Should I really do this?
Rachael’s face flashed through Finn’s mind then, that familiar challenging expression taunting him. That twinkle in her eye. He knew what she would say right now. She would have already pushed his stubborn, stupid ass into the flames.
So, Finn took the final step.
The fire surrounded him – swirling and spinning in a dizzying cascade of orange and red. He felt them lap at his clothes and skin, yet he didn’t feel any pain. Instead, a tingling, hot sensation washed over him. Then the heat entered his mouth and eyes, the warmth spreading through his limbs until he felt like he was standing in the center of a volcano.
A translucent blue notification crashed down in front of him, framed by the roaring inferno. The text seemed to shift and swim across the window, only resolving into focus when Finn tried to read the prompt.
System Notice
Life has not treated you kindly. It has taken your wife, your life, and your passion from you. But you have been given a chance to be reborn – a chance to start over. Instead of shying away from this challenge, you took a leap of faith. For that, you will be rewarded!
You have become a god’s chosen, her avatar in this new world. Your only direction is to follow your passion. To burn so brightly that the entire world will turn to watch the blaze, staring in awe at the flames.
You have been awarded +100 Fame
You have been awarded +5 to Willpower
You have been awarded +5 to Intelligence
You have been awarded +2 to Endurance
You have been awarded +2 to Strength
You have been awarded +2 to Dexterity
Path of Flame Unlocked
Attention of the Seer
This notification soon faded from view, leaving only roaring fire lingering around Finn. Amid this inferno, he heard the Seer’s voice. “I will give you one last gift, Finn. In return for your bravery, I will bend the rules a bit for your benefit.
“Enjoy your new life and live it to the fullest.”
And then there were only the flames.
Chapter 4 - Weighed
The roaring fires abruptly cleared, and Finn found himself standing in an open courtyard. He felt momentarily disoriented, stumbling slightly and barely managing to grab hold of something to steady himself.
“Hey, watch it, buddy!”
Finn looked up to discover that the “something” had been another person’s shoulder. For a second, he was impressed by how solid it felt. The tactile feedback was more muted, perhaps indicating that pain would be as well. But he could still feel the coarse fibers of the man’s shirt. Although, Finn suddenly realized he had been awkwardly groping the guy’s shoulder for an uncomfortably long time – a point driven home by the man’s confused stare.
“Uh, sorry about that,” Finn muttered. “Just felt sort of disoriented for a second.”
The other guy’s expression softened. “No worries. The transition from that weird tutorial to here was a bit… unexpected.”
Finn cocked his head. So, this was another player?
However, that question suddenly fled his mind as he went to remove his hand. Finn stopped short, staring at the limb as though it belonged to someone else. It looked different. The wrinkles had smoothed away and the age spots had disappeared. These weren’t the hands of a teenager, but they also weren’t the gnarled skin of some old fart either.
With cautious fingers, Finn peeled back at the loose beige robes that now wrapped his frame, noticing that his arms were in similar shape.
Was this what the Seer meant by a gift? Did she give me a new body? Or perhaps my own body, but younger? Finn wondered. He’d have to put a pin in that question until he found a mirror.
Even more strangely, Finn noticed a pattern had been tattooed across the top of his right hand, stretching upward across his wrist. There were three tarot cards and a snake wrapping between and around them. The cards showed the same images as the reading in the Seer’s tent. The Emperor. The Sun Reversed. Ace of Wands Reversed. He could also vaguely recall that this was where the Seer’s fingers had lingered before he stepped into the flames.
A rueful smile tugged at Finn’s lips. And here he had thought his days of waking up in a strange place with a random tattoo were far behind him.
Finn’s attention shifted back to the courtyard, trying to get a sense of where the hell the fire goddess had teleported him. The area was a rounded enclosure, the walls made of thick clay bricks. It was also hot, but the air wasn’t heavy with moisture. It was a dry heat – like Finn was standing in an oven. Only a faint breeze provided some relief, the occasional gust shifting the sand that coated the courtyard.
