Dreams are precious. Dreams may bring hope to those who have none. Where despair should flourish, dreams abound. Pinpricks of wishes against the tapestry of reality. Having a dream can make the impossible possible.
Hattie had a dream. One day she would reach the pinnacle of humanity and find her grandfather waiting for her. Ready to embrace her, to welcome her onto the pedestal upon which he lived his life. Then they could ascend together, venturing into the unexplored world of human evolution that lay beyond the level cap.
Diana rose to stretch her aching back. Turning left and right she surveyed the field, smiling as she found no more weeds. Her day's work was completed before noon. Across the field stood her daughter, Hattie. She took after Diana, whose red hair mirrored Hattie’s orange locks. While her skin came from her father’s side, fair and unblemished. Unlike Diana’s whose freckles once made her hide her face. Taking to the darkest dungeons to conceal them.
Hattie nocked an arrow to her bow, taking a breath before drawing the arrow back. Aligning her bow with a distant target. The string hummed, and Hattie’s arrow found the bull’s eye. She pumped her fist in celebration, bringing a smile to Diana’s face.
Good girl, keep training. No matter how impossible your goal already is. Thought Diana. Secretly, she wished Hattie would just give up. Settle down and raise a family like she had. That was where happiness lay. Not in the dungeons of Hephestus, or in her grandfather’s footsteps. His path was already beyond Hattie’s mortal capacity. Nestor Quade, Diana’s father, had earned the moniker of divine swordsman by doing the inconceivable. Somehow, he had broken their world. Rising above humanity to reach the unattainable realm of level one hundred.
By age fifteen Nestor had reached the halfway point, collecting enough XP to reach level fifty. Hattie on the other hand had not reached level twenty five. Her dream lay beyond her abilities. Forever out of reach no matter how hard she strove. One day her dream would come crashing down upon her, and on that day Diana would be there to console her.
She gathered her basket and trowel, heading back to the cabin that served as their farmhouse. It was a simple structure, made of wood with one room to house their three lives. Henry, her husband, sat at his workbench as he shaved another shaft. Working on the score of arrows that would serve as Hattie’s birthday present. He was almost finished, only two more arrows and the quiver would be full. With her birthday arriving the next day he had just enough time.
“Hey babe,” Called Diana, slipping into their home.
Henry put down his tools, making the time to greet his wife with a kiss. “Done already?”
“Our farm isn’t so large.” She retorted, wrapping her arms around him.
“You work harder than the entire town, only to finish before noon. Must be that Quade blood running through your veins.” Joked Henry.
Diana wrinkled her nose. “Hattie is still out there drilling holes in her targets. I wish she would just give up. When she realizes how far behind dad she is… I…”
Henry pulled her in close, giving her a gentle squeeze. “You won’t be there when she realizes.” He whispered.
Diana pushed off him, trying to break free of his grip. “Not this again!”
“This has to happen Dee! Nestor has to be the one to take her into the dungeons. She will only be encouraged if you or I try to guide her. Quade must be her teacher!” Demanded Henry, not letting his wife escape his arms.
“Let me go.” Growled Diana.
Henry frowned at his wife, but knew better than to fight her stubbornness head on. He released Diana, hands slumping to his sides. In turn, she remained where she was, hands still on his chest.
“Nestor will be here for her birthday. We can’t stop her.” Muttered Henry.
“I know. If we tried then she would sneak out. I don’t want to let her go Henry. Dungeons kill those who enter them. Most die in the first delve, or the first year if they are lucky enough to survive their first trip.”
“Nestor Quade is the single best man for keeping her safe. Even as old as he is, no mortal in the entire world is stronger than the divine swordsman.” Comforted Henry.
Diana gave him a gentle push. Breaking their contact. “That’s exactly the problem! Nestor is mortal! One of these days he is going to drop dead. My dear old fart will keep fighting until his heart gives out.”
Henry knew she was trying to humor him, give him a way to end the conversation amicably. “Hattie is a woman now. We’ve done everything we can to help her, build her up. If we try to keep her safe now she will hate us for it.”
Diana pounded her fist on his chest. “I don’t want her to die! How can she hate me for that? You almost died more times than I can count, how are you alright letting her follow our foolishness?” Yelled Diana.
