June 26th
The Town of Montoya
Sun Compound
The metal clashing of swords and the pained grunts of knights filled the air in the Sun Guild's training courtyard. Instructors in white guild uniforms roamed around, critiquing and correcting men and women as they went. Not far away, a group of forager druids picked berries and small children, ranging from 10 to 15 years old, watched some hunters in the bordering forest chasing down a ginny dear for sport.
"Has anyone seen Benji today? He has to take care of very important guild affairs," screamed a short, skinny teenager with messy brown hair in guild council uniform robes. He stopped in his tracks when he spotted the man in the center of the training formation.
The man moved with a practiced grace and ease as he fought with two small daggers against a much larger knight. His white uniform pants, although usually a bit restraining, seemed to cause him little discomfort or trouble while fighting, and his black tank top enabled him to move his arms freely. It was clear to see that he seemed to be winning. "Guildmaster Benji!"
The fighting stopped immediately, and the man in the center, Benji, looked back at the boy, wide-eyed. The knight he had been fighting against chuckled, punching him in the shoulder lightly. "What was that about the council approving you to attend training, boss? You might want to run if you don't want shorty over there to catch you."
"Bye, Paul! Make sure to work on your quickdraws," Benji shouted, stowing the two daggers away in sheaths on his belt before bolting toward the forest. He didn't get far before he was immobilized by a spell cast by the boy running after him, holding up his long robes as he ran. "Damn enchanter class! Why did he have to learn that spell?"
"You were supposed to be preparing for the guildmaster conference in Grounder! You have two days before you have to leave, and you can't skip out on this one. The Shade Guild is hosting it and we can't afford to lose any help they give us. Guildmaster Masa is picky about who he helps, but he leads Land of Shadow's top guild thanks to the guild's founder. He has offered rooms for all of those who attend and a security detail for those who want it. Rumors even say that one of the most powerful players may even attend as a favor from Masa. It would be nice to get some tips from them, especially since the guild is getting bigger and the threats from dark guilds and MGs are on the rise," the boy said as he reached Benji.
"And why would I care about that, Kohl? We're a good guild on our own, so why would we need help from some guild who was abandoned by its founder? It couldn't be all that good if the person who started it left it behind. And we have plenty of very powerful players. I could be of more use to my own guild here working on guild matters or with the troops than there rubbing elbows with players who send others out to do the dirty work because they're too scared." Benji sagged as the spell wore off. He stood up a bit straighter, but didn't look into Kohl's eyes. He knew what would happen if he did, but then again, what Kohl was about to say was inevitable.
"Is this about what happened three years ago, Benji?" Benji didn't answer. "Benji, she didn't abandon you or your first guild. She had to save a lot of people, and she wanted the best life for you. She was probably the only player to ever be able to really see true potential in another without using it to their own advantage. I'm sure she is still out there helping players just like she helped you."
"She left. I've given up on all of that." Benji heard Kohl sigh.
"Whatever man. I was with you when it went down. Take some time to think about that woman before you decide to come back. I'll see you in a bit," Kohl said before casting yet another paralysis spell and leaving Benji cursing at the forest's edge. It was quite obvious that the spell would only be undone when Kohl's wish was fulfilled, and Benji honestly saw no use in prolonging the inevitable, so he let his mind wander to the day that started everything. Day Zero.
Benji panted heavily, staring wide eyed at the woman before him decked out in a black and gray coat. Her sword was still clutched tightly in hand and the remnants of the swarm of poisonous boarwasps that had attacked Benji and his now unconscious companion, Kohl. The shock of the situation was stifling, and the fact that Kohl had passed out after reading the message in his PM inbox was extremely concerning.
"Hey you, the one not passed out, are you okay? I think I got here in time, but I want to be sure. If not, I need to make sure you get healed before you keel over. We can't spare any time if you are hurt. I can't lose anyone else on the first day," the woman said quietly, still not moving from her crouched position. Benji didn't answer. "I need to know you are okay before I do anything else to help you and your friend. Your HP is my first priority."
"I- I'm fine," Benji stuttered. "Who are you? What happened to my friend? Why are you so worried about my HP? You don't even know me!"
"You're about as question filled as the other boy," the woman mumbled to herself. "Who I am isn't important, but you are important. Your friend received a message right before he passed out, right?" Benji nodded. The woman only glanced over her shoulder and nodded back. "He read the news. We're stuck here."
"What do you mean?"
"Never ending questions today," the woman chuckled. "Let's just say that the logout button on the start menu isn't going to work for a while and there have been some issues with players IRL recently."
"What do you mean," Benji asked again. The woman finally stood up and faced him, and Benji had to say that he wasn't expecting what he saw. The woman was beautiful with red-brown hair and dark brown eyes, her featured smooth and even. There was a small clip scar going through her right eyebrow. He idly wondered why she would allow her avatar to be scarred like that, but he quickly shot down the useless question. "What do you mean?"
"Not important. Welcome to Land of Shadows, and your new home for a while. We should get you out of this forest before another monster or demon shows up. You might even attract some MG attention due to your betta player data. What's your name? What about your friend," the woman asked.
"Why would I tell you? How do you know all of that about me? I don't even know you-"
"T! It's time we get out of here! The two brats are getting restless," called a voice from the darker shadows in the surrounding forest. A man and two children appeared in the small clearing, staring intensely at the woman who smiled back at the group softly. They did nothing to sooth his nerves. "I set them up in the new guild, so all we have to do is get to a safe haven and finish the setup. It's dangerous out here."
