"Thank you for coming, Val," she said, squeezing his hand. "Tomorrow at nine," she reminded, Val smiling and nodding, thanking Mrs. Petrovsky once more for the use of the VR helm before cleaning himself up in the restroom, then heading to the car and slipping into a doze as his father drove them home.
"Val? We're back."
Val opened his eyes, flashing an apologetic smile. "Sorry, dad, I didn't mean to shut you out. I'm just, well, pretty beat, I guess."
His father was glancing at the helm. "Are you sure you're not pushing yourself too hard?"
Val shook his head. "Honestly, I think I'll be fine, and this does give me another way to look out for Julia and see how she's doing."
A thoughtful nod. "Very well, Val. I have some calls to make, you should get some rest. If anything seems at all off while you're playing, best advice I can give is simply to log off. You know your helm's hardwired disconnect word."
Val nodded. "Parachute."
"Good. I'll trust you to use it prudently. I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow."
Val smiled. "Looking forward to it."
His dad grinned at that. "It's good to have you back, Val."
"It's good to be home, dad."
Val went to sleep that night feeling as content and exhilarated as he could recall feeling in years, but not so ebullient he didn't sense the odd probing sentience scanning nearby just moments before he slipped into deepest slumber. But that was okay, for even the most piercing fog lights saw only gloom when trying to pierce the bedroom shadows Val now embraced.
Val fancied his mind wondered down strange paths as it often did before slipping into slumber, suddenly seeing the entirety of his neighborhood as a game board, and he looking down upon one driver in particular, a man with a smoothly shaved head and soulless eyes giving a frustrated snarl as he yanked his steering wheel in an abrupt U-turn, running up the curb in his Mercedes as if only recently licensed, for all that his eyes were centuries old with hate.
And perhaps that dark figure caught the slightest whisper of the spirit gazing down at him, yet when he looked up and snarled, Val was already lost in sleep.
"Val, you made it!"
Val grinned as Julia swept him up in a bear hug the moment he stepped out of the obsidian pillar that seemed to act as a soul receptacle of sorts. "Yup. Sorry I'm a few minutes late, I was eating breakfast with my dad, and we had things to discuss."
Julia nodded her understanding. "He thought he had lost you forever, not so long ago, and last night's scare didn't help him any either. I'm glad you're making time for him. I try to be better at doing the same myself."
Val grinned. "I know. And I know your mom is pushing you hard to excel, which I think is awesome. so how did you talk her into giving you morning session permission?"
Julia grinned. "Mom isn't quite so hostile to VR helm use as she pretends. It gives her a chance to work on her research, and as much as I miss her when she's lost in her own little world, I'm technically an adult now, and she deserves her own life. Besides, since my brain seems to be repairing itself with VR helm use, it gives me the perfect excuse to play."
Val's eyes widened. "Really."
Julia's teasing gaze turned serious. "Yes, Val. Seriously. I know Dirk comes on a bit strong. He used to be a lot more low key, and we'd try to spot people who were taking the game seriously, but for the last month or so the rate of new players spawning has really crashed." She swallowed, gazing at her feet, armored as they were. "And all of them, every single one, now fully resonates with their avatar, whether they intended it to happen or not. Just like you and me."
Val frowned. "That's not good, Julia, especially for people who have no idea what fighting for their life is really like."
She nodded her agreement. "And what's worse is Exalted Inc. has vanished off the face of the Earth. They won't put up new servers, do any repair work that we can see, or fix this horrid glitch that could kill people! If you go on Readit or Hyper-tweet, accounts that try to raise alarm are shut down before a single day passes. Now, why the hell would that be?"
Val gazed around what looked like a prosperous city just before the age of electricity, people bustling to and from a nearby market, multiple storefronts to be seen on the first floor of brilliant white stone buildings, locals dressed like well-to-do Renaissance townsmen in any movie set were freely mixing with Dominion soldiers off duty, though they all looked too young, too healthy, their features just a bit too perfect, with brilliant irises of silver, gold, violet and blue being far more common than brown. Val also noted a few fellow PC adventurers, or perhaps they were NPC explorers, enjoying the trade and bustle of the Dominion outpost slowly transforming into a city.
