Ch 26 Leaving the Dungeon
Arthur woke and started the last of his packing. Today he was leaving. It was finally time. It didn't take him long. After having a quick meal. And a quick shot of pristine. Looking around making sure nothing was left behind. It was time. To get properly dressed. Looking through all the clothes he had made he picked a light grey button down and simple black shorts. Quick auto size and I'm set. Pulling on my comfy sandals I'm good to go. I take a deep breath and start walking towards the boss room. It had been so long since I walked down here, I had forgotten. Passing through the rooms I was almost nostalgic. They were bare now, but I had spent five months in these rooms. It was truly cramped as I had more than enough room to move around as I wanted.
Getting to the boss room the portal to leave was still there. All I had to do was step through. It feels wrong. For me it had been five months, for everyone else it had been 30 minutes. If I remember right, I had just run someone from the military that morning and was going to run someone again the next morning. I’ll have to look at my journal later.
With that I step through
***
To a very different scene than what I was used to. Gone was the shack with a guard. Now there was a metal building, with fences lining the area in front of the dungeon. A guard came up to me.
“Sir, what is your name and rank?”
“I'm sorry what?”
“Your name and party rank?”
“My name is Arthur Turner. I don't know what you mean by rank?” I told him
He looked me over. “That's not funny sir. Turner died.”
I blinked, stunned. What? “My name is Arthur Turner, and I have a license to prove it?”
“Show me.” demanded the guard
So, I did, pulling my wallet from my inventory. Where I kept nearly all my possessions. Nothing in my pockets nowadays. Showing my driver's license to the guard he pulled his radio to his mouth and started speaking.
“Call the sergeant, turner isn't dead. He was still in the dungeon. Yes sir, I’ll bring him to you.” with that he motioned to me to follow.
We trudged along, there seemed to be new paths laid out. The dirt having been trampled down. There seemed to be more organization now. As I followed along, I figured out what was nagging at me. It was morning. I went into the dungeon in the evening. It wasn’t 30 min. In fact, I was starting to think it was a lot more.
We came to a throw together building they put up in construction sites. It seems things were getting a bit more permanent. The guard quickly knocked and ushered me in. I stood in the doorway and look around. Srg Sorko was sitting at the desk closest to the door. He waved me over to a seat.
“Looks like you ain’t dead, congrats.” he stated huffily. I nodded, still confused about the new layout of things. “Seems to me you spent a bit too long in the dungeon. Everyone comes on in 30 min, except you. What happened?” he asked gruffly.
“I spent 5 months to my counting. Crafting mostly.”
He stares at me. “Five months. Alone, in the dungeon. Is that right?”
I nod. Still confused on what the hell happened.
“Turner, it's been almost a week since anyone has seen you.”
I stop. Just stopped. Breathing, moving, thinking. A week? That can't be right, the dungeon only takes 30 minutes, right?
I stared at him. “a week?” I ask weakly
“Nearly, five almost six days now.” he answered my question. “we’ve been building up around the dungeon. Getting more people to run it with singles and pairs. Less in full parties. Still getting credits, but less exp. It's been working well.”
I nodded to him. I didn't keep my word to run them after all. I should check in with DMC too. To sell the wands.
“Do you still need me to run people through then?” he shook his head.
“Nope, you did right by us, but we took care of it. And you were right, we only needed a few more people to run a few other people before it started to avalanche. Now we have nearly everyone kitted out with the basics at least. And most of them can afford a few nicer meals too.” I nodded. Thats one thing off my plate. A week. Shit, the guild.
“I should go, I need to check in with a few people.” I tell him.
“you're certainly right about that. But I'm afraid you can't go yet.” I look at him, a question in my eyes. “You stayed the longest in the dungeon. We need to know the effects.”
I think a moment. “Nothing for now. Just isolation. I bought a laptop with a frozen expression of the internet, so I felt like I was home alone for five months. I had a lot of crafting I did. I have a lot to sell to the system store now. I'll show you some of it after I do that. I need to talk to my guild people, and DMC about the wands they wanted. If it's been a week I'm behind on my commitments.” I tell him honestly.
