“Shut it, orb,” Elara barks.
Psai retreats from Elara, returning to Wyn’s side. Anger flashes through Wyn. Despite finding Psai annoying at times, he doesn’t deserve to be talked to like that. But just as fast as the thought appeared, it vanished, leaving behind a dull sense of annoyance.
“Why does Elara not like me?” Psai asks.
“No idea,” Wyn says, “But we’re a little exhausted. Cut her some slack.”
After a long moment of staring at the sky, splayed out on the ground, the group begins to recover. One by one, they reach a sitting position. Timnos is the first to speak.
“The hell was that?!”
“A lot of undead,” Wyn says.
“No shit, Sherlock! How the hell do they command so many?”
“The Dead Queen,” Rennick says, his voice still unsteady. “She’s some kind of very powerful spellcaster. Could be some kind of lich queen. I didn’t get a great look at her, but she’s the real deal. I think I pissed her off.”
“What did you do, stab her?” Wyn asks with a snort of laughter.
Rennicks deadpan stare is answer enough.
“Of course you did,” Wyn says, head in her hands.
“We got what info we needed. That’s what matters,” Elara says, shutting down the idle conversation.
Timnos stews, his anger boiling over. “I think the fuck not! Rennick charges in like a goddamn maniac and we’re just going to act like it never happened. That’s such bullshit. If I even thought of doing something half as reckless you’d be chewing me out about being more responsible.”
Elara rises to her feet as Timnos continues his rant. Wyn and Tilly back away slowly, spotting the calm rage in Elara’s eyes. Like a calm ocean before the storm, an aura of danger expands from Elara. Timnos is somehow oblivious to the growing sense of danger, his ranting words flowing out of him nonstop. It isn’t until Elara’s towering figure looms over him in close proximity that he finally gets the message and quiets.
“Are you done?” Elara says, flatly.
“Yeah. Whatever. I’m done. It’s a bunch of bullshit anyway. Not like I could convince you even if I tried.”
Elara’s eyes intensify once more and a wave of energy washes over Timnos, distorting the air like a hot summer’s day. He sucks in a surprised breath glancing over Elara before bowing his head in supplication.
“I’m sorry, Elara. My anger got the better of me. It won’t happen again,” Timnos says.
“Be sure that it doesn’t.”
Elara walks away, her face unreadable. Wyn and Tilly exchange confused glances, before they also feel awash with unknown energy. Their concerns vanish as soon as they came, and they turn to Elara looking for further directions.
“Alright,” Elara says. “Rennick, Tilly, Timnos, and I are going back to Edelvahn to meet with Commander Nijana. Wyn, head back to Lethisburg so you can rank up and join the Consortium. We’ll be in touch. Work on some skills while you’re there. Ranking up comes with some interesting changes, so be ready for that.”
Wyn nods, “Sounds good.”
Tilly pipes up, her squeaky mouse voice in harsh contrast with the intensity of Elara’s words. “Wait, did we complete the quest?”
“Check for yourself,” Elara says.
Sub-Quest Complete!
Region Quest: The Goblin Threat
Sub-quest: Know Thy Enemy - Completed
Requirements: Rank - Apprentice
Requirement waived due to: Allied Class - Bulwark Steward
Description: Over the past few months, the goblins of the Arazid Mountains, near the town of Lethisburg, have increased their activity. Signs of vile magic, unusual behavior, and a cult-like reverence for an unknown figure calling themself “The Dead Queen.” If they continue their dangerous acts, they will present a grave threat to the Empire, and could cause the deaths of hundreds of lives. Learn the nature of the enemy and report back to the Region Commander Virtus Nijana.
Objectives:
Learn the nature and identity of “The Dead Queen” — 1/1
Locate the Goblin Stronghold within the Arazid Mountains — 1/1
Rewards:
Increase Reputation with the Arazid Empire
Increase Reputation with the Arazid Empire
Decrease Reputation with the Rebellion
3,200 Gold Pieces
To obtain your rewards, and your next sub-quest visit the Regional Commander Virtus Nijana in the city of Edelvahn.
