Chapter 12- Maura
The cold, damp air of the cave enveloped us as Felix and I sat close to the small fire we had managed to kindle. The light from the flames flickered, casting ghostly shadows against the rough walls and illuminating our solemn faces.
“How did you find me? I thought you had been captured. Where are the others?” I asked numbly. I wanted to be happy that I wasn’t alone in this cave but between Abzx’s story and raid on Galene I was emotionally exhausted.
Felix looked away nervously his mouth drawing into a thin line. “Well,” he began taking a breath before continuing. “There was a moment of chaos after- Elara…” He swallowed a lump in his throat and tried blinking away tears but one escaped and fell silently down his face and off of his chin.
"I still can't wrap my head around it," I started, my voice low and haunted by the images of the raid. "Galene was supposed to be our sanctuary. It wasn't just a camp; it was home, a place where we were all supposed to be safe."
Felix nodded, his expression grim. "The way they stormed in... it was like they knew exactly how unprepared we were. It's horrifying to think about how quickly everything fell apart." He paused, his gaze lost in the fire. "The people we lost... I can't stop thinking about them."
The silence that followed was thick with grief and the shared burden of those we couldn't save. I pulled my knees closer, feeling the chill of the cave seep through me. "We have to do something, Felix. We have to go back there and rescue everyone. What about Jackie and Corwin?”
Felix nodded, “We do but we’re not strong enough right now. Most of those guys in the camp were at least level 10. I got off a few inspects and while I agree that we need to rescue people I don’t want to make things worse until we are confident that we can win. And as far as Jackie, I think she got away. We snuck her out the back of the hospital using her cloak.”
Trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere, Felix managed a wry smile. “Now how about you being some kind of chosen one destined to save the multiverse? With all this talk about paragons and cosmic powers, it feels like you've been thrust into some sort of epic saga. You know, this whole chosen one scenario really makes you kind of a Neo, doesn’t it? One day you’re coding, next you’re the savior of the multiverse or something.”
"Feels more like I've stumbled into a Buffy episode. Up next a broody vampire will become obsessed with me.”
Felix chuckled, ”Or maybe you’re a bit more Harry Potter, minus the school of witchcraft. Mysterious powers, a secret world, and loads of dangerous challenges."
"Great, so where’s my Hogwarts? All I got was a crash course in ‘how not to die in a tutorial’ and a cave instead of a castle."
"True, but you’ve got Byte. That's like having your own magical creature. Plus, you can create holograms—that’s straight out of a sci-fi flick. Maybe you’ll get your own multi-pass?“
"Should I start practicing my dramatic, wind-swept cliff-top poses?” I mocked an overly dramatic fainting pose.
"Only if you can pull off a brooding look into the distance. Oh, and we definitely need a good tagline for when you make your heroic return to save the day."
"How about ‘Winter is coming’? Or, Felix, I am your father!” I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Honestly, this whole thing feels way too real and not fun at all. And I’m certainly no hero. I ran away!”
He looked at me with a mixture of despair and concern. "That's the thing about heroes, though. They don't start out knowing they're heroes. They become them through trials and tribulations."
I sighed, realizing how hard he was trying to cheer me up. A mixture of resignation and resolve settling over me. "Abzx's revelation about this whole structure controlled by paragons—major, minor, all manipulating events from the shadows—it's daunting. And knowing they might see us, especially me, as a threat or a tool... It's a lot to take in."
Byte whistled and beeped looking between us before heading to the back of the cave where Abzx had motioned the globe lay beyond.
Felix leaned forward, his voice earnest. “This class change globe Abzx mentioned. I know you’re enjoying the Technomancer class, but I think we should get it just in case. He made it sound like we aren’t just going to find another one laying around. We can get it and level up and while we’re doing it we can come up with a plan to take the camp back.”
The idea resonated with me, igniting a spark of defiant hope. "You're right. We need to find that globe. I have a feeling that it will be worth something.” At the mention of being worth something -I remembered something that I had forgotten. The notifications from this morning I dismissed without reading. I opened my HUD and opened my unread notifications. ”Oh the shop!” I exclaimed, hopeful that there would be an answer to our problem.
Congratulations on Surviving Day Five!
Special Notice: The Store Opens Today Only! It will reopen on Day 10.
