I received ten experience points for discovering Danver, instead of five, which helped improve my mood. I needed all the experience I could get.

  Danver was a marvel of a city. Dusty, daunting, crude, busy, and full of commerce and life. It wasn't the biggest city I had ever seen, not by a long shot. I'd visited New York, Chicago, San Diego, and many other large metropolitan areas back in the real world. Those concrete cities made Danver look like a tiny little village in comparison, but if I were still Milton Musgrave, Danver would have blown my simple mind.

  There were people everywhere, including a fair number of Kurskins, whom I tried to avoid. After my long, lonely journey, being around so many people made me feel claustrophobic. I could handle it, but I didn't like it. Back on Earth, I was a bit of a loner. Sure, I had friends, but I would pick a night alone with my wife over a party or a night at the bars. The only parties I went to were the ones she dragged me to. Don't get me wrong, I knew how to have fun, and I liked people, but I just preferred to live my life quietly and contentedly.

  I'd have to leave that shy part of myself behind soon. I worried that I wouldn't just need to be powerful; I would need allies. If I had others on my side, we could make a real difference in this game. It was a shame that I couldn't simply increase my charisma, so people would naturally like me. I'd have to talk to people and be charismatic on my own if I wanted to earn more than just experience in Danver. Weilding incredible powers was great and all, but I could really use more friends in this world. Val didn't count.

  Unfortunately, my incredible powers were rather limited at the moment, so leveling up was still the priority, at least for now.

  "So, Val, whatcha got for me?" I thought to her as I walked along the busy road.

  'There are many options available,' she said. 'I am trying to determine which quest would best suit your limited skillset.'

  "Pick one, or I'm just going to start talking to people."

  'Fine. Turn left at the next intersection.'

  I smiled and followed her lead. The people here had a rustic, resourceful flair about them, many wearing a combination of cheap fabrics, accentuated with leather, hides, or furs.

  The building style reminded me of a Bavarian mountain town. The larger buildings were up to three stories tall, with tiered peaks, large overhangs, and multiple balconies. These buildings all appeared to be for commercial use. One of the signs above a door near me read, 'Cobble and Hose,' and another store was called 'Francesca's Flight of Fancy.' I was kind of curious about Francesca's. The curtains were drawn behind the window, so I couldn't peer in to see what was so fancy at the place.

  I took a left at the next intersection and immediately noticed a deviation from the large, tidy buildings and bustling commerce.

  This road was made of packed dirt, not cobblestone, and the houses verged on derelict. Some people sat on their steps, watching the day go by. Clearly, this was a residential district, a poor one at that.

  "I turned left, now what?" I thought to Val.

  'Knock on the door of the sixth house on your left,' she said. 'Tell him you are here to help.'

  "Help with what?"

  'How should I know? This is a dynamic quest. It's only a few days old, but it has been logged into the system as a retrieval quest. I have faith that you are capable of picking up an object and bringing it back.'

  "Isn't there an easy scripted quest somewhere around here that you can just walk me through?"

  'Unfortunately, there are more Players here than I expected. Most of the scripted quests here have either already been initiated by another Player or pose too much of a risk for you to accept at your current level. We will have to play it carefully with the dynamic quests for now.'

  I sighed. Maybe it was better this way. If Val didn't know the outcome of the quest, she couldn't set me up to die again.

  I counted doors and quickly reached number six. The house wasn't much to look at, but it was in a better state of repair than its neighbors, which said something of the occupant.

  I knocked twice on the door and waited.

  A chain-lock clattered behind the door as it was detached. And then another. And then what sounded like a deadbolt, followed by a click on the floor. This person was either paranoid, or Danver had a problem with crime.

  The door cracked open, and a bloodshot green eye peeked through the darkness. "Yes?" he asked.

  "I, uh, I heard you needed some help and thought I could lend a hand."

  The door opened a bit wider, revealing another eye, this one blue. He looked around behind me. "Only you?"

  I shrugged. "Yup. Just me."

  He looked disappointed but nodded and pulled the door open before bowing awkwardly. "Please, come in."

  I stepped inside and was struck by the unexpected aroma of copper, hot metal, and chemicals. The windows were shuttered, but a few lanterns provided enough light to see. My quest giver was older than me, probably in his late thirties or early forties. He was thin and wiry with unruly, dirty brown hair. He hadn't shaved in days, but neither had I, so who was I to judge?

  I took a step forward and stuck out my hand, trying to sound like a brave adventurer. "I'm Ethan. Ethan Parker." No, that wasn't my real last name. Yes, I stole it from Spider-Man.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  The man sort of skipped forward – it was weird – and returned my handshake, thankfully with a decently firm grip.

  "I'm Delen Brim, engineer, inventor, and electricist.

  I raised an eyebrow, "What's an electricist?"

  He looked at his ceiling and smiled. "There are very few of us. We devote ourselves to harnessing the power of lightning." He held up a finger. "Before you say that's impossible, let me ask you a question. Have you ever had a cat bump against your leg and give you a little shock? Or have you ever felt that strange sparkle when wearing fur?"

  I nodded, understanding he was referring to static electricity, but it would be strange for someone like me to know that, so I played dumb. "I'm familiar. It's like a tiny bolt of lightning."

  He snapped his fingers. "Exactly. It is the same force as lightning, but at a much smaller scale. We call this lightning effect 'electrics.' Electricists are those who search for ways to harness the power of lightning."

  I smiled. "My gut says you're onto something."

  "Then it is most auspicious that you, a brave and inquisitive soul, came to aid me in my time of need."

  "Ah, yes, that is why I'm here," I said. "Please accept my apologies, but could you elaborate more on what you need from me. My source was stingy on the details."

