Chapter 32: Evil’s Soft First Touches (Patreon)

My arrow flew unerringly towards its mark, burning as brightly as my fury. The elf tried to dodge, but hampered by his earlier injury, he moved too slow to avoid the projectile entirely.

You have grazed your target, dealing fire damage!

“Get him Ada,” I snarled.

No less wrathful, the fire lizard surged in from the elf’s left flank, her jaws opened wide.

Adalinda has cast fire-breath.

Flames roared out, enveloping the elf, and this time, they did not go out. Shrieking in pain, the player staggered away from the celestial. But Adalinda wasn’t about to let him get away that easily, and still spewing flames, she tracked him.

Tears streaming down my face, I fired again. And again.

You have critically injured your target.

You have injured your target.

You have…

The elf reeled, near senseless with pain from the quick succession of blows. He was finished.

I didn’t stop attacking, though. And neither did Adalinda.

“Please…” he rasped from charred lips. “I… I w-wass only here for the b-boy.”

I waved Adalinda back and strode closer to the elf, my eyes clinging to him. But despite how much I wanted to, I couldn’t unsee the sight of my dead friend. Why Alon?

Why him?

Almost, I fired then, releasing the arrow I had knocked and ready, but I stopped myself in time. If the elf wanted to talk, I’d let him. There were things to be learnt.

“Who sent you?” I growled.

“C-Cantos,” he gasped.

“You’re lying!” I spat. “Why would a player work for a prole?”

“Because…” The elf coughed, blood bubbling from his mouth. “B-because, he… paid in artifacts. Game… artifacts.”

“It still doesn’t make sense. Why would Cantos send you after Alon and not me?”

“I-I don’t… know,” the elf whispered breathlessly. “I was just told to find him and make sure he dies.” He smacked parched lips together. “Please, l-let me go and y-you won’t have to worry about me coming for you ever again.”

My face tightened. “Oh, but I want you to come back,” I hissed. “First, to carry a message. Then, so I can kill you again.” Not waiting for the elf’s response, I shot him.

You have injured your target.

I knocked another arrow. “Tell Cantos I’m coming for him. He will pay many times over for what he did. Tell him Elana will make sure of it.”

Drawing back my bow, I fired.

You have killed a level 22 elf.

You and your companion have reached level 20!

Your summoning has increased to level 21, and Adalinda’s fire magic to level 26.

Celestial trait triggered! Core skills mirrored.

Congratulations, Elana! You are now a rank-2 player. Your experience gains have decreased further. For achieving rank 2, you have been awarded 1 additional attribute point and 1 Class point.

Listlessly, I dismissed the Game alerts and walked with a heavy heart toward Alon. “Why did it have to be him?” I asked aloud as I stared down at the lifeless body. Confusion still marred Alon’s face and his eyes stared unseeing at the sky.

Wordlessly, Adalinda curled herself around me, offering what comfort she could.

Bending down, I gently closed my friend’s eyes.

“We will make them pay,” Adalinda said softly.

“We will,” I sobbed. “But first we must lay Alon to rest.” I glanced at the celestial. “Burn him.”

She held my eyes for a moment. “You’re sure?”

“Yes.” Alon was too large for me to carry, and I was damned if I was going to leave his body in the streets like so much trash. Better the celestial’s cleansing flames.

“Alon would approve,” I said softly.

✵ ✵ ✵

“Elana, we have to go.”

Adalinda rubbed her nose against my arm gently. I knew she was right, but I still couldn’t make myself leave. Alon’s body had long since been transformed into ash under the heat of celestial flames.

“I don’t want to go,” I said.

“I know, but we have to find Soren.”

Soren. In my grief, I had almost forgotten we were on our way to find my brother. How was I going to tell him about this? Soren and Alon had been friends for so long, they were like brothers themselves.

What will he say when I tell him I let Alon die?

Pushing myself erect, I picked up Alon’s axe. I had never felt so alone in my life as I did now—nor so desperate. The Game had caused this. It had killed Alon. But not only the Game. Alon’s fate was no different from that of so many of the poor quarter’s denizens. At that was the fault of the gangs. The Devils in particular.

