Chapter 7

Fruit trees were growing along the road, cherry trees, apple trees and pear trees for what the young woman could see. Other varieties as well, that she didn’t know.

“Oh well, I say that I want to become stronger, but I don’t even know where to start.” It was the first time she talked since her lengthy tirade.

“You could start by taking a level or two, no?” It’s a basic after all…

“I know, but all the ways to make my level grow quickly are, well, dangerous, like fighting and exploring ruins or the like.”

True, npc only have one life after all, they can’t respawn like us… wait, but she’s a summoner, she ought to be different, right? What happens if she dies? The idea hit her like a speeding truck. Hey, system, what happens when a summoner dies? Fear had lightly veiled her mind.

* In the event of the death of the summoner, the summoned may resurrect them at a Whishes’ Shrine or any other spawning point whenever they want, in exchange for 50% * ((100 + (1 * day spent))/100 ) of their total Shards at the time of the summoner’s death.

Ah yes, of course, Uncle told you about it! Girl, stop thinking with your guts and start thinking with your brain! She scolded herself Whatever… nevertheless, at least half of your Shards, that’s really steep. I guess that’s the way the developers use to tell us, ‘Keep your fucking summoner alive!’...

“Something’s not right Big Sis’?”

“No, all green, don’t worr…” Wait. “What do you mean, Big Sis’?”

“Weeeeeell, you’ll stay with me from now on, no?” Affirmative nod. “And you will live with me, no?” Another nod.” Soooo, we’re a bit like family, right? And since you’re definitively not my mom, I thought you could be my Big Sis’, you know…?” The young girl blushed deeply. “You’re not ok with that?” Her eyes were begging the young woman.

Ho, fuck it then. Anyway it’s obvious that she needs a family right now… And I wanted to play a terrible evil queen, it’s dead… She thought jokingly. “Ahaha, agreed… little Sis’.” She said, bursting in laugh.

“Thank you.” Answered the young girl, fiddling.

Suddenly, an idea popped in Élet’s head, something she wanted to do but was a bit embarrassing too. She gathered her courage… “However, you’ll not call me Big Sis’, you’ll call me ‘Onee-chan’, understood?”

“Eeeh… why?”

“Because I like it more that way, at it still means big sis, just in another language. And now I am the one blushing, why am I doing that, it’s plainly dumb!

“Okay… Onee-chan?”

Kyaaa, it’s so embarrassing! But she’s soooooooo cute saying that! My god, Uncle will tease me to no ends… or his heart will melt, fifty/fifty for each case…

“Onee-chan… It sounds great, I like it!”

Phew, she likes it.

“So, why were you worried about now?” That’s when the little girl took her Onee-chan by surprise with a question that felt like a rugby player doing a tackle from a blind spot.

“Ah well…” between the embarrassment and the surprize of this question, the young woman was left speechless for a second. She quickly pulled herself back together. “Can you let me think about how I’ll answer this question of yours?”

“Of course, but don’t take too long, we’ll arrive at the village soon now, and it will be difficult to talk then, at least until we’re home.

“Understood.” One last confirmation is required… System, what’s de death penality and respawn condition of a player?

* In the event of a player’s death, the player will be subject to a temporary ban of the game for nine hours thirty-six minutes, real hours, or two days of in-game time. They may then respawn with next to their summoner or at any available previously registered respawn point of their choice

Hard enough as a condition but that’s what I expected seeing the way Uncle complains when he dies...

She spoke again. ”How to say this… Well, you see… I can’t die…” The little girl walked a few more steps beside Élet before stopping violently, having finally integrated the words of her big sister.

“What?”

“Yes. You see, when I take lethal damages, I’m thrown back in my world, where I can regenerate my wounds in around two days of time. When I’m finished, I can come back to you.”

“R-really? No. No, it’s impossible, no one can do that!” Exclaimed the young girl. "Lying is bad you know?"

“Hey, I’m still a goddess, no? What did you expect?”

“But… but that’s awesome!” Dzive seemed all thrilled.

“Yes, I know, but I’ve kept the best part for last…”

“What? What is it?”

“I dooon’t know, since you didn’t believe in me right away, I’m not sure I should say iiiiit…” She said with teasing voice.

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“Oh, please-please-please!”

“Okay okay just stop hitting me it hurts!”

“...Sorry Onee-chan.” She said in a repentant tone.

Mhooooooo, she is soooooo cute… No! Endure it, you need to scold her a bit! “I hope you are, hitting you loved Onee-chan like that and accusing her of lying.” She added with a falsely angered face.

“I promise to believe in you, so tell it please!”

At least she promised, I’ll deal with her violent tendencies later… “Well, that’s the deal: Since we’re linked, you’re immortal too. Just like me, you can’t really die, just be put aside for a time before being able to come back anew.” Her little sister frowned again, this time in an effort of understanding the idea, and her eyes lost themselves in the distance more and more as she was taking in all that this revelation implied.

“B-but that mean I can fight monsters and all!” A smile grew more and more on her face as she accepting the idea, a predatory smile.

The girl is quite down to earth isn’t she eh? “Sure but keep in mind to one that will heal you is me, and it’s not a pleasant process nor a free one so, if you could avoid dying, it would be great for both of us, okay?”

“Yes Onee-chan.” A gigantic smile was spread on her face.

