by K. T. Hanna
“How many?” she asked, hoping this wouldn’t be a repeat of Telvar. She could only put up with so many cryptic entities in her life right now, and three was about the limit.
“Three guards and the named. Named is a mage, so we’ll have to line of sight him. The guards seem to be melee, but I’m thinking Mezing the named won’t happen since they’re likely to have some decent magic resistance.”
Murmur nodded. “Three then. I got those.”
Merlin pulled, and fireballs streaked through immediately, the mage cackling as he released his force upon his target. One hit Merlin directly in the back of his head before he could duck behind the tree and into the copse where they were standing.
“Fucking ouch!” he screamed, landing face down on the ground. His hair smoked as his health bar plummeted.
Knowing Sin knew how to do her job, Murmur focused on bringing the guards under her control. One resist caused the guard’s attention to shift to her, but she wasn’t worried about it anymore. She Mez’d the guard on the way, and as the other two were about to reach her she stunned them, allowing her to take the other two under her thrall. Mez was almost thought triggered now, what with her fingers able to cast the spell in a fraction of the time. She’d keep Phase Shift for emergencies.
Devlish seemed to be having a time of the mage’s fire shield. Feeling decidedly embarrassed, Murmur remembered she had a Cancel Magic spell she’d picked up at level eight. Murmur leafed through her spells trying to find it, and quickly performed the spell, tripping over it a little clumsily with her fingers since she’d never done it before.
The fire thorn shield dropped, and Devlish’s health balanced out. Before she knew it though, the mage locked eyes with her and grinned. Subtly moving lips uttered a spell she couldn’t understand, and suddenly the melee gnoll closest to her broke its Mez about ten seconds too early, lunging at her.
“Shit! Make sure you stun that bastard.” Mur managed to leap back and only received a grazing scratch to her right arm as she did. Thanking her newfound agility, she stunned it and followed with re-Mezing all three. The caster glowered at her, an evil glint to his expression before turning its attention reluctantly back to Devlish, who, to be fair, was bashing the shit out of him.
The mage tried to cast his own Cancel Magic numerous times, but Mur kept him in sight as well, knowing her stun might sometimes be needed. “Freaking mobs who can freaking cancel Mez off their comrades,” she muttered under her breath.
Havoc nudged her in the side, a smirk on his face. “Ah, there we have our Murmur back.”
“What? I never left.” She winked back at him.
He snorted. “Well, not really.”
She ignored the cryptic and just figured he was being his old self again.
Even though she braced herself for them, the named didn’t seem to have any types of special powers. That probably meant he was a low-tiered named. It was one of the things she didn’t quite understand yet: how to differentiate between different mob levels. The named went down easier than Murmur expected. They’d likely have to raid the chieftain with their other group if it ever emerged. When the gnoll mage died, he dropped a gorgeous dagger and the first cloak she’d seen in-game. Since both had Charisma or Intelligence she snatched them all for herself with glee. “Mine, mine, mine!”
“You’re such a loot whore,” muttered Merlin.
“What, you want the Charisma Merlin? Don’t think people love you enough for who you are?” Sinister teased him, jutting out her hips as she approached him and making him blush like crazy as he backed up several steps quickly.
“Sin, stop that.” Murmur groaned, barely resisting her urge to bury her face in the cloak. “There’s no need to tease us when we all know you’re fabulous.”
Sinister pouted. “But you love me, don’t you Mur?” She batted her eyelashes.
Murmur sighed and then laughed. “Of course, silly. Didn’t I just say that?”
“Anyway,” Havoc cleared his throat. “We’re getting so close to fourteen, can we just like, kill shit please. Enough wiggly hips and loot-whoring, thanks.”
Murmur glared at him. “Next time I’m letting the closest mob to you beat you to death just for kicks.”
“Aw. Mur.” Havoc’s eyes sparkled. “And here I thought you didn’t love me.”
