Chapter 91: To Fight Another Day

There is a worlds of difference when it comes to killing an NPC monster compared to a human player.

I remember my first kills for both. It was my second day off the training island and I was hacking it alone. I had some arrogant idea about being a Deadly Solo and so had haughtily turned down any and all requests to journey with others. I must have been only a mile from Moontown when I was beset upon by some monsters. They were pale and puny things; something between a fairy with no wings and a goblin. A dozen of them ambushed me whilst I walked through a forest path, and no sooner had I bared my blade than they all scattered, but for one.

The unfortunate little monster had tripped over its own two feet, and fell flat in the dirt. It turned around in fear as it saw me come near, and raised it’s hand as though to plead with me. I gave it no chance, and quickly ran it through with my blade. It squealed, blood came from it’s mouth, and then died. I cleaned my blade and then, seeing it’s companions no where in sight, went about my business.

As for my first human kill, that happened many years later. I was fortunate to never fall into a situation whether on the road or in a town, or over a petty dispute over loot or treasure, that required me to fight off another player. But one day it happened, and despite my countless hours training and fighting and dreaming of the day, I was still left shocked and slightly dismayed at my actions.

I had fallen in with a group of players who had designs to form a guild. I had no such goals, as this particular group liked to talk and drink far more than work or train. I told their leader this much when he asked why I was leaving them. He did not like my response and so, in his drunken fury, attacked my with his sword. It was no mean feat fighting him off as I was also deep in my cups, but after a period of ten minutes or so I had slain him and his body laid at my feet. Naturally, his comrades did not take well to this, and I had to kill them, as well. It did not sit well with me that my first player kill had been not one but half a dozen, but so it was.

In the end, the kill that I regret the most was the NPC monster, and not the men. It’s bulging eyes and pleading expression is sharper in my memories than that of the human players who dared to try and kill me. Strange how the human mind works.

-Musings of a Killer, Diary of Bill Whetstone, SD923

“Wow,” said Thomas.

“Yeah, wow,” said Brent, a but of awe in his voice.

“I didn’t think you had it in you,” said Alex.

“Me neither,” said Claire, and then she quickly added, “But good job, Amelie. Amelie?”

Amelie was staring at Astor Brigg’s body, wide eyed and looking shocked with herself. The crossbow was trembling in her hands and Claire gently took it from her and laid it on the ground.

“It’s okay, Amelie,” said Chase, trying to sound soothing. “You did the right thing.”

“What’s the matter?” Said Marlon. “She’s the first in the guild to kill a real person! We should be celebrating.”

Amelie made a small squeak at Marlon’s words and began to hide her face behind her hands. Claire cast Marlon a withering look.

“Well that’s not true,” said Thomas glibly. “Chase has killed, what? 45 people? He told me once when—.”

Chase glared at the little boy.

”BLAAARGH!”

The Goblin king was roaring outside, and a quick look showed Chase and the guild that the giant NPC was not going down easily. Chase centered his breathing, glanced at the entrance of the courtyard which was littered with goblin bodies and Moonshine’s wagon, the horse seemingly gone.

“What are you thinking?” Said Alex, coming up next to Chase. “Should we run for it?”

Chase looked at the body of Astor, blood pooling around his body on the floor. Astor’s red hair was a subtle contrast to the red blood, which was darker. The Goblin king was strong, but would not waylay Markon for long, and when that happened the executions would begin.

“If we run, then Markon will just shoot us,” said Chase slowly. “Unless we can somehow distract him. Anyone have a weapon?”

The Banes silently shook their heads, but Thomas held up his dagger.

“That makes two daggers, then,” said Chase, remembering his own. He nodded at the shelves where were sitting some pots of potions. “Anything useful over there, Marlon?”

“I thought you would never ask,” said the old man. He went to the back and rummaged through the potions. “Um, well, I got one for Thomas here which will make him harder to detect. Not much use in broad daylight, I’m afraid. Amelie, this one will give you a mana boost when you need it.”

Amelie nodded dumbly. She sneaked another glance at Astor’s body and then quietly shook her head, her face pale.

“What about those?” Said Brent.

“Ah,” said Marlon. He got some vials and quickly poured equal amounts of the potions into them. “Here, there are for our Fighters. They will make you stronger for a piece, but against those two out there I am afraid they will have little effect. I had thought against the goblins they would be most useful.”

“Anything helps,” said Alex, gratefully accepting his vial of potion. “Should we drink it now?”

“Maybe,” said Chase, rubbing his chin. He glanced at the door which led below the fort.

“Chase,” said Claire, seeing his expression. “Are there any ways out of Lazerpail besides the front?”

“Like a back door?” Said Thomas, perking up. “That would be perfect! Well, Chase?”

