Avilien: Tutorial islands

Bitter pill

Campfire raging as the light of day began to creep across Mixten, slowly ending the Terror mode, Trix, Lance, and Rajin remained on the far outskirts of the island overlooking the blue waters. Camped on a peak and out of the forest it offered a nice view of the chalk coloured sands below. After recent events regarding Luke and Damocles, Trix found himself confronted with issues. Conflicted he wrestled within himself as Lance and Rajin sat around the fire.

Earlier on Lance had attempted to broach the subject of Luke and found a death glare off Trix for his troubles. Rajin spun Tunniky meat above the fire, Tunniky being a deer-like creature. It had been a night of silence for the three lads. Each of them had their woes. Lance, happy that everyone was well and that they had found Luke and Luke had found them was worried about his little amigo and the other abducted guides.

Rajin worried about Nebs to the point it pained his heart, although he had faith in his master and that Trix would deal with it if Luke failed. Trix had issues with empty rum bottles as he tossed one off the cliff and sighed. He was torn between wishing he duelled Alianna and deleted Luke himself and whether he should have helped Luke.

"If Alianna, wasn't there!" grumbled Trix as he punched the grassy ground.

"Master... she is on her way here," said Rajin as he looked to the lightening skies.

Able to sniff everyone's scent all over the island, Rajin knew the exact place Luke, Nagori, Split, Cissy, and Alianna were. Alianna had now broken away from the group and made headway for their location.

"Xeno must be an adept tracker too," mentioned Rajin as winds picked up and a giant gryphon came into view, wings flapping.

"Must be handy having a game guide that can fly," Trix ripped at the grass as if he was a sulking kid.

"Then it must be nice to zip across zones in the blink of an eye with Rajin's speed. You sound like a grumpy old man," mocked Alianna as Xeno landed and she dismounted.

Due to the tent being in place Alianna couldn't go within unless a party invite was sent. An invite Trix would never send at that moment.

"Go away will you, don't want to see you." Trix turned his head away from Alianna and failed to notice her enter the camp.

"Thank you, Lance," said Alianna with a smile before entering the camp and kicking Trix in the head to send him flying.

Flushed with anger and a boot print on his cheek Trix stood and drew his swords. A terrible mistake he regretted as Alianna pummeled him back to the ground with her fists.

"We both know you'd never hit me. So don't even try it, buddy. After all, you're so in love with me."

"Am not..." groaned Trix after picking his head out of the ground and scrambling to his feet.

"I come bearing information. Cheer up a bit." Alianna booted Trix in the shin and made him hop around.

"I'll delete you in a minute!" raged Trix before receiving several more kicks to the shins.

In agony and rolling on the floor Alianna folded her arms. "Awesome Biscuit the solo player is no more." Alianna gave a stern blank facial expression. Her words acted like a knife through Lance and added confusion to the others. Rajin could smell Luke, so she hadn't deleted him.

"So you deleted him yourself?" questioned Trix as he tried to shake the sheer numbing out of his legs.

"Perhaps I should have used better words." Alianna pressed her finger to her chin. "He is no longer a solo player and realises he must rely on the strength of others. He knows Avilien cannot be treated like any normal game. Not when lives are on the line. So chin up, the prophecy got changed. Luke isn't going to go all corrupted and lay waste to Avilien." Alianna watched Trix's shoulders relax. A weight had been lifted off of him.

"Grey may have not been bothered by it, but the rest of us developers know what's at stake. Now we have to hold back the corrupted forces and the undead," said Trix.

"I'm heading back to the frontline tomorrow. Today I will train Luke for Avilien PVP. I want to see what all this fuss is about. He showed great skill against the Terrors and hit level five before I imagined. He has great leadership qualities too, but suffers from anxiety," explained Alianna as she sat down. Xeno her guide acted as a cushion as he sat behind his master, allowing her to slouch against him.

"Biting off more than you can chew. Take it from someone who knows what that little brat is capable of. He's a demon. When it comes to gaming few can stand up to him. The Beta class players that have survived up till now will impact Avilien in huge ways soon. Sooner than Grey would have like.

"Once people start to realise that Luke is the real Awesome Biscuit all the heat on Grey will shift and it won't take long. If someone records that kids fights and posts it to the forums... boom" said Trix.

"You worry too much," Alianna laughed.

"Not that I understand much of what the pair of you are saying, but I want to save my game guide from Damocles and the other guides." Lance waded into the conversation, Alianna, and Trix forgetting he was there as they looked at him with startled expressions.

"And I want to save my brother. Dinner or breakfast is ready," said Rajin as he started to plate up the Tunniky with Garlow parsnips and Swellen fried tomatoes.

"Fine, fine. It's sort of my fault, to begin with." Trix rubbed the back of his head. "I'll go put an end to Damocles and his merry men after we've eaten."

"No you will not!" roared Alianna as she shot up.

"Will you stop telling me what I can and can't do? I'm a grown man and can make my own decisions," stated Trix as he grew angry.

"No. And you're a baby," said a stern Alianna. "Luke is preparing to fight Damocles as are the others. They need this to grow. Besides, if you sit and watch you can see for yourself if Luke has changed. If he loses to Damocles you can clean up."

"Luke won't lose," scoffed Lance as he glared at Alianna.

"Another Awesome Biscuit fanboy?" she spat.

"Hah, no. I hated Luke for the longest time. But I will stake all I have, everything I am to say that he will not lose." Lance worried about Targoon but felt a sliver of relief that Luke would be getting him back.

"Well in the last fight he got his butt kicked. We all watched it," stated Alianna.

"That was three vs one," said Trix. "And he was level three. They had optimal classes. A tank, healer, and a mage. All of them out geared Luke, out levelled him and countered him. Not forgetting the years of experience they have. Even with all that he put up a valiant effort. If he fights Damocles one vs one it could go either way. If Luke was a level eight id put all my chips on the kid without a doubt. Level five is a bit of stretch. I give the lad a twenty per cent chance of winning," claimed Trix.

"Could be two per cent. He won't lose. I'll make sure of it." Lance grinned.

"Okay. I have to go. Time to train this so-called demon child. They are heading out at first light tomorrow. I've done all I can for their equipment. Very much cheating as no other players get this treatment unless they join a top-flight guild." Alianna lifted herself onto Xeno who spread his wings.

"Do me a favour, Alianna. Duel Luke without any gear on. Knowing you, you're probably decked out in full blue gear by now," said Trix.

"Sure, sure. You're funny Trix. That smug grin of yours makes it look like id lose. I'm not great at PVP, but as you know I ranked high in shooters."

BothLance and Trix couldn't contain their smiles as Alianna had no idea what she was in for. Trix and Lance knew of Luke's skill. Alianna, never playing Forest of Winter or the games Luke dominated was in for quite the surprise.