He gives me a nod. “In that case, give me your number. Stay in contact with me and no dungeon diving for a week. We need to know if there is any adverse effects on you.”
I startle, not even thinking about that. I pull my phone out checking the charge. And swipe to sign in. Handing it to him to input the contact info he wants. After he does, I ask to take his pic to save as his contact info. He agrees easily.
“I'll keep my phone on hand and not in my inventory, so you should be able to get me anytime.” I tell him.
“Good! I'll try to keep all contact to daytime however.” He gives me a laugh and ushers me back outside. He waves a nearby guard over and tells them to escort me out.
It didn't feel like a compound but now I can see it. I follow this new guard towards the street side entrance. Where it meets up with the parking garage. And goes near the bus stop.
I pause and tell him, “here’s good. I teleport.” and wave goodbye. Then think of my star board and press the button for DMC.
***
Landing on the sidewalk on the side of the car lot wasn't too bad. I started walking towards the main entrance to see if they got the notice of my demise. Hopefully not. As I enter, I see the same receptionist is there. I smile at her and she looks taken aback.
“Hi there, been a minute.”
“Yes, it has” she replies tersely. Oh dear, it has been a week since they've seen me. They likely thought I reneged.
“So, a bit of a situation. Dungeon isn't only 30 minutes. It's based on how long you spend inside.” I smile at her. She glares at me. So, I continue. “For most people it's been just a few days, for me it's been about five months. Needless to say, I've missed people, but! I spent a lot of time crafting. I have so many wands now. If the big guys still want to buy lots.” I tell her grinning.
Her glare wavers. I might have vanished, but the need for the wands hasn't. And the possibility of a load of them coming was a good thing.
“Let me see who is available.” She states calmly and she reaches for the phone. After a moment of dialing, she gets a reply. “Yes sir, he is here, he says he was in the dungeon the whole time. And that he has a lot of wands sir. No sir I didnt ask. Yes sir. Yes sir, I'll send him to you. Thank you, sir.” After hanging up she turns to look at me. Professional once more. “Mr. Dumar is free right now and would like to see you're ‘load of wands’ he says you know where to go.” and with that she promptly ignores me.
I want to laugh to myself. I suppose I deserve that. I disappear after promising so much. I go to the elevator and head towards the meeting rooms I was in last time. It's the most likely place he’ll be in. Since I wasn't called to an office. Getting there wasn't a problem. The door being open and no one being in the room however was. I suppose I should try the office from last time as well, but I'm less confident about it. I think iI'llwait here in the same room where I met Calloway. Seemed like the best idea.
I start pulling wands out and making stacks of ten. In front of each chair seems reasonable. One side is pristine, the other is sealant. Then done the middle is more stacks of pristine. All nice and tidy. So, ten stacks of pristine and five stacks of sealant are on the table. Is that enough for one hospital? I can always sell more if they want more. But this is my proof that I have them. How many wands could one hospital need for each type anyway? How many hospitals are in Dallas again? I can just sit and make wands now with just mana so, just sitting around I can make wands, but there are other things I want to do with my time now that I’m out of the dungeon.
I take a seat and wait for Dumar. I start fiddling with my phone. Connecting it to the WiFi and letting it update the date and time. I’m a little surprised to see so many missed calls and texts now that I’m out of the dungeon. It looks like Lucas didn’t give up on me. I message him that I'll be by in a few hours.
It was about 20 minutes for dumar and Calloway to come to the meeting room. They both looked unhurried. I suppose they wanted to impress on me they were above me and that they had more important things to do. Wel shucks. Then they saw the stacks of wands. Calloway paused and started pulling paperwork from his briefcase and dumar just sat down next to me.
“So, Mr Turner, it appears the rumors of your demise are exaggerated.” I chuckle at that. And nod.
“Yeah sorry, found a new point of the dungeon system. It’s not just 30 minutes but how long you spend in the dungeon. I stayed a few months and came out in just over five days.” Calloway was still rifling through papers behind Dumar. I was getting curious as to why.
