Alexia

I plunge headfirst into the Evernight Forest, racing as fast as my legs can carry me across the terrain. My mind is a torrent of thoughts, some screaming at me to run faster, others whining in regards to my brush with death at the hands of Charon.

He was right there! I can’t believe I escaped.

Escape being a loose term. I still have to navigate the Evernight Forest, the domain separating Charon’s fortress from the rest of the map. As Elle, it was a breeze.

I hadn’t wandered into the forest until my “plus” third play through, and by then I was powerful enough to take on some of the strange creatures within its depths. I don’t have any solar powers, like Elle, though. And I sorely wish I had her light right now, because it is so damn hard to see.

My screech rings through the dark forest when I trip over an exposed root, sending myself sprawling on a bed of moss just as a shadowed figure leaps over my body with a howl, its legs outstretched as if it meant to tackle me. As its body soars over mine, I hear the distinct clack of its jaws snapping shut.

The creature spins as it lands on the ground, whirling to face me with a snarl. I can’t make out much as I scramble to my feet, but judging by the glowing red eyes and the scrape of extended claws on the ground, I’ve been discovered by a night hound.

No, no, no!

With no viable options, I spin and race through the vegetation again, ignoring the slap of branches against my cheeks and body. The hound gives chase, howling in delight at such an easy hunt.

The ever present music swells to a crescendo, doing nothing to ease the knot in my throat or the pounding in my chest.

Trying my hardest to dodge the hound’s attacks, I fail to see the massive low hanging branch until it’s too late. The air whooshes out of my lungs as I hit it then the ground. My stomach roils in pain, but it’s secondary to the hound leering over my face, globs of drool landing on the forest floor beside my head.

It huffs once, a chopped up mangled growl, then it unhinges its jaws with a snap as its head ducks toward my neck.

“Obumbratio!” The words hiss out of me, unbidden, as my hand darts toward its jaws of death. Shadows leap immediately at my command, wrapping themselves around the jaws and clamping them shut.

I throw my hand to the side, and the shadows toss the night hound into a nearby tree. A resounding crack of bone echoes into the forest, and the hound gives one pitiful whine before it ceases to move.

Did I just—?

My body shakes from the adrenaline, but I manage to pull myself to a standing position. The music has receded to the normal soundtrack that plays when you enter the Evernight Forest, and I take that as a sign I’m no longer in any immediate danger.

That’s not to say danger won’t find me sooner rather than later, and even with my lungs burning with every breath, I force myself to jog through the forest until the trees break to reveal a field with a path.

I could have sobbed at the sight. Paths lead to civilization. A town maybe, where I might find food and shelter.

Without access to a map, I’d been running with no true destination.

I used lunar magic, the thoughts I shoved away during my escape resurface. That can’t be a good sign.

While it wasn’t completely villain related, lunar magic and its ability to harness darkness was a wildly popular magic with antagonists within the game. There’s just no way. . . right? A seed of apprehension wiggles its way into my gut.

One thing is for certain, I need to get out of this game. I need to get back to my life. What would my subscribers think if I failed to login? Would I even have a fan base to return to?

I worked so hard to build up my small but dedicated subscriber list. They have expectations, demands. I need to start the next saga of Crimson Skies—they’re counting on me!

And I’m counting on them for my financial survival.

Swiping a strand of hair out of my face, I stand and dust myself off. Getting home is still a high priority, but I won’t be able to figure out a way back without finding someplace safe to form a plan.

Another pessimistic thought creeps into my mind. If I’ve been mistaken for Lady Vanya Calrooke twice, then it’s probably going to happen again. I can’t risk others going after me.

I need to be someone else.

I scowl, knowing only a few select characters could perform an illusion spell. Even the player character could not obtain this ability without going through a specific storyline I hadn’t done yet.

Fortunately, I’ve watched playthroughs from other Crimson Skies fans, and if this—character—has the illusion ability, I know how to summon it.

