by Michael Ryan
“I think other players kill rats early on, Dale,” Smith said.
“I know, but I’m a contrarian sometimes.”
“Maybe you should bring out Gingo?” Smith said.
Dale agreed.
His golden retriever was happy to see him and licked his face.
Continuing forward, he carried a torch in one hand and a rapier in the other. The assassin’s blade seemed like the right weapon, as so far all the beasts were small and fast. Although nothing had attacked them yet, he expected something to surprise them at any moment.
They continued until they came to a small tunnel that extended off the main shaft. Dale decided to take a quick look to see if there was anything of interest.
The tunnel was empty, or at least looked that way. He ran his hand along the walls searching for loose rocks concealing hidden niches. He found a stone with a groove around it and retrieved a knife and began to pry the stone loose.
“What did you find?” Smith asked.
“Not sure.” Dale continued to pry until the stone fell, revealing a cache with a brilliant gemstone.
Congratulations! You’ve found The Grandidierite Gem.
The Unlucky Gem Quest: You’ve found 1 of 13 gems.
Hint: Perhaps you should give this cursed gem to an extra special woman in your life?
“Crap,” Dale said. “One of the Unlucky Gems…”
“Perfect for this trip,” Smith said. “Better you than me.”
“Well, if we run into Jara…at least I have a gift for her.”
“So do I,” Smith said. The great ape-man swung his war hammer.
They came to an open cavern glowing in a light green color generated by moss growing on the rocks. An underground river that flowed with obvious power blocked their path.
“I hear falls of some kind,” Dale said.
“Me, too.” Smith walked to the edge of the water and jumped back. “There’s something in there!”
Dale put Gingo away as he watched two creatures rise through the water.
Nicor
Level 9
A shape-shifting water spirit.
Attack style: Various, depends upon shape taken.
Weapons: Varies.
Magic: Dangerous.
Tech: None, but can replicate tech.
Nokken
Level 8
A shape-shifting water spirit.
Attack style: Various, depends upon shape taken.
Weapons: Varies.
Magic: Dangerous.
Tech: None, but can replicate tech.
The two water spirits rose above the river riding beasts.
Can Ni Ma, Grass Mud Horse, Level 6, Battle Pets.
“Why do you disturb us?” one of the spirits demanded.
“Crap,” Dale said.
“What do you see?” Smith asked.
“It’s Amy and Emi,” Dale said. “I mean, it’s not them, but it looks like them. You?”
“I can’t say,” Smith said. He sounded scared. Fear was something Dale had never heard in his voice before.
“Come to me, Dale,” the creature that resembled Amy said. “I want to love you forever.”
“Yes, embrace her,” the second spirit urged. Its voice wasn’t as close to Emi’s voice as the first creature’s voice was a mimic of Amy. Dale felt a chill. The second spirit moved at Smith, while the first continued towards Dale.
He imbued an arrow and took a step backward. He let the arrow fly and jumped to the right.
The Amy-creature screamed and rode at Dale with a sword. Dale switched weapons and raised his shield and sword. She flew by him, striking his shield while Dale tried unsuccessfully to slice at the spirit. His sword went right through her, not causing any damage. He was going to need to rely on magic.
The mud horse reeled and turned, and the spirit began its second charge.
Dale threw his shield at the charging beast.
The adder caused the mud horse to rear, and it threw its rider. It brought its hooves down on the snake. The snake struck the horse, and the horse struck the snake, back and forth, until they both died.
The Amy-beast cackled like a witch.
“Do you have any more snake shields, Dale?”
“How do you know my name?” Dale took a step back.
“I know many things about you, Dale. How you stood back and watched your true love be killed. You’re a coward. I know how everyone you love betrays you. Even now, you know that Smith will betray you. Your life is ending here, and you’ll die alone. Here, in my world, where there is no escape.”
“Dale, don’t listen to anything they say to you,” Smith shouted.
But Dale didn’t pay attention to him. His mind was clouded with doubt and fear.
