Koji:
Jade and I wait at the South Gate. She would normally be at her booth, but... well, it's early afternoon, and neither of us has slept since yesterday. I don't know if she sleeps at all. I feel like I'm about to fall asleep on my feet, but she is as bright and feisty as ever.
Actually, I don't think I've ever seen someone so excited.
Jade: "What does your brother look like again?"
Koji: "He's my height, has dirty blonde hair. He wears ripped-up clothes. He doesn't have an item bag, or a weapon, or anything else."
Jade: "And his name's Gabe right?"
Koji: "Yes"
I think I have confirmed that information... maybe a hundred times now.
Jade holds a large cloth bag in her right hand. She plays with the cloth tie with her left hand and, every so often, puts her hand in to feel what's inside. Inside the bag are the final pieces for the stuff we made for Gabe. I offered to just give it to him, but, according to Jade, some of the stuff has to be fit to him specifically. She brought along her tools - the one that knits the metalcloth together and the one that can cut it - and is planning to do final touches to make sure everything fits.
I just want to go to sleep.
It's been 30 minutes since Gabe told me he was on his way from the church. The church is in the north of Fountain City, but I was expecting it to take him twenty minutes.
Maybe he got held up by someone there? I've been to the church once with Gabe before - the time we met the sister... what was her name? The one who identified his ring.
I honestly thought about just logging out and taking a nap, but Jade insisted that we had to give everything to Gabe now. And there was the whole payment debacle.
(Earlier)
Jade: "Wheeeeeeeeeeeee! We're done! All we need is some finishing touches when your brother tries them on! Fruit Boy, we are amazing!"
Koji: "Sweet! Gabe is going to love this stuff!"
Jade: "Message him and get him to come meet us. Maybe at the South Gate? That's close to here."
Koji: "Sure! Just gimme a second."
I message Gabe, who lets me know he'll be on his way momentarily from the church.
Koji: "He's on his way. He's coming from the church, so it'll be around 20 minutes until he gets here."
Jade: "Then let's go! We don't want to miss him!"
Jade packs everything up and closes her booth yet again, jogging off toward the South Gate.
Koji: "Um, Jade... I was just wondering... you made Gabe a really nice backpack... and a lot of other really cool stuff... um... could you tell me how much it is going to cost?"
Jade stops and turns around to face me.
Jade: "If I sell these to you at market value, there is no way you'll be able to buy them, Fruit Boy. Unless, of course, you happen to have a King's Ransom in that item bag of yours!"
She laughs raucously.
Jade: "But really. I can't charge you. If anyone found out I sold something like this they would be all over me like dung beetles. Bleh!"
She turns around and keeps walking.
Koji: "Well... I do have some money... not a King's Ransom haha. I just feel bad not paying..."
Jade: "Fruit Boy! Stop it! I would have to charge thousands of gold if I sold this stuff to you, even with a massive discount! Do you even have any idea what we were working with?"
Koji: "Ummmm... metalcloth?"
Jade: "Mithril. Mithril metalcloth."
Koji: "I feel like I've heard of Mithril. Was it in Lord of the Rings?"
Jade: "Mithril is an extremely rare metal that can only be processed with magic. It is impossible to even mine it with normal tools... and it's also impossible to craft with it using normal tools."
Jade: "Most craftsmen dream of being able to work with Mithril one day. Before yesterday, I had never even touched it before..."
Jade: "Long story short, Mithril is worth a thousand times its weight in gold. It's so valuable that I would get robbed if people knew I had a piece in my booth. It's beautiful. It's wonderful. But the existence of Mithril metalcloth is literally absurd. It's so expensive that I never want to work with it ever again. I don't know how Hood-guy got so much of it, and I'm scared to even go near him again. I've been so scared of making a mistake... so scared of ruining something so valuable. That's one reason why I used all of it."
I haven't said anything.
Jade: "Your mouth is open Fruit Boy."
I close my mouth.
Jade: "Now you see why I can't sell it?"
Koji: "Yeah... I guess so."
We keep walking.
Koji: "But now I feel even worse."
Jade: "Then let's make a deal. You be my slave forever."
My eyes go wide.
Jade: "Just kidding Fruit Boy! Honestly, you gotta learn to lighten up! How about this - anytime you need something made, you come to me first. If I don't want to make it, you can go somewhere else. But you always come to me first."
She keeps thinking.
Jade: "And, I want you to be my apprentice."
Koji: "What?!?"
Jade: "Well, if not my apprentice, at least help me melt glasswax sometimes! Honestly, Fruit Boy, you have no idea how much time you save me! Glasswax takes forever. And, if I somehow have to craft with Mithril metalcloth again, I'll be doomed if you're not there!"
Jade: "Just stop by the market every couple days and do stuff for me using that enormous MP of yours. You can think of that as your payment."
She laughs and skips away.
