the sound of glasses clinking and laughter echoed throughout the room The atmosphere was buzzing. Long rows of wooden tables filled the hall piled with every kind of food you imaginable the bread, meats, ales, cheeses and fruits the smell seeping into every nook and cranny of the place.
“Everyone a toast for those who didn’t make it” a man said raising his glass. People stopped their talking and raised a glass in solidarity the atmosphere grew solemn
“What do you think happened to them”
“Fuck knows probably food” A grizzled looking man said as he slammed his goblet down
“But dont you think we should of gone back for them at least”
“Why so we can die the same horrible death no we did the right thing no one could of survived that thing best thing we can do know is eat and rest up we have a big day tomorrow and if these past 2 days are any indication we will all need to…”
Before he could finished his sentence the door blasted open almost falling of its hinges Ali still clutching his dagger staggered in covered in blood and sweat, the massive hall as silent as a crypt. He dragged his feet past row after row of slacked jawed people. Ali looked over to see a ginger bearded man gesturing for him to sit down he staggered over “Can we get some bandages and hot water this man is injured”
Ali slumped in his seat and said softly “Its not my blood can I get some water” putting down his bloody dagger
Gregor’s expression change from one of concerned to shock “who’s blood is it” The entire room held their breath waiting for Ali’s reply
“Some creature that attacked me in the caves” Ali took a swig from the goblet he could feel the liquid running down his bones and a sense of euphoria struck him.
Several seconds passed before Gregor exploded in laughter “ha ha ha well you must be ravenous hunting monsters all night take my plate friend” he said as he passed him more”
“im Gregor the 2 beside you are Mason and Wilhiem and this quiet guy next to me is Lucian”
“Im Ali” he said whilst shoveling handful's of cheese and bread into his mouth only stopping to wash it down with the sweet liquid nectar within the goblet
“How in the hell did you manage to kill it”
“By stabbing it repeatedly ”Ali said still chewing a particularly tough piece of lamb
Gregor laughed and continued “remind me never to get on your bad side”
“What city are we in coz it definitely isn't in London” Ali said
“City... ?” Gregor said with his head tilted
“Ah you weren't for the examiner’s explanation the long and short of it is we’ve been summoned to this tutorial to earn the right to be players”
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“And what do we get if we become players”
“Then we will be summoned to a new world and everything we missed out in life will be in our reach”
“Everything we missed out”?
“Yes were dead don’t you remember”
“Dead the thought seemed so foreign to him how can I be dead I was doing my final year project just 2 days ago”
“It takes a while for it to come back I didn’t remember until a few hours ago. I was shot during a bank robbery in Brownsville New York its what I get for trying to play hero” John said
“I was hit by a bus and died on the way to the hospital in Munich Germany” Wilhiem said
“ stabbed during a drug deal in Kawera New Zealand ” Mason chimed in with a mischievous smile. Ali sat there in stunned silence trying to take what he had just heard trying to remember the events leading up to his arrival “I was typing at my desk for my project it was due in the morning” images of empty red-bull bottles cluttering his desk top flashed in his mind “And my chest getting tight” Ali clenched his chest remembering the sensation
”A heart attack most likely” Lucian added which briefly caused everyone to look his way before resuming
“It speaks” I was beginning to think you were a mute Mason said
Ali continued “So who told you all this”
Some guy in a pin striped suit came in as soon as we all assembled. So what skill did you get Mason said must have been a doozy to kill the thing
Skill’s? Ali said with a puzzled look on his face
Its getting late and you must be exhausted Ali inn keeper will get you sorted with a room, fresh clothes and a hot bath, big day tomorrow you need rest. Gregor finished ominously.
That night Ali tossed and turned but sleep kept alluding him his mind was on a constant loop replaying thought’s like im dead and i barely lived the only saving grace in a night filled with regret and uncertainty was that Ali’s new found determination to live his life to fullest this time around.
The first day came and went without much incident,it began with Ali and his new found friends exploring the village talking to the villagers and players alike neither seemed to know nothing about their current predicament and finally culminating in a feast at sundown. It was nightfall now not a sound could be heard Ali decided to take a stroll in the moon light to help digest after a large dinner something he often did in his previous light, he walked past row after row of thatched houses until he was at the outskirts of the village he stood for a minute processing the past days events being summoned to a new world, killing a monster, meeting new friends Ali whilst in this train of thoughts was distracted by a tiny flash of light out of the corner of his eye somewhere off into the distance. Ali gazed in the direction of the light spotting several object’s flash silver glinting in the moonlight.
At first he didn’t know what he was seeing at first they were little green people clad in leather carrying steel objects that glinted off the moon light around the outskirts of the village, it was a surreal experience that stunned Ali firmly into place, it was only when the horde was within ear shot and their objects morphed into terrifying swords, Axes and spears that Ali snapped back to reality bolting back to town crying out “Axe wielding goblins are coming” Ali looked back to see the first of the hoard not far behind him he began to panic looking for anything to fight and saw a spade buried in the ground Ali pulled it from the ground immediately swinging at the head of the 2 goblins behind him hitting 1 and crushing its head killing it instantly the second goblin managed to jump out of the way clutching a long spear with a curved blade at the end resembling the crescent moon above. The goblin stood 4 feet tall clad in leather armor it lunged at Ali who instinctively blocked with his spade using the forward momentum to pin it to the ground holding it in place with his foot the goblin winced desperately trying to unpin its spear from beneath Alis foot failing to notice the spade hurtling towards its neck the goblins childlike body hitting the floor a moment later. Ali traded the spade for the crescent spear. he looked up to see the hoard almost upon him he dashed as fast as he could towards the inn his legs still aching from yesterday it was close but Ali made it a hair quicker than the goblins to the inn and shut the door behind him struggling against the weight of an entire army Ali stood firm holding the door shut “I need some fucking heeelp” Ali cried out. Ali felt the door prying open steadily then violently collapse under the weight of 20 men the door slammed shut and chairs and tables were thrown at it effectively barricading them inside.