by Aaron Oster
“What?! I never killed any elves!” Sam exclaimed, feeling his knees trembling under the force of the psychic attack. He knew that the only reason he wasn’t on the ground like Emma was because of his skill, but even at the advanced stage, he was still finding it hard just to stay upright.
Milly’s eyes narrowed for a moment, then her form began to rapidly shift. As she changed, things finally began clicking into place.
Of course! Now it all made sense!
Milly’s transformation came to an end and Sam now stared at the blue siren standing before him. She looked strikingly similar to Greta, and he could easily see the family resemblance. What he didn’t understand was how she’d been disguising herself. As soon as he used his Inspect skill, he understood.
BLUE SIREN
Name: Millicent Claudette Gender: Female Class: Mental-Forger-Blood-Mage Level: 43 - HP: 1,270/1,270 - MP: 3,580/3,580 - STA: 1,840/1,840
Status: Hate-filled Greatest Threat: Unknown Blue sirens are a sub-class of the siren race. Blue sirens gain +2 Intelligence per level, but suffer a penalty to Agility.
Sam gaped.
Level 43?! What the actual fuck! How am I supposed to compete with that?!
Millicent’s cold smile grew, revealing a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth.
“So, you finally see me for who I am. I’m sure that you’ve tried inspecting me before, but fooling such a paltry skill is child’s play for someone of my power.”
Sam felt dread wash over him, as the reality of his situation really began to sink in.
He was about to die, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
“What were you really doing in the city? And why didn’t you just kill me outright back in Farmer’s Rest ?” Sam didn’t really care why, but maybe it would buy him a few seconds to think up some way out of his predicament.
Millicent tapped one clawed finger against her chin, before shrugging.
“Why not? I’m going to kill you anyway, so I may as well tell you. My sister and I set up in that small town one year ago. That was to be her training before she went out on her own. We set her up on a farm on the outskirts of town, while I took up work at the inn. During my first week there, I caught wind of a great treasure that the guild in the nearby city of Shtut was keeping hidden. Naturally, I wanted this great treasure, so I set out to the city. My sister was strong and could take care of herself well enough.
It didn’t take me long once I got there to find the biggest crime boss in the city. After that, we had a little chat with the most corruptible person in the guild, Pompayous. We arranged an accident for the current Guildmaster, and voila, the guild was ours. Naturally, keeping the guild in line and searching for the rare item took up a lot of my time, so I had little time to actually help my poor little sister. She became angry with me, which was understandable. After all, it was my job to look out for her while she learned to fend for herself. But I was greedy and wanted that item, so I ignored her words and continued searching. It was on one such day in the city when I suddenly felt the pang.
Blue sirens share a very close bond, especially with family. When you kill one, the rest of us will feel as though a portion of our souls had been ripped out. I rushed back to Farmer’s Rest as quickly as I could, hoping against hope that it was a false alarm. Alas, it was not. My poor sister Greta was dead, and it was all my fault. Then, I saw you going to the Mayor and demanding a reward for my sister’s death and that was when I knew. It wasn’t my fault that she was dead. It was yours!”
Millicent’s face twisted in rage when she said this, and Sam felt the fear intensify tenfold. Strangely enough, Gordon was still unaffected, standing straight and supporting him while she continued her tale.
“I could have killed you outright, but where would be the justice in that? No, I decided that you had to feel the pain of loss the way I did. You needed to suffer a thousand deaths for every day you stole from my sister, so I hatched a plan. Make you fall madly in love with me, then tear it away, breaking your heart into a thousand pieces, before ripping it from your chest.”
This chick is nuts! Who the fuck would do something so specific and messed up?!
“It was a bit difficult to fit you into my plans. I, of course, needed to make sure you were miserable, even while I made you fall for me. That required a lot of planning and maneuvering on my part. I had to make Sirus and his gang torment you, stealing your hard-earned money and items. I had to make Pompayous and the rest of the guild treat you badly, all while staying close by your side. You didn’t make it easy, let me tell you. Constantly escaping all the traps set for you, and evading capture over and over again. I was actually afraid when you escaped from the city. I thought you might have run away, which would have been a big problem for me, but thankfully, you decided to stick around.”
