Natural High

After arriving at Keith’s apartment, the smell of bacon and eggs hit John’s nose. Man, forgot how much I missed having breakfast every morning. With Mom gone I haven’t really been- no. I shouldn’t think sad thoughts like that. Today is an exciting day. They slipped inside, and Keith picked a hefty box up off the table in front of him.

“This is the last of them,” Keith said, putting a box down in front of John. Opening it up, John saw several blue, red, and green vials. “You already have all the antidotes and charm-breakers. These are the Essence of Winds” Keith explained, pointing to the green vials. “The rest are pretty self-explanatory.” John used Advanced Spy on the new potion type.

“Wow, are these actually made from pieces of Greek gods?” John asked, turning a vial around in his hands. Keith shrugged.

“Who knows? Nobody can really prove it. It’s not like wind can talk,” Keith replied, sipping coffee. He made a face, then poured half of the flask at his hip into the cup.

“Eat up, guys! Today is an exciting day!” Kimberly ordered, placing two plates, one in front of John and the other in front of Jenny.

“I will admit that I do miss having a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich for breakfast every morning,” Jenny said, digging in to her food. Keith smiled at her from over his cup, but she didn’t notice.

“That sounds really unhealthy,” John commented, biting into his sandwich. Upon tasting the cheesy, meaty goodness, all further comments were withheld.

“So, are you two ready for today?” Keith asked, finishing off his Irish coffee. He tossed the empty mug to Kimberly who refilled it and slid it back across the table. He poured the rest of his flask into it.

“Of course we are! We’re going to make these trials look easy,” Jenny answered, finishing her sandwich.

“As ready as I can be,” John replied, looking at his Character and Perk sheets. “By the way, do you know anything about the Hermit?”

“Never met him. Supposedly he keeps a close inner circle with a few of the Waite’s allies, but even they don’t see him more than a few times a year,” Keith replied, sipping his coffee. “Why do you ask?”

“Just heard the name,” John lied, unsure of who he should tell his meeting with the mysterious man about or if anyone would even believe him.

“You’ll probably see the Emperor today, he conducts all the ceremonies for their organization. Probably Chariot and Strength too. From what I know, they’re the most involved with the bounty hunter division. Never met them though,” Keith explained, apparently having nothing more to offer them.

“Alright, we should get going soon. Ready, Jenny?” John asked, pocketing the potions into his inventory.

“As ready as I can be,” Jenny mumbled, getting up. “The industrial part of town is creepy. You think their base is really going to be in it, or in a barrier somewhere in it?” she asked Keith, who shrugged in response.

“Can’t say for sure. I’d guess inside a barrier. Having a bunch of people going to and from an area of town that’s supposed to be abandoned would be pretty conspicuous,” John answered, equipping his gun-belt. Looking out the window, the overcast skies felt like a bad omen for their upcoming challenges.

“You know, you don’t have an open carry license,” Keith joked as John and Jenny turned to leave.

“I doubt I’d be able to get one for a gun that could probably shoot cannonballs,” John replied, flipping Ivory in his hand before placing it back in his belt. “I don’t think there’s a classification for that.”

“Good luck, you two. Try to stay out of trouble,” Keith sent them off with a message that was surprisingly parental.

John and Jenny hopped along the rooftops until they noticed that a woman a few buildings down was doing the exact same thing. Think she’s going to the trials too? John asked over party chat. It wasn’t that unusual - the industrial part of town had many buildings that were close together and expansive. If they were to meet anyone who actually was parkouring and not doing what they were, John guessed it would be here.

Only one way of finding out, Jenny replied, shifting course to meet up with their fellow building hopper. John followed suit.

John used Advanced Spy on the new appearance before calling over, “Hey!”

When the girl, Abigail apparently, noticed him, she waved and waited for them to make their way over. “Hiya! Are you two enjoying some free-running like I am?” Abigail asked, deftly slipping her tablet into a large pocket in the back of her pants.

“We’re actually applicants, like you,” John replied, Abigail’s face lighting up in response.

“That’s a relief. I thought I was late! Then again, I actually have no idea when we’re actually supposed to get there. Are you guys strong? She seems kinda magic, but I don’t really know what to make of you. You look strong though.” She seemed to consider him for a few moments before continuing, “I’m not that great at that sort of thing though.”

“So uh, how do you know where you’re going? We’ve been heading toward the industrial district but…” John paused to get his tablet out of his inventory, inadvertently flashing Ebony and Ivory in the process.

