“Are you, real?”

“Of course I’m real! Just real you are!” The phantasm being retarted, turning a slight shade of red before returning back to its natural transparent color.

“Oh sorry I’ve… I actually have no excuse. I just fought a haunted house.”

“AH perfect! You fought ghosts before, this should be easy for you! I Low Noble Lord Willow offer you a simple quest.”

Quest Gained, End my suffering (Optional): After an unknown amount of time Low Noble Lord Willow, as a ghost. Wishes to become fully dead. Slay Willow to gain rewards; Lord Willow’s Whip Blade and Lord Willow’s Amulet. Failure no items.

Lord Willow’s Whip Blade (Rare): This ancient weapon once wielded by a noble knight. Once able to reach vast distances to strike fleeing opponents, now gathers dust in this old forgotten castle. To accept this item from Ghost Lord Willow slay him.

Lord Willow’s Amulet (Rare): An amulet once worn by Lord Willow, who received it from the king himself. Contains long forgotten ‘techniques’ considered rumored myths by the mages college. To accept this item from Ghost Lord Willow slay him.

“Willow? Why? You don’t even know me? I’m literally a stranger to you!” The ghost bobbed it’s transparent head. Before speaking in it’s echoey voice.

“Serf, Risky Marlow, I have been around for quite some time. So long I’ve forgotten how I’ve died. So long ago I think that the system had forgotten all about me. It has angered me to no end, in life I must have been someone of great importance to each a chance to earn at ruling three new settlements. But now I can’t even remember how I got here in the first place. Plus it’s not like I’m going to hand over a bomb to a child, more like blue prints.” The ghostly noble man spoke, its voice fluctuating with echoes intermittently.

“So I wish to lash out one last time, to show that I am still worth something. I can’t even interact with the world as I once have, so I ask you to strike me down where I stand. So that I may mean something to this world. Though I feel my strength waning it is too slow for my liking. SO STRIKE ME DOWN!”

“But why though?”

“Look, serf, do you not want these cool toys? I can go get some coins from my valt if that changes your mind! Or what about the document containing the deeds to the settlement!”

“No, I’m good on cash for now. I think. But why can’t you simply just move on?”

“Oh I’ve tried that, a couple of times. But I can't. I'm bound to this castle until it crumbles or until someone releases me from my bond… Stuipd contacts and their clauses… But you! You can kill me! SO STRIKE ME DOWN! And you serf shall have all that I own! Every coin, jewelry, my settlements, it’s yours! Just end my suffering!” The ghost screeched flying towards the blanket cover Beatmaster.

“Woah, woah calm down! I’m not saying no, I’d just like to talk about it before we go through with it.” At this the phantom stopped, dropping to the ground and sitting criss cross applesauce. Despite its heavy armor and fluffy clothing.

“Very well, serf, I permit you to ask your questions.”

“Why me, of all people?”

“Because, you're poor. With all that dirt, grim, and messy clothes. No upstanding member of society would let themselves become like that. I know that serfs like you always like a little extra coin. Plus I bet A fine man like you could find a fine home for my dusty gold bars.” Marlow mentally checking his bank account confirmed that he was indeed not poor, he was just that messy.

“Umm… okay? How is you dying fighting the system?”

“Well I ugh, you know, death has meaning or something like that. And um why else do people gather together and yell for change? Only to tick off the guards and get slaughtered? Trust me it happens all the time when I was around.”

“… How often did this happen?”

“Oh like once every month I’ve was told. Though I never cared really, always out fighting some battle or another. Politics bore me. Please continue with your questions.” Willow mentioned with his gauntleted hand. Oblivious to the pale expression on Marlow’s face.

“What’s binding you here to this plane of existence?”

“I’m not entirely sure, at first I thought it was the dagger in my back. But now I think I have to be killed again. Before you ask in my culture it is sacrilege to kill your self. Since it would prevent you from reaching your loved ones in the afterlife.” Willow said, holding up a metallic finger.

“Personally, I don’t really see a point in being here anymore. I thought that looting a noble’s house was all the rage. You know with the rioting and what not. But as soon as I came to this new scene of being. No one was around and worst of all was that no one had taken any of my stuff! Blasted lazy peasants.”

“Hasn’t anyone come by to check their story out? I mean the death of a noble seems pretty important to me?”

“Oh you don’t know? The Wolfmen and Humans have been at war for eons. Only recently has the war ended. So the death of knights and nobles were somewhat common. Every time we fought back we managed to calm so much land. Which was why setting up settlements was so important. Having a foothold in the wilderness was huge. Of course we had metal, courage, and determination! But the Wolfmen were savages, beastly, and numbers to boot.”

