Ricardo hadn't realized how much pressure he had been under until talking with Amy. When he got out of the VR machine it was raining in Lima, yet he couldn't help smiling. Her having gone ahead and taken the first step was a blessing. Technically, she still hadn't told him. However, it wasn't all that important. He already knew. That she decided he was worth telling to, that meant everything.
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Next morning, Ricardo's room was illuminated by the warmest of suns, no cloud visible in the sky. He sipped from his iced coffee while doodling on a notebook with the mechanical pencil that had been his Christmas gift. Nowadays he seldom used paper for anything. The notebook–one he bought for University–wasn't even half-full.
Now that he had slept it over, it dawned to him that what Amy had said didn't really change anything. She was still leaving after summer ends. It was kinda hard to accept; they depended so much on her.
He had the training practice with Johnny at ten-thirty. After that, he would hopefully get the answer to the last question. Did it matter? Johnny had been a farce from the beginning.
Not any different from Ilaria.
Although, if the real Johnny was the older brother, then the guy behind the character couldn't be that old–his age at max. Maybe that part hadn't been a lie.
Was the real guy ugly? Why would he hide behind his older brother's mask? Could Johnny have a chance for redemption?
Minerva's relationship with him was over, but part of her VR life could still be salvaged. That was it. There was only one thing left to ask Johnny.
Who are you in real life?
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“Ilaria! You are early again.” Flo waved in front of the Training Hall. Her gold and green combat dress sparkled as she came out of the shade of a statue of a warrior throwing his spear.
Ilaria smiled, following Flo inside the building, looking for a green-numbered door. She silently pondered, watching the red numbers ascend as they went through the hallway. She had arrived early on purpose. Maybe she could extract some information about Johnny from his friends–he would be late for sure. Besides, she didn't have anything better to do in real life.
“Finally, number sixty-three,” said Flo, opening the door.
“If things are like this Friday morning, I wonder if we'll be able to get a room in the weekend,” said Ilaria, entering after Flo.
There were only a hundred rooms available in the Training Hall at any given time. Of course, they could add more in the next scheduled maintenance. That was half a week away, though.
“Edu should be here in ten minutes,” said Flo, taking out her wand and shield.
“You log earlier than him,” said Ilaria, materializing her handbag. It was a quarter past ten.
“We both have summer classes at the uni. But his always ends up going overtime. I don't get what's so engaging about biology.” Flo's high-pitched voice flirted with a laugh.
“Are you both at the same University?”
“No, no.” Flo smiled as she answered. “Not even in the same city. I'm in Buenos Aires, he's from Córdoba.”
The last mention evoked a memory.
“Does he know Johnny? I mean, in real life.” Ilaria risked the question. Córdoba was the city where Minerva wanted to spend the most time during their trip–Johnny must live there.
“No, he has never seen Johnny outside VC,” said Flo. “From the guild, Wanora's the only one.”
Wanora, huh? That was a dead end; she would rather ask Johnny directly. Though, it was telling that the Guildmaster knew about his lies and still covered for him.
“Johnny's reserved, but he's a good friend,” added Flo, interrupting Ilaria's musings. “Give him time and he'll open up.”
Why was everyone defending him? Ilaria kept trying the two-shot trick, and kept missing the timing.
The girls had barely started their One-eyed Wand training when Edu arrived. He let them continue though, seemingly entertained with something in his viewpoint. An contrary to Ilaria's expectations, Johnny did arrive on time, shortly after Edu.
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The horn blared, prompting the warriors to get into a run. Ilaria counted and followed, always a couple of steps behind Johnny. Even after admitting the day before being a fraud, he had greeted his friends nonchalantly in front of her–not even a bit of guilt in his voice.
“Be careful,” said Johnny, just as a bolt passed centimeters from Ilaria's side.
“I'll be,” replied Ilaria, grinning while answering with a bolt of her own.
Contrary to their previews matches, Flo had left the shadow of Edu from the beginning. The pair must had planned it in advance–the warrior favoring his left side while his mage advanced in that flank. Ilaria could have moved in the opposite direction, targeting Edu while keeping the tanks between Flo and her. But why would she? If the opposing mage wanted a direct confrontation, she was more than willing to comply.
The Mana bolts went back and forth, Ilaria zigzagging as she shortened the distance. Different from Flo–who mostly went in a straight line and had already suffered a few hits–she had yet to receive damage.
A couple of exchanges later, Flo yelped as the mages came face to face in close quarters. Ilaria couldn't resist winking, before doing a full turn and shooting a Fireball to Flo's back.
First point scored.
“You are truly mean,” said Flo, laughing as she complained. “Couldn't you play with me for a bit before going for the kill?”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“Sorry. I'm not good enough to take it easy.” Ilaria's face warmed as she was saying it. It might have sounded pompous, but it was true nonetheless. Diana was at a level where she knew how to hold back–she wasn't.
For the whole first match Flo engaged Ilaria directly. The later did try her best to make it fulfilling, but it was hard. Both of them were squishy mages playing with level 35 stats. Not even using Fireballs, a handful of Mana bolts was be enough to down either one of them.
It didn't last long.
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“Did you have fun with Flo?” asked Johnny, showing her one of his perfect winks.
“I made an effort,” said Ilaria, smiling and immediately feeling guilty about it. Edu and Flo had interrupted their training for a Dungeon Date–to 'shake things up', or so they said.
“Don't worry. They are probably planning a new strategy right now.” said Johnny. “You can take Flo at face value. She's incapable of deceit.”
Unlike you.
Of course she didn't voice her thoughts. It would be too shameless for her–she had been misleading Diana and Kyle from the get-go.
“Have you ever thought about telling them? About your true self, I mean.” Ilaria struggled with her words. In her case, she had already concluded she must.
