This corpse is protected from looting for… (00:4:04)

Ahh, ok… that’s a new mechanic, interesting.

More monsters could be spilling into the city, and it could fall at any moment… There were two things I needed and the sooner the better; money, and a couple of teleports. Although, Hadrien probably traded most of his money to me already, he was bound to have a little more, I just needed to wait and not draw aggro again. I looted some of the peasants and guards, whose timers had expired, but if they had any Aurem it was only in the double digits, better than nothing I guess. Their clothes came in handy though, and I equipped some unrestricted peasants’ clothes and also looted some for Catherine too. In that time, I tried Hadrien a few more times, but time was laughing at me and it only made me frustrated and anxious. The Spell book might be useful, but I doubted it, I was a Commoner class, and I didn’t see that changing anytime soon, but perhaps it would be worth storing it in my inventory.

Elementalist’s Handbook (Spell Book)

Contains inscribed Spells from the school of Elementalism.

The cover was intricately designed, four elements were etched into the cover, fire, water, earth, and wind. Inside the book several pages were missing, almost as if they were burnt out. There were some low-level Spells like Stone, and Water; but also, some high-level Spells like Stone IV, and Fire V. Well even if I can’t use it, it’ll probably sell for a lot, and I have a feeling I’m going to need as much money as I can get.

One of the guards had something peculiar.

You have received [Guard] card.

Can be used in the card game [Ars Bellica].

Was that the game the prison guards were playing?

Hadrien’s corpse was finally cooked, so I dived in.

Corpse of Hadrien

[Mahogany Staff]

[Eldritch Hat]

[Mage’s Torque]

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

[Magna Surcoat]

[Silver Bangles]

[Magna Braguette]

[Black Cape +1]

[Wizard Captain’s Belt]

[26,230 Aurem]

[Potion ???]

[Black Opal]

[Scroll ???]

[Watermelon Juice x2]

[Royal Crème Brûlée]

[‘Elementalist’ Card]

I knew he still had some money left over!

The small stuff went into my satchel, and the delicate and larger stuff into my inventory, leaving me all but pack to the rafters. Now came the hard part… I had to head back onto East street, head West into the main square, and then up North street to the Frog’s Pond, hopefully Catherine is there, grab her and then head to the Temple, which again, hopefully isn’t trashed by monsters, and teleport the hell out of here. What could possibly go wrong…

  

In fact, not much did go wrong, until I entered the inn.

“There are monsters everywhere! They're eating people! They've been killing everyone and destroying the buildings.” I blurted out.

Catherine gasped and turned pale, "What?!"

"Yeah, we need to…” I began to say until someone else in the cafeteria stood up, he had hard leathery skin, a huge hard shell on his back, and hoof like fingers.

“My city is under attack?!” he said, visibly seething. “How?”

“Well, umm—"

“Urgh! Never mind, tell me later!” he said storming out of the inn, his mercenaries trailing behind him.

Then it was just me and Catherine, alone... in the inn. well okay, the innkeeper Kalm was here too.

"You know him?" Catherine asked, eyeing the clothes I held.

I nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, I had a run in with him yesterday... he is sort of an artificial intelligent creature... or something, I'm not really sure, it's confusing."

She put her hands on her hips. "Plain english."

"Uhh... well... He's an awakened NPC, like he's sentient."

"I thought you said this was a game and that we were just stuck and all we needed to do to log out was go to some town called Divinity?"

"NO!" I said louder than I would have liked.

She reared, her face screwing up. "Woah, settle down you psycho."

My heart broke a little, and I tried to backpedal. "Wait, look, I know I told you this was game still, but I just didn't want to overly worry you, but believe me, this world is real, pain is real, even death is real."

"So why didn't you tell me sooner then?" She crossed her arms over her chest, looking at me as if I had betrayed her.

I sighed, "I did, and you didn't believe me."

She crossed her arms, and I blushed a little. "So, now what?" she asked.

"Well, I don't know."

Scenes of the angel stabbing the princess with her fingers flashed in my mind.

"We can't go to Divinity, not anymore, that's for sure."

"So?"

"I guess we should try and stay in Dagon for a while until we figure something out."

"Hmph, great plan," she said sarcastically. "Now, are those clothes for me?"

"Oh sorry, yes, here."

"No, I don't want these shoes, I want those." she said pointing to my boots.

"What? Why?"

"They look ridiculous on you, okay? And besides, you're the one that destroy my Stallitellos, so you owe me. You. Owe. Me!"

"Umm, well, you wouldn't be able to wear them anyways, they're level 7 boots."

"No excuses Mark, just hand them over."

"Okay then..."

"Huh?!"

She tried the boots on, but no matter how she shuffled or pulled they went ethereal and fell to the ground every time.

"Hmph! So, what? I need to be level 7? How do I do that?"

"Well, you'll need to farm mobs."

She glared. "English!"

"Oh right, you'll need to slay monsters to gain experience and level up."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yes, okay! I’m going to change, don’t get any funny ideas." And with that she scurried upstairs to the bedrooms.

The door to the inn suddenly swung open and the Lord Mayor lurched in.

"You! Explain yourself!"

I knew he wasn't asking based on the dark scowl he was giving me.

Though I was curious. “What happened to the monsters?”

“They have been dealt with. Now talk!”