Chapter 26: Belek the Brute

Arlo and the Barkeeper led the guild to the inns back door which opened into a somewhat large neighborhood of houses encircling a paved area where some townspeople were going about their business. The homes here seemed slightly more upscale than the rest of Moon Town which Thomas had seen. The houses were all two stories and most looked freshly painted. Around the square were boxes of flowers someone had tended to and there were even a few children playing around a well in the center. Thomas scrutinized the children and could see little difference between him self and them.

“He is over there,” said the barkeep, pointing to the far side of the square. “Can’t miss it…there was an accident a month ago and it’s the only house that…well…”

Arlo waved the barkeep away.

“I will show them, Merl,” said Arlo. He theatrically bowed and extended his arm like a butler ushering in some important guest to his master’s house. “Ladies first.”

They filed out the door and Merl, the innkeeper, wished them luck and then said he had to return to the bar. Once they were all assembled Thomas noticed window curtains being pulled aside and doors beginning to open. Dozens of eyes watched them follow Arlo across the square. The children stopped playing and stared at them, paying a lot of attention to Thomas, himself. As they walked past Thomas stuck out his tongue and wiggled his eyes at the smallest boy who didn’t even crack a smile.

“They’re not like regular kids,” murmured Chase to Thomas.

“I can see that,” said Thomas. There were two boys and a girl, and each had a dead eyed half vacant expression to themselves. Thomas shivered.

“Here we are,” said Arlo enthusiastically. They had stopped in front of what looked like a burned out wreckage. It appeared to once have been identical to the other houses, but now was only a single story of charred black lumber. There was no door, and someone had thrown a tarp over where the roof had collapsed onto the second floor and seemingly made a great hole. Thomas was shocked that it was still standing.

“What happened here?” Said Amelie with concern.

Marlon leaned forward to the wreckage and wiped a finger on a door frame which was black from soot.

“I am no expert,” said the old man, holding up his dirty finger. “But it appears to have been a fire.”

Thomas had to laugh at that, and only stopped when he turned around and saw the children still staring at him, unblinking.

“Thank you, Marlon,” said Amelie dryly. “I mean what caused this to happen?”

Arlo cleared his throat.

“Well, the short story is that Belek the Brute was in a fit of rage and decided to burn it down,” said the the NPC. “Thankfully it was starting to rain but it still took the entire town to quench the flames. We had to form a bucket line from the well.”

“Belek did this, eh?” Said Brent, keeping his left hand resting on the handle of his sword at his hip. “Did the people who live here manage to escape?”

“That’s the thing,” said Arlo, scratching his head and grinning sheepishly. “This was Belek’s house, and he set it on fire whilst he was still inside.”

“That’s impossible,” said Chase incredulously. “NPCs trying to kill themselves? It’s more likely some lightening struck the roof and he was asleep.”

“I’m only telling you what he told us after the fire was out.” Arlo shrugged and put his hands on his hips. “You don’t have to believe me, but if you want the money then please do as we’ve asked. We think he has grown depressed because no one has triggered his event in months. Players think that NPCs are just soulless automatons who do only as AION commands but what happens when we can’t, hmm? Is it so crazy for you to consider that possibly an NPC can have other thoughts and feelings?”

“In a word: yes.”

“Chase,” hissed Amelie. Thomas was reminded at how she spoke to him any time she caught him about to do something fun.

“Whatever,” said Chase, rolling his eyes. He then took out his inventory and removed his bow and quiver. “Alright everyone, lets get ready. The sooner we get this done the sooner we can be on to greener pastures.”

There was a rustling of movement as each member opened their bags and withdrew their weapons. Brent was the only one who had never placed his sword inside his inventory. Thomas took his bag off from around his neck and held his hand over the opening. It grew a few inches and he stuck his hand inside. Suddenly there was the image of his long knife in his mind, and as he closed his hand and it was suddenly there, cool in his grip.

“So,” said Alex when everyone had put their bags away. He had unsheathed his sword and was casually leaning it across his shoulder. “How do we trigger this event?”

“There’s the rub,” said Arlo. “Usually he would be out in the town causing a bit of general bullying and mayhem. Players would usually run into him shaking down one of the shop keepers. As it stands, I must rattle his cage a bit.”

Arlo cupped his hands around his mouth.

“BELEK THE BRUTE. IT’S TIME TO STOP MOPING AROUND AND FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF. I GOT YOU NO LESS THAN SEVEN PLAYERS READY TO PUT YOU DOWN.” The house remained silent and Arlo’s words rang throughout the square. “WHAT SAY YOU?”

Thomas watched the empty doorway uneasily. He clutched his blade with both hands like a sword. The house was so dark he couldn’t see any movement.

“Go away,” came a grumpy baritone from the wreckage. “I told you last week I don’t care about players anymore, Arlo.”

“C’mon, Belek, don’t be like that!” Said Arlo. “I said I got seven of them! Just come and push one around maybe you will feel better.”

