The Warped Forest

by Thomas Carpenter

  "Have you seen the Warped Mother's corpse?" asked Alex.

  "I thought you'd never ask," said Ethel, nodding her beak towards a location fifty feet away.

  Alex picked through the rubble as pale dust swirled around her feet to find a pile of lifeless black goo.

  "Hard to believe that a pool of gunk could cause so many problems," said Alex.

  Ethel, who had flown to a nearby rock, said, "Not so different from the soup of creation that birthed all life, and look how that turned out."

  "So you're a scientist as well as a philosopher," said Alex.

  "When you have time, you can learn all manner of things," said Ethel.

  "I like you, Ethel. I hope you visit me more often next year," said Alex.

  "I visit as much as my responsibilities allow, but know that I, too, do enjoy your company," said Ethel.

  "As long as I have a positive reputation with you," said Alex.

  "I am required to stick to the precepts of the game logic," said Ethel.

  The comment was interesting for Alex, because it suggested that Ethel was separate from Gamemakers, not an artifact of it, and knew of its existence in an artificial place. If things weren't so pressing outside of the game, she would have liked to stay and chat with the Great Raven.

  Alex crouched down to loot what remained of the Warped Mother.

  Item: Glowing Jewel

  As soon as she saw the egg-sized gem, she knew why Ethel had been keeping tabs on the fight. The baby blue jewel glimmered with an internal light. Alex had no doubt that if she could find a populated area with a proper NPC vendor, she'd be extremely wealthy when she sold it.

  Alex plucked the Glowing Jewel from the corpse, which promptly disappeared, and held it up, carefully watching Ethel's gaze, which was firmly tranced.

  "This thing must be worth a fortune," said Alex.

  "A fair bit of coin," said Ethel, whose black pebble eyes hadn't deviated from the gem.

  But Alex realized that while coinage would be valuable in the game, information meant more. While she'd survived her first year in Gamemakers Hall, she sensed it would only get harder. Alex made her decision before she could have second thoughts, throwing the Glowing Jewel to Ethel, who caught it in her beak.

  "A gift for you," said Alex, pushing away the regrets boiling in her gut.

  "Are you sure?" asked Ethel, who had dropped the gem into her hip pouch.

  "I am."

  Ethel inclined her head. "Thank you."

  +2,000 reputation with Great Ravens

  You are now honored with Great Ravens

  "As a token of appreciation for your gift, given without expectations, I offer a special reward. Ask me for a favor and I will grant it if I can," said Ethel.

  Excitement bubbled up, making Alex a little lightheaded. "Any favor?"

  "Within my ability to grant it," said Ethel.

  "So...I could ask for an item, or a spell, or information," said Alex.

  "Those are possibilities," Ethel said coolly.

  Alex cupped her hand to her chin. Her armor had been destroyed by the terrorbees. Having a bit of AC would help her next year, but so would a new spell or ability. She considered asking for whatever the Great Raven thought best, but decided that would probably backfire. Ethel wasn't altruistically magnanimous. There was a logic to the game she had to follow.

  As she considered her options, her gaze fell upon a tiny brown body amid the wreckage of the Spire of Creation. Both her minions had given their lives for her to win the fight. She didn't know how much individuality the game allowed its NPCs, but they'd shown her affection in the final month.

  When Inky had thrown herself in the way of the warped triplet, it'd been her own decision. Alex hadn't given the command, because she hadn't known that Inky could get into the spire.

  "Is there a way to bring back my minions?" asked Alex.

  "It is possible to bring them back," said Ethel, "but they will no longer be your minions. That link has been broken by death. They would return to the world, changed but no longer bound to your needs."

  "Minions? I could bring back both?" asked Alex, hopefully.

  "I'm sorry, it would only be one," said Ethel, who placed her wings behind her back rather stoically.

  "I see," said Alex. "Or I could ask for a boon in the game, a new spell or item."

  "That would probably be wise," said Ethel.

