Chapter 5 “End of the month”

Normally in MMORPG your avatar is always running. You usually don’t walk around like in normal life because it would simply take too much time. When you control a character with the keyboard you don’t get tired. Running option is always ON. There are some special cases when people walk because they want to role-play, however when someone look at them from afar, that someone would found it strange and have a good laugh.

VRMMORPG is different though. Just like in real life you normally don’t run around unless you are jogging and try to keep yourself in fit. You usually wear some sport clothes if you do that, so at least it doesn’t look that strange. Of course in this case there are exceptions as well, but if someone starts to run around in suit, he will look really suspicious. In some cases even police may try to stop that person. In VRMMO you control your body just like in real life. Players and especially beginners are somewhat embarrassed to run without a reason and instead they simply walk. Also they mostly don’t know where to go in the first place. If you are going to get lost anyway, there is no need to run. Of course in this case there also are some exceptions as well. One of those exceptions was Arata. For a nearly full month he already ran so many times, that his walking period compared to that was no existing. Just like yesterday and the day before he is running through the avenues of the beginner’s city. Although there is also a small difference compared the others days. For the first time he really knows exactly, which way he should go.

-follow the light, follow the light, it so nice to have a quest like that, the reward is great, and there are no tricks, oh how long has it been?

He was actually singing it out loudly, when he was running. He was following the light that came out from the orb that he held in his hand.

Arata was on the quest that he received at this very night. Although the person that gave it to him said it was urgent, sleep was way more important for Arata, he already skipped a night before and this time there was no force that would make him move from the bed. After nine hours of sleep, he woke up. Now refreshed he could run all day long. Even if he wasn’t really sure about this quest, he couldn’t resist the offer of reward that awaited him.

“How did quest with rank 9 ended up in the city full of beginners I don’t know but reward like this will tempt anyone.”

Normally it would require a full balanced party to do the quest of level 9, but Arata somehow managed to get all the information’s that were required to complete it from a quest giver. He had no idea how the quest system and NPCs worked but questgiver who feels bad about his deeds and decide to help the person who he gave a quest is unthinkable. At least for a normal game, which EOA was not.

“Lucky, I found a bug.”

That was the only reasonable explanation for him and he didn’t pray any further than this. After all it was to his advantage. It didn’t take more than two hours when he finally spotted as the light for the first time started to point up upwards instead of straight. It pointed in direction of the tree. It was somewhat suspicions but Arata moved underneath it but that was his mistake.

-Wawa, waaaaaaaa!

He heard some strange sounds and look up. Then he heard sound of breaking branches but he couldn’t see much from the point where he was as green leafs blocked his view. With another sound of breaking branches suddenly ‘something’ jumped out from the tree and attacked him. Unable to react fast enough Arata got hit. He was on the ground in one shot. He also got short stunning effect and his HP decreased by 20%.

“Ambush! I knew that something was going to come up with this quest”.

Even now ‘something’ was crushing him. But then that something stood up and started to talk.

-I alive! Wawa, I thought will be dead for sure. Waaaa! My health is still 100%. Looks like nothing will happen if you fall from that height.

The creature turned out to be a person, a girl in fact. She had long and unrealistic blue hair and somewhat pleasant face to watch. She was also wearing gray-white cloak, which was uncommon for a player in this city, because everyone just like Arata were wearing the same thing, the beginner clothing. They differed in color but were mostly the same.

“NPC or player? She doesn’t look like a player but she said HP just now, let’s check.”

As he crossed his fingers and checked the girl’s status.

The girl on the other hand moved to the place where Arata’s magical orb that he got from the Wizard what lying. She picked it up and looked at it with interest. Then she spotted Arata.

Normally when you run into someone you at least tell the second person ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘are you alright?’ if it was a strong hit. Falling on someone from a tree could be added to that category. That was at least what Arata thought. He slowly got up and started looking at the girl and waited for an apology. The girl on the other hand.

-wawaaaa!…

She made some weird noises again and started to run away at her top speed.

“What just happened?”

Arata thought to himself but he didn’t think much about it as he had other things to do right now.

“You never know what to except. But it wasn’t an ambush it’s seems. Now then where is the orb?”

Arata couldn’t find it in his hand nor did it lie anywhere near.

-a...

Then he started to run in the direction where girl just went. He soon spotted her as she was resting from the run, he also spotted that she had his orb in her hand.

“So her target was the orb.”

He thought that he found out her reason why she attacked him. As he was getting closer he shouted.

-thief I found you!

At that moment ‘the thief’ started to run in panic. But as he was getting closer to her he heard something that sounded very strange to him.

-waaaa! Why are you following me!?

-don’t play with me thief!

He replayed.

-why do you call me a thief?

-you prefer the assassin then? Indeed you ambushed me first.

-I don’t know what you are talking about, I am a good person.

-a good person doesn’t attack people and stole their things.

-I didn’t steal anything!

“You play innocent don’t you, but there is no way anyone would fall for that especially when.”

