章 12: Avatars And NPCs

"Lilitu, Harahel," Kokou said with gusto. "What's going on? I don't sense any hostile presence in the area. But I also don't remember the guild being in the middle of a forest."

"I am pretty sure everyone in the guild was teleported to a new location." Svaralfer stated. "It looks like more people are showing up as well pretty far out into the forest."

Svaralfer's eyes had a soft glow as she used her archer's ability [Sight Beyond] Awakened which allowed her to target any number of things in a 500 meter zone. She could even see through foliage and buildings without divination protection.

"I don't think we have the capacity here to gather all of the people I am seeing out there." Svaralfer stated. "I think there are more outside of my abilities range. We will need Pneuma to use her divination to locate everyone."

"The forest is thick," maybe it would be best to move some of the trees." Kokou suggested. "Luckily we have Awen, do some of your tree talking magic."

"I don't talk to treess." Awen said.

"You say words and they do what you say, sounds like talking to me." Kokou says matter of factly. "Or I can start cutting. Either way works for me."

Kevin looked over to Jessica and gave her a look with a slight nod. The two of them knew that they were neck deep in all of this so they needed to act the part. He turned back to the group of what hours ago where nothing more than one and zeros they programmed in a game. Now they seemed to be living, breathing entities.

"We should focus on getting as many people safe as possible." Kevin said with a breath. "Cutting back some of the trees is a good idea but moving them would be better so we don't have to deal with the logs. Awen and Kokou can you all clear out a perimeter? We will cut down a few and move the rest."

"Shouldn't be a problem ssir." Awen hissed.

"You got it boss." Kokou said.

"Svaralfer, help out with the search and rescue with your ability it will be easier to find everyone." Jessica said.

"Anything to be away from that insufferable man." Svaralfer said acussitoraly while glaring at Kokou.

"We have livess to ssave people." Awen stated. "Kisss and make up later."

"K-kiss that buffoon." Svaralfer yelped. "He wishes."

The three avatars departed to accomplish their individual goals. Kokou and Awen stopped at the entrance to the woodland while Svaralfer ran in with quickness and grace that made her movements impossible to track. Jessica and Kevin were once again left speechless. Avatars don't normally talk and while they could be programmed with a few voice lines they could not hold conversations. Not to mention avatars don't have personalities they are just vessels for the player to inhabit. Yet all of them had their own voice and attitudes towards one another as if they were real people.

Jessica and Kevin looked over the terrified servants that had all been collected so far. More of them were being escorted down corridors to meet friends that had already been found. Reunions seemed genuine and happy while those that still had loved ones gone looked worried. Jessica left Kevin's side and walked over to one of the young maids.

As Kevin watched Jessica walk away in the body of Lilitu a fleeting thought flew through his mind. It was a flash but it planted a seed of doubt, he worried about if she was really Jessica or if he was really alone. He wanted to follow behind her but he couldn't move another step towards her. Seeing the other avatars move and act freely the way that they had shook him.

Jessica continued to the young maid who looked to be about fourteen years old and was searching frantically for someone. Jessica thought this would be a good chance to see how human the NPC's were. Jessica glanced behind her as she approached the maid and was surprised Kevin had not following but she continued on without him.

"Is everything alright?" Jessica asked the maid.

The young maid stopped and looked genuinely surprised that Jessica had even noticed her. The young girls eyes shot open with awe and trepidation. To the NPCs the Guild Master might as well have been a Queen. For Lilitu to even acknowledge her was like a dream come true.

"Ma'am! I mean lady Lilitu!" The young maid said as she bowed her head. "It is nothing to worry yourself about."

"What is your name?" Jessica asked, she wanted to know if all of the NPC had names. "You do have one, right?"

"Yes, sorry I should have introduced myself earlier! My name is Daiyu."

"It is nice to meet you, Daiyu." Jessica said with a smile. "Are you looking for someone?"

"Y-yes, my older sister works here too but I haven't seen her yet." Daiyu admitted.

