//** Continuation of chapter 18. (From 18.1) **//

Lia opened her eyes inside the capsule. The capsule itself was built a little like a coffin. Although it was much larger to the point where one could screech their arms. Many people even used it as replacement of a bed as inside was also very comfortable. The top was covered mostly by glass so it was possible to see the outside. One could use capsule with top completely open but most closed it down so it isolate the sound completely. Lia also did it that way.

With eyes open through the glass, she could see her dad face leaning above it.

“Ooo!”

That wasn’t really happy face he was making. Lia quickly decided to open the capsule and at least not keep him waiting any minute longer. But when she tried she couldn’t move properly right away. A crazy idea popped up in her mind. She thought that damage from a game somehow transferred to her real body. Her state was rather similar the one she had just before she logged out. Still if that were to be the case it would be impossible that the device that could harm human body would be globally sold. There were especially many tests on it before the release. Since development of VR started, religion fanatic called it a demon machine that traps people’s souls. Of course they were ignored.

Thirty seconds later Lia’s could move her body again and she opened top of capsule. The moment she did that she heard her dad speaking.

-Lia you are grounded for using VRC for a week.

VRC term came from virtual reality capsule. As for being grounded for using it, it wasn’t the first time that it happened. Still being grounded right now would be bad so she decided to use a tactic that helped her avoid the problem.

-hey dad, what’s for dinner?

The tactic was completely to ignore what her dad said and change the subject. Before long, her dad would forget about whole deal and even if he didn’t, he would not execute his statement in any way as he loved his daughter too much.

-you means today’s one or yesterday’s?

“Not good.”

It looked like this time it won’t work that easily. She somehow knew it the moment she seen his face over the capsule.

It’s not like he was standing there for hours waiting for her. When someone log out the capsule always lighted up in blue light for few second so he probably saw it happen and came in.

-okay, I am sorry I won’t do that again.

-how many times did I hear it already?

-can you move a little.

Lia wanted to get out but the moment she stood with her legs on the ground she started to fall straight to the ground.

-aa.

-oto…

Her dad caught her second after.

-that is what you get for playing two days straight you can’t even stand properly.

That might be the explanation of her numbness, although previously it didn’t happen before. Still, Lia had a habit of staying five minutes with just eyes close after logging out. It was like ritual she always did after long period of using the capsule but this time she got too quickly because of her dad.

-that’s not it also I did a short break meantime.

-then why didn’t you eat meal yesterday.

-it was midnight time so I pass on it, you should know that eating at night makes you fat.

-that excuse won’t work. I don’t remember you having any diet since you were born.

-it’s not a thing you normally talk about with your father… ah.

Lia stopped there.

-it’s okay. Anyway, I for one know that you don’t need a diet, rather eat more! Because of yours gaming marathons, you will become skeleton.

-being slim is a good thing.

-but having anorexia is not. Boys won’t like you…

“Who needs them? I have Arata.”

-well if someone won’t like you it definitely won’t be because of appearance. You look just like your mom. Especially, with that smile.

-haha, you often tell me that.

-wait a minute. What is that smile?

-simile, what smile?

-that smile! That’s not your normal smile.

-is it bad that I am smiling?

-no, but that simile is like your mother on our second date.

-hmm, not the first one?

-well at that time she was laughing at me so loudly that it was a little hard to see but it’s not a time for that. Anyway what happened?

-nothing really. You are just being overprotective as always.

-surely nothing happened. You didn’t get a boyfriend did you? Like some legendary A… what was his name again…

“Wait, how does he know about Arata?”

-ah right legendary Arthur.

-hmm?

-did I get it wrong? Let me check again…

Her dad took out his cellphone for a moment and while holding it said.

-yes Arthur I remembered right. Hey Lia, why are you not denying!?

-I don’t know any Arthurs at least.

-… wait you still don’t know his real name yet? Ah, then I have nothing to worry about.

-what do you mean by that!?

Now Lia got curious.

-well now you do I guess. I babbled it out. Lia, bring him over someday. We have some stuff to talk about with him. Now, where did I leave my rifle…

The last part he said a little lauder so Lia definitely hear that part then he walked out. When he was outside the room and already turned to the stairs he added.

-Lia, if you really don’t want to be grounded for VRC then in five minutes you better appear in a kitchen.