Val took a deep breath of air alive with exotic spices, grilling meats, wildflowers, and pine. He couldn't help smiling with a certain amount of contentment, grim as the conversation had become. "And let's be honest, for all we know, the government itself is involved, if Dirk's theories regarding biofeedback boosting our real-life bodies has any truth to it. And if he's not special forces or a high-end contractor, I really did shovel shit for the three years I served."
Julia grinned, grabbing his hand. "You're right, I have no right to complain. I love the thrill of exploring this realm and the idea of enhancing myself in both worlds, whatever the risk. Come on, Val. You're a member of Guild Ottalaus. Our chapter is just beyond the old city limits.
Val blinked, turning around to gaze at the sleek chrome buildings and mech-warriors a small distance away, walled off from this half of the town, though people passed freely under the wide open gateway between the two districts.
"So this city is friendly to the Dominion, even if it's struggling with the rebels, whoever they are."
Julia, expertly shifting the gears of a velimobile a friendly soldier had provided them, nodded. "You got it. Both sides use wizards. The Dominion peripherally, the rebels as the brunt of their attack. Just hold on, and don't cast any magic. Driving this thing is trickier than my convertible."
Val grinned and leaned back, enjoying the feel of gliding on what seemed a pillow of air, Julia's tongue peeking out of the corner of her mouth as she stared intently at the winding road before them.
Before long the dwindling forest had turned to grassland and Val made out what looked like an ancient villa in the distance, surrounded by thick walls of brilliant white stone, the same material used for the larger buildings in the town adjoining the outpost. Julia stopped before the gates as a guard kitted in reflective acrylic armor saluted Julia and gave them entrance, and Val whistled in awe as he beheld up close an ancient palisade of rose quartz sparkling in the sun.
Julia grinned, waving at the guard as she drove up to the front entrance. "Beautiful, isn't it? This ancient villa is maybe a thousand years old, back just before the Dominion took over this world. This rock that looks just like rose quartz is one of the few things that lasers less powerful than a Vulcan cannon can't easily penetrate, so the original builders built everything or at least faced most important buildings with the material."
Val nodded. "A natural matrix of Altersian crystals," he said.
Julia gave him the strangest look. "That's right. But not even Readit has posts on Altersian stone, so how do you know about it?"
Val winked. "I used my secret powers to probe your mind." They both chuckled, Julia clasping his hand and pointing to the beautiful frescoes adorning the marvelous structure inside, every hallway looking far more spacious and airy than it had a right to, with soaring pillars and clouds and golden stairways to heaven everywhere one looked above. The tiled floor was an elegant contrast, a glossy mural design of ebony and ivory tiles. "Even the entryway is as pretty as a museum, and the Romanesque statues are a nice touch too."
Julia nodded. "It's the former administrator's palace, and after we came to his aid we got the right to use it indefinitely as our guildhall! Well, the wing assigned to our use, at least."
Val raised his brows at that, Julia grinning. "We're artifact hunters, Val! Wh
ich means Dominion officers offer us quests with great perks, and Dwarven Masers and armor sell at a premium like you wouldn't believe!"
Val nodded his head, captivated by the exquisite artwork that would be displayed with pride in any private gallery. Once, before tragedy had struck, he had had childhood dreams of becoming an artist, which gave him just enough insight to appreciate the masterworks of portraiture and landscapes on display all around him, the occasional Grecian-like statue no less classical in appearance for its painted form and shimmering golden eyes. "I can believe it."
"Good," she smirked. "Because we did a whole quest chain to gain the former governor's approval to use this palace as our guildhall without having to burn our hard earned credits buying a far shabbier place. Then did a hidden quest to make sure we were on good terms with the towns nearby as well. If any rebels come this way, we'll be given fair warning, and none will strike at us even if they mean to take out the Dominion compound."
"Smart thinking," Val said. "Game or no, if you've put your heart into this building, it would suck if some asshole NPCs or an enemy guild ransacked you."
Julia frowned. "I've never heard of players raiding one another. Not now, not when the stakes are so high."
"It happens," Dirk admitted, popping around the corner with Yin in tow, who gave a delighted squeal upon seeing Val.
