Time of Change (Emerilia Book 7)

by Michael Chatfield

  Every week, Kala instigated fighting matches to see how people had improved. Stats and skills were good numerical ways to see someone’s ability, but seeing them in action was the best way to realize their ability. Now, she was starting to see people using their magical abilities and being wary of what people might do with their magic. They were more alert and determined.

  Krenua’s people had also joined in on the training, seeing the value of it to develop their own skills. It only made Kala’s ground forces work harder in order to prove their strength. A bit of friendly competition did wonders.

  Deia floated through the ranks of people fighting. People from every race had been hired to teach the DCA. They were all masters in their field. Most kingdoms weren’t able to hire people like them due to their cost.

  Deia had got Suzy to work some of her magic, talking up Devil’s Crater, and they had come to train the DCA cheaply. They were some of the best trainers that Kala had worked with.

  Kala moved through the training area, from where people were fighting one-on-one to the range where people were firing arrows, hurling spears, trying out crossbows and their bracelets.

  Deia floated over with a smile on her face. “It hasn’t even been two weeks, but they’re learning quickly. I can’t wait to see what they’re going to be like in a month.”

  “This progress has only been possible through your trainers and your own instruction.”

  “Thank you, but you gave me a good base to work from.”

  Kala grunted and the corners of her mouth rose ever so slightly. She was proud of what she had accomplished and the abilities of her people.

  Deia paused her movement, frowning as she checked something. Myriad emotions rolled across her face. “I have to go!” Deia said suddenly.

  “Something wrong?” Kala asked.

  “No, nothing’s wrong. My mother is having her baby!”

  “Oh, oh! Well, go, get out of here! I’ll cover for you!” Kala waved her hands.

  “Thank you!” Deia moved away quickly and then faster and faster. It was nothing close to her proper speed, as she didn’t want to go too fast and hurt her baby.

  ***

  Dave stood up from where he had been working, changing out the different plates, adding in new racks and altering the teleportation and gravity room. It was nearing completion but it was a big undertaking.

  Prompts started to fill his vision.

  “Woo-hoo! Quest rewards!”

  Quest Completed: Friend of the Grey God Level 6

  Create transportation network across Emerilia

  Rewards: Unlock Level 7 Quest

  +10 to stats (stacks with previous class levels)

  +600,000 EXP

  Class: Friend of the Grey God

  Status:

  Level 5

  Effects:

  +60 to all stats

  Access to hidden quests.

  Access to the Imperial Carrier Datskun

  Quest: Friend of the Grey God Level 6

  Distribute “Band-Aid” across Emerilia

  Rewards: Unlock Level 7 Quest

  Increase to stats

  Quest Completed: Bleeder Level 4

  Create transportation network across Emerilia

  Rewards: Unlock Level 5 Quest

  +10 increase to stats (stacks with previous class levels)

  +400,000 EXP

  Class: Bleeder

  Status:

  Level 4

  Effects:

  +30 to all stats

  Ability to disable Jukal Link

  Quest: Bleeder Level 5

  Distribute “Band-Aid” across Emerilia

  Rewards: Unlock Level 6 Quest

  Increase to stats

  Level 232

  You have reached Level 232; you have 150 stat points to use.

  He quickly checked his character sheet.

  Character Sheet

  Name:

  David Grahslagg

  Gender:

  Male

  Level:

  202

  Class:

  Dwarven Master Smith, Friend of the Grey God, Bleeder, Librarian, Aleph Engineer, Weapons Master, Champion Slayer, Skill Creator, Mine Manager, Master of Space and Time, Master of Gravitational Anomalies

  Race:

  Human/Dwarf

  Alignment:

  Chaotic Neutral

  Unspent points: 150

  Health:

  42,300

  Regen:

  22.16/s

  Mana:

  14,680

  Regen:

  51.30/s

  Stamina:

  4,740

  Regen:

  45.50/s

  Vitality:

  423

  Endurance:

  1,108

  Intelligence:

  1,468

  Willpower:

  1,026

  Strength:

  474

  Agility:

  910

  “Fire is having her baby! They need a healer!” Malsour yelled.

  Bob sat up so hard, he smacked the rack above him. Malsour dropped the plate he had been working on.

  “I’m going to get Jules!” Dave yelled, tripping and falling over different plates and items.

  “I’m coming!” Malsour yelled.

  “Bob, we’ll be back in a minute and then we’ll need you to take us to Fire’s home in Per’ush and then to Densaou!” Dave yelled, already halfway through the shop and headed for the door.

  “I’ll be ready!” Bob yelled to Dave and Malsour’s backs.

  Dave and Malsour moved with all the speed that they could put on. They were like twin air streams, moving faster than a person could see with their eyes.

  They got to the ono, both of them watching anxiously for ten minutes. The teleport pad was currently connected to another location, people moving through the event horizon, leaving and entering Terra. After a few minutes, the teleport pad closed down; moments later, its runes started to move as it connected to the ono.

