by Isaac Winter
“Ughhh.” She sighed, tilting her head toward me. “Do I have to?” She stared at me with sad puppy dog eyes, and I had to admit, it was kinda adorable.
“Yes, you have to. That was the deal. Now spill.” My face broke into a grin.
“Fine,” Tris groaned, but I could see the hint of a smile playing about her eyes. She was enjoying dragging this out. “What do you want to know?”
“Same thing I asked you before. What’s life like in the Veil when you’re not hunting monsters, stealing stones, or pissing everyone off?”
She laughed at that.
“It’s not so different, you know.” She reached out and grabbed a white blossom hanging from a nearby tree. It came free with a snap and she took a long draw of the perfume into her nose before continuing. “My favorite. Here, you try.”
I took the bloom from her and held it up to my nose. It reminded me of old books, a crackling fire, and the faintest hint of honey. I stared at it, wrinkling my forehead. What the heck?
“The earth mages grow them,” Tris said over her shoulder. “They smell like your strongest, fiercest desires. Your treasured memories. Your true self.”
I gaped at her. How was such a thing possible?
“Wanna know what I smell?” She said, slowing her pace to catch my eye. Her eyes glittered beneath long eyelashes and a shimmer of makeup. It almost made me forget we were heading straight into danger all over again.
“Yeah,” I said when I finally found my voice. I handed the flower back to her and she sniffed it again, smiling.
“It smells like sunlight on a clear day. It smells like grease and cogs and oil. It smells like the reagents I use in my tinctures. It smells like freedom.”
Her gaze hadn’t left mine, and a vibrating wave of energy passed between us. We stood there in the middle of the road, seeing one another. And reveling in being seen.
“To answer your question from earlier,” she whispered, drawing closer. Her eyes clouded. “It’s complicated, but I’ll do my best. You see, all of this…” She waved an arm at the landscape and then turned her attention back to me.
The gesturing hand found its way onto my shoulder, the weight warm and comforting. A shiver ran down my spine but I didn’t dare move.
“This is my world. This is the only life I’ve ever known. I know that you might think of me as an ‘NPC.’ That’s what you call people like us, right? We’re not from your world. We were born here, we are part of the very fabric of this world. But…I know I’m more than that. I’m real. At least in here. I have feelings. I have dreams, goals, fears. I don’t know who or what made me—I can’t remember that far back. Hell, maybe I’m just a figment of your imagination.” She faltered and sniffed. “I don’t much like thinking about it. I might not ever be able to see your world beyond The Veil. But I like to think I’ve forged my own kind of life.”
Tris stopped, eyes shining. Were those tears? Her chest heaved with heavy breaths, and her lips hung open ever so slightly.
My throat felt like sandpaper as I tried to find the words. Something stirred deep inside me, fluttering like a butterfly in my chest. She was right. Whatever this world was, she had been a friend to me. She had stood by me. And perhaps we weren’t so different after all.
I grabbed her hand, the skin soft beneath my fingertips. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t flinch away. My lips turned upward in what I hoped was a comforting smile. “I’m glad I met you,” I said. “And I don’t think you’re just an NPC.”
Her bright red lips filled every part of my vision. They were so full, parted in a half gasp, half smile. I wondered for an instant what they might taste like. We grew closer, our bodies nearly touching, and then—
Beep, beep, beep.
Tris cursed, drawing away and checking the communicator on her wrist.
Just like that, the spell was broken. Oxygen fled my brain and the sound of my heart thudding in rapid time still filled my ears. The last electric tingles of her touch faded away.
Right. We had a job to do.
Tris looked up from the device after a moment, chewing her lip. “We’ve gotta get moving. There’s less time than I thought.”
She took off in the opposite direction, leaving me full of questions and no answers in sight.
“Last one to the gate is a rotten Reaver!” She yelled over her shoulder in a mocking tone.