Dumar hums a moment. “As to your production, I see that went quite well?” He gestures to the stacks of wands on the table.
I smile. “That and so much more. I have roughly four and a half thousands of both pristine and sealant wands.” They both freeze at that. I think Dumar even wheezes a little. I smile wider.
Calloway puts down his briefcase and pulls a blank notepad and starts writing in it. Dumar takes a deep breath. “Tell me, how many did you expect to sell today?”
I blink. “Uh, maybe 50 or so? Of each? I didn’t think you could take that many at once. But I also wanted to start spreading them out to other places. I wanted your opinion on that.”
They looked to one another, Calloway nodded. Dumar smiled. “I believe we can come to an agreement. Tell me, Mr. Turner, how many can you sell as of right now?”
I open my inventory and look at the stacks of wands. “I have 4726 sealant and 4739 pristine wands. How many do you want?”
Dumar sat back and looked at me. “I believe we should renegotiate our previous agreement. Instead of 1000$ would 500$ suffice? It seems to me you make these out of thin air. And we are buying in large bulk quantities.”
I think about that for a moment. I do basically make them out of mana. It just takes time and mana, a little bit of focus. 500$ wasn’t a bad deal for ten minutes’ work. And it did feel more fair since they were going to buy so many. And I wasn’t quite so desperate for cash now that I would have a steady flow.
“Can you buy at least 100 wands now?” I ask. That would set me up well for the foreseeable future. Get as many needed supplies as I needed and see about getting some land. A stray thought in the back of my head. “With the compromise, that you buy at least a thousand wands total from me. In currency at some point. I’d like if you bought more, but I want to sell all these wands for currency. As they are already for sale in the system store.”
Dumar frowned a moment. Looking at Calloway who gave him a nod. “We can do that. My question for you is, would you authorize us as a reseller?”
I thought for a moment. I could sell all the wands straight to DMC and they could deal with it. It was a pleasant thought. And then I wouldn’t have to deal with other hospitals at all.
“If I did, would you sell to local places only? Small clinics and large hospitals? For the same price?”
Dumar sighed. “Nearly enough the same price yes. We might up charge a little, but less than a hundred per wand. And we would sell to nearly everyone. Even to individuals if they are healers.” I nodded at that. Something I hadn’t considered is that healers aren’t going through the dungeon as of yet. Just staying outside. Maybe I should try selling there too?
“That’s fair. I'll sell my wands to you for 500$ and you sell them for 600$. To everyone that can make use of them.” I pause then start again. “How many wands would you like to buy today?” I try not to look too hopeful.
Calloway laughs. Dumar smirks at me. “A few at least. Remind me, it's one person per wand, correct?” I nod. “The pristine wand makes everything nice and clean removing dirt and grime. Sealant mostly closes a wound until it can heal naturally or be healed by a healer?”
Again, I nod. “Pristine will also straighten things up. Such as clothes or sheets. Like little daily wear and tear. Sealant will help with small and major open wounds. It won't completely seal them but it will stop blood loss and hold close the wound. It’s suggested to use pristine at the same time to prevent infection. But can be used after to remove infection. I am under the belief it will also help with burn victims, immensely.”
They were both looking at me now. “How strong a belief?”
“I would be willing to test it on anyone who has lost up to twenty percent skin loss. After that, it would take too much from the rest of their bodies to stretch out their skin. However, you can also portion it to smaller areas to make larger open wounds smaller. And I’m not talking scar tissue, but fresh skin. People who have to live in sterile rooms being pristined and a few sealants of extreme wounds to prevent most bacteria to getting into their bloodstream. Open wounds on their hands aren’t too bad. Open wounds on their stomach is another thing entirely. I know little of skin grafting. But once some skin is grown you can grow more right? Sealant would encourage rapid skin growth to cover the most severe wounds. Add in pristine and you can keep the skin grafts clean without have to worry and rejection.”
Dumar was looking at me again. I pulled my fruit roulette bottle and pulled a drink. I think it was kiwi again, but I was too thirsty to notice.
“You think or you know?” He asked.
