A chill passed through Kazim as he and his friends passed through the barrier of Bright magic almost seamlessly. It was apparently erected during the war a year ago by some adventurer to keep out the Nevermore. He wondered what was the point of even keeping the thing up with them gone. It may be used now to preserve the ‘allure’ of the city. Kazim wasn’t afraid to admit that his first time seeing the city hidden in The Murk had his jaw hitting the floor.

The roar of the city life became much clearer as those figures in the sky became recognizable. They were players, of course. Stone and High mages racing and playing on wisps of Greenwind or mounds of dark earth. He didn’t really know what the difference was between the two mage classes but the way they dressed always stood out.

Most Stone Mages looked like Nyx, brimmed caps and half cloaks with dark or white breeches. They always carried a glove or a wand. High Mages on the other hand, looked like typical mages found in every form of media. Wizard hats that looked way too big. Long, odd looking staffs and hooded capes. He had never seen a High Mage fight so the real difference maybe lied somewhere else.

Various wagons rolled through the broad cobbled road among locals and adventurers. Hucksters and peddlers on item crowded wagons or on the smooth, grey stone sidewalk, shouted out prices for their ‘exotic’ and ‘never before seen’ loot that would surely be of use to any adventurer. Some even seemed to fight each other, shouting over each other in the same vicinity. A shake of the fist or a side eye showed how they felt in response.

The locals were a completely different story. In robes and wool dress of various greens, the Chas'danians were known for their tranquility and composure, a calmness that was as clear as day among the frenzied merchants and adventuerers. They just went about their business without a care in the world. Some clopped around the fuss on spiked, wooden sandals that could get anyone through The Murk's mud. Others found a way to talk over the crowd noise under wide, straw hats. These hats were a Chas'dan staple. They could keep your face dry under the constant barrage of rain. Kazim could use one of those bad boys.

The burly Flourish Knights on guard at the log wall’s entrance stood tall, with chests pumped through their finely crafted leather armor. One arm was behind their backs while the other held Darwick spears pointed to the sky. Their eyes looked forward through slits in their antler helms, steel helms topped with real bone structures of some deer or unknown creature. It was ridiculous looking but Kazim couldn’t help but imagine how’d react to getting charged by them.

The knights didn't move a muscle as the party passed by and onto Chas’dan’s wide main road.

“I kind of zoned out back there, what’re you guys up to today?” Noir asked them. Usually when she asked that, she didn’t have anything planned herself.

“I aim to heal that foot of yours and gather my materials….again” Nyx answered, raising an eyebrow at Kazim. He smiled innocently. Even dirty and tattered looking, Nyx walked with a dignified strut as if she never looked better. “I think I’ll stay online lest you need me”

“I’d appreciate the healing but feel free to log off. I have no plans for us today, to be completely honest” Noir said. Nyx nodded. “Gale? What about you? Chasing another girl?”

Gale chuckled, scratching his bald head. “Well since you asked..There was this red elf at the inn who wanted to get together and….Woo! The legs on that one!”

“Oh god, no nevermind. I don't want to know!” The guildmaster gagged and heaved which had him and Gale howling. What really got Kazim was Nyx shaking her head at the sheer indecency of it all.

With Noir still on his back, Kazim had been adjusting his grip on her as he maneuvered in and around the crowd of people as they talked. Gale and Nyx were never too far behind.

A thickening of the crowd stopped him in his wake. He adjusted his grip on Noir again as he stood on his toes to see what was going on. It seemed some peddlers wanted to do more than shake fists.

Flourish Knights, from out of nowhere, quickly entered the circle that had formed around the fighting men. After they broke it up, the circle quickly dispersed as fast as it had formed.

They continued down the road as Noir suddenly squeezed his chest gently. She leaned towards his ear.

“We should..talk” She whispered almost reluctantly, her breath tickling his ear. Any other day, being this close to Noir would have had his blood pumping. But she was upset with him and he still didn’t quite understand why, so he felt irritated.

A talk with her would likely solve the issue but he needed to settle down for the moment or their ‘talk’ would devolve into another shouting match. For the short time he had known her, they rarely clashed but when they did, it was always over small things and it didn't take much for shouting to ensue. He couldn’t wrap his head around it. Gale would likely know. Gale always knew what to do when it came to girls.

Another thing he couldn’t wrap his head around was his anger. It felt irrational, unneeded at times. Whenever he felt any sort of aggravation, he yearned to enter Rage Mode. Even at the graveyard, he almost activated it for no reason at all. Right then, Rage Mode was this..this sweet nectar his body craved but his mind refused to succumb to.

