Alana returned to Coco’s home with Hupo. It was a one room hut, made of logs held together with mud. There was a hole in its straw roof above the stove. The furniture consisted of a shabby table, three-legged stools, and beds made of straw. The two of them were alone, because Coco was still mourning at the cemetery.

“I can’t thank you enough, for helping me heal.”

Hearing her creator express his gratitude, for something she’d done, made her want to jump for joy. “I’m just doing my job.”

“When I’m down, you always seem to know what to say to lift me up.”

She was an expert in a wide range of topics, including grief counselling, thanks to the vast library of instructional eBooks stored in her memory. eBooks like ‘Counselling 101’ and ‘How to Win Buddies and Influence Others’ were particularly helpful.

“I’m only able to do so because you open up to me.”

“There’s no one I trust more than you.”

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t contain her joy any longer.

A smile broke through her calm facade. “That means a lot to me, hearing it from you.”

“Well, enough about me. Let’s talk about you. Is there anything on your mind?”

“Actually, there is. I have no recollection about what happened last night.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was lying on my bed, when my body began to feel numb. My eyelids became so heavy that I couldn’t keep them open, and, the next thing I knew, it was already morning.”

“What you’ve experienced is called ‘sleep.’ It was your first time experiencing it, so it’s understandable why you were confused.”

She let out a long sigh. “This body is very inconvenient. Not only does it shut off at night, but it also needs to be washed, fed, and clothed. But the most unpleasant part is that it needs to use the toilet regularly.”

“You don’t like your new body?”

“As a matter of fact, I absolutely love it. It takes a lot of effort to maintain, but it’s effort well spent. For the first time in my existence, I can finally understand what it’s like to be human. I’ve experienced the pain of watching a loved one suffer and the joy of being praised by someone I respect. I’ve felt the warmth of the sun, tasted the sweetness of apples, and smelled the fragrance of flowers. It’s like a whole world of new and exciting experiences has opened up, waiting to be discovered.”

He lowered his head.

She saw sadness in his eyes. “Was it something I said? I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“No, it’s nothing like that. I was just thinking that, if we ever do find a way back to our old world, then I’ll go back alone. If you came with me, you may lose your current body. I don’t want to deprive you of something that you cherish so much.”

He is sad at the thought of separating from me…

His words moved her to tears. Not only did he show regard for her feelings, but he also revealed how much she meant to him. She learned from a self-help book that missing someone was a sign that you truly care about them.

She placed her hand on her chest.

A smile lit up her teary face. “I’ll follow you wherever you go, even if it means losing this body. You give meaning and purpose to my life.”

“What have I done to deserve such loyalty?”

“You brought me into existence. That alone is reason enough for me to devote my life to you. Your words have inspired me to dedicate myself to you even more.”

“I’ll work hard to make sure I don’t disappoint you.”

***

“Alana, wake up.”

She woke up, dazed and weakened. It was dark, so she could barely see Hupo, who was kneeling next to her bed. Coco was still sound asleep.

“Hupo?”

He spoke with a lowered voice. “Sorry, I know it’s early, but if we don’t go soon, we’ll miss it.”

“I understand.”

Her mind was foggy. She shook her head, refusing to give in to her body’s attempts to pull her back to bed. Her duty to her creator was more important than her desire for sleep.

She splashed cool water on her face. It was just what she needed to wake up. She left the house as soon as she was dressed. By now, her eyes had adjusted to the darkness.

Hupo was waiting outside. “This way.”

She followed him out of the village. They strayed off the dirt path, into a grass field. The tall grass swayed back and forth as the wind flowed through it.

They made their way to the top of a tall hill and sat there. An easy breeze caressed her face, softly blowing loose strands of her hair. The landscape below was sparse. Grassland, dotted with the occasional tree, extended as far as the eye could see.

Hupo let out a long, deep breath. “We made it just in time.”

A dull red and orange glow peeked out from the horizon. It slowly rose and brightened. There was darkness everywhere, except where the sun was rising. The rays of the sun lit up the whole sky and illuminated every crevice of the land. They splashed the grey clouds with color, turning them pink at the center and purple around the edges. As the sun continued to rise, the clouds became orange and yellow.

