A.N. - This is a point of view change, soo for those who wanted to see Henry fight the Mole, Next chapter.
Stephanie Lockwel was on her way home after a long and boring day at University, as it was summer currently everything just seems to be on the point of melting, or at least that's how she liked to see it.
[I can't wait~!, I just want to get home and play!]
Lost in her own thoughts about what she was going to be playing later, she didn't realize that the crosswalk was red and was about to walk into oncoming traffic, when she was suddenly jerked back with enough force to send her sprawling on the ground.
"Hey! what's the bi-"
She started to exclaim, only to be cut off mid sentence by a guy a little taller than herself, with dark hair, grey eyes, and a scrawny build, wearing a t-shirt that says "Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman, then always be Batman"
"Watch where you're going!"
Then the mysterious guy was gone as the crosswalk had just turned green, leaving the girl there confused and thankful but a little upset at his behavior.
She quickly got home, making sure not to space out again on the way.
As soon as she walked in she knew that he hadn't done anything, there were dirty dishes in the sink, trash lying around and the main culprit passed out on the couch surrounded by cans of beer.
Already used to the sight, she started cleaning everything, picking up and disposing of the trash, cleaning the dishes and making sure that he hadn't thrown up, left to take a shower.
Having cheered up a bit after finally being able to feel clean after a hot day, she decided it was time for her to start, checking the time as she grabbed her VR headset, it said it was 4:50PM, so there was still some time before the official servers open.
*chime*.
Welcome to Outrage: Total Realism
This being the first thing she saw upon opening up the game, filled her with excitement, at least until it disappeared and she was left floating in a dark void.
Steph being who she is, is completely afraid of the dark, to the extent that she sleeps with her computer on so that its not too dark at night.
So, she was utterly terrified, not even noticing that she now felt solid ground even when her knees gave out.
[WHY!? WHY?! WHY?! DARK! DARK! DAAAAARK!!!]
Steph broke down crying for a good five minutes, only to be interrupted by something like a miracle.
"uh~ if you're done crying can I get you to sign some forms?"
As if a switch in Steph's mind flipped, she stood up and stared at the swirling ball of light.
[MINE! No more dark, LIGHT! GIVE IT NOW, ITS MINE!]
Stretching her arms to make a grab at the ball of light, which the ball mistook for her accepting the forms, she felt something heavy in her hands distracting her from the glowing ball.
"what are these?!" obviously shocked at the huge amount of paperwork, that appeared out of no where.
"Those are the 'Terms and Conditions' for playing OutRage: Total Realism, if you dont say 'I Accept' I cannot allow you to continue",
said the Ball, causing Steph who didn't want to be bothered with legal stuff immediately said,
"I Accept".
With a puff of acrid smoke the paperwork, disappeared and left her blinded and choking.
When her coughing finally seized she blinked back tears from her eyes and saw herself in a circular garden with a lamppost in the center bathing everything in light, which was comforting as it seemed to be night time.
Welcome, be brave and make a choice.
Walk the well defined path or the one less traveled.
The choice you make now will guide you for the rest of your life.
You have until darkness claims you.
Breaking out in cold sweat at the last line of text, Steph hurriedly tried to figure out what choice she had to make.
Seeing the Doors cut into the hedges she ran to the nearest one and saw a stone in the ground before it with the shape of a sword carved into it.
Coming to the conclusion that each of these Doors probably have a stone at their respective bases, she sprinted by checking each one, which as expected had a symbol carved into each one.
the Sword, Daggers, Bow & Arrow, a white circle, a black circle, a storm-cloud, a mountain, a fire, a rain-drop and a musical note.
Before the light could dim beyond darkening the furthest hedge, Steph had already made her choice and sprinted into the door without looking, she didn't even notice the spikes sealing the way back as she ran as fast as her legs could carry her.
Seeing another source of light ahead she visibly relaxed and smiled brightly thinking it was over.
*chime*
Seeking Absolution from the Dark, you chose the Power of Fire.
What is your greatest desire?
You have until darkness claims you.
"uuuuu~ why is this happening to me?"
As she didn't expect nor receive a reply to her question she hurriedly looked around the garden clearing she found herself in, which seemed to be identical to the last one with tall hedges surrounding a circular clearing, with a tall lamppost in the center giving off light and revealing the Doors.
Inspecting each door, she realized that there was only five this time, with an open palm, a closed fist, a heart, a stack of coins and a scale.
[this is soo embarrassing, do I have to choose? Of course I do what am I thinking the lamp is... THE LAMP IS GETTING DARKER!!?]
She understood what the choices were, but couldn't help but think that she didn't really have a desire.
Peace and War didn't seem to concern her, and she didn't care for money, so her only choices as it seemed to Steph was Love or Justice.
"What is with this choice..? Its not like I'm seeking revenge for me or someone else..."
Having already realized what was left from her process of elimination, she groaned in embarrassment,
"uuuuuuuh~" but she noticed that the light was steadily getting dimmer and this scared her into motion.
Forgetting her embarrassment she rushed through the Door and into the garden passage, not looking where she was running.
The only thought in her mind [Oh god, please let there be light at the end of this tunnel!].
