by Paul Bellow
He handed the mace to Bernard.
"I'll take it," he said.
"And for the brownies, I have a plus two suit of chain also made from mythreal and a magic throwing dagger."
"I'll take that," Evan said, dropping his old one to the ground.
"And I'll take the armor," Ewen groaned. "At least it's the right size."
"Do you have anything for wizards?" Sarah asked. "Old scrolls or anything?"
"No scrolls, but this Staff of the Caverns will be better than what you have now."
"Oh?" she asked as Axelrod picked up a thick, oaken staff with a gnarled top.
"Yeah, it will give you an additional ten mana points for each of your current levels."
"That's helpful," Sarah said, accepting it from him. "We can keep the other one in the wagon to recharge everything."
She glanced over at Bernard. He paid her no attention as he focused on his mace.
"Will all this be enough to kill a dragon?" Josh asked.
I looked from him to Axelrod, wondering if Sarah's boyfriend wasn't as bad as I first thought. Were they still even together? I pushed the thoughts down–deep down.
"The dragon is tough, but we've got a fighting chance," Axelrod said. "We need to have a plan. I've only fought one dragon before, and that was a while ago. Even at ten, I'm low level."
"How high does the game go," I asked.
"No one knows," he said.
I glanced around at the other items on the shelves.
"Anything else that can help us?" I asked.
"You want everything given to you?" The dwarf shook his head. "New players are all the same."
"We're not all the same," Sarah said.
Josh, still holding the sack to his wound, said, "Can we go now? I'm feeling dizzy."
"Any healing magic in here?" I asked.
"Hold on." Axelrod rummaged through a bunch of glass bottles on a lower shelf. "Try this."
Josh accepted a tiny pink bottle from him with a cork on top.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I'm fairly sure it's a healing potion, but there's a chance the expiration date is past and it might do something else."
Josh looked at Sarah as if for guidance on the matter. She shrugged her shoulders.
"Go for it?" the asked, a slight rising inflection on the last word.
"I'll wait until we get back," Josh said. "No offense."
"Don't worry about it," Axelrod said. "No offense taken. You've got to have thick skin to make it in this game and life in general."
"I can identify the potions later tonight," Sarah said. "And anything else you don't remember."
"No, I'm not dragging all this stuff back. We'll buy whatever we need in Westwood. Let's get your healing potions since you're so scared to take mine."
"I'm not scared," Josh said.
Axelrod left the room, waiting for us to follow him. He hit a spot on the wall which slid shut.
"Let's go," he said, twirling his finger in the air.
I glanced at the others then followed him down the tunnel. Would he make a better leader? The others had agreed so fast. At the end of the tunnel, we stopped.
"This'll take us to the surface at the edge of the forest," Axelrod said, nodding toward a rope ladder hanging down.
"Are you sure?" Sarah asked. "We haven't walked very far."
"Trust me." Axelrod smiled then climbed the ladder. "Follow me."
I looked at Sarah. She shrugged then clamored upward after the dwarf.
"Let's go," I said, climbing after her.
"That rope won't hold me," Josh said below.
"You'll be fine," Axelrod shouted down from an opening in the earth.
I climbed out of the hole and saw we were on the edge of the forest.
"Don't ask me to explain it," Axelrod said.
We waited as the others climbed out.
"Look at that," Evan said as he pointed, eagerness pouring out of his body.
"I know," Sarah said. "We're at the edge of the forest."
"No," Evan said. "It's the dragon. Time to kill it."
He ran out of the woods.
"Wait," Sarah cried, chasing after him.
"That can't be the black dragon," Axelrod said. "Only one way to find out."
He trotted out into the field, staring up into the sky with a huge hand shielding his eyes from the bright sun above. I followed him, wondering if we were ready to battle such a dangerous creature.
Above, a dragon circled, temporarily blocking out the sun.
Would our new magic items be enough to kill it?
I stopped to assess the situation.
The dragon dived downward.
()xxxx[:::: Chapter 11 ::::>
Formerly Four Towers Future
SARAH
As Eric and the others drew their weapons and prepared to battle, Charlotte spoke in my mind.
"I recognize that dragon," she said. "And the mages riding it."
"Hold on," I said, grabbing Sheldon's shoulder and stopping him from casting a spell.
"What in the blazes are you doing?" Axelrod yelled. "Have you lost your mind?"
"They're from before. Four Towers Wizards."
"No, it's the Four Wizards," I said. "Eric, tell him."
"You think it's them?" he asked, shielding his eyes with his hand as he stared up.
"It's them," I insisted. "They probably don't even see us."
"The dragon's getting closer," Axelrod said. "Prepare for battle."
"No," I shouted. "They're our friends."
Axelrod gripped his battle-axe in both hands.
"I've never heard of the Four Wizards," he said.
"They're from level one-one," she said.
"Look," Evan shouted and pointed to the sky.
The majestic dragon dropped lower.
"It's them," I said. "And Wiley."
"Wiley?" Axelrod asked, still gripping his weapon so tight his thick knuckles popped out.
