It was such a beautiful night. A light breeze mixed with the fresh scent of light rain created a very heady atmosphere. We took turns pulling the handcart. I think I was going to have to get one of my own soon. Maybe the place where we get our horses would have them. Hell, maybe they'd have something different.
The only thing that stopped this whole new life situation from being perfect was the threat of the AI looming over us. This place was growing on me and I didn't want to lose it. The AI sounded like one mean bitch and I wasn't sure what she would ultimately do. Could she make the entire world go dark?
I shivered at that thought.
When we got back to my house, it was far too late to do any meaningful work, so we started up a roaring fire, threw down our sleeping bags and drifted off into a blissful sleep.
The next morning I awoke to the smell of fresh meat grilling on an open flame. I rubbed my eyes and looked around. Esmerelda had stoked the fire and was cooking up some of the seagull meat.
"Smells delicious!" I said, propping myself up on my elbows.
"I figured you'd be ravenous." She kissed me on the nose and handed me my flask. I gulped it down greedily.
"Thanks."
"We have a big day ahead of us today so I thought we'd start it out on the right foot." She looked at me with her big, blue eyes. "You don't mind, do you?"
"No, in fact I really appreciate it. I've got a lot of work to do today. I think I'm going to make myself about 500 arrows and store a bunch of them here. I don't like running out."
She nodded. "Makes sense. Speaking of running out. I need to pick some herbs for bandages."
"You know how to make bandages?"
"Yep. Help me pick the herbs and I'll make you some." She sat down on the floor cross-legged and ate.
"Now that sounds like a deal!"
We ate our delicious, morning meal in silence, each thinking our own thoughts. We both no doubt wanted to get back to the dungeon. I just had a feeling we'd barely scratched the surface.
When we were finished, Esmerelda swept her arms around the room. "I like what you've done to the place. A bit small. Needs some furnishing, but otherwise a good little man-cave." She took a swig of her drink. "I've been thinking about your offer. I think I'd like my room upstairs. It would have a spectacular view of the surrounding forest. What do you think?"
"Sounds great. I'd like to clear that dungeon out first, though." I grabbed my pack and slung it over my shoulder. I looked around for my bow and picked that up.
"Oh yeah, sure. This isn't something we have to get done now." Esmerelda agreed.
"I say we mosey on into town and see if we can't get ourselves a horse or donkey or something to pull all this lumber and rock." I suggested. "If we're lucky, we can ride it, too."
"Have you ever ridden a horse?"
"Can't say that I have. I'm sure for the right price they'd offer lessons."
I brought the cart along with me to Jakarth City just in case we found something to pull it with. We had to ask around a bit before someone pointed us in the right direction.
"Wow, this is really on the outskirts of town." Esmerelda wiped her brow as she handed me the cart. We'd been taking turns pulling it and both of us were tired of it already.
The stable, Horses & More!, was loaded with all kinds of farm animals for purchase or hire. They had donkeys, horses, mules and even a fucking camel. Don't know what I'd need a camel for, but apparently someone did. Or maybe not, seeing as it was still here.
"How much are your horses?" I asked the stable master.
"500 gold for the black stallion. 300 for the white nag." He explained.
500 gp? Holy shit, that was more than I had. "Can the nag pull this loaded?" I indicated toward the hand cart.
He nodded. "Just don't ride her while she's doing it."
I took a long, deep breath, counted out my 280 gp and added another 200 sp to even out the deal.
"Sold!" He said with a smile and a tip of his hat.
"Do you have any mules?" Esmerelda stepped forward.
"Aye, ma'am." The stable master nodded.
"How much are those?" She asked, rummaging around in her coin pouch.
"150."
"Okay, I'll take one." She handed him the gold and picked out her donkey.
"What are you going to name yours?" She asked. "I think I'll name mine, Moxie."
"Hmm. I really haven't given it much of a thought. What do you think I should name her?"
