Riley was currently sitting on level one. This was perhaps the seediest part of the floating city. In stark contrast to the glamor of the fountain on level six and the courtyard she had first witnessed, this area didn’t boast any popular attractions. The streets were covered in filth, and the people here eyed each other suspiciously as they walked past. Ironically, she somehow felt more comfortable here than she did in the upper levels.
Her fingers drummed against the mug in her hand as she watched hooded NPCs and players tread down the dusty road. Unfortunately, she hadn’t made much progress on her quest. She hadn’t discovered anyone who was sick, and, when she asked about a plague, the reactions she had received ranged from skeptical to openly belligerent.
“Maybe Jerry was wrong,” Riley murmured. She had moved to the lower levels as a last resort, thinking she could gather some information in exchange for coin. As it turned out, that had been a wildly over-optimistic plan. The people here were even more closed-mouthed than on the upper levels and weren’t willing to talk to her.
Her thoughts were interrupted as a small boy approached the table. His clothes were in tatters, and his face and arms were splattered with dirt. “Hello, ma’am,” he greeted cautiously, not making eye contact. “Can you spare any coin?”
Riley winced as she observed the boy. Not for the first time, she questioned the realism of AO and its purpose. “Sure,” Riley replied. “Let me just grab my pack.” She turned away to grab a few coins out of the bag slung at her waist.
A few seconds later, she turned back to find the boy had vanished. She looked down the street and saw his nimble form darting away. “What…?” Riley began and then noticed that the bow resting beside her was gone. Her eyes widened, and she searched the street in the other direction, seeing that another child was racing away with her weapon.
Damn it, she thought. The boy was a distraction.
She jumped to her feet and raced down the street after her bow. She pushed aside passersby and nimbly darted between the crowd in the street, catching small glimmers of the child ahead of her. Shouts of angry outrage sprang up behind her, but she had no time to stop and apologize. Riley’s Perception and Tracking skills were a lifeline, highlighting the thief’s small form in the crowd.
Then the child darted into a nearby alley and Riley followed. Crude wooden buildings towered beside her, and the narrow space was filled with broken crates and refuse. Riley didn’t spare a glance at the trash as she sprinted down the alleyway. She had lost sight of the child at some point, but the kid had to be ahead of her.
The alley abruptly dead-ended into the side of another building, and Riley came to a screeching halt. She glanced around herself in confusion. The thief had definitely come down this alley, and there was nowhere to hide among the broken garbage that littered the ground behind her. She could feel her pulse race and panic crept into her mind.
Calm down, she told herself forcefully. She drew on her dark mana and the calming chill swept through her mind, easing her panic.
She inspected the area around her more carefully. The thief had to be here. It was unlikely a street urchin knew magic, so that meant she was probably looking for a more mundane answer. Her eyes fell on the side of the building in front of her. It was built of horizontal wooden slats, and the side of a broken crate leaned against the building.
Riley’s brow furrowed as she looked at the decaying wooden panel. Her Perception skill triggered and outlined muddy handprints along one side. Walking cautiously toward the wooden structure, Riley gripped the edge and pulled gently. If the child was inside, there was no sense alerting her that she had found her hidey-hole. Behind the panel was a jagged hole in the side of the building.
Riley grinned menacingly, her dark eyes glowing. She crouched and crept through the makeshift tunnel, and quickly found herself inside a dilapidated building. The walls were rotting away, and the wooden slats on the floor creaked gently as she stepped forward. She could hear the muted voices of people talking and swiftly activated Sneak as she made her way forward into the hallway.
“Good job, Bobby,” a girl’s voice spoke up. “That lady never saw us coming!”
“Except that she almost caught you,” another voice responded glumly. “That was a close call, Rose.”
“No one can catch me,” the girl boasted. “I’m the fastest runner in the low streets.”