"Their red dragon," Eric said, sheathing his sword.
"Wait, are you talking about the Wizards by the Coast?" Axelrod asked.
"No, the Four Wizards," I insisted.
The gigantic red dragon landed on the ground, using its wings to balance.
Quiet Aaron, studious Sherlock, rambunctious Thom and mysterious Ferris all dismounted.
I walked across the field toward them as Eric, Josh and the others followed.
Axelrod kept his distance, still clinging to that mighty axe of his.
Men and their weapons. Women and their spells?
I smiled as the four powerful mages stopped walked.
"You made it," Ferris said.
"Groovy," Thom said, his red-fro of sunshine bouncing.
"What are the Wizards by the Coast doing here on level two?" Axelrod asked as he strode forward.
Ferris smiled. Aaron nodded. Thom hugged him – or tried. Axelrod's huge axe made it difficult.
"What's up with you?" Thom asked excitedly.
I walked over to Sherlock and Ferris.
"Quite a group you've put together," Ferris said.
"Thanks. We've been busy. You know anything about a black dragon on this level?"
Sherlock and Aaron stepped away toward Eric and Josh as Ferris put his hand on my shoulder.
"The levels are always changing. It's good you found Axelrod. He's legendary a few levels up."
"Oh?" I asked.
He nodded.
"It's good you're helping him. He'll help you get through this and the level one-three without any problems."
"Sure," I said, nodding my head. "Anything for you. Have you had any luck finding a way out of the game?"
"No," he said. "And what about you?"
I shook my head.
"Rumors and stuff, but nothing concrete."
Ferris stroked his goatee with his free hand and put the other on my shoulder.
"Walk with me," he said. "I need to ask a favor. And the others can't know. Not even my f
riends."
Why is this game so centered on secrets and keeping them?
"Okay," I relented. "What is it?"
"Agree first."
He stopped and moved in front of me.
"Without knowing what? No way."
A grin slid over his face like a comfortable afternoon rain-shower spreading pleasantly.
"Smart woman. There's a reason I like you."
"Another man likes you," Charlotte stated factually in my mind.
"What's the favor?" I asked.
The smile flipped.
"It's too dangerous."
"You better tell me," I said.
He took a deep breath then peered around me.
"You need to purchase the land where we build the towers in the future on level one-one and one-three." He paused, then added. "Oh, and keep it a secret."
I shook my head.
"Okay. This game is getting so confusing."
"You've not seen anything yet." He put his hands on my arms and smiled reassuringly. "Trust me. Buying the land secretly will help all of us."
"Why can't I tell the others? I don't feel right keeping secrets from them."
"I can't explain it right now," he said. "Can you trust me?"
While I barely knew him, I trusted his eyes, the way they peered back at me full of honesty.
"Yeah," I said.
Eric walked up.
"What's going on, Ferris?"
"Mage stuff," he said.
I smiled, keeping his secret while not deciding whether to go through with the nonsense or not. How could buying land on this level lead to good things? And why keep it secret?
"Why are you four here?" I asked to change the subject.
"I wanted to check in on you." He looked from me to Eric and smiled. "All of you, I mean."
Would Eric get jealous as he usually did? It was one of the reasons we couldn't be in a relationship.
"It's all good," he said, surprising me. "The game goes on."
"Axelrod will help you," Ferris said.
"Yeah, he said he knows you guys from way back but as the Wizards by the Coast," Eric said.
Ferris grinned, even more beautiful.
"We didn't want to get sued," he said.
Eric nodded his head. "You sure you don't want to help us kill this dragon?"
Ferris clapped his hands together dramatically, drawing all the attention to him.
"And take all the xp and thrills away from you?" he asked. "No way."
"Josh is going through the potions with Ewen," Eric said. "I should go check on them."
"Me too," I said, turning.
The three of us walked back to the others.
"We're getting a ride on the dragon," Evan said excitedly.
"Oh?" I tilted my head and looked over at Sherlock. "Are we?"
"No, no," he said.
Thom grinned and chipped in, "We're going to teleport you to Westwood."
"I thought you could use some help to speed up the quest," Sherlock said.
"That sounds good to me." I walked over to Josh. "You ready to heal that up?"
"About time," he muttered.
"You're the whiniest barbarian I've ever met," I said. "And I've met a lot online."
He grimaced then walked toward the rangers' station and our wagon in the distance.
"Wiley, protect us," Sherlock said.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw the massive dragon crouch then leap into the air. Did we have what it took to defeat a black dragon on our own? Only time would tell.
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Later that evening, the twelve of us sat around a bonfire, drinking, eating, and having a good time. I sat with Eric to my left and Ferris to my right. The fire hid Josh on the other side.
"Here's the situation," Ferris said quietly. "Each level is run by one group or another. Whatever the guild or association, it's still a basic battle of good and evil."
"Those are relative," Thom called out a few spots down.
"Says you," Ferris countered, waving his hand. "Some levels are run by good players, and others are run by people like Magi Inyontoo who want to kick all non-human races from the game."