I bet you didn’t listen at all did you? Bah, she will need to live it to understand it. “However don’t start shouting it from every rooftop. You already had a hard time accepting that I was immortal, you can imagine how the villagers would react if you were to tell them you’re now immortal. They would lock me like a madwoman and keep an eye on you forever for you to not do anything reckless because of what they think is a delusion, okay?”

“Understood! Not a word to anyone, it’s a promise Onee-chan!”

I love this game. She thought, faintly blushing again.

“Can we start walking again? It’s already the fourth time we stop after all, if we keep going like that it will be night when we will finish the village’s tour.”

“You’re right, let’s go.” Answered Élet. “Aaaaaah, but stop pulling me like that, at this rate you’ll really dislocate my shoulder!”

“Ahahah!” The fruit trees echoed with the laugh of the little one and the curses of her goddess.

***

“Oh Dzive, happy to see that you’re in good health!” As they reached the first house, a man hailed them. In on arm he had a baby not even one-year-old, and he was using the other to wave at them.

“Hello mister Anwic, I’m also relieved to have survived!” She answered in an energetic voice. Mister Anwic wait for the two girls to get close before carrying on with the discussion.

“My deepest condolences for your parents. I’m very sorry about what happened.” He had put his hand on Dzive’s shoulder to express his support.

“Everyone is sorry about it. Don’t worry about me, you know they would want me to keep going.”

He nodded slightly, silently acknowledging her words. “And who is the gorgeous miss at your side?” His tone was now energetic like Dzive’s, if a bit perverted too.

“You know that you’ll make Mistress Anwic made jealous if you talk like that, hmhmm?”

“Ah, she would have hanged me at least six times already if she was that sensitive, brat.” He answered in a tone full of confidence, a laughing spark in his eyes.

”I know I know. Sorry but I need to give a tour to our newest dweller, we can’t stay.” She answered back in a falsely apologetic tone.

“That’s perfect I was precisely going to Nana’s temple, we will be able to make part of the trip together.” He retorted in a cunning voice.

“...What's going on between you two?” Élet’s question was like felt like a hair in the soup. For a time, the only sounds that could be heard were the one coming from the village’s life and from the baby in M.Anwic’s arms, who was taking a particular liking to his father’s beard.

They finally pulled themselves back together, turning their head toward Élet. “Yes sorry, I forgot you were new. We’ve not a lot of new inhabitant around here. But don’t worry, we don’t blame you.” Said M.Anwic

“You see…” added Dzive. “...I think that the only one ever that interrupt us when we’re bullshitting like that is Mistress Anwic. We just like teasing the other, we’ve the same humour sense in a way. It’s like a verbal sparring match, if you want.”

“...Oh. Oooooh.” She looked at both of them with a very serious gaze. ”Well then keep going, my goal wasn’t to interrupt you two.”

“Too late.” Ah fuck, I fucked with their momentum. The kept walking and talking, stopping from time to time to greet people that said hello to them, answering to their encouraging, grieving or relived words toward Dzive.

“Now that we’re here, why wouldn’t you introduce you, young girl?” Asked M.Anwic to Élet.

Young girl? Who’s a young girl? He’s not even ten years older than me and he calls me young girl? She thought, indignant. “Well, old man, We call ourselves Élet but know it’s a rare honour for someone like you to be able to call us that way, as we’re normally called Lady your sacrosanct divine holiness.” She answered in a mocking tone.

“Oh? I think we’ll be doing great together, Lady your sacrosanct divine holiness.” Had had difficulties not laughing has he was answering her. Suddenly, his face became a lot more solemn. “More seriously, you’re the one that saved the kid, right? I think you’ve already heard it quite a lot, but I’ll still say it: from the bottom of my heart, thank you.” His gaze was totally honest as he was saying those words while looking at her. After a bit more walking, they finally arrived at the temple.

“Well, this is where our paths separate, for today at least. I’m looking forward to have another fighter with such a sharp tong, that will spice our verbal jousting quite a bit, so come visit us when you’ve the time.” And he went away in the building, the baby still in his arms.

It looks like a roman catholic church, with their heavy wall and tiny windows.

“Do you want to pay a visit to Nana, or are we going home right away?”

“Let’s go home, I’ll need to take a break in the other world soon, introductions can wait. Yep, if those windows say the truth, I’m hungry and I need to go to the bathroom.

“Didn’t you say that you only needed to go back when you were dying?” Asked Dzive with tears in her eyes.

“No no, that’s when I’m forced to go back, but I also need to rest from time to time. You see, coming her take quite a toll on me. But don’t worry, I’ll only be away for three or four hours at most, after that I’ll come back, okay?”

“...Okay. But first, I show you our home, Onee-chan!”

“Of course little sister, go ahead.”

***

Isn’t this place like, really great? Thought Élet in awe. Noticing the gaze of her Onee-chan, the little one couldn’t help herself and stick out her chest as she was gloating.

“My home is great, right? It’s mom that made it for dad as a wedding present!”

Nani? Her shock had to have appeared on her face, because the young girl added. “Yes, surprising isn’t it? Normally, custom wants that the husband builds a house for his wife before the wedding can take place, but Mom and Dad had always been doing whatever they wanted.” She said proudly.

That’s great but… “I’m sorry little sister, I really need to go…” Élet said with an apologetic tone.

“Don’t worry, you promised that you would come back, and I believe in you, remember? Go ahead, but don’t take too much time, please. I really want you to be with me.”

“It’s a promise then! I’ll come back quickly!” She kissed Dzive’s head and touched her bracelet to open the main menu. Deconnexion… please, system? And she wasn’t there anymore…