Riley crept forward slowly, wincing each time the floor squeaked slightly. As she neared the doorway ahead of her, she glanced around the opening. She saw a young girl holding her bow triumphantly and gloating to the dirty little boy that had spoken to her at the café. The girl must have been ten or eleven years old, and the boy was likely eight. Fortunately, there didn’t appear to be an exit to the room.
Dropping Sneak, Riley stood straight and positioned herself in the doorway. “It certainly looks like I’ve caught you,” she said in a threatening tone, drawing back her hood to reveal her obsidian eyes. She pulled one of the daggers from its sheath at her waist. She didn’t intend to stab two children, but she did plan to scare the living shit out of them. They shouldn’t have stolen from her.
The boy and girl whirled to look at Riley, their eyes wide. “I told you, Rose,” the boy yelped and jumped back, bumping into the wooden wall of the building. His eyes were fixated on the dagger in Riley’s hand.
To Rose’s credit, the girl eyed Riley defiantly. “You going to kill us?” she challenged. “If so, then do it. You’re not taking Lily’s bow without a fight.”
It was Riley’s turn to look at the children in shock. How did this girl know that the bow originally belonged to someone named Lily? Perhaps she was in the right place after all. Riley lowered her weapon slightly and opened her mouth to respond. Just then, she felt cold steel slide against her throat.
“Drop the dagger,” a woman said from behind her. Riley didn’t have the ability to turn and look at her attacker with the blade pressed to her neck. Without an alternative, she dropped her knife, and the metal rattled against the wood floor.
“These children stole my bow,” Riley said softly. “I didn’t intend to harm them – only to frighten them.”
“It’s not your bow, lady,” Rose declared, hugging the weapon to her chest. She scowled at Riley with defiant eyes.
The woman spoke from behind Riley, “The girl is correct. I’ve seen that bow before, and it certainly wasn’t owned by you.” The dagger pressed more forcefully against Riley’s throat, its sharp edge drawing a line of blood.
“I found it in a dungeon north of Peccavi,” Riley explained. “The owner had died hunting a group of cultists. Those fanatics are now dead by my hand.”
The woman behind Riley seemed to hesitate, and the knife eased on her neck. “Then why are you here?”
“The bow granted me a quest to find the remaining cultists who kidnapped its owner’s family,” Riley said, wincing at the dull burning sensation at her throat. “A friend of mine suggested I come here.”
Riley’s explanation was met with a long silence. Rose now looked slightly conflicted, and she glanced between the bow and Riley with a confused, helpless expression. “She’s lying,” the girl spat. “Lily isn’t dead!”
“I’m not so certain,” the woman behind Riley muttered. The person holding the blade must have come to a decision because the dagger withdrew.
“You’re going to let her go?” Rose demanded. “Just like that?”
Riley rubbed at her throat and turned to look at the woman behind her. She made certain to keep her hands out in the open and not make any quick movements. The woman behind her must have been nearly sixty – her hair a solid gray. Her face looked worn and tired, but her eyes were filled with a steely determination and intelligence as she inspected Riley closely. She held the blade in her hand in a no-nonsense fashion, as though accustomed to its use.
“I am,” the woman said with a nod. “Don’t worry, Rose. If this stranger tries anything, she will be dead before she draws a blade.”
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br /> By the woman’s tone, she sounded confident she could carry through with that threat. It occurred to Riley that she hadn’t heard the woman approach her from behind. A quick inspection revealed no information on the woman, which left Riley puzzled. Normally she could at least determine a person’s level.
“I’m certain that your inspection left you puzzled,” the older woman said with a smirk. “Perhaps that will give you some pause before you think to challenge me.”
“Like I said,” Riley replied evenly, “I’m not here to hurt anyone – just to retrieve the bow.” She hesitated for a moment. “Let’s start over. My name is Riley. Maybe you could tell me your names?”
The older woman’s eyes softened slightly. “I’m Marie.” She gestured to the two children behind Riley. “You’ve met Rose and Bobby. Why don’t we move to another room and sit down? Then we can talk for a bit.”
