Shonda found herself in the middle of a bustling town. Dozens of city dwellers went about their business, not paying attention to her. She scanned for active player characters, but only NPCs and AIs were present in the city. Being an alpha tester for the game had a limited potential for meeting others, but since they both used the same servers there were usually dozens in her immediate area. She remembered hearing of internet outages on the news, but her addition of the portable version consumed most of her time these days.

I’m glad I have the portable version of the Colossal Machine. Time to make some inquiries.

It had been a while since she’d been in Parousia, but if memory served, the black market often moved locations to avoid the detection of the city guards.

I wonder if Amos still runs it all.

Shonda gazed at the tower that was reserved for high-level magic users and the Grand Magi. Ordinary mages and Magi usually weren’t allowed, but since she was a tester, she got to choose a base of operations. She picked a room deep inside a cave. Darkow had seemed like a logical choice at the time, but its remote location was often a hinderance. On either side of the plaza were dwellings about three stories high. They reminded Shonda of primitive structures.

“Taffy for m’lady?” an enormous man said with a British accent.

“I don’t eat…”

“Cat got your tongue, miss?”

“Amos? Is that you?”

The man smiled.

“I’m surprised you recognize me. That old witch said the illusion is so good my own mum would recognize me.”

“It’s not the disguise that gave you away. I would know that salty wit anywhere.”

The man grinned, showing several rotten teeth.

“Well, it looks like you’ve been eating too much of your taffy.”

Shonda and Amos shared a laugh. It was good to finally meet a familiar face. She had so much trouble synchronizing her online game to the portable device, she wasn’t sure if she would find him in time.

“Well, I assume you have need of my services then?” Amos said.

“I do.”

“Good, then follow me. The guard’s been on the lookout for me since I gave ’em the slip. I nearly got caught with a Parousian brandy.”

“Isn’t that—”

“Illegal? Yes, but the royal family shouldn’t be the only ones to partake of the finer things.”

Amos took cover behind a man hawking some fish. A crowd of onlookers gave them cover. She watched in fascination as the wide and tall behemoth of a man shrunk into someone smaller than average. His face, once round and meaty, changed to a gaunt, bony shape. The man looked like he had not eaten in days. His shoulders drooped and she didn’t think he could win a fight with a child, let alone get away from a guard.

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He is a bit of a runt, but his connections are legendary.

“Bem-Por-Cad-Vet,” Shonda said as she pointed to Amos.

The gaunt pheeb of a man changed into something Shonda couldn’t place. He no longer resembled a man, but was rather a shimmer in the light.

“The effect won’t last very long. I suggest we get a move on.”

The shimmer glided toward the tower. As they approached the massive structure, several onlookers bowed to show their respect. It wasn’t every day these people saw a Magi.

Is he…going into the tower?

Just before the glimmer approached the wide steps of the mage tower, it diverted into a side street. It slipped between two buildings with just enough room to let her pass. It was a good thing she’d avoided the taffy after all. Otherwise, she might not have gotten through, she thought. The area behind the buildings darkened like someone dimmed the lights in a room. She could see the outlines of shapes, but couldn’t make out any details. The glimmer flickered, then Amos was back once again.

“What did you do?”

“I cast a guise spell. It turned you into a blob of light.”

“Yeah, that was strange. I couldn’t even talk to ya. But I figured you would follow. It’s not much farther. Just stick to my side.”

Shonda nodded, then followed Amos through a series of windy, labyrinthine passages. She didn’t think she could remember the route even if she’d left a trail. Amos stopped at the end of an alley. Other than a series of vines on the wall, there wasn’t anything nearby. Amos tapped on some stones on a side wall, and the middle part of the vined wall pushed in, revealing a dark room. She followed Amos into a much cooler space. He seemed to fumble for something in the dark, then the wall slipped back into place. An audible thumping sound and the pitch-blackness of the void were all the confirmation she needed. They were alone.

“In-Por-Ot-Bem.”

The immediate area illuminated.

“That’s better.”

Amos smiled as he scaled a ladder leading onto a floor. Shonda followed. Soon they were in a gigantic room with every piece of contraband she could think of. A pair of pink eels swam within a pickle jar. Various bottles of brandy and other alcohol were neatly stacked on shelves. Across from the entrance was an enormous golden chair. Amos sat on it and rested one of his long and bony legs over one of the arms. He snatched a golden crown off a nearby table and put it on.

“Now, what can King Amos do for you today?”

"Hah! That's a stretch, what are you a king of?"

"You have entered my shop and in here I'm your King and master."

"Okay, I'll bite. What do you have for me?"

"Ah, this a special relic. It allows the bearer to find special hidden areas within the Colossal Machine. You outsiders call it a 'cheat code.'"

"I'm intrigued, what does it do, exactly?"

"It will circumvent certain systems within the construct. For example, if you need to find out where to find a certain item to complete a quest it will help thee."

Maybe it will help find a certain pillar?

"What's the catch?"

"No catch, you supply me with ten thousand gold pieces and it's yours."

"What? I don't carry that much coin. There must be something else we can trade."

"Perhaps a mutual friend can help us then?"

"I have no idea who you are talking about."

"Come now, don't insult my intelligence. You used the mirror man before."

Chuck!

"Yes, form the look on your face I can see that you know exactly know who I'm referring."

"I... I don't even know where to find him."

Amos produced an emerald then tossed it to Shonda.

"This is a freebie, now use it to find that soul stealing vampire and complete his task and he will give you as much coin as you require."

Shonda shuddered at the memory of what happened to Chuck. She didn't want to see that bloodsucking cloaked man again, but she would if she must. The Grand Magi title and all it's privileges would be hers if it was the last thing she ever did.