OldBegginings:[Howdy again. I'm posting this chapter so soon, because like last time, I know some people don't really care for the authors notes. So I want to release an actual chapter for them to read so they don't have to wait for the next update. Btw, my schedule for updates is roughly one per school weeks, should be on Sundays. And two on holidays, should be on Wednesdays and Sundays.]

*'Doki'*

Hm...

I had just woken up, I just felt relaxed. I had nothing really to rant about this time. 

Something here was deadly wrong. No agony, no bitterness swelling up within me? The hell was happening?!

I mean, I found it strange that I was feeling so relaxed whilst trapped in a game anyway. But feeling positive in the morning was on a whole other level of weird!

On my way to the kitchen, I just remembered something. I covered one my eyes, and I could still see. Odd...

In the real world I was a cyclops. The reason? Good question. All I remember I was in a class room doing a practical in science, when someone threw a something at me. And then... I was in the hospital, in chronic agony as I watched blood gush over my one remaining eye, eventually blinding me. I passed out from the pain, then woke up a month later with half my face covered in bloody bandages. 

I made myself to wear a mask, not wanting to traumatize those who saw me. Which is so fun when no one believes you, so you have to almost bleed to death to prove it to them. But in this world... it seemed like there was no need for a mask. That's nice I guess.

I went outside to find a reflective surface, when I saw a pond. It was probably part of a beautiful view. I didn't really pay attention though. I've never been one to care about my environment, and now was no exception. So I checked my reflection on the waters surface paying the rest no mind. 

And... I was right. The left side of my face looked like it was never completely dissolved with whatever to a point where the skin couldn't grow back.

But, why was my left eye brown? I have greyish blue eyes. It's strange, but I could care more though.

"So, why do you of all people care about how you look? Something wrong? Identity crisis?" LOD appeared behind me, trying to take a jab that I was apathetic view of my own looks... again.

"Oh sorry, did I wake you?"

"Nah, I was already awake when I heard the door close. You seemed to be acting as if something's odd, so what's up?"

"Well I just realized I have two eyes." Yes... I could have worded that way better. I had other things to think about though, like how I had two working eyes once again.

"And you didn't before?" A logical question he'll soon regret.

"I was a cyclops in the 'real' world... Some idiot chucked something at me, and next thing I knew, half my face melted away and I was in complete agony."

"So that's why you're bitter all the time."

"Apart from the fact that's false, it's true I guess... No, the pure bitterness I have is for another, far deeper reason."

"Well, everyone has their drama..." I immediately cut him off.

"If only it was just drama. It's more like chains forcefully tying me down. However, I don't care to say anything about that." Yeah, that's something I won't even tell myself anymore, I almost managed to remain ignorant of 'that' for so long too.

"Don't worry, maybe someday you'll trust us to listen. I admit my interest is piqued now." Whilst saying that Lod's eyes glinted with pure intrigue. Oh well, better dash his spirits now, I don't even want to remind myself of that pain.

"You appear to not understand. If I tell you, you and I will both be exiled and executed in game, you family and friends in the real world will die too. It's that big of a secret, if all of that is worth it to sate your intrigue, go ahead. Ask. See what happens." I'd love to say this was exaggerated... I really would.

LOD was now shivering... That's good I guess. I won't be pestered to tell him.

"Going back to my face. For some reason, one of my eyes is brown." I said, trying to break the ice.

"Wait. They weren't brown before?"

"No. My right eye is still grey." Yeah, my right eye was a pale blue, leading people to claim it's grey. And that suits me better, so I just say it's grey.

"Eh? I thought you had two brown eyes. Sorry for not paying close enough attention.."

"Did I ask you to look into my eyes?"

"No..."

"Then why apologize?" LOD didn't answer the question. Eh, it's nothing worth pushing for anyway. He was probably scared of poking a bear or something. Metaphorically of course.

~Yawn~ "Sorry, I overslept." Titanious greeted us, after just waking up. "Huh. Doki's outside? Are you burning up? Are you okay?" Ha ha... ha. Very funny. I'm someone who likes to be inside, so it's fucking hilarious to think I'm mad for daring to go outside. 

