The Heart is a Void: Ashes to Ashes

Chapter 159: No Such Thing as a Coincidence

Returning to the Cleric trainer, Fjord, he was congratulated on returning the flower.

"Excellent! This is exactly what I asked for! Now, I shall purify it into an elixir, and invite you back for your next quest once it's done. Before that, as a reward for completing three quests, you may choose one of these rare, powerful spell scrolls!"

Fjord held out three scrolls, all decorated with runes in deep black ink.

"The first scroll contains the spell [Healing Mark], a healing spell which increases in power if you sacrifice some of your HP. The next is [Citadel], which gives all nearby allies a shield that reflects away damage dealt to them. Finally, [Soul Fire] is an offensive spell which drains HP from the opponent, and has a small chance of buffing you and lasting for 5 seconds extra. Choose wisely! I will allow you to choose from five more powerful spells once ten quests are complete."

Cael checked through the scrolls' descriptions. The [Soul Fire] spell sounded promising because it would allow him to regenerate HP while keeping opponents incapacitated. Further, it had a chance of buffing the user and giving them the ability to drain more HP from enemies with attacks. He was curious if this buff could be used with the glitch in a dungeon, allowing it to last for longer. After scanning the other spells, he chose [Soul Fire].

The other spells would usually help make Clerics much more powerful in their support role, at this early stage. However, Cael had no reason to restrict himself to a support role, because his INT was high enough that his attacks were highly powerful.

"Alright, excellent! Here is your [Soul Fire] scroll," the trainer said, handing it over. "You will be notified when I am ready for your next quest. Until then, try out your new Cleric powers!"

Cael was eager to try out his new spell, but he noticed that he had a few PMs from Darys.

Darys: this is ur mage acc right?

Darys: lmao i spammed crucis w/ pm's ups

Darys: ty for sending those guys 2 us, killed em ez

Darys; 1 agreed 2 show us around kruxol, he = our prisoner

Darys: also did u hear? neuro next ldr is missing

Darys: nobody knows y tho

Darys: all we heard in neuro chat: she bolted off after some hashin, her mount was 2 fast for allies 2 keep up

Darys: wait a sec

Darys: our spy tried pm'ing her, it says she died AYYYY

Darys: lmao neuro having a mare

Seemingly, the two [Neuro] members who fled the fight up North had decided not to admit their role in it. Instead, they gave an excuse based on Mara's impulsive nature. It wasn't unexpected, it would be more surprising if they admitted they had abandoned her to death. Since the killer wasn't known, they would become instant scapegoats.

He'd have to sift through the messages on his Assassin account later, but he figured he should reply to Darys.

Cael: hahahaha

Cael: well idk what happened to her lol

Cael: any idea where she died?

Darys: heard to the west of kruxol

Darys: i want to find the corpse, we could livestream it for neuro lol

Cael: so northwest?

Darys: howd u know she was north? but yea

Cael: the neuro guys i sent your way told me

Darys: o ofc

Cael: theres probs dg members northwest, they c her?

Cael: weird how she died but no1 saw it

Darys: they r there, but no

Darys: no sign of her, even neuro cant find the body

Darys: would def be nice 2 find it first

Cael: found any mount footprints?

Darys: yea but they end nearish kruxol

Darys: no idea where she went from there

Cael: neuro guys said she's busy up north, doubt she's running a marathon

Cael: must be close

Darys: true true

Darys: but our guys due west of there were wandering everywhere looking for good mobs, never saw her

Darys: its like 40 mins since she went missing, how tf isnt she found?

Cael: maybe somewhere w/o mobs

Cael: there r some buildings + ruins there right? maybe check round there

Cael: nobody goes there usually

Cael: if not that maybe get spies to scry her in fortuneteller house, low chance it works but could

Darys: uh huh

Darys: actually a good idea

Darys: i dont think shed be there, but we should def check

Darys: scrying is promising tho

Darys: u can only scry on ur own guild right? + it has small chance of showing their situation ~1hr ago

Darys: so we can try that in 10-15 mins if no1 finds it

Darys: no1 does it normally bc high fail rate, doubt neuro will try it first, they r cavemen so will not think of it

Cael: yea its a long shot ur right

Cael: she might not be there

Cael: but who knows

Cael: good luck

Darys: ty

Darys: y not check pricing etc on fortuneteller? then we can send spy alts there

Cael: gotcha

Cael hadn't actually gone to the Fortuneteller yet, although he had read about it. One thread on the official forums, soon deleted by mods, involved a bug to get the Fortune-teller to reveal late-game content. So far as Cael knew, that was still possible. It might be worth trying it out, if he was going in that direction.

He made his way over to the Fortuneteller's building in Northern Kruxol. It was only a short walk from the Cleric trainer.

On his way, he saw a man dressed in [Fortuneteller Robes], who was talking to a tearful young girl named [LarissaA] at the back corner of the Fortuneteller's building. They were both players, and the man seemed to be posturing as a fortuneteller of his own. Cael guessed that he was basically a scammer.

