CHAPTER 4
I had been slipping and sliding down the mountain for the better part of an hour. I ran when there was a path and I broke bush when there was nothing. Eventually, I came to an archway, it was lit with glowing green and blue runes and the pathway ran right through it. It was clearly some kind of a portal and I would guess that it transferred people from Olympus to a normal mountain. The only way I was going to find out was by going through it.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped under the archway and into the blackness, I felt the ground disappear and darkness once again surrounded me. I looked around and then suddenly I emerged with a crack into a small room. Stepping down from the small platform I had arrived at I exited through the door and found myself in a corridor. Walking along I noted that my minimap now showed that I had arrived in the hub city of Treetop.
I exited the building and then made my way down the street, stopping at a vendor I purchased a map of the city which transferred itself to my minimap as soon as I opened it. Expanding my minimap I put in several waypoints, one to the merchant’s bazaar, the next to the class trainers and the third to the shrine of all Gods. Following my map, I soon arrived at the bazaar and began the long process of getting new gear. I emptied my bag of all the gear I had collected fighting the Gobbys. After some hard bartering, I now had 8 gold. I then laid out the Fiery and Icy scrolls and looked at the merchant, judging by the way he was licking his lips I knew he wanted them.
“I will give you 20 gold for both and believe me that is the best offer you will get from anyone here,” he said.
“No offense to you but if you are going to insult me we are done,” I replied. My good mood was rapidly turning dark, I was coming to realize that I did not much like most people real or NPC. Stopping the merchant’s protestations, I said, “Three hundred gold, or we are done.” I watched his face begin to turn red and then as he began to whine I swept the scrolls up and turned to leave. The merchant finally found his voice and called out, “Fine I will pay you 200 gold for the scrolls.”
I turned and looked at him them flipping him the bird I left the store. I was expected to get a hit on my rep with the merchants of Treetop but was surprised when nothing happened. Probably due to bartering about goods, I thought. I went to three more merchants before I sold the scrolls and with each one I left if they tried to screw me around. The last one merely looked at them and said, “Hard, very hard to acquire, the damn mages have a monopoly.” He agreed to pay my 350 gold which gave me 358g and 49s.
This was enough gold to keep me in some solid green gear but before I bought anything I had to choose my class. Gear is very class dependent, I did not want to buy some stuff that would not work for me. I eventually found my way to the class trainers, located in the Halls of Training. It was a wooden building located on a hilltop. Once I arrived a guard met me at the gate and led me inside. Taking me to a small room I sat me down and asked which trainer I had come to see. He seemed a friendly sort and open to listening so I told him I was not sure.
“That is not a problem, some people come without knowing their calling, we have a Seer here who can ask the gods for their blessing on you and to point you to the path you should take. All we ask for is a donation of 1 gold.”
Aha, I knew that it was a scam, but still, why not, it would not hurt and perhaps the Seer could actually give me some good advice. Pulling open my wallet I brought out 2 gold coins. Giving them both to the guard I said, “Thanks for your help man, please accept my small gift to you and the other is for the Seer.” His face cracked open with a warm smile the guard thanked me and left. The gold would probably go to the lonely-hearts club found in most taverns where men of all ages would go and drink and remember the fire of youth and the pain of age. Or naught. It was easy at times to forget this was just a game.
Several moments passed and then the curtain was pulled aside and a small person entered the room, pulling the curtain shut she removed her hood and I could see a woman whose eyes reflected wisdom and power in a middle-aged face. She nodded at me and then asked, “What is it you are looking for young man? I can ask the Gods blessings for you and for their wisdom but perhaps you already know what road you will walk down?”
I nodded and said, “I had planned out my future and had decided on my path and place in the world, but events have overtaken my plans. Originally I wanted to be a Dark Priest but now I am not certain that would be the wisest choice.”
