The Evergreen Glade was in turmoil with players scattering in all directions after the conclusion of the most recent excitement. Many of the less-experienced and more casual players could be heard recounting the tale of an army overcoming waves of shadowborn monsters in an epic and desperate struggle, followed by the sudden and unexpected arrival of an evil tyrant and his henchmen, who demanded the entire gathering of players to kneel before their superior might, to then have their plans of dominion and dark conquest be thwarted by a daring bard who appeared in the nick of time to save the day, only to vanish just as mysteriously as he had arrived.
As the tale’s retellings were taking on increasingly colourful variations, that were all just about as accurate as a drunk centaur trying to shoot an arrow at an apple placed upon the central head of a seven-headed hydra while blindfolded and spinning in circles, there was one person who wasn’t having a great time with any of it, despite being at the centre of it all.
“I am Aiden, of the Fey,” Winterhell said, in a theatrical voice so deep and dramatic, that she burst out laughing.
“You're never going to let this one go are you?” Aiden said with a groan, his voice tinged with regret. “Was it really that bad?” He looked at Skal, his eyes pleading for some form of support from the Leonid.
“There are worse ways to become famous during a massive event that's definitely being streamed 24/7 all over the world and translated into just about every spoken language.” He paused for a moment, scratching his chin as if deep in thought and then continued, “None come to mind at the moment, so my verdict is that you made a bold choice. Dramatic. Memorable. Also, completely ridiculous.”
After a quiet moment, Skal glanced at Aiden and saw honest disappointment painted on his friend’s face. “But hey, you pulled off something that nobody else has the plums to even try doing, and you completed your quest, more or less. So ultimately, it doesn’t matter what other people say or think,” he added hastily, trying to contain the damage he and Winterhell were inadvertently causing to Aiden’s morale.
“You’re right,” Aiden said, his face lightening up again slightly, “I am pretty great.”
“There’s just no winning with this guy,” Skal capitulated.
“I do wonder,” Aiden said after a moment of contemplation, “that quest was weird right?”
“You mean how its objective was vague and its description unconvincing?” Winterhell answered. “It barely felt like a real quest at all. It felt like a dare more than anything, if you ask me.”
“I’d be curious to know, if other players got something similar,” Aiden said, “just like how you two also got a quest to save AeriKnight, and I just happened to take action before the others who did get something were able to come up with a plan of their own.”
“You could be right about that,” Skal said, “but that’s highly speculative for now, so best not to waste too much time on it.”
As if to interrupt their conversation, Aiden received a system notification.
New Quest available - A Dreaded Return
With a thought Aiden opened the system notification and read the quest description.
New Quest - A Dreaded Return
You have been given time to organise yourselves for the Village of Pain’s return. Use this time to explore and uncover the secrets hidden in the city of Lockhaven, and brace yourselves for a climactic confrontation against a well-prepared opponent.
Objective: Defeat the Village of Pain
Duration: 6 Months
Reward: ???
This quest is not optional and has been automatically accepted.
A few moments later, a small countdown timer appeared in the top left corner of Aiden’s field of vision counting down from 6 months.
“Well, that’s subtle,” Winterhell said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Nothing screams ‘impending doom’ like a six-month timer.”
“It does feel a little… unnecessary doesn’t it,” Skal agreed.
They stood together for a moment in silence letting the full scope and duration of the event sink in.
Winterhell, who couldn't bear just standing there with Skal and Aiden saying and doing nothing, was the first to break the silence.
“So what do we do now?” she asked, looking back and forth between the two.
“I don't know about you guys,” Aiden answered, “but I did get a couple of Genesis Orbs and Shards of Ascension and wouldn't mind finding a quiet place to use them.”
“Same here,” Skal agreed, “I'm sure we could find a place in the ruins, or if we wait here long enough, eventually we'll be the only ones left in the Glade.”
“Right, but I mean, what's our plan, as in big picture stuff?” Winterhell said.
