CHAPTER TEN

Another Encounter with the Elderly

Pale had been waiting patiently by the central fountain when they finally met up with him. Upon seeing the two girls, he tilted his head upwards in acknowledgment.

“Sup. How’d it go?”

Roari bounced on her heels excitedly as she boasted, “Eat your heart out. I just got a super rare hidden class. A certain someone said that they are really nasty to get.”

Dawn recoiled at the hammer blow to her stomach. That was certainly not what she said, but any attempts to defend herself would now only come off as pathetic. Her lips quivered as she did her best to weather the shame.

“Nice. I got a quest for a special class too, but I didn’t know they were supposed to be rare.”

‘Hallelujah! Way to kick a girl when she’s down.’

“Oh, I hope its good cause I got some weird martial artist thing. From the looks of it, I’ll be needing you to carry me.”

“Martial arts? Since when did you know martial arts?”

“I don’t! So carry me hard okay?”

‘Nobody asked you to pick it!’ Dawn sobbed quietly. Would it really be so bad to just follow her recommendations? Despite everything, she was still slightly invested in the future progression of her new alien acquaintance.

Pale shrugged. “I’m not entirely sure whether its good or not. Apparently, I get to be an arsonist? The old lady was quite vague when she gave me the quest, but I’m supposed to find the Keeper of Flame and murder him.”

Dawn snapped out of her self-pity as ears perked up in interest. The Keeper of Flame?

Despite being in Torva for the last couple months, she had never heard of such a person. Not to mention, one of the hidden factions which she was investigating did worship a fire god of sorts. Was there any correlation?

While it was a long shot, she was desperate for information. Perhaps this was divine providence and god had taken pity on her continuous struggles.

Although she had just met these two today, they had attached to her like anemones. Afterwards, both were thrown into hidden class quests which would normally take extensive research to require? Such a plot was far too forced. Everything far too coincidental. Maybe there really was something to all of this.

“Did she say where you could find that person?” Dawn casually asked. Perhaps sensing her nervousness, her avatar actually started sweating. What sick person would include such a feature?

Pale, however, was oblivious to her excitement as he replied, “She told me to search around the Keer Mountains. He’s apparently hiding away somewhere.”

“The Keeru Mountain Range? But that’s a level 30 area…” Dawn was confused. Did all hidden quests have difficulty levels that were far beyond what average newbies should be capable of? It did make some form of sense though. If the difficulty level correlated with the amount of rewards received, then wouldn’t that mean that there was a jackpot to be had?

“Oh. I guess I can put that on hold for the moment then. It’s a pity, but I suppose we’ll work on Roari’s quest first.”

“Hold on a second! You can always ask me for help right? The day isn’t even up yet, and I can easily handle the mobs at Keeru. Wait, why are you looking at me like that?”

“Oho… I knew it. You really do love us…or no… Maybe you’re just into—mmph” Roari struggled angrily as Dawn pressed an armored palm against her mouth. However, even with her lips sealed, Roari’s eyes still curved into upturned crescents as she giggled quietly.

“I am just honoring my promise. If I’m going to help, I might as well go all the way.” Dawn’s breath quickened. Even if it was the flimsiest of leads, she would take it. Like hell, she would just leave it alone.

“It is more than alright.” Pale said, waving her away. “From all the souvenirs that Roari’s holding, it seems you have been more than accommodating. We wouldn’t want to abuse your kindness.”

“…I would.” Roari who extracted herself from Dawn’s grasp, blurted out.

“Shut up sis.”

“It really is no trouble!” Dawn laughed hollowly and thickened her skin. “After all, aren’t we friends who conversed and laughed together?”

“I don’t really remember you laughing…”

“I definitely was. And besides, what sort of paladin would just leave two wanderers alone to face unknown perils? Even as a trainee, I cannot look past this!” Dawn’s chest heaved in excitement as she stared intensely between the two players. Perhaps it was her enthusiasm, but Roari looked nervous while Pale cautiously backed up half a step.

“Not to mention!” Dawn continued, “I bet there’ll probably be a zone boss or two as well. Bosses usually have an inflated amount of fame, and we might even finish Roari’s quest as well. It’ll be like we’re killing two birds with one stone.”

