After exiting the VR machine, Ricardo laid on his bed–contemplating the unremarkable whiteness of the ceiling–as he went through Johnny's answer once again. Well, the guy who called himself Johnny.
How should I refer to him? Not-Johnny? Fake Johnny? The farcical J?
Anyway, he had admitted that the original Johnny, his older brother, had died two years ago. That was before meeting Minerva; even before Virtual Connection's launch.
The real Johnny never played VC.
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Minutes after 2pm, mom's yell startled Ricardo from his bed. He turned towards his window, an ominous cloud darkening the summer sky. It was Thursday, only Minerva, mom and him would eat at home. He descended the stairs quietly–his skin damp under his clothes, product of equal parts ambient humidity and sweat. The dining room welcomed him gloomy and empty.
Instants later, Minerva came from the kitchen with a cooked veggie salad. She muttered a greeting and took her seat in front of him. As she sluggishly speared a piece of broccoli, Ricardo couldn't help staring. His sister's VR life was upended after the break up. Amelia would leave soon too. When Minerva raised her head, she surely looked lonely and hurt.
Maybe he was just projecting.
Even after mom arrived with their plates, Ricardo couldn't stop pondering the situation. Amelia leaving would be a big hit. They probably would keep in contact by Prichat, or maybe even VC. It still wouldn't be the same–not for Minerva.
Or for him.
Lunchtime ended as it started–in silence. Ricardo had been the last one to finish, as preoccupied as he was. He hadn't even noticed when mom left for the kitchen.
“Want one?”
Minerva's voice woke Ricardo from his musings. His eyes fell to the painkiller pills in his sister's outreaching hand.
“No need. Thank you.”
“Alright.”
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That afternoon Ilaria did a double take as she materialized in Virtual Connection. The lake was ethereal. Unlike real life, the sun beamed in the sky, coating the water surface in gold. Of course it was fake. As everything else in the game.
Ilaria turned around, finding herself face to face with a snorting swan. Its white feathery body seemed so fluffy. Could she touch it? She extended her slender arm–slowly, almost there.
Damn.
The stupid bird flapped its wings twice, taking flight right under her nose. Ilaria was taken aback, falling backwards on her bottom. Luckily, there wasn't anyone to witness it. She stood up and took a return scroll, not feeling like crossing the undergrowth back to the civilization.
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Ilaria reappeared in front of the fountain in Torinelo City Central Plaza. She smoothed her combat dress before walking towards the street that would led her to the Arena District. It was already past 4pm, new players jumped into the city here and there–light in their eyes and a smile on their faces. She had been one of them not too long ago.
She strolled the wide street, smooth cobbles in an orderly pattern under her boots. The shops that lined at the sides appeared to be unique, but Ilaria could discern the variations sprinkled on top of a handful of basic modules. Everything was too symmetric, too perfect to be real.
Ilaria slowed her pace as she approached the Training Hall's block. Would Amy be there? She hadn't seen her since Wednesday morning. That was only yesterday. She had learned so much in that time.
The mage stopped before turning the corner–which would put her in front of the entrance–closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. She didn't want to quarrel with Amy. She still owed the elf an apology, though that was harder to digest. Ilaria couldn't help feeling betrayed.
And she hated herself for it.
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Ilaria hadn't needed to be worried after all–only Diana and Kyle were waiting for her. She still looked around just in case. No signs of the blond elf nearby. No red button on her display either.
The catgirl welcomed her with her usual smile and strode ahead, her ears moving rhythmically as she navigated the corridor. Ilaria and Kyle followed a step behind, walking side to side.
“Amy isn't coming today either?” asked Kyle, almost to her ear.
“I guess she isn't.” Ilaria turned her head, looking at the taller warrior. His youthful face showed her a half-smile.
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The trio trained for about an hour–mainly one on one–though they also had a mock battle of Ilaria and Kyle against Diana. They did beat her, though it wasn't as lopsided as it sounded. Ilaria had earned the last point with a fireball to the back, after the rogue had gotten tangled with Kyle on the floor.
“I gotta go for a bit.” said Diana, getting up after the battle. “You can do your daily DD; I'll be back soon.”
“Okay.” Ilaria crossed sights with Kyle, who just nodded.
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The first couple of rounds of the Dungeon Date–direwolves and hawks–didn't demand much from their team at their current levels. Ilaria went back to dwell on Johnny; he still owed her one last question. Meanwhile, her body went through the motions, taking advantage of Kyle's tanking pattern to finish their foes from behind. Fighting together did bring a sense of camaraderie.
