Finn turned, already knowing what he would see.
Yet his mind still went blank as he took in what lay before him.
His wife Rachael stood there, dressed in her wedding gown, her veil thrown back to reveal her shining eyes. She stared at him as though he was the only person in the universe.
Finn remembered this day. Remembered this look. He could barely make out the pastor and the crowd. Just like the barn, they were nothing more than blurry, half-formed images – splashes of colors in his peripheral vision.
Which meant he had been right.
He had only been able to focus on Rachael that day.
Finn reached for her, but even as he moved, orange and red flickered in the corner of his vision. He glanced to the side and saw fire blooming in the distance, growing at an incredible pace. Within mere seconds, the blaze had swept across the field. Then it was consuming the barn and threatened to overwhelm the pair in a raging inferno.
Finn tried to scream, tried to move, but no sound spilled from his lips. The heat pushed at him like a tangible force, and his limbs wouldn’t respond. There was only his wife’s shining eyes, framed by roaring flame.
Then the fire consumed them both.
Finn blinked.
He was back in the small room. His heart was pounding in his ears, and he tasted the copper tang of blood. Had he bitten his tongue?
That was just a memory – nothing more, he told himself. Yet his mind was struggling to accept that. To make matters worse, the world was still awash in red and orange. He looked down and realized that it was the crystal. It shone so brightly that it lit the entire room, a fire raging within its core.
“Holy shit,” Finn said softly.
He felt a hand tug at his arm, and he looked up. The other man pulled him away from the crystal, the fire dwindling as soon as Finn’s hand left the stone. The mage’s stoic expression had cracked. He looked worried. Terrified, really.
“What is this?” Finn asked in confusion. “Do I have an affinity?”
The man simply stared at him, incredulously. “Yes. Fire,” he said in a clipped voice. He chewed on the inside of his cheek, glancing at the door on the other side of the room. Someone thumped the wood, perhaps a signal to ask whether Finn was ready to move on.
“We don’t have much time,” the man said, glancing back at Finn. “My name is Abbad. Speak to me once you have gone through the induction ceremony. Tell no one what happened here. Your life depends on it.”
Before Finn could respond, a translucent blue prompt appeared in front of him.
New Quest: Curious Capabilities
While undergoing the test of your affinity, something went wrong. The test conjured a powerful memory, and you clearly alarmed the test administrator. Abbad instructed you to keep quiet and approach him once you are inducted into the Mage Guild. He might be able to provide more answers then.
Difficulty: B
Success: Find a discreet moment to speak with Abbad.
Failure: Fail to talk to Abbad, get kicked out of the guild, or die. Or possibly all of the above. There are no “save points” here, buddy.
Reward: More information on your magical affinity and the results of your test.
Finn opened his mouth, but he didn’t get a chance to ask any more questions. Abbad banged on the door once, and it suddenly creaked open. A group of robed men and women stood on the other side, flanked by more mailed guards. The group of mages looked to Abbad as though expecting something.
“Fire affinity, novice rank,” Abbad reported, bowing his head and gesturing to Finn.
The group of robed men and women returned the gesture.
“Please come with us,” a woman spoke up, addressing Finn.
He obliged, numbly stepping out of the room and his mind still racing. He spared one last look behind him as the doors began to close, meeting Abbad’s eyes. He saw concern and fear lingering there, despite the man’s attempt to control his expression.
Then the doors slammed shut.
Chapter 5 - Educated
Finn had been in a trance since the strange test. A robed woman silently led him through a series of passages like he was some sort of zombie. His thoughts kept returning to the crystal and the memory of Rachael. He felt conflicted – at war with himself.
Part of him wanted to run back to that testing room. To see her again, just one more time – even though he knew it wasn’t real. She was still dead.
He would only be torturing himself.
And then there was the anger.
That whole vision felt like a violation. Like the game was plumbing the depths of his soul. Hell, he didn’t even like having his personal information online, much less some sort of program spelunking through his brain. He resolved that this would be the last time he let the game access his memories – at least if he had any control over it.
Then there had been the blazing inferno that burned inside the crystal and the fear in Abbad’s eyes. He couldn’t explain the man’s reaction, or his hastily whispered instructions. What had Finn done wrong? Was he at risk here? If that crystal was intended to measure the intensity of his affinity – whatever that was – then was it strong? If that was a weak reaction, he could only imagine that a “strong” affinity would have caused the damn crystal to explode. So it seemed likely that Abbad had downplayed the instructions he gave the guards.
Finn was also left feeling… intrigued, his curiosity pulling him forward despite his concerns.
“Well, long time no see!”
Finn looked up sharply to find Kyyle grinning at him. At some point, the robed woman had dropped him off. He now stood in a large rectangular room, with globes of light resting on braziers placed at even intervals along the walls. There were at least a few dozen other players milling about the room, their feet scuffing against the bare stone floor. Most spared only a brief glance at Finn as he entered, speaking to one another in hushed voices.
