by R J Triveri
Sandra looked over at him and steadied herself against the banister. “Walter’s just being hard on you, Athos.”
Her husband’s gaze fixed on her again. “Being hard? I can’t even start to describe how wrong that is, Sandra. He lost our daughter’s arm!”
She nodded. “And can’t you see it in his eyes how much it bothers him?”
He took a long look at Athos and finally shook his head. “Not enough.” The words came harshly but tempered with a bit more restraint. “You can stay the night, Athos, but then you’re out.”
Walter brought up his inventory screen and moved a finger quickly from one box to another before a message appeared in Athos’s window:
Walter Queen has ended his friendship with you. Two friend requests are still pending.
Athos felt as if a part of him broke as the message faded from red, to orange, and finally back into the nothingness that made up the world around him.
“The fishers will de-spawn when the rules reset in the morning since they are in a haven,” Walter explained as his window closed and his back turned to walk into the living room. “I want you out after they go. I’m not heartless, but you’re not welcomed in my house, under my roof, or on my soil anymore.”
“Dad!”
“That’s final, Sally. Unless he wants to know what it feels like to get a hoe dug into his shoulder, he won’t be back.” His back was still to the three as he sat down. His voice was filled with emotions that ebbed and flowed quickly, “I just can’t trust you anymore, Athos. Not when you’ve done this to my family.”
“Done what?” he finally exploded. “I risked my life to help you. I might have caused it, but can you blame me? They’re a bunch of assholes! Someone was going to eventually piss them off, and someone was going to pay the price for it. I’m sorry that it had to be Sally, I’m sorry I was too slow, but I wish you’d show a bit of sympathy for it. Hell! I wish it was me! I have nothing left to lose at this point!”
Athos’s head fell as he felt the eyes of the other two on him, but that wasn’t enough to change how he felt. He was angry, upset, and almost wailing with the last of his words. Words that carried a meaning deeper than he could have told them but he knew that at least Sandra had to understand. Under it all, he still wasn’t more than a teenager, a young adult. “Athos…”
If eyes could do more than just look, there would be four holes drilled through his avatar as tears welled in his eyes. It didn’t seem right. It wasn’t right, but he’d accepted worse in the past few weeks. Turning his back to Walter, he began to ascend the stairs. “I’ll be out in the morning.”
Walter still had his back to him as Sandra spoke to him in hushed whispers at his side, but he didn’t hesitate in his reply. “Good.”
“Walter!”
It still hurt him as he took another step, then another away from a group that had accepted him. So much work for what? For a moment, he could sympathize with the Inciperians. Humans were terrible sometimes.
As he reached the top of the stairs, he began the short trek down the hall towards what was best described as a walk-in closet. He jerked a moment after he began as a hand gripped his shoulder.
“Athos, wait.” Sally’s voice was softer than he had ever heard her. Though, he doubted she had ever been that damaged before. As he looked at her, he couldn’t help but notice the missing arm he had left on the doorstep. It wasn’t what he wanted to focus on. Her face, her sad smile, her hair, anything else would have been fine as long as it didn’t get him slapped. Anything but that. “I need the seeds.”
As if another blow had been struck, he opened the trade window wordlessly and placed the seeds into the trade section. Quickly accepting her offer, he turned to leave. A message flashed in the corner as a new private message was delivered.
Sally Queen => Athos Aramis: I don’t blame you, Athos.
He wanted to turn around, but pride stopped him.
Athos Aramis => Sally Queen: I do though. It’s my fault. I just wasn’t fast enough.
Sally Queen => Athos Aramis: Do you think I care what you think? I knew the risks. It was my idea after all.
The wordless quiet between them made it easy to hear her soft footfall behind him. A warm body pressed against him as an arm pulled him into a comforting embrace. Her chin using his shoulder as a rest as her message continued.
Sally Queen => Athos Aramis: I didn’t think all of this would happen, Athos. Dad will come around. It’ll just take time.
