Month 1, Day 4, 17:30:12; Arvium, High Council Tavern

Aella's mouth dropped open as she started up at the glistening white marble face of the tavern. Like the other buildings in the High Council complex, white marble encased the two-story high building, with friezes just below the roof carved in intricate designs and brilliant colors. A giant clock, built out of glittering aquamarine, silver, and black lettering took up the peak at the top of the building.

Two twelve-foot, darkwood doors hung open above a few marble steps, laughter and clinking glassware echoing into the street. Banners with the guild emblems hung from the walkway on the second floor."Wow," she whispered, stopping at the base of the steps. "It's beautiful."

She squinted as she saw something move in the corner of one of the rafters, then frowned as she saw a crow. It flapped its wings once or twice and scooted along the rafter before disappearing into a shadow. I just hope it doesn't poop on me. She turned her attention to Gemini as he stepped next to her, towering over her with his large frame.

"The inside can be rather rowdy," he said, laughing as he stopped next to her. "My sister and I were here last night."

Aella nodded. "It looks pretty quiet."

"Come on," he said, taking her hand and pulling her up the stairs.

The interior was warm and inviting, flickering lamps and torchlight creating dancing shadows on the dark wood walls and bar at the far end of the building. The ceiling reached forty feet into the air, curving into a long shadowy beam that ran down the center. Dark rafters joined it in an arched pattern, with giant wooden chandeliers hanging every ten feet, dotted with burning candles.

Between them and the bar were dozens of small tables, and several thirty-foot long tables with benches running the length of them. A double staircase led up to a second floor, and a railing indicated a walkway that ran around the circumference of the giant room.

Half of the tables were filled, and the pleasant aroma of fresh-baked bread and cider filled the air, along with the lively conversations.

"It's pick a seat where you can find one," Gemina said, letting go of her hand and pointing to an empty table near the bar at the back. "That one will do."

"Please, sit by me," Sigmund said, pulling out a chair for her. His face was emotionless, and she hesitated. But his body was loose, and as she looked closer, she noticed a small smile.

She slid into the wooden seat, smiling softly to Sigmund. "Thank you."

"A pleasure."

She watched with wide eyes as the others sat down around her.

"So you managed to escape a level 4 wild boar," Gemina said, clapping her hands and nodded to her.

Aella shrugged, lowering her head and nodding.

Gemini laughed, slapping the table with one of his hands. "The Alphas were impressed, Aella. But next time, let one of us come with you when you're out at night so we don't lose you again."

She glanced around the table, seeing the smiles on the twins faces, the solemn face of Sigmund, and Maeva who was sitting with her legs draped over the arm of the chair, twirling a piece of her hair with her fingers and blowing bubbles with her chewing gum.

They all went out of their way to help me. She smiled. "Let's celebrate then--to my victory and as a thank you for all that you did to find me."

Gemini waved a hand. "I'm sure you would do it for us."

"It was no problem, Aella," Sigmund said quietly.

"Yeah," Maeva said, turning to her. She pointed a finger at Aella. "Just don't do it again."

Aella smiled. "I'll try."

"Welcome," a high voice called to them.

She turned as a woman in a simple blue dress and white apron stepped up to the table. She had a kind smile, and brilliant blue eyes that sparkled as she talked. Her pink hair was long, tied up in a high ponytail. "My name is Orion. I am the manager of this tavern. Y'all are Betas, right?"

Aella nodded.

"Well, then," Orion said, smiling. "Welcome to the Game. We serve almost anything you can think of here, and for the first week we will be accepting the vouchers that were uploaded to your account. So, what can I get for you?"

Aella blinked, her mind going blank. She listened as the others gave their orders, then she looked up as Orion turned to her.

"And for you?"

Aella looked at the table next to hers, seeing the steaming plates of food in front of the players. Her gaze lingered for a moment on a massive dessert with whipped cream melting on it's golden surface, before looking back up at Orion. "What desert would you recommend?"

Orion nodded. "Do you like super sweet desserts or more savory ones?"

Aella thought for a moment. "I don't like super sweet desserts, and I prefer vanilla, caramel, or fruit flavors to chocolate--unless it is really dark chocolate."

