Lorena kept her head down, shoulders hunched as they moved through the busy market toward wherever Jade was leading her. Her employer, Colton, had been confident that the body acquisition would allow her to evade detection, but years of experience in the field told her that keeping a low profile was still paramount to her survival.
It's body theft, not an acquisition. Murder too. And it clearly didn't go according to plan.
It's not murder if you're still in my head, Lorena thought. The voice did something, a kind of roll, its best approximation of an eyeroll Lorena guessed.
She evaluated Jade as they walked, watching her interactions. The Priest was confident and friendly with the locals, mingling as they moved through the crowd. Jade led Lorena into a house nestled between several larger buildings. It looked somewhat run down: the bushes out front were overgrown, the paint on the door faded from sun exposure, and the inside felt more like someone's home than an inn.
"Hi Henry, do you still have that room for rent?"
An old man lumbered into the room. Barely four feet tall, based on his height next to the small table he walked by. His skin had a grayish tint to it and looked rough, almost like stone. She had to fight to keep her focus from narrowing on the flash of long orange hair and impressive beard. There were other important things to notice, like the small dagger sheathed at his waist. She used Identify.
Henry, Dwarf, Level 40 Priest
Another Priest. Maybe that's how Jade knew him. A dull ache thumped in her back as the weak muscles strained from the tension brought by a 30 level difference; this body clearly wasn't used to being under this much stress.
Henry gave Jade a knowing grin as he approached. "Found another stray, have ya?" His voice was gruff like steel wool, but his eyes were kind.
Before Lorena could speak, Jade spoke for her. Her jaw ticked.
Ha. First time? Get used to it.
"Yeah, she stumbled into town, literally. Caught her on the edge of the market at one health! Said she was fighting spiders in the forest."
That wasn't exactly what she'd said, Lorena thought.
The dwarf cocked his head at her with a raised eyebrow. He looked her up and down and Lorena did her best to stand tall.
"That's a mighty foolish thing to be doin'. But I do have a room for rent. It's two gold a night."
Lorena glanced toward the currency tab in her interface and pressed her lips into a thin line. She only had 6 gold, 12 silver, 33 copper—enough for three nights, but not much more than that.
How polite of you to hide the disappointment from him at the poor financial state of your stolen body. Maybe extend the courtesy to me next time?
Lorena ignored the voice's comment, but she did feel a twinge of embarrassment. She'd have to figure out a way to filter her thoughts.
"That's fine," she said. The words came out tighter than she meant.
The dwarf handed her a key and directed her upstairs. "I'll send up a shirt for ya too, my daughter was 'bout your size before she left home. You won't be gettin' any attention from anyone good with a hole in your shirt like that."
As she was about to head to her room Jade broke away from her conversation with Henry and walked over to her.
"Sorry for giving you a hard time about the forest, it's just everyone from around here knows not to venture into there before they have a class."
"It's fine."
"If you want, I can show you around town once you're settled. I can help introduce you to some people to get a good deal on armor and what not, once you choose your class."
Lorena didn't trust Jade, but having a local on your side could provide valuable intelligence. She needed a better understanding of the landscape, and this world, but her professional paranoia wouldn't let her accept the offer just yet.
"Maybe another time, I need to rest. Thank you though."
How predictable. The voice said in a bored tone.
Lorena walked up the stairs, Jade and Henry diving back into their conversation.
"Jade, you can't be constantly helpin' strays. Too many pass through this town for you to wear your heart on your sleeve."
That comment got filed away. Her picture of Jade becoming more complex. If the woman was a shady recruiter or a con-artist, she was playing the long game.
Lorena slipped the brass key into the keyhole, the lock seemed too simple to be effective. The room was quaint; a small bed on a wooden frame, a table and chair, and a window. The bed called to her and her feet shuffled forward, her whole body leaning toward it. It had been over two days since she last slept.
She fought the urge; she needed to follow procedure. Getting lazy got you killed.
The window had a view of the busy market below and shutters that latched shut. The window itself didn't have a lock which wasn't ideal. She went to the small table and grabbed one of the glasses and placed it on top of the window, right on the edge.
