The effects of her magical shield wore off, and she found herself panting on the shore of an island. A flashing message appeared in the corner of Jet’s interface, which usually meant something important about the game. She hoped she had enough points to acquire another spell. She had no healing capabilities, and her health bar was at forty percent and slowly rising. It was actually more like an atoll than an island she decided. A tiny strip of island encircled a rocky, shallow center.
This seems more magical than man-made. I will need to check its magical properties once my mana recovers.
Several of the biting fish washed on the shore. Jet picked one up intending to return it to the water, but the creature bit her hand.
“Ouch,” Jet said, dropping the fish toward the atoll side of the water. The fish screeched as it landed in the stagnant water of the atoll.
What’s different about the water here?
Jet examined the narrow atoll. It was just wide enough to support her. She put her hand in the atoll’s water. An electric charge coursed through her hand.
“Ouch!”
She pulled her hand out of the water. Red blisters covered her snow-white skin. It looked like a mad hornet was unleashed on her hand. The blisters weren’t localized to the area; they spread quickly before she could stop it. She sensed a magic field that protected the atoll.
<<>>
System Message: Quest update: You have found the Oasis, which contains unique magical properties. Find the shrew to unlock access to this area, which may provide clues to the pillar.
<<>>
Jet had not a clue where to look for the shrew.
The dungeon master mentioned a gypsy. Are they the same?
Jet couldn’t tell where the atoll started or ended. For a briefest of moments she was disoriented, but caught her bearings as a wave of biting fish washed upon the shore by the movement of something big. The splash of water, then a sucking noise, came from the other side of the atoll.
I’d better get a move on, otherwise I’m fish food.
She snatched a glance. The head of something enormous emerged. It was a cross between a piranha and a whale. It flung its body onto the atoll, and Jet narrowly missed getting bitten by the massive sea beast.
“In-Por-Cad-Cras,” Jet said.
She felt the protective embrace of the magical shield. She ran deeper into the atoll, trying to get away from the creature. A thumping sound emanated from behind. She risked a glance toward the noise, and to her horror, the creature leaped onto the sandbar and gave chase.
“In-Por-Ot-Vet.”
A magic carpet appeared below her feet, and she steered it over the shallow waters of the atoll. The creature followed and let out a screech as it came into contact with the fresh water. The carpet became translucent, and she was treated to an spectacular view of the waters of the atoll. Creatures that resembled fish with legs rode on seahorse mounts. The rocky shallow water had cracks in which she could see a deep expanse. She recast the flight spell so she could stay safe. There were magical properties at play in the waters of the atoll, and until she could circumvent them, she needed to stay away from them. Her flight spell was counting down from ten. She didn’t have enough time or mana to recast the spell, but she had enough for a shield.
I’m doomed.
Jet plunged into the water. She had at least twenty seconds before the shield would expire. A underwater bar indicated the amount of breathable air was displayed on her heads-up display. Less than ten seconds remained of the protection of the shield. As she tried swimming to the surface, something took hold of her foot and dragged her deep within the atoll. Her breathable air supply had five seconds remaining, and she didn’t see any places with possible air pockets.
Too bad there isn’t an endless oxygen spell in this game. The next time the dev team asks for feedback, that is what they will get.
She closed her eyes and braced herself for permanent death. Before she could think too much on that, she was thrown onto a cold, hard surface.
“There you are. I’ve been expecting you,” an old woman’s voice said.
Jet opened her eyes. An old woman with a gas lantern stood nearby. A quick scan of the area revealed that they were in an underwater cave.
“Don’t worry. You’re safe here.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Esmeralda, the shrew.”
“Icarius sent me to see the gypsy. Are you her?”
“I haven’t been called that for a very long time. I took the mantle of shrew before you were even born.”
“We need to fix the constructs before they fail completely.”
“There will be time for that, but I can see that you have a lot of questions and the afternoon meal is ready. We must depart,” Esmeralda said as she waved to Jet.