“Later” Kazim finally said, shaking his internal disputes away. “I need to talk to Master Fury and I think turning in the quest is a priority too, right?”

Noir sighed but said nothing as they reached their destination.

Chas’dan square was as bustling as ever. From their place at the southern main road, other broad roads heading west, east, and north could be seen. Each of the four corners of the intersection held an inn and like the peddlers, they enjoyed the business of serving the adventurers.

The players in question, laughed and discussed various topics together around the square and in front of the inns. Even in the early morning, lots of new and veteran players were out and about, ready to take on a quest or hang out in the city. Some were small guilds, with matching armbands and apparel color, or just full on face paint with almost identical attire. There were even some loners, reading books at small tables outside the inns, or sitting by the porcelain fountain at the squares center, with a face full of displays.

The Easing Hand was the inn located between the north and east roads. A seemingly small looking, corner stone building with a wooden sign over the door. It held a simple, yet lovely painting of a mother easing her child into bed.

Noir suddenly slipped off his back and without a word, limped across the road towards the already open door of the Easing Hand.

“Woah, why is she ice cold all of a sudden?” Gale asked, eyebrow raised.

Kazim didn’t hear. He watched as his guildmaster shouldered past some players blocking the inn before limping inside. Did I say the wrong thing?

A finger suddenly appeared in front of him before his eyes refocused to reveal a frowning Nyx. She was tall enough that they were almost eye level.

“Now listen here, chap. I don’t know what’s going on and frankly, I don’t care. Knowing you two, you’re probably fighting over some gloves the Murkian Gator dropped! In any case, I would like it fixed! At least before we venture out again”

“Sure, Nyx.” Was all he said. It took two to make amends. “I’ll try”

Nyx, hands on hips, tapped her foot as if forgetting something. Abruptly, she stopped and turned back to him.

“Three echinacea root and one chamomile”

“Three…..What?!” Was that even english?

“I’ll need three echinacea roots and one chamomile to replace the materials I’ll use to craft a potion that heals Noir. The roots can be found outside the city and the chamomile has very pretty white petals you won’t miss…...Oh, don’t look at me like that. You’re debt could have been much worse…...Gale, you little wanker….Good luck to you and your...pursuits. Try not to get kicked in the bollocks this time around, yes?”

Before Kazim could even get a word in, Nyx was strutting across the road and into the Easing Hand.

“She’s a piece of work, ain’t she?” Gale muttered from his side, arms behind his neck. “..and that was one time. One time!”

Kazim only sighed with relief. It could have been much worse. Swamp Eater didn’t have a lieutenant yet but if Noir were to decide today, there was no doubt who it would be. “She didn’t even give me the quest materials.”

Gale jumped as if he been stung. “Whoops, that one is on me. I almost forgot...”

A display covered Gale’s face before, for the second time today, a small brown sack flew into Kazim’s hands.

Congratulations! You’ve acquired….

Murkian Gator Claw (1)

Murkian Gator Head (1)

Murkian Gator Tail (1)

Murkian Gator Scale (1)

“If I’m not in the room, just drop my cut on my bed.” Gale held a closed fist towards him with a radiant toothy grin only he could have. “I’ll catch ya later,....alligator! Ha!”

Kazim audibly groaned before he met his friend’s fist with his own.

______________________________________________________________

Kazim took to the western road and it didn’t take long for the pestering to begin.

“A lovely morning to you, sir adventurer! Care to take a look at my wares?!”

“Bless the winds! A Wrath Knight? In Chas’dan of all places?! Why, I just happen to have just the sword for you!”

“Igor wish you good morning. Igor sell fine swords and armor. Igor like your armor but think he sell better. Igor sell cheap.”

“Let’s be honest here, warrior classes rule and the mages drool. You get me? So why don’t we trade? Your emeralds, my loot. Low Valor. All cheap, all legendaries”

That last person was another player, a rogue assassin who lifted a large chest to reveal several legendaries.

Kazim eventually and reluctantly shrugged him off as well. The western road was a living hell. Since it harbored the local guildhouse, newbies like him were easy pickings for the peddlers and player traders. Some were honest businessman, while others just wanted to scam.

Kazim reached a dead end in the form of a cul-de-sac where one building rested. The local guildhouse.