-so why do you have stolen object in your hand?

The girl looked at her hand and told him another obvious lie.

-I just picked it up, I didn’t steal it.

-then why are you running? The person who runs, always have something on conscience.

-because you are chasing me!

“Where is logic in that? No never mind, I don’t want to waste time on that.”

-in that case, on the three, both of us stops, you give me back my item and we walk off like nothing have happened, ok?

-okay!

She answered him still running on full speed. They were no more than one meter apart from each other.

-one… two… three!...

On signal Arata slowed down, but the girl did not and once again the distance increased.

“Okay, I tricked myself with this one. But now I had enough.”

[Lighting speed activated]

With double speed he again catch up to her in seconds. He jumped at her and brought her to the ground. As soon as he did that girl dropped the orb. Arata got up and picked it up right away. Then he looked at the thief.

It was somewhat strange sight for him as the girl was lying on the ground holding her hands around her knees.

“Wait, wait, wait, wait! She ambushed me, stolen my item and ran away. Then she broken the promise to stop and now she is making it like I am the bad guy.”

-hey, no one will fall for that…

As he said that again looked at her face, it was a little wet near eyes. Then he remembered something that his grandfather told him once.

“-no matter what, the man who makes a girl cry, is a trash.”

“But I didn’t do anything!”

His logic was screaming like that, however his eyes were showing him a girl who was lying on the ground trembling in fear of him right now. Arata decided to do something about it.

-hey look, I know that you did many things but I forgive you, no hard feelings okay, you can walk off and I won’t do anything to you…

That sentence didn’t help much so he tried again.

-nothing is going happen to you. Hey, hey, you hear me? Don’t worry next time your ambush will go better. I know this orb looks expensive but it’s a quest item you can’t sell it or use it.

That didn’t help either. Arata tried different approach.

-okay what do you say, I will give one gold coin for your effort.

After that he finally got an answer from her.

-why would you give money to someone you attacked?

-I didn’t do anything, no maybe I did and I have a memory lost.

-waaa… scary person with memory lost.

-as if that would happen! Anyway what is your point of view then?

He asked her because her actions were strange. He didn’t expect an answer, but to his surprise she started to talk. A lot at that.

-I was climbing the tree for my own reasons then something blinded me. I lost my footing and fall down from a tree. Although I thought that I will die at first it turned out that my health didn’t go down at all. Then I spotted interesting object on the ground that looked like a crystal ball. I picked it up and wanted to look for its owner. Then suddenly a strange person came out from nowhere, like from the underground. So I decided to run away, but then that strange person started to chase me. He was really fast and he finally caught up. He jumped at me and brought me to the ground. After that he started to say things like I stole something from him and now he wants to torture me even though I didn’t do anything. I sit down in fear knowing that I can’t run away and now I am waiting for my demise. Waaaaaaa!...Oh yes, the strange person is you.

That story was somewhat different from what Arata had seen but regardless.

-why do you call me a strange person and talk about me in third person view, no never mind that. Just forget it but I have an advice for you.

-yes?

-don’t run if you don’t have a reason for it. It looks suspicious. At least have a clear reason for it no some fairy tales. Anyway, good bye I don’t have time for you.

As he said that he looked at his orb, and now he realized it didn’t shine anymore like it before and Arata quickly arrived at conclusion.

-orb broke… noooooooo my reward!..

Arata said loudly.

Of course he wasn’t talking about the item that he would get. He would get rid of it eventually as his level went up, but about the second reward which was far more precious.

-I knew it. It was too easy for a quest like that. Follow the light he said, but how I am supposed to do that now?

Arata was talking it out loudly and he forgotten about the person right before him. The girl was looking at the orb with great interest.

“She must finally feel some guilt about her deeds”

He thought when he saw her. Then he heard.

-your orb broke? ...

The girl asked him

“And whose fault is that?”

He didn’t say out it loudly.

-strange it’s look good to me.

The girl repeated.

-unfortunately it broke, well it happens from time to time, just leave me and go somewhere else.

Arata didn’t feel like hearing her apology.

-no, no its looks like it can still work.

-how can you say anything about it? It’s a magical orb I got from a Wizard, not some random decoration.

-no, no, I think it can work again, you said it you had it from some Wizard? Well I am not 100% sure but if you bring it back to him he should be able to repair it.

-that’s the only case of action I guess, but how do you anything about it?

-lately I used to deal with similar things. The orb that you have right now is not broken it’s just out of power so to say. If someone fills it with some magic it should work once again without problems.

-well thanks for advice at least…

“Although if it weren’t for you, it would still work.”

-seems like you will get some magical profession.

-haha, right now I am on my quest to become a mage…

She said proudly but soon after got depressed and added.

-or rather was.

-you completed it already? Well good job.

-no I didn’t, It’s impossible for me. Wawa and my time runs short.

“People have their problems as well I guess.”

-well don’t give up. Anyway about the orb do you think that I can fill it with power myself?

Arata asked.

