As they stood before the princess, Aiden would have liked to say he was casual and charismatic.
That he looked over the princess after what she had just done and said the right thing to get them out of the situation.
Instead, he fell on his ass and could not get back up.
His legs seemed to be made of jelly.
His breathing sped up.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears as the world seemed to fall further and further into static.
For a moment, it was like everything lost color.
Then Jax dropped into a deep bow before the princess.
"Your Royal Highness," Jax said, his voice strained but steady, "I feel nothing but joy knowing you have been able to exact revenge against your husband."
Taking his lead, the others quickly shifted into bows, Aiden himself spinning to adopt a bow.
Even from where Aiden had fallen, he could see Jax and the others shaking.
Death was death, even for adventurers.
But it rarely appeared in such an instant and unblockable way.
Jax lowered his head further.
"In this, you have done myself and the rest of my party a favor. Please name your task, and we will seek to accomplish it in your name, even if it takes us years."
The princess stared down at them for a second.
Then the corner of her mouth contorted into a small smirk.
"Little mutt," Princess Ariana said, "the only thing your group can do for me is stay quiet."
She turned to walk away as she continued, her hand gesturing casually.
"I will not simply take you at your word. I am a very paranoid princess, so I believe death is the fastest way to avoid rumors."
Aiden raised his head to speak.
A desperate gamble sat on his lips.
Then a strange pulse rushed over him.
He looked up, partially expecting to see himself floating above his own body.
Instead, everything was black, white, and gray.
In front of him, the princess's knights stood with their blades drawn, but frozen as if in a painting.
Aiden turned to the others.
Jax and Selene looked up in surprise and despair, but they were frozen too.
To his left, Selene's arm twitched like it was about to return to normal.
Liora's hand was moving as if ready to blast a ball of wind.
She was frozen as well.
Aiden stood there, confusion etched across his face.
Then a system window appeared before him.
ALERT:
The summit is beginning to discuss the fate of NPC: Aiden Hallowcreek.
Summit Caller:
The Observer
Summit Members:
Excel
Heroes
Squid
Architect
Misery
Sweets
As Aiden looked around in confusion, the sky changed.
Seven figures appeared, floating around them.
They stood in different poses, not saying a word as they circled above, inspecting the scene from above.
One looked as if the night sky had taken humanoid form, with a glowing cyan cloak rolling down their back and covering their head in a hood.
They floated as if sitting at a conference table, elbows propped up as they gave the others a polite smile.
Next to them hovered a strange creature that seemed to have a black hole for a head.
Tendrils of purple and black energy coalesced into several limbs, each ending in deep pink, arrow-like tips.
It flew around the most, observing the scene as if trying to see everything from different angles.
Another figure wore very ornate mage robes, with several strange items dangling off them. Their full-head mask was deep purple, with gold accents and amber eyes.
They even wore a tall, pointed hat with flaps stretching down toward their shoulders, one hand held to their chin as if in introspection.
The next figure floated around Aiden and the others, looking them over with concern.
They wore a white tunic that covered their chest and waist, with a long cloth hanging down to their feet and a large hood over their head.
Their body seemed to be made of millions of fireflies, all buzzing around at once.
The last two were strange.
Both stood as if observing the others around them.
One seemed to be made of black liquid. A toothy maw opened to reveal a faint red light from within. They wore a black uniform like a military officer, including a hat with dim brass on the front.
A large overcoat rested on their shoulders, its ends tattered and ripped like they had walked through a war zone.
The final figure seemed oddly human.
They wore simple dress pants and a white shirt with black suspenders. A sports coat rested over their shoulders like a cape, and strange axolotl-like frills rose from their head in several spots.
The whites of their eyes were black, and their hands were accented with a strange purple hue.
All of them were around twenty feet tall.
Not massive.
But far too large to be normal.
Aiden noticed the first of these beings hold out a hand.
System screens appeared before each of them.
One appeared for Aiden as well.
His head started to throb with pressure.