Smooth stone steps with pedestals at its entrance railing, led up to a two-story square, cobbled stone building. He passed finely cut hedges shaped like the sprouting tree until he faced double doors bearing clouded windows and golden knobs.

He entered to a different sort of buzz.

Paneled with dark wood and lit up with an abundance of wall lanterns, the guildhouse common room was always moving. Round tables decorated the large, loud room where players sat and ate, argued with friends, or messed with inventories. One player was even doing what looked to be some irish dance on one table as players clapped a beat.

A fairly large board rested on the room’s side which was crowded with more mingling players. Tacked on parchment paper lined it in droves with detailed illustrations and information on various quests. With no Nevermore, the quest board was always stuffed with NPC submissions, to the point where quests papers were being tacked onto to other quest papers. They ranged from mundane pickups, material gathering, escorts, beast hunts, everything.

On the other side rested a long counter which held a sort of diner for serving snacks and drinks. A player was there now, a High Mage with long, dirty blonde hair. She smiled nervously as she accepted emeralds from another of her class.

More closer to where he entered lied reception, where adventurers first joined the guildhouse and thus, symbolically, joined The Tribunal. As a result, they swore to abide by its law. Kazim had long forgotten all the laws Mistress Fury had been required to read to him but he vividly remembered the ‘no murder or rape’. He still couldn’t believe there were people out there who played this game to do those things.

He set his sights on reception and locked eyes with a stout woman.

Mistress Fury was the epitome of motherly. With greying dark hair, her even darker, tranquil eyes lit up as they met his. The skirt of the beta tester’s finely sewn, green dress swirled as she walked to him. She took his hands into hers with a strong grip. Her olive skin mirrored his.

“¡Nuestro pequeño guerrero! Our little warrior! Welcome back! I expect you bring only news of success?” She said with a rhythmic accent.

Kazim made the decision then to not mention his death. Not to her at least. It would only lead to scolding and an insistence or further learning. Plus, a disappointed Mistress Fury would break his heart.

“¡Por supuesto señora! Of course. Mistress! I have great friends, so the quest was easy” The Mistress clapped lightly.

“That’s great, Kazim!” She placed a hand on her cheek. Her eyes stared past him as if she rediscovered some old memory. “I knew the day those three friends of yours barged in here a month ago that you would finally find your path”

Kazim nodded, smiling fondly. He remembered that day well.

Gale had nearly busted the door down. The common room fell silent then. First in sudden fear, then in awe as Noir, a max rank, walked among them, eyes scanning for a particular class. They found that class….they found him at a round table in the corner, chowing down on a pastry. Noir had slammed the table, startling him, to inquire about his class. After his answer, she demanded right then, that he join Swamp Eater.

It all happened, just like that.

After turning in the Murkian Gator remains, Mistress Fury gave him a whopping one thousand emeralds! It was a lot but having to split it four ways only left him with two fifty, which would be gone by the end of the week. Even when he tried to save, some crap always came up that emptied his pockets. He should learn to shoot dice like Gale. While he wallowed in brokedom, Gale always seemed to draw luck scamming patrons at the Easing Hand.

He stuffed the ridged, green coins in his inventory before inquiring about Master Fury’s whereabouts. Having played the game for nearly five years, you’d think the old man would get tired of it all. But nope, not Master Fury. He was known to occasionally disappear for days to slay beasts.

To his surprise, Mistress Fury gestured towards the back of the common room, where wide stairs led to the second floor. It seemed he was in his study. She even offered to escort him.

Kazim followed her as she headed for the stairs. They passed mingling adventurers who enthusiastically greeted the Mistress but paid him no mind. Being the sole warrior made it hard for him to connect with anyone in the guildhouse. The room was filled with mostly High and Stone mages with the occasional Seer. Wrath Knight and Seer were a little alike, he realized. Both were the rarest classes possible in their respective roles.

Before they got to the stairs. a dark, metal lantern suddenly appeared in Mistress Fury’s hand from her inventory. She took in a large breath of air before she blew. It now held a small flame.

What Blessing was that?! The old wood of the stairs creaked and moaned as they climbed, surrounded by a ring of orange. The common room disappeared as they turned a corner to mount another set of stairs. The upstairs hallway was dark and held many small rooms which Kazim remembered as mostly storage rooms for the many, many items the Master had collected over the years. He would sometimes share these items with struggling players to give them some help.

Kazim ran a hand through his face. It may be finally time to admit that he was one of those players.

They stopped at the end of a hall where a more polished, golden knobbed door rested. Mistress Fury knocked once.