“Ooh, nice guns! I’ve been training to catch bullets lately but I’m not doing as well as my sister. If you look at the thingy they mailed us, on its screen there’s a big arrow. I’ve been following that,” Abigail answered, showing them that her tablet when parallel to the ground indeed pointed in the direction she was going.

Checking the tablets! Why didn’t we think of that! John thought to Jenny while nodding to Abigail. “Thanks for the info! So, have any idea what we’re expecting?”

“Nope! But I hope it’s challenging. The only person I’ve had to spar with for a while is my sister and she’s way stronger than I am. What about you,” Abigail asked, eyeing him up and down, “up for a challenge?”

“Actually, I’d rather save my strength for whatever we’re about to walk into,” John replied, a bead of sweat running down his forehead.

“That’s a shame! Although… you look strong but your friend definitely feels more powerful. How about it?” Abigail remarked, putting her tablet away. Jenny smirked smugly at John.

Why can everyone but me sense or see magic? John asked, though Jenny merely shrugged in response.

I don’t know if we’re ever going to find out the answer to that one, Jenny replied, looking at Abigail.

“I’ll have to pass too. Especially out in the open like this. I’m sure I’ll see you around.” Jenny winked at Abigail before taking out her tablet and turning it on. “That’s weird, mine is pointing in a different direction than yours.”

“Let me check mine,” John said, taking out his tablet from his inventory. “Mine is pointing in the same direction as hers. Maybe there’s two groups? Maybe more?” John reasoned, putting his tablet away. “Either way, I’ll go with you to wherever yours leads. If I need to go somewhere else, I’ll have plenty of time.”

With that, the couple waved goodbye to Abigail and set off to where Jenny’s tablet pointed. After a few more minutes of parkour, they ended up on the edge of a barrier. “We can get inside pretty easy. This must be where the tests are being held,” Jenny said, stepping into the barrier. John took out his tablet and noticed that it pointed away from the barrier, west of it.

I don’t think I’m supposed to go with you. My tablet is pointing me away from the barrier, John relayed and recoiled when, instead of receiving any words, he felt the spike of panic that raced through her.

Can’t you just come inside anyway? It probably isn’t that big of a deal, Jenny replied, and John figured he’d try. Upon pressing against the barrier, he realized that entering wasn’t as easy for him as it was for her.

No dice, the barrier won’t let me in. Everything was silent for a few moments, and John turned to leave.

Alright. That really sucks. She sounded disappointed but already recovering to her old self.

Good luck, Jenny. Hopefully neither of us will need it. He turned and left, noticing a few people enter the barrier three blocks down. That’s one giant barrier. I’ve never seen let alone created one that big. I wonder if the one I’m headed to is that big. And what’s with separate locations? I thought it was all going to take place at their new location.

John followed the arrow on his tablet to the pier and entered the barrier he found there. Immediately the Gamer was assaulted by blinding sunlight. Whereas it was cloudy outside, in this barrier the skies were blue and clear. On the downside, any attempts to contact Jenny seemed useless. Being separated by two barriers and a long distance probably hit the upper limit of his party chat.

John: Party chat’s been cut off. Is your barrier’s weather all nice and warm like mine is?

Jenny: I noticed that too. May as well cut it off to not waste mana. I’m about to take some computer test. I’ll see ya on the other side, Johnny.

John pocketed his phone and looked out at the crowd of people all rushing toward a skyscraper that didn’t exist in the reality outside of this barrier. He noticed a few individuals that certainly weren’t human. One’s illusion fell away as he stepped inside, revealing an elf that looked curiously like the wait staff in Jarako. He stood still in the middle of the moving crowd, marveling at the scene around him.

Suddenly, Discordance started playing in his head, and he glanced around wildly for the source. He received a smack on the head with a ruler by a woman decked in a leather and linen dress with gold decals. She had an unmistakable air of authority about her as she looked down at him, though she couldn’t be much older than him. Some of the buckles and buttons on her dress looked as though they didn’t serve any purpose at all. Out of place on her attire, two white patches with a single large stick on each sat on her shoulders. In one hand she held an inkwell, and in the other a quill. He tried to Advance Spy her to no avail.

I’ll rewrite this curious failure message into a warning. Don’t try that again.

“It would be wise not to dawdle…” she looked him up and down through her emerald glasses, “John Newman.” He did the same to her, Man that outfit looks like something out of a fantasy game. What’s the wispy green stuff coming out of her quill? John wondered, though he slowly sunk into the crowd of people to follow her instructions. He set his sights on the apparent HQ.