Chapter 73: Contracting Dread

The first time I ever set foot in Great Nexia I knew I was home. The guards at the gate leading into the area had all spawned there years earlier and gave me suggestions on what to eat, where to stay, and where to train. I told them as an Engineer my only destination was Fabricators Alley in the main city, and they all chuckled and said (in a friendly manner), “You’re never gonna leave.” I guess they were right. What I found in Great Nexia was understanding and appreciation for my abilities which I had never known before. All of Esem’s greatest scientists, potion makers, engineers and inventors were gathered there in the magnificent citadel. They opened their arms to this (at the time) young and rosy cheeked man fresh off his first contract. This was still in the time of Oscuro, and Great Nexia’s NPC king still ruled. Unlike the other monarchs and leaders of the rest of Esem, King Torter admired and relished the inventions and discoveries brought to him by us players. He never failed to grasp the ingenuity of even the most mild of experiments, and was regularly seen listening with rapture to lectures, or observing the latest creations within the heart of Fabricators Alley’s laboratories. This was a golden age for me, and one which I yearn for as the years march on. It is a cliche long known that one does not know the best of times until they are past, and I can confirm that this trite and overused idea still holds today just as it did when it was first written down.

-Journal of Emildris, First Engineer of Great Nexia, Gold Class, SD

“New contracts?” Repeated Chase. He felt beyond bewildered hearing Argo say this. “What do you mean new contracts? How can the Antagonista do that?”

“How should I know?” Said Argo with a grimace. He looked down at his wound and shuddered. “I’m just some schlub, right?”

“It makes no sense unless some Advisor is helping her,” said Alex from behind Chase. “Right?”

“That’s not all she can do,” said Argo. He licked his lips nervously. “Take that arrow out of my leg and I’ll show you something.”

“Show us what?”

“Just do it, please,” said Argo, sounding desperate. “I might faint from the pain and then where will you be?”

Chase shook his head, but decided to do as Argo had asked. He snapped the arrow above where it was lodged in the NPC’s leg. Argo cried out and seemed about to pass out.

“Quickly!”

With a little bit of pleasure, Chase slowly pushed the remaining shaft through Argo’s leg. He had to clamp his hand over the little mans mouth to stop the screams, but finally the arrow shaft clattered to the floor. Blood was oozing out of the wound and pooling on the floor.

Argo gasped as Chase released his hand, and then placed his hand over the wound. He muttered a couple words, and then sighed. As he removed his hand the wound knit itself hack together and the bleeding stopped.

“That’s better,” said Argo. He still looked wan but began to breath easier.

“How did you—,” began Brent with shock. “Are you a magic NPC or something?”

“No,” said Argo, shaking his head. He pulled up his sleeve on his right arm. “I just got an upgrade.”

A small contract mark which resembled a skull with only a toothy grin and no eye sockets stared up at Chase and the fighters. Chase wanted to fall over backwards such was his shock.

“You have a contract?” Said Chase. “That’s not—.”

“All things are possible with Lady Xemnara,” said Argo with a bitter laugh. “She gave me powers like a human, and has even more to give humans. Markon himself has been gifted with abilities that no one can possibly wish to counter.”

“Except Christie,” said Claire.

Argo’s expression soured.

“Yes, well, he had just gotten them, so he wasn’t very experienced then.”

“Thenwas yesterday, schlub,” said Alex. Chase did not bother to correct him. There were NPC’s and then there were schlubs, of which Argo had proven himself to definitely be apart of.

“So,” said Chase, cutting off Alex. “She can give contract marks just like an advisor can, but she can also sign NPCs?”

“I guess,” said Argo. Now that his had healed himself he seemed less willing to answer.

Chase punched him in the face. Argo’s head whipped back and he yelped with surprise.

“Yesyesyesyes she—.”

Punch.

“Hey! I can tell—,” spluttered Argo.

Smack.

Chase was drawing back his fist again when suddenly Brent placed a hand on his arm.

“Chase, I think he will tell us—,” he began, but he never got to finish that sentence.

Claire kicked Argo so hard in the stomach that blood tricked from the NPC’s mouth. His eyes bulged as her foot dug deep into his belly and all the air was knocked from his lungs.

“That’s for Amelie and Thomas,” said Claire, bending close to the NPC’s ear. “Now tell us what we want or there is more where that came from.”