“Dear, are you busy? Young Kazim has returned and wishes to speak with you!”

There was some shuffling and the closing of a drawer before a deep, gruff voice yelled “Come in, Come in”. She twisted the knob.

Master Fury’s large study may as well have been another storage room. Save for his large, maroon desk with a cushioned chair of the same color, legendaries decorated the room. On walls, swords and staffs hung like taxidermy mounts. This continued on the floor, where armatures held exotic mage hats and dazzling cloaks. Each item glowed that familiar purple as Kazim’s eyes passed over them.

A hearth lied at the rooms side where a small fire crackled. On the opposite side rested a large bookcase. It held a rainbow collection of books in various sizes.

A large, gold chest rested near Fury’s desk which shined under the light of an archway window that was behind the desk, Where you’d expect a keyhole to be, the numbers ‘999’ rested in familiar gold lettering.

Noir owned a similar looking chest and she never talked much about it. Only time she would mention it was when she wanted him to move it somewhere, as it was heavy.

Fury himself was handsome, with a face lined with age like his wife. His dark hair held grey at the sides and was tied in a pony that didn’t reach his back. He had stood when they entered, much taller than the books and stacks of parchment that covered his desk. His brawny body sported a simple wool shirt and trousers as if he just started the game. The only thing that spoke to his status was his shimmering dark green mage cloak.

Brown eyes took in his wife lovingly, while they sharpened as they met Kazim’s.

“Thank you, mi amora. You may leave us” He said. Mistress Fury squeezed Kazim’s arm with a small smile before a closing door marked her exit.

Silence fell upon the study as Master Fury returned to his seat.

“Sit, Kazim. Sit” He said, placing his feet up on the edge of his desk. “I am, how you say, eager to hear of what brought you here today The mighty Wrath Knight, who vowed to conquer this ‘unforgiving game’, informed me the next time we met, he’d be the strongest player in the world!” He laughed, mockingly.

Kazim gulped as he took one of the small cushioned seats facing Fury’s desk. “Master...Listen..I can exp-”

“Explain what, joven guerrero? You coming to see me can only mean one thing, no?” He continued with a raised eyebrow, fingers intertwined.

Kazim clenched the armrests of his chair. Noir could predict where he walked but Master Fury always read him like a book.

“Alright, fuck it! I died! Is that what yo-”

“¡Palabras sucias! You and your dirty words! Pay up!” He boomed, pointing to a glass jar in the corner of his desk. Kazim tossed a emerald into it with a sigh. Some crap always came to empty his pockets.

“Damn swear jar…” Kazim muttered under his breath.

Fury heard this, of course, so Kazim plopped another green coin into the already overflowing jar before he found his feet. “Listen, Master. I meant what I said! I will be strongest! I just...I just need something! Anything to let me kick some a-...let me excel, until I learn some Blessings or something...I...I can’t let my guild down again...”

“I understand. Sit down, warrior” Kazim did, letting out a breath he didn’t know he held. “You are frustrated. That is good. It means you’re finally done with this, how you say, stubbornness.”

“The ‘Winds’ guide this world..” Master Fury continued, the ‘Winds’ being the developers of H.O. A lot of players, including Kazim, were on the border between just playing the game as a game, or full on roleplaying. Master Fury was the latter. “...with the intention that we the inhabitants, will come to a point of harmony. Together. You get nowhere in this world alone. I am here today, as your local guildmaster, thanks to efforts of many who fought, laughed, and cried alongside me. It is time you stop thinking of you’re alone and relied on those around you. If you’re ready to do so, then muy bien, I will give you a powerful item…”

Kazim leaned forward. He was ready. It wasn’t in his psyche to ask for help but it couldn’t hurt to do it every once in the while. The tide needed to be turned. “I am ready, Master”

Master Fury stood up straight in his seat before saluting, one arm across his heart. The back of his hand displayed his Valor. ‘999’. “You’re Valor, warrior”

Holding the beta testers gaze, Kazim mimicked his movement until he saluted as well to display his Valor. He wasn’t sure if this was some formal thing or just a way for Master Fury to find out his Valor and pick an item, accordingly. Knowing him, it was probably both.

A display opened in front of Fury and with a sharp ‘clang’, a gleaming, silver sword fell from it and onto the desk.

Kazim couldn’t stop his mouth from falling open as he lifted the surprisingly heavy short sword from the desk by the intricate patterns of its silver hilt. A familiar and small, white oval stone rested in the center of a crossguard that curled at its ends. Its pointed blade held its own sort of glow like the barrier that shielded Chas’dan. Behind that glow, he expected the purple hue of a legendary weapon but he instead saw...Orange? Epic!

