Arvium [I.L.S. Beta Game #1]

44: Pandemonium

Month 1, Day 4, 17:45:12; Arvium, High Council Tavern

A massive thud filled the air and the busy atmosphere of the tavern quieted.

Aella twisted, looking toward the entrance. A group of players with scarlet armor and black uniforms were standing just inside a gaping hole that used to be the doorway. The two men in the middle dragged something from behind them, tossing it to the ground.

She gapsed as she saw a player, his clothes dirtied and ripped. He rolled over onto his side with a groan and she recognized his face. The man in the alley.

"Garron," she whispered.

"Mortia," a deep voice called from the center of the tavern.

Aella turned her head to see Giescul, his silver armor gleaming in the flickering candlelight. A blue cape hung from his shoulders, and two swords extended over his shoulders from their hilts on his back. Several players from around the room, dressed in similar attire, started making their way forward.

"What brings you here so early?" Giescul said, his arms hanging loose at his sides.

"Quickly," Orion hissed as she leaned over the bar, waving them to her. She held up a partition that allowed them to come behind the bar, and pointed to a door behind her. "You need to get out of here. "

Aella frowned as she saw Orion's narrowed eyes. The tip of a dagger peeked from a pocket she hadn't seen before, and she swallowed, feeling her palms start to sweat.

"Let's go," Sigmund said.

Aella jogged toward the bar, making sure to move as quietly as she could. She followed behind Sigmund as he passed through the partition, opening the door and holding it open for her.

A blast filled the air, and a bright light made shadows dance on the wall in front of her. It seemed like time stood still for a second. She staggered for a second, turning back to look as the screams and yelling began.

The silver and black-armored players were moving toward each other, swords drawn. A blast of white magic arced through the air and exploded on the far wall, raining chunks of plaster down onto the tables.

Then, out of nowhere, a massive shadow materialized between both groups. The smoke surrounding the figure seemed to crackle with electricity. The ground rumbled and a hole appeared beneath the figure, smoking and crackling with flames. A wolf emerged from the hole and lifted its head, howling.

The sound made Aella cry out as she slapped her hands over her ears and bent over in pain. "No," she yelled.

"Come on," Sigmund shouted, placing his hands on her elbows and pulling her forward with him.

She stumbled, then ran after him. The pressure on her wrist was tight, but not harmful. She blinked as she entered the bright sunlight outside, and hurried down the few steps into the small area at the back of the tavern that looked like a loading bay.

"We need to get farther away," Sigmund said, walking toward the street a few yards away.

Aella watched him walk away, his hands in his pockets while he strode forward. Does he get rattled by anything? She stepped forward, then paused as she felt the hair rise on her arms. She walked to the right a few feet, glancing down the alley that ran between the tavern and the side of the High Council Building. At the other end, several guards ran past the entrance, heading for the tavern entrance.

In the distance, smoke rose from the tops of the buildings, and the ground rumbled with the sounds of explosions. A roar filled the air, and more smoke filled the air. The alley was starting to fill with smoke, and she heard a massive roar echo from the direction of the fields.