One: The Memory
Level 4
I could see no immediate danger and encouraged Loaf to explore the dungeon.
The Source Aura followed close at his side to give advice, while holding a staff to light the tunnels.
I looked around for any sign of Ona, but she vanished without a trace.
I noticed a change in pattern of crystals embedded in the tunnel walls, like small jewels decorating a palace, and waited for a monster attack. I was feeling confident about Loaf handling the attack when a group of small bearded creatures appeared and guided my friend into the dungeon.
The Red Forest Knight dropped into the cavern holding a torch before I chase down the creatures. “Found you!”
The Source Aura was in pursuit of Loaf and vanished.
I tried to walk around the Knight and she blocked the tunnel.
The Source Aura grumbled about taking too long to decide, then pulled him into the dark cavern beyond the doors.
I shouted into the darkness when I sensed Ona watching. “The warrior woman is back. Did you command her to stop me?”
The Red Forest Knight said, “I am the guardian of Castle Bromme and you must return with me at once!”
Ona said, “Are you going to help your friend or battle the knight?”
“No, the knight is a distraction.”
The Red Forest Knight screamed, “I’m nothing more than a distraction to you?”
I continued to address Ona and turned away from the knight. “The creatures appeared to be giving Loaf a tour of the dungeon and this knight is distraction.”
Ona laughed while the knight stood her ground with a short sword pointed directly at me, inching closer for the planned attack. “The Source Aura commanded those dwarves to appear in the dungeon level. She wants your friend to demonstrate his fighting skills with a boss monster in the Crystal Breakers treasure room. I’m impressed with his ability to partner with skilled players.”
I blocked a series of half-hearted attacks from the knight as Ona watched from a safe distance. I shouted over the clash of metal blades in the narrow tunnel. “In the real world, Loaf does not have the confidence to speak to women. He started chatting with the Source Aura the moment she appeared. I watched her share a link and when he accepted, she took over the connection.”
“And how do you know this?” said Ona as she stepped into the light of the crystal cavern and pushed the large wood paneled doors closed.
“Loaf shares the account with me, so I can watch his progress in the game. I think the Source Aura is trying to close the connection I share with Loaf and control his character.”
Ona said, “The game designers stopped the problem of password sharing with a brilliant software update. The Red Forest Knight. I think she is attacking because you share a link with your friend and the Source Aura shares a link with your friend. The game system is sending warnings to Castle Bromme. It appears there are two groups connected with a shared link.”
The knight connected with a sudden attack.
I searched the game menu for healing spells.
The knight reached out to strike and I dodged the attached. “Do you like cheese and crackers?”
The knight stood confused and the character vanished from the dungeon.
The floor rumbled and the crystals in the cave flickered, then burst into glittering dust. The dust settled and small creatures stood in the cave holding large iron hammers.
“Should I run?”
The rumble increased to a near deafening volume. I could see a parade of blurred creatures step into the dim light of the caverns and vanish before forming into recognizable shapes.
Ona said, “The game world is breaking. The Source Aura reached the treasure room and disconnected the security modules. Oh good, the Tower Hill fairies have gathered to repair the damage to the entrance. The path to the surface is open.”
I quickly left the dungeon level and returned to the surface.
Ona stood at my side to watch the fairies rebuild the tower.
The knight shouted from the tree line and raced up the hill to the tower. “Intruders!”
Ona smiled. “Level 5.”
© J. Bateman
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