>

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Up and down, up and down.

The rapping of wood, striking the chiseled surface of the ground. A methodical rhythm dispersing in a small echo. In my hands, the sword issued a slight pulse with every thump to the ground.

At the foot of the stairs, I waited in silence. Rereading, over and over again, the holographic border of white hovering in place, with three short simple words contained in its murky white.

>

Not the most eloquent of replies, especially considering the absolute behemoth of information I’ve relayed in my message to him. But like me, I’m sure Tayuma too, preferred a more personal approach when it comes to confrontation.

He’ll have his questions for me soon enough once we’re directly face-to-face.

But I suppose it’ll be quite a while before we meet again, so just until then…

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“Your friend’s taking an awfully long time.”

Jin watched me from a corner he designated as his own. I sense impatience and restlessness flurrying within those deadened eyes. Been sensing that from him for quite some time now.

Just an off-handed remark, but vapid enough to convey an air of impotency.

Didn’t help that he was sitting slumped over a wall, both arms and legs just stretched out, sprawled away lifelessly in every direction… kinda like a corpse. Except I think a corpse would actually look more alive.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“I agreed. Plan’s likely stupid, but I agreed, and yet -” He spoke again, eyes following in sync with the alternating motions of my sword. “- I still have some doubts that need clearing up.”

A feeble sigh escapes me, “Of course you do.”

“I’ll start off with the elephant in the room, then…” He shifted his head to left. “How do you know Sukuinote will keep his word? Say we beat the boss and then he kills us all anyway… not saying that it will happen, but it could happen, you know.”

I stopped the hammering and looked towards him.

“If you feel lucky, you can take a guess, Jin. No wrong answers here.”

He paused for a moment, “You don’t know.”

“I don’t know,” I affirmed his statement.

“And our chances of success, what is your opinion on that?”

“I’m 16 years of age… anxiety and angst are my blood and bones. Don’t ask me that question if you don’t wanna feel the full extent of my pessimism. You won’t come out of it smelling daisies.”

“You-” He stopped, clicked his tongue, and took in a breath. “Alright, fair enough.”

His eyes flicked upwards, “Do I dare ask what level you are now, or am I better off not knowing that information?”

Tap, tap, tap, goes my sword once again.

“And just like that, suddenly I’m not feeling so sure anymore,” Jin muttered to no one in particular.

“You’re a dev, dev-man,” I said, jerking my head, “Just look it up in your developer window thingy or whatever.”

“If I still had it, none of us would still be here. No, I’m just a player now, just like the rest of you. I’m locked out of it.”

“Shame… a bit of Godmode wouldn’t have hurt anyone,” I said, slightly disappointed. “Then again, if Sukuinote could twist NPCs like that, I shudder to think what’d he do that one poor unfortunate soul with Godmode.”

Jin merely grunted in agreement.

Wasn’t long before we fell back to our routine. The bouncing wooden sword and the alive-but-not-really-alive carcass in a lonely corner.

But then a peculiar look started forming on his face after what I guess was probably the 345th tap on the ground.

“Why are you… wait,” Jin craned his neck forward and squinted his eyes. “Right, I wasn’t mistaken. Why are you using that wooden sword?”

“What, this thing?” Stalling midway to a plummet, I held the sword out in front of me. “Well you see, I hit people on the head with it and they go ‘ouch’.”

“You know that’s not a weapon right?” He said aloud.

“It’s a stick with a hilt, I know. But it’s MY stick with a hilt, so have care how you speak. An insult to the stick is an insult to the man that wields it.”

“It’s not a weapon,” Jin repeated again, firmer this time.

“So harsh…” I shook my head, “Bad memories with a stick? Tripped over a twig when you were younger perhaps? Not really healthy to be holding a grudge after so long, it’s only a baby tree, my guy.”

“No, seriously, why are you using that? So many different weapons to choose from and you went with that?”

That got a short wryly laugh from out of me, “Like I got a choice. You’re the ones that made it so that this stupid thing is the only weapon Level 1s are able to use.”

“You’re only level 1? Still?!” He said so suddenly, pausing momentarily in profound shock. “Do you even have any idea how much of a danger everything is to you right now?”

As if I don’t know… I’m reminded of it every single time I hear the slightest hint of a growl. I don’t think I’ll be getting a peaceful night’s sleep in weeks without breaking into a sweat because of those noises.

I waved my hand, beckoning him, “I do, but pretend I’m an idiot for a moment and enlighten me anyway.”

“Put it this way then, I slap you in the face just once - hard, which honestly, I’m really tempted to do… you won’t be recovering from that anytime soon.”

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“Well… ‘least the feeling’s mutual,” I finally said.

Jin inclined his head back, “You’re not gonna win over anyone, the way you are. Your parents must really enjoy your company.”

“A mystery will take to our graves, then,” I said, yawning away my fatigue. “Suppose I could always try asking mom… but I don’t imagine her talking so good from six feet under.”

That roused him up. Had him staring at me so piercingly that it was getting uncomfortable to level with his gaze. It also had me diverting my own to the ground.

“Got a dad?” He asked me, his voice suddenly going soft.

I cleared my throat and spoke quietly, “Left. Never knew him.”

“Any… any relatives?”

“Got an aunt.... little cousin. Want my whole family tree?” I raised my eyebrows at him.

There was a gentle look, that eased the hard rigidness that had occupied his expression for so long. If I wasn’t mistaken, he looked sympathetic.

“No, no…” He shook his head. “I won’t ask.”

I exhaled a deep breath, and somehow felt a twinge of relief from it, “Then don’t.”