“Getting new abilities is the plan,” Aiden said. “Well it's our next logical step. After that we should probably go back to Bleeker Street and complete the guild raid. I have a sneaking suspicion that we'll find a follow-up quest of sorts once we do.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Skal said. “But you're forgetting that we're a couple of players short in order to qualify for that raid.”
“Right… that did slip my mind,” Aiden said, scratching the back of his head. He paused for a moment and then after collecting his thoughts he continued, “alright, updated plan, gain amazing magical powers, find a handful of daring heroes to join our motley crew, complete the guild raid and then wait for our next objective to reveal itself to us.”
Skal and Winterhell exchanged a few sceptical glances, after which they both looked at Aiden.
“I really don't want to say anything,” Skal said, “because you look like you put at least some thought into this plan of yours, but…”
He was interrupted by Aiden before he was able to finish, “don't you dare say it. My plan is great. It gives us some short-term goals while we figure out what our mid-term objectives are going to be.”
“I hate to admit it, Skal,” Winterhell added, “but he might be right. It's not an amazing plan, but it's also not terrible.”
Aiden beamed triumphantly, after which Winterhell hastily continued before he could say or do anything to make her regret the compliment. “That being said, we really do need to find somebody with the right class or at least a knack for strategizing.”
“Not to mention we also need at least one player to fill in the tank position,” Skal added.
“I know, hence the updated plan,” Aiden said.
“And a brawler who can support Winterhell with DPS,” Skal continued, ignoring what Aiden had just said.
“Yes, I’m fully aware that our party of three is still in need of some additional players to fill in some of our gaps,” Aiden said, his ears turning pink.
“Oh and a healer. I don’t know why I didn’t start with that. That’s arguably the most important slot to fill,” Skal said while Winterhell cupped her face with her hands.
Aiden gave the Leonid a flat look. “Anything else?” he said, daring the big man to continue.
“Well since you’ve brought it up,” Skal said, “I could really go for a meatball sandwich right about now.”
With a deep sigh and a suppressed grin, Aiden turned back towards the ruins of Lockhaven. “We’d better get moving,” he said.
***
After traversing the Evergreen Glade, the trio made their way back towards the grand stone archway they had previously used during their mad rush to get to the portal in time. Their pace was that of a casual stroll, which seemed out of place, since most other players were in a hurry to explore the ruins of Lockhaven as quickly as possible.
“Skal, please explain this to me,” Aiden said addressing the Paladin, “you said that you received the same quest to save AeriKnight, the Elf, as I did back when the Lurkers first started flooding the Glade.”
“That’s right,” Skal said, “what of it?”
“Well, I was just wondering why you didn’t accept the quest to save her. I mean, you saved me and Winterhell during our fight against the Umbral Sentinel, and our odds weren’t exactly great back then either. Even if you did introduce yourself as a savior of scrubs as a joke, I’m pretty sure that at least some of that bravado was genuine.”
They left the edge of the Evergreen Glade and walked through the archway. The trio could see significantly more activity in the city than when they had previously walked its streets. Anywhere they looked, there were players on their way to explore collapsed buildings and narrow side alleys in the hopes of making any discovery that would give them an advantage in their preparations for the return of the Village of Pain.
Skal took a couple of moments to think about Aiden’s question, then after making up his mind, he started to speak. “It’s all a matter of perspective and circumstances, Aiden. Unlike you, I'm fully aware of my own mortality and don't want to tempt lady luck any more than I need to.”
Skal gave Aiden another pensive glance before continuing again. “It's not like I had to rush into an unknown and desperate fight to save you and Winterhell. After all, I did have enough time to watch you two hold your ground well enough before joining the fight. And since I was looking for allies to join anyway, putting on a bit of a show for you guys seemed like the best way to demonstrate what I have to offer in terms of skill and abilities.”
“That's a surprisingly pragmatic way of looking at things,” Winterhell said as they started to walk down 2nd street, “not that there's anything wrong with that. I guess that I was so preoccupied with trying to survive back when you came, that I didn't really consider your motivations.”
