-Remember that mid-term exams are just around the corner. -said the teacher looking at the class. -I hope everyone will make an effort.
Silvana closed the book and stretched her arms over the desk. The school bell had rung and the students began to get up from their seats and put their belongings in their bags to go home.
-Sil.
-What's going on Paula? -asked the girl turning around.
-Are you really going to stay in The Order? I heard that only yesterday about five of the eight remaining clans in Jenne dissolved. -asked a tired-looking student resting her head on the desk. -If this keeps up...
At school it was mandatory that each student's avatars be exact representations of their real persons, so Silvana was an ordinary human with dark brown hair and a white headband that made her hair fall back freely. -I have to help them. -replied the girl melancholically. -They did a lot for me and it's up to me to return the favor.
The young woman known as Paula sighed. -I don't like The Empire either... they have all these lists of rules and codes of honor that are a nuisance to respect... they say The Swarm is much more fun and without annoying rules.
-There's nothing fun about killing other players for no reason at all. -replied Silvana in a tense voice. -What these guys are doing is cruel, not only to the players, but to Calypso himself.
-Again with the ecology thing. -her friend reproached her. -It's a virtual world, Sil, you don't have to take care of the trees and the whales like you do on a real planet.
But the girl was not convinced and instead looked at the landscape through the window. -It could be a simulation. -She said. -But it is the world we live in and we must protect it. Didn't you know that we players have complete control over the planet?
Her friend sighed again. -You think like a druid even when you are out of the game.
Before the young woman could answer anything a third student approached them showing a screen displayed from her pad.
-Look at this. -she said, pointing to the image.
It was a screenshot of Calypso showing the mountains and some forest. In the upper left corner there was a little white dot that was quite out of focus.
-What's that supposed to be? -asked Silvana.
-In the web, it is said that several people saw that NUNS plane flying over south of Jenne.
Paula averted her eyes from the image and looked at Silvana. -Isn't that where you're going to train your Druid skills? -she asked.
-I... I think so. -She answered confused.
-Supposedly, it' s a military Seer. -said the girl who had just arrived. -No one knows who the pilot of that plane is or what his role is up in the sky.
Silvana was about to say something, but a fourth student approached the group. -If that plane were just flying around, it wouldn't bother anyone. -said the boy pointing to the white dot. -But apparently yesterday he killed a player in that area.
-Ma-Masao? -exclaimed Paula, blushing. -I-I didn't see you coming!
Masao was one of the most handsome boys in Silvana's class and rarely came close to talking to them... except, of course, when he tried to recruit them (without much success until then) for his own division of players in The Empire.
-You're always going to train in that forest, aren't you, Silvana? -asked the attractive young man looking at the girl. -Did you see anything?
Silvana didn't like that boy's attitude and his recruitment tactics. Almost all the girls who had entered the Empire in her class had done so convinced by Masao and his sweet words. -I was in the woods all afternoon. -She said visibly upset, looking away from the young man's green eyes. -I saw nothing.
The boy nodded silently and took out his own pad from one of his pockets. -What a pity. A direct testimony would be something more interesting than the simple rumors that circulate through social networks... however, interesting things have appeared, this is a digital reconstruction that someone made using several different screenshots of people who saw that plane.
The image that appeared on the screen of Masao's pad was a slightly lighter pixel shot, but the shape of the plane was recognizable, at least the wings and the two huge engines were standing out against the blue sky of Calypso.
Silvana extended her hand and using her index finger and thumb zoomed in on the image in the area near the cockpit, trying to distinguish the figure of poor Dante trapped by the robot's hand...
-What are you looking for? -asked Paula intrigued.
-Nothing. -exclaimed Silvana quickly, returning the image to its original size.
Masao looked at the girl with the white headband again. -Some said that the fighter was with his arms out... as if he were carrying something in one of his hands. -He said.
-That wouldn't be uncommon. -exclaimed the other girl. -I heard that the military kidnaps players to use them in experiments and then erases their memory.
-I heard that they recruit the best players and take them away to train them secretly on a base on one of the moons. -Paula commented. -They want to create brainwashed Super Soldiers to carry out the most horrific orders without any fuss.
Silvana sighed in exhaustion. -Do you seriously believe in those silly urban legends?
Masao turned off the screen of the Pad and hit the surface of Paula's desk with his finger. -Behind all those legends there may be some truth... lights have been seen in certain parts of the Calypso sky on the darkest nights without the moons and some say they were explosions, as if there was a fight in the planet's orbit. That can only be military activities, although who knows what the real reason is.
By then, several girls had joined the group attracted by Masao's presence and all of them were commenting something about the illicit and unethical activities of the NUNS military who, apparently, had agents and perhaps a whole army of robots ready to attack and repress any focus of dissidence in the video game. Silvia had enough of that and continued to keep her books.
-Do you want to come to the mall after school? -asked Paula, turning to her friend.
Silvana shook her head. -I have to study for the exams and then I promised to do a couple of sessions in the city catacombs to raise some money for the Clan.
-Boring...
The young woman stood up from her desk and took her bag. -I'm sure we'll find a way through the crisis. -she said hopefully. -See you tomorrow.
-Don't stay up too late. -Her friend replied, but Silvana had already left the classroom in a hurry. Masao watched her silently and apologized, leaving several of the girls sighing.
-Since when did Masao become interested in this girl?
The question surprised Paula who turned around and saw that the questioner was the same girl who had shown the image of the little white dot in the landscape. Before she could answer, another young woman did it for her. -Didn't you know? That girl has a Voldorian Druid in Calypso with almost perfect Stats... all the clans fight to have her in their ranks but she only joins a group of losers from the starting town.