“Well if he can laugh about it it’s like he accepted it already. But why does my dad know Arata’s name when even I don’t. When was he really talking with Arata in a first place? Arthur, Arthur well that name suits him somehow, although Arata is better. I have to call him but it would be better to go downstairs first, oh I know.”

Lia run up to her cellphone, found name ‘legendary Arata’ and press a call button. Two seconds passed.

“Maybe he is still logged on.”

But to oppose that thinking she soon heard his voice.

-hello?

-hey Arata yours real name is Arthur, right?

-wow, now that I think about it of all the topics we talked about you never asked for my real name. Yes my name is Arthur, how did you know?

-that shouldn’t be your question right now. Don’t you want to know mine?

-well I already know yours, Lia.

“And how does he know?”

-so you kept me in dark when you knew mine.

-well, I never knew where to put the sentence ‘by the way my real name is Arthur Rain’. Anyway how do you know my name?

-we will talk about it later. Be on the phone in a next hour, okay?

-okay, I am making food right now so it’s better to have two hands for it, bye.

-bye.

After leaving the phone on the desk next to the bed, Lia quickly went down the stairs and entered the kitchen. On the table there was a dinner with three different dishes. One might think that it was definitely too much for her but after marathoning for two days this should be okay.

Lia quickly wolfed down the first dish before starting next one she said.

-sorry dad, I should be the one making food.

-what are you saying? It’s a parent duty to prepare food for their children. The reason why you are making it so often is because I come back to home after dinner time.

Speaking while eating may be considered a bad manner but they were family after all.

-it’s not like I have to eat it at that time, few hours make no difference. If you want to do parent duty that much, I can stop making dinners.

-that would be a little… It’s not like I don’t want to do it, but… you are way better than me so… also it’s great to have meal waiting for you at home.

Her dad started to explain himself. Lia bursted into laughter.

-haha, don’t worry I like doing it. Also looks like I still need to train a lot harder.

“I don’t want to make any poisonous stuff anymore.”

-Lia you are way too young for that. Way too young!

Looks like her dad misunderstood.

-what I am way too young?

-emm… you know what.

-no I don’t.

-yes you do. No matter how good he might be, I won’t handle you over that easily. At least five additional years must pass!

-ah, you are talking about Arata. Don’t go so overprotective again dad. It’s not like I leaving you anytime soon. By the way, how did you know about him?

-it’s my duty as a parent to know everything about your life.

-everything is a little.

-don’t say I am overprotective again.

-you are! Give me some privacy!

-I will think about it when you are grown up.

-my 18th birthday is two month. I will hold you to your word.

-aaa… .

Lia got him then continued with the question.

-anyway you still didn’t answer my question.

-well I talked with him on a phone once.

-really? When? Or rather what were you talking about?

Lia asked but her dad just adjusted his glasses with his left hand. Middle finger between eyes and pointing finger at the side answered.

-woman can’t understand men’s talk.

“I wonder where he read that sentence.”

-eh… .

-anyway we talked a little you don’t need to know everything.

Her dad didn’t plan on telling her. Kotori didn’t say anything else as she knew that he won’t tell her.

-you know, I always expected your reaction to be different than this.

-hmm… well it’s a win/win situation for me. As long as you like him you probably won’t like anyone else so he makes a good guardian that way. And from our short talk I can tell that he won’t even touch your hand on his own.

“Arata, you are too easy to see through.”

-at least I don’t have to explain it to you.

-don’t be so easy going about it. And tell him that I won’t handle you that easily.

-yes, yes.

-although my plan to fight against any boy that come nears you may not work out with him.

-you had a plan like that?

Sometimes Lia didn’t know if her father was joking or not.

-yes, for what do you think I still train? Still after I looked up information about him it may not be that good of idea.

-what, you started to stalk him as well?

-it’s my duty as a parent to know everything about your love interest.

-it’s not!

-don’t worry I didn’t do anything else apart from putting his name in google. At least yet.

-you better not do anything else.

-well there was a bit of extreme part when I track down his whereabouts based on a cell phone signal.

-dad, it’s not even stalking anymore. It’s illegal.

-only if you get caught.

-what example you are giving to your child?

-it’s my duty to protect my child.

-not like that!

Sometimes Lia hoped that he was joking.