“…”

“Brother…She’s scaring me.” Roari whispered, making sure Dawn could still hear every word. Although it seemed that the two siblings were agreement, the aid of a level 50 something was far too tempting.

“Well…if you insist,” Pale coughed, slightly cowed by the overwhelming energy that radiated off Dawn’s smile.

‘Yassssss!’

Dawn did a little cheer. After dealing with Roari for an entire afternoon, it was only natural to be rewarded for her efforts right? Yes, that was certainly what this was. Just compensation.

With any luck, she should be able to gain concrete evidence of the hidden masters and finish her job advancement.

“Still, we are only level ten. If you make a mistake, then wouldn’t we die from one hit?”

“I’ll buy you the best beginner’s gear. Plus I can pay for a few buffs and blessings from the temple. Your safety is guaranteed.” Dawn, who was swiftly losing her ability to make rational judgement, promised while completely forgetting that her cash stores were completely depleted.

‘Looks like I’ll have to sell some old loot.’

Dawn’s generosity was sure to seem suspicious, as even Roari could tell something was up. But after a quick glare from Pale, she retained her silence. From the barest hint of a smile that was shared between them, Dawn was sure that the two of them would gossip about her in a more private setting.

“I suppose its settled then. We’ll be in your care.”

Dawn beamed. Finally. It was her turn to be in control of this operation.

“Just leave it to me!”

Driven by Dawn’s eagerness, the two of them were outfitted in brand new leathers which were cobbled together to form a protective casing. It was named the Barbaric Noob Set, and despite its name, provided twice the defense of their original gear.

In addition to that, Dawn had passed Pale an old hand me-down iron sword and buckler, while Roari remained comfortable with her fists.

Wasting no time, Dawn then spent the extra coin to hire a quick moving carriage. Even though the mountain range wasn’t too far away, she was desperate to get a move on, thus paying the premium rather than trying to haggle with the wagon driver.

Despite her suffering, her eyelid twitched as she overheard Pale musing about how nice it must be to be rich.

While they traveled over the bumpy road, Dawn had deigned to share her story with them. She was currently lv 54 and was in the process of completing her class advancement to become a paladin. Despite obtaining enough contribution, she still had to earn the churches trust by completing a sufficient quota of missions. The last of which, was to find concrete evidence of a few hidden evil organizations. Much to her chagrin, this was the most difficult step, as the areas were well hidden.

She had poured hours of study in libraries, bribed unsavory underground mafias, and interrogated lesser demon spawn. However, her efforts had proved fruitless. The last lead that she tried had even resulted in her death, which lead to the loss of her chest plate.

One might think that telling others one’s life story would be akin to poising a knife over the heart. But Dawn was tired of closing herself away from the world. Rather than lie, she felt it better to be forthright with her motives. She didn’t wish to pretend that she was doing this solely out of the goodness of her heart.

Amongst the comments of ‘pushover’ and ‘doormat’, she really decided to put her foot down, and show these two that she was anything but.

How was she to know that the two players before her already knew about her attack on Azoth.

However, such a story got Pale thinking. ‘Perhaps there was something there after all.’ After their treatment there, he could totally see their home base fulfilling the requirements for Dawn’s quest.

There was a dull thunk as the carriage finally stopped. They had arrived at their destination.

The moment they left the confines of the carriage, a blast of hot air rushed against their faces. The Keeru Mountains were of a size comparable to hills than actual mountains. The peaks were desolate, and sulfurous hot gas blew from the cracks in the ground. Surrounding the mountains was also a misty forest which casted dark shadows over the gloomy road.

Among the shadows, the humming of insects and various creatures could be detected moving about the foliage. He tried to focus on one of the figures, but quickly realized they moved too quickly for him to specifically make out what they were.

“So…Where do we start?” Roari asked. Although the area was relatively small compared to an actual mountain range, it would still take them days if not weeks of wandering just to search through it all.

“The keeper should be inside one of those hills. If he is actually keeping some sort of flame, then the forest would be one of the worst places to hide right?”

“Oh… Makes sense. But then again, aren’t you supposed to be an arsonist? Maybe you’re supposed to burn down the forest?”

