QuestWright BK2 C79: Conditions (Patreon)

Howdy,

It should definitely be a double-chapter weekend, as usual. My editing of QuestWright book 1 is coming along swimmingly as well. I'm almost at the point where I'll need to write the missing chapters that fill in several blanks there. Such as what happened to Master Chask. How did Gary become such a good salesman, and what happened when Pellin had to take Bella to the stables?

I have my Alphareader going through book 1, so once he gives me the a-ok on any of these chapters, I'll post them up here. You don't have to read them, obviously, but the option will be there, and they'll be labeled under a different collection.

Now, let's dive into why you're really here.

Wait...

Is it not for ReaderQuests?

Well, you're getting one anyways.

Quest ID: JDM-0002-SC-EA
[Tier 1 Secure Quest]

Assignment: Emergency Letter

This is a purely hypothetical situation.

In this hypothetical, something happens, and you’re incapacitated. How would you want things to be handled in your absence? 

What would you want someone else to do in your place?

Your Task

Write a physical emergency letter containing the information someone would need to keep your responsibilities from falling apart if you unexpectedly became unavailable.

There are a few examples below to get your motor running:

Pets that need care.

Appointments that can't be missed.

Bills or responsibilities someone should know about.

People who need to be contacted.

Important items someone may need to locate.

Anything else that would leave someone saying, "I wish they'd told me."

Rules

The letter must contain genuinely useful information.

Do not include passwords, PINs, or other sensitive information that would be unsafe to leave written down.

Put the letter somewhere secure.

Tell at least one trusted person where to find it.

Completion Condition

Write the letter, secure it, and make sure someone knows where it is.

Timeframe: One Week

Reward: 8 XP

Sometimes being prepared means preparing others for your own absence.

—

J D Mullenary Sr
The Original QuestWright

Chapter 79: Conditions

Cass had barely recovered his stamina by the time William woke up. The now normal-sized man sat up off the ground in a rush, head on a swivel as he looked around the room, his eyes stopping on the Shadow against the wall.

“How long was I out?”

“About ten minutes,” She replied, then threw Alan a weighted look. “You still need me?”

The old man ruminated, then sighed. “No, I think we’re good. Thank you, Bridgette.”

“Shadow.”

“Bridgette.”

She shook her head. “As soon as the favor’s done, you go back to that bullshit. See you later, Scout. This was fun.”

She took a step forward, then was gone. Disappeared as if she’d never been there.

William wasn’t the only one looking around, but he was the one who said what most of them were thinking, “The hell? She can just disappear?”

Cass took her disappearance with a stoic expression. Taking a shaky breath, he asked, “How are you feeling?”

William shrugged, then stood up and patted himself down. If he was surprised by his new size, he didn’t show it, except for adjusting the belt holding his pants up. He quit trying when they wouldn’t fit no matter how he arranged things, then rubbed the back of his head.

“I feel…less, I guess. I think the better question is, what happened to you?” Then he looked around the destroyed basement. “And the room?”

“You did,” Alan replied calmly. For the first time since the purge had finished, he asked Cass a question. “Is it gone?”

Cass called the Quill into the world. He looked at it closely, especially along the cyan upgrade he’d received from the System. His eyes trailed from the Quill to William’s silent form. As far as he could tell, everything was as normal as it could be.

Cass nodded at Alan, who came over and patted William on the shoulder. “You’re clean, son. As clean as anyone can be in Liberty. Now, you’ve got your whole life ahead of you.”

“A life of what? I don’t have a Calling anymore. I’m just-just William.” The man looked completely lost as everything hit him at once. “What do I do now?”

“I can’t give you a Calling,” Cass said, standing up with Adya’s help. “But if you really want to get back at the Guildtower, you could join Alan’s army. I figure you helping us take down their corruption would certainly put a damper on their plans.”

“What?” Alan said sharply. “He won’t have a Calling. No power, no abilities, no paths. That’d be like taking a baby in there. I won’t do it.”

“Who says he won’t have a Calling?” Cass said with a sly smile. “I happen to know a Guildmaster in a nearby city who owes me quite a lot.” Reaching into his bag, Cass pulled out a coin someone had given him. “Here.”

The coin spun in the air as he flipped it to the former Private. Sadly, the man missed grabbing it by a mile.

“Sorry, I’m used to my reflexes being faster,” William said abashedly. He picked it up quickly, then looked it over. “Cool coin. Looks super old.”