There was a long pause and Thomas strained his ears. He could hear the sounds of someone moving around inside the house as the floor boards squeaked in protest.

“I said go away, Arlo. And take the players with you. I won’t be giving any free experience today, tomorrow, or until the end of Esem.” There was a loud whump and Thomas assumed he had just sat on a broken couch. “May it come quickly!”

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

“Ah, I was afraid this might happen,” said Arlo. He rubbed his eyes in frustration. “Maybe we could—.”

CRASH! The sound of broken class rang through the square.

“What was that?” Said Brent, drawing his sword. “Where’s that coming from?”

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

Thomas looked back at the well where the children had been standing. They were now throwing stones at the house where Belek was hiding and breaking the remaining glass panes.

“Oi!” Bellowed Belek. “Cut it out! I said I am not coming out!”

“It’s not—“ began Arlo but Chase silenced him with a wave.

The kids began to hurl more stones. Some pinged off the fallen roof, other fell harmlessly off the wall, finally one flew perfectly inside one of the broken windows.

“Ouch!” Roared Belek. “That does it!”

“Here we go!” Said Chase, sliding the quiver over his shoulder and selecting an arrow. “He’s coming out. Marlon and Amelie fall back to the well. Thomas, stay behind me. Fighters, form a line. Go!”

The guild was a frenzy of activity as they followed Chase’s orders and for once Thomas didn’t even think about questioning what he had said. Chase didn’t sound like himself at all and Thomas decided that it was wise not to question him when he was like this.

A giant of a man suddenly filled the entry way of the house. He had dark, shaggy hair and had to stoop under the door frame to emerge into the sunlight. His beard was a tangle of messy hair and had food stuck in it and his eyes were a wild blood shot red. At his full height he seemed to tower above anyone else in the Guild and made Alex look like a kid. In the center of his forehead was a red mark where a lump seemed to be forming.

“Which one of you threw this?” Belek opened the palm of his hand to reveal a small, smooth stone.

The kids were back at the well acting as though they had never left. Thomas rolled his eyes but also wished he had joined them when they were throwing stones.

“I did!” Said Brent, he leveled his blade at the large man. “What will you do about it?”

Belek snorted in derision and tossed the stone on the ground.

“You need to go back to the island, boy,” said Belek. “And take your mangy guild with ya.”

“Don’t think you can take us?”

“I don’t care,” said Belek, the energy suddenly leaving him. “Why don’t you find some other NPC to pick on? I was just minding my own business.”

“Belek,” said Arlo, cutting off Brent. “You know this is good for you. An NPC can’t deny their programming like this. It’ll make you insane.”

Belek shrugged his broad shoulders.

“Maybe I am insane, Arlo. I used to live for terrorizing players,” he squinted at the guild and shook his head. “But those days are over. I don’t want to be apart of this world that doesn’t give me a choice. So what if I love it? If it’s not my choice to love it then I don’t want it at all.”

Belek began to turn around despite Arlo’s protests and the guild lowered their weapons. Thomas heard Chase mutter a word that Amelie told him never to say.

Thomas bent over to grab a stone, and threw it with all his might at the back of Belek’s head.

Thump! It struck his greasy hair dead in the middle of the back of the brutes head. Thomas grinned at the kids at the well. Out of the three two still had a blank expression, but the third, a little boy who looked half Thomas’ age, gave him a shaky thumbs up.

Belek slowly turned around. His nostrils flared like an enraged bull as he breathed in and out and his eyes were wide and shot with red.

“Now, Belek,” said Arlo cautiously, placing his hands out. “Calm down, pal. You only need to push them around to fulfill your design.”

“Arghhh!” Belek roared and charged the guild. “You want to fight Belek the Brute? Fine. I’ll kill ya all!”

Chase shouted Brents name as the boy answered Belek’s charge with his sword raised. Brent bravely stepped forward and tried to catch the large man with a swing of his sword but Belek knocked the sword away with a giant hand and with the other pushed Brent in the chest and knocked him down with his momentum.

“Brent!” Shouted Claire. She slashed at Belek and earned a long red cut down his arm for her effort but he barely seemed to register his injury. Belek instead turned toward Alex who was standing wide eyed and not even raising his sword.

“What’s wrong, boy?” Said Belek, breathing heavily as he stood over Brent. “Scared of some schlub?”

Alex seemed to find his courage in that moment and grunted as he drew his sword back, ready to run Belek through the middle. Belek back handed him easily, sending Alex spinning to the left and dropping his blade.

“Chase, do something,” urged Thomas as Belek turned around to Claire. She had her guard up and look like a child next to the towering NPC. Chase had his bow half drawn and could easily fire and arrow into the back of Belek’s head.

“They are getting some good experience doing this,” said Chase, nonchalantly. “If things get too out of hand I’ll feather him like ye old pincushion.”

Belek swiped at Claire and she ducked, avoiding a blow which could have easily knocked her out. Brent scrambled to his feet and ran to collect his blade.