-you have magic abilities?

-I did lift up some things with my mind, but that’s all. Still, I should give it a try once at least…

“It won’t hurt giving it a try.”

And so, Arata started to do various things in order to fill orb with power. Firstly he put it both of his hands closed his eyes. He tried to image the orb filled with power, as he recalled Wizards words about magic.

“-magic is an expression of a thought.”

But that didn’t work in the least so Arata started to use others methods, a verbal ones.

-magic. Fill this orb with your power so it shines again in the time of night!…

Of course it didn’t work either. But Arata didn’t give up just yet and started trying different approach.

-the time has come to vanquish forces of evil with the power of light!...

-the light that guide the way, your help is needed once more!…

-show me the path!...

He tried different sentences and in different possess. He held it up, in left hand then in other. Even put it on the head with thought “magic comes from mind so it should have shorter way from here.” After this one didn’t work, he putted it on the ground kneel before it with head down and said.

-god, your servant asks for help, fill this orb with might…

None of that worked but he didn’t give up just yet.

Watching his behavior the girl tried not to laugh too loudly. Arata completely forgotten about her already because given her pervious behavior he thought she would run away the moment she have an occasion. Arata had no reserves and kept coming with new solutions.

-that didn’t work as well, I knew god doesn’t exist. But I am long away from giving up…

He put down his swords so they didn’t disrupt him, picked up the orb in his hands, moved both of them to the right side and started.

-Ka-me-ha-me-haaaaaaaaaaa!

At the moment of “haaaa” he pushed his hands forward, and forced the orb to fly in the air. It hit and stopped on nearby fence. And at that moment he heard loud laugh.

-hahahahahahahahahaha, no more, no more, please I can’t take more than that, the previous ones I could somehow hold but sorry this one is just too much…

Arata realized that the girl was still there although he was sure that she walked away long ago, she was having a good laugh after he embarrassed himself with his quotes.

-hahaha, and you were asking why I call you strange person, no, no that should go on youtube. I can’t wait to tell my friends about it.

I am not strange, was what Arata wanted to say but he recall that he just demonstrated kamehameha before her. The girl continued.

-no wonder your hair looks like that, this game indeed takes someone personality to it, hahahaha…

“Says the person with blue hair.”

-wait strange hair, strange hair??

She then looked at him with puzzled face and she continued to do so. She was doing it without blinking for half a minute already.

“Do I have something on face or what?”

Two minutes have passed and she was still locked on him.

“First she laughs at me, then she stare at me. My hair must indeed look weird. Anyway she should say something at least.”

-hey, are you there?

No response. He waved his hand next to her eyes but then she said.

-what are you doing?

-never mind I was thinking that you disconnected.

-hmm?

-you stopped moving for a second.

-ah that, well… I was just thinking that I know you from somewhere but… well I don’t know any strange people like you.

-it’s not really nice of you to say that. Anyway as stupid as it was, I was seriously trying to come up with idea which would repair the orb.

-but kamehameha? How old are you?

The girl laughed at him again.

-you are never too old to do that, also fusion dance.

-ah! I want to see that too! Go try it.

-how would fusion dance work when kamehameha did not?

Arata was completely serious saying this sentence.

-no, none of them have any chances of working but it would be interesting to watch.

-I trying my best and not giving up and you laugh at me, thanks.

-wawa, sorry.

-your sorry doesn’t make me feel any better. I just got a new idea. Maybe I should just use famous magical word like, hocus pocus or abracadabra.

-hahaha, oh please do it! Do it!

-and a second ago you were saying sorry.

-wawa, sorry.

-I don’t believe in your sorry, anyway if you are so intelligent why you don’t try yourself.

-sure I can give it a try but no promises…

She took the orb from him and continued.

-don’t give your hopes up, but I will try my best. Look the magic itself is an expression of a thought. Basic magic I mean, the one you don’t need spell books and stuff…

“I somewhere heard something familiar to that.”

-you simply think off something and boom it happens. Of course it is much easier to use spells from spell book, they are also usually much stronger but with basic magic you can do anything you want. That’s the theory at least. Still with basic magic I can for example fill this orb with power. You can’t fill it by shooting fireballs at it. You would need a specific spell for it, if it even exists…

“At least it looks like she knows what she is doing.”

-let’s see… oh there is some spell casted within it, you want to have it activated again, right?

The girl asked, it seemed like the orb was in a good shape after all.

-if you can.

-well I don’t have confidence. Also it’s hard to cast anything without a magical profession for it.

-so you can’t do it?

-hmm, normally it would be impossible but thankfully it’s a light spell.

-and what does it change?

-I have somewhat good magic boost in holy spells. And it’s nothing that strong in the first place. Just a light that shows direction. Oh such useful thing, where can I get one of those? I lost my way so many times.

In truth she lost her way every time so far. But she didn’t say that.

-so what about this boost?

Arata asked her then she crossed hers fingers. She took out the magic ring from her inventory. It looked somehow unique with orange light within the crystal. She put it on her finger and stated.