Finn glanced upward, holding up a hand to blot out the harsh sunlight. There was no roof covering the courtyard, and the sun was just barely cresting the top of the walls that surrounded them. Beyond that, Finn could make out spiraling towers and other structures that loomed around the enclosure – a city of some sort then.
The area was also loud. The courtyard had been packed full of other players, multi-colored rifts tearing open frequently to deposit more confused-looking men and women – all robed in the same drab wraps and sandals. They milled about, talking to each other, and murmuring in confusion. Finn could certainly sympathize. This was an abrupt start to the game.
Just as Finn was wondering what the hell they were supposed to be doing here, a voice spoke up. “Hail, travelers, and welcome to Lahab!”
Finn turned to find an austere man dressed in rich silks addressing the crowd. He stood on a small podium near the back of the enclosure. Intricate tattoos adorned his neck and the bare patches of skin that flashed from beneath his robes. However, he didn’t seem to be armed. He was flanked on either side by large men wearing more-practical armor. Massive curved swords were strapped to their backs, and they wore thick mail and metal helmets.
So, this seems like an NPC, Finn thought to himself. Which must mean that they referred to players as “travelers” here. Clever touch.
“My name is Nefreet, and it is part of my duties to welcome newcomers to our great city,” the man continued, his voice booming across the courtyard.
“I am sure you all are confused and have many questions. I assure you that they will be answered in good time. For now, you will need to be tested. In a moment, the doors beside me will open. Please form orderly lines. This will make the sorting process faster.” Finn could indeed see that there were large wooden doors installed on either side of the platform. However, none of the players moved to form lines.
“What do you mean by testing?” someone shouted from the crowd.
The man nodded, his expression remaining stoic. “All newcomers to Lahab are tested for their magical aptitude. Those that are shown to have a high affinity are given the privilege of attending our esteemed Mage Guild. All others may pass freely into the city itself.”
“I’m guessing that privilege isn’t optional,” a young man beside Finn muttered. The other traveler looked like he couldn’t have been older than 20 – maybe even still in high school, with a mop of brown hair and a thin frame.
“What do you mean?” Finn asked.
The young man pointed at the walls ringing the enclosure. “Awful lot of armed guards in this welcome committee.” Finn’s eyes widened as he suddenly noticed the soldiers ringing the enclosure. He had missed that before. The soldiers were armed with bows, and a few wore robes and held staves. Mages perhaps?
Someone else must have picked up on the same thing because another shout rang out. “And what if we decide not to join this Mage Guild or don’t want to be tested?”
Nefreet crossed his arms. “That would be truly unfortunate. Refusal will result in the purge of a traveler’s magical ability and immediate exile from Lahab. I suspect any foolish enough to choose this path will not last long among the sands.” A surprised murmur rippled across the crowd of players.
“That’s bullshit!” someone shouted. “So, we have to join this gu
ild?”
“Or maybe we can just leave!” another shouted. This time, the angry noise came from a traveler near Finn. He was a large, surly-looking man that paced a few steps toward the podium, stabbing a finger at the air. “There are a hundred of us and only a handful of you.” More angry murmurs came from the crowd.
“That would be unwise,” Nefreet said, unperturbed by the commotion.
“Wow, so this is going to end badly,” the young man beside Finn murmured. “We might want to step back a bit.”
Finn was quick to agree, and the pair backed against a nearby wall as they watched the angry traveler stalk forward toward Nefreet. “Screw you, you wannabe Jafar! I don’t need any of your mystical Aladdin bullshit,” the player shouted. “Let me the hell out of here!”
Nefreet barely moved, a subtle twitch of his fingers.
That was the only warning.
Nearly a dozen arrows struck the player at once, a belated hum filling the air. The player stood still for a fraction of a second, wavering on his feet before falling forward and hitting the ground with a dull thump. Blood leaked from the dozen puncture wounds, swiftly pooling in the hot sand. His body rested only a few feet away, his lifeless eyes now staring blankly at Finn.