“I'm not saying that I didn't put my fur on the line to save you,” Skal said. “It was a calculated risk that I felt was worth taking, and looking back, I'd probably do it again.” His face took a serious expression, his tone flattening slightly as he continued. “The Elf is a different story. While she did rub me the wrong way when we first ran past her and her group, I honestly didn't waste any time thinking about her after she'd ignored our warnings. When I got the quest, I simply couldn’t think of a course of action during which I could realistically save her while not getting myself killed at the same time.”
Before Aiden could respond, a sharp voice interrupted them, coming from behind them, near the archway.
“Well, if it isn’t the infamous Aiden, of the Fey,” the voice drawled.
The trio turned to see a red-skinned Goblin with comically long ears, a wicked smile and small but razor sharp teeth leaning casually against a crumbled column. His simple armor was a patchwork of practical leather, and a pair of sharp, calculating yellow eyes gleamed with playful malice.
The Goblin pushed off the column and started to stroll towards them with confidence. He opened his arms wide as he started to speak, “You’ve certainly upgraded your theatrics since we last crossed paths.”
“Is this a friend of yours?” Winterhell asked as she eyed the approaching Goblin wearily.
“Hard to say,” Aiden said, “apart from you guys, I don’t really have any.”
“What? Really?” Winterhell said, “that just might be the saddest thing I’ve heard all week.”
“Do you have any enemies?” Skal added, not wanting to linger on a touchy subject.
“I do have a couple,” Aiden said, which was answered by an immediate moan from Skal.
“Because of course you do. Do any of them have the inclination to hold the sort of grudge that would lead them to seek you out after you so foolishly announced yourself in front of every player in the event, in order to exact their vengeance for whatever it was you did to wrong them?” the Leonid asked, fearing Aiden’s answer.
“That does narrow the list down significantly. In fact it only really leaves one name,” Aiden said, as the Goblin came to a halt in front of the trio.
“I hate where this is going,” Skal said, standing tall, his tail flicking with anticipation, as if preparing to pounce at any moment.
The stranger stood before them, his eyes darting back and forth between Aiden, Skal and Winterhell, as if taking their measure. After a moment, he grinned, pleased with his findings, and placed his hands on his hips.
“You wound me, this isn’t the warm welcome I was expecting from my old nemesis,” he said, his eyes fixed on Aiden, who in turn stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the Goblin.
Aiden didn’t say anything for a long moment, his eyes meeting the Goblin’s stare, causing the Goblin’s grin to widen further. Winterhell and Skal, who began to feel very uneasy during the entire wordless exchange, we're unsure about what was going to happen next. A flicker of recognition sparked in Aiden’s eyes causing the Goblin’s grin to grow so wide that all his yellow dagger-like teeth could be seen.
“Echo?” Aiden said hesitantly, “is that you?”
The Goblin gave a mock bow, flourishing an invisible hat. “Indeed, my friend! It is I, Echo, the greatest all-around troublemaker to ever grace the Flemish National Qualifiers.”
Aiden groaned. “Troublemaker is right. You’re the only person who ever managed to turn a King of the Hill match into a national incident, forcing the royal family to get involved.”
“Ah, you remember!” Echo said, feigning delight. “I knew you wouldn't forget about me. Though I must say, your performance back there...” He waved a hand vaguely toward the Glade. “Wasn’t your best work. ‘I am Aiden, of the Fey’? Really?”
As he spoke, his name and level became visible for Aiden, Skal and Winterhell to see.
Echo - Level 6
Winterhell stifled a laugh. “I don’t know who this guy is, but I like him already.”
“Don’t encourage him,” Aiden said flatly, shooting Echo a withering look.
Skal, still tense, took a step forward and looked at Aiden, his voice with a mix of outrage and disbelief. “You know Echo? As in the Echo who made the global top 500 in 1V1 Arena combat last year? And you just... forgot to mention that?”