She looked at me and with a smile said, “Give me your hand child, and I will see what the Gods will show me.” I held out my left hand for her to hold and taking it, she closed her eyes and began to pray. “Oh, highest Gods listen to my prayer, I come before you here and now to ask for your guidance and wisdom for my brother, give us directions and knowledge and help us to understand what his choice should be. We thank you and wait for your words.”
I could feel an eldritch energy about the room as she prayed and I could also feel the power within me respond. After several seconds, a darkness came into the room and suddenly there was a flame floating above the table. It flickered briefly at the old woman and caressed her once then it turned to me. Once it flickered towards me it suddenly grew in size and then a female voice spoke from within the fire.
“Little brother, I see you have met my servant, and have asked for my advice. It is freely given but be warned it must be freely taken also, to not act is to incur the wrath of the Gods. Take my blessing and wisdom or my wrath, Octo.”
I was startled but opportunities don’t come that often in life and so I said, “I gladly accept your wisdom and knowledge Goddess.”
I could see the flame dancing on the table in front of me but was still surprised when I heard it say, “That silly boy Janus actually allowed his blood to mix with a mortal and here you are. Very well you must train in both magic and the physical arts, once you are ready I will summon you to receive your divine training as a Hero of the Gods, and Gatekeeper but do not allow others to know who or what you have become. In order to facilitate your training, I hereby commission you as a dark Paladin with both the powers of a Dark Priest and those of a Paladin of the Light. If you need to reach out to me go to any of the temples or shrines of Aurora, bringer of light. Place your offering down and then call out for me, if I do not respond tell one of the priestess’s that you need to speak to Avia. I will come to hear you. But only call me in your time of need. Hero’s must be strong.”
Suddenly the fire flickered and then grew bright and then went out, the presence of the Goddess had left. I closed my eyes for a moment and thought of what I had heard, opening them I found the seer staring at me with an intent and hungry look in her eyes.
“You who are most blessed by the blood of a God, and yet you are a man, yet the Goddess herself spoke of helping you and told you to call her Avia. Who are you.”
I stared at the seer and slowly shook my head, “I am no one special, just someone that was pushed into something larger than himself.”
She smiled at me and then said, “Yes but you are the blessed of the Goddess, for I know that in the thousand years I have served her I have never heard her tell anyone to call her Avia, which means Grandmother.”
“One thousand years,” I spoke slowly for the woman before me looked no older than a youthful 40 years of age. Looking at her I could see that under the shawl she wore over her robe her figure was that of a woman with curves but no fat. Her face had happy lines from smiling and her lips were fully curved into a smile as she saw me stare at her.
“My Goddess has granted me life and a small amount of power to help those who truly need it. I have spent most of my life traveling from city to city and temple to temple to help people. My time here is now at an end and I will be traveling soon, but while I am here may I accompany you?”
Her eyes were burning into me and I felt something, a stirring within, crap I hope I was not getting a woody. I knew that my body was beginning to respond to the allure of this woman and I had to stop it. Staring at her I said, “You can come with me while I am in the city, but stop whatever it is you are doing, you don’t need magic for men to find you attractive.”
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
As we stared at each other I saw her nod and then sigh, so I spoke up, “What is the problem, miss? It is clear that I find you attractive. Does that bother you?”
I was startled by her response, “My name is Tilla and I have outlived three husbands and have been abandoned by two others. Being chosen by the Gods has its rewards but it also has its price. When I realized that you have a destiny with the Gods I felt something, a connection of some type with you. It is something I have not felt in a long time. That is why I wanted to spend time with you.”
I stared at her and I could see that there was still something unsaid, reaching out my hands I grabbed her hands and gave them a gentle squeeze. “Come on, let’s go see what the hell a Dark Paladin is and what I need to learn.” We walked out of the little room and Tilla led me down towards the center of the building. At the center of the building was a table with a dozen men sitting and drinking, chatting and reading. They all stopped as Tilla and I approached.
“Classmasters, I have brought before you this man Octo, who the Gods themselves have laid their mark on, to be trained not be one class trainer but by two.”
