Corpses littered the field. Halves, Human, Silf, Dwarves. Creatures milled and writhed far and wide, ranging from those she had seen to those for which she knew no name. Those pushed before Void. They had been ready. She knew they had been ready. Yet this was the result. Fires were going out along the beach and the ocean waves pushed some corpses that were half-submerged gently against the sand, up and down. The sky was a blood-red making the hellish red water stand out strangely.
Amelia saw herself from a third-person point of view, and that was strange but not strange enough to dispel the terror of how she saw herself.
Void, the world ender, the creature and raid boss that had just taken everything from her held her off the ground with one finger around her neck. That was strange too but made sense because his entire skeletal hand was the size of her body. The thumb and one finger gently held her upright by her neck, pinched carefully so she wouldn't immediately expire.
She saw herself staring down at Forsythe, Aidan, and Raven. Their names floated, revealing that they were stuck watching this unsightly scene from death.
She knew instinctively that the first to fall had been Raven. Rushing in courageously when she finally could stand it no more. People dropping all around her, people she knew and cared about. Raven had snapped and rushed forward instead of sticking to the plan. The plan, as if that could have even been called a plan. The unified force was destroyed outright through the death seeking aura and the terrible magic he employed.
Amelia hadn’t been able to counter a single spell. He just kept using different spells. Forsythe had been next, and she couldn’t remember his face when Raven fell but she knew he had lost his composure. The rest of Shadow Fall who hadn’t been killed outright in the terrible battle before that fell soon after, one by one. Void left her for last, perhaps because of her title. Perhaps he left her alive because she was the initiator of the quest. It was probably because this was a nightmare.
Yes, this was a nightmare. She recognized she was dreaming now when she saw herself look slowly over to her, a face she recognized only minimally as her own. Broken, destroyed, despairing, tortured by the fact that he was making her look at this. She would never again set on foot on this world that had become so dear to her, and it was all her fault. She had ruined the game for millions of players.
Centra Holdings would make a new one but always in the back of everyone’s mind would be, ‘why bother putting in so much effort in if the next game can be destroyed too’?
----------------------------
Amelia woke silently.
She didn’t jerk awake or startle or heave upright. Her eyes simply opened and she stared at the ceiling. She could just dimly make out the glow in the dark paint spots Hunter had put in here when this had been Elisha’s nursery in order to make it look like there were stars in the ceiling. They were beautiful.
Aidan slumbered beside her, either unaware of her nightmare or unaffected because she had not thrashed. She was sweating, almost soaking the sheets under her body. Silently she moved her feet over to the edge of the bed and placed them on the floor. She felt the place she had vacated turn chilly in the air climate-controlled room as the moisture immediately lost all warmth.
“Like. Hell.” She whispered.
Amelia didn’t generally get mad. Not in the sense that other people got mad. She got childish and even obstinate, but she never hated. She always prided herself on her ability to understand why people were upset and try to either stay out of their way or at the very least understand and wait for their displeasure to pass.
So it surprised her now, this many years after she was born, to feel this new sensation. It burned, and roiled, and made her feel sick. It made her feel like she could tear trees down with her bare hands and ignore the pain from the loss of skin and the broken finger bones she would receive. She was so mad she couldn’t even think.
There was only the trembling in her body that demanded she destroy something. Her mother kept popping into her head, making her think of a conversation she had overheard when she was still a small child.
“Amelia doesn’t get mad. I used to be worried because she is so kind. I was afraid people would walk over her because she never stands up for herself. I was wrong though. She stands up for herself, she just doesn’t hate. I guess I’m really lucky! She didn’t get that from me! Hahaha.” Her mother’s face broke into a radiant smile. She still smiled like that, even though the wrinkles were starting to get painted on.
Amelia put on a shirt and sweatpants and turned on the terminal. “Call, Elias Thompkins.”
Aidan stirred on the bed and even though his eyes were closed she knew he was awake. Aidan always knew when something was wrong, and he always pretended like he wasn’t aware of it until he could act. She did like that about him. She didn’t mind letting him see this now either. She wanted a witness to this new emotion. Wanted him to see and be afraid. She couldn’t destroy something, not really, but the idea that he might disapprove of her right now made it all the more intoxicating as a feeling.
