Connor’s Novice Level Sneak skill proved invaluable as he disappeared without anyone noticing. The very next level appeared to be given over to the acolytes themselves, as the stairs opened out onto a hallway where multiple archways led into smaller study rooms.

The half-elf paused before going upward once more. He listening to the sound of rustling papers and sliding chairs.

Hells! He swore, remembering that it was the last tour of the day for the Aviatrix Tower. That meant that the acolytes here would be about done for the day, too.

He panicked, looking behind toward the stairs he had just ascended. He could hear the distant, muted voice of the acolyte as she finished up. On this level, the sound of voices from the suite of small rooms was coming closer. From above, he could hear footsteps on the stairs.

Triple Hells! Connor thought, turning around, looking for somewhere to hide.

His eyes settled on a small door behind the stairs to the next level. Not even stopping to consider if this was a good idea or not, he took it, opening it and stepped in.

“A closet,” Connor thought, as he thumped against the back of the small room, filled with white robes.

“I’m one of the best game hackers on the planet, soon to be one of the most legendary heroes in the world, and here I am, hiding in a damn closet!” he hissed, before suddenly realizing there were sounds—voices and shuffling feet—coming from just outside the door.

Connor couldn’t make it the voices, but he shrank back all the same into the thicket of spare robes as best he could.

“—see you at the Kobold’s Pouch!

There was a burst of light, and a sudden loud, laughing voice as the door was opened.

Oh no, Connor tensed, gripping the handle of his hand-ax.

Two long white acolytes robes were thrown on him and the door was closed again.

Connor really didn’t think that this was a good way for him to start his adventuring career, hiding in a glorified broom closet, covered in other people’s dirty robes. Seeing as he had little other choice, though, he stayed hidden and waited for the laughing voices and clumping steps to fade away. , and then counted to a hundred before he dared open the door again.

He listened carefully but heard no sounds. A moment later he heard the thump of the main doors below as the acolytes closed up for the night.

I’m in the clear! He congratulated himself, but, just in case, he pulled one of the acolytes robes on. Now, if he was discovered, then he might at least be able to claim that he had been working late.

Connor was just about to move on when he heard a crash from upstairs in the tower.

***

Who the heck is still here?

Connor cautiously moved up the next two levels of the Aviatrix Tower then he heard a gasp of a pain, followed by the sudden thump of something that sounded heavy, and wet.

Is this such a great idea? He paused, his heart hammering in his chest as he waited and listened.

Nothing. Whatever was happening above him, whatever accident—or crime—was silent again. Connor’s heart leapt for a second time with an unpleasant realization. What if it was a rival game-hacker, coming here just as he had, having got wind of Mr. Grey’s plan to seize valuable game assets and treasures before everyone else?

“Damnit!” Connor hissed to himself. All of this could be for nothing, all of the hours that he had put in, pushing himself to get here so quickly and nearly dying several times in the process. It could all be squandered right before his eyes! He was under no impression that his employer would be generous with his money, or even pay him that two hundred dollars per level if he lost the Ring!

All of this pushed Connor to move quickly up the stairs, sliding out his hand-ax as he did so. testing its weight as ascended.

The stairs ended at a small landing with a short hallway leading away. There was an open, black mahogany door at the end, and a white-robed body on the floor in front of it.

“Okay…” his feet suddenly stalled as he looked at the body of one of the acolytes of Aviatrix Tower who had been shot in the back with a single, black quarrel.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered as he crouched over the body, reaching down not to perform any tender act like close their staring eyes, but instead to tease the gold chain from around the acolyte’s neck, along with the attached, glowing blue Avi Gem.

You have found one Avi Gem.

Avi Gem confers basic flight for 2 Vitality points per minute.

I knew these would come in handy! Connor thought as he slipped the chain over his head and looked at the open door beyond. The acolyte on the floor had been shot in the back, as they had tried to flee. That meant there was a killer inside the room—the top room of the Tower itself.