They would have to be made to pay.

“We have to go, Elana,” Adalinda said, urgency lacing her words. “We can’t stay here. Even now, there may be more Devils coming to look for us. Or for him.” She pointed her snout toward the dead elf.

I threw down the axe and screamed. Clutching my face and with my nails digging into my skin, I gave vent to my grief. My entry into the Game had culminated in this. After everything we’d been through, why had I not seen that this was the only end my companions could expect? What was I thinking getting Soren and Alon mixed up in the doings of players?

“Elana—”

“I know,” I interrupted, “we have to go. But there is one thing I have to do first.

Walking over to the dead elf, I rifled through his pockets. The player’s weapons and armor were too heavy to take with, but he might have been carrying something else of use—specifically information about the Devils, or something to further my own player growth.

My player growth, I thought derisively. Because that’s what’s important right now…

You have acquired 5 gold coins and 1 moderate healing potion.

Unfortunately, the elf had very little on him. Pocketing the coins and the glass vial, I picked up Alon’s axe again and rubbed my finger across the edge.

“Goodbye my friend,” I said, swallowing back the fresh bout of tears that threatened.

I turned to Adalinda. “Let’s go.”

It was time to pay the Game for all it was worth. Because that was the only way I was going to get revenge for Alon

✵ ✵ ✵

The trip to the hideout was uneventful. We didn’t run into any enemies and reached our destination just as the sun was beginning to disappear below the horizon.

As I approached the familiar hole-in-the-wall, I slowed my steps. I didn’t expect to encounter any danger here, but after Alon’s untimely death and the repeated ambushes I endured, I was not about to take any further chances.

There was no telling who I could really trust anymore.

Walking through the building, I pushed aside the rock guarding the entrance to the basement. Lowering my head, I listen for any signs of life beneath.

But I was met with silence.

I stepped down into the basement. It was dark and empty. Not even the soft breathing of someone sleeping interrupted the silence. Raising my right arm, I conjured light with a spell.

The soft glow from my hand pushed back the darkness and I saw my senses hadn’t lied. Soren and Eoman, if they had ever been here to begin with, were nowhere to be seen.

Sighing, I lit the candles lining the inside of the basement, then sat down heavily on one of the mattresses. Now what? I wondered.

Soren wasn’t here, and while I’d been dreading sharing the news of Alon with him, finding him absent was worse. Lowering my head into my hands, I pondered everything that had happened since I’d returned to the poor quarter.

Almost nothing had gone right since. First, I’d found Celeste shattered and broken. Then Alon had died. And now, Soren was missing.

Where are you, brother?

Where could Soren be? Not here. Not in any Raccoon base. Then where? I pounded the side of my head, trying to figure it out.

But nothing occurred to me. My mind remained stubbornly blank. Worse yet, the only thing I found myself wanting to do was sleep. How could I crave sleep now, at a time like this?

Was there something wrong with me?

“Nothing’s wrong with you,” Adalinda said gently. “You’re numb with grief.”

Running my hands through my hair, I tugged hard at their roots. It was not just grief I was feeling, I thought, but frustration too.

I was tired of being adrift and lost in the dark, of not knowing what game was being played, of being hunted, and most importantly, of not knowing how to keep the people closest to me safe.

Of not being good enough.

“El,” Adalinda said, interrupting my spiraling thoughts. “Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not,” I said plainly.

“And that’s alright,” the celestial reassured me. “Maybe a distraction will help? Why don’t you review your Game messages? That will take your mind off everything for a bit.”

Communicating with the Adjudicator was the last thing I wanted to do right now, but I knew my companion was right. Focusing on something else, even if it disinterested me, would at least help stave off the storm brewing in my thoughts.

Taking a deep breath, I turned my focus inwards and brought up a summary of my progress.

You and your companion have reached level 20 and rank 2.  You have 5 attribute points and 1 Class point remaining.

Both Adalinda and my skills had advanced significantly since we’d gone to the council hall. My summoning skill, in particular, had ranked up. Knowing what I needed to do next didn’t require much thought. Pulling out the waiting ability tome, I opened it and began to read.

