-- Aster --

My blade slid, all too easily, into Cane's heart. His leather armor only adding a small measure of resistance before giving way. I felt the final heartbeats of his heart pulsing up the knife. I knew exactly when it stopped, and I watched Cane's smile never leave his face, as his light left his eyes. Canes death seemed to draw on forever, but it all happened in less than a second. It all happened so fast.

Pulling out my dagger, I found myself staring at the weapon not really believing it had taken Cane's life. I was surprised by how little blood there was, in his death. I knew his heart had stopped but couldn't help but feel there should have been something more to his end.

*Click* The sound of a latch opening came from above, causing me to look away from Cane up to the ceiling. There, a compartment opened, letting a treasure trove of mission eggs fall. Each shape glowed with barely contained power. The number of shells reminded me of when I used to collect my mission eggs, before I knew they contained the energy to level up. That thought brought a smile to my face, as a rain of power began to crash all around me.

The completed missions hit the ground exploding into particles, swirling around the room. The energy danced across the chamber seeking out the nearest bodies. We were like black holes as the, surrounded by a nebula, spinning and collapsing into our bodies. I could feel the immense amount of power permeating through me, burning me with experience. With so much fuel flowing, I looked to my friends to see how they were handling it. They were not handling it well, each of them finding them all to be flailing around their faces frozen in a silent scream agony unable to scream.

I felt for them but it wasn't anything I could control or help. I was just hoping that Cane didn't lie and that this would help them level up and fix whatever is going on with their brains.

I watched them all spasm more as our bodies pulled more power into our centers. The heat began to intensify to the point I was afraid I might catch fire. Then all at once, the heat was gone. We had absorbed all of the energy from the completed missions.

Somehow I knew, it wouldn't be enough for me. I was hoping to be wrong. That I would somehow succeed and do the impossible. I had to hold myself back from breaking down, I needed to finish this and get everyone out of here. I made my way to my once again prone team.

*Shriek* The sound of metal tearing made me turn back to the teleportations circle, as a massive red crystal pushed through the floor. The stone grew high while spreading smaller red gems throughout the room. They fell through like leaves from a tree, spreading throughout the chamber. The entire room had gone from a sterile white to an otherworldly scene, with the pillar the focus. I felt an odd sense of relief and comfort radiating from the jewel. I let out the breath that I was holding when it stopped growing.

Everything Cane said would happen after his death came true. I could only hope that he was right about the rest. I was heading to my friends when I had another thought, 'Hey, it was kind of dramatic.' I could feel a small smile tug at my lips from that, fading just as quickly as I reached my team.

I was only slightly injured from the earlier fight with Cane, thanks to Violet's ministrations, but there was an issue. The problem was I was exhausted, and couldn't pull any energy to help me move their bodies. In the end, I had to grab their feet to pull them over to the crystal. Thankfully they were all still unconscious and didn't put up any resistance as I lined them up in front of the massive gem.

The only trouble was when I grabbed Rowan. Like the others, Rowan was knocked out, but he was radiating an intense fear. Every time my fingers touching him made me want to run away, causing me to let go. I attempted multiple times but the terror was too strong and pervading. I ended up using my chakrams to loop around his legs to pull him. The dread still passed into me, but with just a bit of distance, I was able to endure it.

The four of them laid in a straight line in front of our exit. I was preparing for them to touch the crystal, when I realized I didn't know when I would see them next, or if they would recover before my end. I looked each of them over, one by one I said my goodbyes. I'd like to say I stayed strong but with each word more tears flowed, until I could no longer speak.

I lifted each of their hands to the pillar, and without a sound, each one of my friends was engulfed in light disappearing into the stone. When I reached Rowan my emotions completely eclipsed his radiating fear, allowing me to press him up against the gem. All too soon I stood alone in the empty room, staring at the red glass.

'This whole thing only took an hour or maybe less, I wonder how much time I have left.' At that thought, as though it was listening and waiting, a blue screen appeared.

Mission Rank: 0 Type: Judgment

Time Elapsed: 648:05:28 Time Remaining: 071:54:32

Details:

Reach level 30 before time runs out.

Warning:

Failure will result in Rebirth

"Ha"

"HAHAHHAHA" I began to laugh uncontrollably. I had 3 days remaining. It had taken almost 4 weeks for me to drift here. The team had been going through that blighted torture for almost a month. That means that they've been through this more than 600 times. No wonder their brains were fried.

3 Days to level. With my luck teleporting back to the square will take up the rest of my time. With nothing left to lose, I lifted my hand placing it on the crystal.