Connor knew he was only Level 2, but assumed the other player (because he was sure that was who he was about to face) would also be low leveled. He inched forward, stepping as softly, using his Sneak skill as if his life depended on it, because it probably did. He cautiously peered around black wooden door.

The highest room of the Aviatrix’s tower had once been the very workshop of the most powerful mage in all of the First Realm. It was an overwhelmingly creepy place.

The majority of the room was built out of a dark, almost black marble, veined with blue quartz. It was a color that Connor had never seen before, or even heard of. Around the room, pillars reached upward to the domed roof. Between the pillars, there were stone tables holding a variety of strange instruments and implements—crystal vials, bottles that bubbled and hissed, whirring clockwork motors, astrolabes, and tiny brass cages.

Connor felt that itchy, electric feeling in the back of his mouth as he felt the burn of magic coming from almost every object in the room. When he looked up, he saw floating high in the center of the Aviatrix’s laboratory was a slowly spinning stone platform, with a black-stone dais in its center, encrusted with runes.

“There!” a voice hissed in the darkness, from somewhere behind the door and between the pillars. Connor froze as a figure emerged and crossed into his line of sight.

He definitely wasn’t the only one there for the Ring of Tantor.

“I see it!” the figure stated, standing in full view now. Connor could now see a tall man with locks of white hair, and skin that was so pale as to be almost skeletal. The man wore dark, close-fitting leathers that were finely tooled, with small buckles, ties, and inscribed designs. At his belt, Connor saw two long, curving blades.

“These humans,” a female voice said, as a second figure emerged from behind the pillars, this time on the other side of the room. She wore the same deep black gear as her fellow, and had the same fine-boned structure, pale skin and silver hair.

They were elves, Connor saw, but not like any elf that he had ever seen.

“You would have thought they’d be more inventive with where they hid their riches.” the female elf said with a scornful chuckle. She pointed one of her own bared knives up at the rotating floating platform and the rune-carved dais atop it. Connor’s eyes were drawn to the ring that floated just above the dais, spinning in the opposite direction to the platform.

He studied the apparent object of both their desires. It looked to be a large, broken ring dark metal. An arm band of sorts, maybe.

That has to be it! Connor thought, his grip on the hand-ax suddenly tightening.

He studied the very serious elvish thieves between him and his prize. The pair were apparently in no hurry to retrieve it, Connor saw, as the male elf, casually chuckled too.

“Yes. This world is almost too easy to plunder—and take over. Lord Pwyll will be pleased…” the woman chuckled. “As soon as we have the Ring, the changeover will be complete. There will be no escape for the mortals.”

Changeover? Connor was confused by the words. Were the elves attempting a takeover of the entire First Realm? He remembered what the leaflet had said, that the Elvish Rose Empire was out there, somewhere in another world like this one. A realm forever locked away from this one.

Were the elves planning on trapping the humans of the First Realm here? Connor wondered in confusion. But the humans of the First Realm didn’t leave their world anyway, did they?

They don’t sound like game-hackers, either, Connor realized.

He was still wondering what to do when the mysterious elves started moving. The silver-haired woman was pointing to the stone tables, showing a route for her white-haired companion to follow. In a heartbeat, Connor watched as the man hopped lightly onto the table, kicking aside the magical and alchemical items. He tensed, about to make the leap for the floating platform above.

No! Connor screamed silently. Luckily, he had already formulated a very basic, very foolhardy plan. He lunged forward, pushing the door aside in a rush, as one hand raised his hand-ax, and the other went to the Avi-Gem hanging around his neck.

Connor activates Avi-Gem.

You have learned the skill Magical Instruments.

Connor felt a sudden surge of pain as he kicked out from the floor, and there was a flash of glowing blue light across his vision. He saw the silver-haired elvish woman already turning in surprise, her hands raising fast, daggers in hand.