“Fine, FINE!” Shouted Argo. “But there isn’t much I really know about. Yes, she can sign us NPCs. She can free us from the slavery that AION designed for us a thousand years ago. For the first time in my life I am no longer bound by a predetermined destiny. I used to be just an administrator for Birchtown. Now I can go where I please and I have thoughts of own. She freed me.”

“I very much doubt you are free, Argo,” said Chase. “More like she has just enslaved you herself.”

“No,” said Argo with conviction. “Lady Xemnara is an angel of light compared to AIONs cruel disregard for for all life. Haven’t you ever wondered why you are here? Why did AION make this world and place humans and NPCs alike in here? It’s just a silly game for him to watch us kill ourselves. Xemnara is the antidote to his insanity.”

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The guild was quiet for a moment, and Chase remembered a time with the Guide, back on training island, that Alex had asked the very same question.

“You’re saying that Xemnara wants to free everyone from AION?” Said Alex curiously.

“That’s right.” Argo nodded his head and then wiped some blood from his mouth. “She is the true god of Esem, and not AION. That horrible creature imprisoned her ages ago but she escaped! And now she is here to free us nobodies and to lead a war against AION himself!”

“Good lord,” muttered Brent. He sat against a wall and shook his head. “This is too much. Why couldn’t I have been spawned a hundred years ago when things were normal?”

“It is not too late to join her, humans,” said Argo, his eyes wide. “I am sure she will give you all the chance to do so. You need only sign with her and you will have powers unlike any other.”

“I think that boat sailed a couple weeks ago.” Chase wanted to chuckle but instead the dread inside of him smothered his reaction. He needed Ghelion. Brent was right about this being ‘too much.’ What had ever happened to his dream of being a Fisherman and opening up a shop? This was so far beyond what he had ever experienced in Esem that he did not know how to advance from here.

“Argo,” said Alex. “Besides that contract mark what else did she give you? You have a healing ability clearly.”

“Ah, well,” said Argo, looking down at his mark. “My contract is similar to any human’s, unfortunately. I have levels to progress and abilities to unlock. Too bad I don’t have my second ability—you would all be dead.”

“Yeah, yeah,” said Brent, waving his hand. “I’ve heard that before. Chase, let’s just kill him. We can leave a note with someone when he resets about what he has done. I am tired of listening to him.”

At this suggestion Argo tried to rise. Chase punched him in the gut and he doubled over and then sat back down on the floor.

“Don’t like the idea of a little reset?” Said Chase with a small laugh. “Might do you good. Get your head on straight. Of course the memory loss might be annoying.”

The NPC began to quiver and Chase thought for moment that he was about to start sobbing. Instead Argo sniffled loudly and wiped his eyes.

“Relax, Argo,” said Chase. “No one is gonna kill you—yet. First I need you to tell us what Markon and Astor can do. Do they have new abilities?”

“More than you could realize,” said Argo with a sigh. He stared at the ground for a moment and then muttered to himself “lady forgive me.”

“Go on,” said Chase patiently.

“As for Astor I don’t really know, but he doesn’t have my healing ability. He is a class above me. But I’ve seen Markon fight before, and his is a power I would never want to fight myself. I think he can destroy all of Birchtown if he wanted.”

Argo took a deep breath and then continued:

“Markon isn’t a mage, but Lady Xemnara gave him the ability to direct energy against enemies. He can shoot it out his hands and obliterate anything! I bet even Solomon would not stand a chance against him.”

“Energy beams?” Said Chase with a frown. “Sounds like the Energy Emitter class.” He turned around slightly to address his fighters. “That’s a high level contract only the Mage 2 players have access if they are lucky. I don’t think there are too many running around these days.”

“Sounds cool,” said Alex.

“Really cool,” said Argo smugly. “But he is better than one of those. Plus he can teleport!”

“What?” Chase felt stunned. “He can teleport?”

“Well, somewhat,” admitted Argo. “Only short distances, actually. But it’s enough that your silly arrows won’t be effecting him at all. Good luck getting anywhere near him.”

“We’re all gonna die,” said Alex forlornly. “Chase, we already knew we couldn’t beat him. But this is just ridiculous.”

“So?” Said Brent, trying to sound brave. “We already agreed we gotta do it. Amelie and Thomas are with them.”

“I’m not saying we run away,” said Alex. “But we gotta make some kind of plan or something. This is going to end only in everyone dying if we are not careful.”

“That’s right, player,” sneered Argo. A light came into his eyes and for the first time he looked happy. “You’re all going to die today, of that I have no doubt.”

Brent began to get up to hit the NPC but Chase stopped him with a motion of his hand.

