by Pirateaba
The towering construction of wood and stone goes up four stories high. It has separate rooms with glass windows for children to occupy and play in—walls with grips that any climbing gym in my world would envy—even a huge rope bridge which sways and wobbles high over my head.
I know my mouth is gaping. I stare at the giant tower and I want to climb it. But while the child in me dreams of swinging and jumping around high up there, the practical part of me wonders what the hell happens if someone falls? There are so many ways to topple off—that damn rope bridge has huge gaps in it! A fall from that high ends up in death no matter how soft the grass is.
And then, just as I’m imagining that scenario—a kid slips. I see a Drake child overbalance and tumble off the side. I open my mouth to shout and I dash forwards, but I’ll be too slow, I know it.
But then—the young Drake’s body pauses as he falls through the air. I watch in incredulity as the air around the kid seems to freeze, and he slows down to a crawl. He softly lands on the ground and laughs.
I stare, and then hear laughter. Some Drakes are laughing at me, not the kid. I guess the look on my face must be hilarious.
“Please do not be alarmed. The magical spells on this playing area are cast by a Wistram mage and checked upon each year.”
Klbkch walks over to me and I stare at him. He nods at the playground and the Drakes and Gnolls walking around and enjoying this natural retreat in the center of their city.
“It is an expensive construction, but one the city council devoted funds to over as a matter of public benefit. I am told the Walled Cities have similar constructions with an even greater degree of magical enchantments.”
“Why the hell do you need something like this?”
I point at the playground. One of the Drake parents gives me a dirty look, and I watch my mouth.
“Due to the unique geography of this landscape, the residents require a place to relax and enjoy themselves when confined to the city during the spring months.”
“Right, I read about that. But…huh. It’s just like my world. We have parks in our cities as well. If not so…close to other buildings.”
“Indeed? That is interesting. Ah, there is Selys.”
Klbkch points to a familiar Drake and a bundle of white fur. Mrsha is swinging on some bars way too high for me to feel comfortable about, laughing with a bunch of other Gnoll kids. Two groups of parents are watching their offspring play with Mrsha without any worries—I see the Gnoll parents eying her fur, but they make no comment.
“Ryoka! Klbkch?”
Selys greets the two of us with some surprise.
“Did you come to check up on Mrsha? I told you I’d take her out for the day. Unless…Erin’s done with her exploration?”
“No, not yet. Actually Selys, we wanted to talk to you.”
“To me?”
Selys looks at me, surprised. I nod.
“Can we sit somewhere?”
“Oh, of course. There are some benches over there. Mrsha? We’re going over there?”
High above us, Mrsha lets go of one of the bars and waves a paw. She looks so happy up there, just like one of the kids, immersed in the adventure of a life time. Like any other Gnoll cub—except for the fur.
I leave her behind and sit with Selys and Klbkch. It’s a cold day, but at least there’s a bit of sun coming through the clouds at the moment. Funny, it seems warmer in this park. Must be all the kids running about or…an enchantment over the entire place? Maybe it’s just my imagination.
“So, what can I help you with?”
Klbkch looks at me. I guess he wants me to explain. All of this makes sense to me, but to a native of this world, this must be like finding out the earth is round, or…or that the planets revolve around the sun.
Hell, I didn’t know I was going be pulling a Galileo today.
Slowly, I explain my theory about leveling to Selys. She stares at me with increasing incredulity until she guffaws as I get to the part about cumulative leveling.
“What? Are you serious, Ryoka? Levels don’t work like that! Everyone knows you level slower as you age—it’s because we’re running out of energy, not some weird limit!”
She waves a claw at me, still chuckling. I frown at her.
“How do you know? What makes you so sure?”
“I know because—well, look, just because people don’t level when they’re older doesn’t mean there’s some limit!”
Selys frowns as she tries to explain. She frowns, and then brightens.
“Take old Peslas, for example. He’s an [Innkeeper], like Erin. Have you heard of him?”