Connor was already flying, swooping up through the laboratory of the Aviatrix, and beyond her reach. He soared toward the male elf who was leaping toward the platform and swiped down with his hand-ax down while simultaneously reaching out for the edge of the stone platform with the other hand.

Connor attacks Fey Warrior with Hand-ax for 8 Health points damage Sneak attack increases damage by 100%. Total Damage: 16 Health points.

There was a mixture of screams as Connor slammed into the edge of the stone platform, with one hand outstretched, at the same time as his hand-ax bit into the leaping Fey Warrior.

No! Connor panicked, as he felt his hand slide from the edge of the platform.

The Fey Warrior plummeted to the floor below, smacking against the stone tables below with a terrible, final-sounding crack.

Fey Warrior takes 10 Health points damage from fall.

Connor had no time to think about the fate of his adversary, though, as his fingers of his left hand clutched at the lip of the stone platform. He reached up and slammed the edge of his hand-ax blade against the lip, in a desperate attempt to hold on.

For a moment he was dangling, his legs kicking in the air before he was able to pull himself up, and over the stone lip to the stone platform itself.

Come on, hurry, Connor urged himself on.

There was an infuriated shriek from below, coming from the female elf as she now clearly had Connor’s imminent murder in mind.

Get up! Get the Ring! Get out of here!

Connor scrambled to his feet and turned to the stone, rune-inscribed dais. He reached out to the half-moon arm bracelet that rotated in the air, before him. For a moment he saw it crystal clear, hanging in the air before him. The arm band was fatter in its middle, and there were crazy curling and intersecting lines cutting through it, as if it were made out of multiple metal jigsaw pieces. The Ring of Tantor was a dark stony-looking matte blue, dull and not shiny at all, which made Connor think that it was made out of carved stone.

“Who sent you, human? Who do you work for?!” He heard the elf below him screech in fury. Grunts of effort followed as she jumped for the tables, scattering more magical implements out of the way on her own chase to get to him, and the Ring of Tantor.

Too late, elf-lady, Connor grinned savagely, lunging forward and grabbing the Ring.

You have found the Ring of Tantor.

You have earned 200 Experience points.

There was a flash of golden light across the dais as soon as Connor’s hands closed over the half-moon ring, and the entire platform suddenly stopped rotating. Then it slowly, ever so slowly, started to descend toward the ground below.

But Connor wasn’t thinking about that as his entire body felt like it was filled with lightning. He looked at the stolen item in his hand and saw that it was now the color of spun gold. Without thinking, he slipped it over his wrist, and up his forearm.

Ring of Tantor added to Character.

Crafted by the Aviatrix himself, the Ring of Tantor is the key to the lock that is the First Gate. Created from rare moon-steel and laced with magic that the Aviatrix alone knew, it brings together the Great Working that separated the Six Realms and opens the first portal. The wielder of this item is empowered to open the First Gate. The wielder of this item gains 1 free rebirth (usable once only; respawn at starting position).

“Holy Hells!” Connor muttered, suddenly realizing just why Mr. Grey had sent after the artifact. This Ring of Tantor wasn’t just any magical artifact that could be sold for an exorbitant sum (both real money and in-game money). It wasn’t just any old magical sword with an attitude problem…

It might be the most useful item in the entire First Realm of Legends. That was why his employer was willing to offer him so much money to get it, and why he had been so insistent that Connor get here first.

Only, I was late, wasn’t I?

There was a cat-like hiss as the Fey Warrior leapt with ease onto the descending platform, diverting Connor’s attention away from the magical item.

“Who do you work for? Who sent you?!” she screeched. Her small yet sharp teeth were bared, a long curved blade in her hand.

“Do you think you can stop us? Your world is doomed!” she snarled, darting forward with a silvery flash of her blade.

“Hnghh!” Connor dodged, and barely avoided the first strike as it sliced his sleeve without biting into flesh. She merely span around and, in a lightning display of dexterity, reversed her grip and struck out with her blade once more.

