The next day Lilit was heading home after teaching an early morning css. She didn’t have office hours until after lunch so, like she usually did, she pnned on getting a few hours soloing to grind for levels. She usually preferred to py with a party, especially as a cleric that was focused on buffs and healing. She really needed to unlock the spells at the next level though before they started going into harder dungeons. She was so close and knew that by the time she got together with her party this weekend she’d be leveled up and prepared for more adventure.
She worked on a sprawling campus that stretched over several blocks in each direction. She had to cross several busy streets to get from the building she taught in back to her apartment. As she was waiting on the corner for the light to change she noticed a cute little girl standing beside a young woman. She was quietly bouncing a ball while the woman beside her was talking into her phone quietly but urgently.
The little girl couldn’t have been older than three or four. She was adorable with little blonde pigtails sticking off the sides of her head. Lilit kept an eye on the little girl who was standing close to the edge of the curb.
If she hadn’t been she wouldn’t have seen what happened next it happened so fast. The little girl’s ball hit the edge of the curb, and bounced directly into the street. The little girl took off like a fsh to get her ball back, not paying attention to the traffic on the street.
Less than ten feet away was a metro bus barreling along. She saw the moment the driver saw the girl dart out in front of the bus. His eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped open. She heard the brakes squeal as the tires locked up.
Without thinking, Lilit’s body was already in motion. The instant the ball bounced into the street she’d started to move, knowing exactly how this was about to py out. She was several steps away though and the little girl was in the street and too far to reach from the curb by the time Lilit made it to the edge.
The woman, who she assumed was the little girl’s mom let out a fearful screech. Lilit was already in motion and pushed the woman away from the street as she took a step out to grab her daughter. It was too te. She couldn’t grab the girl and snatch her from in front of the bus, there wasn’t time. As she stepped into oncoming traffic, Lilit reached out and shoved the little girl past the edge of the ne. No one was coming from the other direction and she would be safe from more than a skinned knee.
The same could not be said for Lilit. She didn’t have time to get herself out of harm’s way as well. She kept her eyes locked on the little girl as she felt the sudden, bone crushing impact of the bus hitting her. The pain was unbearable. It felt like every bone in her body had been crushed and splintered at once. Thankfully darkness took her quickly.
She never woke up after being hit by the bus. Her body was rushed to the closest trauma center, paramedics doing the best that they could to keep her heart beating. Lilit was beyond the pain. She heard murmurs and voices speaking over each other, but it was muffled and distorted like she was listening to it underwater.
She never heard the beeps from the machines they hooked her up to. She’d already left that body far behind by the time they got her onto a gurney at the hospital. Lilit was pronounced dead ten minutes ter by the doctor.
Lilit floated through the void. She watched as stars were born, and she observed them as they died explosive deaths. There was no up or down, no side to side. The void cradled her in its embrace. Though what the void was cradling Lilit didn’t know, because she had no body anymore.
She floated for minutes or an eternity. She really couldn’t tell which before she felt the presence of someone else. The presence wasn’t familiar. Something about it felt benevolent though. So she shifted her attention and took in the presence beside her.
Welcome. I have been searching for someone such as yourself. Someone capable of sacrifice. Someone who can put the idea of others over themselves. The words seemed to echo in her mind. Beside her was a tiny spark. She had no true sense of dimension in the void, but she got the impression that the spark would fit into her hand, if she had still had one.
Lilit wasn’t sure how to communicate with the spark, but she tried her best as she thought at the spark. You don’t know me. I’m no great hero. I’m as selfish as the next person.
The spark seemed amused. Nothing observable changed about the spark, that was just the impression it left on her mind. I have looked through your life. I saw the sacrifices big and small that you made for those around you. Even those who you knew didn’t deserve it. If that is not a hero, what is?
Bitterly now. That makes me a doormat, not a hero.
And what if I could give you another chance. Maybe this time you could be the hero you wish you could have been? The hero that I already can see within you. The spark was more somber now. Its amusement spent.
I have lived my life. I have looked upon the void. I know that there is nothing left but for me to become one with the void and in that way become recycled and born again. I look forward to that end and the peace it brings. I am not afraid. Lilit replied.
Ah. But you cannot see every path open to you from your vantage. I know another way. A way that will let you continue to exist as you. One that promises adventure, action, maybe even romance if you’re brave enough. The spark seemed to chuckle bemusedly at the thought.