If someone opened the window the glass would break, giving her crucial seconds once she woke up to react.
By the Goddesses you really are paranoid, aren't you?
Not paranoid. Trained.
Lorena was already growing tired of having this thing inside her.
I'm not a thing. I have a name. Use it.
Her throat tightened. She couldn't even think the name, let alone utter it aloud. To do so would acknowledge that this whole plan had gone wrong. That she hadn't given the woman a merciful end like she had intended.
The voice sighed. Fine. Call me Ren. It's what my mother used to call me.
Lorena recoiled at the intimacy, stepping back and turning her focus on the door without another word to the voice.
The hinges were solid, but the lock was less than ideal. She had picked too many locks to count throughout her career and knew anyone with even basic skills could handle this one in a matter of seconds. She braced a chair under the handle, then considered pushing the table up against the chair but decided against it. The table was surprisingly heavy, and if she needed a quick exit that left her with only the window. Too risky.
A final sweep of the bed revealed a pamphlet under the pillow, "10 Amazing Benefits of Following Goddess Veythra". Lorena frowned at the name—it was the same one Jade had said right before saving her. Lorena flipped through its pages then discarded it under the bed. It was basic religious propaganda on how Veythra could "save" anyone. Clearly Veythra hadn't met her.
Maybe if I had chosen Veythra instead of Goddess Tevra I'd still be alive.
Lorena squeezed her eyes shut as she sat on the bed. She needed to get this voice—Ren—out of her head.
And I need you out of my body.
None of this was how it was supposed to go. Colton had assured her the Soul Transference device would work. She would have her new body, do her job, and be free. Having Ren as a haunting reminder was never part of the deal.
She opened her notifications, in need of a distraction.
Level 10 Giant Lurker slain.
Achievement! First Blood - This was your first time killing a Giant Lurker. Bonus experience rewarded.
Achievement! Beat the odds - You defeated an enemy that was higher level than you. Bonus experience rewarded.
Level 10 Achieved!
Class Choice now available.
At least the System recognized that the spider was tough, that made her feel a little better about nearly dying to it.
Her eyes hovered on the last notification, her class choice. The file Colton's analysts had written up for her had a lot of in depth advice, most of which she had only enough time to skim. She did remember though that they recommended Rogue or Hunter.
Lorena opened the class selection interface and was presented with six options: Rogue, Warrior, Hunter, Priest, Mage, and Warlock. Each class had a short description, none of which were overly surprising other than Warlock, which was said to be "considered insane, members of this class actively rebuke the gods that empower them."
If you choose Warlock and rebuke Goddess Tevra I will find a way to ensure your death, I promise you that.
Do you really still worship a god that let this happen to you?
Guilt lashed back at her, instantly regretting the quip.
The voice—Ren—was silent.
In addition to the description, it listed two required actions each class must do. One seemed like a constant thing, such as Hunters taking care of their pets. The other required action seemed incremental, happening at a fixed period, such as Warriors who had to fight in the Arena of the Colossus every ten levels.
Priest was the only class she'd encountered so far, so she started there. They were interesting, being the only class that could heal. They were able to do some damage in the form of holy magic, but it seemed lackluster, and definitely not good enough to kill her target.
Priests were also required to recruit people into the church of their god, which was an easy disqualifier for her. She'd never been religious, and she didn't see that changing.
Heathen
Lorena rolled her eyes.
Next was Mage, which she also eliminated. The class was clearly powerful, she had felt that much during her Aetheron Experience as Morrison, but the thought of trying to counter her target, who was the exact same class, seemed problematic.
What's Aeth—Aetheron? The word sounded foreign on Ren's tongue.
Nothing you need to know about.
Lorena's eyes paused on Warrior, the immense feeling of power she had felt during her Aetheron Experience rushing back to her. It was the reason she had taken the job, to feel that power again. To be so strong nothing could get in her way.
But she also remembered the blood lust, the rage, the uncontrollable fury that powered her attacks. It seemed like a trap. She had survived this long in her life by being calculating and strategic, not ruthless and strong. She wouldn't trust herself to let the bloodlust take over, so Warrior was out.
