I reincarnated in game

35 Decisions Made

Time passed quickly during the stay at the inn in Aldo.  James maintained his daily contact with headquarters through the crystal ball connection.  On the second day, the subordinate confirmed the leader was available to discuss the proposed addition to their ranks.

As he sat before the orb, he could see a hooded figure with cascading blonde hair; he easily recognized the leader by her hair and her voice, since most of her features were hidden by the hooded garment she wore.

“Good Morning, Commander” James said with a salute.

“Morning, James, but you know that I am not your commander,” The mysterious blonde said with a sing song voice.

“I know, but old habits die hard M’lady,” replied James.  “I trust that you received my report and have considered my recommendation for the nominees which I presented.”

“I did indeed,” was the reply.  “Once again, you are very proactive and attuned to our cause.  Speak to me about these recommendations.”

“Yes.  They are Hugh Bean, Judi Smith, and Kenneth Grant.  I have seen Hugh’s talents demonstrated, first hand; he highly endorses the other two,” James said.       

James noticed that a woman had approached the leader from her right side; the latter bent forward and whispered in the chief’s ear for a few moments, then walked away again. 

“I have just received word that Father John as been caught right where you said that he was in your report.  You said that it was this Hugh Bean who made a machine that narrowed down the area of your search?”

“That is correct ma’am.  He called it a surveillance machine.  He fabricated it with spare parts and infused it with magic,” James stated.

“Very well!  I approve of your request.  Extend our invitation to all three.  Keep me updated with your reports,” the leader responded.  “I must go.”  The orb went dark as the transmission ended.   

James was pleased.  He had observed the three friends over an intervening couple of days and saw how close they were.  Their interactions were friendly and he could see the trust and loyalty they had for one another.  They certainly made a good team; he would have been concerned if their induction was declined.  While Hugh would have had the best intentions to maintain secrecy, there would still have been a greater risk if he was not formally committed to the organization.

Knowing that Hugh and the other two would have finished their breakfast by now but would likely still be in the common area of the inn, he went to seek them out.

James caught Hugh’s attention and motioned him to come over.  Hugh was seen to excuse himself; he then walked over to where James was at the bar. “I have just received word back from our leader; you are all accepted, however, we cannot speak about it here … why don’t the three of you come back to my room where we can talk more openly?” he whispered, trying to look nonchalant.

“Well, there is the little matter of the spell I put on Judi and Kenneth … it is still in effect;  their memories have been modified so they remember nothing of what occurred on the ship with respect to you and your mission,” Hugh replied in a subdued tone.  “I will have to remove the spell in order for them to be able to hear, and fully understand your invitation … they will need to be able to make their own decision with respect to your offer … I cannot speak for them.”

“So what do you suggest?” James asked.

Hugh thought a moment.  He had been able to use the energy from the ship’s engine in order to cast the spell over Judi and Kenneth … he did not have that resource now to be able to reverse it.  Then it hit him, the spheres they had recovered from Bob’s den had the energy he would need.  He had had an opportunity to examine them more closely during the time they had been on the road to Ossal.  He had felt the radiant energy they exuded. Based on the presence of both dark and pale swirls visible through the transparent surface, he had concluded that the spheres seemed to contain both dark and light elements.  

“I believe I can reverse the spell on my friends.  I would need a little while.  Perhaps we can meet you back in your room just after lunch.  That will give me some time to see if my plan works; as well I will be able to give them a head’s up on your planned invitation,” Hugh suggested.

“Sounds like a plan.  See you then,” James replied.  “If you have need for anything, I will be hanging around down here until the mid-day meal.” 

“OK,” replied Hugh.  He was happy that the invitation had been broadened to include their whole team.  He couldn’t see himself joining without them; he felt sure that they would be inclined to accept the invitation offered to them because they were all so much alike; he would just have to remove the spell first.

Hugh rejoined his friends and then said, “Come with me back to our room … I need to talk to you both about something in private.” 

