Chapter 0026

Like most temples in the City of Flight, The Temple of Fallen was white with high ceiling reaching endlessly towards the sky. The halls were wide, made to accommodate large wingspans. Flowers bloom in all shades of color in the inner courtyard. Unlike the other temples with their bustling acolytes, trainers and leaders conducting business of their faith, only three NPC’s stood at the center of the hall, one of each race.

The ambience of the temple was of death. It was quite, a respectful silence found in libraries or during a wake. A grave eerie feeling lingered in the air. Throughout the great hall, touches of death permeates the pews, the altar, and influence the stances of those who serve, as if the dead was watching. Altreyes approached the NPC with a somber manner, befitting honor those who had fallen.

Call Altreyes selfish or self centered, but Altreyes don’t care about many things unless they affect her directly. However, for those who sacrifice themselves for their country, to save those in need, for the cause of peace, Altreyes try to extend the utmost respect to them, their family, and the people who help their passing memorable. This includes churches (even though she’s an atheist), doctors, hospitals, socials workers and other organization dedicated to preserve freedom, peace and life.

“Greeting sir, before my quest to become an Assassin has started, I was sent here. I was told I must retrieve something from this temple as proof of my readiness.” the short Perrian Let stated to the trio standing at the center of the hall.

“Yes young one.” the tallest of the NPC replied. A Perrian Let ofcourse. As a race, they are bigger than the more agile Tajin Nost or fluttery Ruse Maren. Just her luck to be a shrimp in a races of giants. “Our temple provide aids to those who seek the path of the silent death. Before we go any further, I implore you to consider your chosen profession carefully. You are dealing with death in all forms, from the mundane to the horrific. Though many believe they are ready to silence the living, when the situation comes upon them, many lack the determination to follow through. There is no dishonor in admitting your weakness now and turning back.”

“I am resolute in my chosen career honorable sirs.” Altreyes is impressed. The details, the foreboding feeling, the command silences and the gravity of the NPC creates an atmosphere of finality, irreversible and irrevocable, but honorable. There was nothing half assed about being an Assassin. It makes Altreyes want to be one even more.

“Then follow me young one. Your companion must stay behind. Only those who are determined to become a silent killer can proceed.” the Perrian Let’s stare bored down on Altreyes, trying to convey the seriousness of the situation at the same time trying to intimidate the experienced player into turning back.

Altreyes turned and nodded to Sylphie and Erica, then hurriedly followed the NPC. They went passed several hallways, turning left here and there until we reach a dark doorway leading down.

At the end of the long hallway, they came to a room with a ward at the center. The mystical wall was containing hundreds of ghost within its boundaries. Some of the ghost pressed up against the ward trying to escape while other watch the movement outside the wards, assessing everything. And still other dances around in eagerness, unable to stay still for a moment.

Altreyes turned to her escort questioningly.

“An assassin kills stealthily and quietly. We are deliverers of death, and as such we need companions to help us send the souls of those we kill back to the god of death and to remind us we are not immune to its grasp. For as we courier the souls of departed, death too will dodge our steps. Go child and receive your companion.”

Altreyes pulled up her Assassin skill tree. One of the branches was titled Ghost. She was sent here to acquire a ghost. Not only does she have Erica to harangue her, Sylphie to tease and order her around, now she have a ghost companion oozing vengeance and hellfire to harass her. With her luck, she’d get a smart ass character, or worst a religious fanatic.

“What are my chances of getting a decent ghost. Is there one for that matter? A decent ghost. They wouldn’t be ghost if they didn’t have issues would they?” thought the pessimistic Perrian Let.

“How do I choose?” Altreyes asked.

“Go to the ward and touch it. Those who are compatible with you will be able to cross over.”

Touch the ward and the one meant for her will can cross. Call Altreyes a skeptic, but there are thousands of soul crammed into that little circle, and out of those thousands the one for her will cross over. Uhhh.

