by Alex Mulder
Conjure Sword 10… it wasn’t in my skill set the next time I logged in. Where did it come from, and why?
Whatever had caused the skill to appear, it hadn’t happened again. That fact made him much more wary about where he went, and just how difficult it would be for him to protect Tess if he encountered high level monsters, or something worse. He had to get stronger
Something moved in the sand in front of him. Luke pulled out his sword, a level 12 Obsidian Blade, and watched as a small, spiny, creature emerged from the ground.
SAND SCAMP: A dexterous scavenger, the Sand Scamp patrols the desert in small groups, looking for vulnerable prey and setting up ambushes. Highly intelligent, it’s rumored that the creatures create complex burrows underneath the surface of the ground.
Luke turned as two more Sand Scamps joined the one he’d already spotted.
CONJURE SWORD 3
MIRROR IMAGE 2
Using the familiar version of Conjure Sword, Luke began to maneuver around the scamps as his mirror images circled him. It was an effective mix of offense and defense, allowing him to attack the group without leaving himself vulnerable to retaliation.
The Sand Scamps were low level enemies. He used a conjured sword to pin one to the ground, and its health bar disappeared in an instant. Luke spun as the other two launched themselves into the air, dispatching them both with a single strike.
Maybe it would have been okay to bring Tess, after all. It’s not like the enemies around here give me that much trouble.
Luke sheathed his blade and made his way across the last stretch of sand to where the Sarchia Desert transitioned into the Inner Plains, the fertile region of grassland around Stark Town and the floating city of Kantor.
He could see Kantor in the distance. It didn’t look any different but it represented something new, something oppressive, since the Arbiters had arrived on scene.
Kantor had been seized by the Arbiters as their base of operations. What that meant in practice was that anyone who was interested in doing any of the quests available in the floating city, or buying anything from the merchants, or even just paying a visit, had to obtain express permission from the Arbiters first.
Back before permadeath had been a part of the game, Kantor had been the default bind point for every new player. If a player died in-game, they would respawn safely in the floating city. It had been one of the most active and dynamic places in all of Yvvaros.
Now it’s an occupied city.
Luke had heard stories about the in-game regulators. They acted as the judge, jury, and executioner in the new Yvvaros hierarchy. There had been reports of players who’d gone all in being abducted, being taken up to Kantor, and never being heard from again.
On second thought, I’m glad Tess is still in Dunidan’s Rest.
Luke slowed to a walk as he crossed into Stark Town. With Kantor now mostly off-limits, the tiny settlement had become the booming center of trade and commerce in Yvvaros. The marketplace was packed. Merchants, NPCs and players alike, were selling their wares to anyone who would stop and look.
He pushed his way through a group of players heading out of the city. One of them stopped walking and turned to look at him. Luke thought for a second that he’d done something wrong, until he saw the look on the player’s face.
“You… You’re the Hero of Kantor!” The player shook his head and pointed at Luke dumbly, mouth slightly agape.
“I’m just Kato,” said Luke. “Kato of Dunidan’s Rest. Nothing to see here…”
Not this again. I was hoping that this would have blown over by now.
In the aftermath of the Battle of Kantor, Luke, or rather, his character Kato, had become a celebrity in Yvvaros. Even though Luke had done his very best to make it clear that the victory had been a group effort, it was his face and his story that the people had latched onto.
“How did you do it?” asked the player. “I’ve heard about the battle. Is it true that you can hack the game’s code using hand gestures?”
Luke smiled and wiggled his fingers.
“Yeah, totally.” He rolled his eyes. “Look, I’m just a normal player. I don’t have any game breaking tricks up my sleeve. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’m on my way to pick up some supplies for my guild…”
I’m starting to get sick of all of this attention.
He could still feel the eyes of the player on him as he pushed his way deeper into Stark Town. The settlement was alive with conversation and activity bustling from every direction. The smell of smoked meat and baking bread wafted on the air.
This level of immersion felt normal to Luke, but it hadn’t always. Originally, Yvvaros had been released with a much more basic version of the Gamesoft VR headset. The difference between the first and second generation, which connected directly to the brain using noninvasive electrodes, was like the difference between watching a movie and being a part of it.
Maybe that’s why I don’t like the attention and living up to the expectations of random players.
The merchant he was looking for had a cart drawn by the Yvvaros version of a horse. The beast looked like a combination of a dog and a mule but was big enough to ride or pull large loads. He made his way through a cluster of players to get closer and pulled out his bag of gold.
A couple of minutes later, he was slipping iron ore and wooden planks into his satchel. The bag was magical, as many things in Yvvaros were. The satchel could expand to accommodate objects of any size but it had a weight limit. Luke bought enough building supplies to bring him in just under the limit.
After buying Katrina’s supplies Luke headed to the Inn. The real reason he was in Stark Town was to learn anything he could about what the Arbiters were up to. He passed the bulletin board on his way to the inn and stopped to read the notices players could leave for each other.
