Quantix Magic Ability Confirmed!
The words glowed in front of his vision like an over-the-top “As Seen on TV” label. But they didn’t disappear.
Confused, Aiden read them again. One word he knew stood out, Magic.
Was it really possible? Had he really just done magic? he thought to himself. When the skunk nearly fell through the floor he had tried to pull it toward him, and then, it seemed like some burst of air had moved the small scared adnominal right into his lap, but...
Did I do magic? he thought to himself.
New Spirit Skill Discovered! Shove Spirit Skill: Shove Level: 1 – Spirit Breeze Description: A gentle gust of force perfect to slowly guide a single piece of straw across a barn floor.
He looked down and the small skunk still sitting in his lap. He thought about moving it off his lap but then thought better of it. So far, it seemed content enough that he hadn’t gotten blasted with skunk spray, he wasn’t exactly sure what would happen if he moved it now.
Somehow, he was able to see the skunk clearly, even as he realized the words were still displayed. But then again, he could also smell the lingering stench on the skunk while he was looking at him, so maybe the messages were something like that.
Little by little, the message sparkled, then broke apart in a sudden firework blast and finally faded. From the middle of his vision a new bright light began, got larger and larger until finally, the new message appeared:
You Earned a Reward!
Access granted to the Quantix Cognitive Orientation Response Entity
Reward? he frowned. Reward for what! And what was an Response Entity? he thought.
Do you want to engage the Quantix Cognitive Orientation Response Entity?
YES NO
Aiden couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Well, if it's some sort of reward, I suppose I would want it? he thought to himself.
Just then the “Yes” button glowed, and then it faded away.
Quantix Cognitive Orientation Response Entity System Updating…
The dots blinked, and he found himself thinking that this may be one of the worst hallucinations anyone ever had. Waiting for an application to download might be up there with hallucinating about watching paint dry. Even if it happened, it was so boring that if anyone believed you they still wouldn’t be concerned.
The screen cleared and Aiden waited for the new message to appear.
Update complete.
A second later, it was replaced with a question:
Would you like to customize your communication interface?
Sure, what could possibly go wrong if make selections I don’t understand in a system I don’t know, he thought sarcastically.
System Style Sarcastic - Accepted
Then it suddenly hit him, Wait, what if this is real? What if this… thing… Is actually reading my mind?
Then more firmly, he thought to himself, Stop. Don’t do anything! Tell me what this thing does first? What is happening?
The screen faded and disappeared again.
Quantix Cognitive Orientation Response Entity Ready
Suddenly, Aiden’s vision was inundated with an unexpected avalanche of information. The few messages he had received were nothing compared to what he was seeing now.
Aiden felt as if the world was spinning. He leaned back against the wall, trying to stabilize himself.
In front of him, data began overlaying the world. Everywhere he looked he saw a matrix of numbers and stats.
He tried to make sense of what he was seeing and focus on one thing at a time but the information was coming too fast. Information was suddenly attached to every item he looked at.
Concentrating hard, he tried to focus on just one thing and looked over at and old broken chair. Looking steadily at that one item seemed to keep his head from spinning at least a little bit. Around the chair, some of the images slowly started to fade, and then, all of a sudden, there was solid, clear information bubble in front of old wooden office furniture:
Item Name: Ghost of Office Chairs Past Description: It might look like it can hold your weight, but sit down, and you'll quickly find yourself closer to the floor than you anticipated. A spectral reminder of furniture's fleeting existence. Item Type: Furniture (Office) Item Level: 1 Rarity: Junk Durability: 2/10
He read the description but then as soon as he got to the bottom it disappeared and then the swirl of information returned, nauseating him once more.
He looked around and the images were still coming too fast, although he was starting to be able to associate some of them with the objects they described.
Looking over at the wire hanging from the walls popped the message:
Item Name: Critter-Chewed Cables Description: Proof that even after humanity's gone, the rats will be here, redecorating. Ideal for those who thought their place lacked a certain... shock value. Item Type: Materials (Wiring) Item Level: 1 Rarity: Junk Durability: 1/10
Even a glance over at a small pile of debris in the corner generated an alert:
Item Name: Industrial Dust Bunny Breeding Kit Description: Not your average dust bunnies—these come with a lifetime of warehouse grime and a touch of mystery mold. Start your very own colony today! Item Type: Miscellaneous Item Level: 2 Rarity: Junk Durability: 8/10
His head started to throb, and the world seemed like it was tilting. Wherever he looked a message displayed.
Item Name: Unidentifiable Sticky Substance Description: A thrilling mystery adventure for your senses. What is it? Where did it come from? Some questions are better left unanswered. ... ...
