Awaken Online: Inferno (Tarot #3)

by Travis Bagwell

  “I won’t get caught,” Julia interrupted him. “And besides, this isn’t just some game. We used this damn hardware and software to resurrect Mom. Until we figure out a way to pull her out of this world, well, we must play for keeps,” she said, staring at him pointedly.

  Finn was only mildly surprised that Julia had leapt to that conclusion. Of course, his daughter would be thinking about the long term – a future for Rachael that wasn’t entirely dependent on this game, or on George and Cerillion Entertainment. And her suggestion would buy them valuable time…

  “It’s risky…” Finn murmured.

  “Sure. But what if we inadvertently reveal information regarding our city and our people that allows this Jason to level Sandscrit?” she demanded. “It’s an acceptable risk given what’s at stake here.”

  Finn could only shake his head. He didn’t have a better answer for that one. She was right, even if it pained him to admit it.

  “You know that’s going to require potentially hacking into the dev’s own streaming platform though, right? Vermillion Live has already grown tremendously since the launch of the game, and the ad revenue alone is significant. This is one of their cash cows. They’re going to defend it,” Kyyle offered. “If they detect you, you might be looking at a permanent ban… or worse.”

  Julia nodded. “Which is why I’m going to do this alone. If I get caught, then, worst case, I get a ban, but you two can keep going.” She shrugged, a grin stretching across her face. “Besides, I’m pretty good. I’m not exactly planning to get caught.”

  Finn chewed on the inside of his cheek in thought. He expected that if Rachael had overheard Julia’s batshit plan, she’d have immediately shut it down. It was risky. Julia was talking in terms of a ban, but Kyyle was right. Finn knew firsthand how vindictive George could be. He wouldn’t stop with a slap on the wrist – especially if he discovered that Julia was Finn’s daughter. She could be looking at criminal charges.

  At the same time, did they have a better option?

  He was still sitting on a load of cash from his golden parachute. He could hire lawyers if need be and tie the company up in knots for years. And that was putting aside some of the more invasive activities of the game world he’d already noticed – he doubted that the general public was aware that the game was scraping their memories. He’d likely need to spend a decent chunk of his funds to help build up the infrastructure he would eventually need to house Rachael’s consciousness, but he should still have plenty of resources left over.

  And besides, that was essentially blood money – funds the company had paid him to shut up and go away after they had stolen Rachael from him. It was fitting that it would now be pledged to protect her and find a way to bring her back.

  “Fine,” Finn said. He spared a glance at Julia. “But be careful.”

  “I always am,” she replied with a grin.

  Yet Finn didn’t feel any humor as he met her gaze. His thoughts were only on the future. On the preparations that needed to be made – both in-game and out. On the battles that lingered on the not-so-distant horizon.

  And, always and forever, on Rachael.

  Chapter 50 - Remorseful

  Finn sat cross-legged atop the sand, the fingers of his right hand drifting through the grains and letting the particles cascade across his skin. He took in the courtyard that loomed around him. Dusk was bleeding into night, allowing him to avoid the bustle of activity that typically marked this place in the daylight hours. Long shadows were now cast by the flaming torches that ringed the enclosure.

  After the attack on the city, the Mage Guild courtyard, like all of Sandscrit, had been transformed. Flames now lined the roof of the guild, the flames spiraling up into the night sky. The worn sandstone terrace that ringed the pit in the center of the courtyard had given way to partially melted glass banisters and columns, the substance reflecting and refracting the firelight in strange angles that caused the shadows to twist and dance.

  Once his meeting with Aerys and the other emissaries concluded, he’d been bombarded by an almost endless litany of complaints and mundane problems. The issues ranged from frustrations with the new décor – something Finn certainly had little control over – to how the guilds would now handle intake and recruitment. Despite his conversation with the new “guild emissaries,” the relationships among the competing factions were still somewhat strained, and he expected this would only become worse over time as the threat of their common enemy faded from memory.

  Finn had also begun to see Aerys and the emissaries’ motive in naming him Emir.

  If everyone was bound under a single banner, then all complaints ultimately fell upon his shoulders. He’d learned that early on in the business world as well. When you’re the boss, the buck stops with you. That seemed to be true no matter what world he was in.

  He could imagine the group had shared a good laugh while they were leaving.

  They’d played him like a sucker, he realized, shaking his head ruefully.

  “Your point this time,” he muttered to himself. “But I’m going to remember this.”

  This was the first free moment he’d had since the encounter with Bilel. Combined with the familiarity of his former training grounds, he suddenly realized that he hadn’t checked on his notifications in quite some time. With a swipe of his wrist, he brought up his UI, and a tumble of screens cascaded down in front of him.

  x21 Level Up!

  You have (105) undistributed stat points.

  x2 Spell Rank Up: Mana Absorption

  Skill Level: Intermediate Level 9

  Cost: 63% of mana drained as health damage.

  Effect 1: The caster can absorb ambient fire mana, adding the energy to their total mana pool.