It was always time, wasn’t it? Athos thought to himself and sighed. Turning around, he returned her embrace. The warmth, the comfort of another… it was nice. For just a moment, the pain was dulled.
Athos Aramis => Sally Queen: It hurts.
Sally Queen => Athos Aramis: I know.
For a moment, all that existed was the warmth that swelled in him from the compassion of her simple words. He knew she didn’t know, but it didn’t matter. She was trying, and that meant more to him than he realized as tears rolled off his cheeks onto her hair. It seemed like the moment would last forever before a voice bellowed from below.
“Sally! Are you having trouble?” Walter’s voice rang true up the stairs. Seething beneath its surface lingered an anger pointed at Athos like a gun ready to fire.
“No,” She called back down before pulling away, but not before her lips left a lasting patch of warmth on his cheek. “Just finishing up some business, Dad.”
Party Second-in-Command - Sally Queen has removed you from the party.
Sally Queen => Athos Aramis: I’ll message you later, Athos.
By the time he read those words, the girl was already gone.
***
In just a blink of the eye, the night passed as Athos recovered his integrity.
As he roused, he realized how different his bed felt. To his surprised, no one had come to rouse him, no one had given him a second though, he rationed before a realization hit him. He was now sleeping outside the property of the Queen’s land. As if on cue, Nekka popped to life in his vision.
Good morning, Athos! You have had 100% of your data integrity restored. You have one mew messages and two friend requests! I know yesterday was hard, but things will get better! I promise. I hope you slept well.
The small, furry knight was starting to grow on him and was a welcomed company after last night. “Thank you, Nekka. Can you open the message for me?”
Nekka gave a rather overly-excited nod and the message window came up almost as quickly as he had.
Athos,
I didn’t realize how far Walter was going to take this. He wouldn’t listen to reason and is dead set on not punishing myself or Sally. I’m sorry you’re going to take the brunt of it. He’s enacted a ban on you as soon as the rules reset. Honestly, I’m surprised at him, but he is only trying to protect us. That doesn’t excuse him, but maybe you can understand that. Take care of yourself, Athos, and thank you for everything you did to keep this family safe.
Sandra Queen
A smile crept across Athos’s face as he finished reading and closed the window. A moment later, his head returned to resting on the crumpled, soft grass under him. Nekka still graced the bottom of his vision bounding from left to right at some speck of dust only visible to him. As if remembering his purpose, Nekka spoke again.
You still have two friend requests, Athos. Would you like to see them?
He shrugged, “Go ahead and bring them up, Nekka.”
Sure thing!
Paul Skrzypak [Suits] has requested to be your friend!
Avalon [Auxilium’s Guardians] has requested to be your friend!
Rage seethed at the first name. Of all the things, of all the efforts he had gone to make Athos miserable… if his mind could control how hard the deny button was pressed, the request screen might just have shattered.
Request from Paul Skrzypak [Suits] Denied. Would you like to attach a reason to the response?
Athos grinned darkly as the words came to mind, “Yes.”
Please attach your response now.
Paul,
You are a bastard’s bastard. I hope to never meet, see, or even catch your scent on the air again. Though, if you are half the shit I think you are, that last one will be a bit of a problem. Stay out of my way.
Athos
Thank you! Response sent.
Now that was cathartic. The rage melted away, replaced by a slightly calmer smile as he looked at the second name. He didn’t quite recognize it, but it tugged at his mind somehow. Had he helped that person? Did they help him? For the life of him, he couldn’t recall meeting, seeing, or even delivering something to anyone named Avalon. Remembering what Walter had said about the friend’s list, he was a bit wary of accepting.
“Can I just send a message?”
Nekka nodded and took out an over-sized quill and paper. Whenever you are ready, Athos.
