“You’re sure you have everything, honey?” Mom asked for what felt like the hundredth time, but it was only the fifth or sixth.
“Yes, Mom,” I say, trying hard to keep the exasperation out of my voice as I hug her. Dad, standing beside her, has an indulgent smile. Our small group, consisting of myself, my parents, my brother, his soon-to-be wife, and a few of the people I had come to know over the years, stood just off the main thrufare leading to the West Gate.
“Come on, Cass,” Dad said. Let's not hog all her time; I’m sure Mel would like to get on the road while there’s still light.” While Mom scowled at him, I shot Dad a grateful smile and turned to my brother and Sarah.
“Remember to message me when you’ve set a date,” I say to the happy couple as I hug them both in turn.
“We will,” Daniel responded. It's not like you spent the last week showing us how to use the system to send messages so that we would be able to. How did you find that messaging feature anyway? I don’t remember hearing anyone talk about it?”
“You know me,” I say with a strained smile. “always pocking around the System trying to figure it out.” It wasn’t a matter of finding the feature; it was more a matter of the feature, having been one of Gem’s many projects that helped me learn the system's inner workings. I was in two minds about how this feature had flown under most people's radar. On one hand, I was frustrated that very few people were using a feature that had taken me almost a year to build and test. But on the other, I was also a little happy because the ability to communicate instantly over vast distances would have far-reaching consequences that I didn’t even want to consider.
Considering all the projects I had worked on and the features I had created over the last eight years, the Instant Messaging function was probably one of my most controversial ones. But it had been one of the handful of projects that had truly solidified my understanding of how all the System’s Subsystems fit together. Plus, I wasn’t really worried about someone finding out it was me who created it because that hypothetical someone would have to have access to the source code repositories, which was inexcusable without Admin access to the system. The only way someone would figure that out was if I or Gem told them, and that wasn’t going to happen.
“You're sure you’ll be able to get back in time?” Sarah asked.
“I’m only going to Southport,” I say dismissively. It's only a two-day trip on foot. So as long as you give me a few days' notice, it should be fine,” I say, glaring at my brother.
“What?” I ask, faining ignorance.
Before I could retort, Sarah said, “Even I know you have a habit of leaving things to the last minute.” Turning to me, she added, “We’ll make sure to give you enough notice. Melissa.”
“Mel, please,” I say, “We’re going to be family. Plus, anyone who wants to marry my brother has to be a saint.”
“Ug,” my brother threw his hands up in disgust before heading over to where our parents were standing, muttering, " What’s this world coming to when a man’s betrothed and sister gang up on him?” which had me and Sarah laughing.
As Sarah followed Daniel, I turned to the last member of my farewell committee. “So, got any advice for me, Jake?”
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
“Just be yourself,” Jake said with a smile. “I know it's cliche, but you’ve a good head on your shoulders, Mel. Just remember to use it, and you’ll be all right. One thing I’d recommend when you get to Southport is get a room at one of the inns. If it's anything like it was when I traveled through there, the rooms go fast.”
“I will do,” I said, hugging him. Waving a final goodbye to everyone, I headed to the queue to exit the gate and start my adventure.
~ ~ ~
The sun was bright overhead, marking the first full day away from the only home I had known for the last eighteen years. The well-trodden road that linked Forestend to Southport skirted the Evergreen Forest. On one side was a dense wall of trees; on the other were plains with tall grass and a smattering of shrubs masquerading as trees. It would be, I thought, quite picturesque if it weren’t for the Rouge trying to stay hidden in the tree line.
I send back,
< You’re no fun,> I say,
Gem chirped.
A few minutes after entering the forest, I realized I had lost the rouge and could double back without him seeing me. Having converted my sword into a dagger, I crept silently to where the rouge had positioned himself. I had to admit he’d picked a good spot; it gave him a good vantage point to see me come back to the road while still staying concealed within the tree line. I lunged at the Rouge in one fluid motion, bringing my dagger up to slice his corroded artery, spuing blood everywhere. Fortunately, the angle I had attacked from meant that the blood spatter was in the opposite direction. The cut was large enough that the man was probably dead before he even knew anything happened.
Congratulations, For defeating Human Rouge, Level 10, 53 XP has been awarded.
For defeating your first Human, 27 XP has been awarded.