Know Thy Enemy

by Dawn Chapman

  Damn, more practice it is then.

  Drayk couldn’t be any more grateful. He had some chance of defence now even if only slight. He slipped the daggers back into their sheaths. His thoughts drifted to the journey ahead, a quicker way to get to the mountain and finish the quest without the need to walk would be nice. He sighed, walking would eat away his time… He checked the room once more, closed the door behind him and left.

  The air outside was cool, soft raindrops pooled against his skin, so he pulled on the jumper before carrying on any farther.

  The way ahead, clear, and heading into the unknown, Drayk looked back only once as the village behind had almost gone from view. Then he took a turn left and headed deeper in. Creatures shuffled around, some digging in for the day, night creatures. Others he noticed in packs just grazing on the local fauna.

  There was no map for him, no direction, only to follow the peak he could just about see over the top of the trees. The deeper into the trees he went, the harder the terrain became. Checking his stats, he realised how tired being so new to the game made him, and he had to rest already.

  The rain grew heavier. Drayk glanced around, for somewhere to shelter, a tree ahead caught his attention and he trudged over. It would do for two hours at least.

  A loud clap of thunder rumbled above, the rain growing even stronger, winds now also coming in, even with little energy left Drayk managed a somewhat fast sprint for drier land.

  Watching the rain from inside the shelter of the trees, Drayk settled back, hugging his knees for warmth, his first journey out, and he was stuck already.

  Lightning sparked across the tree line, and Drayk wondered if the tree was the best place to shelter.

  The cold and lack of energy didn’t agree with him, Drayk felt his eyes drifting, the world around him fading.

  The two voices woke him, sometime later.

  “Do you think he’s got any loot?” a gruff male voice invaded Drayk’s dreaming.

  “Grab it while he’s asleep.”

  Water dripped down his back, despite being in the well of the trees. Drayk kept his eyes shut tight and didn’t move. His backpack had been to his left when he fell asleep, he wasn’t so sure where it would be now.

  “You grab it. What if he wakes up?”

  The two men seemed to want to continue arguing, rather than doing something, like making a grab for his bag. So, Drayk reached for the daggers at his side. When they dodged, he’d be ready for them.

  He checked his stats, and his health and stamina were back to full, at least for his level. Could he take on two guys?

  Drayk opened his eyes a slit. He could just about make out the two men who were still arguing before him. The one with the gruff voice, was rugged, older, and had muscles. The other, skinnier, and less well-built. He didn’t have the time to test out his new trait of skill assessment, he was sure both would be higher levels than he was. But then the shorter one moved, and he limped, badly. An injured leg. Had they been in some fight already today? Easier for Drayk to defend himself.

  Drayk took his cue and bolted upright, daggers in hand.

  The shorter man hit the bigger one with both hands. “Idiot, you should have made a grab for it!”

  “Back away…” Drayk said. “I know how to use these.”

  The larger man let out a belly chuckle. “You’re joking, right?”

  Drayk steadied his breathing. He might not think he had a chance, but he’d fight for the little supplies he did have. “I said, back away.”

  The smaller man poked the larger one in the chest. “Well, get him.”

  A grin spread across Drayk’s face, he knew who the boss of the duo was, and that meant going for him would give him an overall advantage with the limp he sported.

  The larger man stumbled forward catching a foot on the tree limb before him. Drayk used this to spin around him and grab the smaller man around the throat, pressing one of his daggers to his carotid artery. “You make any other sudden moves, and he’s dead.”

  “Zelak?” The big guy stopped. “What you want me to do?”

  Drayk squeezed tight, the dagger allowing a small trickle of blood to rivulet down his captive’s throat.

  “Back off,” the smaller guy choked out.

  When the larger guy moved away, Drayk let the dagger ease off. “I suggest you both turn tail and run while you can.”

  Drayk indicated for the larger guy to move farther away, and then with a push, he shoved the smaller guy, Zelak, after him. He took a protective stance, guarding the only thing he owned, his backpack.

  Zelak, however, didn’t seem to want to keep going. He turned around.

