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Closer to the evening, Bug left me his share of the loot to sell and logged out right there by the campfire. Taali put on a brave face intending to go back to the Little Pigs with me, but soon the exhaustion took the better of her. We sat by the fire for a bit until she started to nod off and I had to force her to log out and get some sleep.

This was how I found myself alone in the night woods, taking in its sounds and the heady pine scent. Then I activated the teleporter and ended up back at the inn. Great invention.

The next day was a bit like the first one. When I reached the camp site, Taali and Bug were already in the game, half-heartedly discussing some hot new movie. Five minutes after initial hugs and kisses plus a rebuff, we were already wasting yet another bear. My zombie wolf had already risen to level 46—and added his share of fun. Buffed to its ears, it tore apart whatever the puffing and panting Bug could drag his way. The kid stopped fighting and just kept running around in widening circles bringing us mob after mob.

We did a level each within an hour, with the exception of Bug and Hummungus who'd done two. The bear's potential began to show. He seemed to be conscientiously working off the 10% experience I'd lavished on him. I'd have given him fifty, had it been technically possible, but even so, at level 12 with almost 80 Strength, he occasionally managed to pull aggro to himself. He received one special skill point for every five levels. The choice of skills made my eyes goggle. It allowed you to create your own unique combination. After some thought, I decided to concentrate on combat skills first: the weapons and the armor. Armor, yes. Apparently, nothing prevented you from cladding your mount in steel, giving him fangs of mithril
 
and claws of moon alloy, then finishing the design off with silver spikes all over his body. I'd already seen a shop that offered just that.

All the items Bug had farmed in the Wild Woods were highlighted in blue. Too low for me. We smoked mobs faster than he could pull them. So we decided to move deeper, closing in on the Cursed Woods where, according to the guide, we could have plenty of level 40-50 mobs and some decent loot.

We got there quickly. The Wild Woods couldn't stop us any more. Yet another clearing revealed a wall of dark gnarled trees overgrown with bright green moss. We set up camp and followed the already-tested scheme, acting cautiously at first, studying our new opponents to see where we were compared to them. Gradually, we began working faster with more confidence. From time to time, I'd swap places with Bug and circle the gloomy trees looking for new herbs and mobs to pull. Three times I was grateful for having popped into the Herbalists Guild that morning to get my journeyman status. Although my pocket sensed the loss of fifty gold, the growing skill warmed my heart and filled my bag with new finds.

That day, we had to farm until we dropped. The two others had to go back to work the next morning and didn't want to lose the opportunity to exchange their time for the hard currency of fun and experience. We'd done a lot, considering we'd started two hours earlier and didn't stop until the stars had come out. Had it not been for Hummungus' Mule skill, we'd have had to leave the loot on the ground. I'd first discovered it when he was level 15 and (greed getting the best of me) just had to improve it once he'd reached 20. It allowed us to load him fifteen pounds for each Strength point—almost a quarter of a ton in total. Clenching my teeth, I also invested a few precious points into his speed: at two Characteristic points per mile, it was prohibitively expensive.

Personally, I'd reached 45 and done another 1/3. Now in case of my death I wouldn't be thrown back to 44. The other two were catching up with me slowly but surely: even though they'd been lower initially, Teddy kept pulling some of my experience to himself.

Taali had reached level 41 and Bug, 39. We were weary but eternally pleased. This was a perfect day for a great team like ours. Virtually no mistakes: the group had fallen into step, like cogs in a well-tuned machine. No PK was throwing any wrenches in the works that day, either.

Taali didn't let me off easily. She'd saved three hours in full immersion and she now expected me to work it off in kind. And this girl had some fantasy. Not that I would object. An amazing lover plus my new body, young and untiring. An eternal youth. An eternal bliss.

I made Monday my day off: to have some rest and maybe do a bit of crafting. I still had a quest to close, too. I kept Grym firmly in mind—he owed me one for my not having grassed him up to the Elven cops.

