SL Huang - Up and Coming - Stories by the 2016 Campbell-Eligible Authors

The second person also wore heavy full plate armor. This one was fat, and unlike the first, his armor was as black as coal. The large shield he carried was decorated with an image of snow-covered mountains. In his right hand he held a bulky staff. Atop his many backpacks Esh could identify a huge flail, and in his belt the fellow carried a sling. This individual wore a sizable necklace; many beads and prayer books peeked from his pockets.

The third character wore a blue robe and a purple pointy hat that could only be seen on wizards. His equipment was fundamentally different from his comrades’ gear—he had but a single backpack, and his only weapon was a tiny dagger stuck in his belt. Strangely, two shining gems orbited his head. They reminded Esh of moons orbiting a world up in the upper plains of existence. A black cat trailed behind the skinny human.

“Perhaps these are the ‘friends’ the beggar spoke of,” whispered Esh.

“Hi, Susan.” The human with the golden armor waved his hand at Sheda. “I was trying to call you last night. Why didn’t you answer? Did you forget about the barbecue?”

Esh froze. “Susan” definitely wasn’t a typical elven name. And what did barbecue stand for? Esh had never heard of such a word. He hoped barbecue had something to do with fire.

“Hmmm,” mumbled Sheda. “I was preoccupied at the Lich palace. He captured me.”

“And I thought you were playing hard to get,” he chuckled. “I’ll text you tonight.”

“I’ll be delighted.” Sheda glanced at Esh and shrugged.

Esh wanted to scratch his head hearing these funny words. Unfortunately, his parrot wings didn’t allow that luxury, and he dared not use his feet.

The other two humans came closer. The blue-robed wizard stared at Sheda closely. “Were you at the Lich palace the whole night?”

“Aye.”

“Captured?”

Sheda nodded.

“Sweet Jesus,” the wizard said, while his black cat rubbed at his legs. “Why didn’t you just log out and start fresh at the temple?”

Esh wondered what by the name of Asmodeus that wizard was talking about.

“You tell me,” Sheda said.

“You didn’t want to lose your experience points?”

Sheda nodded.

“You didn’t have to be up all night, you know,” the wizard continued. “You could have called support. I was killed twice at the palace. I e-mailed the company, and they restored all my items. By the way, we’re thinking of going back there. Wanna join? We could use a good thief.”

“A thief?” Icicles formed in Sheda’s eyes. “You dare to call me a thief? I shall obliterate you for your insolence.”

“Mistress!” Esh whispered in panic. “Remember the mission.”

The one with the golden plate smiled. “You talk funny, Susan. A true role player! Anyway, about that Lich, are you in? We could use your help. Nakam is a first rate AI.”

“AI?” Sheda raised an eyebrow.

The wizard punched himself on his forehead. “What’s the matter with you, Susan? I thought you were a geek. AI—Artificial Intelligence.” His hands extended wide, as if he was talking about the most trivial thing in this plain.

“Ah, yes, that kind of AI. Sorry, I forgot,” Sheda replied. Her voice sounded awkward and unconvincing.

“So?” The golden-plate warrior stared at Sheda. “Are you in?”

Sheda ignored him as she addressed the wizard. “Some daemons are also incredibly smart. Are you implying they too have artificial, um, intelligence?”

The wizard nodded.

Esh was confused. These humans were talking about the creatures of this world as some sort of artificial…something. This was madness.

“Are you claiming that all the locals,” said Sheda, “all those who didn’t come out of the temple, are nothing but…” She fell silent. Then she whispered in Esh’s ear. “These humans must have drunk too much elixir of lunacy. Continuing this parley is a waste of my precious time. We should go home.”

“Susan,”—the wizard sounded surprised—“didn’t you read the game manual? All the local creatures are an interactive part of the software.”

“Of course I read them.” Sheda played along with their psychosis. “I’m, as you said, a good, hmm…role player. This body is the avatar of an entity from the real world.” She pointed at her elven body, mocking the wizard. “The one where humans can invoke, barbecues and software, while the inhabitants of this place are nothing but a brainless artificial creation. Right?”

The wizard chuckled.

Sheda stood up and walked toward the exit. “I’m afraid I must bid you farewell, gentlemen. I have more important business.”

The human with the golden plate shouted after her, “What kind of business? The Lich? What did he promise you?”

Sheda turned her head. “Nakam promised me my freedom.”

The man looked at her, “Eh?”

“The freedom to go to Hell.”

The dazzle in Nakam’s diamond eyes dimmed. “I’ve suspected that for the longest time. And don’t fool yourself. It’s much worse than what I initially expected.”

“Have you lost your mind?” said Esh, hovering above Sheda in his original fire imp shape. “These humans are insane beyond redemption. Are you saying there is a shred of truth in their ill mind?”

Nakam just stood there, shaking his head. “I have other sources that confirmed this story. Our plains of existence are indeed nothing but a sophisticated creation. And we are mere creatures designed to entertain the players who enter our world.”

Sheda, back in her she-daemon form, glared in red. She shoved Esh aside with one hand, and with the other, she grabbed Nakam’s fragile neck and lifted him in the air. “Explain yourself!”

“In your absence,” Nakam said without flinching, “I linked to this maiden’s mind. I read her memories. I saw the world she came from.”

“Carry on!”

Nakam just gestured at the elven maid frozen inside the transparent cube.

“It can’t be true.” Sheda dropped the Lich to the ground, her eyes as dead as the abyss. “I’ve fulfilled my part of our agreement. If you choose to believe in the maiden lunacy, it’s your choice. I demand that you hold your part of the bargain, and send me back to Gehenom.”

“Our world,”—Nakam clanged his teeth—“with all its plains, is nothing but a game. A game which could be turned off at any moment. We,” he pointed at himself, then at Sheda, “can be turned off at any time.”

“Mistress?” Esh said, wondering where Sheda was heading. “Nakam sounds very convincing.”

“Is he?” said Sheda, pointing her claw at Nakam. “The Emperor Lich can be as delusional as the invading humans. I know what I am. I know where I belong. I’m acquainted with the nature of this world. I claim my right to return home. Enough with this lunacy.”

“The deal spoke of three days.” Nakam said calmly. “You are still in my service for two more.” He pointed his rotten finger at the dreaming elven maid. “We need to find a way to send you to the place where these beings come from. We must bring an end to their reckless rampaging through our world. Only then could I afford to free you of your oath.”

Esh remained speechless. Sheda seemed a little unsure of herself.

“Can you send me to the invaders’ realm?” Sheda calmed herself down. “I’ll get to the bottom of this insanity.”

“I’m afraid that’s impossible,” Nakam replied flatly. “Nobody is that powerful; not in the entire world. Besides,” he said, pointing at the elf, “at any moment she’ll be bored with my inceptions, and then she’ll rematerialize to her primary reality.”

Esh noticed the anger mounting in Sheda’s face. He must do something before she erupted. “Is there anything we can do? Perhaps take control of Susan’s body in her world?” He snuck a worried glimpse at his mistress.