-It seemed to me that such a handsome boy could not be interested in someone so... common. -replied another student with a haughty attitude. -He's only interested in her for her skill points, how lucky some people are.
Paula clenched her fists but held back. She wanted to slap each one of those idiots, but she knew that in the simulation that wasn't possible. Her punch would only be a visual one and none of them felt anything at all; moreover, their violent action would immediately be reported to the nearest teacher as a violation of the school's rules of conduct.
-Excuse me. -She said instead getting up from her desk while she was picking up her things. She felt sick and wanted to get out of there right away.
Meanwhile Silvana, oblivious to all this, had arrived at the school entrance.
She was not allowed to connect to Calypso from there (except in some special cases where teachers and students performed some coordinated activity with the game administrators) so it was not unusual to see students disappearing in an explosion of pixels as they passed from one "universe" to the other as they passed through the entrance to the school.
Silvana was a player who was used to connecting from her own home, simply for the comfort of being able to be near her family when she left the game.
"Near" and "Far" were concepts that, within the 41st Fleet Simulation, were completely meaningless. Silvana opened her navigation interface and selected her default transportation destination. Immediately a blue light halo surrounded her and instantly appeared in front of her house.
She opened the door and entered while selecting the closet change option from her interface by simple hand gestures. Her high school uniform disappeared in a cloud of light and was replaced by her home clothes, a T-shirt and pink shorts and slippers. From the headband that held her hair came two cat ears of the same color as her hair.
-I'm home! -she exclaimed towards the dining room, where she distinguished the figure of her father sitting at the table. -And Mom?
The man placed the pad on the table. -She's in the middle of a raid with some friends, I think she's got another hour at Calypso. How was school today?
-Uneventful. -replied the young woman. -Now I'm going to study for the exams and then I'm going to go in and do some leveling.
-I'll let you know an hour before dinner is ready. -his father advised. -So you'll have time to finish what you're doing.
-Okay.
Silvana walked up the stairs and went to her room. Once inside, she sat down in front of her desk and after selecting some soft music on her user interface to study, she concentrated on the trigonometry problems that caused her so many headaches.
Meanwhile, the afternoon progressed in City 41 and the sky was turning pink as the last students and employees teleported home. With no traffic on the streets the city was extremely quiet and the sound of wind and birds could be heard from almost anywhere. Only the crowds of people in the shopping malls, cinemas and entertainment venues could feel like a real metropolis.
It was the time when most of the Colonists from the 41st Fleet entered Calypso and while the activity decreased in the simulated city, the actions that would lead to new wars, treaties and betrayals began to be woven into the fantasy world.
The Clanhalls were filled with adventurers, spells and potions were prepared and the parties armed. Everyone was preparing for a new night of adventure, hoping to become, in one way or another, the heroes that would mark the destiny of that simulated world.
Calypso was a game that was taken very seriously, at least by those who dedicated most of their lives to mastering the secrets of the intricate simulation of the fantasy realm.
But let's leave aside (for a moment at least) Calypso's geopolitics and go back to Silvana, who closed her workbook and watched the sunset from her half-open window. The curtains moved gently in the breeze as the light tinted her room pink.
-I wonder if Dante is all right. -She said looking at the poster of Calypso where a powerful warrior appeared wielding a large sword while the flames of a huge black dragon roared around the hero.
Without waiting for an answer she stood up and stopped in the middle of the room and invoked her user interface to enter the game.
She appeared in her room on the upper floor of the ClanHall, in the same place where she had unwrapped herself the night before. She didn't see Mirna anywhere, and judging by how late it was, surely the others had already started walking the catacombs of the city in search of monsters to defeat.
Without wasting another moment she left the room and went down the stairs to the main hall. She found it deserted even though the fireplace was still lit. She then headed for the barracks, where the adventurers prepared before leaving for their training missions.
Mirna was there, as well as Alex and Matilda. The Voldorian archer waved her ears as soon as she heard her friend's footsteps in the corridor and was the first to greet her at the door.
-Hi Mirna... hi guys, sorry I'm late. -She apologized with a short bow. -I've been studying a little bit for the exams.
-Dummy, you don't have to apologize. -she was reproached by the Windermere swordswoman. -Your priority is study, not this damn game.
The young woman looked around. -The others are already in the catacombs? -she asked.
Alex and Matilda looked at each other for a moment. -Walter put together a party a little earlier and they must be well inside the maze, where the monsters with the best "loot" are, -he said. -We weren't enough to have a second party.
Silvana's ears fell off in response to the change in her mood. -Don't tell me that...
-Four. -said Matilda, raising her hand with her fingers up, indicating the number of members who had left the clan. -The two mestizo brothers, the dog's boy and a human rogue.
-Oh no. -exclaimed the young woman.
-It is all right," said Alex, sheathing his newly sharpened sword. -Don't worry, we'll recruit new members. ... This is only a temporary problem.
From the way the swordsman looked at the young man, Silvana knew she thought exactly the opposite.
-Nya? -exclaimed Mirna, resting her head on Silvana's chest.
The young woman patted her friend's head. -Don't worry, Mirna, everything will be fine. I'm sure more players will join and we'll be able to have more friends in the clan.
-You'd better get ready, Silvana. -said Matilda pointing to one of the trunks where the adventurers' equipment was kept. -Rita finished repairing your clothes and they're ready in that chest.
-Right away. -exclaimed the young woman as she stepped away from the young cat girl. -Wait for me a moment, Mirna.
-Nya!