  The fact he didn’t move away worried Drayk. He hoped this wouldn’t turn bad, but as he saw Zelak raise a hand, that feeling grew. Drayk knew something else was coming for him now. Zelak’s hand glowed, and he aimed it right at Drayk.

  “You should have slit my throat while you had the chance!” Zelak laughed, but the laugh seemed false. Like he was expecting something…

  The tiny glow flickered.

  Drayk held his stance, he wasn’t backing down either.

  The longer Zelak held the energy at his fingertips the more confident Drayk grew that something wasn’t right with whatever it was the man would try.

  Poof.

  The energy from Zelak vanished.

  Drayk felt a smile tugging the corner of his mouth. The guy was obviously low level, or they’d been involved in a battle that had gone badly.

  “Come on, let’s just go.” The larger man said, tugging on Zelak’s arm.

  Zelak shrugged him off and glared at Drayk. “This isn’t over.”

  Drayk knew it was. Although not sure they might return, he decided he’d better keep on moving. This game seemed determined to ruin his adventure before it began.

  Drayk’s popup’s pinged, and he waved them through barely reading.

  + 219 XP

  YOU HAVE GAINED A LEVEL

  SKILL INCREASE— KILDROS DAGGERS + 1

  Drayk was pleased he’d gained a level through XP. Chasing off the goons had been just a bluff really. He doubted real combat would have been a good thing. There was no time to rest or worry, though. He picked up his backpack and headed in the opposite direction to the goons. The rain at least had gone off, for now, making the terrain a little easier to navigate, though the drops of water from the trees still soaked through his clothes.

  Being tired and cold would hurt progress a lot, but he trudged on. It wasn’t long before he heard someone. Couldn’t still be those goons, could it?

  Glancing around, there wasn’t really any place to hide, and his footprints would be seen by most people, let alone someone skilled in tracking. Drayk’s hands reached for his daggers, their weight settling his nerves.

  And there ahead, were the two goons, harassing a woman as she staggered through the trees. She looked badly beaten, but Drayk knew these two guys hadn’t done that. They were opportunists, not outright antagonists. Drayk concentrated, and the stats from the woman popped up.

  ARARATIAN FEMALE—LEVEL 4

  STATUS—GRIEVING WIDOW

  HP—271 OF 4511

  HEALTH—15/100

  A different side window also appeared, and he read quickly.

  DO NOT ENGAGE— PSYCHOTIC—BADLY BEATEN

  So, why did these goons turned on her? Just to steal her belongings? Drayk couldn’t work out their reasoning. Drayk stepped out of the trees, daggers tightly gripped and ran for the goons screaming. The shock on all three faces almost got a chuckle out of him.

  Zelak turned to defend himself, but it was too late. Drayk sank his left dagger into his side and twisted. Zelak’s eyes widened as he knew it was a killing hit.

  The larger of the two grabbed Drayk from behind, hurling him at a tree. Drayk hit it with a crunch.

  With his health bar dropping, Drayk realised a rib had broken. No time for healing it, the large man rushed toward him. Drayk dodged and sliced.

 
; The blade hit skin, slicing into bone. The man let out a groan and turned to Zelak who lay dying on the ground. Quickly rushing to his friend, the big man left Drayk alone.

  Drayk looked around for the woman, who had used this distraction to sneak away. At first, he couldn’t see where she’d gone, and then, he spotted her, fumbling though the dense trees ahead. Drayk followed her.

  Slight in frame and stature, this woman walked — or more stumbled — through the trees, lost. Drayk let the daggers slip back to their sheaths. He’d at least not look threatening as they crossed paths.

  Drayk called out. “Wait, I can’t catch up.”

  She spun around, shocked, and tried to run, then couldn’t. She fell hard. Drayk caught up to her, approaching nice and steady.

  “Miss, are you okay?”

  The young female looked up at him, eyes wide. Tears streamed down her face and two nasty gashes graced now bruising cheeks.