Aiden, whose face took a slightly embarrassed expression, nodded before speaking, “How was I supposed to bring that up naturally? We used to participate in the same regional and national qualifiers, so our paths would cross regularly. It’s honestly no big deal.”
Echo, who was delighted by the name recognition, stood a little taller, beaming with pride. Skal, who didn’t entirely trust the situation they were in, took another step forward, placing himself between Aiden and Echo.
Skal’s broad frame cast a shadow over the much smaller Goblin, who in turn tilted his head up to meet Skal’s fierce gaze. His grin twitched as if he couldn't quite decide whether to maintain his bravado or take a step back.
With gravel in his voice Skal spoke: “What do you want, Goblin?”
Echo’s sharp yellow eyes flicked to Skal, and for the first time, his grin faltered, just slightly. “Relax, big guy. I’m not here to pick a fight….yet.” His gaze shifted back to Aiden. “I’m here to offer... an opportunity.”
“Lucky us,” Winterhell muttered under her breath.
Aiden frowned, folding his arms as he in turn appraised Echo. “So, let me guess, you’re here looking to tag along and cause trouble, aren’t you?”
Echo placed a hand on his chest as if offended. “Tag along? Trouble? Dearest Aiden, it’s like you don’t know me at all.” His grin widened mischievously.
Aiden gave him a flat look, “well, why don’t you enlighten me on whatever this ‘opportunity’ is that you have in store for us.”
Echo did his best to broaden his shoulders and widen his stance, which fell completely flat while he was standing close to Skal, raised a knowing finger before speaking. “Well I can’t help but notice that your little party here is incomplete, and my offer is to help fill in the ranks, and perhaps to cause a little trouble.”
“How is that any different from what I just said?” Aiden said, his cheeks turning red.
Skal, who still wasn’t buying the Goblin’s show interrupted the two before they got carried away with what he felt was more hot nonsense he and Winterhell could possibly contain.. “What’s your class?” he asked, his tone blunt, “and what makes you think that our party needs any more members?”
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
The goblin’s grin sharpened. “Oh, you’ll find out soon enough. Let’s just say I’m very good at what I do. And what I do is....”
“Not very nice,” Aiden finished for him. “Now answer the question.”
“Alright alright, let’s not get hasty now,” he said, and pointed a long crooked finger at Winterhell, “you're a sorceress. That makes you a nice, soft and squishy spellcaster. My guess is that you can either dish out a massive amount of damage in a very short time, or perhaps your abilities allow you to deal out damage at a moderate and consistent rate. Either way, you’ll always need one of those two to stand between you and the bad thing.” The last part he spoke while pointing at Aiden and Skal respectively.
He looked Skal up and down before continuing his assessment. “And you, you’re a paladin. That can put in you a couple of different roles, but I’d be willing to bet that you’re currently neither a proper frontliner nor a real tank, so you’re stuck trying to do both, and since you’re the only real melee combatant in the party that doesn’t currently have a healer, that means that when things start going south, you’re the first to be at risk.
Skal and Winterhell both looked at each other with expressions of disbelief, but before either of them could say anything, Echo continued his monologue.
“Now what to say about you Aiden? You’re obviously a bard, but everybody who witnessed you in the Evergreen Glade knows that. How exactly Ashrend found out that you’re a bard, I don’t know, but that’s a different topic.” He cleared his throat as if to prepare for a great and dramatic reveal. “Bards are known to have a really diverse portfolio regarding their abilities and archetypes they can fulfill depending on the needs of their party. You however probably haven’t unlocked your core abilities yet and are stuck between being a supporting utility specialist and a lackluster damage dealer, considering how you’ve been using your lute.”
Skal’s tail flicked, his ears twitching at the Goblin’s words. “Those are a lot of bold assumptions,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “I can’t help but notice that you still haven’t answered my question.”