-one way or another I found out few things about him. The first time I heard his last name, it’s somehow ring a bell in me as if I heard it somewhere before. I quickly check the internet and found out that his grandfather is this country’s hero. Thanks to his achievements at Olympics our country beat a record of golden medals gathered at single year. He also did many other things, but you probably know about them so I won’t talk about them. But what I really admire is that after all those medals he didn’t try to get for next Olympics in any category but instead started to teach others. …

“Aaa… Arata told me that his grandfather taught him how to fight but nothing apart from that.”

In a first place if they talked a little more about stuff like that, they would at least ask each other names. Her dad continued.

-so you see with grandfather like that, I somewhat passed my plan with fighting. I need to come up with something else.

-no you don’t have to! But what else did you find out?

If there was a chance she wouldn’t pass on little information.

-Lia, if you want your relationship to be strong, you shouldn’t spy on him but simply ask him instead.

-you are the last person who should say that.

-also after reading about his grandfather achievements I also found information that somehow made me feel bad that I checked. I stopped right after it. You already know what I am talking about?

-I do.

-your mother would say that must have been a fate that brought you together.

-and you?

-I will definitely not believe in crap like that…

When he said that, his eyes become darker for a moment. But they lighted up second after. Lia didn’t ask for it as she immediately knew what her father had on mind. Would fate sentence people to death? No, something like that cannot exist. There is no fate or miracles. There are only unavoidable accidents and decisions that one makes. That’s all was to it.

Lia finished up everything. Just when she was about go upstairs her dad added.

-don’t tell me that you are going back to VRC now?

-no I going to the bathroom to clean myself then I go to my room as I have something to look into.

-well that’s a relief.

-I won’t be playing for at least two days now.

-really? Somehow I don’t believe it but I will keep you at word.

“Everyone died anyway so it’s not like I need to hurry back. Also we finally reach the city so we should be given some slack now. Although there is no much of the city left. I wonder what happened to Arata. Given that he answered my phone and knowing him he probably logged out the second we left him alone. Wait, did he plan it out so he can log out? Well I will call him soon so I can ask then.”

She went up and entered the bathroom.

…

Little after, she went out of bathroom and went into her room. She was already wearing night clothes although it’s still was quite some time before it got dark, especially as it was summer. Lia jumped on the bed pick up the phone from nearby desk and called number with a name legendary Arata.

“Maybe I should change it.”

She heard the Arata’s voice few seconds later.

-you are late Kotori.

-sorry Arata, I somehow doze off in a bath.

-good thing you didn’t drown yourself. Anyway what you wanted to talk about so urgently?

-hmm…

A devilish plan came to Lia’s head.

-that shouldn’t be your question now, should it?

-you asked me to wait by the phone so you should have something really important right? I mean we were talking about pretty much everything past few days so what is it?

Arata answered normally. Kotori was little disappointed.

-eh… you didn’t catch it. I will give you a hint.

-okay.

-I just leave the bath.

-so? Its normal we just played nonstop for two days so cleaning is right thing to do.

“This doesn’t work as I planned. Arata is really green in this.”

-okay another clue. I said you should ask a question. The question should be about clothes.

-… Kotori, you.

Arata finally understood.

-Arata, ask the question!

-I am really not into this play.

-ask the question Arata!

Lia would not give up now.

-okay, okay if you really want… mhm… what are you wearing right now?

-just a towel.

“Wonder what he will say to that.”

-ah, so you are wearing something that was close.

-what were you thinking about? Arata, you are pervert!

-you started it.

“I feel like I lost somehow. No I can still win.”

-but that towel is not enough to cover me completely as it is a small towel. It is also so still soaked so it reveals everything.

-… .

-now that I think about it, it’s more of handkerchief rather than a towel.

-… .

-hey Arata, what are you imagining right now?

-nothing, it’s your fault anyway.

-Arata you pervert!

“Win.”

-says the person who is wearing handkerchief. At least dry yourself so you don’t catch a cold.

-what are you talking about Arata? I am already in night clothes and under the blanked. It’s you who let his imagination go wild.

-…Kotori, you.

-it was a service from your girlfriend.

-eh… .

Kotori didn’t let him get away with just that.

-you are dissatisfied? If you ask me nicely I can make your dreams come true.

-no, no you don’t need to do that!