Henry would have replied, would have talked her down, but at that moment the door slammed open. Hattie, their orange haired daughter stood in the entryway. A silly grin smeared across her pale face.
“I leveled up!” She exclaimed.
Diana and Henry smiled at her, ready to celebrate the success with her only to stop short. A worried look crossed her face as Hattie swayed in the doorway. Henry brushed past as Hattie’s eyes fluttered. She put a hand out, trying to catch herself on the doorframe. Her hand slipped as she fell. Fainting in the open doorway.
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“Hattie!” Yelled Diana, rushing to catch her.
Henry reached her in the nick of time. Catching her an instant before hitting the floor.
“Ah.” Groaned Hattie. “Will grandpa be proud?”
“Foolish girl! Are you alright?” Cried Diana, her wrath fading with Hattie’s condition.
Strong arms lifted Hattie onto the bed, tucking her in while Diana reached under the bed. Retrieving one of the three chests she kept there. Throwing it open she found a bow, quiver, and shortsword. Her old adventuring gear. With a curse she kicked the chest across the floor, spilling it’s contents as she stooped to pull the next chest out.
Yanking the next chest out, she ripped it open, thankful that she had forgotten to lock it last time. Inside the chest lay a pile of neatly stacked gold coins, enough wealth to last multiple lifetimes. In that moment, Diana could not have cared less about them. She sought the items that were far more precious.
Reaching into the lid she flipped a catch, opening the hidden compartment with a thud. A dozen items spilled out of the compartment, rolling onto the golden coins. Diana caught a silver scepter with large rubies set inside the crown and a small monocle made of blue crystal. Placing the monocle over her eye, Diana went to Hattie’s side.
She infused the monocle with her mana, activating the dungeon plundered item as she had done dozens of times before. It gave off a soft glow, allowing her to see Hattie’s status screen. To her surprise the screen was fuzzy, letters and numbers disappearing in front of her eyes. Her HP and MP remained stationary as Hattie’s mid twenties rank vanished. Replaced by the number one.
Alarm crossed Diana’s face, causing the monocle to tumble down her front and land on the bed. This unwarranted abuse of the magical item caught Henry’s attention. As a retired adventurer he knew how much effort had gone into retrieving that monocle from a local dungeon. For Diana to casually abuse it made his mouth go dry.
“What is it?” He hissed.
Diana ignored him. Raising the scepter she held it to Hattie’s forehead. Red light flared from the scepter, flowing into their daughter. Henry caught the monocle, watching Hattie’s HP return to full.
“It’s healing her, but her level… It says one? And I can’t see anything else Dee.” He said.
“Keep an eye on her, I’ve never seen anything like this before…” Said Diana, voice trailing off as she remembered a time long ago.
“No… It’s like looking at dad’s stats. They’re all blurry.” She mumbled, before dropping the scepter next to Henry and moving into the corner of their home with a hearth and chimney.
Unable to wake their daughter, the pair busied themselves with her care. Henry watched over her as Diana made chicken soup for them. An hour passed before Hattie stirred, groaning as she sat up in bed.
“Wha- ow… What happened?” She asked.
Henry helped her sit up, tucking a pillow behind her.
“You tell us. One moment we were telling us you leveled up, the next you collapsed. Did a dungeon monster attack you?” He asked.
Hattie rubbed her eyes. Unfocused pupils scanned the room. “Ah… No, I was practicing and received the notificatio-” She froze.
Body going rigid as she caught sight of her status screen. Her hand shot out, grasping her father’s with all her adolescent strength.
“My level! It’s- It’s! I worked too hard! This must be a mistake.” She cried.
Diana interrupted her hysteria. “Hattie, did you eat or drink anything?”
“What? Just breakfast with you… Scones and some juice.” Replied Hattie.
Henry traded concerned looks with Diana.
“I’ll take her to Matimeo. He should be able to divine what happened and find a cure.” Said Henry, already helping Hattie out of bed.
Like them, Matimeo was a retired adventurer who preferred the quiet life. Opting to live on the other side of town from them, just far enough that he would not be disturbed, while close enough he could be hired should the need arise. His class, Diviner, was a magic focused support class. With talents that could help them understand the unknowable. Diana stood, ready to join them.
