-- Aster --

Three days!

Three Days of mindless monotonous driving, not to even mention the rotting banging. We tied down the sides the best we could but the incessant noise made it impossible to sleep. It only took two days to outfit the jeep with the armor, it was around then that we started to wonder how close to our destination was. After almost two straight days of driving, we should be getting close.

Turns out we got turned around enough times that I was sure no one knew where we actually were. I was so busy with the jeep I didn't notice. We even stopped following our preplanned route in hopes to lose pursuit, and I'm sure that's why we ended up lost. At this point, we were just following the pull towards our mission.

I came to cherish our refuel stops, which was only once every five hours but it was the only time I would get to stretch my legs. I think at this point we were being too paranoid, we didn't even know we were. I couldn't help but imagine we somehow circled around all the cities.

I was leaning back in my seat trying to rest, when Violet snapped, "I don't care anymore! Tonight we are sleeping on something not with all this excessive banging."

"But our pursuit." James tiredly pointed out

"Has anyone seen anything in days?" Violet challenged looking at all of us. We hadn't. In three days we hadn't even seen a single monster, except for the first day.

James reluctantly answered, "No"

"Not even a fucking monster. At least that would be interesting."

"This area is patrolled?"

"Then how come we haven't seen any patrols?" Violet pointed out.

"It's the noise." I chimed, for violet to look at me annoyed, I continued, "The noise is probably keeping them away." My voice faded near the end shriveling under Violet's gaze.

"Where are we?" Violet turned back to James

"I don't know."

"How much farther?"

"Maybe a day or two?"

"You don't know."

"No. But Violet."

"No, James we are all exhausted, and if we don't stop I'm going to lose it."

"She's right James. The next stretch of woods pull into it and we'll hide the car. I need to sleep." Bay agreed with Violet.

James looked like he wanted to argue before giving in "Fine bay can put up an illusion while we sleep?"

"Hey, I want to sleep too," Bay whined.

"Can't you make it self-sustaining?" I asked wondering if that was possible.

Bay shrugged, "Maybe, never tried."

The sun was just starting to go down when we found a wild forest. Normally we would just simply drive around the woods, but this time we drove through the forest slowly following the little path or driving through smaller trees, until we felt we were safe.

Though the entire time we were driving something felt off to me, and I didn't know what.

It was starting to get dark and everyone had passed out almost as soon as we got the camp up. I tried to sleep, but my mind wouldn't let me. I found myself sitting watching the fire, staring into the flames. My mind was constantly drifting to what I should do, with nothing else to distract me my mind kept going to the quest. I knew the quest we were one wasn't the real one, but I had no idea where to even start guiding them on the real one, or if I could. Was that even what I wanted to do?

I wish I could just tell them, but that blighted filter. I couldn't even show the quest on there or my screen, that was filtered to, and I don't know if it's a level thing or a keeper thing. I was starting to wish I had never agreed, to remember. I was just so angry at everyone then, and now. Now I just felt lost.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Your thoughts look heavy." Bay sat on a log next to me making me jump out of my seat.

My heart was beating out of my chest, just staring at her. I must have been distracted more than I thought, "Not tired?"

She giggled, "Oh I'm exhausted, but it's that kind where your so tired you can't sleep."

"Ah."

The silence between us dragged awkwardly until Bay broke it with a simple, "So?"

"So?" I raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to ask.

"What's on your mind?"

I let out a long sigh, feeling every bit of the last year, "So much."

"Maybe I can help." She offered helpfully.

I wanted someone to know so bad I truly wish she could, but no matter what I say it would be filtered out. So I could only give her a long-suffering smile, "I don't know if you can."

"Try me."

That took me off guard, so I just blurted what was on my mind, "There is just so much wrong with all this."

Bay nodded, "Agreed."

I looked at her and could see she wanted to help, to understand, "So much I know that you don't. That I wish I could tell you."

"The secret society you joined?" She asked playfully.

I scoffed, "More like forced to."

"You were forced?" She asked shocked.

I stared at her blank-faced, "I'm shocked I didn't blank, but kind of."

