What I did to you is unforgivable, and if you remember I wouldn’t blame you for hating me. I’m going to be selfish and hope you don’t, though. I’d like my best friend back. Even if I don’t deserve it.
I don’t have a lot of time to write this, pretty sure they’re going to break in any minute. There are three nearby power spikes in the area surrounding the city you should wind up in, if everything worked out and you resurrected in Danielle Rosecrest’s body. Sorry about that, by the way, it was her or the guy who was bleeding out and missing an arm. The system can do a lot, but the arm would have taken longer than we had.
Right, keeping on track. The power spikes aren’t an immediate concern, but if they aren’t taken care of, they could get worse. I’m unsure of how the problems are occurring, but it looks like the cores are taking excess energy from somewhere, and I can’t track that due to the restrictions I’ve got.
The core AIs should be able to help diagnose the problem, if you can’t. I don’t know how much of you is there, but I’m hoping enough that your curiosity and drive will send you investigating.
Hey, maybe you can get back at the guy who killed Danielle while you're at it. It’d be within your power.
I couldn’t restore Admin access, but you have Moderator privileges. Read the manual if you have any questions. It can be found in the Vendal main menu. It can be accessed by thinking about it, if you forget. Just think Vendal Menu.
Shit, alright I’m out of time, do what you do best, man. If my plan works out, I’ll send you another message. If it doesn’t… Well, it was nice knowing you.
Melvin
I read it a couple of times, not really understanding a lot of it. One thing though: The name Alex felt right. More so than Danielle, anyway. Whoever this Melvin was, I got the feeling we had a complicated relationship.
I was about to access the menu he’d said when Greg came back out with a tray. He set a plate down in front of me that held a still warm potato, cut open and coated in butter. Then a fork joined the plate. “It’s not much, but on short notice, it’s the quickest thing I could prepare.”
“Thank you, Greg. I appreciate what you and Martha have done for me. The other two as well.” I took the fork and started to stir the inside of the potato from the cut, mixing the butter into the center. Once it was cool enough, I took a bite and let out a pleased hum. It was delicious.
Greg smirked and put his hands on his hips, “Good to see even a rush job gets a satisfied reaction. Drink some water. You’re a little young, but when you’re done I’ll get you something a little stronger.”
“I still think the drinking laws are stupid.” Martha said, coming back with another bucket and a mop. “Seriously, you can join the guard or military training at fifteen, but no drinking till you’re eighteen? Such a stupid rule. Dwarves practically drink alcohol from birth.”
“Yes, dear. You’ve told me about your alcoholic family enough that I know.” He said, falling into what seemed like an old argument.
“Ha, you haven’t seen an alcoholic dwarf before. Even then, you wouldn’t be able to satisfy one with the whole bar.” She said, taking pride in what I guessed was her… race? Species? Just going to move on from figuring that out.
Greg took the destroyed clothes and tossed them into the bucket I’d used to wash up before grabbing a mop and started cleaning up the floor. “Please, you know I have a special menu for dwarves. You helped pick them out. I can’t even drink the stuff to enjoy it with you.”
“Pfft, lightweight. Disgrace for a tavern owner.” Even though she said that, she grabbed his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Her hand was larger than even Greg’s, though not by much. “How will you make it up to me?”
Greg flushed a light shade of pink, “Martha… not in front of the girl.”
She let go of his hand and gave him a light tap in the stomach. “Finish mopping and I’ll get rid of this.” Taking the wash bucket, she headed into the back.
I ate as Greg cleaned up my mess, enjoying the quiet room and simple food. Even the water tasted amazing, though I might’ve just been thirsty.
“Hopefully Severn can get a hold of your home in the morning. I’m not up to date on Noble affairs, but someone probably noticed you missing. It shouldn’t take too long. Worse case, you can hit up a Melrose shelter. They’ve got a few women’s shelters near their main church.” He finished up and stuck the mop into the bucket, leaning it against the wall before taking a seat.
Chewing as I thought, I considered his words. “Might work as a backup plan. I don’t want to take advantage of your kindness.”
Greg waved me off, “Nonsense. We’ve got room, and are doing well enough.”
A knock sounded at the front door and Greg went over and unlocked the door. Severn and two guards walked in. It was hard to tell with their breast plates and helmets, but it looked like one was male, and the other was female. “Thanks Greg.” He said, smiling at the bartender.
Severn turned to me and his expression grew a little more somber. “Danielle, you look better. Do you need another minute, or are you ready to show us where you woke up?”
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
I drained my tankard of water before standing up. “Sooner we do this, sooner it’s done.” I didn’t know where that came from, but like the name Alex, it felt right.
