The Player's System

Path

They were running in the open. The street lamps at the square were lit. "The silence in the surrounding is meaningful. Does this place is void of population?" team head was curious about the Itaten Farm.

The carpeted square with the fountain in the middle were giving realistic setting of the game. They were looking in the distance. A man was walking toward them.

Ahram stood in front waving chains in order to capture the man if he tried to act against them. The slave might have remained hidden however after confirming that the Duke was not around also the soldier were no more alive to witness him talking with the arena runners.

He fell on his knees. Team head twitched. This was virtual reality portal so they could expect anything in their surroundings. It was made realistic however they could not tell the level of reality added in the game portal.

The developers were bent on to give them surprise at every step. The npc's never came toward the players in such a way. "What he is up to?" Ahram was confused. They have seen few npc's misled players sometimes in the game so that the players get defeated or fell in some trap.

"Sashi and Jake get ready for any long range attack." Junan ordered considering the possibility. The slave was still silent. "Who sent you here?" Ahram asked since he was standing at the front. "Nobody I ran from my master. I had been waiting for the arena runners." He looked up and answered.

Ahram and others got surprised. Ahram nodded and asked; "Why you were waiting us?" It was strange because whole Empire wanted to kill them. They were wanted and the security of the king was working to capture them at any cost.

"Save my family from the cruel rituals. Save hundred pairs of humans from burning inside the tower." The man begged. It seemed some realistic event was happening and this human was asking for help.

Team head was unsure. They read the text and it said that they should steal the Feast of Kings. Team members and team head was equally clueless what the Feast was and why they should steal.

They had been clearing tasks for the sake of second level. None of them took it like plot going on and the people and their lives were at the stake. They checked whether they were still at the right placement in the virtual world.

"Sigh do you fear your master?" team head asked the slave. "I fear him." The man truthfully told. Junan wanted to confirm that it was trap however the answer pointed that it was not trap. Usually npc's answered differently saying that they no more fear their masters.

"We will do our best now you can leave." Junan spoke politely and waved him to leave. The slave did not move.

Orin was not interested to see what was going on he opened the book of detection. He was hundred percent sure about the new clue that it must have appeared in the text. For his dismay the page was empty. The Itaten Farm area was hosting some of the living clues so the book of detection would not provide any assistance.

Living clues were the humans those were projected in the further tasks. This was dilemma for the team members. If the book of detection could not give them clues then they would remain blank. Jake was also worried that the man might guide them wrong.

It was time for him to ask the task window. The window appeared in front of him with the clue.

[The path toward the Itaten Flame tower is hidden. Find someone who could guide you.]

[The duke of the Itaten Farm should meet his end.]

[The first tear in the Flame tower is the first key for the development]

[The path is full of challenges. The host should remain alert for any surprise. The rewards for the first tear are the completion of host level. Make the king suffer before the real death.]

[Warning: Not everyone is trustable but codes are necessary.]

[Precaution: Protect tear from the humans of the Itaten Farm else it would waste the power of Ashmorn.]

Jake read through the instructions and understood what the team should do.

"If you want us to help you guide us toward the mansion of the Duke. Also tell about the three codes." Jake asked the slave. According to the clue their team should collect a tear from the flame tower however the path was hidden and only some few people in the Itaten Farm were aware about it.

For this they needed to visit the mansion. The slave could guide toward the mansion easily. The slave looked at the young player with some hope. "I am mere slave and ignorant about the codes however I can bring you in the mansion. If you follow few security men of higher level you can reach in the inner side. In the inner man a loyal elder of the Duke can tell the codes but it is up to you how you will force him." The slave explained.

Albert and Junan were listening attentively. When Orin told that the book of detection was blank it gave them mini heart attack however young player was talking as if he doesn't care about the clue.

It was good that they were keep going else the sudden halt in the pace could bring trouble. "Wait the new task has begun already but I could not understand single word. Can anyone enlighten me?" Clark was the most impatient among them.

Sashi and Ahram wanted to ask same question but they were waiting. Orin was simply speechless. He did not want to add any comment. Junan spoke, "Once we find that elder we can make him speak out everything. Jake is trying to solve the riddle of the task. Perhaps the mansion of the Duke could answer our questions." Team head did not ask how Jake was confident about the covered secrets.

He was sure that Jake would mention those aspects when needed.