"I see what is your sisters name?" Jessica asked.

"Milady, her name is Li." Daiyu said.

"We have people searching the area I am sure will find her." Jessica said. "Why don't we wait together for her."

"I couldn't ask you to do that for me." Daiyu said apologetically while bowing her head multiple times.

"It is okay I am sure your sister will see you if you are standing beside the Guild Master, right?" Jessica asked. "Why don't you tell me a little more about yourself."

While Jessica talked with Daiyu, Kevin watched from a distance. He then turned his attention to the front door and walked outside. He was surprised to see that a fifty meter perimeter around the Guild hall had been cleared. A few of the buildings that had been teleported along with them had been fully uncovered. Awen managed to move the trees without much issue which was no surprise since she was a Natural Cleric. Her magic skill [Bend Nature] Awakened gave her control over plant life. At her command the trees uprooted themselves and scuttled along the ground to replant themselves wherever she directed. More and more people found their way out of the grip of the forest thanks to the search and rescue efforts.

"Master Harahel." A soft and shy voice called out to him from behind.

Kevin turned around to see Pneuma standing a few feet behind him. Pneuma was in her more colorful mage robes and her eyes darted around the room as she nervously approached with her head down. Her face flush red as she tried to do a few calming breaths.

"I am sorry I am late." Pneuma stated nervously as she looked down at her interlocked hands while twiddling her thumbs. "I wanted to make sure I had something useful to you… to the guild before I presented myself to you. I would show Lilitu but she was talking to the maids."

"What did you come up with?" Kevin asked.

Pneuma held out her hand and a scroll appeared out of thin air.

"I made a map of the forest to help find all of the missing people." Pneuma said in a soft tone.

"Thank you." Kevin stated as he took the map out of her hand. "That will definitely help out. I was wondering where you were."

"You were?" Pneuma asked with more excitement in her shy voice. "I mean there are a few of us so I am surprised you wanted to know where I was."

Kevin was surprised how different the Pneuma was from how he had always pictured her. All of the avatars seemed to act as if their personalities were inspired by the backstories he and Jessica wrote for them. He wanted to make sure he was careful with Pneuma. Jessica made it so that she was in love with Harahel and if the bio does affect their behavior he doesn't want to send her mixed messages.

"Yes, Jes… Lilitu and I know you are the best diviner in the guild." Kevin said being sure to insert Lilitu into the conversation.

Pneuma's primary purpose was surveillance and anti-surveillance magic. This was a highly specialized role that in the Guild Battle was paramount to their success. These skills were called various types of divination which included a farsight skill called [All Knowing] Awakened. The skill allowed her to see everything within a large area. She also had the ability to make maps that could be shared to everyone in her party. In the game it would just highlight enemies and track their movements. Kevin guessed that the skill produced actual maps now.

"Oh, yes of course." Pneuma side with a slightly defeated tone.

"We appreciate your due diligence in making this map. Do you know where we are?" Kevin asked. "Obviously somewhere on Tonantzin since the servants are still alive."

Deicide had two main realms, the one of the mortal races called Tonantzin. The other was the realm called Enthroned where the immortal celestials originated. These two realms were inhospitable to beings of the other world. Special items or skills are required to travel between and survive which Kevin doubted any of the maids had. That would mean that they are still on Tonantzin.

"Normally, you would be right but I don't think this is either realm." Pneuma admits. "I have never seen a place like where we are. They aren't on any known maps and the stars are different."

"So you are saying we are in a new world." Kevin mused to himself. "Have you seen people besides the ones that are teleported here from our world?"

"No, but there may be some intelligent creatures out there. I did see roads far out into the grasslands."

"Do you know where the rest of our guildmates are?" Kevin asked.

"Most of them haven't appeared, you, Lady Lilitu, Kokou, Awen and Svaralfer are the only ones I have sensed so far. However, more people and buildings are appearing as we speak." Pneuma stated.