Avilien

First light

Brit slept on the sofa across from the now-empty fridge and across from the consoles and television. Luke had been confined to the single leather chair, and felt cramped as he attempted to sleep. An aching back caused by the arms of the chair digging into him hurt and forced him into a half sleep-deprived state. More pain would be added from Brit as she kicked out in her sleep and managed to hit him in the face every time with her boot.

Lance brought down extra covers from above the shop where he, Nagori, and his dad lived. As for the other members of the guild—Nagori crashed out on her keyboard with a bag of chocolate buttons next to her. She'd refused to let Brit anywhere near her desk of goodies earlier, causing Brit to sulk. Lance slept in a red sleeping bag like Cissy and Anna, the three of them sleeping in the lounge area of the room on the floor.

Every three hours on the dot, the members of the Guild of Daggers were supposed to take their turn to guard the basement from possible intrusion. Across from where all the computers lay, and the sleeping Nagori, the game guides played a strange card game native to Avilien and not yet brought to the attention of the upcoming players. Under normal circumstances, the game would be played to win other cards, currency, or items. Since no one had anything of worth, the game guides played to pass time.

Squeeks battled Amilia as the other guides watched and waited for their turn. Whoever lost would give up their spot in the centre of the desk and allow another one to compete against the winner. So far the winner had been Squeeks every game; as a knowledge-based game guide.It was unfair to the others.

"I've been meaning to ask you something, Grenchitty, since Nebs once told me of his sister allowing herself to be hacked. I would like to ask why you did it." Squeeks laid down a ferocious dragon card and obliterated Amilia'sholy knight dressed in silver armour.

"What business is it of yours? What I do with my own programming and my master is none of your concern." Amilia now placed down a lizard king and vanquished the dragon Squeeks played, forcing it to re-digitalise into his stacked deck.

"Are you suggesting that I may not voice an opinion that affects both you and your master? The rules are quite clear when code and protocol is broken. What would possess you to go against hard code?" Squeeks gulped as Amilia's front claws came out of her paws.

"Unlike any of you weaklings, I knew my master could handle a level-three basic AI corrupter. I knew the risks, as do you all. It is all of you that should be ashamed for not helping your masters gain XP quicker. As a knowledge-based game guide, I'm appalled you didn't even think to break code. An added bonus of two hundred jacket potatoes happened to be the 'icing on the cake' as these humans say." Amilia thought of her food reward and forgot about deleting Squeeks for a few seconds. Until he opened his mouth.

"My, how your breed has fallen. Selling out your master and hard lines of code for simple food. Anyone of us knows what happens when you evade capture for so long. You are playing a most dangerous game. More dangerous than Brit." Squeeks yelped and backed up as Amilia stood up.

"If you don't shut that mouth of yours, I'm going to be changing my eating habits to little annoying blue mice." Amilia licked her lips as Squeeks rubbed his paws in a circular motion.

"Oh dear...oh dear. Nebs, she won't really try and eat me, right?" Squeeks looked terrified as he witnessed Nebs trying to merge into the background, skulking away out of view as he jumped down off the table. Nebs didn't know anyone as self-centred as his sister. Stuck up, selfish, and utterly wild.

All of the other game guides started to worry as Amilia walked over the cards towards Squeeks, who started to back up towards Nagori. Level meant nothing when your enemy could control your fear.