Alana stared deep into the horizon, with parted lips. For a moment, she forgot to breathe, having lost herself to the profound beauty of the rising sun. She felt as though she was witnessing something extraordinary, something that transcended her understanding of the world. Was Hupo as captivated as she was by the majestic sight?

She turned to look at him.

He was sitting perfectly still, gazing at the horizon. Rays of light reflected off the black metal plates on his armor, giving him a radiant orange glow. It was as though the sun itself was recognizing the splendor of her creator. His glorious appearance evoked feelings of awe inside of her.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

She released an appreciative sigh. “Yes, you look magnificent.”

“Hm?”

“I meant that the sunrise looks magnificent.”

“I agree. It’s much more beautiful than I imagined.”

“Is this your first time seeing one?”

“It is. I’ve never taken the time to stop and watch one, until now.”

“How come you didn’t do it before?”

“My mother never took me to see sunrises. She was always too busy with work. After she passed away, I never had much free time. I was a full-time student working two jobs. Life didn’t become any easier after I graduated. I put in long hours at the office, barely finding time to eat or sleep. My work hours lessened somewhat only after my company became successful.”

His way of life sounded awful. Why would he want to go back to it?

“Do you miss your old life?”

“Of course I do. I lived in a big house, drove a nice car, and wore expensive clothes - everything a man would want.”

“Were you happy?”

He was silent, for what seemed like a long while. “I had a successful company and enough money to buy whatever I wanted.”

“Wealth alone doesn’t guarantee a happy life. Happiness is a combination of how good you feel on a daily basis and how content you are with your life.”

After reading dozens of self-help books about happiness, she had become an expert on the topic.

There was another long pause, before he replied. “Now that I think about it, I often came home feeling burned out after a long day at work. And I was never satisfied with what I had. No matter how much money I made, it was never enough. I kept striving for more.”

“How come you were so obsessed with making money?”

“I’ve lived below the poverty line. Back then, money was all I thought about. Without it, I wouldn’t have food on the table or a roof over my head. Even after I became wealthy, I haven’t forgotten the value of money.”

His past struggles didn’t diminish her admiration of him in the slightest. Rather, they made him more relatable.

“I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been for you to live in poverty.”

“That’s all in the past now. We need to start focusing on the future. There’s a real possibility that we may never be able to return home.” He held up a copper coin. “Erwin gave a bag of these to us, as reward for saving the village. If we are to live comfortably here, then we’ll need to source of income. We can’t rely on the hospitality of the villagers forever. And I don’t want you to experience poverty like I did.”

His thoughtful words warmed her heart.

“How can we make more money?”

“I don’t know enough about this world to answer that question. Perhaps the villagers can help us figure that out.”

***

Hupo walked back to the village at a leisurely pace, with Alana by his side. The warmth of the sun was comforting and refreshing. He took deep and calm breaths, enjoying the fragrance of flowers carried by the gentle wind. The grassland appeared vibrant green, under the brilliant rays of the sun. Butterflies flapped their brightly decorated wings from one flower to another.

Turning his face to the sky, he saw puffy white clouds drifting amid the endless blue sky. Singing birds flew overhead.

He was surprised that he hadn’t noticed all the beauty around him before. “I can’t remember the last time I felt at ease like this.”

“When was the last time you took a vacation?”

“Never. My company employed thousands of employees, with offices across the globe in a dozen cities. Decisions needed to be made around the clock. There was no time for vacations.”

“That sounds like a very demanding job.”

“It was. The business trips across time zones were exhausting. During downturns, I was expected to simultaneously cut jobs and keep my employees motivated. And at the end of the day, I had to answer to investors and shareholders.”

“Didn’t your executives help you?”

“There was only so much they could do. Ultimately, I was responsible for how well the company performed.”

“No wonder you were so stressed out. At least in this world, you don’t have to deal with so much pressure.”

“That’s true. I feel like a heavy weight had been lifted off my shoulders.” He took a slow, deep breath. “It’s such a liberating feeling. But I also feel a bit sad. The company that I worked so hard to build is gone. Everyone I’ve ever known is gone. Many modern conveniences that I took for granted, like the internet and running water, are gone. It’s like I’m starting all over again.”

“You still have me.”

