Julian woke disoriented, until he remembered he logged out of the game in Will’s guest room.
Will’s frantic, muffled voice coming from down the hall. Another voice, softer and almost syllabic, came from the same room.
“Could it be mana exhaustion? He did clear out my fields yesterday; it’s possible he over exerted himself.” Will whispered nervously, loud enough even Julian could hear the man as he swallowed hard.
Horror stricken, he realized Will and the other person were discussing his condition.
I was wondering when you’d come back.
“Ginger, what the hell is going on?” he hissed, peering out the door, praying Will or his guest wouldn’t walk into the room right now.
The last thing he needed was them believing he was crazy.
It seems your friend Will thought you were sick. The doctor was here a moment ago, checking your pulse.
Her voice practically dripped with amusement, and Julian scrambled off the bed, one hand pulling the sheet around himself to cover his naked body. A blush rose in his cheeks despite himself.
Had one of them stripped him? He certainly didn’t remember removing his clothes before logging out.
Did the game developers think it funny, or had they wanted to increase the game’s realism? Despite the seriousness of the moment, Julian couldn’t help but find a twisted amusement in the NPC’s genuine concern for his well being.
He doubted he could say the same had their roles been reversed.
Holding his breath, Julian tried to listen in on the doctor’s response, hoping he might glean some information. Their voices were soft, muffed by the distance, but he could hear them, albeit barely.
“No, whatever his ailment is, the young man still has vitality. Life flows through his veins,” the doctor said.
“Then why does he not wake up?”
Julian crept away from the bed and as he snuck down the hall, wanting to hear more, his thoughts took a darker turn. His footsteps halted, the sheet slipping from his grip.
Both Will and the doctor’s reactions were understandable, if the developers wanted Thalesium to be a real as possible.
But how far had their desire for realism gone?
If he had been logged out long enough, would they have buried him?
“I don’t know. Is it possible the boy contracted the withering disease like the rats?”
Julian could just make out the rustle of paper, as if someone were flipping through a book or perhaps notes.
“No, I think not. Even in such a short amount of time the disease would’ve festered in his body. There would be signs. Bruising on the skin, or seeping wounds. The scratches on his body are practically healed, an impossible feat had he contracted the Withering.”
Distantly, Julian knew the doctor had continued speaking, butthe words went unheard, his mind lost in what could have happened. He grimaced, imagining Will’s face upon finding his “lifeless” body.
At least the farmer would give him a respectful burial.
If he stayed somewhere else and another NPC came across him, would they be so kind? Would they leave his body to rot, if he logged out for too long?
That would be an ideal situation, but another thought occurred to him and he swallowed hard. How would the game deal with someone who had been logged out for weeks or even months?
Would they be notified of their character’s death upon their return, or would they be forced to live through their character’s last moments first?
A shudder racked his spine, and Julian clutched at the wall, his thoughts spiraling out of control.
What would an avatar look like after a few years lying comatose in a bed, or abandoned in the wilderness? Burning a corpse was easy to talk about. It was easy to blast a fireball at someone in another game and think nothing of it, but here?
The thought of being buried or burned alive terrified him. Would he experience his character’s slow suffocation, the blistering, charred skin as his body roasted?
He prayed that was not the case. Returnees to the game would be in for quite an eventful welcome back. Some would probably be so traumatized by it that they never came back.
The company had to know that. There was no way they’d jeopardize sales just for the sake of realism.
Will’s frantic voice cut through his thoughts and Julian scrambled back from the sudden force of the man’s grip on his shoulders. The doctor hovered behind him, a rather bored look on his face. He, clearly, had not been bothered over the possible death of a random stranger.
Julian couldn’t blame him.
He felt the same.
If either of the two men in front of him suddenly dropped dead, all he would feel was a moment of regret for the lost quest line he could have unlocked later in the game.
“Thank the gods, I thought you were dead!” Will exclaimed, eyes roving over Julian’s hastily covered form.
Julian shrugged, racking his brain for a feasible answer. He didn’t want to ruin what might be a decent quest line later on, especially when the amulet was still a mystery. Will had to know what it was, leaving him only one conclusion.