And so, Athos began his dictation to the feline:
Avalon,
I don’t think we’ve ever met, but if we have I’m sorry I don’t remember. It’s been a rough few days. If you’re interested in being friends, meet me in Oenus at The Sunset’s Rest, and we’ll get to know each other. Sammi will let me know when you’ve come.
Athos
Looking up from the over-sized paper, Nekka asked a simple question. Will that be all, Athos?
He nodded. “Send it, Nekka.”
His feline manservant simply nodded, folded the letter into a paper airplane and threw it off into the distance before happily declaring: Message sent! Will there be anything else, Athos?
“No, Nekka. That will be all. Thank you.”
With that, the feline vanished in a puff of cat hair and purrs leaving Athos to lay in the grass outside of a place he thought just may feel like home again. Opening his screen again, he checked the flashing avatar icon on the right for a welcomed message.
Rank Up - 1 Gunner Rank Obtained
Not that it did much for him Athos thought to himself as he sat up and looked across the Sea of Grass towards where he had come. Beyond the horizon was Oenus and beyond that… well, he really had no idea. To him, it hadn’t really mattered much what would lay beyond the borders of his map. The longer he sat, the more he realized there really wasn’t anything left there for him. He figured that the Suits wouldn’t let things stand, that Walter would need time to cool down, and that Sally would more than likely not be allowed to see him. Each bothered him more than the last, but he tried to shake it off. The alchemical arm settled for simply wallowing in a little self-pity as he began the trek back to the inn he had left in Oenus.
If there was anywhere he could think clearly, it would be the small, but modestly comfortable comforts of home. At least, that’s what he had hoped before the new message indicator began flashing in the corner of his screen. A touch of his finger set the message into his vision as he walked, then stopped him in his tracks.
It is not a safe place to meet. I will find you.
Avalon, Grand Nox Vergo of Auxilium’s Guardians
It was a simple message, and if it was meant to scare him, it really did that trick. Taking up his pace, Athos ignored the warning message of how hard he could push himself before taking damage and picked up the pace to Oenus.
A City on Fire
Athos arrived in Oenus just after noon that very day to the familiar sound of running waters, the crisp cool breeze of the wet air, and the sounds of crackling, burning wood. All around him, he could only marvel at the damage done to the city in his absence. Each step brought him closer to the carnage. Buildings were razed to the foundations with materials fragmenting into nothingness by the moment despite the attackers being long past gone. People were busy taking what could still be salvaged from their homes and some were even in the process of rebuilding. Whatever had come through had left its mark.
Magus in his hand, Athos began his trek into what had once been the market. Stone pavers were upturned or outright shattered, stalls were completely trashed, and a few of the more exotic animals had made their escape. At least, that’s the only thing he could ration from the sounds crashing against his ears. Despite all the carnage, he felt calm. It was a strange calm he only experienced once before. A calm that came with the acceptance of something far beyond his own control.
Despite all the people scrambling around him, it only made him aware of what could be lurking. People were easy to hide with. Groups made it even easier. In Athos’s calmed state, his mind began checking off a list of different things he felt important to his survival, and, as soon as he could, Athos put his back to a corner and surveyed the area. Once he was sure he was safe, he began picking his way from one corner to another, from one crowded venue to a destitute pile of stone. Things seemed to calm themselves down as he reached past the point of destruction into the main island of Oenus. The bridge was down now, but knowing what it could do thanks to Walter, he imagined it had gone up in the chaos. Knowing so little, he thought the best thing to do would be simple.
Athos Aramis => Sally Queen: Sally, somethings wrong in Oenus.
The response was quicker than he had expected.
Sally Queen => Athos Aramis: You’re already back in Oenus already? And what do you mean wrong?
Athos Aramis=> Sally Queen: Everything’s on fire in the market before the bridge. It looks like someone took a sledgehammer to the place.
Sally Queen => Athos Aramis: That does sound bad. You okay?
Athos Aramis=> Sally Queen: For now. I’m heading for Sunset’s Rest.
