by Jamie Davis
33
Hal felt warm and safe for the first time in what felt like forever. He could hear the quiet murmurings of voices nearby but he couldn’t quite make out what they were saying. Finally, a voice broke the crowd.
“You got him to me just in time. Stand back.” This voice was different than the others. It was old, but also stronger. Before Hal could place it, a surge of energy flowed through him. His eyes shot open and as the flow of energy died down he was able to focus on his surroundings. He seemed to be in a small cave lit by a campfire in its center. He was unable make out much more than that as most of his vision was obscured by the faces of two people leaning over him. One was Kay, looking at him intently, concern clear on her face, the other was Tildi.
Quest complete — escape the imperial camp
5,500 experience points awarded
Quest complete — find the mage
5,500 experience points awarded
Level up!
Hal stared at Tildi for a long time, trying to decide what questions he wanted answers to first. First and foremost, he wondered if her arrival meant it was time for him to go home already.
He discovered as he thought about it he didn’t want to leave yet. Hal realized it bothered him to think he might abandon his friends and his army in this time of their need.
Kay and Rune helped him over to a bedroll near the fire’s warmth and across from the reclining mage. Hal sat down and warmed his hands in front of the fire while he met the magic user’s gaze. The others moved off to other parts of the cave to settle into their own bedrolls.
“I’m not ready to return home yet, Tildi. There’s too much I have to do here, too many people depending on me.”
“I’m not here to send you back, Hal. I came for other reasons. When I arrived, your friends here told me you’d been captured and they were planning to break you out.”
“You helped them sneak me out of the imperial camp?”
“I offered a little weather magic to assist them. That is all. I’m not as good at it as Bronwyn is but I have a few tricks up my sleeve.”
“The fog.”
Tildi nodded as she puffed on her pipe and blew a few more smoke rings in the air. Hal watched the rings float upward over the campfire and slowly dissipate.
“If you’re not here to send me back, you must have something else you need. I don’t think you stopped by just to help free me from Norak’s clutches.”
“I came because I sensed Norak has done something to alter the laws of magic and science in Fantasma. Something happened earlier in the week that changed how things work. I’m not even sure I can send you home right now if I tried, to be honest with you. The flow of magic in the world has been altered somehow. I was hoping it centered around you in some way because if it does, you might be able to restore the balance on which all magic relies.”
Hal thought back and realized it must be the use of the fire sand against the prisoners. When Norak ordered the execution of the ex-slaves in the pit, it must have caused something to alert Tildi.
“I think I know what it is. Norak has a new weapon, something horrible.”
“Is it magical? How does it work?” Tildi leaned forward pointing at Hal with the stem of her pipe. “Tell me everything you saw.”
“It’s not a secret to me. He told me his alchemists had discovered something he called fire sand. I knew what it was as soon as I saw it. It’s called gun powder in my world. It will change the way wars are fought on Fantasma forever.”
“So that’s it,” Tildi replied. “He’s broken through a barrier between science and magic in our world. It is very difficult for both to exist simultaneously, you see. It can be done but it is difficult. I used both in my spell to send you to this world from your own.”
“I wonder if that is why my luck stopped working. I haven’t been able to get it to activate since I was captured. Could Norak’s invention have something to do with it?”
“It’s possible, but it’s more likely that cursed sword of his. It steals energy from his enemies around him and gives it to him. It’s possible that it took this ability from you when he captured you.”
“So Norak’s got my luck? Great, that’s all we need. He’s going to be hard enough to beat as it is.”
“Don’t worry, Hal. I think I can create a charm that will block the sword’s effects on you. That will stop it from taking anything else from you. To get your luck back, all you have to do is take his sword from him. Once you have the sword, it should return your stolen abilities.”
“Oh, that’s all? Just take the sword away from him? Why didn’t I think of that?”
Hal threw his hands in the air, exasperated with Tildi’s solution to his problem.
“I don’t make the rules, Hal. Sorry to disappoint you if you thought this would be easy.”
He thought about how this trip to Fantasma was harder than his initial trip. This time around, it seemed less like a game to him. It felt more real, now.
“Tildi, there’s something I have to ask you,” Hal asked. He looked around to make sure none of the others was close enough to overhear then leaned forward towards the old woman. “I’ve been wondering about the nature of Fantasma and the game by the same name in my world. Everything here is so real but I can see the game while I walk through it. Which is it? Is Fantasma a game or a real place?”
Tildi smiled and nodded while she puffed on her pipe once again.
“You’ve stumbled upon an important question, Hal. Which do you think it is?”
“I don’t know for sure. If I were to make a guess, I’d say it’s sort of both at the same time, but that can’t be right.”
“If you ask Kay or Otto or Rune if this world is real, they’ll tell you to stop asking stupid questions. To them, to me, Fantasma is the only reality we’ve ever known. It is the real world to those who live and die here.”
Hal started to ask another question but Tildi held up her hand.
