by Cate Ryan
She scooted to the next dais, slipping in the blood of fallen guards which seemed to litter the courtyard. She caught sight of Mack on the other side of the courtyard, the constant messages about her companion dealing damage had been cycling through for a while in a muted gray, so she knew he’d been doing okay. He’d grown up so much since she’d first met him. But it hadn’t been all that long. She’d lost track of days, but it couldn’t have been much more than a week.
She grabbed the second artifact.
[Rolling Wave Artifact - Semite has been added to your inventory]
She scooted around, narrowly missing being speared by an arrow. She couldn’t see where the archer was but hoped that Racquel could. She heard the whoosh of a spell soaring over her head and grinned.
[Rolling Wave Artifact - Egypt has been added to your inventory]
She chanced a glance in the direction of Isaac, her friend was barely holding on at just 15% life, but his brother didn’t look much better at 20% life. She glanced around the courtyard noticing for the first time that the noise had died down somewhat. That couldn’t have been all the Stone Soldiers, but it seemed that for the moment it was just Isaac and his brother fighting it out. Racquel threw a few well-timed spells, Mack jumped in with his axe landing a blow to Isaac’s brothers’ hand that looked gnarly even from so far away.
“Taysia!” Racquel’s voice acted as a reminder that she was meant to be doing something.
She smiled and sprinted to the next dais.
[Rolling Wave Artifact - China has been added to your inventory]
The message disappeared just as she reached the final dais.
Isaac was down to 12% life, but his brother had dropped all the way to 10%.
She grabbed the last artifact and a blinding flash of light overtook her vision for a moment.
She glimpsed the final message as the light faded away.
[Rolling Wave Artifact - Arthurian has been added to your inventory]
[You have discovered a special item. Five items in your inventory – Rolling Wave Artifact (Hellas), Rolling Wave Artifact (Arthurian), Rolling Wave Artifact (Semite), Rolling Wave Artifact (China) and Rolling Wave Artifact (Egypt) – have combined to form a special item.
Rolling Wave Control Device
This device can be used to control the spawn points of all Rolling Wave Members in the area. Please see the item in your inventory for instructions on how to access.]
So fucking cool. There wasn’t time yet. She needed to help Isaac but that would fix all their problems.
She looked to Isaac who had dropped to 10%, his brother had dropped to 8%.
She threw a fireball followed by a bolt of energy. His health bar barely dropped. Another fireball hit him, followed by Racquel’s psychic attack. He seemed confused.
“You, what have you done?” He looked to Isaac.
“I really am sorry brother. But I have to.”
The man cocked his head, his sword still grasped in two hands. He geared up to attack but didn’t seem to know where to aim. He swung the weapon towards Taysia, then towards Mack and finally back to Isaac.
As he did so a fireball landed square on him and engulfed his body in flames. He crumpled to the ground. It had been a critical hit.
[Quest Complete – Defeat Stone Soldiers and retrieve 5 artifacts for Rolling Wave Fellowship
Reward – 200 XP]
[5/5 Artifacts]
[Congratulations – You have reached Level 15
You have unlocked INVISIBILITY
735 XP until next level]
Taysia watched as her reward was applied. Including a brand-new level, she’d need to check how invisibility worked. The reward felt bittersweet. She waited for Isaac to loot the body of his brother, tears streaming down his cheeks. His brother wasn’t really dead of course. But that wasn’t the point.
“We need to get out of here and back to headquarters.”
Chapter 21
Taysia placed the artifact back on its stone dais in the training room at Rolling Wave headquarters. It had taken her no time at all to fix the artifact and regenerate all the members of Rolling Wave in their Headquarters as if nothing had happened. There were cheers from those who had met her in the Underworld.
Hades had been good on his word and hadn’t kept any of them.
Isaac looked to Racquel. “You should log out.” Racquel and Taysia both caught his unvoiced ending, forever.
Racquel sighed. “I’ve got a gift for you.” She turned to Taysia and touched her gently on the shoulder. She was inundated with messages as Racquel’s entire inventory transferred to her.
“I…” Taysia trailed off. “Thank you.” There wasn’t anything else she could say.
“You’re very welcome. You look after my brother if you see him again?” Taysia nodded.
“I might not remember him but he’s still my brother.” She’d adjusted quite well to the whole thing. Taysia tried to focus on Racquel and not the messages still flooding her display.
[Superior Crystal Ball has been added to your inventory]
[Superior Leather Armor has been added to your inventory]
[Headband of Psychic Resistance has been added to your inventory]
[3000 Wood has been added to your inventory]
Taysia laughed.
“You chopped down every tree you’ve seen?” Racquel shrugged with a smile.
Taysia noticed that as the transfer had happened Racquel was left in starter clothes. Nearly naked, just as she herself had been just a few days earlier.
“There’s one last thing I should tell you.” She leaned to Taysia leading her a few steps from Isaac. “The reason I did all that stuff. The reason you’re stuck here. And I really am sorry.” She paused, looking every bit the fearless warrior Taysia had met despite her shredded starter clothes.
