Geinstrom Village is actually a long way from Lucis. Aliyah soon finds out, after asking around for information, that she can get there much faster if she manages to walk the whole trip towards Vastea Town, a place where players can either rent a holo-car or buy a ticket for the holo-train. As much as Aliyah wants to collapse at the mere mention of long hikes, she doesn't want to waste money just yet, so she figures that she can walk around and gather more coins from defeating weak enemies in the plains. By voicing this aloud, however, the civilian NPCs she's talking to warn her that it's best not to wander too far from the paved road to train and fight monsters for there are strong creatures out there that can KO her in one shot if she's not careful.
Okay... I'd better take a raincheck on that now...
Aliyah sighs to herself as she conspicuously trails behind groups of other players who are chattering to themselves excitedly, the sounds of their voices coalescing and creating a cacophony of noises which Aliyah oddly finds comforting to hear. It's actually the prospect of silence that unnerves her, mainly because she already felt alone the moment Jenna — or Vilandra — left her side to pursue her own beginner quest.
Maybe because of it, she finds familiarity in the laughter of the other players, basking in the comfort of friendly faces and sarcastic jibes even though she knows none of them, and they don't even notice her presence for she tries to seem invisible just for the moment.
It's not that she's balking at the possibility of social interaction. It's just that, aside from the shyness of intruding into pre-made friendships, she's afraid that someone may recognize her. Even though Vilandra assured her that she only knew it was her because they've been close together for so long, Aliyah can't help but feel nervous.
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"Dream World? What's that?"
"Don't you know, *******? It's the hottest VR game in the world right now! You gotta try it!"
"Yeah, *******! We can all play together and gain more achievements!"
******* frowned. "I do not play games. VR does not interest me, either. I do not understand why everyone is praising it so highly."
The moment the words left her mouth, she instantly regretted it. She had made herself sound too stiff, too stony, when she didn't even mean it.
There was silence for a moment before her classmates chuckled to themselves.
"I forgot that all ******* does is study all day long, haha!"
"If you really don't wanna play, we won't force you!"
"******* is so cool, you know. She doesn't fool around like us!"
"Yeah, she's so dedicated..."
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Aliyah frowns, remembering that time when she tried too hard to seem like the perfect, hardworking student. She knows that she shouldn't have put up such pretenses, but it's too late now.
And I know I shouldn't be worrying so much about what others think of me... but...
I do care. I can't help it.
If they find out I'm playing the same game I always tell them is a waste of time, they'll make fun of me.
They'll never let me live it down.
Aliyah exhales, unconsciously pulling at her coat. The voices of the other players are still there, still comforting her with the fact that she's not actually alone. Aliyah yearns to talk to someone, to share her excitement over playing this game for the first time. But when she looks around, her eyes inconspicuously darting across the groups, she finds that all of them are huddled together with at most three or four people.
They say two's company, and three's a crowd.
Aliyah does not want to become unnecessary baggage.