Auntie toasts the VRMMORPG

85. THE HERO'S ENTRANCE

Flora stood in front of the portal. The gate displayed a green-shimmering cradle and a globe behind it. Smaller portals to the capitals of the Cradle surrounded it.

"So, I walk through the big one for the Hero's Entrance?"

"Yes, Milady."

"What happens when I enter through another gate, let's say the one to Talpica, where Evailyn's temple is, and go back and take the big one."

"You can't do a Hero's Entrance anymore and will go back to the last place you were before leaving the Cradle. You can exit the Cradle from any site you want, but you can only enter it through the teleportation circles connected to the portals or go back to your last position via the big entrance."

While Flora screwed up her courage, Bliz zipped around her. The icicle shaped elemental resembled a flash and behaved like it. She taxed Flora's nerves with her hyperactivity but looked too cute to really aggravate Flora.

Of course, the octopussy was by her side, and the turret-traps ready in her quick-access slot. The mech-suit sat in her inventory. She didn't want to chance being slowed down by a fancy piece of plastic in a magic-only region.

Although she hoped to get to an unrestricted area, she had prepared for other cases.

"Let's go!"

When Flora walked through the portal, she arrived in a room with a cradle and a woman rocking it.

"Greetings, Earthling. I'm Craidla, the overseer of the Cradle." Big busted and her hair in thick blond braids, Craidla could easily get a job at the Octoberfest.

"Nice to meet you, Craidla."

"You have the opportunity for an entrance fitting for a hero. But this chance could take you in the remotest land of the Cradle with unknown dangers lurking in the shadows." The woman pointed to a red-shimmering portal behind her. "Or you enter Talpica, the capital of the Cradle. There you can find anything an aspiring adventurer could wish for like trainers, shops, and quests."

"Thank you. I'll take the Hero's Entrance. But I'd like to ask you a few questions, now we are meeting directly. Those blue windows are so impersonal."

"I'm afraid not. I just received data packages from System and Administrator about you. They recommended I do this."

Craidla moved her hand, and Flora, Bliz, and the octopus flew headfirst into the red portal.

Flora tumbled on grass until she came to a stop in front of a forest of legs.

"Can you believe the nerve of this woman? Or of those guys?" Flora exclaimed while getting up.

Aito beeped indignantly.

"Uhm. Welcome great hero!" a chubby blue-skinned man said. Then, he cleared his throat. "Welcome to Tsoville."

A crowd of colorful people surrounded Flora, staring at her expectantly. Some of them even carried signs: "Please Save Us!" and "Tsoville Welcomes the Hero."

Flora dusted off herself and stood straight. Looking a bit more heroic was the least she could do to alleviate their fears.

"Magic and technology are both working, Milady. I entered the local area network. We are on the continent Ib, 2000 km east of Talpica."

"We summoned you to save us from the horrible monsters. Are you up to the task?"

"Yes."

"Please, they ate our-"