Battle Maiden

Book 1 : Into the Gates of Hell

Chapter 5 : An End is Another Beginning

*****

“Oh, it’s my ring! You guys actually did it!”

A genuinely happy expression was seen on Mrs. Graham’s Face, donning her wedding ring on her left ring finger. The whole kitchen was astonished at this sight, as the owner was famous for her strictness and constantly irritated face.

“How can I ever repay you?” She was so happy, that she did not mind the putrid smell coming from the ‘saviors’.

‘Money would be good. I won’t be worried about going hungry.’

‘Or three free meals a day, for life. That’s much better.Money will run out. She seems happy enough to agree to this.’

‘I guess I need to say something right now.’

Sera’s only concern right now was the quest would at least allow her to continue her peaceful way of life for a longer time. She did not care for experience or fame in the game. This world was but an escape. All she wanted was a place to vent; the training hall where she could release her stress and the library to read books. She found Royal Road rich and deep lore fascinating.

However, right now she was having a hard time trying to formulate the best response to get the reward she wanted. She knew the AI dynamics; the reward could be affected by the way an adventurer interacted with them.

“It was our pleasure to help. Your happy face made it worth our effort.”

It was not Sera who answered, but the man with a similar stench beside her. She took too much time thinking that the guy, Spoon, answered in her stead.

“Really? What a kind pair, the two of you. I was wrong thinking that you youngsters have no manners. But I can’t just let you leave without any reward. You went through such trouble.”

“Please, we insist.” Spoon was now taking the lead, conversing with Mrs. Graham.

“The least I could do is to offer you free meals at this establishment, anytime you want.”

‘YEEEEEEESSSSS!’

‘Good job Spoon! Even if your name is weird, I’m very grateful to you.’

Sera managed to hide her excitement; it was the reward that she wanted. She would no longer have to worry about not having anything to eat in the city.

“That is a very kind offer, but we’re adventurers. We travel the vast land of the continent in search for adventure,” Spoon declined her offer.

‘NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!’

‘What have you done?!’

“We won’t be staying in the city for long. This place is just a starting point. There are others out there who might need our help,” He continued.

‘What nonsense is he spouting about?!’

“But of course! Nice young people like you should go out and expand your horizons. Help out more people in need!” Mrs. Graham was very touched by Spoon’s answer.

‘Who is this “we” he is talking about? I just want my food free..’

“In that case, I have the perfect reward for both of you aspiring adventurers. A travelling kit which includes field cooking equipments, blankets, and an extra large backpack. I’ll fill the pack with some dried food and bandages. Also, take some pocket money.”

“This is too much, we can’t possibly accept this.” Spoon was surprised when he saw all the stuff Mrs. Graham handed over to them.

‘Yes we can! T-T’ Sera was crying inside, but was unable to express it..

“I insist! You do not know how much the ring meant to me. This barely repays my favor to you.”

“If that is the case, then we will gratefully accept this gift.”

*Ttring*

You have completed a quest.

You have leveled up!

You have leveled up!

Fame increased by 30

Your relationship with Mrs. Graham has greatly improved.

You’ve earned 80 silver.

Received Mrs. Graham Travelling Kit ™

*****

At the back alley of the Salty Rose, Sera and Spoon were resting their weary avatar body. Both of them sat on the ground with their back leaning against the wall. Their first skirmish was taking its toll; weary and tired, they just sat silently, enjoying the quiet, empty alley.

The game was able to simulate body fatigue just like real life. It’s too bad that the effect was not felt in real life, or else a VR game would be a preferred method of exercising. Lying down all day playing VR games was not that healthy for you.

“Spoon?” Sera’s voice broke the silence.

‘That sweet voice, it feels wasted that she called me by my stupid nickname…’

‘Karma sure is quick and cruel on me.

“Yes?”

“Your shield, it’s time I returned it. It’s got blood all over, should I send it for repair first?”

When Spoon tried to give her the shield, Sera refused to accept it. She finally accepted it after agreeing that she would only borrow it for the quest period; which was already over. It was time to return the shield back to Spoon.

“Keep it. It suits you.”

In Royal Road, item transfer could only happen when both parties agreed to it. There were exceptions and certain ways to bypass this, such as dropping the item intentionally (or accidentally) and theft. The latter will mark you as criminal,and cause all the guards in town to be hostile towards you. Spoon tried to use this knowledge to gift the shield to Sera, which was his initial intention.

“I told you I can’t accept this!” Sera face turned sour.

‘Is it bad that I find her distraught face cute?’

‘If this goes on I’ll eventually give in and take the shield back.’

‘Unless…’

Spoon suddenly stood, acting surprised. He moved his hand in midair, where a window showed up, showing the current time in real life.

“I’m sorry, I really need to go. I have an examination tomorrow and it’s late,” Spoon spoke hurriedly.

“See you next time. Till then keep the shield with you,” He continued.

Spoon’s avatar then disappeared from the alley, leaving Sera behind. He had logged out. Sera could not do anything, she knew she had been tricked.

Sera was now alone again. She fastened the shield to her backpack, newly acquired from quest’s reward. It was a dull wooden shield, all bloody and scratched. What was once a proud lion showing off its mane now appeared feral and grim.

“I should get this fixed first before returning it.”

Sera walks out of the alley, heading into the center of the city. She grabs the attentions of everyone she walks by with her look. A cute girl with a dirty and shabby beginner outfit. Sword at her waist, and a menacing buckler on her back. Walking whilst looking down on the road ahead of her, paying no attention to her surroundings. With the sound of whispers all around, it’s a familiar feeling for her, one that she did not expect to experience in Royal Road.

‘Am I incapable for change?’

*****

“Phuah! My plan worked!”

“She’ll have no choice but to accept the gift!”