Dawn had retrieved some monster repellent from her inventory, sprayed it liberally over the two quibbling siblings. It wouldn’t make the monsters avoid them entirely, but it would at least reduce the aggro range of wild beasts along their path.

“Don’t worry. There was actually a dungeon discovered here a few months back. However, since the monsters inside were too low a level, the people who found it didn’t explore it too deeply. I think there’s a good chance that we’ll find our goal in there.”

“Now come hither hither! If we hurry, mayhaps we can finish before the sun goes down? Dawn smiled as she charged into a group of forest panthers. Although they had appeared to be just minding their own business, they quickly became nothing more than messy stains on the ground.

As Dawn led the way, the two Storm siblings however were troubled.

“Bro…She’s a complete dork, but I kinda like it.” Roari whispered while Dawn continued her wanton slaughter through the jungle path. Each panther looked capable of having the two of them for breakfast, but none could so much as meow before getting smashed into the dirt. Upon seeing such a sight, Roari had an odd moment of remorse. “Do we really have to kill her?”

Pale rubbed his ring in contemplation. The vial of ‘Eternity’ was hidden away in his shirt pocket and was easily accessible at any time. As he met Roari’s sad stare, he was at a loss for what to do.

“We’ll see…”

Even as they followed Dawn to the dungeon entrance, the two of them found themselves leveling up. Even with the leveling suppression caused by Dawn being in the party, their exp bars could barely keep up with the influx of experience that poured in. Of course, such benefits only served to make the siblings feel worse as to what was to come.

“Sure is dark in here.”

The entrance to the dungeon was marked by a jagged spire jutting out of the mountain size. Beneath it was a rocky crevice which opened up to a deeper network of caverns within. Without taking so much as a breather, Dawn quickly removed a package of torches from her inventory, and lead them through the shallow cave which descended deeper into the darkness.

“This is the place. Inside, we should be seeing some gnolls and cave worms. Cave mobs usually have a tendency to rush you, so stay close to me.”

Pale was quickly coming to appreciate the benefits of being with an older, more experienced woman. The sense of security they had from being by Dawn’s side was comforting.

“Like we’ve never experienced that before.” Roari said candidly.

The path they found was a simple one, which spiraled down into the dark abyss. Along the way, there were numerous other openings which branched out into a series of unmarked tunnels. The end location, indeterminable. Unlike their muppet fight where the tunnel merely took place in a straight line, there was a serious risk of getting lost, which would mean certain death once Dawn’s supply of torches runs out.

Fortunately, the cave was not completely dark as burning braziers sparsely placed could serve as landmarks. Unfortunately, monsters were drawn to such braziers, and as they cut through their fifth group of gnolls upon entering, they were beginning to tire.

The small twisted hyena-men looked just as vicious as their animal counterparts, but before the cruel judgment of Dawn’s sword, they became nothing more than clouds of red mist.

Dawn fought and fought and fought some more. Even if she could slaughter the lot of them with almost perverse ease, the sheer number of them was draining on both the mind and spirit.

It was only when she took a break that Roari also had a chance to step into action, taking on a wounded gnoll while Dawn sat back and watched.

Tired of being on the sidelines, Roari laughed uproariously as she faced met the snarling hyena-man with a flurry of flailing fists. Every blow contained the raw force of a violently repressed young lady.

…

…

*Hic*

Suffice to say, she lost miserably. Even with Dawn’s buffs and a steady stream of healing, she still got her ass beat, which prompted a Dawn to immediately step in with a shield swipe.

“Don’t feel too bad. It’s not like you had a chance to begin with.” Pale consoled his sulking baby sister. Still, he was impressed. It had only been a couple days and they no longer shirked from battling horrifying monsters. Virtual reality was doing wonders for their confidence and bravery.

‘Damn virtual reality.’

Pale swore, as he doubled over after Roari punched him in the face.

Deciding that Dawn should just continue to handle everything, they continued searching through the cave, following the time-honored search method of continuously sticking to the left wall. Although such a strategy was not the most efficient way to navigate through a maze, it was by far the safest, and guaranteed that they would reach the end eventually.