“Sort of know? But mostly pulling on the knowledge of what I can do and the imprinted knowledge of what the wand is supposed to be able to do. Like, I set the wand to do certain things, and it took those things and expanded my knowledge. On my wants and needs, on what I wanted it to be, the best outcome I could have had for it. Like I made pristine so I didn’t have to do laundry. So it added in cleaning up wear and tear to itself, as that is part of what wears down laundry over time is the daily use. I didn’t think of that. My image of what I wanted the pristine to do added that. I wanted to not have to clean things. To never have to wash dishes. To it made sure I would never. Have to replace dishes either. Because it used my subconscious thoughts as well as my conscious mind and focus on what I wanted for the enchantment to be. Sealant did the same. I wanted it to prevent more harm to a wound until someone with actual skill can heal the wound or help them heal naturally. But the enchantment took it farther. It knew that not everyone has magic healing, because I knew that. So it made it so that it would last until that wound was healed. It will prevent more damage to the wound and prevent blood loss and more than one sealant can be applied to a person, just not the same wound. Because that was what my subconscious thinks when I was making a stasis bandage. It became a sealant one instead.”
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
As I finished speaking, I felt a rush of adrenaline to finally explain my thought process to someone. Someone who hasn’t gone through what I did, who may be using the system or not. But clever enough to understand where my head was going with what I was doing. I wanted more people to understand that the system was helping. It was trying to understand people, but it was either a machine beyond our comprehension or an alien life form so far beyond us. I couldn’t tell which. I couldn’t say which scared me more. But I was finally beginning to understand it. It was hating on us. It just didn’t think of us. It was just going along as it always has, and we were a new thing that appeared to it. So, it added us as it had the other 13 trillion species.
Calloway looked at me aghast. He stuttered a little. “Are you saying that your actual thought are projected into your enchantments?” I nod. “And that when the wands are used, the user is adjusting the wand to their thoughts?” I nod again.
Dumar sighs heavily. “We haven’t been told any of that. Why not?”
I shrug. “Took me awhile to figure out that different people were reacting differently. Especially in the dungeon. I have a skill that helps me be ok with gore and such. Calms my mind when I’m stressed out. It’s the only reason I was ok in the dungeon alone for five months just crafting.”
Dumar and Calloway both look at me askance. Calloway asks “five months alone? In the dungeon?”
“Yeah, organized thoughts. Calms my mind and lets me focus on what I need to do. Someone made the comparison to a stimulant for adhd. I can think through my problems and sort them out. I was able to craft so many things in the dungeon that I honestly ran out. I was bored after that, so I came out of the dungeon. Only to find out over five days have passed.”
“And so, you came to us. Why here first? What did you need currency for so badly you came here first?” Dumar asks me.
“My guild, and land. I can teleport. So, I can make a village, where everyone can build a home outside the city and just port into the dungeon when needed. Maybe make a portal to the dungeons all across the US so there is a choice of where to go. I haven’t found where my limit is, but we are getting overcrowded already. I made a few things to help with the camping in the parking garage, but that isn’t going to hold long term. Maybe gather all the crafters together in one place too.”
Calloway was looking at me. “You want to make a village of crafters. For your guild? Or for yourself?”
I think a moment. “Both? I want people to be able to use the system without having to handle the daily life tasks of living in the metroplex. Even now, I nearly cleared out half the fabric of two stores, just because I wanted to craft clothes, and I did. So many clothes. That I have to sell still. Daily wear for all. I want people who are used to making a living on their nine to five being able to live on their hobbies. With just these wands I can live, even without selling to ya’ll. Just by selling to the system. I have so many credits I don’t have to worry about the future too much. But I want more than that. I want more people to realize there is a better future. Hospitals are just the start.”
Dumar was thinking hard. “You mean after?”
I nod. “After everyone realizes what’s happening. The dungeons are just the beginning. When everyone has magic, what power does the government hold? When the system sells food, what power does the farmer hold? When dungeons give credits, what power does currency hold?”
Dumar was thinking once more. “And you aim to start a village, where people can come to together for a new beginning.”