“Amelia?” Elias wasn’t asleep, being halfway around the world. “What’s wrong? You look terrible? Is it dark there? Jeez, what time is it?” He was wearing a suit and was in his nice office. His smile felt completely inappropriate for her new feeling. It did nothing for her other than fan the coals she felt flaring red hot. What was wrong with him? Couldn’t he feel this burning sensation from the waves of heat flaring off her body? Even through the screen she felt, unfairly maybe, that he should have known and immediately started apologizing even if he wasn’t sure why.
It would have helped.
“Will you do something for me?” She asked quietly.
“Are you hurt? Who hurt you? Where are you? I’m calling the police in Sydney.” Elias looked like he was starting to freak out after a moment of studying his screen. Her face must have been a nightmare to make him act like that. She felt a little better at this reaction.
“I’m fine. I woke up. I had a bad dream.” Amelia supplied. She didn’t need the police. She didn’t need anyone. She felt a powerful need to command him, and she was going to do just that. He had always said if she needed anything he would jump to it. She didn’t need him to do anything really, but it was more convenient this way. She was Empress Amelia of Elysium. “I am going to stream very soon. I need it live. I will have everyone on the current grand quest present.”
“Something happening then?” He looked excited. “I’ve never seen you this way.”
“Yes,” Amelia whispered harshly, her shoulders began to shake with her rage. She was only barely pleased that she immediately heard Aidan jerk upright and get up. He was putting his clothes on. There was no need to speculate on what he was doing. She knew intuitively that he was reacting exactly as she wanted him to act. Aidan had heard in her voice what she wanted.
He was preparing for war.
“I’m declaring a state of emergency.”
--------------------
“All hands on deck!” Elias hurried through the door into the media studio. Most of his employees had just gotten off lunch and jumped guiltily with the remainders of their food or drinks. They hastily dispatched the food as Abhy ran in right on Elias’s heels.
“What’s going on? Did you really stop all broadcasts?” Abhy bounced in like a tornado almost stepping him out of his shoes as she practically danced on his heels, causing Elias to grin momentarily.
“Amelia has a fire under her about something. She actually called me and told me to get ready to broadcast.” He laughed for a long moment as many of the technicians turned in their seats to shoot covert glances at each other. Telling the boss to do something was like poking a bear.
“When do we broadcast?” Jason asked. He was setting up all the links so that no matter what anyone pushed under any forum they would be watching the livestream.
“Now.” Elias checked the wall terminal that displayed all the time zones.
“Now it is…” Jason muttered, switching screens as fast as he could. “Could use some help…”
“Suck it up,” Abhy said, turning back to Elias. “What’s this about?”
“You’ll see,” Elias said contemplatively.
“Wow, you don’t know!” Abhy looked like she had been struck by lightning. “You can’t wait!”
“Shh.” Elias grinned and the screen came up. Moments later they were viewing the program on the main monitor. Amelia stood quietly with her blue hood up. She looked up slightly, indicating to Elias that she had just received the small indication that she was now live. Shadow Fall, and the small number of guests present in the quest surrounded her like a living cloak. They looked tired but ferocious, eliciting startled looks around the room. No one had ever seen all of them not smiling except when they were about to set up Victoria. Even then several of them had affected evil grins. Now they stood quietly and tensely as if they had just been subjected to something terrible. Like someone had died.
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“How is she showing us this from a 3rd person point of view?” Abhy whispered.
“A mirror,” Elias said, grinning. “See the wall? Everything is backward.”
Silence fell when Amelia suddenly pushed her hood down. Her face was granite. Her eyes looked coldly into the mirror, giving the impression that she was above this. This was merely something she was deigning to give them. For the moment, she owned the screen.
“I am Empress Amelia of Elysium. Head of the tribunal kings and queens of the hero armies.” Amelia tilted her chin slightly as if she could imagine people watching immediately questioning her words. No one had ever said she was in charge. It was a sort of title that held only the strangest of authorities. It was also something one didn't brag about on the internet without inviting everyone in the world to scorn you.
“She is committing social suicide,” Abhy whispered, suddenly terrified. “Cut this.”
“No.” Elias was grinning. “I’m not willing to doubt her until she falls dead.”