Scott, having logged out of Royal Road, was now in the kitchen. He was replenishing his body with water, and eating some food before going to bed. It was easy to forget to eat and drink after playing RR, since the brain was tricked into thinking that they had eaten in game.

“Why are you making so much noise?” Steve suddenly showed up, disturbing his twin’s celebration.

“Nothing. Why are you still up?”

“You were too noisy. Now ‘fess up! What happened with the girl?”

Normally Scott would avoid talking about this, but his mood was currently very good. He told his brother about his epic quest, protecting the girl and the cool lines he said. Of course, in his version of the story, he was as gallant one as can be.

“That’s about it. I hope you don’t mind me giving the shield to her,” Scott ended his story.

“I don’t really mind you giving it to her. But, you know that she will try to return it again the next time you’re online,” Steve shrugged.

“That’s the point. It means more opportunities for me to meet her,” Scott proudly told his brother.

“Ooh, not bad at all. Since you can find out whether a person is online or not if they’re in your friends list, she’ll send you a whisper. Not bad.”

“Friend list?” Scott asked, looking confused.

“You did not add her as a friend???!!”

“I-I forgot..”

“You.. do you know how hard it is to find a person in Royal Road? Have you any idea how big the game is? The number of people playing at one time? You might not be able to meet her again!”

“Noooooo!!!”

Steve found it hard to believe his brother. He was not exaggerating things however; it was very hard to find someone based on name alone. Especially in a game like Royal Road that allowed multiple similar names.

He wanted to lecture his brother more, but was interrupted by a loud voice booming into the kitchen.

“YOU KIDS GO TO BED!!!”

The ruckus they caused had waked their father.

*****

‘Is he a ‘friend’?’

‘Well, he did not even ask to add me in his friend list..’

‘Partying up to complete a quest is nothing special, everyone does it. Even among strangers.’

‘Maybe I should be the one to ask.’

‘But what if he says no?’

Sera logged off immediately after she felt the way people the around her treated her. She had gotten used to it in real life, but not in the game. The game was supposed to be her sanctuary; her escape from the way the real world viewed her. Having been treated similarly in it, she could not stand it. She ran away, logging off in the middle of the street.

‘An examination, I also have one tomorrow.’

‘Maybe he studies in the same place as me..’

“Unlikely..”

She loathed taking examinations. As much as she loved knowledge and learning new things, it was the test that labeled as a genius. She had once purposely made a mistake in a test, but the lecturer at that time gave her full marks. It turned out that the lecturers at her place were using her answer sheet as a marking scheme. Those lazy bastards.

Because of this, she felt bad if she answered wrongly. Not towards the lazy lecturers, but for the other students. She did not want someone’s correct answer marked wrong because she gave the wrong answer. She worked hard to ensure that her answers and grade stayed perfect.

‘It is late. I should sleep.’

*****

The day Steve dreaded had arrived, the examination that would determine the fate of their allowances. On the first day, there was only one exam. Two hours of grueling tests, one of the hardest tests to pass. To make it worse, it started at 8am. By the end of it, the color was drained from Steve’s face as he walked beside his brother along the halls, devoid of energy.

“There is no such thing as a smart gene, dear Brother. You just never really used your brain up to now.”

“Blasphemy! I use my brain all the time. The amount of effort you put compared to mine is less, yet you seemed to be doing better than me!”

“It’s because you tried to build Rome in one day. I’ve been working on the foundation since I was a wee boy.”

“Why are we talking about Rome and foundation now? Do you mock me brother?”

“Nay, a solid foundation allows you to build a solid tower as high as the heavens. To build such things without laying proper foundation, it will soon collapse on itself.”

“I took 2 weeks off playing Royal Road for this, don’t tell me this I built Rome in one day nonsense!”

“No you did not. I have you in my friends’ list; I know when you’re online and when you’re not. Besides, it is not nonsense. I’ve been playing Royal Road too, and I know power leveling will make you weak in the long run. Steadily training yourself is the way to go.”

Scott’s tone wavered as he mentioned the friend list. What a blunder he did.

“Alright, I get your point. Are you playing later today?”

“No, I’m taking a break. I’ll help you study tonight.”

“What about the girl?”

“Ugh.. Don’t remind me.”

Two slumping boys made their way out of the campus. A high-leveled rogue in the game was but a student in real life. A deliberate man with a clear goal in mind could still make mistakes. It’s life, and virtual reality did little to change that.

Then, something caught the twins’ eyes. To be more accurate, it’s someone, and their pair of eyes were not the only ones fixing their gazes towards it. No one even bothered to hide that fact, openly staring and following the movement of this person. As if looking was simply not enough, murmurs could be heard all around. Gossips, rumors, accusations, admirations and even envies; this person, a girl, became the center of attention.

"Here she comes." Scott said as the girl made her way toward him.

"That genius? She's pretty," Steve said.

"Don't even think about it, she's way out of our league. A girl like her would not have time for people like us."

"Hey, a man can at least dream. But you're right I suppose.."

The girl they mentioned was Sarah Brant, a role-model student. Fair-skinned, long black hair tied up in a neat bun and wearing glasses, she had the aura of a librarian. She held her books close to her chest, as if she were hugging a beloved teddy bear, and was presumably heading to class.

“What’s wrong Scott?” Steve asked his brother, who seemed to be drowned in his thoughts.

“Nothing..” Scott replied.

“It’s just that she reminds me of someone,” He continued.

‘There is no way that’s her. Could it?’

*****

“We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.”

-Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD-

*****

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Author Wrote: The PR credit is edited, since the PR wished for anonymity. Said person gave me permission to credit IT as a Lazy PR. Hence this;

Credit for PR goes to : Again, thanks for reading, any feed backs, comments, critique or anything is highly appreciated.

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