*BAM THUD* "uuuuuuuu~", [ow, my head hurts! what did I hit?] quickly realizing that she was now on top of someone.
She tried crawling off them only to collapse, her lungs burning and limbs shaking from her mad dash earlier.
As she lays there trying to catch her breath and calm herself, she hears a voice.
"h-hey, um girl... are you okay?", hearing this she slowly dragged herself to her feet whilst thinking about what just happened.
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[damn I just ran into someone didn't I? I should apologize...]
Turning to face him, as she just realized it was a guy, her face flushed a bright red.
"uuuu~ I-I'm s-sorry! I-I-I was just so scared, that I d-didn't think where I was going, I chose my door pretty late and then the light went out a-and..."
As she continued to stammer out her apology, she got a good look at the guy and realized it was the same guy from earlier today, only adding to her embarrassment.
[he probably thinks I'm a complete air head... wait, why do I care?]
Abruptly cutting off her train of thought his face seemed to relax and he said,
"a-aaaaah~ it's okay... um by the way what door did you just pick?"
quickly facing away from him, trying to hide the growing blush on her face an awkward silence grew between them until she finally answered in a barely audible whisper, "L-Love...".
A soft chime suddenly rings.
Congratulations!For being the first Female Player to blindly charge down the path of Love headfirst,
for whole-heartedly choosing Love over all other desires you have earned the Paired Unique Title:
'Heart-Linked Chain Bearer'This Title grants the holder, -50% Max Mana, Health and Movement speed when seperated from the holder of the paired Title.
Grants the holder the ability to sense the direction and status of the paired Title holder from any distance.
When together with the holder of the paired Title, it gives a +10% Max Mana, Health and Movement speed.
Should the holder of this Title die, the Paired Title holder will enter an enraged status and will be able to sense the location of your killer for 1 week.
When the holder of this Title chooses their race it will determine the holder of the Paired Titles race to be the same.
At a loss for words, Steph quietly freaks out while staring this status window, not really believing how absurd this title is only to look over at the guy she ran into, seeing him utterly frozen in shock staring at a floating blue window.
A quiet feeling of unease and doubt crept into her mind.
[no, no way... I mean it can't.... I mean it's only a coincidence he saved me earlier, right?!]
Breaking them from their own personal thoughts is the sound of another soft chime playing.
This is the Final Garden of Choice.
As you have chosen the power of Fire, you must use it to fight the Guardian or be returned to the beginning of the Gardens of Choice through death.
You have until darkness claims you.
Flinching at the sound of shifting soil and torn grass, alerting the two of a new presence located in front of the Sealed Entrance, it looked like a mole the size of a bull, with dark brown fur and light pink paws and snout.
As Steph stared in shock and disbelief at the gigantic mole she could only look on frozen, she then heard an audible sigh from her right.
"Hey, girl see if you can climb the lamppost, I'll try and distract him..."
[huh? As if, no one is that selfless... I mean we only just met... why would he help me?]
Troubled by her thoughts she searched his face for any hint of deceit, seeing only honesty she nodded and sprinted to the lamppost.
Running to the lamppost she saw that the mole was staying in same spot, as if guarding something.
[Is that the way out?]
Arriving at the lamppost she put her left foot on its raised base and tried to launch herself to the bars extending out horizontally from the light fixture.
After a few tries she succeeds and perches herself on the bars, looking over at the guy she sees him waving his hands and saying, "um, wind! uhh, MAGIC WIND!? *groan*".
Steph could barely hold in her laughter at this surreal scene, which only seemed to aggravate the guy as his shoulders hunched defensively while trying to ignore her.
Suddenly she faintly hears, "Status Window!" followed by a large shout, "YES!" which almost made her fall from the lamppost as she wasn't expecting such a sudden and loud noise.
Glaring daggers at him, she quietly said "status window".
Hearing a soft chime it opened.
StatusName:N/ARace:HumanGender:FemaleLevel:1Health:80/80 regen: 0.018p/sMana:200/200 regen: 0.5p/sStamina:56/110 regen: 0.275p/sSatiety:86%Vitality:8Endurance:11Strength:3Dexterity:6Resistance:5Intelligence:20Agility:7Luck:25Class:Light BearerTitle/s:Heart-Linked Chain BearerN/AN/ASkillsFlareIgniteN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AMiscAttribute points:0Currency:0G 0S 0CEarth Affinity:0%Fire Affinity:20%Air Affinity:0%Water Affinity:0%Light Affinity:0%Dark Affinity:0%Alcohol Affinity:1.25%Poison Affinity:1.25%Disease Affinity:1.25%
Looking at her status she saw that she had two skill, tapping on them to see if they would show her what they did.
A soft chime played.
FlareConcentrates all light in the surrounding area to form a flash as bright as the sun.Flare deals 0 Damage, causes blindness. Use with caution. 100 Mana cost
IgniteHeat gathers at the targeted location, sucking away moisture and setting anything within aflame.Ignite deals 10 Damage p/second, must be channeled to a target within 10m. 40 Mana p/second. High chance to inflict burned debuff.
Looking over to the guy who just seems to help her every time she sees him, finding herself determined not to leave him fighting the mole on his own.