First, I woke up to the smell of crackling bacon and freshly cooked eggs. Hidden below the decadent scent there was an underlying touch of ash and charred meat. My mouth started to water, and my stomach groaned. Second, I felt stiff muscles, an aching back, and a sharp pain in my thigh. I rolled over from my side to lay on my back. It was a slow turn that caused me to grit my teeth against the strain. I was sore all over and I could feel a headache tapping against the back of my forehead.

I let my body relax and felt the stiff pain spread out to my hands and feet. A gentle touch brushed against my cheek. I swatted in the air trying to scare away whatever fly or mosquito was trying to land. The touch came back and made my face twitch in surprise. I swatted at it again, this time with more vigor. Yet, despite that it came back to bug me again. I opened my eyes and sat up. I swatted in the air, my arms flailing around my head. My hand came in touch with something soft. The contact made me flinch in pain. It wasn’t pain in my hand but… It was pain in my ear.

That’s the moment all the memories of the day before came back like a tidal wave. The rabbit archer, the bat-like summoner of the dead, and the fire breathing salamanders the size of a large dog. I opened my eyes to a wide clearing under a sapphire sky that stretched far beyond the wall of sage-colored willows and reeds.

The springstep archer, Finn, was sitting on a log before a simple fire. He had a wooden cup in his hand and was sipping it slowly. On the other side, laying on the ground with his back against a large stone was Grebbledel. The bogdweller still had on his wizard's hat and thick robes. He was watching the fire with a slim smile that stretched to each side of his head. The sharp morning light reflected like diamonds in his marble-black eyes.

Revelas was lying on the ground behind Grebbledel and was curled like a sleeping child. She no longer had a rope tied around her neck and there was a small pile of red apples nearby. Half of them were eaten down to the core.

A shock of pain crawled up my leg. I instinctively placed my hand on my thigh to stifle the agony that flared like a burning heart. Hot and beating. I pressed down and gasped as I saw the mouse-like hand. I had almost forgotten that I was no longer a normal human, but something called a brighteye. A mouse that walked on two legs, stood almost five feet tall and summoned plants from the earth to stop the living dead.

The memory of fighting the dead nightflyers came fresh to my mind. Searching the surrounding area I didn’t see their bodies. I did see the bones from the skeletons I fought still laying in the matted grass, however the nightflyers were gone.

“Good morning, Miles,” Grebbledel said, he wobbled over to stand before me. In his hands was a wooden plate and cup. On the plate were two cooked eggs and several strips of steaming bacon. “I trust your sleep served you well. As well as you served me. I cannot thank you enough for saving my Revelas. She is also grateful, in her own way, to have been rescued from those foul bandits.”

“Yeah of course. You’re welcome,” I said, my furrowed brows scrunched tight in confusion. “What time is it?”

“Almost time for us to keep traveling,” Finn shouted with a full mouth. “Take your rewards from the old bogdweller and let’s get going. If we’re quick, we can make it to Aurleaf before nightfall. They have healers there that can take care of your leg.”

“If you’re traveling to Aurleaf please allow Revelas and I to pay forward your kindness by letting you ride our cart. It would certainly be much quicker than hobbling along on your hurt leg,” Grebbledel said with a wide smile that reminded me of my grandfather in a way. It was a kind and patient smile.

“What did you say?” Finn asked. He had put down his cup and skipped over to us.

“I was offering Revelas and I as couriers to our new friends,” Grebbledel said.

“But you never leave the Mireglades,” Finn said as more of a question than a statement.

“Never left the glades? That is absurd. There is so much world to explore. I can’t very well gather wonderful stories from the comfort of my home. I could invite other tellers to visit and gather their tales, but the best stories are the ones we experience ourselves. I’m sure you have a good many stories of your own, Finn Ashburrow.” At the mention of his name, Finn folded his arms and gave the bogdweller a suspicious look.

“Is there something wrong?” Grebbledel said after a minute of silence. He still had his wide grin and was now stroking his beard between his plump frog-like fingers.

“Not sure. Miles can I talk to you for a second,” Finn walked away from Grebbledel to stand in the shadow of a nearby willow. I shrugged my shoulders and told Grebbledel to give us a minute. I pushed myself up to balance on my uninjured leg. Using my staff as a crutch I walked over to meet Finn.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Something doesn’t feel right here,” Finn said keeping his voice low.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve never done this quest before so I can’t be sure, but from I’ve been told the bogdweller wizard stays in the Mireglades. Also, NPCs don't say your name unless you are the main quest receiver.”

“When we met him, he said he was going to Aurleaf, though.” I said.

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“That’s NPC talk. Background dialogue to make them feel more… more real. NPCs aren’t real people. They stay within their designated areas. Grebbledel shouldn’t be responding to your injury in this way. Especially not offering us a ride.” Finn looked back at Grebbledel. The bogdweller had moved over to his horse and was gently waking her with a fresh apple.

“What are you saying? This is all a game, right? Maybe he’s glitched or there’s been an update? I don’t know. I’m not really a gamer, I wouldn’t know. I’m guessing is all.” I said.