Silvana took her adventure clothes and found that the repairs made by the young human had even given her tunic an extra durability bonus. Using the inventory she also collected her druid staff and checked the maximum charge level on the weapon's information panel. As she suspected it was completely full, in fact it rarely discharged at more than half its capacity.
-I'm ready. -she exclaimed once all her clothes were equipped in the inventory and on her character sheet.
Alex looked at her and nodded silently. -Well, with the four of us it will be enough to clean the first five levels, when we reach the end of the fifth we will evaluate our reserves and health to decide whether to continue or not. Are we in agreement?
-Sounds like a good plan to me. -Matilda answered. -Although I'm a little worried about Silvana... there aren't many plants down there and it's possible that her magic will burn out too soon.
-I'll take an extra ration of crystals just in case. -said Alex, feeling one of the many pockets in his hardened leather armor. -That will do it... I hope.
The four-player party left the ClanHall and headed into the now almost deserted street towards the center of town. They passed with their heads down before the silent building where the glorious Scarlet Knights once dominated the neighborhood with the sound of their laughter and shouts every time they gathered in the huge party hall to honor a victory on the battlefield.
Soon they reached the wall that gave access to the center of the city and saw that the barrier was up. At that time there were many adventurers heading for the different destinations around the city and the traffic was too dense for the Empire's guards to check the players one by one.
The market was bustling with activity and the group of friends soon found themselves surrounded by players and NPC's who were shouting for their merchandise.
-I don't like this at all. -said Matilda. -Look at those prices.
-Ten percent more expensive than yesterday. -said the party leader. -The Empire's new taxes have already impacted the city's economy.
Silvana looked at a small stall mounted on a cart where a Windermerian merchant was selling healing potions. -These prices are far beyond the reach of a player just starting the game. -she reasoned.
Alex had already done the calculations in his head. It takes about twenty level-five monsters on average to buy one of those potions. -he said, shaking his head. -Someone who's just starting out with a level one character couldn't afford one of those potions until they were at least level seven or eight.
They went through several stalls and the same scenario was repeated not only with the different potions, weapons, armor and every item that could be equipped or used on a character.
Everything that could be traded had increased its base price by ten to twenty percent.
-This is a disaster. -said Alex. -With a scenario like this, a new player has no choice but to join a Clan as soon as possible or he won't be able to afford the cost of his adventures.
Matilda nodded. -Just another form of pressure from the Empire. -she said, shaking her head. -Are the administrators going to do nothing?
-No, they can't do anything. -replied the young man. The self-regulation of the economy is part of the core of the game. Any attempt to artificially manipulate would go against the commitment the developer made to the players.
-Tss. -exclaimed the swordsman. -At least it's comforting to know that there aren't many new players left to join Calypso... How long before the long-range FOLD starts? A week?
-Ten days. -replied Alex. -Once all the Macross 41 crew members have entered the pods there will be no new players in the game...
-That means we have to recruit people now or never. -exclaimed Silvana as Mirna nodded her head. -This is our last chance.
-Good luck with that. -Matilda sighed. -The Empire is already "Camping" the rookie respawn.
Indeed, on the esplanade where the main temple was located there were the pedestals on which the new players were teleported when they entered the new world. A crowd of guards and high level adventurers were around each of the platforms and welcomed the newcomers kindly but insistently in the hope of recruiting them immediately.
Some of the newcomers tried to get away from the insistent recruiters, but they were followed throughout the city while they kept "advising" and "warning" the newcomer about the dangers of leaving the city alone.
-They disgust me. -Matilda said when she saw a group of five fully armed and steel-armored warriors harassing a young woman who had just arrived, armed only with a simple wooden stick.
Silvana looked at the crowd to witness this and suddenly she felt that someone was taking her arm.
-I told you that I don't need to change Cla...! -she shouted, turning to what she thought was another thug from the Empire who wanted to recruit her by force, but suddenly she found herself facing a relatively familiar face.
-Silvana? Is it really you? asked Dante, poking his head between two full-shell guards who had him surrounded.
-Dante?
The young man bent down and passed between the legs of the guard in front of him. -Sorry, said as he slipped away.
-Hey! -Come back here! -exclaimed one of the guards, but one of his companions grabbed him by the shoulder. -Leave him, he's only a human warrior, we have plenty of those already. -he said contemptuously.
Silvana led the young man to his friends who were surprised to see the newcomer. Mirna stopped her ears and looked curiously at the stranger, almost as if she were smelling him.
-This is Dante. -She said stopping in front of the group. -I think I just rescued him from the clutches of the Empire.
The young man bowed to the group of adventurers. -I'm Dante and I've just entered the game. Thanks for rescuing me from those... guys, I think. -he said, looking at Silvana. -Were those the ones from the Empire?
Alex stepped forward and extended a hand. -Welcome to Calypso, Dante. -he said. -My name is Alex and I'm the leader of the Order.
Dante shook the young man's hand firmly. -Thank you. -he replied. -Are you Silvana's friends?
-I see you already know our Druid. -commented the Swordsman. -My name is Matilda and this is Mirna. -She said, pointing to the other cat-girl.
-Nyan. -The newly named girl answered.
Silvana stepped forward and took the young man's hands. -I'm glad you accepted my proposal to become a character... So you are a human warrior?
-It seems so. -replied the young man.
-We were about to make a dungeon to collect gold and items... you could come with us to level up quickly. -exclaimed the young Druid. -What do you think, Alex?
The young man with the glasses looked at Dante thoughtfully. -I think he should do the game tutorial first and familiarize himself with the interface and all that... taking him with us could be dangerous.
