Due to the sudden change of seasons, many of the townsfolk are currently suffering from the spontaneous drought; though you don't hear them complain much about it since they recently got rid of their famine. So they seek some cool-down time at the Lake of... Uhm, which has recently been drained by a little girl and filled up again with mountain snow instead. From a distance, inside his castle, King Lacial is using a telescope to keep an eye on the kingdom, and for some reason the servant is the telescope's stand.

King Lacial: Just look at that. Isn't it marvellous?

Servant: I'm not sure if I could peek at women from such a distance without a guilty conscience my Liege.

King Lacial: Huh? No, I mean Seth. Who cares about the women at the lake?

Servant: I'm not sure peeking at little boys is more ethical than peeking at women, Sire.

King Lacial: You got such a filthy mind Servant. Go wash your mouth with soap.

Servant: Yes, my Liege.

King Lacial: Ugh, now I have to use the windowsill as a stand for the telescope. You bring me nothing but bad luck and suffering today Servant.

Servant: *Gargle*

King Lacial: So where was I... Ah yes, Seth! He's hiding in the bushes at the moment.

Servant: *Gargle!*

King Lacial: Interesting kid. He's currently killing flamingos with a bat. It's quite a sight to behold.

Servant: *Gargle?*

King Lacial: Stop gargling and talk to me, I'm bored.

Servant: With a baseball bat, Sire?

King Lacial: That's a terribly cruel thought, Servant! How does that thought even enter your mind? Go wash it!

Servant: Wash my mind. My Liege?

King Lacial: It would help.

Servant: I think the heat got to you Sire.

King Lacial: Perhaps you're right. But don't make a habit of me being not right. You know what happened last time.

Servant: You punished my pessimistic mind when I claimed the sky could never fall on our heads Sire.

King Lacial: And?

Servant: It hurt like hell.

King Lacial: So?

Servant: You let me shower in magma to feel the difference between sky and hell. Hell hurt more, so I should not be more afraid of the sky.

King Lacial: Right. Good times. I hope you learned from it.

Servant: You quite overworked those Magicians in the basement. They had to work one week straight for those two separate temporary laws.

King Lacial: Shh Servant. You know as well as I do that there is no Magic in this world.

Servant: Oh right. I forgot about that rule. Makes me wonder why you didn't lock Seth up in the basement though.

King Lacial: That would be slightly unethical, wouldn't it?

Servant: How so?

King Lacial: Seth isn't a mage. He cannot cast a single spell. Thus unethical.

Servant: ...

King Lacial: ...

Servant: So... Seth... What's he up to?

King Lacial: Killing flamingos with a bat, as I already told you.

Servant: Right.

King Lacial: Now, enough with the redundant chit chat and resume your position as my two-legged tripod for the telescope. I know you were only saying nasty things as an excuse to cool yourself down with the Royal water.

Servant: ... Sure that was it my Liege.

It seems even in the Castle the people have become a little cranky because of the warm weather. So we will quickly skip to Seth and Twig who are indeed hiding in the bushes, making their way across the fields that are apparently owned by some sort of Millionaire.

Seth: Go my little minion. Kill those foul pink beasts!

Bat: Squeak!

Twig: Have you lost it Seth?

Seth: Not really, but this is so much fun! Running from bush to bush, evading the sun and enemy creatures. Killing those flamingos really does me good. I am level six already! It is great, is it not?

Twig: But you killed hundreds of flamingos for that...

Seth: So?

Twig: Well... They're not creatures like me or Jimmy, or even the dwarves. They don't respawn.

Seth: Oh... And you decided it was best to inform me about that after my flamingo genocide?

Twig: You were so into it. I didn't want to ruin your mood. Plus, I found your bloodthirst intriguing. Almost made you look evil.

Seth looks sadly to the dozens of corpses he left behind.

Seth: What will happen to them?

Twig: I don't know. Usually the mice in the area eat the corpses. But I haven't spotted a single mouse for a while now.