“And you’d be right to notice, because I haven’t told you yet,” Echo said with a mischievous grin. “I received the manhunter class,” Echo said, his voice filled with smug satisfaction. “It’s a rogue subclass, and it’s highly specialized. Tracking, laying down traps and preparing ambushes, and of course, neutralizing priority targets. Think of me as the fine scalpel to your big, fuzzy hammer.”
“I hate to admit it,” Skal said, his tail twitching uneasily, “but any sort of rogue at all would be really useful.”
Winterhell gave Aiden an encouraging smile, “you’re our party leader Aiden. I don’t really know what to say, but Skal’s right. If what Echo says is true, then we would really benefit from having him join us.”
Aiden, who was taken by surprise by Winterhell’s statement of his apparent leadership, was about to open his mouth to speak, but before he could answer, a commotion erupted nearby. Shouts and excited murmurs filled the air, drawing the group’s attention toward a gathering of players near a dilapidated stone building they had previously not paid much attention to. Whatever the building had once been, it was little more than a crumbling ruin.
“What’s going on over there?” Aiden asked.
“Let’s find out,” Skal said, already heading toward the crowd.
“So, is it safe to assume that you’ve all fallen in love with the idea of me joining, and I’m in?” Echo said with a wink.
“Shut up, Echo,” Aiden muttered while sending him a party invitation, as they approached the crowd. A few moments later, Aiden received a system notification:
Player Echo - Level 6 has joined your party.
He gave the Goblin a sharp look before speaking. “Consider yourself on probation.”
To the group’s surprise, there were a dozen players clustered around a shimmering portal that had opened in the middle of the ruined building’s rubble. The portal was circular, its surface rippling like water, and faint glimmers of light danced across its edges.
The portal itself appeared small in comparison to the one they had seen in the Evergreen Glade, being just tall and wide enough for one person to walk through without having to lower their head.
As the group pushed through the cluster of players surrounding the portal, the figure at the center of the commotion came into focus. Standing tall, was a man clad in a suit of armor that looked like a chaotic blend of scavenged scraps and a grandiose, imperial militaristic style. Massive, overbuilt shoulder pauldrons bore jagged edges and crude insignias, while his chest plate was a patchwork of dented metal slabs reinforced with bolts and heavy rivets. What looked like fragments of a ceremonial blade had been repurposed into shin guards, and a crude helmet, resembling a bucket hammered into shape, was adorned with a crest of twisted wire and scrap. Despite the ramshackle appearance, there was an undeniable air of determination about him, amplified by the booming voice that carried over the murmurs of the crowd.
“I’m telling you, this is our chance to get a head start!” the man declared, gesturing emphatically toward the shimmering portal behind him. “The quest is simple: clear the dungeon, restore this building to its former glory, and claim the spoils. Glory awaits!”
Aiden exchanged a skeptical glance with Skal, and muttered, “Looks like he built that armor out of a scrap pile.”
“That’s pretty rich coming from the guy who's only armour consists of a pair of worn leather boots,” Winterhell said, nudging him gently.
Before Aiden could answer, the armored figure spotted them and immediately waved them over with exaggerated enthusiasm. “You there! Newcomers! You’ve got the look of capable fighters. How about joining me in this noble quest?”
The group lead by Aiden stopped short, exchanging another glance. Aiden hesitated before stepping forward, folding his arms. “Who are you, and what exactly are you trying to convince everyone to do?”
The man straightened, or tried to, and pounded a fist against his chest plate, which gave a dull clang. “I am Optimus, the iron fist of the Barthos Legion!” He paused for effect, though the lack of recognition on anyone’s face seemed to deflate him slightly. “And by iron fist, I mean... aspiring leader. This could be the start of something big. A guild. A legacy. But only if brave souls like yourselves join me in this grand venture!” As he spoke, his name and level appeared above his head for Aiden and his companions to see.
Optimus - Level 4
Winterhell raised an eyebrow. “And what exactly is this ‘grand venture’?”
Optimus gestured dramatically at the portal behind him. “This building, or what’s left of it, is tied to a raid quest. Completing it will not only restore the building but reward those who participate with treasure! It’s the perfect opportunity to get stronger while rebuilding Lockhaven.”
