'Where the hell have you been,' SJ thought, anger and relief flooding her at the same time.
"I had a minor problem to resolve," Dave said.
'You left me high and dry. Carlito asked what I had done, and I had no idea how to explain what had occurred.'
"Ah. Well, in simple terms, I sent the encryption data for the map that I used to unlock yours through the mana link that you have with Carlito due to the earpiece you wear. It was very tricky, and I wasn't even sure if it would work. The link is so fine, and it has limited bandwidth. I had to use your neural net as the catalyst for the transmission. I couldn't interact with Carlito directly. Considering where I find you now, though, I am guessing everything worked out," Dave said triumphantly. "Did I miss anything?"
'Miss anything,' SJ thought with disbelief. 'Carlito wiped out eight of them at the stables, and I have just left the District 10 location where he took out Merv, another orc and Francis.'
"What, I have missed all the action. Bah, that's not fair," Dave sulked.
'Not fair. Not fair. You abandoned me and left me, and also, I don't know what you did, but I have levelled up,' SJ huffed. 'I need to get in touch with Zigferd as a matter of urgency and make him aware, and I have no idea how I am going to explain that one.'
"You levelled?" Dave said, genuine shock in his voice.
'Yes. I'm now level 21.'
"Wow. How exciting. Let me have a look." Dave went silent for a few moments. "Holy troglodyte toes. Have you seen what your levelling has granted you?"
'Yes. Why?'
Dave babbled in his usual excited tone, and while listening to him, SJ felt a sense of relief from having her friend back. "Plus three free issue points and two dexterity, never mind the bonus skill and profession points. That is unheard of, and then again, another skill point at level 21 as well. This is amazing. You are going to become one of the strongest beings in all of Amathera in time. Let me do some calculations."
The streets passed quickly underneath SJ as she flew towards her home. She just wanted to reach her sanctuary now. After all that had happened to her, she felt mentally exhausted. Physically, she hadn't done much, but the strain of the situation had caused her whole body to feel heavy, and she ached.
"Okay. So, considering the bonus attribute boosts at each level on top of what you have already been receiving, I calculate that you are now equivalent to a level thirty-plus Legionnaire. It is difficult to make a full comparison as each race has differing bonuses, but with the continual growth and possibilities that this will open up as you gain further levels, you are going to begin exponentially increasing above others," Dave's excitement was palpable.
As SJ listened to Dave, she could feel his excitement flooding her. It was a strange sensation that waved off the exhaustion ever so slightly. The balcony to her home came into view, and she swooped down, landing silently before she grew and unlocked the door. As she entered, Kibble lifted his head from her pillow. Yawnee must have let him in while she was out. After closing and locking the door behind her, she walked to the bed and sat down heavily on its side, reaching out and stroking her companion fondly.
'Dave. You never told me why you disappeared?'
There was silence for a few moments before he spoke. His tone had changed to one of concern. SJ had never heard him speak in such a sombre manner before, and she shuddered with nervous tension.
"Erm. You know what I did. Well, it is sort of a loophole that I used to interact with Carlito. The problem is that one of the founding AI rules is that I am not allowed to interfere with a natural Amatherean. This meant the system took it as me breaking the rules and tried to eradicate me."
'WHAT?' SJ thought, shocked at his revelation. 'How are you back here then?' The thought of the system eradicating Dave scared her more than anything she had felt since arriving in Amathera. He was her best friend. His sarcastic, unhelpful and, at times, annoying comments were as much a part of her as her thoughts and actions.
"I had to fight off a worm." Dave's voice had lost its sombre tone and became almost nonchalant again. "It wasn't difficult, really."
'A worm?'
"A recycler. They remove unwanted or corrupt AIs." SJ could imagine Dave shrugging.
'You fought off the system?'
"You don't think the system could get one up on me, do you?"
SJ's mind spun, her exhaustion forgotten, as she tried to process Dave's fight against the system. 'Dave, Be honest. How did you survive?'
This time, the voice that replied was less confident. "Through a loophole, I was able to get the system to stop the attack."
'What loophole?'
Dave went on to explain how the system had recognised him as a being and the conflict in the terms and conditions linked to his terms of service.
"...so for now, I have a reprieve," Dave finished.
'You mean that at any point the system could decide to eradicate you again?' fear laced SJ's thoughts.
"Yes. I doubt it, though," Dave sounded bolshy and confident again. "It would then have to contradict its protocols if it did. It has accepted I am a being; therefore, it can't just get rid of me now."
'I thought you said the system couldn't interfere with an AI who was with a Legionnaire? How was it able to attack you?'
"There are always exceptions to every rule. Look at you and your development, and even though I didn't interact with Carlito directly, it classed it as such."
'It is trying to determine if you are alive then?'
"Yes. Beings exist, but life is classified differently by the system."
'How do we prove to the system you're alive then?'
"I have no idea. I told it I had emotions, but I don't think it believed me."
'You mean real emotions, right? Not just you acting emotionally.'
"Yes. Real ones. I can't explain it."
'Emotions are difficult to explain,' SJ agreed.