“Let me finish. When I first discovered the possibility of other worlds, other realities out there, I found that there were many variables that changed from place to place. Time is one example. Time moves differently between our two worlds. Usually, time moves much faster here than in your world. Sometimes, with magic, that difference can be magnified so that time seems to stand still in your world while it moves along faster here. I did that for you on this trip so you might travel here in the space of a single plane ride.”
“But you still haven’t answered my question. Is Fantasma real or just a game?”
“To the people playing the finite computer construct I caused to exist when I first entered your world, Fantasma is nothing more than a game. For you, though, it is different. When I brought you here through the portal in the version of the game I gave you, it became more than a game and yet still contained key parts of it.”
Tildi leaned back and smiled.
“That was the genius of my plan, of the theory I came up with on how the interface between our two worlds might be used to create the Opponent foreseen by prophecy many years ago.”
“But if you create the means to fulfill a prophecy, isn’t that cheating?”
“Is it? I’m not sure the seer who originally saw the vision of your coming would agree. What if I was supposed to be part of it all along? What if my part to play was to make my discoveries and find a way to bring you here to fight the Emperor? To be honest, I wasn’t sure it would work or not. There was an even chance the trip would kill you.”
“What? You brought me here and you weren’t even positive I would survive?”
Hal tried to stand as he pointed at Tildi across the campfire. He was furious and wanted to scream and yell at her but as soon as he stood up, his head started swimming and he stumbled to the side, falling to the cave floor.
Kay ran over and helped Hal sit up. When she took her hand away, it was wet with blood that had soaked through his shirt. His wounds had broken open again.
“I thought you had healed him,”Kay said as
she turned to Tildi. The anger was clear in her voice.
“I removed most of the disease and infection but not all. If I had healed him more completely, the energy required might have killed him.”
Tildi got up and hobbled over to where Hal sat. She placed a hand on his forehead and another over his heart and closed her eyes. This healing felt different from the last. Instead of the onslaught of energy, instead Hal felt a warmth spread out from both her hands and fill him. The burning pain from the open scabs on his torso slowly faded until he couldn’t feel it anymore.
25 health points restored
Tildi returned to her place across the campfire from Hal and lowered herself back to the cave floor. When she turned to face Hal again, she looked tired and even older all of the sudden.
“That is all I can do at this time. I’m not a healing mage. I’ll be able to do more after he gets some rest. I suggest we both get some sleep, Hal. Perhaps we can talk more when we awaken in the morning.”
“That’s probably a good idea, Hal,” Kay said. “Get some rest. There’s nothing else we can do tonight and talking with the mage is taxing. We’ll see what needs to be done in the morning.”
Hal nodded and crawled back over to the bed roll he’d been sitting on. He still wanted to take Tildi to task for using him this way but there’d be time for that in the morning. Right now, sleep sounded like a great idea.
He lay down on the blanket and closed his eyes. The last thing he remembered before he fell asleep was the sound of Tildi gently tapping the spent tobacco from her pipe on the stone floor of the cave.
34
Hal groaned and rolled over. His entire body ached like he’d run a triathlon the day before. He was going to need Tildi to do some more healing on him if he was going to get back to full strength in time to join the fight that was coming.
A glance across the remains of the previous evening’s campfire showed a neatly rolled and tied bedroll where Tildi had been sitting the night before.
Hal sat up and scanned the rest of the cave. Daylight was filtering in from outside and he could see some others moving about, mostly a few of Churg’s goblin scouts who were sitting down to eat their breakfast.
“Hey, anyone seen the mage this morning?”
One of the scouts pointed to the cave entrance and returned to his meal.
Hal climbed to his feet, taking a second to steady himself when a bout of dizziness threatened to bring him down. He was definitely not at a hundred percent. Pulling up his health stats, Hal noted he was still significantly injured.
Health: 40/116
As he gazed at his stats, he remembered the level up message he received the day before. He added the two attribute points to his Brawn. He hoped that the increase would help accelerate the healing process. The skill point he used to increase his Prescience ability. He wanted to make sure he wouldn’t be caught in another sneak attack.
With his new level points attended to, Hal set out to find Tildi and have her cast another healing spell. He took a tentative step forward and then another. It seemed the dizziness had passed for the time being and he walked to the cave’s entrance, turning his body to squeeze through the narrow opening and out into the bright sunlight outside.
Hal blinked and squinted his eyes, looking upward. For the first time in a few days, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the bright sunlight poured down on the land.
“Good, you’re up,” Kay said. She sat next to a line of packs, sharpening her sword’s blade with a whetstone. She tested the edge with her thumb for a moment, peering at something along the sharpened steel blade before returning to scraping the stone in long smooth motions along the metal.
“Where’s Tildi? I need her to cast another healing spell on me.”
“She rose just before dawn. She said something important needed doing and walked off into the forest. She left that bundle for you over there.”
