Surviving the Lock Keeper's Game

013: An idea

Corey awoke first, sneaking out of the tent to go and take a bath in the lake. He got dressed there, before coming back to the camp site. The day was bright and early, yet everyone in his make shift team was fast asleep.

Even Greta.

NewAge: TIME TO CHECK THE MAP, COREY, WHERE DO WE BEGIN?

'That part, I've had alot of time to think about it. We need to find a guild offering quests. If I can get a very high quest, then there's a chance at me being at level ten sooner than later.'

NewAge: I LIKE THE IDEA. BUT WHAT GUILD WILL YOU GO TOO? ELEANORA DOESN'T KNOW EVERYWHERE.

Corey laughed, but only on the inside. NewAge wanted him to test out the map. So he did, pulling out scroll like map. Making it wasn't easy, he had to crush the eyeballs and spread the pieces out on an empty piece of paper. Then he had to get some ingredients from NewAge to add to it. He waited almost an hour for it to be done.

It was worth the hard work. The seer's eye would help in see everywhere in the game. He pulled the scroll open, and read through the names.

'Caltica?' he looked closely, watching the name of the city expand over the entire map, showing him the names of the towns and important site to visit.

'What is caltica?' he asked NewAge. He had a feeling the system would know.

NewAge:

CITY: CALTICA

NICKNAME: THE HOME OF THE SEA LOVERS

CALTICA IS HOME TO THE MERMAID, SEA BREATHERS, AND SIRENS. IT IS COMPLETELY SUBMERGED UNDER WATER AND YOU CAN ONLY VISIT ON THEIR OPENING DAYS. THAT WAY THEY WON'T FEAST ON YOU.

CALTICA IS ALSO KNOWN TO HAVE ONE OF THE BIGGEST GUILDS IN THE ENTIRE GAME, IT IS ACTUALLY NUMBER FIVE. AND THE LEVEL OF CITIES, CALTICA IS SO SUCCESSFUL, IT RANKS NUMBER TWELVE, LEVEL 500,000.

THE LEVEL FOR CITIES IS BIGGER THAN PEOPLE.

IF YOU'RE LUCKY TO GET A QUEST FROM THERE, DO BE WANRED THAT IT WILL MOST LIKELY BE AN ADVENTURE QUEST THAT WILL TAKE YOU DAYS, MONTHS EVEN TO COMPLETE. BUT YOUR RANK CAN GET UP TO 500 IF YOU DO IT RIGHT

THEIR NEXT OPENING DAY IS IN THREE DAYS, ACCORDING TO DRAGON MAGES, AND EVERYONE IN THE GAME, SIX WHITE MOONS. SO GET COMFORTABLE.

INFORMATION:

SILVER MOONS ARE HOURS

WHITE MOONS SIGNIFY DAYS

BLOOD MOONS MEAN MONTHS

AND BLUE MOONS ARE YEARS

'Interesting. Any other advice?'

NewAge: YES, CHOOSE A ROYAL QUEST. IT GIVES THE HIGHEST BOOST. OR CHOOSE A KNIGHT'S QUEST. YOU CAN EARN A WEAPON IF YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL.

Corey thanked the system, folding the map back. Just in time for the zipper on the tent to slide up, the flap parted and Eleanora stepped out. She rubbed her eyes, clearly still exhausted.

He waved to her, his mask placed on his head rather than his face. She waved back, happy to see him.

While Eleanora wanted to go to the lake to clean up, she realized she'd have to wait for Pamela. Or risk letting her go on her own, without any supervision. Corey going with her was completely out of the question.

He's a guy, it would be immoral. She told herself. Not wanting to admit her jealousy.

Corey popped another berry into his mouth, if there's one thing he enjoyed about the game is the lack of bad breath. There was no need to brush your teeth, they remained clean no matter what you ate. His teeth had never been more white.

And his tongue clean.

If he ever met someone in the game with bad breath, he'd be surprised.

He thought about the game. He knew it was a game when he bought it, but now it was his life and world. To the people like Eleanora, this was no game.

But her life from day one.

He wondered how the game looked like from a third person perspective. Obviously it would be difficult to play, but it would be cool as hell.

Similar to CLASH of THUNDER only, and he didn't say this alot, better. There were only a few games better than CLASH of THUNDER.

No more than a five.

'Six white moons, what to do within that time?'

He moved his stare back to Eleanora, who only stood by the tent. Waiting for something, he figured she was waiting for Pamela.

His stare moved to Greta and an idea slid into his brain.

"Eleanora?" He called for her.

"Yes, Corey?"

"Are you up for training with Greta today?"

