NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20 - Quest Rewards
The floor fans pointed at the carpet and created a white noise for Tristan to fall asleep too. Elaine still had her bedroom light on, hopefully working on her homework.
This was the best chance for me to get on the game.
Lying down into the virtual capsule felt as cozy as my bed did after a long day. The siren call of sleep would wait until later. First, I had to finish this one more quest.
I loaded back in where I left off earlier in the guildhall. CheezWiz and a few of his buddies were online and visiting the place. The cleaning fairy already tackled the mess that Sticky Nicky bombs created. Too bad we couldn't steal that fairy for my home. The bathroom and kitchen needed one.
"How's it going!" CheezWiz shouted.
His character was a half-elf and half-human with vibrant orange hair, wielding two thin swords, forcing his friend Bing into the corner of the training arena. His swords swung about with ease as wind gathered around the blades and went to slice the ghostly specter coming at him. There were three of the spirits, their energy green and voices moaning in hunger and protest as the blade sliced through them. Bing summoned a fiery spirit, but the wind blade didn't slow down as it sliced them up.
"That's enough," Bing suggested, giving up and not wasting any more mana in the training arena. "Hey Boulder, surprised to see you on this late."
"I want to turn in a quest I have," I explained.
"You're already done with the legendary one? Man, I would hop over to the continent right now if I wasn't in the middle of my class quests," CheezWiz commented as he put his weapons away and walked over to talk.
I shook my head. "No, I barely started it. I had another class one going before finding that one. I want to wrap up my original one for the experience and reward."
"Careful, that's how the game gets you. Always a distraction. Always another question, something to keep you going," Bing advised.
"I need the distraction. The bathroom sink just broke." I explained to them. The players grimaced at me.
CheezWiz gave his condolences. "That stinks."
"Yeah. I hoping to talk about my quest and get answers." I brought up the system and copied the text for the quest and shared it in the guild chat, then brought up my map to point to Clingeo Grove. "Here's what it says. And the only clue I have is seeds and roots. The ent got mad at me for the forest I burned down. I'm not sure what seeds I'll find besides the pinecones out there. Do you think it deals with that?"
CheezWiz hummed before responding. "With how it's talking about the ent, I'd focus on clues near its forest. The one you didn't burn."
"Didn't look. We were in a pretty awful state even before the fight. No supplies, I lacked any sort of weapons and I had to keep fighting other mobs," I revealed.
"Dude, you were out of your level range," Bing judged as a level eighteen Spirit Caller. "You need to work on your gear too."
"This isn't about my playing style. I'm asking about the quest." I stopped that distraction right away. "Where do you guys think I should go?"
CheezWiz twisted his straight hair as he thought. "You don't have too much of a clue. Go back there and get more information. Did the kids get any other quests?"
"We all got a second quest, and a blessing or a curse status on the Root and Seeds of the Problem depending on how we finish it. Anyone who aids in the completion gets it."
The group frowned.
"Oh, that's not good." CheezWiz looked at his friends and guild members. "You're messing with the gods on an early level. You're fresh enough to back out and not receive either thing…" his words trailed off.
CheezWiz was a guy I wanted to play poker with. His animated face crossed, and he rolled his head around, trying to contain what was on the tip of his tongue. I said the words he was too nervous to advise me on. "You would still go for it. To be a legend, one of the few people with this class."
He spread his hands wide and posed, "I want the bragging rights and do a hard challenge. I've only gotten a unique quest!" He pointed to the two other guys in the guildhall. "Later guys, we need to go wrangle some guardians of the forest. How did you know it was a guardian when you killed it?"
I informed the group about how the fight started and ended. It didn't take long. My lack of observation and insight led to their own confusion.
"Best of luck, man," CheezWiz told me.
"Thanks. See you around." I walked into town and debated on what to do. We had no information. Riding out to the guardian's forest and back would take too long and wasn't viable unless I could keep the mount safe. A risk I didn't want right now. That left only turning in my pottery quest.
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The game was more popular at this time as speed walked to Mrs. Crockery of the Earthenware shop. With no street markers, people have learned how to leave the middle of the road open for the mounts. Those who meandered in the game moved to the side next to the shops.
My body felt fully recovered from the fights and had full stamina, as if it had got a nap and espresso in. It didn't take long to go from the guild area to her shop. At this time of day, she wasn't outside, but the broken pottery pieces remained on the ground. No other player tried to become a tank today.
I got why tanking wasn't fun. You sit and wait for everyone else to do something. You rely on them. I didn't have that, and I had to change it up. It all felt overwhelming.
I had to be in a forest, here with my kids, and somehow wrapping up on this quest, plus my job that impeded all of it. I wanted something mindless to do in the game - and real life. For one last time, I picked up the broken pottery and put it carefully in a nearby bucket. My shoulders relaxed as the task was finally done. There wasn't a reason for me to come back to pick up pottery repeatedly, like the endless pile of dishes at home.
