NOVEL NEXT Chapter 45 - Saving Memories
I stepped to where a small spot of blood lay on the ground where Alcender once was, along with an arrow shaft sticking his balaclava to the ground. Around it were pieces of the DÓNDE scroll he tore. I collected the pieces to use as a reference in the market later. I had to get to Fanamel now, even if it meant selling everything I owned.
"Gah, he got away with a pesky teleport scroll." Bearita yanked out an arrow from her shop's wall and pointed to the floor. "At least he left me a rag to clean up this mess."
Shoot, I should've tried destroying the scroll before Bearita told me to move. But it might've transported me instead, and it would've taken me longer to get to the kids.
I might even be too late because I don't know where it took him.
The arrow dug in deep into the wooden floors, but I yanked it out and pulled the balaclava off its end. I held out the maroon cloth to Bearita. "Can I have this?"
The orc's lips puckered as best as one could with large fangs. "I thought you didn't want one."
"I need it to communicate with my family and guild before I forget and get distracted by something else."
Hearts appeared above Bearita's head. "We don't want anyone to forget anything else. You remember what those mushrooms do to memories, though?"
I nodded, relieved I didn't have to explain to an NPC how I talked to my family. "I do, but I don't think it's in the headpiece, but the torches instead. But I'll play it safe and only wear it briefly."
She moved aside a broken chair and found my axe to hand it to me. "Is this weapon sentimental? I don't see any magic in it. You should fight with a better one."
She inspected its chipped edge and scuffed up the blade and handle. I hadn't taken it to a blacksmith ever.
"Axes are part of my past." I didn't want to expand or get distracted further and put the balaclava on. It smelled of sweat and a heavy amount of cologne.
"Hmm," she answered. "I'll be in the front grabbing you something."
"Do you know where he teleported to?" I asked, trying to make sure that I didn't need to run to the kids now.
That scroll will teleport you to a random location within the current domain. Hopefully far into hell," Bearita said, followed up with some curses in a language I didn't know.
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[New Achievement! Speaker of the Dead: Even the veil of death can't stop you from talking to the living.]
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[Guild Chat]
[Boulder: Naiad, Triangle, where are you two? Are you okay?]
Their lack of instantly responding caused my mind to race on the worst case senario. Alcender already told his guild about Triangle and him being in Fanamel. That they were already after him and both Naiad and Triangle couldn't respond because they were fighting.
Their silence tortured me. The exit of the shop looking more tempting. I had to go now. Maybe get there in time to save them.
Realistically, I'd be too slow. Even my fight against Alcender, with a high level NPC, was only a few minutes long.
[Triangle: Elaine is busy with her bird quest. Are you coming back here soon?]
[Boulder: I'm getting there today no matter what. But where are you?]
[Triangle: :P]
It wasn't the time for jokes. If he was making them, it meant he felt safe enough to do so. He wasn't being attacked.
I let go of the tension that I held tight in my fist. There was still time to get to my family.
I didn't want to scare the kids, to let them know someone, a player who was a monster, was coming out to get them. Maybe even a full guild hunting them down. The slow responses from the kids were driving me up the wall.
I entered the front of the shop room of Bow and Teekes, it was completely untouched from the battle in the back. The sticks rattled, announcing a player's entrance. She noticed me and the disaster behind me, the pink light was still shimmering in the back. Her eyes got big as Bearita ran over to say, "Lass, we are closed for renovations for a moment. Please come back tomorrow."
"Uh, what's going on?" The beast master said. A ferret popped onto her shoulder, chittering. She nodded in my direction. "Do you need a healing potion?"
"Not your business," Bearita answered for me. She was helping me stay focused on talking to my family. Bearita directed the player out and locked the door. She turned to me, "are you ready?"
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I shook my head. The guild, my family, had to know about the problems I created. They could prepare ahead on their own until we got together and could work as a team. A team I would listen to.
[Guild Chat]
[Naiad: Here. Triangle, is your new brew stand done?]
[Triangle: No. Still being built. I need herbs.]
[Boulder: There is a guild called the Pantheon looking for you. A player named Alcender the Great. He's a mage and alchemist. Watch out. He said something about an alchemist he had to take care of. Stay away from your NPC.]
They had to be ready and cautious if something happened.
[Naiad: I've heard of the guild, they're exclusive to get in and require being near the top. They are located across a few continents.]
[CheezWiz: Hmm name rings a bell, he's a streamer right?]
[Boulder: Yeah. The guild must have a portal creator. Please stay hidden.]
[Triangle: Ma'am Q is a she.]
[Boulder: Ma'am Q? Is that your alchemist NPC?]
[Triangle: :P]
[Naiad: Yes.]
It was my turn to be quiet. Alcender wasn't hunting the NPC alchemist. He was after Triangle. He was no longer crossfire, but the actual target. [Boulder: Triangle, I need you to stay in the base until I get there.
[Naiad: What about you?]
[Boulder: I've lost over half my vision for failing to focus on my task. I've been such an idiot.]
