It is the following day and Roth Is making his way to the guild building. He stayed the night at an inn close by that actually caters to mercs and adventurers named The Sirens Inn. He is still in disbelief that he's actually able to sleep in game. The fluffy and warm blankets and cozy bed made it the best sleep he has ever had. Pondering through his walk he's curious how long time has passed in the real world.
As he nears the building, he sees the trio making their preparations for departure in a wagon. Though Derian and Fila are actually putting things away in the wagon, Nina is in agony, groaning, and laying halfway out the back of the carriage. Roth couldn't help but to chuckle.
"My head...is killing me. I feel so nauseous."
Derian smugly replies to her, "Well maybe if you hadn't challenged me to a drinking contest you would be fine. Oh but no you had to overdo it, whatever happened to ''I need my rest" yesterday?"
"Shut up! You know how much I like to drink at parties." Almost gagging mid-sentence.
Fila giggles over the two bickering and suddenly notices Roth. She smiles and happily waves to him. He happily smiles and heads towards Fila to greet her.
"Goodmorning Roth or rather afternoon since we all stayed up so late."
"Afternoon to you too. Seems like one of us isn't having a good day huh."
Nina looks at him and sluggishly blows raspberries at him. Roth childishly sticks his tongue out lowering his lower right eyelid. After they're done with each other's taunts, Fila tugs on Roth's arm.
"Um, about last night on the steps... I'm sorry if I seemed too emotional. I might have been a bit tipsy with the ale. Even so, I did mean what I said about joining our group."
With a little shaken up voice he answers modestly, "There's nothing to be sorry about. I'm actually flattered you feel that way." He looks over to the carriage and sees Nina look away slightly ashamed. The confrontation the other day is still fresh in her mind, feeling embarrassed. Suddenly a burst of laughter comes from Derian.
"BWHAAHA, Fila I didn't know you spoken for all of us without talking to us first. Sounds like he made a good impression on you last night." saying it with a devious smile. Fila is blushing and is stuttering to explain her actions. Derian calms her and wraps his arms around both Fila and Roth.
"Ahhh I'm only teasing you. I'm glad you took the initiative Fila, and Roth, if you were able to make her open up a little more than usual, I'm curious to see what other surprises you have in store."
Roth looks away nervously. Suddenly a voice shrieks in the distance, it was Saudia. She was hastily running down the steps of the guild towards Roth's group. She was immediately out of breath, for a front desk clerk she seemed really out of shape just running towards them. She stops and catches her breath leaning over Roth. She then quickly recovers and gives that cheery face Roth remembers.
"I almost forgot to give you this." holding with both hands was a pendant necklace. It was a crystal with a dark base and deep blue tip.
As Roth takes the necklace he looks up in confusion, " I don't understand, why are you giving me this?"
"Well considering how well I know this group; they can get into sticky situations from time to time. It's one of my personal good luck charms. Wouldn't want you to get hurt now, would I?"
She pinches his cheek as if he were a toddler. Roth was slightly annoyed but couldn't help but let her. They were both the same age in real life but in this world he's way younger. How would he even explain the situation? Looking over he sees Fila looking tense, immediately he feels embarrassed and side steps away from Saudia.
"Hey, give me credit, sure we can get into scraps from time to time but we still manage to get the work done with no problems. And leave the poor boy alone, you might make someone jealous." Derian exclaimed winking at Roth. Both Fila and Roth both blushed but only Roth spoke out to explain nothing had happened.
As Saudia looks in confusion she catches onto the hint. "Oh, I see. Well, I won't take much more of your time sweetie just promise you stay safe okay, buh-bye!"
Roth sluggishly waves goodbye. Being younger has worn Roth out just a little bit, he barely remembers how long it's been since he's been treated like a kid. Even if he is eighteen apparently, he is still treated like a kid. The confused looks and naive knowledge of this world is also the factor making people treat him differently.
Without delay Roth puts the pendant on and tucks it into his shirt. He immediately feels his back being smacked hard; it was Derian. "So kid, ready to hit the road? We'll be there in two days tops if we have a consistent speed and good breaks in between." Roth happily agrees and loads the last crate into the wagon. As they make their preparations, he hears a loud roar, halfway into the carriage he looks towards the high roar of the animal.
He was dumbfounded, it was a triceratops, four of them actually. Two of them were pulling a large metal carriage with twenty people inside. The wheels were large and slightly rusted with three wheels on each side. The other two were being ridden on each of the sides acting as caravan guards. All the men were dusty and filthy as if they were working in a mine. Roth was concerned, they all had blank expressions almost having the thousand-yard stare.