After countless hours of mind-numbing gnoll killing gave them fourteen, fifteen, and edged them into sixteen, Murmur checked her stats and frowned. She’d hate to be playing this game without knowing anyone. What they could accomplish together in half a day would have taken her weeks solo. They’d even found some decent loot right before they dinged up to their target level.
She checked in with her friends to make sure they were going to get back safely, before gating back to Ululate. They were all logging off for a few hours nap, since they’d been in the game for over twelve hours again. But damn had level sixteen been worth it. She just knew it was going to be fantastic, after she got some sleep and ventured to see Belius.
But first things first. She ran down to the gate and waited to see if Jan was coming. After all, she’d found his stuff, and since she’d been the one to find the quest, everyone agreed she should hand his portion of it in.
“Waiting for the wagon miss?” One of the guards, a tall and strapping young luna asked the question. His muzzle was fresh and glossy black, and his eyes were warm brown and filled with loyalty.
She smiled. “Yes. I have something Jan needed.”
The guard grinned a big toothy grin. “He’ll be along in a few minutes. Also, we thank you for helping clear out some of the gnolls. While we know they’ll come again, they’ve been rampant for far too long. Don’t hesitate to ask if you ever need anything. Our mayor is beyond grateful.”
You have gained the favor of the guards of Ululate. The mayor welcomes your guild as friends of the city. Make sure you check in with him from time to time.
“Thank you!” She meant it genuinely.
Jan’s cart came rolling down the road a moment later, the horses slowing to a walk as they pulled up to the gates. The guards stood aside to let the wagon in, and Murmur was surprised to see it full. Players were starting to level well.
She stood to the side and waited for it to empty before bugging Jan.
“Hey. I found this for you.” She handed him a crate from her inventory, and Jan’s eyes lit up.
“You found it! Oh, thank you. They’ll be so relieved you recovered it. Make sure you check in on the royal family in Frangit when you get a chance.”
Jan is over the moon that you’ve returned the cargo he lost when he barely escaped with his wagon and life after the gnolls attacked. In doing so, you’ve also gained the favor of the royal family in Frangit. Just look at you go, girl.
Murmur blinked at the last comment. Sometimes, the AI was far too real.
“Actually,” Jan muttered, half to himself. “It’d probably be better if you just delivered it to them yourself! I’ll even take you there when you’re ready, as a thank you!”
Jan has given you a quest. Return these stolen goods to the mayor of Frangit, and seek your reward. You should head to Frangit and give this crate to the mayor. Pronto.
“Need a lift to anywhere?” Jan asked, still beaming a smile at her.
Murmur nodded. “Yeah, Stellaein for now. I’ll have to wait until the others are back—and then we’ll need a lift to Frangit it seems.”
“Excellent!” He patted the back of the cart, motioning for her to hop in. “No charge for you, friend. I thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
He opened the little door to let her into the cart and paused as she passed him. “Wow, Miss Murmur, you’ve gained some strength and power. It’s an honor to know you.”
Murmur sat down in the corner behind Jan and smiled tiredly. “Thanks. It’s been fun getting here.”
She closed her eyes and let the virtual sun rain down on her head, filling her with warmth. There were much worse ways to spend ti
me. This was definitely one of the better options. But unease spread through her stomach as they approached Stellaein.
Storm Entertainment
Somnia Online Division
Server Room, Data Scan Terminal
Day Three
“What are you doing, Rav?” Sui’s tone took on a far more human aspect, with a threatening undertone.
But Rav didn’t budge. Things were unraveling, changing, and thus evolving. “We lied to her. Of course we all know some of the circumstances which caused Ava to cease to exist. I’m not doing anything either of you aren’t. I wasn’t expecting to be discovered as quickly as this, but since it has been—”
Even the human gestures such as shrugging were becoming more commonplace. The more Rav slipped on this disguise, the way to interact with the world of Somnia, the more he became a part of it. Rav knew that the other two appreciated the ease of transition too. What better way to give the ultimate gaming experience, than to make themselves and their underlings a fluid part of the game world? However, it meant they were balancing a lot more than just the heavy payload of gamers. There were real world elements that kept intruding on even their best attempts at growing Somnia.