“The reason you’re here is that I love you. Like I really love you. I told you before that I loved your stream and that’s true but, it became something else. You’re all I think about. I met you and you weren’t what I expected but, it’s still true.” The confession wasn’t completely out of left field but it was still a surprise. People didn’t trap other people in video games without some pretty good reasons.
“I’m flattered. I usually date men. And obviously there’s some different circumstances here, but I’m going to miss you.” She leaned up to the taller woman intending to take her into a tight hug but instead pulled the woman close and pressing a gentle kiss to the corner of her mouth before burying her face into the rough fabric of Racquel’s starter clothes.
“I know,” Racquel whispered, “It couldn’t work out, but I wanted you to know how it happened.” She paused a tear rolling down her cheek glistening in the sun ‘Why it happened’ she corrected.
Before Taysia had a chance to say anything else, she was gone. Logged out. For a moment her character shimmered in the sunlight, ghostly and ethereal before it faded out of existence. The last time she’d set foot in Pantheon VR.
Taysia looked to Isaac. “What now?”
“First things first. We need to get the artifacts back to their rightful places. Then,” he paused pulling her away from the onlookers, “I’ve been thinking about what you said, and I think you’re right. We need to fight against this. Tell everybody what’s happened to us. If not for us, then kids like Racquel’s brother who are too young to spend their lives trapped here.”
Taysia nodded but Isaac continued, “I’m can’t come with you. There’s a group like us in the Semite region. They’re doing what you want to do.”
Taysia tried to ignore the lump that formed in her chest at Isaac’s words. “Great. I should leave immediately.”
“There’s something I should tell you.” Isaac looked sad.
“Why does everyone always have something to tell me today?”
He looked to Mack. “I’ve really enjoyed hanging out with you big guy. I’m sorry I don’t get to teach you hand to hand combat like I promised.”
“I’m sorry Taysia. We both know the rules and I broke them. It’s been counting down since I said it. I’ve only got a couple of minutes left.”
“But, I thought. I thought it would’ve happened immediately if it was going to.” She looked to Isaac feeling suddenly betrayed though she couldn’t pinpoint why.
“I thought that too, but we were wrong. It takes a bit of time I suppose. And it’s given me a chance to say goodbye.”
Taysia felt tears begin to stream down her face and again with Isaac’s touch a large number of items transferred to her inventory as he wiped the tear away.
“You might as well have it all. There should be enough credits for anything you guys need.”
He nodded sadly. “I really wish I could come with you. But if you hire a boat and head over there. Find them. Careful though. There are monsters you won’t expect. Human monsters the worst kind of all.”
The tears fell rapidly now, and she watched as his body turned ghostly, hanging there for a few seconds before fading away as if he’d just logged out.
She looked to the rest of the Rolling Wave members who had no idea that Isaac had just died.
No.
He’d died a long time ago. The first time he’d logged into Pantheon VR, just like she had.
She steeled herself. For his sake, she needed to get to Semite. She would make sure that his death meant something.
The items continued to cycle by even though Isaac was gone.
[2,000,000 Gold has been added to your inventory]
[Impressive Knuckle Dusters has been added to your inventory]
[200 Basic Health Potion has been added to your inventory]
The list continued to cycle through.
Nolan looked to her. “You should stay.”
“No, I need to get to Athens tonight.”
He smiled. “Well, come back any time.”
The man had been kind to her, and she felt a little pang of sadness leaving him behind, but he would be okay now. She’d made sure he was safe. Her, Mack, Isaac and Racquel. Now it was just her and Mack.
Chapter 22
Walking into Athens wasn’t like it had been the first time. Back then it had been full of wonder and newness. Now it felt claustrophobic and hostile. She walked through the narrow, crowded streets, weaving her way to the shore.
Snippets of conversation flowed over her. New players talking about their first quests. Older players enjoying a few drinks in the tavern. Stone Soldiers who they hadn’t fought were enjoying the town. She needed to get away. Every corner she turned down reminded her of Racquel and Isaac.
“Come on,” she told Mack, “I want to get out of here tonight.”
He nodded agreeing with whatever his companion suggested.
“It’s just us now isn’t it?”
“Hopefully not for too long.” Taysia looked around her. There was much more to the world she was stuck in than she’d seen yet. She would see it all that much she knew. Even if it took the rest of her life. Because that was how long she had. But first stop was the Semite area.
That was what Isaac had wanted for the two of them.
She thought of Racquel and hoped she was doing her part by spreading the word.
“We’d like to hire a boat to take us to Semite.” Taysia made it to the dock, where plenty of rowboats and fishing boats lined up, each NPC was holding a sign directing her to hire their boat.
One in the center was red and the owner reminded her a little of Racquel, a pretty redheaded woman, she looked out of place amongst the older Greek fishermen.
“You. How much for a boat to Semite?” The woman looked her up and down.
“Just you two? Nothing illegal?”