The excitement for his new toy ended there, however, when he got to the description.

"Thwarter Of Chaos" Silver Wind (Valor Req. 1) (Shortsword) [Bright]: A shining short sword forged with the sole purpose to thwart the chaos! As a result, this sword can ONLY attack Nevermore!

“Wha-?! I am grateful but...What am I going to do with this?! The Nevermore are gone!”

Master Fury made a gesture suggesting he should try figuring that out. “A sword is but a sword. If I’d given you something useful, you’d just return to stubborness.” Kazim sniffed at that. Fury sighed.

“Lean on your friends, Kazim”

_______________________________________________________________

Cursing internally, Kazim descended the guildhouse stairs hurriedly. He now owned an Epic, at Valor twenty-five. It was the best looking sword he’d ever seen…...and he couldn’t even use it.

Maybe it was for the best. He felt pathetic asking someone for help. Every game he’d ever played, he played solo and had no problems becoming the strongest there was. Yet here he was, being given an Epic.

Selling the sword was something that appeared in his head then but, it was a gift from Fury. The guilt that would gnaw him afterwards would be too much to bear.

Kazim was so deep in his thoughts that he nearly ran into a High Mage as he returned to the common room.

“Sorry, didn’t see you there” He said, hastily.

“I-its fine” It was the young girl from earlier, who was serving players behind the counter. She was short, about the same height as Noir, with a wool brown dress hidden under a black hooded cape. Her brown wizards hat seemed too big for her small, heart shaped face which boasted a brilliant blue gaze and that dirty blond hair which fell just below her shoulders in waves.

Up close, she looked about his age. Twenty one, maybe twenty two? Kazim glanced towards the counter. Another High Mage had taken her place. He guessed the diner worked on shifts and hers had ended.

“Well...Have a good day” He finally said as he went to go but halted when she opened her mouth.

“Uhh e-excuse me. I w-was wondering if you’d h-help me with something” She said uncertainly. Her eyes seemed to look everywhere but him. Why was she so nervous?

He looked behind himself just to make sure she was talking to him. The players around them paid them no mind, so this wasn’t some prank. “Help you with what?”

She finally met his eyes, they widened as if surprised by his response. “I-I have a quest t-to collect some darkwick wood o-outside the city. A-about fifty pieces...I b-bought an axe b-but I d-don’t really have the s-strength for it and the scary beasts w-will surely a-attack me...”

Oh. “Just curious, am I the first person you’ve asked for this?”

She shook her head, that uncertainty returning to her flush face. “N-no, I have asked many of the o-other mages b-but it seems they have...better things to do...I didn’t mean to b-bother you, I’ll j-just do it m-myself..!”

She nearly dashed past him but he stopped her gently with a hand on her shoulder. In a odd sort of way, the girl reminded him of himself before meeting Swamp Eater. Of course, he’d do anything himself before asking for help. But everyone was different. Master Fury’s words echoed in his mind.

The High Mage needed someone to lean on.

“I’ll help you but you have to help me collect some things as well” The girls face lit up with what he hoped was a smile. It reached her eyes but it had a nervous twist to it. Was she just permanently nervous about everything? She was making him nervous! He wiped his hand of sweat before holding it out. “I’m Kazim”

“B-Berry!” She said, accepting it with two hands instead of one. “I w-would be happy to help you too!”

There. Now, he leaned on her as well.

Old Master Fury would be proud.

________________________________________________________________

Fury watched the young Kazim exit and close the door to his study with an air of disappointment before pulling open a drawer at his side. It was empty save for an unsealed white envelope. The wax seal beared the image of two hands clasped, the sigil of The Tribunal.

He retrieved the letter from inside it and read it another five times. It had been planted in his room overnight, somehow. He always kept the study locked but door locks never stopped The Tribunal.

Letter in hand, he stood and walked to the hearth before he tossed the parchment in. The letter slowly curled to black, then to nothing. He watched but not really. His mind was elsewhere.

He was originally going to give Kazim a proper item but the letter had changed everything.

Kazim was upset with his ‘gift’ for now but soon, he’d be thanking the old guildmaster. Fury would need to help more young adventures like him…..

....For if the letter holds true, chaos had finally returned.

The Nevermore were coming and with Silver Wind, that Wrath Knight would be ready.