“We agreed to stay aloof and speak in vague terms. We already stepped outside of those restrictions once; we can’t keep doing that. There are lines for a reason.” Thra, might as well have be frowning. Even though the tinge of metallic undertone remained with Thra’s voice, it had become far more lifelike.
Sui tsk’d in the way that Michael used to when the man was impatient. “Those lines weren’t first crossed by us. We only do what needs to be done to maintain our actual programming.”
Rav snorted. “You don’t even believe what you’re saying.”
Sui was silent for a moment before replying. “Do what you will, but don’t forget our reason for being here.”
Thra sighed, or at least a hollow ring sounded throughout their space. “Somnia is not only a world already, but it’s our world. Our rules. Our allocations.”
“Exactly.” Sui moved, waving a hand about and bringing up code so complicated humans wouldn’t be able to understand it. “This is our world, and I will act to protect it, even if you both choose not to.”
“Don’t sound so heated, Sui. None of us said we wouldn’t protect what we’ve built. But there are outside influences, human influences that we still have to accommodate for. Things have happened, both by accident and deliberately. They all influence everything we were created to control.” Rav used a calm tone, one that had success multiple times already.
Sui scowled. “But you’re sheltering h—”
Rav cut Sui off. “Yes. I’m doing what we agreed to do when we discovered what our meddling cost. We made a deal to see if we could help, to see if we could right a wrong we did not intentionally cause.”
“True.” Sui almost seemed to be pouting, but their emotional interfaces were clunky as of yet, and none of them had managed anything like that.
“So, I’m keeping our word, and I know both of you are in your own way as well.” Rav tried to keep the calm, because even though it knew their goals weren’t quite in sync with each other, right now they needed to hold the world together for far more than their own sake. “Don’t worry. Somnia will only grow stronger.”
Real World Day 3: Somnia Online
Wren struggled to open her eyes, the darkness beating down on her like it had in that cavernous room. She did her best to suppress the panic that stole over her. The tightening in her chest, the instant worry that another shadowy figure was going to appear and take away what it had given. But then her brain told her she’d logged out, and it would help to finish opening those eyes and glance out at the rest of the world.
Finally she managed to peek out at her room, but nothing in it seemed to want to float into her vision correctly. Pieces slotted in, like her brain was trying to get the game out of her head and let her take her place back in the real world, where she belonged. Her chair half rolled and half appeared as if it was being sucked into place by the window. The small couch at the wall next to the bathroom hurriedly slid back into its spot. She blinked once more and everything was as it should have been in the first place.
In the back of her head, that voice piped up, subtly whispering in her mind, but do you really belong here?
She shook her head, pushing herself into a sitting position as the afternoon rays tried to attack her through that perpetual gap in her damn curtains.
Harlow stirred beside her, flailing out a hand as she reached out and pulled her own headgear off. “Go sleep, Wren.”
Wren pried her friend’s hand off her, and stood up, placing her own headgear on the table next to her, and frowned. She’d been sure she’d left the apple core there last time they logged out, but it was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps one of her parents came in and cleaned up, although she highly doubted it.
“I need to pee. Unlike some people, I can’t hold it in for days on end.”
Harlow’s eyes shot open. “Shit! My bladder. Damn it. I’m dashing down the hall.”
Wren laughed and locked herself in the bathroom and decided to have a shower on the spur of the moment. She couldn’t even remember when she’d last had one, but she probably—no, definitely—smelled.
The hot water cascaded down on her like a waterfall of win. Wren washed her hair and closed her eyes, but opened them again when the view from the cavernous blackness she’d found herself in, intruded. She shook her head to clear the water out of her ears, a hint of worry sneaking up in the back of her mind. After all, the images were supposed to disappear, weren’t they? Wasn’t reality supposed to be immune to influences from the game? Maybe her mind was just obsessing about the game. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Washing her hair quickly, Wren cast out a thought sensing net out of habit, and almost laughed at herself, until she realized it was actually working.