He looked away quickly before it could fully appear.
However, even the empty walls were displaying notes.
Item Name: "Asbestos" Brand Insulation Description: Nothing says "vintage" quite like the threat of respiratory diseases. Handle with care, or, better yet, not at all. ... ...
There was nowhere to look that didn’t pop up another message.
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Item Name: "Might Be Useful Someday" Jar of Screws Description: A testament to optimism, this jar holds the potential to fix many things, none of which are present in this warehouse. ... ...
Looking at any item, big or small, near or far seemed to cause a new message to appear in front of him:
Item Name: Binder of Forgotten Skills Description: Contains instructions for fax machines, dial-up internet, and other ancient technologies. A real page-turner for the tech nostalgic. ... ...
He needed to get it under control before he threw up from the visual assault.
Closing his eyes, Aiden took a deep breath. The stench of the old musty warehouse and the small slightly stinky skunk in his lap filled his nostrils, but the deep breath helped relax him. He took another breath, and then another.
Determined, he let breath after breath out slowly, until all of the messages faded and there was nothing in his head but the sound of his own thoughts.
Finally, he decided to take a chance and open his eyes again.
The white crow cawed and he looked over at Pearl. For once, no description popped up, but he did notice a small light appear where the messages had been. For a moment, he thought maybe he had the weird alerts under control, but then, the nausea returned in a rush. A new message appeared:
Quantix Cognitive Orientation Response Entity: Identification Error
He closed his eyes again, waiting for the message to fade, whatever this was, he wasn’t sure it was really an advantage.
All he was seeing was identification of things he already knew how to identify and the one thing he had come here to find was still missing.
Where is the Champion’s Cache!
The system again started glowing and Aiden kept his eyes closed as he waited with anticipation. He concentrated and slowly he could begin to ‘see’ a map of the warehouse. His location in the warehouse was marked with a small image that almost looked like him, sitting against a wall. But what was more interesting, was almost within arm’s reach, to his right, was a small x.
Slowly, Aiden opened his eyes, still concentrating as hard as he could on map he had just been shown, hoping he could remember what he had just seen. However, he didn’t have to remember because this time the image remained clear in his mind, the map with the x was still right next to the small icon that he took to represent himself.
He looked over to his right, and saw a small box, no bigger than a deck of playing cards.
He concentrated on the box and a message popped up over it:
Item Name: Champion’s Cache Description: The box’s location proves that sometimes, the best way to find something isn't with keen insight or detailed maps, but by plonking yourself down on the floor right next to it. Who needs intuition when you have serendipity?
Aiden rolled his eyes at the snarky message.
Luck or not, that box was what he had been looking for. Even though he was sprawled on the floor, back against a cold, damp wall, with a skunk curled on his lap and some weird AI system in his head, finding that tiny little box made it all worth it.
Carefully, he reached for it and picked it up. The box looked like the rest of the junk in the room, but it was much lighter than he expected. Although it looked like it was made of old, rusted metal, when he touched it, it didn’t have the cool touch of metal. Instead, it seemed to be made of painted plastic. Aiden smiled. It was the Geocache for sure.
Hoping this little box had all been worth all of the trouble it caused, he ran his fingers around the edge of the box until he felt the spot where he could pull the top off.
As the box opened, Aiden’s smile faded. Inside was a lone piece of paper and a small pencil. Other than the paper and pen, the cache was empty. No token, no trinket, not even a small keychain. Not only did it look like the cache had already been found but whoever found it must have taken all the small loot it would normally have held. Rendikar. He was the only person who could have made it here before him. He knew what name was probably on that log.
But, to his astonishment when he unrolled the log, the “first to find” box was empty. The sheet contained no names, no dates, just a blank space waiting to be filled.
A grin spread across Aiden’s face and his eyes lit up with excitement.
“I did it Pearl!” he said looking up at the crow perched nearby, “I actually found it first!”
Excitedly, Aiden picked up the small pencil and signed his name in the large blank box at the top.
As soon as he finished a new message appeared.
Congratulations!
You have completed the quest: "Champion’s Cache"
Do you want to continue?
YES NO
Aiden hesitated; he had been answering way too many of these messages accidentally. This time he would try to control what he was thinking.
He didn’t want to reject the question out of hand, but he also wanted to know what he was getting into first.
Well, Yes, BUT I want to know more before I continue anything!
Quest Accepted!
Quest to Talindor Academy!
Time to Realm Transfer 01:00
The screen went blank leaving only a small count down timer in the bottom right of Aiden’s mind.