"You made it back!" she declared. "Dirk here has been a dream! He said he was a friend of yours, Val, and I see he wasn't kidding!" She winked and elbowed Dirk in the belly who playfully winced. "Anyway, if he was trying to pick me up he was smooth as silk and offering to teach me magic, so how could a girl refuse?" she teased. "I'm so glad you're here, but you were supposed to message me on Readit! I was worried about you."
Val grimaced his apology even as he sensed Julia glowering. "Sorry, Yin. Last night was kind of exhausting and I crashed late."
"He was at my house," Julia said deadpan, Yin's bubbly mood instantly dissipating to a calm stillness. Val winced, suddenly uncomfortable.
"Our parents are friends," Val explained.
"Very good friends," Julia emphasized, clenching Val's hand tightly.
Val nodded, doing his best to avoid Yin's gaze. "Julia was explaining the game to me, telling me not to get my hopes up since most people can no longer hop on with the official servers down, and, well, you know everything that happened after that, Yin."
Yin nodded, every inch the calm professional. "I was dying in a power-dead rejuvenation vat, and you popped it open, saving my life. We fought back to back, and you helped me make it to safety." She braved a smile. "You are the best sort of gaming friend, Val, just like Dirk here is, willing to take a new girl under your wing. Thank you."
Julia frowned, but forced herself to nod. "Val is an awesome friend. He helped me out in ways you wouldn't believe, not that long ago." She took a deep breath, walking forward, holding out her hand. "Welcome to the guild, Yin. Vertu Ottalaus."
Yin accepted the handshake. "Vertu Ottalaus, Julia, thanks for having me."
Julia dipped her head. "Come on, Yin, let's all get some spell training under our belts."
Dirk smiled and nodded. "I just taught her Conjure Light. We'll let her decide if she wants to be a spell-slinger like you, or use melee enhancing spells like I do."
Julia smiled in approval. "Even though it's just a level 1 spell, to learn it naturally after only a single day's cramming is far more than most aspiring mages can achieve. Probably why almost every single PC mage I've met in-game only has spells they bought with points, since most decent combat spells start at level 20. But don't worry, Yin, if you have a single rank in the element and technique you need to cast it, you can learn up to level 20 spells. After that, you need another rank in each of the underlying arts or techniques for every 5 levels of a spell. So a level 30 spell using the Creation and Control techniques and the Flame element would need you to be Rank 2 in Creation, Control, and Flame. Or, you could have just rank 1 in the 2 techniques, Creation and Control, and 3 ranks in the element of Flame. Either way, 4 effective ranks, and you can cast a level 30 spell. And almost no one trains a level 30 spell without spending a character point on it."
Yin nodded. "I think I get it. So a complex spell with lots of techniques and elements as requirements depends on the lowest of each for your final rank. So if you have a spell using Creation as your technique and Fire and Water as your elements, and you have rank 9 in Fire and only 1 rank in Water and Creation, you only cast the spell as if you were rank 2. The weakest of the 2 elements. But if you had Creation at rank 9 and Fire and Water at rank 1 each, that would mean you're casting it at a crazy Rank 10, since it only requires 1 technique, even if it needs both elements, and that would let you cast up to a level 60 spell, right?"
Julia grinned. "You got it in one, Yin. I think you'll be a natural at this! But I've never heard of a level 60 spell, or anything over level 40 or so. And no one I know except maybe NPC Highmages has ever achieved even Rank 5 in a magical art."
Dirk nodded. "Think of it this way, Yin. Magic is a very time and point intensive discipline, and unlike all other skills, is almost entirely planet bound. A master mage on one planet may be no more powerful than an apprentice with potential on another. But with those limitations accounted for, it is one of the most potent paths to power one can take. A level 20 spell is powerful enough to kill a single opponent with a single perfect casting. A level 30 spell is powerful enough to take out a small cluster of men, and a level 40 spell is powerful enough to devastate a group of heavily armored knights, perhaps even mechanized infantry. My understanding is that a few legendary mages once accrued power sufficient to cast spells far beyond even the 40th level. It is their city killing spells from centuries ago that forced the Empire to come to terms with the Highmages, one reason why the Dominion rules the southern continent which we are on with a very light touch." His brows furrowed. "At least, that was the case until about three months ago."
