Golem

The morning light filtered through my windowpane, bathing the room in a pale light. The drapes that were pulled open allowed the sunlight to flit across my bed. I opened my eyes slowly and stretched languidly. The clock on my menu read 8:30 A.M. I slowly sat up and yawned. I hope Aine slept well in a real bed. I swung my legs over the edge of my soft bed and stood. I opened my menu and changed from my pajamas into my sleek armour.

I went downstairs to find Aine making pancakes in the kitchen. I smiled, glad she was making herself at home.

"Good morning." She chirped, stirring pancake batter. Her auburn locks were covered in powder. I laughed.

"Morning. How did you sleep?" I asked her. She smiled.

"It was so nice to have a real bed to sleep in! I was out like a light." She started pouring batter on to the pan.

"When we're done breakfast I figured we'd check out some gear shops for you." I stated. She nodded, but bit her lower lip.

"The thing is, I don't have money to buy gear…" She said. She was still wearing the pajamas I had leant her last night. I waved a hand.

"Don't worry, I'll cover you today. We'll figure it all out later." I smiled, she returned the expression gratefully. She flipped the pancakes on to a plate and we set down to eat.

After breakfast, we set out on the town. We strolled down the medieval streets, and I showed her the locations of the various merchants she would need. We went into the armour shop first, the shopkeeper stared at us wide-eyed as Aine shuffled in in her pajamas. We set her up with level 11 gear, which turned out to be a brown leather sleeveless tunic, padded and figure fitting. She had brown mail leggings, and knee high dark brown hunting boots. After she was properly clothed, we went to the weapon smith. The bell on the door tinkled as we entered. Ferrin smiled at us as we walked into the shop.

"Ah, welcome back lass!" He called. I smiled and waved.

"Hey Ferrin, we're looking to get this young lady here set up with some gear." I gestured to Aine, who waved bashfully. Ferrin nodded and placed his hands on the counter.

"Aye, well let me see your stats there, girlie." He waved in front of her, and opened a menu so he could see her stats displayed. He hmm'd and nodded, then closed the menu.

"What would you recommend, Ferrin? We're looking to showcase her healing, but also give her a damage dealing weapon." I clarified. He started digging through items below his counter.

"Yes, well, her magic and intelligence are really high, which will make her eligible for the upper end of the magic conduits. As for fighting, her speed is her greatest asset, so I'd recommend a light blade, like a rapier." He pulled his hand out of the weapons case, and held aloft a silver bracelet. Aine's eyes widened in wonder and she delicately took it and placed it on her wrist, it glowed and the air around her began to sparkle. Ferrin smiled.

"You see, in this world magic is channeled through what we call a conduit. In some cultures that is a wand, for others it's a piece of jewelry, or an object. This here is one of our more elite conduits. Great for defensive spells and offensive." He nodded, then he turned back to the case, he pulled out a long thin blade. The hilt of the blade was gilded and intricately carved metalwork, the edges of the blade were smooth and sleek. It looked like a long needle. He handed it to Aine. She took it by the hilt and held it aloft.

"How does it feel?" I asked her. Her face set in a determined line, and she swung the edge of the blade, it swiftly cut through the air. She placed the blade in the sheath at her side and beamed.

"It's great! So light!" I smiled and thanked Ferrin, turning to pay him. He smiled at Aine and turned to me.

"Total is 1,000 Ren." He said. I raised a brow and gasped.

"There's no way that's all it costs! That would be the sword alone." I insisted, he held up his hands and shook his head.

"Nope, that's all. That bracelet had been sitting in my shop for a while, nice to see someone able to use it. Plus, I saw you take out those thugs the other day." He mused with a wink. My brow was still arched, but I nodded and placed 1,000 Ren on the counter. We transferred the items officially into Aine's inventory.

We walked into the village square, with her new equipment, I admired Aine's new look. She looked much healthier and cleaner than when we met her yesterday, and I hoped we could at least get her on her feet and functioning in this world. Yet, let's face it, a thirteen year old should not be subjected to surviving alone in a world like this. What was Hyperion thinking? I clenched my fists.

Aine and I stopped near the fountain in the village square. She admired the bracelet on her wrist. With a flick of her wrist, a ball of light hovered above her palm. She smiled.

"This makes using magic so much easier." She admired. I smiled.

"Glad its working. What do you say we go get some practice in?" I suggested. She nodded eagerly. I know Vane would be annoyed we went fighting without him, but we're going to have to survive without him at some point.

"Let's go!" She said enthusiastically, clapping her hands together. We set off toward the forests outside of town. We passed other players as we travelled the path toward the forests. Many running around and completing their fetch and carry quests.