Seth: Maybe the creator of this world suddenly decided mice are not welcome in this world anymore?

Twig: Doubt it. He's quite fond of those little critters.

Seth: Do you know him personally?

Twig: Well, one night he was the attending at the bar.

Seth: Same bar where you met Jimmy?

Twig: Yup.

Seth: Same bar where you got into a fight with a pixie and met the Balancing Staff?

Twig: Yup.

Seth: Sounds like the place to be then.

Twig: It really wasn't. Anyway we're surrounded.

Seth: Huh?

Indeed. Hundreds of flamingos had surrounded Seth and Twig as they spoke. From afar where King Lacial is watching it looks like a huge pink circle with the bush, in which Seth and Twig are hiding, in the middle; resembling a huge dartboard with bullseye. King Lacial considers throwing a dart, but he decides against it as it is too much effort in this heat. Also it would probably kill Seth, he figures, and Seth is currently the only thing distracting him from the heat. Life's little causality cycles, or so he would've thought if it wasn't so hot. The flamingos glare furiously at the bush, preparing like a pack of bulls about to cause a stampede.

Seth: Wait... Something is off.

Twig: What?

Seth: This is not turn-based anymore. I cannot feel the obvious feeling to start doing something or the forced patience in case I failed taking initiative.

Twig: You confuse me once more.

Seth: I do not know what I am babbling on about either. Probably the heat.

Twig: Let's leave it at that. So... Ideas?

Seth: Almost exactly none.

Twig: Almost?

Seth: Running is the only remaining viable option to take for our own well-being. But my guess is they would outrun us as we have only our minuscule legs versus their stiltlegs. Also evading more than a hundred of them would be tricky enough, five times as much is just bonkers.

Twig: Ah.

Seth: I think it is time to use everything we have got.

Twig: I suppose so.

And with these words, one of their most formidable battles ever commence. Hundreds of claws attempts to shred Seth and Twig into pieces. Seth's bat happily jumps from one flamingo to the other leaving drained corpses in its wake, keeping his master alive. Twig uses his legendary dual wielding skills to slice through the crowd with his equally legendary butter knife. 'Fireballs' are sent out from the centre bush to thin out the flock. The wheat around them catch fire quickly, and before long they are forced out of the bushes and into the burning wheat fields. The Mop of Wetness is the only thing keeping the flames at bay for Seth and Twig, which is lucky for Seth's robe since it'd easily catch fire in this drought; not to mention its highly flammable material. Seth hadn't spot a single pigeon in ages. Soon everything around Seth and Twig is one big blur of yellow, orange and pink, and Seth starts to run out of 'fireballs' to cast.

Twig: How are you holding up Seth? I ran out of healing potions and food.

Seth: Plenty of Mana, but no spells to use it on. Also, I ran out of 'fireballs'.

Twig: So you managed to burn up all those spare wooden swords?

Seth: Yep, such a burden off my back. I feel I am taller now.

Twig: And more muscular. So you're more of a warrior now, without "Fireballs".

Seth: Shush.

While fighting and chatting they notice they are being watched by a few heroes. They attempt to get closer to the wheat fields Seth and Twig are battling in, but are blocked off by invisible walls.

Hero1: Look at that n00b*.

Hero2: Those flamingos r** lyk*** lvl1****?

Hero1: Pretty much, rofl*****.

Seth: You could always help you know.

Hero1: Nah, im afk******, eatin' dinner.

Hero2: BBL*******.

* Playing either very stupidly or is new to the world while the one using the word 'n00b' is either too stupid to realize there are people new all the time and them being jerks causes new people to become jerks in return

** Are

*** Like

**** Level one

***** Rolling On the Floor Laughing (but not really, since they can still type on their keyboards

****** Away From Keyboard

******* Be Back Later

Hero2 disappear into thin air and a clear (AFK) sign appear above Hero1's head.

Seth: Now that is disappointing.