-Arata you prevent! Hmm but I still keep calling you Arata even though I know your real name. I think that at least when we are not in a game we should use real names.

-does it bother you? I can call you Lia if you want it?

-hmm, I think Kotori is cuter.

-they sound both cutely to me.

-Arata said my name is cute, yee, yee.

-so which one should I use.

-keep using Kotori and I will stick to Arata, I like it better anyway.

-why does it sounds like insult to my name?

-no, no. Arthur suits you, but the name Arata was in my heart for so long. Didn’t I tell you, you were my first love?

-you had a second one?

-what, are you jealous?

-no, just.

-wrong answer, you should say yes. But don’t worry my first love never extinguished and my dad wouldn’t let me have a boyfriend anyway.

-good job mr. Stafford. Still if we go on like this. We will keep using our nicknames until we get old. Well, if it comes to worst, we can always change our real name into Arata and Kotori.

-that would be funny. But Arata!

-what!?

-why didn’t you tell me that you talked with my dad?

-is it really that important?

Arata didn’t see it as a big deal or rather he didn’t want to talk about it.

-of course it’s important! So what did you talk about it?

-well even if I tell you… woman won’t understand men’s talk.

Arata said it with a different tone, similar to one that her dad used before.

-you are both idiots.

-hmm?

-you and dad. He said the same thing.

-wow, maybe he also watched that movie.

-I won’t even ask which one.

-anyway we didn’t really talk much. Just few minutes or so.

-fine, have your secrets. I don’t need to know everything.

-I don’t think that there is any secret to talk about. It just left my head as there were more important things going around.

-and you probably won’t tell me what were those important things.

-it was you.

-hmm?

-the phone was before we started going out. Remember when I kept calling you there?…

“Arata.”

-at that time your dad contacted me so I don’t worry about you and I must say I was worry as hell at that time. Anyway now I told you so don’t complain anymore.

“So they didn’t mention it because it was at that time.”

-it’s really no secret at all.

-see, that’s what I have been telling you.

And so this topic ended.

-so Arata, what were you doing after we left you. Don’t tell me you log out right away.

-I didn’t do that.

-but when I called you, you pick up right away.

-well I can give you a summary on what happened. Where to start, I guess from the beginning. Although I didn’t planning it, logging out would be my course of actions.

-I could tell you weren’t planning it. It’s hard to puke on asking. So what happened?

-just when I was about to log out, some guys from enemy’s guild came. Around 30 of them. Even though Gerald said that there should be small resistance and even if there was, they should be some newbies, the players that I encounter weren’t some newbies but rather their elite force. To have it even worse they were balanced party or rather I say raid. 30 people, tanks, healers, mages and archers everything.

-don’t tell me that you lost to them. Well considering their amount it might be a little hard even for you.

-I didn’t die, well at least not then. Let me finish. Because I saw army like that I didn’t feel like fighting so I tried to avoid that. But then some idiot came and I had to fight them. Well at least he took the agro so I destroyed their range line and everything ended pretty well. It was true happy ending because even enemy’s party leader was happy about that outcome. Well I can’t say the same for his teammates.

-I won’t even ask how that happened. I probably needed to see whole thing to understand it.

-I will tell you the whole story another time but let’s focus on main facts. After that, because I somehow owned that idiot a favor we started to run to the center of Triangle to catch up to you.

-and who was that idiot you talking about?

-remember the one that healed up Anari after we screw up the food. He was that idiot. Well I know what you might think but Levi is not that bad guy. He just happened to have bad first impression, that all.

“Did I forget about something? Right…”

-can you tell me where is he now or rather tell Anari where will he be!

-and what is this about?

-I can’t sell my friend.

-it’s probably something stupid anyway. Still, I don’t know where he is now. But I will tell you what happened to him as he shared my fate. Just listen to the story ending is near.

-right so you two went to catch up to us.

-you should have known that we never did catch up to you. The reason for that is, when we finally saw the clock tower which should indicate that we are finally getting close to the center Levi spotted an SOS signal in the sky. Something like Gerald help us. You will tell me about it in a second. So seeing this we started to run as we thought something bad happen but then about minute later the world turned black and were vaporized. Really in just one second there was nothing left of my body and I got message [you are dead]. Levi most likely died as well. He doesn’t have level that is much higher than ours.

-that’s why you don’t know where he is?

“Anari you have no luck.”