-And leave him again at the mercy of those idiots in the Empire? -No way! -exclaimed Matilda. -I think this kid has literally fallen from the sky and we should help him get to know the game.
-Well, before you decide anything, let me add you as a friend. -said Silvana opening her interface. Dante did the same and the request came immediately.
-Click on the option to share contacts. -explained the cat-girl. -That way you can see everyone on the map.
Dante obeyed the girl's instructions and immediately his contact list grew to a dozen names.
-Now accept the invitation to our Party.
Again the boy obeyed and suddenly the information that was displayed over the heads of his four new friends expanded before his eyes.
-What the hell? -exclaimed Matilda when she saw Dante's information. -Why do you have only one point of life?
Dante scratched his head. -I suppose I have already done something wrong. -he acknowledged. -This game seems very complicated.
Alex and Matilda looked at each other in confusion. -Okay, it doesn't matter. -replied the young man with the glasses. -Silvana... go with Dante to the temple and use the baptismal fountain at the entrance so he can regain all his life points, we can't spend a potion now.
-I understand. -replied the young woman. -Come with me Dante.
-Nyan? -exclaimed the cat girl looking worriedly at her friend.
-I'll be back soon. -she said, stroking the girl's head. -Wait for me here with the others, okay?
-Nya.
The two left for the temple confident that they would not be disturbed by the Empire's harassers now that they were at a party. In fact, no one bothered them and they soon arrived at the esplanade where the huge stone building in Gothic style dominated the city square.
A small crowd had gathered at the entrance of the temple, mostly adventurers without a clan who had just arrived from a raid and were looking for fast and free healing, either to recover their life points or to eliminate some disease or curse obtained during their monster hunt.
As Jenne was a small town, the local temple only had a baptismal fountain where they could be healed and a line had formed in front of it. Dante and Silvana stood at the end and waited patiently for their turn.
-Silvana.
-What happens Dante?
The young man looked to both sides of the aisle and bent over the young woman. -I need to ask you something very important... Have you told anyone what happened yesterday? -he asked.
The young woman was a little disturbed by the proximity of the boy but shook her head. -N-no. -she said. -I only told Minra that I had met you in the forest, but I didn't tell her about the giant or the airplane...
Dante sighed with relief. -Thank God. -he exclaimed.
-Is something wrong?
The boy shook his head. -My boss would kill me if he knew that rumors had already started about what happened yesterday.
Silvana was tempted to tell him that the rumors had indeed already begun to circulate, but at least she had nothing to do with it.
Dante bent over the young woman even more and Silvana blushed completely. -I need you to keep the secret from me for now. -he said in a whisper. -I'm supposed to participate in Calypso as a player without drawing too much attention to myself.
Well, at least in that part Dante had already begun to fail. thought the young woman. -You don't have to talk in my ear. -she said, taking a step back. -We're in a private chat room, no one can hear us.
Dante hit his forehead with the palm of his hand. -Oh, shoot... sorry Silvana... I didn't mean to...
The young woman laughed at that. -Don't worry Dante... I understand you.
By then it was his turn and the young man placed his hands on the fountain that stood next to the ceremonial altar. As soon as he touched the transparent water a golden glow enveloped him and his bar of life was immediately filled again.
-Was that all the damage you received yesterday? -asked the young woman.
-No, this was caused by a war hammer. -replied the young man as he came down from the altar.
-A hammer...?
Dante shrugged. -Did I tell you that I have a terrible boss?
Silvana meditated for a few seconds. -So you work for the military? -she asked cautiously.
-No," answered the young man sharply. -Although indirectly I must deal with them... well, with at least ONE of them.
The young woman recalled the attitude of the NUNS pilot who had taken Dante so violently during their meeting. -That pilot...?
-Ah, Lieutenant O'Higgins... she's a good person, we just had a little misunderstanding when we met, that's all... that's all, I ask you please don't talk about it anymore, I'm afraid my boss will hit me again.
Silvana bowed to the young man. -I promise I won't bother you with my questions anymore. -she said. -But... I'm glad nothing has happened to you. -She added with a smile.
-Thank you Silvana, I'm also glad that things were able to go well yesterday... I suppose that destiny somehow brought us together in that meadow.
When they left the temple esplanade they immediately went to where Alex and the others were waiting for them next to one of the huge teleportation portals.
-Everything in order? -asked Matilda when she saw them both arrive.
-Ready. -Silvana answered as Minra immediately stood between her and Dante.
The party leader looked at Dante for a second and then turned to the others. -Make a final check to make sure you haven't forgotten anything. Equipment and supplies are priority, scrolls and runes are optional.
Dante made sure that communication between him and Silvana was private before speaking. -He's a good leader," he said, turning to the Druid. -You can tell he knows what he's doing.
The young woman nodded enthusiastically.
-Everything seems to be in order. -The swordsman confirmed that everyone was ready.
-Well, I'll start the teleportation for all of us together. -The young man with the glasses looked up as he approached the liquid surface of the device with a shining rune in his hand. Ready? Go!
When the light went out Dante saw that they were in a huge cavern. The first thing he felt was the sound of a stream of water on his left and as he looked there he saw the waterfall falling from above into a dark abyss. -Where are we? -he asked.
Alex discovered a lamp and everyone could see better. -We are under the city," he answered. -Jenne is built on the ruins of an ancient citadel abandoned many thousands of years ago.
Saying this, the leader raised the lamp and directed the beam of light into the darkness in front of them. A huge stone arch half collapsed and appeared in the shadows. -Further ahead there is some more light, only the access tunnel is this dark.