“That sounds very intriguing,” said Judi as both she and Kenneth rose to follow Hugh.  “What is it you want to say to us that can’t be said here?” Judi said in a somewhat joking manner.  Kenneth followed without question … he was just happy to be included in anything that his friends were up to.

Once they got back to the room that Hugh and Kenneth were occupying, Hugh had them sit on the bed.  “You won’t remember this but, once again, I need you to trust me … you know I would never do anything which is not in your best interests,” he said.  Then, taking a deep breath, he started.  “Back on the ship there was a little incident that required me to put a memory modification spell on the both of you.  I would only do it after the two of you had agreed you were OK with it.  That is why you don’t remember any of this,” Hugh explained.  “Things have changed and now I can remove the spell.  Once I do, you will have full recollection of the events which occurred.  That is important because, in the end, you will each need to make a decision on an offer which will be presented to you … I want you to do so with an unfettered memory.”

Hugh went to the footlocker and retrieved the bag that held the two remaining energy spheres; he removed one from the bag.  “I am going to use this as my energy source,” he explained to them; their faces had had a questioning look when they saw what he now held in his hand.

With his eyes closed, Hugh held the sphere in his hands and focused on absorbing the energy from the object.  He could feel its power as it moved along his arms to his very core.  This was very powerful magic … it didn’t feel threatening; it appeared to him that his initial conclusion of both dark and light elements being present was validated. 

Once the energy was fully absorbed, Hugh approached Judi; placing his hands on her head, he manipulated the energy in his body, and then pushed it forward into hers.  He repeated the process with Kenneth.  When they opened their eyes, it was like a fog had lifted.  They looked at Hugh; they remembered finding him in the interrogation room, tied to a chair as well as the events which led up to the building of the surveillance machine and the offer which James had extended to Hugh to join their organization.  As Hugh had said, they remembered agreeing to him casting the spell on them. 

Judi immediately made the connection!  “So James told you about their organization and you have been approved to join … based on your position that you would only consider joining if the two of us were included in the invitation, I presume that has been granted based on the fact that you are reversing the spell.  Am I right?”

Hugh was impressed with Judi’s ability to grasp the situation so clearly and accurately.  “You are absolutely correct.  We are to meet with James in his room right after lunch,” Hugh responded.  Kenneth grinned; his friends were not going to be leaving him on his own … lunch didn’t sound too bad, either!

Right after lunch, the three met up with James and went back to his room.  Hugh confirmed that he had been successful in removing the spell and that, once her memory was no longer impeded by the modification enchantment, Judi had made the connection that they were to be included in the invitation. 

James nodded at each of them; he continued to be impressed by Hugh’s resourcefulness in determining how to remove the spell, and by now, by Judi’s cognitive awareness and perception.

For the benefit of Judi and Kenneth, James provided the background on Eos much the same as he had done for Hugh.  At the end, he looked at each of them and said, “So, now that I can make an offer to the three of you, would you like to join with us at Eos, as a team?”

The three friends exchanged glances and, without the benefit of conversation, quietly acknowledged they were all in agreement to join up with James and his company.  Hugh turned to James and said, “We all accept your invitation to join, however there is a matter that we must attend to before we can fully commit ourselves to your cause.  When we were on Fourth Level, Matthew, Kenneth’s Pa, passed away.  We promised Kenneth that we would accompany him back to Stuhr to bury his father’s ashes in their homeland.  Once we have honoured that commitment, we will be free to accept your offer.”

“I don’t expect that will be a problem.  We are all about keeping our promises.  How would it be if we arrange for your transportation to Stuhr so you can tend to your business; that should take you a couple of days.  We can then arrange the return trip back here to Aldo on the third day.  I will be here at the inn.  You can check in with me on your return,” James suggested.

“We would appreciate that,” replied Hugh.  “That should give us plenty of time.  What do you think Kenneth?”

“I think Pa would approve,” Kenneth said; his small hand moved to the urn which hung around his neck … he sure missed his Pa but was so happy that Hugh and Judi were there with him, and for him.