I shake my head. “No, I aim to start a village for crafters, for people to create with their hobbies and sell to each other and the system. To explore ideas together and make new things. a think tank of crafters with different ideas and methodologies together to create things the world is currently reliant on. You can buy nearly everything you need in the dungeon. At the cost of credits. But who will earn those credits? Dungeon runners. And where will they spend those credits? The system store. And what happens to people who don’t run the dungeon? They get left behind. So, we need to make alternatives. System run devices that can work within the new parameters but still operate without the need for credits or being a dungeon runner. Hence the village.”
Calloway was scribbling quickly on his notepad, several pages deep. Dumar had his hands crossed in front of himself. “And you believe you are the person to do this?”
“Hell no, but I have the funding and the opportunity to. I’m leaving it to Lucas. He knows management better, he worked the oil field for years, he would know better how to arrange something like this. And I bet he knows how to arrange housing for people to.” I rush through.
Dumar nods. “We have looked into the guild you’re building. They have been doing well for themselves. A few of our people have been running with the young Michael. He was certainly entertaining. It seems as if found his life’s calling.”
I sigh again. Mikey was certainly doing well then. He was always big into hardcore games. But he was never able to play long. Maybe this will get his parents out of his life savings.
Calloway pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to Dumar. It looked like a set of calculations. Dumar hummed a moment and started writing on it. Scribbling a few things out and rewriting a portion. I sat there waiting for the conclusion. Hoping they were discussing how many wands to buy.
Dumar looked at me, looks like I was in luck. Dumar handed me a sheet. I looked over it. They would buy two hundred today and, in a week, another two hundred. I was grinning. A hundred grand today and another next week. I looked at Dumar. Then the next paragraph. They wanted a portion of the land for their use as well. Or to be allowed to set up on the land, and to have priority when it comes to designs. I thought it over for a minute. Hospitals were one of the most important. But they weren’t the all in most important.
“I can give you space to set up, and let your people set up, but I can’t promise priority on designs. I’m only one crafter. And I might not be the one in charge. What I can do is advocate for your needs to be queued first, however. That way people are thinking about them still. And if any of your people have hobbies they can buy into the village. But it will be a buy in. No free floaters.”
Dumar nodded to me. Calloway smiled. “Seems like you need a few contracts, yes?” I thought a moment.
“Sort of? But I can make contracts using the system as well. I need overall contracts that people will agree to living in my village. Like no harassing, no threatening, no grievous harm, encourage co-operation.”
Calloway’s face sank. That really wasn’t what he had in mind. “So, you don’t need contracts on hand for everything, just general rules to follow?”
I nod to myself. “Yeah, I think so. People can make contracts between themselves if they want to. I’d say wager at your own risk, but people have to be productive. They have to have goods to sell, with currency or credits I don’t care. Maybe I can make a village that’s crafter based on selling through the system? Or I'll just set up houses and rent them out to people with credits. Add a few portals to different dungeons and I’m good. I think that’s what I'll do for now. And let it grow.” I nod to them. “So, 200 now and 200 next week?”
Dumar nods. “We’ll look around and see if we can sell to any of the nearby clinics and such. Maybe a few private hospitals as well. There are over 200 medical facilities in Dallas. So, we have choices.” I nod to him.
“If you need me, you know how to get a hold of me. I’m not going back into the dungeon for a week.” Dumar waves me out. Calloway is still writing in his notepad. So, I get up and collect the wands. Then start counting out a hundred of each wand.
***
After reaching the parking lot I think once more of my star board and press the button for the shop. To the guild. I come to be again across the parking lot, this one a bit bigger than the last. And I’m a bit surprised. The front of the shop has undergone a bit of a change. Once where there was a Subway sign there is now a tarp sign saying Wands & Words. I feel a little proud of that. I hurry over and pull open the door. I’m greeted by Kate, flinging herself at me.
“Oh, my god! You’re back! Finally! Where have you been? Everyone was so worried about you! You took forever to come back!”
Startled by a person throwing themselves at me, I stood there in a stupor. I remember that Kate was 19. That did not translate to Kate throwing herself at people. I was gone five days.