“M-mutatio?”

The hum of magic courses through me. While I understand I won’t look any different to myself, my fingers still lithe and delicate, NPCs will see what their minds want them to see.

And I hope they will see an innocent farm girl, looking only for a place to stay.

I begin my journey to the town. It doesn’t take long before the soft glow of fire appears like a beacon on the horizon. In proper RPG fashion, the NPC homes are barren of any signs. But the shops are all labeled, and it doesn’t take me long to find a tavern. My fist raps on the wooden door.

The door swings open, a scowl planted on the face of the handsome, rugged man who stands in the threshold of the tavern. “Eh? Watcha want?”

Oh! Theo Stone. My brain racks for any information I remember about him. He’s a grumpy tavern keep, that is much obvious from our current encounter. He’s also one of the many romanceable options Crimson Skies has to offer, but while Elle had met him once in travel, I had decided against romancing him.

During my previous playthroughs as Elle, Theo’s mission was an insignificant one. If I recall correctly, it involves chasing giant rats out of his tavern. During the mission, the player finds a solar spell that assists in spooking the rats away.

It’s a great mission for a beginner working on acquiring more spells.

Theo had been a grouch, but it’d been clear that he had a softer side. I remember him cracking a smile in the cutscene after the mission, even going so far as to dole out his stash of healing potions to members of my party.

Grumpy but loveable—I could do this.

“H-hello.” My voice is shaky, and I hope it will feed the illusion. Theo’s face is blank as he blinks slowly, and I realize his code must not account for disheveled maidens on his doorstep.

“I’m so sorry.” My eyelashes flutter against my cheek as I do my best impression of a helpless woman. Which isn’t hard, because I basically am a helpless woman. “Do you have any rooms available for the night?”

He blinks again, not moving from the doorway. Okay, guess I will have to kick this into overdrive if I want his character profile to catch up.

“Oh!” I feign a trip forward, splaying my hands across his chest. He startles, his hands resting on my elbows to steady me. His brows scrunch, nose wrinkling, like he hadn’t expected this.

My chest heaves as I force a fake sob out. “I was attacked! My home is so far away, is there any room here for me to stay?”

Theo seems to consider this as he steps back and watches me. His features flash with confusion and slight apprehension. I beg the illusion spell to hold out a little longer.

“You got money?”

“N-no.”

He grunts, as if he was expecting this. “It’s not much. But there’s an attic room. You help out around here and I’ll let you stay. For one night.”

That tracks; he had a similar speech for my character Elle. Seems like his programmed dialogue has kicked in.

“Of course!” I bustle past him into the tavern, the few NPCs at their tables ignoring me. “I can help. What do you need?”

He studies me for a moment longer, as if he wants to say something but his code won’t allow it. Finally, he sighs. “In the morning. You can assist in the breakfast rush in the morning. Best you get some sleep. You look like you fell off a cliff into a briar patch.”

Ouch, that’s fair. But ouch.

I bid him a good night and wander up to the attic room, hoping he doesn’t question how I already know my way around the tavern. I lock the door to the attic before letting the illusion fall, already feeling the effects of magic use. A health and mana bar would be helpful, but there doesn’t seem to be one inside the game.

The room is sparse, just as I remember it. A dusty bed in one corner by a small circular window, cobwebs in the rafters, and a floor-length mirror off to the side.

I steel myself before walking in front of the mirror.

A real sob escapes me as I fall to my knees in front of my reflection. I don’t look like Lady Vanya Calrooke. I am Lady Vanya Calrooke. Her stern and beautiful face is staring back at me, her shocking amber eyes full of despair.

Calrooke, one of Charon’s lesser generals. A sorceress in the evil vampiric army.

Sobs rack my body. I’ve become the very thing Elle Argenti, the Golden Hero, swore to defeat.

My sorrow and grief threaten to take over my soul, and a booming voice crashes through my senses and invades my mind.

“What are you doing?”