"How is that even possible?" Eric asked. "I can see how it might be baked into the code as possible, but it's messed up on a few different levels."
"That's why defeating the black dragon and opening this level to the dwarves is so important," Axelrod said further down to my left.
Flames from the fire cast shadows on his face.
"We're with you all the way," I said, leaning back and turning toward the fire. "To take out a dragon, we'll need to work together."
"To enter the Mines of Oriam and find the Pit of Doom where the black dragon is hiding, we'll need to defeat a stone giant guarding the entrance."
"Stone giant? I don't remember anything about a stone giant," I said.
"Trust me," Axelrod said. "I know what I'm talking about."
Everyone wants me to trust them, but can I?
"You can trust me," Charlotte said.
I stared into the fire, wondering if that were even true. Over the last few weeks, I'd grown even closer to Charlotte. Her mind had become even more entangled with mine.
"What happened to our staff?" Ferris asked, shaking me out of my thoughts.
"It's in the wagon," I said.
"You gave her a stick that charges other sticks?" Axelrod chuckled while shaking his head. "What were you four thinking?"
"We needed to test the OOC abilities," Ferris said defensively. "Our magic items are better than yours."
"Boys," I said. "Settle down. You both make great stuff. Anything is better than the Chain Mail of Orc Odors we found in the Magictology temple back in Esterhollow."
"That's rare," Ferris said. "Can we take it off your hands?"
"With pleasure," I said. "Literally stinks."
Axelrod groaned.
"You're being quiet, Eric. What are you thinking about?" I asked.
"Getting out of the game for real," he said sullenly as he stared into the fire.
The flames flickered, twigs popping and snapping as science did its thing. Or, the simulation of magic and science we found ourselves trapped in.
Eric shook his head, snapping out of his funk.
"What about this stone giant?" he asked.
"There's time for that tomorrow and the day after that," Axelrod said. "Tonight, we eat, drink, and relax."
"Best plan I've heard all week," I said, not a hint of sarcasm in my voice. "Time to hit the sack for me. See everyone in the morning."
I stood and walked back to the rangers' station where I'd made a bed in the corner.
"Good night, Charlotte," I said out loud.
"Good night, Sarah," she replied.
The game me fell asleep and dreamed of the me awake in the real world. Strange and unsettling, the vivid images and memories haunted me for seven straight hours as my stats replenished.
₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪
In the morning, the Wizards by the Coast opened a portal leading to a spot outside the frontier-city of Westwood. They would be missed, but they said they had work to do on other levels.
"We don't need 'em," Axelrod said then rolled his head from left to right, stretching his thick, Dwarven muscles.
The woods were like what we'd seen on level one-one. I marveled at the detail and variety that had gone into the game. Would we ever escape and find our way back to reality?
"I know a guy who'll buy the crystal monkey skulls and gems," Axelrod said. "Since you group of numbskulls haven't found a healer to join the party yet, we'll buy enough potions for an army platoon."
"How big is that?" Sheldon asked in a joking tone.
"Enough to save your sorry backside if the stone giant has any relatives visiting. If Thor is with us, we'll catch him alone and won't disturb the rest of the tribes."
"The rest of the tribes?" I asked.
&n
bsp; "Hill giants and the like," Eric said then smiled, smugly showing off his gaming knowledge.
Typical.
"Exactly," Axelrod said then walked toward the wooden walls of Westwood.
I followed along with the others. Our party had grown large and powerful. The stone giant would be the first real test of our working together. Could we defeat it without any casualties?
When we reached the city gates, Axelrod called out salutations. The gate opened immediately, and several gnome guards in chain mail waddled out with smiles on their faces.
"You rascal," a particularly pudgy one said.
He stopped in front of Axelrod and shook his head while smiling.
"Never thought I'd see your fat face again," Axelrod said then laughed.
How rude, I thought but kept my mouth shut.
The two embraced a moment before the gnome guard pulled back.
"We should get inside. The wilderness is extra wild these days if you know what I mean."
"I do," Axelrod said. "We bypassed it with the help of the powerful wizards in our party, but we need liquid healing. You dig?"
The gnome guard grinned and nodded his head.
"Gertrude has been experimenting with some new extra tough glass for combat situation, like you suggested."
"How's the assembly lines going?" Axelrod asked.
"Good," the gnome said. "Your ideas were spot on. Come inside."
"Let's move out," Axelrod shouted in his drill sergeant voice as his twirled a finger in the air to signal we should move.
The gates closed once we were inside. Axelrod and the gnome led us to a three-story brick structure, the largest building around.
"Go inside," Axelrod said, motioning for the guards to leave us.
Once they were gone, he turned to us.
"I set the gnomes up with a few modern technologies," he said. "Gnomes are still an unlocked PC race."
"What?" Eric asked.
"If they want to get rid of all other races, it's my job to make sure all other races are strong, even the NPC ones."
"Brownies too?" Evan asked.
"Yes, Evan. Brownies too. The lot of you."