Riley nodded curtly. As a show of good faith, she took off her belt and handed it to the woman. “Here are my weapons. That way you know I don’t mean any harm,” she said as the woman eyed her in confusion. Marie gave her a quick nod of approval.
“Come, Rose,” Marie commanded. “Bobby, stop shaking. It’s fine, son. No harm will come to you.” The boy still trembled nervously against the wall but managed to peel himself from the wood, glancing anxiously at Riley as he edged past.
The group moved farther into the interior of the building, and Riley soon found herself in a kitchen. A stove and fireplace lay against one wall, and a large wooden table stood in the center of the room. Marie gestured for Riley to take a seat. The older woman sat across from her and Rose and Bobby took seats beside Marie. At Marie’s order, Rose set the bow on the table and reluctantly recounted how she and Bobby had stolen the weapon from Riley.
As the girl finished her story, Riley spoke up, “How do you all know Lily?”
Marie’s eyes took on a troubled look before she could control her expression. “That’s a long story,” she began slowly. “First, it’s important to understand what this place is. I run an orphanage of sorts for the cast-off children of the city.” She glanced at Rose and Bobby, and her expression hardened. “Not that I have much control over them.” The children looked down at their hands contritely.
“Lily grew up near here,” Marie continued. “Her parents did odd jobs around the city – which barely kept the family off the streets. In my occupation, I come to know most of the children in the area, even those that don’t live at the orphanage.
“Lily just had a gift with magic.” The woman’s eyes misted over as she recounted the story. “She was the best of us in many ways. When she was about Rose’s age, I managed to get her out of the low streets and used a few connections to find her work at an enchanter’s shop on the middle levels. It was the best I could do for her. Admittance to the guilds is difficult for people like us.”
Marie’s hands idly traced the crystalline petals of the bow. “Lily blossomed there. She had a knack for creating magical items. I remember her first creation was a moving figurine. A wooden rose that would bloom before your eyes.” Marie smiled as she recalled the memory.
“I still have the rose,” the small girl spoke up, her eyes clouded with a mixture of anger and sadness. “She named me after it…” the girl trailed off, her fingers picking at the wooden table in front of her.
The older woman smiled at Rose. “Lily always helped out around the orphanage. She never forgot where she came from. In some ways, that was the problem. The low streets never leave a person – not really. She still ran with a rough crowd. As she grew older, she began performing work on the side, unbeknownst to her master. Soon she was making weapons.” Marie gestured at the bow on the table.
“She made this?” Riley asked in astonishment, looking at the bow with fresh eyes.
Marie nodded. “It’s one of the few items she made for herself.” The old woman closed her eyes and continued, “This is also where her story darkens. Her family disappeared one night when she was little older than yourself.”
The woman paused, uncertain how to continue. “After her parents vanished, Lily… she – she lost herself. She began hunting for the kidnappers. She reached out to the darkest members of our community.”
Marie continued, “Lily began training, hunting, and crafting. She also stopped smiling. It was like her happiness had died. All her efforts were focused on finding the people that had taken her parents. Then one day, she simply left without warning and didn’t come back.” The woman’s eyes were focused on the bow, now taking on a glassy appearance.
“And I guess we know now what happened. I just couldn’t help the girl…” Marie said in a sad voice.
Riley sympathized with Marie. It sounded like Lily had been like a daughter to her. As she listened to the story, her resolve hardened. She would find those responsible for Lily’s death and for her family’s disappearance. As she considered this, Riley’s mana responded. The chill energy pulsed and throbbed in her veins, responding to her desire for vengeance.
“Maybe you can find some redemption now,” Riley said. “My friends and I destroyed the cultists in the dungeon where we found this bow. The quest I received indicated that Lily died searching for these cultists. I have taken up her fight, and I intend to find the rest of the group. They will not hurt anyone else,” Riley promised, her eyes glowing with unholy light as she watched Marie.