They continued downwards, and as the groups of gnolls grew larger, they finally came across the dreaded cave worms. As they bounced around menacingly, they looked uncannily like giant pe— sausages. And upon seeing Dawn mercilessly slicing them in half, Pale could only cringe as he shuffled his legs closer together.

Dawn’s blade was drenched to the hilt in monster blood. After working tirelessly as the vanguard, they had already explored the majority of the cave system.

“I see your drawing skills have improved since kindergarten”, Pale commented blandly as he looked over at Roari’s journal.

Roari who had grown bored and decided to sketch out a rough map, furiously scratched out the mess of squiggles in her journal.

“Shut up! Like yours is any better.”

While there were still some tunnels left unexplored, the one they were currently traveling down, carried on further than most. And oddly enough, there were no more monsters blocking their path as it kept on descending, deeper and deeper.

If it were the real world, they would have probably had some concerns about the ventilation in the caves. But in the Elseworlds, all that truly limited their exploration capabilities were the amount of torches they had. Torches that were slowly dwindling in number.

Actually, they had already used up more than half of their torches, but after taking a risk and pushing on, they came across a broken chunk of marble pillar.

It didn’t need to be said that it was a sign that there was something at the end of the tunnel. But due to their dwindling resources, they could only hasten their footsteps while maintaining a strict air of vigilance.

Despite having high expectations, none of them were really prepared for what was at the end of the tunnel. A massive stone chamber held up by pillars over 20 meters tall.

“We are here.”

The dungeon itself had been called the Keeru Catacombs, but this was the first part of the dungeon that looked like such. With a heavy, desolate air that seemed to settle in the lungs, they proceeded apprehensively.

“What sort of person would even live here?” Roari complained quietly. The floors were covered with a thick layer of dust which sagged beneath their footsteps. Every overly erratic step of theirs would send up a plume of irritating particles which swirled around their bodies. The entire place also had a thick sulfurous odor, which would normally be a huge warning sign to a person in real life.

There was no wind, no ventilation, yet somehow the glow of embers could be faintly seen, glowing in the distance.

Like moths to the flame, the party found themselves clumsily drawn towards the light. Their caution fading as they inched closer and closer towards their goal.

However, even as they continued on in a trance like state, Dawn’s eyes flickered with a cold light as she raised her vigilance. There was someone here.

It was common knowledge that at the end of every dungeon would be something akin to the ruins of a forgotten temple, or a vault of exquisite treasures. All of which was usually guarded by some sort of area boss. However, what they found instead was disappointing to say the least.

At the end, they only found a skinny, emancipated old man with sunken eyes, calmly tending to a smoldering flame in a campfire. His torn and filthy rags made him look nothing more than a common beggar. As if unaware of their existence, his eyes were glued to the flame, his body unmoving.

Immediately, the party went on full alert. Considering the setting, this man could not be ordinary. And if one were the consider the ease of which they had gotten here, imminent death would not be out of question. After all, what sort of sane person would go to the bottom of a cave to light a fire?

It would not have been strange if he were mistaken for a corpse either, but his mouth soon cracked as he slowly moved his gaunt mouth.

“How long has it been…” Whether by misuse, all the man could manage was a metallic rasp. “Since I’ve had visitors.”

He hacked and coughed, as if expelling the dust from his lungs. “Are you here for the flame too?”

“No…Just you.” Pale eyed the flickering white fire. In their presence, it had receded as if shy. It was painfully obvious that it held some form of importance, lest it would not be down there.

“Me? I am nothing. Those who knew me as something have already long returned to ash.” The old man showed off a toothless smile. “Now, I am a simple flame tender.”

“Odd place to do it, don’t you think?”

“Odd?” The man’s voice was hoarse as he laughed. His cheeks bulged before retching noisily. It was clear that the man was in poor shape, even as he steadied himself. “I suppose it is odd, but then again, why are you here?”

There was a brief sliver of ice in his words which caused the party to flinch. But seeing their expressions, the old man laughed again.

“Do not be afraid. I can’t so much as hurt a fly anymore. Though in my heyday, I could probably crush you all with a pinky.”

“Pale…What is this? A monster?” Dawn whispered nervously. Although the thing before her looked like an ordinary old man, appearances could be deceiving.

