Chapter 203

Sha'li had dropped to her knees just as Norri had reached her and helped hold her hair back as Sha'li's stomach had continued to clench painfully. Norri muttered to her softly that everything would be ok and waited until she had finished throwing up before she rubbed her back gently.

“It's ok. It's just a lack of mana. You'll feel better once you've regenerated a point or two. Zero mana is the worst, although letting yourself get down to single digits is no picnic either,” Norri said as she kept a running commentary going in a soothing voice. It seemed to help.

The others stood about with worried looks before Norri snapped at everybody to back off and give her some room. Aiden, Jay, and M'redith had walked off ten or fifteen feet and Jay began to cycle his Tropical Island Aura on for each of them. A blizzard of motes of light surrounded them as the aura went to work.

Tropical Island Aura (rare)– When in use the caster is surrounded in a 6 foot in diameter aura that constantly keeps the user clean. The user's body as well as outfit will no longer get dirty. Should it come in to contact with something dirty the filth falls right off, unable to stick to the user or their clothing.

The aura comes complete with ocean breeze scent and may affect one other person so long as that person stays within the aura for thirty seconds. Auras may stay active as long as the user chooses. Can keep user dry in light rain. Can dry off user completely in 30 seconds.

Norri and Sha'li were too busy to notice as Sha'li attempted to throw up again even though she had nothing left with which to do so. She held her stomach as it clenched painfully and Norri paused her back rub as she worked through it. Once done she cried a little and Norri resumed her backrub.

Jay cleaned himself and his friends off in the meantime, and by the time Sha'li could finally stand again she was a bit embarrassed to realize that Jay, M'redith, and Aiden all looked perfectly spotless whereas Sha'li was now covered in blood, guts, and vomit. Sha'li made a displeased face at her appearance.

“You did great Sha'li! Whenever you feel up to it I'll get you all cleaned up, I'm sure you're excited to get clean,” Jay offered without making any move towards her.

Norri helped Sha'li stand albeit on shaky legs. Sha'li suddenly grabbed at her stomach and Aiden took a step back. M'redith gave him a look of disapproval and he offered her a smile and a shrug in apology.

“You ok?” Jay asked. “You can take more time – we are not in any hurry right now.”

M'redith had been quiet up until then but finally spoke up and gave Aiden a tap on the shoulder, “Come on, let's go search to see if anything in the room has changed while these three get straightened out.”

She led Aiden off towards the now empty throne while Norri stood with Sha'li across from Jay.

“Why'd you have us walk off like that?” Aiden asked once M'redith had led him to the throne.

M'redith sighed, “Because Sha'li was self-conscious? Because we were all just staring at her? Because maybe a girl doesn't want to be stared at when she's covered in...yuck. We're just giving her a chance to get cleaned up without feeling like everyone is staring at her.”

“Oh.” Aiden said shortly before he continued. “I hadn't thought of that.”

M'redith chuckled as she inspected the throne. “I know. But that is ok. Because I did. Teamwork,” she said with a sarcastic grin which made Aiden smile.

Aiden looked behind them and saw Jay and Sha'li hidden in a cloud of motes of light, all swirling and rising around them.

Aiden returned his attention back to the throne and reached a hand out to touch it. He pulled it back swiftly after M'redith slapped at it with one hand. Hard. The slap stung and the back of his hand began to turn red.

“Ow, Goddess! Why'd you do that?” Aiden asked as he rubbed at the back of his hand while he gave M'redith an incredulous look.

“No touching! Just look! You ask before touching. So we don't all get surprised by whatever might happen next. Remember?” M'redith scolded him quietly enough that the others wouldn't hear her.

Aiden frowned before apologizing. “Sorry. Forgot.”

M'redith gave him a stern look that finally gave way to a smile. “Don't do it again. Now, moving right along. You find anything?”

Aiden laughed but was relieved that she had let it go the way she had. Aiden had let his attention wander for a moment and it had almost cost him.

