— James —

The Mayor was reading over our adventure from our party book. A range of emotions was running across his face as he read. Then his expression turned sour, I could tell he was near the end, especially with how he kept glancing over at Aster. The book was our party book, but it was only actually recorded from the perspective of whoever held it. As I was the one carrying it there was no real way to know where Aster went but it was not very flattering for him.

For Aster, he looked confused. He didn’t seem to understand why the mayor was giving him dirty looks. In fact, he looked annoyed at the mayor's looks.

The mayor slammed the book closed with an angry look towards Aster. “Now that we see your Dahlia is black.” The mayor Paused before smiling “Diolus!” A serious man with a dark mustache, wide shoulder, slightly shorter than Aster, in the uniform of a guard stepped up behind Aster. “Teach him.”

Aster jumped noticing the man for the first time. “Where did you come from?”

“From behind you. Now let’s go.”

“Where?”

“…” The man didn’t speak again.

“Fine be silent but why should I g..” Aster’s words were cut off as the man picked Aster up and began dragging him away.

“What the fuck is going on?” Bay jumped toward the man dragging Aster away only to be blocked by another guard.

“Please calm down. Everything is fine.” The Mayor interjected “Please don’t worry. He is going to teach him some things so he won’t be afraid anymore. He’ll come back much more reliable.”

The door Aster was dragged through closed.

Bay did not back down. “Doesn’t look like he is getting a choice.”

“I’m really not.” We could hear Aster’s comment from far away. I guess they're taking him somewhere in the mansion.

The mayor looked pityingly at us. “Look, I read the book. I know he was pretty much useless.”

“He wasn’t useless.” I had to defend him. He wasn’t useful but he wasn’t useless.

“Yeah. He made a great damage sponge.” Violet smiled on the verge of laughing at her own joke. Both me and Bay gave Violet an incredulous look. “What? It's true.”

“Be that as it may. He still wasn’t useless.” I said begrudgingly.

“According to this, he was.” He pointed to the section that indicated the last day. “Especially when it counted.”

I had no defense for Aster for that. Aster where were you? Why did you hide from those rotten wolves? I know you kept getting hurt worse and worse...but why did you have to hide from us? Why did you leave your friends behind? Maybe this will be good for him.

The room was silent and none of us really knew what to say.

“And look here I was looking at your first mission. He swung his sword once. Then disappeared.” The mayor added.

“That doesn’t explain why you took him before explaining the next quest? He is still a part of the team.” Bay said the last part looking over all of us. We all looked away. We all knew she looked at Aster like a little brother; someone to protect and it looked like a year apart didn’t appear to change that.

“Well, I'll let you guys decide if you want him on the next part of this mission, but I should let you know he is getting a special lesson, to help him not be so useless. So you might need to wait for him.”

Everyone looked confused

“If I remember right it will be a new pathway. So he’ll be out for the next two weeks.”

“We can wait,” Bay said Confidently.

“You all can. This is not time-sensitive but just think about it. The tasks only get harder”

“But should we?” Rowan was the last person I thought would speak out leaving Aster. The two had never been close, but they always appeared to get along and with his new empathy I thought he would have been on his side. “Something is wrong with him.”

“What the Blight does that mean?” Bay practically shouted at Rowan.

“Hold on Bay.” Violet placed her hand on Bay. “What do you mean?”

We all stared at Rowan confused, we could see a long range of emotions covering his face, annoyance, anger, confusion, frustration all within a few breaths. “You all know how I can feel emotions now right?”

“Yeah. Little weird by the way.”

Rowan gave me a withering look but continued. “When we found him hanging in the tree do you know what I felt from him?”

“Annoyance, anger, disgust, shame, fear, one of those?” I asked knowing I was wrong.

“No. He felt pride. Like he had accomplished something.”

Violet “Are you fucking kidding me? That asshole! He was proud he sat out and survived without helping?”

Rowan Shrugged.

“That can’t be right. Aster isn’t the type to be proud of running away. ” Bay was no longer angry; she appeared confused.

Rowan was visibly exasperated. “That's what I mean. Something is wrong with him. I don’t know what happened last year but he doesn’t seem himself. I brushed it off, but his emotions are all over the place. One minute jumping from confidence, then suddenly afraid. Annoyed at the strangest things, confused Constantly. The oddest thing about it is it is all muted like his emotions are far away. I just don’t understand what is going on with him.”

We all had noticed Aster’s strange behavior. Fidgeting, never sitting still. Always moving, darting around. The silence was heavy. I needed to change the subject or at least say something. “I don’t believe he was proud of running away.”

“The pride was probably from seeing us survive. It was probably just relief.” Bay added

The Mayor must have gotten tired of us as he took a small pause to speak. “Do what you will. He...Or that masked person will play a role in the future, but the fool cannot be trusted.”

Mayor pulls out an egg, handing it to James.

Quest - Prove Your Worth - Part 2

The one must venture into the dark finding himself in a world replicated a thousand times. A World ethereal and solid. The one must find the truths among the lies.

