A New World, an immersive game experience

"And, pray tell, what is your 'little trick'?" Jade asked, leaning forward to not miss a word.  Levana smiled, leaning back in her chair. A clear sign she would not share her secret.

Jade pouted, but was still more than happy to have someone who didn't curse at her when she got too close. It made her feel somewhat at home, the only other place where her power did not affect everyone around her. The servants, naturally, were all taken in by her family's powers.

A moment of silence elapsed, the two returning to feeding the little firebird small crystals. They were certain that the bird would prefer mana crystals, but even they weren't rich enough to throw away money like that. So they gave the bird small quartz crystals instead.

"You don't seem to be close to the others." Levana whispered, breaking the silence.

"I'm the most recent addition!" Jade countered.

"Really?" Levana gave her a questioning look but did not dive deeper. Jade, however, tried to prove it. Spouting this and that about how they just needed to get to know her better. "They'll grow to love me!" she continued to protest.

Once Jade ran out of things that she hoped could convince the vampire, Levana asked,  "Why are you really following them?"

"The truth it... I've never really had any friends. They were the first ones who weren't taken in by my power, who weren't family...and—"

"Family's family. I get it." The two shared a forlorn smile. A pampered rich life was not always a great one. This was something the two shared, a lack of staunch friends. And the thing that brought them closer to one another.

"By the way, do you know what Eldrian's actual aim is for the fort?" Levana asked, after sharing a pleasant moment with Jade, reminiscing about their own family situations.

"He simply wanted someplace safe to train." Jade answered.

"Really? I surmised he didn't want to drag others into danger should his training spiral out of his control. However, if that was the only case; why did he need a fort? Why did he go through the effort, and the dangers, to come here? Why not just find an isolated location to train?"

Levana glanced towards the elf, talking with another elf—another Chosen. Eldrian was still without the limbs he had lost, and he must be in quite a lot of pain. Yet it did not show. In fact, when he had joined the meeting, his presence had made it hard to even notice his sorry state. His revelations had blinded everyone to the fact that they were talking to a battered man.

"I'm not sure... I guess he also wants a smithy and such to learn the craft..." Jade offered, but it was a weak excuse. With the friends and connections that Eldrian had, it shouldn't be difficult for him to find some place deserted and build his own training mansion.

'No, I only think that because I am used to knowing what money and connections can buy. Eldrian, isolated in the real world and from a normal family...and always focusing on something or another about magic. He would likely never even think of it. And I'm certain Sofiera and the others won't correct him. After all, look at what going along with his idea had brought them...'

"I see you just realized it, too." Levana smiled.

"Yeah, it's something he really has to work on." Jade nodded.

"Oh?" The vampire looked at the charming lady questioningly.

"Didn't we both just think that he doesn't know how to use..."

"So, he didn't have a grand ploy in mind. But rather neglected to see the easier path available to him?" Levana teased.

Jade switched her focus to the firebird to avoid answering the question. She didn't want to slip up more and give Eldrian's potential enemy ammunition against him. 'She's crafty.'

"We should probably give this little fella a name." Levana offered, giving the bird a rather large crystal that earned her a happy squee of joy.

"Shouldn't we leave that to Eldrian?"

"I doubt he cares. If we leave it to him, I'm sure he's going to call it something like Bird, Firebird; perhaps Little Phoenix?"

"I actually like the last one." Jade countered. It sounded cute and seemed to fit the little ball of flames.

"It is cute."

"Cuteee!" the little flame bird chirped. Seemingly agreeing with the sentiment.

"Do you like, Little Phoenix?" Levana asked, offering a large amethyst crystal this time. Eliciting a big nod and chirp of agreement as the small bird tried to swallow the massive crystal in one big gulp.

"Hey! You'll hurt yourself, Little Phoenix!" Jade jumped to pull the large crystal from its beak. Getting a squall of disagreement in return. Little Phoenix suddenly doubling in size and making the crystal vanish before Jade could register what had happened.

Back to his smaller size of a hawk and burping in contentment.

"Wait, didn't we just give it an un-inspiring name?" Levana rubbed her head, unable to accept that she had offered such a simplistic and non-original name for such a mysterous magical entity.

—

These players were miles ahead of those Elizabeth had been forced to deal with up until now. Their teamwork and organization was perhaps even better than their own.

"You're thinking it too?" Nikki asked, eliciting a shallow nod from Elizabeth

"Yeah, we won't be able to offer much, if any, advice."

The two had taken up a post atop the walls, after the army had stormed in. Focusing their assaults on the nearby locations where the orcs had holed themselves in. Their attack was swift, and while the orcs had readied themselves to put up a defense, they had not expected an attack on the night of the army's arrival.

Things seemed to be moving smoothly. The army taking charge of the fighting; the players taking charge of dealing with the wounded, and those that were saved. Pulling them out of the fight and to the back lines to get treatment.

"I guess this isn't a job the others would enjoy..." Nikki mumbled.

"True, they would argue something or another. But this is probably the best practice, considering our strength. I guess normally the players would also act as scouts along with some soldiers, but with all the information we gave them, I guess they can act quicker than normal."

The ability to revive when killed was certainly a crucial one if scouting truly dangerous areas. So having a player with every scouting part could ensure the return of information even in the worst of cases. Phoenix had done a few such scouting jobs before. Sometimes the party made it back, sometimes the player revived.

"So, what are we going to do once things settle?"

"I'll just send them a message stating that we can't really offer any advice. Let's go check on the intake and then head home."

Feeling that spending more time here would be a waste, Elizabeth offered some help to treat the wounded and then the two returned to Vlisia once she ran out of mana.

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