He had requirements to meet before he could unlock the quest.
Was this scenario one of them?
He struggled to guess how the developers might have programmed Will’s reaction. How should he reply to ensure he got the quest later, if there was one?
After a moment of silence, Julian could see Will grow more agitated, the man’s grip tightening on his shoulders. An idea crossed his mind, but he hesitated.
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Would Will understand if he used narcolepsy as an excuse?
Probably not.
Fantasy games often had advanced technology or specialized magic systems. They were actually pretty common in the games Julian played in the past, but from the doctor’s words he guessed Thalesium was not one of them. The man hadn’t even done a thorough exam. Based on Ginger’s information, the doctor merely felt his pulse and shined a light into his eyes; it was unlikely either of the men would understand the term narcolepsy.
Julian sighed, plastering a sheepish smile on his face. He’d just have to wing it, and hope his luck had finally turned for the better.
“I sleep pretty deeply.” He chuckled lightly, praying the half-assed explanation was enough to fool the two men.
The doctor frowned, one eyebrow raised. He clearly didn’t believe the lie, but remained silent. Julian sighed with relief when Will glanced at the man before he finally nodded, a strained smile creeping across his face.
“Yes, well you gave us quite the scare, sleeping like that. It’s a bad habit for an adventurer like yourself. What would have happened if you’d been out in the forest?”
Julian shuddered at the thought, icy needles prickling down his spine. Falsehood or not, Will made a good point.
Watching your character getting mauled to death in a video game was not a pleasant experience, but in Thalesium? A game that prided itself on its realism?
He did he want to find out the hard way if players had to experience their avatar’s death before starting over, if the game forced them to feel their flesh being torn apart, their bones cracking and splinting beneath the force of powerful jaws.
It seemed the developers were hell bent on as realistic an experience as possible, so he wouldn’t doubt they had done just that.
Julian sighed, loathing how much the game resembled real life, while knowing just as well that most people who played the game probably reveled in its brutality. He remembered his younger years, his teens, back when brutal end credits like that caused him to gleefully rage quit. More than once he could remember throwing his controller across the room.
In the time before his father’s arrest, video games were fun and exciting, especially role playing games and first person shooters. The RPGs were like a window into the man he called father, a man whose late nights and early mornings left them little time together. It didn’t sour their relationship however, in fact, Julian remembered those stolen moments with the man fondly. Their infrequent nature made the short lunch breaks and evening meetings all the more enjoyable.
If he couldn’t beat a game, his father would pull up a chair, watching over his shoulder as he tried to clear a level or complete a quest. They mostly played in silence, but every once in a while his fathers deep voice would urge him to stop, to look a little harder. Sometimes, he would ask for the controller, deftly demonstrating a difficult combo or help with a boss fight. His advice never steered Julian wrong, but back then, what did it matter?
A character’s death might trigger a lengthy end credits scene, or force him to watch his character’s health bar reach zero and screen go black. He actually enjoyed it, believing the team behind the game truly cared about their creation—just like his father.
But now? When he might literally live through his character’s game over?
Nothing sounded more terrifying.
Julian glanced at the doctor, his heart creeping up his throat. He stood not far behind Will, and Julian had the desperate urge to ask the man if he had some sort of invulnerability potion.
The man had watched their exchange silently, an appraising look in his green eyes. Though his eyes were bright, everything else about the man was dull with age. His graying hair, cropped short just above his ears, almost blended with his dusty white robes. The man crossed his arms, looking like he wanted to say something, but after a moment of silence, the doctor merely huffed before turning to address Will.
“It seems your guest is fine, so I’ll be taking my leave.”
“Thank you for coming, my friend.”
Julian nodded to the doctor as the man walked out the front door.
Will clapped his hands.
“Alright, then. Now that everything’s settled, why dont you eat with me?” He paused, a hesitant grin on his face. “You don’t need to rush off do you?”
Julian smiled.
“No, I’ll stay.”
It was the least he could do for all the trouble he’d inadvertently caused. More importantly, he wanted to do everything he could to increase his chances of another quest later on. No one this close to a starter town handed out a valuable amulet for no reason.