“It shouldn’t be. And I feel kinda bad for him. Let’s just bring him back with us to the city.”

“I cannot! I must protect. I must protect.” The old man howled as his speech lapsed into a half crazed slur.

“Protect what? This little campfire?” Roari asked curiously. Aside from its color, it didn’t look particularly special. Although, considering the environment, it was surprising how the kindling had managed to last so long without turning into ash.

The corpse didn’t seem too upset at Roari’s presumptuousness. Rather it seemed to enjoy it as it gestured for them to take a seat around the campfire. He slowly drew a breath as he began.

“Have you ever heard of the legend of the fire fire?” His gaze flicked over to Dawn, more specifically her brilliant silver armor. “You should.”

Dawn shook her head and knelt down to listen intently. “I apologize, but I have never heard the story.”

“Story…” The old man sneered. He gestured again for Roari and Pale to be seated around the fire, which made the whole scenario feel like a camping trip in the woods. The only thing missing were the smores…and actual fun associated with such a trip.

Pale and Roari glanced at each other before taking up positions on either side of Dawn.

“The first fire is a tale of creation. The start of it all, where space and time were first brought into the realm of being.”

Roari snorted. She had heard this story before.

The old man ignored her as the embers within the campfire swirled and formed rough images to help him express his story.

“And it was from within the flame, that a different sort of being was birthed from its core. Primordials. Immortal, Invincible beings that exceed out very comprehension.

Having no understanding of life, these beings played and rampaged throughout the countless worlds to their hearts content, making a ruin of the innumerable lifeforms who had developed along with the birth of the flame.”

Dawn’s eyes widened in surprise. Were the gods, primordials? Her mind began to run abuzz with a torrent of questions, but none of them could be asked while the man continued.

“Our world might have suffered the same fate, if not for one such being who had taken a liking to humanity. Perhaps it had become fascinated by our culture, or was so bored that it decided to live among mortals and form unlikely friendships with those far beneath it. However… “The saggy old man paused, seemingly have aged but with a few words, “The primordial soon learned of the cruelty of death. After becoming enamored with his new friends, it could not bare to see his new friends fade away to the ravages of time. For the first time, the being felt what it was like to be distraught, unable to understand as he himself was forever.”

“In his grief, he chose to share the fragments of the divine flame with the beings of this world, such that they could be immortal just as he, However, when the other primordials took notice, they refused to allow it. Thus in his desperation, he stole it. He stole it to prevent those he cared about to perish any further.”

“However he was quickly caught. In a fit of rage, the other primordials sought to punish him by destroying the world he held so dearly, but he resisted. Standing before our world, he fought to the last, but was soon torn apart by the others, his essence scattering into the void. Those ancients who lived in our world at the time lamented at the sight of their lost friend, but what could they do?”

“The world of the primordials was so far above theirs. They were but gnats in comparison. That was until the lingering flames from the body of their slain friend soon found its way down to our world. With those flames, new divines were created, and all were angered at the loss of their friend.”

“They went to war with the primordials, threatening their existence in a way that has never happened before. Although these divines were far weaker, their rage and viciousness more than made up for their lack of ability as both sides bled and returned to the void. With every primordial that fell, new divines were born, and they too joined the fight for righteous fury. Millenniums passed and eventually the primordials were finally overthrown. But not without a cost.”

“From the constant shedding of blood, the divine flame had also become taxed and in the final battle, had shattered into minuscule fragments. As the source of all their strength, many of the remaining divines found themselves powerless, perishing alone in the great void. As for the survivors, they became the new gods of this world, and while many had been forgotten due to the passage of time, their descendants came to be the current denizens of the world today.”

“But just remember this. Even though the flame is gone now, wisps of it still remains in this world. In all of us, and that is all we need to break the barriers of forever.”

The old man wheezed as he finished his tale. The constant talking had clearly taken a toll on him. And while Dawn was stock still, thoughtful over the short story, Pale and Roari looked towards the flame shiftily, their thoughts unclear.

“So…that fire…is the flame of legend?” Dawn guessed as she looked at the tiny white flame.

“And if it were?” The old man smiled as he caught the gleam in her eye.