She jumped to her feet, and Corey could tell what was about to happen next. He got up, just in time to be knocked down by Eleanora. Her arms engulfed him a hug. Corey landed with a thud, his feet resting on the log with her on top of him.

The key to running a good harem, is to keep the women happy. That's what Corey knew. He had learnt that from playing A sexy succubus harem. To win each succubus, he had to keep them happy. They can become really submissive and obedient, and horny- but Corey doubted either Eleanora or Pamela found him sexually desirable- once the male character treats them as though they were gems.

He wouldn't change himself to impress any of them, but he would make them clingy towards him, by pretending that he was helping them for their own good. When really, he needed a strong set of people to help him win the game.

Once he was stronger, and he could build his paradise, beautiful women walking around it would be so much better than just himself and NewAge.

He slid his hands to Eleanora'e back, running his fingers up and down her spine. She melted against his body, her heat felt nice to him.

Eleanora was comfortable in the position she was in, pressing her nose into Corey's neck.

He let her hug him for as long as she needed. Which ended up being until Pamela woke from her sleep. The human had walked out of the tent, wanting to search for her unofficial friends.

She only saw two sets of feet on one of the logs.

A male's, and a female.

Their top half was hidden from her view. She didn't want to walk there to see if there were making out or anything, but she did out of curiosity.

She leaned over the log, almost feeling relieved that they were only hugging. Or cuddling, she couldn't tell. Her breath was stolen by the man staring back at her.

Corey didn't look human, his face was purple and it had scars around the lines of his nose. He pointed his chin at her as a way of greeting, and she could only smile in return.

He's handsome, she mutters silently. She had never expected the gamer her friend was talking about would be…. attractive. She almost wished to be in Eleanor's position. But Corey's emotionless eyes made her fearful.

'They must have known each other for a long time to be this comfortable.' she sighed in musings.

Corey patted Eleanora on the back to get her attention, she leaned on her elbows and gave him a quizzical look.

He made the same chin movement and she turned around, seeing Pamela staring off to the side with pink highlighting her cheekbones.

Eleanora rolled off Corey, and got on her feet. Laughing nervously as she blushed too. Corey accepted something as he watched the women silently walk down the path to the lake, he didn't understand real women.

What were they blushing for?

He dusted the sand, and patches of grass that had gotten on his jacket. Heading out wake Greta up. But then he stopped, reminding himself that if he wanted Eleanora to level up, she would need to learn how to bond with her dragon.

Bond first, training later. The bond is the key to getting Greta to do things, but it is only one step.

Both dragon and mage would have to be on the same team for them to truly succeed.

So he stood, waiting for Eleanora to return. When she did, she and Pamela seemed to have gotten over their embarrassment.

"So what are we doing today?" Pamela inquired, she was hoping Corey would tell her they'd start searching for a way home. She bag of fruits and berries to eat.

"We are helping Eleanora bond with her dragon." Corey gave his response. Eleanora hurried to stand next to him.

Pamela watched them, disappointment flowing through her.

"Okay, um, what should I do?"

Corey thought about it.

NewAge: YOUR ENGINEER WANTS TO GO HOME.

'Already knew that.'

NewAge: SO WHAT WILL YOU DO?

'The only way to return is to defeat the god of games. I'll tell her that. She'll want to help even more so we can get back soon.'

NewAge: WHAT WILL YOU TELL ELEANORA? SHE CLEARLY WON'T WANT TO RETURN TO YOUR HOME. IF SHE COULD.

'You're thinking small NewAge. Pamela won't want to go back to earth, once I show her how much of an impact she can have here. And I never said I was leaving with her.'

NewAge: I SEE, TRICK HER INTO BELIEVING ONCE YOU WIN, YOU'LL HELP HER GET HOME. AND YOU WILL, BUT BY THE TIME YOU GET THERE, SHE WON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYMORE.

MY DEAR MASTER, YOU ARE WISER THAN I THOUGHT. AND VERY WICKED TO PLAY SUCH INNOCENT WOMEN

Corey chuckled. 'I'm doing nothing wrong.'

He believed so. He was helping them, help him.

He brought his focus back to the matter a hand.

"What do we do first?"

"Wake Greta up." He told her.

"That is a bad idea."

"You can do it, let me show you." Corey got behind her, gripping the lengths of her arms. The fishnet gloves drew up under Corey's touch. He edged Eleanora's left had towards Greta's nose.

The mage trembled, she usually waited for the dragon to wake on its own. She didn't want to lose an arm. With her curved back pressed against Corey's front, she settled into a trusting ease. Hoping his lead wouldn't get her dismembered.