Book 2: Chapter 7: A pretty dress

Book 2: Chapter 7: A pretty dress

Let's go adventuring! Frank cried as they ran across the grasslands.

Will you let it go! Heather yelled.

That thing bit one of your skeletons on two! Quinny cried.

Thank goodness we had them, or it would have gone straight for one of us, Frank said.

I thought you two didnt mind dying? Heather gasped.

We still lose a little experience from it even with your stone, he said. Not to mention, nobody likes to die.

You told me to feed myself to a carrion worm! she scolded.

And if you had, you would have gotten your panel back sooner! he replied.

And when Moon stole it, the goblins wouldn't have come to help!

Are you two dating? Quinny asked? Because you sound like it!

What? No! Heather snapped. Were just friends!

They ran down a hill as they heard another roar.

I think it's done chewing your skeletons into powder, Frank said.

At least they slowed it down, Heather panted.

They crested the next hill and came to a dead stop. Before them stretching across the field was a line of color waving and weaving as it passed.

Please tell me that isnt what I think it is, Heather groaned.

Nillacs, Frank sighed.

They looked behind them and saw the lizard creature coming its scissor mouth wide so they could see the jagged teeth inside.

What do we do? Quinny asked.

Respawn, I guess, Frank said.

Heather shook her head and ran to the right, running along the line of Nillacs. Frank and Quinny followed and ran as fast as they could.

The beast veered to run after them closing the gap and bellowing with a rumbling sound.

Were never going to outrun that! Frank said.

Heather looked over her shoulder and sighed. Keep running. I have an idea.

What are you going to do? He asked.

Heather didn't respond; she veered left and headed for the line of killer puff balls.

She shouted when she got close, and dozens of big cute eyes turned her way as the air filled with hissing.

She screamed and ran back, heading for Quinny and Frank with a wave of colored death pursuing her. As she caught back up, she dragged the line of Nillacs with her.

Are you trying to make sure we die? Frank asked.

Just wait! Heather snapped.

A moment later, there was a suddenly bellowing roar followed by a chorus of hissing. They all glanced over to see the lizard, and the nillacs had met in there pursuit of the three.

The Nillacs are attacking it! Frank cried.

Thank goodness! Heather sighed, not daring to slow in her run.

We have to get out of sight still, Frank said. Or they will come after us when they are done with that thing.

Heather nodded and looked far ahead.

I see trees on some hills ahead.

Head for those then, Frank panted.

We cant run forever, Quinny said. I will run out of stamina soon.

We just need to get far enough ahead that they cant see us, Frank replied between pants.

I thought you two didn't need to breathe, Heather wheezed. How can you be out of breath.

It's the stamina mechanic, he replied. You can only run for so long before you get tired and have to stop. It doesn't care if you can breathe or not.

They ran for another minute before Heather felt like her lungs were going to burst.

Ok, I need to stop, she panted as she slowed to walk.

Frank and Quinny joined her in slowing. They looked over their shoulders to see the nillac battle still raging as they swarmed the lizard.

Just keep walking, he said. We should be far enough now that they won't come after us.

Well, we had an adventure, Heather laughed.

We nearly got bitten in half, Frank replied. We should have stayed in the graveyard.

How are we going to level if we sit in the graveyard all day? Heather asked. We need to do more adventuring if we want to grow.

Have we done enough running for today? he asked. I just leveled in it.

So did I, Quinny laughed.

You can level in running? Heather said with a raised brow.

Ding!- [Running skill +1 (11)]

Heather jumped as she heard her alert in her head.

I hate that ding! she growled.

You leveled too? Quinny asked.

Heather nodded and leaned on her scythe.

I am surprised you can run so fast in a dress, Frank pointed out.

I wonder if somebody lives there, Heather said as they approached.

I think I read there were some random world spawned buildings, Frank said. Ruins and such.

I read that too, Quinny said. The world even spawns dungeons and mines randomly.

So, it might be empty? Heather asked.

Frank shook his head. If the world spawned it, then it will have world spawned monsters in it.

