Perla Online, Book Two: Shella (A LitRPG/GameLit Adventure)

by Shawn Wyatt

  The conversation paused for a few moments as everyone climbed out of the rowboat. Evey leaned against the wall and rubbed her shoulder. “Do you think it’s silly that the reason I want to go home most is because I miss my dog?”

  “Your dog?”

  “Yeah. She’s a Border Collie named Lilac. She moved with me from high school to college and then on to my first place.”

  I smiled. “She sounds like a great dog.”

  Evey grimaced. “She’s fat. She’s so fat. I may spoil her a bit more than I should.”

  I laughed. “I don’t think it’s silly. We all have our reasons for wanting to get home. Yours is no less valid than any other. And the hunger of a fat dog is a perfectly legitimate reason to get home." Evey's smile crept across her face—soft, gentle. "Is that why you chose Beast Tamer?” I asked.

  She nodded. “Yeah. I’ve always loved animals.”

  I looked ahead to where Boris sniffed around a closed and shuttered fruit stand. “Do you think that’s why Boris is so fat?”

  The bear turned around, flicked his ears, and whined. I laughed. It was good to have him back. And even better to see Evey in a relaxed mood.

  Bastion shoved Quinn in front of him. The Swashbuckler stumbled, his hands bound behind his back. The four Spirit Wolves circled him, and Wish stood with her arms crossed. "Just try to run. They're hungry."

  “Where would I run to?” Quinn asked. “I can’t really do anything. These ropes are kind of tight.” He looked up at me when I approached. “Ren, I am truly sorry. If you’ll let me explain…”

  “You can explain yourself later,” I said. “After we’ve had some rest. My temper is too short right now, and I’m tempted to just shoot you and be done with it.”

  “Right then. If you say so.”

  His dismissive tone sent anger coursing through me again. “Shut up. Sulk all you want, but remember, you betrayed us. You sold us out to pirates. Why should I listen to what you have to say?”

  “I sold you out because I needed to free someone!” Quinn’s shout echoed up the silent street. “Scarlet had taken my friend captive, and she agreed to let her go free if I brought you to her.”

  “Why didn’t you just break her out of prison when you freed us?”

  He shook his head. "I tried, but she wasn't there. Scarlet must have another prison ship."

  Something clicked. “I get it. You broke us out then because Scarlet betrayed you, too. We were never your goal.”

  Quinn sighed. “You’re right. I saw my chance to strike back at her, so I set the four of you free.”

  “And hung around and pretended to want to help us after the fact. Did you intend to tell us about this plan at any point? Did it ever occur to you that we might be willing to help free your friend?”

  "You’ve got no reason to help me.”

  "You don't know me at all," I said. "I don't need a reason to help someone."

  I turned to walk away, but Quinn shouted after me. “I’m sorry, okay? I don’t know what else you want me to say. And I can’t save my friend on my own. I need your help.”

  “In exchange for what?" I asked. "I can't trust you now.”

  “You still need transportation around the islands. You can use my ship. Just help me free Chrys.”

  Bastion looked thoughtful. “Who is she to you?”

  I raised an eyebrow. If Quinn knew anything of Bastion’s history, this could be a ruse to appeal to his sympathies. And it was working.

  “Just a friend. Well, maybe more. I don’t know. We hadn’t gotten that far.”

  “Hadn’t gotten that far?”

  Quinn actually blushed. “We spent a couple of nights together. We'd hit it off, but hadn’t really talked anything more. And then Scarlet raided the port we were in and took her captive.”

  I laughed before I could stop myself. “Wait. You mean to tell me you did all this for some girl you hooked up with?”

  “It was more than that. We actually got along. Chrys is the only person I'd consider a friend.”

  “Right. And it’s not just your crotch doing the thinking here?”

  “Ren. That’s harsh.” Evey spoke in a soft tone.

  I shot a glance over my shoulder. “You believe him?”

  She shrugged. “He’s right. We need his ship. And if he’s actually making all this up, I’ve got an arrow that can make sure his crotch won’t do the thinking for him anymore.”

