by Andrew Lynch
Once I could see the main street, there were people. I stepped out into it and things still didn’t seem quite right. There were people here, but I could see that about a hundred metres away, the crowd stopped. What was I really seeing here? I followed the crowd, all of them loud and busy and walking through me.
I continued to be pulled along this path, and it made sense. Now that I was walking through the crowd, I started to recognise things. It was an odd sense of deja vu, but I also realised where the crowd was heading, and where I was being pulled.
To no surprise, it was the cliff carved stairs to the mid tier.
I made my way up, the crowd around me now stationary. Not because they’d stopped being real, just because they were queuing. I, luckily, could just walk right through them. It didn’t feel weird, there were no shivers when it happened, but it was still rather difficult, as everyone was so tightly packed. My vision kept flicking between the blackness of being inside someone’s head, and then seeing the back of someone else’s. It may have been much quicker than doing this in a corporeal form, but it wasn’t any less interesting. Also, I didn’t have Bri’s charm and wit to keep me company.
So I climbed the stairs. As I climbed, the whispers started to discern themselves. It was a woman, softly murmuring a chant. Over and over, she repeated it. Also, as I climbed, I started to see the threads that were pulling me. They were a faint blue, winding from my limbs and torso, meeting up into a thick rope, and then snaking off up the stairs.
After a few minutes, I reached the landing at the top. There were six figures in front of me. Myself, Bri, the two guards, and the black-clad figure were all static. The fifth was a mage, and was very much animated, pulling the blue cord that attached to me. She had long grey hair, and wore a dress of thick, tanned animal hides. She had three javelins in a holster on her back, and a large brown sack by her feet. There was no mistaking her. It was one of Hursh’s mages.
The sixth was the black figure. Even in this vision-trance thing, he was an unidentifiable blur. The only feature of note, was a crest on his black fatigues. It was three wavy points, spiralling around something. It rang a bell. Where had I seen it before? Yes, yes I remembered! My second situation. The enemy army that I’d saved the keep from all had that same crest on their armour. I remember, even then, I found it familiar. Where else had I seen it? And what the hell did it mean?
‘Eyes, boy. How much of that did you take? When you crossed over, it was the loudest scream I’ve heard in an age.’
‘You’re one of Hursh’s mages.’
The woman let some slack into the the rope between us. ‘It wasn’t rhetorical.’
I shook my head. Why was she here?
‘It did work a bit faster than I’d expected, yes. Now, what’s happening? Why are you here?’
‘I asked how much. If it wanted vagueness I wouldn’t have spoken.You want answers, but have yet to answer me.’
I thought back to the dark mushrooms. ‘Seven stalks. Mixed with honey.’
‘Just the stalk, or the buds as well?’
‘Everything. Roots too, I think.’
She wasn’t shocked, that wasn’t the right word. She was definitely showing something though. ‘We must be quick then. We don’t have long thanks to your fool ways.’
‘Fool ways? Hey, I was just trying to impress a girl– oh, right. Why not? What’s wrong?’
‘You’re supposed to take two caps with water. Not seven plants with honey. The correct dosage lets you search your memories. What you’ve done is cause a full on memory fragment reboot. You’re going to die.’
‘No. I’m fine, why would I die?’
‘Fine? Boy, your body is lying in a bed half a city away. Your world may be different from ours, but that’s a funny definition of fine.’
She was making a lot of strong points, I’d give her that.
‘No,’ I said, realising how stupid it was to deny what was no doubt true.
‘No? You can’t just say no. That won’t stop it from happening. Ignorance and stubbornness are no excuses, dolt!’
I crossed my arms. ‘I don’t have time to die. I’ve got people depending on me. I’ll die later. Now, old crone, answer my questions.’
Her jaw hung open in shock and she muttered to herself. ‘What’s happening is you are tripping on memory fragments, and I’m here because you’re as subtle as a brick.’
‘I need something. You were destroyed, but it might save us.’
‘Destroyed? Damn, Eyes cursed fool! I’m here to help you, so stop being such a tundrabeast.’
‘Yeah? Well, I don’t know what that is, so you stop being such a tundrabeast!’
It was possible that I wasn’t acting myself. I still maintained that it had nothing to do with a lethal dose of self-inflicted poison.
She slapped a hand to her face and her eyes rolled back into her head. ‘Boy! You are going up against forces you know nothing about! Now pay attention. Hursh lost the fight, yes, but me and the rest of his council managed to escape. Most of his people survived too. But he logged out. We need him back. Minions need their master. Otherwise we… don’t have long.’
I opened my mouth to reply, but my brain needed a moment to process what she was saying. ‘You need my help?’
‘I’m as shocked as you are, boy, yes.’
‘And if I help you…?’
‘Then we will return the favour. You’re quick, I see.’
‘Hey, I’m currently heavily medicated, so cut me some slack. Non-lethally medicated, of course.’
‘I’m a seer. I’m never wrong. You need us, and we need you. All you have to do is log out and contact Hursh in your world.’
‘And how will you help me?’
‘The council will be with you. There are twelve of us, and we’ll follow your plans. Wherever you want us in your little siege, we’ll be there.’