She followed the old woman through a maze of windy passages that seemed to be made out of coral. Some passages were wet, as if they were recently drained.
“Let’s go. High tide is coming.”
A roar, then a wave came crashing in. Soon, the cave was filled with water. The old woman stood on a ledge. Her mana was still recovering, and she didn’t want to waste it if she didn’t need to.
“Watch for the path—it will reveal itself to you.”
Jet could not a path, and the water was rising fast. It was nearly to her chest, and she attempted to cast the flight spell. Her remaining mana evaporated, and she was lifted up for a moment then sank into the water.
“See the path from within,” the old woman said patiently.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
She used a technique that she learned while achieving the rank of Magi. She took it slow, closed her eyes, and despite the rising water, slowed her breathing. After a moment, she saw a golden path leading to the upper ledge. The path was terraced and at first glance seemed impossible to climb. But as soon as she began climbing, it became more managable.
“It is good to finally see someone with the true wisdom of the Grand Magi,” the old woman said.
Have there been others claiming to be the Grand Magi?
“What do you mean, old mother?”
The woman gazed into the empty cavern.
“There is only one Grand Magi, and that person has been hailed as such—enough idle talk. You most assuredly are here for a reason. And it’s not the idle gossip of a schoolgirl.”
She speaks in riddles.
“I seek any knowledge that may reveal what I must do to fix the constructs of this world,” Jet said.
The old woman smiled.
“Yes, I remember. You seek knowledge on the quest of Icarius.”
“I do, indeed. There is a terrible evil that threatens this world.”
“Come, we shall break bread together.”
The old woman waved in a circular pattern, and a golden portal opened and Jet walked through the portal.
<<>>
System Message: You have completed the quest: Find the Gypsy. 2,891 experience points have been assigned.
Congratulations! You have leveled up. You are now level four.
+8 Health
+6 Mana
+9 Stamina
Please choose from the following spells.
Spell: Light Healing
Use: Heal the caster or another player.
Incantation: Hem-Por_In-Vet.
Spell: Blast
Use: Combine Sulfur, Rotty Root and Toad Fungus to create holes in living and dead things alike.
Incantation: Bem-Un-Por-Cad.
<<>>
Jet chose the Blast spell. She would benefit from the healing spell, but she had a feeling that she would need some more offensive spells in the trials to come. A moment later, she closed her in-game interface and took in her new surrounding. She could see a cozy living quarters. It was simple, but contained a table and a hearth. Jet longed to be comfortable again, even if it was in the virtual world. She followed the shrew into the portal. Her immediate surroundings and location changed.
“Now, I know that time is short. But even saviors need rest and a good meal. You shall be on your quest soon enough, but now we will enjoy a good meal and the fellowship that it provides.”
The shrew pointed to the table. Jet took a position facing what she thought was the front of the home. She could see the ziggurat of the Timemaker’s Terrance in the distance. She estimated they were at the northmost edge of the Garden of Light. There was a bowl of soup in front of her. Even though she was eating a meal in the virtual world of the Colossal Machine, the soup satisfied her. She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but it was the best potato leek soup she’d ever had.
“Hm, I see that you have enjoyed the food—good.”
Jet didn’t know how much time had passed, but the inescapable feeling of urgency overcame her.
“Yes, the food was excellent, but I think we need to discuss the state of the world,” Jet said.
Esmeralda smiled.
“Oh, yes. The master builder informed me that the Grand Magi is one of the few in this world who can help repair the glory of what was.”
“I know that, but I just need some guidance on how to proceed.”
The old woman seemed confused then furrowed her brow as if trying to remember something long forgotten.
“My head tells me that you are not the Grand Magi, but my heart tells me that you are.”
That makes no sense, there is something wrong here!
“What is your meaning to these words?” Jet asked.
The Shrew raised a hand as if to command silence. She waved her arms in the air, the motion reminded Jet of a player character controlling their in-game interface, but this was different. She was chanting something low. Jet could only make out a few words.