“It was a gift.”

He looked back at Cass, and there was no doubt that hope had sprung up where despair had once lain. “This little coin will get me a Calling?”

“Yep.” Cass smiled. “Well, that and a dozen favors owed. If you give me a few minutes, I’ll write a couple letters to send with you. The city is called Liora, and though it’s not much to look at for the moment-”

“It’s somewhere that those who need help can go,” Adya finished for him. She smiled at Cass, taking his hand as she understood what he was doing. “The Guildmaster’s name is Gerald Hollis; he’ll get you your Calling. Then, if you want to, you can come back here and help us take down a Dungeon.”

“He won’t make it back in time,” Alan replied, patting William again, this time in solace with the man. “I’m sorry to constantly be the bearer of bad news, but somebody here needs to be practical. That’s a week’s ride there and back again. Not to mention, even with a Calling, he won’t be doing much at level 1. It would still be a slaughter.”

William shrugged off his hand. “I know how to fight.”

“But you have no levels.”

Cass shrugged. “I have a solution for that too.”

After asking them to follow him, the four of them exited the Dungeon. Night had fallen during their activities, but it didn’t impede Bella in the slightest as the large draft horse trotted over.

“Bella, how would you like to go on a long ride?”

Whither?

“Liora.”

Again?

“What’s happening? Who is he talking to?” William asked, looking around.

Alan snorted. “The horse.”

“Her name is Bella,” Adya added.

That didn’t clear up anything from William’s angle. “A horse?”

Cass and Bella spoke for a few more moments before he walked over, smiling. “She’ll do it. Said she’ll want to stop a few times, something to do with her gate, but she’s happy to get you there and back with speed. Give me a few minutes to write the letters, then we can head our separate ways.”

William inched his head away from the group as Alan and Adya talked traveling logistics. Seeing no reason not to follow, Cass went with him. 

The former Private nodded his head at the horse, speaking in a whisper. “You sure this is right? I’ve never been there before. Is she really going to take me all the way from Liberty to a big city far away?”

“Absolutely.” Cass smiled as he looked over at his equine partner. “Bella and I have been through a lot together. She’s about as smart as you and me, and if you couldn’t tell by what I said about the Gate before, she has a Calling.”

“Gate? Wait a second.” William’s eyes almost crossed as he considered the second part of what he’d said. “Your horse has a Calling?”

“Haha,” Cass laughed. “It’s a brave new world you’ve entered, William. There’s a lot you don’t know about the real System. Don’t worry, you’ll figure it out.”

“Thanks.” William looked away, then down. With a sigh, he said, “I really appreciate what you did for me, and I don’t even know your name.”

“It’s Cassio Vale, but you can call me Cass.”

“Cass.” William nodded. “I won’t forget this, man. You had no reason to help me out like you did, and from what I saw, it was a hell of a thing to go through. Not to mention getting me a Calling.”

“I’d do that for anyone, William. Well, anyone who has some hatred against the Guildtower.” Cass bumped him with his shoulder, bringing a laugh out of the nervous man. “Kidding, kidding. It’s a dark world, you know. Gotta bring some light with you no matter where you go.”

“Sorry, I’m just not used to…” He paused, searching for something within. “What’s that word for saying your feelings out loud?” 

Cass tapped his chin. “You’re probably trying to say expressed.”

“Right.” William laughed. “I don’t have a real education. The streets weren’t exactly a great teacher. But you seem like a smart guy, and I owe you my life. So, from now on, I’m your guy. The moment I get back, I’ll level up as fast as I can and stick close to your side. You won’t have to worry about anything while I’m around.”

Adya probably won't like that. Shoot, Bella won’t either.

Pellin isn’t going to care. Will Gary?

“Yessir,” William continued, oblivious to Cass’s thoughts. “I’m your guy from now on. You get me a Calling and some levels, and I reckon ain’t nothing going to be happening to you.”

“Great.”

I’m smiling, right?

“By the way, your girlfriend is super hot.”

“Noted,” Cass replied stoically. He told William he was going to step away for a moment, and the blonde man took it with a smile, walking away to talk to Alan.

This is fine. Totally fine. Cass stopped near a tree and leaned against it as he pulled paper and a pen from his bag. So William is handsome after losing his gigantism, and he thinks Adya is hot.

Is it because they both like spears? I can learn to use a spear. But wouldn’t William then find me hot by that logic?