“I found something on the back. A ridge? Or buttons? It's dark back there, hard to tell,” Aiden said as he tried to angle his torch so that the light would reach the back of the throne which sat almost against the wall but not quite. The gap in-between was where the alleged buttons were located, not an easy spot to get to.

M'redith examined the area as well but came to the same conclusion as Aiden. Something was there. It was in a narrow gap between the rear of the throne and the wall. It was almost impossible to see due to the angle. There was just enough room to fit an arm.

She sighed and stood back up straight. She turned and could make out a pristine looking Sha'li who had one hand resting lightly on her stomach. Next to her was Jay and Norri surrounded by a flurry of motes of light.

“I think they're just about ready anyways,” M'redith said to Aiden who turned and nodded at the sight of the rest of the group.

“Oh Goddess that was truly awful,” Sha'li said as she rubbed lightly at her midsection.

Aiden and M'redith turned to face the others and waved them over once they saw that the motes of light had stopped appearing.

Norri, Jay, and Sha'li walked over although a bit slowly. Sha'li still wasn't 100% recovered yet.

Once the group had all gathered in front of the throne M'redith smiled brightly.

“Great fight everyone! Especially you Sha'li – that was some impressive work. Where did you learn how to set up an array of bolts like that so quickly? That spacing was perfect too – you didn't lose any of your bolts!” M'redith said as she directed a smile towards Sha'li, who shrugged meekly.

“I didn't learn that anywhere. I made it up as I went along.” Sha'li said with a little bit of embarrassment.

Norri looked over at M'redith. “What's an array?”

M'redith motioned with one upturned palm. “An array is used when casting multiple projectiles at once. You have to be careful that you don't summon them too close to each other. You also have to be careful to target all of them correctly. If one is off by even a little bit they could hit each other and cause a kinetic event.”

Aiden blinked. “Kinetic event?”

Jay made a movement with both hands and mimicked an explosion. “Boom,” he said.

Aiden nodded. “Right. Got it.”

Sha'li looked confused. “I don't know anything about any of that. I just thought of what I wanted and it happened.”

“What did you want?” Norri asked before she clarified. “What did you want before the array formed?”

Sha'li flashed a brief dark look as her hair flashed coal black in waves of varying shades of darkness. “I wanted it gone. The boss had gotten too close to M'redith and I was afraid that she would get hurt. I just wanted the boss to not be there anymore.”

Aiden chuckled as he turned and glanced at the stain on the ground where the boss had last stood and everyone looked at him a bit askance. “Well it worked,” he said and the others found themselves chuckling as well in agreement.

“How are you feeling now?” Jay asked Sha'li and she nodded and smiled.

“I'm feeling better, thank you. I'm sorry I'm holding up the group,” Sha'li apologized.

Norri grinned, “You kicked ass! You're allowed a brief rest!”

M'redith shared a smile with Sha'li who looked a bit relieved.

Sha'li rubbed her stomach once and then let her hand fall away as if it no longer hurt as much. “I'm ready to continue if you all are.”

M'redith raised an eyebrow. “Are you? What is your mana at right now?”

Sha'li blushed as the scent of cherries and wet hay surrounded her. “Um...my mana is at 25 out of 110.”

“So while you might feel up to continuing you don't currently have enough mana for another fight. Which we might be facing. We don't know. So we err on the side of caution at times like this. Relax and rest until you are at full mana – then let us know when that happens.” M'redith explained patiently to Sha'li who nodded and smiled shyly.

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“Aiden?” M'redith asked.

“Almost full. I need another couple of minutes for mana,” Aiden explained.

“Norri?” M'redith asked.

Norri shook her head, “I didn't even cast. I'm full on mana.”

“Well while we finish replenishing our mana why don't we show them what we found Aiden?” M'redith suggested.

“Right, well if you look in back of the throne you can see that there is something back there but I'm not sure what.” Aiden explained.