I spent Monday morning in bed. I sent Mom my daily message and on second thoughts MMSed her a screenshot of yesterday's party. Our group, arms around each other, stood over the two dead wild pigs we'd killed at the end of the show. My cute little beasties hovered in the background. A sight for sore eyes.

The waitresses knew me by then and happily obliged by bringing breakfast to my room. I checked the last two days' worth of news. Both worlds were boiling with the realization of the fact that perma players had become independent from the real world. The newsfeed illustrated it well.

The real world news:

The New York police have apprehended a serial killer who's digitized over eighty people by luring them into his own virtual world—a makeshift version of the Inquisitor software. As the police attempted to gain entry to his servers in the basement of his house, they accidentally set off a security device causing a powerful electromagnetic impulse to destroy all of the data storage media inside. No backup databases were found. The fate of the digitized persons is yet unknown. One can only hypothesize on the horrors they may have to face.

A human rights activist demands a total ban on developing new virtual worlds with violence levels over 30.

Brazil's biggest jujitsu school has announced their intention to alternate real and virtual classes. Their experience shows that virtual practice is just as effective in creating new brain pathways and reinforcing muscle memory. And unlike real-life practice, virtual classes prevent students from making mistakes which has proven to be three times more effective than traditional training.

A senator from Arizona has proposed a law that would allow the digitalization of the country's prison inmates. That would help to solve the problem of overcrowded prisons as well as eliminate violence among prisoners. The project has already passed a preliminary hearing. Our experts believe it might be approved very shortly.

The virtual newsfeed was just as eye-opening.

Missing:
 
Mr. Guinnari, a level-203 mage, digital since 203X, member of OlderBank, Drowville, Management Board, honorary member of the Olders' Guild. Mr. Guinnari went missing five days ago when he stopped answering all incoming messages.

The Free Prospectors Association seeks volunteers to join them on their upcoming expedition into the Forgotten Lands. Requirements: level 100 and above, with high scout skills. The expedition aims to release an updated composite map of the new territories. The coordinates of all class A and B objects will then be auctioned, and all expedition members will receive a percentage of sales.

After their recent successful raid on the Seventh Heaven, the Steel Warriors Clan has reported finding a scroll containing a yet unknown cleric spell, dropped from one of the Wardens of Heaven. Its contents and characteristics are kept secret.

Fuckyall, the Russian cluster's strongest Paladin who pledged his allegiance to the Goddess of Heaven, has completed a unique six-month quest he received from the Fairest One's personal messenger. As a reward, he received an artifact containing a raid teleporter to an unknown location.

Oh well. The feeds didn't seem to be bursting with good news.

Anyway. It was time for me to go and see a Goblin I'd once known. I got into my armor, summoned Hummungus and headed for the East Gate surrounded by envious stares.

After five minutes' ride on the unhurried mount's back, I arrived at the hermit's cave. Gosh, it had been a while...

The cave entrance popped open, letting out a player in a newb's loincloth. Another masochist. The player stared at the bear, incredulous, before noticing me in a Dark Lord's full gear.

I nodded. "Welcome, Dark brother."

"Eh... the Fallen One?"

So! I'd been confused for Grym before, but not for a deity. Then again, probably it wouldn't be a good idea to annoy the local pantheon by petty identity theft. I shook my head.

"I'm just a player like you. I came here two weeks ago, just like you have now. So it's all in your hands. It won't be easy but you can do it. See you!"

I slapped his shoulder and ducked to enter the dark passageway. The
 
Staff of Dark Flame automatically swallowed the light inside, plunging the cave into darkness. Old Grym was in. He studied me, his tired eyes squinting. Then he shook his head.

"You've grown much stronger, young knight. I start to believe that the Fallen One is kind to you."

I shrugged. "Any help is appreciated. I don't think you're aware that I've been arrested by the King's men and spent some time in the Bastion. I bailed myself out a few days ago. I promised you to keep this cave a secret. So I didn't tell them about it. Could you tell me now where I could find the Dark Guild?"