“Come to me, Dale,” the spirit said. “I’ll make you a mighty warrior, Dale. Together we can rule my world. No more pain, Dale. No more betrayal. No more anguish.”
Dale took a step back.
The spirit changed into Brian Daniels. “Hello Dale,” it said.
“Go away. I don’t believe you.”
“It doesn’t matter what you believe, Dale. I’m here to tell you what a fool you are. Everyone you trust betrays you. You trusted me. I was your best friend. You believed in me. I was like a brother, and yet I stabbed you in the back.” The creature laughed with a mocking cackle, and the discordant sounds echoed off the cavern walls.
Dale stood tall. “No, I don’t believe—”
“Your belief has nothing to do with it, Dale.” The Spirit changed again. It looked like Yingtai now. “You remember me, Dale?”
Dale fought in his mind. He wanted to start a fire spell, but he couldn’t concentrate.
The spirit continued to mock him. “I am Yingtai, Dale. You helped me kill your one true love. You helped me kill the Princess Talargo. You helped me get the jewel. You’re a traitor too, Dale. And worthless. A coward—”
“STOP!” Dale channeled his anger into a Fire Magic Spell.
When it was ready to cast, Dale sent a Fireball at the spirit.
The fire exploded.
He watched the spirit change into shapes.
Amy.
Yingtai.
Jara.
His mother.
His father.
Smith.
Brian.
It returned to a vision of Amy.
She cried out to him, “I love you, Dale. Save me. Help me.”
The spirit melted into the rocks and mud.
+5000XP
Killed: Nicor, water spirit, Level 9
Dropped: Water Magic Book
Dropped: Water Lore Book
Dropped: 3 carat Tanzanite gemstone: Rare Supreme Quality
Dropped: Spirit Fish: Capable of revealing enemies hidden in water
Dropped: 1000 bars of gold
Dropped: 1 Potion of Restoration: A one time boost to fully restore health and mana
Congratulations! You have reached Level 10
Dale turned to see Smith on his knees.
He was in his personal avatar, his head bent over.
The spirit-being walked up to him, touched him on the head, and picked up Smith’s war hammer.
It raised the hammer above Smith’s head.
“NO!” Dale pulled out his longbow and fired an arrow.
The arrow went through the spirit and did no damage.
“Smith!” Dale ran towards him. “Get up and fight!”
Smith stood, looking terrified.
The spirit was speaking to him, but Dale couldn’t hear what was being said.
The spirit handed Smith his war hammer. He changed into his ape avatar, and walked towards Dale.
“No! Smith, it’s me!”
“Fuck you, Dad!”
“No!”
“You bastard,” Smith shouted. “I’m going to kill you slowly.”
Dale stopped running and tried to think of something to do. Smith trudged towards him. The spirit still looked like Emi to Dale, bu
t he couldn’t hear what she was saying to Smith.
Dale quickly scanned the Water Magic Book.
Water Magic Skill Increased: Novice Level Achieved.
As you continue to grow in Water Magic, you’ll find more interesting ways to help your friends and defeat your enemies.
Hint: Memorize specific attributes of enchantments for quick use in the middle of the action.
Dale found and warmed up a Water Baptism Healing Enchantment.
He didn’t know anything about it, but he knew it had a healing power, and it sounded good. It certainly couldn’t make matters worse. He took several steps back, speaking to Smith. “Smith! It’s me, Dale.”
Smith continued moving towards him. He lifted the war hammer and lunged at Dale when he was struck by the Baptism Healing Enchantment.
Smith screamed, dropped the war hammer, and fell to the ground.
The spirit laughed. “You’ve killed your only friend. You’re a betrayer, a back-stabbing hater, a fool. You’ve become what you hate the most.”
“No…”
Dale fell to his knees. He couldn’t take anymore.
But Smith stirred.
He changed back into his personal avatar and smiled weakly at Dale. “She’s lying,” he mouthed silently.
Dale drank the Restoration Potion he’d received in the last drop, warmed up a Fire Magic Spell, and released it at the spirit creature.