“Then I’d call you crazy for not using it to get out of here.” Roari retorted. If the price for godhood was to hang around in a cave for all eternity, then that would really be too much of a joke. It was obvious that the man before them was not simple in the slightest. After all, he supposedly stayed here for ages, and there were no signs of food or water anywhere.

“If only it was. But this isn’t the flame, nor is it some godly power. Rather, this is our folly. The consequence of our desires to oppose those who gaze down loftily upon us.”

“Uhhh.”

The old man sighed, before explaining things in simpler terms. “It’s an artificial attempt at the divine fire.”

“Ohhhh.”

“Although it doesn’t even qualify to be called a fake, it can still wreak havoc if spread to the outside world. That is why I watch over it. Until the day it finally extinguishes on its own, I will always be here. This can be considered my penance, for all the wrongs I have done in my life.”

Roari furrowed her brow as things didn’t quite add up. “Wait, so it’s still an amazing treasure then?”

“Some might see it that way.”

“The security seems a bit lax, don’t ya think?”

“I can see why you might think that way. However, there are hidden barriers around this place which should have kept out anyone with impure thoughts in their heart. Unless you were a completely virtuous man or a newborn babe, there was really no way to reach this place to begin with.”

The old man explained while Pale shifted uncomfortably.

“Well, not like it matters. I can see from your eyes that you aren’t the enemy. And side from the supreme shadows, I doubt anyone would even remember the flame.”

“You mean the masters? They really exist?” Dawn began to pant.

“Is that what you call them? Zealots and madmen more like. Although I am ashamed to say that I was once apart of their order.” The man said. He hunt his head, as if ashamed of all the atrocities he had committed in the past. “Most of us were just fools who weren’t satisfied with our lot in life. Those who were harmed in our pursuit of power were mere afterthoughts for us. Of course, those at the top were even worse. Those were the ones who sought to overthrow the gods directly. To sow chaos where there is order.”

“Is there anything we can do to help? I can get you in touch with the Temple of Mercy! I’m sure we can get you and the flame into protective custody.”

“I humbly appreciate your honest, but that would be too great a risk. The flames have eyes everywhere, but there is something you can do. I can already sense my life fading, and I cannot leave the flame untended. At the very least, I need to seal it away. If you can help me with that, then I can rest at ease, knowing that the flame would at least be secure without my presence.

Dawn’s eyes were shining as she bobbed her head in agreement. “Just leave it to us. We’ll do it gladly!”

“…”

Unbeknown to Dawn and the Keeper of Flame, the Storm siblings had stealthily withdrawn into a corner and were furiously whispering.

The Keeper of Flame smiled. “I am thankful. We only really need two materials. Please find an Elder Shamanic Druid to inscribe an absorption seal for me. Along with that, you’ll have to bring a Dragon King’s Urn to me in order to fully suppress its power. Once its sealed away, it will be forever out of the grasp of those who seek it for their own desires.”

“Of course! As a servant of Road, I will accomplish thy task.” Dawn pledged. She had a fair inkling of the value of the items listed and was confident that she could gather both with a little bit of effort. Hopefully, Pale and Roari would be pleased as well, as a quest of this magnitude was bound to have great rewards.

“Thank you for your kindness.” The Keeper clasped his waxy skeletal hands over Dawn’s own. Such a sensation was not pleasant, and the frailty of his limbs had her heart aching. Being stuck in the darkness, with no food or company. He might only be an NPC, but she understood they could still suffer. What sort of mental burden did he have pent up in that bony skull of his?

“I will not let you down. Believe me.” Her hands glowed with healing light as she promised fiercely. Though the Keeper’s hollow eyes seemed devoid of life, there was a brief flicker that showed that he still had some sense of self. No matter what, she would absolutely not abandon him!

However, her fervor was soon cut short as a cold voice quietly split the air.

“Sorry Dawn, I cannot let you do that.”

She turned around in surprise as a burning page soon ripped itself out of her journal and flickered before her. Upon reading its contents, she instantly felt as if a pound of lead had directly dropped into her gut as she looked up to see two pairs of icy eyes of the grey-haired siblings.

“Wait what?”

Player Dawn has been kicked from the Party.