Esmerelda led the mule out of the barn and thought about it for a moment. "I dunno, maybe April?"
"April. Hmm...Has a nice ring to it. Okay, sure. April it is." I turned to the stable master. "Can you help me hook this up to her?"
"Sure thing!"
I had to buy some extra equipment and some oats, but once I did, April was all hooked up and we were ready to roll.
Esmerelda climbed on the mule's back and walked alongside April and I. It felt good not to have to lug around that damn handcart anymore. I petted the horse and fed her a handful of oats from the bag. Now I was really starting to feel like I was getting somewhere in the world. I had a home, a horse and now a questing companion who thought we were a couple.
Things were looking good.
We got back to the cabin, grabbed my tools and found a nice patch of forest a long way away from the house and began chopping. It was hard, grueling work. After a couple of trees, we decided to call it quits. We ate a quick lunch, chased it down with some ale and then headed back out to the beach to grab some rocks.
I really didn't know how much I needed, but I figured it was better to be safe than sorry.
With Esmerelda to keep me company while I busted my hump breaking rocks, time flew past. We talked about everything under the sun, from what our favorite foods were to how we were going to have to be ready for the AI's minion.
Just as we were loading up the last of the rock, our first "visitor" appeared. Pretty much out of thin air.
"Watch out! Behind you!" Esmerelda shouted. I whirled around in time to see a skeleton creeping up behind me, its bony arms outstretched and a ghoulish grin on its twisted face.
I ducked as it took a cheap-shot swipe at my head. Esmerelda hit it with a fire blast, knocking it on its ass. That bought me enough time to pull out my bow and nock a couple arrows.
One of them froze him and the other took a chunk of health from him. I quickly noticed that he wasn't even my level. Just gray. Not much to worry about. But I also wondered if the AI wasn't going to step up her attacks as time wore on.
A couple more arrows from my bow and a well-placed fire spell from Esmerelda and he crumpled down into a smoking heap.
"That was a bit scary. Him just sneaking up on me like that."
Esmerelda searched the body, found a few copper, split it with me, then hopped on her mule. "It's almost enough to make you want to sleep with the lights on."
I patted April on the butt and walked beside her as she pulled our heavy load back home. By the time we made it back it was getting to be dusk. I didn't want to work in the dark, but Esmerelda pulled a lantern out of her bag and hung it in the house.
I was sore, achy and generally felt like shit. She seemed to sense this and offered to massage my back. I gratefully accepted and just let her melt the pain away.
Again, it was really nice to have someone to share the lonely nights with. We talked into the wee hours of the morning as I banged and chiseled and worked the stone, feathers and wood into usable arrows. Esmerelda helped out whenever she could. She even offered to skip down to the inn to refill our drinks.
I laughed when she came back an hour later carrying a barrel of ale.
"I hope you paid for that." I snorted.
"What, do you think I'm a grifter?" She laughed and set the ale down. “I left him a couple gold. I don't think he'll mind getting double, do you?"
I shook my head. "You're just in time. I've only got a bit more to go. I think I can squeezed 300 arrows out of all this."
"Tomorrow, you can help me pick herbs, then maybe we can dive back into that dungeon. I really like that place. Hearing those fucking spiders gives me the creeps, but I like the loot and xp."
"Agreed."
A little while later, we turned in, resting in our respective sleeping bags. They weren't the most comfortable and I was still a bit sore come morning, but I could live with that.
By the time we got our day started and had eaten some bird meat, it was already afternoon. A threatening storm looked like it was rolling in off in the distance that neither of us wanted any part of.
Esmerelda showed me the basics of riding a horse and once I found my groove, I learned that I liked riding more than walking. We carefully picked our way through the forest, looking for healing herbs. They were the same ones that I used for Penelope.
She explained that she'd wrap the herbs up in a cloth and make a make-shift poultice which would heal for 20 hp rather than the usual 10. That was great as since I was nearly 100 hp, 10 barely stitched up a scratch.