“There was,” said Chase slowly. He sighed. “When we first came here there was a passage on the bottom floor, but we never thought we would need it, so we collapsed it.”

“Collapsed it?” Muttered Marlon. “Why in heavens would you ever do that?”

“I don’t really know,” said Chase, shaking his head. “I seem to remember Solomon getting upset about that. I think we were messing around with Christie’s potions when we did it.”

“A Potion of Explosive Force?” Said Marlon. “Yeah, those seem fun. I wanted to make some one day.”

“I don’t remember seeing any place down there that looked like an exit,” said Brent. “Where is it?”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Chase glanced outside again. Markon had his back turned, fending off the blows of the Goblin king. Ethan was on the ground, readying a fireball, paying no attention to their little room whatsoever.

“On my mark, we go down there, okay?” Said Chase, looking back at his guild. They seemed hopeful, but he was unsure whether he was leading them into a trap or not. If they could not manage to clear the passageway then their luck was over, and Xemnara would win.

“Let’s do it,” said Claire.

“I’m ready,” said Brent. “No sense in not trying.”

The rest seemed emboldened by the their attitude, and soon they were crowding around the doorway. Markon was still busy with the goblin king, and seemed to be yelling at Ethan while he fought.

“I told you DO NOT fire that spell, fool!” Shouted Markon. He swung his blade and caught the Goblin King’s in a parry. “If you burn me again I’ll rip your head off!”

“Just moved out of the way, Markon!” Said Ethan. “I’ll roast this thing in no time.”

“Forget it! I’m having fun,” said Markon, gritting his teeth.

“Call me a fool, eh,” muttered Ethan. But still the pyromancer kept his back turned as he watched his leader duel.

“Okay,” said Chase in a hushed voice. He raised his hand. “On three. One…two…three! Go, go, go!”

They rushed through the door and down the passageway, and surprisingly quietly Chase was glad to hear. Amelie had gone first, Thomas in hand, and then Marlon, stumbling down the stairs and having to keep a hand on the side wall in order to not fall. The three fighters then went, one after another in a near military formation. Chase was the last one, and, with one last glance at their captors, still in the heat of battle, ran down the stairs to find his guild.

“Light?” Came Thomas’ voice.

“Oh, sorry, I don’t know where my head is,” said Amelie.

“Probably back with Astor, dead as a door nail!”

“Hush,” came Claire’s voice. “Enough about Astor. I hope if you are ever in that situation you would do the same, Thomas.”

Suddenly a light appeared in Amelie’s hands, illuminating the tiny passage. On either side were the rooms which they had been sleeping in for the summer, their doors still shut just as they had been when they left.

“What’s that smell?” Said Alex, wrinkling his nose.

“I spilled a potion down here,” said Marlon defensively. “It’s not a big deal, oaky? It will air out.”

“Air out?” Said Thomas incredulously. “We’re underground, Marlon.”

“Yeah, so? Not like that will matter to us if we don’t get out of here. Chase! Where are we going?”

“My room,” said Chase, moving to the front. “Follow me.”

The walk was short, but Chase’s room was not large, and so as they all piled in there it became very cramped very fast. Amelie’s light flickered off their faces as they watched Chase go to what looked like a large slab of wood leaning against the wall.

“When we blew it up we tried to hide it, I think,” said Chase, working his hands behind the wood. “I guess Solomon just left this here after he found out what had happened. I think he made us run all night as a punishment. Alex, can you give me a hand?”

The large boy shuffled over, and together they picked up the wood and set it on the ground, some of the guild having to step outside to make room.

“Wow,” said Brent, stepping back into the room. “I never knew this was here.”

There was a hole in the wall, but the hole was full to the brim with stones. Some looked loose but Chase felt his heart sinking as he realized how tightly packed they were.

“Here’s what we do,” said Chase. The hole is only broad enough for two people at a time. We will take shifts taking the rocks from the top and placing them on the ground. We don’t need to move all of them—only enough to squeeze through.”

“How long is the tunnel?” Said Marlon, sounding doubtful.

“Does it matter?” Hissed Alex. “We got to at least try. I’ll go first.”

Alex got to work, and Chase quickly followed along. For a while there was only the sounds of both of them grunting as they worked at the stones. Chase had found one at the top that seemed to be sitting on the others, but it soon came clear that it was far larger than he expected, and so he worked on another. After twenty years of just sitting there the dirt was cake on and it made the process dirty, not that Chase cared, but soon his hands were dirty in Amelie’s light.

“Here we go,” grunt Alex after what must have been only a few seconds. He grunted, and suddenly a rock appeared in his hand. It had to have weighed at least half of Thomas but Alex handled it alone, and swiftly turned around and placed it on the ground.