Especially if none of the people in Keidale knew about it. It was definitely a special quest. Had he unlocked it by clearing the fields, or had he met some other requirement?
Julian watched as Will busied himself in the kitchen, cutting potatoes he pulled from a covered hole in the dirt floor near the window.
“Can I help with anything?”
Will glanced at him, his eyes widening.
“Once again you surprise me. First you clear my fields and chop my wood, and now you volunteer to help cook, and after just recovering at that. Truly, you are not the average adventurer.”
“I assure you, it was nothing. The doctor said as much, didn’t he?” Julian said, trying to pacify the man.
In truth, he just wanted to see if Thalesium also had cooking or farming subclasses. Both would be useful to cook his own food, save himself some gold, and avoid drinking potions. He jogged towards the garden before Will could continue rambling.
Behind the little house, Julian found where Will had built an enclosed room with large glass panels. The walls were lined with shelves and covered in greenery. Several plants dangled from the ceiling. Although this building was above ground and basked in real sunlight, it looked remarkably like the greenhouses back home. Julian meandered down the rows, marveling at how many different plants were inside. His fingers brushed along the leaves of each plant, searching for the fuzzy texture of the one Will described.
Halfway down the row, Julian noticed the soil looked dry. The once rich, dark brown earth now appeared cracked and dusty under the harsh sunlight streaming through the greenhouse windows. The faint scent of parched soil and withering leaves reached his nose. Turning to find something to water the plants with, he spotted a well-worn watering can hanging from a rusty hook on the far wall. Below it, an old brass spigot gleamed dully in the filtered light.
Julian walked over, the soles of his boots crunching on the dry, gravelly path. He turned the spigot, and with a creak, cool, clear water gushed out, splashing and gurgling as it filled the can. The metal handle felt cool and slightly rough against his palm as he carried it back to the thirsty plants.
He began to water them, the soil greedily soaking up the liquid, turning dark and damp once more. The scent of fresh, wet earth mingled with the various herbal aromas. As he worked, Julian ran his fingers over the leaves, feeling the textures. Some were smooth and waxy, others prickly or velvety, their colors ranging from bright, yellow green to a deer shade that was almost black.
A soft chime sounded in his ears, accompanied by a subtle vibration around his wrist.
Farming Subclass unlocked.
Points towards next level: 5/100
“Well, that’s interesting,” Julian murmured to himself. His hunch was correct. The discovery sent a thrill through him. What other subclasses could he unlock? He set the thought aside for now and focused back on the plants.
One particularly fragrant plant caught his attention. Leaning closer, he inhaled deeply, savoring the bright, citrus scent that invigorated his senses. He gently pinched off a sprig, and with a shower of tiny blue sparks, the cutting vanished.
Lemongrass (1) added to your inventory.
Julian picked a handful of each plant before he returned to the kitchen, where the aroma of simmering spices and roasting meat greeted him. Will was bustling around the kitchen, effortlessly chopping vegetables and stirring multiple pots. The warmth from the stove and the sound of sizzling filled the air.
"Why don’t I show you how to prepare the rest of the food," Will said, handing Julian a knife.
He demonstrated each step with precision, watching as Julian mimicked him, the rhythmic sound of their chopping blending with the bubbling of a nearby pot. The savory scents of garlic and herbs wafted up as they worked.
Under Will's guidance, Julian learned to combine the ingredients into a hearty stew. It wasn’t much different from the dishes he cooked for his mother, but somehow, the act of cooking felt new. The tactile sensation of kneading dough and the fragrant steam rising from the pot deeply satisfying, almost as much as the knowledge that the ingredients he used were boundless.
If he ran out, all he needed to do was pay Will’s greenhouse another visit.
Another benefit of the game, he supposed.
He felt a new notification buzz at the edge of his vision when they finished cooking.
Recipe unlocked: Hearty Stew
As they sat down to eat, Julian marveled at the rich, complex flavors.
Will proved to be a fantastic cook, and teacher. The meal they shared was a testament to his skills. The evening sunlight cast a warm glow through the windows, and the sounds of the bustling kitchen gradually faded into a comfortable silence.