A large cloth-wrapped lump lay on the ground where Kay had pointed and Hal went over to see what was there. A paper note was tucked under the twine that wrapped around the cloth, holding it in place.
Hal,
I was called away on another urgent errand. You do not need me here anyway. I’m sure you’ll have things well in hand by the time I return. I’ve left you a set of replacement armor and a new blade, one much better than the one you’ve been using.
There’s an amulet that should ward off the effects of whatever magic Norak used to banish your luck. Be careful of him. He possesses great power and his cursed sword doesn’t just kill you, it steals part of your soul with every successful strike. The amulet is strong but it will not protect you from all the effects of the sword should you fight him.
There are also two full-heal potions enclosed. They’re stowed in the pouch on the sword belt inside. They are very potent and will restore almost all your health, even from the point of near death. Use one now to restore you and save the other for a time of urgent need. I’ll return when I’m able. Be well.
Tildi
Hal set the note aside and untied the twine, unwrapping the cloth-covered bundle. It was heavy and he was still weak but he soon had it open and the contents laid out. On the ground before him lay a hauberk of shining chainmail, a conical helmet with traces of gold and silver work around the face and nose guards. Beside them was a long sword in a blue scabbard inlaid with silver and mother of pearl.
Last, Hal found the sword belt and pouch. Inside it were two ceramic vials and a stamped gold amulet the size of a quarter on a leather cord as promised. Taking one of the vials, he didn’t hesitate, uncorking it and downing the contents in a single gulp.
He gasped as a wave of heat rushed through his body.
76 health points restored
Health: 116/116
Hal didn’t just feel healed, he felt invigorated. He stretched out his arms and turned his face skyward, soaking up the sun’s warmth as he felt the power and strength returning to his ravaged body. For the first time in days, he could move and twist without feeling burning pain all across his torso from Norak’s torture.
Hal pulled the chainmail armor towards him and slid it over his head. It was lighter than expected, much lighter than the steel scale armor or ring mail and leather he was used to. The metal must be some steel alloy that allowed for greater strength with less weight.
Next, he wrapped the sword’s belt around his waist and attached the scabbarded sword to the straps that hung down for the purpose. It felt good to have a sword at his side again.
Reaching down, Hal drew the sword and held it up before him. There were runes etched along the blade he hadn’t noticed before. Out of habit, he checked his inventory to see what it said about the blade.
+3 Longsword - “Lightbringer” - each critical hit causes +10 electrical damage
+2 Chainmail
+1 Helm
+2 Amulet of protection - remove curse once per week
Hal sheathed his sword and reached into the pouch removing the gold amulet and slipping the leather cord over his head, settling it around his neck. He concentrated on the amulet, reaching up and gripping it in his fist as it hung from around his neck. A chime sounded in his head almost instantly.
Curse removed — luck restored.
Hal looked at his main stats sheet in his head and was gratified to see that his luck attribute was no longer grayed out. Wow, Tildi must be worried about what he had to do next to leave him this much gear at one time. It made him wonder how bad it was likely to be in the coming days as the two armies inevitably faced off against one another.
“Nice gear, Hal,” Kay said. “The mage must have a lot of faith in you to leave this mess in your hands.”
His longtime companion had come over to check out the gift left by Tildi. She’d been joined by Otto, Rune, and Junica.
“What about you and the others, Kay? Do you all have faith in me?”
“You’ve led us well to this point. I think the others are satisfied with your leadership.”
“But the trap at the caravan, the capture and execution of all my troops, surely that weighs against me in some way.”
Otto shook his head and answered him.
“Hal, no one expects you to be perfect. Even the best leader makes mistakes. The thing is, you recognized what was going on and acted to save as many of us as you could. That counts a lot in my book. We all feel the same way.”
Rune and Kay nodded. Junica reached out and clapped a hand on Hal’s shoulder.
“Why do you think we went to all that trouble to rescue you, you idiot? We know we need you. It’s going to take another one of your crazy plans if we are to salvage any sort of victory out of what we all face.”
“Be careful what you ask for, Junica,” Kay said. “His plans are like taking medicine. Sometimes the cure seems worse than the illness.”
“I’ll take my chances,” the archer laughed. “He’s gotten us this far.”
Otto laughed. “That is true, Kay. You can’t argue with it. So, Hal, what’s the plan? How do we defeat the Baron’s army and keep our little rebellion alive?”
“First I need to talk to Churg. I have to see if there’s a way we can slip past the imperial army and get to our forces in time to warn them.”
“The goblin chief led a scouting party that took off into the forest at dawn,” Rune said. “He said he had to check on the status of the imperials and make sure our back trail was covered up so they couldn’t track your escape. He should return in a few hours.”
“Good,” Hal said. “That gives us all time to pack up this camp and get ready to travel fast. If he says the coast is clear, we’ve got a long slog ahead of us if we’re to skirt the enemy army and outriders and make our way west to our forces.”
Quest accepted — avoid capture while returning to camp.