章 11: The World is Colorless
An NPC is a non-player character used in games to fill the background roles. In Deicide NPC's are strictly programs used to carry out quality of life functions in the game to make the experience immersive. While AI was used to give some of them dialogue it was basic and they couldn't really hold conversations outside of their predetermined role. Most NPC spoke a nonsense language to simulate conversation with each other which could be easily tuned out by a player.
What Kevin and Jessica were experiencing defied all logic they knew about the game. The two were in shock as the normally quiet and barely noticeable NPC not only conversed in Omni-Tongue with one another but showed genuine concern as to their current situation. They were aware that things were not right and checked on one another helping some of the more surprised maids to their feet. Kevin and Jessica just watched in silence as one by one the NPCs stood up and surveyed their surroundings.
"We must have gotten pushed into a development build of the game or something." Kevin stated as if trying to convince himself. "The next major update must also include a new map or something."
"I don't think that is it." Jessica said. "They are acting like real people."
"Lady Lilitu," Cullan said, grabbing her attention. "What should we do?"
"I-I…" Jessica struggled to speak for a second as all eyes fell on her. "Gather everyone here in the guild hall. There are others in the forest as well."
"Ma'am!" Cullen and Kalven both said.
"Alright everyone, the guild master wants all of the non-combat personnel to remain in the Guild Hall." Kalven turns to face the crowd waving his hands to get everyone's attention. "Guards, form ranks we are going to secure the manor and collect everyone we find and bring them here."
"I am putting together a search and rescue for missing persons in the forest." Cullen yells as soon as Kalven was finished. "Guards with rescue training step up now."
Cullen and Kalven walked into the mob of people and started barking out more orders. They seemed to be effective in organizing all of the chaos between the shocked and scared people. The guards were lined up by their rank and level; those that were lower ranked had on basic gear with red uniforms which looked like a British colonial era soldier with the crest of the guild on their shoulder. Higher ranked had armored breastplates and slightly more extravagant uniforms. No one here was as highly ranked as Cullen and Kalven who had red plate armor and were the personal bodyguards of the guild master.
Kevin and Jessica turned away from the crowd to distance themselves from the unbelievable scene playing out before them. Despite the impossibility of the moment for whatever reason they felt reasonably calm. It was as if they knew that they should be freaking out but the surreal nature of everything made it feel almost dreamlike. In fact the more the situation went on the more they both thought that it might just be a dream.
"Jessica," Kevin stated, breaking the long silence between the two of them. "Is this real?"
"I don't know." Jessica stated looking down at the guandao in her hand.
Jessica could feel the weapon which should be impossible. Not only that but it was as if it seemed so natural and familiar to her. She could sense her soul press into the weapon when she used her spell earlier. Although she could no longer see her mana bar in the corner of her vision she could feel how much she had left. She was overflowing with power like a vast ocean ready to flood the world. These were not things that even the most advanced Sensory Augmentation could replicate.
"I don't know why I am so calm right now. It feels like I just want to scream but I am not." Jessica states as she puts a hand on Kevin's shoulder then up to his face. "Maybe it's real, maybe not, but standing here is not going to do anything."
"Yeah. You are right. I think I would imagine you in something a little more revealing if this was a dream." Kevin said with a slight smirk.
"Shut-up, this avatar is hot as she is." Jessica shot back.
"Can you really feel stuff?" Kevin asked.
"Yeah I…"
Kevin leaned over and kissed her with a peck on the lips without any warning, an action that if this had been a game would have been impossible. Their heads would have passed harmlessly through one another without any contact. This time however their lips pressed warmly against one another for a second as Kevin pulled away. Jessica froze in place as her brain caught up to what happened.
"Sorry, I know this isn't the time for that but I couldn't help myself." Kevin stated as he looked her in the eyes. "Dream or no, we are going to get through whatever this is together."
Jessica and Kevin steeled themselves for whatever was going to happen next. They had many questions but standing around questioning everything wouldn't get them any answers. They turned back to the crowd and walked further into the grand entrance. The guards that were searching the extravagant building had already dispersed leaving about twenty men led by Cullen that were preparing to explore the forest.
Kevin and Jessica were not worried about the NPCs though. As the two walked they saw Awen Shishri descending the stairs from the upper level. The trustale woman's sleek form and flowing robes gave off power and authority. Awen scanned the room momentarily until her eyes locked on Jessica and Kevin. Awen made a quick beeline for the two of them.
"Guild Masster, Visse Masster," Awen stated as she approached, her words had a hiss to them. "What iss going on? The world iss sso colorlesss here. It ssmellss vile, and different. Are we under attack?"
"You are Awen right?" Kevin stated, eyeing the avatar up and down.
"Asss far asss I know masster Harahel, are there changelingss here?"
"No," Jessica affirms. "We don't know what is happening though."
"What is the last thing you remember?" Kevin asked.
"I wass getting ready to go to the market to finish the a consstruction I was working on." Awen stated while looking up as if trying to remember. "I wass pretty much done but ssome of the ssuppliess were running low. Asss I wass leaving the workshop I suddenly wass falling into a black sspace. When I reawoke I wass in immensse pain and ussed healing magic to sstop it before it got too bad."
"Our experience was similar." Kevin stated. "Are you really Awen Sinshri? You look like her but you can't be talking when Jessica is here."
"I don't know who Jesssica iss," Awen said. "But I can asssure you I am Awen. Are you two alright? You look like you have seen a Dark God."
As they were talking another two figures descended the stairs this time sounding like they were in the middle of a heated argument. One of the voices was a woman's voice that even while angry had a sweet hum to it. The other voice was a deep yet smooth baritone. Everyone's attention turned to the arguing pair except for the guards leaving for the search and rescue.
The two figures where the perfect contrast Kokou was a tall and burly man in heavy armor with a massive sword taller than was on his back. Svaralfer was walking down the stairs beside him with a finger angrily pointing at his face while she yelled. Svaralfer was thin and curvy wearing her usual light armor and a massive yumi war bow in her other hand.
"Don't give me that! Why are you so insufferable?" Svaralfer yelled.
"Where do you want me to put them? The hallway is a perfect place to let them air out." Kokou states just as loud but not looking down at her.
"In your filthy room," Svaralfer said, frustration boiling over at this point.
"Don't we have more important issues to worry about than where I place my shoes at night?" Kokou stated. "If it is such an issue why don't you just change room?"
"You would have a lady change her room because you don't want to pick up your own messes?" Svaralfer said, offense ringing in her voice.
The two continued to argue as they descended into the main lobby. Their argument shifting back and forth about Kokou leaving his apparently smelly boots in the hallway after he trained. Svaralfer who is in the room beside his can smell the boots at night through her door. It seemed as though the argument would have continued had it not been for Awen walking over to them. Which drew attention to the fact that both the Guild Master and Vice Master had been standing there.
クリエイターの想い 
ChildOfAidon
ChildOfAidon If it's not entirely obvious Awen Shishri hisses the “S’s” in her words sometimes which meant I had the very difficult decision whether to turn “as” into “ass” or “asss”. I chose the latter but it was difficult. If she ever says “ass” I guess it will have to double down and change it to “asssss”.
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