-that’s your reaction to that! Tell me how it went on your end, you known the source of that darkness?

-well… .

Lia quickly brief up how it went from her perspective. She started from their meeting with Arcon Shadenine and continued with a story to the moment she logged out. Arata just listened until the end without any remarks. Then when she finished he said.

-that was really stupid of you. I don’t even want to image how it is to die again and again. Even dying once from that spell was painful enough to me.

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-you know, for some time I thought that this damage was kept even after I log out.

-Kotori you are alright!?

Arata right away asked worried.

-I am alright, don’t worry. That was just mine stupid thinking.

-still promise me that you will never use this spell in such way again!

-I definitely don’t plan to catch any death lasers with it, that’s for sure.

-but what were you thinking when you did that?

-well there were thoughts like, I don’t want to die.

-it’s a game, dying is a part of it as well.

-still if I can I should avoid it, right? You were always so easy going about it. You know the second reason was to not lose levels so I still can be on par with you. Eh, that was stupid because you died in the end. If I know that, I wouldn’t even try.

-well you did good job on surviving this. Now that I think about it Levi should be furious now. He had nothing to do with all this and he died and lost levels.

-oh Levi should be furious. What about you?

-me?

-you are not furious about losing levels?

-not really, and it’s not like I really lost any levels.

-how come? Weren’t you vaporized in a second?

-well, I didn’t tell anyone because it’s somehow unfair, but I have a skill that prevents me from losing levels when I die.

“What?!”

-Arata that skill is unfair! It’s breaking the balance of the game.

-well that’s why I didn’t mention it. Don’t go around telling it to everyone.

-ahhh.

Kotori sighted loudly.

-what?

-why is it that no matter what I do you always somehow win in the end?

-don’t say that. Surviving that skill even if you had to go through a lot was an impressive feat. I died without even knowing what killed me.

-you died but as always you have a last word in it. Why do you have a skill like that?! No I don’t even have to ask. How could I ever forget, you are legendary Arata after all, who always have an ‘Ace’ in his sleeve. Who am I to compare. Hey Arata what do I lack?

-you don’t lack anything Kotori.

-still even if you say that I am good player, how can I become excellent player like you?

-you are excellent player. Even that guy was impressed by it to the point where he gave you something. He thought that something like that can’t go without a reward.

Kotori didn’t listen to that.

-you just don’t want to reveal your secret. Fine, I will get there on my own.

-you are always the same. I can say that you at least as good as me.

-you only saying it.

-I won’t be able to convince you, I guess.

“It’s hard to convince someone if you don’t believe it yourself.”

Kotori somehow always felt that no matter what she did, she still couldn’t win against Arata. Arata also didn’t even try to continue convincing her, instead he asked.

-so, can you tell me more about that guy?

-even if you ask, I already told you everything.

-once more.

-fine. So, he introduced himself as Arcon Shadenine. It must be his name that he uses and not something he made up as Loki also called him Arcon. I don’t know where his last name came from. Who even uses last name in games, maybe it’s some kind of title or something. Anyway he completely destroyed us along with most part of the city. I would say that he was untouchable seeing how he dodged all of ours attacks but when Loki came he managed to send him flying.

-so he is no invincible.

-well after two kicks like that one shouldn’t be able to stand up but Loki was sure that he was still in one piece. Loki seems to known him as they talked as they walked with each other at least once. Kelly probably didn’t know him in person but she at least heard of him giving her reaction. And as for him, he probably knew Gerald. Well, all that we need to do is to ask him later about it.

-well, I already know Gerald’s answer. You will know when the time is right.

-I don’t know why he would hide it. But if you say so, I will check the internet later and look for info him. After all, EOA is a popular game and if he is some good player there should be at least some information about him.

-well I don’t really care about him that much. He has nothing to do with us.

-still checking it out won’t hurt.

-anyway do you still have anything important to talk about?

Arata cut the talk.

-not really. You have something to do?

-well yea, you also should have. Things pile up if you play for two days straight.

-sure I do but as you know I just leave the bath.

-okay I am hanging out.

Arata once again misunderstood. He probably thought that Lia will play a trick on him again.

-no… I meant I need to dry my hair first at least. Also I think I will go sleep very soon.

-then good dreams Kotori.

-yea, bye.