The light of the crystal engulfed me becoming my entire world. Everything was warm and peaceful as though being caressed by a trusted friend. With regret, I opened my eyes to see a brilliant pink stretching endlessly into the void. I had forgotten the feeling of life that would surround me inside the jewel.

A small ethereal voice sounded from everywhere. "Welcome back Moonflower..." The voice seemed to pause before sounding sad. "You have been through much little one. I can feel the turmoil in your heart." Looking through the pink I found the source of the voice, a small nebulous creature coalescing into the form of a black cat. Its eyes glowed as it sat on its hind legs in the air looking deep into my soul.

'Hello again. Yeah, It's been a rough month.'

"Moonflower you have grown strong, but your heart tells me you are weary. I must ask if you wish to move on." I felt the intent behind the creature's words.

A boiling rage I didn't know I could feel ran through me at the feline's probe. 'How dare you suggest I want to die. I want to live! I will survive this fucking mission, I don't know how but I will!' I didn't know where the rage came from, but I knew it was there just beneath the surface. Something about this place pulled my truths from deep without of me.

"Good Moonflower. Use that rage, let it fuel you to greater heights, and protect what is left." The sadness was gone, only pride flowing off the creature. I could feel its excitement building as the creature stood and moving toward me.

"Little Moonflower. No not so little anymore. You're overflowing with power. Now, Speak your Need." I knew not to fight it and let my mind wander allowing my heart to guide me. All I needed was a "Chance." With the word falling from my lips, I felt the power solidify in my soul resonating.

The cat smiled sardonically "We all need a chance, you more than others." The feline came closer rubbing itself around my legs before jumping back, returning to its sitting position. "You have fought hard and survived. Speak your hate"

I knew I disliked many things, cupcakes, the Architect, and the mayor. But the only thing that I felt I truly hated was "Lies". The word popped out, and I knew it to be true. I felt lied to for so long, the nursery, the levels, the entire system. The creature didn't speak the time, it only move to my mouth and breathed something out into it.

"So much hardship for one so young." I felt the creature's sadness resonate with my own. "Speak your love."

When the cat spoke my mind went to the temple back home. The building where it all truly started, for us all. A stone monument surrounded by a sea of white daffodils, always in "Bloom". I did always love when flowers bloomed.

The feline looked surprised. "Even in the darkness, you surprise me." It moved to my chest placing its paw over my heart. I knew this was the end, and yet I still yearned for the final question knowing it wasn't to come. I had not gathered enough power.

"Goodbye, Little one. We will meet one last time. Then you can tell me your name."

The light around me faded to grey, as the air turn to water. I swam up toward the surface, breaking through I took a big gasp of air. Swimming to the edge of the pool, I found myself back at the square in An Le Notre. I pulled myself up over the edge onto the cold stone ground, finding my clothing and weapons completely intact. This was different from the last time I woke up in the fountain, naked and running for my life --not to mention the pain.

Once I got my bearings I searched for my team, not finding any trace. I stood and walked over to a local vendor to ask if they had seen them, but they said I was the only one to come out. They congratulated me on my level up and when they realized I wasn't going to buy anything they went back to business.

Being reminded of leveling I took a look at my character sheet to see the changes, I had gotten into the habit of not bothering to look for so long I had nearly forgotten about it.

Name: Aster Datura

Level: 29

Class: Moonflower

Energy Type: Rogue

Animal Specialization: Cat

SubClass: Blacksmithing

Hidden Role: Keeper

Skills:

Combat:

Dagger: 23 ++

1-Handed Swords: 6

Throwing Knives: 19 +

Chakrams: 22 ++

Magic:

Mana Control: 14 +

Cats Eye: 20 ++

Shadow: 11 +

Light: 9

Other:

Lock picking: 22 ++

Pickpocket: 11 +

Trap making: 6

Trap Detection: 18 +

Stealth: 21 ++

First Aid: 11 +

Tailoring: 3

Trap Disarming: 16 +

Smithing: 15 +

Endowment: 11 +

Words:

Soul: Faster

Desire: Pocket

Fear: Falling

Need: Chance

Hate: Lies

Love: Bloom

Dream: N/A

My growth surprised me, I had managed to reach level 29, in a matter of weeks instead of decades. I checked my remaining time to see how much had passed during my advance, only to find the number had only gone down by 5 minutes, I still had 3 days to live. I needed to somehow finish this quest.

I looked back to the pool of water, uncertainly. 'Will they be alright?' I didn't know, I also didn't have time to wait. I needed to reach level 30 a feat that could take decades, and I only had a scant few days. That's when I had an idea an incredibly stupid Idea. It made me smile.