“Why would I?” Johnny stared at her, grinning. “I'm quitting soon anyway. Telling them would only devalue our experiences together.”
“I mean, you wouldn't necessarily need to quit...”
“Are you gonna miss me?” Johnny's grin turned into a predatory smile.
Ilaria looked aside, mad at herself. He had pushed her buttons on purpose–she wouldn't let him change the topic, though. “I barely know you, but they do. You have been playing together for months.”
“They know 'Johnny', not me. You might know more about my real self than them, or anyone else in the guild.”
“I doubt that's the case, even if you don't look the same in real life.” Ilaria knew it wasn't–Wanora was a given. But even with Edu, she had seen their expressions as they fought against each other. It was frustrating looking at Johnny. She wondered if Amy and Mina thought the same about her.
Ilaria couldn't help it, the words gushing from a broken dam. “Most people don't look exactly the same inside VC either, but it doesn't mean they are a different person. There are plenty of elves, catpeople and such. Even if it started as playing a character, part of yourself is already in Johnny. No way around it.”
And if he could make it work, then she could too. Ilaria glanced at the stiff warrior, trying to catch a glimmer of understanding.
“I guess I was wrong.” Johnny didn't smile anymore. He turned around and walked towards the door. “You don't know anything.”
He's mad. This might be it for today.
Ilaria flinched as a projectile was throw in her direction. It was a red bracelet, which she scrambled to catch with the tip of her pinkie. Johnny–wearing the blue one–walked to the opposite side of the room.
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The one-on-one combat started with Johnny closing the distance in a straight line, covered by his shield. Ilaria decided to not move–close quarters wouldn't favor her. She shot instead, using her shield to change angles. The warrior still blocked them, but the effort slowed his approach.
If I...
The thrust of a spear interrupted the mage's planning–Johnny was already in attack range. Ilaria moved to the side and let the spear slide against her shield. Doing a half turn, she shot again, forcing Johnny to halt the attack. She kept moving, completing the spin and generating a two-step buffer from the warrior.
“Mana bolt.” Ilaria's shot flew towards the warrior's left side. He barely deflected with a twist of his tower shield.
Johnny wasn't proficient in single combat–particularly in the aggressor role. It made sense, Virtual Connection hadn't had any player-vs-player content until a few days ago. Playing in a party against monsters, the tank would seldom initiate any attack–Kyle and Dave drew from their experience in different games.
“You are surprisingly good.” Johnny's smirk was a callback to unpleasant memories.
“I might be.” Ilaria didn't hide the edge in her voice. She prepared for an attack.
“This could get more interesting. Let's make a bet.” Johnny pointed his spear towards the mage.
“What kind of?” Ilaria clutched her shield, not being too trustful of the brief respite.
“If you win, I'll tell Edu and Flo that I'm not Johnny in real life.” It was obvious he didn't consider it likely.
“And if I lose?”
“Then you will tell them who you really are,” Johnny met the mage's glare and laughed.
Ilaria froze, almost dropping her wand.
Did Johnny figure who she is?
Maybe she had pressed him too much earlier. Maybe she hadn't been girly enough. Maybe she was just too beautiful. No, it couldn't be. If he knew she was Mina's sibling, he would have cut her out long ago. She shook her head and steeled herself. No way out now.
“Accepted.”
Johnny pressed in with a flurry of spear thrusts in lieu of a reply. Having played against rogues like Diana and Amy, Ilaria found his movements slow and predictable. The tower shield didn't help either. That being said, Ilaria hadn't dealt any significant damage to the warrior so far. If she had infinite mana, she would eventually win. But, as things were going, she would run out long before that.
“No Mana bolts left?” Johnny shrugged a Force bolt and went forward for a slash.
“You wish.” Ilaria stepped back, getting nicked in the tight.
She had started to mix in Force bolts when her mana pool hit the quarter mark. Sadly, Johnny could tank them with little consequence. She only needed to tell Edu and Flo, she might be able to keep it a secret from Johnny.
Or lie.
Johnny slashed again, getting her across her right side as she belatedly tried to turn. The mage spent a Mana bolt in getting a few steps of separation. A red button flickered in the far right corner. She couldn't figure a way out. And her remaining mana closed on ten percent.
“Getting tired?” Johnny pushed forward, not giving the mage any extra time.
“As if I could.”
Ilaria kept moving, getting into a rhythm that she could sustain. As long as she favored Johnny's left side as she turned, she would be fine–the bulky tower shield wouldn't surprise her. Damaging the tank–that was the issue.
“The bet is only to tell Edu and Flo, not you,” said Ilaria, shooting a Force bolt as she stepped back. “Aren't you curious yourself?”
“Not really,” answered Johnny, making a pause in his attacks. “Ilaria is all I need. We won't be seeing each other for much longer anyway.”
Ilaria had been half-listening while doing numbers in her head. Johnny's Combat Points were still too high. With her remaining mana, the only plausible way to beat him was a point blank Fireball.
When the combat restarted, the mage was ready.
The Spear thrust targeted her left side–Ilaria would normally step back or spin, using her right foot as a pivot. This time, she pressed her flimsy shield against her breast and moved her right foot, meeting the spear sideways. The spear slided against her shield with a screech, making a itchy gash as the steel ended into cloth, biting into the flesh within.
Johnny glanced at her, a question in his eyes.
And that was enough. She got her right hand under the spear, the ruby in her wand touching Johnny's chest plate. Her elbow felt a dull impact and then she was falling. Doesn't matter.
“Fireball.”
The two tangled bodies rolled in the dirt, red fire in-between. Ilaria got crushed by the armored warrior–burning chest and dull aches all around. And then nothing. The combat was over.
Johnny laughed.
It had been a tie.