-yes with this I can do this!

In second a strong light emanated from the orb as it started to shine again, then to Arata’s surprise it started to point out at the face of the girl that was holding it. She closed he eyes because light was too intense and started to talk.

-wawa, strange it location is locked on me now, did I fail? No I was sure it was right, and here I thought that I would look cool if I repaired it. Sorry, you have to go to that magician after all. There is no way to repair it anymore even if you find someone knowledgeable on it. The spell needs to be recasted a new.

Arata however didn’t listen to her and started to think.

“Hmm… now that I think about it the light acted strange before I meet her and pointed up. That direction was a tree. She also said that something blinded her so she fall from there. She also knows a lot about magic so she would classify as Wizard’s apprentice. And what she said also fits the Wizard’s story. But I already checked it once at the start.”

Arata once again crossed his fingers to summon the menu.

“Yep, there is nothing green above her head meaning she is a player.”

But then Arata realized something.

“Oh. I didn’t think about that.”

Arata finally realized that he had one wrong assumption about the quest in the first place. In his experience normal quest often involved finding someone on the map and helping them in their task but it always involved NPC so every player could do the quest when they wanted to. But in this game there were quest that involved other players. Before he didn’t even took a possibility that it can happen. To make himself sure he thought about something else.

“After all this game is evil creation which doesn’t want its players to have fun when completing the quest.”

Anyway with that said he finally found the Wizard’s apprentice now all that’s left is completing a quest.

-finally I found you.

Arata said out loudly.

-who did you found? I am little distracted by the light so I can’t see.

-you.

-yes who it that “you”?

-the wizard’s apprentice.

-wa… there is another wizard’s apprentice here? In that case I think I should go as you found the person you were looking for?

-no, you are that person.

-me?

-yes.

-waaaaaa! I knew it, you want to do bad things to me, I thought that you are strange but good person but you were hunting me waaaaa! Please spare me I didn’t do anything! Anyone help me!

-the person who says that they didn’t do anything, are the ones that usually are in the wrong.

-waaaa!

-stop with that strange sound and listen, I came to help.

-so you came to help someone to catch me, even though you are helping someone, when the person you are trying to help is bad you are doing bad things as well.

The misunderstanding continued.

-so you are finally admitting that you are a bad person.

-what are you saying I am good person.

-ones that say that they are good persons are mostly the bad one. No, let’s stop with that. Anyway what is wrong with your logical thinking?

-…nothing is wrong, although.

-although what?

-well, I always somewhat picture out the worst possible scenario, especially when a strange person is hunting me down with magical orb so he can sell me for money.

-I see. Your logic isn’t working even on the basic level. Look I have quest in which I have to help wizard’s apprentice, she should have hard time with a riddle right now because her stupid master did some stupid things and she ended up with some stupid riddle that she can’t solve on her own. If this doesn’t ring a bell then I out of here.

When he said that the girl came up to him catch his left hand using her two hands lifted it up and started to speak really, really fast. It was somewhat hard to understand.

-waaaaa, you are good strange person after all, after all, the boy called you a hero, a hero came to help me, waaaaa! And I was about to give up, eight days passed without any success. When started I didn’t care about my profession, but now I want to be a mage, help me become a mage, I want have more items, be the first one in something. I am sorry for my rudeness and that I laughed at your quotes when you fought even in face of certain defeat. Just as the boy says the hero. Hero please help me, I don’t have much time left, and have no idea of what to do!

Arata had many questions to ask about what she just said.

-slow down for a moment, because I have no idea what are you talking about.

-yes hero.

Somehow she became really obedient out of sudden.

-okay, firstly, why do you started to call me hero out of sudden? No never mind, just don’t do that.

-why? Heroes are good people who help others in need. Vanquish evil, and bring smile to the children.

-…just don’t.

-okay, I understand hero.

-looks like you didn’t understand.

-but I needs to somehow call you right, I think hero is much better than good strange person.

-well this good strange person is also annoying. But hero just doesn’t suit me in my core. Anyway normally when you started talking with someone introduce yourself, I am Arata, you?

-I’m A… .

-Name is just a mean to identify someone. No matter how it’s sounds I don’t care.

-That’s cold.

-You can even give a false one. Also in game you shouldn’t just give away your real name, left and right, use your nickname.

-waaa! That’s true I also heard from a friend that it’s better to use nickname.

-you have intelligent friends so follow their advices, anyway what is your name.

-my name is Anari, nice to meet you.

“Anari? What’s name is that?”

Arata didn’t say that.

”But wait a second.”

-hey, you just wanted to introduce yourself with a name that starts whit A as well. You didn’t do something as stupid as making the nickname the same as real name, did you?

-no, no, my friend once told me that it’s better to use different name. Although, I wanted to use my real name.

“Thanks good for that friend.”

People who use their real name in game are considered. To not offend anyone, talented in a specific way. Or they just really like their names and can’t stand being called differently.