"I would recommend the sugar pie, then," she said. "It has a creamy base with candied fruits and nuts on the top. Do you want whipped cream with it?"

Aella nodded, feeling her mouth start to water. "The more whipped cream, the better."

"A woman after my own heart," Orion said, laughing. "I'll go ahead and--"

Everyone at the table jumped as a horn blared throughout the tavern, and the light from the chandeliers turned from soft white to scarlet. The other players in the tavern were out of their seats within seconds, most shifting into heavy armor and pulling weapons out of thin air.

Aella stood, her hand brushing her sword as Gemini and Gemina summoned their armor.

Orion leaned forward, her body covered in light armor. "Follow me," she said, turning and making her way toward the back of the tavern.

"Come on," Sigmund said, moving to stand next to her.

She nodded, weaving in and out of the tables.

The Alphas ran to different points in the building, pulling on levers and entering doors that opened in the paneled walls. A group of players congregated in front of the main doors, shouting orders.

"Betas retreat to the back of the hall into the shelter," someone shouted.

She paused as they reached the back wall, an open doorway leading down stairs into a dimly lit tunnel. Her team had already entered, and other Betas were shuffling down the stairs. She took a deep breath and followed after them, keeping the pace with the others.

The tunnel opened into a well-lit room filled with bunkbeds, lockers, and an open area with chairs where the Betas were congregating.

"This is our shelter," Orion said, her voice loud over the hum of voices. "We will have guards posted at the entrance, and you will be safe here until the battle is over."

The woman turned as an Alpha ran down the stairs, pausing on the last one. "I need Elites or healers," he shouted. His silver armor was dusty and dirt-covered, and he was breathing hard, his chest rising with each breath.

Aella paused, then blinked, and made her way through the players to the man's side.

Sigmund had followed her, and nodded to her. Two other players emerged from the crowd and told the Alpha they were healers.

"This everyone?" the Alpha asked. He waited a moment, then turned.

Aella ran up the stairs behind him, breathing hard when she reached the top. The tables and chairs had disappeared, and the bar had changed into a long row of weapons where two players were passing them out. The center of the hall had changed into a healing station, with white cots stretched out in rows. Several players were stretching white dividers between sections of the area, and players were running from different parts of the hall to others.

"Go there, and help the Healers," the Alpha commanded them, pointing to the healing station.

Aella nodded, jogging over to the area. Her eyes widened as she saw a purple hole open in the air near the entrance, showing a battlefield beyond it. A team of Alphas yelled as they ran through it, then the portal disappeared.

She stopped at a cot where a woman was bundling small tools and packets of herbs together. The woman didn't glance up as she continued her work. "Are y'all cleared for Elite or know healing spells?"

"Yes," she said, hearing the others echo her.

The woman glanced up, nodding. "You two," she said, pointing to the two Betas, "go help in the other section." She turned to Aella and Sigmund. "You two can help me. My name is Cara."

They looked up as the entrance banged open, the thud echoing throughout the hall. Several Alphas rushed in, carrying stretchers.

Two of them rushed toward Cara, laying the stretcher down on top of the cot.

Cara handed a bundle to Aella, then moved toward the patient. "Open that on the table behind me."

Aella nodded, spreading open the bundle on the table, seeing the small knives, herb packets, and crystals laying inside.

"Be careful you numbskulls," the burly player shouted.

Aella turned to look at him, her eyebrow rising. The player was monstrous, wearing minimal armor so his muscles showed. A massive barbed arrow stuck out from his upper right thigh, with a thick black substance dripping off of it. More of the liquid stuck to his arms and chest, smoke rising from it's surface.

"I'm fine, I tell you," he yelled through clenched teeth, trying to get up from the stretcher.

The two Alphas who brought him in, nodded to Cara then left, entering a portal like the one she had seen earlier.

"You," Cara said to Sigmund, "hold him down." She turned and grabbed one of the herb packets, then turned back to the player. "Hercules," she hissed. "Stay where you are."

Aella turned back to the bundle, pulling out scissors and several rolled bandages, then moved to the other side of the cot. She winced at the smell of burning flesh, gritting her teeth. Using precise movements, she snipped the man's pants to show the wound, peeling away the fabric.