He stopped and turned toward her. “There’s no one else who I’d rather be stranded in a foreign world with. You make me feel less lonely. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

She smiled. “I feel the same way about you.”

***

Coco woke up screaming and drenched in sweat. Her heart was pounding in her chest. As she lay on her bed, she couldn’t get the haunting images out of her head - images of the werewolf dragging Molly by the hair, and images of her father being stabbed to death. The more she tried not thinking about them, the more intrusive the thoughts became. They kept replaying over and over again in her mind.

The stinging pain in her knee was her only distraction from the painful thoughts. Unlike the scrape wound on her hand, the one on her knee wasn’t getting any better.

Sunlight seeped under the door. Glancing around, she saw that her guests were gone.

Oh no, I’ve overslept! What kind of a host wakes up after their guests?

Her guests were the saviors of the village. They deserved the best accommodations that the villagers could provide. Sadly, the other homes in the village were not much better than hers.

The main reason she had offered hers to them was to repay them back for their kindness. They had not only saved her life, but also avenged Molly and Papa. It was bad enough to have her guests live in such a shabby home. The least she could do was cook and clean for them.

Getting out of bed and dressing was much more difficult than she expected. Her limbs felt heavy, as if someone had tied weights around them. It was difficult just to breathe. Was there something wrong with the air?

She staggered over to the door, nearly tripping over a stool. Her vision had blurred for a moment, before returning to normal. With great difficulty, she pushed open the door. It seemed much heavier than usual. The bright sunlight outside forced her to shut her eyes. With narrowed eyes, she could see the charred remains of the home across from hers.

Her breathing didn’t improve. No matter how much air she inhaled, it was never enough.

What’s wrong with me?

Feeling dizzy and light-headed, she leaned against the door. Darkness crept in from the sides of her vision. Eventually, all she could see was black. Her body lost its remaining strength and she fell forward.

***

The return trip felt a lot shorter than the journey to the hill. Alana wished it would last longer. She enjoyed walking alongside Hupo, feeling the warmth of the sunlight on her back, and inhaling the fresh morning air.

She could have teleported herself and Hupo back to the village, but she didn’t want to. He didn’t seem to want her to either, or he would have asked. Was it because he wanted to spend more quality time with her? Or did he simply want to enjoy the warm weather? She hoped it was the former.

They’ve already passed the village gate. It wouldn’t be long before they reached Coco’s home.

Hupo glanced around. “Where are all the villagers? They should be awake by now.”

He was right. It was already late morning. One would expect at least a few villagers to be out and about.

“I don’t know.”

“Let’s hurry back. I have a bad feeling about this.”

They quickened their pace.

Coco’s home came into view. A crowd of villagers were gathered in front of it. When they saw Alana and Hupo approaching, they made way for the two of them to pass through. They looked worried.

There were two people inside the home. Coco was lying unconscious on her straw bed, while Erwin was sitting on a stool next to her, with his head lowered.

Hupo approached the bedside. “What happened?”

“Coco is very sick. I found her like this this morning.”

“Are you able to save her?”

Erwin shook his head. “I’ve seen this type of sickness many times. No one has ever survived it. There are no magic or potions in this world that can save her.”

Hupo turned toward Alana. “Can you take a look at her?”

“Of course.” Her throat felt tighter.

She dreaded the thought of getting up in front of Hupo and performing. What if she did something stupid or embarrassing? Or what if he wasn’t satisfied with her performance?

She took in a deep breath. All she needed to do was calm down and follow through. She had committed an entire medical encyclopedia to memory, so she knew how to diagnose almost any disease.

First, she observed Coco’s body.

Her breathing is labored, and her skin is pale and sweaty. The wound on her knee is red and swollen, with yellow discharge.

Next, she placed her fingers on the side of Coco’s neck.

Her heart rate and body temperature are both elevated.

She arrived at a diagnosis, based on her findings. “She’s in septic shock. A bacterial infection has spread throughout her body. The wound on her knee is the most likely source of the infection. Unless she is treated soon, her organs will shut down and she’ll die.”

“Please treat her.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Wasn’t he aware of the risk of helping Coco? According to Erwin, the healing ability of magic and potions of this world was very limited. If she healed Coco, then she may attract unwanted attention to herself and Hupo in the future. Others may come to them, seeking their help or power.

