"Our Lady, please try our Cocoa Sticks!"
"Our Lady, you must see our Corn-Baked Drumsticks!"
"Do come sample our Frosted Sour Grape Cubes, Our Lady!"
Stalls lined the road, vendors calling out to Luna as she pulled Rex toward her home. He could have easily freed himself from her grip, but it would have seemed discourteous. Besides, he felt a flutter of curiosity, an eagerness to meet Luna's parents.
He'd received a valuable item simply for standing before Nala in silence, and he hoped another such fortunate encounter might await him with Luna's influential family.
As Luna led him through the bustling streets, Rex couldn't help but admire the festive spirit of Alderom's residents. The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the town in a warm, golden glow under the dimming sky. Children in vibrant outfits darted through the crowds, and even the adults seemed unusually cheerful.
Luna released his hand. "We're here, Prime." Rex looked ahead. Before him stood one of the most striking buildings he'd seen in Alderom. Its architecture held a unique, otherworldly quality, a testament to the dedication and skill of its builders.
It was a sprawling, bungalow-style structure, almost as wide as a castle, its white pillars gleaming as if carved from some exotic stone. They stood at intervals, adding a regal touch to the building.
The grounds were enclosed by a living boundary of flowers, a vibrant ribbon that curved into an archway where two guards stood watch, regulating entry to what must have been a royal residence.
As Rex and Luna approached, the guards bowed. Rex couldn't tell if the gesture was meant for him or for Luna. Within the compound, a small group of young adults squatted around a woman who was painting symbols on their bodies while chanting.
"That's my mother," Luna whispered, finally letting go of Rex's hand before rushing to the gathering. Rex followed, staying at a respectful distance as he observed.
Luna's mother wore a flowing, silvery gown adorned with white flower embroidery. Her hair was the same shimmering shade as her dress, and her eyes shone with the same emerald green as Luna's.
Her chant was melodious, captivating Rex as he listened. Minutes seemed to melt away as the recital continued, and he became lost in the rhythm. To him, it felt like mere moments had passed.
She finished the chant and began a prayer, cradling a glowing white orb in her hands. Rex couldn't decipher the words. Then, within the small circle, something shifted. The orb's glow dimmed rapidly, and the markings on the young adults in meditative poses around the chanter began to gleam brightly.
"NEW SKILL AWAKENED"
"SKILL NAME - ARMA"
The feminine voice announced twice, jarring Rex from his reverie.
'Holy—' Rex inwardly gasped.
"Arma Skill, engage!"
"Arma!"
"Use Arma!" Rex attempted several commands, trying to activate his new skill.
Cosmic Ascendance employed a unique system where skills felt like an extension of oneself. Upon gaining a new skill, players received three "inspiration charges," allowing them to activate it instinctively. Failing to consciously activate the skill after those charges, they could purchase more to continue practicing.
[Skill Interface Unavailable]
A dark tab pulsed into Rex's vision. "Oh, mother—!" He spat out the few curses he'd learned in his brief seventeen years within the game.The system was teasing him, doling out these incredible powers only to lock them behind an interface he couldn't access. Rex tamped down his frustration. He just needed to succeed in this quest, and the player interface would unlock, granting him access to all those juicy abilities.
"You must be the Prime." A soothing voice drew Rex back to the present. "I am Malhic, First Mother of Alderom."
"Good day, Lady Malhic," Rex replied with a slight bow, an action Malhic seemed to find amusing.
"My husband is eager to meet you. We've heard you were a great help during the Hunt of the Chaos Bear."
"You flatter me!" Rex inwardly cringed, making a mental note to watch several political dramas when he finished this gaming session. He needed to brush up on his social skills to better interact with the NPCs of Cosmic Ascendance. It wasn't just about grinding, he was beginning to realize.
Malhic led him and Luna into the house, where he met a man who towered over him, his face framed by a neatly braided beard. The man immediately pulled Rex into a bear hug.
Alderom's Chief.
"I hear you're quite the capable one." Rex managed a smile, still somewhat trapped in the chief's powerful embrace.
"Come, come, we'll have a grand feast tonight. I hope you have the appetite."
1:11:17
He didn't have much time before the meteorite clash.
"I would have to decline," Rex said. "I have urgent matters to attend to."
"You have an engagement in Alderom?" The chief asked, his curiosity piqued. Alderom was his domain; for someone of Rex's apparent abilities to have a secret agenda here, he wanted to know what it could be.
"Yes, a personal matter," Rex replied. He didn't feel it was right to mention his mission. He was still trying to understand Cosmic Ascendance. What would happen if he told a political NPC that a meteorite was hurtling toward their town? Would it affect his trial progress?
'It most certainly would,' he thought. The realism of Cosmic Ascendance was flawless. He was sure that mentioning the meteorite would directly impact his game.
Bahlrok, the chief, wasn't easily deterred. Rex experienced the full force of a socially adept individual's persuasion. But the final push that changed his mind was a familiar, enticing aroma.
ROASTED CHICKEN.
The scent wafted in as three women in simple maid's attire brought in the dishes.
"I could spare a few minutes," Rex said, reversing his earlier decision.
'It would be a crime to refuse that perfectly spiced fried chicken,' he thought.
Luna hid a smile; she had expected as much.
Rex's plate was piled high with chicken bones as he leaned back in his chair, taking short, satisfied breaths. The chicken was Michelin-star worthy, heaven on a plate. Every aspect of the dish was perfect.
"You're just my kind of person," Bahlrok, the chief, said, patting his own satisfied belly as he also leaned back.
There had been little conversation during the meal, Rex's hosts intent on stuffing him with food, an effort they pursued relentlessly.
The atmosphere was perfect for small talk, which Rex fully intended to avoid.
19:22
His timer flashed into view. Rex sprang up. He had no idea where exactly the meteorite would strike. He needed to prepare.
"I must take my leave now," Rex announced, heading immediately for the exit.
Night had fallen, and the small town was illuminated by floating lanterns that drifted aimlessly through the village.
"Your engagement must be very urgent to make you leave such a meal," Bahlrok said, now beside him. He had followed Rex's hasty exit.
He felt a light touch on his left hand. Luna had also followed him, as had Malhic, her mother. "Let us accompany you a little way, guest."
The trio walked with Rex, Bahlrok enthusiastically describing every building and its significance to Alderom.
"Something is coming, isn't it?" Malhic asked.
"Yes," Rex replied softly. The group fell silent for a moment. "I can sense a certain…presence about you," Malhic continued. "Something bad is coming, and that's why you're here."
"Will you stop it from happening?" Malhic asked.
"I don't know."
"Do you know what it is?"
Rex was silent. His timer blinked again.
3:14
Only three minutes before impact.
He looked up at the sky, searching.
The trio watched him in silence.
Then he found it. "That is coming." He pointed toward a tiny speck of orange light among a cluster of brighter ones.
He was certain it was the meteorite. He felt a strange connection the moment his eyes landed on that small point of light.
His trial goal had finally arrived.