“Just us. We want to go straight there.”
She nodded. “200.”
Taysia retrieved the money easily. 250 just for good measure.
“Food too?” she asked the woman. She counted the money out and nodded.
“We fish on the way.”
“Okay.” She climbed onto the boat with the red hull. Mack followed.
Sitting on the deck as she had on the way to Mount Olympus she cycled through her inventory. The items there were her only memory of Racquel and Isaac. She read their descriptions numbly.
[Gold – Currency
Value 2,000,000 gold
Rarity Common
Properties List
Description
Gold can be used to buy a range of items in Pantheon.]
[Headband of Psychic Resistance – Equippable
Value 1500 gold
Rarity Rare
Properties 50% of attacks intended to charm the wearer fail.
+2 Constitution
Description
Make psychic intrusions a thing of the past with this fashionable headband. This headband is made from the finest gold and jewels in the land.]
[200 Health Potion – Potion
Value 25 gold
Rarity Common
Properties Regain 10% Health
Description
This potion will instantly invigorate you with 10% of your maximum health. It tastes just like raspberries.]
[Knuckle Dusters – Weapon
Value 750 gold
Rarity Rare
Properties +3 Agility
Description
These knuckle dusters are a great gift for the monk in your life. They look great and grant a nice bump to agility.]
[Superior Crystal Ball – Weapon
Value 750 gold
Rarity Rare
Properties +10 damage to all spell attacks
+2 Intelligence
Description
If spells are your game then this crystal ball is just the kind of thing you need. It’s all black design is sleek and matches any outfit, plus it will make you smarter.]
[Superior Leather Armor – Armor
Value 1200 gold
Rarity Rare
Properties 5% Reduction to all damage types
Resistance to fire damage
Resistance to lightning damage
Resistance to cold damage
Description
This armor is so light that it’s suitable for even the weakest of people, you’ll forget you’re wearing armor. But don’t let the weight fool you, it has been imbued with powerful magic to resist damage while otherwise looking ordinary.]
She switched to the stat screens. First hers, then Mack’s.
[10 unspent attribute points.]
Strength 10
Agility 19
Constitution 27
Intelligence 32
Wisdom 10
Charisma 10
[Take care all choices are final.]
She barely glanced at the screen placing a single point into agility, three points into constitution and the remaining six points into intelligence.
[10 unspent attribute points.]
Strength 27
Agility 8
Constitution 25
Intelligence 8
Wisdom 8
Charisma 8
[Take care all choices are final.]
Again, she split Mack’s points between strength and constitution.
Taysia closed her stat screen with a sigh. She breathed deeply the sea air. It smelled like freedom, but she reminded herself that none of it was real. That beautiful sunset was just an illusion made by the people who had left her trapped in the game. She dropped on to the bench seat that surrounded the boat.
“It’s just us now Mack. Hopefully our next adventure goes a bit smoother.” The Minotaur grinned to her.
“If I’m with you, I don’t mind.”
She looked to the horizon. The Semite area was ahead, Hellas behind and all she wanted was prickly Racquel and kind Isaac by her side. Two of the only things she couldn’t have.
Author’s Note
When choosing subjects in year 11, I was forced to choose between French which I really enjoyed and ancient history. I chose ancient history and spent a semester watching movies about ancient civilizations because my history teacher was somewhat of a movie buff and I’m pretty sure she had a bit of a crush on Brad Pitt. This was shortly after Troy was released.
Seven long hours of watching Cleopatra that year cured me of my desire to pursue a formal education in ancient studies, but my interest in the subject did not disappear. Now, the keen among you may be wondering why it took seven hours to watch Cleopatra, a film that clocks in at a whopping five hours and twenty minutes. That’s simple. We started watching on a tiny wall mounted tv in the classroom, impossible to see what was happening from my seat in the back corner. We were nearly two hours in (two hours too long if you ask me) when the teacher managed to get hold of a DVD (yes, we’d previously been watching a VHS). She wanted us to get the full experience, so we had to start from the beginning on the big screen.
My obsession with Stargate continued, that summer our air conditioner broke. One of my few memories of that summer is sitting in front of a fan with a spray bottle and ice pack trying to keep cool while watching the season seven finale.
I’d decided by then that I wanted to be an astrophysicist like Sam Carter since being an archeologist didn’t seem very lucrative (I probably should have figured that out years earlier). Of course, it turns out I’m not all that good at physics which is a bit of a barrier.
There was an ongoing feud in my school amongst the two of us who knew what Stargate was about whether SG1 or Atlantis was better (I’m firmly in the SG1 camp). By the time I finished high school I’d seen all the episodes that had been released, owned all the DVDs and had surpassed my parent’s interest in the show which I had only started watching because they were.
In the years since then it’s become a show that I put on when I’m sick, or studying, or to torture my fiancée who doesn’t particularly like it. It’s always been present in my mind so it was no surprise to me when the idea for Pantheon VR came to me. What if, in the future a company decided to make a game where you could relive history.