-okay anyway Anari.

-yes!?

-cherish that friends of yours and follow his advice.

-I will, although I didn’t see him for a while.

-don’t worry you will find him soon enough.

-waaa! I knew it. You are a good strange hero after all.

-don’t combine it! It now became even worse.

-I will remember not to.

Anari answered quickly although Arata was not convinced by that lie.

-by the way. Do you know you have personality difference?

-I don’t.

-yes you do, I experienced it changed 4 times already.

-hmm?

-at first you started to run like crazy, that’s one. Then you cried like a baby, that’s a second. Then you were somewhat normal although I not sure about it completely. Then you went into crying mode after you repaired a light, but then the forth one which is right now, you became so bold that you came just right next to my face and still hold my hand. To your information as good as it feels, as a man I have my limit, so could you please stop doing that?

She then stopped for a second looked at her hands that were clinging to his then at his face which were no more than 20 centimeters from hers. As soon as she realized she started to make a strange sound.

-wawawawa…

Then she tried to quickly jump back but it didn’t go and he fell to the ground.

-wawawa, sorry I didn’t mean it.

-ah just don’t go into wawawa mode again.

She stood up, and answered previous question.

-it’s not like I have different personality. It’s just.

-yes?

-it’s just that I get nervous when I talk to someone who I don’t know, my imagination comes up with different bad scenarios and it somewhat happens.

-somewhat happens doesn’t explain it very much.

-wawa, well sometimes, I explain it as being shy.

“No, no, no, that’s definitely not being shy.”

-just to be sure. You can talk with me normally now?

-yes you are good strange person after all.

-Anari.

-yes?

-what was my name again it looks like I forgotten.

-wawawa.

-its Arata write it down somewhere and stop using strange person!

-okay I will try saying it out loudly so I remember, Arata, Arata, Arata, Arata. It doesn’t feel bad saying it out. Arata, Arata, Arata.

-stop it already.

-why? It’s a good method to remember someone’s name. Arata, Arata, Arata.

He didn’t want to admit but he was just embarrassed hearing his name spoken by a girl so many times, to make her stop he started.

-anyway let’s sit somewhere and solve your quest.

-yes ARATA!...

They found a bench where girl told him her story, as she had problems at start, then as she nearly died from hunger and about her training under the Wizard and his challenges. She missed out few points, for example how did she get her ring but Arata didn’t pray into her story at all. In fact he didn’t pay much attention until she started about the current challenge.

-so the challenge has two phases. In first you need to find out what is the riddle which you need to solve in the second phase. You analyze four pages of pictures, and create a sentence. Each page symbolizes one sentence. You have to choose right pictures take first letter from words that symbolize them and combine them together.

She explained to him

-sounds easy enough, so where do you have a problem?

Arata asked although he already knew what the problem was.

-what’s the problem? Well take a look at this…

She showed him the pages. Each of them indeed had many pictures at them, the problem was the number.

“How did he fit in so many in there?”

Those were Arata’s thoughts when he saw it, there was about three to four hundred pictures at each page. Poor girl was presented with impossible task. When Arata was looking at the picture Anari started.

-I have confidence with riddles, so I said go ahead and give me a hard one. But this one is just impossible. Is it even a riddle in the first place? Anyway, I give up, I surrender. There is no way that someone would solve it, never ever wawever!

Listing to this Arata thought to himself.

“She finally shows some reason.”

But then he looked at her and said.

-don’t worry leave it to me, I will solve it in no time, I already see the pattern.

The girl stopped for a second and looked at him surprised. Even though he said that he would help she didn’t have much hope, after all she spend eight days on it already. She tried to come up with numerous solutions, but none of them worked, but he already knew the pattern after seeing it for few seconds. There were over three hundred pictures clumped together. She counted it few times.

Arata had no idea what the pattern was but he simply wanted to show off. While pretending to look at the pages he asked.

-so how much time do you have left?

-tomorrow is my 30th day.

-you logged in on morning? Midday? Evening?

-it was around 2 pm.

-I see, well that should be enough to complete this one.

-what! What! You really did solve it?

Anari could not believe him.

-who do you take me for?

-wawa! Of course you are Arata, a good strange person who helps those in need.

-seems you really like the second part so leave it at that, anyway when you know the pattern it is rather easy to solve.

-I see, so it’s like that. By the way what is the pattern?

Anari asked. Naturally Arata had no idea what that pattern was, if one even existed so he answered.

-you said that tomorrow is the last day so we don’t have time for that. I will just give you solution.

-no problem, solution is fine.

Although she probably wanted to know how to solve a puzzle which she couldn’t complete for 8 days, solution was far more important.

-okay firstly I need to put pages in order so it sounds right.

Arata said that but the placement was done randomly.

-I am ready. It turns out that second riddle is rather easy. Listen…

Arata started telling the riddle.

-It’s a place where are trees but that is not the forest.

It’s a place where is water but it’s not the lake.

It’s a place filled with bricks but it’s not a building.