Her eyes landed on Hunter and the voice appeared again.
I always thought I'd be a Hunter.
A pang of guilt hit Lorena, but Hunters weren't a viable option. They didn't just use pets, they relied on them, and if she'd learned anything in her career it was that relying on anything was a risk not worth taking. Hunter was out.
Let me have this. Ren's voice cracked, a desperate plea that Lorena could feel deep inside their shared body. This is my class you're stealing. You've already taken everything else. You owe me this.
Lorena let out a deep sigh and closed her eyes. She couldn't put everything in jeopardy when she faced her target just to appease the dead woman inside her head.
Target? What target? Why are you doing this? What did I do to deserve this?
Lorena ignored Ren and focused on the last class, Rogue. It seemed like an obvious choice. Ruthless, honed killers that lurked in the shadows waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Their fighting style required strategy and finesse while still being agile and nimble. Her old body had lost that, but this new one had it in spades.
A wave of anger coursed through her. Tell me. Tell me what you're doing here.
No. It's bad enough you're in my head, you don't need to know my every thought too.
I deserve to know.
It won't do you any good.
My life can't get any worse. It's already over.
Lorena clenched her jaw. Fine. If Ren wanted to know, she would show her.
Lorena laid back on the bed and closed her eyes. She summoned the memories of two weeks ago, of Colton's office, the job offer, the Aetheron Experience.
The room of the inn faded to blackness and an instant later an office materialized around her. A large chrome desk. Plush leather chairs. A floor to ceiling window that had an impressive view of the city skyline.
What's happening? This isn't the inn—
This is a memory from my life before. Just watch.
Lorena's senses shifted, remembering what it was like to be Asher as the memory came into focus.
"Have you made a decision yet?" Colton asked. He was the picture of executive confidence. Button down shirt with sleeves rolled up, no tie, leaning casually against his desk.
"Thanks for the offer, but I retired from wetwork a few years ago, and this offer hasn't changed that," Asher said.
"Look, before you turn down the job, why don't you just sit through one Aetheron Experience. See what you're passing up on."
The chair beneath Asher was plush leather and sank to a degree that made his hip ache, but then again his hip always ached.
"Fine. One experience."
Colton shot him a smile that didn't meet his eyes. "Great. I'll have someone take you to a chair."
He'd sit through the experience, then tell Colton it was great but it didn't change his mind. It wouldn't. He'd told people he quit his accomplished career as an assassin for hire due to his failing health, but his heart was the first part of him to go. Asher was tired of the death. The screams of his victims came to him every time he went to sleep.
An attractive woman walked in a moment later. Long legs, brown hair past her shoulders. No makeup but still looked gorgeous.
She's wearing plenty of makeup, you just don't notice it.
She led Asher to the corner of the room. "Mr. Colton has graciously allowed you to use his personal Aetheron Experience chair."
"It's top of the line. Best synaptic transference on the market." Colton said from his desk.
Asher's shoulder cracked as he lowered himself onto the firm seat of the chair. Fire flared along his spine as he slowly leaned back into the soft synthetic material.
Why are you so weak? Why didn't you find a Priest?
We don't have Priests where I come from, Lorena thought back.
"You'll be viewing an experience from one of our most famous Adventurers, Morrison. Please remember that while the sensations you will experience feel very real, it is all simulated. You are just viewing a memory," the woman said in a professional, slightly bored tone.
The helmet lowered over his face, darkness filling his vision. He didn't grimace at the sharp prick of the needles forcing their way through the scar tissue along his neck.
Morrison Experience 162 loading….
A flash of bright light filled his vision. Then a world materialized around him. A shattered plane of land already deeply scarred and burned. A solitary Mage stared back at him, flames coiling around his fingers.
Is that? No. Oh no no no.
Ren recoiled, burrowing down a layer in their mind.
That's Bale, the king's Mage. The most powerful person in Everwind. That's your target?
Lorena's stomach dropped.
Just wait. Watch what happens next.