The room was immediately filled with debate and denial, no one had heard of such a thing and these old bastards were not too happy about it. Tilla stood tall and silent as the argument continued. I was done with it already, and I let them know that. Frikken arrogant greybeards. I shouted out in the same voice I had used in the military many many times as a sergeant. “Shout the f--- up you bunch of geriatric old bastards. Tilla has spoken, the Gods have spoken and now I am speaking. I want the Dark Priest and the Light Paladin here front and center. NOW.”
That caught the attention of the group and soon two men were in front of me. I pointed at them and said, “Do your humble mumble or whatever the hell you do, and do it now. They both looked at me with scowls, clearly, I was winning no friends here but I lifted my hand and opened it. When they stared at me I said, “That was me freeing my last Fu—now I have no Fu--- to give so let’s get on with this.”
The Paladin shook his head and said, “Such arrogance, it has no place in the ranks of the Paladins of Light. Still, if the Gods have chosen you I will bless you with the knowledge of training.” As he placed his hand on my head he whispered, “I will make sure every order and Paladin will know that you are not a true brother. Dickhead.”
I winked at him as a cosmic light went off in my head and I felt a seismic shock shoot through me. I suddenly knew about the light and the fight against the darkness and was aware that I had received two spells, Holy Fire, which surrounded me with a 5-foot circle of fire that dealt damage to enemies and brought healing to myself and those allies who touched me. I also received the Banhammer, a one-handed mace made up of light itself with I could fling at an enemy. It would temporally ban them to a place of otherness where for ten seconds they could not attack me but I was free to attack them with the Banhammer and real weapons.
As the Paladin stepped back I thought of sending him the universal symbol of love but decided against it. He was just another prick in this life, and I would soon be past him. The Dark Priest soon was standing in front of me and we both stared at each other with curiosity. I saw a person of average height with a small paunch and florid cheeks. His breath was bad and his hair greasy. His eyes glittered and I knew that this man was the closest I had come to meeting someone bad in the game. I suddenly had the feeling that this man was a predator and that is not just because he was a priest and dressed in priestly garb.
He laid his hand on my forehead and suddenly I was once again flooded with knowledge and information. Two more skills were now available to me. Suddenly I felt a pull and as I looked at the Dark Priest I saw him smirk. The bastard was trying to do something to my mind, and I was not having any of it. Suddenly the dormant power that was now a part of my blood flared to life and I reached out, grabbing the front of his Cossack I lifted him and threw him across the room.
He was knocked out, turning to the other Classmasters I asked, “Do you all use your gifts to try to steal the thoughts if those that come here?” My voice was flat, I was feeling a surge of rage throughout my body. Tilla grabbed my arm and whispered, “Stop whatever you are doing Octo, we are done here now.”
She turned to look at the men, many of them looking with anger at me several looking at the Dark Priest and shaking their heads. “Listen to my words, that Dark Priest is no longer to be an honored member here. He has gone over to completely serve the Dark Lord and has made a covenant of evil with the Darkness.” At her words, all the men looked at the Dark priest who was starting to move. The Paladin and one of the other men were suddenly on each side of the Dark Priest and grabbing him they pulled him from the room. Tilla nodded at the men that were still there and then grabbing my arm led me out of the room and then out of the building.
As we left I heard a fanfare sound and my interface showed a popup. Congratulations on your choice of a new class, the Dark Paladin. This class opens the doorway to both the light and dark quest arcs. Become familiar with and use your new powers. Good luck.
I closed the popup window with a thought and then gently squeezing Tilla’s hand I asked, “Where are you taking me, pretty lady?” She looked at me and snorted and then said, I am taking you to my Inn where you will spend the night, you have succeeded in annoying several of the most powerful men in this city, and I think if I were not with you, you would be sharing a cell with that Dark Priest. I mean really what in hell were you thinking, pissing off the Classmasters.”