The silence began to grow. I didn't know what else to say but Bay said just what I needed to hear, "Why don't you talk and I'll listen, whether or not I could hear any of it might not matter. Might be good to just get it off your chest."

I gave her a smile, "It's just so heavy."

"Is it? Or does it seem that way?

"Both?" I chuckled. I took another look at her seeing she was serious. Why not, and I began to talk, "Did you know the quest is fake? Yeah, it is, and it isn't. Here is the thing there is another quest. The original quest, and it's there because we fucked up." I began to laugh thinking back how this was all an accident, " This isn't even our home planet. Mind-blowing I know. We were a fucking colony ship, and we screwed up the terraforming creating monsters, to the point they had to put a barrier to keep them out. It goes all the way to the edge, and we are about to go there." Looking at Bay I knew she couldn't understand a single word I said but just saying these things aloud somehow was helping. Like weight lifting, like someone might shoulder it with me. Even if it was pretending.

I laughed sardonically, and leaned in conspiratorially, "Want to know something hilarious too. I'm a keeper now. One of the ancient orders, created to keep humanity's secrets, and they've already tried to kill me. And I mean forever, I somehow didn't die, doing the impossible." By now I had stood and was pacing back and forth, "And here's the kicker, we've actually cleared four maybe even five of the seven real quests. I just have no idea how to even do the last one or what to do once we complete it. But Bay we are so close and I don't know what to do." I looked at her patiently waiting and smiled, "Everything I said was blanked wasn't it?"

"Yeah, it was almost like white noise, except the last part about us being close. I really wish I knew how to help, but I don't. I can only ask you if that helped."

"I don't know." I shook my head falling back onto a log, as my mouth began to move before I could think, "Bay did you know we can die?"

"Well yeah, how else do we respawn." Bay looked at me unsure.

"No. I mean forever."

"Yeah, but that's"

I interrupted her admitting something I didn't know if I was ready to, "I was asked if I wanted to stop."

"What!?" Bay jumped to her feet

I looked to my feet unable to look at her, "By your reaction even after all that torture you were never asked."

"No, but..." Bay was flustered.

My voice began to crack, and my eyes began to water, "Am I weak Bay? For a moment. For a single minuscule microsecond, I must have wanted it to end. Why else would I have been asked?" I felt tears dripping down my face,

Bay didn't know what to say, only wrapping me in a hug. I let her just knowing she cared helped.

"Aster, I don't know what you've been through but know we are here. Even if we can't understand. I hope it can be enough."

I looked up to her seeing her eyes sparkle with unshed tears, "Thank you Bay. I think. I think I'm going to try to sleep." I gave her a hug and moved to my bed, Bay watching the entire time.

I found myself laying in my bag in a weird fugue state trying to sleep, every so often pulling up the real quest to read.

Congratulations. You and your team have been selected from thousands of the younger generation to determine if we are ready, as a people, to bring down the barrier, and finally contact home.

For this quest to even be active the world's average level needs to be over twenty, and the keeper's blessing must be given. By accepting and completing the first egg you received this blessing.

Alternatively, you may have reached level thirty within eighteen years, if so you will be automatically be added to the quest, as you have proven yourself.

We have determined six major tasks that would show we as humanity is ready. This may take centuries but we will prevail.

Prove agility by stealing from a high-profile target without being identified, caught, or injuring anyone. Escape with item:

Complete

Show great understanding of the world, understanding the world's power, great power, and the will to get it done.

Complete

Show mercy and understanding to the people. Help them even at great cost, to yourself.

Complete

Get the support of the people, show an understanding of the people around you and the greater world, gaining their approval.

Prove your might that you may protect the people. Performing great feats of strength and power against those who would stop you.

Complete

Scout, go beyond the barrier hunt to live survive. Learn of the world beyond. Prepare for what is to come.

Find the secret of level thirty and use it to reach the mythical level. For it is here we believe is the true potential of man.

Complete

A task will be completed if any member of the team succeeds in the task. The next steps will appear when all tasks are completed.

I closed the screen only to hear something far of. Something soft and comforting, my eyes felt heavier, and I felt safe. What a nice song.