Altreyes is unsure how to proceed. On the one hand, a companion she can boss around sounds nice, on the other, she might get a ghost trying to kill her every time her back is turn. What to do?

“Get it over with.” Altreyes said to pep herself up. “The ghost Assassin get are random anyways.”

Altreyes walked up to the wards and slowly touch the barrier. The ghosts dancing a jig suddenly rushed forward, like a bowling ball, knocking the other ghost out of the way, then reached out and grabbed her hand. Altreyes felt a connection forming between her and the ghosts. Yes ghosts as in plural. What the hell!

You receive 1 endurance point.

You receive 1 endurance point.

You receive 1 endurance point.

You receive 1 endurance point.

You receive 1 endurance point.

You receive 1 endurance point.

You receive 1 endurance point.

Once the pain from the binding stopped, Altreyes stared at the ghost surrounding her. Seven endurance points, seven ghost. They swirled around her, gleefully exercising their freedom of the ward, chasing each other, generally being rambunctious children. As Altreyes got up, all as one they stared at her. Then they rushed her. The short Perrian Let tense her body, ready to be knocked over like the ghost in the ward. Instead she was embraced and cuddled.

“Damn it, I’m not baby. What is it with strangers trying to cuddle me to death.”

Master. Seven voice spoken at the same time, one purpose. Love. A deep abiding love. Images of Altreyes’ life flashed through her mind from a viewer perspective, wanting to help, unable to affect the world around them, only a spector as life continued. The five year old bully stealing her ice cream, the car accident she witness when she was seven, the grocery store robbery when she was nine, her first date and her first heartbreak at 15, being stood up for senior prom, rejection from her first choice school, studying for finals then nothing.

We have been watching you since you were born. We could do nothing there. Now we can. We love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you. With each love you, a ghost wrapped itself around Altreyes’ body, enveloping her with warmth, love and acceptance until only one remain.

The others rest. Your mind can’t handle all of us at the same time. As you gain strength, the others will be able to manifest and assist you.

“This isn’t a game is it?” No game could force someone to remember something from a different perspective. Access a person’s memories would force them to remember thing from their point of view. The images were from theirs.

“Child, life may seem like a game to you, but I assure you it isn’t.” the Perrian Let replied while the ghost said in Altreyes’ mind, It is and it isn’t. A game of the mind.

Altreyes ignored the NPC with her and focus on the ghost. “Do you even know?”

We have suspicions. Nothing concrete.

“Can you take me home?”

Not as you are. As we are yes. You would have but a moment, then nothing.

“You mean I’ll die if you take me out of here.”

With the method we know and the strength of your body, yes. There are other ways of getting out of here, but we don’t know it.

“So now what?”

Now you play the game and get stronger. We will help.

“Why aren’t you with the rest?”

Your mind can handle one of us. I am the strongest among us. It was decided I’m best to assist you.

“What do you want?”

What we always wanted since the day you were born. To love you.

How do celebrities do this? How do someone withstand the intense adoration of strangers. Not only strangers either. These ghost have witness every mistake she’d made, every crimes she committed, know all her faults and foibles and despite that, no because of that, they still love her. She was so overwhelmed she slumped down to the cold floor. Altreyes knew her family loves her, but their love comes with strings. What the ghost gave her was pure unconditional love. She don’t know how to deal with it.

The ghost caressed Altreyes. Do what you do in an uncomfortable situation Leviene and ignore us for now. You need to find answers from the NPC over there. I know the answers will be better received from him than from us for now. Later we will demand your unconditional trust, but we don’t expect it so early in our relationship. Yes Leviene, it is a relationship.

“One question. Are you a male or female? What is your name?”

That’s two question, but I’ll be unruly and answer both questions. We identify ourselves as female because you are female. We didn’t want you to think strange males were perving you or anything. As for the name, you called me Asalia.

