Allisium

Chapter 6

“We should think about how to get to the city without putting ourselves in danger," said Zen. The Guild Fountain comes next. The first step is to get to our hotel room, so we can return to virtual Earth whenever we want, in case we need to buy something or disconnect from this gray world.

“The samurai is right," Greek agreed. It is a priority to get to the hotel and get into our room. Then we'll have time to prepare for the initiation of the path. By the way, have you decided what to do?

“There are many paths to choose from," I said. Too many to be clear. I think one of us would have to choose the Path of Frost, to give us protection.

“And why not the Path of the Flame? “asked Greek.

“You should know, my dear spaghetti," Zen nodded, "that the Path of Frost is as offensive as it is defensive. Something the Path of Flame can also do, but with less defensive power. You can raise a wall of fire, but no one will be able to cross a wall of ice.

“Unless he has a lot of extra strength and knocks it down, of course," I added.

“Yes, okay, but we're talking about which is the most complete of those offered by the Wizard's Path.

“Well, the most powerful is the Path of Thunder, but defensively it has little chance," I said. How about the Seismic Path?

“It's good if you want to plant trees to make Allsium a better place. “It doesn't matter which path is chosen, we know that any path fully developed gives incredible powers. The point is to find out which of the four of us is going to become a wizard. “Of course, that was the crux of the matter. Much of our survival depends on the wizard. And I vote for Dagon not to be one, by the way.

On that, at least, we all agreed.

We decided to grab a bite to eat while Dagon cooked for customers at the restaurant where he worked in real life. One day he explained to us that they might have to close for a while due to a cockroach infestation, so we thought that, hopefully, he would finally get around to living in Allsium. That we couldn't tell him, as Dagon was quite sensitive and advocated that real life still made sense.

But it didn't make sense to any of the three of us.

Zen lived in a room and Greek had a hard life in Italy, since he did nothing but run away from the mafia. They demanded him to pay, but since he didn't pay, they got tired of him and preferred to leave him without a head. My case was not so peculiar, I lived with a mother who rarely went to Allsium.

“Well, knowing that Dagon won't be the wizard, I think it's time to discuss the plan of action to enter the hotel," Zen proposed.

“What if we are doing the stronzo here? “Greek asked. We don't even know if they are waiting for us at the hotel. We must think that when the general loses, the soldiers disperse because they have no one to obey.

“If they are Allsium mercenaries, it is clear that they will have left," I said as I thought of other options. But if their leader is such a rich person, their power will remain in real life. Surely they are waiting for us in the city to identify us.

“If they come with those dodgy bows, I don't think we have much to fear," Greek replied.

“If the boss has paid them for rifles, you'll see what a laugh it will be," said Zen. He was a spoiled rich kid, I think he'll do his best to kill us in Allsium, and almost even in real life. You have to be cautious, remember what the Good Player's Handbook says.

“Ya, ya, ya. We all know what it says, ragazzo. I hate to admit it, but you're right. “Greek had a hard time accepting that Zen and I were smart too. We have to be very careful.

“Think that if only one of us arrives and makes the property ours, the rest of us can transport ourselves to the room and be safe. “Zen had hit the nail on the head, as usual.

“Well, well, I'm liking this better already, ragazzi. “I smell a plan to lure and mislead you?

“I think it's the best thing to do," I said. We can't go head”on, they'd peel us off.

“Well, that might be a good plan," Zen interjected thoughtfully. I guess you know we're not exactly short of healing items, right?

“Don't worry," Greek replied, "we'll go bareback, as we came.

“Yes, and with a gun up his sleeve. “Zen had also been surprised by the Beretta that Greek kept, although he wasn't going to object to it either, at least no more than I did.

“I guess I owe you an apology, ragazzi. “Greek scratched his head, a sure sign that he was being sincere. You know I've had a little trouble with the mob back home.

“We know you still have them, yes," said Zen.

“Yes, well, they are very heavy," he replied as if it was no big deal. The thing is that I bought the gun at Allsium a year ago thinking about transferring it to the real world, but then I realized that it wasn't possible.

“Typical rookie mistake. “Zen had been waiting to tell Greek something like that for a long time.

“Yeah, don't remind me," he replied, clicking his tongue, "I hadn't read the damn rule that said no weapon could be transferred from Allsium to the real world.

“Let's thank the Camden Town Fool," I said.

The Camden Town Madman was an unfortunate man who bought a Kalashnikov rifle in Allsium, transferred it to the real world and emptied the entire magazine in the market in the middle of the afternoon, resulting in twenty dead and as many wounded. Thereafter, the transfer of dangerous weapons from the virtual to the real world was banned. The United States complained bitterly, but at least they could buy them without problems in real life.

“The law is fair. In Allsium guns are much cheaper than in real life, especially outside the law," I commented. I'm sure we'll find some interesting ones here.

“Yes, but right now we've only got a gnawed”up bow and a decent gun," Greek replied, getting a little more serious. I think it's best for everyone if Gunner and I try to get to the hotel.

“I won't say I'm thrilled to know that I'm going to stay here well protected," Zen replied with a half”smile, "but I have to ask: are you sure?