"Ah, those are the quarry workers, pretty cool animals they work with, right?" Says Derian crossing his arms. "I didn't know you could ride them. I thought they would be difficult."
"Nah tricorns are aggressive wild caught. Though captive born trikes are much easier to control."
He looked at Derian quizzically, he never heard the term tricorns for triceratops. Roth can easily guess why they're called that, so he didn't press too much into it. After gazing at the workers and mammoth of an animal they quickly got into the carriage. With Roth sitting in the back, Fila sits next to him. Though Nina quickly sits up trying not to hurl in the wagon, she sits in front with Derian. "Alright guys, let's go kill us a beast!" proudly shouts Derian.
They soon headed out through the west gate and took the off-road path to the small town of Gabar. The journey was pleasant and surprisingly flat lands for miles. Derian explains how the kingdom of Chylath is nearly all flat land, but to the northwest of the kingdom bares a huge mountain that acts almost as a defense. It is that mountain that has protected the kingdom from foreign invaders. The only real threat if the kingdom was to be invaded would be the Entynese Theocracy to the northeast and United Provinces of Mur to the west. Though Derian assures that despite that, the two nations have no gain or interests of invading.
Over the course of two days the group has been laughing, cheering, and telling stories of their adventures together. Fila was a magic healer and was vital to the team. Almost as the mom of the group, even if Derian was the leader, she will always make sure they are safe above all else. As they reach the town they discuss with the mayor. Sure enough they're dealing with an unknown beast.
They believe the creature is hiding near a cave just east of the town. The beast apparently has been taking their livestock, sometimes only eating half and leaving the remains behind. Derian assured the mayor that unlike the others they promise to be on guard and take the monster down. Before heading out the morning they decided to drink at a tavern that night to prepare themselves for the trouble they might be facing.
"Hey Roth, listen, I might have been a jerk to you and... I'm truly sorry. I was only defending the interests of the party. Just seeing an outsider not having anything at all join us was giving me a lot of bad signals. Though the trip got us a little bit closer, I should have never been so rude..." Nina looks into her ale cup as she slowly turns it.
"There's nothing to forgive. I totally understand why you felt that way and it was rude of me to expect you all to let me join so quickly. I've always wanted to live this type of life so I'm still fairly new."
Nina looks up and smiles, the two have finally resolved the tension that was lingering between them. In that moment Derian knocks on the table with his drink cheering for the both of them. Fila is smiling brighter than ever. Each one laughing and still making jokes with one another. Roth almost forgot this feeling, being with friends who truly care for each other. To be smiling for hours ear to ear.
Roth was always alone focusing on his work. At times the RPG's when he plays was always an escape from the dull reality he was faced day to day. The person truly connected with him was his father. His father would always visit him, spend time, always catching up. He felt that he was the only person that truly knew Roth for who he was. Not just as his father, as man to man, his father was his truest friend.
Now after joining with his new friends, he felt something he never really felt before. Compassion, pride, hopefulness, all these new emotions he's feeling, he never wants them to stop. As they had their fill of ale they finally rest and soon morning came. The butterflies in his stomach won't settle, his real first battle, he was brimming with overwhelming joy.
He notices that Nina and Fila have donned chest and shoulder armor then their usual lightweight clothing. He questions the sudden change and to his response was logical. Since they'll be in tight spaces, they want to be prepared for anything surprising since Nina is a long-range attacker and Fila a magic healer. At times like these Roth finds it hard they're only NPC's, they usually go gung-ho with whatever they have on hand.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
After a few minutes with the wagon, they arrived at the entrance of the cave. The path leading to the cave was fresh with drag marks and footprints. Derian with his hands on his hip's stares deep into the cave only giving a stern stare. His cheery nonchalant attitude is now altered to the intimidating aura he saw once back in Galobethrogga. With his great sword on his back, he also has a sword on him as well for the enclosed space.
Without a word spoken he enters the cave with the two sisters behind his heel. This almost threw Roth off and quickly matched their speed. They were all focused and instinctively knew their own roles. Fila quickly used her staff as a light source, the tip of the staff was a bright warm white light. Nina was on guard looking side to side with her bow ready to draw. Roth figured to be safe and guard the rear as his sword was drawn ready for anything.
Soon they came up to a fork in the pathway. Derian sniffs the air and notices it coming from the right side of the pathway. He waved his hand to signal the direction they were taking. The smell was more noticeable and was wretched. The corridor of the cave opened up to a bigger space of the cave, there was noticeably more room and much higher ceiling as well. Then they found the source of the smell, piles of bovines littered the edge of the cave. Some are already rotting away with maggots covering the floor.
They all covered their mouth trying not to vomit at the horrendous smell.
"My word, that's atrocious." as Fila says squirming.