  Alex wandered away from Ethel, shaking her head. She couldn't believe she was considering bringing back her minion rather than taking a boon that would directly improve her standing in the game.

  "I...I want to bring back one of my minions," said Alex, after walking back.

  "Very well," said Ethel. "Which one?"

  Alex groaned internally. She hated choosing which one got to live.

  "This is so hard," said Alex. "I had to take Pinky's ability to win the fight, but Inky offered herself up without my asking. I wouldn't have won without them both. But I guess since I have to choose, I'll pick Pinky since she wasn't given a choice about her sacrifice."

  Ethel nodded sagely, followed by two successive, ear-splitting caws.

  Special Achievement Reached: Make a selfless act!

  Effect: Double your reward

  Inky has been resurrected!

  Pinky has been resurrected!

  Two brown, fluttering shapes rose from the earth, shooting into the sky. Her former minions flew past Alex's head, then headed east. She was a little hurt that they didn't send her a farewell thought, but she knew it was unfair to expect it since they were broken from her link.

  Alex watched them both until she could no longer see them against the pale blue sky.

  "Thank you," she said to their fleeing forms.

  When she turned back to Ethel, she found the Great Raven was staring at her with considerable interest.

  "Well, Alex, dear, it appears it is time for me to go. I suspect it is the same for you," said Ethel.

  Alex thought about the hospital and the challenges that awaited.

  "Yeah, I have to go."

  "Farewell, Alexandria Duke," said Ethel, bowing her black head.

  "See you next year, Ethel Stormfeathers the Third," said Alex, returning the bow.

  She was about to log out when she remembered she hadn't placed her new stats. She considered waiting until next year, but didn't want to risk losing them.

  After a few minutes of thought, Alex sunk ten points in Cunning so her max possible ability scores could hit sixty, and put the remaining points into Intelligence. If she didn't have to head to the hospital to start treatments, she could have stayed in game and leveled them up before the end of the year.

  Alex took one last look at her character sheet before logging out.

  Character: Alexandria Duke

  Level: 20

  Strength: 1

  Intelligence: 14

  Cunning: 40

  Agility: 2

  Endurance: 5

  Charisma: 1

  Class: Arcane Mastermind

  Subclass: Undecided

  Health: 98 / 300

  Faez: 71 / 306

  Armor Class: 0

  Fatigue: 35%

  XP: 2,300,000 / 2,520,000

  Skills:

  Analyze: 38

  One-handed Slashing: 1

  Fire Spells: 2

  Devious Device: 8

  Sense Direction: 33

  One-handed Whip: 15

  Water Spells: 9

  Cooking: 18

  Stealth: 8

  Climbing: 3

  Air Spells: 32

  Unarmed Combat: 1

  Unique Skills:

  Cunning Strategist: 8

  Mastermind: 3

  Spells:

  Dewdrop Orb: 7

  Minor Creation: 8

  Transference: 24

  Cloud Taunt: 39

  Misdirection: 13

  Wind Gust: 18

  Heal Minions: 13

  Items:

  The H
andysack (20 Slots)

  Exquisite Cooking Pot

  12 Various Meats

  13 Water

  Ethel's Adhesive Ointment (Uses: 12/20)

  Jagged Bone Knife

  The Shocking Strangler

  Dmg: 13-27 ׀ 35/35 Durability

  Effect: 15% chance of Electric Damage (Dmg: 10-40)

  Special Attribute: Strangulation (Only on restrained creatures / Cannot affect more than 5 levels above)

  Quests:

  Reach the Plains of Warsong (+5,000 XP)

  Spells:

  Dewdrop Orb – Tier 1

  Faez: 10 ׀ Duration: 15-60 seconds

  Effect: Capture a small creature in a globe of water, removing them from the fight and suffocating them if they can't hold their breath for long.

  Minor Creation – Tier 1

  Faez: Varies ׀ Duration: Permanent

  Base Skill: Devious Device

  Effect: Create new magic items or copy mundane items.