He sighed. He looked old and frail now. His eyes glinted as he hurried to turn away from the light. "I can. Now I can."

Quest completion alert: Knowledge Breeds Sadness. Quest completed!

Reward: access to unique quest Knowledge Breeds Sadness II.

Grym sank onto a wooden bench. "The Dark Guild's secret is that there's no Dark Guild any more. Whether through treason or by accident, but the Light Lord's servants discovered us. Under the city, there's a whole network of catacombs. There, in one of the caves, used to be the Dark Altar—the heart of our Temple. There weren't many Dark disciples in the city. When the High warriors flooded the catacombs, we were doomed. The novices held the passages while the Masters' Circle was preparing for the last rites."

He paused and went on, "The spell a disciple casts after death is much stronger that the one he can cast while still alive. They managed to break a tunnel through to the lower planes to summon help. But the cooldown was so massive that the Circle collapsed, killing most of them, and the Altar exploded into thousands of fragments. The monsters of the Dark lost control and killed all living beings within their reach. Even the Light Lord's servants were finally forced to retreat. They sealed the catacombs entrance up so that no one could enter them till the end of time. I was the only survivor, stripped of most magic powers by the titanic surge of necro energy. Still, I managed to escape through a secret passage. Alone. This is the sad story of our Guild, young Knight..."

I just sat there, puzzled. What now, then? Apparently, there was no Guild any more. Neither Guild Master nor Altar. Where was I supposed to get class quests? How could I do what the Hell Hound had asked me to?

"Isn't there anything at all we can do?" I asked.

Old Grym raised his head and looked me straight in the eye, "There might be. There's always a way."

I perked up. That was it. The second part of my quest.
 
"I am ready, Hermit."

Grym solemnly nodded. "I didn't for one moment doubt you. The secret passage still exists. You can use it to go down the caves, reach the Temple and find an Altar fragment. For if you have a part, however little, filled with Dark power, you can then use it to restore any of our destroyed Dark temples in this world. Unfortunately, there're many more of them than I'd wish to admit."

New quest alert! Unique quest available: Knowledge Breeds Sadness II.

The Forces of Light failed to destroy the Dark Altar with cleansing rites. Overflowing with uncontrolled power, the stone exploded. But the power of its fragments is massive. Go down into the catacombs and obtain an Altar fragment.

Reward: Access to unique quest Knowledge Breeds Sadness III: Temple Restoration.

I accepted. Still, I had a lot of questions left for
 
him. "How do you expect me to go through the catacombs if even the Guild Master failed to do so?"

"Do not worry. Darkness plays fair. It gives everyone a chance, whether you're a green newb or a legendary hero. Darkness offers everyone the opportunity to show their true colors. Only once, mind you. You don't get a second chance."

"Okay. Where's that secret passage?"

Grym chuckled. "Don't worry. You won't have to travel far."

He raised his hand, motioning part of the wall to disappear. A heavy door stood behind the fake stonework illusion. I walked over to it and pressed my hand to the door.

Warning! You're about to enter a personal quest dungeon: City Catacombs.

Difficulty level: Nightmare (monsters' level exceeds yours by 10 to 20)

Tries allowed: 1

Duration of stay: unlimited

Number of players: 1

Would you like to go in? You have 1 try left!

No
. Not now. I wasn't ready yet. I shrunk, eyeing the door with suspicion. "Tomorrow," I nodded to the hermit. "I'm coming back tomorrow. I need to get ready."

Walking up the stairs, I kept repeating under my breath, "I need to get myself well and truly ready."

I wasn't going to change my plans because of that quest I'd gotten myself into. On the contrary: now I really needed some quality time off. The quest was nothing to sniff at and the rewards could be worth their weight in gold.

I spent the next morning doing some crafting. My alchemy had been stuck at 50 points since our last farming session, so now I was forced to go to the Guild to upgrade my status. I also bought another hundred empty vials and some new recipes. My two days' worth of farming now allowed me to put my vast collection of ingredients to good use.