A bit of memory flares inside my head.
“He’s the one who runs another inn, isn’t he? The one the Gold-rank adventurers are staying at?”
“That’s right. Well, he’s above Level 30 in the [Innkeeper] class, so his inn is one of the best in the city. But he hasn’t stopped leveling because he can’t! He’s old, and he just doesn’t want to work harder.”
“What do you mean?”
Selys rolls her eyes and wraps her tail around one leg of the bench.
“Not everyone wants to work their tail off until they can get to a higher level, Ryoka. Some people decide they’re at a good level and stop. For instance, Peslas has a nice inn and lots of guests, but he doesn’t work that hard. And he’s old. So he levels once every couple of years. He leveled up six years ago and threw a huge party. My grandmother and I were invited to it.”
“But he could be leveling slower because of his total level as well, not just because he’s taking it easy and he’s old.”
“Yeah, but…well, he doesn’t have that many levels in other classes.”
Selys looks uncertain. I shake my head.
“But every level counts, Selys, don’t you see? Someone who has only one class that she levels like Erin will level up fast. She told me she only has a few levels in [Singer] and [Warrior], but how many do you have? How many does Peslas have?”
Now the [Receptionist] frowns to herself. She mutters as Klbkch and I watch Mrsha running around with another Gnoll kid.
“Well, I know he was bragging—he talks a lot about his classes—I know he said he was a [Warrior] when he was younger. He got to Level 16 while serving in the army, so there’s that. And he has levels in [Cook] and [Bartender] because he used to do that before he became an [Innkeeper]…but he doesn’t have many in each. Just a few levels.”
“Does he have any other classes?”
“Oh! I remember! He’s got a few levels in [Singer] and [Dancer] too! He was so happy about that—he got a good Skill that helps him sing…”
Selys’ face turns pale. I nod, and Klbkch nods too.
“One or two levels here and there. In this world, it’s not that much. In fact, people like to level, don’t they?”
“It’s so useful. And we get Skills even if it’s one or two levels.”
Selys mumbles the words. I nod.
“But that slows you down. It takes away from the maximum level you can achieve. It hurts you, but no one realizes it because everyone thinks it’s due to age.”
“And few people have the desire to reach higher levels in any case. So the issue is never noticed. In any case, why would anyone assume there is an artificial limit?”
Only someone from another world would assume that, and only because older video games like Pokemon had hardcoded limits to their system that prevented them from going past Level 100. Why would a system in this world have that kind of limit? It would only make sense if someone created the system…
Klbkch looks at me. I nod. My heart is racing.
Selys shakes her head repeatedly, as if dazed.
“This is huge. This is…do you know what this means if this is true?”
“It will affect all in small ways, and affect few in huge ways.”
Klbkch said the words softly as Mrsha nipped at the Drake’s tail and elicited a shout from the Drake and her parents. I consider what he’s
saying.
For many, I guess this information wouldn’t be too useful. Not if they don’t have the ambition to level up faster. But maybe it would allow everyone to reach Level 30, rather than waste their early levels on usless classes. It would lead to specialization—but most importantly, it would allow the people who reach the high levels in their classes to become even stronger.
“This information could change the world.”
I look at Klbkch. He looks at me.
“Fifty thousand gold pieces?”
“Perhaps.”
“What are you talking about?”
Selys looks between us. She’s trembling. Her world must be shaking. I feel sort of bad for her, but this information helps her as well.
Klbkch nods. And then he nods again.
“What Ryoka Griffin describes is exactly what I am experiencing. I had feared it was due to my age—or that I was becoming weaker—but I have ceased to level in my main class because I have too many other classes. It may be age, but Ryoka’s theory is equally sound, perhaps more so given…certain factors. I believe she is correct.”
“Dead gods.”
Selys breathes the words like a prayer, only no one prays in this world because the gods are dead. Except there is one.
