Chapter 3 Intrigue

Levi sat munching on some carrots as he watched the sunrise outside his kitchen window. Even though he had only slept for one hour last night he came out of the game feeling completely rested. It was like the game just imbedded itself into his mind like a dream.

“Well that solves one problem at least. I can just play the game when I would normally be sleeping.”

Levi didn’t really have time issues at the moment which made that the least of his problems. More important was that he wasn’t sure that he could take the kind of pain he felt, in the game, on a regular basis.

“Maybe I should just remake my character”

Well if it became too much he figured he could just remake. Levi wasn’t ready to give up just yet. With an inward sigh Levi finished his carrot and went back up to his room.

As his room dissolved and was replaced with what looked like the inside of a tent, he realized his arms and legs we bound tightly with rope. Judging from the burning sensation when he moved, they had been that way for a while.

“What the heck? This is by far the strangest game I have ever played.”

Stopping to examine his surroundings he heard movement from two people just outside the tent.

“Hey is anyone out there!” Levi yelled.

A man decked out in leather momentarily stuck his head into the tent, revealing the night sky dotted with stars, then whispered to the other.

“He’s awake. Go inform Captain Eli.”

It seemed like forever until he heard the soft patter of people approaching the tent at a mildly fast pace.

After a short pause the captain pushed her way into the tent and slowly came to stand in front of Levi.

It was apparent that she had recently woken. Her braid, once stuffed into a leather cap, now trailed down her back. Gone was all the grime from the day’s training. Her face though currently set in a frown had a pleasantness about it only found on people who did more smiling than otherwise.

For what seemed like an eternity the captain just stared at Levi. It was just when Levi was wondering if he was expected to initiate the conversation that she spoke.

“Who are you?”

“Um… my name’s Aphaelus?” Levi answered in a questioning tone.

“Don’t play the fool with me!” She countered vehemently.

“Where do you come from? Who are you working for? No-one who knows combat like you do just joins a militia. At the very least you're a professional soldier.”

She paused for a second before her gaze went hard.

“Or a spy.”

Levi was shocked. The amount of realism in this game was astounding. It appeared that every action on his part was subject to scrutiny and had consequences. The captain did not act in any of the predictable ways he had anticipated of an NPC. Levi’s mind froze. He wasn’t very good at talking to real people.

“I think you’re overreacting. I’m not nearly as good as you say I am. I admit that I had some training as a child but in no way am I at the level of a professional soldier. Besides, you beat me quite easily and you are just a captain to a lowly group of militia.” Levi finished lamely.

“Man. Why do I always act like a jerk when I’m nervous.”

“ How dare you.” The captain shouted hottily.

“I am Elisa of the noble house Weindel and my father, General Tarlas Weindel, has had me tutored in the art and practice of warfare since I was old enough to walk. I command this lowly, as you put it, contingent of militia because men are such masochistic pigs that they could never bare to have a woman put into a position of authority over them. I am only granted this token position due to my father being a General of the military. That does not mean that I could not beat any of them in single combat or stratagem.”

The captain seemed to have forgotten about Levi as she fumed and, for a second, Levi saw past the wall of maturity and command she placed around herself to protect from a harsh reality. A girl, barely older than himself, stood before Levi. A ferocious desire to prove herself and to protect the people she cared for pushing her to rebel against a society that locked her into its desired role. Normally Levi would have been too scared to even think but something about the captain’s fuming was so cute that he started to laugh.

The captain noticed Levi again, her face involuntarily turning a light shade of red. Before she could say anything, though, Levi said.

“Well in that case I am honored that I got the chance to be beaten so thoroughly by an expert. Perhaps I might learn a thing or two under your command.”

In an instant the wall was up again and the girl disappeared as if she had never existed.

“I’m going to need some form of documentation as proof that you aren’t from Lugarthan. Surely a man of your education has something to verify his identity”

“Unfortunately I have nothing. I left from a land a world away and wanted nothing to hold me to my past. I wanted a new start. To be honest, I only joined the militia because I am in desperate need of some form of income. The hostilities between your nation and lugarthan has made very few other options available to someone like me.”

Levi answered falling into his role. As real as this game seemed it was still a game and Levi was an experienced player. Continuing on, he said.

“I am no spy. If I was, I would not have chosen to join the militia as it is unlikely that I would find much useful information so far from where the real decisions are being made.”