“No, I can take her alone. You know how slow Matimeo is, old man will probably need to watch her for a few days. Why don’t you make us some dinner. Heaven knows your cooking is better than the old man’s, eugh.” Said Henry.
Shivering at the thought of mushy porridge and flavorless cheese. Two dishes that Matimeo was overly fond of. Diana bit her lower lip, but acquiesced.
“Be safe.” She called, as Henry helped Hattie out of the room.
“I’ll come back and help you carry everything.” He called over his shoulder.
—
Hours passed with Diana distracting herself in the kitchen, preparing an assortment of vittles for her family. Freshly baked blueberry scones covered the table, with a kettle full of chicken soup to accompany them. More than enough for the three of them to enjoy alongside Matimeo. Worry built in her mind with each completed dish, imagining potential curses as she baked another round of scones. Daydreaming XP devouring monsters as she added chopped carrots to the soup.
The door swung open, bringing Henry into the room.
“How is she?” Begged Diana, hungry for any good news.
“Matimeo said that she will be fine. He did not find any sign of curses or any damage over time effects. He gave her a clean bill of health. Though her XP and levels are gone for good.” Frowned Henry.
“Gone? How can they just be gone? That’s fifteen, no, sixteen years of experience! It can’t just- be gone.” Exclaimed Diana, worrying her bottom lip.
Henry leaned in and kissed her. She swatted him, pushing him away from her.
“Sorry, you were going to make your lip bleed if you carried on.” Teased Henry, already folding the scones into a clean basket.
“Distracting me isn’t an answer!” Said Diana, stomping the floor.
“I know, I know. It’s just… I remember why I married you when you get so concerned over us.” Admitted Henry.
Diana hid her face. Blushing too brightly to respond. In a few moments they were packed, ready to leave. Each holding two baskets and carrying their pot of soup on a pole, suspended between them. Diana spared a moment to tuck the healing scepter into her dress pocket before departing.
A strange hum filled the air. At first they dismissed it easily, chalking it up as no more than an unusual amount of crickets. The ground began to shake. Vibrating as their world began to collapse. A tremor in the ground made them stagger, dropping the pot of soup and spilling it’s contents onto the road.
“A Leviathan?” Wondered Henry.
“Run!” Shrieked Diana.
She sprinted past him, spurring him to follow. Behind them a chasm opened. Rocks sprayed as the earth was consumed by the indescribably large worm. A half circle rose into the sky, the Leviathan’s upper half. The rest of it remained in the earth, staying submerged as it propelled itself forward. Henry watched as it consumed their farm. Not bothering to chew, just swallowing the entire farm in a single, immense gulp. Tremors knocked them off their feet, earth shaking so violently they struggled to stand. Scones forgotten, they scrambled on all fours, making every effort to escape the creature.
The Leviathan came on, swallowing nearby farms as it’s gaping maw became a second horizon, stretching across their vision farther than the eye could see. Still they ran. Their adventuring instincts screaming that they had to try, no matter how hopeless they felt, they had to push on. Tremors grew into earthquakes as the ground buckled beneath their feet, rising in a broken cascade of dirt and stone. The sky grew dark as the Leviathan's maw began to close. Henry fell, rolling forward in a vain attempt to survive. Diana saw him fall out of the corner of her eye. She scrambled forward, glancing back she found Henry trapped between two uprooted trees. He said one word, one she would remember for the rest of her life.
“Hattie!”
Diana knew what he meant. One of them needed to survive for her sake. One of them needed to be the rock Hattie could count on. With tears in her eyes Diana scrambled forward. Clawing at the broken earth until her fingernails fell off and her hands bled. She had no talents for movement, no magic for teleportation, only a determination to survive. Broken fingers could be healed, so long as she survived for Hattie.
The darkness came on. Closing the gap Diana fought so hard to maintain. She flopped over a rock, tearing her dress on it’s edge. The town of Dianthus came into view as the ground she was standing on rose. Plowed into the air by the inevitable jaws of a Leviathan. Homes shuddered and schismed, vomiting their occupants into the waiting maw. Darkness overtook Diana as the Leviathan’s mouth closed. Swallowing Henry, Diana and the town of Dianthus.
With it’s hunger sated, the great worm plunged into the earth. Tunneling into the mantle to digest it’s meal. Behind it, a ten mile long gash marred the world, as if an angry god had run his finger across the planet.