Klbkch nods one last time. He’s like a creepy bobblehead.
“I must confirm this. There is information in my Hive which I am able to sort through. Data on warriors, people in positions of note, unusual classes, and so forth. I will review several hundred individuals and see if the results match your conclusions, Ryoka Griffin. If it is correct, this secret you have uncovered will be valuable beyond belief.”
I nod. My heart is pounding. Information that could change the world. Klbkch glances at Selys.
“This knowledge must not spread until it is certain, and even then, should be kept quiet. For now. Are we in agreement?”
Selys nods vigorously.
“Lips sealed. Completely.”
But then her face falls.
“Ah! But I’ve got so many classes! I thought—everyone gets a few levels in one or two classes but no one cares about that! No one—does that mean I’ll never reach a high level?”
Her face is stricken. Klbkch nods slowly.
“It will be…difficult for me as well. If I am unable to reach the same heights, it would be best for me to rectify the situation.”
I eye Klbkch. He’s the only one who can lose levels, but if he’s suggesting what I think he is, that’s insane.
“For now, just don’t level up if you don’t want to. You can refuse to level up or take a class.”
Selys shakes her head distractedly.
“I never understood why that was possible. I thought you’d have to be crazy to turn down a level or not gain a new class.”
I nod. It’s not a conclusion anyone would make if they didn’t understand games. Is it a trap for the people in this world? Or just an oversight? Does anyone know this secret? Some people must, but they would hide it because it’s so valuable, wouldn’t they?
“I think—yeah, I think if my suspicions are true, it’s for this exact reason that you can refuse to level up.”
A system based on a game, except no one knows the rules. My spine tingles. Gods. One is still alive.
We don’t say much after that. Selys and Klbkch just stare at each other and she mutters about classes while he…goes through his Hive’s information. I’m not sure how he does it. Is it stored in some location, or are the Antinium all carrying bits of the data?
For now, I don’t ask. But after half an hour Klbkch looks towards one of the walls.
“Something is happening.”
People—Drakes and Gnolls, and even some of the Humans—are pointing and walking in one direction. I stare at Selys and Klbkch.
“What do you think it is?”
“I don’t know. Do you want to see?”
Klbkch and I look at each other. We’re thinking the same thing without saying it out loud. If there’s a crowd and something going on which attracts attention, there’s probably one person—one girl at the heart of it.
People are clustering around the southern gate, and I hear people exclaiming and laugh. Klbkch, Selys, and I make our way through the crowd, Selys holding Mrsha so the small Gnoll doesn’t get lost. We get close to the southern walls—close enough to hear the laughter and exclamations—but the people are packed so densely around the gates that there’s no way through.
“Up there.”
Klbkch points towards the battlements. The citizenry aren’t allowed up there, but his position as a Senior Guardsman gets us up there. And that’s when we see it.
“Oh my god.”
At first, it’s just an odd shape moving around in the snow. You can see from a long distance on the battlements, and that’s how I see Erin. And Toren. And then, when you look closer, you see it.
The [Guardsmen] on the wall are laughing so hard they can barely stand up straight. I stare down at Erin and Toren as they…traverse the snow. Yup. Just when I think she can’t get any stranger, Erin does something like this.
I look at Selys. She’s covering her mouth as she tries not to guffaw. Klbkch is just staring. I think he’s in shock.
Someone has to say it. I stare down at Erin and shake my head.
“That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
2.35
She was a [Princess]. She was royalty. She was heir to one of the glorious kingdoms of Terrandria, and she had seen more in her eighteen years of life than most commoners could hope of glimpsing in their entire lives.
And she understood people. People were dreary, dull, and most had small ambitions and smaller minds. But Lyonette du Marquin couldn’t understand the person called Erin Solstice. She was a mystery.
Of course, to look at Erin, one would immediately notice her plain looks. She had a modicum of attractiveness perhaps; her teeth were not crooked and she had no glaring disfiguring features, but she was no courtly beauty.