Twig: No it's perfect! On my mark, let's run towards the hero with the sign. Keep your Mop of Wetness ready, all right?

Seth: Sure...

Twig: Mark!

Seth and Twig run as fast as they can towards the hero. Twig then quickly grabbed the end of Seth's mop, threw it onto Hero1's head, and lead Seth to yet another bush.

Twig: Now look and be amazed.

Seth: They are... The flamingos are killing the hero!

Twig: Mehehehe due to the blonde mop they think it's you.

Seth: That is... Horrible! He will never be able to return to this world, you told me!

Twig: That didn't stop you from killing those heroes that killed me and wanted to kill you just because the price was right, right?

Seth: Well...

Twig: And there are thousands, maybe millions of them all around us. They all do the same boring stuff. No one would really notice if "hero1" or "deathkiller1337" disappeared from this world right? He'd just be replaced by thousands of other identical guys.

Seth: I guess...

It doesn't take long before Hero1 is defeated, and with that the flamingos are satisfied that justice has been served so they return to continue with what they were doing before. Then Hero2 appear out of nowhere.

Hero2: Bk********. Where's my friend?

Seth: He died from a vicious flamingo stampede.

Hero2: ...

Seth: We are terribly sorry for your loss.

Hero2: Mkay. I'll find someone else to finish this lvl with.

Seth: Yeah... Do that.

Hero2: Gl*********. Nice hat btw.

Seth: Thanks. It is one hundred percent goblin.

Hero2: Nais. Byez.

Twig: See? No one cares.

Seth: ...

Hero2: Yo, wanna team up?

Hero3: Mkay, eatin' dinner though, brb********** 1 min.

Hero2: Sure I'll wait, bbl.

Seth: Wow...

******** Back

********* Good luck

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

********** Be right back

They continue their way through the wheat field, seeing hundreds of flamingos cutting the wheat that was apparently 'ripe' and putting it into a basket. Then two flamingos put the basket on their necks and walked towards one of the countless mills around them.

Seth: So that is why he is called a MILL-ionaire.

Twig: Yeah, he has hundreds of mills. Wish I was that rich.

Seth: ... Right.

Twig: That guy's been abusing farming for as long as I can remember. He always paid everyone with loaves of bread.

Seth: Again, in that bar?

Twig: Yup.

Seth: I see.

Twig: You don't want to go there though.

Seth: No, I am under age. I need to be at least eighteen, right? Also, I am not even sure if I will ever become eleven...

Twig: Then let's hope the bar never crosses our path. Even a mouse could rekindle the barfight.

Seth: Fine by me.

Twig: Ignorance is truly bliss. You don't even know a fraction of it.

Only a few minutes later Seth and Twig reach the edge of the wheat fields, from which they can see an endless sea of tomato plants and cheese bushes.

Twig: Look at those bushes. They slowly grow small twigs with cheese hanging from it.

Seth: Is that even possible?

Twig: Seeing is believing.

Seth: Still though.

Twig: I was named after them. Mom called me a little miracle.

Seth: Do you even know the name of your mother?

Twig: Now that you mention it, no clue. Always called her Mom...

Seth: Thought so. Hehe.

Twig: Seems that I missed something funny?

Seth: Not really. Hey, look. There is something bright coming our way.

Twig: Uh oh.

A bright light almost twice as big as Seth and trice as big as Twig stop right in front of them. At least they guess so because they can't look directly at it.

Voice: Greetings travelers.

Twig: Hello.

Seth: Hi. Got some sunglasses for us?

Voice: I would have, if it made any difference to you. Unfortunately I am cursed. I can not be seen by anyone.

Seth: Cursed? By whom?

Voice: The stars.

Twig: Sounds a little otherworldly.

Voice: You could say that. You see, I have always laughed at the stars since they could only come out at night and doesn't own as many mills as I do.

Seth: Oh, so you are the Millionaire?

Twig: Of course he is, Seth.

Voice: Or she.

Twig: Or she, yes.