“Why aren’t you in there already?” Skal asked, crossing his arms.
Optimus hesitated, his hand scratching the back of his makeshift helmet. “Well, you see, it’s a party quest. Minimum of five players recommended, and I haven’t quite got the numbers for it yet. I may be bold, but I’m not reckless.”
“Sounds debatable,” Winterhell muttered.
“Let me get this straight,” Aiden said, his tone flat. “You’re standing here in this scrap metal cosplay, trying to convince random strangers to join you in an unknown dungeon?”
Optimus puffed out his chest. “It’s not cosplay. I have the Scrapmaster class. It’s an Artificer subclass, and constructing this armour from bits and pieces is one of my class abilities! And yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing. This is a chance to restore a piece of Lockhaven, an important step in preparing for the Village of Pain’s return. If we succeed, we’ll leave a lasting mark on this city and gain valuable rewards in the process.”
“What’s stopping all these people from going in with you?” Winterhell asked, gesturing at the crowd.
Optimus lowered his voice conspiratorially. “Let’s just say most of them don’t have the guts. They’re waiting to see if someone else goes in first.” He turned his gaze back to the trio. “But you…” his eyes went wide with recognition as he took in Aiden standing next to his friends. “You’re him!” he exclaimed. “The guy who hit Ashrend in the face with a guitar or something.”
Aiden’s ears turn a dark shade of red as excited murmurs came from the gathered players surrounding the small portal.
“It’s that Hayden guy!” one voice exclaimed.
“Shut up fool!” another answered, “it’s Aidman of the fairies.”
The fact that these players couldn’t see Aiden’s name above his head told him that they must have been standing too far away from the portal for them to hear his bold exclamation. Aiden had guessed that there must have been a range limit to his ‘introduction’, and he felt relieved that at least not all players knew his name, though he wasn’t sure if players getting his name as wrong as his present company was an improvement or not.
Aiden pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s Aiden, of the Fey,” he muttered under his breath, though it seemed unlikely anyone would hear him over the growing din of speculation.
Winterhell leaned in, trying and failing to stifle a grin. “You’re practically a celebrity now. Maybe you should start handing out autographs.”
“Don’t encourage them,” Aiden hissed. “And you’re the one who keeps mocking my introduction.”
“I can’t help it,” Winterhell replied, her tone far too cheerful. “It’s so... iconic.”
Optimus, who had been watching this exchange with wide-eyed curiosity, clapped his hands together suddenly, the sound echoing like a gong. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you, the hero of the Evergreen Glade: Aiden, the fearless bard who dared to strike Ashrend himself!”
“Why are you doing this to me?” Aiden muttered as more heads turned their way.
Skal stepped in, his voice a low growl. “Alright, Optimus, enough theatrics. If you want our help, maybe try a little less fanfare and a little more information about what’s waiting in that portal.”
Optimus’s expression turned serious, well, as serious as anyone could look in armor held together by hope and magic, though mostly magic. “You’re right,” he said, nodding gravely. “The quest description is pretty vague, so it’s hard to guess what sort of raid to expect. ‘Clear the dungeon and restore the building to its former glory’, but it’s tied to Lockhaven’s restoration which seems like a pretty big deal to me. This could be a vital step in strengthening the city before the Village of Pain returns.”
“Let me guess,” Winterhell interjected. “You don’t have a clue what's behind that portal.”
“Not the slightest idea,” Optimus admitted, scratching the back of his helmet again. “But, unless the devs filled the raid with TPK deathtraps, my guess is that we shouldn’t encounter anything a well-balanced party can’t handle.”
“Speaking of which,” Echo chimed in, “our party consists of a Bard, a Sorceress, a Paladin and a dashingly handsome Manhunter. What do you have to add in order to turn us into a well-balanced party as you put it?”
Optimus clapped his hands together, the sound echoing like a muted gong thanks to the scrap metal pieces covering him. “I was hoping you’d ask! Allow me to introduce the other brave souls who’ve agreed to venture into the unknown with me.”
