Together we ran through the forest, crashing through the leaves without any heed to the sounds we made or what direction we were heading in.
Initially I heard the Orcs' cries following. Guttural grunts that rang out through the trees. But soon they faded as we ran, our legs pumping wildly, hand in hand… crashing through the underbrush.
We ran and we ran, not turning around, until we were exhausted and finally collapsed in a heap at the base of a big oak tree.
I was panting like mad. I sounded like an overheated Labrador retriever. It seemed my new body, despite being leagues above my old one in terms of strength and stamina, did not have infinite reserves.
The maiden too was breathing heavily, sitting cross legged, across from me against the trunk of a neighboring tree.
Suddenly a trumpet sounded and a jolt of panic shot through me. I gripped my sword but quickly realized that it was no enemy trumpet, but a sound manufactured in my own ears.
The sound of success.
Scrolling text filled my vision once more:
Into The Woods:
Quest Complete!
You have saved your damsel! Albeit in a more cowardly fashion than befits a true Hero. Tsk tsk! No bonus rewards for you!
Rewards Added To Inventory:
1x Health Potion
Experience Awarded:
200xp
“Hey Help! Can we not sound a trumpet every time I complete a quest? I nearly had a heart attack.”
Of course. Notifications will be muted from now on. Any further requests?
Before I could ask another question a new screen popped up, this time sans-trumpet.
You have reached: Level 2! (12/ 200 XP)
New Ability Unlocked: Commune With Nature - Rank 1
Commune with nature? The most I’ve ever communed with nature was that one time I’d taken acid and…
“Who are you talking to?” Her cool regal voice cut through my thoughts like a knife. It was authoritative, demanding.
I blinked, taken aback.
Checking out my new level and skills will have to wait.
“You, um, aren’t you like an NPC? Should you really be breaking the fourth wall? Talking to me like that?”
“The fourth wall?” She asked.
She stood up, dusting herself off. She was wet and full of leaves and branches from our flight. Her sodden white gown clung closely to her lithe and busty form and I had trouble keeping my eyes away from her curves.
“Listen kind sir, you have saved me and for that I thank you but I have no need of your attitude!”
I sighed and shook my head.
“Ok ok look, I’m sorry let's start over. This is all so new to me.”
As I stood, offering a hand I noticed something about the fair lady that I hadn’t before. Her ears! They were pointed! They stuck out, high into the air above her long blonde hair.
She’s an elf! Holy shit a real life elf! I might fangirl out…
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Noticing my gaze, the maiden covered her ears with her hair once more and took a cautious step back.
“Yes human, you know what you saw.”
Her previously soft voice had an edge to it now. A defensiveness. A cageyness.
“I am an Elf. One of the last of our kind here in Valinor. Will you turn me in to King Rathgar’s men? Or will you kill me for my blood, like the Orc we left behind?”
I tried to parse it all but it was just too confusing.
Elf? Blood? King? Rat-gar? What was it?
My head hurt, everything was moving way too damn fast.
“Look look, I don’t know anything about orcs or Elf blood or King Rathgar… or hell… even Elves outside of The Lord of The Rings okay?”
The maiden folded her arms beneath her chest and glared at me suspiciously.
“If you are indeed an ally to me, speak quickly human… for I would have the truth of it!”
I had to convince her somehow I wasn’t a threat. I wasn’t sure why I needed this, other than she was pretty, an elf maiden, and I was genuinely not trying to hunt her!
“Ok, let’s do this to start. What’s your name?”
“Prijayankiandrafel, and yours human?”
“Joseph. How about I just call your.. Pri?”
She nodded, “That is acceptable.”
She relaxed a little, her arms slowly uncrossed and lowered to her sides.
“Well human, if you truly know nothing of this land or its ways. Why are you here in the forest? And where are you from?”
I laughed.
“It’s a long story.”
***
We had built a fire from kindling and were sitting around it, getting dry as the day crept forward into night. We had talked at length about our stories, why we were here, and though much of our worlds made no sense to each other but we had both gained a sense of why we were here.
Pri had come to the forest to escape persecution from the knights of Rathgar. After her kingdom had fallen to humans, most of her kind had scattered to the winds. She and her sister had not been lucky enough to hide in time, they had been captured by Rathgars men and imprisoned in his castle not far from the forest.
She had, she claimed, been a lady of the royal court and so was valuable enough of a prisoner to be kept in the keep.
She had escaped.
Her sister had not been so lucky. The last Pri had seen her sister had been sent to the Tower as a sacrifice.
What the Tower was, no-one knew. It had appeared in Valinor only a few years ago but had caused wars across the continent.
Anyone who entered never left.
The Humans blamed the Elves, who had always used magic. All had tried to discover the source of the Tower's power but those who entered never returned.
All manner of spells and fire and man-made projectiles had been used to attack the exterior of the tower, but nothing had worked. It had remained steady.
And that was the story of Pri.
She listened intently as I told my story of how I came to Valinor.
“There is something that may help you find this Oracle of yours, but I’m not sure you will want to do what it takes to get it.” She said finally, after some consideration
I look across the fire at the pretty elven maiden.
“Listen Pri, to get my ass out of this place and back to civilization I’d do just about anything.”
After all our serious talk she finally cracked a smile.
“You know, Joseph, you talk like a crazy man. I can’t understand half of what you say. But you amuse me.”
I felt a slight flush creep into my cheeks, was she… flirting with me? No, couldn’t be.
Pri went on to explain that one of her family heirlooms remained in the keep. An amulet that could grant the viewer a vision, if he had the willpower to wield it, a vision of what he was seeking with the utmost desire.
She looked up expectantly at me
The quest text began to scroll:
Quest:
Onwards To The Castle!
Rewards:
120xp
Accept? Abandon?
So should I accept? Did I have any choice in the matter? Was there any free will in this world to speak of?
I thought it over. So far each quest was leading me into the next, but if this was truly a living breathing world…
I glanced over at Pri. She was very much alive.
There must be more to this place than just playing along, quest by quest. But for now…
“Well?” Pri asked me, growing impatient.
“Let’s do it.” I said, with a sinking feeling in my heart. I just knew it wouldn't be easy
I clicked ACCEPT.