Cass stopped thinking about it, then pulled the Quill out for light as he wrote two letters. One was to his old Guildmaster, explaining the William situation lightly, while also obfuscating the truth. Hopefully Hollis would see what the real situation was like and allow the second letter’s request.

Because it was for his sister.

“Who are you writing?” Adya asked as she came closer and sat down beside him. Her head rested on his shoulder while he answered.

“Janine. I know Alan is trying to build an army, and the Fabulous Five were the best team back in Liora as far as I can recall. I’m hoping that the situation there is settled enough that she can come over and lend a hand.”

She blew in his ear, “Is that wise?”

He shoo’d her away. “Dick.”

“Not possible,” She said with a laugh. “From what I remember, you two don’t get along too well.”

“Yeah, I think she was doing that to emotionally shield herself in case I became a dreg. Now that we know Hollis was intentionally holding back my Calling so I didn’t have a choice in the matter, I can kind of see her perspective.”

“I haven’t heard Dregs mentioned once since we’ve been out here.” She looked puzzled by it as he answered.

“Only proves my old theory right. The concept is used to push people into accepting their Calling. I won’t be doing that when I’m a Guildmaster.”

Adya blew in his ear again, then fell away laughing when he shoved her over. She sat up, leaves stuck in her hair, and said, “I’m thinking there’s a long road to travel between asking your big sister to help and becoming a Guildmaster.”

“True. But she’ll come. She said she would, and I’d never pin being a liar on Janine. She’ll be there, even if the rest of her team doesn’t back her up. Besides, I’m making sure to tell her one very special thing that will get her running.”

“And that is?”

“There’ll be lots of monsters.”

Cass finished up his letters, folded them neatly, then signed both names on them. He walked over to William and handed them off, quickly explaining where to find the Guildmaster based on the information his mother had written him.

“But what about the levels?” William asked.

“Yes, what about the levels?” Alan parroted, a grin on his face, as he’d found a hole in Cass’s plan.

“My sister Janine will be escorting you back. I’ve asked her to use her skills to keep you alive and leveling all the way back through the Wilds. When I spoke with Bella, the only stops she’s likely to make are for her Gate. She’ll probably have you there in the next two days.”

Alan’s grin curdled up and died as William nodded enthusiastically. “You can count on me, Cass. I’ll be a high-level warrior before you know it.”

Alan leaned over to the man and spoke in a loud whisper, “Just don’t die, son.”

The two of them left first to get William supplies and a few Crests in case he needed them. Meanwhile, Cass and Adya doubled up on her horse, moving slowly down the dark paths that didn’t impede the Scout's eyes in the slightest.

After traveling for a time, she leaned back against him. “What are you thinking about?”

“Experience and Levels.”

“Thinking about William’s Calling?”

“No, mine. The Source was pretty unsubtle in telling me that I wasn’t ready for what’s coming. And it’s right. I’m only Tier 3. I desperately need to level up.”

She sniffed. “Is that why you sent Bella away? So she wouldn’t hog up all your experience.”

“Mmm…”

“Cass…”

“That wasn’t the only reason. Her Gate Quest is pretty strange, and I doubt she could’ve done it here. Plus, if William wants to get back in time for the Dungeon, she really is the only answer. I don’t think Alan would’ve sent another person with him who knew the way to Liora. It just worked out that way.”

“Sure.”

“What?”

“Forget it.” Adya sighed, then cut off in the middle of it. “Wait. What’s Bella’s Gate?”

“She made me promise I wouldn’t say.”

Adya leaned back further. “She’s not gonna know; you can tell me.”

Cass looked around the darkness, somehow expecting his horse to appear from nowhere for even thinking about it. Instead, he leaned forward and whispered it in her ear.

Adya loudly guffawed. “That’s ridiculous! What kind of Gate Quest is that!”

“I don’t know! I told you it was weird!”

They spent the rest of the ride talking quietly. Cass presented his badge at each gate, then hopped off when they got to the tower. Looking up at the spiraling monster of glass and metal, he swallowed past the lump in his throat as he considered what was happening right below his very feet.

“Hey.”

Cass turned around. Adya gave him a slow, steady nod. “It’s going to be fine.”

“Yeah.”

He lightly waved, then walked past the two guards and into the entrance. A quick ride through the elevator and an almost pleasant greeting with Jamison, then he was in the bath, the Quill held out in front of him.

“Alright, what the hell is a Calling Shard, and how do I do Conditional Quests?”