The next day, the trio boarded a boat heading to Stuhr.  The view was surreal as the biome gradually changed from a snowy wonderland to a dry, sandy desert.  Kenneth was excited to go home but the sadness of the occasion weighed heavily on him.  As they got closer, Kenneth pointed out places as they came into view from the observation deck.  The heat, which rose in shimmering waves from the arid land below, was almost staggering; it was in sharp contrast to the cold climate they had just left.  The friends changed back into their lighter clothes and stored the winter wear in their traveling bags.

Kenneth was the first off the boat and down the gang plank; he took in a deep breath.  “We are home, Pa,” Kenneth whispered to himself.

Hugh and Judi walked up to Kenneth; they put their hands on his shoulders to comfort him.  Kenneth smiled at his companions, then, with his small hand on the urn, he set out down the street.  Judi and Hugh hurried to catch up to him; Kenneth obviously knew where he was going.  They passed a few compact, comfortable-looking houses which were constructed of wood and stone.  Suddenly, without warning, Kenneth made a sharp left turn and continued down a narrow path that led to a wrought iron gate.  He continued across the grounds toward the center of the little bower where a huge tree stood.   A pool of water was off to the left of the tree; he walked to the right and knelt next to a solitary stone.  This place was obviously very special to him.

Judi spoke softly.  “Take as much time as you need Kenneth,” she said.  She and Hugh stepped back a few steps to give him some privacy.

“Hi, Ma.  I wanted to come home to lay Pa to rest beside you.  I know he would have wanted that.  I met some good friends; they are here with me now,” said Kenneth as he gestured over his shoulder to where Hugh and Judi were standing. “Pa said they will look out for me now that he has joined you.”  His voice was choked with sadness.

Kenneth turned to his friends and waved them over.  “Ma, this is Judi, and this is Hugh” he said as he pointed to each of them; they could see the tears in his eyes. 

Hugh and Judi, touched by the gesture and the tender conversation they had witnessed, knelt down by his side.  Slowly, using only his hands, Kenneth began to dig a small hole in the ground next to the grave marker for his mom.  Judi offered her dagger to him; it would work as an improvised shovel.  Accepting her offer of the tool, Kenneth dug a hole about a foot deep.  Reverently, he removed the chain from around his neck and laid both it, and the urn, in the place he had prepared to receive it.  Taking his time, he carefully returned the earth from whence it came. 

“I will leave some money with Danny for a stone for Pa,” Kenneth said as he stood back up.  “Danny has been looking after Ma for Pa and me whenever we were not at home.”    

Looking back to his mother’s grave, he placed a kiss on his dirt-stained fingertips, and then placed his hand on the stone marker that had her name engraved on it.  “I love you both, and always will,” he said.  He would need to speak to Danny about getting a similar stone to stand next to it with Matthew’s name and dates of birth and death on it.

“OK, I need to go to Danny’s place.  He lives just a few houses away.  He will make sure that Pa gets a marker on his grave.  After that, we can get a place at the inn near the docking station and tomorrow maybe I will show you around town before we go back to Aldo,” Kenneth said.

Kenneth led the way to Danny’s place where he introduced him to Hugh and Judi and told him about his Pa passing away.  He told him about the cremation and that the ashes were now buried next to his mother’s grave.  Danny was saddened to hear of Matthew’s passing; he had known the Grants for many years.  “Don’t worry, Kenneth, I will take care of your Pa and get a nice stone to mark his grave; but what are you going to do now that you are alone?” he asked.

“I am not alone,” replied Kenneth.  “I am with Hugh and Judi.  We will be getting a room at the inn because we are going back to Aldo the day after tomorrow,” he said.

“You’re going to stay at the inn?  I won’t hear of it.  You and your friends will be my guests until you are ready to leave … I insist!” Danny declared.

Danny was an excellent host.  He not only provided a warm and comfortable place for them to stay, but he regaled them with stories and anecdotes about the people and history of their small village.   

Time passed quickly and the trio was soon on their way back to Aldo; to the unknown challenges and adventures that might await them.