He stepped aside, revealing a woman who had been behind him, hidden by his bulky form. A long, dark cloak swayed slightly as she walked forward, its deep folds concealing much of her figure. Yet, her presence was undeniable, her long, burning red hair shimmered like fire in the sunlight, and her radiant, golden eyes seemed to pierce through any veil of doubt.
“This,” Optimus announced dramatically, “is Aviria, a Warleader. Half strategist, half fighter, and a complete badass.”
Aviria nodded once, her expression calm and focused. “I prefer to let my actions speak for themselves,” she said, her voice low but clear, with a hint of authority that made everyone straighten slightly, as her name appeared above her head.
Aviria - Level 5
“And now,” Optimus continued, gesturing with exaggerated flair toward the second figure standing nearby, “allow me to present DeadPixel!”
A bronze-colored figure stepped forward, his movements smooth and deliberate despite his metallic form. His body was an elegant blend of form and function, with stylized edges and curves that made him look like a work of art brought to life. He wore a simple white tunic that contrasted sharply with his bronze skin and held a polished staff etched with glowing symbols.
DeadPixel inclined his head respectfully, his deep voice resonating as he spoke. “Cleric of the Holy Forge.”
DeadPixel - Level 4
Winterhell raised an eyebrow. “So you’re our healer, then?”
“Not exactly,” DeadPixel said, his bronze face unreadable, though his tone held a trace of amusement. “I’m he who decides if you live or die, though I do also heal.”
Aiden and Winterhell were taken aback by DeadPixels direct and bold statement and weren’t entirely sure if they should be amused or terrified by what the cleric had just said. Skal on the other hand burst out with laughter stepping forward and clapping DeadPixel on the back which gave a dull metallic thud.
“This one has spirit! I like him!” He said, his roaring voice filled with delight.
A moment later, Aiden received a system notification.
Player Optimus has invited you to join their party!
Accept Y/N?
Aiden sighed, looking from Winterhell to Skal, then to Echo, who was standing off to the side with a smirk on his face. “Fine,” Aiden said, addressing Optimus while accepting the party invitation. “We’ll go in with you, but only because this might actually be important for Lockhaven, and because we need to test out our new addition.” He shot a pointed look at Echo.
“Excellent,” Optimus said with a bright smile, after which Aiden received another notification, indicating that Optimus had shared the quest details with him.
New Quest - Raid for Ricky’s Emporium
You have discovered a Raid Portal. These portals are the key to bring forth the restoration of the ruined city of Lockhaven. Completing this raid will restore Ricky’s Emporium.
Objective: Complete the raid and defeat the portal guardian.
Duration: 1 Hour
Reward: ???
Recommended Raid size: 5 participants with at least 20 total levels.
Echo gave a mock salute. “Don’t worry, fearless leader. I’ll exceed your wildest expectations.”
“Or get us all killed,” Winterhell muttered.
“I’m going to choose to be optimistic here,” Skal said, countering Winterhell’s grim tone. “It’s either death, or not death.”
“Does it have to be a binary choice?” Echo said nervously.
“Yup,” Skal said casually, “that’s life’s only true constant, either life keeps going, or it doesn’t.”
“For a Paladin, you’re really not great at inspiring me,” Echo said, which was only met with the sound of skal’s laughter.
With that, the group turned their attention to the portal, its shimmering surface rippling like water under moonlight. Players continued murmuring and pointing as Aiden, Winterhell, Skal, Echo, and their new allies.
“Well,” Aiden said, his voice steady despite the nervous knot in his stomach. “Let’s make some history.”
Winterhell, who didn’t feel quite as optimistic as Skal, gave Aiden a semi-serious glance, “if this goes sideways and we all kick the bucket, I’m holding you personally accountable.”
Together, they stepped through the portal. The air shimmered around them, and with a flash of light, the ruins of Lockhaven disappeared behind them.