Chapter Fourteen: Talkie Voice Thing
~Run 3, Entrance, Floor 1, Sewers of Aerlyn~
I jolted awake, and my hand flew to my nose, blocking out a smell that made me gag. The world had changed. Gone were the roses and vibrant blues of the sky where Jamie and I sat eating lunch today.
Jamie? The image in my brain grew fuzzy, so I shook my head. Ignoring the fading thoughts, I moved my body, trying to figure out where I was.
As I moved, my feet squelched in the foul water, its cold, vicious touch crawling over my skin like slugs while the chill of the stone floor underneath seeped into my feet as if I were walking on ice. I knew where I was. Memories flooded my mind as I fell to my knees in the muck.
The memories came back quicker this time. The necromancer’s chilling presence, the way it felt as his face caved under my fist; the grotesque goblins amid their ritual, the pain of Drip stabbing me in the kidney; the adrenaline and joy as I cleaved enemy after enemy in two; and...
Then, how easily I slipped away. I scanned my surroundings, a sense of déjà vu washing over me. The same dank brick walls, the sewage that clung to every surface slowly rising to the ceiling—the same acrid air—I was back where I had started.
“No! I was so close this time,” I groaned, my frustration boiling over. “How did I lose as a barbarian? I had so much health and a 2 in defense!” My voice echoed in the empty chamber, and I almost didn’t expect a response. But as I grumbled about my defeat, a scroll materialized out of thin air, unfurling elegantly before me.
[I did tell you to watch out for your hubris. The first boss is always a difficult hurdle.]
The scroll, displayed in elegant, flowing script, seemed to chide me somehow.
“But I had the cleave skill. It should’ve worked,” I muttered, watching new words transform into text on the scroll.
[And now you are whining.]
I rolled my eyes and decided just to move on. “Alright, I have eight death boons. How would you suggest I spend them?”
The words scrolled by slowly, which made my skin itch. Couldn’t she hurry it up?
[My notifications always seem to get in your way. You should purchase the boon that allows me to speak physically. You are also locked out of the barbarian class for four runs, so it would potentially be a good idea to unlock another class. You have been lucky with your looting so far and always manage to get a weapon… but don’t rely on that luck to continue.]
I sighed again, a habit that punctuated my thoughts lately. Was I always this way? I wondered, feeling a pang in my chest at my still fragmented memories.I desperately hoped I would ‘unlock’ more of them as I continued my way through this place.
Shaking off these thoughts, I focused on the task at hand. “Alright, first, I’d like to purchase a class.”
[Very good, Rod. You spent three death boons. Rolling now.]
More text scrolled by on the page, and a die rolled past, splattering into the constantly draining muck. My anticipation was palpable as I watched it intently.
Rod: Rank 1, Urchin
Stat:
Level
Effect:
Health
30/30
Health is burned as fuel to keep you from dying.
Stamina
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
50/50
Stamina is burned as fuel to make skills function
Potency
3
Adds 1 point of damage to all physical attacks
Vitality
6
Adds 5 points of health per level
Finesse
10
Adds 5 points of stamina per level
Precision
15
Precision is the likelihood of your attacks hitting your target. Each point higher than the target’s evasion adds a 5% chance to hit.
Evasion
12
Evasion is the likelihood of your opponent's attacks missing. Each point higher than the target’s precision adds a 5% chance to dodge.
[You unlocked the Urchin class. This quick-footed class has the unlock skill and the innate skill: Evade. This skill will slow down time on a successful dodge roll.]
I paused, absorbing this new information. That seems broken. I can’t believe I got a class this awesome. Hopefully, it would lead to less pain and quicker fights. And chests! I didn’t even need keys anymore. If lucky, I could probably start hoarding keys for future runs.
I was curious about how fights would go. Instead of defense, the Urchin class was focused on evading strikes. But if I did get hit, I was likely dead in the not-so-metaphorical sewage water.
“I don’t think I ever asked how stats work. One to one. Do you mind explaining them?” I asked, hoping Crystal would finally tell me how this place worked.
[Can’t you read? It literally explained it in the class chart!] Crystal brought the character sheet in front of my face. [Besides, we should finish your dungeon boons before spending time retreading the tutorial.] The text appeared on the scroll, somehow suggesting impatience.
“But we never did the tutorial!” I said.
[And whose fault is that?] The scroll text flashed; this time, it seemed impatient, but I was getting frustrated trying to read and respond.
Wait, that's it!
“I want to buy that talkie voice thing for you,” I said.
[ You have spent 3 Death Boons. You have unlocked The Crystalline Voice Dungeon Boon.] Suddenly, there was a chiming sound.
“Did it work?” I asked, a bit unsure of what to expect.
[What do you think?] An angelic voice enveloped my consciousness before the words had fully materialized. It wasn't just a sound but an all-consuming presence resonating within me. The voice was so loud, overwhelmingly so, echoing through every fiber of my being. My head began to throb, the intensity of the voice manifesting as physical pain.
The sound wasn’t just heard; it was felt, vibrating in my chest, reverberating in my skull. I clutched my head, struggling to adjust to this invasive, all-enveloping voice.
“Too loud,” I gasped, wincing as each word seemed to amplify the pounding headache. It was so loud. Loud. Loud. LOUD!
“Ahh! Make it stop! Make it stop!” I cried out. The voice’s intensity was unbearable. And then, as if in response to my plea, the overwhelming sensation ceased abruptly, just like all other pain in Penance. “What was that, Crystal? Why was it so loud?”
[I’m sorry, Rod. I had to adjust the volume. I believe it should be much more reasonable now,] Crystal said, now a soothing presence like gentle rain tapping against my consciousness.
Her voice resonated differently this time, stirring something within me. I felt an odd flutter in my chest, which warmed my cheeks with an unexplained blush. I looked down, trying to compose myself, but then an orb appeared in the air. I reached out and touched it.
{Memory Core 4/???}
{Would you like to view your memory?} {Y/N}
“Yes,” I said.
~~~~~~~{Memory Core 4 Start}~~~~~~~
Queen Jamie stood before me, her dark brown hair cascading in gentle waves. As I clutched her ring in my pocket, her presence radiated warmth, her bright heterochromatic eyes shining with kindness beneath long lashes. Taking her ring in my pocket, I shifted in my feet, uncomfortable under her piercing gaze that surely knew what I was hiding.
“Good morning, Rod.” Her voice was eerily similar to Crystal’s, though it tugged at something within me. I stared, unsure what to do. But then, as if I had no control, my body moved forward and grasped her in a hug.
“How’s that ring treating you?” Her smile quirked up as she looked at my pocket where I kept the ring. Instead of the anger I had expected, warmth radiated out. Her high cheekbones accentuated a gentle smile. Why did I want her? That first memory made it seem like I hated her.
At that moment, my soul felt like a house engulfed in flames in the middle of a torrential downpour. The fire of my longing battled against the storm of guilt. I was going to use the ring to kill her father. But I couldn’t do it. She was still smiling as the memory faded away.
~~~~~~~{Memory Core 4 End}~~~~~~~