The Path to Peace

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “You don’t often see nobles, even lesser nobles, bowing to normal folk,” Kauree stated.

  “Alburet always seems to do the unusual,” Vanessa said with a shake of her head.

  The door to the back rooms opened and Karen came out, followed by a dozen other guild members and six strangers dressed all in black. Gerald and Vetenarie followed them, talking quietly while Marysue brought up the rear, looking pleased.

  Seeing Alburet waiting for them, Gerald grinned. “The contract on the guild is lifted.”

  “They didn’t know how to deal with the quick draining of the reserve,” Vetenarie chuckled. “It’s been interesting seeing Gerald’s plan completely flummox the guild. I’ll make sure to keep in mind that he has a different viewpoint than most I’ve met.”

  “We’re not going to be attacked today?” Fluff asked.

  “Not until they drop more money off at the Assassin’s Guild,” Karen said, giving her a hug. “Master Vetenarie was saying that three of the Houses behind it have already withdrawn their support of the endeavor as is.”

  “Indeed,” Vetenarie chuckled. “Without saying names, there are only two Houses left that seem interested in continuing the contract.”

  “I’m pretty sure I know one of them,” Alburet growled as Skippy’s face appeared in his mind’s eye. “Gilden.”

  “I can neither confirm nor deny that, mate,” Vetenarie chuckled. “I need to get back to the guild. I want to see who does what, now that there is an impasse. Enjoy your Assassin-free morning.” He shimmered as he slipped into Stealth, then even the shimmer was gone as the door opened all on its own.

  The other Assassins and guild members said goodbye and headed out as well, leaving just the group and receptionists still in the building. “Well, that was interesting,” Vanessa said, a little shocked that one of the heads of the Assassin Guild had been there. “I didn’t know Vetenarie was in on your plan.”

  “Ye said yerself tha’ they always be doin’ the unusual,” Kauree scoffed at her. “Where ye all off to now?”

  “Back to the Dwarven Lands for some more Dragon hunting,” Marysue said.

  “Ye lot be careful then, them lizards be a hard bunch to kill,” Kauree replied.

  “We will be,” Fluff said with a smile, “but thank you for the concern.”

  Looking down at the desk, Kauree shrugged. “Aye. Can’t be havin’ me employers get killed and nay pay me anymore.”

  Stacia giggled lightly and shook her head, “Of course.”

  “Shall we?” Gerald asked, leading Marysue to the door.

  “We pausing to train once we hit 75?” Alburet asked as he ushered the others out.

  “Yeah, the Abilities will come in handy, but we can probably still hit three zones today,” Gerald said. “Oh, yeah. The buildings for the merchants are ready, if you want to send messages to Stewart, Almira, and Grimgar. I’ve already told the others, but thought you might want to be the one to tell them.”

  “I will handle tha’,” Stacia said as she dug her Mindstone out.

  Stepping onto the street, Alburet summoned Tiny, Bob, Kitten, and the Copies to him. “No Assassins this morning, at least. We’re heading for hunting, you all ready?”

  “Yes master,” came the echo from all of them.

  “Let’s go,” Alburet said, falling into step beside Stacia as she sent messages.

  Alburet

  Half-blood Infernal Summoner

  Level 74

  Strength: 301 (296)

  Agility: 301 (296)

  Constitution: 238 (208)

  Intelligence: 208 (178)

  Wisdom: 926 (601)

  Charisma: 331 (296)

  Health: 6,080

  Mana: 12,960

  Spells:

  Demon Skin- Rank 7

  Demonic Retribution- Rank 7

  Summon Improved Imp

  Fire Blast- Rank 7

  Sap Strength- Rank 7

  Demonic Haze- Rank 7

  Summon Greater Destroyer

  Demonic Vitality- Rank 7

  Fire Burst- Rank 7

  Summon Improved Succubus

  Abilities:

  Personal Spells

  Flame Weapon

  Copy

  Infernal Upgrade: (Succubus- Ally)

  Infernal Upgrade: (Imp- Big Boom)

  Infernal Upgrade: (Destroyer- Demonic Shell)

  Infernal Upgrade: (Succubus- Comforting Touch)

  Copy

  Infernal Upgrade: (Succubus- Essence Drain)

  Still Caster

  Infernal Upgrade: (Imp- Burning Cleanse)

  Infernal Upgrade: (Destroyer- Savage Roar)

  Infernal Upgrade: (Destroyer- Bash)

  Copy

  Racial Abilities:

  Cast spells without verbal components

  Physical damage reduction 25%

  Magical damage reduction 10%

  Influence emotions

  Fire resistance 50%

  Reputation gains at half value

  Chapter Thirty

  Arriving back in Stormguard, they split into smaller groups to go train, planning on meeting at Grimgar’s Weaponry to upgrade their gear before heading back out. Walking to the Dead Man Inn reminded Alburet of all the messages that Stacia had sent earlier. Everyone wanted to have a feast to celebrate the impending move of Stewart, Grimgar, Almira, and others to the town of Progress.

  “They’ll ask again when we get there,” Stacia said as they made their way through the streets.

  “If need be, I’ll tell them no again,” Alburet said. “We need the levels, and we have a dinner at the Auction house with Vlad already slated. And we have no idea what will happen during that meal.”

  “Aye,” Stacia said, a small frown on her lips. “It just feels wrong to nay celebrate with the family for such a big event.”

  “It is for our family that we can’t,” Alburet said softly, patting her hand where it lay on his arm. “I’m sorry, dear heart.”

  “Nay, ya be right. We must focus on what needs to be done. We can always have a belated meal afterwards,” Stacia said, banishing the frown from her face. “We can nay fail our quest.”

  Kissing her cheek, he patted her hand again. “I didn’t grapple with my shattered past just to lose my future.”

  The pair walked in silence, surrounded by Alburet’s watchful minions. The few city folks who ended up on the same street as them quickly turned off, giving the Infernals a wide berth. Alburet shook his head as he watched a handful of natives quickly enter the closest shop.

  It wasn’t too long before they reached the Dead Man Inn. As it was still early in the day, the taproom was mostly empty. Stewart sat at his usual table, eyes locked on the door, getting to his feet when they stepped in. “Alburet, follow me,” was all he said in greeting as he led Al down to the chamber below the inn.

  The desk Stewart normally used was devoid of the usual clutter, bare except for the training tome. Alburet took in the lack of knick knacks, glancing at Stewart. “Ready so soon?”

  “I told you I would be ready,” Stewart said with a tight smile. “We’ll be ready for that celebration dinner, so don’t keep us waiting too long.” Nudging the book towards Alburet, Stewart coughed once, “Choose wisely, you’re the last Summoner I’ll be training here.”

  Alburet opened the book and flipped to the choices for level 75. After a quick scan he took the second option, Imp Storm. Chuckling at the Ability text, he closed the book and pushed it back to Stewart.

  Imp Storm: One Imp will be summoned per every 100 mana spent in this way. The summoned Imps will use the Abilities that your Imp Minion has at its disposal. Imp Storm lasts for 30 seconds, with a 3 hour cooldown.

  (To use this ability, thrust both hands upwards and use the following phrase; “Dark Lord, I beseech you, send your smallest minions to my aid.”)

  “Imp Storm?” Stewart murmured as he glanced at the book for a moment. “I hadn’t expected that.”

  “I think I�
�m going to need a big damage boost soon,” Alburet said. “I should be able to summon about fifty Imps for those thirty seconds if I’m full up when I use it.”

  Stewart blinked, “Wait… how…?”

  “I’ve been putting all my points into wisdom for more mana and greater regen,” Alburet said. “Imp Storm will be a big burst of damage for the thirty seconds they exist.”