+4000XP
Killed: Nokken, a water spirit, level 8
Dropped: Water Magic Book
Dropped: 3 carat Emerald: Rare Quality
Dropped: Fire Magic Book
Dropped: Ice Knife, Level 10 assassin’s weapon
Dropped: Defense from Lies Potion
“Jesus, Smith,” Dale said, “I thought I’d lost you. I thought you were going to kill me.”
“Dangerous spirits…” Smith said quietly, almost mumbling, to himself.
To Dale, he seemed dazed, confused, and defeated.
Dale and Smith sat in the mud together. Dale read his new books on magic. Smith drank healing potions. They ate to restore their health.
“How do we get across the river?” Smith asked.
“I say we try the grizzly bear mount,” Dale answered.
“I don’t have a grizzly bear mount,” Smith said.
“I’ll cross first, then transfer it to you.”
“You can do that? From across the river?” Smith didn’t sound sure.
“Why not?”
“I suppose it’s worth a try.”
“I have a Spirit Fish. Hold on a second,” Dale said. He placed the fish in the water and a prompt told him that the water was free of danger.
“Handy fish,” Smith said.
Dale retrieved the Spirit Fish. He rode across the river on his bear, and then transferred the mount to Smith.
“That was easy,” Smith said. “I guess I need a bear.”
“Everyone needs a grizzly bear. It’s like a law.” Dale laughed.
Smith joined him, and when he stopped laughing, he said, “I’m sorry—”
“Don’t…” Dale looked at his friend. “It’s over. They were only using our—” Dale dove to the ground.
An arrow glanced off of his dragonling armor. Smith wasn’t as quick, and an arrow struck him in the shoulder.
“Move to cover,” Dale shouted. He grabbed Smith and half-dragged him to an outcropping of rocks.
“What happened?” Smith asked.
“It’s Jara and Yingtai!”
“In here? In our instance? A dungeon? How? That’s not fair,” Smith said.
“I don’t think fair has anything to do with it.” Dale began warming-up a healing enchantment. When it was ready, he pulled the arrow out of Smith’s shoulder and sent the magic into him. Smith shuddered, but in moments he was back to one hundred percent.
They were pinned behind a large rock. “Now what?” Smith asked.
“Time to be heroes, I guess.”
“I suppose I’m prepared to be a martyr.”
“If things turn to shit…whoever dies first buys the pizza and beer.”
“You’re on.”
Yingtai looked at Jara. “Do you think it’s really them?”
“I think so,” Jara said, giving her a dirty look. “They’re hardly in my worst nightmares.”
“Maybe they should be…” Yingtai looked down at the rock where Dale and Smith were crouched. “We can’t get them from here.”
“I can see that,” Jara said. “Maybe we can coax them out?”
“Worth a try. What do you suggest?”
Jara thought for a moment. “I have a plan.”
Dale was warming up a Fire Magic spell when Yingtai spoke his name.
“Dale, help me,” she said. “Jara is gone. She took the jewel. I was forced, Dale. I’m sorry, I’m not a bad person, help me.”
Dale didn’t believe her, but he stuck his head slightly outside the edge of the rock.
Yingtai was lying on the ground. She was slowly crawling on her belly, bleeding profusely, and her health bar was below ten percent. “Dale, please help me. I’ll help you get out of here. It’s a trap. The princess betrayed me. She took the jewel. She’s evil. Please, Dale, help me.”
Dale looked at Smith, who shook his head, no.
Dale peeked out from behind the rock again. Yingtai wasn’t in her undead form any longer and she’d stopped moving. She looked like an innocent little girl, her health down to eight percent, blood still flowing and in need of help.
“Please, Dale,” she said. “Don’t let me die here. Please. Help me.” She dropped her head into her arms.
Dale looked for Jara.
“Where’s the princess?” he asked.
“She betrayed me. She left with the jewel. Please, Dale, I’ll help you find her. I’m sorry.”
“She’s lying,” Smith said.
“But she’s been hit; she’s at seven percent now. She’s dying,” Dale said.