“Holy shit,” Finn whispered. This might be a game, but it looked pretty damn real. That player was dead – definitely dead. He shared a look with the young man beside him, seeing the same shock reflected on his face.
The crowd seemed to have a similar reaction. A sudden silence descended over the courtyard. Into this stillness, Nefreet inserted a single calm question. “Are there any further objections?”
More silence.
“In that case, please form orderly lines in front of each door.”
The players were now quick to move into position. Finn soon found himself standing in line with the young man. “Thanks for the quick thinking,” he said quietly.
“No problem,” the kid replied before sticking out a hand in greeting. “Name’s Kyyle Wibble. That’s Kyyle with two ‘Y’s,’ thank you very much.”
Finn couldn’t help the involuntary chuckle that bubbled to his lips. “Did your parents lose a bet or something?”
Kyyle matched his smile. “I get that a lot. And the answer is yeah, sort of. This is what I get for having trolls for parents, I guess.”
“No kidding. Well, I’m Finn. Nice to meet you,” Finn said.
He hesitated a moment, his eyes skimming back to the nearby corpse. “So, uh, this might seem like a dumb question, but is this a typical way to start a game nowadays? It’s been at least a few decades since I played an RPG, but this seems intense…” Finn trailed off. No one had bothered to come clean up the body. Although, with the way the travelers kept glancing at it furtively, Finn suspected Nefreet intended to leave it there as an example.
“A few decades?” Kyyle replied with an arched eyebrow. “You’re like what? Maybe forty? Been living under a rock or something?”
Finn had to do a double-take at that. He had forgotten about the Seer’s parting “gift” and how strange his hands and arms had looked. However, he better start acting his age – or his appearance, he supposed. So, Finn just shrugged and gave Kyyle a lopsided grin in return. “Sorry, I’m just a little thrown off, by… you know,” he offered, gesturing at the corpse.
Kyyle seemed to accept this, grimacing slightly. “Understandable.”
The young man let out a sigh. “But to answer your question, not really? AO is supposed to be completely different than any other game on the market. Most start off with a bit of hand-holding and then let you choose your own path. Open world and sandbox are always the buzzwords.”
Kyyle chuckled softly. “Clearly, they went in a different direction here – as though the tutorial or introduction or whatever you want to call it didn’t already make that clear,” he added with a trace of sarcasm.
Finn cocked his head. “Did you start in a tent too? A tarot reading?”
Kyyle gave him a puzzled look. “Nope. It was weird. Started in some sort of grass field,” he replied, shaking his head. His eyes were distant.
Then Kyyle seemed to shake himself out of it, glancing at Finn. “It was kind of intense, and I’m not sure I want to talk about it. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Okay, so the tutorial is individually tailored, Finn thought to himself. That was impressive. Actually, it was rather frightening. The processing power that would require… Plus, it was clear that the game was picking up on their memories, which meant that the introductions could be rather impactful. The game’s AI must be incredible. What he wouldn’t give to dig into the code behind the game’s AI controller.
Finn shook his head, his eyes skimming back to the dead player. “Why would people put up with this, though? Like why not just start over and make a new character?” Hell, he was half-tempted himself.
When Finn looked up, he saw that Kyyle was staring at him in confusion. “Seriously, are you a hermit or something? Didn’t you read any of the character creation rules? You get one character and can’t reroll another for thirty days.
“In other words, we’re stuck here. At least, if we want to keep playing,” Kyyle continued. Despite the anxious expressions of the nearby players, a small smile crept across the young man’s face. “Sort of exciting, isn’t it? Knowing that one fuck-up might completely alter your path through the game?”
Finn wasn’t sure how to respond to that. He supposed Kyyle had a point. Real stakes made their decisions more meaningful. Although, it also meant he might end up facedown, with a dozen arrows in his back and his blood pooling on the sand. Not to mention whatever that traveler would face when he eventually respawned.
They stepped forward again. The line was moving quickly. Whatever this test entailed, it must be fast.