Asalia, her imaginary friend? Altreyes called the ghost Asalia. Was she in my childhood? Considering how they watch over her all of her life, should she even be surprised? Asalia was right in one regard. Altreyes do ignore uncomfortable situations.

The short Perrian Let turned to the NPC in the room with me. “Umm, I got several ghosts,” she said to break the silences and take command of the situation.

“Did you say several ghost?” he asked, pained and unnerved.

“Yes.”

“Your resonance with our lord is far greater than I expected. To receive two ghost the first try is a blessing.” He didn’t look blessed. In fact, he looked like he wanted to run away from an axe wielding killer. Altreyes wonder why he serve The Temple of the Fallen and the god of death if he so anti Assassin. By word and deed, he tried to turn the experience player away from the path. “Many players have to come later in their training to acquire another ghost to aid them, yet you receive two the first try. This is truly a blessing.” If it’s truly a blessing, why the hell he acting like it’s a curse? “Each attempt cost a crystal, but for you to get two your first time here is astounding. Yes, truly a blessing.” And quit with the blessing. Wait, a crystal per attempt! Is this what it is about? Money?

“Uhh, a crystal?” Altreyes asked, just to be sure.

“Yes one crystal each attempt. Each player is guaranteed a ghost on the first try, but afterwards it depends on the player’s luck. The more ghost an assassin has, the more he or she can do. Take a look at your assassin skill tree. In the Manifestation of the Ghost tree, there a physical and temporal skill. Since you have two ghost, you can have one ghost physically attack while the other ghost defend temporally. Then there’s the Possession subset giving you boost in stats and Weapons tree amplifying attacks. A boone it is to have many ghost to command for those going the ghost route of the Assassin skills.”

As the NPC talked, Altreyes began to dream of all the combination she can have. Range attack with a ghost and physical defense, stats amplification combined with the stat bonuses. Oohhh the combinations.

“You should try for a third ghost, dear child. Ghost would only increase your power the more you get. Some might be difficult to train in the beginning, but the reward worth more than time spent training a companion.”

Altreyes looked at the NPC speculatively. The short Perrian Let wondered how he would react if she told him she have seven ghost. AND they love her.

“I won’t have to work with a disagreeable personality. No leveling the ghost into submission either. I have to train with the ghost to work seamlessly together, but I get to skip the beginning, middle and end stages of teamdom: assigning the work (I get the easiest sounding part of the job, when it’s the hardest part), doing the work (somehow, they others dump their share on me) and decide who get the credit (everyone else but me).” These thoughts ran through the experienced player’s mind. Woot woot.

“Thank you sir. I’ll take it into consideration.” Altreyes politely replied to the NPC thought inside her mind she was thinking of the crystal saved by getting seven ghost at once. The NPC was already pained when she mention getting an extra ghost. Hearing her say she got seven ghost will send him to the God of Death he serves. Haha. She can be polite.

Wait a minute! Wasn’t he there when she got the ghost? Why did he see anything?

Asalia saw the puzzled expression on Altreyes face and knew the quesions running through that silly head of hers. Altreyes might be a ditz at times, but there are moments when she can be quite sharp. Rare moments. Only the players can see their ghost. We are meant to be invisible observers of life. We can take form if you go into the Ghost Tree.

Altreyes turned to her ghost, nodded her appreciation towards her invisible companion, and headed out of the room. Once they got out of the room, Asalia lead Altreyes out of the hallway to the main hall. The Assassin wanted to make a snarky comment about her ghost leading the way when she is the master. She can’t. If Asalia has been observing her as long as she had, she knew Altreyes don’t have a sense of direction. The game has a compass and a map the experienced player can consult; however, Sylphie and Erica was right, Altreyes need gps or a step by step instructions if she am going to navigate the z axis.

Perhaps reading her mind, Asalia said You don’t need a gps or map now that you have me.

“Smart ass ghost,” the short Perrian Let grumbled.