"You were right!" she exclaimed, as he turned towards her. His name became clearly visible: [W0UNDE1TY]. "You were right, there really was a miracle! I found my mother's necklace again! It looks just like the stars you showed in the crystal ball!"

The man frowned, then replied arrogantly. "Of course. I know everything about you. You should listen to me, or you will act foolishly again."

"Yes, sir, but please tell me more about my future! You said that there would be hope?"

"First, bow down to me. You are a lost girl without me, you have made so many mistakes on your own. What use is it to let you ruin things again? I must be your master."

"Um, could you tell me first -"

"No! Bow down, or I'm done with you. I will walk away. You know I have no time for you playing games." He made as if to walk away.

She bent the knee in desperation. "Yes, sir - um, master. You're right, I am too insistent, and that's, um, maybe why my mother died. I kept telling her to become stronger and protect me. I need to stop."

"Yes, it was your fault! You are a fool. You don't deserve to have your future shown to you. You just deserve to keep hurting yourself."

"No, please tell me! I have nobody now, I have nothing. I need you!"

He pulled out a 'crystal ball' from his inventory, although Cael could easily tell that it wasn't a genuine one. LarissaA was gazing at it longingly, and W0UNDE1TY noticed and put it down with a huff.

"Worthless brat, I know all about your past and future. I know everything about you. I am your God. What do you have to offer me, in return for this knowledge? Nothing?"

"I have nothing left... only my mother's necklace now. I swear, I can pay you! Just give me a week, I'll find a way to get money..."

"I don't trust you. Girls like you always make promises, then don't keep it. If I tell your fortune, then you must follow every order I give you until you pay it off. That's the deal."

LarissaA seemed reluctant, but she had nowhere else to turn for guidance or hope. She felt dependent on this 'fortuneteller.' "You know that I believe in you! I would never fail you. I'll pay it back... OK, fine, whatever you say. But please tell me!"

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"Alright," he said. "You are a Capricorn, correct? No wonder you're stubborn and disobedient. I believe I gave you a horoscope last time, which you still haven't paid for."

"I will, I swear!"

"I don't trust you! You have barely given me anything, even though without me you would have given up on finding the necklace! Don't you feel ashamed? Don't you hate yourself for this?"

"Yes! I feel terrible about it, honestly. Please don't think I'm a waste of time."

Cael was overhearing this, and thought it a strange, transactional relationship. Since players were trapped in town and threatened by DeathGang's recent victory, their outlook was bleak and they had little to strive for. Instead, players like this girl were pursuing figures who promised them a spiritual guidance and hope, whether Massie or this sleazy 'fortuneteller.' This at least fulfilled her psychological needs. But the man had to keep stringing her on with his promise of 'mystical,' infallible guidance like a drug dealer, because outside of that she wouldn't feel tied to him, especially since he was quite ugly and clownish-looking. All the same, she was impulsive and desperate, and could easily turn against him if she felt it would satisfy her psychological needs more.

"Call me your master again," W0UNDE1TY proclamed loudly.

"Uh -"

"You agreed to obey! Is it so hard?" He was making a big show of preparing the 'crystal ball' carefully. "Then I'll find someone else, many people want my service!"

"No! Show me! I feel so deeply about the last time... And how it came true... Please, master! I need to know!"

As a few indistinct shapes began to form in the 'crystal ball,' he held her by the shoulder. She was staring at the ball, transfixed.

"I don't care what you need. You must do and give more to me than you have ever given to anything in your life. You must abandon all faith and all commitments to the world that is not me. You must convert to me as your religion and your highest truth."

She nodded numbly, but was almost in a trance and barely seemed to pay attention to his words. "OK, can you show it to me now?"

"It will take a few minutes to get ready. But why should we do it in public, where anyone can see your secrets? Let us go to a more private place. Here, wear this collar, slave girl."

She twitched, but remembered that she had to obey. "Okay, master. As you wish."

He placed a small collar around her neck, then dragged her by it. He dragged her away through the alleyways, soon crassly lifting her skirt with one hand and putting his other hand beneath it to lift her up when he thought nobody would see. He carried her away into the shadows.

Cael didn't bother to pursue them, because he was looking around the [Fortuneteller's Building], taking note of a couple of obscure stores and buildings which he hadn't noticed on his previous visits. Many sold equipment for fortune-telling, ghost-hunting, or other odd, exotic pursuits.

He noticed a dingy store containing equipment for a few rare sub-classes, including [Necromancer] and [Ancient Knight]. He hadn't heard of the [Ancient Knight] sub-class before, and wasn't sure if it was an abandoned sub-class or just difficult to unlock. Browsing the store's selection briefly, he did see a white-and-gold outfit in a corner classified as belonging to the [Holy Spirit] sub-class. Since the sub-class wasn't implemented, it wasn't for sale. But it did confirm that this sub-class was planned at some point.

After exiting the store, he walked towards the front of the [Fortuneteller's Building].

Just to the right of the entrance, there was a small book stall set up, which was selling books on esoteric topics like astrology, ghosthunting and palm-reading. The stall owner NPC, a man with a long, white goatee whose face was hidden in the shadows of a large dark-brown hood, looked around at passers-by with the hint of a benign smile.

