I took a moment to absorb that. "Good to know," I murmured, the lump in my throat feeling more like a boulder. "Just when I thought my day couldn't get any more thrilling."
Korrok looked at me, his eyes showing a hint of sympathy. "Don't fret too much over armor right away, get protection of course but don’t stress about making it perfect. There will be plenty of loot around and after you get back you can sell and trade for the upgrades you need.
Loot drops, huh? Maybe like a never ending Christmas? Except this one is dependent on how well I swing my axe. Excitement level… unexpectedly high. I finally had something to look forward to, other than a shot at getting home. At shot at getting home if I murder a bunch of people. The thought was sobering, and I found myself as apprehensive as ever. I looked at my HUD, the time bar was there, in the top right corner under the blue mana bar. Survive. Adapt. Triumph. Made me think of some kind of twisted Live, Laugh, Love, I thought while simultaneously laughing and choking on my own nerves.
Exiting the gladiator complex, a wave of nervousness washed over me. Korrok, sensing my unease, placed his weighty arm around my shoulders. "You've got to secure food and water sources also," he stated gravely. "You've been running on adrenaline, but it won't sustain you forever. Without proper nourishment, you'll deteriorate."
I nodded in understanding. Survival wasn't solely about winning battles or quests here. Basic necessities, things I'd often overlooked so far, would come back to haunt me if I neglected them.
Approaching the exit, a familiar face appeared. Elyria stood, arms crossed, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "Hello," she greeted as we neared, her eyes locking onto mine. "So, you turned me down earlier, but here I am, offering help again. What can I say? I'm relentless. It's like I'm channeling my inner bard, serenading you with offers of assistance despite your best efforts to ignore me. I guess persistence is my new charm spell."
Confusion clouded my expression, but before I could utter a word, she started talking again, "You know, battling through life—or in your case, a deadly gladiator tournament—can be a bit like running with lead in your shoes. Heavy, right? I've got something here that might just lighten your load. Consider it my way of saying, no hard feelings."
My interest was undeniable. The combat had indeed drained me, both physically and emotionally. If Elyria possessed something beneficial...
"Here's the deal: I help you, you help me. It's like a duet, except instead of harmonizing in song, you'll be completing a quest for me. Isn’t that great? And the prize at the end? Not a participation trophy or ribbon, but something much better… A nice balm to stop that adorable throwing up and feinting you are doing.
My heart raced. A mission. A remedy. Another hurdle, another opportunity to validate myself. Determination welled up in me as I met her gaze. I was prepared. Whatever the task entailed, I'd see it through. Not merely for the balm, but to keep proving to myself that I could make it in this new world.
I felt a mix of fear and excitement. With each decision, I could feel myself growing, not just in skill but in confidence. "Alright," I squared my shoulders, "because it’s always good to add to your plate before you charge into the unknown.”
Elyria's smile widened, her eyes alight with a teasing glint. "Great," she exclaimed, reaching into her belt pouch. As her fingers fiddled inside, she finally drew out a jar, containing a type of off-white paste. "Consider this a bonus for your willingness to try. This is a smaller version of what I will have for you when you complete the quest. Just put a little on your wrists and your temples every morning and you will be much more balanced. I’d imagine it will last your whole time in the zone if you don’t overuse it."
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
I accepted the container, flipping it over in my hand, it seemed unassuming enough. Our fingers brushed against each other momentarily. "Thank you," I said, managing to sound like I wasn't considering fleeing. "Appreciate the support, really.
Elyria's playful smirk returned, her eyes daring me. "Oh, don't flatter yourself too much, Everett. This whole helping you out thing? It's not entirely altruistic. I've got my reasons, schemes you might say, hahahaha. And yes, that includes roping you in despite your initial 'thanks, but no thanks.' I don’t take to rejection." Her laugh in the middle was comically over the top like she was some kind of Batman villain.
