The Town

Saphia and I were heading towards the Town. I remember it being a lively place with many NPC's. I wonder what happened here. About 200 people used to live here, but now there are only a couple of people left. Most of the buildings had holes and broken doors and some had roof parts missing, if I had magic, I could fix the smaller damages, but my level is not high enough. I'm glad that this game was developed with sandbox freedom in mind, but the destruction sometimes is just disgusting to look at. Especially to the Town, I could always enjoy my peace alone with anyone bothering me.

"When were back, what should I do with the bora?"

"I always bring it to the eldest, he processes it for the rest to eat."

"Well, I will head over there then."

"Might not be a good idea."

Saphia looked at me with a face that screamed not a good idea.

"Relax, ill just drop it off and head towards your house."

"Ok… then do that."

Saphia looked at my perplexed, her eyes, however, had a questioning look.

We enter the gate and Saphia departs from me towards the right. I open my map and follow her, I also check for any indicators to find the right people. On the town plaza was something build like a rescue shelter.

On my way over there, I come across another NPC. If he is like Saphia, then I can talk with him and get proper information.

"Sorry to both-"

"AAAAAHHH!!!"

The man ran away towards the plaza.

What the… I did not expect a reaction like this. Now that I look around me, there are no more NPC's around. I walk towards the Plaza and instead of the wide open area with grass and a nice fountain in the middle I see, houses made of rubble and wood. Most of the buildings were uninhabitable and the amount of NPC's has decreased. They don't respawn, so this island won't see helping hands anytime soon.

In one of the houses, I see a shadow moving.

"I'm just dropping this of!"

I pull out the Bora and throw it towards one of the houses. I check my map again and see that Saphia is watching me. This should make her trust me a bit more, and the towns' people as well.

Afterwards, I walk towards Saphias house. I kept my eye on her position on the map. The fact that she couldn't see my inventory until I shoved the Bora in. And that she couldn't see the party window until she got a prompt, shows that she can't see me using most of the game's function. And there are a lot. From her walking speed, I can see that she still keeps an eye out for me.

She doesn't trust me. I need to change that. She will be a valuable tool on my quest.

The surroundings lack the color that they used to have. The sky is clear blue, and it is bright, but the walkways between the houses are dark and dreary. I don't like the state of this town, I think I will remake it like it was in my memories. Would be a short little time killer once I got to Level 30.

I'm almost at Saphia's house, it's a small house on the outskirt of the town with a large field. But that field was barren, and the house while mostly fine had several cracks and was fixed up by wooden bars. Before I made the turn over here, Saphia rushed over. I wonder what excuse she will deliver.

I knock on a thick wooden door, and after a few seconds it open.

"Wow, you really knew where I live. That is really creepy."

"I believe my story is a bit more believable now."

"Not really, but now I know you're a creep."

"Thanks for the compliment. Can I come in?"

"I should say no, but fine, come in."

I walk in as Saphia leads me in with a hand sign.

"Who stole all your crop?"

"Really? That's the first question that you ask?"

"Yeah, It's what I'm currently curious about."

"Don't know his name but was one of the Heroes."

"What exactly happened to this place. I remember it being a lively Town with many people?"

"It was. Until the Shadows Came, and the Heroes along with it."

"Did the Shadow arrive at the same time as the heroes?"

"No the Heroes came 2 months later."

2 months before the release? That was the giant update hiatus. This means that they have been conscious while the server was offline. How? Or is that just an implanted memory?

We both go into a room that could be called a kitchen. Saphia gets some vegetables out and starts cutting them. I had some meat in my inventory left as start equipment. I also had a pickaxe, a normal axe and a shovel. Two potions, a piece of bread, some spare clothes and 3 dead chickens.

"Do you have Tatoes, Saphia?"

"Yes why?"

"I got meat. We could make Stew."

Saphia opens the Cupboard and pulls out a box with 5 Tatoes. I pull out the steaks and start cutting them as Saphia prepares the Tatoes.

"We didn't get any supplies from the countries after they were all taken over, We decided to work together to keep us alive. New Jobs were assigned, and the Island became self sustainable."

The people changed their actions and started to function outside their predetermined path. It's like this whole game has come to live during the Maintenance and update.

DAI, how is that possible? How did you do that?

"I guess the Heroes then came and destroyed everything."

"Not at first. At first, we were all glad. I heard many stories about Heroes and read many Tales, but what I saw was not Heroism. When they arrived with the Ship, we cheered as they took down all the monsters appearing around the Town, that thankfully was safe thanks to God's blessing."

It was DAI that made the safety wall. So, he really is seen as the Creator and God over this world.

"But not long after, they went after us. They destroyed everything and Disapeared through a blue light at the docks along with their Ship."

While there is a boat to travel, you can fast-travel there via teleport. For a higher price, though.

"Some stayed, and we spend most of our time hiding. After all left, we thought we were safe, but many people were already dead. And Just after we managed to rebuild most of the Destroyed Houses, a boat showed up. Heroes on the hunt for more Magic orbs. We went into hiding, but they ended up destroying everything and killing any person they would find. I made it out alive."

Saphia stops chopping the Carrots as she finishes her Sentence and looks with empty eyes into the void. Her sister died in that incident.

"So you decided to get stronger to protect the Towns' people once they come again."

"Yes."

"Did you remember who did it?"

Saphia stops again with the chopping and looks over to me. I look at the meat that I'm cutting and try to act normal.

"You want revenge."

"What do you know?"

Her tone is getting hostile.

"The Feeling to want to get back at someone who did something terrible to you. I get that, I felt like that as well once. The world has wronged me many times and I never had the opportunity to get my revenge. But you have that. If you keep up training."

She looks less aggressive now. Looks like I calmed her down.

"His comrades called him King Jim, so I guess his name is Jim."

King Jim. Never heard of the player.

After preparing, I light the fire in the oven and help Saphia preparing the stew. It is surprising how natural all of this goes past. Considering that I'm a stranger, she just met today. Could it be that she trusts me? Or is she trying to lead me to false security?

Saphia told me that 72 people survived and that they live mostly of the Bora's that Saphia brings every day. She herself eats mostly vegetables. The Men are working on rebuilding the town and the woman support with cooking food, taking care of the children and repairing clothes. There was also a small group of boys who would go out every day to hunt and collect. Apparently, there are also Shadow bunnies who are easier to defeat. Their Level is around 14 to 19.

The Oldest person Became Town eldest and governs over it now, he stores all the ingredients and employs people to cook and feed the people working. He is also in charge of coordinating everything. The children try to help out where its possible, and some train with the sword.

It looks like the entire place has changed and with it its people.

What once was a safe haven and a beautiful Town full of live is now, that it has come to live, a place of ruin and despair. I might not feel anything, but I somehow can't help but think that it needs to return to its former state. But that will never happen with players constantly killing them.