Chapter 39

~ Their Resolves ~

SW/SW/SW

“Hey, did you hear? They said someone has been kidnapped.”

“Really? Who?”

“Someone named Kail from 2-B.”

“Never heard of him.”

“You know, some sort of ordinary-looking guy. They said he’s been missing for two days.”

Nia mentally plugged her ears and quickened her pace. Her brother had been kidnapped. What was worse, the kidnapper hadn’t contacted them. Normally they would demand ransom, right?

With police detectives out there investigating Kail’s whereabouts, Nia didn’t feel as secure as her parents did. She felt that they weren’t enough. Those detectives just weren’t enough. Was this insecurity because of her being Kail’s twin or something else, Nia couldn’t tell.

Her brother was kidnapped while he was taking a walk. Before he went out the house, Nia saw Kail’s face and was quite speechless. He looked so troubled and angry, something that Nia had never expected to see. Her brother was kind and patient, although a bit ordinary. What was the source of his concern?

Was he being bullied real? Lately he came back home carrying bruises along with him…

No, he wasn’t. Kail wasn’t bullied. He just got into fights with his fellow classmates over trivial things.

But why didn’t he tell her he had problems? She was his sister, wasn’t she?

Nia let out a deep sigh.

That’s right. Maybe we aren’t really close, after all…

0000

Later that evening,,,

Something was missing. No, someone was missing. Without him by her side, Elvaria couldn’t find the reason to smile. He was her sun, her flower, and her reason to keep playing GeaOnline.

He was online since yesterday, that was what the login record reported, but Elvaria felt like something was off. It was as if Ace was gone and wouldn’t come back. Not to mention that someone from her school had been kidnapped, Elvaria was scared to the bone.

What if…?

What if real world Ace was kidnapped, too, along with that boy, Kail?

She opened her PM and sighed. There were no new messages. She was sure that the message had been sent, but why wouldn’t he write back? She tried sending him a new one, but the system told her that she couldn’t.

“Have you seen Ace?” Elvaria, or Hilda, approached QueeN. The said magician was sitting on the sofa, looking serious in customizing her wand.

She shook her head, “Vhat, you two broke up?”

“N-No. I haven’t confessed yet, but suddenly I can’t contact him. He is on all the time, but I can’t send any messages…”

“Simple. He’z blocked your account.”

Elvaria gasped in shock. Myriad of memories of her with Ace suddenly flooder her mind.

“I won’t let you harm her!” his voice was slightly trembling.

---

“Hey, thanks for saving me,” Elvaria smiled sheepishly.

“Nah, no prob. We have to help each other out, right?”

---

“I see. In short, I have to get stronger while keeping an eye on my HP, right?”

“Yep. That practically sums it up,” Ace nodded. “Are you ready to go to the Guild Hall?”

Elvaria smiled enthusiastically, “Mh-hmm!”

---

Ace went agape, blood flowing though his nostrils, “W-What are you wearing, idiot?!”

Elvaria evaded his stare and stammered, “I-I’m participating in the Summer Event…”

“But your bikini… it’s almost see-through!”

---

“H-Hey, Ace,” Elvaria slowly approached him. She averted her eyes, absentmindedly playing with her fingers as she murmured, “L-Let’s take a walk…”

“H-H-Haaaa?!” Ace took several steps backwards, blushing feverishly, “w-w-w-why sh-should I? Y-Y-You can take Tongsis with you!”

…

“Ace? What do you think about my bikini? Does it… suit me?”

Ace spared her a glance before looking away, face red, “Y-Yea… it looks good on you.”

Where those memories they shared together… fakes? They hunted together, laughed, and exchanged friendly banters…

Was he just pretending to be happy? Was he using her?

…how could you do this to me…?

“But why? He… He’s always happy being with me! There’s no way Ace would do such a horrible thing! Have I unknowingly said the wrong thing…?”

“Hmm, as far as I know, no. You’ve been zuch a sweet girl. Zink avout it, zere’s no vay Ace vould ban you. Maybe he pressed ze vrong button and didn’t know how to undo it? Just like zat incident vith his first perk?”

“Then why isn’t he here?”

“Pfft! Elvaria, you’re zuch a naïve girl! I bet he’z so busy vorking part-time he doesn’t hav time to play games!”

“No, QueeN! He’s been online all day long! Normally you’d stop to eat and rest, right? But he isn’t! His log said he is on the whole time!”

The cheerful look on QueeN’s face disappeared. “…zis ist bad… I’ll contact ze developer. Gimme a sec, okay?”

Elvaria watched in worry as QueeN disappeared, logging out.

The elf closed her eyes as myriad of emotions clashed inside her heart. Worry, fear, hate, love, adoration, and much more…

Several minutes later she opened her eyes, determination blazing in her eyes.

I’ll get stronger, Ace. Wait for me. I'll definitely find and save you!

0000

Nia stared at the GeaOnline visor she held in both hands. This game was the start of everything. Ever since Kail had played GeaOnline, he started changing.

This game caused my brother to disappear…

…perhaps this game had the answer for everything that had happened.

Determination filled her mind. After exhaling slowly, Nia put on the helmet and lay down. A moment later, everything blackened out.

With an invisible hand, Nia tapped ‘create character’ box in front of her…