  “Bastion, Wish. What do you two think?”

  Wish shrugged. “We can use his ship until we find out if he’s telling the truth. If he’s lying, we throw him overboard.”

  “Agreed,” Bastion said. “But if he’s telling the truth, I want to help.”

  “Fine. But Quinn? Remember this.” I laid a hand on my pistol. “If you betray us again, you won’t see the bullet that kills you.”

  Chapter Ten: The Walls That Bind

  I lay still and let the sunlight warm my cheek before I opened my eyes. After the return to Tarawi, we paid a visit to Roxy. To call her surprised would be an understatement. And even her surprise paled in comparison to her reaction at Scarlet's defeat.

  The tavern keeper had thrown her arms around Bastion and planted a kiss on his cheek. The beet-red of his face was ample reward for the trouble we'd been through so far.

  I had left Evey to explain the situation and trundled up the stairs to sleep. The fatigue and stress of our early-morning attack had caught up with me.

  A comfortable breeze drifted through the window. I groaned and sat up, although every muscle rebelled at the motion. My feet hit the floor with a thud and I cast one last, longing look at the bed.

  Someone knocked on the door. “Ren, are you awake?”

  Evey. “Yeah, give me a second,” I said. “Not moving so fast this morning.”

  “I’m going downstairs for breakfast. I’ll meet you there.”

  “See you.” My stomach rumbled at the thought of food. I felt like my body and mind had gone through a reset the night before. I sat on the edge of the bed to gather my thoughts and browsed the character screen.

  The fight against the Arciteuthis had pushed me to level 22. I’d deal with the stat points later. I needed to wake up more before I distributed them.

  My gear lay where I had shed it the night before. I pulled on my armor and gun belt. The weight of the pistols had become a part of me, the same way that a favorite watch does. Without them at my side, I felt naked.

  That could be a problem when I returned the real world.

  No one was in the hallway. The sun rose early in this realm, and the tavern had no candles on the wall to mark the time. I hadn’t a clue how long I’d slept.

  Bastion answered that question when I went downstairs. “So you decided to get up, huh?” He sat on a barstool, his back against the high counter and a blank look on his face. “I’m handling my level up. Give me a second.”

  “How did you even know it was me?”

  “Your guns make a pretty distinct clinking sound when you walk. If this were a western, you’d be the moody gunslinger walking into the saloon.”

  I scowled at him. It was mostly for my satisfaction, since he still perused his character menus. “Glad to know my stealth score sucks.”

  Bastion blinked, and his eyes snapped into focus. “Your weapons are basically cannons. You can’t make a sneak attack when you let every enemy within two miles know where you are.” He laughed. “Anyway, we’ve already ordered breakfast for you. Evey wanted to wait for you, but she had to go out back and handle Boris. Something about him eating a seagull.”

  "You ate breakfast," Wish said. "I haven’t eaten a thing.” She poked at the mess of coagulated potatoes on her plate. “I don’t think I’m going to.”

  “They’re just potatoes,” Bastion said. “A bit…how do I put this nicely? Less creamy than we’re used to. But still potatoes.”

  “Then you eat them.”

  “I’m good,” he said. Bastion leaned in close to me. “I’m trying
hard to keep mine down.”

  I laughed. “I’ll pass on breakfast, too. Or at least find something elsewhere. Where's Quinn?”

  Bastion shrugged. “Don’t know. He wasn’t here when I got up.”

  Roxy walked out from the back of the tavern, a glass and a rag in her hand. “Hey, Roxy. Did you see Quinn this morning?”

  “Quinn? Yeah. He said he was going down to the docks to get his ship ready.”

  “What time?”

  “About three hours ago or so. You didn’t know?”

  “No.” He might already be gone. I looked at Bastion and Wish. “Are you ready to go?”

  They nodded.

  “I’ll get Evey. You two go ahead. Stop him from leaving.”

  “He won’t get far,” Wish said. They sprinted out the door. I leaned out the back to call for Evey.

