Alpha World Book One: Gamer for Life

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Shaking his head, he caught Alistern glowering blackly at them. Offering his arm to Stacia, which she took with a smile, Alburet said, “We’ll be back late Alistern. I will protect her with my life.”

  As they walked down the street he was aware of the many men who paused as they passed to admire the sight of Stacia in the leather. “Stacia, where did you get that wardrobe?” he finally asked.

  “It was Ma’s when she adventured with Da’, Unca Grim and Stewart. She thought it would fit me as we’re built much alike. After she said I could go I put it on. Maybe I should nay have been wearin’ it when I went to ask Da’.”

  Resisting the urge to face palm, Alburet agreed, “Yeah, might have been better. He probably thought that I would just ravish you as soon as I saw you in it. Besides, while it looks fantastic it isn’t the best for protection.”

  “I understand tha’, but Ma never got hit really when she was adventurin’.”

  “I bet the mobs just stopped attacking and stared at her,” Alburet chuckled. He missed Stacia’s serious nod as he opened up the flashing message icon to find a message from Fluff.

  Message from Fluff:

  I’m ready to go for more killing Al, meet you at the portal guild?

  He sent her back a message that he was already on his way there, adding that they would have a guest with them today. When he finished the message he looked at Stacia. “Okay, the other part of our party is going to meet us at the portal guild. Her name is Fluffball and she’s a Lunari Berserker. I told you about her last night.”

  “She is a good friend?” Stacia asked.

  “She’s been a good companion to kill things with. She is a nice person but a little shy, so play nice with her okay?”

  “As ya wish, master,” Stacia said, squeezing his arm where she held it.

  As they approached the portal guild Alburet targeted Stacia and tried to invite her to group. She looked as surprised as Alburet felt when it worked. A moment later Stacia appeared in the group UI showing her to be level ten but with a question mark where her class should have been listed. “Stacia? Why don’t you have a class?”

  “I do nay know, it has been a mystery to me family. Me sisters are the same as me, none of us showing a class when inspected. Da’ tried to train us, which did nay work. He had his friends try, but we could nay learn necromancy either.” Stacia shrugged, “I will be fine, though. Ya will be watchin’ out for me.”

  They reached portal, guild entering the building to find the waiting area mostly full. They got into line for the reception desk, waiting their turn. Once they got to the front of the line, he smiled at Kim warmly, “Missed you yesterday, Kim. Hope you’re doing well?”

  “Yes, thank you. Yesterday was my day off. A new one, hmm? Building a harem maybe?” Kim chuckled, “Where are you off to today?”

  “The fort in the orc lands. There will be three of us. Besides, isn’t it every man’s dream to be loved by as many women as possible?”

  “True enough, I suppose. That will be one gold and thirty silver each, please.”

  Alburet paid for the trio, “I hope you have a good day, Kim.” He dropped an extra gold on the desk, “Keep the change as well.” He took Stacia’s hand and led her to the waiting area. He spotted Fluff just coming in and tossed her an invite. “Hey, Fluff,” he called out, “I paid up, we’re going to the orc lands today. Stacia, this is Fluffball. Fluffball, this is Stacia.”

  Stacia smiled broadly, “Good to meet ya, Miss Fluffball. Alburet has told me ya are a good companion and a fierce Berserker.”

  Fluff pinked slightly, “It’s good to meet you as well, Stacia. Sadly you have the advantage on me as Alburet hasn’t told me anything about you.”

  “Stacia is the daughter of Alistern, the owner of the Dead Man Inn,” Alburet said, taking Fluff’s arm and leading the two women into the waiting area. “She’s been my maid at the inn. Last night she said she would like to go adventuring, so I invited her along. Her armor is her mother’s old armor and I promised her dad to protect her above all else.”

  Fluff looked at him with unreadable eyes for a moment before her mouth quirked up, “So, protecting her on her first time out?”

  “Pretty much,” Alburet said, looking around but not finding a spot for them to sit.