-I will go ahead. -said Matilda. -Mirna, Silvana and Dante go in the middle, Alex will close the march.
The young warrior looked at the darkness. -Is there danger in this area? -he asked.
-Only if you fall into the abyss. -replied Silvana. -That's why you'd better go downtown with us.
Alex nodded. -When we cross dangerous terrain we adopt a type of formation that allows us to protect each other in case of an ambush. There's no danger here, but it's good for us to practice the different formations.
-Nyan! -exclaimed Mirna.
They advanced through the tunnel and after passing under what was left of the stone arch, the path became so narrow that, at one point, they had to walk slowly and in a row across a narrow stone bridge that crossed the abyss where the water from the surface was precipitated. After penetrating a new tunnel and making a couple of turns, always with the impression of descending continuously, they arrived at a more open area, a larger cavern where they soon distinguished the lights of various bonfires.
-This is the last safe area before entering the dungeon -Alex explained, pointing to the ruins at the bottom of the huge cavern. -Some hardcore players usually camp here for days to quickly level their characters without leaving the area.
They saw about four groups of adventurers who had set up makeshift camps around the fires. One of them caught Dante's attention, where there seemed to be several injured people.
-Rita? -exclaimed Matilda running to the fire. -What happened? Is everyone all right?
They all ran after the Windermerian and soon arrived at the campfire. There were five players there and they were all injured to a greater or lesser degree. Except for one of them, they all showed almost completely exhausted life bars. The young woman whom Matilda had called Rita was bandaging the head of a huge warrior whose armor was cracked in several places.
The warrior looked up and saw the young man with white hair and glasses arrive. -Alex. -he said. -I'm glad you finally arrived.
Silvana arrived running and immediately unfurled her wooden staff. A blue light shone on the gem set at the end of it and bright runes danced around the Druid.
-Healing! -she exclaimed.
The five adventurers shone for a moment and their life rods filled up to almost half, recovering some of the characteristic green hue.
-Thank you Silvana. -exclaimed the human named Rita, -I was already running out of bandages.
Alex approached the bonfire and bowed to the warrior. -What happened in there, Walter? -he asked.
But the warrior did not answer and only glanced at Dante. -Who is he? -he asked, putting himself on guard.
-It's Dante, it's his first day at Calypso. -replied Matilda. -He was recruited by Silvana, or so I think. -She added.
The big man smiled. -I hope he doesn't get the wrong impression when he sees us all broken up like this. -He said.
-What happened? -asked Silvana. -Did they go too far down...?
Rita shook her head. -No... just the opposite. -She said. -We had to escape from level twelve.
Alex and Matilda looked at each other in confusion. -Level Twelve?
Two of Walter's party members were mages. One of them pointed out the entrance to the catacomb. -We ran out of mana in the middle of one of the rooms and had to retreat while being attacked non-stop. If it weren't for Walter's Constitution that endured all the damage without receiving healing support, we wouldn't have been able to get out of there alive.
Alex frowned. -Out of mana? How is that possible? Didn't they take the backup supplies as...?
In response, the fifth member of Walter's group, a human assassin who was wrapped in a ragged black robe, threw several empty glass jars to the ground. -We used them all before the tenth room was finished. -he replied.
-Impossible. -exclaimed Matilda. -There are no enemies so powerful before level ten and you are strong enough to...
-The enemies were not the problem. -said Rita. -It's the crystals.
-The crystals?
The human stood up and approached the young man with the glasses. -I'll show you, add me to your party.
Alex accessed his interface and with a few hand movements added the young human to the group. Everyone could see that his manna bar was completely exhausted.
-Give me a crystal. -she said.
Matilda took a little bottle out of one of her jacket pockets and passed it to the young woman. Dante opened his eyes like plates when he saw what was inside the jar. -Is that...?
-A Quartz Fold, of course. -said Alex. -They are used to recharge the manna during battles.
Rita took the jar and uncovered it, then swallowed the small crystal as if it were a strawberry candy before the curious glances of everyone.
-Look at my mana bar. -she said, crossing her arms.
To everyone's surprise (except Dante who didn't understand what was going on) the blue bar indicating the mana points available to the player began to slowly fill up, however the pace began to slow down significantly and stopped completely before even reaching halfway.
-Im-impossible. -exclaimed Alex, standing up. -Every one of those crystals has to fill a completely empty bar. What the hell?
Rita threw the little bottle on the floor and stepped on it violently, breaking it into a thousand pieces. -I don't understand. -She said with visible frustration. -I refined those crystals myself, it's impossible for them to charge such a small fraction of the total.
-It happened to all of us exactly the same way. -said one of the mages. -I had to use three whole crystals to fill one bar with mana.
Silvana and Mirna looked at each other not knowing what to do. Matilda scratched her head. -Aren't they under the effects of " Mana Burn "? -she asked. -Or some kind of curse?
-It's definitely not " Mana Burn", -the warrior assured. -That "Debuff" only affects the amount of mana points when casting a spell.
-He's right. -Alex added. -This is an effect that manifests itself without the need to cast a spell, but we can't rule out some kind of curse either.
The young man in glasses stood up and placed his hand on the giant's head as he closed his eyes. -Identify Curse! -he exclaimed.
There was a small golden glow in the palm of his hand and then nothing. Alex sighed as he opened his eyes. -If it's a curse, it's definitely of some kind I can't identify.
-We'll have to go to the temple. -said the huge warrior. -The NPCs will be able to cleanse anything we have with their purification blessings.