Excel: Well, I for one am curious as to everyone's thoughts on the matter here.
I know some of you pay much more attention to this story than others.
Observer: Why not?
You all have been in his shoes before, and you all always talk about loving to see people climb from the bottom to the top.
Heroes: I pay a little attention.
Can someone tell me, is Aiden a good guy?
I know it's the story they're in, but like, are they GOOD?
Squid: I pay attention to his story from time to time as well.
He seems like a good lad.
Excel: Some of the other Avatars would need to tell you that, Heroes.
Aiden's head screamed.
Every time a new message appeared, it felt like a vice was cranked tighter around his entire body.
And yet he could not speak.
He looked up and saw the different figures unmoving and yet text was forming into the system screens.
Excel was the one who looked like a wizard.
Observer was the one with the cyan cloak.
Heroes wore the white tunic.
Squid seemed to be the one with a black hole for a head.
Looking over the messages, Aiden realized they were discussing his group.
He raised a hand and poked at the system screen, trying to see if he could send a message.
His hand passed through it.
A smaller screen appeared.
Warning:
You lack the capacity to participate in the summit.
Warning:
Your soul is too weak to last long in the summit.
Warning:
When your soul becomes too weak, you will be expelled from the summit.
Aiden staggered as the pressure pulsed again.
He forced his mind to think despite the pain bearing down on it.
They seemed like they might help.
He just needed to stay conscious long enough to see what they were planning to do.
So he stared up at them, hoping whatever had made his soul strong enough to witness this would last long enough for him to see the end.
Observer: Considering recent actions, it would align with good.
Plus, he helps those he can.
The real question is how he gets out of this situation.
Excel: I've been busy as of late.
Unable to witness everything, just like many here.
Heroes: Indigo is the objectively nicest Mask, right?
So why doesn't Aiden ACTUALLY do a favor for Indigo if they intend to use the name of Indigo to survive?
Aiden staggered slightly as the pressure continued to increase.
They even knew what he had been planning to do?
His knee almost buckled, and he forced himself to remain standing.
"Don't think," Aiden hissed to himself. "Listen and endure."
He turned his attention back to the screen.
Observer: Well, he's not going anywhere.
Just rewind and start from the beginning.
Excel: Indigo is the worst Mask.
One that deals with manipulation.
Observer: Please.
You are discounting Yellow, that sadistic kid.
Heroes: So Purple is not Indigo.
And what Observer said.
I think Yellow is the worst.
Excel: At least Yellow is upfront with their cruelty.
Indigo hides it.
Heroes: Right, so I take what I said back.
Screw Indigo.
Should have used a better Mask's name.
But I still don't like that Aiden is in danger.
Yellow?
Just go back?
They knew his name.
Aiden's mind pulsed with pain.
His knee buckled, forcing him to the ground.
Observer: We are getting off topic here.
The question is whether this is a case where an alternative needs to be raised, or if we let him continue his course of action.
Excel: Observer, do let us know what exactly entails "his course of action."
Squid: Can he truly not get away from this on his own?
He can take one from my book and, well…
Book it.
Excel: Nice one, Squid.
Observer: Well, the situation is a very pissed-off princess, a level seventy-two samurai guard, several hidden assassin guards and all of them without their gear.
Also, quit staring, Aiden.
We're trying to save your ass here.
As Aiden read that text, he slowly looked up.
The figures had floated down from their lofty perch.
Several stared at him.
The one made of black liquid and the one with purple hands did not type a single message or even glance his way.
Squid flew over and waved a tentacle at him as it typed.
Squid: Oh, is he looking at us?
Hello, Aiden!
How's your little splashy spirit?
Heroes: I mean, there are a few things I would suggest, such as having someone save them.
But it's really a question of if that's right for the story, or how that would even work.
Observer: I think they are still at his house in Hopestone.
They knew everything.
Misty.
Everything that led up to this.
They knew it like they were reading a damn book.