“Hey, Kyyle,” Finn said, realizing that he hadn’t replied to the young man.
“I take it the test was a little traumatic?” Kyyle asked, arching an eyebrow.
“I guess you could say that,” Finn grumbled. “This damn game…”
This earned him a chuckle from the young man. “I’m with you there, but there’s still something fascinating about it. I mean, you haven’t logged out yet, right?”
Finn had to grudgingly admit that Kyyle had a point. He could have just logged out. He still could. But he had never seriously considered it, despite his reservations about how the game was accessing his memories. He still remembered the Seer’s offer: a new life – a new passion. Having tasted just a bit of this world, he was already left wanting more.
“Anyway, what were your results? I ended up with earth and novice rank. Although, I have no clue what that means,” Kyyle offered with a shrug.
“Fire affinity and novice,” Finn replied, omitting the part where the test administrator had looked spooked, and he had lit up the crystal like a Christmas tree. Although, technically, it was more like someone had drenched the tree in lighter fluid and then lit a match.
“So—” Kyyle began but was cut off abruptly as a familiar voice echoed through the chamber.
“Let me have your attention please.”
They turned to find Nefreet addressing the group of travelers. This time, he was unaccompanied by any guards. He murmured something under his breath, his hands winding rapidly through a series of intricate gestures. As he finished, the stone floor in the center of the room turned to liquid, pooling and swirling. The players backed away quickly, hovering along the walls. Thick blobs of liquid drifted up into the air and hardened swiftly into dense rock. Only moments later, there were suddenly neat rows of stone benches.
“Please take a seat,” Nefreet ordered, his face impassive.
Finn and Kyyle shared a look before finding a spot in the back row. They were both of one mind. Better not to draw attention to themselves, at least until they figured out how thi
s place worked. The memory of that surly player’s arrow-studded corpse was still fresh in their minds. Finn was struggling to forget the way the man’s dead eyes had stared at him vacantly.
Nefreet waited patiently until all of the players were sitting before addressing them once more. “I imagine you all have many questions. I hope to provide some clarity before you begin your time at the Mage Guild.
“First, some introductions. I am the guild’s headmaster,” Nefreet explained, placing a hand to his chest. “The courtyard you first entered and this entire complex are part of our guild hall. Please note that you may not leave the compound and enter Lahab until you have graduated from our distinguished program. Anyone attempting to violate this restriction shall have their mana purged and shall be banished into the sands.”
He let that explanation sink in before continuing, “You may be asking yourself why travelers first arrive in the Mage Guild and why they are required to undergo testing. The short answer is that mages are dangerous. They wield extreme power over the elements as well as over darkness and light. Even an untrained mage – in a moment of instinct or fear – can cause incredible devastation.
“More than a century ago, the former Emir decreed that everyone in Lahab and the surrounding territories would be tested for magic. Those that demonstrate a natural proclivity for the four elemental affinities are required to attend the Mage Guild – to be properly trained and instructed in the use of their abilities. Those of you that graduate will also be given an opportunity to continue as members of the guild. The most exceptional among you may even be offered a place working with the Emir himself.”
A hand shot in the air from the front row, a petite young woman with auburn hair accompanying the limb. Her back was rigid, and her arm held at a perfect 90-degree angle.
“Ugh, I think we found the class kiss-ass already,” Kyyle muttered under his breath. “Some things never change.”
Finn chuckled quietly until he noted Nefreet’s eyes skim across them. He quickly covered himself with a cough, but the headmaster didn’t look convinced.
Nefreet nodded toward the girl.
“Who is the Emir exactly?” she asked.
“The leader of our great city. Lahab is ruled by the Emir and his royal army. Beneath him are the three guilds, the Mage Guild, Merchant Guild, and Fighter Guild. These groups are charged with governing various aspects of the city.”
Another hand rose – lazier this time. It belonged to a hulking man who must have been in his early thirties. He leaned forward as he spoke, “You mentioned training us? And something about graduating? So, this is basically a school?”
“Of sorts,” Nefreet answered calmly. “However, you may find the curriculum rather grueling compared to your world. Travelers before you have voiced several… complaints.”
Oh great, Finn thought to himself, remembering Abbad’s concerned expression.
“We will provide classes and instruction on the use of your gifts,” Nefreet explained. “Since you are novices, you will be required to attend generalized instruction before moving into more specific topics. Your first objective will be to master the art of summoning your mana and basic spellcasting.”
The burly man opened his mouth to ask another question, but Nefreet raised a staying hand. “This may sound normal to you. However, it is the Emir’s opinion that competition breeds success. With this in mind, you will also be competing directly with your peers. All students that attend the guild are required to participate in the duels, a weekly gauntlet where you will fight against other students.”
Nefreet’s gaze swept across the room, his expression impassive.
“For travelers such as yourself, these fights are to the death.”
An uncomfortable silence accompanied this statement.
