Radical-9

CHAPTER 12: Excelsior

February 24^th, 2022

1:20 am

Our journey has been a long one and questions still go unanswered. What had Rose truly wanted to do with Sam. How did the Keystones fit into the mix? It gives me a headache just thinking about it. We begin our descent down the altar, hoping that this place can become a faded memory rather than a constant reminder. I am now carrying Sam, he now slumbers peacefully. I could use some sleep myself, but we need to reach a safe zone first, my thoughts then wander back to the questions surrounding this floor. Why isn’t it the third floor? Unless it was hidden and not the intended path. But if this isn't the intended path, just why is it here?

“Well, at least we've got a new Keystone,” Klein says.

“So, it cured your poison?” Athena asks.

I nod my head, “Yeah, and it increases physical damage by 150%. Shame is I don't think it can be stacked with the other Keystones, it seems to need all other effects to be worn off to use,” I say.

“I guess that's some form of balance,” Klein says.

“What’s better, is we still have that one back with Gregor, so we only need to find five more. If they were like the last two, they’ll be with the bosses of the floors above.” Athena says.

“Let’s go get it so we don’t keep Gregor in any danger. We might need to regroup anyway to find the real entrance to the third floor,” I suggest.

“Hey, speaking of them, Beth sent me a message. I must’ve not noticed in all the action earlier.” Klein says.

“Well, what’re you waiting for? Open it up!” I say.

Klein nods his head and selects ‘yes’ on the window. I see his eyes go wide.

“Guys, this isn’t good,” he says.

“Why? What is it?” I ask.

“It’s…it’s Gregor. Beth says he’s been killed.”

My jaw falls open, if it weren’t attached to me I’m pretty sure it would have hit the ground.

“She writes that someone broke into the armory clad in a dark robe and killed him before her eyes. The assailant then had hit her and left. It seems whoever killed him had taken the crystal, too,” Klein explains.

“That must mean somebody must have found out that he had the crystal, then.” I say.

Klein is shaking his head.

“We need to find whoever did this, we’re going to need that crystal.” Athena says.

I nod my head and walk over to the pedestal behind us. Opening my window, I now see I can select floor 1 as an option, a sort of quick-transport now in effect. Thank God. I press it and we’re on the pedestal on the first floor in a matter of seconds. The sun is shining brightly in the sky, it’s midday in Elysium. I hear a yawn and look over to Sam waking up in Athena’s arms.

He looks up at me, “What happened?”

Athena looks at me with concern on her face.

“Do you remember anything, Sam?” I ask.

Athena lets him down and he yawns, “No, something wrong?”

I shake my head and give him a smile, he smiles back. “Okay, the armory was down that road,” I say. Athena and Klein nod, yet Sam gives me a somewhat confused look. “C’mon Sam, we’re going to go see a friend,” I say. We continue down the road, the sun beats down on us from above. The armory looks like it has been totally trashed, even the sign hanging above the door has fallen to the ground. The windows on the ground floor of the building have all been smashed out. Is it possible the game has it coded that far that each individual building can be wrecked like this?

“It’s a terrible thing, what he did,” a voice calls out. I turn around and Beth is standing there, her eyes rimmed with red.

“He?” I ask.

“The assailant, I assume that it was a he, I guess,” she says.

“Tell us what you saw,” Klein says, folding his arms.

Beth nods, “It was a few hours back, when it was dark. I was finishing some final touches on some weapons I had been working on...” She trails off and looks down.

“What happened next?” Athena asks.

“I had heard a noise, something like a loud thump. Normally, I’d think it was Gregor doing some tinkering on some of his armor or whatever, but this time was different. There was a voice that called out, Gregor's voice. I armed myself and raced my way downstairs and I caught sight of Gregor slumped over the counter, that's when I saw the man in the cloak. He bolted out of the front door, that is when I lost track of him. I saw that there was a knife sticking in Gregor’s armor and his health was nearing zero. When it was all over just the knife was left on the table.”

“How is that possible? Towns are supposed to be safe zones,” I reply.

“I don’t know, maybe someone found out a way to PK in towns?” Beth answers.

“Did you see any signs of a duel?” Klein asks.

“None whatsoever.”

“After that...is that when he...” Athena begins, but Beth cuts her off.

“Died, yes. I saw him disappear into those pixels like anyone else who dies.”

“Where is the bad man now?” Sam cuts in.

I’d almost forgotten he was there. I feel so horrible that he has to experience this kind of this stuff at his age.

“Gregor did say one thing before he died. He mentioned that the assailant had said something about the third floor. Maybe that is where he is hiding out?” Beth suggests.

“That’s our best shot right now,” Klein says.

“I want you guys to kill that...” She looks down at Sam, “...son of a gun.”

I nod, “Oh, that reminds me,” I say, swiping open my inventory with my free hand. I've got this for you, Beth,” I say. I open a prompt on her side, the hides of the wolves from the second floor are sent into her inventory.

She look up to me, a surprised look, “Th-Thank you...do well to keep yourselves safe.”

“You as well, I'd find somewhere safe to lay low. I know those hides aren't much, but I'll be sure to try and get some more,” I say.

Beth shakes her head, “I want you to focus on finding that assailant, don't worry about that. I'll be cheering for you,” she says.

“That's very kind. Can we ask one more thing of you?” Athena asks.

Beth cocks her head, “What is it?”

“Sam here was on the second floor, apparently his dad brought him in this game and left him up there,” Athena explains.

“That's awful!”

“We're going to keep an eye out for his dad as we continue on, but I was wondering if you could keep him safe for us,” she says.

“I'd be happy to,” Beth says.

“That's good,” I add, then I turn to Sam. “You're going to be staying real safe for a bit, okay?” I ask.

He looks up to me, “I'm not going with you?”

“No, sorry buddy. We need to make sure it is safe, we'll definitely be coming back, though,” I say.

He nods his head slowly, “Okay...just don't be too long.”

I nod my head.

“Something tells me you guys are going to do just fine,” she says, and then she motions for Sam to come over, “Okay, I'm going to try my very best to keep both of us safe while they do their job, okay?” she asks.

“Okay Beth, that is fine,” Sam says. The both of them begin to walk off, I continue to watch them until they fade from view. I hope that they can find somewhere safe from that assailant.

“Well, I think it is a mighty fine time to make some progress, huh?” Klein says, patting me on the shoulder.

“Yes, I would like to, but first we should prepare ourselves with potions and what-not,” I say.

“Yeah, I think that would be a great idea,” Athena adds.

“Let's do it,” Klein says, nodding his head, but looking right at me.

He's thinking what I know he is thinking. Just in case I royally mess up again.

But I am ready for that possibility, and I'm not going to let it happen again.