Mikey, just behind her, “let him breathe Katy-cat!” He was grinning for some reason. He seemed brighter than the last time I saw him. Taller too.
There was a pre-teen sitting in one of the booths looking over at us. Fairly certain it was Maggie’s kid. He waved and got back onto his computer.
Maggie was sitting at the new front desk. Gone was the kitchen line. Replaced by a privacy screen and a front desk. The rest of the restaurant looked pretty much the same from this point. There were a couple cut-outs of goblins here and there. One hobgoblin in the corner. All life size. I looked around as Kate babbled what has happened in the last five days.
“Lucas took the guild thing super seriously. Like we started making cards and everything., Mikey has been running people twice a day. The folks from DMC too. So, we kept your deal up with them. The guard didn’t need us to run them once. We had a few people to run through the dungeon but there were a couple complications. Like a group wanted to run together and Lucas said no. One person at a time. We can’t handle a big group like that. We can sell you the wands and you can go get yourselves killed, but you ain’t getting us killed. It was super cool. He just shut them down. Then only two went for it. Mikey ran one and Lucas run the other guy. They both bought the wands though, so it worked out well in the end. They might be able to run themselves a few times now. But if they want to run their friends that’s on them. We have a policy now! It’s super great! We only run one person at a time. You must agree to purchase a single wand. Either force bolt or gravity wand. We suggest you purchase armor. You must look through our Book of Gross. And still be able to stand. You must be able to discuss the Book of Gross with someone. Otherwise, we will not run you through the dungeon. And yes, you can look through the Book of Gross before agreeing to any purchases or agreements.”
I nodded along with her spiel. It sounded good. “I suppose the Book of Gross is the pictures of dead animals?”
She shook her head. “Nope! A photographer went into the dungeon with an old-timer camera for us. Took like a hundred photos. It’s all dead monsters. And the aftermath of the fights. Even the people after they have been fighting. So, you can see it's not a clean fight.”
I blinked. That was clever. Not a clean fight indeed. “Does no one in the guild have a pristine wand?”
Kate looked at me. “Nope! You didn’t give us any!”
I blushed. Oops. Maybe I should do that now. I pulled five out. And then four sealant wands. I handed Kate a sealant and pristine wand, then Mikey one of each. I handed the kid a pristine wand. Then Maggie one of each. Then there was one of each for Lucas. The kid looked at me.
“What. Try it.” Then I proceeded to explain to them all the wands. Mikey got it quickly, seeing as how he was using force bolt and gravity wands already. Kate was having a moment of trouble. Maggie was shooting everything in sight with pristine. The kid, who I couldn’t remember the name of. Couldn’t get the wand to work.
“Raven can kids use wands?”
“Negative, user must be 15 to access mana.”
I nod. Going to the kid. “Sorry kid, I forgot you’re under 15. Can’t use the wand yet.”
He looked at me and handed it back. “Yeah, whatever. Three years it’ll be useless anyway.” I laugh at that.
“Maybe. Maybe it will. What’s your name anyway? I take it your Maggie’s kid?”
“Yeah she’s my mom. I’m Jamie.”
I remembered now. “Oh right, you got the website up for us. Thanks for that.”
He shrugged. “It was no big deal, just a couple of scripts to even a page out and add a few pics.”
“Better than I can do. Listen how about this. What would a professional charge to make a great website?”
He looks at me. “I dunno few hundred, maybe a grand?”
“What if I paid you to make it a professional website?”
He gives me a hard look. “What do you mean a professional website?”
“Like I want it to be the basis of our Guild. I want it to be known as the basis for Guilds in the future. Can you imagine that?”
He looks down for a few moments. “I get what you're saying, but I’m not sure I can do that. I don’t have a computer that can run that much software. And I’m not that great at coding.”
I grin a moment. “Raven, can I buy a skill for someone else?”
“Negative, you can gift skill points to another. But cannot make such a purchase on their behalf.”
“Even if they. Are a minor?”
“Child under 15 cannot access system shop, a parent or guardian can for them.” Was Ravens reply.