"Yeah," the woman, 'T', replied softly. She turned back to Benji, smiling as Kohl began to open his eyes again. "So, what's your name?"
"Why should I-"
"Benji," Kohl called out, voice clouded in confusion. The woman laughed softly, the noise startlingly different from her previous chuckling. It was warmer and less forceful.
"Benji, then. So Benji, how about you come with us. You can join my guild. It'll be safer for now," the woman said. Benji shook his head from his place looking up at her from the ground, but was cut off when an arrow shot through the air. The woman swung her sword, cutting it in half before dropping her sword and, almost impossibly, drew a bow, noosing an arrow and setting it flying. It hit a goblin square in the chest, causing it to fall from a nearby tree and dissipate into nothing. "You sure?"
"Go with her, Benji," Kohl said. And that was the end of it.
-..-..-
"So, how are you enjoying Land of Shadows," the woman asked. It had been a month since Day Zero and Benji had begun to get used to the death game that only resembled the game he had beta tested. Benji looked up at her, playing with the gray and black coat of his Shade Guild uniform.
"Other than the fact that I kind of want to be IRL, it's okay. Why do you ask?" The woman looked down for a moment, a soft smile on her face. It was silent for a few moments, save for the footsteps of guild members. "Why do you ask," Benji repeated.
"I'm going away for a while, so I wanted to ask something of you," the woman said quietly. Benji sat up a little bit straighter.
"What do you mean you're going away for a while? How long? Guildmaster-"
"I'm not the guildmaster, Benji. I'm not even a member," she said quietly. "Benji, I'm going to ask you to do something for me because I trust you to do what's right. I'm leaving the guild for a while. My brother is capable of leading the guild. This was the plan all along. I would set up a safe haven and get it going, then I would leave and start to work on getting us out of this game.
"What is this," Beji said, jumping to his feet, his calm demeanor gone, replaced by anger, confusion, and desperation. "How could you leave your own guild? People here rely on you! How is the guild going to continue without its creator? Your brother is a reckless fool! How could you leave us so easily?"
"Calm down Benji, I'm not going away forever. This guild will be fine without me, and it's not like I've totally abandoned it or anyone in it. I just... I've never been a good team member so I wouldn't be a good guild member. I'm going to finally live up to my solo player status and help out around the different servers. I'll still help out," the woman said quietly, looking straight into Benji's eyes with such intensity that Benji couldn't help but admire. "That's not the point."
"What is your point? You are leaving all of us alone in a game that not even beta testers can beat when you are our best option. You are being selfish-"
"Don't lecture me on being selfish, Benji. I am doing this for every player in here," the woman said, her voice sharp. She took a deep breath. "My point is, there has to be more guilds with good leaders and the goal of keeping everyone safe and healthy both mentally and physically. I want you to finally live up to all of that potential you have in you and-"
"You want me to help you set up another guild?"
"No, I want you to set up a guild of your own. You and Kohl have the makings of great leaders, especially you. You can do great things, and you're holding yourself back by staying here under Masa's care. I am not able to create another guild because I wasn't even really suited to make Shade, but I know you can do it like no other," the woman said.
"No, you-"
"Don't worry, Benji. I'll watch out for you and your new guild. If you ever need me, and I mean truly need me, I'll be there."
"Yeah right, Taro. Sure you will."
-..-..-
"So, who are the strong players that Masa got to come?" Benji looked exhausted when he walked into the guildmaster's quarters. His shoulders sagged and his uniform was in disarray. He was showing off his childish side, no longer the composed and serious 22 year old man he normally was. He looked anything but the guildmaster of the second strongest guild in Land of Shadows.
"Guildmaster Masa said that it would be someone from the War Paint Assassins. I figured that they would be a good mentor for our front line battalions if we could get them to tag along when we come back. Guildmaster Masa said that they were top notch and had news to share about conditions and developments in the game." Kohl only sent Benji a fleeting glance before looking down at the papers on his desk again.
"What is the conference even about? Masa hates having company, especially other guilds around his own," Benji said, flopping down onto a chair in the opposite corner of the main office. He looked at his own empty desk and sighed.
"Guildmaster Masa said that there was a new system update coming out that involved a member of the Shade guild. Some programmer hacked the system and added in some new, and I quote, 'groundbreaking changes,' to the system. He also mentioned talking about the use of system supplied companions, monster raiding plans, and a few things about guild politics and mergers," Kohl said, running a finger down the length of a sheet of paper. Benji sighed again.
"Taro made it seem so interesting when she used to talk about guild conferences," Benji growled, rubbing his face. Kohl looked surprised.
"I'm surprised you said her name again after all of this time," Kohl said quietly before becoming serious again. "I doubt she actually liked the idea of them, and you have to keep in mind that you and Taro are two separate people with separate interests that have nothing to do with one another. She happened to be a natural at negotiation and politics while you are more physical. Either way, I think she would want you to experience at least one of these conferences as she is the one who hosted the first guild conference all those years ago. She would be furious that you've been sending proxies."
"Yeah, whatever. Get together a group of representatives for the trip. We'll get there early. I think it's time that I visit Masa."
Comments (0)
See all