00:59 00:58
The numbers declined steadily, even as another message appeared…
As requested, please feel free to read this message first, before you transport:
To safely transport through realms, begin by ensuring you have all necessary belongings—items of personal significance, knick-knacks, lucky socks and of course items of practical use are recommended.
The transport will begin as soon as the countdown is complete, so make sure to find a quiet, secure space. Or don’t. Either way, transport will begin. So, sit or stand comfortably, or don’t, close your eyes, or don’t, and take deep, steady breaths to center your mind, or just remain in total panic. Whatever you do transport will begin as soon as this countdown is over.
We do recommend that you visualize your destination realm as vividly as possible, to help ensure the transport destination is found correctly. If you have never been to your destination before, rest assured, you will probably arrive successfully anyway.
During your transport you may feel the space around you start to shift, you may notice different sensations, you might feel a bit tingly or like you are on a roller coaster designed by a lunatic. Whatever you experience, please remain calm, allowing the energy to envelop you without resistance for safe and complete transport.
That was not what I meant! Aiden thought with annoyance. That information didn’t help at all, and somehow, he had accepted anyway.
00:18 00:17 00:16
He had less than twenty seconds left to figure this out.
What is going to happen? He concentrated on the question as hard as he could.
A small light began to glow inside his mind and started growing much too slowly for Aiden. After what seemed like ages, but was probably just a second or so, the response appeared:
Current Quest: Quest To Talindor Academy!
Invitation to Talindor Academy, School of the Arcane Arts and Elemental Sciences
What does that mean? He thought as hard as he could.
Another message appeared:
Would you like to review the notice of Conditions Pertaining to Acceptance and Enrollment of the Quest: Quest To Talindor Academy!
He thought YES!
Quantix Cognitive Orientation Response Entity:
Request Interruption
No further requests can be processed at this time.
Please prepare for your Compulsory Retrieval.
Aiden was staring so intently at the snarky message that that he didn’t even notice when the crow landed on his arm.
Warning: 5 Seconds to Compulsory Retrieval
Time to Compulsory Retrieval: 00:05 00:04 00:03 00:02 00:01
And he completely forgot that he had no idea where his backpack was but still had the skunk in his lap.
00:00 Compulsory retrieval initiated.
As the time ticked down to zero, Aiden felt himself frozen in place. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, and he could still see the world around him, but when he tried to pick up his arm or bend his leg, it was as if he was stuck in thick mud, unable to move even a fraction of an inch.
Around him the colors of the dingy warehouse drained from the surrounding environment. The dark walls turned into mere shadows, blurry and indistinct. The floor and the gaping hole seemed to be covered in television fuzz one moment and then he couldn’t focus on them at all.
Only Pearl perched on his arm and the animal snuggled in his lap remained vivid and colorful. The rest of the world around them faded slowly, bit by bit until the color was gone and the greyness reached Aiden’s feet.
As soon as the fading touched him, a strange tingling sensation coursed through his body, as though a thousand microscopic needles pricked him at once. The colors being pulled out of the warehouse floor now swirled around him and creating a vortex of light, glowing with blended bright colors.
Pearl who had been perched on his arm, was now gone entirely, although the skunk was still sitting in his lap.
The pins and needle pricks ran up his leg and tingled, but didn’t hurt, like the fizzing of soda when you swallow it. Little by little he began to disappear, blending into the light that surrounded him. First, his legs faded and then his fingers and hands.
Idly, Aiden wondered to himself why it didn’t hurt. He would have thought that dissolving into nothingness would at least sting a bit, but all he felt was a sharp pang of fatigue as if the energy in his body was being depleted into the nothingness.
He wanted to remain alert, but finally it was impossible. Reluctantly he gave in and closed his eyes.
* * * * *
The pain in his head was overwhelming and Aiden moaned and tried rubbing his eyes with his hand, but it didn’t help. Whatever had happened, it seemed he had passed out and was lying down.
Blinking, he looked around, trying to remember what was happening as he used his hands to slowly help him sit back up. The memory of being dissolved flashed in his mind and he quickly looked at his feet. He sighed with relief when he realized they were still there.
Surprisingly, the skunk still remained curled on top of his legs, seemingly asleep and apparently indifferent to whatever they had just been through.
“Caw!”
The loud bird call got his attention and when he looked up, Pearl landed on his legs.
“What was that?” he asked her, shaking his head and closing his eyes against the bright sunlight.
… the bright sunlight?
He looked around and realized he was no longer in the abandoned building.
Everything was different…
Retrieval Complete.
Welcome to the Brookside Runeportal in Draydon!
Training will begin in 2 Days.