Chapter 17

Leon and Ava soon got into a routine of waking up, heading into the woods to try out different things, and if Leon’s fatigue allowed, finishing with killing one or two wolves. Then, done for the day, they returned to the inn where Leon napped for two hours and Ava went to work. After his sleep, he got up and started running his laps around the Slums, always keeping a watchful eye on the time. After two weeks passed, the guards finally stopped laughing when he ran by. Even though the running hadn’t resulted in anything except Leon getting less winded when he fought, he wouldn’t give up. Maybe he would have, if Ava didn’t chide him when he wanted to skip a day.

Since he didn’t earn much money each day, he appreciated the choice he’d made of purchasing lodgings and food, especially since he realized that even though the food gave nothing directly once consumed, his fatigue lowered more quickly once he’d eaten. It wasn’t until one month had passed that something finally happened. His agility rose by one point.

When he told Ava, she joined him in the run. They had their answer. It was possible to raise skill points, but at what cost? And now, he’d have to start paying for his lodgings again—with the wolf slaying, he’d amassed a whooping amount of roughly 200 coins, making him doubly grateful for the lack of grating on his wooden weapons.

Leon lay in bed while the sun set outside and stared at Troublemaker, who’d grown enough to fit perfectly in its nest on top of the storing chest in the room. The rabbit’s fur had gone from gray to almost black, and the green marking from its jaw to its lower back had brightened. Two and a half weeks more and the rabbit would be fully grown. He wondered what would happen then. He’d tried to get more information, but the same message as he got when the rabbit had first changed had appeared both times.

The young rabbit slept on Leon’s tattered shirt, and as if it felt Leon’s gaze, it opened its eyes to look at him. It jumped from the chest to the floor and then jumped up on the bed, where it settled on Leon’s stomach. He stroked the fur while staring up at the ceiling.

One month of rigorous training and all he had to show for it was one passive skill, in a branch he didn’t care for, and an agility point. He had a little less than one year and eleven months to clear the tower. They had to step up their game soon.

According to Yung, no floor in the tower looked exactly the same, and some took more time than others to clear. And Yung had been in a group of mages, making it easier for them to blast through the obstacles that came their way. Leon brushed his fingers through Troublemaker’s fur. If he’d had more time, maybe the training he did would be worth more, but as things stood, there wasn’t enough time. He’d either have to chance going into the first floor to get an understanding of the task he’d set for himself, or start focusing more on killing monsters again.

Like so many other times, he thought of his mother and sister. At least his mother wouldn’t need to be worried about him, considering she’d entered the last stage of the disease and Jane wouldn’t tell her he’d gone missing. Jane was smart. There was a definite possibility that she thought something had gone wrong, or at least thought it weird that Leon hadn’t talked with her for a month, but she’d never believe he’d taken his own life. She’d be pissed about him disappearing from the face of the earth, not knowing how right she was, but none the wiser about what had actually happened.

Leon sighed. No, they had to somehow rise in levels, and then take on the floor. He had to get back, or he wouldn’t be able to live with himself. He chuckled. Live? He’d died and lived again. To come back, of course, but what was this living? He smirked. More purposeful than anything he’d accomplished in real life, for sure, but he doubted Jane would accept that if she ever got the chance to question him about it. Leon let his imagination stray a little. Would it be possible for her to believe he’d gone to join a monastery or some kind of cult and that’s why she couldn’t get a hold of him? It felt a bit disconcerting that he didn’t know the answer to that.

He lifted Troublemaker, placed the rabbit on the chest, and paced the room. He couldn’t sit still, even though his fatigue level was near exhaustion. Levels. That was the thing, wasn’t it? Ava and he had gained a level, making her level four, and him level five. Unlike Ava, who knew where she wanted to put her points, Leon had decided to wait it out, just in case the training worked out. He’d figured it would get harder and harder to get skill points in a natural way, if it worked at all, and wanted to save them for later use as he’d done with the recent level up. There was no telling what they would meet on the first floor, and then it would be great to have a backup, just like when they fled from the imps.

So, he had ten points to distribute, and five more once he loaded the level up. Fifteen points, when all he’d managed to scrape together was one skill point outside of those in one month. It stood pretty clear—want to climb the tower, level up. So that was the next step, even if he knew Ava would insist on keeping up their training. She’d also insisted on getting more skills in some skill tree, but she hadn’t unlocked a single one yet. That was probably why.