“So, if I were to gift Maggie, his mother with the skill points. She could purchase the skill for him?”
“Confirmed.” Was the answer.
I grinned. Then all I had to do was nap. But first. Turning back to Jamie. “What’s this about a computer not being up to date?”
He shrugged. “It’s a few years old and isn’t made for hardcore anything. It’s basically for school and nothing else. Can’t really game or anything on it.”
I think a moment. Now I had a question for Maggie. Looking around she was still at the desk. Looks like she was sorting some paperwork. Mikey was staring at a wall practicing pristine. Kate was sitting in a booth looking through a book or something. I went to Maggie at the desk.
She looked up at me. “Yes?”
“Question for you,” I asked. “What does a job for Jamie sound like to you?”
She frowned. “Like a bad proposition.”
I frowned. Rethought my words. “Uh no. I mean the website. I want to pay him for it. But I want it more professional. He needs a better computer for it. I was thinking the computer itself could be the payment. But I wanted your opinion before I hired your kid.”
Her face softened. “Oh, that’s alright then. He does deserve a good working machine. The only reason I was able to get that one was the library was going through a purchase phase.”
I nodded. One down, one to go. “There is one more thing. Did you know you can buy him skills?”
She blinked at me, her eyes opening wide. Obviously not.
“The reason I mention this. Is because I believe it would help if he had a coding skill or something. You would have to purchase it for him, but I would give you the skill credits for it. That way he isn’t hindered with the computer. Or maybe you could discuss with him a good skill going forward. It would have to be a mundane skill as he doesn’t have access to mana yet though.”
She sat there in thought. “He could get a skill that helps with school? Or maybe one that helps with work? Or maybe one that lets him focus? Or, or, or.” She trailed off. So many options suddenly open for her child.
“Talk to him. See what he has to say first. Maybe compromise between you two. Not just a future helpful skill. Because when he has system access, he will get his own skill points. But something to help him now. I just suggested coding, because it would help with the website is all. And I would be the one paying for it.”
I walk back to Jamie. “So, it looks like if you agree, you’re getting a new computer. On the basis is that you have to keep up the website and keep it professional for good.” I had a thought. “Raven can minors agree to system contracts?”
“Negative. Only those above 20 can agree to a system contract”
“And no one can make a contract on the behalf of a minor, right?”
“Correct. Minors cannot be held accountable to a system contract.”
That gives me a few less worries. Jamie gave me a funny look.
“Why are you talking to yourself?” He asks. I had forgotten. Raven is only tangible to me. I was so used to it in the dungeon.
“My invisible friend. The system oversight committee. I named her Raven.”
He looked at me like I had a second head. I laughed to myself. It was close to the truth with Raven.
“Sooooo, you’re serious about the computer?” Jamie looked at me, wondering if what I said was real.
“Yep. And it’ll be way better than what you could buy right now even. It’ll be future tech. Plus you will get a skill. But that’s between you and your mom. Ok?”
He nodded quickly. “What kind of computer? Can it be a laptop? Maybe a holo? Or ar glasses?”
I thought about that a sec. “Raven is there at glasses?”
“Confirmed. Comparable to computer you purchased and comparable to current generation available.” I feel like I missed out. I should have bought ar glasses. Or vr glasses.
“Raven is there be tech I could use?”
“Confirmed. There is human compatible virtual reality suit that is capable of transporting users to online spaces designed for other races. However. User has not yet unlocked this suit due to low level.”
So, we can see aliens before level 150. In vr. Joy. Now I want some ar glasses.
“Raven show me the options for laptops for Jamie.”
“Confirmed. Altered reality glasses for minor. Options available include eye tracking, hand tracking, minimal ai assistant, integrated internet. Can include cellular and gps. Can include physical binding. Can include parental controls. Aesthetic options include daily eye wear of metal, plastic, silicon, or integrated lenses. Minors are given ai assistant as they cannot have AI interface. They will have parental controls over device. They will not have system link. They will not have haptic feedback.”