Matilda sighed. -Goodbye to our super efficient collection of resources using two Partys simultaneously. -she said.
-There is no alternative. -replied Alex. -We will go in now and you'd better go back to Jenne and cleanse yourselves in the temple, there's nothing more to be done here.
The mages and the assassin nodded, but Rita shook her head. -I will go with you at least... it would be foolish to waste that crystal I just spent on myself, besides my equipment is in pretty good shape and I can still fight. -she said, showing a crossbow in her right hand.
The Ragnarian warrior stood up with difficulty and leaned on his huge battle axe. -All right. -he said. -We are withdrawing for now.
-Could you... could you gather something? -Alex asked.
Walter activated the exchange option on his interface and moved his loot into his leader's inventory. -Eleven coins. -he said, shaking his head. -I'm sorry.
-No need to apologize. -replied the young man with a smile. -Thanks for risking your ass for all of us, you're a true friend, you've earned a break... and so have you. -he added, turning to the other adventurers. -Rest now and I promise to get to the bottom of this... eventually.
The assassin pulled down his hood and everyone saw that his skin was as black as coal. -I'll go check out the taverns to see if there are any rumors about this in other groups. -he said in a deep, low voice.
-Thank you, Dirk. -replied Matilda. -Any information we can obtain to avoid this Debuff in the future will be of great importance.
As the group was saying goodbye, Dante had sat aside to meditate on all this. He realized that Duval was not joking when he spoke of the complexity of Calypso.
The hammer blow had taken him by surprise and the sensation of pain, though incredibly brief, was terrible. It was certainly a sensation he hoped not to experience too often.
When he struggled to get up after falling behind the radar operator's post, he was stunned to see his attackers.
-What the hell...?
A huge hairy warrior, dressed in what looked like gladiator's attire, stood in front of him and his head touched the roof of the Macross bridge. Behind him, a voluptuous golden-haired Amazon dressed in a breastplate looked at him amusingly as she ran her finger along the edge of a huge axe. -Can I hit him now? -said the stranger licking her lips.
-We will see. -replied the warrior. -What the hell are you doing here, Joyner?
-Di... Director Duval?
-No, I am Conan the Barbarian. -replied the huge subject with a grimace. -Of course it's me.
-And I'm Willy, so stop staring at my boobs. -replied the young Amazon, taking a seat at one of the terminals.
Lieutenant O'Higgins watched the scene silently as the two newcomers put their weapons aside and made their way to the ship's checkpoints.
-I'm-I'm very sorry. -exclaimed Dante, bowing. -I didn't know that...
-Stop making excuses, what's done is done. -replied Duval. -At least you haven't done something as stupid as firing the Macross guns... If you had done such a stupid thing I would have fired you immediately.
-Is the main gun operational? -asked the young man, surprised.
-So you really thought about using it. -said Willy with a smile.
-Everything on Macross is operational. -replied the Director, staring at the young man. -So don't touch ANYTHING on this ship again without our permission, is that clear?
-Yes, sir. -replied Dante immediately.
Duval nodded and turned to the young pilot. -I'm glad at least you two are getting along better. -He said. -Lieutenant... I need you to take Mr. Joyner to Jenne's territory so he can get into the game officially.
-Understood. -replied Karina. -I'll have a ship ready in Prometheus Hangar Five in thirty minutes. We'll leave at 1800 hours in standard Macross 41 time.
-I will be there. -answered Dante.
The young woman made a military salute and left the bridge not without first picking up her helmet from where she had previously left it.
When the door closed, Willy immediately turned to Dante. -Hey hey hey... You made her blow into a thousand pieces out there and yet now you are friends? Do you want to explain to me how you fucking do it?
Dante shrugged. -Even I don't understand it yet. -He said. -But... does she always drill in this place?
-Willy programmed that. -replied Duval. -The lieutenant used to stay all day in the Prometheus hangar in the cockpit of her plane, so we thought that incorporating a simulation into her daily routine would help her spend more time with us when we needed to come to Calypso.
The young man looked at the radar screen. -She' s good. -He said. -Although a little impulsive.
-If she had followed your escape vector she could have won that exercise. -said the young Amazon as she looked at the radar station log that Dante had written. -Her combat skills are good, but she's not one of those pilots who looks beyond the range of her weapons, she's almost always shot down with an accurate laser shot from distances greater than two kilometers.
-A RIO sitting in the same cockpit would solve her problem. -Dante said. -She just needs an extra pair of eyes to watch her back.
Duval hit the console in front of his terminal and the whole bridge seemed to shake under the power of his fist. -You're supposed to be solving OUR problems, not Lieutenant O'Higgins'. -the Director reproached him.
-I'll be glad to do it... as soon as I know what this is all about. -said the young man with a gesture of helplessness.
-You'll find out once you're in the game. -said the big man.
The young strategist scratched his head. -Any advice, Sir?
-Try to keep a low profile down there, Joyner. -said the Amazon, winking.
-And for God's sake... don't say a word about us or what you saw here. -Duval threatened. -No one must know that you are an employee of Alpha Corporation when you are among the players, understood?
-What about that lawyer who visited us this morning? -asked the young man, intrigued.
-Malkovich won't go to Jenne. -replied Willy. -And unless he sees your face, I don't think he'll be able to recognize you. In any case, when you have some money on you, buy a hat and a bandana or something... so no one will notice your face.
-Okay. -said the young man. -Then I'll play at Calypso and try to learn as much as I can about the game and how it works.
Duval laughed. -Even in ten years you won't be able to learn everything about Calypso. -He said. -The UniEngine simulation is deeper than you might think, but I hope you will discover it on your own.