Leon stretched. Yes, he’d bring the idea to Ava in the morning, and then they’d start to level up.

*****

Ava followed Leon as they entered their spot in the forest. The trees that he’d taken down earlier in the past month had sprung up as saplings, meaning it would probably take some time before the forest filled the openings he’d created. They’d had to venture further and further in, and now it took them roughly twenty minutes to get to a spot where he could continue to chop up trees and do his pullups.

He’d once mentioned he didn’t want to continue hitting the trees, but Ava had argued he could view them as dummies for sword practice if he wanted nothing else to do with them. After that, he’d asked Margaret about training areas for people looking to hone their skills, but she’d said he’d have to go further into the city for that, a path still blocked because of his low level. Since then, he hadn’t argued once about quitting again. And truth be told, he felt more comfortable with the blades in his hands, and Ava had even congratulated him on gaining a grain of finesse with the weapons.

“This looks like a good place,” Ava said, interrupting Leon’s wandering thoughts.

They’d entered another clearing with lime-green and yellow birch-like trees, big round stones, and a couple of round bushes. Between two of the latter led a narrow dirt path.

“We could go further in,” Leon said. “Explore a little.”

Ava crossed her arms. “You get bored too easily. Come on.” She nodded to the nearest tree. “If that’s not good enough for you, just get on with one of the bigger trees.”

“Then you won’t have anything you actually want to do for a while,” Leon said and took out the weapons to hit the trunk.

“And you won’t practice the precision and speed of your swings, either.” She waved a hand at him. “We haven’t got all day if you want to hunt after this.”

“I only wanted to hunt today,” muttered Leon.

“What’s that?”

“Nothing.”

As Leon started swinging, Ava closed in on one of the bigger trees and started climbing. Once she’d reached the first branch, she sat, took it in her hands, and jumped off. Then she repeated it, like she’d done all the days before. When the yellow tree clattered onto the ground, she climbed up and hopped down one final time, took up the loot, and sat down with her back against the lime-colored tree, and started building with the kindling.

It didn’t do any harm since Margaret had said she didn’t need as much as he brought back, and it kept Ava occupied. He hadn’t needed her heal once, but she’d used the vitality skill on him more than a few times. In all honesty, it was more the good company than the loot that seemed to matter.

Leon hit the third tree two times more, and it splintered into pixels. A box popped up.

‘Skill Unlock: Lumberjack 2 (Rank F, Woodsman Skill Tree)

You really like to chop down trees.

Special: Passive

Effect: You gain 10% more resources from felled trees

Effect: 5% chance of rare drops’

“Oh, more to play with!” Ava rose to loot the pile. The first time she did that, Leon had been surprised, considering what Ai had said about discarded items, but since the rules obviously didn’t apply to weapons he’d equipped or the stuff Ava took to play with, there was no saying what went or didn’t, until you actually discarded them. The wolf fangs had disappeared, so maybe it was only monster loot.

“Playtime’s over. Let’s hunt.” Leon said, pulling Ava from the pile.

“I was having fun, you know.”

“You can have more fun tomorrow.” Leon patted her shoulder and nodded to the side. “Up the tree, and I’ll call on them.”

He always felt silly while calling on the wolves, but since it worked, it was what he had to do. He cupped his hand in front of his mouth as Ava climbed. Before he could utter a sound, a box popped up.

“I got another skill!” Ava said. “I can’t believe you were right.”

“Don’t fall, okay?” Leon shifted his gaze to the box in front of him. He stared at it, dumbfounded. That couldn’t be right.

‘Party Member Ava has unlocked a skill!

Climber (Rank F, Rogue Skill Tree)

Special: Passive

Effect: Climb obstacles 8% faster’

“But what’s a rogue?” Ava asked, swinging her legs where she sat.

Leon shook his head. “A thing I thought I’d never see you as. Even if you have the Scab title.” He closed the window and narrowed his eyes as he looked at Ava. Had he missed something about this woman that he’d come to pay for later, or was it the only skill tree where you could unlock climbing? Besides, how was being a rogue an actual skill tree instead of a class?

“Fine, don’t tell me.” Ava shrugged. “But is it something I should try to develop? If it is, you better tell me more, so I know what I should do.” She gripped the branch and flung herself down. “You came up with the climbing thing, after all.” She brushed off her hands. “Actually... What is a rogue, system?”

Leon raised his eyebrows. “Anything?”

