Chapter 4: I'm Alive, Please Don't Delete Me
BOOM.
....She's enjoying this too much.
BOOOM.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOOM.
...Way too much. Should I stop her?
BOOM BOOM BOOM.
Normally it takes Players a few months to get the skill she's using now. But with my help, she got it in just a week, thanks to the acquisition of the Hammer of Honor. And this is how she uses it?
"Careful!"
"Watch out!!"
"There's a crazy Player in the marketplace!"
"Where are the Guards...?"
"Ugh, is that the Dragon's Lightning skill? What a waste..."
"I thought only mages could use that skill..."
"Take that!! And that and that and that, you sleazy good for nothing boyfriend stealer..." the girl ranted as she repeatedly cast Dragon's Lightning on Providence. Obviously it didn't do anything to her, but I don't think Nadiya cared.
"Do you see her level? How'd she get that skill already??"
"Hacker! Someone get the Admins!!"
"I'm recording this, bitch. There's no way someone new has that skill yet. You're such a hacker, you're gonna get banned for this!!"
"LOL. What an idiot. She's actually using a hacked skill in public."
"Someone bring the Admins. We need a ban hammer in here."
"Is she doing this for views on Viewtube or something?"
"Ban her IP already. What a faggot. He's probably a guy in real life, you know."
These Players were not responding as they should, I noticed. I wanted them to see her and come to me in search of that skill, it should still be highly sought after. Instead they seem to hate her and that was not going to help me. Why did it turn out this way? I wondered at this turn of events as the Players around her jeered and made evil comments. This was not going to plan. This was not going to help me.
I felt someone staring at me. I looked around. Providence was the only one looking in my direction, but she always was and yet she was never looking at me. For a fraction of a second it looked as though her eyes were soulless, but no; they held the same sparkling cheerfulness they always did. Then Nadiya blocked my view.
"Questgiver Seb, what's the next quest??" Nadiya asked cheerfully as she poked the air before her, checking over my quest sheet. "I want something good... oh, here's a recommended quest, this one looks good but I like the rewards of the other one better...."
The background music played. The wind blew softly against the objects and structures of the VR world. In that one moment, it all looked as if it had been made for her, the cutest and most violent Furman in the entire region of Aethis. But then the moment passed and everything was normal again. Nadiya was just another Player, no different from the rest. Ten more levels and she would no longer be a foundling of the Furman tribe; she would be able to choose her skin and therefore her Traits. Yes. She needed to level up fast.
She needed to bring me more Players.
"Player Nadiya, may I suggest a quest."
"Yes?" She questioned, looking up at me in surprise.
"Player Nadiya, based on your race and level, the King's Own is the recommended quest for you."
She's glaring at me and raising her hammer. I ignore it. I am an NPC, I cannot be damaged.
"Being one of the King's Own, you will have easier access to resources and equipment. You will level up faster. It will take less than a month to complete." As I finished saying this, the thunder and lightning struck. And it hurt.
It hurt?
Too stunned to speak, or scream, I simply fall to the ground; the animation that plays shows my front side blackened to charcoal as I fall down in a funny pose. I lay there for exactly three seconds, then I stand up again and brush myself off, unharmed. She just does it again.
"This is interesting. Why doesn't it work on Providence, but it works on you?" She asked calmly, even curiously. She doesn't wait until I get back up before hitting me with the Dragon's Lightning again. And again.
I should never have guided her to that skill, I thought as I screamed and my animation looped. Finally it ended. She must have gotten bored because now she stared at me until I stood up again.
"Player Nadiya, may I suggest--"
Everything froze. The wind, the music. My speech. Nadiya's hands. Providence's clothes.
Nothing moved.
Except Providence was looking at me.