  “Hey,” he said, but her tears dried quickly, and she lunged for him screaming in a language he’d never heard before. The translator inside his mind, maybe in the game’s unit back in Altus’ home, spoke in his mind for her, “Maxol, murderer!”

  Drayk was taken aback. She was so tiny, yet when her body connected with his, she packed one hell of a punch. He fumbled backward, trying to stop himself from falling over. “Hey, hey, I’m no murderer. Calm down!”

  She continued to pummel him, “I don’t understand a word you’re saying. Murderer!” The flashing health bar warned him her current digs were only knocking off a tiny portion of his Health. Drayk grappled with her until he’d pinned her up against a tree. However, he didn’t hurt her in any way. She continued to struggle against him, her frustration and anger resulting in many insults he cared not to translate. While he held onto her, her anger turned back into grief, and the tears started again. She looked up at him, her red and blue coloured eyes searching for his. “Why?” she asked. “Just tell me why?”

  Drayk had no answers, but she’d calmed down enough for him to stop manhandling her. When he slacked off his hold, she placed her hands on his arms, squeezing. “You don’t understand me at all do you?”

  Drayk had to wait while the thing in his head worked for him, surprised now that he was calm a different box flashed up.

  ARARATIAN FEMALE—LEVEL 4

  STATUS—INDIFFERENT

  HEALTH—7/100

  The more her anger faded, Drayk could see her shoulders slump. Those bright eyes, now dimming. She was dying, and wouldn’t last much longer without help. He felt the pain in his busted ribs. But knew his wounds would heal with time. Time she didn’t have.

  Drayk pivoted and ran for his backpack, rummaging around inside for the one and only health potion he’d been given. As vital as it might be to him for his quest, he didn’t hesitate. He popped the top off and handed it to her. She stared for a moment, then with a shaking hand reached out to take it. She placed a finger over the top, shook it, and then downed the drink in one. “Thank you.”

  Drayk’s eyes locked with hers, which glowed brighter, and he knew she at least stood a chance, maybe she’d heal in time. He didn’t need to assess her to know she felt better.

  Drayk nodded. When she reached into a pocket, he almost took a step back, but she pulled out a device and attached it to her ear. “Please speak again. I will now understand.”

  “Can you tell me what happened?” Drayk asked, hoping she wouldn’t feel too offended at the question.

  Lightning struck somewhere overhead and Drayk shuddered involuntarily. “More rain, you kidding me?”

  The woman before him smiled, “New Ararat sees a lot of rain, this is our ‘spring season.’ Come, I know where there is shelter.” She stood, but then almost wobbled over.

  Drayk went to her aid, but she backed away. “I mean you no harm,” he said.

  Her glower said everything, but she also held out an arm so he could help her. “I am sorry for my outburst. Grief blinded me. You do look similar, but I can see now it wasn’t you who killed my family,” she said. She looked him over once more and added, “I apologise again. We were attacked a few days ago, west of here.”

  Drayk felt her shudder underneath him as she carried on. “We were travelling to a new village, one which held many promises for us; a haven if you will.”

  “You’re talking about Altus’ village.”

  She stopped walking and looked up at him. “You know Altus?”

  “Yes, I just left the village this morning.”

  “Then I almost made it,” she sighed, and with a still shaky hand pointed ahead. Drayk followed her finger and noticed they were at a small mountainside. It had been hidden behind a stand of trees they’d just passed. “There’s a cave just ahead.”

  Thunder cracked above them, and rain started hitting Drayk in the face. “I’ve never been a lover of it. Come on, we’re almost there.”

  Within a minute, they were both inside the small cave, and the young woman eased herself down against a small clump of rocks.

  Drayk put his backpack down, plucking out water bottles and two of his ration bars. He handed her both.

  “I have nothing to repay you, sir,” she said.

  “My name’s Drayk, and there’s no need to repay anything. Just get to Altus, probably best tomorrow though, looking at that storm.”

  “I’m Keriy,” she said and took a swig of water. “You’re a Maxol, aren’t you?”

  “I am, and you are native to this world? I didn’t know there were any local species here.”

