Chapter 43

Chapter 43

I died.

At first, I was surprised, then scared when I didnt see the familiar screen telling me I died. Was I truly dead? But then, why was it all dark Wasnt there supposed to be a light? Then again if anyone deserved a dark ending, it was me.

Then I remembered I was a LichI wasnt dead. For a long time, I floated in that blackness. Ill tell you this, dying as a Lich is not like dying as a player, it sucks. Right as I thought the black void was going to consume me, I became aware of the world.

I recognized where I was. My soul was floating over my phylactery. It was a weird feeling, not having a body, and below me, the jar containing my organs hummed with magic. I saw the undead Cerberus Id created, sniffing the air. My vision shifted in an explosion of black, necrotic magic.

When I oriented myself again, I was once more standing in a black skeletal body. The same strange, black material covered it, and in a panic, I opened my character sheet.

Character Soul Level: 50

Name: Ezekiel Verniac

Race: Human Lich

Unspent Stat Points: 0

Spent Stat Point: 250

5 Stat Points per level

Health: 1090

Health Regeneration: 26.325/sec

Death Energy: 644

Death Energy Regeneration: 17.525/sec

Mana: 323

Mana Regeneration: 10.941/sec

Carrying lbs.: 650.75

Stats:

Intelligence: 39 [multiplier:1.311]

Spirit: 31 [multiplier:1.23]

Vitality: 98 [multiplier:1.15]

Resilience: 52 [multiplier:1.15]

Once back at my cabin, I was surprised to find Maxwell already there.

Zeke! Maxwell ran over and pulled me into a hug. Im glad youre back. I was worried when you werent here already.

The trip back from the farm took several days, so I understood his worry. Evidently, resurrecting is not instantaneous. I only came back a few hours ago.

Well, its good to see you either way. Maxwell held out a bag. I gathered the death cores for you.

Thank you. Taking the bag, I went into my cabin where I added them to my stash. Did Mathis say anything?

No, Maxwell said. Well, he mightve, but I avoided him and came straight here.

Probably a good idea. We both thought Mathis was going to be angry about us not sending a message by killing Richard and his family. Will Richard keep his people quiet?

I think so. He was very grateful for us dealing with that werewolf den. Maxwell took a seat next to the hearth and started building a fire. Im getting really tired of working for Mathis.

I know what you mean I let out a weary sigh and joined him. But I dont know what else to do. Guess I could always leave, I just dont want to leave this place yet. My hope is that hell mellow out once his mansion is done, or well get lucky and somebody will complain to the higher-ups and get him removed.

We can hope. I doubt finishing the mansion will mellow him out. Maxwell sneered in disgust. People like him tend to only get worse as time goes on.

What should we do then? Avoid him?

Maxwell shifted nervously. I think Im going to log off for a couple of days Help some of the memory of all this to go away. Im really sorry to leave you here.

Maxwell had likely already been off for a while. I was even certain hed logged off on his walk back. Players could set their characters to perform simple tasks while theyre away, and a common one was travel. There was always the risk of the players character being accosted, but it saved the boringness. Normally players used Altars of Creation to avoid the issuethe fast travel system.

Though, I was uncertain if I would be able to use one. As far as I knew, NPCs didnt use them. Though that could be a function of the role of the artificial intelligence that controlled thema game mechanic thing they were forced to ignore.

Exploring the mountains led me several Altars of Creation, and though I visited them, I never tried to use them to travel. Part of this was due to the fact that I just liked hiking in the mountains, another part was it never occurred to me to even try. Thinking about Maxwell hiking back made me wonder

Max, do you think I could use an Altar of Creation?

I honestly dont know. Hadnt occurred to me to check. Normally, if youre working with NPCs they can only use them in certain situations. Maxwell shrugged. Its worth checking. It would sure be nice if you could fast travel.

We should check when you get back on, I said. I think while youre gone, Im going to spend some time in my mindscape. Ill hike out of the mountains into a secluded spot so no one can bug me.

Fair enough. Lets make a plan to meet back here in a week. That would give me some time in the real world to distance myself from Mathis, at least mentally.

Sounds like a plan to me.

***

The next day, Maxwell was gone. His character was still in my house, but he wasnt in there. I left with Raven and hiked out into the mountains. Plenty of wild life and other creatures skittered through the trees as I hiked my way through, but nothing was a threat. Raven was used to this, and would keep watch over me, drawing my attention if any dangerous predators approached.

I stopped by my flame blade farm. Since the snow had melted, Id been cultivating the field, spreading the plants out and using dead animals to fertilize the soil. I spent a few hours working there before I continued on.

The valley I hiked into was a dead-end valley, where a small waterfall came tumbling down a rocky slope. Above me was a mountain lake so cold, almost nothing lived in it. This spot was very peaceful. A place I often visited when I wanted to fall into a deep meditation.