“So… why didn’t they come and investigate this place after you passed?”

“It is standard practice to set up a ritual of human territory. It basically scares the wolfmen away in a certain radius, until a big beiste comes and tries to destroy it. Recently we’ve been tying the ritual to something living. Normally a tree it’s something with longevity, so that it can last indefinitely.”

“Is that why you're named Willow?”

“I see you're a smart serf. Yes though we use it more like a code name. To try and confuse the wolfmen when they eventually do invade a settlement. OH no there going to Oaks quickly retreat to Spruce!” He recalled getting a fant look in his eye, beyond his ghostly appearance. Before snapping back to reality, giving the Beast tamer a cold look.

“Serf after you slay me, if any wolfmen come across your path. Slay them, they are the true plague upon this land! For if they ever come to power again you will see why we call it the dark days.”

“Okay, okay, last question. You ruled over three settlements? What were their names?”

“Ah that. We in addition to binding the trees with rituals, also gave them a boon that would help us grow in strength against the wolfmen. Warwood, its purpose was to help bring newcomers up in training but giving them increased skill progression. Witherwood, met to solidify skill and spells by increasing the difficulty of growth, but in return made the bonus well worth it. Finally Wood While-castle, the final place of training. A place to craft the weapons needed for frontline soldiers and an outpost to welcome any new recruits.” Willow signed, letting out a long breath.

“That sounds amazing!”

“Oh it was, we turned out hundreds of soldiers, each one stronger, harder, braver than the last. But they had thousands. So my time has come, serf Marlow, strike me down and fulfill your oath. For life always finds a way.”

Slowly nodding his head, he got up from his floor bed. Fetching his spear, he walked back to Willow. Holding his spear over the ghostly man’s heart he hesitated. Was he really about to kill someone? Was it really the right thing to do?

“Go on, Serf, I’ve been dead for quite some time. Just a quick jab, in and out, then it will be over with. I am quite frale.”

Sure Willow had died, but he was still alive in an odd way. He was also a noble, so would the crown be after him if he killed him again? Then that would be three organizations after him.

“Do it, Serf, do not deny me my final release.”

Sure the man had killed others, but he’d helped save humanity. Or was that just his backstory programmed into him? Was killing just going to free up some space on a harddrive in some bunker in the middle of nowhere? Or would he be recycled and put into some new form that would go do something else contadicing all his actions?

“Serf, please I beg of you to end-”

The ghostly figure hunched and fell over. It’s head separated from its body. Tears fell from Marlow’s face. A few seconds later Willow’s body disappeared and it’s armor and clothes solidified. Clinking to the floor as there was nothing holding it up. Another second passed as a necklace and short wide sword appeared by the fallen armor.

Lord Willow’s Whip Blade (Rare): This ancient weapon once wielded by a noble knight. Swinging and twisting it’s hilt will allow the blade to grow and bend. The longer the hilt can stay twisted, the longer and more flexible it will become.

Lord Willow’s Amulet (Rare): An amulet once worn by Lord Willow, who received it from the king himself. This spell formation is currently unintelligible, see a professional mage or the king himself before attempting to use this item.

You have slayen a noble! Nobility everywhere will be after your head- oh wait no. This person had died sometime ago. You were just helping the spirit move on. Thank you for cleaning up this tiny detail. May his soul now rest in peace, thank you.

Wood While-castle automatic crafting hall now available for use. New menus are available on request.

Wood While-castle automatic crafting hall a hallmark of human ingenuity. Current aspects contained: 153 Rare aspects, 351 Uncommon aspects, 809 Common aspects, 1,861 Damaged aspects, 4,281 Trash aspects. WARNING! Any attempts at using the Wood While-castle automatic crafting hall will end in failure without an aspect user managing the system.

“Woo.” Pocketing the amulet he set his new sword and spear at the foot of his bed. If anyone saw him now he felt like he could just shrivel up and die. He’d just killed a living person. Sure he was technically dead, but it still felt wrong.

Rolling over slowly Marlow fell asleep. Muscles tight and heavy. Heart even heavier than when he had woken this morning. This just felt wrong on so many levels.

“Commander, L0le!” A young man in loose clothing finished the long climb to the top of the wall. Finding his intended receiver for the message.

“Yes, yes what is it?”

“Word from Warwood, Mum.”

“Warwood? What is that name! Are they a military operation! Well, go on, hand it over.” Holding out her hand she gently took the envelope, popped it’s seal and took out the letter.