  Effect 2: Increased absorption range, sensitivity, and area of effect.

  x3 Spell Rank Up: Molten Beam

  Skill Level: Beginner Level 9

  Cost: 140 Mana/second. Must be channeled.

  Effect 1: Fires a beam of molten energy dealing damage equal to 180 + (INT x 33%).

  x2 Skill Rank Up: Mana Sight

  Skill Level: Intermediate Level 10

  Cost: Permanently reduces your mana regeneration by 20 mana/second. You are now blind to regular spectrums of light.

  Effect 1: Ability to view ambient mana. Current vision is [good].

  Effect 2: Ability to isolate mana types. All types unlocked.

  x3 Skill Rank Up: Concentration

  Skill Level: Intermediate Level 5

  Effect 1: Ability to split your focus between [3] tasks.

  Effect 2: Improved ability to ignore pain or disruptions.

  x4 Skill Rank Up: Multi-Casting

  Skill Level: Intermediate Level 8

  Effect 1: -40.0% casting speed on the second spell.

  Effect 2: -17% reduced channeling cost.

  Translucent Flame (Crafted by Nar Aljahim)

  This hand has been built entirely of the so-called neurogem material that you discovered within the depths of the Forge and was crafted by an ancient fire elemental. A Focusing Prism has been set in the base of the hand, although its use is currently unknown. Experimentation may be required to unlock its ability.

  Quality: A

  Level: 17

  Health: 820

  (Soulbound)

  Adaptable Limb

  Skill Level: Intermediate Level 3

  Cost: 500 Mana

  Effect 1: Allows the caster to make [moderate] modifications to the limb.

  Effect 2: Decreases shift time by 22%.

  Focusing Prism

  Total Mana Stored: 0/52,000 (160% scaling)

  Increased Effective Range: 130 yards (160% scaling)

  Soulforged Item (Bonded by Nar Aljahim)

  This item has been imbued with the Najima of the traveler named Finn. The limb’s health is counted separately from the traveler’s regular health pool and will scale as the item levels. Damage is repaired using the 1/6 of the user’s mana regeneration. D
estruction of the limb will result in the user’s death, and the limb will return upon respawn.

  As Finn reviewed the notifications, he couldn’t help but reflect on how far he’d come since the day he’d entered this world.

  He could still remember stepping out into the sands of this very courtyard for the first time, desperately trying to run away as Brutus’ golems stalked him and the rest of the novices. At the time, the fire mage’s abilities had seemed impossibly powerful – a level of skill and strength that Finn couldn’t hope to match. And yet, in the span of just a few short weeks, that encounter now paled in comparison to many of the creatures and people he’d faced.

  Although, he’d still taken away an important lesson from the fire mage.

  Physical stats weren’t to be underestimated.

  With that reasoning in mind, Finn placed 60 of his points into Intelligence, and the remainder he spread equally among Dexterity, Vitality, and Endurance.

  His allocation complete, he pulled up his character status.

  Character Status

  Name:

  Finn

  Gender:

  Male

  Level:

  139

  Class:

  Fire Mage

  Race:

  Efreet

  Alignment:

  Lawful-Neutral

  Fame:

  4300

  Infamy:

  0

  Health:

  3040

  H-Regen/Sec:

  11.55

  Mana:

  3279

  M-Regen/Sec:

  62.79

  Stamina

  2240

  S-Regen/Sec:

  15.50

  Str:

  47

  Dex:

  155

  Vit:

  235

  End:

  155

  Int:

  599

  Will:

  30

  Affinities

  Dark:

  4%

  Light:

  11%

  Fire:

  56%

  Water:

  5%

  Air:

  3%

  Earth:

  13%

  Even his character sheet barely resembled what it once was. But that growth had come at a cost, even if he tried to hide it. The plain white bandage that covered the amalgamation of metal and crystal that had replaced his eyes. His left hand – fires perpetually circling through the crystalline fingers – tucked away beneath his robes. Horns that now jutted from his head and the scales that lingered along his skin. And above his brow hung that flaming crown, both a reminder of his escape from the Abyss and a warning to those that would challenge him.

  “I’ve come a long way,” Finn murmured to himself.

  Then his eyes drifted down to the golden urn cradled in his lap.

  Unfortunately, Abbad would never get a chance to see the culmination of that hardship or what might eventually follow.

  He could still remember the librarian’s face – the stoic expression when he’d told Finn to place his hand on that first crystal to test his affinity and the look of shocked surprise when a blaze had ignited within its depths. The hastily whispered words of warning.

  And after that? Abbad had only continued to put his life on the line for Finn.

  Teaching him in the quiet of the Mage Guild library. His careful guidance when Finn nearly burned down the stacks. The way he’d sparred with Julia – known about her presence from the beginning but still helping to keep her hidden. The words of wisdom when Finn had finally made it out of the guild and come face-to-face with the Emir for the first time.

  Abbad had been there all along – just a whisper in the shadows.

  He squeezed his eyes shut, a hollow pang aching in his chest.

  This is stupid, he told himself. He’s just an NPC. A few bits of code.

  And yet his loss still hurt… and left him feeling guilty.