Go there when darkness overcome light.

After he said that Anari jumped at him hugged him and started to cry, during that she also was saying.

-waaaa! Arata, you are indeed a hero that brings the hope to those in need. It really sound like a riddle and it’s easy to solve. Arata are you a genius or something? You did it in minute when I tried for 8 days and already given up. Waaaaaaaaaaaa!

“Looks like that “waaaa” can be used in many different circumstances.”

-you are too close again. And the quest is not yet done.

He ended up pushing her away.

-yes, you are right. Even though we know the place, we still may not find it in time.

-what are you talking about? Didn’t you understand the riddle?

-no it’s easy and I even went to city park once already. There are trees, there is a fountain, and the pavements are made of bricks. The last sentence symbolizes that we need to get there at night. That means we only have about 12 hours to find it.

-12 hours is a long time, we have much time.

-what are you saying!? If we are unlucky we might even don’t get there at all.

-don’t worry I was there before so I know exactly where it is also if somehow we got lost we can just follow the golden rule.

-oh you know the way! That’s great! As expected of genius Arata. But what is that golden rule you were talking about?

And then it struck him.

“No it can’t be, but I better ask just in case”

-Anari, what are the games that you played before?

-you mean computer games? A few I must say. My favorite one was where you control yellow circle with mouth. It was eating others small circles and there were ghosts that were chasing it. It was a hard game but I managed to pass two levels.

“I knew it! Although the game she played is pacman? That’s some old classic.”

-please don’t say anything anymore. Another question, how did you find the locations of all things that you needed to visit so far? Like chapel from second challenge?

-ah that’s not really complicated, you just have to run.

-run where?

-everywhere what’s better solution? Thinking about it doesn’t help much so you just run in random direction.

-… .

Arata also was running in random direction at the start, he also was running at random when he was looking for a highest place in the city but apart from that he just followed the golden rule.

-anyway you say things like golden rule and stuff, you seems like someone who knows many things about the games. Can you teach me something as we have free time?

-sorry but no.

-why? You said we have much time, don’t we?

-listen it would be easier to explain you how to solve this puzzle than to teach you about the games.

Arata would also have to solve that puzzle first but it still would be much easier than a task that she was asking him to do.

-but I want to play this game. You look like experienced person, so I thought that you could.

-no, please don’t ask me about it, I am not very good teacher.

-fine, if you don’t want that’s okay. But at least tell me what the golden rule is?

-okay write it down and repeat before going to sleep.

-yes?

-when you are lost, just ask the guards…

That was the golden rule of MMO when you were looking for something in the city. You could also look it up on the net but guards were the fastest option available.

-okay, now you know how to find the place you should be okay on your own.

-no wait! I still don’t understand that golden rule!

-for now just repeat it in your mind until you understand it.

-it will take time before I will understand it fully, waaa don’t go!

-oh, you were thinking that I am going to leave you on your own?

-you won’t?

-yes I will.

-wa, waaaaa…!

-wait till I finish. I didn’t mean right now, but later.

-when is that later?

-as I said, my quest is to help you complete your quest, although based on what you told me about the previous quest, there should be no problem and I should just wait till you reach the park and grab your item, but I worried about something so I will go with you.

Yes he was worried about something. Although riddle itself was impossible to complete that shouldn’t make the quest rise up to rank of 9. He didn’t know much about ranking system, but his quest which was ranked at 10 involved getting hit by “hammer of justice”.

-you are worried about me. Waaa, that so nice, but I am grown up already.

-it doesn’t look like it to me and who would be worried about you?

Arata answered sarcastically but he received quite a normal answer.

-my father and mother at least.

-… .

The talk paused for a moment there. Arata was looking at his past, his parents were no more. The most natural thing like their unconditional love and help seemed dissent. His grandfather although he was the only support he had after parents death, couldn’t replace them even if he wanted, and he didn’t even try as he said many times that nothing can bring back the dead.

Anari at the moment paused as well, as she fell a strange atmosphere coming out from her helper. She just sat there and waited until he is done. And Arata indeed was soon as he said.

-okay the way to the park in the worst case scenario shouldn’t take more than 2 hours, so I will teach you a new rule that I came up just for this game.

Arata was back the same as before in no time, he even wanted to teach her something even though he said that he won’t do it.

-really!? What is it?

-it is a simple rule. “If you are hungry be sure to eat in the game before eating in the real life.”

-waaa, it’s a great rule! You should patent it!

-it is just a simple idea no need overstatement it.

-that’s not true there are so many corpses, I mean players who are lying at the ground just because they choose different order.

-on my first day I ended up nearly dying of hunger twice.

-I know you did.

-how can you know that?

This statement seemed strange for him. Although anything the girl said so far was strange in a way.

-em… you wouldn’t come up with a rule if you didn’t have that experience.

Her explanation was also not really convincing but Arata didn’t even try to pry into it.

-whatever, the plan for now is this, we go eat something then we log out for about 6-7 hours in-game time if you remember that’s a little less than two hours. After that we go to complete your quest. How is it sounds, good?