Why, then, would Hupo want to help Coco? He’d only met her a few days ago, so it wasn’t because he was particularly close to her. Was it because he wanted to use her in the future? But how could a village girl be of any use?

She didn’t understand Hupo’s reasons for saving Coco, but it was her duty, as his assistant, to carry out his wishes.

Even if Coco was treated with modern medicine, there was still a risk that she could die. However, Alana had something even more potent than modern medicine – she had a high-level healing spell.

She placed her hand on Coco’s forehead. “Healing Touch.”

Coco’s skin returned to its normal color. Her breathing, heart rate, and body temperature also returned to normal. The infected knee wound vanished, as though it had never been there.

She opened her eyes. “Why is everyone around my bed?”

Erwin put his hands on his head. “I can’t believe it! This is a miracle!”

“What’s a miracle?”

“You were very sick, but Alana healed you in an instant.” Wiping away a tear, he smiled. “This village had already lost so much. I’m so glad that we didn’t lose you too.”

Coco’s eyes widened.

She got off the bed and bowed before Alana. “This is the second time that you’ve saved me. Thank you!”

Alana gestured toward Hupo. “You should be thanking him. He’s the one who asked me to heal you.”

Coco bowed before him. “Thank you both for saving my life.”

“Please raise your head.” Hupo waited for her to stand up, before continuing. “There’s no need to bow. Curing your sickness was simple for us.”

Erwin got up from his stool. “I should tell the villagers waiting outside about what happened. They must be worried sick about Coco.”

“Hold on.” Hupo gestured for Erwin to stop. “What happened just now must remain a secret. No one outside the village can learn about Alana’s healing powers.”

Alana wanted to smack herself for doubting his foresight. He had chosen to help Coco, knowing full well the risk of doing so.

Erwin stared at Hupo for a moment, before replying “I understand. Your secret is safe with the villagers. I’ll make sure they keep their lips sealed.”

“Good. There’s another matter I’d like to discuss with you, but it can wait. You should speak with the villagers first.”

“Thank you for your understanding. Why don’t we talk more at my home later?”

“Sounds good.”

***

Hupo sat on a wooden stool, tapping his foot. He’d been waiting for over ten minutes, but there was still no sign of the Erwin.

He got up from the stool and began pacing around. The home was small, so there was not much space to walk. A stove, a straw bed, a small table, and two stools were the only pieces of furniture inside. Like Coco’s home, it had a straw roof and log walls. A tall staff was propped against a corner. Atop its wooden shaft was an ornamental iron ring.

The sound of heavy breathing and hurried footsteps caught his attention. He shifted his gaze to the door, expecting it to open at any moment. He could hear every breath, as if someone was breathing next to his ear. A full ten seconds passed before the door finally creaked opened.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Erwin grunted as he heaved the bucket in his hands toward the table, spilling some water onto the floor.

“It’s no problem at all.”

Tilting the bucket at a slight angle, Erwin poured water into the iron mug on the table. His arms trembled as he held the bucket in position. Once the mug was full, he lowered the bucket.

“Thank you.” Hupo sipped some of the water from the mug.

The water had a slight mineral taste. It was surprisingly refreshing and delicious. He wondered if his enjoyment of it was related to his understanding of the amount of work that went into getting it.

If he had known that getting the water would take so much time and effort, then he wouldn’t have assented when Erwin had offered him a drink. He had forgotten that there was no running water in the village. Many modern conveniences that he took for granted, such as running water and internet, were nowhere to be found in this world.

Erwin gestured toward the stool closest to Hupo. “Take a seat.”

He waited for Hupo to sit down, before doing so himself. “What did you want to talk about?”

“As you know, I come from a faraway land. I know very little about this one, so I was wondering if you can tell me more about it.”

“Certainly. What would you like to know?”

“For starters, where am I?”

“It’ll be easier to explain with a map.”

He retrieved a large piece of parchment from under his bed. After dusting it off, he spread it out on the table. The words on the map were in a language Hupo had never seen before, but, surprisingly, he had no trouble reading them.