After a couple hours of gathering all the herbs we could find, there was a light drizzle coming down through the trees. Riding April was a breeze. Whoever taught her did a fantastic job. I was a complete beginner and total noob and she was as patient as could be.
We stuffed our packs and rode back to home base. By the time we had finally made it inside, the rain was really starting to come down. We were going to have to build a little shelter for the horses.
Giggling as we stepped out of the rain, drenched and soaked, we quickly started the fire and laid out our clothes to dry. Once she showed me what to do, I helped Esmerelda make her bandages. We drank ale, cooked some meat, talked of our lives and just generally shot the shit.
Neither of us had heard from Orge lately and we were beginning to wonder if there wasn't something wrong. What would happen to him - and us by extension - if the AI found out about him? Would she - could she - kill him? Then what?
A shiver raced up my spine and I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer to that.
After making a ton of bandages, of which she gave me 10 for my help, I stuffed them in my pack. They'd certainly come in handy.
"Let's get some sleep, see if we need to help Orge, then head back to the dungeon." Esmerelda suggested as she turned off her lantern and slipped into her bedroll.
"That sounds like a plan."
"You know..." She grinned. "This bedroll would be warmer if you were in it with me."
I looked at her naked form with only the flickering flames of the fireplace and my cock jumped. She giggled and curled her finger in my direction.
"Come here, big boy...that's it, come to Esmerelda." She wrapped her arms around me and we made sweet, sweet love in her bedroll.
Morning came soon enough and sometime in the night the rain had let up and now it was just a beautiful - albeit wet - morning.
I dressed, stepped outside and took a deep breath of the wet pine and damp earth. The birds were chirping their fucking hearts out as the sun dappled the forest.
April greeted me with a loud whinny, reminding me that she was not only wet, but hungry. I'd have to rectify that.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Esmerelda came up behind me and rubbed my shoulders.
I nodded. "Very." And leaned back and kissed her.
We ate our breakfast outside.
It was such a nice, refreshing morning that we decided to just take a walk through the forest. For no reason other than to just enjoy the beauty of the world. A world that we were soon going to have to protect.
"Have you given any thought that this might become the New Earth?" I asked as we headed back to retrieve our horses and get started on our day.
"No." She stopped and shook her long, blue hair. She smiled and nodded. "That does have a nice ring to it. New Earth. Is that what we're dubbing this place?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "Sure. It's as good a name as any."
"So..." Esmerelda said in a sultry purr. "Does that make us Adam and Eve and this..." She indicated with a wide sweep of her arms. "The Garden of Eden?"
I laughed. But she was right. I had no idea if any population could be added through birth, but if it could it might be something to look into. At least after we defeat the AI.
We got back to our horses and rode them back to the dungeon. With our packs cleared out and our spirits and bellies full, it was time for another run.
We tied up the animals right at the entrance where they'd be protected from sun or rain and headed off inside. I had brought along some of April's oats and left some out for her to munch on. As long as my horse was happy, I was happy.
"Now you be a good girl, Moxie." Esmerelda patted her mule and stroked her face and kissed her on the nose. "We'll be back soon. With lots of loot. I promise."
Moxie brayed in response, then joined with April in eating the oats.
"Come on. They'll be fine." She said and pulled me to the entrance.
I unslung my bow and grabbed a couple of brand-new arrows and nocked them. I didn't know what the respawn rate was like, but I wanted to be ready just in case.
We stepped into the dungeon, ready for anything, but other than a few roaming goblins, nothing much had respawned. They were quickly dispatched of and their bodies looted.
12/100 Goblins slain
13/100 Goblins slain
14/100 Goblins slain
Each one giving me 200 xp, bringing me up to 47505/51200.
"Do you remember where the secret dungeon entrance was?" Esmerelda asked as she handed me my 2 sp.