Conditions to be given out:

-party must complete Prove Your Worth - Part 1

-Time limit none

Mission:

Awaken the Sleeper

Trial II:

Awaken:

Our name has been spoken and the first of the shadows have been banished. In the dark a dream has been revealed in the darkness. It is time to awaken the sleepers, save them from the world of the predator. Bring them from the dream. Be weary of the one who holds the key; for they are both salvation and destruction. Awake from the dream to find which you chose.

To begin:

Speak the words “Show us the Dreamer.” Then follow the pull of the egg to the Dreamers

Failure Condition:

Give Up

Reward:

Based on performance and deeds.

“What does it mean Follow the pull of the egg?” I asked.

“The egg will show you where to go… honestly we don’t know where it will pull you. It could be in this city or it could be in a different country.”

“That is vague.” Bay pulled me to the side out of earshot of the mayor. “ Come on James you don’t really think this is some Hero’s quest? It's probably just some leftover quest that doesn’t have an ending or some kind of games the nobles set up.”

“Maybe…” James thought about all that had happened, the mysterious masked man, the hero sword, the clandestine meeting with power in the city, the impossible first mission. It was exactly like something that would happen to a hero. “I think we should keep going. I mean this is exactly what a hero's journey looks like.”

“Exactly!” Bay hissed. “It's too much like a keeper's damn storybook.”

“Just trust me.”

Bay stares annoyed. I could see her calculating something behind those eyes of hers. “Fine. Let's at least talk to Aster first.”

“Do we have to?” Violet asked in a whine.

“Yes. How would you feel if your friends just ditched you?” Bay hissed.

Violet stayed silent.

“Then it's settled. We talk to Aster then head out.” I spoke more to break the sudden awkwardness than anything.

I felt a large hand on my back. “Great! Now that you have a plan please let my people show you out. There is a lot of work that needs to be done.” With that, the guards led us out into the night. We went to the inn we had rented to speak with Aster. When we arrived the hotel staff let us know our friend had never arrived. After a few days of nothing, we were finally able to convince Bay to start the quest since Aster would be out for two weeks anyway. We left a message for him in the inn.

— Aster - Present Time —

James is my best friend, strong, kind, quick, and intelligent, but he is the densest person I have ever met. If he gets an idea in his head it is almost impossible for him to change his mind. Right now he thinks I’m a coward. He thinks I ran away from all the shadow creatures. Now you may be wondering why I'm telling you this or even how I would know about this.

Simply put I heard it from his mouth. When he told the story of the quest to the mayor. With us all in plain sight. He even mentioned the masked person. No one even thought to remember I got the mask out of the quest egg.

But now the mayor is theorizing that I'm not really even part of the prophecy group because I was. "Too cowardly to fight." And had gotten the real masked man’s symbol.

I almost stabbed the mayor, I was so close to just pulling out my knife and stabbing him in the head. But I also knew I wouldn’t make it out and no one ever wants to go through death more than once. In the end, the mayor began to buddy up with James treating him like a celebrity, and everyone else as a human being.

He then took everyone into a back room and proceeded to tell everyone my reward was something different. As everyone proceeded to head back with him I went with the guards. They then proceeded to throw me out. Not push me out, but throw me outside.

Of course, I was pissed but I understood why. Everyone thought I ran. I knew I killed so many more than them and may have saved their lives. I mean we barely made it out of there myself.

I just let my anger go with a large sigh and headed out. I would meet up with everyone later and see if they still want to be a group or if I need to go off on my own.

I was walking for about ten minutes as it was starting to get dark. I felt I was being followed but looking over my shoulder I couldn't see anyone. "I must be getting paranoid" I kept walking on the emptying streets until I finally decided to take the road to get away and maybe see who I was being tailed by. Making my way to an alley. This was my mistake. My stupid. Stupid! Stupid! Mistake.

Yes the most intelligent move to make, I feel like a genius for this.

Going into a dark alley only two exits in the dark, while I feel like I’m being followed.

Needless to say, I was immediately surrounded by a bunch of masked men.

"Who are you?"

"You’ll find out soon enough." I hate cryptic people.

I pulled my knife and was promptly shot multiple times with darts.

I think there was a smoke bomb.

"Overkill..." I was able to get this out right before I passed out.

— Mayor —

“Diolus, did he give you any trouble.”

The man walked out from the corner of the room. “No, he just let me drag him out. Threw him a few meters to give him something to think about.”

“Good. Good.” I walked over to a cabinet and poured a glass of clear green absinthe. Taking out a spoon with multiple holes I place it over the glass and walk over to the glass container holding water prepared to drip down into a glass. I place a sugar cube on top and start the drip.

“Sir, why did you tell them he was going to be taught a skill.”

“With his cowardice, he would only be a hindrance for our hero. When he tells them he never offered anything and flung him out. It will be hard to believe. When...if they confront us we will just say he didn’t understand us when we offered to teach him. Him refusing us. I mean I did tell you to teach him” I gently stirred my drink, and took a sip of sweet absinthe. “They just need a little more push.”