Lilit considered the spark’s offer. Yes, she was unafraid of joining the void. Being out here stripped her of many of her inhibitions and fears. She knew that this was simply the way of the universe. There was nothing inherently wrong with what would happen.
The idea of putting off joining the void a little longer, now that it was on offer seemed too good to pass up. She enjoyed being herself, and while not scared, she was a little concerned about the idea of no longer existing as herself. It needed to be more than a knee jerk reaction. She couldn’t just agree to anything. For all she knew the spark intended her more harm than good. She wasn’t sure what the spark was going to get out of this, or even what she would get out of this.
Tell me more.
The spark told her a tale of the multiverse. There wasn’t just one void, there were infinite voids, with even more infinite worlds, with even more infinite lives. Although intelligence was much less infinite. The spark imparted this wisdom with more than a little smirk in its ‘voice.’
Entropy fought against order to bance out the energies of each universe. Between each universe gathered the energy that leaked through. Nothing is perfectly contained, not even universes.
If left alone, the energy in a universe would eventually drain out into the in-between spaces. The entropy would eventually win. Then each universe would snuff itself out one by one. In order to fix this problem the various deities of the various universes gathered together. They recognized the problem, but not how to fix it.
They spent eons going over different pns and strategies to more contain the energies leaking through. No sooner did they fix one leak than another would pop up. No matter what they did, energy continued to leak away from the universes.
Finally, one of the youngest gods who had been near silent the entire time asked why not just periodically put the energy back into each universe? They couldn’t keep all the energy contained, but there might be a way to siphon it back into py so to speak. In that way they could maintain a kind of bance for each universe.
The other deities were shocked, but they readily agreed that this might be the best way to save themselves and their universes. So a pn was put into motion where structures would be built in the in-between spaces. These structures would trap the incoming energy. The problem then became how to get the energy back. None of the deities wanted to step in between to release the energy. What if they couldn’t make it back, what if their enemies trapped them away forever?
It was decided that mortals would have to py a part in releasing the energies. And that is where Lilit came in.
The deities had to change the design of their siphons. A mortal mind would not be able to comprehend the abstract nature of the structure, let alone be able to return the flow of energy. So, dungeons were born.
Each dungeon attached to an in-between space and one or two universes. The dungeon collected the energy that passed through and used it to build defenses, traps, and creatures to protect itself. By clearing a dungeon, mortals would release the stored up energy back into the universe it came from.
What, like a video game? Lilit asked.
Very simirly yes. The deities have been quietly spreading games and stories about dungeons like these in every universe so that mortals would be prepared to face them if chosen. The spark seemed smug now.
So, if I py this game. If I clear these dungeons for you, what do I get?
Aside from keeping the rest of the multiverse intact? You get more time to maintain your own memories and personality. You get to build a whole new life again. Live again, love again. You put off the inevitable a little longer. You stay you a little longer. You’re not alone any longer.
It wasn’t until the spark said something that Lilit realized that she was lonely. The spark was the first presence she’d felt since she became aware of the void around her. And the idea of being her, even if just a little longer, was pleasant. She felt herself wanting to give in. The void would be there to welcome her back when she was done clearing dungeons. She’d become one and be recycled eventually. She was really just deying the inevitable. But now that the option was in front of her, deying it was really looking appealing.
I accept. What do I have to do?
Nothing yet. I’m going to guide you through the process to prepare you for the dungeons. Be aware though. There are no solo dungeons. You need to be in a party of at least three. So keep in mind that you’ll need to both help and rely on others. You will not be expected to carry the entire burden on your own. The spark replied.
The next instant Lilit found herself staring at her own body. It was startling. Her body was completely stripped down and bare. The same long brown hair. The same lean, runner’s body. It also wasn’t really her. It was missing that spark. It was missing her.
Screens began to popute around the body. She tried to focus in on them but they fshed too quickly, text scrolling by at lightning speed.
I have replicated your body. Now our system is registering you. It will determine your baseline stats.
Lilit was a little concerned about that idea. She wasn’t exactly the most athletic person she knew. She taught biology at a small university and pyed MMORPGs on her computer. If her stats were based on that she was not going to survive long at all.
The spark seemed to sense her apprehension. Be not afraid. You will be given the opportunity to improve yourself before the process is finished. First though, you need to pick a css.
Lilit felt her attention turned away from her body to a screen poputed by sixteen csses. As she focused on each one, a brief description popped up for her.