Which leads to us here at the South Gate. I am now indebted to this NPC for the rest of my gaming life. Not exactly something that was in my plans... but I guess it's not all that bad. Melting glasswax only takes a few seconds... and Jade is actually pretty cool. The way she puts everything into her projects is inspiring. And eventually I'm going to need new equipment. If she can make it well, then it'll be good for both of us. Who knows? Maybe I'll even pick up a crafting skill. It's the least I can do since she isn't charging me for all the stuff she made.
---
Jade: "You sure your brother is coming, Fruit Boy? Did he get lost or something? Wait. Do you even *have* a brother?"
Koji: "Yeah... this is weird. Gabe is never late. Something must have happened."
I check my in-game messages but don't see anything from Gabe. I send him a short message asking him to send an ETA.
Koji: "I just asked him to send an ETA."
Jade: "Oh good. Then we can know that we have to wait another hour. Or two. Or four. Hahahaha!"
I think the lack of sleep is finally starting to get to her.
Suddenly a large number of fully armed guards leaves the guardhouse and runs up the right street toward Fountain Square. We try to ask people what's happening, but no one seems to have any idea.
Gabe still hasn't responded. Ten minutes pass, and I notice a young woman approaching people, speaking with them for a moment, then walking away. She seems to be approaching everyone at the South Gate. Maybe she's selling something? Wait. She just completely ignored a group of female adventurers. She must be selling something that is targeting men. No one seems to be buying though. I don't really have much money to spend anymore. Please don't ask me for money.
She reaches us and speaks directly to me: "Excuse me, are you Gabe's Brother?"
Koji: "Yeah - Gabe is my brother! Do you know Gabe? We're waiting for him. Where is he?"
Young woman: "Sister Maribel and your brother were attacked near Fountain Square. Sister Maribel and the children from the orphanage were covered in blood. She told me your brother had already teleported, and she wasn't sure when he would return. She asked me to find you and send her apologies..."
Jade: "She's not coming here is she? Is she going back to the church?"
Woman: "When I left, castle healers had arrived. I expect they will be treated, then return to the church. The enchantment there is strong enough to keep even daemons out."
Jade: "Well, thank you. If you'd like to run and catch up with her, you don't need to stay with us anymore."
The woman bows slightly, then turns and runs off in the direction of Fountain Square.
Jade turns to me: "Well, Fruit Boy, looks like your brother isn't gonna show, is he?"
She turns more serious: "I'm sorry Fruit Boy. You said your brother had bad luck... getting attacked in broad daylight in the middle of the city though... I had no idea."
Jade: "I'm glad we made the stuff we did!"
She hands me the cloth bag in her hands.
Jade: "Stick this in your item bag ok? If there are bad guys out there, getting robbed is the last thing I want to happen to me. I'm gonna go back to the booth. Actually, I'm probably going to sleep."
Jade: "Let me know when your brother comes back? No disappearing on me Fruit Boy! I gotta be there when you give him the stuff! Do we have a deal?"
She extends her right hand. I take it with mine and we shake.
Koji: "Deal. I'll let you know when Gabe comes back."
---
Koji:
I log out of Dungeon Quest and call my brother. I usually just text him. But I want to hear what happened. The phone goes to voicemail after the third ring. I try again. Again voicemail.
What could he be doing?
I still have a while before my next meeting. I grab my car keys and drive over to Gabe's place. His phone location shows that he's at home.
It takes less than 15 minutes to get to his house. I ring the bell but there is no answer. The front door is unlocked and I walk in: "Gabe! You home? I came over to see what happened!"
The apartment is quiet. Gabe is laying on his bed with game gear on.
Is he still in the game somehow?
No. The lights on the gear are dimmed, so that means he's currently timed out from logging in.
Is he asleep then?
Koji: "Gabe! You awake?"
Gabe: "Ungggghhhhh. I hurt."
Koji: "Bro! What happened? I was waiting at the South Gate and heard you got attacked?"
Gabe: "Yeah. We got ambushed by some guys. They wanted Sister Maribel. They killed all the kids... wait..."
He stumbles to his feet.
Gabe: "Are the kids ok?"
Koji: "The kids?"
Gabe: "The kids at the orphanage! Are they ok?"
Koji: "I don't know... I came here as soon as I heard you got hurt."
Gabe: "You have to go check on them! Right now! Please!"
He pulls off the game gear and hands it to me. His gear is covered in cold sweat.
Gabe: "Uhhhhh sorry. I can clean it for you. Give me a second."
He grabs a T-shirt from the floor and wipes down the gear, then hands it back.
I put on the game gear and adjust it to fit me.
Game gear syncs with the brain waves, thought patterns, and personal characteristics of each person. Instead of needing to log in, those characteristics are used. No one really knows which ones are used as "username" or "password," which increases the encryption protocol.
I log back in and appear at the South Gate of fountain city.
I head off at a jog to fountain square.
---
An area near fountain square has been cordoned off. Inside, I see a group of healers surrounding small cots. And the church sister. Her white clothing has an enormous amount of red on it... that is definitely blood.
What was her name?
Oh yeah! The girl at the South Gate said it.
Koji: "Sister Maribel!"