“Let her, then.” Smith tapped Dale on the shoulder and whispered to him. “She’s a decoy, a ploy. Dale, don’t be fooled. Send me out there. When I approach her, Jara will reveal herself.”
“You think so?” Dale whispered back.
“Yes, this is weak-ass play. They’re dicking with your emotions,” Smith said. “You’re a sucker for a young, pretty face.”
“Okay,” Dale said. “Let’s do it, but I’ll go out there.”
“No, Dale, think about it,” Smith said. “I have my hammer; you have Fire Magic. Let me go. I’ll attack Yingtai, you wait until Jara does something and then you hit her with Fire.”
Dale’s emotions urged him to go out there, to be the one that risked death. But his mind told him that Smith was right…his friend was the better strategist.
“Okay,” he said, “let’s do it.”
Jara watched from a distance as the great-ape avatar approached Yingtai. She’d hoped that Dale would insist on being the brave one; the heroic knight rescuing the damsel in distress. But no matter, she was prepared either way. Her Ice Magic, a glacier spell called Tork-Buzlaq, would slow either one down.
Smith approached Yingtai.
Jara fired her spell at him. Her hit caused his movements to momentarily slow to half speed.
He became an easy target.
Yingtai spun onto her back, drank a healing potion, and stood.
Dale fired a Fire Magic Spell at Jara’s position, a Logi spell.
She was surprised at how high he’d leveled-up in magic as flames burst around her.
Dale watched Jara move. His Fire Magic spell exploded at the base of the stone where she was hiding. She’d be pinned behind it for a few moments, so he turned his attention back to Smith, and watched as Yingtai removed his best friend’s head from his body.
“NO!” Dale began warming up a powerful Water Magic healing enchantment, but he stopped when reality hit. Smith was dead.
He was alone.
No spell could return Smith’s
head to his body and restore his health.
Anger rose in Dale and he rushed Yingtai.
She was on her knees; her health was low again because Smith had been able to damage her with his hammer before she slaughtered him with her katana. The sword was still in her hand, covered with blood, but she wasn’t lifting it off the ground.
“Jara…” Yingtai said while looking over her shoulder.
There were still flames burning where she was expecting Jara to be.
Dale didn’t hesitate.
He retrieved the Onyx Assassin’s Dagger with the orc-spider toxin and was still at a full sprint when he drove the poisoned blade into Yingtai’s heart. “Fuck you, traitor!”
Her spasms of misery and screams of pain nearly spawned a twinge of guilt in Dale, but he dismissed the feeling as an arrow struck him in the thigh. His dragonling armor stopped most of it from penetrating too deeply, but it still inflected damage and pain. He rolled several times until he was behind a small rock that provided cover from Jara.
It was a one-on-one fight now, and although he’d gained skill and strength, there was no doubt that Jara outclassed him.
Eventually he looked at the spot where Yingtai and Smith had been. It was empty. No loot drops. She wasn’t an NPC, an idea he’d momentarily hoped might be true—that maybe she wasn’t really a cruel, cold, lying traitor. Jara, at least, had not pretended to be part of them from the start; she’d been picked up on the way. Yingtai was the one who had saved her. So they’d been working together from the start.
He thought of Amy again and his anger reignited. She’d been killed by a traitor, then hunted down by her friends. Thinking of Amy reminded Dale of the original mission: The Jewel of Sartozel.
Yingtai would have dropped it if she had it in her possession when she died. That meant Jara had it.
“You treacherous bitch,” Dale hissed. “I’m going to kill you.”
Dale warmed up another Fire Magic spell. He committed himself to using his mana in ranged DPS attacks. He wanted to avoid a close-quarters fight if he could. She had skill—being an NPC meant she didn’t feel fear—and he assumed she had no emotions or pain, either.
Ërin: Don’t assume anything in this world, love.
Dale: You mean she feels pain? Or has emotions?
I’m saying don’t assume.
Ugggg!
“You aren’t going to survive this, Dale,” Jara shouted from behind her stone cover.