Cheers erupt from the rest of the party, relief finally reaching them. Elara alone stays quiet, watching the excitement with a cold smile. The celebration cuts short as system interfaces flare to life, demanding attention.
A stream of notifications floods Wyn's vision. She scrolls through the myriad notifications. Dozens of kill reports. Stacks of experience gains. She hasn't cleared this log since before she met Froggy back in the mountain range. It takes over a full minute to parse through the full backlog.
Finally, the summary screen appears. Wyn blinks in joyful surprise. Simple Mage: Level 9. Her nameless secondary class: Level 7. A slow smile touches her lips. She has a lot of work to do. Her next trip to the interstice will be very interesting.
On top of that, her other two quests have updated.
Quest Updated: Invasive Boomfrogs
Requirements: None
Description: Travelers across the Arazid Mountains report an increase in Boomfrogs along Imperial roads. The creatures, while not dangerous, can grow into more dangerous varieties should they not be destroyed. Warning: if high-level variants have spawned, report back to Lethisburg immediately, and avoid direct conflict. The Arcane Consortium is not responsible for any harm incurred due to an excess of bravery.
Update: You have discovered the Boomfrog Matriarch is under the direct control of the creature known as “The Dead Queen.” Given the nature of the threat, return back to Lethisburg and inform the arcane consortium of the threat.
Objectives:
Return to Hall Master Lothran: 0/1
Objectives Complete!
Rank Quest: Novice.
Description You are brand new to the world of Eden, and have been marked as a Whelp. In order to participate in the majority of in-game content and faction quests, you must reach the rank of Novice.
Objectives:
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
- Acquire one skill of at least Uncommon rarity: 3/1
- Reach Level 15: 16/15
- Defeat a Boss: 1/1
- Complete a quest: 1/1
Visit the Interstice to begin the Rank Up Process.
“Congratulations on achieving a higher rank!” Psai says with excitement.
Wyn smiles, “Thanks buddy.” She turns to Elara, “How will you contact me?”
Elara gives Wyn a warm smile, “That’s simple.”
You have recieved a friend request from Party Member: Elara Benith
Accept?
Yes / No
Wyn hits yes, and immediately another notification appears.
New Message: Elara Benith
Wyn. This should unlock the messaging and community panels of your interface. When I need your assistance I will contact you.
Wyn smiles. “Very useful!”
She quickly sends off a friend request to Tilly, but decides against giving Timnos and Rennick a friend request. While Tilly is very kind, and Elara is obviously trustworthy, there’s little Wyn enjoys about Timnos and Rennick’s company. No need for her to prolong it by making the game think they’re friends.
Wyn pulls the transportation crystal out of her inventory. “I guess this is where we part ways?”
Tilly smiles, “For now! We’ll see you soon okay!”
Wyn grins and activates the crystal. A soft glow envelops her hands, and the edges of her vision begin to blur and ripple, like looking through a gently disturbed pond. The sounds around her fade, replaced by a quiet hum, as the world shifts around her, bringing her back to where her adventure began.
Wyn’s stomach lurches as the crystal transports her directly to central square of Lethisburg. Blinking away her swirling vision, Wyn looks around, finding herself in familiar territory. The towering stone walls encircle Wyn, giving her a sense of safety she hasn’t felt since leaving on her quest. Her thoughts feel lighter, much like a huge weight lifted.
“Alright, where to first?” Wyn says.
“Might I suggest returning to Hall Master Lothran? Completing your quest will grant you access to the Arcane Consortium,” Psai says.
Wyn frowns, that option was tempting of course, but the idea of having to talk with the strange hall master is not Wyn’s idea of a good time. Especially since she’s quite exhausted from her prolonged fight.
“What else?”
“There are a a great number of options! Eden is a game designed to let you do anything you want. Go shopping, make friends, take on a quest. You can do anything you’d like!”