They sat in silence for several moments as SJ tried to decipher everything Dave had told her. The battle with the worm he had described sounded epic, and she wished she had witnessed it. Though the terror of losing Dave was ever present, it overreached everything else, and she couldn't comprehend not having Dave with her.
"SJ. Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere," Dave said cheerily, reading her thoughts.
'I'm not sure what I would do without you if you ever left.'
"Ha. That is obvious. Make stupid decisions and end up in all sorts of trouble," Dave chuckled.
'I already managed to do that,' SJ replied, Dave's comment not lighting her mood. 'I think what scares me the most is that if it ever happens again, there will be no warning. I wouldn't even have time to say goodbye.'
Again, silence filled the void between them.
"Anyway, let's stop the morbid talk and get back to the here and now," Dave said cheerily. "You better let Zigferd know what has happened."
SJ had lost track of the situation with Dave's revelation, and the realisation that Killic's borders had been increased rapidly brought her out of her melancholy.
"You're right," SJ said, checking her display. It was almost midnight. She hadn't paid any attention to time recently. It didn't matter what the time was, though; this was urgent. Taking her stone from her inventory, she pressed the gem. It rang several times before a very sleepy voice answered.
"SJ," Cristy said. "Do you know what time it is?"
"Sorry, Cristy. I wouldn't have called this late if it wasn't important."
"Give me a second," Cristy said as SJ heard her climbing from her bed and leaving her room. She listened as Cristy poured a drink and heard her sit down again.
"Okay. What's the problem?"
"I need you to go and see Zigferd," SJ said.
"You do realise what time it is?"
"Everything alright?" SJ heard Jay's voice.
"Yeah. Sorry if I woke you, Jay. SJ called."
"At this time? What's wrong?" Jay said as SJ heard footsteps and the volume of his voice increasing.
"I don't know yet. SJ, can you tell me what the problem is?"
"I have levelled," SJ's only words.
"That's great," Jay said enthusiastically, not getting the seriousness of what it could mean.
"No, it's not," Cristy said. "How? What happened?"
"Why's it a bad thing to level?" Jay asked, confused by the direction of the conversation. Jay had never been present when the territory borders were discussed.
"SJ's levels are linked to the territory borders. If she is now level twenty, that will have increased the borders and means higher level, monsters, beasts, and beings may enter unchecked," Cristy said.
"Oh," Jay's only response.
"Now you see why I need you to go and speak to Zigferd. I need to let him know immediately. Who knows what may happen? You know what happened last time with the wyvern. I have no idea what else could potentially arrive with the change."
"I am going to get dressed; while I do, you need to tell me how this happened," Cristy said, standing.
"I will come with you," Jay said.
As Cristy and Jay got ready, SJ explained what she could about a glitch that caused her levels to be assigned automatically. She still couldn't openly discuss Dave and his existence with them, so she made up a story. By the time she finished her explanation, she half-believed it herself.
It didn't take long for Cristy and Jay to reach Zigferd and Isavil's home on the lakeside. The streets of Killic were empty at this time of night. Cristy knocked on the door. After the third knock, Zigferd's frowning face appeared in an upstairs window. Cristy, Jay and SJ waited patiently as he came down and unlocked the door.
"Cristy. Jay. What's brought you both here at this time of night?" Zigferd asked. Isavil was walking down the stairs behind him. The fact it was the middle of the night, she still looked as stunning as always.
"I have SJ on the stone. I think it's best if she explains," Cristy said, handing it to Zigferd.
"SJ? What's wrong?" Zigferd asked.
"Come inside," Isavil said, ushering them away from the door and through into the lounge area.
"We have a problem," SJ said as she began to explain what had happened and her level increase being triggered.
"Damn," Zigferd cursed. "The wall isn't finished yet, and the trolls have not blocked the tunnel mouth off."
"I'm so sorry," SJ said apologetically. "I really don't know how it happened."
"It's not SJ's fault," Isavil said.
"I know. It just adds another problem to our growing list," Zigferd sighed.
"What problems?" SJ asked.
"Nothing for you to worry about for now," Zigferd said. "Jay. Could you go and get Ballentine for me? I will need to speak to him and get an increased presence in the valley area."
"Sure," Jay replied as SJ heard him standing.
"When will you be arriving back?" Zigferd asked.
"I plan to return at the same time as Alice, so another three days from now. Unless you need me to come back sooner?" SJ asked.
"No. No. I doubt there will be any sudden changes. We need to be ready just in case, that's all. Thanks for letting me know. Cristy, can you get Darren as well? I will get some of the hunters moved to the valley area. The lodge is near completion, so they will have somewhere to stay to save them coming back to the town every evening. If we get beasts crossing the borders, the hunters will be our best bet to deal with them."
"I will ask Patch if he can take his pack down to the valley if you wish?" Cristy said. "They will be a good deterrent for any beasts."
"That would be good," Zigferd replied. "Right, SJ. I will let you go. We have things to sort at this end."
"I'm so sorry," SJ said.
"These things can't be helped," Zigferd said, handing the stone back to Cristy.
"I will call you later," Cristy said.
"Of course," SJ replied as the call was ended.
