Somnia Online by K.T. Hanna (reading strategies book txt) 📕

turned to look at David, hoping he didn’t think she was insane. He was frowning, but it was a thoughtful expression, not a cautious one.

“Well?”

He raised an eyebrow. “If it was his thesis, then I’d say the university he attended has the schematics of his project on file, doesn’t it?”

“Exactly.” Laria grinned triumphantly. “And if you know where to look, and what you’re looking for…Which—why we didn’t see that he was an evil genius with the mind manipulation overtones of that thesis project, I’ll never know. But yeah…it’s all there, and by now, so are a thousand differing variations that are almost as dangerous as Wren’s.”

 

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Sinister hovered around Murmur like a hummingbird trying to feed. While Murmur loved the attention under other circumstances, the current ones set her anxiety levels spiking.

“I’ll be fine.” Even though she really wasn’t sure if that was true. They didn’t have the time to spend making sure that she had the mental capacity to process what was happening.

It’s probably something you should make time for, though. Somnia’s concern was easily conveyed through her words, and even tone had begun to creep into these conversations more than initially.

Murmur rubbed her temples, like she was trying to fend off a headache. Sure enough, the damn things were definitely piling up. All the damned things. I know. I know. But this, isn’t this more important? Didn’t you say we don’t have a lot of time to deal with this final step?

Well, yes. This is the ideal time frame to undertake what we’ve spoken about. His strength will weaken when the entire continent has to pull from him and his reserves.

I’m going to pretend to understand what it is you’re talking about. Murmur pinched the bridge of her nose and turned to look at Sinister. “We’re not that early that we can stand around here on the telepad and wait for the others to show up. We need to go see Neva.”

Sinister pouted. “You’re always taking care of everyone else and never of yourself. And you wonder why we all worry.” She threw her hands up and sashayed her way into the workshop ahead of Murmur like she’d given up all hope.

“You really shouldn’t taunt her like that.” Emilarth was suddenly at Murmur’s side and almost gave the enchanter a heart attack.

“You’re one to talk. Taunting is all you do to your brothers,” Murmur quipped dryly.

“Yes.” Emilarth winked at her. “But Sin isn’t your sister, now, is she?”

Murmur felt the heat rush to her cheeks and quickly changed the subject. “So why are you all hanging around now. Like is it okay for people to know that you’re AIs?”

Emilarth feigned surprise. “Whatever do you mean? We are but harmless NPCs, my dear. Quest givers and all. You have me wrong.”

“Pull the other one.” Murmur rolled her eyes. “It’s got bells on it.”

The feles AI laughed loudly, and her eyes sparkled with mirth. “You’re so easy to tease, Mur. Lighten up. It’s not the end of the world. Yet. Or, well, it’ll be different after this, but it won’t end.”

“Thanks for making me feel so much better.” Murmur hastened her steps and caught up with Sinister as she entered the workshop, looping a hand loosely around her waist.

It was busier than usual, and Neva’s eyes shone while her ears twitched, and her nose did that little scrunching thing that rabbits sometimes do. Murmur hadn’t known canines could do it too, but she learned something new every day.

“Neva.” Murmur smiled. It was never difficult to begin a good mood around the luna. Hands down, one of the best things about this world was having found someone like Neva. No matter what, the little master crafter always made Mur feel like the weight was momentarily lifted. Gods knew she needed that right now.

Not that she didn’t love her friends, but they all knew about everything that had happened. All eleven of them. People like Neva, they didn’t know. They wouldn’t even try to guess at something like that. It made being around her so much easier and so relaxing.

Except maybe when it was busier than she’d ever seen it before, and there were huge chests lining the walls looking like they were meant to be going somewhere very soon. She really found herself hoping it was with her raid.

“Mur! I’ve missed you. Trapped in that damned dungeon loop thing.” She held a wooden pencil between her teeth and was rummaging around in a box of things someone had brought in.

Murmur raised an eyebrow as Telvar entered the room. “Why is there like, a physical box of stuff? Shouldn’t people just be able to drop it in the guild bank?”

Telvar smiled at her. “If they’re a member of your guild, of course they can. But not everyone Neva acquires things from is from this guild, so they must resort to less convenient ways of good transportation.” He finished the statement with a flourishing bow.

Murmur tapped her foot and tried her hardest not to roll her eyes.

“Too much?” Telvar asked, raising himself up so he stood to his full seven-foot lacerta height.

“Way too much. With whipped cream, even,” Sinister answered before Murmur could. “Now be quiet. Some of us are trying to concentrate on lists Neva has placed in front of us.”

Neva grinned up at Mur and beckoned her to come behind the massive crafting station to join her. The enchanter looked around, frowning slightly. “Has this all changed since I was last here?”

Neva looked away, a flush hitting the pink of her ears. “Well, in order to craft better quality and higher tier items, I needed to upgrade pretty much every workstation and forge on the island. Got to keep you all protected and equipped, you know?”

Murmur grinned. “Yep. Wouldn’t want to have old shit now, would we?” She knew it was a lot of fun for the crafter and was glad Neva found joy in it. Somnia was meant to be fun, and in reality,