“Keep him busy, Claire,” said Brent. His sword had been knocked against the wall of Belek’s house and he stooped to pick it up. “We can get him from both sides.”

Alex was shakily getting to his feet, the blow seemingly had stunned his senses and he was having trouble keeping his balance, using his sword to steady himself.

“Easy, Alex,” said Chase. “Don’t dull the tip of your sword we have to sell them after this and can’t afford to have it sharpened. Oh yeah, you okay?”

Alex looked at him venomously.

“I’m fine,” he said. He seemed to find his balance and began to approach Belek who was growing more and more frustrated as blow after blow failed to land on Claire.

“Arlo,” said Chase out the side of his mouth to the NPC. “Your friend isn’t calming down. I think we may have to put him down.”

“I can see that,” sighed Arlo. “Who knows? Perhaps a reset is what he needs to be his old self again. Just make it quick, please.”

“Alex, Claire, Brent,” shouted Chase. “Circle around him. He can’t hit all of you at once. When I have a shot lined up I’ll drop him just make sure when I say to get out of the way.”

“No!” Said Brent. “We can do this. Don’t we need to learn how on our own?”

Chase shrugged but didn’t say anything.

Now the three of them had Belek surrounded and the huge man saw that he wouldn’t be able to stop an assault at all angles. Belek reach down and picked up a rock the size of his fist.

“You’re all pathetic,” grumbled Belek as he hefted the rock in one hand. “Needs three of you to take me down. Cowards the lot of ya.”

“Now!” Shouted Brent. He charged Belek and swung his sword at Belek’s arm that was holding the stone. Belek turned around at that moment and threw the rock.

Thomas knew what he was doing a split second before it happened. He yelled at Chase to duck but the rock struck his left hand that was holding the bow. Thomas heard a painful crack and Chase screamed and dropped the bow. Just then three Fighters fell upon Belek and plunged their swords into his back, side and belly. Thomas saw his blood spread across his clothes and drip onto the ground.

“Don’t stop!” Cried Brent, taking his sword out and slashing Belek. More blood met the ground and splattered on the walls of Belek’s house now. Claire and Alex hacked and his flailing limbs and yelled their fury. Soon Belek was a bleeding mess laying on the ground.

He never made a sound.

“Stop!” Shrieked Arlo, running to his friend and nearly getting struck himself. He covered Belek’s body with his own and Brent put his hands out to stop the others from continuing their mad assault. Belek was breathing raggedly and coughing up blood. He was laying in a pool of his own blood and soundlessly mouthing words.

“Chase!” Said Amelie. She had run to him the moment he fell. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” said Chase with a crooked grin. He was obviously in pain but he held up his mangled left hand. “But I think Belek broke my hand. That was quite the throw I have to say.”

“I thought you said you would end it quickly!” Seethed Arlo. He was holding Belek’s hand in both of his. His face was creased in concern. “Belek? Belek? It’s going to be okay. You’ll reset and when you come back you’re house will be good as new and your mind will be all fixed, okay?”

“He didn’t give us many options,” muttered Alex. He was standing there in shock, looking at the blood everywhere. On the ground, the walls, the man, and on his own blade.

“That was very—.” Began Claire but Arlo shushed her.

“He’s trying to say something!”

“I can see him,” said Belek. Blood was dribbling down the side of his mouth and his eyes stared trance like at the sky. “He is waiting in the wings of the infinite membrane of AION. His visage shadowed and sharp. He is coming to end the NPCs plight with fire and with freedom. Lord! Help this poor NPC…cough, cough…I can see him. He is waiting in the…wings…of…cough…he’s…just a…baby.”

“Belek?” Arlo squeezed his friends hand as he slipped off into unconsciousness and his eyes slid closed. “Belek! What are you saying? A baby?”

But he was gone. His breathing stopped and whatever life was in the NPC disappeared. Thomas looked around at the carnage and then around the square. People had come out as soon as the fight had started and were staring at the mad scene.

“Chase,” said Amelie, the first to break the silence. “I think I can fix your hand with a spell.”

“You just got your spell book,” said Chase. He started to get to his feet. “You won’t be casting any spells for at least a month. I think there is a doctor in town I can pay to set my bones. Shouldn’t be too expensive.”

“Sit,” said Amelie, hand on Chase’s shoulder. “Let me try.”

“Amelie,” he said, sounding frustrated. “I said it’s impossible. you can’t—.”

Between her hands a light began to glow, and Chase’s eyes widened in shock. Marlon came over and stood over them. The entire guild was staring as the dim light grew in brightness and turned into the color of a sunset. Thomas could feel a heat touch his cheeks and he had to turn his face as the orange glow turned back into a light as bright as a torch.

“How’s that?” Said Amelie as the light disappeared.

Chase opened and closed his hand a couple times. His face was the image of awe and his hand looked as though it had never been broken at all.