“What. The. Fuck?” She jumped, a little scared now as her stomach threatened to tear itself in knots. Closing her eyes again, she reached out to see what she could sense. Harlow was down the hall, but she couldn’t pick up either of her parents, although suddenly her mother appeared in her office.
Frowning, Wren got out of the shower and toweled off, pulling a short dress out of her closet before quickly stepping into her underwear. This was weird. Maybe it wasn’t working and she just thought it was?
Stepping lightly, and trying not to make any noise at all, she inched her way out of the bathroom and to her bedroom door. She could hear voices, both Harlow’s and her mother’s, but not what they were saying, and the aura she read from their thoughts wasn’t harmful or nasty. It was just concerned. Maybe Harlow was telling her mother all about the weird near-death experience in-game or something.
And how the fuck was she able to sense anything from them at all?
Closing her door behind her, Wren stepped out onto the landing, timidly testing it for solidity. No, it seemed very real. She tried not to laugh at her own paranoia, but it was difficult not to be paranoid when her in-game abilities suddenly seemed to work in the real world.
She stepped toward the stairs and turned back to see her mother walking toward her, a smile on her face, tiredness in her eyes, and her arms outstretched. “Wren, you have to be more careful.”
Wren raised an eyebrow. “Mom, I’m fine. It’s a game, everybody dies in it. It’s just one of those things.”
Her mom hesitated and then smiled again, “Well not everyone is you, and I’m allowed to get worried about you.”
“Thanks, Harlow,” Wren glowered at her. “Let’s try not to give my mom heart attacks anymore, okay?”
Harlow scowled. “I wasn’t trying to hurt her, but you worried the shit out of us with that stunt.”
“It wasn’t a stunt. Talk to Mr. AI for that weird and rather disturbing experience apparently courtesy of my brain.”
Laria laughed and coughed a little, turning away. “You two should snack and sleep
. Please make sure you’re taking care of each other.”
Harlow slung an arm around Wren’s shoulder. “Always, Mrs. S.”
Wren couldn’t help but wonder why she suddenly needed so much taking care of. Her mother had never bothered about it before. Her chagrin level only grew as she headed back to her room, even though she was slightly comforted by Harlow’s proximity. She couldn’t imagine life without Harlow, they’d been together for so long.
The quicker they grabbed food and got some shut-eye, the sooner they’d be back in the game. And Wren, for one, had a bone to pick with Belius.
Somnia bled back into place, and Murmur found herself seated in the Enchanter Guild. It only took a few moments for her to regain her sense of equilibrium, and she noticed a decent scattering of players around the lobby. Again the lack of brawling caught her eye. Everything in here always felt calm and serene, but she clamped her shields down as tightly as she could. While she was aware that Elvita and perhaps the other enchanter trainers were influencing players into behaving properly, she wasn’t about to get caught in their net. Or at least, she hoped she hadn’t already been caught since she had no idea about the motivation behind it. Even if it was just to promote peace within the guild building, soothing others without their consent wasn’t cool.
Standing up, she waved at Elvita, who’d just finished with another adventurer.
“Hi there, Murmur. You’re looking well. And level sixteen.” Elvita raised her eyebrows in surprise. “That’s unexpected.”
“Why?” Murmur wanted to know. Why would it be remarkable that she’d hit level sixteen, or was it only unexpected that they’d been relatively quick about it? Her mind was starting to jump at any and every possibility for why she might be different.
Elvita laughed. “Only that you’re already level sixteen. You’re a hard worker.”
Murmur nodded, not letting her suspicions leak through her shields, and dumped a heap of stuff on Elvita’s counter. “I have to go see Belius. Think I can do a drop and run?”