Lia get out from the bed and sat on the chair before the desk. Then she turned on the computer.

“Few years back, I used to play on it all the time.”

When VR capsules were released people who used to play computer games switch to VR games. Computers were still popular enough but not as much as in the past. They are not personal game centers anymore but rather serve a function that they were designed to serve.

Of course people still could play games on it and games for it still were coming out. It was also not like normal VR games could replace all computer games but EOA was way better than anything else that came out and to this day no game could hold a candle to it. Although there was still the fact that some people simply preferred different kind of games.

Lia entered the website called EOAwiki. It was a website that she mostly used to search any information on the game. Of course she wasn’t using it before starting the game but she spent a deal of time there after leaving beginner’s city. Still there was a problem with EOA’s websites when compared to other games. Information found on internet was provided by players themselves. Company which created the game didn’t have idea as to what is in there. Also looking for the information wasn’t that easy. For example you want to find yourself a quest. Sure you can find some information about it on internet but when you log back to the game, this quest would be probably already taken. Well you could find informations about the jobs but it wasn’t really necessary to check internet for it as they were easy to find in the first place. Still in those entire informations one could see simple rule. The higher the level the less information you can find. Also information wasn’t always real as people sometimes provided false information to mislead people. In the end finding something that would be useful for you was hard. On the other hand though if you look for something specific like locations of the city which is known for years would be easier.

As for Lia, she was going to look up specific player. It’s not like one could find information about every player but given that it was someone with the power to destroy half a city in matter of seconds there should be something.

Lia typed.

‘Arcon Shadenine… click.’

“AAA, what is this?”

Lia expected to find some information but the number of it was way too much. With high hopes, Lia checked the first one. It was discussion about who is the strongest player in EOA. Although name Arcon Shadenine was one of players in that discussion Lia quickly closed it off as most of it was rather speculations and quarrels, rather than anything specific. After checking the second one and another it was the same. No one told any details, many people also wrote down that Arcon Shade nine doesn’t even exist. There was nothing like player’s database so there was no way of knowing for sure other than meeting someone. Then even if you meet someone that person could give you a false name.

After looking through numerous of comments and blogs, few things started to pop up few times often.

First one was that Arcon Shadenine doesn’t exist, in those saying there was also addition ‘just like player who passed 300 level barrier’.

Other one was that if he exists he at least doesn’t belong to any good guild and he doesn’t do anything that would involve large numbers of players or anything that would be known to the public.

Then there was information that appeared quite often. It’s said that should he exist, he probably belonged to some great team that was once group of strongest players in the game.

‘Miracle team’ as people called them was the only confirmed thing that Lia found. Miracle team was a legend of EOA and in comparison to legend of player who passed 300 level barrier, there were many proofs that stated its existence.

Lia gave up on Arcon and switched to search information about that team. There were few websites dedicated only to this team. What gave them such fame was that they were the first one to find and go through 200 level barrier. Since the beginning they were the ones with highest level, the ones that always went into unknown. They always were the first to explore new lands. Even now it was confirmed that two leaders of two best guilds on 200-299 level were part of that group. There were no information about specific number of players in that team but there were few other famous names in it. Even if that team was no more everyone still respected their players for what they did in the past and also for what they were doing right now.

In mists of those informations, Lia found a screenshot or rather VRshot. Photo was confirmed as real it showed ten players from miracle team. It was confirmed because in the middle stood the leader of one of the strongest guild. That person name was Wolfstark and name the guild he led right now was WhiteSuns.

“I must tell Arata!”

Lia instantly recognized him as the name of guild leader and the guild was the same. The guild that she once admired. Strongest guild from the game that she once played.

“Arata’s guild.”

She was excited about it. She knew that players from that guild transferred to EOA the moment it came out, but it was unbelievable that they were still the same. They still were fighting for position of number one. VR games were different after all. It was not keyboard and mouse but real bodies. Still if they play long enough, they could be good in VR as well. Not only that. They were already in sync and had strong guild’s bonds, they would be at advantage. Trust is important thing after all.

“Should I really tell Arata about this?”

Lia’s heart began waver. Arata would be probably happy that people that he once played with are still doing okay but what would happen if he was more than just happy. What if he decided to quit their guild right away and join his old friends? Which bond would be more important to him?

“Still even if I don’t tell him, he will find out eventually. Aaaa… what to do???”