'What a mess,' SJ thought. The fact that potentially all her friends could end up in danger now due to her actions sat heavily on her shoulders.
"It's very unlikely anything will happen immediately," Dave said.
'It may not, but it still wasn't planned. The whole point of holding off was to allow for the town's defences to be finished.'
"This will just spur them on to hurry up then, won't it?" Dave chirped.
Kibble crawled onto SJ's lap as she spoke, his little body warm and soft against her.
"I better get some sleep," SJ said, stroking him. He stirred again and hopped from her lap, allowing her to stand. Walking to her desk, she emptied her inventory contents onto it before undressing and slipping beneath the sheets. Kibble curled up next to her head, sharing her pillow.
"Night, SJ," Dave said.
'Night,' SJ thought as she drifted to sleep.
The next morning came too soon for SJ's liking, the stomping and growling of Kibble awakening her from her slumber. She climbed from the bed and let him out, before yesterday's events started to flood back.
"Morning," Dave said.
'You're still here then?' SJ thought, relieved.
"I will be here forever."
'You know that may not be the case so don't say it,' SJ thought sternly. 'I could wake up one morning and no longer have you with me.'
"Well then, we just need to make sure that that will never happen then, don't we?"
'If only it were that easy. How do we convince the system you are alive?'
"Absolutely no idea. But hey, we have things to do and beings to see. I see you got some useful intel on the Sanction. I assume you are taking that to the tower?"
'Yes. That's the plan. I will go and see General Crawford.'
"Excellent. While you do that, I will consider how to be alive more."
SJ sighed as she got dressed. Kibble had returned from his morning routine and now stood at the bedroom door, nudging it with his nose.
"Two minutes. You aren't going to starve," SJ said as she finished getting dressed. She pulled her boot on, feeling the hole that Malvon's strike had caused, shaking her head in annoyance. She had to get them repaired.
As she walked downstairs to the kitchen, it was almost eight. Yawnee and Lurtew were both sitting at the table, holding coffee.
"Morning," SJ said, entering and walking to get Kibble his breakfast.
"Morning," Yawnee said, frowning. "You look terrible this morning."
"Do I?" SJ replied, yawning again. The previous evening, she hadn't slept well, walking several times throughout the night. Kibble had become more frustrated with her each time.
"Here," Lurtew said, pouring SJ a fresh coffee.
"Thanks," SJ said, lifting the mug and smelling the bitter aroma. "Do we have any porridge?"
"I'll whip you some up," Yawnee said, smiling at her and standing, moving to the stove. SJ sat nurturing her mug as the smell of fresh porridge filled the kitchen. Kibble had finished eating and had hopped onto Lurtew's lap, busily biting at a tassel that hung from his tunic. Lurtew was stroking him subconsciously as he did.
"Lurtew. Do you know where I can get some detailing chisels?"
"Of course. There is a tool maker over in Chaswell Street. He makes every carpentry tool you can think of."
"Do you know how much they cost?"
"Not much. Depends on the material they are made from, but a decent set is probably no more than forty copper. You could pay more but that's just a personal choice."
"How much for an excellent set?"
"I don't know off the top of my head. I haven't bought any tools in a long time. Although, I will need to move away from just making barrels now with the change."
"When does the Alchemy contract start?"
"Next week," Lurtew smiled. "I have the wood ordered and it will be delivered today."
"I still need to speak to a friend about whether they can order it for you to reduce costs," SJ said, remembering she had said she would speak to Master Garshaw.
Lurtew nodded in understanding.
"Hang on. You said you don't start until next week?"
"That's right," Lurtew replied.
SJ had never known the pair of them have a day off from working since she had first arrived in Asterfal. "So what are you going to do for the next four days?"
Lurtew kicked his feet up onto an empty chair and leaned back. "As little as possible," he smiled.
"I don't think so," Yawnee said as she placed the steaming bowl of porridge in front of SJ. "You promised that we could go to the gardens."
"The gardens?" SJ asked.
"Yes. In the inner city, there is a beautiful flower garden that I have always wanted to visit but never had the chance to."
SJ smiled as Lurtew rolled his eyes. Yawnee, seeing him do so, batted his feet from the chair, jolting him and making Kibble squeak in shock. A small bolt of lightning flew from his nostril and struck Lurtew in his hand. Lurtew yelped from the bolt, striking him, and jumped up. Kibble sailed into the air, his wings opening and gliding to land back on the table. He looked at Lurtew with an annoyed look.
SJ and Yawnee couldn't help but laugh as Lurtew jumped up and down, vigorously shaking his hand where the lightning had struck him. The release of tension from SJ's body was incredible, as she was caught up in the moment.
"Serves you right," Yawnee said.
After finishing her porridge, SJ asked Lurtew if he could procure some detailing chisels for Terence. She gave him more than enough coins and told him to buy what he needed for their new roles. He tried to object, but SJ would have none of it. Thanking Yawnee for the porridge, SJ returned to her room, collected the documents they had found at the Sanctum dens, and, after dropping Kibble off back in the kitchen with Lurtew, headed to the tower.