Wyn sighs out a laugh. “How about other suggestions for what to do? I’ve heard the ads, you don’t have to repeat them Psai.”
Psai tilts his head confused for a moment before responding. “Understood! If you are not interested in joining the Arcane Consortium at this time, you are welcome to visit one of the other guilds in the city, visit the shopping district, find a place to rest for the night to begin the rank up process, or even log out of the game. You had mentioned before you interest in logging out!”
Wyn walks through the main square, getting a weird feeling that she’s being watched. Each option is tempting for different reasons. She’s been in game for over week. Given the time dilation of 1 day in game being roughly 2 hours in real life, she estimates she’s been playing for around 18 hours straight. She’s had some very long gaming sessions, but this is starting to get into the extreme.
Then again, an hour in game is only 5 minutes in the real world, so it can’t hurt to wrap up a few things before going offline right?
She reaches for the small weight that usually sits on her shoulder, expecting the gentle press of tiny webbed feet. Her hand finds nothing. Wyn freezes for a moment as the realization hits her.
“Froggy?” she whispers, checking her shoulder again as if he might suddenly appear. She pats the pockets of her robe. Still nothing.
Psai watches her. “Are you searching for your companion? He was left behind when you activated the transportation crystal. It is likely he is still with your other party members.”
Wyn lets out a quiet groan. “Great. I hope he’s not getting into trouble.”
“Based on the creature’s previous behavior, trouble seems probable,” Psai adds helpfully.
Wyn closes her eyes. “Yeah, I know. But he’s my pet, can’t I summon him here?”
In other games, you typically are able to summon your pets to you so they are never far from your side. But she’s gained no new abilities to summon Froggy, so sadly he must’ve been left behind. Wyn worries for her little frog companion, hoping he’s okay without her. Despite the relatively short time the two spent together, Wyn has grown quite fond of the little creature.
She shakes off the thought for now. Froggy is resourceful and definitely safer with Tilly and the others than loose in Lethisburg. If nothing else, Tilly will enjoy some time with the frog. She resumes walking, trying not to dwell on it.
Decision made, Wyn turns towards the Old Mage’s Quarter to pay Lothran a visit.
On the way, Wyn takes the opportunity to check her character sheet. It’s been some time since she’s looked at it, and there may be some new information available.
NAME: Wyn Abulata
RACE: Human
STATUS: N/A
RANK: Whelp — Rankup Available
CLASS: Simple Mage - Level 9
ARCHETYPE: Combat
SECONDARY CLASS: #ERROR, value not expected - Level 7
SECONDARY ARCHETYPE: Control
STATS:
Strength: 9
Endurance: 8
Toughness: 10
Agility: 10
Willpower: 14
Awareness: 11
Intellect: 12
Presence: 15
ABILITIES
First Aide - Common — Upgrade Available
Refined Essentia Manipulation - Common — Upgrade Available
Mage Bolt - Common — Upgrade Available
Basic Insight: Common — Upgrade Available
Illusions of the Beyond - Common — Upgrade Available
Subtle Spellcasting - Uncommon
Fortify Self - Uncommon
Flickerstep - Uncommon
Oblivion Shroud: Rare
TITLES
Outworlder - Common
Wyn can’t help but smile at the long list of abilities, all listing that upgrades are available. Though her smile falters at seeing the ability Flickerstep. She hasn’t used it just yet, nervous to even try given the massive error she got when unlocking it. Hesitant, she examines the ability with her insight.
Flickerstep - Uncommon
Description: Summon a burst of Essentia and Stamina to weave through space. This ability leaves behind ephemeral afterimages that confuse your foes with temporary illusory duplicates.
“Okay. No errors this time. That’s good right?” Wyn asks Psai.
Psai gives the orb equivalent of a shrug. “I am not aware of any errors within Eden. All errors should be reported to Progenitis AI immediately!”
“So, I should report them to you?”
Psai thinks for a moment. “Correct!”
“And you’ll tell your bosses about the error?”
“Affirmative!”
“Yeah, I think I’ll pass on that, thanks.” Wyn says with a chuckle.