“No.” Ava sighed. “Didn’t think so, either. I just want to know more about the skill tree. Please—”

“Yeah. I really wish we could look them up.” Leon sighed. “I tried asking about my skill tree before as well, but nothing showed, no matter how I phrased the question.”

“Hmm...” Ava rubbed her cheek. “I think I know how to get an answer. Maybe.”

“Alright?”

“Ai?” Ava called. “Ai, please come help us answer a question? We don’t know what to do.”

“What? I thought Ai was just like she sounded, something like an AI. Only there for the tutorial.” Leon crossed his arms.

Ava shook her head. “No, that’s not right. She said she kept an eye on me, always. She stayed with me until I became a Scab, then she had to leave.”

Leon looked up at the lime-colored tree behind her, to the round stones and bushes, and to the narrow dirt path leading into the woods. The only sound came from the leaves rustling in the wind and the chirping of a few birds further into the forest. Then there was a fluttering sound, a kind of buzzing that drew nearer. A swarm of silver-winged butterflies flooded in through the trees, like a shooting star with a tail, which stopped to shape a humanlike figure on the dirt path in front of them. A few seconds later, Ai, in her white dress, stood in front of them with crossed arms.

She pushed back her long black hair behind her ears and stepped forward to look closer at Ava. “Oh, hello, little mouse.”

“Little mouse?” Leon asked as Ai paced around Ava, looking her up and down.

“You’re quite stylish. Well, considering you’re still a Scab.” Ai tilted her head toward Leon. “She was my little pet project.” She nodded approvingly while stroking Ava over her longer pixie cut. “Interesting development.”

“You saw me as your mou—” Ava quieted as Ai put a finger over her lips.

“Shh, little one. I was a bit bored, that’s all. And I just couldn’t resist such a pure-hearted being.” She smirked and drew a heart on Ava’s chest. “They’re just too fun to play with.” Ai shot Leon a glance and nodded. “To teach them about the world.”

“What was the experiment?” Leon asked. This Ai had the same voice and looks as the one that took him through the tutorial, but she was chillier.

“What’s the point in telling you? It was a pet project, and now it’s over.” She lifted the finger from Ava’s lips. “Actually, I was growing bored again. Do you know how tedious it is to show new players, over and over?” Ai shook her head. “Stupid people spreading the word. You were one of many, Leon.”

Leon stiffened. Yung had been found by the media? Of course. But why would people—

Ava stepped over to Leon and grabbed his arm, ripping him from his thoughts. “What is she talking about?”

“People just die because of boredom.” Ai groaned and flung out with her arms. “Not that I can’t understand that, to a certain extent. But those three bastards just couldn’t keep their mouths shut, and the whole plane is soon going to be overpopulated. If Pura wasn’t so packed already, you might have found quite a few willing teammates in the coming months.”

“You make it sound like that’s somehow my fault,” Leon said.

Ai grabbed his shoulders and looked into his face. “Well, you were the first. Special. The only one desperate enough. Soon, we’ll have a herd on our hands.” She let him go and shrugged. “Of course, they don’t know that, but you were the signal, the start of my job becoming mind-numbingly dull. It’s been a little more than a month, and I’ve guided so many more already. We expect an even bigger influx of new players soon. All because of people like you. Don’t you think you owe me for your guilt in that?”

“Leon?” Ava pulled at his arm.

“It’s nothing.” He pointed at Ai. “And why would I owe you something?”

“Oh, so it remains a secret?” Ai circled around him. “Now, how’s that for trust? She doesn’t know how you got here and why?”

“That’s—”

“Shh,” Ai said. “Actually, that sounds interesting. How far does trust go? And since you owe me a more interesting thing to do, I’m going to make you my new project.”

“Whatever you’re up to, please take it someplace else. We thought we could ask for help, but we shouldn’t have bothered.”

“Help with what?” Ai asked, tilting her head.

“We wondered about the skill trees.” Ava stepped forward. “Why can’t we see them?”

Ai shrugged. “What’s the fun in that? But to be honest, I don’t know either.”

“Sure you do,” Leon said.

“I’m only mid-tier. There’s information I’m not privy to. But if you’d want to change something, that might happen, if you ask nicely.”

“Like what?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Some players that take up a profession don’t like to see all pop-ups for items all the time.” She snapped her fingers. “There, now you won’t get them unless you encounter a new item. Easy.”