I shook the thoughts from my head and took off at a jog. In the distance, the glittering black spires of the Society rose against the horizon.
15
Laurie
The moment Tris and Cael left, Fel launched into a speech. Although he was certainly getting on in his years, his eyes still had a friendly glimmer to them.
He paced around me, rubbing a hand through his beard and looking me up and down. I didn’t know what he was searching for, and I didn’t know what to say. My weight shifted from one foot to the other and I gripped both my hands tightly behind me to keep from fidgeting even more.
I wasn’t alone, I reminded myself.
Not only had I managed to find Cael, but lo and behold, Mabel had been the very one to save me after the incident with the Reaver.
At least I had them.
“Don’t worry about Tris,” Fel said, as if he could tell what I was thinking. “She just has a bit of a chip on her shoulder about newcomers, that’s all. You should have seen her when she first brought Cael in. Now look at them, thick as thieves.” He smiled, his eyes shining with some hidden mischief I couldn’t place.
“She’ll warm up in time. And if both Cael and Mabel can vouch for you, then, that’s good enough for me. Let’s get you some starter gear, shall we?”
I looked down at my traveler’s clothes and grimaced. They already showed signs of wear just from my short journey through the Veil. How I’d made it this far without extra equipment or skills was probably pure luck. I let out a breath of relief. “That would be wonderful.”
He walked down the hall and motioned for me to follow. I leapt off the stool and hurried to keep up. Fel pressed a lever on the wall and a row of wooden shelves illuminated in front of us. A shining halberd hung from metal hooks on the wall, a set of glowing silver greaves sat nearby, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from a fur-lined cloak hanging off of a dressmaker’s dummy. Of course, it was much too large for me, but it sure looked warm.
Fel left me to explore the storeroom and shuffled into the back, bringing me a package wrapped in burlap and twine. I nearly stumbled with the weight of it, my arms sagging as I hefted the unwieldy bundle. “Here we are,” he said. “I keep starter gear in the back for a reason. I was once a fledgling adventurer myself, and what can I say? I like helping people. The Veil is a rough world, not for the faint of heart. But this should help you in your journeys.”
I pulled at the twine and the package fell open.
> You have found:
1 x Chainmail shirt.
1 x Adventurer’s Tunic.
1 x Leather Bracers.
1 x Rough Hide Pants.
1 x Leather Boots.
“Go on, try it on.” Fel motioned to me.
I faltered. Right here? “Um…do you have a changing room, or…?”
Fel laughed, his hand around his round belly. “Oh gods, no. Just select it from your inventory and equip it. It will form around you instantly. Who wants to waste time pulling their clothes on every day?” He shook his head, still chuckling under his breath.
Huh. That was new. I navigated through the various menus on my HUD and found the one that said “Inventory.”
“Now, just select the item and you’ll see an option that says ‘equip.’ Easy as that.”
I focused on the chainmail shirt. That made up the bulk of the weight, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to wear it comfortably. I had to try, though. As I focused on the shirt a set of options appeared.
> Equip
> Drop
> Examine
I selected ‘Equip’, and in a whirlwind of light, I
felt the metal settling over my shoulders and wrapping around my torso. I didn’t have to lift a finger! My old rags fell away and just as quickly, the shirt adjusted itself to my figure. The metal was cold and heavy, but luckily I’d kept on the cotton undershirt I’d arrived in.
> Armor Rating increased.
I did the same with the other set pieces, noticing how I felt a little stronger every time. I still marveled at the way the clothes just fit themselves over me. It was pretty strange at first, but I had to admit, it was a lot easier than pulling on armor all by myself. That, and I didn’t have to worry about anyone seeing me naked.
“So, have you put any thought into what you might specialize in?” Fel asked, his back to me. He stood on a stool, reaching to a topmost shelf and pulling down more packages. “I’ve all sorts of weapons here, and a couple spare spell books too, if you’re so inclined.”