“So, if I ‘pass’ this test—” Finn began.
“Then it looks you’re heading to the Mage Guild,” Kyyle said with a shrug. “Unless you prefer whatever exile looks like or you find a way to leave or escape. My guess is that both of those options are going to suck, though.”
Finn didn’t have much longer to ponder on this. The door now loomed in front of them. The portal swung open, and the guards gestured at Kyyle. “Speak of the devil. Looks like it’s my turn!” Kyyle murmured.
As the young man passed through, he spared Finn one last look. “Good luck, man. See you on the other side! Maybe…”
Then the doors slammed shut, and Kyyle was gone.
For some reason, Finn felt nervous, which just made him feel like an idiot.
This was a simulation. He knew that. These guards weren’t real, and neither was the sand that blew across the courtyard. This was all just strings of code pieced together on a server somewhere. Yet that argument rang hollow as he felt the warmth of the sun on his skin, and he stepped up to take his place in front of the doors on completely functional legs.
Finn eyed the wooden doorway that loomed in front of him. It was also clear that his choices in this game mattered and he’d likely only get one shot.
Not unlike real life, he thought grudgingly.
“Next,” the guard barked, breaking Finn out of his trance.
The portal opened with the creak of wood.
Finn didn’t give himself time to chicken out. He stepped forward quickly, slipping through the doorway and into the small chamber on the other side. He could feel his pulse hammering in his chest, and his palms were sweaty. The doors crashed shut behind Finn with a bang, causing him to jump in surprise.
A single man stood in the small, dark room. The stranger wore dark robes and held a plain wooden staff in one hand. Like Nefreet, his skin was a dark olive, and he sported tattoos on his arms and neck, but Finn didn’t understand their significance – if any. His guess was that this man was a mage of some sort – he certainly looked the part – even though he had yet to see anyone cast a spell.
The man gestured at Finn to approach a column in the center of the room. A plain crystal, ab
out the size of a basketball, rested atop the pillar. The surface was polished to a mirror-like shine, and the crystal was almost entirely translucent.
“Please place your hand on the crystal,” the man said calmly. “We will be testing for the type and strength of your affinity.”
Which is about as clear as mud, Finn thought. What’s an affinity?
However, Finn did as he was told, approaching the column. As his hand neared the crystal, he noticed orange and red tendrils of energy arc between his palm and the glassy surface. He jerked backward in surprise, although he had felt no pain.
He glanced at the robed man. “Is that normal?”
The man’s stoic expression never wavered, but Finn noticed his eyes skim briefly to the strange tattoo on Finn’s right hand. For a fraction of a second, Finn thought he saw the man’s forehead wrinkle in confusion. “Yes. Now, please touch the crystal.”
Finn didn’t believe him, but the image of the dead player still lingered in his mind. Best to do as he was told, at least until he learned more about this place.
Moving quickly, he pressed his palm firmly against the crystal.
As soon as his hand touched the surface, darkness encroached on the corners of Finn’s vision, growing and expanding until the room faded away.
In an instant, the darkness abruptly receded, and Finn was suddenly standing in a grassy field, a rustic barn lingering nearby. He blinked rapidly, feeling disoriented yet again. The sun shone overhead, and billowing clouds drifted through the air. Yet he was forced to do a double-take as he realized that the surface of the barn was distorted and blurry, as though he was suddenly near-sighted. The building wouldn’t quite come into focus.
Yet the scene looked so familiar...
Suddenly, it clicked, a heavy feeling settling in Finn’s stomach – a mixture of dread, hope, and longing that felt at once both exquisitely painful and incredible.
Rachael had so desperately wanted a country wedding. It had taken them weeks to find the right dilapidated barn, visiting at least a dozen venues – all located in the middle of nowhere, of course. He had insisted at the time that it was pointless; that he would only have eyes for her when the moment came. They could have gotten married anywhere as far as he was concerned. She had just rolled her eyes and given him an exasperated look.
Awaken Online: Ember (Tarot #1) Page 4