And indeed, her class was mundane as they came. She was an [Innkeeper]. Only…she wasn’t just an innkeeper.
She played chess, the game of [Strategists] and the nobility. She played it better than anyone Lyonette had seen, and that alone was inconceivable. But more than that, she treated with the lesser races as if they were people, and she employed a vicious, horrible, ghastly undead skeleton as if there were nothing abhorrent about the idea!
And yet, and yet. She was also kind. Grudgingly, Lyonette admitted that fact as she broke her fast on the thick gravy and biscuits. She dipped a steaming chunk of biscuit in the meaty sauce and consumed it ravenously.
This was not the elegant food she dined on nightly in her home. But it was…an acceptable repast nonetheless. That was one small point in Erin Solstice’s favor.
Something snuffled at Lyonette’s leg and she looked down. The young Gnoll cub sat on the ground underneath her table, staring up at Lyonette with wide, curious eyes.
Another point. At least Erin Solstice, for all her myriad flaws, was kind to children. Even a Gnoll child was not without merit.
And this one—
Lyonette glanced around, but the Drake female and Solstice were talking, and the odd City Runner was talking with the horrible Antinium. And the skeleton was in the kitchen. So Lyonette broke off some of her biscuit, dipped it in gravy, and lowered her hand under the table.
Mrsha immediately glomped onto Lyonette’s hand and licked it, which made the girl laugh. Quietly. She’d always loved the dogs that the [Kennel Master] raised, and the Gnoll child was more than a mere animal. She—it had broken Lyonette’s heart to hear the tale. Not for the Gnoll tribe of course; they were ghastly beasts. But the Gnoll child had looked so sad…
What was she doing here? Lyonette frowned as she wiped her fingers and resumed eating. She should be headed north, with as much coin as she could take. Lady Magnolia would surely take her in, despite Solstice’s lies. And then…
&nb
sp; And then, Lyonette could find her true calling somewhere else. She could search for adventure, rather than continue being trapped by mundanity.
She would not escape without cost, though. The humiliation Lyonette had already suffered was beyond forgiveness, and worst—she had another class.
[Barmaid]. Level 3. And she had gained a Skill. [Lesser Stamina]. It made napping more difficult, but on the other hand it allowed Lyonette the energy to complete the many irrelevant tasks Solstice forced upon her.
That was the greatest affront of all. Her royal class had been ruined by the addition of a common class. It was an unforgivable occurrence; Lyonette had been sullied. If her father were to learn of this—
Lyonette’s stomach clenched. What did she care of her father? What did he care of her? He had probably only sent search parties as far as the shores of Terrandria, never imagining she would have the courage to book herself passage to Izril. And she had survived monsters, starvation, and even the horrible mob that had cast her out of Liscor to get this far.
She was only staying at this inn because she had no choice. But soon, she would be restored to her rightful position. And perhaps then she would extract some form of retribution upon that damnable skeleton.
A [Barmaid] class. Of all the insults! Lyonette scowled as Mrsha sniffed at her feet and recoiled. It was unacceptable! She was not destined to wait upon commoners like a useless peasant!
But she had leveled up. There was that. Lyonette stared at her food, suddenly less hungry. It had been so long, she’d almost forgotten what leveling up was like. That had been nice.
“Perhaps…”
Lyonette hesitated, and shook her head. No, it was ridiculous. But a thought nagged at her mind as she pushed back her plate. It was intolerable of course, being ordered around, being subservient to another. It was ridiculous that she should level in any class other than [Princess]. But…
But it was better than being useless.
—-
“So, I was thinking, I need to make my inn more popular, you know?”
Erin gestured around her inn as she spoke to Selys. She wasn’t trying to be mean of course; she had a nice inn. Everything had been built by the Antinium, and she even had glass windows. Even Peslas’ inn didn’t have glass windows. But—it wasn’t enough.