After struggling for five minutes. Lia eventually gave up. Worrying about what will happen was also not something that she would usually do. Especially if she could find out, right away.

-Arata, Arata, don’t leave us! Don’t leave me!

After she got a signal she quickly said what was on her mind. Although she skipped it right to her opinion on the matter rather than explaining anything.

-okay.

Arata just answered like nothing.

-what is that answer? You should put some spirit into it! It’s not convincing!

-well I still don’t know what it is about. Especially if you just jump at me with words like that the moment I pick up the phone, but sure I see no problem with it.

-you accept it just like that?

-it’s something you want right? I see no problem with doing something my girlfriend wants me to do. Although you could explain what it is about so I can understand what I should do.

-oh, I still didn’t explain properly.

-you didn’t even start explaining.

Kotori calmed herself down.

-then listen. You see, I found information that there exists a guild called WhiteSuns in EOA.

-ah, all good memories are coming to me right away…

After Arata said that, Kotori wasn’t calm anymore. Then he asked.

-still are you sure that it’s them?

-their leader is called Wolfstark and he plays dwarf tank. They are also one of two strongest guilds in game.

-then that’s probably real one. I must say he has a talent for leadership and he is the best player I ever known.

-I thought the same as well.

-anyway you were thinking that I would leave Refrain and go apply to them right? That I treat our guild as some leveling guild.

-well, something like that.

-first of all, I need clarification about something. Why did you say ‘don’t leave me’?

-well.

-you are always talking about your great self-confidence but when things come to play you are always unsure. Looks like I wasn’t clear last time, I need to think about something else.

-no, you were definitely clear! You don’t need to repeat that! Definitely not!

-haha.

-what?

-no it’s just. You were playing with me just an hour ago but if it really comes to something, you show your true colors.

-what true colors!?

-your pure white color.

-mhm… .

-no it’s great you are like that, I really love it about you.

-you say I should be shyer when talking?

-be yourself that’s the best. You personality disorder is the best.

-what personality disorder!?

-haha.

Arata had a good laugh about her. Looks like, he wanted to pay her back.

-I will get angry.

-oh, you never got angry at me before. I look forward to it.

-you only say it because you know I can’t get angry at you.

-so you have you confidence back?

-I never lost it.

-anyway with your request as long as you want I definitely not leave you. On the opposite I might have problem leaving you even if you tell me to.

-I will never tell you that!

-then we will get old together and laugh at the whole situation in the future.

-you really plan to go out that long?

-you don’t?

-I do, I do!

-I might seem carefree to you but I really serious about whatever I do.

-okay, but let’s not talk about it now. It’s really scary to look that far into the future. Then what about the guild?

-it goes the same. If you ask me to do something I will do it.

-well I don’t want to prevent you from doing what you want.

-it looks like it’s you who got the wrong idea. Sure it would be nice to play again with them we have a long story together. When I was starting to play EOA I was wondering if they still play as well.

-then?

-even if I say that, you forgotten about something important. It’s been about five years since I last heard from them. And it’s only for me. Lately I started to wonder how does time flow for those who play EOA. Do they count it normally or go with 5x. For them it would be definitely more than five years. Most of them probably, forgotten about me completely.

-some should remember.

-if that were the case I would be glad. Still there is also another aspect to this new WhiteSuns. Wolf may be their leader and I would definitely want to play with him again but other members of this guild may not. How many of them would be from old team? Even if name is the same as times go, people change. It’s been so long after all.

-well guilds mostly doesn’t last that long.

-not only that, you might have not notice it yet but EOA is not very guild friendly game.

-why not?

-world is big, people scatter and there is no guild chat.

-they can always talk on Skype, TeamSpeak or something like that.

-it’s not like they can do it while playing EOA. Using’s forums also has its limits. Finding each other is hard, if two people take different races it can take years before they meet up. I mean, the only person from other race than humans that we saw so far is Kelly.

-well you are right. Also they are saying here that WhiteSuns were established with people who passed level 200. It didn’t exist until the second year of the game release.

-from where I see it, it’s probably just Wolf using old name for his new guild, that’s all. Well I can somehow tell that there are few people that I know in his guild as I know them too well but this is definitely not my guild anymore.

-why did I even worry?

Even though she said that, she had few bases to be worried about Arata leaving Refrain the moment he meets his old guildmates.