He was shocked. Instead of the usual help wanted ads advertising quests, the board was filled with missing persons notices. Luke estimated there were easily 100 notices.
“Jesus…”
They’re abducting people left and right.
He turned to go. The thought of Tess’s face ending up on that board haunted him. He shook his head, trying to force the thought away. A worried group of players had shown up to scan the faces alongside him. Luke moved away from them.
Before he left, Luke stopped at a food vendor waving meat kabobs in the air and purchased one. Marveling at the depth of flavor, he wondered how the developers had managed to create such intricate detail. The contrast between the vibrant world the creators had developed and the bleak one run by the Arbiters was striking.
He was lost in his thoughts for most of the walk back, but was quickly brought back to the present as he approached Dunidan’s Rest. A group of five heavily armored soldiers, all of them wielding long spears, were standing outside the gate of the settlement.
The Arbiters have finally come for Tess.
He breathed deep and increased his pace to close the distance. Each Arbiter was wearing armor that looked as though it had been created to channel the brilliance and style of Kantor. Their breastplates and greaves were a mix of shiny gold and polished steel with a white cloak draped over their shoulders. Their helms obscured all but the faintest gleam of their eyes.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Luke called out to them as he approached, noticing Silverstrike and Katrina already up on the wall.
“Do you represent this zone?” The lead Arbiter turned away from the gates and toward him, pointing with the tip of his spear as if it was merely his finger and not a razor sharp implement of death.
Silverstrike and Katrina watched silently. Luke settled his hand on the hilt of his sword.
I have to play my cards very carefully. They’re high level and equipped with some of the best armor and weapons in the game.
“Yes.” Luke looked the lead Arbiter in the eyes as he spoke. “If you have business here, you have business with me.”
The Arbiters moved to encircle hi
m. Luke heard Katrina shout something from the wall above, but Silverstrike pulled her back, keeping her silent.
Just let me handle this. Please.
“State your name.” said the Arbiter.
Luke started to answer “Kato,” but a spear butt struck the sand at his feet, cutting him off.
“Your real name,” said the Arbiter.
I can’t let myself get angry. If they get into Dunidan’s Rest, they’ll take Tess.
“Luke,” he said, after several long seconds. “Luke Smith.”
The Arbiters stood unnaturally still, as though they were processing what he’d said.
“Luke Smith,” said one of the Arbiters. “Alive. 18 years old. Male. Son of Chris Smith, senior developer at Gamesoft. Also known as Kato. Played an instrumental role in securing the city during the ‘Battle of Kantor’.”
Luke felt a spear butt slam into his back and he fell to his knees. His health bar dropped considerably.
“A property tax of 500 gold has been assessed for Zone 006, payable immediately.” The Arbiter’s stood still, apparently waiting for Luke to say something.
“What?” He shook his head and dug his fingers into the sand. “That’s insane. Since when-”
Another spear butt smashed into his shoulder. Luke felt pain flush through his body. His health bar dropped even further.
“A property tax of 500 gold has been assessed for Zone 006, payable immediately.”
They aren’t here for Tess. They’re here to shake us down for money.
“What happens if I don’t pay?” Luke flinched back as the Arbiter nearest to him raised his spear, but the blow never came.
“In the event that you choose not to pay, the zone will be repossessed and cleared of guild construction on the order of the Head Arbiter.”
In other words, they take the zone and burn it to the ground.
“Why are you doing this?” asked Luke. “It’s just a game. We’re all playing a game, for fun.”
Even as the words left his mouth, they felt a bit hollow, and a bit fake. Yvvaros was more than a game. He had recognized that as a fact even before players had begun to go all in.
Even before Tess gave up her physical body and committed herself to this world.
“Yvvaros is currently under the control of the UNVP, United Nations Virtual Police.” The Arbiter in front of Luke impatiently turned his spear so the point was facing his head. “A property tax of 500 gold has been assessed for Zone 006, payable immediately.”
We can’t fight against them. They’re too powerful. I… have too much to lose to even try.
Luke slowly reached into his satchel and pulled out the gold. He could feel the eyes of his guild mates watching him from the wall.
“Here,” he said, handing over the coins. “500 gold.”
The Arbiter took it without a word. Another one stepped forward, and before Luke could move out of the way, swung a mace at him.
“Wha-”
His entire body locked up as soon as the weapon made contact. Luke fell backward and crashed into the sand. He was frozen in place with only a tiny sliver left in his health bar. The Arbiters turned and walked off without saying another word.
I’m no hero…
CHAPTER 3
“Get him inside, quick!”
Luke felt his body being lifted. The Arbiters had left him dazed and broken, and hanging onto life by only the thinnest thread.
If I die now, my character is gone for good. I’ll never be able protect anyone if that happens.
“You did the right thing, man.” Silverstrike was pulling him through the gate by the shoulders, and Katrina and one of her guild mates had his legs. “I know it was hard, but you saved us.”
“What…” Luke wasn’t sure if the sun was pulsing, or if the pain he was feeling was coming from inside of his head. He’d never felt so much pain before, in-game or out of it.