Sentinel Vanguard
Sorcerer Conjurer
Berserker Hexbde
Acolyte Crusader
Guardian Elementalist
Wizard Warlock
Ronin Druid
Shaman Sage
There were some she could cross right off her list. She had no interest in being a berserker for instance. Conjurer sounded interesting. [Summons creatures from the beyond to do their bidding. Creature can take on the role of combatant while the conjurer buffs them. Can only heal their creature.]
Maybe. It was definitely something that sounded like it could give her a wide variety of options as far as how she pyed. She read through a few more.
Ronin. [A strong fighter with a code of honor. Capable with both melee and ranged weapons of many types.]
Warlock. [Magic granted through a pact with a higher being. Focus on offensive magic with limited area of effect spells. Light armor only.]
Sentinel. [Medium to heavy armored knight. Not capable of magic. Martial weapons of ranged or melee.]
As she continued to go through the list, they all sounded interesting. She could see how each one would fit into a team and what style of py they’d be good at. But she felt drawn to the healer csses. She’d always pyed a healer in her old games. It allowed her to be a step away from the combat and take in the whole battlefield. It let her lead her parties to victory time and again. It wasn’t enough to just hack and ssh at monsters. You needed tactics and strategy to win long term.
Acolyte. [Focused on holy healing. Medium to heavy armor. Some martial training, but limited weapons.]
Sage. [Ancient wisdom guides their healing. With a focus on potions and alchemy. Ranged weapons.]
Shaman. [Animal spirit based healing and buffs. Summon animals as companions. Simple weapons.]
Druid. [Pnt based healing and buffs. Can summon pnt based entanglements to control the environment. Simple or ranged weapons.]
They all sounded good. She could imagine the strengths and weaknesses each might possess. It ended up boiling down to what she was familiar with. She often pyed as a cleric or something simir in her games. A holy healer with a martial tilt. The acolyte seemed to fit the closest to her normal pystyle.
I’ll choose the acolyte.
Very good choice. And exactly what I expected. Now, let’s take a look at your basic stats, the spark said.
A new screen appeared in front of Lilit.
Str: 10 Wis: 16
Dex: 8 Cha: 16
Con: 10 Mana: 0
Int: 12 Stamina: 8
Wow. That was underwhelming. She was either average or below average on everything but intelligence, wisdom, and charisma.
You have twenty additional points you may add in to your stats. Be careful, and be wise about your decisions. The spark notified her. Leveling up will not give you a chance to improve your stats again. They can, however, be improved by successfully completing certain tasks and actions a number of times. Each stat level is twice as rge to fill as the one before it, making it difficult to max out any stats.
Well, a high wisdom score would make tactics and strategy easier. And looking at the acolyte screen pop up again, it looked like wisdom was also the stat used for casting. She needed mana in order to do magic though, so she definitely needed to put more than a few points in that.
She didn’t pn on getting too close to the fighting very often, so she was actually ok with her strength and dexterity stats. Her stamina stat might need a bump. While it was hard to turn down being smarter, she didn’t need more intelligence. And her charisma was pretty decent.
She deliberated for quite some time before dumping all her points in a rush.
Are you sure? The spark asked.
Yes. She looked over her new stats and before she could second guess herself, finalized her selections.
Str: 10 Wis: 18
Dex: 8 Cha: 16
Con: 10 Mana: 18
Int: 12 Stamina: 8
She watched as her body subtly changed in front of her. Nothing really physically changed, but she could see where the new reservoir of mana would sit behind her heart. Her mind became just a touch more intuitive.
The body in front of her became clothed in stiff, leather armor. I white tabard belted over top. Over the breast y a symbol composed of a red cross surrounded by a thin, bck crescent on one side and five green, five-pointed stars on the other.
Choose a weapon.
In front of Lilit a series of simple martial weapons appeared. She wasn’t trained on how to use a sword, and she wasn’t keen on trying to learn while defending herself. She’d heard that spears were easy to master, just poke the sharp end into someone. But her eyes were drawn to a five bded mace near the top of the weapons dispy. That seemed both simple and effective enough she could become proficient. Just bash something as hard as she could. No fancy moves or stances. Just club monsters over the head until they stopped moving. Even she couldn’t mess that up.
The mace. Lilit answered.
Very good. Now, are you ready? The spark asked.
Before Lilit could answer she found herself thrust back into her body. It was disorienting having a body, feeling physical sensations, breathing, and all of the things that go into living. She gasped in a breath as her eyes flew open.
