I ran into the still-burning forest, letting my bird do the fighting as it seemed that was the way of the game. Thankfully the smoke was thick and the flames covering the ground and the tree branches did a decent job of covering me
Flames were quickly spreading all around, and I could watch the carbonization as things lit and burnt, wood crackling and popping as the beautiful flames licked at my body but felt no warmer than a hot shower. My clothes were also unaffected, and I had no issues breathing or seeing through the thick smoke.
I hoped my bird was alright as I kept some distance from the fight.
Then I felt a huge gust of wind come from above.
The flames were all being pushed back by a powerful stream of wind. Above me was a damaged and burning Lion, the man who I had encountered a few minutes ago had sections of his face and body glowing red with cracks where he had been injured that fell off him turning to pixels.
“You jerk trying to just run away”
The lion leapt down into the burning forest swirling winds keeping the flames at bay.
As It pounced I avoided its claws just in time stumbling backwards.
The flames were continually being fanned backwards by a swirling pressure of wind coming from the lion, its white mane spun rapidly like a fan made of clouds.
Had my bird been killed? I had no way of knowing, the sure thing is that if I get bit by that lion I'm probably going to be eliminated.
“Ugh it's gonna suck when I see Shiro again, he's gonna be laughing about how I couldn't even last ten minutes, not to mention I'm sure that fairy would say something as well, heh I wonder how Shiro's first time doing this went”
But then I saw a scorching light coming from the sky.
And in a split second, an explosion detonated blasting the Lion to pixelated bits.
“Targets destroyed”“Experience Gained”“Companion avatar destroyed”
I hear several statements, made directly within my mind.
It was a feminine voice speaking in a very monotone emotionless voice.
I could tell immediately that it was my bird that had fallen from the sky, its whole body had caught fire and it detonated on the Lion and the guy who had been fighting us.
“I guess we won, but it died? My bird...” I say a bit disappointed hopefully it can come back next game”
“I am not dead”
The voice says in my mind again.
“What? Who is this, the bird?”
“I am indeed your companion, my vessel is destroyed so I moved into the ring, our bond mark, I am a spirit, It will take time but I can reform my avatar given a few minutes, I performed poorly I was unable to do more without detonating myself, the aetherJagger was very defensive of their master, I hope that you can forgive me”
Despite the monotone sound of her voice, the speed at which she spoke and the intensity of her focus told me that she was quite serious and was feeling bad about her performance.
“No you did well, I'm glad to hear you're not going to be gone for long, and it's great to finally be able to speak to you, so you're a girl huh, then that settles it, I was having a difficult time coming up with a name. “You will be known as Infernia”
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
There was a pause.
“Understood, Infernia will be my name, thank you, master”
“Uhm do you not like that name” I ask as her voice once more sounded so non-reactive.
“No, I am pleased with this designation, I will cherish it.”
I’ve never been good with coming up with names and I hadn't ever had a pet before, you had to have special permits to have a live animal live with you, and with how our family finances had been I had never even thought about it, but I guess this was a bit different, considering she could talk and think, although she wasn't really alive, being an AI, though the away she talked did seem quite life-like.
“So you're a spirit huh? Does that mean that bird form was more of just a chosen shape? Can you take other forms?”
“Currently I'm unable to, this form is what I am capable of with my current capacity, to grow or change I will need more time, experience and resources, the form you had seen is essentially an origin point and expression of my true form”
It's strange to think that cute little bird is the same as this serious woman's voice speaking in my head.
“Experience Gained”“Experience Gained”“Experience Gained”
“What, what is going on?”
“The fire I set has spread, many others like Master have gotten caught up in it and are being used as kindling”
I could feel a bit of pride in her voice as if she felt like she had made up for her loss against the Lion.
“So other new players are getting killed by the fire?”
“That is correct, master”
Then a thundering sound rang out everywhere at once.
“The old monsters have arrived”
Infernia said with dread in her voice
“What do you, Oh the ten minutes are up.”
“How long until your body reforms?”
“Another two minutes master”
I decided to continue to hide in the burning forest as it was a natural advantage being immune to its dangers. I knew I wouldn't stand a chance against a veteran player, but hopefully, the burning forest would be a deterrent more than it was a signal of combat.
Having Infernia speaking in my head I decided to make the most of being able to talk to my new companion while it lasted.
“So Infernia, how come we can't talk like this when you're in your bird form?”
“as a spirit, I am limited to the capabilities of my vessel, my intelligence is much lower in that form but currently I am using your own intellectual capacity to speak to you in your language, please do forgive me for any embarrassing moments I have while I am in my manifested form, as I can't quite think with this level of clarity when in my natural form.
“Oh I see well, I hope we will have many more opportunities to chat like this”
“Indeed I hope to fight many battles alongside you”
I decided to chat with her for a bit, as we were waiting for the veteran players to arrive, and hopefully, if I just stayed inside the burning forest the more experienced players would pick fights with each other rather than heading straight into the burning forest.
"So infernia what can you tell me about yourself and the game, my friend invited me here, and while it's quite an incredible experience,but I don't know if I'll be around for long, as I have responsibilities to take care of in my own life."
It seemed like my comment had made the bird spirit disappointed, as the voice in my mind almost sighed with melancholy.
"well hey don't be too down in the dumps, I guess Shiro said you could be uploaded onto my D-vice so there's that at least."
".. I do not know what a D-vice is, but if it means you won't be leaving me behind entirely then I do hope for that."
it felt a bit strange, to have this new relationship suddenly, I guess Titania did say that the bond between the player and companion was important, but I already had enough responsibilities, would I have time to play the game with this bird partner of mine? well, I would just have to see what the future has in store, the game was amazing, unlike anything I had ever seen, maybe Shiro had some sort of job offer for me, working here, not like I had the tech skills to do something like that, but you never know what sort of things Shiro would come up with.
"So Infernia, I saw that you can drop fire, and blow yourself up, as well as fly quite fast what are your skills exactly?"
"I have three major skills master, I can detonate and ignite any part of my body, that's both the attacks you see me do with shooting my feathers or also detonating myself, the other skill makes it so any of my skills also burn the target and it can burn up all sorts of things, my last skill is the ring on your hand, it's what lets me reform my body as long as your still alive"
"So then, what about me being unaffected by your fire, is that just a normal thing? Companions can't attack their masters?"
"I'm unsure that may be a special result of our bond, but it is not a power inherent to me, so it is likely something to do with that."
"hmm, I see, well let's look for a better area in the woods, I think I can hear some of the battles beginning at the edges of the forest."