  Rolland went by, nodding at Alburet as he approached a group of three on a sofa. Alburet, seeing the chance, edged the women closer to the sofa as the trio stood up and followed Rolland. The mage winked at Alburet as he went by. Alburet got the women settled, taking the seat in the middle. “Now we just have to wait a few minutes,” he said, draping his along the back of the sofa so he had an arm around each of them.

  Fluff glanced at him from the corner of her eye, “So, Stacia, how has Alburet been acting at the inn?”

  Stacia beamed, “He has been wonderful, the perfect master.”

  Fluff’s eyes went wide as her head turned to fully face them, “Master?”

  “Oh yes,” Stacia shivered slightly, “the way he helps keep me grounded with his firm hands. He treats me so sweetly, sharing his meals with me, as well as helping me explore my sexu…”

  “Okay, that’s enough,” Alburet interrupted with a cough.

  Fluff was red, her mouth open slightly as she looked from the young woman to Alburet and back in mild shock. “He’s slept with you?”

  “And so much more,” Stacia said smiling broadly, “would ya like to join us tonight? I really enjoyed the last time another two-souled joined us.”

  Alburet winced at how Stacia was making him sound, not that she was really wrong. “Okay, that’s enough of airing my laundry in public, please.” He glanced around, getting a lot of disgusted looks from the women nearby along with some envious looks from the guys.

  Stacia looked at him oddly, “Ya should be proud though, master. Ya made Karen and me very happy with the way you worked us so well.”

  Alburet buried his face in his palms with a resounding smack, “Gah, enough!”

  Fluff giggled at him even though she was crimson, “Stacia, you’re embarrassing him. We can talk more once we’re in the field.”

  Stacia frowned, “I don’t understand, though. Any man should be proud if he could be even a fifth of master.”

  “I’m easily better than that toothpick, baby,” a deep voice said from the side. When they looked over they found a very large muscled man in chain with a shield on his back standing next to the sofa, leering down at Stacia. “I can protect you more than this lightly armored guy. How about it, want to see what a real man can do for a fine little honey like you?”

  Alburet felt his anger rising, only to be surprised when Stacia laughed. “Oh, ya poor man. Ya might be more muscled then me master but I would bet he knows how to work his body better then ya could ever hope to. Besides, he knows so well how to keep a hellion like me in line.”

  The man’s face went red, his lip curling into a sneer, “Look, you little bitch…”

  Alburet popped to his feet, a tight smile in place, “Let’s take a walk outside, shall we? We can have a duel out there with a wager on the line. If you beat me, you get her for an entire week. If I beat you then you hand over all your gear to her. Are you okay with this, Stacia?”

  Stacia looked at Alburet and bowed her head, “As master wishes. I trust ya.”

  “So what do you say, Bubba?”

  “Yeah that’s fine, but nothing other than melee, no spells or abilities.” The man said with a snicker, “Still game?”

  “Sounds fine. Anyone who wants entertainment come on outside,” Alburet said, strolling outside with Stacia and Fluff following him. He tossed Fluff a message asking her to put twenty gold in bets on him.

  As he got outside, Alburet targeted the asshole and sent him a duel invite, “Ready?”

  Steelwall snorted, “Yeah, I’m ready.” Accepting the duel prompted both of them with a notice.

  Wager:

  The gods have heard your wager.

  The outcome of this
duel will be enforced by the gods.

  Alburet vaguely heard bets being placed between people who’d come out to watch as the countdown started for the duel. He was a little shocked over the system notification. Shrugging off the notification, he took the two handed axe off his back, grinning as Steelwall’s smile faded slightly, “What, did you expect a staff?”

  “Stupid caster, putting points in strength,” Steelwall sneered.

  Alburet took note of his opponent’s health, 1200/1200. He would need about eight to ten hits to kill his opponent. His 950/950 health, with the twenty armor mitigation would mean thirty hits or so for him to die. Factor in the shield he would have to deal with and it was going to be close. Alburet took a few steps back, waiting as the timer ticked down the last five seconds.