“I have thought of how to deliver this speech. I was going to rally you, entice you, persuade you.” Amelia took a step, separating herself from the group as she approached the mirror. Her eyes, this close, revealed nothing but fury. The incredible, game generated, fury that was unmistakable as anything else. “But I have been reminded time and time again that nothing gets people on the ethernet going like rage. So I am going to share mine with you.”
She raised a hand and flipped a finger from left to right. “I am opening the command console for my position. Many of you wonder what I can do. Not much to be honest with you. It’s a lot like my class. I can do maybe three or four useful things. I can, for example, push forward the great buildings and increase housing. I can encourage festivals. I can raise taxes, but, no one wants that.” She smiled, tightlipped. “I said I would enrage you. Not that I would threaten you. You see I am not going to be the source of your rage. I am instead, going to direct you at the focus of mine.”
She turned and began pacing back and forth in front of the screen. “I initiated a special job quest where I could take 25 people with me to a past event. I didn’t advertise it but I dreamed of unlocking the Half race. If we failed it was understood that, well, nothing would happen. As the starter of this quest I am privy, however, to certain announcements that are not made public."
She held up a finger. "The first one that I will share with you is that Void is coming in our event. He’s some sort of super boss that has a ridiculous amount of power and dread in the game. We would fight him eventually but as fortune has been cruel, we will fight him now instead. All caught up at least marginally? Good. Well, it has been pointed out to me through new information that upon failure of this quest.” Amelia paused. “The game ends. The quest text was unclear on this point until now. Furthermore, we were going to an event that the races are SUPPOSED to win, so none of us were really even worried. I have just been made aware of a mechanic that Void has and reached a conclusion. I believe he is a flexible raid boss.”
“Oh my god,” Abhy whispered.
“For those of you unfamiliar with the term. It means that his strength varies based on the forces that ally to fight him. We have actually strengthened the encounter by joining it, probably pushing his parameters past what the Resident Armies here are capable of dealing with. Once they are destroyed I doubt the 25 of us will be much of a challenge.” Amelia bowed her head slightly. “I apologize for that."
Her head came back up.
"However, Void was coming anyway and this is a unique opportunity to fight him without all the people who have no wish to participate strengthening him. This is an event that we started that gives us a strange advantage. He will not be strengthened by those who do not participate, only those who are here, with me, right now.”
Her hand came up and a second finger was added to the first one being held up.
“The second thing, an error on my part was in assuming that I could only bring 25. Gilduirn, leader of Ominous, posits that we can bring back 25 per Chronicler. He already died in a fair duel against the survivor, Vienne, so that he could return and recruit. I am sure most of you are aware of this.” Amelia paused and turned to face the mirror directly once more. “I am inviting you all to consider how your game is going to end.”
“What is our Coulson rating?” Elias asked out of the corner of his mouth.
“45% and climbing,” Jason said, disbelief in his voice. “OH.”
“Pretty good for just a few hours notice.” Abhy monotoned.
“No... that’s… not what I was OHing about.” Jason still sounded shocked.
“What?” Elias turned, immediately acknowledging that whatever had Jason so spooked was important.
“I was sorta watching Gilduirn’s screen. It’s related to Amelia so we’re allowed to watch. He’s… showing this speech with the Chronicler’s in his guild in all the major cities. She must have pre-recorded an entry for him. Everyone is logging off and listening to our stream as a result. How did she get it to him?” Jason demanded.
Elias started laughing. “She just left it.” He guessed.
“What?” Jason demanded.
“She made the entry, and she left it. Then she called Gilduirn out of the game and told him where to find it. I mean, time is passing and the future is changing. She left it and he found it. Must have shown up as a thousand-year entry. My god, I bet the Chronicler’s got huge experience for learning this. It’s… a part of AA history now.” Elias whistled low, and silence fell on the room and all eyes turned back to Amelia. “Amelia just invented in-game live streaming. Everything she is doing is being played from her book entry.”
“But… she hasn’t left it, so even if that were true...” Abhy slurred, trying to keep up.
“My guess is she is streaming the entry for us now. That isn’t her talking, that’s her recording.” Elias said. People turned toward him again. The boss was abnormal when it came to guessing.