-I will, sir,
-Well, have fun while you can. -said the warrior. -Now get out of here.
Dante made a gesture to leave but thought again and turned to the Director. -Sir, may I ask you one last question?
-Tell me.
-How did you get through that tiny door? -Dante asked, pointing to the doorway to the bridge.
-Magic. -Replied Duval with a smile.
Dante left the bridge and after taking the elevator to the first floor, he went to the vehicles parked near where the main access road of the whole building started. The path was well signposted and it took him only ten minutes to reach the Prometheus carrier.
The hangar was still as deserted as the day before, but a couple of bright lights at the end of the hangar gave away the presence of the young woman in one of the rearming positions.
The young man directed his vehicle towards there and discovered with astonishment that Karina was tuning a VF-1D, the advanced training version of the famous transformable fighter of the First Space War.
At the moment that Dante braked next to the plane, Karina was using a remote crane to install the FastPack system with the necessary Boosters for space flight. The huge pair of boosters slowly descended on the fuselage and were magnetically held in place by a loud CLACK! that echoed throughout the hangar.
-Are we going with that one? -asked Dante as he jumped off the transport.
-You are no longer an immortal avatar. -replied Karina, leaving the control of the crane aside. -If I take you out into space in the fist of my VF-4 you'll die in a matter of seconds.
-I'm sorry I had your plane destroyed. -She apologized, looking at the bright orange paint on the Variable Fighter Training.
-Destroyed? Don't be silly Joyner, it's just data in the simulation... there it is, in bay twelve if you don't believe me.
The young man looked in the direction the lieutenant was pointing and saw the VF-4 with the cockpit open just as it had been the day before.
-Oh.
-You'd better get up there. -She said as she grabbed one of the ladders from a cart. -It's getting late.
The young woman placed the ladder just below the co-pilot's seat and secured it to the fuselage mountings. -Climb up. -she ordered.
Dante climbed the ladder and sat down on the edge of the cockpit while he looked in amazement at the huge screen where the same controls were replicated as in the pilot's position at the front, such was the function of that training ship.
-Don't touch anything. -Lieutenant O'Higgins warned him as she unhooked the ladder. -And take the sword off your back or you won't fit in the seat.
-Okay, okay. -The young man reassured her by accessing his interface. He selected the iron sword and stored it in his inventory. -Ready.
While Karina cleared the surroundings of the plane, Dante sat down in the co-pilot's position and fastened his seat belt. She also put the flight helmet that was hooked on the control panel above the screen.
The young woman did not need a ladder to climb into the cockpit. She was propelled using the cannon of the robot's head that was sticking out from under the fuselage as a support and in one jump she landed in the open cockpit. Dante wondered if the girl would be this agile in the real world.
The cockpit closed immediately and the plane's systems began to come to life as the Lieutenant initialized the systems one by one. As soon as the screen in front of Dante lit up, the Amazon's face was projected onto it. -This is Macross Flight Control. -she winked at the young man. -ID assigned and registered in the system.
-What is our Callsign? -asked Dante, activating the radio communication in the flight helmet.
-VT-102. -replied Willy. Are you going to role-play Lieutenant O'Higgins' RIO at the end? -she asked with a smile.
The young woman in the front seat did not answer, but raised her hand with her thumb extended upward. -It seems that way. -Replied Dante, capturing the gesture. -VT-102 Ready to go. We request immediate take-off towards Planet Calypso.
-Flight plan approved and you can roll down center street to elevator number three, contact again when you are on the flight deck.
-Understood. -responded Dante. -Flight plan approved up to elevator three and contact on flight deck. -repeated the young man.
-Readback correct.
The VF-1D began to move slowly and they advanced to the taxiway leading to the front of the huge hangar. When they reached the end of it, they swerved to one of the giant elevators that could lift even the heavy Destroids used in the First Space War to the flight deck.
The plane stopped right in the middle and the containment barriers were raised on either side of the ship. Immediately the machinery was set in motion and they began to climb into space as the huge hatch opened above them.
The exterior of the Prometheus was completely dark, but Dante could see the small light that shone on the Main Tower of the Macross, barely visible behind the enormous mass of the gigantic ship.
Once the barriers were lowered and the platform stopped, Karina made the fighter advance through the marked runway on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier to one of the launch catapults. Once they were just above the mark, the plane stopped.
-Control Tower, this is VT-102 -Dante said on the radio. -We're ready to take off.
-Takeoff approved VT-102. -Have a good flight.
-Thank you, miss. -replied the young man making a military salute.
The Fighter took off accelerating the huge main engines to the maximum. Dante felt the terrible acceleration in his stomach and was almost crushed against the seat. -Uff! -he exclaimed.
The fighter accelerate at a great speed and soon the Macross was a small dot on the rear-view mirrors on both sides of the cabin. As soon as the G-forces balanced, Dante settled back in front of the screen.
-Where did you learn to be a co-pilot? -Karina asked from the front seat, -I thought you only went to an Officers' Academy.
-I've been traveling with NUNS pilots for almost a year all over this part of the Galaxy. -replied the young man. -I learned a lot of things traveling in all kinds of ships.
-I understand. -replied the young woman. -It seems to me that your talents are being wasted in a place like this, -she added.
Dante looked at the pilot but could hardly see his black helmet sticking to the seat. -I could say the same about you. -He said.
-About me?
Director Duval and Willy recognized your extraordinary abilities as a Combat pilot. -said the young man. -And I saw it myself while I was in front of Macross' radar.
-I'm just following orders. -replied the girl. -I was assigned this position and I have to do my duty.