Did Minerva and Johnny experienced the same? Ilaria had thought the whole dating RPG concept was dumb in the first place. Yet, after only three weeks, she could see it working.
“Step back!”
Ilaria obeyed reflexively, Kyle meeting the misty hoof against shield. She had forgotten about the door behind her.
“Sorry. I got distracted,” said Ilaria, in-between fireballing the nightmare.
“Don't worry. I got your back.”
Even while fending off their current target, Kyle kept looking sideways, crossing sights with his mage. Ilaria gave him what hopefully was a reassuring smile, refocusing on the current battle. Nightmares were still tough at their levels. Yet, they had plenty of experience to draw from in their way to clearing the round.
Fourth wave: Fifteen heartbroken otterflies
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Next round was otterflies–the mage grinning as she shot them down–she still remembered the pain from their first encounter. At their current capabilities, it was easier than the nightmare one, finishing it with time to spare.
“Are you alright?”
“Don't worry, my mana bar is half-full,” answered Ilaria. Kyle wasn't really asking about that, though. She didn't deserve him.
“If there's anything, you can tell me. Or Diana,” said Kyle, positioning himself to Ilaria's back. “We are friends, don't we?”
“Yeah...
Fifth wave: Twelve shadowlurker Nagas
The naga's appearance interrupted Ilaria, forcing her to aim and shoot in rapid succession. Kyle had engaged the closest naga–the one coming from the door behind them–but Ilaria would need to kill at least one of the rapidly approaching foes at their both sides.
They were her friends–or at least they would be, if she hadn't deceived them from the start. Would Diana and Kyle forgive her? Maybe not, but it was their right to know.
“Heal, please.”
“Going.”
Ilaria turned around, touching Kyle's neck briefly to cast the spell. The warrior had already engaged a second naga. Ilaria–having already killed her first target–refocused on the battle, shooting the most damaged naga from behind the tank.
Ilaria had known she would need to tell the truth long time ago–even before Mina suggested it. She had been making excuses ever since, yet it would only get more difficult the more she delays it. After they get back from the Dungeon Date, she would expose everything.
She wouldn't end up like Johnny.
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The Dungeon Date ended, predictably, with the salamanders' arrival. They had almost finished the nagas, getting them a sizable chunk of experience. It was getting repetitive, though. Unlike the under-20 DD, they weren't leveling fast enough to make a difference from day to day.
“I guess we won't be clearing this DD anytime soon,” said Ilaria, facing Kyle as they reappeared in the practice room.
“It seems so,” said Kyle, smiling at her. “Maybe it's time to grind seriously. A few extra levels should make a difference.”
“Yeah.”
Ilaria looked around as she spun her wand. Diana wasn't back yet. She paced a bit, thinking how she would breach the topic.
“Do you want to spar for a bit?” asked Kyle. “Even as a mage, you need to be able to defend yourself in close quarters for PVP.”
“Okay.”
Ilaria welcomed the distraction, letting the warrior guide her in the use of her flimsy shield. It wouldn't resist a direct impact, but she could deflect. If she combined it with turns and sidesteps, she might be able to get a bit of space–enough to shoot. She wouldn't be so defenseless against Diana.
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“I'm back! Sorry for the wait.”
The door of the practice room had opened soundlessly, Diana's voice catching Ilaria's attention. She had been gone for the better part of an hour. And there was another person coming behind the catgirl.
“Hello,” said Amy, still halfway obscured by Diana.
Ilaria froze as her eyes recognized the elf. She had taken for granted that she wouldn't see Amy today.
“Hi. I'm glad you could make it,” said Kyle, shortening the distance.
“Sorry for being late,” said Amy, in a subdued voice.
Ilaria crossed sights with the elf, immediately looking aside. Their last meeting ended awkwardly–they had yet to talk about it.
“Now that we are four, lets do a team battle,” said Diana, picking up the bracelets. “I already went through the basics with Amy.”
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For the combat practice, Ilaria and Kyle would go against Amy and Diana. Both teams went towards their respective starting circles, waiting the countdown.
“I'll try to engage Diana,” said Kyle, setting himself in front of the mage. “Focus on Amy.”
“Okay.”