-okay, but why do you need two hours to eat something.

-to prepare the food you need about one hour, additional one hour is for various things, if you think that it’s too long to take a shower, or something.

-you can cook? Waaaa!

-cooking is an essence of life. It can help you even in the dessert where there are only cactuses and clothes to eat.

-haha, see you are strange person. Anyway can I ask you something?

-what is it?

-can you tell me how old you are?

-normally you shouldn’t ask questions about real life the person you just meet in a game. That’s an unwritten rule.

-I will learn all the rules later but I am curious you look young but you prepare meals for yourself so you can’t be that young. Although the show that you showed me before says that you can’t be that old either.

-okay, it’s not like I care about saying it that much. I just finished high school little more than a week ago, try to count from there.

-no way same age as me!

-yes, that is impossible.

-but I also finished it this year.

-sorry but I can’t believe in such obvious lie. Anyway let’s go I know a good restaurant around and I am tired of dry bread.

-wait I am telling you that I am 19 as well.

-yes, yes, of course.

Arata knew only one restaurant around the city. It was the place where he worked for five days and learned some cooking skills. This time however, he wanted to go there as a customer. Previously he would need to ask the guard for the direction but this time he already knew his way around. He still didn’t know where to find everything but he could at least find places where he went before. Also thanks to view from height places he somewhat had image of the city structure. It wasn’t far so it didn’t take more than 5 minutes to get there but right as he wanted to enter Anari stopped him.

-I don’t like this place, can we go somewhere else.

-what, you have been here before?

-somewhat, anyway another place!

“Marco, you have a bad reputation or something?”

Arata thought but he still wanted to go here.

-don’t worry although the manager looks like he looks, he is a good guy who helped me when I was in need. I should at least help his business. Also his skills at cooking are tremendous. I say that even though I only ate leftovers.

-but.

-no buts, let’s go.

And they went inside. Arata was holding Anari’s arm. He did that because it looked as she would run away next moment that he would let it out.

They moved to the main desk where Marco was siting when he seen Arata he smiled and started.

-hahaha, who do I see, isn’t it Arata? What happened, let me guess, you are already broke and come back for more work? No problem I can always use additional pair of hands and you already have experience.

-long time no see Marco, no I am not broke, at least yet, we came to eat something.

-hey Arata, you know the prices of the meals here, don’t you? You should also know that I don’t give any discounts.

-yes, I know the prices and I also know that they are worth it.

-hahaha, that’s what I like to hear, and who is the young lady and why are you holding her like that?

-ah about that, look how funny it is.

Arata left the grip and as he suspected Anari started to run away.

[Lighting Speed Activated]

After two seconds Arata run after her catch her again and then they moved to table. Arata and Marco’s conversation turned into shouts. Arata started.

-it’s all because you have shady reputation, normally she wouldn’t run like that!

“Well she did the same a while ago so it maybe it is normal for her.”

-I don’t have any shady reputation, I am an honest merchant! And that girl! Never saw her before!

At that moment Anari somehow stopped her urge to run.

-yes definitely, anyway two special of the day please.

-specials!? But it will be three gold coins in total. Do you really have that kind of money?

Even though they knew each other or maybe because they knew each other Marco did not believe in Arata’s funds.

-yes I do, here.

Arata showed him three gold coins that he wheedled from a Wizard and that was all confirmation that Marco. They were already seated and waiting for a meal. Then Arata started.

-just you wait and you will eat the heavens.

-is it really that good?

She finally said something.

-yes it is, so far you ate only bread in this game right?

-why should I eat anything else when this keeps me from hunger?

-well it’s the same as in real world, why do you eat something else than rice for example? You don’t think about it but normally you eat different things right?

-no one normal would eat same every day. At least no one sane, still I don’t see connections.

-then listen. Eating here and in real is practically the same. So why would eating something delicious here have no meaning?

-waaa! I never thought about it like that.

-just wait for Marco’s special, and you will think that anything that you ate so far tasted like dry bread.

-emmm… does it make you fat?

-you care about things like that?

-every woman does!

-well here is another advantage of eating in the game. You can eat all delicious things, fat things, with sugar and all, and you won’t get even one gram from it.

-wawawa, sweet, sweet good thing.

Anari started to drool after hearing that.

-anyway let’s change a topic, because I got hungry just speaking about food.

-me too.

-I can see it clearly when you are drooling like that.

-wawaaaa…

She quickly hid her face and soon after it returned to normal.

-so what do you want to talk about?

She then asked.

-… well nothing, I just didn’t wanted to talk about the food is all.

-in that case think of something.

-hey that’s not so easy, oh but I do have one question for you.

-as long as it not something erotic I can answer it.

-hey for whom do you take me?

-you are Arata, a good strange hero who help those in need but also like to force girls to go to strange places.

“…”

-the last part got longer.

-never mind that. What is the question?