A blush crept onto my cheeks, and I chuckled. "It wasn’t personal," I assured her, feeling as smooth as a dirt road.
Her laughter was soft and teasing. "With me, it's always personal, for better or for worse.”
"Uh... thanks," I managed, caught between flattered and flustered. "Wasn't expecting to make friends—or is it frenemies?”
She laughed at that. A forceful but melodic laugh, I liked it. “Time will tell Ace.
I blushed besides myself. With the vial secured, I pivoted towards the coliseum's exit where a portal awaited, pulsating with hidden energy. Casting one last glance her way, I stepped through the portal. Everything went dark.
Suddenly, I found myself in a forest unlike any I'd seen. Towering trees with bark like woven silver, leaves shimmering in hues of crimson and gold. The air held a faint, unfamiliar aroma, adding to the sense of alienation. Beneath my boots, the ground felt like volcanic ash, dark and crumbly. Above, the sky wore a foreboding shade, thick with potential threats. The atmosphere was stifling, saturated with the scent of sulfur, so different from the gladiator complex's cold ambiance. I noticed my HUD displaying new elements – two bars at the top, colored red, and blue. After considering it for a moment I guessed the red might be my health, and the blue… perhaps mana or energy. If I’m honest I wasn’t sure if it was mana or energy but since I wasn’t really a spellcaster, I decided in my case it was most likely energy and I should consider it as such.
A shiver ran down my spine. This place emanated an uncanny silence and solitude. However, hesitation wasn't an option. I had a quest to fulfill and a zone to complete.
I began my journey into the woods, the soft, gritty sound of crushed ash accompanying each step. As I walked I glanced at my attire laughing. I had asked Korrok about my attire before, but I wasn’t too worried about what I was wearing until now. I still had my chinos on, they had held up better than expected, but my pinstripe button up was nearly in tatters and don’t even get me started on the state of my wing tips. Allen Edmonds made the best real leather shoes for your buck, but they were not made for this. I needed some upgrades as soon as I could get them.
After some time, the endless grey of the ash forest was interrupted by a slender river, its silver waters contrasting the dull surroundings. Relieved, I knelt by its side, scooping the cool liquid to quench my thirst, rinsing the bitter taste of sulfur from my mouth.
As I bent to take another sip, a growl broke the eerie quiet, stopping me dead in my tracks. Every hair on my body stood on end. Slowly, I turned, locking eyes with a wild creature. I instinctively retreated a step, my mind racing. Then I remembered that many games in my world had an examine feature. Unsure of its efficacy but left with no other choice, I fixed my gaze on the approaching beast, triggering the ability.
Immediately, an overlay of information appeared in my field of vision. "Target: Emberwolf, Level 6. At the same time my HUD flashed, Quest Updated: Survive. Quest Updated: First Kill- Defeat the Emberwolves. Whoa, that was new, not much information, though I guess some was better than none, but the lack of detail left me slightly unnerved.
A rush of assurance flooded me in response. Being able to examine did provide a few insights into my opponent, and the quest updating let me know I was on the right track. Yes, the beast had the advantage in level, standing at Level 6 against my Level 3. However, the disparity wasn't insurmountable. Also, I was no slouch, I wasn’t a combat vet or anything. My time in the Navy was spent as a Mechanic, after all, but when I played Salve, which was an embarrassing amount of time, I battled with controllers that mimicked the real thing. I may have prepared myself for this moment in a way that I would have never expected. Here I thought I was just nerding out on my favorite game and getting fit in the process. I had no idea how much I was helping future Everett in those moments.
The soft rustle of the ash leaves pulled me from my inner monologue, while the nearby brook seemed to suspend its murmurs in tense anticipation. Dual axes poised, I recalled a specific combat technique I'd honed in Salve. My fingers adjusted for a more effective grip, a maneuver I'd practiced repeatedly, basically a pre-fight ritual. A surge of adrenaline sharpened my senses, here we go.