Psai has certainly noticed errors in her interface before. He’s even commented on how strange her secondary class is. If Wyn pushes him, she guesses he’d report to Progenitis as intended. But given that Wyn wants to avoid Progenitis if she can, she won’t push the subject. If he wants to keep breaking his programming and being helpful to her, she’s more than happy to keep that trend going.
With no other errors, Wyn decides it’s time to try her Flickerstep ability. The passive essentia gained from her essentia generator gave her enough to use the ability, so there’s no better time than the present.
Not wanting to make a scene, Wyn ducks behind a building into an alleyway. Rats scurry away into small holes, and the stench of trash hits Wyn’s nose.
“Alright, let’s get this over with so I can leave this nasty place.”
She focuses on the ability in her mind and activates it. In an instant, Wyn feels her body Wyn takes a breath and lets the feeling guide her. The energy inside her gathers in a quick rush, threading through her limbs like it is searching for a place to escape. She chooses a point a few yards ahead, nothing dramatic, just enough to see if the ability even works.
The moment she commits to the movement, her body reacts before she has time to think. Her vision pulls forward as if her focus is tugged along a straight line. The alley shifts around her in a brief stretch of motion that feels fast but not chaotic. Her feet touch the ground again with a surprising steadiness, as if she had simply taken a long stride.
She glances back and sees faint multicolored shapes of herself fading where she once stood. They linger for a heartbeat, pale and thin, then dissolve. Seeing them makes her let out a breath she did not realize she was holding.
“Okay. That wasn’t terrible,” she murmurs.
Wyn takes a few more steps forward and nods to herself. The ability works. It does not tear her apart or cause errors or alert some distant authority. Just a clean movement and a handful of fading images behind her.
She allows herself a small smile. Flickerstep might actually be useful after all.
Wyn studies the spot she flickered from, then the stretch of alley still ahead of her. One careful test is not enough. If the ability behaves this cleanly, she needs to know its limits. She lifts her hand and points toward the far end of the alley, where a narrow opening leads back to the main street. It is much farther than her first attempt, but not impossible.
“Alright. Let’s see what you can really do,” she whispers.
She calls up the ability again. The familiar tension gathers in her body, stronger this time, almost eager. It coils through her legs and arms, a clear instruction waiting for her to choose a destination. Wyn sets her eyes on the opening and lets the ability take hold.
The rush comes faster now. Her body follows an invisible path that pulls her forward with sharper intent. The world narrows to a single direction, and the space between where she stands and where she intends to go seems to fold in a neat, simple line. Her feet land at the alley’s end with a soft jolt of surprise. She turns back and sees not one afterimage but several, each briefly lagging behind in a staggered line before fading.
Wyn steadies her breathing and tests her balance. Still no errors. Still no strange side effects. Just a clean jump through space that feels easier than running.
She glances to the side, at a nearby rooftop barely visible from her angle. It is higher than anything she has tried so far. She hesitates. The move is risky, but the ability seems responsive, and she needs to know its vertical reach. If Flickerstep can move her upward as well as forward, her mobility in a fight will be far better than she imagined.
“Only one way to find out,” she says.
She places her focus on the edge of the roof. The tension builds again, stronger than before, filling her limbs with a ready hum. She lets it guide her and activates the ability.
The pull lifts her rather than pushes her. Her body rises in a swift arc, carried by the gathered energy toward the rooftop. The transition feels clean, almost like jumping with perfect timing. She lands on one knee, catching herself before she tips forward.
Wyn straightens and looks back down at the alley she came from. This time, the afterimages trail upward in a fading ladder of silhouettes that dissolve one by one.
A slow smile forms. Flickerstep is more versatile than she dared to hope. She brushes dust from her hands and steps farther onto the rooftop, already imagining what she can do with this newfound reach.
“Not bad,” she says, pleased despite herself.
“Well done Wyn!” Psai adds. “Shall we continue to Lothran?”
“Yeah, let’s go.”