  She was halfway through a rant. “…and it’s not the first time we’ve had this talk. You did the same thing back on Toris. Remember how those birds attacked you for a week because you ate that nest? You aren’t going to starve.”

  Boris sat on his haunches and whined.

  “As much as I hate to interrupt this, we have to go,” I said. “Quinn left early for his ship. He may be planning to run.”

  Evey looked over her shoulder and rolled her eyes. “Looks like I might get to use that arrow after all.” She patted Boris. “Come on, big guy. Looks like you’ll get to burn off your seagull breakfast.”

  She leapt onto his back and gestured for me to do the same. The moment I had a secure seat, Boris jolted forward and barreled through the streets.

  Boris covered the distance in so little time that we beat Bastion and Wish to the port. Betsy remained docked where we'd left her, and even from a distance I could see Quinn on the deck. Swaying.

  None of his movements spoke to sobriety.

  I leapt from Boris’ back and stormed up the gangplank. “Not planning to leave us, were you?”

  The Swashbuckler looked up, a grin on his face. “Ren! No. I just wanted to get the ship ready.” The words came out slurred and only half-intelligible. “And it’s ready!”

  “It’s also only a few hours past dawn, and you’re drunk.”

  “Drinking seems the right thing to do. Doesn’t matter time or day, a good drink can always make you feel better.”

  Quinn stumbled, pitched forward, and caught himself inches from the side of the ship. I shoved him from his precarious seat and closer to the middle of the deck. “Sit down. Drink some water. I need you sober.” I handed him the water skin on my belt.

  He lifted it to his lips and sipped, then made a face. “Ale’s better.”

  “You touch ale again this morning, and I’ll throw you off the ship myself.” I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. It was too early for this. “Why were you drinking?”

  “This morning?”

  “Yes, this morning.”

  “Mate, I’ve been drinking all night. I hadn’t stopped yet. Met some interesting blokes down there near the port. We spent the evening swapping stories. Told them all about my troubles.”

  My right cheek had begun to twitch. “Look. I told you we would help you find Chrys, and we will. But you have got to sober up." I had begun to find it hard not to shoot him. "We’re leaving Tarawi today. Is the ship ready?”

  “Yeah, it’s ready.” Quinn took another sip of the water. “‘Fraid I’m not, though.”

  “Clearly. Go get something to eat. Clear your head and then get back here so we can go.”

  “I’ll take him,” Evey said. “I’ll make sure he sobers up.”

  Her voice brooked no argument, and Quinn's expression made it clear he understood. She'd keep him in line. “Alright. I’ll wait here for Bastion and Wish.”

  Evey and Boris flanked the drunken Swashbuckler as they disappeared down the road. He would be sober when they got back, even if Evey had to beat it out of him. I turned my attention back to the ship.

  Quinn, even in his drunkenness, had readied the ship. He had stored the lines in the proper place and furled the sails. I made a mental note to ask if he sailed IRL. His talent seemed too great to be something learned in-game.

  Bastion and Wish walked up the dock. “Hey, Ren,” Bastion called. “How did you beat us here?”

  “Rode bear back.”

  He blanched. “Right. I’d rather walk.”

  “I missed riding Boris? Aw.” Wish pouted. “You have to let me know next time.”

  I laughed. “Will do. Get on board. Evey will be back with Quinn soon, and hopefully he will be sober enough that we can set sail.”

  "Sober?" Bastion raised an eyebrow. "You know what, don't answer that. I don't actually care."

  It took two more hours than expected, but Quinn finally sobered up–at least enough to sail. A quick healing spell from Bastion soothed the burgeoning hangover, and the Swashbuckler eased his vessel out of the port and into the open water.

  “Remember, we need to go to Tarawi’s head," I warned. I was not convinced of his sense of direction.

  “Got it. Stand clear of the sides. Don’t want to hit you when the sails fall.” Quinn grabbed one of the lengths of weathered rope, sun-bleached and rain-drenched but still sturdy, and tugged. The sails unfurled with a sound like beating wings. The faintest breeze began to waft through my hair. Farther into open water, the breeze strengthened. Quinn turned the sails to catch the wind, and the ship leapt forward.

