The game system was kind of nice because you could set a certain amount of real world time as your play time. So even if you lost track of time (which was somewhat dificult to track when you're basically dreaming) the system would automatically let you know when you reached your limit. They also limited your playing time to 24 hours in a 36 hour period, so you'd have to take some time off to rest, but I wasn't too worried about hitting that limit. I may like games, but I can't spend all my time playing them.

Anyway, when I logged back on I was still in the same place as before, except the stage was gone, so I was standing in the open in the middle of a very busy plaza. Nobody seemed to care that I just appeared there, though I'm pretty sure this was were a lot of people logged on and off. It was definetly made for players, and most of the people around me looked busy. They were all gathered in groups that looked like there were probably parties of players, and some of the soldiers from the parade were directing people.

It took me a moment, but I realized they were about ready to head out for the expedition the chariot guy mentioned, so I figured I'd try to stay out of the way. I wanted to go back to the house where I'd met Lily and Bjorn, but I wasn't exactly sure where it was. I probably could have found it if there were less people around, or I had been there more than once, but I was feeling a little overwhelmed. Especially when people started noticing me.

"Hey, you got a party for the quest?"

"You're class doesn't matter, join us!"

"You don't want to join them, they're idiots."

For the most part I just shook my head, or said no as I started moving through the crowd, just trying to get out of the middle. Until I was very abruptly stopped. One of the soldiers stepped in front of me and held up his hand.

"Halt, state your name and business." It seemed like he was guarding a coffee shop with a couple other soldiers.

"Um, I'm Bwyd. I don't really have any business?"

"Then you can turn around and go back the way you came." He pointed, like I didn't know which direction he meant.

"Uh, sure." I started walking away.

"Wait, stop her." A woman called out from the window of the shop. "I want to speak with her."

"My lady wishes to speak with you. You may enter the coffee shop."

I turned back to the soldier, "Do I have to?"

He looked surprised that I would ask that, "My lady is the daughter of Lord Dor, master of this city and the surrounding region. It would not be wise to refuse."

I sighed, "Fine, I'll go talk to her."

"Are you carrying any weapons?"

I started to shake my head then stopped, "Does a wand count?"

"It does, but you may keep it with you so long as you do not retrieve it." He motioned towards the door, "You may enter."

I walked into the coffee shop and the first thing I noticed was the strong scent of coffee, followed by the presence of a bunch more soldiers. It was as if the only people inside were the lady, and her soldiers. Well them and the owner of the shop. All the soldiers watched me as I walked in. They weren't really hostile, but I got the impression they were watching every move I made, and if I did anything that looked suspicious they would stop me.

"Ah, there you are, you took some time to enter." The lady was wearing a lot of gold. She had a collar made of gold with gems embedded in it, and bracelet sleeve things, that covered her entire upper arm. Her belt was gold, she had several gold rings, and her clothes were silk with gold embroidery of flowers. Her eyes were the same color as all the gold, and she had gold in her black hair, just like her father. "You may join me at my table."

Warning!

Due to the presence of a large amount of pure gold which you do not possess

Your stats will be reduced by 1/2

I almost stumbled when I saw that notification, but somehow I managed to stay standing, and walk over to her table. As I got there the shop owner brought over another coffee mug, and poured some coffee into it.

"I almost never see people walking around with such powerful curses on them, so I hope you don't mind that I invited you in just to see your curse." She spoke in a conversational manner, as if this was an everyday occurrence. "From my first impression it seems to be Divine in nature, but there is something else. Something I cannot identify. May I see your hand?"

I wasn't sure how she knew all that, but if there was a chance she could remove my curse... I held out my hand for her. She didn't take it, instead she put both of her hands on either side of my hand and they started to glow. It was, unsurprisingly, a golden light. It felt kind of warm, but it also felt like it pierced into my hand. I almost pulled away, but the hope that she could help me, and my stubborness helped me keep my hand steady. Well as steady as you can keep a hand when it feels like someone is stabbing hot knitting needles into your hand.

When she finnally stopped she collapsed back into her chair, and I did the same thing in mine. It was like all the tension in my body released and I just didn't have the strength to hold my hand up, or even sit up in my chair. We were both breathing heavily, and sweating, and I realized the soldiers were a lot closer than they were before.

"Well, that is a strong curse." She used a handkerchief to wipe her face. "I believe that you either need to find the one who cursed you, or a miracle. My family can help you repress the curse, but we are not strong enough to break it. Even my father cannot help you."

"I, I really didn't expect it would be that easy to remove. Just repressing it would be great, but if it's too strong how can you repress it?" I took a sip of coffee, and learned that my taste buds were super sensitve to bitter tastes. I managed to not spit it out, but I decided that I wouldn't have any more coffee here.

"What amazes me is that you are able to function. It seems like the curse is meant to change you into a mindless monster. You should be stripped of all reason, driven to devour and take whatever you want from your victims." She started writing notes, "I sensed two unknown energies intwinned with your curse, one seemed to be part of it, while the other was helping you to resist. If I could discover what the trigger is then perhaps we could even give you a small amount of time when the curse barely effects you at all."

Alert!

You have partially completed the requirements for your quest

Remove Your Curse

Reward: 1 stat point

"Gerard, do you have any writs with you?" She looked at one of the soldiers.

"Yes my lady."

"Then give it to her so she can enter the palace" She started walking out, "I really want to see what we can do to your curse, and I am sure you want to be rid of it, so come visit soon." As she left most of the soldiers went with her leaving Gerard and one other.

"Show this to the guard at the gate and they will let you in and direct you where you should go. I would also advise you to not keep my lady waiting. She will find you if you take too long to present yourself."

After they left I kept sitting there thinking about something that had been bothering me since I walked into the shop. Why doesn't coffee taste as good as it smells?