“That’s a very interesting story,” Sam said as she finished telling her tale. “But you still haven’t explained how you got the King’s cooperation, not to mention what Sirus was doing here tonight with the King’s daughter.”
Millicent shrugged.
“How should I know what Sirus and his ilk do on their time off? My only interest was the treasure, an artifact so powerful that the guild tried to bury it, so that no one could ever find it.” Her expression soured at that, and Sam had a feeling that whatever treasure she was looking for had yet to be found.
“But enough of that,” she said, her emerald eyes locking onto him and glittering with malice. “Now, you will die for the pain you’ve caused me. You, and all of your friends!”
She raised her hands, and a red light shone all around her. Then, four tendrils of red energy shot from her hands. One of them wrapped itself around his waist and one around Gordon’s. There were several loud screeches, as Baron Von Tweet was suddenly dragged out from behind the shelter of the wagon and a fourth tendril wrapped itself around Emma.
Millicent flicked her wrist, and all of them were yanked towards her. Sam flew off his feet and landed face first before the siren. Emma landed before her as well, looking even worse off than him. Gordon struggled and growled as he was dragged forward, and Baron Von Tweet screeched his head off, cursing the siren for all he was worth. It was a pointless struggle, however, and soon, all of them were kneeling before the woman as the red tendrils wound themselves around their bodies, pinning them in place.
Sam could feel despair as he desperately tried to think of some way out of their situation, but nothing came to him. Emma seemed to be completely out of it, as the terror had continued pressing down on all of them the entire time the siren was telling her tale. As Millicent raised her hands again, red energy crackling between her fingers, Sam turned to face Gordon.
“It’s been nice getting to know you, pal, even if you are a massive pain in the ass.”
Gordon stopped growling at the siren and turned sad eyes on Sam.
“It has been a pleasure, Samuel. You have been a staunch ally despite our somewhat unusual pairing. From the start, you completed the tasks set before you, even when I made the ridiculous quest for that stick…”
“That’s it!” Sam yelled, cutting the dog off as an almost forgotten piece of information came to the forefront of his mind.
“I beg your pardon?” Gordon asked.
“Gordon, you’re a fucking genius!” Sam exclaimed, turning his attention back to the siren, who had just about finished charging whatever attack she was planning to use.
“Stop!” he yelled at her. “You can’t kill us! You still owe me for the quest I completed for you!”
Millicent allowed her attack to die down, and a sneer crossed her lips.
“Do you really believe, that I would stoop so low as to have relations with you before I kill you? You are quite the dirty minded freak, aren’t you, Samuel?”
“So you’re refusing to honor our bargain?” he asked, staring her in the eye.
“Of course! Now shut up! It’s hard to savor the moment with your blabbering!”
Sam felt his h
eart soar when she said that.
Now, what were the exact words again?
He grinned as they came to him, and he repeated the verse Gordon had told him on his first visit to Farmer’s Rest .
“I demand an inquiry in the name of the Supreme Overlord!”
As soon as Sam completed that phrase, the world around him froze. Everything from the leaves blowing in the wind, to the people around him, went utterly still. There was a loud clap of displaced air, and a man appeared out of nowhere, standing in the center of the road, with his arms clasped behind his back. He was tall, well over seven feet, with pitch black skin that glowed with swirling purple tattoos. His entire body was covered in rippling muscle, and the only garments he wore were a pair of sandals and a leopard pelt around his waist.
Millicent’s spell shattered as soon as the man appeared, and the terror she’d been exuding vanished along with it, leaving Sam clear-headed and able to function once more. The man then waved his hand, and everything within a ten-yard radius unfroze. Sam let out a relieved sigh as he was able to move again, but looked to the side with interest as Sirus remained frozen just a few feet away.