[Naiad: Yeah. We're going to work on our quests then until you get here. I'll get Triangle the herbs and stay sneaky with the paths Triangle showed me.]
[Triangle: Do you need help, Dad?]
He asked so casually, as if I needed help washing a car, not escaping hell and fixing my eyesight. He didn't understand the gravity of the situation. But he had money. As the words came to mind, I grumbled and thought about how I was using my son for money. I had to be their support in this game, not the other way around. First step, I had to get back to them.
[Boulder: Please, I could use three thousand coins to get home. I'll pay you back.]
[Triangle: I need to sell some potions on the market to make enough. I'll send you some then.]
[Naiad: No. Dad said stay in the guild. Dad, you'll need to grab it in the guildhall. You cannot receive money where you are. I'll sell some items to help out. I can even do some mini NPC dailies here in town or something. The Carrion quest went great!]
I could tell she was worried and scared by these messages. Naiad was smart and knew what was going on. I had to get back and support them.
[Naiad: … Please stay safe.]
[Boulder: I'll try my best. Please keep me updated on things on your end and I will do the same. And Triangle, please stay in the base.]
[Boulder: EVERYONE IN THE SHRIMP GUILD. THE PANTHEON IS HEADHUNTING US. WATCH OUT FOR ANYONE FROM THAT GROUP. BE CAUTIOUS OF GUARDS TOO, THE Pantheon GUILD AND THE CITY DEFENSES ARE WORKING TOGETHER HERE IN PURGE]
[CheezWiz: Oh dang, that means using the city as protection can screw you over.]
[Boulder: Yep.]
[CheezWiz: Thanks for the heads up.]
When the conversation ended, I noticed Bearita was humming next to me, waiting patiently.
I took the balaclava off and moved it to my inventory. It would be only for a moment to wrap up this class quest so I could get home immediately. There would be no more distractions.
"I need to leave and save my family," I declared.
Bearita offered me a bag, the looped strings just hanging from her fingers. Taking it, I noticed the bag had some weight to it, like a chunky cat, but it wasn't too heavy. Inside it was a long bronze chain with two small hooks on top of the coil.
Bearita pointed at it and talked. "I want to say thank you for bringing the information I needed. Even though it's not what I had hoped, but because I didn't wear that," she tapped the side of her head. "I can remember the past and what it cost us to get here. I once lived by the western wall, but they forced me to move one day. It angered me being forced out, but now I know why the mushrooms were putting us at risks. They could still be. I will try to learn if the balaclava is helpful in saving memories."
"Thank you for this reward." I pulled out a hook of the chain, the other one stayed perfectly still as I unraveled chains beneath it.
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[Quest: Recalling the Past (Rare) Completed!
Reward: The Chains of the Past (bound, epic item).
Description: This chain is not light, but weighed down with the burdens of the past. It will bind to your arm and one on hand item. Warning! This can only be bound once! Breaking or removing this binding rewrites and erases history.]
[New Class Title: Informant for the people. You will have a slightly higher chance of collecting information on a zone by gossiping with the people. This would've been an actual percentage worth noting if you listened to people to begin with.]
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"How do I use it?" The chain was cool in my hands as I put it back into the bag. "What's its reach?"
"It can go about a pebble's throw. To recall it back, you'll need to twist your wrist about this much." It looked as if she was opening a door handle with the motion. Bearita sighed and continued talking. "I had hoped the torches did more. They seem to direct the demons away, but there is something else keeping us safe. Darker methods, I fear. That man we fought will probably run to Mayor A. Tory and tell her my suspicions, too. I'm going to have to close up shop and move somewhere safe or make a move on city hall now. If only I could get more information before she found out."
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[Quest: Hiding a city in the fog: Help Bearita in finding what is actually keeping the people safe. Talk to the guards or the mayor, or befriend those in those fake apartments.]
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"Sorry, I'm not the spy you need. I need to buy a quiver from you here and be on my way. My family needs me," I explained.
"Your family. You're a good man, Boulder. Be there for them before you lose them." Bearita walked over to the wall where a collection of quivers sat. "I need to do a flash sale and empty inventory before I go. Grab something and we can talk price."
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[Quest: Hiding a city in the fog: rejected]
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Her price for the endless arrows was still too steep for what I had. The fire ruin quiver I could finally afford. Putting me down to the last four coins until I hit the market later. I moved the Chains of the Past into my inventory, unsure on how to use them.
"Good luck, Bearita, with everything. I hope you save the city."
"And to you, your family. I didn't like Alcender. I wonder if he would betray the Mayor soon..." she paused, thinking for a moment before sighing and accepting her situation. My time in the city may be short, and I may have to leave soon."
"See you later." I kept the goodbye short. I didn't want to leave a chance for her to hire me again for a quest. The Root and Seeds of the Problem was keeping me and my family busy enough as is. And I just created the most chaotic quest for my family that would never give us a reward. Players are uncontrollable, and I bet the Pantheon guild was full of power hungry trolls like Alcender.