  “That’s half the problem, you know nothing of the reality of this planet.”

  “You mean game.”

  “I didn’t know the stories were true until I heard it for myself.” Keriy laughed, in a low husky tone. “You really do think this is just a game, don’t you?”

  Too many people were saying this, blowing up all of Drayk’s beliefs. “I am going on what I’ve been taught. Grown up with. You and a few others today have said different. I don’t know what to believe.”

  “Why are you here, Drayk?”

  “I want to make a better life for myself and my brother.”

  “And you can do that because of a game?”

  Good question. How could a game make their lives better? “There were promises, lots of different promises…”

  Keriy nodded, “There were. I’ve seen some of them, many years after this all started. Come sit next to me.”

  Drayk looked at the rock next to her. She raised a hand which glowed, almost like Zelak’s had earlier, except her colours were stunning. A myriad of beautiful reds, and blues, mixing to form many more hues. “I didn’t expect magic in here, you’re only level four.”

  “Your applications…” she motioned to Drayk’s head and tapped it with a bony finger, “…are a little off for some of us. I have a masking spell. Some of your species liked to try and tackle the strongest of us to gain levels. I don’t like conflict, so I hide. Here—”

  Drayk watched as a shimmering golden glow enveloped her, and then a message popped up.

  KERIY VOZ—LEVEL 41—SORCERESS

  STATUS—FRIENDLY

  HEALTH—80/100

  That was it, nothing else showed. “I don’t understand half of this, I…”

  “Your injury. I can help.” Keriy’s hand still glowed. “Then I can show you if you’d let me.”

  Drayk nodded, and Keriy’s glow strengthened to envelop him. He felt strange. Like there was a tugging inside his ribs. Then pain, and then finally no pain.

  Sorceress Keriy healed your ribs

  HEALTH—100/100

  BUFF— YOU HAVE AN INCREASED HEALING ABILITY FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS

  “So, you want to show me, like with a psychic link?” Drayk knew of them but wasn’t sure about trying it.

  “You saved my life, Drayk. I have no more respawns. However, the truth is something you need to see for yourself.”

  Drayk felt no ill from her, but the thought that here, now, wasn’t ju
st a game, frightened him as much as being in the Arkillion war fighting for something he didn’t believe in.

  Taking her hand in his, he whispered, “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to save my brother from war. Please, show me.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Pierce

  I’m dead. There’s no question about it. My corpse is rotting somewhere, and I’m in hell right now. That man clearly is the Devil, and I’m gonna be tortured for eternity.

  Great way to end this thing, huh, Pierce? And why are Leenz and Chopper here with me? Okay, it makes sense her being here, but what did poor Chopper do to end up in hell with us? He’s just a stupid innocent creature!

  “Hello, there!” said the squeaky voice, whose image now appeared, so Pierce had something to look at. The owner of that voice stepped forward to reveal a small man with a huge red face and two tiny blue eyes in the middle of it. Under that was a giant mouth filled with sharp teeth, enveloped by big pointy ears. The man — who Pierce identified as being the Devil — sat on a big rock. His miniature legs dangled while his long yet spindly arms held a sceptre as if it was a crutch. “Who do we have here, now? A boy, a girl and a monster!”

  They were in some sort of dungeon, with high walls made of black brick, and tons of worms, mice, and cockroaches scuttling around. Chopper was held inside a cage hanging from the ceiling, and his colour was the palest grey it had ever been. Pierce turned his eyes to Leenz, who was kept in chains too. She was still unconscious though, and it didn’t seem like she was going to wake up anytime soon.

  “So!” said the Devil. “You think you can come down here in my crypt and just walk by me? How dare you?!”

  Oh, yeah, the crypt! Pierce thought, remembering the last moments before he went unconscious. He still had a mission to fulfil, but the present situation required his attention. “Who are you?” he asked the red man. “What are we doing here?”

  “I’m Mr. Kaleidoscopius!” he said. “And you are now my playthings! All of you are! You see, once you enter that hole, the only way you can get out is by proving you can amuse me!”