Puzzle Complete. +1 to Codewords.

  Attempt puzzle again? Yes/No?

  Alastair completed the intake codeword puzzle without issue, was sworn in as a Scribe, fast-tracked to Scribe 1 for experience already completed, and was shown a small bedroom and where the cafeteria was. He then wandered to the south city gate and walked along the path to the south of the forest. It wasn’t a long walk, only more than an hour when the Monastery rose in the distance before him. Even though he had somewhat befriended Amets, who ran the temple to the Goddess in the city, and the large walled structure called to him with its complexity, he had decided that his aversion to religion was too much to overcome when he still felt hungover. He continued walking toward the farms.

  As he was walking, he summoned ETC. The bunny bird appeared with a poof on his shoulder. Alastair didn’t say anything. He just wanted company.

  As he wandered along, he considered something Mida had said. “Hey, Et Cetera. Can you check something for me in the interface? What are the options under Lore?’

  “I see World, Icounada Kingdom. Then there are six listed locations under Island: Sheljour Isles, City - West Shilgrave, Farms - Talking Trees, Keep - Bacton, Monastery - Diederick, and Monument - Widow’s Siege. It then continues with Puzzles and People.”

  “No, that’s enough. I think that answers my questions, maybe. That the places are the places that could be solved as puzzles. That’s my current objective. Identify if there is an interface at the Talking Trees Farms.”

  “Sounds great, boss. I’ll help as I’m able.”

  “Do you think that Flor logged out?” Alastair said.

  “Now that you’ve asked, I can definitively say she has not.”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “What? How do you know?”

  “At the last interface update, there was a party function. Although, technically you both broke that portion of the interface since you came into the game already partied up. She’s still in your party and I can see that she’s still online.”

  “Wait, there is a party function? How come it isn’t in the interface.”

  “No idea, but it might have something to do with how I mentioned the system is broken. Maybe it just doesn’t display for you.”

  “Can I chat with her?”

  “Technically, yes, but I recommend against it.”

  “Even just a test?”

  “To parody Mida, I’m just a daemon, not a marriage counselor. But still, she did say to give her some space. Don’t go ruining that by imposing upon her.”

  “Remind me to revise my preconceived notions on the emotional intelligence of daemons.”

  “Please. You didn’t even know what a daemon was until I came along.”

  “Fine. Remind me to revise my preconceived notions on the emotional intelligence of familiars.”

  “Will do. But remember, I’m not a familiar.”

  “You’re getting annoying and pedantic is what you are.”

  “You know I feed off your rage, also, right? My mood is like an echo of yours. So it’s really just yourself you’re angry at.”

  “Look. I miss the silence. I enjoyed it more when we were silent. This feels too much like I’m psychotic, talking to a bunny bird. Can we continue quietly for a while or should I dismiss you?”

  Etc rolled its eyes. “Sure. I’ll be quiet. But my voice of reason will bounce in your head anyway.”

  “You know what? I take back what I said about emotional intelligence. You’re just rude.”

  “I get it from you.”

  Alastair dismissed the daemon.

  “The last thing I need is to wander into a farm and have people think I’m crazy, talking with a skvader.”

  He continued on the path, simultaneously frustrated at himself and this game. It was time to be out of here. He generally ached from being stuck in here, wondering if this was some mental manifestation of the physical discomfort his body was in back in the real world.

  He considered this when he realized he was in a forest. He turned and realized he must have entered some time ago because the forest stretched further than he could see. Spooked at his lack of awareness, he picked up his pace, grateful that the path was obvious. It was an ideal place for an ambush, similar to how he had arranged to ambush the Mayor’s procession to the Lord Necromancer’s keep. But as he hustled, he realized that the forest was thinning and it looked to open up just ahead.

  A few telltale buildings appeared, and Alastair recognized their farm-like appearance. Eventually, the forest thinned even more and Alastair saw a small entry up ahead, with a plank at the top announcing that Alastair had found the Talking Trees Farms.