He heard a light gasp from next to him and saw that Gordon and Baron Von Tweet were practically quivering in terror. Emma just looked confused, but the siren seemed to have the worst of it. Her face had gone a deathly white and she was trembling from head to toe. As soon as the man spoke, Sam understood why.
“You have called an inquiry in the name of our Overlord! Name your grievance, and know that if your inquiry proves to be false, you will be destroyed!”
The man’s voice boomed out in the still night air, shaking everyone to their cores, and making Sam’s heart rate spike in fear and a cold sweat break out on his back.
This dude isn’t fucking around!
“Yes,” Sam said, hearing his voice crack in fear. He quickly cleared his throat and when he spoke again, was happy to hear that it only quivered a little. “This siren promised me a reward upon the completion of a quest, but has refused to deliver on her promise.”
The man turned glowing blue eyes on him, and Sam suddenly felt a heavy weight settle onto his mind. He winced as the pressure increased, and Sam thought the man was going to split his head open. After a few seconds, the pressure receded and the man turned his glowing eyes on the siren, who looked absolutely terrified. He was silent for a few more moments, then he spoke, his voice echoing out in the open night air.
“After examining both of your minds, I have made my verdict! Millicent Claudette, you have failed to deliver on a promise made and I find you guilty of breaking an oath, sworn in the Overlord’s name!”
“Wait! I never swore anything in the Overlord’s name!” the siren yelled, eyes widening to the size of saucers as her face went pale.
“Offering a quest reward is making a promise in the Overlord’s name!” the man replied. “A quest giver does not only stake their reputation when offering a reward, but that of the Overlord’s as well! How are people to trust that a reward will be delivered otherwise?”
The man’s voice boomed out, each word falling with the force of a hammer blow.
“Therefore, you will be punished most severely! For the crime of making a false promise, and the crime of never intending to keep said promise, I sentence you to death!”
Millicent only had time for one final scream of rage, before her body erupted in a configuration of black and gold fire. Within seconds, her body was consumed, not even leaving so much as a speck of ash in its place.
Sam gaped at the empty space that had just a second ago, contained a living, breathing being.
These inquiries are no joke! Better not fuck with the Overlord until I’m strong enough to deal with this dude!
Sam tried to use Inspect on the man, but all he got were a bunch of question marks. As though feeling what he was trying to do, the man immediately turned to face him. Sam felt his heart skip a beat when those glowing blue orbs landed on him, and he became very aware of how weak he truly was before a being with power like his.
If he could obliterate Millicent, who was Level 43, in an instant, he could probably kill him just by breathing on him.
“Your inquiry has been noted, Samuel Edward Silvers the Third. Since we cannot repay what was promised, we have granted you a boon. Do not forget why you are here and do not forget who holds the power in this world. You are no longer on Earth, so you would do well to remember that. Have a pleasant evening.”
The man took one more look around, then vanished into thin air. A window popped up in Sam’s vision with a soft chime, as soon as he was gone.
DIVINE BOON
After an inquiry, it was decided that you were slighted. As such, you have been granted a divine boon.
Effect: +5 Levels I have taken note of you Samuel, and will be watching you more carefully from now on.
Oh. Shit.
41
Sam did not like the implications of that last message, but a slew of new notifications soon had his mind concentrating elsewhere.
HIDDEN QUEST COMPLETE
Congratulations! You have completed the hidden quest: Gnomes, and thugs, and corruption, oh my.
After confronting Sirus outside the city, you discovered that you were the target of a ruse. Millicent, the blue siren, wanted revenge for your involvement in the death of her sister. Speak to the new Guildmaster to claim your rewards.
Rewards: 45,000 XP, 1 Legendary Item Set, 1 Legendary Weapon, 1 Spell Scroll, 20 Electrum Coins
(X8) LEVEL UP!
Congratulations! You have reached level 18! You have 40 new attribute points to distribute.
Would you like to distribute them now?
Yes/No
CONGRATULATIONS!