“Dear guild Thunderdome. We understand that you have seen our town and might believe that we somehow pose a threat to you. We do not. Even though we have been in contact with your people previously. We have lived here peacefully for six generations now and wish to remain so. We want nothing to do with the outside world, we are content. But as the days goes by we’ve-”

“Should I be listening to this, mum?”

“What? Oh you're still here, if you want to say yes. Otherwise go do whatever you do. Where was I oh yes. But as the days go by we’ve noticed that you have been sending more and more scouts and adventuring parties out into our neck of the woods. Please keep them away from us, we want no trouble and just only to be left alone. Signed Redwood, Aspen, and Blackwood. How interesting boy have you been to Warwood?”

“No, Mam. I just joined up so I could get out of that stuffy city.”

“Young man, do you have a name?”

“Thomas, man. I mean mam.”

“Thomas, have you done gardening before?”

“No, mam.”

“Well there is something called a Squash bug, nasty little annoying things, if you don’t keep a vigilant eye on your plants. They might just eat the leaves on the plants, essentially killing it. Do you know how to deal with squash bugs?”

“No, mam.”

“We made sure they could get a foothold in the first place. But if they do, we bring chemical warfare into the mix, even though that might not be enough. I don’t know about you, but Warwood sounds like it might have a few tricks up its sleeves. Why else would their town name have ‘war’ in it?”

“What?”

“Never mind that metaphor. Please inform the other guild leaders to meet In the throne room. We will march on Warwood in the near future and we will strengthen our forces.” L0le whispered, her soft voice cracked against the light breeze on the wall. As she hoboled in the opposite direction the messenger came in. Thoughts are already swirling on how to best protect her sons and warfare boiled and bubbled.

“Wakey, wakey, sleepy head! We got some rewards! I already picked out my share now it’s time to pick out yours! Also did you drink the potion I gave you?”

“Fifteen, more minutes please.”

“Oh, come on, sleepy head.”

“Jazz, let Marlow sleep. He lost almost all of his rats, that’s like you losing the equivalent of your cauldron, brewing stick, or something. Plus we all grieve in a different way.”

“Oh so should we not roll him over to this spare mattress we found?” King’s voice entered the room, muffled by his heavy breathing.

“Well that depends on how he is.” Rolling over Marlow opened an eye seeing that everyone had returned, with their new apparent teammates. They were apparently also going to be new roommates. Did that mean that the lower you were in the guild the lower quality of room you got?

“He lives!” Le0n said, waving his hands in mock surprise. Tossing a new blanket at Marlow. It’s heavy weight felt comforting. On his body, granted it wasn’t covering all of him, but it did feel nice.

“Weighted blanket, provided by the dungeon. A special reward for killing the Manor Lord as soon as he spawned in. It can fold up to the size of a handkerchief and be light as one. It's yours, keep it. Oh don’t give me that look. We live in a magic world, nothing real anyways.”

‘If nothing is real then? Why do I feel this way? Sure there was seeing death on a screen, but experiencing it in real life was so much different’ Marlow thought, as he picked himself up and fluffed the weighted blanket over himself. And oh boy did that help, not completely.

‘Was the game trying to compensate for something to come? If it was then things were going to go horribly wrong really fast then. That’s how it was with Warwood and Ardania were sudden gains, sudden loss. But now he had this blanket! It was a nice, heavy, warm, cozy thing. He could just lay here and-’

“Marlow, get up” Followed by the terrible smell of something kin to burning popcorn. Opening his eyes there was Jazz with a glass bottle opened over his face. When had he fallen asleep? Everything was just so heavy and complicated. But sleep seemed to be his only escape. Not having to think about anything.

Jazz was bent over, finally capping that terrible smell. Before letting out a long sigh.

“Marlow, you've been asleep now for a whole day. Are you okay? I know that we have been rushing about from place to place. So that we can all be on the same playing field. So that we can start doing bigger and better things, but if you're not up for it?”

“I’m sorry Jazz. It's just that I loved my rats. Sure most of them were new, but they were each unique to me. It felt like I knew them for a lifetime and not a few days. So I guess seeing them go. Hurts. I’ve never lost someone till now. So this is a new experience for me.”

“Oh… Well… One thing dad said to me when my mother passed away. Was ‘that if you want to make a change in the world, you can always start today.’ At first I wanted to become a doctor so that other families would have to suffer like I did. Rather than an engineer like I dreamed of, however, neither of those goals happen. Instead I became a chemistry teacher, after my dad passed away.”

“How is that relevant exactly?”

“Oh, well… What I was trying to say was… ugh… Keep moving, else you’ll be stuck in the same place as before?! Sorry I’ve never really consulted someone.”

“It’s okay Jazz.”