  “I would say so,” Bob cackled. “I’ve heard from other Imps about what it’s like to be the hive mind for an Imp Storm. I was really hoping you would take that one.”

  “Hive mind?” Alburet asked.

  “Yeah,” Bob bounced in place. “They’ll all follow my telepathic commands, or your verbal ones. It’s supposed to be a rush like nothing else for an Imp.”

  “Oh gods,” Alburet said, suddenly imagining fifty Bobs running around, “that is a bit terrifying.”

  “Hey,” Bob said, looking hurt.

  “Heh. I was joking, Bob,” Alburet laughed. “After all, who has two thumbs and saved me shortly after I got to Alpha World?”

  “This Imp,” Bob said, regaining his poise and hooking both thumbs at his own chest.

  “Right,” Alburet said. “Now come on, we’re to meet back up with the others at the Portal Guild. We have more levels to gain.”

  “Alburet,” Stewart said, “the quest you have to accomplish. Do you think you’ll be able to do it?”

  Locking eyes with Stewart, Alburet nodded. “I have to, no matter what it costs me to get there and make it happen. I lost my family before I came to Alpha World. I won’t lose the one I have here.”

  “If you need anything, ask. Please, ask,” Stewart said softly. “I know what it is to lose the one you love the most, and I would hate to see Stacia suffer as I have.”

  “I promise,” Alburet said as he took Stacia’s arm, his eyes going to hers. “I will burn the world down if I have to.”

  “Aye, and I will be helpin’ ya do it,” Stacia said evenly as she squeezed his arm.

  “Let me know if a dinner is possible in the near future,” Stewart said with a cough to break the mood.

  “Will do,” Alburet said over his shoulder as he led Stacia and his minions to the glyph. “Let’s roll, guys.”

  Meeting at the Portal Guild, the group discussed their Abilities as they started the trip to the Elven Lands. Marysue had picked up an area effect remove curse ability, while Gerald had chosen an area interrupt. Karen’s was a Vanish and Decoy combo with a thirty-minute cooldown, meaning she would be able to vanish twice during a boss fight if she waited to use it. Fluffball’s choice was the one that everyone was a little surprised at; Bloody Wounds, which would leave a small bleed on anything she damaged. The bleed would only last fifteen seconds, but would be refreshed if she damaged it again.

  “It’s such a small bleed,” Karen said, “why did you take that one?”

  “It works with Whirlwind,” Fluff said. “So, yes, it is only a small damage increase, but if we do bigger groups like we have been, then I can add more damage over the entire group.”

  “It be a good choice,” Stacia said. “Ya will always have tha’ damage on any boss as well.”

  “And at level eighty-five, I can get the bleed to stack,” Fluff added.

  “Oh,” Karen nodded, “that makes sense. You’re preparing for a later Ability.”

  “Yeah,” Fluff nodded. “It still works with Whirlwind, so it turns into a massive increase in damage.”

  “What did you get, Al?” Gerald asked as they took the elevator up the tree.

  “A three hour cooldown that will summon up about fifty Imps with the same Abilities as Bob,” Alburet said dismissively.

  “Fifty Imps,” Gerald asked, his face crumpling, “really?”

  “They only last for thirty seconds,” Alburet chuckled. “But fifty Imps all Fire Bursting is a metric shit-ton of damage.”

  “Oh, yes. That would be a lot of damage in a very short time,” Marysue said. “It actually seems a little broken.”

  “Most Summoners would probably get twenty Imps at most, but I’ve been dumping all my points into Wisdom, and my gear is all Wisdom-based, which means a larger mana pool, which means more Imps.”

  “Huh. Can’t wait to see that in our next dungeon,” Gerald said, “which, by the way, is more Ratkin.”

  “Haven’t done them for a bit, so that’s good,” Marysue said with a smile. “At least it isn’t Langistors.”