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
Opening my HUD revealed a new option down at the bottom. [Shop] and upon opening it I started to get a very sinking feeling:
Potions and Consumables:
Minor Healing Potion - Heals 20% of maximum health. 250 Credits
Minor Mana Potion - Restores 20% of maximum mana. 250 Credits
Stamina Booster - Temporarily increases Stamina by +5 for 1 hour. 1200 Credits
Intellect Elixir - Temporarily increases Intelligence by +5 for 1 hour. 1300 Credits
Strength Tonic - Temporarily increases Strength by +5 for 1 hour. 1400 Credits
Dexterity Draught - Temporarily increases Dexterity by +5 for 1 hour. 1500 Credits
Wisdom Wine - Temporarily increases Wisdom by +5 for 1 hour. 1600 Credits
Charisma Chai - Temporarily increases Charisma by +5 for 1 hour. 1700 Credits
Weapons and Armor:
Photon Blade - Energy sword that adds +3 to Dexterity. 5000 Credits
Arcane Staff - Magic staff that adds +3 to Intelligence. 4700 Credits
Sniper Crossbow - Long-range weapon that adds +2 to Perception. 4300 Credits
Battle Axe of Fury - Heavy weapon that adds +4 to Strength. 5200 Credits
Elemental Staff - Magic staff that adds +3 to elemental damage. 4100 Credits
Wraith Daggers - Dual daggers that add +3 to Agility. 4900 Credits
Quantum Blade - A high-tech sword that phases through armor, granting +3 to Attack Speed and +2 to Precision. 5300 Credits
Arcane Longbow - An enchanted bow that increases the range and accuracy of each shot, providing +3 to Dexterity and +2 to Critical Hit Chance. 5100 Credits
Armor Options:
Guardian Shield - Defensive gear that adds +3 to Constitution. 4800 Credits
Stealth Cloak - Enables invisibility with +2 to Stealth. 4500 Credits
Elemental Robes - Armor that provides +3 to Resistance against elemental damage. 4100 Credits
Titanium Mesh Armor - Lightweight yet durable armor that adds +2 to Dexterity. 5000 Credits
Sorcerer's Mantle - Enhances magical abilities, adding +3 to Intelligence. 4900 Credits
Vanguard Plate - Heavy plate armor that adds +4 to Strength. 5200 Credits
Agility Suit - Special suit that boosts speed and agility, adding +3 to Agility. 4300 Credits
Oracle's Vestments - Increases magical insight, adding +3 to Wisdom. 4700 Credits
Special Artifacts:
Resurrection Stone - Prevents death one time. Side effects may apply. 300000 Credits
Portal Generator - One-time use portal to any visited location. 31000 Credits
Time Rewinder - Reverses time by five seconds. 32000 Credits
Cloak of Shadows - Renders the wearer undetectable by magical means. 35000 Credits
Charm of Binding - Temporarily binds a powerful enemy. 34000 Credits
Orb of Clarity - Reveals hidden traps and doors. 31000 Credits
Mirror of Truth - Reveals true intentions or forms. 32500 Credits
Amulet of Peace - Calms nearby aggressive entities. 30000 Credits
I let out a very anxiety filled breath as I checked my own credits. 2000. I received the 1000 credits the orc had and 500 as an achievement for having killed another living person. 300,000 credits would be 6,000 lives worth of credits. Having seen the people killing and attacking without discretion a few hours ago I knew that they or people like them would be highly motivated to do more PVP to receive some of these items. A promise to cheat death in particular.
I looked over at Felix and his eyebrows were drawn together in confusion. “How could anyone get this many credits?” He asked. “I got 1500 for finishing a quest after Corwin was injured but that was not a daily occurrence.”
I grimaced. “I also got 1500 that day. I acquired 1000 from the orc I killed. And I earned an achievement for having killed him giving me another 500.” I waited a minute for it to sink in.
“You mean..”
“Yeah- killing people is the quickest way to get credits.” I stood up. We need to get that globe and level up as quickly as we can, if we have any chance of saving the people back at camp.
Felix nodded resigned. And we both stood to move toward Byte who was chirping and beeping excitedly just out of sight. As Byte came into view so did a barrier right in front of him. It glinted slightly and colors danced and swirled like the surface of an oil slick. I reached out to touch it and a messaged appeared before me.
Congratulations on finding a Dungeon!
Would you like to enter the dungeon with your party?
Warning:
Once you enter you cannot leave until the dungeon is completed.
Yes No
I looked at Felix. “Seems like a way to level up?”
He looked nervous but nodded. “Yeah. What could possibly go wrong going into a place that we can’t leave?”
Before I could chicken out I chose to ignore his sarcasm and selected yes. Within a second I found myself with Byte on the other side of the barrier. I turned and through the barrier saw Felix staring back at me eyes glazed over as he stared into his HUD mulling over this decision. I crossed my arms and tapped my foot in what I hope came across in a Sonic fashion.
Half a moment later Felix stood beside me. “I’m waiting,” I said in a bad attempt at an impression.
He narrowed his eyes before taking off running, and shouted behind him. “Gotta go fast.”