  As the last second ticked away, Steelwall charged right at Alburet with his shield high. Alburet waited, axe held high, as the distance closed. Alburet pulled the axe in and rolled past Steelwall on the sword side. As he came back up he lashed out with the axe blindly, feeling the resistance that meant he’d hit Steelwall.

  Steelwall cussed as he spun to face Alburet again, his leg bloody, “What the fuck? No way you should be able to hit that hard!”

  Alburet chuckled, pulling the axe back up into high guard, “Critical to the knee. How did it feel to lose over three hundred in one go? Now we’re on even footing.”

  The crowd had gone quiet seeing the critical take such a large chunk of Steelwall’s health away, but now the sound picked back up as people began debating how that was possible. Steelwall glanced at the crowd with a smile, “That’s right. He has to be cheating, don’t you think?”

  As Steelwall looked at the crowd around them Alburet lunged forward, hooking the top of the shield with his axe and yanked it hard. Steelwall stumbled, dropping to a knee as he tried to bring the shield back up while slashing wildly to keep Alburet back. Alburet though, had stepped past and brought the axe down on the back of his opponent’s neck, getting another critical. Not letting his advantage go, Alburet brought the axe back and down again. Steelwall got the shield over his head, blocking the second strike, and stood up.

  Dancing back quickly, Alburet smiled, “You have no idea how to really use that thing, or at least not let it be a hindrance. So to make yourself feel better you have to think I’m cheating somehow?” He laughed as he kept back stepping while shaking his head. “Now that your health is halved, do you want to concede?”

  “Fuck you, I’m going to beat you and take that sweet piece of ass. Once I’m done with her she won’t even look at you again,” Steelwall spat.

  “Ya want this ass?” Stacia said loudly, followed by a loud meaty smack as she slapped her own ass.

  Steelwall’s eyes drifted to the left where Stacia was wiggling her ass, her skirt flipped up to show matching leather panties. As soon as his eyes shifted Alburet charged in, swinging wide on purpose. Steelwall swung his shield up and out to block the axe that he’d tried to bait Alburet into swinging. He failed to notice that the axe missed his shield, thinking he had played it right. He was surprised when the axe came up from the ground and into his leg even as his sword finally hit Alburet.

  Hissing in pain, Alburet stepped away to put a bit of distance between him and Steelwall. “Your four hundred health against my nine hundred plus. Man, you really do suck to let a caster out melee you.”

  Roaring, Steelwall charged holding his shield just high enough to see over, with his sword pulled back. Knowing it was going to hurt like hell, Alburet stepped into the sword stroke willingly, lashing out with the axe as Steelwall couldn’t rotate far enough to block while he was attacking to his sword side. The axe glanced off Steelwall’s shoulder as the two separated again. Alburet was clenching his teeth against the pain as Steelwall blinked, noting how badly Alburet seemed to be injured.

  “Oh, I got you now,” Steelwall roared, coming forward fast and punching out with the shield, catching Alburet as he spun to the side.

  Alburet winced at the impact of the shield bash which also knocked him far enough out to stop him from connecting with his own attack. Breathing hard against the pain Alburet planted his feet, lowering the axe towards the ground as he watched Steelwall get ready for another charge. Alburet leaned slightly to his opponent’s sword side as he swallowed. “I’ll get you this time,” he said, eyeing Steelwall’s sword side again.

  Steelwall smirked, thinking he had figured out the Alburet’s plan. “I got you now, asshole.” With that he charged again, shield ready to strike as he saw Alburet shift further towards his sword side. Shifting the shield slightly he lashed out, connecting with Alburet. Alburet dropped to the ground as the shield clipped him, tangling his axe between Steelwall’s feet. Steelwall stumbled as he literally ran over Alburet, the stumble turned into a face plant a foot past the Summoner.