“I don’t really know what my options are,” I admitted. “Something happened, though. Before. I think I can talk to animals.”
Fel nodded, as if he were finally understanding something. “Ah, interesting. That is a rare gift indeed. You Veilwalkers are full of surprises, I must say. We can work with that, though. Animal Kinship can be a very powerful talent, if trained correctly. Let’s start you off with a couple different items and we’ll figure out what works best.”
He handed me another large package and this time I was prepared for the weight. Metal clanked beneath the burlap and I untied this one to find a collection of weapons.
> You have found:
1 x Short Sword
1 x Crossbow
10 x Iron Bolts
1 x Starter Shield
1 x Wooden Staff
I laid out each of the pieces on the ground and inspected them. Out of all of them, I felt pulled to the staff most strongly. The smooth, carved wood glistened with polish and a small leaf ornament hung from the rounded tip. It was perfect.
Once I had it in my hands, there was no doubt. This was the weapon for me. The wood felt warm and sturdy in my hands, and I gave it a few practice swings. I accidentally hit one of the shelves and the jarring vibrations carried through the staff up through my arms and my entire body. My bones buzzed with impact, and I knew that hitting something (or someone) in real combat would be even more difficult.
A bottle of black ink and two rolls of parchment tumbled off the shelf and crashed to the floor, the glass shattering as ink splattered the ground.
“Watch it, now!” Fel leapt forward and picked up the fallen pieces of parchment. He unrolled and inspected them, then grimaced and crumpled each one, throwing them to the side. “Hannah!” He bellowed, knocking on the ceiling with a long stick that looked like my new staff. “Towels!”
“A moment!” I heard a shrill voice from above.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, stooping down to pick up what pieces of shattered glass I could. My fingers stained with black ink, a mark of my transgression.
“I’ve seen worse.” Fel sighed. “Your first lesson will be in cleaning, then.”
“Hannah!” He yelled again.
I heard a rustling of movement and a thump near the stairwell. The click of the lock sounded and I heard footsteps on the stairs.
Mabel rounded the corner, a stack of folded towels in hand. “What could you need all these for…”
She stopped short, noticing the mess in front of us. “Oh. Oh dear.”
“Thank you, Mabel.” Fel said. “Just an accident, is all.”
I blushed and lowered the staff, staring at my feet. He tossed me a towel and took one for himself, then we got to our hands and knees scrubbing at the floor. He pulled a bin aside for the bits of broken glass and I sopped up the excess ink while he handled the sharp pieces.
My hands were completely black by the end of it, but we’d finally managed to get most of the mess up. Fel stood and wiped his hands on his trousers, smearing ink across them. “Now, then. Where were we?” He rubbed his chin, giving me that look like he was sizing me up again. “Ah, right. There’s a quest that needs doing. Would you be interested?”
I blinked. A quest?
“What kind of quest?” I said, skeptical.
I had some starter gear now, sure, but I was still level 1 and a total noob at that.
“Don’t worry,” Fel said. “Mabel can go with you.”
“What was that?” I heard her voice from the other room.
Fel called back. “That stuff you needed, wanna take Laurie with you?”
There was a moment of silence, then, “Sure.”
“There now, that’s not so bad, right?” He asked.
I stared at all the new items Fel had given me. Even though they were rough and not much use beyond the lower levels, he’d seen something in me to trust. And for that, I owed him.
The Veil was filled with all manner of chaos and monsters, especially of late, but it was good to know that some people were still generous and willing to help others. I didn’t know what I would have done without them.
If I’d been left to die in the tavern with those Reavers? I shuddered at the thought.
“Thank you,” I said, bowing my head. “I will make it up to you, I promise.”
“Be careful out there.” He clapped me on the back and I stumbled. As a dwarf, Fel wasn’t as tall as Cael, Mabel, or Tris. We could almost see eye to eye. The only thing was, he was built like a brick wall. The simple slap on the back felt like being hit with a full bag of potatoes.
