Draconia Offline vol. 1

2.2 VRMMORPG - Part 2

I use a portal and teleport to Assiath, the capital of my race. It's a city floating in the sky, inaccessible to other races unless they get a teleportation permit. It can also be reached by flying but since only Celestials possess wings in this game, other races have no means to visit it conventionally. This is also part of the role-play and lore of this imaginary world. Celestials literally live in the sky.

I decide to visit the trading quarter to buy something sweet before Liana seizes me indefinitely. The street is busy as usual with players shopping and non-player characters running various stalls.

I buy myself a delicious looking candy with a minor energising effect and sit on the edge of a local fountain to relax. As I'm finishing the candy, I hear someone's squabbling.

"Those who can't do even a simple pirouette in the air are a disgrace to our race," a girl with sandy wings spits just a few metres away.

"His Majesty is too benevolent. If it was up to me, I'd talk to the developers and force people like you to change their race... to any race, just not ours," her friend agrees, sounding really aggressive.

I analyze the situation. There are two Celestials, judging from their equipment of cherub rank, around level 35. There is one more player in a malakhim robe, level 15 I guess. She's clearly intimidated by the couple and they're blocking her way. They must have seen her clumsy landing or something because one's flying ability isn't necessarily tied to the level.

Exemplary bullies. Well, time to make an example out of them.

"We would lose a third of our population that way," I say out loud and step in.

The couple turns towards me, looking all pissed. The malakhim girl takes this opportunity to run away. Good.

"Can you manage advanced flying?" the girl asks and looks at my tattered clothes with utter disrespect.

"It's not about speed or air acrobatics," I oppose. "You have to feel the air in your heart and simply enjoy flying."

"Exactly because of that laid-back attitude other races don't bow to us," the boy hisses angrily.

"It's just a game, there's no reason to," I argue. "Sure, there's Draconia's lore and in role-play events it might be nice for a more cinematic feeling but otherwise totally pointless."

"Let's duel, you stupid noob," the girl challenges me. "Then you'll see what advanced flying is good for. Seraphs are the strongest amongst us."

"But you're not seraphs," I note. I know all seraphs, at least their faces. Liana made sure of that.

"Not yet but soon we will be," the girl shouts and passes me a dialogue window with a duel challenge.

Duelling in cities is considered to be bad manners and you can't duel to the death anyway in peaceful locations but some people can't seem to help themselves. I accept the duel just to give them a lesson.

As the timer starts to count down, the girl prepares herself to fly as soon as allowed. I don't give her that luxury. When the window states START, I need just a millisecond to prepare a spell because a high-tier one isn't necessary. She doesn't even know what hit her when she finds herself suddenly lying on the ground, unable to breathe.

DUEL FINISHED. WINNER: AEFENER

The couple stares with disbelief, first at the dialogue window, then at me again. It's impossible for a Celestial not to know the name of their Emperor.

"It seems too early for you to apply for the seraph title," I observe and try to act cold. "A seraph must be able to put up a protective shield right away."