Yin finally flashed a genuine smile. "Honestly, guys, I'd love to learn whatever you have to teach me." Her gaze grew solemn. "But, yes, Julia, please show me all your spells at least once. I'm going to try to take Dirk's advice, and focus on enhancing myself with level points, not blow it all in instantly mastering spells. But since I could normally learn 4 spells at a basic degree of expertise with a skill point and then master it on my own from there, well, it's nice to know I have that option at a reduced cost with my perk."
Julia grinned. "You can also insta-learn two spells to Adept level for a skill point, or spend a full point to master a single spell outright. I hear you can even buy multiple tiers of mastery for your absolute favorite spell, but I'd recommend saving your points for developing your body and mind. However you do it, following the warrior mage's path is not a bad way to go, Yin. Especially since we don't start out with that huge a mana pool, even more so if you really are fully synergized to this game and biofeedback will heighten your body and brain as if you had leveled up in real life too." Her gaze turned serious. "But remember, once you have the ability to actually level up in real life, you also have the responsibility to understand that death here is probably death there. If you're like us, you only have one life to live, so don't blow it."
Yin swallowed and nodded, and Julia proceeded to lead them all to the back of the compound. Before them was a beautiful garden filled with an endless variety of flowers, the lushest shades of crimson, ivory, and pink to be found among them. The smell was captivating, Val's nose awash in a sea of delightful scents. He almost fancied he could see magical currents coalescing around several flower beds and half fancied taking a closer look but Julia didn't slow down, walking at a fast clip over to what was a back gate, leading to a grassy field beyond, barren of all people, though a number of distant targets could be seen.
"Beautiful garden back there," Val commented, Julia absently nodding.
"Besides the head gardener selling some of the more exotic blooms in the market, a number of those botanicals are ideal for p
otion brewing," Dirk said with a frustrated shake of his head. "Unfortunately, the former alchemist was as like to blow himself up as actually make anything useful, but here's to trying."
Julia grinned. "He wasn't that bad, for an NPC. Even with the cost of the wasted ingredients, we did get a few healing potions out of his final batch."
Val nodded. "I'm not surprised. Those five-petaled crimson and azure blossoms looked like they were absolutely brimming with magic potential."
Julia and Dirk grew oddly still, turning as one to face Val. "You could sense that?" Dirk asked.
Val gazed carefully at the man, subtly shifting his weight. "Perhaps. is it a concern?"
Dirk's intense gaze warmed into a smile. "Not at all, friend Val. Honestly, nothing would please me more than finding a player who actually has a knack for alchemy. You wouldn't believe how difficult that is." He patted Val's shoulder. "We'll talk about it later. What calls now are those practice dummies over yonder. Julia?"
Julia gave a curt nod, suddenly barking orders like a drill sergeant. "Val. Yin. Accept my Spirit Link. It will help you sense the magic better. Now stand to my left and watch my hand movements even as you sense how I weave together the flows of the spells I'm going to use."
With the intently focused gaze of a soldier preparing for battle, Julia summoned a crackling ball of electricity into her right hand as her left slowly summoned a spell ward, giving both her students a chance to see it manifest, and then she released.
There was a distinct sizzle in the air as a bolt of electricity crackled into the nearest dummy in the distance covered in battered armor, and Val gazed in open-mouthed awe as he sensed so clearly the brilliant weave of magical energies suddenly coalescing from all corners of Julia's soul before being quickly and carefully woven together into a pristine whole, unleashed with the faintest whisper.
She turned to them both, speaking matter-of-factly. "That was a Lightning Strike. It can overload a computer, sometimes, or strike a man dead with his heart stopping, unless you perform CPR. Certain types of armor can deflect it, not all, and it is extremely quick in casting and in travel time." She smiled. "I took care to aim at the dummy with the Dominion armor upon its frame. It's least likely to damage it, and it takes the most effort to push through. For the rest of the demonstration, I will be aiming at the clay dummies you see. They're easiest to repair or reforge with an Earth spell once you're done practicing."
Endless Online: Oblivion's Price: A LitRPG Adventure - Book 3 Page 17