Oh, Heather replied as she tightened her grip on her scythe. This could be dangerous.

As dangerous as walking blindly into the wild, Frank said. People tend to stay near the spawn points because the monsters there are lower level.

This is less than a day's journey from a spawn, though, Heather said. Surely, this can't be too dangerous then.

He shrugged as they got close enough to see into the trees.

Lot's of old trees, Quinny said. But, my forest is darker.

I dont see a path in, Frank added as he looked up and down.

The trees are far enough apart. Lets just walk through them, Heather suggested.

Frank nodded and took the lead. He walked between the trunks and then waived to them to catch up.

I cant see the tower from down here, Heather said.

It's on the hill just ahead of us. There must be a ramp or stairway up to it, he replied.

Its too bad there wasnt a forest like this near the graveyard. I could have blended my forest with it, Quinny said.

Let's find the hill and see if we can get up it, Frank said as he plowed a path through the dense underbrush.

Twigs snapped, and birds called as they picked their way through. Heather's dress snagged on the brambles and branches that poked out, forcing her to stop and carefully free herself. In a few cases, she became frustrated and swung her scythe to cut a wider path. Eventually, as they got deeper in, the forest became dark enough that the ground cover was mostly ferns. This made passage and vision easier as Frank spotted the hill.

It's really steep, Quinny remarked as they looked up it. But, I can see a wall at the top.

There must be a proper way up, he said as he looked around. Lets walk around it and see if we find anything.

They wandered around the base of the hill to the right following a shallow gully. The gully slowly got wider and deeper until after several long minutes of walking; it disappeared into a cave. The entrance was round and over ten feet tall. A tiny stream of water flowed down the gully and int the cave carrying with it fallen leaves and twigs.

So there is a cave too, Quinny said as they looked into the dark opening.

I wonder if this leads up? Frank said.

It looks like it slopes down, Heather remarked as she leaned to look inside.

Should we go see whats inside? Quinny asked.

Frank looked up at the hill and then down into the cave in the hillside.

It makes sense that the tower has underground rooms. One of them might connect to the cave. If we want to get up there, we probably need to go in.

Heather blinked a few times and stepped back. But its pitch black in there. How will we see?

Frank and Quinny exchanged looks as Heather sighed.

Right, you two can see in the dark. She shook her head and felt useless. But, I can't.

Are you sure? Frank asked. You did level to four, did you look at your updated powers?

Heather looked down at the tattoo on her wrists and rubbed her hand over it.

No, not yet. I was going to do it after I picked my third class.

Frank folded his arms and nodded with his head to her wrist. I know some classes can cast spells that allow them to make light or see in the dark. See if you have anything.

Heather rubbed at her wrist, and the light of her panel floated over her arm. She tapped at the air and pulled up her powers, scrolling down to level four.

I have something called Grave blight, and something else called She sighed. spectral sight.

Frank smirked, showing more of his gruesome teeth.

I am so terrible at this, Heather said with a palm to her face.

Youre not a gamer. Every gamers first instinct when they level is to check their new powers. You will figure it out in time.

What is grave blight? Quinny asked.

Heather looked at the description. Inflict an area with a disease that causes ten damage per turn the target is inside of it.

An area of effect spell, Quinny said.

Lets focus on the cave and go inside, Frank said. Figure out how to cast your spectral sight.

Heather tapped through her spells and pulled up spectral sight. I just need to say the words while touching the person I want to give the sight too.

She went through her chant while touching her forehead, and her eyes began to glow with a faint blue light.

That looks creepy, Quinny laughed.

Heather looked around, blinking as the world around her took on a more muted color palate.

This makes everything look washed out, She said.

Can you see into the cave? Frank asked.

She turned to the cave and looked into the gloom, easily able to see the tunnel beyond.

I can see just fine, she said.

Then let's go inside, Frank said.

They took a step and heard a sudden roar from back in the forest.

That thing survived the nillacs? Heather cried.

It might be something else, Frank said.

Whatever it is, I would feel safer in the cave, Quinny insisted.

With a firm glance to one another, they stepped into the cave and hoped for the best.