  The others chuckled at her dislike of the lobster-folk. Walking along the wooden pathways far above the ground, the group finally made it to the Portal Guild to head to their next destination. Appearing outside the hedge wall in the Forest of Teeth a moment later, the group got their game faces back on, ready to rush through another zone.

  Appearing back in Stormguard for the last time that day, they entered their home and quickly got ready, bathing without playing as they were already close to being late for their dinner with Vladimir. Once they were out of the bath, though, Alburet dismissed Stacia and summoned Bob and Tiny once he was in the living room.

  “You two ready to see Stacia upgraded?” Alburet asked them, getting affirmative answers from both. His eyes went to Fluff and Karen standing nearby. “Let’s welcome our newly leveled up wife, shall we?”

  Tapping his hip he said the words aloud, “Come to me, my fiery Kitten.”

  Smoke billowed for a moment before it cleared to show Stacia in her Infernal glory. Her skin was almost the same cream white as Mother’s, while her tail and lower legs had a richer, dark leather look. The two wings on her back had the same coloration and texture as her tail, but had almost doubled again in size. As everyone watched, they shrank down to what they used to be. “Tha be good, me body can change easier. Now I can modify it to a larger degree.”

  A moment later, she was back to her usual Half-infernal appearance. Her leathers were now tighter and left her midriff bare. Her pants were almost painted on, with black lacing all the way down the sides to where they tucked into her boots. The boots were thick heeled, but elevated to give her legs a sexier look, and were covered with lots of buckles. Her daggers were the same ones she’d had, but now dark red fire sprang from the blades as she drew them. “Infernal Flame Blades, tha’ be good iffin I be needin’ to go into battle.”

  “Wow,” Karen said with soft appreciation. “You look even more amazing now.”

  Stacia grinned at her. “Thank ya, me lovely wife. Now, how about a quick kiss?”

  Karen embraced Stacia, kissing her with passion as the others all looked on. Alburet shook his head at the display. “Bob, Tiny, you should go. We need to be heading out.”

  “Damn,” Bob sighed, “she’s a greater Succubus now.” Coughing once, he lowered his voice, “You might want to take some extra vitamins tonight, Succubi really get randy at this point.”

  “Thank you for letting us be here, master,” Tiny said from where he was kneeling so he didn’t hit the ceiling. “I will be ready if you need me.” With those words he vanished in a puff of smoke.

  “Yeah, I should go too, Loralee is waiting,” Bob said, giving Alburet a wink. “Good luck.”

  By the time the minions vanished, Fluff had joined the kissing circle. “Ladies, we have a dinner we need to get to,” Alburet said. The trio broke apart and looked at him expectantly. “Fine,” he chuckled. Advancing on Stacia, he swept her into his arms and kissed her. When his lips met hers, he felt a strong spike of desire, but with effort, he broke the kiss and stepped back from her. “Fuck, Bob was right.”

  “I will temper it, but aye, I be a bit more of a handful now,” Stacia said softly.

  “You’ve always been more than a handful,” Karen commented as she poked one of Stacia’s breasts.

  “We’re going,” Alburet said, breaking the moment before anything else could happen. Opening the door, he ushered them outside. The carriage that Vanessa had arranged for them was waiting at the curb.

  Sitting in the back as the carriage began to move a few
minutes later, Alburet let out a deep breath. They would make it on time for dinner. “We cut that a little close,” he mentioned as he looked at the two across from him, who were happily holding hands.

  “Your Imp Storm on that last boss is the only reason we won that fight,” Karen remarked, commenting on the day’s adventures. “They did a stupid amount of damage in the half minute they lasted.”

  “Aye, we would have had to go back for tha’ dungeon later, iffin nay for that,” Stacia agreed.

  “What do you think Vlad will do?” Karen asked, shifting the topic to the one they were all thinking about.

  “I think he’ll be ready to go right now,” Alburet sighed. “I don’t like our chances of convincing him to give us another day.”