We wound our way through the dense forest until we came to a clearing that had a few small goblins wandering about. I gestured for her to unsheathe her weapon, and I pulled my sword from my back.

"You strike first, then we'll switch out." I said to her, she nodded, her face in a determined line. She unsheathed her rapier. She took a few moments to collect her breath, her stance was firm, feet planted a little ways apart. As the sun hit her as she standed on the hill in the clearing, she appeared an avenging angel. Rapier drawn, ruby locks billowing in the wind behind her.

She charged at the nearest goblin, swinging her rapier in a wide arc and stabbing down, she sliced across the chest of the goblin. Blood spurt from the wound. The goblin screamed and charged.

"Switch!" I called jumping into action, I leapt through the air, flipping and bringing my sword down in a wide arc. I cleaved down the center of the goblin. The goblin burst into polygons and disappeared. Aine moved quickly, launching for the second goblin, building on our chain of attacks. Holding her sword in front of her she leapt forward and stabbed the goblin between the eyes, she jumped in the air to get back, I jumped in and swung sideways cleaving the goblin.

We bounced from target to target, quickly wiping out five goblins. I saw Aine's level increase, she smiled and clapped, I high fived her. We made a swift team. We paused in our assault as the field was cleared of enemies, I stopped to listen. Out of the corner of my vision I saw a shadow descending, I spun and held my sword in front of me, blocking a large stone hand that descended from the treetops. The impact threw me back, I landed a few feet away on my feet. I stared aghast as a large stone body covered in moss emerged from between the trees. A golem.

Aine was paralyzed, she shook in fear at the giant that loomed before us, easily 10 feet tall. I froze momentarily then dashed out of range, grabbing Aine's wrist as I dashed past, pulling her to a safety zone. I nodded at her and turned toward the beast, sword raised. I started at a run, angling my sword toward the ground I used it to propel me into the air. Through the air I soared, past the shining sun. I aimed my strike true, and gripped my hilt, angling downward. As I fell down, the momentum beneath my sword built air, I yelled out as I fell through the sky.

"Ahhh!" I cried. My blade pierced between the eyes of the golem. I cleaved downward, hoping to tear it in two, I managed through portion of the head, then I was thrown back. I launched and impacted against a large boulder. I cried out. My HP gauge depleted by half. As I moved to get up, I saw a figure launching toward the monster.

"No!" I cried screaming from the bottom of my lungs. Aine leapt into the fray, she pulled out her rapier and ran at the monster, launching into the air. She crossed the light of the sun, her sword held in an impeccable arc. She swing down and slashed across the front of the body of the golem. The golem reared and groaned. It held one stone palm aloft and swatted at Aine, hitting her square in her flight trajectory. She screamed and fell to the ground in a crash. The golem moved toward her and I jumped in.

I waved my hand in front of the golem and held my sword aloft. I stood in front of Aine, blocking the path between the monster and her, but the monster overreached me. Right after Aine's thrust forward, the monster smacked her down. She slammed against the Earth, rolling a few times. Her HP depleted to one third. I cried out. I leapt to my feet, energy invigorating me. My HP gauge blinked at me in warning. I aimed my sword and slashed downward, coming across the face of the beast.

I stared into the soulless black eyes of the golem. They pierced into my soul, the golem's mouth opened and incisor teeth fluctuated in a rapid pattern. I screamed on my slice down, plunging through the head of the beast. I struck in a downward arc piercing through the skull. The health bar depleted by half, but it was not enough to finish it. The stone hand came crashing up to meet me and I flew, landing with a thud against the trunk of a nearby tree. The wind blew out of my lungs, I felt a rib crack.

Aine waved her hands in the air in an intricate pattern, her palms and the bracelet on her wrist glowed, I green light surrounded me. I felt warm, tingly, I cringed as I felt my rib pop back into place. My HP gauge raised back up to two-thirds full. I struggled to my feet, and I saw Aine draw her rapier. I stretched my hand out to call her back, but she had a look of determination on her face. She ran forward, leapt into the air and bounced off of the hand of the golem, rising above she aimed her sword and plunged it into the eye of the beast. It screamed.

"Switch!" She yelled and jumped back, retreating behind me. I jumped forward, running with my sword raised, I plunged my sword into the centre of the golem's chest. My knuckles were white from clenching the hilt of my blade. I screamed in effort and tried to cut through the stone monster. Rage welled within me, power energized me. My blade began glowing black, black fire like mist began to exude from the blade. The tendrils of shadow wound their way around the golem like vines. I could see steam and burns appearing where the flame touched the skin. The fire spread, consuming the whole body of the golem, but did not touch me. I could hear the agonized screams of the burning stone. I yanked hard and tore my sword out of the flesh, slashing across its chest. The beast fell to its knees. Finally, it exploded into tiny polygons.