The alluring shine draws me closer, as if I am almost in a trance. The orb of light sits precariously on the pillar of shadows. “Where there is shadow, there is light” the inscription said. “The owner can choose to not choose, but once the orb is chosen the light of destiny shall also be yours. But fail, and shadows will come hunting down your every move until no more.” Behind the stunning orb through was a nondescript fruit, a greyish purple slice with a jade green peel. I realized I was holding my breath, and let it out. The fruit. My quest for the past 3 years is finally fulfilled. I briskly walk past the golden orb and go to the fruit. A panel opens up in front of me.
[ 1/2 QUEST COMPLETED: FIND THE FRUIT OF HEALING]
[REWARD: +5 STATUS POINTS]
[REWARD: ITEM COLLECTED! FRUIT OF HEALING]
[REWARD: 20,000 XP]
[BONUS REWARD: FRUIT OF HEALING DIAMOND KNIFE]
[2/2 QUEST: HEAL YOUR BROTHER]
PENALTY: IF NOT FINISHED, THEN SURVIVE 3 HOURS IN AN INSTANT DUNGEON.
[REQUIREMENT:
- SAFELY MAKE IT BACK TO YOUR BROTHER IN ONE PIECE
- NO CONTACT WITH THE BROTHER DURING THE TRIP]
[POINTS GIVEN: 1250/1000]
REQUIREMENTS ACCOMPLISHED [500/250]
TIME TAKEN: [500/500]
DAMAGE DEALT: [500/500]
**SYSTEM IS CALCULATING GRADE OF MISSION AND QUALITY OF MISSION**
[MISSION GRADE: S]
[MISSION QUALITY: S+]
I take another deep breath before opening up my status panel
Cinnia Windbury
Int. 82 (avg. 35) ↑
Strength: 68 (avg. 35) ↑
Agility: 90 (avg. 35) ↑
Mana: 101 (avg. 35) ↑ (+1 from QUEST)
Wisdom: 45 (avg. 35)
Skills: Click to show
Status points left: 15 (+5 from QUEST)
XP: 121,012,300 (+20,000 from QUEST)
I use 3 points on strength and 2 on agility. I exit the panel and grab the fruit in one swift movement. I hide it under the folds of my leather armor. I feel the warmth of the fruit against my thin shirt. Finally, I have found the fruit. My thoughts wander to my brother. I let out a small smile thinking about how he goes on and on about plants. He would gasp in shock if he saw the fruit, I think. The orb is still laying. I took one glance at it and looked at the door that would let me out. The luminosity from the orb burns into my neck, almost angrily asking why I didn’t take it. I step towards the door. The orb is shocked, then dimmed. It was like it was thinking. I shake my head. What was I thinking? I stepped towards the door again, and the orb suddenly brightened and it almost blinded me. A burning sensation was on my hand, and I flailed. After a moment it was gone and the orb was in my hand. One hand held the fruit, on the other the orb. The inscription on the orb changed. It read “The destined one’s quest:
“You the one holding the orb of light
Shall go out to the Deep Jungle shall fight
To lose is unfathomable,
To win shall raze”
I blinked my eyes. The inscription was still there. I blinked again. Still there. I walked towards the pedestal and put the orb in its place. But it stuck to me like a magnet even though I put it where it belonged. I shook my arm to get it off. The orb stayed. Sighing, I put the orb in my inventory.
[INVENTORY: ORB OF LIGHT ADDED]
[SPACE USED IN INVENTORY: 36/50]
[RECENTLY USED ITEMS]
- Double bladed fang dagger
- Lightning Sword Used by Duke Ewington
- Blood Sword used by King of Giants
- 3x strength, healing potion (+50 hp)
I pull out my double bladed fang dagger and throw it at the wall. It was always a good balanced throwing dagger, but it seems to have shifted a bit to the right. It seemed my ordeal to get to the fruit took a toll on it. I sigh. Once again my thoughts drift off, this time to my mother. – I see her fair face dotted with freckles holding my arms as she is pulled away from me. “Stay strong”, she said. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you for longer. Take care of your brother,” she said with tears in her face.I hid in the floorspace under the porch. They pulled her away dragging her as her screams echoed and stabbed her. I shut my eyes tightly, the sound of her screams still in my ears. The knights come back to our house appraising all the loot they saw. My brother was hidden under the folds of the blanket, a rag that was well past its time. They didn’t notice him. I breathed a sigh of relief as they walked straight past my brother, still sleeping soundlessly. They left after all that was left of the house was wood. All the paintings my mother drew, all the vases my mom collected, and all the jewelry she made, all of it was gone, looted away. I cry softly to myself. Will my mom be forever gone? What about Jason, my brother? He won’t ever see mom or her things. A quiet hum is in the room. It was so soft I didn’t notice it at first. I look around the room for the source. I walk all over, but the sound seems to be coming from everywhere. I look down and see a quartz pink gem glowing! My mothers necklace she always wore. She put it around my neck before she- A noise. It is outside the door. Startled, I looked around me then back at the dook. I quietly stalk closer towards the door and open my inventory. “Open stealth items!”
[INVENTORY: STEALTH ITEMS]
[ITEMS in STEALTH 9/10]
[STEALTH CLOAK]
[ASSASSIN’S DAGGER]
[DISGUISES:]
Open disguises, I say praying I have an ogre stealth suit. I hear more scratching from the door, and recognize it has to be an ogre. “Open”, I command the tall, majestic doors. -read the next chapter next month!-
