Avilien: Tutorial islands

Taken

Body trembling as sweat ran down his back, Lance steeled his resolve to hold his holy sword in a sweaty grip. Rajin prowled behind him, staying in his blindspots to make the young lad on edge. Padded feet made the game guide silent as he paced back and forth slipping in and out of Lance's vision giving just enough time for Lance to jump with every glimpse.

Lance knew he had no chance of getting to the god statue to teleport out of the area and his teleport crystal for Tutorial Islands had over an hour cooldown left. He couldn't beat Rajin, let alone Trix. What he could hope for now was a quick deletion and with that at the forefront of his scared brain, he would be damned if he was going to allow Targoon to suffer the same fate.

If not for Luke then none of the guild of Daggers members would have bonded to their game guides as they had now. Two years ago they were nothing but tools to aid them in adventures and battles. Lance even saw Targoon as data and nothing more. Now, Targoon was Lance's friend and one he would happily sacrifice his own life for.

"I'm sorry, little amigo. I got us into this mess," muttered Lance

Targoon still shaking like a leaf in autumn jolted with each loud snap of Rajin's powerful jaws.

"Do not fret master Lance. It has been an honour to have served you and an honour to be deleted beside you." Targoon sniffled as his little nostrils blocked up.

"Don't go getting so sad on me yet. This is where my adventure ends, not yours." Lance brought his head closer to Targoons and then patted Targoon on the back. With a wry smile and watery eyes, Lance consoled his guide.

"Strange to find you smiling and bonding with your guide in this predicament MasterMooch. I'll cut straight to the chase. We have a person of interest in common. Luke Wakefield," said Trix as he picked sleep from his eyes. "You know Luke, don't you MasterMooch? If I recall correctly, you lived in the same town, went to the same school, and used to bully him." Trix let loose an almighty yawn like it was an effort to talk.

Now looking at Trix as he started to fall asleep on the spot Lance took a deep breath.

"So not only do you know my real name, where I am from and what school I attended, you know some of my history and my gamer name. You're not from Islington yourself, and Luke should have had no contact with someone of your calibre. Forgive me, but this sounds a tad stalkerish."

"Well, I have known Luke a great deal of time. I am more acquainted with his character, Awesome Biscuit. Help me track him down. We can delete him together. Both of us have suffered at his hands and I can't be bothered to do all the leg work. I'd rather go back to sleep but Rajin won't let me." Trix yawned again, this time he attempted to cover his mouth.

Lance had no idea what Luke had done to Trix in the past, but he wasn't going to help him track down Luke so he could delete him. This was becoming the end for Lance as his mind came to terms with it. Unable to feel sadness, Lance looked into the sky and laughed.

"Did I say something funny?" Trix scratched the side of his face and his body seemed to wake now as he stood up straight.

"No not you, Trix. I find it funny that in the comics I used to read there were parts where the heroes would meet their demise or about to perish. They would often do the same thing; they would look into the sky and laugh beforehand. Like they knew it was coming and it was okay. They had accepted their fate. Now I find myself doing something so corny." Lance no longer shook with fear. He had steeled his resolve.

Knowing he could not best Trix, there was something Lance could do.

"Perish? Hero? Come now, do not speak so dramatically. I have not nearly had enough rum to deal with today. That said, we both know you're no hero MasterMooch. Help me locate Luke. There is no need for me to use these swords of mine," said Trix as he gripped his swords tighter.