Voice: People just me call me Voice... for lack of a better definition. Pleased to meet you both.

Seth: Pleased to meet you too. This is Twig and I am Seth.

Twig: We know each other already Seth.

Seth: Oh, how?

Twig: Bar...

Seth: Of course you have. So what about the stars?

Voice: Long story short. The stars made sure no one could look at me anymore and demanded from the sun to shine extra on me. Therefore, I am shining as bright as a star right now.

Seth: Sounds like the sun and stars are jer-

Voice: Sshh. Do not let them hear you.

Seth: But technically, in space there is no way sound could-

Voice: They can read lips.

Seth: Oh... ah.

Twig: Hehe, Seth got outsmarted by Voice.

Seth: Bah, no fair! He/she is probably very old and wise.

Voice: I guess I am. But I lost track of time. I kept a close eye on the stars to determine the amount of years that had passed, but they noticed me and so now they sometimes switch places, sometimes they hide, and sometimes all of them appear at once just to mess with me. Gives me a fright when they do that. One time they spelled out "Boo" even.

Twig: Wow...

Seth: It sounds like the universe revolves around you.

Voice: In a way I guess. But it is not a good way.

Seth: Well, let me get this straight. You create life by growing grain on these fields you have claimed, no one knows what you look like, and all the stars in the universe know of your existence?

Voice: You could say that, yes. They do like to gossip.

Seth: You almost sound like a G-

Twig: Shush. Don't jinx it.

Seth: Fine.

Voice: So please tell me, why were you killing my flaminions, burning down my fields, and have clearly ignored my 'no trespassers allowed' sign?

Twig: There was a sign?

Seth: G-words like him never show signs. I do recall a signpost scratching itself in confusion. He could mean that sign?

Twig: Mehehe.

Voice: Well, trust me on my word. They existed. Though, if you followed my words on the sign I understand why you are here in the first place. Thanks for burning my shrubbery by the way.

Twig: Hahaha!

Seth: How long did it take you to create these fields?

Voice: About a week, why?

Seth: Just wondering.

Twig rolls over the tomato plants. Seth scratches his head and assume the Millionaire is doing so as well, though he will never know for sure.

Voice: By the way, King Lacial has been spying on us for a while now. I see his telescope reflecting my light every now and then. Do not be afraid to be blinded by me though, he outlawed that ages ago.

Seth: That's good to know. Saves me a lot of squinting to protect my eyes.

Voice: It is possibly a bit dangerous though. His law made being dazed and dizzy impossible. So people could just faint from the heat without warning.

Seth: Oh... That will explain my next move!

And with that Seth faints from dehydration, exhaustion and surprise. A few hours later we find Seth in the Voice's house. The house itself is huge and he can hear the grinding of the mills all around him.

Voice: Welcome to my Milla, Seth.

Twig: Clever name. Seth could've made that up.

Seth: Wow, that faint came out of nowhere.

Voice: Indeed. The weather is odd these days. But It will all fix itself soon enough in the fall, probably.

Seth: Let us hope so.

Twig: So why are you herding flamingos, Voice?

Voice: Because my mice slaves were suddenly gone the other day. I fear the worst for them. I have never seen mice more mobilized than on my farm. There must be something terrible going on.

Seth: Do you know where they went?

Voice: They went North. That is all I know.

Twig: Strange.

Voice: The flamingos are my temps now, but they eat a lot of my tomatoes.

Seth: So, do you feed the whole country with these crops?

Voice: Yes. One has to grow all the stuff, and most of the crops owned by villagers are being destroyed by thousands of trampling Heroes. Without this sacred place, all the people in this world would definitely die.

Twig: That's terrible!

Voice: I guess you would find that terrible. I do not mind as much though. Maybe if the world was a little more empty, less of those pesky Heroes would appear. But I guess this plane of existence has become more and more popular over the years.

Seth: I rarely notice them though.