  They ran through again, people yelling out as they sprinted through the teleport room and headed into the city. Most people had never seen anyone move as fast as them and were left in disbelief of what they had seen.

  Dave and Malsour headed right for the medical center attached to the teleport pad control center.

  “Where’s Jules?” Dave demanded of the healer on duty.

  “Over at the main healing building,” they said without pause.

  “Thanks!” Malsour said as the two of them ran out of the room. Dave stepped into the sky, dragging Malsour with him as they took off like bullets toward the main healing building located in the center of Terra. They came back down, landing in front of the hospital.

  “Jules—where is she?” Dave yelled.

  “Third floor, in her office!” someone yelled out.

  Dave and Malsour went to her office, leaving blurry images, wind throwing anything that was light and not tied down. They got to the third floor at breakneck speed.

  “What’s up?” Jules asked, just as she finished reading the message from the first healer at the teleport pad.

  “Deia’s mom’s having a baby, need your help!” Dave said.

  “Okay, where is she?” Jules grabbed her bag of holding and a coat.

  “We’ll take you.” Malsour picked her up in a princess carry before she knew what was happening, and ran back through the hospital and right out toward the teleport pad again.

  They rushed through the still open teleport pad, heading back into the power station facility. In just a few minutes, they were right back where they started.

  Bob was waiting for them, his eyes glowing silver as they stepped in close to him.

  “What is this place?” Jules said, as they entered the hidden laboratory filled with different items. Steve watched them all as Bob raised his hands. Mana filled the room.

  “Here we go!” Bob said.

  They appeared in Fire and Mal’s apa
rtment. Fire was breathing heavily, holding Mal’s hand before her features twisted and she gritted her teeth together in pain.

  Jules looked around. They had somehow been teleported from that laboratory into the room. Jules didn’t need to waste her time on questions; she would have time for that later. She jumped out of Malsour’s arms and moved to Fire.

  “Hello, my name is Jules. Seems that this little one is ready to come out. I’m just going to make sure everything is okay and guide you through this,” Jules said in a calm voice. Smiling to Mal and Fire, she rubbed her hands and touched Fire’s belly.

  “So, looks like Deia’s going to have a sibling. Do you mind if I ask what your name is?” Jules said, her voice calm as she checked on the baby and mother.

  “Fire, her name’s Fire. I’m Mal.” Mal rubbed Fire’s shoulder even as she tried to break his hand within her grip.

  What sounded like a jumbo jet plummeting to the ground could be heard breaking through the sound barrier before slowing down. A wave of heat passed over the area and a rush of wind billowed outward. Deia stepped into the room, flames dying around her.

  “Fire, okay, well, the baby is turned the wrong direction, but that’s easily fixed. It’s going to feel a bit uncomfortable though,” Jules said.

  “Everyone ready?” Bob asked.

  Mana once again flooded the room.

  In a flash, they all appeared in a large apartment cut from rock. The heat climbed in just a few seconds, but Deia and Malsour both used their power to block the heat from affecting Jules. The others all had their own ways of dealing with the heat.

  Thankfully, the couch that Fire had been on came with them.

  Jules didn’t have time to look around much. If she did, she might have noticed that they were in a volcano and that a number of Dragons moved toward the apartment, taking on Human forms to watch as their creator brought her fourth child into the world.

  “Dave, you’ve been my assistant before. I’m going to need you again. Get over here,” Jules said.

  “What do you need?” Dave asked, not one bit of hesitation in his voice.

  Chapter 16: Secrets

  Jules sunk her consciousness into the baby in her hands. Fear welled up in her as he failed to cry. She checked his body. He was part Elf and part Human, but his power was incredible, as if all of his body vibrated with energy. His body was strong, much stronger than even a Level 50 Player’s and he was but a baby. His heart beat soundly and he was in good health.

  Jules opened her eyes, finding herself looking at two twin fiery eyes.

  The baby moved, awkwardly, as if already trying to crawl in the air.

  Jules smiled and sent a bit of healing toward his stomach, giving him a belly button.

  “You have a beautiful healthy baby boy.” Jules wrapped the baby in a towel Dave held out, passing it to Mal, who then laid the boy against Fire’s chest.

  Sweat covered her clothes and her hair.

  Jules touched Fire’s foot, sending healing through her. In just a few minutes, Fire’s body was as if she had never had a child. Jules even gave her a Stamina boost so she wouldn’t pass out from exhaustion straight away, but get some time with her baby.

  She wiped some sweat from her forehead and slowly stood up. Her knees had long ago become numb from being on the ground. She glanced around, finding a few dozen humans all watching Fire, Mal, and their baby boy with unbridled love. Deia moved to Fire, looking at her baby brother as Malsour smiled with the other humans. As Jules looked at them, she saw a marked family resemblance between them all.

  She stepped backward, finding the Gnome standing there, watching with a look of happiness on his face.

  Jules’s eyes went wide as she saw past the people and saw the molten lava that filled the inside of the volcano they were in. “Where the hell are we?” Jules muttered.