“Get him into the guild hall!” Tess was standing inside the walls of Dunidan’s Rest waving them over. “And somebody get him some water!”
Luke closed his eyes. A few moments later he felt himself being set down on the hard wooden floor of the guild hall. He heard Tess’s voice chanting softly, and a blue, refreshing light swept over him, restoring his health.
“Hey…” Tess leaned over him, staring into his eyes with concern. “You saved us.”
I didn’t save anybody. I just managed to keep my mouth shut.
“Five Arbiters on patrol,” said Silverstrike. “That’s the most I’ve ever seen in a group outside of Stark Town or Kantor.”
“They’re intensifying their crackdown on the guilds.” Tess’s words were laden with guilt, and she let out an embittered sigh. “They may not come right out and say it, but I think they’re looking for people who’ve gone all in. For people like me.”
Nobody said anything for a moment. Luke started to sit up just as Katrina burst into the guild hall, holding a mug full of water. She walked over to Luke and handed it to him.
“You didn’t just save Tess, Luke.” Katrina crossed her arms and beamed at him with appreciation. “Anna went all in right after the Battle of Kantor. It was in part because of you, because she knew that she’d be safe here.”
That’s the last thing I need to hear right now.
Luke pulled himself up to his feet and dusted off his Dunidan skin armor.
“Look, I hate to have to be the one to say this, all things considered…” He paused, and looked at the faces in the room.
They’re all looking to me to say something, do something. But what?
“What is it, Luke?” Tess set a hand on his shoulder. The hope in her eyes was excruciating for Luke to see.
“Uh… nothing.” Luke forced a smile onto his face and took a sip from the mug of water. “I think I just need to rest..”
Tess continued to look at him, but Katrina and Silverstrike looked at each other, taking the hint.
“I’ll be back,” said Luke. “I just need to get some sleep, I think. In the real world.”
Tess flinched as he spoke the last words.
The real world… What is the real world to her? What is the real world to any of us?
“Yes, that’s not a bad idea,” said Katrina. “It’s getting late. I should log off as well.”
Tess walked over to him and leaned her face in close to his.
“See you tomorrow?”
“Definitely.”
She’s so worried that I could just up and leave for good. Is it fair for me to be living dual lives, being two people?
Tess kissed him softly on the lips and walked away. That was Luke’s cue. He dug through his bag for his character record and quickly signed off.
It was dark in his room, and deadly silent. The empty house was something that Luke couldn’t get accustomed to. His dad was not a good man or the kind of father that Luke wanted or needed, but his company was all that he’d known, and he’d never been gone this long before.
Where the hell did you go, dad? You’re not coming back… are you?
All of the lights were out. Luke didn’t bother to turn them on as he bumped his way down the hall.
This isn’t a home. Homes have families. This place just has me.
Luke brushed his teeth, washed his face, and went to bed.
He woke up late the next morning. It was Tuesday, and he had school. Though he was half inclined to log into Yvvaros and check in with Tess before heading out, he stopped himself.
I’m already running behind. Maybe this is what Dr. Meyers meant about taking responsibility.
Luke got dressed and grabbed a quick breakfast on his way out the door. He’d been coasting off the food supplies that had been in the house since before his dad left. The thought of having to figure out what to buy in the supermarket, of where he’d get the money he’d need in order to get it, and the bills that would go unpaid for the house, made his stress levels skyrocket.
Responsibility… It’s the word of the day.
And explaining to them that no, Ben wasn’t dead, either.
Ben doesn’t even pretend to show up anymore. He’s in-game all day, every day, and Emily isn’t there to take care of him.
“Luke!”
He’d made it all the way to his locker in a trance. The sound of his name being called pulled him out of it, and Luke looked up to see Sam Jennings headed toward him.
“Oh,” said Luke. “Hey Sam.”
Sam had been staunchly against his new lifestyle. Luke, mostly unintentionally, had managed to push her away by playing Yvvaros, up until he’d tried to go all in. She’d been there for it, witnessed exactly what happened and interpreted his actions from the perspective of somebody who already thought the game was a work of evil.
She’s been different since my stay in the hospital. It’s almost like it strengthened her resolve.
“I thought you said that we were going to hang out this weekend.” Sam folded her arms and glared at him.
“I said it was a possibility, Sam.” He shrugged. “Look, I was busy. I had a doctor’s appointment, I had to uh, clean up the house.”
“And play Yvvaros?” Sam asked the question with more derision than Luke thought possible.
“No, no, of course not,” he replied. “I told you, the last time I played it was right after I left the hospital. Things have changed too much for me, it’s not fun anymore.”
It’s easier if she doesn’t know the truth. She isn’t going to leave me alone if she thinks I’m still playing.
Sam frowned at him, and watched his face carefully.
“Really?”
Luke nodded.
“That’s good to hear, Luke,” said Sam. “Really. It is.”
The first bell rang and then the principal’s voice came over the PA system.