“Did you try feeling for buttons yet?” Jay asked as he inspected the gap.

Aiden shook his head as M'redith smiled.

“No – we were strictly looking only, no touching.” Aiden said with a grin.

Jay narrowed his eyes. There was a story there but it was probably best left for later. “Right. I'll give it a go but just in case everyone should take a step or two back.”

He waited until the others had stepped back and then carefully slipped his hand and arm behind the throne and between its surface and the wall it sat up against. He carefully felt his way along the back and at first attempted to see what he was doing as well but the gap was just too narrow and the angle allowed him to either see in the gap or put his hand in the gap, but not both.

He slowly ran his hand over the throne's surface and felt a number of protrusions. He ran his fingers back and forth until he was sure of what was there. Carefully he withdrew his hands and turned to face the rest of the group.

“Three buttons. One is a set of two round buttons, one set over the other. The third button is set apart from the other two and is a rectangle with a rounded top,” Jay said as he described what he had felt. “The round buttons have things carved in to the surface of the buttons. The top button has a plus sign engraved on it, the bottom button has a minus sign engraved on it. The third button is larger than the other two and is smooth and unmarked.”

Jay and the group gave that some thought as their mana slowly regenerated.

“Well, the roof is still open,” Norri pointed out as they all looked up and in to the foggy sky above them. The surface was still too far for them to reach it. They'd have to raise the platform in order to do so.

“Maybe the plus button raises the platform?” Norri suggested.

“Which means the minus button would lower it,” Aiden finished for her.

“Anything else those buttons could do?” M'redith asked the group.

Jay shrugged. “Add or delete additional monsters?”

M'redith looked surprised, “That's an awful idea. I hope you're wrong,” she said with a smile. “Anyone else?”

“Maybe they open and close the roof?” Sha'li suggested.

M'redith nodded. “That's a possibility. Any other ideas?”

No one else had any suggestions for the plus and minus buttons.

“What about the third button. Anyone have any ideas?” M'redith asked patiently. They had to wait to refill mana anyway, they might as well take it easy while they did so. A discussion about what button to push next seemed like a good way to pass the time.

Sha'li grinned. “I think I know what that one is. Everyone else can go first though,” she insisted and M'redith finally stopped trying to get her to share it.

“Ok – Aiden. Third button?” M'redith asked.

“The roof. I think that button opens and closes the roof,” he explained quickly.

Norri shook her head, “I have no idea.”

Jay shrugged but didn't guess. “I want to hear what Sha'li thinks,” he suggested.

“Well I've no idea so it's all you Sha'li. What do you think?” M'redith asked kindly.

Sha'li drew the shape in the air with a finger. “What object can you think of has a rectangular body with a curved lid? Come ON!” she said with excitement. “A treasure chest!”

Aiden's eyebrows rose. “Well, I like the sound of that.”

M'redith sighed. “Of course. Why didn't I see that?”

Jay waved Sha'li over to him and she approached the throne. “You want to press the button?”

Sha'li grinned and nodded, “I do! This is exciting!”

“How's your mana doing?” M'redith asked her before they continued.

“88!” Sha'li said as if she hoped it were enough.

M'redith nodded. “Go ahead then,” she replied with a smile.

Jay showed her where the button was as well as where it wasn't so that she wouldn't accidentally push the wrong button. “Find the button first. Then feel its edges until you are certain that it is the right button. Then push it. Ok?”

Sha'li nodded nervously and the scent of cinnamon and freshly washed hair paired with the feeling of falling washed over the group. “Sorry!” Sha'li said as she failed to hold back one of her stronger scents.

The group reeled for a moment as they all caught their balance. The sensation of falling had been intense but momentary.

“It's ok!” Norri assured her from a bent over position as she waved her arms to maintain her balance. Finally she stood back up straight and winked at Sha'li who finally relaxed and smiled.

Sha'li had been a bit worried that the group would become tired of her constant scents and emotions being thrust on them. So far no one had any problems with her or what she did which was a nice break for Sha'li from her normal life.