-I do mind that… eh… as for the question, I take that you never played any game like EOA before.

-no I didn’t, how did you know?

-somehow I could tell, anyway why did you started to play this game out of sudden?

-well, it because it’s popular and I just finished high school so I have a lot of time, I guess.

-that a rather sallow reason.

-right, I also looking for strongest player here!

-strongest player? And why would you look for someone like that? No never mind, I will just get another stupid answer.

-but I have reason for that!

-yes, yes for sure, anyway another question. Are you really 19?

-yes.

-I don’t believe it.

-why?

-you just, let’s say that you somehow doesn’t feel like grown up person at all.

-how come?

-normally grown up person doesn’t run away at the sight of strangers.

-it’s not my fault, they are strangers after all.

-all your friends were once strangers so… no never mind.

He didn’t really have a right to say anything about human relationship. For a past 5 years he didn’t make any close friend after all. He also burned out all bridges with his old friends.

-Arata.

-yes?

-in that case why did you started to play this game?

It was now Anari who asked him that.

-you could at least think of your own question.

-but I also want to know.

-nothing to deep I think, just to enjoy myself.

For a long time he didn’t really had anything that was brought him much enjoyment but when he entered his avatar body, he somehow left all his worries in the real body and actually enjoyed himself few times. So far playing brought him much enjoyment.

-and you say that I am sallow.

-well you started your first game only because it was popular.

-isn’t it the same for you?

-if we are talking about this game then yes but if you want to know the tale of a young boy that picked up his first game and entered the world of might and magic, went on many adventures and achieved the greatest I can talk about it all day.

-hahaha!

Anari ended up laughing at his answer.

-what’s so funny, isn’t it natural to be enthusiastic about your hobby?

-no not that I just remembered someone who said exactly the same thing, you are just like him.

-ha, don’t compare me to some low existence.

-yes, yes exactly the same.

At that moment Marco come with the meal, he also joined their conversation. Both Arata and Anari hunted down the meal as they couldn’t resist the smell. When they were eating Marco started.

-oh looks like the young lady feels better now, she also doesn’t run anymore.

-sorry about that, and please call me Anari, young lady sound weird.

-no problem, anyway what are you two up to?

-Arata is helping me with a quest.

Anari answer to him.

-ah a quest, what is it?

-the hardest part is already done, I had to solve a riddle, but I had huge problems with it, and couldn’t solve it for 8 days but Arata solved it in matters of second.

-oh that something and what was the riddle? I somewhat solved many of them on my adventures. Sometimes it was even life and death situation.

-yes, Marco and his adventures on which he did everything. If you think that you are good then take a look at this.

Arata gave him four papers with the pictures on it that earlier on he received from Anari. Marco looked at it and said.

-ah a Morgorian riddle it’s been a while since I saw one. So Anari who gave it to you?

-my teacher, he is a Wizard.

-okay I see, knowing this, I can solve it. Let’s see, it goes something like place with trees and bricks and water but no lake, no forest, no burin… building. Yes building. Ah the last page is saying that you should go there at night, as for the riddle itself, it’s a place within the town, yes? Yes it must be, after all you two don’t have a profession yet, so there is only one possible place, it’s a park. The riddle is saying go to the park at night.

“Whaaaaaaaaaaat!!!!! How!! But those pictures have no sense. Even the person who created it said so.”

That was Arata’s reaction, Anari on the other hand.

-waaaaa, you are good at it. Mr. Marco you said the same thing that Arata.

-well, there is always only one good solution to riddle. Otherwise it’s a bad riddle.

-and how does one solve it?

-why didn’t you ask Arata? He solved it as well.

-I asked but he didn’t want to answer.

-ohh… I see that you are not showing off Arata, I have more respect for you now.

In truth Arata just had no idea how to solve it what so ever but it looked like Marco misunderstood.

-listen Anari, to solve Morgorian riddle you only need one information, and that is “who made the riddle”. If you know that, all you have to do is select the items from paper that are connected to that person and wuala. See here is the staff, magic ring, orb, book everything is here. You may not know how everything is called but you should discover the concept of the riddle itself. Normally when you find out the riddle the answer is rather easy, because it’s often hard to create riddle with use of a pictures.

-wawa, that is indeed true here is the word ‘place’, here is ‘tree’ and here is the ‘forest’.

-see, easy as pie, but if you want to have a full riddle you should use a paper and write everything down. It’s hard to do it just with naked eye.

-waaa! Arata gave me full riddle without paper.

-oh really? Arata I didn’t know that you like riddles so much and are so good at it. I have one that is super hard, I couldn’t solve it myself and now that I found out the answer from someone, I can’t do it anymore, want to give it a try?

-somehow I don’t want to see another riddle for a long time.

Arata just answered. He was completely not interested in that.

They both finished eating. The food itself was just so overwhelming in its taste so that anyone could describe it.

They both agreed to return before two/seven hours pass and then go to the park.

/*** The chapter is not over as it had to be devined in two. Move to the next part. ***/

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