The captain stared at him intently for a few seconds before saying.

“If you so much as look at me in a way that makes me think that you're a spy I’ll have you hung from a tree as I poke holes in your more delicate appendages. Is that clear?”

“ Clear, sir.” Levi answered while trying not to imagine how much it would hurt, in this game, to have that happen.

“Quest complete” Jane's melodic voice whispered in his head.

“Sargent Haxlar attend me please!” The captain shouted to the men standing outside the tent.

The soldier who had moderated their fight yesterday came within the tent and stood at attention.

“I want you to untie him and get him outfitted before bringing him back to the contingent.” The captain said as she turned to leave.

“Yes sir.” Haxlar answered immediately.

Once the captain had left, Haxlar moved behind Levi and untied the bonds anchoring him to a pole at the center of the tent.

“Whoah… Well didn’t you just stir up a hornets nest.”

“It wasn’t my intention.” Levi said with a sigh.

His wrists burned where the rope had dug into them. Levi stood up and got his first good look at Haxlar, as he had been too nervous about the fight the morning before to pay him much attention. He was obviously from the same race as the captain.  They almost looked asian with their slanted eyes, light skin, and black hair. The only difference was how tall they were. Haxlar stood at about six and a half feet tall and the captain was just a bit taller than Levi standing at maybe six feet.

Haxlar smiled. “I haven’t seen the captain get so provoked before. After she knocked you out she went through your comrades and beat the tar out of them as if she expected each of them to be expert spearmen as well. I've never seen anyone use a spear the way you used it back there. Where did you train?”

“Haha I've never used a spear before.” Levi answered.

Haxlar gave him an incredulous look and directed him outside the tent.

“OK. Ok. Although I have never used a spear before, I am quite comfortable using a staff. So… I just imagined my spear was one.”

“Haha well that explains why I've never seen anyone fight like that. Haxlar answered good naturedly.

Stepping outside the tent Levi realized they were no longer within the city. Twinkling lights could still be seen from atop the walls in the distance highlighting the sentry’s progression across the wall. The sun was barely starting to peak its face above the crest of the rolling hills to the east.

“Woah, what happened? Why are we outside the city?”

“Word is that a rider came yesterday requesting aid from general Tarlas. Apparently the Lorthorians have forced him to seek cover in the city Laix but they won't last long without supplies. General Drix is sending two infantry cohorts as well as three militias to bring supplies and aid. We just happened to be the lucky sobs under a captain who decided to volunteer us to go and die for our country.” With that said, he gave Levi a wry half smile and set off at a brisk pace obviously expecting to be followed.

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Men were already in the process of getting up and packing up tents and supplies. It was clear, as they passed, that there was discipline among the regular infantry soldiers. They went about their work quickly and efficiently as Levi hustled to catch up to the Sargent.

“It’s to be expected though. Him being her father and all.” Haxlar said offhandedly as Levi closed the distance.

Soon they passed the closely packed tents of the regular infantry. and entered an area filled with wagons near the rear of the encampment. Coming to an abrupt halt outside of a large tent surrounded by wagons, they approached a large man. His height was approaching seven feet with large arms and a smattering of grey starting to encroach on his black hair.

“Segal, I need a spear, a traveling sack, a flint set, a water skin, two days dried rations, a bedroll, a knife, a set of leather armor, and the best pair of Leather boots you can scrounge up.” Haxlar said as he handed him a piece of paper from a pouch at his waist.

Segal gave him a nod and a yes sir before entering into the tent behind him, a pronounced limp in his left leg.

“The leather armor and the boots are something extra I figured I would throw in seeing as we don't want someone as experienced as you Dying to a stray arrow before you’ve carved up a Pale One or two.”

“Pale One?”

“The Lothorians. Skin’s as white as snow and eyes like an owl. Gives me the creeps even after all these years.”

“Hmm…” Levi answered non committally.

Segal soon came out of the tent arms loaded with equipment.

“Try these on for size.” Segal muttered in a deep bass.

Extremely Worn leather armor with a suspicious hole right under where the liver would be was tossed to him, followed shortly after by a pairs of high topped, laced leather shoes.

The armor was slightly too large being made for a race who were, as a whole, much taller than Levi. The shoes on the other hand fit like a glove. You could tell that this equipment had already seen a lot of use but this only meant the the shoes were already broken in.