As the horn blared, Kyle jogged forward, Ilaria following a couple steps behind. The rogues, on the other hand, approached zigzagging; taking two distinct, parallel routes. The mage shot a few times at Diana, the catgirl evading without much trouble. Amy would be an easier target. Yet, Ilaria hesitated in going for the elf in what was her first player combat.
After a few seconds, both teams met in the middle of the room. Diana took a step forward–engaging Kyle–while Amy ran in an arch past her. The catgirl's daggers met the warrior's spear and shield as they spun in a clanging dance.
“You have improved,” said Diana, a wide grin on her face.
“I would hope so,” said Kyle, glancing sideways at Ilaria as he rotated. Amy was already closing in.
The mage was forced to engage, shooting Amy for the first time. It was a straight Mana bolt, easily evaded. The elf continued the motion with a dagger slash, which Ilaria deflected. Thanks to the earlier training, the mage sidestepped after the attack, getting out of range of a following left-handed slash.
Ilaria kept moving–evading or blocking–being nicked a handful of times. She didn't shoot anymore, though. It resembled the time she had helped Amy train outside the caverns.
“You don't need to go easy on me,” said Amy, her blue eyes staring at the mage.
“I'm not used to this either,” said Ilaria, blocking another slash.
Ilaria would need to shoot at some point–using the wand as a blunt weapon was out of question. She struggled to get right the timing, pondering for a second too long.
Not having to worry about being hit, Amy increased the rhythm of her slashes, her blond braid swaying as she spun around. When the elf overcommitted in a two-handed attack, Ilaria finally decided to attack.
She sent a Fireball towards Diana.
Diana and Kyle had been going in circles awhile, the former in a frantic whirling that sometimes positioned her back towards Ilaria. The catgirl seemingly hadn't considered being shot by the mage at all.
The Fireball impacted Diana in the small of her back, making her tumble. Kyle went in, impaling his sister without delay.
They got the first point.
“I didn't expect that,” said Diana, letting Kyle help her to her feet.
“Sorry.” Ilaria still didn't process the catgirl going down like that. She was sure Diana would evade the shot while flashing a smile.
“You did well,” said Diana, laughing. “It was my fault. I got too caught up with Kyle that I forgot the surroundings.”
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For the second point, the setup was the same. The rogues evaded Ilaria's shots as they went forward to meet at the middle. This time, the mage did shoot at Amy. Most bolts still went towards the catgirl.
Amy closed in with a serious face and furrowed brows, slashing at Ilaria as fast as Diana would. The elf did leave herself open, but the mage only poked with the wand for minimal damage.
“You are infuriating,” said Amy, glaring.
Ilaria had been scratched in the elbow, before retreating a couple of steps. She risked a look towards Diana. As engaged as she was, the catgirl did take care of not giving Ilaria a direct shooting chance.
The mage returned her focus to Amy–she was nowhere in sight.
“Wha...”
Ilaria felt the cold metal plunging in, itchy warmness spreading through her side. Too surprised to turn around–Amy's heavy breathing in her ear as her only warning–Ilaria found the other dagger poking at her throat.
“Got you.” Amy slashed.
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Ilaria finished the combat kneeling in the dirt of the practice room. Of course it had been her fault–she had underestimated Amy. Diana had yet to use Stealth in combat; it had slipped out of her mind. Still, the coldness in her voice before she slashed. It was so uncharacteristic of her.
“Don't mind it,” said Kyle, extending his hand to help her stand.
Amy was being congratulated by Diana, blushing from the attention. She lowered her head as her eyes met Ilaria's.
“We need to go now for dinner,” said Diana, looking apologetically. “There's a storm warning. Mom gets extra strict on those days.”
“It's okay,” said Ilaria. “See you tomorrow?”
“Of course.” Diana grinned as both Kyle and her disappeared in a flash of light.
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Ilaria and Amy remained in the center of the big, empty room. She knew she had to apologize for her words of the day before. But, after learning of Amy's plans from Claire, taking the first step was hard.
“Sorry.” Amy approached Ilaria first, talking in a low voice.
“Don't be. That's the game.” Ilaria interlocked her fingers as she went through her thoughts.
I'm...
“It isn't just that.” Amy locked her blue eyes on Ilaria's. “There are things I've been keeping from you.”
Ilaria froze in the spot. In that instant she surely felt the non-existent VR heart pumping in her chest, as she voicelessly followed Amy's lips.
“Wait for me. In a few days I'll tell you everything."