  “We’re in the Densaou Ring of Fire,” Dave said, still close to her. They were both still covered in the muck of Fire giving birth.

  “Why don’t we get cleaned up and then I can explain a few things to you,” Dave said.

  Jules looked to Dave and then the scene around Fire and Mal before she nodded. “Sure.”

  “Okay, there’s a shower this way.” Dave guided her to the shower. “I’m going to rinse off my hands and then I’ll be with Fire and Mal. When you’re done, just come out and I’ll tell you what I can.”

  “Okay.” Jules took a shower, cleaning up and taking new clothes from her bag of holding. She stepped back out, finding the people spread out across the apartment, either making food and drinks or talking to one another. Each gave the newborn and his parents some time to themselves.

  Jules moved back into the room where Fire was lying with the boy perched on her chest, fast asleep. Someone had also cleaned him off. Mal looked at the boy with clear love and affection in his eyes.

  Dave had his arm around Deia, who was leaning into him as she looked at her mother, father, and sibling, her own hand on her own belly.

  The Gnome sat off to the side, drinking some tea. All of the people were really kind to him and treated him like some sort of powerful uncle.

  Dave saw Jules returning. He said something to Deia, who smiled, disentangling herself from Dave and talking to her parents as Dave walked over.

  “Let’s get something to eat and drink.” Dave guided Jules to the kitchen.

  “Want something?” one of the people inside asked.

  “A drink and something to eat, please.” Dave smiled.

  “Very well, Uncle.” The man smiled. They moved into the group of people around the kitchen, quickly getting a plate of snacks and some drinks.

  “Thanks.” Dave took the food and drink, and headed through the apartment to a balcony with seats that overlooked the interior of the volcano. Deia joined them after a few minutes.

  “Thank you for everything, Jules. I know that when the time comes for this little one that I’ll be in safe hands.” Deia hugged Jules.

  “Happy to help.” Jules beamed.

  “Well, have a seat. We’ve got lots to talk over.” Dave grabbed a sandwich and ate it quickly.

  Jules looked out over the inside of the volcano. “What are those flying creatures?” One of them came closer, becoming the size of an airbus before transforming into a Human as it stepped into Fire’s home. “Dragons?”

  “This is the home of the Lady of Fire. Deia is a demigod. The woman who just gave birth is the Lady of Fire that you have heard about in Emerilia. Now that might seem like a lot, but trust me, in a few minutes it will seem like just a minor footnote.” Dave and Deia shared a look before they turned to Jules, their faces serious.

  Jules’s face was pale as she looked around the room, sensing the auras from these people. She couldn’t detect them at all! How powerful must they be that I can’t even glimpse at their power?

  ***

  Jules came back to Emerilia, or reality. Bob, who had introduced himself part way through their conversation, stood next to Dave and Deia.

  Jules put her elbows on the table, her hands holding her forehead with what she had seen. If anyone heard what I was thinking, they would think I lost my mind! She wanted to ask how this was all possible, but Dave, Deia, and Bob had explained it to her.

  Bob was the Grey God, Fire was the Lady of Fire, Deia was her daughter and thus a demigod, Malsour was a Dragon, and she was sitting in the middle of a volcano filled with Dragons.

  Well, all of it seemed relatively small compared to what she had learned.

  “We were grown in vats, fed a simulation and then told this was a video game when in fact it’s reality. This is some crazy ass Matrix shit.” Jules sat back, her hands going to her legs.

  This is real—then the Jukal made up the fact that I lost my legs. Made it up for Dwayne as well. All of the worry I went through, trying to find a solution, a way for me to survive and make money—they created that despair so that I would play this game, just to entertain them! My whole life just to give them some y
ears of entertainment!

  She shivered, thinking about the intimate moments that the system might have recorded between her and Esa, or the private moments she had to herself. Everything was tinged, as if it was somehow dirty.

  “It’s hard to take in,” Dave said.

  “What the hell do I do, now that I know all of this? I can’t tell anyone because, well, then I would seem crazy to the rest of the Players! I can’t try to get away from it, because there has to be a way that the Jukal keep Players from staying around after their cycle. Even if we try to fight them, they’ve stacked everything in their favor!” Jules hadn’t felt this kind of uselessness since she had lost her legs. She felt as if nothing she could do could ever raise her from the low that she was now experiencing.

  “We can fight. We can do everything in our power to defeat whatever the Jukal send at us. We defeat these people and creatures that were imprisoned, and we start to fight back against the Jukal,” Dave said.

  Jules didn’t say anything for a while. Slowly she smiled. “Well, at least now the mystery of how Deia got pregnant is solved. Was wondering what kind of money it would take for the developers to allow a Player to have a pregnant character.”

  Dave and Deia smiled as the two of them looked to each other. One Player, one POE, both of them fighting together to create a better future.

  Jules’s fighting spirit filled her as she sighed. “All right, well, seeing as my game is now partly ruined, what can I do to help? It’s time those Jukal got a swift kick in the ass.” Jules smiled.