Wow, that was a lot of options for ar glasses. Now I want some. Maybe some lenses. Later though. I glance at Maggie. She might be annoyed if she didn’t know when Jamie was on the computer though. But this was a long-term investment.
“Ok, can I purchase for a minor that I am unrelated to?”
“Confirmed. Permission was granted by parent.”
Sweet. So, looking at the options I go with my gut. “Ok, plastic frames that suit the kids face. Hand tracking, so people know that he’s on a computer. Let him name his mini ai. Include cellular and gps but link it to Maggie’s only. Include physical binding. Have parental controls be set by Maggie. Am I forgetting anything?”
I look to Raven. “Confirmed. Color must be chosen.”
I look to Jamie, “Kid, you’re getting fancy specs. Pick a color.”
He grins at me. “Red!”
“Red it is. You want brick or firetruck?”
He thinks a moment. Looking around the store. Then points at the goblin cutout. “That red!”
“Ok, blood red glasses, you heard him, Raven. What’s the total?”
“Confirmed, total price 5845 credits.”
I wince. Not quite twice my laptop but still. The glasses shimmer into being for a moment then drop into my waiting hands. They are definitely kid glasses. Much too small to fit an adult's head.
I turn to Jamie. “Ok here’s the deal. This is your payment. To keep the website up to date. And as professional as you can. These glasses are the equivalent of a computer ten years from now. A supercomputer if you would. You should be able to do anything with them. However. Your mom has parental control over it. So, if something is wrong, talk to her. Ok?”
Jamie nodded vigorously grinning madly. He had a new set of fancy tech specs to use. That was a supercomputer he could use any time and place.
Standing back up. I had forgotten o was kneeling to talk to him. Looks like the website issue is sorted out. And the kid will be happy too. Now I want a pair of glasses, but five thousand credits? Ouch. I have my fancy laptop though.
Lucas came from the back office, and I headed to him. “Wasn’t sure what happened to you Arthur. You’ve been gone.”
I nod. “Sorry about that, seems the dungeon has a different ice sense depending on how long you stay there. I was inside for five months. Came out after five days.”
Lucas looks at me. “And how well did you deal, alone for five months?”
I shrugged. “Not too bad actually. Had a lot of crafting to do. Had my ai to talk to. Have organized thoughts to keep me calm and focused. It was actually pretty relaxing to be honest.”
Lucas looked me over. Not seeing much different over five days. “Now what? I got the guild started. Word is starting to spread. We need people to run, but we need runners to run them people too. Have any ideas?”
I nod to him. “A few. I had another idea too. Want your opinion on it. What do you think of a crafter's village?” He shrugs. So, I explain more. “I have the money for land, and I can likely make a portal to all the different dungeons. But a village that lives on credits instead of currency. Where it's all about crafting. So, people can make a living on their hobbies. Like me. I can support myself just on my wands alone now.”
Lucas grunts at me. “And the guild?”
“Stays here. But with people coming in from all over. Maybe we can switch out which dungeon we run. But we run people through the dungeon. Maybe we get enough people that we don’t need to be wary of larger groups.”
Lucas thinks for a minute. “I like the guild. You keep the village for yourself. I’m staying with this. I feel good running the dungeon now.” With that he turned and headed back to his office.
I sigh to myself. The village was going to be a headache and a half. I should just focus on the guild for now anyway. Get it up and running and self-sufficient. Looking around, there doesn’t seem to be much need for me here. I go to Maggie.
“We have anyone scheduled this week?”
She looks through the notes and nods. “A few people four new ones and three reruns. We have had a couple of walk ins too though.”
I nod to her. “Raven purchase 20 force bolt and 20 gravity wands.”
“Confirmed, deposited into inventory.” I pull the stacks out and hand them to Maggie. “Here, so ya’ll can save your credits. I’ve got plenty. Buy some armor or something, ok?”
Maggie nods at me and pulls a drawer out with a lock box. There’re a couple wands in there but she quickly adds the new stacks to each side.
I wave her bye and turn to leave. Kate gives me a look and waves. Mikey stares at me and grins. I walk out the building and think of my port board. I press the button for home.
***