‘How do you know I’m having a “little siege”?’
‘Boy, I’m a seer, and you threw yourself into the spirit world. This is my domain, and your mind is an open book.’
‘Then you know what–’
She nudged the sack by her foot.
‘You’re smarter than you look. Somehow. You’re right, you won’t survive a siege without these, and we’re the only ones that have enough for all those little pets you recruited.’
I hesitated. ‘Will it work?’
‘Will you do it?’ she urged. ‘Will you bring Hursh back to us?’
‘I don’t have time. The siege is coming soon, and I’m not sure.’
‘Boy, this isn’t a request. You do what we want, then we do what you want. There’s no middle ground. I see you’re hesitant, so let’s say this. Promise that when you next die, you’ll contact Hursh in your world. That way, no wasted time now. Trust me, I’m being very lenient with you. Take the offer. I’ll give you his contact details in a message. It’s easy for you. It’s nothing. You’d be helping us immensely.’
I thought about it. Okay, this made sense. All I’d have to do is send a text message to whoever this guy was. And when I died, there was a bit of downtime while I respawned, so that would be fine. Sure, why not. And, maybe I’d get in their good books. A few favours down the line could be useful.
‘You’re not allowed to kill me, of course.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘Who would do that?’
‘Sorry, used to dealing with cultists. Okay. Let’s do it. I will contact Hursh, and you will come to the defence of Thanis. And you–’
‘Yes, yes. So impatient!’ She pushed over the sack by her feet, and dozens of minor shadow gems spilled out. ‘Happy? Now, go find Hursh.’
‘Not now, there’s no time. We need to get these back to Thanis.’
‘When you give the call. Now, go talk to Hursh.’
‘I’m not dead, yet.’
We stood in awkward silence for a few seconds.
‘You may as well. You overdosed. You’re going to die any minute.’
‘I am not!
’ I said as I died.
Chapter 40: Akira Severo
I slid my legs out from my pod and stood up. I stretched, and my joints sounded off a roll call of clicks and pops. I remembered to actually take my gloves off this time.
I considered getting a shower while I was out but decided against it. It was impossible to know how long I’d be dead for in-game, so I couldn’t waste any time. I needed to get straight back in so I was ready for my respawn in Thanis.
I checked my messages and there was one from Daniel with the title “See You Soon!”. Actually, there were three from him. How long had I been playing?
No time for that.
There was a new contact in my address book. The entry was in there as “Hursh”, still no real name. Well, I might as well make good on my promise straight away. I typed on the overlay projected by the metallic pads at my temples and dropped him a text. The projection blinked out, and I checked my supps. It was almost empty, my HUD showing it only had 5% left.
I crossed the room to the delivery chute, and with a gesture, it opened. I hauled the tub over to the pod and replaced it.
My HUD blinked. Hursh had responded. “New char, who this?”
“New char? No Hursh?”
“Nah. Screw restarting. Who?”
I explained who I was from his situation. “Your council sent me. They want Hursh back.”
He hesitated this time before a “writing” message popped up. “What they want?”
“Dunno. Said something about a limited time. Part of a deal was I’d contact you, then they help me.”
I was pacing around my home zone, enjoying the feeling of my feet on the floor. It wasn’t that Tulgatha didn’t have that sensation, it was just that it didn’t quite compare to reality.
“Got new char now. Tell them didn’t hear from me.”
Fine, whatever. It wasn’t my issue if this guy didn’t want to be nice to his minions. I mean, I didn’t get it, obviously, I liked my minions. But not my problem!
“What happens to them?” I texted, despite myself.
“6 months, then delete.”
Not my problem. I had Thanis to worry about, and six months was long enough that I could use his council for my own purposes. It was fine.
“Will it hurt?”
“Huh?”
“When they get deleted. Will it hurt them?”
Hesitation from him. “Fuck you.”
“I just want to know. Not being a dick! When your friends die, will they feel pain?”
“Fuck off. They not real. No pain.”
“If you say so.”
I closed the projected screen and paced for a bit longer until I stood in front of my apartment’s door. I’d done what I could. Not my fault he’s a bastard.
I wondered if the door had been fixed. I grabbed the sliding handle and pulled. It didn’t budge.
“Hello!” A chirpy voice blared from the apartment speakers. “Can I help you today, sir? Anything you need can be delivered to your door!”
‘Yeah, I know,’ I muttered. ‘Why wasn’t the door fixed?’
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, sir. The work was carried out, perhaps it’s another fault. I’ll have someone sent to your room immediately.”
‘Sure you will.’
I stepped back from the door and looked at it. My HUD labelled it as “closed” and made of an unidentified plastic alloy. I swiped the information away.
And that’s when I realised what I was doing. Why the shit did I have a HUD in real life? How was I seeing stats of real objects? And how was I interacting with it without my gloves.
‘Umm, apartment helper person. Have there been any… upgrades recently?’
She hesitated. “Is there an issue I can assist with?”
‘It’s nothing. I’m going back to my pod now.’
I took another step back from the door. Maybe there had been some big software update so now I could see real world stats without wearing any gear. I mean, that was possible. Not in any way I knew how, but I had fucking metal in my brain, so that could be a thing.