“Haha Segal, you sure you weren’t meant to be a seamstress? You have an eye for size like I've never seen.” Haxlar taunted.

“If only it matched my ability to crush skulls. Then you people would allow me to retire in peace…sir”

Although said with vigor Segal obviously meant nothing by it as he immediately afterward stood at attention a proud smile on his face.

The legion had already started marching by the time Levi and the Sergeant got back to the Captain’s cohort of 500 freshly recruited militia.

The Sergeants behavior also did a 180 degree turn. His laid back joking behavior immediately turned into that of a superior officer and Levi was quickly ordered into rank and file as the cohort marched steadily into the west.

Entering into the company of swiftly marching soldiers under Haxlars control, Levi found himself once again following, right behind, the four players that got him into trouble with the captain. He was about to find another place in line but they had already noticed him.

“ That bitch!” Gosu practically shouted when he saw Levi.

Levi could still see the bruising all over his body from what must have been quite the beat down.

“Just be glad you didn't set your tenacity to 1.” Levi muttered as he came up next to Gosu in the file of marching soldiers.

“What...You didn’t.”

“Yep.”

“You crazy son of a bitch. Didn’t you research the stats?”

“ I was planning on being a ranged sniper that never got hit anyway. You can see how well that is going.” Levi gave him a lopsided grin while raising his spear.

“Haha, shit. This game is something else. It's more akin to real life than a game. I mean what kind of a game has you marching in an army all day. I’m surprised everyone hasn’t quit yet. Hell, I’m not even sure why I haven’t quit yet, except that debts have got to be paid, and that captain has got one hell of a beating coming her way.” Gosu finished lowering his voice to a whisper.

“Sorry to break it to you but that captain is out of any of our league. She would break you so fast you wouldn’t know what hit you.”

“I never said I was going to fight fair.” Gosu smiled evilly and Vicegrip turned around adding his two cents.

“Yep we are going to catch her with her pants down and I can’t wait to sample that bare ass.”

Levi grunted noncommittally and stared straight ahead as he continued to marched.

After a few seconds silence gosu’s quiet voice continued.

“You could help us. We saw you fight with the captain. I think you could have beaten her. We talked it out and have decided that we are willing to let you into our party. What do you think?”

Levi’s thoughts settled into a haze of panic. He didn’t know what to say, and the silence was beginning to lengthen.

“Umm…I think you guys are asking to get killed. You do know you have to remake your character when you die right?”

“Nah we got this man, and even if we don't it's no problem, we will just remake our characters and you're in the party. Its as easy as that. Even if we die taking her out, she can’t come back.”

“I’ll think about it.” Levi muttered.

“Aw come on don't be such a puss.”

“I’ll think about it.” Levi repeated and fell back a couple of soldier to the end of the file.

After that, the day passed fairly quickly. Before he new it the cohort had left the sprawling farmland that surrounded Dorlak behind, and entered an area of rolling hills dotted with bodies of trees.

Levi wanted nothing more than to drop where he stood by the time the call came signaling the cohort to stop. Apparently tenacity also affected the pain from exhaustion. If he wanted to keep this character, it increasingly appeared that he was going to have to overcome pain; whether it be from exhaustion or wounds.

As if taunting him for his poor choice of stats they were informed that they had until the sun had sunk below the horizon, about 15 minutes, to prepare their bed rolls and eat before they were to meet at a nearby meadow for training.

Levi quickly undid his bedroll and unravelled it, spreading it across the ground. Fires were being lit by groups of soldiers circling their bedrolls around them. Levi didn't know how to light a fire with flint and steel and he didn’t know anyone so he decided to forgo a fire. Sitting down alone with a moan at his aching  muscles he pulled some form of hard dried biscuit out of his sac and started munching.

The biscuit tasted horrible but Levi felt only satisfaction as he leaned against his sac watching the rays of the setting sun reflect in a multitude of colors off the clouds in the distance. His reprieve while enjoyable was entirely too short and before he knew it he was making his way to the nearby meadow in the growing darkness.

This time the captain was not leading the instruction but was walking around inspecting the instruction of her sergeants. The cohort was divided into companies of 100 soldiers each, same as when they were marching. Haxlar was the Sergeant responsible for his company.

“Form up!” Haxlar shouted and all the recruits quickly formed into a somewhat straight line.

“Can anyone tell me why we are training at night, with only these torches, he waved to several hastily raised torches on sticks staked into the ground?” Haxlar asked.

