We prepared for our quest in short order, made easier by the fact that I retained my infinite inventory space as a Game Guide. Oli and I could essentially load me up with any number of items for a nearly infinite array of eventualities, though it might take a second to find the right things through such a heavily loaded system. I’ll have to try and spend some time sorting through them and creating subfolders of similar items, or possible situations, if I got a moment.

  My base stats increase and level jump were a topic of some discussion. The jump in my Strength stat explained why I was able to handle moving rubble so easily, but my comparatively weaker Constitution was why I was so quickly trounced in the fight with the Trespasser. I’d need to work on that, but I was still vague on if I could - I didn’t know if my stats and levels would continue to rise, and Xandra was not forthcoming with any clarity on that, especially not after our last encounter.

  My overall level jump was a mystery, however, until Meph lit up mid-conversation about it.

  “By Everything, I got it!”

  “What?” I asked, as I stowed a folding chair into my inventory. We’d need rest stops on the way, and I didn’t have to sit on the floor if I brought chairs, I reasoned.

  “Why you’ve jumped so high in levels. It’s so obvious!” The tiefling beamed at me. “You hit the Guide wall pretty fast, remember?”

  “Yeah, I guess. But it’s not like I had much else to do…”

  “Yeah, but before you really started preparing for your role, what were you doing?” Meph leaned in close, eyes wide. It was kind of scary.

  “Moping, mostly,” I huffed, as I scanned the room, trying to think of what else we might need. Griff had been hiding under a table as I moved things around, but took the opportunity to run circles around my legs, brushing up against them constantly.

  “No. Well, yes, but you were also throwing yourself from clocktowers, blowing yourself up, or trying to jam swords into your gut.”

  I turned slowly towards the tiefling. “Are you saying I levelled up by trying to kill myself?”

  Meph suddenly took on an awkward, distasteful expression. “Well, yes. Kind of. Obviously, none of those attempts were going to work, but they often required your body as it is now to instantly heal, or learn from the damage it took, or almost took. That’s basically how Players level up. As you were…are a Guide, that stopped progressing when you hit the level cap, but then you committed to actual training. All of that progression was essentially stored up, and when the dam burst, well. There you go!”

  Tilting my head as I thought about it, I let out a satisfied breath and shrugged. “Huh. Well, I guess as I’m still a Guide, throwing myself into danger might still be a good way to progress. Assuming I still level up.”

  “I…wouldn’t go and try and test that, Rusty. For all we know—” Meph started.

  “It’s fine,” I brushed him off and went back to packing. “I’m not going to throw myself into a spike pit just to try and hit the next level. I’m focusing on Oli levelling up now anyway. Shame that won’t work for him though. Nice little exploit.”

  “I wouldn’t call it ‘nice’,” Meph raised an eyebrow.

  It turned out that all my spells had also gone up quite a few levels too, as I had been using them solidly as part of my own training as a Game Guide and when helping Oli get up to speed. Even though I was already insanely flexible with them, they now were significantly stronger than they had been previously. If I had cast Fireball, there was just as good a chance I’d have vaporised Durrilan rather than save it. I would have to try and figure out how to master that spell safely.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Ostensibly, I was well ahead of any of the Player who were starting out this season of the game.

  A couple of hours later, and me and Oli were packed and ready to go. Oli had a pack slung over his shoulder, allowing him to carry a few extra provisions (more than the size would suggest, as it was a dimensional pack, though space was still limited), with his axe and a guitar strapped to his back. I raised an eyebrow at the guitar, but he simply chuckled.

  ”Hey, ya never know,” he said.

  I, on the other hand, just had a staff in my hand and that was it. Unlimited inventory or no, the staff would be useful for the long hike.

  As Oli and I gathered ourselves to head out on our journey in the Guild Hall common area, Meph and Griff watched us intently. There was a sense of something changing, in a massive way, and while we could all name some obvious things, it also felt nebulous and odd.

  We stood there, me and Oli under the archway heading towards the front door into the town, and Meph opposite, with Griff standing on the back of a chair so he was almost chest height to the tiefling. Finally, Meph broke the silence.

  "You both be careful out there. Oli, I hope the reward for this quest is everything you hope for."

  "I'm not even sure what I'm hoping for, to be honest," Oli said with a frown, “Just have to end all of that I am to do it.” He shot a glance to me and then smiled, turning back to our friends. "But I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of adventure we can have."

  I felt a little heat rising in my neck and face, I had no idea why. "Besides, I'm still not actually a Player. I'll be fine. But I'll be making sure Oli doesn't find some way to blow himself up. That's probably going to be a big enough task," I joked.

  Meph let out a short grunt of amusement, then things fell quiet again. Finally, Griff let out a low meow, and his eyes flashed towards Oli, his ears flattening towards his head as he ended with a chirp.

  "I'll look after him, don't worry, Griff," Oli answered the grifflet. He then turned to me. “And the first thing I’m going to do as part of that is give you this.” He reached into his pack and pulled out a familiar dagger. Familiar as I had gotten some very close looks at it, very recently.

  “The Tresspasser’s blade?” I asked.

  “Yeah. You should have it. A staff alone isn’t going to be much use once we’re in the cave,” Oli said, turning the dagger so he held it by the blade, hilt towards me. I looked at its properties.

  Shift Dagger

  Elite Class Weapon

  Retrieved from the defeat of The Trespasser

  The Shift Dagger is made from a curious alloy of adamantine, obsidian and magecite. This peculiar combination bestows it with a number of properties, beyond incredible durability and lethal sharpness. The wielder gains a connection to the blade, making them inextricably linked. In doing so, the user can ‘follow’ the blades path when flung. This can have numerous utilities, most notably instant transportation. The possibilities are endless.

  I looked back to Oli. “I can’t take this. This is your loot, Oli. You defeated the mob, you earned this,” I said.

  “Ah, I already have Misty Step. I can teleport with the best of them. This will not only give you something to fight with if magic isn’t cutting it, but it will help you keep up,” he grinned, a small tip of tusk poking out from his lip. I looked back to the blade, and placed my hand on the hilt.

  You have received the Shift Dagger from Player Oliver Elden

  I looked over to Meph, who smiled and nodded. Griff, however, looked sad, as much as a Grifflet can look sad. I walked closer to the chair, and lowered my head towards him.

  "Heya, buddy. I'm gonna miss you most of all," Meph let out a theatrical harrumph. I winked at him. "Meph here will take plenty of good care of you," I threw up a hand to stop Meph interrupting, and he just rolled his eyes and blew at a strand of hair in his face.

  "I'll be back as soon as I can. And I'm going to be perfectly fine, I'm still a Guide, nothing will be able to hurt me. I'm just going on a little outing to help Oliver out, okay? Because I wouldn't leave you for anything. Promise.”

  Griff did a little purr-yowl kinda noise, and fixed me with his eyes. I could feel burning in my own.

  "Thank you, Griff. You have no idea how much you have helped me, and I'll be back for you as quickly as I can."

  Griff meowed and then pushed his head forward, butting me on the end of my nose. I leaned into it, and he pushed his face to the side, rubbing against my cheek.

  He sat back, and my hand flashed up to my cheek to wipe away wetness before anyone could see.

  We said our goodbyes, and we headed out the door. Meph and Griff followed us to the main gate. I looked back to see Meph waving, and Griff sitting at his feet, watching us as we walked away.

  I had to force myself to look away and onto the path we were heading, watching as the whole of the home I've known for what felt like years shrunk into the distance.