Game 14: Den of Thieves

The five heroes had set out in the direction of Mossy Hills late in the afternoon. The gang now had three speeders which they could use to traverse the map: Takeshi rode alone on one, Rita and Aisha shared the second, and Makoto and Proteus shared the third.

“Any idea where this library is supposed to be?” Rita asked Makoto.

“Giant ruined library in the middle of the forest? Can't miss it.”

“I think we're here!” Takeshi told the others. The path they were riding down split in two at the entrance to what was once a giant library in the middle of the forest. A dilapidated stone dome was all that remained of the above-ground structure.

“So, this is the Great Library of Sylvis?” Rita asked.

“It sure is,” Makoto told her. “Or, at least that's what the map says. Honestly, I'm surprised this place still shows on the map, but I can't complain.”

“Well, since we're here, let's check this place out,” Takeshi told the group.

As they entered the library, Takeshi laid out the gameplan for the gang. “We'll be able to cover more ground if we split up. Remember, we're looking for any potential books on the history of The Game.”

“Hey, Takeshi? How do you know this is going to work?” Proteus asked. “If we're inside a game, couldn't the Game Masters just invent a fake history to cover their tracks?”

“That is possible, Takeshi admitted. “But that is just a risk we'll have to take. Who knows? Maybe the Game Masters slipped something in and didn't realize. Game developers always do.”

“That sounds fair,” Proteus said.

The gang then went on their separate paths.

•

Little did they know, however, they were being watched.

“You didn't tell us that we were going to have company, Jacques,” a girl said.

“Bingo, you should always expect the unexpected,” Jacques told her. “If we're after this treasure, we should expect others to be doing the same thing.”

“Hey, isn't that…?” Bingo immediately recognized one of the heroes, though she didn't point out which one.

“That's him,” Jacques agreed. “That's the traitor. Why don't we give these visitors a warm welcome?”

•

After the others went in their separate directions: Takeshi towards the basement, Rita towards the main desk, Makoto towards the second floor, and Aisha towards the third floor, Proteus wandered around the first floor. He noticed that despite the ruined condition of the exterior, much of the library's interior looked relatively untouched. Nothing a bit of spring cleaning wouldn't be able to fix.

•

As for Makoto, he tried to read the labels on each individual bookshelf, hoping this library would be laid out like the ones in real life.

“Ah! Here's the history books!”

He then began pulling out books. It has been said to not judge a book by its cover, but that's exactly what Makoto was doing. One by one, he would quickly read each title out loud, find it has nothing to do with what he's looking for, and discard it.

•

Aisha, as has seemed to be the theme as of late, quickly grew bored of this mission. For her part, she was starting to grow accustomed to her place on the team. She just greatly preferred her pencil and sketch pad to this kind of hide and seek mission.

She went to the nearest window, sat in the nearest chair, pulled out her sketch pad, and started drawing whatever she saw outside.

•

As he wandered further, Proteus could hear the faint sound of footsteps, though he just assumed it was those of his teammates. He noticed a book laying on the ground and picked it up, thinking it could be useful. But then…

“Proteus?” a voice called out from a distance. “What are you doing here?”

Proteus immediately recognized the voice, then immediately sensed he was in danger. “Jacques?”

•

First, the man he called “Jacques” emerged from the bookshelves. Then, one by one, all of Jacques’ associates also arrived at the scene. Proteus named all of them: Sejun, Tommy, Nikolai, Kat, Bingo, and Javi. All of them stared down Proteus with absolute disdain.

“We told you that you were banned from this guild!” Jacques warned him. “Do you remember what you were told if you tried to come back?”

“No…” Proteus said wearily.

Jacques pulled out his bow and aimed it right at Proteus. “Do you remember now?”

“I didn't know, Jacques! I swear! How was I supposed to know you were going to come here?”

“Getting yourself deleted from The Game would have been a good start,” Jacques quipped. “Say good night, traitor. Acid Arrow.”

Takeshi managed to swat the arrow away with his sword. Soon, they were joined by Makoto, Proteus, and Aisha. “Wasn't expecting company on this field trip!”

“Oh, look!” Jacques noted. “The traitor's brought new friends! Are you going to betray them like you betrayed us?”

“What is he talking about?” Takeshi asked Proteus.

“I've been trying to figure that out for two years!” Proteus answered. “He just kept accusing me of betraying the group!”

“If you must know,” Jacques explained, “Proteus broke the number one rule of our guild: Thou shalt not steal from thine guildmates.”

“I told you that wasn't me!” Proteus protested. “I had to have been framed!”

“Surely we can talk this through like reasonable people!” Takeshi suggested.

“We are reasonable people,” Jacques told him. “Your friend was found guilty of breaking our sacred oath, so we banished him. If he ever tried to return to the guild, he would be executed.”

“Since when do thieves have a sacred oath?” Makoto asked.

“Every thieves’ guild has a sacred oath,” Jacques explained. “And Proteus has violated ours. He must pay the price. Now, hand him over!”

“No,” Takeshi told him.

“No?” Jacques said, before aiming an arrow at Takeshi this time. “Perhaps this Steel Arrow will make you reconsider.”

“The answer is still no.”

“Very well, then. Any last words?”

“Just one. Makoto!”

“Magic Art: Star Bright!”

A giant flash of light filled the library, allowing the gang a chance to escape.

“After them!” Jacques ordered his guildmates. “But remember: the traitor is mine!”