Voice: Yes, that is just a nasty trick to give you the impression you are not one of many million of people doing the same tedious quests over and over again. Though from what I have seen so far, you are not one of the Heroes, are you?

Twig: He is... but... Also not, but... I dunno... He has Hero Points like me, Voice.

Voice: Very strange indeed.

Twig: And he doesn't disappear like the other heroes. And he's a brainy little bra-

Seth: Yeah, yeah. Thank you for that, Twig.

Voice: Well Seth, I do not know about you, but beings like me, Lacial, Richard and others were once like Heroes. But we got too attached to this place, and decided to never leave.

Seth: That explains so much...

Twig: About them yeah, not about you.

Voice: But I cannot tell you if this place is real. We just woke up one day in this world, and we just assumed this was reality. We just went along with it. We do not even have to disappear like the other heroes again. I would not even know how to do it anymore.

Twig: And Hero Points?

Voice: That remains a mystery to me. Oh dear, the sun goes down.

As the last rays of sunlight are dissipating behind the horizon, Voice is still not visible. Then darkness creeps up and cover them all, and Voice's light disappear and is replaced by a black aura in pajamas.

Seth: That was unexpected.

Voice: I guess it would be so to you, yes.

Seth: Had a fight with Darkness as well?

Voice: Not at all. Darkness is pretty nice to me.

Twig: You guys talk still?

Voice: Yes. Ever since that time in the bar, we keep in touch.

Seth: ...

Voice: To be honest I forgot that no one can see me at night either. Even when I shine candlelight on myself it has no use. Quite depressing to say the least.

Seth: You are quite a messed up entity.

Voice: Am I? Well I cannot help it much. Richard nicked my gender.

Seth: Did King Lacial forbid light to shine on you when the sun and the stars cannot?

Twig: Sounds like him...

Voice: That is one possibility. I should have a word with him sometime in the future. Though, I cannot leave this farm...

Seth: You could try the Pigeonary that recently opened for business.

Voice: That sounds like a plan. Thank you both. Is there anything I can do for you in return?

Seth: Well... I was sent on a mission to retrieve the towers from the dragons who have taken them away.

Twig: And his princesses.

Seth: Yeah, he never said which was more important though. He counted it as a set.

Voice: Must be some impressive towers then...

Twig: Or some ugly princesses.

Seth: So why the pajamas?

Voice: Since no one can see me at day, there is no reason for me to change.

Twig: That's convenient.

Voice: Also I do not get dirty. I was once having an argument with a garbage can, and I lost.

Seth: How so?

Voice: Garbage and Dirt never want to have anything to do with me anymore.

Twig: Poor you.

Voice: It is a terrible curse.

Seth: Sounds to me like you did it all to yourself.

Voice: Well... I used to be a bit arrogant, but after so many years you start to miss the things that come natural to you.

Seth: That sounds very wise.

Twig: I have no clue what you two are on about.

Voice: I can explain if you like?

Seth: Do not bother. We will only get slowed down by ill-witted minds.

Voice: Careful Seth. That is how I started out once, and look at me now. Oh wait, you cannot!

Seth: I will keep that in mind.

After a big dinner made completely out of bread, tomatoes, cheese and baked Flamingo, Seth and Twig decides to stay overnight at Voice's Milla. Before they close their eyes to open them again for yet another day, they hear a lot of shouting downstairs followed by some footsteps that come closer to Seth and Twig's guestroom.

Seth: What happened?

Voice: I had a fight with Water.

Seth: So?

Voice: It no longer accepts me for who I am. So it told me when I want to enter it, I would only end up walking over it...

Seth: That is terrible.

Twig: Mehehehehehe... zZz

And with that we leave Seth be for a full night.

Seth

Current level: 7

Strength: Nothing

Defence: Shamefully low

Magic: Steadily rising

Spells: None

Speed: Quick when he doesn't faint. Even faster when pooped on by pigeons.

Twig

Current level: 1

Strength: Low

Defence: Low

Connections: High!

Speed: Meh. But instant when re-spawning.