  Transference – Tier 2

  Faez: Varies ׀ Duration: Permanent

  Effect: Transfer magic from one item or creature to another.

  Cloud Taunt – Tier 4

  Faez: 25 ׀ Duration: 1 minute

  Dmg: 31-55 (Repeat Shock Damage every 15 seconds)

  Effect: Enrages the creature to attack you.

  Misdirection – Tier 2

  Faez: 20 ׀ Range: 30 feet

  Effect: Divert a spell or attack from one creature into another

  Wind Gust – Tier 2

  Faez: 15 ׀ Range: 40 feet

  Effect: Summon a wall of wind to blow against your enemies, staggering them and pushing smaller creatures backwards, dealing 10-25 damage.

  Heal Minions – Tier 2

  Faez: 20 ׀ Range: 50 feet

  Effect: Heal target minion 50 damage

  When it came time to log out, a wave of apprehension nearly overwhelmed her. Back in the real world she had a tumor in her head that was going to kill her unless the doctors at Golden Willow could get it out, which they said could take years, and there was probably a good chance she would lose her magic completely.

  She had no regrets. If she hadn't pulled the tumor from her mother's head, she'd be dead by now. But the road ahead seemed like it would only get harder.

  Alex sighed.

  "Everything is impossible if you don't try."

  She logged out of Gamemakers Online.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  The only person Alex found back in Gamemakers Hall was Martina, who was hanging out in the kitchen making a meal in a big pot. Alex hadn't passed a window, so she didn't know what time of day it was, not that she'd be able to tell by the mix of ingredients on the counter.

  The container of pancake mix was normal enough, but the colorful crunchy candies and jar of kimchi suggested stranger things were afoot in the pot.

  "New kid Alex," said Martina as she stirred the pot with a spoon big enough to be called a paddle. "I hope your exit from the game five days before lockout means you made it to level twenty?"

  "It does," said Alex, "though it was close."

  "Always is," said Martina.

  "Did Bucket ever return?"

  Martina's crestfallen expression told the tale, along with a tiny shake of the head.

  "I'm sure he'll be out soon," said Alex. "If I didn't have...things to do, I would have stayed and leveled up my skills. He's probably just doing that so he's more prepared for his final year."

  Martina blinked a few times before lifting one shoulder in the semblance of a shrug.

  "Speaking of things to do, I have to get going," said Alex, scrunching up her face.

  "No problem," said Martina. "Gotta do what you gotta do. I'll see you around next year. Have a great summer."

  "You too," Alex said happily, giving Martina a little wave before heading to her room to collect her things.

  It was weird to be leaving the Hall when she barely felt like she'd lived there. The rooms just felt like places to hold her stuff until she was out of the game. She wondered if Gamemakers Hall had always been like this, empty rooms and beds, waiting for its students to return from the obsidian cube. But the size of the building suggested that it'd once had to actually house its students during the year.

  Dr. Fairlight seemed surprised when Alex walked onto her floor at Golden Willow.

  "I take it you're still a student," said Dr. Fairlight.

  "For at least another year. Long enough to get started on my treatments," said Alex.

  "Let me pull up your files," said Dr. Fairlight, tapping on her data pad. "I took the liberty of sending your bloodwork and x-rays to some specialists to give a second opinion while you were gone."

  "You thought I'd be back?" asked Alex.

  The doctor winked. "I had a good feeling."

  "Thank you," said Alex.

  Dr. Fairlight shook her head. "You're probably not going to thank me when we get into treatments, especially if we're going to keep your magical ability."

  "I'm ready for whatever that means."

  "Good, you're going to need that positive attitude," said Dr. Fairlight, lips squeezed.

  "So what's next?" asked Alex.

  "We need to run more tests on you. There's a few alchemical infusions we're going to give you so we can see the shape of the tumor better, see where it's connected to the brain. If we're going to remove it, we're going to have to make a map of both the tumor and your brain. Eventually we're going to take a sample so we can better plan the treatment, but that's not for a little while. Mostly, I'm waiting on the feedback from the other specialists."