Geez, I now have a headache and feel pain in the eye that I don't even have...

"Oh, right. By the way Doki. What do you want to do about getting ID's?" LOD asked, saving me from Nio's bad attempt of mockery.

"We have our equipment sorted out, let's just go to Skimmington as soon as possible I guess..." I paused, remembering we were one person short. "Is Jeehan awake?" Both joined me in looking at our surrounds, to give up a moment later in failure.

"I don't think he is... By the way, shouldn't we be calling him 'Han' instead of Jeehan?" Nio commented. It was a good question, but in my mind he introduced himself as Jeehan, so he's Jeehan until he requests me to stop. Simple as.

As if agreeing to my sentiment, LOD shook his head as a response. "Eh. It feels awkward to change it now."

"Well then, I may as well take a bath." I said ignoring the question... Now I don't have a reason to not bathe with everyone. I'm still going to though... 'Banter' has always pissed me off, whether it's my own, or other peoples. I just get annoyed at the shit other people say, parrot or quote to seem 'cool' and 'funny' I guess.

"Then I may as well take one too." replied Titanious. "Me too," LOD added.

...

Ah, just as I wanted. Not. Well, hopefully I won't come out of this absolutely hating them I guess.

-

Well, I was now undressed, and with LOD and Titanious, entered the bath... 

No, don't fantasize about me being naked! I was wearing a towel. I mean jeez, get your mind out of the gutter!

"Holy damn you're thin Doki..." LOD stated, looking to his own muscles, then back at mine... I didn't much care for body-building, any second I had was spent on games. Meaning exercise made up a whole 0% of my daily schedule. Maybe the reason for my good sleep is all the exercise I've been doing here lately, being actually fatigued when sleeping.

I thought about this for a while, then remembered the situation I was in...

I'll admit,  this is just weird to me, having people see me in a bath that is. I don't think I've had a last time... 

"By the way Doki, your speech whilst fighting that 'Sam' guy reminded me of someone." The obligatory banter started... 

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

Wait! Could LOD know my identity now? Eh, what am I worrying about. He wouldn't believe it's me anyway.

"That ABCs dick? Oh wow, he's good a gaming cause he clearly hacks, let's put him on a fucking podium and destroy the good nature of the esports scene!" Nio replied spitefully. Steam flowed off him whilst he was preaching. Hm, does Nio hate me or something for being good? How cute.

"You hate him Nio? Why? He's awesome in the way he absolutely butchers people who claimed they were pros. I've been his fan since that Brash tournament. Also, it's been proven that he doesn't hack or cheat. The Solarcraft cameras showed his APM was like 1000 solidly and legitimately did the inputs with perfect timing..." Gushed LOD.

 Oh damn, a fan. Quick, let's pretend that I'm not the ABC'sOfDatingSims for now, and just hope this hype dies down. A relative panic over what to do entered my mind. If people found out who I was, the number of duel requests would start again, leaving me with no time to actually have fun. Of course, my eternal poker-face maintained, I just hope LOD's telepathy wouldn't spoil it. 

It appears that Nio had started explaining himself. I, now feeling rude, started listening again.

"... I was finally able to go to a SolarCraft tournament live last year, and was so pumped for some good games. Just for that fucker to join in and annihilate everyone without losing a single unit in every game he played... It just made me sad. Especially when he taunted my favorite guy be giving a timing based Piano tutorial in the chat whilst playing, and still flawlessly won in about ten minutes," he sighed, his rant over. I can understand that, he wanted to see a good match with close games in with his favorite player, just for me to annihilate the bracket flawlessly... I'm sorry you supported such a noob I guess.

Curiosity build up in his face and body actions, and soon he continued. "Now that I think about it though, you really do look like that apathetic arsehole, Doki." Oh yeah, they showed a live-cam of the players whilst playing. Well, I guess I do surprisingly look like myself then. Without the mask though.

"It must be a coincidence... it's not like this look is that rare in Anglete anyway," I denied in a serious tone. As already stated, I loathe hassle. Yet, surprisingly, being the 'best gamer in the world' comes with alot of hassle. 