As that thought flashed through Aiden's mind, he noticed the one with purple hands smirk and look down at him before typing.
Architect: I say let him do it.
Diamonds are built from pressure, and the ensuing turmoil will be great for some development.
Go on, kid.
Take the gamble.
You could either go broke…
Or win it all.
Excel: I imagine he's a bit out of it, considering recent events.
Observer: Especially with his meeting with Mr. Lee.
Hell, it's probably why he can see us.
Excel: True, but even diamonds eventually shatter.
Heroes: I don't like stories that have the characters suffer for the sake of it…
Observer: Unlike Shrimp.
Excel: I share the same mindset as Heroes.
Suffering for the sake of suffering is boring.
Squid: Suffering builds character, Hero.
But too much is a drag, I'll agree with that.
Excel: But not needless suffering.
Observer: Regardless, I say we hold a vote.
We can:
Allow him to continue his course of action.Give him advice to escape the situation.One of you can use your characters to bail him out.
As Aiden continued to read, warmth ran down his upper lip.
His nose had begun to bleed.
Something shifted and stung in one eye as blood ran down his cheeks.
They knew about the guy Mr. Lee mentioned?
Then they had to be players.
But why would they be here unless…
Aiden scanned his group, remembering what Mr. Lee had said.
Then he realized something.
They might be here because one of them was their character.
Could they really blend in that well?
That seamlessly?
Heroes: Correction.
Suffering CAN build character.
It can also be just awful for the sake of being awful.
You know what else builds character?
Kindness and charity.
Excel: How very interesting, Observer?
Architect: Surely you have a bit more faith in the lad.
Squid: I'll say that needless suffering can be quite fun to cause…
Those little terrors I watch over are rubbing off on me, huh?
Architect: How needless is it when it teaches the classical yet valuable lesson:
Actions have consequences.
Excel: Even squids get mistaken for monsters in the dark.
Observer: Uh, guys, we should vote before his soul withers too much.
He's already bleeding from his nose and eyes.
Aiden doubled over from pain.
His mouth opened in a silent scream.
Everything hurt.
His head.
His body.
Even something deeper.
Something more vital.
The figures overhead looked down, some with boredom and others with concern, as they continued to fly around and type.
Heroes: I hold the same opinion as my character, so I would gladly vote three.
Send my sweet bean to save them.
Squid: Oh, let me have my fun!
Excel: Yes, about the vote.
If one of our characters was to interact, how would that work?
Squid: Hmmm.
He's in Misagen, correct?
Excel: Would you send a duplicate of them to help out immediately?
Aiden felt his body drop as whatever strength he had been using to hold himself up gave out.
Blood poured from more places now.
Random cuts opened all over his body.
He felt dizzy from pain, from blood loss, and from whatever else was happening to him.
But he refused to close his eyes.
Even as he lay in a pool of his own blood, he continued to read.
Observer: You go back a few days, and they just travel to attend the event.
Excel: Then only ones in the seventh world are eligible?
Observer: Most of you have world-hopping capabilities.
And he just collapsed.
Shit.
One or more of them may have flown over, but Aiden did not see them.
His eyes were locked on the screen.
His blood continued to drain, and his body began to shiver from the cold.
Heroes: Ah, that would…
Is cursing allowed?
That would Fuck with our story a very large amount.
Like, WAY too much for anyone to be happy with.
I'm still not against it, but I would have to talk with the others.
Squid: My little terrors are a bit busy.
But if no one else comes by, I'll see what I can do.
Heroes: Is Aiden even saying anything?
I want to know what they want, or even if they understand.
Excel: Most?
I believe only two groups have such capabilities.
Observer: If you look over there, you can vaguely see him.
But he's rather small down there.
Excel: Two of the seven or so.
Squid: Just tear through the space-time continuum, Excel.
Not that hard.
Aiden's eyes felt like lead.
Everything in his body felt like it was shutting down.
He tried.
He really did.
But he could not control it.
The world went black.