  He let out a shout of triumph. “Hold tight. Here we go!”

  Evey's role came next. She had to speak to the turtle. “Are you ready for this?”

  She shrugged. “A little nervous, to be honest. If the reality of the situation is like my dream, then I’m about to talk with a turtle whose head is the size of a city block.”

  “Finally, something bigger than Boris.” I grinned.

  The ship began to slow, and Quinn spun the helm with a flourish. “I hope you all are ready for your first glimpse of our host.”

  I turned back toward the city and my jaw dropped. Evey’s description had not quite summed up the size of the Great Turtle.

  Her head was the size of two city blocks from side to side. Eyes, dark with time and the size of swimming pools, tracked our movement through the waves. Tarawi looked on us with a frightening intelligence.

  Quinn slowed the vessel down until we matched Tarawi’s forward speed. “We’re ready,” he said. His voice was low with awe.

  “Evey?” I asked.

  “Just a minute,” she whispered. “I’m not quite sure what to say.”

  Tarawi solved that problem for her. “Adventurers.” Her massive head rose from the waves. The air rumbled with each syllable. “You came.”

  Evey swallowed hard and stepped forward. “I heard your call in my dreams."

  “Indeed. You are the only one whom my magic reaches. You can thank your close bond with your animal companion for that.”

  Boris huffed and raised his head higher.

  “I sense the cling of magic on all of you,” Tarawi said. “Magic from another world. You’ve held court with Duneyrr.”

  “Yes,” Evey said. “Duneyrr helped us in our quest on Toris. Without his assistance, and that of the Terrawalkers, we never would have succeeded.”

  “And it was the four of you that wiped the corruption from the face of that realm.” Tarawi phrased the sentence as a question, but she knew the answer.

  Evey nodded. “Yes.”

  “Good.” The single word made the air whip around me like a hurricane. “Then I have chosen well. Tell me, do you seek to purge the corruption on this realm?”

  “We wish to return home,” Evey said. “Back to our world. And the only way to do that is to wipe out the corruption wherever it takes hold, and eventually to defeat Foscor.”

  “You speak as if your desires are selfish, but your altruism has been already been proven. You have driven the pirates out of my city and set the people there free. I will tell you what you must know about the corrup
tion here, if you will listen.”

  “We will,” Evey said.

  The water cascaded away from Tarawi’s snout as she raised her head further out of the waves. “There is a ship that lies wrecked in the center of the sea, off the western edge of my mother’s city. This vessel contains corruption, and that corruption leaks into the sea with each passing day. My siblings and I erected magical barriers around it, but they only slow the spread. You must board this vessel and cleanse the source of the corruption, but you must first gain access. You must gain our trust." The Great Turtle paused for effect. "I will lower the barrier I have erected. You must speak with each of my siblings and ask them to do the same. Prove your worth to them, as you have done to me.”

  A prompt appeared in the air in front of me.

  New Quest: The Walls That Bind

  Lower each of the magical barriers that surround the crashed vessel and cleanse the corruption that sleeps there. Prove your worth to the five Great Turtles and free Shella of Foscor’s grasp.

  Barriers remaining: 4/5

  I banished the prompt with a nod. Tarawi gave the quest, and I had no option to accept or decline—which felt less like a quest and more like a command. Perhaps a continuation of the game's main quest? In the end, it didn’t matter. This was what we had come here to do.

  “Thank you, Great One,” Evey said. “We accept, and we will do as you say."

  “Make haste. As the barriers fall, the corruption will spread with greater speed. As soon as the last barrier falls, you must strike and purge it, or all Shella will be lost. Should the corruption reach the creatures that slumber on the bottom of the sea, I fear no force will be able to stop them.” Tarawi paused and inhaled. "Now, go with my blessing."

  Tarawi blew a gust of wind over the ship that smelt of the sea on an autumn day. “This will prove to my siblings that you met with me, and I did not find you wanting.”

  Evey bowed again. "Thank you. Is there anything more we can do for you?"