“Elementus… I command thee… Infomaticus,” the Shew said.
After several moments she opened her eyes.
“I must confer with the Oracle, but if thou the true Grand Magi then we are in grave peril.”
The old woman’s demeanor changed from a concerned grandmother to a someone finding out that a loved one has passed. She rummaged through a pouch in her robes and produced a tiny crystalline object. As she handed it to Jet it emitted a deep blue. It wasn’t as bright as it was intense, like a mood ring.
“What’s this?” Jet asked.
“I call it a truth root, but others call it a guide stone. It’s been enchanted to reveal the true Grand Magi. But, something is indeed wrong.”
“What is?”
“I tested another claiming to be the Grand Magi and the crystal glowed—that’s impossible.”
Jet thought back to what the Master Builder had said. This world was in peril until the six pillars were restored.
The shrew handed a faded parchment with some indecipherable text. “This will help you in your quest. You must use it in the presence of the piller that you wish to restore. But, take care not to let it fall into evil hands as it can just as easily become corrupted. There are others with good intensions that still might deceive.”
Jet recognized the parchment as a pre-loaded spell scroll which an inscriber could use to imbue spells. This allowed anyone with enough magical potential to cast even higher level spells.
“I don’t even know where to start looking.”
“Each major zone within the this world contains a pillar. Since we already are in the Garden of Light you should start here. Since you are the true Grand Magi you should have no problem using the guide stone. It will become brighter based on your proximity to the pillar, but you need to only look at the garden’s map to know it’s true location.”
Jet pulled up her virtual gaming interface and selected the region map. Her status as a alpha tester listed the fog of war which was a darkened area that revealed the map to those who have discovered the region. In the middle of the map for the garden of Light was a barren desert. It was noticiable since the areas surrounding it were green and lush. Jet always thought the shape resembled a hand.
I should start looking near the tip of the finger.
“What can you tell me about the barren area in the middle of the Garden of Light?” Jet asked.
“Ah, I see that you are finally using the wisdom of your position. That land in the center is called the Enduring Plain. A great battle was fought there thousands of years ago, forbidden and foul magicks permanently corrupted the land. Nothing will grow there again.”
“Is it dangerous to travel across the land?”
“Those who have attempted to survey it have never come back alive. Even Leaf Greenheart, the great explorer was lost to it’s sands.”
“Then I will travel around it.”
“The lands to the north of plain are overrun with Trombocrocks, a foul race of lizard creatures who attack all outsiders. To the south are the Guardians of High Terrace, they will not let you pass unless you have a invitation from the Countess.”
Jet remembered the questioning from the Countess, the woman’s unforgiving gaze unnerved her.
“That’s a long way from the Kingdom of Nigh,” Jet said.
The old woman looked around nervously.
“They protect a portal to the kingdom. It’s only visible during certain moon phases and only those with a gift of magic can use them.”
“So it sounds like I should take my chances with the Enduring Plain.”
“If anyone can survive the trials it’s the Grand Magi. No sane person would even risk traversing the such as place. Now, I need to rest. Take this pack of supplies, use it in good health.”
<<>>
New Quest: Restore the Pillar of Hope
Primary Objective: Find a way to restore the Pillar of Hope.
Secondary Objective (optional): Find clues pertaining to the evil that is causing the pillars to crumble.
Quest Details: The Pillar of Hope plays a role in the harmony of the land and populas. You must not let it crumble.
Do you accept?
<<>>
She thanked the Shrew for her help and mapped the shortest path to the tip of the plain. Black clouds were forming over the pristine beauty of the Garden of Light. The vegetation within the garden, normally prestine seemed to be affected by the clouds somehow. White residue covered many of the plants and flowers. She never had know this region to possess a single cloud, let alone be overrun with the them. Jet took an inventory. There were several bottles and pouches of reagents. The sky darkened, the clap of thunder flashes of light caught her attention as she made her way toward the barren landscape of the Enduring Plain.