-you probably already have an attachment to our guild, right?

-that might be true. And how about you Arata do you have a little attachment to our guild as well?

-it’s natural I do. I mean we meet thanks to it after all.

-and apart from that?

-well, there are many irritating people in it but I at least I owe Gerald a lot. I told you about it already.

-you did… hey Arata did you ever hear about miracle team?

-I don’t think it’s worth knowing, given they have name like that. How did they come out up with it? It’s even worse than Gerald’s green smerfs.

-people gave it to them, but you should find out about them. It’s a group of people that were the highest level for most of the time throughout the course of game.

-I think Levi mentioned to me something like that but I don’t care about people that I don’t know. I am not in any contest for strongest player or strongest guild. I am just playing to enjoy myself.

-still you should care about them. You see, I have picture of them here and guess who is there.

-you brought it up just now so it’s probably Wolf. If they had Wolf as tank and their leader it’s no wonder they were the best.

-yep he is there.

-but if he created new WhiteSuns, he is not in that team anymore.

-he is not but that team.

-you don’t have to finish. That team split up. I wouldn’t wonder if the reason for that was, Wolf wanted to play with his old friends and make a guild so without him the so called miracle team couldn’t perform their miracles anymore.

“I wouldn’t be surprised by it as well.”

-I don’t know if it is right but it’s true that they don’t exist. But about the photo, I can recognize other people as well. On the left side there is person who destroyed us today Arcon Shadenine and on the right side but more to the central is Gerald!

-you didn’t surprise me there either.

Kotori was expecting different reaction.

-so what do you think?

-what can I think, that guy can tell people classes in second and has 299th level, of course he is one of the best players. With number of classes that there are in this game it’s great advantage. We also already saw what he is capable of. That Arcon guy might destroy half of the city but Gerald burn down the other half.

-well you are right.

-anyway you find out something about him but it’s still useless, that’s why I don’t bother looking for news like that.

-it’s always something to talk about it. Also I found out something useful about Gerald.

-useful? Like something I could use it against him. What is it?

Arata got interested in this one.

-well you would have to look at the photo yourself but he is holding a girl in arms like a princess.

-so?

-doesn’t it make it he has a girlfriend.

-I don’t think so. He always says that he is eternal child. And for him to do something like that is normal, I guess.

-eh you are right, but they both look so happy. Well even if he has his strange personality some girls my like it. Also he still has his look. Ah don’t worry Arata I like yours better.

-and here everyone are saying that my hair is strange.

-well it’s is a little strange.

-you said it.

-but it’s cool.

-just so I say, I don’t have them like that in real.

-so how do you have them?

-well they are black without white part.

-right, Arata you were going to send me a photo of yourself. Even if I look the same in game I send you mine already.

-well I am look little different… but check the mail I already sent it.

After checking them mail Lia answered.

-different? What is different?

-don’t you see, the nose, or ears. I look better in real.

-nah it’s the same. If someone wanted to create game find differences with you and your game character they could only have one difference which is your hair.

-I always thought that there is more difference. Well not like I have a mirror and the only time I really check my face was at the beginning.

-they really have bad character creation in EOA. Because I was afraid of what might happen I ended up choosing just like in real.

-there is no character creation in the first place. Ah right that girl with Gerald. Does she have blond hair?

It looked like Arata didn’t just ask out of curiosity.

-no they are white long and straight. Why do you ask?

-nah something that Loki told me interested me, nothing much. Anyway stop searching for something to gossip about.

-does it look like I doing it?

-yes it does.

-but you also were interested you even asked questions.

-I wouldn’t say interested, anyway weren’t you going to sleep? You should rest after what happened today.

-I better do, I still don’t feel the best, bye Arata.

-bye.

Lia stopped to look through internet. In the end she didn’t learn anything useful. Legends of some miracle team, what use it had if they didn’t exist anymore. Wolfstark and Whitesuns, she would hear of it eventually and it’s a different guild and different game. Gerald being a good player she knew for a long time. Arata was right about looking through the net as a waste of time. The only thing she really found out was that Arcon Shadenine was someone who didn’t look for fame. Even though he was in the same team as all those other players, people didn’t believe that he exists.

When others from miracle team stood in spotlights. He was the one who stayed in the shadow.

http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=333&t=3309