Cael walked up to him. While the shop was a bit kooky, he wondered if some of the ghost manuals would have any information on the ghosts up North or in the Hunting Area.

He greeted Cael warmly, with a slightly creaky voice. "Hello, young one! Would you like to learn of hidden knowledge, and the great secrets of the world? Why, maybe you want power, maybe you want answers to life's many uncertainties, but you can find them all in the ancient, wise tomes here! What do you say? Want to have a look?"

Cael figured there was no harm in browsing through quickly. "Yes, sure."

"Thank you! Since this is your first time here, I can offer you a free book, selected from three used books here." His hand swept towards three, dusty green tomes laid on a small stool to his side. They all had no titles written on them. "You may choose one. The first is called 'The Secrets of Palm-Reading,' a great manual for beginners to the art; the second is the great kabbalist text, the Zohar: and finally, a mysterious book named 'Real Vampires, Night Stalkers and Creatures from the Darkside,'* about vampirism and soul slavery. Choose one!"

Cael was taken aback for a moment, seeing this old man giving him such a similar offer to the one which the Cleric trainer had given a short time ago.

But he tried to look through the books on offer carefully. Cael was quite sure that palm reading was not an in-game feature. As such, it was primarily a superstition. Its main use would be either to scam people, which Fortunetelling would be better for anyway, or impressing drunk girls. It seemed like a waste of a free book.

He had already read some passages from the Zohar, and it was common enough that several libraries here would have it anyway. There was no point in getting it here when it would be easily accessible.

As such, he chose the third one, although he wasn't entirely sure what it would contain.

"Excellent!" the stall owner said, picking out the book carefully, flipping open the front page to show Cael the title, and handing it over. "Well, have a look, why don't you?"

Cael opened the book, and noticed that a lot of it seemed to just be a collection of urban myths offered as examples of 'vampires.' Ignoring this, he turned to the beginning and quickly skimmed through the intro, when a passage caught his interest:

Humankind has progressed to a plateau of enlightenment where we condemn the slavery of one human being to another. Soul slavery is more sinister, however, because the phenomenon remains largely unrecognized and undetected.

Many researchers believe that the spirit parasite can seize the controlling mechanism of the host-body and direct the enslaved human to perform horrible, atrocious deeds. The spirit parasite might implant destructive thoughts in a host's mind, such as the desire to witness blood, to slash themselves or others on the arm, even to eat some of their own flesh. After the act has been committed, the vampiric spirit parasite withdraws back into another dimension of time and space, thus leaving the confused human being alone, in a mess of blood, trying to figure out how they were driven to this despite being a normal human being before.

Certain psychical researchers have created a kind of pattern profile of what may occur when someone has become the unwilling host of an uninvited spirit guest. The host-being may begin to hear voices that direct him to perform acts that he had never before considered. He may begin to use obscene and blasphemous language in situations that make his friends or relatives feel very offended or uncomfortable. Friends and family will remark that he is acting like a totally different person. He may frequently see grotesque images of the parasite spirit as it exists in its paraphysical dimension.

The evil inhabitation may reach a climax with the host-being committing murder, suicide, or some violent antisocial act.

It is hardly comforting to read the reports of some investigators of such phenomena who state that possibly everyone at one time or another may become susceptible to a spirit parasite. However, several factors have been identified which make its appearance more likely. Alcohol and drugs leave the user wide open to spirit parasites, and people who are stressed and turn to alcohol for relief can easily fall victim. Youths are also more susceptible to the vampire's influence. However, the vampires will at times attack people outside of its favoured demographics, and treat them in the same way. Exercise extreme caution if you ever have an experience with one, or with someone afflicted by its parasitism.

"Are you happy with that? Do you want to browse our other wares?" the NPC asked as Cael looked up.

"That was interesting, thanks. I'll make sure to come back later, I have to check on the Fortuneteller now."

"Ah, most excellent. Yes, go ahead, I'll still be here for two hours. I can tell you have an interest in the weird and wonderful, I look forward to seeing you again!"

"Thank you."

A sign beside the wooden door displayed the pricing.

A scry was one of the cheaper options, at only 3,000 gold, but it had a low success rate. Several repetitions would usually be necessary for a successful scry, making this potentially a steeper price. However, DeathGang spies should be able to get a few attempts in, since spy alts often lazily let gold pile up without using it.

Other than that, a reading could cost upwards of 15,000 gold. A full reading by the fortuneteller would be worth at least 50,000, with possible additional costs for bells & whistles. It wasn't cheap. But it would give much more detail, and had a chance of hinting at future plotlines and places your character should go.

Cael figured that the full reading would be best with the bug he was planning to use. Fortunately, there was a discount for first-time buyers, and also an additional discount for Mages, so it would work out at around 35,000. He could afford that comfortably by now.

Finally, he bought his ticket for the fortuneteller. He was given a golden slip with his name etched on it and underlined, and below that the number #151. The number was probably used by the fortuneteller to summon customers when their turn had come.

He walked up the stairs and into the dark wooden building.

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