“What else can you tell us? You said there were fives people there, right?”

“Last I saw,” said Argo. “But I only went there once.”

“So maybefive,” said Claire, joining Brent to sit against the table wall. “This is just getting worse. Don’t tell me, Xemnara is waiting for us too.”

“No,” said Argo, emphatically shaking his head. “I would know if the Lady Xemnara was there. All us nobodies who signed with her know what her general location is when she is in our area. It should only be five—Markon, Astor, and three others who just came from the hub.”

“That means they are past their first contract,” said Chase.

“Of course,” said Alex incredulously. “We are going to be sitting goblins out there.”

“We still have the element of surprise,” said Chase, trying to encourage his guild. In truth, having no hope did little to bolster his courage, and he was sure that leaked into his voice. “Argo, is there anything else you want to tell us?”

“No, I think that’s it.”

“Okay, we’re gonna kill you now.”

“WAIT!” Screamed Argo, raising his hands. “You don’t need to do that, Chase! You can just knock me out or something, can’t you?”

“Scared of a reset?”

Argo stopped talking, his mouth screwing shut. He seemed to be contemplating something. For a while Chase watched the NPC struggle within himself for what, he did not know.

“Tell you what, Argo,” said Chase. He drew his dagger and placed it against Argo’s chest, the tip gently sinking into his cotton shirt. The NPC gulped. “You said you know where Xemnara is, right?”

“I guess.”

“Is that the exact location or...?”

“No,” he shook his head. “Just the general area. Why?”

“If you can tell us where she is, then I will spare your life, and you won’t have to reset.”

Brent made a sound, and when Chase glanced at him the young fighter was rolling his eyes.

“What does he care, Chase? He’s an NPC. He can just come back to life after a few weeks! I say we either beat her location out of him or just kill him and get going already.”

“Argo?” Said Chase, looking back at the NPC. Argo’s eye’s had not left the dagger pressed against his chest. He seemed beyond terrified. “If you tell us where she is, then I will let you live. Otherwise, my young friend is has the right idea.”

“You want to know where she is?”

“Yes,” said Chase, nodding his head.

“And why?”

“Well, if we find her perhaps we can negotiate for our friends back.”

“Not likely,” said Argo, though he did not sound so confidant as he had a moment before. “There is no way you can take her.”

“Who knows?” Shrugged Chase. He increased the pressure on the dagger. Argo winced. “But that is a chance I am willing to take. What do you say?”

Argo stared at him, the dagger, then Brent. Finally he closed his eyes and muttered a prayer to Xemnara, Chase assumed.

When the NPC’s eyes opened again, his expression was not of fear, but of calm.

“I’d never given a filthy human that information, do your worst, Chase.”

Chase sighed.

“Brent, Alex,” said Chase. He motioned over to the unused stall where Daniel had died. “Clear some straw out of there. We need a place to hide the body.”

“Make him do it,” said Brent, sounding annoyed.

“What, have him prepare his own grave?” Said Chase. Memories came rushing back to him but for once he returned his attention to the situation at hand. “That’s not an honorable thing to do.”

“But they kidnapped—!”

“Do it,” said Chase, glaring at Brent. The boy backed down and got up, nodding his head at Alex to join him. The stable was silent but for the sounds of the pair moving some straw and making room for an Argo sized place for his body to rest.

“Stand up,” said Chase once the boys were done. Argo did as he was bid, and got to his feet. Though he seemed calm on the surface Chase detected the slight shaking of his legs. He grabbed the NPC by the arm and led him into the stall. He said, “You got one more chance to tell us where she is, Argo.”

“Nope,” said Argo, shaking his head. His voice broke slightly. “Just do it already. I’ve died a thousand times to humans. What is once more?”

Chase looked back at his young fighters, and for a moment considered telling them to leave while he did this.

No, they need to see this, Chase thought. Immediatly after he realized, What am I thinking? They already have.

“I said do it!” Shouted Argo, staring at the wall. “Do it you filthy—.”

Chase sheathed his knife and then placed his hands on Argo’s head. One hand cupped his chin from behind while the other grabbed the back of his head. Argo barely came up to his chest, and despite the NPCs age, Chase thought briefly about how tall Thomas was currently, and then how he was probably terrified while he waited for him after being kidnapped for the second time since they left the training island.

KRAAACK!

Argo fell to the ground, slumping perfectly onto the ground. It was the second dead body this stall had seen today, Chase realized.

“Cover him with straw,” said Chase. “Then we’re going to get our friends back.”