“Ack!”

Connor flung his free arm up, to feel a line of fire run along his forearm as he desperately tried to defend himself.

Fey Warrior attacks Connor with Curved Dagger for 10 Health points damage. Magical enchantment increase damage by 5 Health points. Total Damage: 15 Health points.

Connor snarled in pain and moved to strike back at her with his hand-ax.

The Fey Warrior was already in the air and deliverd a spinning roundhouse kick to his chest, sending Connor flying backward, off the platform.

“Ahh!” was all that the thief had time to shout before slamming into the stone floor, on his back. Luckily, he hadn’t been very high in the air when he fell, but it had still been high enough to make him gasp in pain.

Connor takes 5 Health points damage from fall.

She’s too quick. She must be multiple levels ahead of me, Connor realized as he gasped for air. He rolled to one side, wheezing, as the Fey Warrior appeared at the edge of the platform, just a meter and a half above him.

“Perhaps I should take you to Lord Pwyll. You could enjoy an eternity of having your soul flayed alive for your disruption!” she hissed, leaping from the platform and landing lightly on the ground before him.

Connor was already struggling to crawl away. He had lost half his health from the cut and fall, and he felt every bit of those injuries keenly.

“I suggest you tell me now, who sent you. Who told you about the Ring of Tantor? There is no way one of your kind should have heard about it yet!” she snarled, pausing for a moment to consider the blade in her hand. She didn’t seem worried at all that Connor was trying to crawl away from her.

“Here’s my deal, mortal,” she said in a high, sing-song voice. “You tell me who sent you, who hired you, and I will kill you cleanly now. No eternity spent in the Pits of Annwn. Surely that is a good deal, yes?”

“Stuff that…” Connor gasped, turning on his side as he threw his hand-ax with all the power he could muster, straight toward the Fey Warrior.

But Connor was only Level 2, he was inexperienced and unskilled with thrown weapons. The ax was already going wide as the woman lightly jumped to one side, easily evading the haphazard attack.

“You think you have a chance of defeating me?” she started to cackle and purr, self-congratulating.

Connor wasn’t planning to sit there helplessly and listen to a villainous monologue, though. With a growl he grabbed onto the Avi Gem and pushed himself forward with every ounce of muscle that he had.

A burst of blue energy flared all over him as the Avi Gem activated, and he felt that familiar stab of pain as it started to drain his Vitality. Connor soared into the air, tumbling and barreling, back through the door and straight back to the stairs.

He could barely believe that had worked, that he was going to escape, not only with his life but with the Ring of Tantor, too. The angry and surprised snarls from behind him no longer as threatening as they had been a moment before.

Connor had almost made it to the stairs when the black bolt slammed into his back..

Fey Warrior attacks Connor with Crossbow for 10 Health points damage. Unseen attack delivers critical hit increasing damage by 200%. Total Damage: 30 Health points.

Connor slammed to the floor, sliding unceremoniously to a stop mere inches from the stairs.

“Hm. I thought the mortal had killed your form in this...place!” Connor heard the Fey Warrior woman’s cat-like voice approach as he rolled over onto his back. He saw the female elf’s haughty figure approach. Her companion followed behind, walking gingerly.

The world started to fade black, darkness seeping in from the edges of his vision. Connor’s limbs felt incredibly heavy. He felt completely unable to move anything.

So this is what dying feels like.

Suddenly, his vision was filled by the shape of his attacker, not the woman, but the white-haired man. The elvish Fey Warrior scowled down at him, an ugly black crossbow in one hand.

“We have not even fully entered this realm, and even in these feeble forms, you are no match for us!” the Fey Warrior snarled, looming over the thief. The last thing Connor saw was a boney white hand reaching toward him.

“Hey! The Ring!” the Fey Warrior screamed as Connor’s vision faded to a deep black.

“Where is it? Where is the damned Ring of Tantor?!”

Connor Half-elf has been killed.