“The matches will be scored. The lowest 10% of our students are regularly culled at the end of each month,” Nefreet explained. No one in the room bothered to ask what it meant to “cull” a player. They could guess from the headmaster’s tone. Purging their mana and exile seemed likely – or at least that seemed like Nefreet’s go-to punishment.
A hushed silence had now descended over the room, and the players were eyeing each other – their expressions ranging between worry and curiosity. Nefreet had just explained that they would be actively trying to kill each other soon. Some of the other players, such as the large guy that had raised his hand, were openly sizing up the others. He looked somewhat excited at the prospect.
Finn was more hesitant. He wasn’t against the idea of PVP. He had played some old-school MMOs, albeit a long time ago. However, AO had been incredibly realistic so far, and he suspected that killing someone in this game would be a different experience. It was one thing to press a button and stab a poorly textured character model, but quite another to feel your enemy’s blood trickle between your fingers.
The competitive nature of the duels also had other implications. His classmates weren’t “friends” or “teammates.” They were potential enemies. Which meant it would be essential to play information regarding his abilities close to the chest. Those details could easily give Finn’s opponents an edge.
Nefreet coughed lightly to clear his throat. “I see that you all understand. Although, I note a few concerned expressions. Some of you may be happy to learn that as novices, you will be given two weeks to train before you will be entered into the duels. More details will be revealed then.”
As Nefreet finished speaking, another translucent notification popped up in front of Finn, glowing with a soft blue light.
New Quest: Cramming
You have been forcibly inducted into the Mage Guild in Lahab. As part of your training, the headmaster has explained that you will be pitted against the other students in some sort of weekly deathmatch and the poor-performers will be “culled” – talk about a forced curve! You have two weeks to prepare, so you better study hard!
Difficulty: B
Success: Learn the basics of spellcasting.
Failure: Fail to learn the basics of spellcasting.
Reward: Umm… hopefully you won’t get frozen or incinerated by the other students?
Finn snorted softly. It seemed the game’s AI had a sense of humor at least. A glance around the room confirmed that the other players looked distracted, their eyes focusing on something he couldn’t see. Presumably, they had seen a similar prompt.
“Moving along, I expect you will find your classes similarly grueling,” Nefreet continued, oblivious to the students’ distraction. “You are travelers. You cannot die – at least not truly. Therefore, we are permitted to exercise more extreme measures to train your minds and harden your bodies to the rigors of spellcasting.
“I suggest you embrace the faculty’s instructions and use this initial time wisely,” Nefreet said, his voice echoing slightly through the room. “Are there any questions?”
A heavy silence lingered in the air, none of the players – now students – quite daring to breathe. It was clear that they had two weeks before they would be pitted against one another in a duel to the death. Oh, and the headmaster seemed to imply that their teachers would have no compunction about killing or maiming them in the meantime.
Fucking perfect.
What is it with this game? Finn wondered, not for the first time. It seemed to go out of its way to avoid the sort of hand-holding that was common in other games. He should be upset. Yet he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to fling spells around. He was also curious about how he would fare against his classmates. Once upon a time, he had been rather competitive.
“Well, it looks like we can move on then,” Nefreet said, waving at the nearby doorway. “The first step will be for you to learn Veridian, the language of mages. Since time is of the essence, we will expedite this process.”
Finn’s fingers clenched on the edge of the stone bench as he saw Abbad step forward into the room, the stoic man moving to stand beside Nefreet. Although, if Abbad noticed Finn, he made
absolutely no sign, staying silent with his arms crossed and his head bowed.
Nefreet gestured at the class suck-up in the front row. She rose and stepped forward, although less enthusiastically this time. As she approached Abbad, he raised a hand and placed two fingers to her temple. She flinched slightly like she wanted to back away, but the girl managed to stay still. Finn could see a flicker of energy pass through the mage’s fingers, and her eyes widened in surprise. Although nothing else seemed to happen.
Then Abbad offered his palm face-up. The girl placed her left hand in his, and the man tugged what appeared to be a stylus from beneath his robes. He ran the instrument across the girl’s forearm, leaving a dark tattoo in its wake.
As Abbad backed away, Nefreet gestured toward the nearby doorway again. “Once you have learned the language and been given your induction mark, you may leave. You will be provided with a brief respite to become familiar with the school. Your first class will begin tomorrow morning.”
The girl stumbled out of the room, muttering to herself, and her eyes looked distant and confused. Then Nefreet gestured at another student. Finn’s thoughts were clouded as he watched each student repeat the same process. The tattoo didn’t bother him, but the language was another matter. After his experience with the Seer and the testing crystal, he could only assume that Abbad was manipulating each person’s memory, basically dumping the language into their mind.
Finn had no interest in letting the mage or this game mess with his head – not again anyway. The image of Rachael’s face and their rather fiery wedding was still fresh in his mind.
Awaken Online: Ember (Tarot #1) Page 5