No one answered. So, Haxlar continued after a short pause.

“It's because when you die in this war, I predict, with almost certainty, that you will die at night; probably lying asleep, not even realizing you're about to leave this world. So remember this warning because the Pale Ones always come at night. They can see better than us, they can hear better than us and they never attack without perceiving some advantage.”

“Now split into twos and practice the forms you were taught yesterday.

Levi never got to learn the drills from yesterday thanks to him being unconscious so, understandably, he started to get a little desperate when everyone he approached would quickly find someone else to be their partner. He was close to hysteria when he heard someone approaching from behind and turned to see the captain slowly walking his way.

“Aphaelus, since you skipped training yesterday like the lazy maggot you are I will bring you up to speed. I wouldn’t want you fluttering around with your fancy nonsense moves like last time.” The captain said in a no nonsense voice, but Levi thought he detected a slight smirk threatening to crack her stony exterior.

Levi was about to protest her description of his fighting style but thought better of it and immediately stood at attention.

“Yes sir.”

Coming to stand by him, the captain settled into a loose stance with her feet shoulder width apart. Her right hand firmly grasped the butt end of the spear while her left held the mid section. In a quick motion she thrust her right hand forward sliding her left one back until they met. Simultaneously she pivoted her hips, releasing the air in her lungs, as the spear shot out piercing an imaginary target.

Levi was pretty good at mimicking other people's movements. It was a talent developed through many years spent learning martial arts, which was only magnified by his current level of perception. Even in the dim flickering light of the torches, Levi could see the captain’s lythe form perfectly as she displayed the strike. He couldn’t help but admire her powerful but very feline movements; Slim yet coiling muscles that would flow from one movement into the next, displaying a powerful potential, much like a cat bunching up to leap.

After completing the motion another time, she looked to Levi to make sure that he was following her. He quickly shifted his view, realizing he was rather obviously studying her rather than her technique.

“Now you try.”

“OK” Levi said with a huff.

Levi went went through the motion slowly, feeling it out, and then again with more confidence.

“Your stance and form are decent but you need to be more explosive in your thrusts. That is the strength of the spear. The ability to close distance with an opponent in a moment and prevent the same from happening to you. Use the full length given you to strike and to keep a threat at bay.”

“If I may ask. How did you make your spear warp as if it was made out of rubber when we were fighting last?” Levi asked.

The captain stopped talking and stared at him momentarily in the flickering light.

“That is a technique has been passed down in my family for generations. Even if I was willing to teach you that priceless heirloom of my family, it’s not something you could learn in time to be any use to you in the coming months.”

“I might surprise you. I already have once.” Levi countered grinning at her, but she ignored him as she continued.

“To defend against this you want to place your spear either higher or lower and push it to cross the other spears path making a x to redirect the spear. Let's give if it a try. Thrust the spear at me and i will demonstrate the block.”

Shifting to face the captain, Levi fell into the stance that he had seen her use when he fought her previously, and smiling queried:

“Ready?”

“Ready.”

Levi thrust the spear forward and the captain summarily blocked it but she seemed much more sluggish in her response to what he had experienced previously. It was almost as if she was having trouble focusing on the movement of his spear.

“How about we have a quick sparr.” Levi announced and immediately thrust his spear again.

This time, right before the spear was about to enter her sphere of influence, he quickly brought the spear down toward her leg in a poor imitation of her bending spear trick. To his surprise, it connected.

After a brief pause of shock at his success Levi followed it up with another one while taunting.

“Ha ha… It appears the invincible queen can be touched.”

Unfortunately for levi, in his enthusiasm he failed to completely block her return stroke. He received a nasty scrape along his side as she smiled back at him.

“I wouldn’t get too cocky. That strike was the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Ha. Ugly or not, it hit you, and is deserving of a name. I will call it the ugly bending spear of death.”

An idea forming in his head, Levi retreated farther from the torches receding back into the shadows.

“I bet you can’t get even one more hit on me.” He taunted.

“Ha, do you think me stupid Aphaelus? I can see that you seem no more affected by the darkness than a noon day meadow. I do, on the other hand, very much appreciate you volunteering for night watch henceforth.”

“Come. It is time for the militia to rest. You have a long night of watch duty ahead of you to occupy your boundless energy.”

Levi groaned, wishing he could die.