Ona: The Memory

Level 3

I watched Ona run deeper into the forest to the highest peak and paused when she reached a steps of the mountain above the tree line.

Loaf said, “Are we level 1 or 2 in the game?”

I said, “The adventure games have one common theme, a story goal. I think the Ona needed a hero to rescue the world.”

Loaf said, “From what?”

I laughed. “The game will give us hints of her true nature.”

Loaf mumbled about the game controls being too confusing as he climbed the steep hill. “The game is so frustrating!”

I watched my best friend stumble and roll down the hill, get back to his feet and repeat the same comedy routine. “Stand still and let me take control.”

The path led to a stone tower perched on an outcropping of rock and the mysterious woman laughed when she entered the small door at the base.

The tower was a blend of white and red stones, about five stories with a spiraling group of windows along the side. The well worn path lead to the entrance.

“Stop where you are!” said a little old man standing at the entrance.

I studied the tower. “The name is Bromme.”

I watched Loaf approach the door. “Mind if we go inside the tower old man?”

“Respect your elders, “said the man. “The tower is a prop on a stage.”

I watched Loaf repeat the same mistake. “Do you mind if we take a look inside?”

The little old man was furious and stepped back into the tower. “I’m the king of the Crystal Breakers. Do you have a ticket? No? Goodbye.” The tower door was slammed shut with the sharp crack of wood on stone.

I ran to the entrance and convinced Loaf to help me open the tower door.

The rotting wood pulled free of the hinges and dropped to the ground. The tower crumbled into dust and he jumped free of the crumbling stones.

“I’m free!” yelled a voice in the clouds of dust. “I was trapped when I entered the tower without permission.”

The share screen link flashed a message. “Rescue successful, hero status granted.”

The ice blue eyes of a middle-aged woman stood in the rubble of the tower. The white armor plating of the armor and a long blue cape hinted at the paladin character class.

“I’m a player called the Source Aura.”

Loaf reached down to help the young woman stand. “How long were you here?”

“Five months according to the game world time. I heard the game was discontinued and logged out.”

I scanned the crumbled ruins for signs of other adventurers.

The Source Aura said, “The rescue was a fun surprise, but we need to get moving.”

“Why,” I said feeling no sense of urgency. “I doubt there are other real players in the game.”

Loaf said, “The tutorial castle was filled with people.”

The Source Aura said, “Non-player characters. I was the last real player to complete the castle tutorial before the announcement. The game started locking new players inside a loop of failure on the tutorial level.”

“I’m Bromme and this is Loaf.”

“Greetings adventurers.”

I continued when the man smiled. “Loaf bought the game on sale,” I said pointing to my large friend, “He asked me to be his guide.”

Loaf said, “Hey, I can’t afford to buy new gear so I bought a discontinued game. I wanted to adventure in a virtual reality fantasy game and what better place than a game with no other players?”

Ona appeared in a window near the top of the tower. She yelled, “Run!”

The sound of armor clanking and racing up the hill reached the players.

Loaf was the first to spot her, a tall brunette with deep red armor plating ran out of the forest and climbed the tundra slope with unnatural speed. 

“Return to the castle at once,” said the Red Fox Knight.

The Source Aura grabbed hold of the adventures and pulled them down a short flight of steps into the space once occupied by the tower. “The collapse opened a path to level 3. Goodbye friends.”

Loaf refused to enter the darkness and broke free of the young woman’s strong grip. He pounded a gloved fist into the stone wall of the cave and the entrance collapsed, rubble and dust fell onto the narrow staircase. 

The Source Aura pulled a torch from the wall and whispered a spell. The torch sparked to life and she looked at her companions. “Emotion is the end and the beginning!”

I recalled hearing the mysterious guide repeat the same advice at the start of the game. “Are you Ona?”

“No, I’m an online player with a legacy premium subscription. I practice the game in my free time.”

The Red Forest Knight was heard outside calling for the adventures to surrender and return to Castle Bromme.

The Source Aura laughed. “The Red Forest Knight is the security guard.” She dropped the torch and sat down, then began to sing a high pitched melody.

The crystal shards vibrated and shook until a rain of crystals dropped like daggers closing the path to the tower entrance.

The Source Aura pointed to the darkness at the end of the hall. “Let’s see what we can find in the dungeon.”

The cavern had smooth white walls and green slime on every surface.

I looked around and noticed my hands glowing a neon green with slime dripping from my fingers. “New skill?”

The Source Aura laughed. “The slime covers the walls. It looks like you’re immune to the danger.”

Ona stood alone in the shadows of the cavern. “Level 4.”

© J. Bateman

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