Project Anima : A Virtual Reality / Reincarnated Tale

Chapter 4.2: Path of the Ace

"Molsie, can you do me a favor?"

Raiden was facing her. The cleric nodded with slight eagerness, her fox ears swaying.

"I'd like you to use Natural Magic and detect something."

Slater walked over. "Natural Magic? What's this?"

"She's a fennica, so that's one of her passive abilities," Raiden said. "It allows her to identify magic fields and ley lines."

"What's a Leila? And for what? We're not in some battle."

Raiden rubbed his temples. "You ask too much questions. Just watch." He turned to Molsie. "Can you channel now?"

The healer nodded, and closed her eyes in concentration. Her fox ears quivered. After a while, she woke up from her trance.

"Good," Raiden said. "It should sync by now in our party."

Raiden activated mapsight, and he noticed a new, magical marker in the field, squeezed next to the city's inn.

Slater triggered the sight as well, and saw the designated point. They looked at each other.

"Wait, what's that place?" Slater said.

Raiden gestured to them, and began to navigate to the marker. "Let's move."

Their party cut through an onrush of players and bots. They paused next to the inn.

"It's somewhere in here," Raiden said, and then reached for the knob.

Slater and Molsie trailed behind him, and they trudged inside the inn. The door chime tinkled, and the elderly innkeeper greeted them upon entry.

"Hey, granny!" Slater smiled.

The innkeeper smiled in return. "Isn't it Slater, and new companions! Need to rest? How about a room?"

"Thanks," Raiden said. "But no thanks."

Slater smiled wryly. "Our health is still quite full. Just passing through!"

Raiden and his party followed the marker, to a small room to the west. He tried to push the wall, but nothing happened. He turned to the cleric.

"This must need some magic trigger," Raiden said. "Molsie, can you try?"

Molsie stepped forward, and placed a hand on the wall. Almost instantly, runes in a circular pattern began to form on the surface. A magic fluxing portal suddenly opened before them. Slater tried to say something, but hung his mouth instead, pointing at the light.

Wordlessly, they entered the portal, and found themselves standing in what seemed to be a vibrant, teeming, outdoor marketplace. Several players were strolling across colorful stalls. The place was a farcry from the peaceful inn room they were from earlier.

Slater gaped. "Where the heck are we?"

"Cinnabar Bazaar," Raiden said. "A secret market to buy useful items."

Molsie looked around with an inquisitive eye.

"How did you know about this?" Slater said, still glancing around.

Raiden looked at him. "Don't you read the guide?"

"I thought it was just full of useless info..." Slater shrugged. "Anyway, what kinds of items are in here?"

"Quest items, rare items. You can say this is some sort of black market."

Slater drew back. "Black market?! So this is illegal?"