The desert. It's hot. It's sandy. It's filled with creepy monsters and things. But mostly it's hot and sandy and there's a whole lot of nothing. You appear and wonder "why am I here? What is there to do here? Is that a cow skull? Do cows live out here in this desert? How can cows live in the desert? Maybe it's a horse?" These are all very complicated questions with equally complicated answers but there's no one to provide them no matter where you look. Instead, you're given the option of walking. Forwards, backwards, to your right, to your left, any direction is yours to take. Try not to die from dehydration or something, that would be a sad ViViD death and the cow-horse skull might start laughing at you. I mean, you'll just start over from the beginning anyway but still.
Welcome to ViViD's new line of Vacation Spotlights: Desert Edition.
Moo-Neigh.
 One wish, that's all you get.
Make it snappy, I don't have all day.
Actually, I have eternity but I just don't want to spend it with you.
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PHASE I [ 6 00 ] So.
There's sand.
In fact, there's so much sand that there's probably already sand in your shoes and your shorts and all sorts of other places that aren't fun to have sand in. It stretches for miles and miles, in large dunes and deep dips, and above it all there are three suns that beat down upon everyone's backs. Why three? Because why not, that's why. Enjoy the sunshine and try not to get sunburnt.
You've got a long ways to travel before you find anything but sand, but thankfully you're not alone -- there are a bunch of unfortunate stragglers who are out with you, so it's time to make some friends as you travel. You've got pleeeeenty of time. No water though. Or food. Or... anything but human interaction.
Thankfully, it's only a matter of time before you stumble across your hot new ride. Thankfully, it seats two, so you and your new friend can enjoy a cramped road trip. You, this relative stranger, and the great... sandy... unknown! Good luck!
PHASE II [ 645 ] If you prefer to not take your ride, you're going to wish that you did soon enough. Every desert level has to have desert monsters, after all. You're walking through the sand, trying to make it to somewhere that isn't sand, and then suddenly, the sand worms appear.
Or.
Well.
They try.
Unfortunately, they're little more than 5 or 6 inches tall apiece, and they'll mostly try to eat your shoes and socks. How scary.
Alternatively, if you have actually taken that sweet ride of yours on an adventure through the desert, you're going to hit something at one point. It makes a rather pitiful scream and there's a small bump underneath your tire before your car comes to a stop. You just ran over a sand worm.
Anyone who is intrepid enough to kill a sand worm though will find one interesting thing about them. They're filled with water, and you are very, very thirsty. Ew.
PHASE III [ 1000 ] It sure is hot.
And unless you've devoured one of those poor, sad, screaming sand worms, there's no water to be found. It feels as though you've been wandering in circles for ages, so perhaps it's really no surprise that the heat starts to get to you. First come the headaches, and the thirst. Then the dizziness and vertigo.
And finally, the mirages.
What you see is a waterfall cascading into a crystal pool, beautiful and pristine and painfully cool. It's just begging for you to come enjoy it, and -- wait, there's one more thing. Standing in front of that pool is either someone you care about immensely or someone you hate immensely.
And either way, the things they say or do will be the same. First they reach for you, beckoning, and they they start to detail all of the things they'd like to do to you. NSFW, SFW, loving or cruel or so many things in between, all that's honestly consistent is that it's pretty shocking.
Oh, and awkwardly, it seems as though anyone with you can see and hear that hallucination too. That's embarrassing.
PHASE IV [ 1215 ] Eventually, though, you'll find your destination. Or... at least, it seems like it should be the destination. The tiny temple is at least a change from the endless sand, and in the middle of it, there's a lamp. That sure looks familiar.
If you rub the lamp, of course, you'll release the genie, and he'll glance at you, and inspect his fingernails as though you're hardly worth his time, and offer you one, single wish.
As soon as you make it, well... You'll get the opposite of what you wish for with a sudden apology note in your hand. The card will read "Sorry, this level isn't entirely finished yet - Mosley" before immediately disappearing. Your wish will only apply in ViViD, of course, but hopefully you didn't wish for anything too crazy, or you might have made the level Much Harder for everyone around you.
BONUS [ why o'clock ] One second you're walking along the desert sand, enjoying the eternally same view, and the next there's a sudden pinch on your ankle, and a scorpion monster scuttles away quickly. Whoops, looks like you've been stung.
But it's not poison, it would seem. Aside from feeling a little odd and having a mild fever, you're fine.
More importantly, you've now found yourself in possession of some... new powers (a la Spider-man), and they're...
Well, they're useless.
Maybe you can summon water now, but... only sulfur water. Perhaps you can now make pretty light shows and that's about all. You can see the future but only the next three seconds. The possibilities are endless, but what's for certain is that they're all completely and utterly useless to you.
What the fuck, ViViD.
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no subject
Still... something nice? Admittedly, he was a bit suspicious of all this, unsure of his new companion or the circumstances. But it wasn't like he had many options at this point. The vehicle could save a lot of energy.
So he stepped on the pedal to give it some gas, and with it, the ride lurched into motion.]
You don't have to do that. I'll be happy just to get out of this desert.
[He glanced over to her, not that it took much. They were really seated very close to each other, so they were quite cozy in this vehicle... shame it was so hot out.]
I'm Manfred, by the way. Manfred Vaeris. What should I call you, considering it looks like we'll be traveling together for awhile?
no subject
You can call me Caster! Or Tamamo. Whichever you'd like.
[ Normally she'd be more reserved about throwing her name around, but this isn't a Grail War, strange as it is, so why bother? ]
no subject
Tamamo, then. I like the sound of it.
[With a little bit of distance, he got a feel for the strange vehicle, and he started driving it in the direction it had been facing. Not like they had any compass or navigational equipment, so one way was probably just as good as the other.]
Not to be all business, but the first thing we're going to need to do out here is find water. Do me a favor and let me know if you see any cactus plants in the distance. ...Or if you happen to see a convenience store. If you see one, drinks are on me.
[That seemed unlikely, but a little humor in a bad situation couldn't hurt; morale was going to matter out here. Might as well try to keep it high for as long as possible, even if his mind was focused on finding something, anything, that they could use.]
So, Tamamo. While we drive, tell me a little about you?
no subject
You didn't even tell me about yourself first, Manfred! [ She smirks a bit. ] But...I'm magical. The greatest Caster and wife in all history!
no subject
Magical? Like, actual magic? Not just optical illusions or slight-of-hand things? You're not pulling my leg, are you? ...Is that why you have fox ears?
[He quickly shook his head, his voice quickening a bit.]
Ah, that was rude of me, wasn't it? I'm sorry.
no subject
I'm the real deal, the finest and cutest magician this side of Nasu!
[ Her grin turns a touch cheesier, as if it couldn't be anymore already. ]
But you don't need to worry. Paying me back for doubting me will be a simple task☆
no subject
[Either way, he runs a hand through his hair, sweat lightly beading on his brow from the heat.]
...I somehow get the feeling I'm going to regret asking what you had in mind.
no subject
[ Beat ]
Just kidding☆
no subject
Good, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want it anyway. If you were looking for a pure one, you're not finding it in a mercenary, even if me and my team try to do good where we can.
[Might as well just get that out there. She was wondering who he was, after all.]
I'm the leader of the Sorlian 924th Mercenary Fighter Squadron. We call ourselves SkyKnight Squadron. And yeah, we're fighter aces for hire... but I don't take clients that expect us to take illegal work or ones that would put innocents at risk. So we're selective, but we're among the best at what we do.
So, does that make us even?