I laughed and regained my balance, thanking him again as I gathered up all my items into the bags and inventory slots.
“Don’t thank me,” Fel said with a mischievous glint in his eye. “You should have seen the ringer we put poor Cael through when he first got here.” He chuckled and shook his head, his gaze far away. “The best way to learn is by doing, after all. I think you’ll find a lot to learn on this quest. Just don’t be surprised if you’re sore in the morning!” He held his belly and laughed. It didn’t ease the nervous beating of my heart.
With my bags all packed and my armor equipped, I stepped out of the storeroom to find Mabel. She was standing at a tall table, grinding something in a bowl.
“Don’t let Fel get to you.” Mabel smiled. “He’s just an old man, is all. Likes to have a little fun.”
I drew closer to Mabel and clambered up onto a stool. When she was finally at eye level, I whispered, “Is it really you?”
Mabel straightened and went back to grinding the ingredients in her dish, avoiding eye contact. The flicker of recognition I’d seen was enough, though.
“Talk later,” she mouthed as her shoulders tensed. I was glad I happened to be looking at her. I would have missed the message otherwise. In an instant, she reverted to the character she’d been playing all along.
“So about that quest, huh? You ready for a little adventure?”
> New Quest Unlocked: One With Nature
> Mabel needs ingredients for a new potion. Help her collect them, but beware…nighttime in the Veil can be dangerous indeed.
Accept? [Yes/No]
I furrowed my brow at that. Way to be melodramatic, quest log. A lump of fear still settled in my throat, but I had no choice. I had to get Mabel alone so we could talk. And I needed to skill up as fast as possible. I accepted the quest.
“Excellent,” Mabel said. “We leave at sundown.”
16
Cael
“What is this place?” I found myself asking in a whisper as we grew closer. While at a distance it looked like a stately castle, the closer I got, the more I saw that was definitely not the case. The walls sagged and the stench coming from the place assaulted me from all directions. It was a mix between burning wood and something worse, much worse. The entire place was black as if something had charred it, long ago.
“Dragon attack,” Tris whispered from our vantage point up on a neighboring hill.
I shivered at the word. Dragons? They had dragons here? Thank god I hadn’t run into any of those yet.
We hid behind the tall foliage, but it gave us an excellent view of the comings and goings at the Society. “Burned this place to a crisp, way back when. But that’s how all of this started, really.”
“This? What are you talking about?”
“Magitech. Tinkering. You know, all those crazy gizmos I’m always toting around.” She smirked and nudged me.
“What does a dragon have to do with—”
“They say the flames unlocked something in the soil and the stone. Something buried. Cause after the flames died down, people started noticing a different sort of energy coming off the ruins. Weird stuff started happening. The people that were nearby could make things disappear, or freeze, or float. It was the First Magic.”
“Wow,” I mouthed, looking down at the fortress.
“There’s long been a rivalry between magic and science here. It was only a matter of time until someone thought to combine them. And that’s how Artificers were born.” Her eyes shone with a long-lost pride, but beneath that was a buried fear. I knew better than to pry while we were so close to enemy territory, but the thought weighed on me. There was so much still that I didn’t know. And after we’d shared a moment together, back there...
I wanted to know everything.
“Let’s move,” she said, and tapped me on the shoulder. I stood from my crouching position, stretching out my tired limbs. “Over there is where they get deliveries. There’s usually a guy manning the door but he’s always on break right about now.” She checked the time on her HUD. “Yup, for the next twenty minutes.”
“Wait, how do you know all this?” I asked. “And why would they leave the door unprotected for twenty minutes?”
“Here’s the thing,” Tris motioned to the tall black spires. “It’s not unguarded. Look close, what do you see?”
I squinted, the tower shimmering in the sun. A skeletal metal arm swung back and forth, doing a sweep of the area. It surveyed the perimeter, then returned to the beginning and started again.