“Go ahead,” Jay said encouragingly and Sha'li went back to searching for the button.

She found something and she brushed her fingers over it until she had found its edges. Was that a rectangle? It certainly wasn't round, the shape of the only other two buttons down there. She traced the edges back and forth until she was sure. The button was large and had a rectangular base with a curved top.

Sha'li had a moment of uncertainty. It had to be a treasure chest, didn't it? If it was something else she was going to be quite surprised. Everyone would be. The others stared at her expectantly and waited for her to push the button as she thought furiously. It had to be a treasure chest.

There was nothing left to do but push it, and after thinking of alternate possibilities one last time she applied pressure with her pointer and middle fingers until the button sank in to the throne with a click she could feel.

The throne's surface began to vibrate and Sha'li quickly withdrew her arm from behind it. Jay and Sha'li both took a step back away from the throne as it began to shake.

The others looked about for enemies as the vibrating continued. The throne's seat opened like the lid of a toilet and bits of golden dust fell off of it as a compartment under the seat was revealed. It was quite roomy and contained a white chest held shut by a brass colored locking mechanism.

“Loot!” Norri said excitedly.

“The chest is white though – doesn't that mean that it has common ranked loot?” Aiden pointed out.

M'redith shrugged, “Sometimes? I think the chest color sometimes is just for decoration but you're right, sometimes it does correlate to the quality of loot inside of it. Even if it were common loot we still have Sunny, right?”

“Sunny?” Sha'li asked.

Norri grinned, “Jay's loot parrot! If his parrot appears it upgrades loot rarity! His name is Sunny,” she clarified at the end just to make things clear.

Sha'li made a move to pick up the chest and M'redith interrupted her, “No, no! Let the trap finder take a look at that first please,” she explained kindly.

Sha'li grinned and her face went a little red in embarrassment. “Sorry!”

M'redith grinned at her, “No worries, today is your first day. As long as you listen to my warnings you should be just fine.”

Jay took a couple of minutes to inspect the area the chest was in for traps and triggers. He found what looked like an eyebolt that a trigger line would tie off to but there was no trigger line. He inspected the compartment one last time before he was sure.

“I don't see any traps but it looks like there may have been one in there in the past,” Jay said with a shrug.

“Mind lifting it out for us?” M'redith asked with a smile.

Sure, Jay thought, so I get hit with any unfound traps instead of Sha'li. Jay would prefer to get hit rather than Sha'li anyway. Jay was used to getting hurt and healed – Sha'li was not.

Jay lifted the chest out of the compartment and set it on the floor in the middle of the gathered group.

“Oh hey, I'm full on mana,” Sha'li remarked with a smile and M'redith nodded at her.

Jay now moved on to the chest itself and checked for anything dangerous. The chest appeared to not be trapped and the locking mechanism was easy enough. Rather than open it himself though he motioned to Sha'li.

“All yours!” he said with a smile.

The rest of the group looked on as Sha'li smiled widely and her hair shimmered a golden yellow with streaks of red that ran through her hair like lightning strikes. The room suddenly smelled of freshly baked bread, the smell of home, and the scent of warmth on a cold day.

Sha'li manipulated the locking clasp and managed to pop it open. She lifted the lid and a screech filled the air. From out of the sky above descended a bright yellow and green bird over two feet long from head to tail wing. The head was yellow and had bright yellow and white eyes that had pinned to tiny black dots. The bird's wings were fully extended and it glided down towards them lazily on invisible currents of air.

The sound of wings flapping filled the room as the bird raised and opened its talons as it slowed in its descent and approached Sha'li.

With one last flap the bird held its wings up tight against its body and lashed out with its talons.

Both of its legs managed to find purchase on Sha'li's shoulder and dug in with needle sharp nails before the bird righted itself fully, turned its head so that its reddish orange beak faced Sha'li, and screamed,

“UPGRADE!”