"Sure, it was down this hallway. Remember to grab a torch." I suggested and led her into the side room. She clambered down first and I handed her the torch and followed right behind.
The place was seemingly even spookier than before. The sounds were downright creepy and every hair on the back of my neck stood up as chills swept through me.
"Spooky." Esmerelda whispered as she shone her torch around. "This place is even creepier than I remember."
We followed our old path, but Esmerelda stopped suddenly. "I don't remember seeing this path. Let's go this way."
I gripped my bow tight and followed close behind. "I wonder where it leads. What other mysteries await us in here?"
"Let's find out!" Esmerelda shone the torch around, looking for secret passageways or hidden doors.
It was very interesting architecture. Old stone and brick with patches of luminescent moss scattered around.
Our steps echoed throughout the hallway, no doubt alerting whatever might be lurking just ahead. I silently wondered to myself who built this place and for what purpose? Or, maybe the devs just threw it in here to provide something for us to explore.
Not really paying attention to where I was going, I nearly ran over a pack of large, wild rats. These fuckers were huge!
Just as I was about to loose my arrows into the closest one, the leader stepped forward and squeaked.
"Intruders of the underworld. My name is Rattis and I demand you hand over all your gold and shiny things."
I moved up next to Esmerelda and we exchanged glances.
"Is this guy for real?" She asked.
"I assure you, I am most definitely for real." He pulled out a machete and waved it in our faces. "Now if you don't drop your coin and run like the scared cowards you are, I'm going to be forced to sic my goons on you." He indicated to the three vile-looking giant rats behind him, their red eyes gleaming and their mouths slavering.
"You're kidding, right?" I lifted my bow up, activated my freezing and double arrow abilities and aimed for the leader's face.
"Have it your way, hu-man." He spit, then with a flick of his wrist, his minions leaped toward us.
I caught one with my freezing arrow, causing him to crash to the ground in a ball of ice. The other, however, caught me, knocking me off balance as the shot went wild.
The beady, red-eyed rodent bared its teeth and prepared to sink his fangs into my neck. But I kicked him away.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the rat leader leap upon Esmerelda, who deftly dodged out of his way and sent a fireball down his throat.
I smiled. I loved watching the crafty mage throw around her fire spells like they were candy being given out on Halloween.
Regaining my balance, I nocked an arrow, hit flame arrow and shot it at the third giant rat who was advancing menacingly upon me, lips curled back in a snarl.
I had to admit, this was a tough fight. Esmerelda could easily take care of the rat leader, but I had three on me and I was going to have to kite them around until she was free.
Scrambling back as fast as I could, I trained my arrows on the rats. One got trapped in my root trap. But I couldn't take advantage of it, I had the other two on me.
I peppered them with as many arrows as I could, yet they still advanced. Although I could see the hp nearly drained from one of them. Esmerelda saw the pickle I was in and threw a fire blast my way, killing the one rat.
Dancing around the small hallway, I worked my arrows into the other two giant rodents. As one fell to his death, he lurched forward and wrapped his arms around my ankles, causing me to stumble and fall to the ground.
That's when the last remaining rodent took his advantage. With a savage fury not even the bunny could match, he leapt upon my back, ripping and tearing my flesh until my back felt like it was made of shattered glass.
I cried out and tried to get out from under him, but he had too good of an advantage. Esmerelda blasted him off with a fireball, but I found that my back hurt so bad that I could barely move.
It took all my strength, but when I turned over he was again leaping upon me. Just in time, I was able to kick out and send him splatting against the wall as Esmerelda finished him off with a fire blast.
"Wow, he really tore a chunk out of your back." She came over to me and pulled a poultice out of her pack. "This is going to hurt a bit, but should heal you right up."
I winced as she tenderly applied the herbal bandage, but when I looked up at my health bar, she was right, it was completely full.
"Thanks." I said, peeling myself off the floor. "I think that's the second time you saved my life."
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