  Delen nodded solemnly. "I created a handheld machine that can produce an electric charge. It was a breakthrough unlike any other. Other electricists have built similar contraptions, but never on such a small scale. My device was like having lightning in the palm of your hands." Delen said all this like it was the most profound news one could share.

  "Impressive. How many volts can it produce?" I asked.

  Delen stepped back as if frightened of me. "Where have you heard that term before?"

  "Uh, uh," I stammered. "I don't know," I lied. "It just seemed like the right word for measuring the power of lightning. It just sort of came to me." I shrugged and tried to look stupid.

  Delen's demeanor changed into one of intense studiousness. He looked me up and down before coming closer. He cocked his head to the side and whispered, "This word has come to me in the same way. When I first produced lightning, I thought to myself; How do I measure the power of this force?" He pointed at me. "And you come in here and casually use the same word I have chosen." He reached out and almost touched me but decided against it. "Don't you see? This is a force once lost, yearning to be rediscovered. Somewhere, deep within us, we've known about it all this time, and I will be the one to bring it back to the world."

  This guy was weird and full of himself, but I enjoyed his earnestness. I liked him.

  "I believe you," I said. "Now, what can I do to help?"

  "Ah, yes," he said, pulling a stylus out of his unkempt hair and twirling it between his fingers. "I showed my invention to a few of my peers, and I fear one of them betrayed me. Last week, I was robbed, my invention stolen from me, and I must have it back."

  Delen clenched his fists. "It must be returned before those scoundrels lay claim to my idea as if it is their own."

  "Do you know who has it?" I asked.

  He nodded. "I suspect the Engineers Guild has it in their possession. They've been after my ideas for years. They are likely attempting to back-engineer my work as we speak."

  "So, what do you need from me?"

  "Get it back," Delen said. "But it must be done safely. I don't care if any of those bastards catch a black eye, but I don't want anyone to die over it. I just want my invention back."

  "How many people are in the guild?" I asked.

  "Twenty at the minimum," he looked me up and down, "Which is why I find your volunteerism so admirable. You must be formidable to take on an entire guild."

  'Val, this is out of my league,' I thought. 'I can't fight twenty people!'

  'Oh, don't be a baby. We can do this.'

  'We? Are you going to help me for once instead of trying to kill me?'

  She huffed at me electronically. 'I can track the location of local NPCs and Players. I'll be your eyes as you find Delen's device. If you are careful and follow my guidance, you may be able to succeed without resorting to violence.'

  "I can handle one or two opponents, but if things go sideways in there, I'm screwed."

  'Have more faith, Ethan. If you follow my lead, you will complete this quest safely and be showered with experience.'

  I trusted Val as far as I could throw her, which was to say that trusting Val was currently an impossibility. But I was a Player, and this was a game. If I refused to play, I would lose.

  I smiled at Delen. "This is a lofty request, Mr. Brim, and while I enjoy helping my fellow man, my services aren't free."

  "I held no such delusions," Delen said. "Have you ever heard of a timekeeper?"

  I could guess, but I shook my head.

  He held up a finger before moving to a desk and rifling through a messy drawer.

  "Aha!" he said excitedly as he held up his prize. It was a watch. The band was treated leather, nothing special, but nice enough. The watch face, on the other hand, was truly spectacular. A clear, concave glass cover protected the top of the watch, allowing you to see every gear and mechanism within. A circular plate was suspended in the center, marked to indicate the hours of the day. It only had one hand, and it wasn't moving.

  "What does it do?" I asked, sounding appropriately awed.

  Delen stepped forward. "Allow me." He showed me a small winder on the side. He spun it until it stopped and then released it. Immediately, I heard a soft whirring and noticed that the gears inside were now turning, some slowly and some quickly.

  "This timekeeper will now count the next thirty hours with near-perfect accuracy," Delen said. "It's remarkable, and I'm not saying that just because I created it. I believe that soon, after I work out all the kinks, timekeepers such as this will be worn on the wrists of every citizen across Vedra."

  I smiled, hoping he was right. If he were, he would be a rich man someday. "How much is this watch…" I stopped myself from misspeaking. "Uh, this timekeeper, I mean. How much is it worth?"

  He smiled brightly. "Considering there are very few in existence at the moment, I wouldn't take less than fifty gold for it."

  That was a satisfactory quest reward, especially considering Tara never paid me the other half of our agreed-upon contract. Then again, I had left her to detox alone in a dark cave after she tried to kill me, so I considered it a wash.

  "We have ourselves a deal, my friend," I said. "But busting into a guild and tossing the place all by my lonesome might be difficult, even for me. Is there anything else you can share that would help me?"

  He rubbed his hands together, considering. "The guild hosts a weekly open house, where ordinary folk can come in to gander at their wonders for a small donation. They love showing off and pretending they're better than everyone else. However, non-guild members are strictly prohibited from going anywhere but the first floor."

  That was surprisingly useful information. I had an easy way in, and Val seemed confident she could get me through this. It was a start.

  I reached out to shake Delen's hand. "Thanks, Delen, I'll do my best."

  A notification flashed in my peripherals, and I quickly selected it.

  NEW QUEST: LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE

  Delen Brim has requested assistance in retrieving his stolen invention, which was taken by the shady nerds at the Engineer's Guild. They think they have a monopoly on all new ideas. Perhaps you could knock some of those ideas out of their thick skulls. Retrieve the device by any means necessary.

  You will fail this quest if you die, fail to locate the device before it is back-engineered, or if the device is irreparably damaged.

  Well, that seemed simple enough. If Val was good for half of what she claimed to be capable of, it should be a walk in the park. Right?