You have gained the basic spell: summon elemental. This is a channeled ability that allows you to bring forth a lesser elemental from either the domain of air, fire, or light. Lesser elementals are not known for their intelligence and can only perform rudimentary tasks. The summoned being will remain in this plane to do your bidding for a maximum of 1 hour or until banished.

Based on your current Magic and Faith disciplines, you can summon storm elementals, fire elementals, and Light Behemoths. Note, the called-creature’s level is determined by your summoning skill while the abilities available to it are determined by your magic or faith skills.

This spell has both somatic and verbal components. Its activation time is slow, it consumes mana and can be upgraded. You have 8 of 10 Magic ability slots remaining.

The usual rush of excitement I experienced when I learned a new ability was notably absent. But despite myself, I felt curiosity worm itself through me. I’d never seen, much less heard of lesser elementals, now I could summon three different kinds of them.

Each kind had its own strength and weakness, too, and courtesy of the Game-granted knowledge accompanying the spell, I intimately understood what each of those were.

Setting aside consideration of the new spell, I considered the rest of my player profile. Since my last advancement, I’d accumulated five attribute points and… one Class point.

A frown flickered across my face. “Ada…”

“Yes, El?”

“What is a Class point is?”

“Ah. We can one every twenty levels, and they can be used for a variety of things, including strengthening your traits, or gaining new special abilities, but since your Class is still incomplete, I’d advise against you using yours just yet.”

“I see…” And I did, sort of.

“And those are the only things Class points can be used for?” I asked, vaguely recalling a previous mention of them by the Adjudicator. It had something to do with companion...

“Well… they can also be used to improve me.”

That piqued my interest. “Improve you how?”

“My physical form.” She hesitated. “You could use the Class point to upgrade my Class ability. It will change how I manifest.”

My brows drew down. “‘Change how you manifest,’” I echoed. “Wil that make you more powerful?”

I sensed her shrug. “Probably.”

“Then that’s what we should do,” I said decisively.

“Are you sure? This is not a decision you should rush.”

I paused, sensing her reluctance. “Do you not want me to upgrade your Class ability?”

“No, it’s not that,” Adalinda assured me. “But I’ve grown attached to this form, and I’ve no idea what my new body will be like.”

“Ah, I see,” I said, finally realizing the source of her trepidation. The celestial was scared. “We can wait until you’re ready.”

“No. You were right. We should do it now. Who knows what awaits us around the next corner.”

“You’re certain?” I probed.

“I am,” she said, sounding more sure.

“Alright.” I paused. “How do I do this?”

“Like you do everything else with the Game,” Adalinda replied. “Simply will your intent to the Adjudicator.”

Closing my eyes and turning my focus inwards, I did just that.

Assessing player’s suitability for a Class upgrade…

Class points available: 1.

Player rank: 2.

Upgrade requirements met.

You may advance your or Adalinda’s Class to rank 2 by improving an existing Class benefit or by selecting new ones. Note: If any of your Class abilities or traits are lost through a future melding, their upgrades will not carry over to your new blended Class.

Do you wish to proceed?

I bit my lip and willed my decision to the Adjudicator.

Commencing Class upgrade…

3 new Class benefits are available, and 2 of 2 existing benefits are upgradeable.

The descriptions of two new Class traits and one Class ability—or benefits as the Game called them—scrolled through my mind. Paying them no heed, I focused on the existing upgradeable benefits.

Existing benefits that may be upgraded: elysian and manifest.

It was upgrading Adalinda’s Class ability, manifest, that I was interested in, not improving my own weak elysian trait. Willing my intent to the Game, I waited.

Upgrade complete. Class points remaining: 0.

Congratulations, Elana. Adalinda’s celestial Class has been upgraded to rank 2!

You have upgraded Adalinda’s manifest ability to improved manifest. The second tier of manifest allows your celestial companion to adopt a more powerful physical form, that of a: battle komodo. The maximum range your companion can venture from you when manifested has increased to 100 yards. Additionally, the psi cost of this ability has been reduced to 10%.