“I’ve been living in Phyrelia for three years and I’ve never heard of any glitches or updates. Though… if it was some kind of system issue then why were those nightflyers here last night? Those types of NPCs don’t travel this far into starter locations. They’re found north beyond the Crowsong Isles. It’s even rare to see nightflyer players running around beyond the Twilight Hollows.” As Finn was contemplating the bogdwellers strange behavior his leg was thumping the ground fast.

“What do you suggest then? I’d really appreciate a ride. I don’t think I’m gonna get far on an injured leg,” I said as I shuffled on my legs.

“You’re right. It would be best to get a ride. We’ll get your leg healed quicker as well. Plus, we’d make it to the festival earlier than planned,” Finn’s leg thumped faster as his whiskers twitched. His ears pointed high and then he called over to the wizard. “Hey Grebbledel. We’ll come with you. Don’t forget to give this guy his quest rewards.”

“Of course. He’s deserved his reward twice over,” Grebbledel finished tightening Revelas’ reins then wobbled over to me. “Miles Forester thank you for saving my dear friend and companion. As a reward for completing this quest I offer you these.”

[Grebbledel’s Misfortune]

[Quest Completed!]

Rewards

Map of Phyrelia

Adventurer’s Journal

Minor Skill Experience Potion

As Grebbledel held out his hands a rolled scroll sitting on top of a black-leather journal with a thin vial of clear liquid appeared in his palms. I reached forward to accept them, as I did the scroll and journal vanished leaving only the clear vial in my hand.

“Where did they go?” I asked Finn.

“Open your system interface. They’ll be integrated there.”

I did as he said as saw that my system was updated with new options.

[Character] [Spells & Abilities] [Skills] [Journal] [Map]

I couldn’t help but open up the map first. I was keen on seeing what this world looked like and how its geography differed from earth. As I pressed my consciousness on the map option a bright image burst to life in front of my eyes. The entirety of my vision was engulfed with a vibrant painting of larges continents, vast oceans and various cities, towns, deserts, and forests.

I caught a few familiar names on the map from the character creation process back in the darkness. Places like the Greentides far to the west, the Sunflare Sands to the south and directly north of the region of Briarfield I saw the grey isles of the Crowsong.

I could see at the center of the map was a distinct red dot that flashed. I put my mind on the dot and the entire image zoomed in to show the region of Briarfield. There were so many more details and locations around that it suddenly made the world feel enormous. To the northeast I could see the town of Aurleaf. From what I could tell we were very close but still many hours away. Directly south was a town called the Shadeway. Far to the north and at the tip of the Briarfield region was a place called the Waterdeep Cave.

Looking over the map gave me a deep desire to explore everything. The entire region was covered in dense forests and wide marshes. There were lots of rivers, harbors, and vast mountains all around. I’ve always had a fascination with biomes and their environments. I was a bit disappointed when I found out my agriculture study didn’t involve more geographical studies of climates, weather patterns, and natural resources. It mainly focused on farmland cultivation and the impact of the human touch on the wilderness.

I shut down the map and opened up the journal tab. There wasn’t a lot of information displayed in this section except for current and completed quests, and an area called archives. Focusing on the archives opened to show a wide variety of different tabs for what I assumed was collected knowledge. A tab for weapons and armor along with accessories, and another for resources for things like crafting, alchemy, medicine, etc. Digging deeper into these displayed hundreds of empty tiles with question marks waiting for things to be discovered.

I started getting a headache from all the information that rushed across my vision. I quickly shut down the system interface and was greeted with Grebbledel’s long smile. I still had the minor experience potion in my hand and was about to vanish it into my bag when I asked Finn about it.

“The most common reward you will find in Phyrelia are experience potions. When you drink it, it will apply a certain amount of experience to whichever skill you choose. Quite helpful for leveling up certain abilities that you don’t have time to train, or you find tedious. I’ve use them mainly to level up the skills I feel with help my class specifically.” Finn watched as Grebbledel turned and walked over to the fire. He started kicking dirt to help it die down. “Let’s get you to Aurleaf and I can explain more. There are supposed to be events during the festival to help level up some skills. A great place for someone like you to catch up with everyone else. Let’s go.”

Grebbledel was gracious enough to let me ride Revelas out of the Mireglades and back to his cart still tucked on the road. Finn helped me into the back of the bogdwellers cart then worked with Grebbledel to hitch the horse. After another half an hour of helping Grebbledel pack up some supplies and making sure the cart was in good standing, we continued our journey to Aurleaf.

It was relaxing to sit back in the shade of the carts covering while listening to the gentle breeze in the leaves above as the wide air of the marshes returned to the low hanging branches of the forests. Songbirds were singing, dragonflies buzzed across the dirt path and among all these peaceful sounds there was Grebbledel singing.

A maiden, swift and fair as rain

A dress that curls and dances

Along a path of either love or pain

She sings her song and prances

His voice sounded like the deep rushing of a river over cold stones. It rolled and tumbled through the air. It patted my eyes into a soft lull and turned my mind into an empty stage. Before I knew it a play had begun.

Dancing alone among the stage was a single otter. She stood on her back legs and held her arms high. She wore a flowing dress of a deep emerald hues that floated in the air around her. Her body was slender and long and moved like a serpent. She held ribbons in each hand and between her teeth. I watched for a long time as Grebbledel’s song fell in line with her dancing. Before I knew it, I had drifted into a gentle sleep.