-Instead I was drawn into this world by despair and fate. -recognized the young man. -One cannot always choose, I suppose.
-No," answered Karina. -Not always, get ready for orbital transfer.
Dante settled into the seat and held his breath as the two huge thrusters mounted on the VF-1D added an incredible amount of momentum to the main engines. Slowly the ship began to change orbit as it descended toward the still dark planet.
-Reentry vector confirmed over the target region. -informed the pilot. Initiating atmospheric re-entry.
The fighter began to approach the first layers of the atmosphere as soon as the sun appeared on the horizon.
The Calypso landscape unfolded with a whole range of colors before the eyes of both young men. The distant mountains reflected the sun's rays on their immaculate snow-capped peaks and the distant seas threw silvery shimmers through the atmosphere.
Dante looked aside and saw how around the fighter the friction of the air began to create a shock wave that quickly heated up to a red-hot flame.
-Do you think they can see us from below? -he asked.
-This approach vector passes over uninhabited regions. -explained the young woman. -Anyway, we will hardly be like a shooting star in the eyes of an observer on the ground.
They advanced at high speed across the planet's sky and soon the sun moved across the sky as they crossed the different time zones. They were flying high above the clouds, so little of the landscape could be seen.
-Contact the control tower and ask for the coordinates of a safe landing zone. -ordered the young woman.
-Understood. -Control Tower this is VT-102.
-This is Macross. -replied Willy's female voice. -What do you need, VT-102?
-Can you give us the coordinates of a safe landing zone?
-I'm on it," answered the Amazon. -There is a small ruined temple located in a deep valley a few hours' drive from Jenne. -No one ever goes there and they will be hidden from prying eyes by the elevation of the surrounding terrain.
-It looks good to me. -Karina replied.
-Sending the coordinates through the Datalink. -informed Willy.
The flight panel interface was updated with the new coordinates and a new "Waypoint" appeared on the HUD.
-Coordinates received, we're on our way. -reported Dante.
-Received, good luck guys. -Willy said by cutting the transmission.
The fighter flew above the clouds to the received coordinates and descended between the rocky peaks of a small mountain range that served as a division between two kingdoms of that fantasy world. At the end of the mountain range there was a deep valley that housed a dark lake of black water like jet. In the center of the lake a solitary island emerged from the dark waters and the remains of a temple appeared among the mist.
-Beautiful place. -said Dante, looking at the broken stones like huge teeth. -With my good luck I will surely be eaten by a dragon as soon as I get off your plane.
-Don't worry. -said Karina, maneuvering the ship through the fog. -I won't let anyone hurt you.
The VF-1D went into Gerwalk mode and descended into an open space that used to be a kind of inner courtyard of that ancient temple. The fog was pushed by the powerful jet exhaust and soon the landscape cleared up a bit around the plane. Immediately the cockpit began to open as soon as the fighter's legs settled on the ground.
Dante took off his helmet and breathed the air of Calypso. -What am I supposed to do now? -he asked.
Karina made the robot's left arm extend and open her hand near the co-pilot's seat. -Get on. -she said.
Dante unbuckled his seat belt and, after leaving his helmet on the seat, climbed into the robot's hand. -Ready.
Skillfully Karina put it down and Dante was able to jump down safely.
-On the user interface, go to where it says Tutorial. -explained the young woman as she retracted her arm again.
-Understood. -replied Dante as he navigated through his game interface options.
-There's a button that says "Restart". When you activate it, your character will be teleported to the city of Jenne, where all the new players appear, from there follow the instructions of the virtual guide that will explain the basics of the game.
Dante turned off the interface and looked at the young woman sitting in the cockpit of the fighter. -Thank you, Lieutenant. -he said doing the military salute. -It was a pleasure to fly with you.
The young pilot also responded to the greeting. -Good luck, Joyner. -she said as the cockpit closed over her.
Dante took several steps back and watched as the VF-1D rose through the air and went into fighter mode almost instantaneously as soon as its main engines came on. Lieutenant O'Higgins shot into the sky over Calypso while Dante watched her silently.
When the aircraft was no more than a speck in the blue sky, Dante reattached the sword to his back and activated the user interface and immediately pressed the Reset button.
-Dante?
The young man was startled when the Druid mentioned his name. He had been lost in thought and did not see when the cat-girl approached him.
-Are you all right? -she asked. -We're about to go inside.
-Yes, I'm ready. -he replied, standing up. -It's time I learned how to use this. -He said, taking the sword. The weapon was solid iron with the hilt covered by a strip of leather tied around it, but the young man had no trouble moving it easily from side to side. The iron was dull and the weapon was unadorned or anything like it, only a simple iron rod served as a guard to protect his hand during the attack.
-Give me that sword. -said Rita, approaching. -That piece of iron won't do you any good in there. -she said.
Dante activated the interface and transferred the weapon to the inventory of the human, who took the sword and began to sharpen it with a special stone she took from one of her pockets. After a few minutes the color of the metal changed and a little bit of shine appeared on the edge.
-This will be more useful to you. -said the young woman, returning the item to Dante.
-Thank you. replied the young man, taking the weapon to re-equip it. He saw with surprise that a +3 modifier had appeared in the sword's properties.
Alex stood at the entrance to the dungeon and called out to everyone around him. -Everyone ready? -he asked.
-Ready. -they all answered in chorus.
The young man smiled. -Let's show Calypso that The Order doesn't give up so easily. -He said. -Follow me!
The group raised their weapons in salute and went into the darkness of the tunnel. Soon darkness surrounded them completely.