"Whatever made this sure has an appetite huh." Derian kneels over the rotting piles of cattle. He inspects it closer and sees one fresh one over the rotting ones. He smiles and gets back up looking towards his party with his devious smile. "The beast is still here." Suddenly a low rough growl echoes the chamber of the cave.
They all turn to the sound simultaneously ready to fight. On the other side of the cave was another entrance deeper into the cave and out of the shadows was a giant ogre. The brute was standing high ten feet tall and carrying a stalactite as a bludgeon weapon. He was a grey dark skin color with unusual hives on certain parts of his body. The beast's mouth was covered with dried blood and his sharp lower canines were sticking out of its mouth.
Derian readied his great sword and waited for the beast to make his move. He charged at the group and without hesitation swung furiously at them. They all dodge the attack just barely and soon the ogre turns towards Roth. Roth prepared himself to strike and waited for a chance to swing.
"Blinding light!" Fila points her staff at the beast's head and a ray of pure white light continuously pours directly into the ogre's eyes. Roth thanked Fila and swung hard at the ogres achilles' heel. The giant is still grabbing his eyes not reacting to the sliced heel. Derian Charges and side stepping the ogre's blind attacks. The massive swing was struck hard deep into his shin. The great sword was stuck and soon was grabbed by the ogre and pinned to the floor. The beast took the great sword out and tossed it away.
Derian is struggling to break free and soon the ogre regains his vision and raises his fist to pummel his head. His hand coming in hard the two sisters screamed for him, but in that last moment before impact Roth raises his sword blocking the ogre with both hands. The impact could be felt within the group, that strike would easily crush Derian's skull flat. Roth was shaking trying to hold the ogre back. In the ogre's confusion he let his grip on Derian go.
"Th-thanks kid, how did you...?"
"No time just get your sword quickly." his voice shaking and trembling against the monster's strength. Then three arrows struck the head of the beast. Nina thanks Roth whole heartedly and continues to fire a barrage of arrows to help Roth. Roths's face is showing struggle and determination but inside he's feeling overwhelming joy. This was the type of life he wanted to experience playing his games, to feel a purpose and to feel satisfaction saving a comrade.
The ogre is now furious and screams in annoyance. He throws his stalactite at Nina but quickly ducks. The ogre quickly grabs the remains of the dead animal and chucks it hard into the pile of bovines. Dust, rocks, and so many nats and flies spread everywhere that Roth could barely see. As the dust settle Roth saw the beast in front of him and was startled, he raised his sword to block but was too late. In one single punch was struck to Roths's gut and was sent flying to the other side of the wall. The blow back was intense, when he landed, he immediately vomited up blood.
He was stunned and confused, his vision was extremely blurry and could barely move. His back armor was torn slightly from the jagged rocks, but he could feel blood rushing all over his back from severe gashes and cuts. Now he's panicking, he was so impressed with the realism of the game but adding pain as well. The realization sets in that it's not just a simple game with amazing features, it's actually another world with actual risks. His mind rushes, is this how he dies? Pain like this is real? Is this how his father felt in his dying moments?
Pool of blood starts coming from his mouth. Slowly he starts to tear up and hears muffled voices calling to him. Then a rush of dopamine fills his body, and his vision becomes clear again. He looks up and sees Fila healing him and crying. She has both her hands on top of him and heals him. Both her palms glow green and tries to comfort him, assuring everything will be okay. Roth looks over to the other two.
Derian is still dodging and slicing every vulnerable part of the monster. Nina is giving support raining arrows down the ogre's head. Derian shouts at Fila, " Take Roth with you, we'll handle this bastard!"
"What about you guys?!"
"We'll be fine, just use continuous healing on us!"
She agrees and points her palm towards the two. A green orb goes to the fighting duo and they both glow slightly green. This at least gives them some recovery time while File is gone helping Roth. As she helps Roth up and slowly make their way to the exit of the room the beast blocks the exit. The beast's faces are showered with powder bombs from Derian giving her time to run but the ogre does not move. She heads the other way where the ogre came from and uses continuous healing on Roth.
After some distance she lays Roth down and continues to heal him. He slowly gets better but forces himself to get up. "Stop, what are you doing! you're hurt badly!"
"I... can't let them... get hurt because of me."
"I know you want to help but you're in no shape!"
He uses his sword to prop himself up. "I lost one person close to me, I'm not... losing another!"
She looks at him with so much heartache and holds his hand. "Please allow me to heal you just a little longer, then we can go back and help the others." He kneels and agrees. He wonders how he was still able to survive that punch and collision with the wall. Even with the amount of healing he still feels his body tremendously aching as if his bones were all going to explode. Suddenly they both hear something being dragged down the pathway they came.