Mrs. Crockery noticed me through the glass window of her shop and ran out. "There you are! I hadn't heard from you in a few days and worried about you." She took the bucket from my hand, hearts appearing from her head. "Did you find anything?"
The older, shorter women guided me into her shop and the smells of the kiln filled the place. Underneath it, a tint of all spice burned. This was a place of old goals, of refuge and storing memories. Of storing them safely in one location. The ceramic shield with its intricate design sat on the wall was a way I could hold on to the past and memories. A back-up plan in case I lost my axes and cookies again.
I gave her the tale, "Mrs. Crockery it was an interesting challenge. The lizard-folk were wondering…" I paused, not wanting to leave this open-ended and create another class quest. I had to change what I was saying. "I chased off the problem. Hopefully, with it being gone, you will see more customers soon."
"Then why do you think I had broken pottery out by the city wall?" She let go of me and pointed to the door.
"I don't know. I'm sorry. But this is all the information I have. The lizard-folk might come to talk to you. Please listen to them. They are fools, but they don't mean any harm."
She harrumphed, unsatisfied. "If you find anything more, please let me know." Then, at long last, she walked over to the shield. Her clay stained hands gripped the shield, and paused. Then went to somewhere else behind the counter and reached under to pull out a smaller and oval shield. It was a hybrid of metal and ceramic. The front had a design that mirrored itself but looked like a maze until it reached the bottom, where a large pool sat. It wasn't pretty.
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[(Item, Rare) The Heater Shield:
This item has a ceramic front designed to distract and keep enemies at bay. While the metal will hold the support of the front line. Together they are a chaotic balance, like its design.]
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Ceramic could last a lot of things, such as a young child dropping a wedding ceramic plate on the tile floor. It would not last a mace hitting it. It was at least a reward and closed this quest out. The Heater shield would last longer than the old buckler shield I had before. Worst case, this new one would make a great Frisbie to throw instead of my axes.
With a neutral voice, I said, "Thank you for this. I'll put it to great use."
Mrs. Crockery didn't want to end the conversation."It does a better job resisting fire than those pure metal ones. You won't get burned as easily when you push the ceramic part against a fire. With all the fire going around, figured it would be better than that big one on the wall. Thanks for trying to help."
The temptation to tell her the full truth grew, but I followed my kids' example and remained silent on the matter. "Thanks again for this."
I speed-walked back to the guildhall, finding it empty upon arrival. The guild member list was small, with half of us on this continent, the rest with CheezWiz. I sat on the wooden bench near the training area. Taking in the clean place and stillness. The sound of the city called out in the distance. Dark clouds were sneaking toward Fanamel, threatening a rain storm later. This would be the last breath I get before diving full-on in this quest. I wanted to complete the challenge of the legendary quest for the prestige and prove I still had gaming cred.
"No. It's not just my cred on the line." I said aloud. "I WILL accept the kids' class choices. Come on Boulder, change the mindset. It's like giving up sweets to be healthy, but actually do it. Don't just say it!"
I rubbed my face with frustration and knowing the truth, I sucked at giving up sweets. I literally kept a stash of cookies hidden. But with the kids, I had to try harder to be their dad, not their guild leader. First step to fixing a problem is admitting it, next is doing something about it.
A loud thump echoed in the game that it shook me. A system notification filled my vision.
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[Alert: The capsule is getting physically hit.]
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"Crap, the kids." I panicked and hit the emergency log out button immediately.
Something must have happened to Tristan, or the best case Elaine was finally opening up to me about earlier. Both thoughts were terrifying because I wasn't ready for either. I stumbled with the disconnect from the capsule with my desperation to get out fast.
As soon as I opened the lid and before my eyes finished adjusting to the blue led light of the office, lean arms gripped around my body. A heavy head landed on my shoulder.
"Are you alright?" Beth's voice filled my ears as her hug embraced me for comfort.
Why was she asking if I was alright? The gaming system didn't notify me or have any alerts that my body was misbehaving. No smoke detectors went off. Only the system shutting down and the floor fans made any noise.
With relief that the kids were safe, I hugged her back. "I am. I was just unwinding. What time is it?"
She didn't look go of me. "It's past midnight. I went to the bed and didn't find you there." She kissed my cheek.
In the dim lighting, I could see a towel wrapped around her hair and she was in a nightgown. "Yeah. Just was a stressful day."
She embraced me tighter again and gave me a kiss. "The kids are sound asleep in bed. Fed? Homework done?"
I nodded my head to both. Beth played with one of my curls. "You did great, even if you smell like cumin. I see the bathroom got worse. Do you want me to call a plumber about it?"
"No, I'll look into it tomorrow. I'm sorry, but after I cleaned up the mess, I just wanted to relax."
She stood straighter and pulled me out of the gaming pod. "That explains everything. You're doing so much to keep this house going while I'm gone. The kids, the projects, your own job. I'm glad you took care of you, even if it was a game. Want to come to bed if you still have energy?"
That wink and smile she did got me every time. Silently, as words aren't always required, I followed her lead.