while I am out?”
Donovan shook his head, “Nope, I am good to go.”
Alissa walked over to him and hugged him, “We’ll get through this, just like Scott said we would.”
“Yeah. Just like he said we would...” He trailed off back into his work over the forge.
Alissa left him to his anvil. She shut the door behind her and could still hear the echo of the hammer striking up against the heated steel. Leaving the mansion with some light fear, she made way down to the Inn near the city gates.
***
Nick had begun his days at the Inn, Elana agreed to help out since she was the only other one who was not a program to help and follow a pattern to help patrons. The handfuls of beta testers stayed at the Inn and asked around for quests. Nick made the comment he felt like a NPC giving out information and selling the beta testers gear. He started to send them Charlotte’s way to test them to see if they could be the ones that they used for quests. Most failed her passing, and they all found out that they were actual people who were in since the public beta. They kept the fact they were really in the world quiet, for their safety, just in case Drake had caught on. Tuomas was working night and day to make this as public in the real world as possible, to public that Drake and Deborah couldn’t shut down the servers and trap them forever.
Two had made Charlotte’s pass, a man who went by the name, Dracus, and a woman who went by, Liliana. They were skilled in their classes and proved that they may be valuable players that would help them get out of the game. Tuomas then decided it was time for the next boss fight to bring them closer to the end game. Charlotte brought the two to Tuomas who analyzed their tactical abilities and their skills working in a party. He determined that Dracus would be a front man, as a sword and shield user like Alissa and Charlotte, and Liliana would be with him as another archer. They all introduced themselves. Name for a name.
The time for a fight was drawing near.
I don’t think that I need you to interfere yet. Oh no, not yet, I must move him now, he must kill it. Not them.
&
nbsp; 18:
Tuomas gathered them all two days later to discuss what was next for them all. He disclosed to everyone that he had finished the final touches of what was the next few ‘missions’ they would have to do to continue the story that Tuomas was still developing in his head. They were to go and defeat a Fire Drake up in the Minock Mines, which was hording a large sum of treasures. He scripted Sir Belthor would be prompting them in the next couple of hours.
It was a three-day trek up out of the city and out to the Minock Mines. With the beta testers with them they had to time everything perfectly so they weren't discovered and questioned by the others. For when they got off, they had to stay put each night and look as if they were logging off too. Dracus and Liliana were nice, they were well equipped for low levels, comparatively. Donovan had been able to fine tune their gear and boost it for them before they headed for the mines. On the third day they had made it to the mines. “Alright, it should be down here.” Tuomas said.
Everyone looked down the dark mine shaft, “Torches.” Charlotte said, pulling one out of her horse’s saddlebag.
The six made took slow steps watching their footing making sure that no one stumbled. A loud moan came from deeper inside the cavern and the party stopped in their place. The air was dry and stale, they were thankful for the scentless smells, the sewage trek still lingered in their minds. Tuomas drew his bow and signaled the others to draw their weapons. Charlotte moved to the front next to Dracus and they took point the rest of the way through the cave. They came to an opening that lead into a large theater type room, large and was well lit. “Boss room?” Liliana asked.
Tuomas stopped, “No not enough cover and places to hide…” He took a glance up, and dropped his torch, “Above us! Watch your head!” He yelled out as he pulled out his bow and knocked an arrow.
He pulled the string back and let the arrow lose into the air. It hit a gargoyle that was flying around about them. The creature howled and lost it track and headed for the ground. “How did we not hear them?” Alissa asked, as she raised her shield.
There was a loud thud when the best hit the ground. Three more snarls made way to them as they saw more come off the tops of the sides of the walls. They were swift with their wings, massive and grey the gargoyles swooped in and grabbed Dracus and flung him across the room. Dracus hit the ground and let out a cry. Liliana yelled at him, “It doesn’t actually hurt, dumb ass!”
Charlotte shot Tuomas a glance, and he nodded. He took another shot at another gargoyle. The gargoyle caught it midair and snapped the arrow in two and dropped it. It hissed at Tuomas swooping its way over to him. Charlotte jumped in the way and sliced the beast across its wing. Blood spewed from the wound and the wing went limp, forcing the gargoyle to the ground. The gargoyle hissed and backed away from them as Charlotte charged it and went for a killing blow. Charlotte brought the sword down upon the beast, making a gash in its chest. The gargoyle howled and backed away. Blood oozed from its wound and covered the floor. An arrow whizzed past Charlotte’s head and hit the best in the face. The gargoyle slumped and hit the ground. Tuomas looked over to see Alissa and Donovan taking on another one.
Donovan crushed the beast underneath the force of the hammer. The sound of the bones cracking filled the air as the gargoyle whined and laid upon the ground. Dracus was being covered by Liliana as he recovered and readied himself to attack the last gargoyle. He swung his sword and injured the opponent in front of him. A spew of blood flew from the wound Dracus had caused. The gargoyle swung back and missed Dracus, for he rolled out of the way just in time. An arrow flew past him and hit the gargoyle dead center of its chest. The beast broke the shaft and continued its attack. It shifted its gaze to Liliana. She knocked another arrow and pulled back for another shot. But before she could release the gargoyle was upon her. It dug its claws into her chest and picked her up. She looked into the beast’s eyes, for a game they seemed filled with true hate. The gargoyle threw her toward Donovan and Alissa’s position. Dracus reacted quickly and charged the gargoyle. He thought be caught it off guard, but it tripped him. Dracus went face first into the mucked ground and dropped his sword.
