Crystal's Edge

A Glitch In The System?

The cool air hit Jaxson in the face as the moon shone brightly overhead, parting two light gray clouds from its sight. The cool air hitting the sweat that was pouring out of his body felt good as the air wove its way through his armor.

Upon exiting the Dark Cavern, the archer found himself in a ravine. Tall rock formations wedged the Dark Cavern in place as Jaxson cautiously made his way down into the ravine. Jagged rocks jutted out of the hard dirt ground as he tripped in the low light.

He felt small critters scurry over his boots as he intruded into their living spaces. Jaxson wanted to get to a nearby town and rest but the nearest one wasn’t for another mile and deep inside the ravine, the moon struggled to light his steps. He would be tripping over rocks for much of his travel.

Halfway through his journey through the rugged ravine, Jaxson felt a rumbling beneath his feet as small rocks fell from along the high walls. The archer easily avoided the falling rocks as the rumbling continued.

With each step, Jaxson took he felt the ground beginning to open around him as he jumped from side to side to avoid the opening that formed down the middle of the ravine. His footing slipped as he fell to his knees and struggled to grab on to the slick rocks around him. Jaxson held his breath as the ravine opened around him and he fell into darkness.

Pain shot through every inch of his body as he lay in darkness. He wasn’t sure if he was dead or alive. If feeling this pain meant that he was alive then he was hoping for death.

Jaxson slowly opened his eyes as a sliver of light dug into his eyes and he turned his head to the right. He saw a small fire burning as he tried to get up off his back.

“Ah!” The archer screamed in pain as he closed his eyes to try and escape the surge of pain that washed over him. It was no use. The pain was too much for him to move.

“Hey there!” A booming voice awoke Jaxson. “Try not to move as you have broken bones and they must mend.”

Jaxson saw a towering figure with a shaved head and an orange beard staring down at him. He opened his mouth to speak but found no words.

“It happened to all of us when we fell through the Fissure,” the towering figure explained. “You were lucky as it seems only your legs and back is broken. Some of us had it worse and still haven’t fully recovered.”

The archer just nodded his head as the figure took a brownish plant from his pouch on his hip and administered it in Jaxson’s mouth. Jaxson coughed at the bitterness but felt a wave of sensation travel through his body and then he felt no more as his body became numb and his eyes closed.

When Jaxson came to his senses and opened his eyes, he wasn’t sure how many days had passed but he knew he felt better. He moved his limbs and felt relieved that no pain shot through him. He took in his surroundings.

He was wrapped in a brown blanket and laying in a makeshift tent fastened from animal hide and wedged in between the surrounding rocks. Jaxson got up and shuffled out of the tent. The sky was cool and dark as he saw three small fires and ten people huddled around in total.

There were no children only men and women as they watched him exit the tent. He managed a small wave before the figure who helped him stepped to him.

“Glad to see you walking around,” the booming voice said. “I take it that you are in no more pain.”

“None at all,” now that Jaxson was standing, he could tell just how massive the figure was. He stood two heads taller than the archer with bulging muscles and an even bigger gut. “Where am I and how long was I asleep?”

“You are in the Deep Fissure,” the figure explained. “As for how long you have been asleep it has been about two days. Some were worried you weren’t going to make it. Glad you showed them.”

“Is this still a part of the game? Are you NPC’s or characters?” Questions flooded Jaxson’s mind and he was hoping he would get some answers.

“It is a part of the game still in a way,” the figure explained. “We think it is a glitch that caused the Fissure to open. Most of us were from the same party when we fell here, and a couple of others recently joined us months ago. The Fissure opens every few months or so.”

“So how do we escape and get to the main part of Chaos Crystal again?” A worried expression crept over Jaxson’s face.

“We have been trying but so far no luck but if it makes you feel better there is a lot to do down here,” the figure slapped Jaxson on the back causing the archer to flinch at the sheer weight of the slap.

“Come let me show you around and introduce everyone and maybe that will put your mind at ease,” the figure started walking to the groups huddled around the fire.

This must be a part of the recall that occurred in the gaming system, Jaxson thought as he absentmindedly followed the giant figure. There must be a way out. I will find a way out and save all these people. I wonder what other surprises the game has in store for me.