  "What should I do this summer? Stay in the city? Or can I go back home?"

  "Home for the summer. I'll be sending you with an alchemical regimen. The potions won't taste good, but they'll keep the tumor from progressing. You're rather lucky that the tumor doesn't seem to be that connected to your brain. That's not normal. And the specialists I contacted are, uhm, unusual, so it takes time for the necessary negotiations. But they're the best at what they do, which is what you're going to need. When you return for your second year, stop by the hospital, I should have more details for you then. Is that good?"

  "I guess," said Alex. "I'll do whatever it takes."

  Dr. Fairlight gave her a grim nod, adding a wink for good measure.

  "If you notice any changes, problems with your sight, or headaches that won't go away, give us a call, but otherwise you should be able to enjoy your summer." Dr. Fairlight threw her a blue gown. "Now for those tests. Nothing too radical, today anyway. Hop off that table. I'll leave you for a moment so you can put that on."

  After the door closed, Alex stripped down, replacing her jeans and T-shirt with the blue gown. The table was cold on her butt and the air smelled like cleaning solvents.

  She wished her mom could be with her, but had no plans on telling her about the tumor. If her mom found out, the guilt would destroy her. Alex knew that the cancer was a challenge she'd have to meet alone.

  But it still would have been nice to have someone with her.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Alex stood outside the screen door for a good ten minutes before she went inside. She'd been listening to her mother in the kitchen, humming as she went about her business, a sound Alex hadn't heard in a long time.

  As soon as the screen wheezed open, her mother looked up from the cutting board filled with chopped onions. Her gray-streaked hair was pulled back in a ponytail, which made her mother look ten years younger than she had when Alex left.

  "Alexandria, I thought I saw you walking down the gravel road."

  Alex scuffed her foot against the carpet as she threw her backpack on the lime green couch.

  "It's a nice day outside and I wasn't ready to come in," Alex lied.

  "Either way, sweetie, I'm glad you're home. I missed you," said her mom.

  "Do I smell cake?" asked Alex, sniffing the air.

  "Sure do," said her mom with a wink. "I figured we'd have
a celebration, what with you finishing your first year of university and me being alive."

  "How'd you know I was coming home today?" asked Alex.

  "Frank told me you'd called him for a ride, and I'd bought the stuff for cake a couple of months ago. Ain't no way in hell I wasn’t going to celebrate the first person from our family to go to college, a magical one at that."

  "Is it...?"

  "Chocolate, chocolate," said her mom, cocking a grin. "You're damn right it is."

  Alex skipped around the counter and threw her arms around her mom, almost forgetting she had a cutting knife in her hand. They stayed in a hug for what could have gone on forever, until the timer on the stove beeped and her mom broke away to remove the two layers of chocolate cake from the refrigerator.

  "If that's dessert, what's for dinner?" asked Alex.

  "Who said I made dinner?"

  Alex gestured to the chopped onions. "Then what are these for?"

  "So I had an excuse for why I was crying when you came in, but you stayed outside for so damn long that I stopped," said her mom.

  She leaned back into the refrigerator, pulled out a cannister of chocolate icing, and threw it to Alex.

  "Care to help? I'll grab two spoons," said her mom.

  They took opposite sides of the small round table with the cake at the center, each frosting a layer while taking nibbles of the icing occasionally.

  "How are you feeling?" Alex asked when the cakes were half finished.

  Her mom stared back flatly. "If you mean the tumor, never been better. The doctors checked me out. Nothing there but an unused brain."

  "Mom..."

  "They really didn't know what to make of it. They'd like to talk to you, if you have time. Whatever you did removed it clean as a whistle. They could use that technique at the hospital."

  Alex hid her reaction by staying focused on spreading the chocolate icing extra thick. She hadn't even considered that the doctors would want to ask her about the procedure. It wasn't that she minded telling them, but she didn't want her mother to find out the tumor wasn't really gone.