NanoWonderland

Following There Paths

Now we take our turn into the world where I always am. For years I have set myself on a straight path everyday. I would go to certain places and loot items, kill monsters, and find hidden stuff. Everyday nearing noon I would work my way back to High Tasidar. From there I would set up a nice stand right in the courtyard where I would sell my items I found. I've had this stand for about a couple years now, so when I go back to it to add new items to it I always get a lot of business. I make about a good 1000 golf easy everyday just from this. Not to mention today also stood as the weekly payday for ranks. Every Friday of the week we all would go to the arena in our Territories and stand in line for a good hour and receive our rank rewards. It was a pain but for people like me who get about 2000 every week just for being decent in this world I'd say that's worth the wait. The fun part about the ranks is if you reach a certain point you stay at that point until you decide you want to advance. As far as I've gone with money I probably should open up a store for all the stuff I sell. I began trying to barter and ween my way into everyone's pocket by showing off my items for sale. While working a man came to me and began to look around for a whole 5 minutes before he finally spoke words to me.
          "How much for this?" He said.
          "About 550." I said with a stern voice. I felt as if he was about to try and low ball me here.
          "Why so much?" He replied.
          " what do you mean? Do you even know what that is?" I said.
"Whatever it is it doesn't look real enough to be special in price." He said with a sarcastic tone.
"Look buddy, are you going to buy the item or not cause I'm sure someone with knowledge of weapons will want it more then someone without it." I said aggressively back.
Then during the argument with this horrid customer his friend came up and started shopping with him while they talked.
"Hey did you hear about the Southern Border?" His friend said.
"I didn't so assuming the interest it has struck in you I'm sure you're going to tell me." The man said.
"I heard they let a Dark Templar through the gate and into the West." The friend said.
"What?" I said as I stood up. "Why would they let someone from the South into the West so easily?"
"They say that he got through cause he is a messenger from Vicar's Demise." The friend said.
I sat down and they continued to talk until they finally left. They never bought anything like I assumed. It was getting dark out so I decided to pack up my stand and head over to the arena cash out. By this time of night there's probably about maybe 5 or 6 people in line. This is the best time to get your rank income. As I walked there I couldn't stop thinking about how there's now a Dark Templar in the Western Territories. That and why he would be here. There's nothing happening in the West right now for anybody from any Territory to come here. I continued to make my way to the arena bank. It was getting dark out. A little too dark for me because no matter what even if you're in the safe haven of towns. There's always a thief about. I took the open town walk to make it faster and safer. But I was wrong. I took my turn down the street and from a bit of chatter in the streets turned to silence in less then a second. I was confused on why everyone stopped talking out here all of a sudden. Was it because I'm in a poor neighborhood. I looked around only to find the dark Templar everyone was talking about. He was riding a horse and man was this horse worth going to the dark side. It's mane was made of fire alone with its feet sparked flames as he walked. But all that coolness left. Once I realized he was walking towards me. Specifically me only aimed at me and everything. Everyone knew it and saw it but just like everyone I didn't know why he would be coming towards me. But he was and I could see the darkness that was in him as he stopped and dismounted his horse he stood there. Just looking at me for a few seconds. Then began to walk to me slowly. I began to sweat in fear. I could handle this guy I thought until he stepped right in front of me. He was 10 feet tall no doubt and wielded a Zweihänder that mounted on his back. That's the strange thing with these people who become Dark Servants they turn into something more powerful. But in return you get no hope for life. Some of these people have to play for days before they can leave there game. All because there's a lot to being evil. He began to look me over. I wasn't sure why but I wasn't courageous enough to ask what he wanted. He looked a piece of paper then looked back at me. Then laughed.
"I have a letter for you holy warrior." He said with his demonic voice.
"Who's it from?" I said with a scared voice.
"A friend in need." He said. "And don't be late or I'll come back here and scatter you through this town while everyone watches."
He got back on his horse and looked at me one more time as his horse was getting ready to take off. "Remember holy warrior. You show that letter at the gates of the South and they will let you right in." He said.
He then took off at full speed with flames trailing behind him. I just stood there in shock. Why am I getting a letter from the South. I looked it over and there was no markings as to who it was from. I was confused beyond control. I had to figure this out but I didn't want to do it alone. If I'm going to the South I must bring my friends with me. I can't make it in there alone. So I began to head back to my place I owned in town. I went inside my house put the letter in my safe then went to sleep. In this game when you go to bed you don't have to worry about tossing and turning or trying to sleep. Once you close your eyes in bed the game asks you if you would like the exit the Holocon. I said yes of course because you never get sleep in the game you just go black for a couple of seconds then it's day time. I was never sure how they got that to work with all the players in this game. But either way I went to sleep so I could leave and call my friends so we can meet up because this was to big for just me.
I got out of the Holocon and began getting readjusted to the real world. It can take a few minutes because you don't move for so long. It's like waking up from a long nap. I got up ate some food sat down took a breathe and remembered to myself. Even though 90% of the world plays this game. I can always leave the game and I'm fine. No need to stress or worry. My only reason for worrying is because I've experienced death in the game. When experiencing death in the Holocon. The game makes it as real as it can be. Which means you feel every bit of pain it would really be. I never want to go through that again. That's the only reason I worry when picking nasty fights with the wrong people. Back when I first started I read up on how to become my true self. They call them The High Holy Monarchs. These full Holy Paladins are special because they become one with a group and are granted special wings which makes it so I can fly and heal myself greatly. While following the steps on how to become one. I ran into one that I felt I could do so easily, but I was wrong. The challenge was to kill a Dark Templar of the South. Seemed easy enough if I just snuck up on one and took him out. But it wasn't as easy as attempted. When I did so another one just came up from behind me and put a sword through my neck. Then again I never knew I was challenging the fearsome Ownersin Twins. These guys together are about the most fearsome duo throughout the lands. They use there teamwork to go where they want. I once heard they killed Osiris the mighty wanderer. This guy was a legend, but besides all that this is the reasoning behind why I never want to face death again. I felt every bit of that stab right to the neck. All the way to laying on the cold ground choking on my own blood as I faded away.