The woman took the leaves from the packet, sprinkling them on the black substance. "Break off that arrow," she said, looking up at Aella.

Aella nodded, glancing at Hercules's face. She placed her hands around the shaft, then snapped it, wincing as the man turned and glared at her.

From behind one of the dividers, a high-pitched voice screamed, ending in a moan.

Sigmund grunted as the man bellowed and tried to sit up.

"Sit still or I'll fill you with enough sedative to kill a troop of rhinos," Cara yelled at him. She placed her hands on the man's chest, then turned to Aella. "Pull the arrow out when I say," she said.

Aella nodded, moving her hand so her fingers closed around the base of the arrowhead.

"Heal the flesh, where wound remains," Cara crooned, her eyes closed. Green light spread out from her hands, illuminating the powder. Her eyes opened and she nodded.

Aella pulled on the arrowhead, swallowing as the flesh ripped and more of the black liquid gushed from the hole.

Hercules yelled, gripping the sides of the table as Cara moved her hands and pressed them on top of the wound. The green light intensified, entering the wound. Slowly, the black liquid dissipated, turning into steam and leaving pink flesh in its wake. The ragged wound began to come together, leaving a white scar on the man's tan skin.

Aella's head jerked up as a blast outside rattled the building and another horn blew, reverberating throughout the tavern.

"Small blue pouch in the kit," Cara whispered as Hercules moaned, his head falling back against the cot and his body turning limp.

Aella nodded, running over to the table. She opened the drawstring closure, and pulled out a white stone with gray swirls running through it, handing it to her.

Cara took it and laid it on Hercules's forehead. "Now the bark," she said.

Aella turned, searching the packets. She spotted a small piece of brown wood that was curled, and picked it up.

"Place it in his mouth," Cara directed.

She slid it into Hercules's mouth, smiling as he looked up at her. She stepped back as Cara lifted her hands, and took a deep breath, leaning against the cot.

"Eat that, Herc. It will take some of the pain away." She turned to Sigmund, nodding and he stood up, crossing his arms. "Thank you for both of your help," she said, smiling. "We're short on healers until you Betas get your skills leveled up."

The doors to the tavern swung open, and silver-armored players started coming in through the doorway, their armor covered in blood, black liquid, and dirt.

"The first wave is done," Cara said. "It was probably just a raid by an opposing guild. They'll be letting the Betas out from the shelter soon--that's what the second horn was for. You can leave now. Hercules will be fine, as I was able to heal all of the poison."

Aella glanced at the man, seeing the light pink scars on his flesh. That's what poison looks like?

"Call us if you need us again," Sigmund said, walking around the cot to the end of the bed.

Aella smiled at Cara who nodded, then joined Sigmund. Slowly they walked toward the back of the hall, passing the bar. Alphas were shedding their armor and getting treatments for minor wounds, as well as food and drink.

One of the Alphas, a man with light-blue shaggy hair noticed them and moved away from the bar. He waved to them, and Aella frowned. I recognize him.

"You're Betas," he said, stopping in front of them. "What are you doing out of the shelter?"

"We were asked to help with the wounded," Aella answered.

The man smiled and bowed to them. "Thank you. I am Giescul, leader of the Invictus Guild."

"What happened out there?" Sigmund asked, pointing his thumb toward the entrance.

Giescul's face become serious. "A raid gone wrong that turned into a mini war. We think we routed the last of the mercenaries, but we are still on lockdown." He pointed to Aella's hands. "You need to wash that off as soon as possible." He turned to the bar. "Orion, I need some fern powder."

Aella held up her hands, her eyes growing wide at the black spots on her hands, the skin red around them. "I didn't even notice."

Giescul handed a small packet to Sigmund. "The poison usually only activates on the first person it touches, but it's a good idea to clear it off just in case. There are sinks down in the shelter."

"I'll take care of her," Sigmund said.

Aella frowned for a moment, as she looked up at Giescul. "Do you know what the mercenaries were after?"

He shook his head. "No, which is why we're still on lockdown. Our teams are still scouting the city and coming back from the fields." He crossed his arms. "I want you to get back into the shelter."

Aella nodded, and turned to walk back to the doorway, Sigmund following along behind her.