Ludere online

Toula, Maverick, and Andromeda awaited him with solemn expressions. None met his eyes as he approached and Maverick looked to be on the verge of tears. Pag kicked himself for not having finished his fight sooner and allowing this to happen. All he could hope was that she would be back, and soon. Well that and that her no longer being with him wouldn’t hurt his chances of getting the herbs he needed. Sure he could re-spawn if it killed him but it still stuck around every time he had thus far. How many times would it kill him before he was reset back to his first level? Would it get to the point that he would basically be stuck in a boot loop, re-spawning only to immediately die over and over again?

Pag shook his head, pushing the thoughts and doubt from his mind as he drew himself up and squared his shoulders. He didn’t need to accept responsibility for something he had no control over but he would make sure that those truly to blame for this would pay. He took a deep breath and forced a smile to his face as he spoke with a confidence he didn’t feel. “Alright, lets do this then. Don’t worry about Aviva, she’ll get back to us as soon as she re-spawns. Don’t worry about apologizing or feeling bad about what happened. For now let’s focus on our goal and do our best to be better.”

Andromeda looked up to him in surprise, searching his gaze with furrowed brows, then chuckled and gave a short nod. “Right. Lead on.”

Maverick gave a small sniffle and Pag padded over to him offering a big grin as he patted his shoulder. “I’m sure if it weren’t for you we’d be missing your sister and Andromeda too. It’d be a shame if the world were to lose two such beautiful ladies.” he said with a wink.

Maverick snorted grinning up at Pag as he drew his sleeve over his face. Pag pretended not to notice as he turned to survey the area, comparing the landmarks to what he saw on his mini-map and debating the best path for them to proceed on.

“The Kyrbane is in that direction right?” He asked with a gesture.

Toula nodded. “Yes, just past the obsidian grasslands at the base of ash mountain range. We’re not too far from the coast now and I guess you could say this is a sort of border zone between each of the factions. To the east is the beginning of the Gloomgrasp strait that separates Soohan and Draggor. To the south is the island of the Lunar empire. To the northwest are the routes that the caravans travel.”

Pag turned to her with a questioning look. “Obsidian grasslands and ash mountain range? We’re not talking potential volcano here are we?”

“No, the grasses are literally as black as obsidian and in the seeding season they’re as sharp as an obsidian knife. The ash mountain is a mountain with nothing but ash trees.” Andromeda chuckled.

“Before you ask no, it isn’t seeding season. It’s actually the point where the stalks die off until spring when they resprout. We’ll have clear line of sight from knee up for quite a ways in every direction. The only thing we would need to worry about is the local fauna. Boars, wolves, that sort of thing. Especially now that the sun is beginning to rise.” Toula said gesturing.

Pag looked towards where she had gestured and saw the first faint fingers of dawn seeping over the horizon to push back the darkness that had blanketed the sky. Pag took a deep breath and smiled before speaking. “Dawn of the Second day, 48 hours remain.”

A system message flickered before him for a moment then disappeared without a trace.

Pag frowned and tried unsuccessfully to pull it back up.

“What?” Andromeda asked looking at him with a perplexed expression.

“Nothing.” Pag responded rubbing the back of his neck. “Lets get moving.”