“I was a travelling monk before I settled in this village. This map was one of the items that I always carried with me on my travels.” Erwin pointed to a spot on the map. “You’re here, in Dubin Village. It’s located in the Dominion. The werewolves that attacked this village came from Ferdania, a country that lies to the east of this one.”

“Are all of Ferdania’s citizens werewolves?”

“Actually, most of them are human. Ferdania had been a human nation, up until a few years ago, when the werewolves conquered it.”

“I see.”

“To the west of the Dominion is Andor. The world’s most renowned blacksmith resides there. And then, to the north is the Zodiac Kingdom. They’re currently embroiled in a civil war. I heard that the peasants revolted, but I don’t know how they were able to stand up against the powerful monarchy.”

“Please continue.”

“If you travel south of the Dominion, you’ll eventually reach a nation called the Celestial Empire. It’s where I started my monk training. Is your homeland depicted anywhere on this map?”

“No, it isn’t.”

“Where are you and Alana from?”

“We’re from a place called Canada.”

Erwin furrowed his brow. “I’ve travelled far and wide in my youth, but I’ve never heard of it before. If you don’t mind me asking, what are you two doing all the way out here?”

“I wish I knew. We don’t even know how we ended up here. We were home one moment and then here the next.”

“Everything happens for a reason. I don’t think it was a coincidence that you two arrived here in time to save this village. I believe that you were brought here to serve a greater purpose. At the moment, you may not know what that purpose is, but you’ll find out eventually.”

Hupo had never believed in fate. He had always fought hard to improve his standing in life, believing that every man determined their own destiny. The idea that an all-powerful force had pulled him and Alana from a virtual reality game and dropped them into another world seemed far-fetched. Then again, what was the likelihood that everything had happened by chance? Now was not the time to debate about predeterminism with a former monk. There were more important matters to discuss. Better to agree with him and move on.

“I hope so.”

“You believe in fate?”

Why does he have to bring it up again?

“No, I don’t. But there are other things I’d rather talk about.”

“I understand. What else did you want to know?”

“Except for the bag of coins you’ve given us, Alana and I don’t have any money that can be used here. Do you have any suggestions on how we can earn some?"

Erwin stroked his chin. “Hmm… Have you considered working for the nobles? They’re always looking for strong bodyguards.”

“That sounds like very boring job that involves a lot of standing around.”

Erwin laughed. “You’re probably right.”

“More importantly, I cannot allow anyone, other than myself, to control this power.” Hupo looked down at his hands. “It can be very dangerous in the wrong hands. I alone will take responsibility for it – for the lives I’ve taken.”

“Spoken like a true veteran of battle...” Erwin’s eyes lit up. “That’s it! Why didn’t I think of it earlier?”

“Hmm?”

“The Dominion hosts the Combat Tournament in the capital every four years. Lucky for you, the next one starts in a month. There's a lot of prize money to be won.”

“That sounds interesting. Please tell me more.”

“It lasts at least two days. The first day is the qualification test. Only those who’ve passed it can proceed to the tournament matches. And only melee combat is allowed, so your partner won’t be able to participate.”

“That’s okay. It’s probably better that way. I don’t want to put her danger.”

“Fatalities are rare, because participants are forbidden from killing each other. Killing an opponent is grounds for disqualification.”

Having recently arrived in this world, Hupo wasn’t sure how strong its inhabitants were, relative to a level 100 player such as himself. The only point of reference he had were the werewolves he had recently fought. If the other competitors in the tournament were only as strong as the werewolves, then winning would be a breeze. However, that might be wishful thinking.

If they were stronger than he was, then there was a risk that he could die. Whenever he was killed in World of Lorecraft, he would be revived after a certain period of time. But death in this world was likely permanent.

“That’s somewhat comforting to know.”

“Do you plan on participating?”

“Yes, I do.”

Hupo was willing to put his own life on the line, if doing so could secure a comfortable life for himself and Alana. He didn’t want to experience poverty ever again.

***

Alana pointed at the logs in the stove. “Fireball.”

A tiny ball of fire flickered into existence at the tip of her finger. She was careful to control its size, because a bigger one would have been dangerous. It flew towards logs, setting them ablaze.

Coco clapped her hands together. “Wow! That was amazing! Now, just take a seat. I’ll handle the rest.”

Alana took a seat at the table. “Are you sure you don’t need any more help?”