Well this is a game anyway. As my brown eye shows, it doesn't completely mirror your real looks. There isn't much risk of them finding out anytime soon then.

"The guy wore a mask anyway, so it's not like I could see his face. But he had a similar build and aura to you. But this a game after all." Explained Nio with a sigh of relief. I guess his gripe is strong, too bad the target of this gripe really is the apathetic me though.

Hm. Maybe I should go all out eventually and show these guys my true power... Nah. Maybe later when a challenge shows it's self. Thinking that I heard some muffled laughter coming from Titanious. LOD was visibly tickling him, and started teasing him as he did it.

"Ha. Sto. Op. It.""Such big muscles, you must be a ladies man or something!""Do-. Ki-. SAVE ME!" 

I looked at his muscles... Then my own... And seemingly out of spite, I tilted my head, then just walked off. 

"No~! Ple... please!" I got dressed in my usual garb whilst hearing Nio's final plead, going to Jeehan's room to see if he was awake.

Jeehan started to leave his room as I came. What a coincidence.

"Hey Jeehan. Everyone else is having a bath at the moment. We're planning to leave soon, so I'd hurry up and join them. We'll have breakfast afterwards," I explained.

"Okay. I gather you just left, so I'll see you at breakfast," Jeehan replied in a happy-go-lucky response. It's good to know he's happy, and that his family accepts us as his team.

I recounted how much of a pain it was to make them accept us, and was thankful it went as well as it did. I went to the kitchen, and was requested to set out the plates by Adam. I did, and about ten minutes later the rest joined us as breakfast was served. 

-

When we all finished eating, me, LOD, Nio and Jeehan went off on our journey, saying good bye to his family having promised a swift return.

Jeehan was instructing us, and as I added the usable skills from the Warp-smith subclass to my shortlist, it hit me. I never bothered to check the options screen. I did this and quickly found that there was a not so hidden mini-map option. I equipped this and realized Jeehan didn't know where he was going. I ignored the other options for now, since they weren't really worthwhile to alter right now.

"Hey, Jeehan. Are you sure this is the right way?" I asked. Knowing he should be saying 'no'.

"Um... I should be going the right direction," he answered obviously lying.

"You sure? Shouldn't we be going south and not north west?" I bombarded him with questions, knowing I was correct and he was wrong.

"How?!"

"There was a map in your home's library. I simply read it." I stated, lying myself. "We're going the wrong direction, since we're going towards the forest instead of Skimmington."

With my mutiny, LOD knowing how I actually knew through telepathy and Nio seeing though Jeehan's obvious lie, we went back and started to leave in the right direction. We hadn't been walking long anyway, we didn't waste any time.

"Sorry... I've never actually gone travelling, and no ones ever told me directions," Jeehan admitted, drooping over in disappointment.

"It's fine, we didn't waste much time anyway." LOD said, comforting Jeehan.

After this, the conversation ended. We ran into one or two mobs that got disintegrated by our attacks, but nothing major happened whilst walking. The others took in the scene, whilst I just walked, checking the mini-map routinely to judge our position. 

There was alot of light, indicating it was a sunny summers day. The scenery was probably awe-inspiring, with light bouncing off the sedimentation of the grass, with the wind flowing through it creating waves in a sea of green continuing for miles either side of us. But I didn't look since, shocking nobody, I cared not.

About half-way through our journey we found a cave. It looked out of place an mysterious, but it was also getting to be noon. And we wanted to get to Skimmington earlier than later. We unanimously voted to walk past the cave. and continued on to our goal. 

Eventually a greyish dot appeared on the horizon. When we got closer, I could make out more details. It was a wall, with the occasional roof popping out of it. 

The time now was three pm, so we had only walked for about six hours. And we were now at the gates of what I presume to be Skimmington. 

It was somewhat unguarded though, with little mobs spotted over the place. 

The buildings we could see from outside the gate were all boarded up. 

'What happened here?' We all seemed to ask ourselves.

We went in further to investigate.