The battle komodo is at one time, larger, stronger, faster, and more resilient than a fire lizard. While manifested as a komodo, Adalinda acquires the traits: battle-hardened. The celestial also retains her existing fire lizard abilities and traits in her new form. This is a Class ability and does not occupy any ability slots.

Adalinda has gained the trait: battle-hardened. This trait increases your celestial companion’s Dexterity by +3 ranks, her Strength by +3 ranks, and her Constitution by +4 ranks.

“It’s done,” I said. A small smile crept onto my face. “And I have a feeling you may want to try out your new form.”

“Really? Should I?”

“Of course, go ahead.”

Adalinda didn’t need to be asked twice and her spirit streamed out of me with a palpable eagerness.

Strands of light, fire, and smoke appeared. Writhing on unseen currents of air, they wove themselves loosely together before contracting sharply.

The light dimmed.

The fire faded.

And the smoke hardened.

And when it was all done, a creature appeared before me. A creature that was at one time different, but still quintessential Adalinda.

Your companion has cast manifest, taking on the form of a battle komodo.

“What do you think?” the celestial asked anxious.

I studied the battle komodo. Nearly two yards from snout to tail, Adalinda as a komodo was twice as long as she’d been as a fire lizard. She was taller too, standing now on raised legs instead of ones flat against the ground.

The other differences were more subtle.

Her snout was more rounded, the scales around her eyes and on her head were thicker, and her tail was thinner and serrated.

“I think… I like it,” I pronounced finally. Adalinda was still Adalinda, only larger—and definitely deadlier.

Adalinda twirled on the spot, her tail whipping in a lethal arc through the air. “Me too!” She drew to a halt facing me. “Thank you, Elana,” she added more softly.

I nodded mutely, my happiness for her tainted by the grief that sat heavy on my heart. Seeming to sense this, the celestial changed the topic.

“What about the attribute points. How should we invest them?” she asked, lying down by my side.

Rubbing my eyes, I considered the question. “The same as before, I think,” I murmured. “Seeing as how heavily I rely on spells, I will focus on improving them. You should invest in your physical attributes.”

“Agreed,” the celestial replied.

With that decided, I closed my eyes and willed my intent to the Game.

Your Faith has increased to rank 10.

Your Magic has increased to rank 14. Other modifiers: +2 from items.

Celestial trait triggered! Core attributes mirrored.

Beside me, I sensed Adalinda see to her own attributes.

Adalinda’s Strength has increased to rank 13.

Adalinda’s Perception has increased to rank 5.

My leveling done, I opened my eyes. Almost immediately, I felt my gaze drawn to the two empty mattresses beside me.

I sighed. I needed something else to distract me. There was one thing I could yet do. Closing my eyes, I spread my awareness and, turning my focus outward, drew in mana from the surroundings.

You have replenished 1% of your mana.

The world of the Forever Kingdom was saturated with magic, and to replenish my stores, I only had to direct some of it to seep into me.

Which I did now. Over and over.

You have replenished 1% of your mana.

…

…

✵ ✵ ✵

Your channeling has increased to level 21, reaching rank 2.

Adalinda and you have slept for 4 hours.

You and your companion’s stamina, mana, and psi have been fully replenished.

My eyes opened blearily. Much to my dismay, I realized I’d fallen asleep. Groggily, I looked around. Adalinda was nowhere to be found.

She must have unmanifested.

The Game message certainly implied so. Turning my attention inwards, I searched for the celestial and felt her comforting presence resting in my chest.

I staggered upright. It was time to get a move on. Despite my dismay at falling asleep, I realized the rest had done me good and my mind felt clearer and my thoughts sharper.

I knew what to do now.

Wiping the last remnants of sleep from my eyes, I climbed out of the basement.

“El?” a sleepy voice asked. “What’s going on?”

“You fell asleep,” I said. “Now, though, it’s time we got going again.”

A pause. “You have a plan?”

“Nothing so grand,” I admitted. “But I know where we go from here.”

“Where’s that?”

“Odenna. That’s where everything started to fall apart. And if my suspicions prove true, that’s where we’ll find answers too.”