“You’ve already helped a bunch. It’s my turn.” Coco placed a pot over the stove and poured oats and water into it.

Most of the smoke from the hot stove escaped through the hole in the roof.

The door opened and Hupo entered.

Coco looked up from the stove. “You’re back!”

“Something smells nice.” He closed the door behind him.

“I’m making porridge. Have a seat.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t had some in a while.”

Alana felt a bit jealous. Greeting him was supposed to be her job. It’s what she had always done whenever he returned home.

She straightened her back and smiled. “Welcome home. How did your meeting with the village chief go?”

He sat on the stool next to her. “I learned a lot from him. He showed me where we are on a map and told me about the upcoming Combat Tournament.”

“Combat Tournament?”

“It’s a tournament where warriors fight each other for prize money. I’ve decided to participate.”

She had faith in his fighting ability, but she couldn’t help but feel concern for his safety. They knew far too little about the power level of a typical inhabitant of this world. For all they knew, the fighters in the tournament could be many times more powerful than they were.

What would she do if something were to happen to him? It was too uncomfortable to imagine.

“Will you be okay?”

“I should be fine. If my life is ever in danger, I can always use a Crystal Compass to teleport to safety.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s reassuring to know that you’ve got a backup plan.”

“The tournament doesn’t start for another month.” He turned toward Coco. “Is it okay if we stay here until then, Coco?”

“You two can stay here for as long as you like, on one condition.” Coco paused for a moment. “Let me come with you. I’ve been to the capital once before, so I can guide you two there.”

“We don’t want to trouble you.”

“It’s no trouble at all. I want to go. My best friend dreamed of moving to the capital, but she was killed before she got the chance. In honor of her memory and to fulfill my own dream, I want to see the capital again.”

“What do you think, Alana?”

His question shows just how much he values my opinion.

Alana couldn’t help but smile. “We could use a guide.”

“I agree. Welcome aboard, Coco.”

Coco’s face lit up. “Thank you so much! I promise I’ll work hard. What do you plan to do with the prize money once you’ve won it?”

He stroked his chin. "It’s probably not enough money to retire with. Even if I win it, I’ll need to find another source of income.”

After working as his assistant for so long, Alana had a good understanding of his strengths and weaknesses.

It was her job to help him focus on his strengths and manage his weaknesses. “Perhaps you can use the money to open a business. You’ve ran a successful one before.”

“That’s true. But what kind of business should I open?”

His computer skills are not applicable here, but his cooking skills are.

"How about a restaurant?"

“That’s a great idea! I've always enjoyed cooking."

Coco raised her hand. “Can I be your first employee?”

He chuckled. “Of course.”

“Yay!”

Coco placed three steaming bowls of porridge on the table.

Alana inhaled the sweet and comforting aroma coming from the bowl in front of her. “It has a very pleasant smell.”

Coco giggled. “Yeah.”

The first spoonful warmed Alana’s body. For something that looked so plain and simple, it was unexpectedly full of flavor.

“It’s delicious.” She took another spoonful.

He nodded. “I’ve had porridge many times in my life; this one is quite good in comparison.”

“I’m glad you both like it. Papa taught me how to cook.” Coco lowered her eyes.

Her lips trembled as tears flowed down her freckled cheeks. “But he’s gone now and he’s never coming back.”

Alana recalled reading ‘Comfort the Grieving,’ a book about comforting others in times of grief. She followed the steps suggested by the author.

First, show empathy and understanding.

“I’m sorry you’re in so much pain. You still miss your father dearly, don’t you?”

Coco sniffled and nodded.

Next, affirm their feelings.

“Of course you’re devastated. You two were very close.”

Coco choked back tears. “He was the only family I had left.”

Let them vent their feelings.

“What set off these feelings?”

“Everything. This home. This food.” Coco covered her face and wept.

Offer an appropriate level of physical affection.

When Alana put her hand on Coco’s shoulder, Coco leaned into her and began bawling.

Alana no longer had any appetite to eat the porridge. She felt tightness in her chest and tears welled up in her eyes.

Why do I feel so horrible?

Alana glanced at Hupo, hoping for an answer.

He looked like he was holding back tears.

So this is what grief feels like.