“That’s… insane.” Jason whispered. “How do you think of that?”
“Aidan.” Audrey breathed. “He’s always behind that sort of crazy.” She had slipped in at some point to see why everyone was running to the control room.
“I had a bad dream. Where all my friends were unable to resurrect on the ground while that stupid boss burned this world.” Amelia choked for a moment and sighed, catching her breath. “I’m not starting over. I’m not waiting for the next game. I’m not losing this world. This is my world. MINE.” Amelia almost hissed at the mirror, causing several chuckles in the room.
They were unsolicited and random, but genuine nonetheless.
“Back to the few things I can do as a ruler.” Amelia’s arms fell to her sides, giving her a sudden stiff-shouldered and imposing look. “I am increasing housing for players in Elysium and I am using my personal fortune, as well as the fortunes of several of my gracious companions, to sink into Elysium’s financial capital. I cannot make purchases there directly, of course, being in the past of the game. But I can add it from here to the donations and taxes of Elysium in the present, or future if it pleases you. Transactions can be made from anywhere, online in the game or off if you have ethernet access.”
“So… she’s adding her money to Elysium to purchase something in the future, err, present?” Abhy was looking baffled. “How long has she been planning all this?”
“A couple of hours ago,” Elias muttered. “She just woke up. Told me she had a bad dream.”
“I am using my privileges to start a festival using this money. I am calling it the Fight the Future Festival.” Amelia pushed an invisible spot in front of her, and immediately in the mirror a system announcement showed up. Elias supposed that everyone was seeing it. She must have done something to manipulate it so it showed up correctly in the mirror but no one offhand spoke up about it.
Elias was guessing that no one knew the answer, or hadn’t noticed that she had once again done something people hadn’t considered possible.
----------------------------------
Global Announcement - Fight the Future Festival
Empress Amelia of Elysium has purchased ALL the experience potions in the northern continent of Elysium. For the next two weeks, any experience potions offered at any and all shops will be bought up and distributed freely to anyone who doesn’t have one, regardless of whether or not they have the appropriate permissions or faction rank. When a potion is consumed participants are allowed to receive another free potion from participating vendors.
-----------------------------------
“Your experience will now be 300% for the next week. I say the next week, but I really mean until the end of the game. If Void doesn’t show up in the next two weeks I’ll just restart the festival.” Amelia deadpanned. “You’re not being forced to commit to this battle if you partake of the potions. Just keep in mind who this festival is for."
"Please, Tradesman, Craftsman, Transients who have no desire to take part. You should use these potions as well. This is your world too.” Amelia sighed.
“There is another thing I can do. Do you want to see?” She smiled crookedly. As if on cue, the mirror once again filled with another global announcement.
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Global Announcement -
EMPRESS AMELIA OF ELYSIUM DECLARES A STATE OF EMERGENCY
Shocked, all corners of the land ring with this pronouncement… and without delay:
KING ELAIRDRIN DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY
QUEEN CATHERINE DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY
PRINCE OREKIN DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY
Super World Level Zero Quest Available - Fight the World Ender.
Empress Amelia of Elysium has declared a state of emergency, and immediately the three rulers of the land follow suit. Experience geared toward the Job Chronicler will be increased by 200% for a duration of a week. Those who join Chronicler’s and take the fight to the past will gain experience at 500% for the duration of the fight.
Results:
Quest Completion: Victory, fame, reputation, and experience will be handed out based on contribution.
Quest Failure: The world ends. Sad.
-----------------------------------------
“Do you like the failure result? It’s my first quest description so I think it lacks punch. I didn’t know I could do it until I was looking through the privileges to buy all the experience potions.” Amelia put her hood up slowly, but just for a moment, the rage in her eyes was clear once more before it hid her face.
“How about it? Wanna come?”
The screen faded to black soon after everyone else in the picture finally straightened up, looking just as ferociously amused as Amelia had moments before her hood had gone up.
“How did she sync up those announcements with her recording?” Abhy demanded.
“I have about a billion other questions.” Elias said, staring with narrowed eyes.
The stream died, and there was absolute silence in the room.
“Where did you find this girl?” Jason asked breathlessly. "She is totally going to work us into the ground until this is over."