The older woman glanced up at her in surprise, noticing that Riley was channeling her mana. “Dark mana,” she whispered, a frown creasing her forehead. Then she shook her head. “I see conviction in your eyes, but what hope do you have of finding these men and women?”
“I have a lead. A friend suggested that I come here to look for them and that they might still be in Vaerwald,” Riley explained. “From my previous encounter with the cultists, I understand that they somehow manipulate all four of the elemental affinities. My friend also mentioned a magical plague that was afflicting the residents of this city.”
Marie’s eyes widened. “How would he know about such a thing?”
“So, it’s true?” Riley asked, excitement in her voice. It wasn’t that she wished ill on anyone, but the fact that she was making any sort of progress after her fruitless afternoon gave her hope.
“It is,” Marie said. Riley noted that both Rose and Bobby looked nervous at the mention of a plague. “Perhaps I should show you.” The old woman grabbed the bow and stood. She guided Riley through the maze-like, ancient structure. They passed numerous young children in the halls that looked at Riley with confused and curious expressions.
On the far end of the house, they arrived at a closed door. Marie retrieved a key from her pocket and unlocked it. Then she turned to Rose and Bobby who had tagged along behind them. “Go on children. You shouldn’t see this.” The pair reluctantly complied and backed away down the hallway.
Marie pushed the door open gently and stepped through, Riley following closely behind. Once they were through, the older woman closed the door and relocked it. Riley’s attention was focused on the children lying on cots throughout the room. They each lay on their backs as their chests rose and fell feebly. Their eyes were open, and they stared straight at the ceiling.
It was their eyes that captured Riley’s attention. They were lit up in a rainbow of colors based on their affinities – as though they were channeling their mana. Crimson, emerald, sapphire, and amethyst glowed in the darkened room. Their eyes bled glowing tears that dripped slowly down their cheeks and collected in buckets beside the beds.
“What is this?” Riley asked in a horrified voice.
“The plague you mentioned,” Marie responded quietly. “They do nothing but lay there. Their bodies are slowly fading, even as tears of liquid mana drip from their eyes. That liquid is worth its weight in gold in this city, but it is also slowly draining them dry.”
“Why doesn’t anyone else know of this?” Riley asked in confusion. “I questioned a number of people today, and no one knew anything.�
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Marie sighed. “For now, the sickness seems to be isolated to the children of the low streets. The guilds have been warned and have dismissed the problem. Like with most issues here, they let us fend for ourselves. The illness seems to affect those with high elemental affinities the hardest – those who are untrained in particular.”
The older woman moved beside a child, grabbing a cloth from a nearby table. She dabbed at the boy’s cheek, where the tears had left dark stains. “The sickness is spreading, though. I recently heard rumors of victims on level two.”
Riley’s mind tumbled as she looked at the children. What could be causing this? Were the cultists responsible? If so, how? Or more importantly, why? She couldn’t come up with a ready explanation. She forced herself to take a deep breath and think logically. Maybe she should treat this like a real-world plague.
“Who were the first to suffer from the sickness?” Riley asked.
Marie responded in a subdued voice, “I understand that these were the first victims. Several have already died.”
Riley’s mental cogs began turning. “That means that these children were probably part of the first group that was exposed to whatever is causing this.” She turned to the older woman. “Do they have something in common? What were they doing before they got sick?”
Marie’s brow furrowed, her hands straightening the fabric of her tunic as she thought. “The guilds,” she finally murmured. At Riley’s questioning glance, she elaborated, “The children often act as runners for the Great Library. They make some coin by ferrying scrolls and books to guild mages that are too lazy to retrieve them on their own.”
Riley was not entirely surprised by the answer. She didn’t have a good impression of the city’s mages, at least if the fire mage Prefect was representative of the men and women that frequented those guilds. The fact that they hired low-born children as their servants wasn’t a shock.
Awaken Online: Retribution (Side Quest) Page 7