When you die in the game though you don't just respawn anywhere you want or go to a spectator mode. This game is to real for that. You just wake up without anything you've ever acquired in the game and in the academy again. I pulled some strings after I died though. I was able to get the graduated from academy as a paladin degree thing again and got some basic armor. I didn't have to go through the whole corse again. They let it slide since it was my first ever death and it happened in a month.
After clearing my head enough for my thoughts to come through I finally worked my way to called up a group chat with all my friends. I didn't want to open that letter and read it and go on some epic quest by myself. That is if there even is a quest in that envelope. The phone rang and by my surprise everyone answered.
"Hello? Marcus why are we all group chatting did something new come up?" Danny said to start the conversation.
"A lot has happened and I need you guys to join in the game so we can discuss it all. There's no time to chat on the phone it needs to happen by tomorrow the latest. Right in the morning." I said.
          "All right that's fine with me but where are we meeting" Sara said.
          "We are going to meet at the old abandoned shack like always. In DawnStone." I replied.
          We all agreed to meet there first thing tomorrow. And when we get there I will bring the letter and we will figure this all out once and for all.
          The morning has finally struck and I began waking up and getting ready. I don't wanna be some fat kid who lays around and plays this game all day so I decided to actually work out and do activity's around the world like a normal human being before I got on. It was about afternoon when I finally got on. I woke up in my house and got my self geared and ready to head out to DawnStone. Now DawnStone is the center village between the North and West borders. It was apart of the Great War of all Territories as a camp for soldiers, but was destroyed in the war itself. So now it's a land of ruins. But there is a tavern there that we always use as a hideout because no one expects the war ridden town to be a place of hiding. Especially since scavengers go hunting through there all the time. Which is why I always gear up before heading there. I finally got everything on and started out towards DawnStone. On my ride there I kept wondering still what this letter could be about. For all I know it could be a prank that Danny or someone set up. But all I know is I'm not opening it until I get with everyone and read it out loud. The journey to DawnStone is about 8 miles north from High Tasidar. It's a journey but a very non dangerous one.
          I have finally almost made it to DawnStone I can see it in the distance. Anyone can see it in the distance it's a charred city in ruins. A real sore sight to see. As I walked through it I realized it was very bare today no a single scavenger nor sound around. I saw the tavern and yet no one was there. I was confused cause it has to be almost 4 at night now and I would of assumed I was late. Maybe I am so late that everyone left. I walked in and realized everyone had done the same thing as me and walked there. No horses or mounts probably because it would draw attention to where we are. As I walked in everyone gave me a look cause like I thought I was very late.
          "Where have you been we have been here since sunrise." Sara said very angered with me.
          "It's almost sunset I've wasted my whole day waiting for you Marc. I'm not one for waiting but if it's for you I'll wait all day if I have to." Danny said as angry as everyone else.
          "Look guys I know that I was late I was busy, but I brought the letter and we can just jump into that." I said. I showed them the letter and we all looked at it as confused as I looked when I got it.
          "It's just pure black, why?" Alex said.
          "I'm as confused as you Mercy." I said. "I will open it now and let's see what it say."
           I opened the letter and inside was a very nice piece of paper that had red writing on it. Who ever wrote this was very good at writing. It said
"Dear Adventurer who receives this letter,
          I am Vicar, yes you are correct I am the long lost lord of the south. I am having my noble knight send off this letter in order to find the very best adventurer in order to free me. I have went to the Forest of Forgotten Dreams and got stuck in an endless realm. With your help I may be freed and will have your gratitude and give you anything you desire. Bring this letter to my lair where my right hand man Aster will be waiting. From the day this letter is received 5 days after is when you will be of no use to me so be quick and take pride on your adventure. Show the seal on the front of the letter in order to pass to Southern Gates.
From the dark lord of the south Vicar."
We all sat there for a second not knowing what to do with the information I have just read aloud. Is it possible that the dark lord of the south is actually alive. Could this just be a trick to kill us. I can just bet the Ownersin Twins have something to do with this, but I can't tell my friends that they never knew I died.
         "Is that really from the dark lord?" Halo said confused. "I don't really see how that is the dark lord of the south. He died a long time ago."
          "He just said he's trapped in an endless realm." I said.
          "Just because someone says something doesn't mean it's always true Marc." Halo replied.
          "Well i dont know what else to do Halo it's a letter and they want us to come. I say we go. All of us they only expect me. So why not all of us go?" I said to everyone.
          "I think it's a great idea Marc." Sara said as she put her hand on my shoulder. "I think we should go. Who else is in?"
          "Me." Mercy said.
          "Yeah I guess so." Halo replied.
          "I can't fend for myself and need one of you guys so I guess I'm coming too." Dot said.
          "And I'm going too I'll always fight by your side Marc." Danny said.
          We all agreed to do this fight hopefully it wasn't something we all die from. I made an agreement we all get some rest and pack up for a long adventure because we have to go all the way to Vicar's Denise. Which is all the way at the edge of the south far away from us. Almost 100 plus miles. So we need to pack heavy and prepared for anything. We all set off for the night and will meet back at DawnStone at sunrise.