“Good show, Alex,” said Marlon happily. “A few more of those and we are outta here.”

“It’s not likely,” said Alex, his back turned towards Marlon. He was already attacking another stone, his thick fingers working a new one loose. “There must be thousands in here.”

“Still, good job.”

“Thanks,” muttered Alex.

Soon Chase had his first stone out, and the pair of them quickly developed a rhythm. Chase lost track of time until finally he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“My turn,” said Brent. “Give me some space.”

Chase nodded and let the boy take his place, Alex showed so sign of stopping, and when Claire offered he brushed her off without a word.

“Okay, then,” said Claire, shaking her head. “I’ll just wait here.”

The guild was unusually quite, despite the circumstances. Usually Chase couldn’t get them to shut up. Either Thomas was either actively pranking someone or talking about it, or Marlon was trying to engage one of the others in a philosophical discussion they didn’t want to have. Sometimes, the Fighters would be arguing, usually Brent and Claire against Alex about training, or together against Chase about some training regime he wanted them to try. Now they just seemed despondent.

An explosion rocked the ceiling over head.

“We still have time,” said Amelie quietly, as the sound of the explosion dissipated.

“Yeah, we do,” said Chase, taking a seat next to her. She had sent her light to float at the top of the ceiling while she sat on Chase’s unmade bed. Chase sat next to her.

“You okay?”

“Me?” Said Amelie, she looked at him for the first time since killing Astor. “I mean, all things considered. Do you think this will work?”

Chase glanced at Brent and Alex. They were still working hard and showing no signs of fatigue.

“Well,” began Chase. “I think—.”

“Back with Xemnara those two worked all night to save our lives, you know,” said Amelie suddenly.

“Say what?”

“With Xemnara. The baseball.”

“Oh, yeah. They are loyal friends.”

“They truly are,” said Amelie. She sniffed. “I’m glad to have gotten to know them. And everyone else. I feel as though it’s something I don’t deserve.”

“Amelie,” sighed Chase. “Don’t say that. Of course you do.”

“Maybe,” shrugged Amelie. “It’s all so hard to say. Ever since I spawned I’ve felt so…out of place.”

“Amelie,” said Chase. “You were always meant to be with us, you know that right? I mean, we even spawned together. You are just feeling sad because, well…”

Chase let his words hang. He really didn’t feel right about giving her false hope. Their situation was as dire as it had ever been. A part of him knew that he had brought the guild down to his room just to occupy their minds, but as he looked around he saw that was doing a poor job of his goal. Besides Alex and Brent the rest of them were quiet and appeared even more dejected than Amelie. Claire stared listlessly as Brent’s back as he worked, Thomas kept sitting and then standing up to stretch his legs. Even Marlon was silent as he sat on the ground, back against the wall, and seemingly muttering to himself.

“You think we are going to die here?” Said Amelie.

“What? No…I mean, it’s hard to say.”

“I don’t think we will,” said Amelie.

Chase caught her eye, and there was a firm determination there. It barely reached her face as her body still seemed spent at having to kill, just as Chase sometimes felt after hunting—not good, but weary with the necessity.

“You don’t?” Said Chase, sounding more desperate than he wanted to. What was it about Amelie that gave him hope? She wasn’t the leader, she was supposed to be following him, not the other way around.

Amelie shook her head. Another explosion sounded overhead.

“I don’t. There’s something deep inside of me that says today is not the end. I’ve felt it ever since I spawned. This is not where I die, and I don’t think it’s where you die, either.”

Chase felt something then. Deep inside of himself was a candle that was struggling to stay lit. A great wind had all but extinguished its spark but still it clung on for life. Suddenly at Amelie’s words the wind stopped, and a smoldering flame was soon burning within him despite the darkness.

“Alex!” Said Chase, coming to his feet. “It’s my turn.”

“What?” Alex half turned, having just placed another stone on the ground. There was now a pile of at least two dozen on the floor now. “I’m fine, let me just finish what I’m—.”

“Alex!” Said Chase, raising his voice.

The boy’s eyebrows rose, then he raised he hands and shrugged.

Chase smiled and then slapped him on the back.

“You need to rest, Alex. Let me have another go at it. You okay, Brent?”

Brent, breathing heavily, nodded his head.

“I’m good for a while yet, let Alex have a sit. He’s panting like a beat dog next to me.”

For a moment Chase thought that Alex was going to bristle at the comment, but then, perhaps seeing the light within Chase’s eyes, merely nodded and then sat where Chase had been next to Amelie.

“Seven Banes,” said Chase, addressing the guild.

They all looked up, their faces caught somewhere between desperation and fear.

“We DON’T die today!”