At the Del Fenwickian border, 397 days after a wizard cursed the REALM…
Current Version:
Alphonse had been given a choice, and not a lot of time to make it. That was a little over a week ago, and he was beginning to think he had chosen badly.
During NIGHTfall, as the ground shook and the flames engulfed Wordler Village, Alphonse had fled through the streets in a panic, like so many of the other villagers. But unlike most others, he’d taken a shortcut through a crumbling alleyway and caught sight of two lovers in a silhouetted embrace against a background of burning homes.
“So it’s settled then,” said Wordler 372.
“Our contingency plan,” Wordler 367 agreed. “I just never thought we’d have to do this so soon. I thought we’d have more time.”
Alphonse recognized the couple as two members of the QUEEN’s Advisory Council. They were among the select group of champions who had completed their quests with the QUEEN’s highest approval, and so were granted elite status and a leadership role within the village. There had been rumors that these two were romantically involved. Judging by the long kiss that interrupted their dialogue, Alphonse now supposed the rumors must be true.
“I’ll lead my group of survivors to the East,” said 367. She raised a scepter and struck a defiant pose as a well-timed rain of flaming ashes fell like stars all around her.
Alphonse gasped. That was the QUEEN’s scepter. Did that mean that the QUEEN was—? Alphonse shook his head, unable to contemplate the Realm without its QUEEN.
“And I’ll lead my group to the West,” said 372. He also attempted a defiant pose, although to a less dramatic effect. A flying lump of debris bonked him on the head. “Ow! Why do I always have such rotten luck?”
The two Wordlers had parted with another agonizingly long kiss, presenting Alphonse with his dilemma.
Which to follow?
The problem was, he didn’t especially like either of them. 367’s word had been GLOAT, and her self-important nature grated on many of the villagers like fingernails on a chalkboard. But 372’s word had been RUSTY and, although just as highly rated by the QUEEN, he had always seemed a little less skilled, a little less practiced, and a lot less competent.
Perhaps, Alphonse thought, he’d be better off on his own.
It was in that fateful moment that a nearby brick wall shattered like glass as an enormous beast ran through it. On the monster’s back rode a skeleton that burned with bright green flames. “Death, destruction, and chaos for all!” the skeleton called. “NIGHT has fallen! The curse reigns supreme! The QUEEN is dead, and darkness shall rule this land in her stead! Oh, hello, Alphonse.”
The beast skidded to a stop.
“Um, hi?” said Alphonse.
“It’s me. Wordler 388,” said the skeleton.
“You’ve…changed,” Alphonse observed.
388 shrugged. “Failing a quest and being ripped apart by crows will do that to a person. Listen, I’d love to chat more, but I have a bunch more people to kill and some buildings left to topple—but I’ll be seeing you soon.”
“Oh, you don’t have to—”
“I insist. No trouble. We really do need to catch up. Soon, okay?”
“How soon?” Alphonse had asked.
“Does next Thursday work for you?”
“Um…”
“I’ll have my people talk to your people. See you then!” And with that, she’d pulled the reigns of her apocalypse beast and resumed her rampage through the village.
After that, Alphonse gave no more thought to attempting survival on his own. In the end, he’d chosen to follow Wordler 372 and a ragged group of refugees who together abandoned only home any of them had ever known.
Stopped by a squadron of knights at the border with the REALM’s nearest neighbor, Wordler 372’s group had quickly devolved into a tent-city with poor sanitation and a dwindling reserve of supplies. And now, as if things couldn’t get any worse, Thursday morning had arrived with a cloud of insects that blotted out the sun.
Wordler 372 popped his head into Alphonse’s tent. “Hey, um, Miss 388 is here.”
“And you’re going to protect me from her?” Alphonse asked hopefully.
“Ah,” said 372. “Actually, my plan was to stay out of her way and politely ask her to take her bugs with her when she leaves. She says that you and she have an appointment. Shall I show her in?”
Alphonse sighed. “I made the wrong choice.”
Web3 Draft:
- Listed on OpenSea
- Listed on Rarible
- Pinned to IPFS
Revision Notes:
To be added.