“Understood sir.” Diolus bowed slightly.

Staring into my drink. “Now report. Have the seeds been planted?”

“Yes”

“How far were you able to spread them.”

“The entire Kingdom. I won’t be surprised if you start seeing journalists come here soon to get information.”

“Did you reveal him?”

“No.”

“Good. We need them to be rumors for a little while longer. This next mission will put them in the spotlight.”

“Sir, should we take a more active role in removing the fool?”

“No. We need to make sure he is the fool and not the other person. If he is well we will see.” Staring deeply into the glass. “I would really not want to have to wait another eighteen years to try again.”

— Random Bar in An la Nôtre —

“Did you hear about that rank zero parties taking out a rank three quest on its own?” The man spoke to the communal room.

“I heard it was a drake quest two.” Another guy across the room added.

“That's impossible, it's only been a year since they left the nursery. They would only be level fourteen to fifteen max. They would more than likely only be ten.”

“It’s true. One of them died but I heard from someone in the retrieval guild, overheard someone say that when he retrieved his items he could see a dead queen and seven elites.”

“That would mean they took out 30+ drakes and a queen!”

“Even if it was truly more than one of them would have died.”

The entire bar grew into a heated argument that only silenced when someone shouted.

“EVERYONE SHUT UP!!!” The entire bar grew quiet as the man who shouted pointed to the crystal screen above. The screen was on the news as the people stared slack-jawed at the news line underneath the anchorman.

“First Trial has been Cleared”

The anchor spoke in an exciting practice speech “Yes it does appear the first trial has been cleared. Not even a month out and at least one team has cleared the trial. We are unable to confirm or deny the identity of the team currently, but we wish them the best of luck in the trials to come.”

The bar patrons had a mixture of excitement and fear plastered over their faces.

“I bet it was that team that beat the drakes!”

“TOLD YOU!’ The man who started the whole argument sat smugly in his chair.

—Aster - Unknown Amount Of Time Later —

I slowly opened my eyes and sat. Tall stone walls, well decorated giving off an expensive feeling.

Across the bed, I was currently laying on was a man reading a book. My mind felt slightly clouded.

"Where am I?"

The man closed his book. "We are here for you."

"We?"

"Yes, we. We are here for you."

"Who are you?"

"I am Zin Pine and I believe you are one of us."

It was at this point that I remembered what happened and was suddenly on guard.

"Wait you guys shot me."

"Necessary."

"No that is some shady shit!"

"True but we are also shady."

"Seriously!?" Who just admits this shit!!?!

"No it's just tradition to knock people we wish to recruit out and it’s not really easy." He seemed a little annoyed

"So you want me to join you?"

"Yup."

"Even after knocking me out and kidnapping me?"

"Yup."

"That is a terrible recruitment."

"Yeah, it’s pretty dumb."

"You admit it’s dumb?"

"Yup but we can’t seem to find a better way to mysteriously recruit people. I mean we did try to do a quest chain but so many people fell off or people we didn't want would take the quests. It wasn't a well-thought-out idea."

"You’re not making a better case."

"That’s nothing we once tried to mysteriously leave clues for people. Worked the first time but here's the thing. People who aren't looking for things or trained for puzzles don't even notice the clues. So in the end knocking people out and bringing them here was the best option."

"You know the mysterious organization thing is lost with you explaining these things."

"Yeah but I hate this recruitment."

I had a moment of recognition. "Do I know you?"

He smiled "Well we've never really been introduced."

I stared for a few minutes then it finally clicked "The magic hat store!"

"Correct, I've been watching you for a long time now. I think you'd be perfect for our organization."

The silence stretched on until "Even after all this crazy. I'm interested please tell me more."

He smiled. “We hold the Sky.” And handed me a pamphlet.

To those who hold the world on their shoulders.

They do this not for themselves. They do this because they can.

Though they know they will one day crumble and fall.

It is for those around them. They hold the world that you cannot.

They hold it so you can learn. They hold it so you can run.

Those that hold the world on their shoulders seem to like me or you but they hold so much more.

They guide us until we can hold our own sky.

They lift our burdens when we crumble. Many who hold the world do not even know it.

It is not that they are strong but who they are.

They hold our skies when we are fragile.

They hold our skies so we can move.

They push us forward when we have fallen and feel like we can't get up.

Many times they are forgotten, lost, or even unknown.

They move, they crumble and break just as we all do.

Some will fall. Some will not get back up. To those who hold the sky, the whole world pushes harder.

But those who stand once more hold the sky anew. Guiding us, helping us, bringing us back up, and pushing us along.

Those humans who hold up the sky.

They hold the sky so you can run.

“That is a little much isn’t it?”

He chuckled. “Just a little, but let me tell you who we really are. I am a caretaker and we are the Keepers.”

I leaned in to listen.