You have reached a level threshold! As such, you can now choose from 1 of 3 new abilities!
Corrosive Cloud: Summon a cloud of corrosive mana in a targeted area.
Damage: 25-31
Duration: 10 Seconds Cost: 100 MP
AOE Range: 25 FT (Sphere) Cast Time: 6 Seconds Cooldown: 10 Minutes Sonic Mana Blast: Infuse mana into your hands and clap to disorient.
Effect: Disoriented debuff Duration: 60 Seconds Cost: 100 MP
AOE Range: 30 FT (Cone) Cast Time: Instant Cooldown: 5 Minutes Mage Shield: Coat your skin in mana, to protect yourself from all mana based attacks Effect: All mana based attacks nullified Duration: 8 Seconds Cost: 100 MP
Cast Time: 1 Second Cooldown: 5 Minutes
SKILL RANK UP!
Congratulations! Your Critical Strike skill has advanced from Novice to Beginner!
Critical Strike: If you know where to aim, no one is safe from you Level: Beginner 13 (81%) Effect: +200% Increased damage when hitting a vulnerable area, +1% Chance to land a ‘Massive Critical’ when hitting a vulnerable area
SKILL RANK UP!
Congratulations! Your Sucker Punch skill has advanced from Novice to Beginner!
Sucker Punch: If you attack first, you’ll probably come out on top Level: Beginner 12 (23%) Effect: +100% Increased damage when attacking an unprepared foe, +5% Chance to cause ‘Stunned’ debuff for 5 seconds
Sam quickly closed the notifications, feeling more than a bit overwhelmed, and allowed his wobbly legs to collapse out from under him. It hadn’t escaped his notice that the amount of XP he’d received for completing the quest was quite a bit higher than it had been the last time he’d checked.
He figured that the difficulty must have increased due to Millicent’s interference. He was actually surprised to have escaped the encounter with his life, let alone so many rewards.
Emma had pulled herself into a sitting position and she scooted over to him as soon as he slumped to the ground.
“Are you okay?” she asked, laying a hand on one of his.
Sam shook his head, not really sure how he was feeling at the moment.
“Holy fucking shit! You’re nuts! Calling an Inquirer? You’re a hardcore badass and you’ve got my respect!”
<
br /> Sam’s lips quirked up in a grin at the bird, who was now prancing around and puffing out his feathers.
“While I do not condone that bird’s use of profanity,” Gordon said, “I must applaud your intelligence, Samuel. It did not even occur to me that the siren had yet to fulfill her promise. Well done indeed.”
“Thanks, Gordon,” Sam said, too exhausted to bother yelling at him for the use of his full name.
“So, being a virgin actually saved your life. Who knew?” Emma said, giving him a sly grin.
“Yeah, who could have guessed,” Sam answered dryly, but Emma wasn’t done though.
“I mean, with an esteemed name like Samuel Edward Silvers the Third, you should be getting some every day! Tell me, how is it possible that you haven’t slept your way through half the country by now?”
Sam glared at Emma, whose face was turning red as she attempted to hold back her laughter.
“Yes. Haha, you’re a full-blown fucking comedian. Someone should pay you to do standup,” Sam said, rolling his eyes.
Emma burst out laughing then, and began rolling on the ground, clutching at her stomach. Grumbling to himself, Sam used Inspect on her, to see if she had a long and idiotic name like his own.
HUMAN
Name: Emelia Grace Loquin Gender: Female Class: Warrior Level: 15 - HP: 190/190 - MP: 50/50 - STA: 340/340
Status: Joyful Greatest Threat: Five-Fold Slash (Ability) Humans are one of the most common races in Somerset and have no bonuses to any of their attributes.
Of course, she’d have a pretty name like that, he thought in annoyance, though he’d never heard the last name Loquin before. Something else had grabbed his attention though, and he was quick to inquire about that.
“Hey, you’re already level 15?” Sam asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah,” Emma said, finally calming down. “I completed the quest, same as you, so I got a bunch of XP. ”