I looked at her, with her ageless eyes and her pretty mouth turned down in disapproval at me, she had a point I was being a bit of an ass. I did not like people all that much and with Haven being so life like it was no wonder that I was reacting as I would in real life. We continued to walk to the Inn my silence bothering her, but how the hell could I explain that I was not a happy human being. I lived my life in a way that brought me peace and I truly believed that was all a man could ask for.
The American dream, forget it, it was dead and buried by 2025. I had served my country like many others, going over to the Stan’s for 3 tours. Then doing another tour in NK after we nuked the fat bastard. I was finally put out of the army when I was at an NFL football game back home in Minnesota, some asswipe with a complex started waving the rebel flag and screaming the south will rise again. Then he detonated three vans full of homemade fertilizer bombs outside the U.S. Bank Stadium located in Minneapolis Minnesota. Holding over 66000 people it was a miracle that only about 15 thousand died.
I was one of the lucky ones, I survived with few injuries. Really, all I had was an extreme dislike for crowds and people in general. Not knowing how to share any of this with Tilla I decided to say very little. Not talking to a woman when she wants to talk is not a game-winning strategy I thought as the silence deepened and I could feel waves of irritation pouring off Tilla all directed at me.
Yep, I was not going to be spending the night in this lady’s room, I thought. Turning to Tilla I stopped her and said, “Tilla this is where we part ways, I have some things to do and while I had thought it would be fun to hang out, you are acting like a wife with 20 years of disappointments built up. To be honest, I don’t need this shit, your approval or disapproval so Fu—it. I stared at her face and watched her anger changed to shock, I guess no one has spoken like this to her in hundreds of years.
“Thanks for your assistance and have a good trip when you head out. See ya.” I turned to walk away when I felt a hand grab my arm, stopping I looked back at Tilla and asked, “What are you doing?” We stared at each other for a few seconds the Tilla spoke. “Octo, I am sorry, I have presumed much and I apologize. I have not met someone like you in hundreds of years, you are like the men of my past. Simpler and more in touch with who you are. We are so proper now, things are done in a certain way and protocols must be followed.
When you showed up and I realized that you are touched by the Gods I knew you were special, but then when I saw how you handled the Classmasters I felt like you were nothing more than a simple man, a peasant. Rude and boorish. Then when the Dark Priest tried to steal your thoughts and you showed your power I became confused and when you refused to explain anything I grew upset. No one in 1000 years has ignored me, yet you, you stand there even now with a bored look on your face.
I stared at her as she began to cry, and I realized that we had attracted a bit of an audience. Looking at Tilla I said, “Alright, let’s go to your Inn and once we have some privacy we will talk. Now is not the place nor the time. Glancing around at the crowd I could see that they would have preferred us to discuss our issues here with them. Frikken bore sheep always looking for something new to occupy them for a moment or two.
Making our way to the Inn Tilla had a tankard of ale and a bottle of wine sent up to her room. Once it was delivered we began to talk, I had decided that I would not lie about anything if I did not want to tell her something I would let her know. By the time the moon had risen and was visible through her window I realized that I had told her most of my life story. We had also ended up cuddled together on her bed with some of our clothing half undone.
I was staring at her as she drank her wine, and softly speaking I said, “You are like a fine wine, you only improve with age. I was not surprised when she kissed me, her lips tasted of honey and sweet berries. In moments, we had no cloth on and in the flickering light of the candles I stared at her, golden brown skin with dark wavy hair and a face that was pretty enough to attract a second glance. Her breasts were heavy and firm with no sag and her tummy was flat, her body was muscled and trim. I stared in her eyes as we kissed finally closing my eyes to the moment.
Pulling slightly back I whispered, “Are you sure that this is what you want?” I watched as her eyelids grew heavy, and felt her breasts as she pressed herself against me. There was the scent of Jasmine in the air and I let her tongue and mouth work their way down my chest as her hands grabbed my arms. I had wrapped my hands around her hips and was gently caressing her smooth skin. As for the rest, a man should never speak of the women in his life. Suffice to say that I awoke early with a beautiful 1000-year-old woman in my arms and I felt pretty damn good for someone who had just made love to a MILF.