They braced themselves and to their worst fear was the ogre in front of them. He was cut, bleeding, and beaten. The ogre was hell-bent on finishing them both off. Without hesitation he swings at both of them, Fila dodges away from Roth and Roth rolls away to the side of the wall. Now the ogre has its sights on Roth as he slowly raises his sword not backing down.
Fila is panicking and is devising some plan, but she knows the only way anyone making out will be difficult. She grabs her staff and closes her eyes and begins to build up an immense amount of magic. The tip of the staff was bright green and soon turned to pure white. With all her magic now stored in a single point she yells and points to Roth.
"Greater alleviation!" Suddenly an explosion of pure magic hits Roth and gasps for air. His wounds and pain are all gone. He looks at Fila happy, but his moment turned sour. She is weak and drained of stamina and is kneeling holding onto her staff trying not to drop. The ogre turns to see what the mysterious source of light was. Now his attention is towards Fila. Fila looking weak and pale, she looks up at Roth crying and smiling, "I'm happy you're okay now. I wish I could've said this sooner but... I really like you Roth, be safe for me, okay?"
Soon she is tossed hard by the ogre's fist and smacks the wall hard. She is not moving nor breathing. Roth is locked in place, tears come out, but he is not crying. He yells for her; his yell turns into anger and rage. He rushes to the ogre and with all of his anger and hatred for the foul beast he slices his leg clean with one slice. The healing Fila gave him also gave a boost in stamina and strength. The ogre screams and falls to the ground.
Roth quickly jumps onto the ogre and strikes down into the forehead of the giant. Though that one strike finished him off he wasn't satisfied. He continuously strikes the ogre's head repeatedly until it was unrecognizable. The beast is now laying cold, he rushes to aid Fila and holds her in his arms. Her eyes are open, but she isn't responding. "Oh god no please, please wake up. Fila, wake up please!"
Nothing, she isn't reacting, the impact from the ogre and wall has ended her life. Roth holds her close to his chest cradling her. He sobs and yells into the air for her not to go. Holding her tight not wanting to let her go, he sits with her for a moment embracing her hoping for a miracle. For a moment he digests the information that she isn't coming back. He carries her walking past the body of the ogre.
Suddenly the body of the ogre glows and a golden mist emerges from his body and goes into Roths's body. He feels a warmth inside and feels more rejuvenated. In the middle of his vision the words [LEVEL INCREASE] appeared in front of him. Feeling disgusted and angry at the words he just stands there gazing at the words. Another set of words appeared this time in the corner of his right.
[PERK UNLOCKED: APPRAISAL]
"Appraisal...?" he looks at the ogre and his level was twenty-five. He looks down at Fila, her level was twelve. He checks his stats and to his surprise his level was twenty-five as well. Walking towards the exit he's back in the area they first fought the ogre. More tears fell upon Roth, Nina was lying face down missing an arm in a pool of blood, her level was nine. Derian was up against a wall, his armor beaten in and gruesomely dented. To add insult to injury, part of Derian's head was torn off as if it was a snack for the ogre. His level was seventeen.
He went back to the carriage and placed Fila in the back. He also grabbed extra sheets of blankets to put Nina and Derian's bodies in to carry back. He let the townsfolk of Gabar know the situation has been taken care of. They were all worried since he was all covered in blood but refused to answer. The next two days he slowly traveled back to Galobethrogga, not eating and barely sleeping. Finally, he arrived late afternoon and the guards were startled to see him covered in dried blood.
He explained the situation and was escorted to the guild building. Once at the guild a few guards came and checked the cart and were horrified of the ordeal. Saudia rushed towards Roth and asked if he was alright. There was silence, finally he spoke up, "I'm going for a little walk outside the walls...okay?"
"I... yes sweetie take your time. We'll handle everything from here." Slowly one by one they unload the bodies off the cart still covered by the blood-stained sheet. He made his way outside the town and found himself on a small hill next to a big oak tree overlooking the town. He stares looking into the sunset falling over the walls.
"Logout..."
-X-UNAUTHORIZED ACTION-X-
"What...? Logout!"
-X-UNAUTHORIZED ACTION-X-
"LOGOUT!!!"
-X-UNAUTHORIZED ACTION-x-
He kneels over and hits the ground, "Why, why the fuck can I not logout!" then a message appeared in front of his vision.
[MAIN QUEST IN PROGRESS-COMPLETION REQUIRED]
"What is it...WHAT'S MY MAIN FUCKING QUEST!"
No response, he buries his head between his hands and begins to sob whispering to himself the same question. The sun sets and the cold night begins to set in. The night on that hill is only filled with sobs and misery once again.