  Like he could have done more. Worked harder. Fought more fiercely. Moved just a hair faster in that final sprint toward Bilel…

  Finn swallowed hard and gently lifted the lid from the urn, observing the ashes that rested within its depths. It was pointless to second-guess himself now. He knew that. There were no do-overs here. There was no load screen. Abbad was gone. And perhaps it was that finality that gave his digital life weight and heft. He wasn’t just a string of code – to be copied and pasted back into existence.

  He was gone. Permanently.

  And that felt real.

  Finn let out a sigh, the fingers of his right hand twitching through a series of gestures – summoning the same small balls of flame that Abbad had taught him to use all of those days and weeks ago. He set the urn down carefully before him and then directed those orbs forward, setting them to spin around the small container. They whirled faster and faster, forming streaks of orange in the dark courtyard.

  And that miniature vortex soon began to lift the ashes from the urn. They drifted up into the air, streaming up into the night sky. And in Finn’s enhanced sight, he saw only a vortex of yellow and orange – of air and fire. A brief union that sent Abbad’s remains racing up into the sky where he belonged.

  Nar Aljahim’s words returned to him then…

  “Life and death are an endless, revolving circle. We flare to life in an instant, burn brightly, and fade back into darkness… only to return again.”

  Finn resolved in that moment to continue the circle. He would make certain that Abbad’s death hadn’t been for nothing, that his influence would continue long after his passing. That his name would be remembered…

  Within only moments it was over.

  The urn depleted, and the fires winking out.

  “Goodbye, Abbad,” Finn whispered, struggling to hold back the molten tears he felt welling at the corners of his eyes.

  “You have given up much,” a voice spoke. “Parts of yourself. Intangibles such as pain and hardship. As well as friends… companions.”

  Without even looking up, Finn recognized that voice. He forcefully pushed down the emotion that had welled in his chest. He’d been expecting this encounter, but, of course, the timing wasn’t ideal. And Finn couldn’t afford to show any sign of weakness.

  “A price I was more than willing to pay,” Finn answered softly. “But I didn’t make this choice. Abbad chose this for himself. His sacrifice made all of this possible.”

  A man sat down across from him, his features outlined in the glowing blue of Finn’s Short-Sighted, revealing Eldawin’s face. The older man peered at him intently, the lines around his eyes bunching.

  “I take it Thorn and his merry band of sycophants are positioned beneath the terrace and out of sight?” Finn inquired, not bothering to reach for a weapon. He doubted that it would do much good against the members of the Order.

  “They are,” Eldawin answered. “Although, I thought we would speak alone.”

  A small smile pulled at Finn’s lips. He had played out the outcome of this conversation a million different ways, but this is the one that had seemed most probable.

  If Eldawin wished to speak, then there was room to negotiate.

  “You have succeeded in slaying the demon, although, I understand you have only further solidified your union with the Crone,” the older man said – not a question, but a statement.

  “I suppose it would seem that way to you. Although, they have a saying in my world,” Finn replied. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

  Eldawin raised an eyebrow at that. “The Seer has something I desire… but that doesn’t mean that hers is the only path to obtaining it,” Finn continued. “Better that she thinks me a willing participant and an ally than an enemy.”

  “It would indeed appear that the line between friend and foe has become especially blurry of late,” Eldawin responded, a subtle undercurrent to his response.

  And yet we wouldn’t be having this conv
ersation if you didn’t see value in keeping my alive, Finn thought. Thorn’s words from back at the Forge were still fresh in his mind. He’d referred to Eldawin as a pragmatist. It was time to see if that observation held true.

  Finn glanced up at him, meeting his eyes. “Indeed, it has. The guilds and Khamsin are united. I granted your people their autonomy – free passage and trade within Sandscrit. Old aggressions have given way to a reluctant peace. One contingent upon loyalty to the new Emir, of course.

  “It would be a shame if someone were to unravel that tentative union. If something were to happen to me, I expect chaos would descend again upon Sandscrit, with the guilds vying for power, old hostilities would likely flare. The blood of many of the desert folk would once again stain the sands. The blood of innocents.”

  If he hadn’t been watching Eldawin’s expression intently, he might have missed the fleeting frown that crossed his face. But he didn’t. Clearly, the older man had picked up on the subtext of his words.

  “And yet some hostilities cannot be entirely forgotten,” Eldawin answered, choosing his words carefully.

  Finn tilted his head. “Perhaps not. But they could be delayed, if only temporarily. And a new alliance could possibly be formed if their motives were aligned.”

  A long pause followed those words, neither man moving.

  “What exactly are you proposing?” Eldawin asked more bluntly.

  You have him now, Finn thought, resisting the urge to smile.

  “There are other avatars and other gods. Five, to be precise. And the names and locations of the avatars for both light and dark are now known. Their names are Alexion and Jason. Of the two, Jason poses the greater threat to both me and to your people. He will come here eventually in pursuit of his god’s goals.”

  Fires simmered in Finn’s eyes as he stared at Eldawin. “I suggest that you take the fight to him. Weaken him. Delay him. Destroy him if you can.”