Severn nodded, “These are Louis and Petra. They’re here as an escort. I already sent a runner to the Rosecrest estate, so someone should be by in the morning to collect you.”
I scratched the back of my neck, nervous about that. I’d thought I’d at least have a day before meeting anyone who knew Danielle. Looks like I’m playing this blind. “Alright, well let’s get going then, I guess.”
We headed out of the tavern and went down the street towards the gate into the city. About halfway down the street, I turned into an alley. Lights soon came from behind as one of the guards, I think it was Petra, held up a crystal.
Using the light, I tried to remember the turns I made.
Eventually, I didn't have to wander around as the overpowering metallic stench of blood came from around the corner. Severn held out a hand motioning them to stop. He then pulled out his own crystal and looked to the one holding the other. “Petra, stay with Danielle. No need for her to see this again.”
Petra nodded and the other two headed around the corner. I heard an audible gasp, and then the sound of someone throwing up. Petra looked to me like I'd know what was going on, but I just shrugged.
After some time, I couldn't tell how long Severn and a distinctly ill looking Louis came around the corner again. Petra asked in a rough voice, "That bad?”
“Between the blood on the ground and the spray along the walls? Pretty bad. Same as the others.” He took out a cloth and wiped his hands before handing it to Louis, who used the clean part to wipe his mouth of bile.
“Shit.” She looked over at me and tried to give a reassuring smile, “Don't worry though. You're safe for now.”
I wasn't worried. I probably should have been. Now that I thought about it, I should have been freaking out this entire time. I was in an unfamiliar body, woke up in a pool of blood, and don't know where I am. Maybe there is some kind of hidden trauma suppression skill at work or something. Nothing I could do about it. So no use worrying.
Instead, I let Petra lead me back to Greg's tavern while Severn and Louis continued looking over the scene. Petra left me with a wave of her hand as Greg let me inside.
With a sigh, he led me to a set of stairs in the back. “Alright, Martha got a spare bed set up for ya.”
The room I was led to was rather small. Greg could probably reach out with both arms and touch the walls with his fingertips. Inside was a small cot with a heavy blanket on the bottom and a lighter one on top. There was a small sack that when I checked was filled with some spare clothes.
He scratched the back of his head, “Yea, it’s not grand, but we don’t have a lot of room. Don’t get many guests.” He stepped out into the hall, turning a lantern down low. “There’s a toilet down the stairs and out the back. If you need anything, we’re in the other room. Should be up close to midday.”
I nodded, “Thanks for this. A lot.” Meeting these people had been the luckiest thing I could have done. Things could have been a lot worse than a cramped room and uncomfortable bed. “Goodnight, Greg.”
He gave me a big smile, “Good night, Danielle.” He closed the door behind him, and I sat down on the cot. I leaned my back against the wall and sighed.
Between the message I’d gotten and the guards, I’d ignored some of the other blinking images in the corner of my vision. I didn’t want to get distracted.
I still didn’t feel like checking them. Everything was just… a lot. Probably not even two hours ago, I’d woken up covered in blood. I should be freaking out. A broken down mess of a person, either unresponsive or sobbing in some corner.
All I really felt was… nothing. I didn’t have any connection to before. Yes, it was concerning, frightening even. But it was like it had happened to someone else. Which, I suppose it did.
What were you doing Danielle? Why were you in an alley at night, away from the safety of your home? No weapons I could find. No money. Who did this to you?
It was a question that would likely dwell with me for a long while. Maybe I could look for the answers, like the message had said. Get vengeance for a girl whose sacrifice brought me here. However it happened.
Who are you, Melvin? And who was I?
Alex… was that my name?
Should it still be? Or should I try and live as Danielle?
It was a question that needed an answer that I didn’t have. Not yet. I’d wait and see how tomorrow went.
With nothing else to do, and not the least bit tired, I focused on the first of the icons.
Name: Danielle Rosecrest
Age: 17
Race: Human
Class: Noble 1
Class EXP: 14/100
Experience Bank: 0/1000
Statistics
Physical
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 12
Agility: 12
Endurance: 10
Constitution: 8
Mental
Intelligence: 12
Insight: 8
Charisma: 10
Perception: 10
Magic
Mana: 1
Mana Control: 1
Mana Power: 1
Skills
Assessment: Tier 0, Rank 2
Traits
Noble Birth
Experience Conversion
Experience Absorption
Moderator’s Veil
Second Chance
Spells
Healing: Tier 0 Rank 1
Scan: Tier 0 Rank 1
feel instead of word count.