Sally Queen => Athos Aramis: Stay safe. I’ll tell Dad about it.
He intended to as he walked through the street. It wasn’t as if he wanted to find trouble, but something seemed off. As words from the groups reached his ears, his stomach began to drop. People passed him quickly without much worry about who or what he was. They were armed with hammers and were leading carts of materials behind them with what looked like horses.
“Damn spawns,” said one that caught Athos’s ear.
“No warning either. How’d Paul even get the bytes to set it that high?”
The Suits.
A chill went up Athos’s spine. It wasn’t him. They weren’t targeting him. The city and the farm had both been attacked. It sounded strange though like it wasn’t supposed to be possible.
“They came from the forest. Never saw them act like that before.”
The chill only got stronger as he interrupted the man in the long gray coat. “Saw what?”
The man looked at him as if he had three heads and two of those three were speaking in opposing languages. “The dryads. Didn’t you see the chaos last night?”
He shook his head. “I was out in the Sea of Grass.”
The man seemed to flush with anger. “A hunter?”
Athos shook his head. “No, I was training my alchemy.”
His face contorted with disgust as if Athos had spit in his mouth. “No better. You’re lucky to have survived, but I can’t fault you for being who you are.” The man sighed and took a deep breath as motioned for Athos to follow him. “The dryads rushed the business district. Maces and hooves like stone tore the place apart. Putting the girls down… it was the most awful thing I’ve ever seen. Never seen something so beautiful go so south before.”
Dryads... Oh god. “How?”
“Damned guild must have taken out the dryad’s leader.” As if noticing Athos’s ears for the first time, the man sighed. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know anything else. Hunters are flocking in though. Spawn rates that are promised to jump every night will do that.”
His heart sunk as a single name came to mind, Ioh. Only now did he realize why she was so different than the other dryads. The Forest of the Dryad was a dungeon, and she was the boss.
“Look, if I were you, I’d pack up and leave. Another few nights like that and not even the water will keep ‘em at bay. Damned Suits wanna make a profit, but they don’t think about the people.”
“Can’t you stop them?
”
“Boy! I’m a mason, what am I supposed to do? Join a combat guild? Fight? I’ve been here since the first downloads. I intend to continue living in peace. After I finish what I’ve been paid for, I’m leaving. I don’t need this shit in my old age.”
Athos sighed as the man pushed his horses on and left Athos in the dust. Ioh was dead. The dryads were on a rampage, and the Suits were at the center of it all.
Athos Aramis => Sally Queen: It was the Suits.
Sally Queen => Athos Aramis: What?
Athos Aramis => Sally Queen: Ioh Porta is dead. She was the boss of the Dryad Forest, and now the dryads are on a rampage. The Suits are turning Oenus into a hunting ground.
Sally Queen => Athos Aramis: That doesn’t make any sense. The amount of money it’d take to keep that much land would be more than a guild could earn in a lifetime. Not to mention the boss should have respawned as soon as they left.
Athos Aramis => Sally Queen: It doesn’t matter. They’re doing it. If you could see it, it’s just wrong, Sally.
Sally Queen => Athos Aramis: I’ll ask Dad. Maybe he knows something.
Athos left it at that as he continued through proper Oenus. The city was no worse for wear this deep in as he approached the inn. If anything, the small damage he saw could easily have been just from the age of the city. If the city had been hundreds of years old. Cracked foundations, a few fallen roof tiles, nothing really to write home about stood out as he reached the inn and stepped inside being sure to close the door behind him.
“I'm back, Sammi,” Athos called out when he didn’t see her behind the counter.
Coming from the back, she smiled nonchalantly as she reached the front counter again. “Glad to see you aren’t dead. Things have been a little crazy here.”
“So, I can see.”
“Still sticking around?” Sammi asked as she scrambled with something behind the counter. “I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted a refund.”
He shook his head. “No, I’ll be staying for now.”