Sister Maribel turns to look at me. It only takes a moment before she recognizes me. She rushes over and asks a guard to let me through.
Koji: "What happened here?"
Maribel: "We were attacked. Gabe protected us. Well... I actually don't know what he did."
Koji: "Gabe fought people for you?!?"
Maribel: "No, he didn't fight at all! He just... somehow... but the children were dead... and they left... and somehow they are alive now... but they are so weak..."
Sister Maribel begins crying. Her face is already red - it's apparent that tears have happened frequently.
Koji: "Gabe sent me to ask if the children were ok."
Maribel: "What? You talked with Gabe?"
Koji: "Yeah. I went to his place and talked with him. And he asked me to come check on you."
Maribel: "I don't understand... but you're brothers right? I believe you. Here. Come with me."
She guides me over to a cot holding a small girl. The girl's eyes are closed. Her chest and the cot she is on are both red with blood. It's a girl from the orphanage. Two women stand on either side of the cot, green light extending from their fingers to the girl.
Maribel: "This is Zaza. During the fight, she was stabbed... somehow, she is alive. But she is bleeding badly and the bleeding won't stop. She still has one HP, but no matter how much we heal her, she keeps losing blood."
She looks around at the other cots.
Maribel: "The other children are in similar condition."
Koji: "All of them?"
Maribel: "One has recovered. Her wounds were also extreme, but she is stabilizing."
Man in uniform: "Sister Maribel. Please."
Maribel: "I'm fine! Help the children!"
Man in uniform: "Sister. If you faint again you will be unable to help the children."
Sister Maribel breathes heavily and goes to sit on the cot indicates by the man. A man and a woman stand next to her and green light begins to flow around her.
Maribel: "Really... I'm totally fine. I'll show you."
She opens her status screen, looks at it for a moment, and then she goes quiet.
Man in uniform: "Sister?"
Maribel (quietly): "Gabe... it wasn't just the children... what... how... I didn't know..."
Maribel has had 20 HP for years. Yet when she looks at her status it shows her HP: 18/38. And a status condition - Bloodbound - she saw on each of the children as well.
She sits quietly while the healing continues.
Koji: "I'm going to tell Gabe that everyone is getting healed. Is there anything else I can do?"
Maribel: "Ask him to talk to me when he returns?"
Koji: "For sure!"
---
Koji:
I log out and open my eyes to see Gabe waiting expectantly.
Gabe: "Are they ok?"
Koji: "There are castle healers there. All the children are alive, but they're all in critical condition. The healing is taking much longer than usual. Maribel was badly hurt but she seems to be doing better."
Gabe: "*sigh*"
He falls with his back against the bed.
Koji: "So what exactly happened?"
Gabe: "I was coming to meet you with Lucia. The kids wanted to come along, so Maribel came with. We got attacked by something and Maribel cast a circle of protection."
Gabe: "It was a group of men. They knew Maribel. Called her Eliza. Told her to go with them."
Gabe: "They held Zaza hostage. Maribel was going to go but I wouldn't let her. Turns out they were going to kill everyone anyway."
Koji: "What about the guards?"
Gabe: "No one stopped. No guards. It was like no one even saw us. I know one of the guys left to *take care of things* but it was strange that no one came to help us."
Koji: "Yeah..."
Gabe: "Lucia protected me. She took every hit. I couldn't even see her. The assassins killed all the kids and hurt Maribel and I couldn't protect them. I brought them back to life, but I ended up dying since my HP went below zero."
Koji: "Wait what?!? Who is Lucia? How did you bring them back to life?"
Gabe: "Oh yeah! You haven't met Lucia yet. She's the slime I saved in the waterfall cave."
Koji: "The slime... wait... you didn't die?!? What? How? How did you get out? And I left you alone... but how can a slime protect you? And..."
Gabe: "Oh mannnnnn little brother. Do I have a story to tell you! Do you have time right now? I'll tell you *everything.* I'm gonna grab a quick shower first though. I feel gross and I have a feeling it will be a while until I'm allowed to log in again. Grab some food from the fridge if you want it."
------------
It takes over an hour for two healers to heal Sister Maribel. Cursory status magic reveals that she has crushed bones and has lost an enormous amount of blood.
Man in uniform: "Sister Maribel... how you survived that attack... how you are still alive... how all of you survived... was a miracle."
Maribel: "Yes... It was."
>>>
Zaza's Status
Name: Zaza
Type: Human child (NPC)
Proficiency: None
Level: 1
Age: 4
HP: 1/6
MP: 25
STR: 0
AGI: 0
DEX: 0
END: 0
INT: 0
WIS: 0
CHA: 0
PER: 0
LUC: 0
Status:
(Bleeding) (Fatigue) (Shock) (Heart Failure) (Lung Puncture) (Bruising) (Dehydration) (Blood Loss)
Bloodbound: Temporary and Max HP increased due to Pacifist Heal.
Relife: Core stats and level decreased to minimum due to recent revival. All stat upgrades, proficiencies, and levels have been permanently lost.