Liliana got to her feet and saw that she had dropped her bow when the gargoyle threw her. She saw Dracus face down in the dirt. “God he is worthless.” she cursed “Decent tank my ass.”
Dracus rolled and drew his hidden dagger and stabbed the beast in its leg. Blood gushed as his pulled it out. The gargoyle hissed at him as he shifted and got to his feet, dagger in hand. The beast charged him, and Dracus jumped and dug the blade into the gargoyle’s skull. The beast let out a shy howl and slumped. Dracus withdrew his blade and sheathed it and looked over at Liliana, “Worthless huh?”
She looked at him, “Damn it, don’t be stupid.”
He smirked, “Too late.” Dracus picked up his long sword and sheathed it and looked over toward Charlotte and Tuomas, “Shall we move on?”
The others nodded and they regrouped at the bottom of the cavern. “That could have been bad.” Donovan said whispered to Alissa.
“I don’t remember these being here when I…” Tuomas started.
Dracus and Liliana looked at Tuomas, who noticed he was bleeding, “Ah hell.”
“Why are you bleeding, aren’t you a gamer like us?” Liliana asked.
“Well,” Tuomas was hesitant he looked over at Charlotte then passed by the rest of them. They all nodded, it was too late to backtrack, “If I say anything, you can’t go about saying things after this. As in lawsuit level stuff.” Tuomas bluffed.
“Deal.” Dracus said crossing his arms.
Tuomas nodded, “Ok, I am Tuomas Fidlin, co-owner and lead software designer of Virtual Industry, and these here are some of my employees, and good friends.”
Donovan, Alissa and Charlotte, all stood there looking at Liliana and Dracus, whose eyes grew wide, “We are beating the game before anyone else, and we had two others, but are no longer able to fight with us, and we chose you two to help us. A group of six to beat this game, and we are almost done.”
Liliana spoke, “That doesn’t explain the blood.”
Tuomas looked at her, “We are testing out a new full body suit that simulates all the pain and feelings that a soldier would in war. VI was contracted to work on this and a simulated world that would let the military train their soldiers.”
Dracus looked at them, “Military? This isn’t a shooter game.”
“Well that world is already up, but is classified, we are still testing the suits.” Tuomas countered, “And I wasn’t fond of getting my employees shot and feeling that pain.”
“But the blood?” Liliana asked again, getting impatient.
“Update model design, it tracks with the suit, if I get cut, the model will show where and the blood will track like a real body does.”
“Is this the real you then? Unlike our avatars?” Dracus asked.
“Yes.” Charlotte answered, not giving Tuomas a moment to answer.
Dracus looked at her, “And your names, real or… I know Tuomas was truthful, everyone knows Tuomas Fidlin.”
Alissa spoke up this time, “Yep all of our names are our names, since we knew each other there was no reason to use usernames around each other.”
“You know, that bit of information and really thinking about it, I recognize your voice. I remember you from somewhere, Charlotte.” Dracus paused, “You wouldn’t happen to be same Charlotte that was the one who ended the Grashers incident would you?”
Charlotte lowered her head, “I am.”
“You have my thanks.” Dracus said.
Charlotte looked up at him in confusion, “Why?”
“You saved my brother’s life with that you know. He was one of the software writers that was under attack, I still remember when I was still living at home. He would receive death threats over the phone and by mail. It was a nightmare for the family, he even moved out to live in an apartment until everything was settled.”
“Who was
he, if you don’t mind me knowing his name?” Charlotte asked, her curiosity had been peaked.
“Altor.” Dracus stated.
“Altor Brigend?”
“You knew him?” Dracus asked, shocked that she remembered.
“Not personally, but I knew of him, he was on the list my father gave me to know. If I remember correctly, he was falsely accused, unlike many of the others on that list...” she paused, “And that would make you David.”
“Well what do you know?” Dracus smiled, “Small world.”
Charlotte smiled back, “Yeah, small world.”
Tuomas looked down the hall, “Sorry to interrupt but we need to keep going.
Charlotte and the others nodded, and they took off heading back through a tunnel. The ground began to rumble, and a voice boomed through the tunnel, “Who dares enter my domain?”
“Someone who is mad you just butchered a great line from a movie…” Liliana whispered to herself.
Tuomas looked back at the others, “We need to keep going, don’t let it deter you.”
They picked up speed trying to get to the end of the tunnel, where they thought the boss was located. “Hey what is it?” Liliana asked, “You know, since you helped design it.”
Without hesitation Tuomas said, “A fire drake.”
“A dragon…” Dracus whispered.
“And a big one too.”
The party made it to the end of the hallway to see the door, to the monstrous creature, closed. Tuomas put his hand on the door, “This should not be closed, unless someone was already in there…”
They could hear the dragon roaring in behind the door and the clash of a single sword hitting the hide of the beast. Tuomas stood there, listening to the battle trying to figure out what was going on. “Who the hell could have beat us here?” he said as he turned to face Charlotte.
She shook her head, “I have absolutely no idea. Didn’t you just finish this?”
Tuomas nodded, “I don’t know what the hell is going on. God, I hope Drake didn’t catch on.”
The Seeds of Evermore Page 16