I raised my hand and focused on the door. Very slowly, I moved my hand to the left. I heard a click, and the door slid open in time with my hand.
What. The. Fuck.
The door wasn’t broken, it was locked. The apartment voice woman had lied to me. Also, I was controlling the real world with my fucking mind!
An alarm sounded, and the corridor outside flashed red as an emergency light blared.
“Sir, a fire has broken out in your building. Please return to your pod.”
I finished my hand swipe, and the door was fully open. When had I last left this chamber? I took a step toward the door.
“Sir, for your own safety, please return to your pod.”
I stepped out of my apartment and looked down the hallway. Or, I’d wanted to, but the first thing I noticed was the outside of my own apartment walls. They were see-through. What the fuck?
At the end of a corridor, three large figures rounded a corner. They all wore body armour, including full face protection.
“Return to your pod immediately, sir.” The apartment woman did not sound happy.
I took a step into the corridor, away from the three men.
I felt a sharp pain in my back and spun to see another armoured guard at the end of the corridor pointing a gun at me. He fucking tranq’d me!
My vision swam, and the world blurred. Some instinct made me thrust my hand toward the gun and clench my fist.
Just before the world went dark, I heard an explosion.
Chapter 41: It Begins
I startled awake.
What had just happened?
Poison. I’d poisoned myself with the mushrooms, right. Then I died. Had I contacted Hursh? I grabbed my head, on the verge of a migraine.
Yes. I had skipped the messages from Daniel, then I’d spoken to Hursh, but… I couldn’t remember what he’d said.
‘Man, those mushrooms leave a killer hangover,’ I muttered to myself. I was looking up at a grey sky.
Had there been an explosion?
‘Brace!’ someone shouted.
My mind was still foggy, but I had the sense to lie back down and cover my head. A colossal boom shook my bones, and the ground erupted behind me, showering me with chunks of dirt. My beautiful village’s dead earth. How dare they!
I shot to my feet, realising where I was. I was inside Thanis’ walls, and I was lying on the new Altar I’d built. Which, I realised with hindsight, was too big and so the hut had been demolished to make space.
The shower of sparks I was currently being harassed by was the remnant of a much larger light siege weaponry.
I slid my legs off of my Altar and stood up.
‘Ixly!’ I shouted. ‘Horace!’
No one came running. I took a moment to assess the situation. Thanis was no longer overflowing with resting soldiers. Some ranged units were up on the walls. A large block of the active melee fighters was plugging a gap in the wall where a gate should have been. Everyone else still alive was camped at the base of the walls, or in Ixly’s swamp. Bri’s grove was empty of refugee soldiers, still only occupied by her own minions. Damn it, Bri. Be a team player. People are dying.
For a giant albino lizard, Ixly was remarkably difficult to pick out from the crowd, but I managed it after a minute of searching. He was on top of the northernmost wall. He’d respawned - was he angry at me in spite of Bri’s reassurance?
I headed toward him but tripped over something with my first step. I looked to see what had cluttered my Altar and saw an opened sack. Hursh’s mage council, right. The minor shadow gems were spilling out. Something to deal with after someone briefed me of what was happening here and how long I’d been dead. Had it been over a week?
I jogged the rest of the way. Halfway there, I saw another giant ball of angry, sparking light narrowly overshoot the walls, and fly harmlessly into my village. A red danger area appeared where it would land, and the
only person there, a cultist running between walls as a messenger, managed to get out the way. The light ball exploded on impact, spreading its lethal light for at least another ten metres, and the debris from the earth went even further.
Once at the walls, I shouted up. Ixly didn’t hear me, but one of my cultists waved down to me. I pointed to the giant deaf dinosaur, and the cultist relayed the message. Ixly’s face lit up with excitement when he saw me. He secured the drum at his hip, and jumped down, scraping the wall with a claw to slow his descent. These were big walls, so I was shocked he could do that without taking fall damage. It did make me notice that there were vines every ten metres along the wall, hanging from top to bottom. Quicker than building stairs, I supposed.
‘Severo!’ Ixly boomed in my face. ‘So glad you rezzed. How was the real world?’
‘Hazy. What’s happened here? Was I dead that long?’
He laughed, more at the joy of adrenaline running through his veins than anything I said. ‘Our new hunter friend got the timing wrong. That’s why our gate wasn’t finished. It only took the enemy seven days to make the march. Amazing!’
‘Let me guess, he’d assumed they’d follow basic rules of travel like “needing rest”?’
‘Exactly so! It would appear that when the change, conversion, transformation, whatever it is, takes place, it removes a lot of basic needs along with stopping light from interacting with you.’
I frowned. ‘Horrifying.’
Ixly nodded enthusiastically. ‘Oh yes. It’s also turned Horace into a bit of an idol, as he had taken the initiative with killing the emissary. Apparently, some of the followers had been on the fence, but now they’re all united.’
‘Well, Horace is loyal to me so that’s not a problem. I mean, apart from the times he’s killed me, obviously.’
Ixly waved that comment away like it was of no concern. ‘Obviously.’
‘Talking of death, I am sorry about what happened with the Moonbeast.’