  Groaning in pain Alburet rolled over, bringing the axe around to lash out over him as he completed the roll. It landed squarely on Steelwall’s back, knocking him to one hit point and ending the duel. Alburet pulled the axe back, raising a hand into the air, “I win.”

  Stacia and Fluff ran over to him as his wounds began to heal, “I knew ya would win, master.”

  “That was unorthodox and very lively,” Fluff said, looking down at the grinning Summoner. “Let me go collect then we should check to see if we missed our portal.”

  Stacia helped him to his feet, smiling the whole time, “Ya were amazing, master.” Her other arm held a bag that held Steelwall's gear which he had lost in the bet.

  No sooner than those words left her mouth then she shrieked as Steelwall grabbed her by the hair, “You little bitch, you set me up. Give me back my stuff or else!”

  A bolt of lightning flashed out of the clear sky into Steelwall. He seized up and crumpled to the ground as Rolland appeared in the portal guild’s doorway. “We will not tolerate assault on the grounds of the guild. Also, duels are now forbidden on the grounds as well.” Rolland stood by the door to the building looking very menacing. “Do I make myself clear?” The crowd nodded, murmuring assent. The level eighty Elementalist nodded. “Right. Alburet, your group’s portal is ready. Please follow me.”

  Alburet made sure Stacia was okay before taking her arm and leading her into the building right behind Fluff, who was shaking her head. They followed Rolland in silence up to the portal room. “Please don’t instigate trouble again, Alburet,” Rolland said.

  Alburet nodded, “Wasn’t my intention, Rolland. Once he called Stacia a bitch I had to do something.” Shrugging, he motioned the women to the portal, “Off you go, ladies.” Once they went through he handed Rolland two gold, “Thanks for the save at the end though, eh.”

  Rolland chuckled, pocketing the gold, “You bet. You are one of the very few who tip us, after all. Good hunting.”

  Stepping onto the rune, he found himself at the fort near the orc lands. Stacia and Fluff were waiting by the gate where the two guards were obviously chatting Stacia up. Alburet walked over to hear one of the guards ask if she wanted to have her body guarded.

  “Down boy, she has all the protection she needs in me,” Alburet interjected as he stopped next to the women.

  The guard eyed him for a moment, “Are you Alburet?”

  Eyebrow raising, he nodded, “Yup.”

  “Well then, I guess she’ll be fine. We heard about you helping train some of the guards. We just started a new morning program based on that training, it’s being taught to all the guards now.” The private’s voice held respect, “Good hunting with the Orcs today.”

  “Thank you,” Alburet replied before summoning Bob and Tiny. “A big group makes the day fly right on by.”

  The guard froze for a second at the sight of the demons before nodding, “As you say, sir.”

  “We are hunting Orcs today?” Tiny asked in his customary rumble as he looked out across the grasslands.

  “That is the plan,” Alburet said, glancing down at Bob who was staring at Stacia with a puzzled
expression. “Bob, you okay?”

  Tearing his eyes off of Stacia, Bob nodded, “Yes, master. Who is the new girl? Are you starting up a harem?”

  Rolling his eyes as Stacia giggled Alburet replied, “Not that I know of, but you’re the second one today to ask me that. This is Stacia, she’s joining us for at least today.” Turning to Tiny he continued, “Tiny, your first priority today is to keep Stacia safe from all harm. If you have to choose just one of us to save, it is to be her.”

  “Yes, master,” Tiny rumbled, taking two steps to stand next to Stacia. “I will keep you safe.”

  Stacia looked up at Tiny with a grin, “You remind me of Theoliphius, my father’s Destroyer.”

  “I need to offload all of this junk from yesterday.” Alburet broke away from the group to speak with the quartermaster, who was also the smith at this fort. After unloading his bag of junk and getting some gold in return he went back to the gate. “Okay, we’re ready to go. Let’s head off towards the tree I was at the other day. The patrols there are nice and steady.”