“Ai, please don’t change things without our asking.”

“And why not? You wanted to see what I can do.”

“Does that mean you can remove Ava’s Scab title as well?”

Ai frowned. “I believe it’s something she should figure out for herself. Just like with the skill trees.”

“But you did it. Didn’t you?”

Ai paced toward him. “You know, I might be able to do something. For a price. Entertain me, and—”

“No. We want no part of your scheme. Forget I said anything.” Leon nodded to Ava. “Let’s go.”

Ai grabbed Leon’s hands and pulled him into her arms, bending his back and head to get a proper look. Leon’s feet felt no resistance, and the forest background sank. His stomach lurched.

Ai stroke Leon’s cheek. “Now, be a sweet little boy and entertain me. I promise it will be worth it.”

Leon gritted his teeth. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but we want no part in it.”

Ai pouted. “Aw, you think you have a say in the matter? That’s cute.” She poked him on the nose. “I think I like you.”

“Just leave us alone.”

Ai pursed her lips to the side. “Nah. I mean, I just thought of a really fun thing I wanna try out.”

“For some reason, that doesn’t sound too promising for us.” Leon glanced to the side. He could see the tower off in the distance now.

“Oh, but all experiments are fun.”

“Like how you put Ava into the Slums and tagged her with the Scab title?”

Ai suddenly stopped flowing upward. “Like I said, she was my pet project. How did you calculate that one?”

“It wasn’t that hard to figure out. You were with her until she got into the Slums, and how you’re acting now doesn’t really make it sound like you helped her.”

“Oh. I guess that’s true.” Ai sucked on her lip. “But you know, this experiment can benefit us both. I’ll be entertained, and you get what you want. That’s fair, right?”

“So, let me get this straight,” Leon said. He felt his face burn. “You want us to entertain you, whatever that means, and in return, you’ll remove Ava’s Scab title. The one you put there in the first place.”

“Yup. That’s the gist of it.”

“And what does it take to entertain you, exactly?”

Ai held him out with straight arms. “I have a few ideas. But right now, I have one you can complete.” She gave him an innocent smile. “I mean, just to make the terms clear.”

Ai rose further into the air, and Leon looked down. The treetops were small as tennis balls down there.

“Why are you bringing me up in the air, anyway?”

Ai leaned in close by his ear. “Because it’s such a thrill to fall.”

Leon clawed at her dress as she let him go. His eyes watered and his stomach tumbled as he plunged toward the ground. Ava’s ant-sized body came closer. He flailed with his arms, hoping to catch onto something. Heck, land in a tree if need be. But somehow, he couldn’t change his trajectory. The ground closed in, immense pain shot through his skeleton, then everything went black.

A red text floated in front of him.

YOU HAVE DIED

GAME OVER

*****

There was a sharp ringing in his ears, and he opened his eyes and blinked, staring straight into Ai’s face. She waved a finger at him while holding Ava back with an arm.

“See? That was fun, wasn’t it?”

“I... I’m alive?” Leon sat up and held his head.

“Silly, of course you are!” She let Ava go, and Ava sprinted to him. “Why would I kill you just after I said I’d use you for entertainment? And here I thought you had a brain.”

“Why doesn’t my heal work?” Ava said, grabbing Leon’s arm.

“Oh, I blocked it.” Ai waved her finger around, and a box popped up.

‘Status recovery

Your fatigue, health, and MP have been fully restored.

You better say thanks.’

“There are benefits to my projects,” she chirped. “Just letting you know.”

Like her sending him to his death, send out a fake death message, and then heal the damage? Yeah, that’s totally fair. Leon thought of the last line in the box and gritted his teeth. “Yeah, thanks.”

Ai clapped her hands. “Alrighty, then. I’ll be on my way. You just stay good, and you won’t have any problems. Except for mine, of course. It will be interesting to see you solve them.”

“Wait—” Leon shouted, but Ai had already scattered into butterflies.

Ava sank back on her heels and covered her face with her hands. “This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have asked her to come. I should have known.”

Leon stretched out an arm and pulled her into a hug. “Don’t worry. We’ll deal with it as it comes.” He rose and pulled Ava up with him. “We don’t know what she’s planning, but what we know is what we need to do before heading into the tower. Want to kill some wolves?”

Ava shook her head.

“Come on. Grab a branch and whack it around a little. It’s bound to make you feel better.”

Ava wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her dress. “Okay.”