"Hello, Sanity. The gale of the Wind Chasers has past, so let us walk around. It would seem the leaves and winds have broken up again." -from the diary of Princess Amelia Fluorestris

Seattle, Washington

United States

Thomas Malkin and Christopher Alsheimer sat in the office of Akio Kurosaki. The motion-activated lights flickered and dimmed as they waited in the stillness.

Once again, Kurosaki displayed his incompetence by showing up late to the set meeting time. If the situation was so critical, he could have at least been punctual about it. Now it just felt like they were wasting time.

It would have been nice to use the time to analyze Lo's status, but Malkin's curiosity about this supposed “hiccup” in the plan had torn him away against better judgment. The men and women in the Gamemaster's control room seemed competent enough, but as long as his AI wasn't the one impeding progress, then he could care less about the failings of others from a separate company. In fact, it could only help his own image in the long run.

Malkin glanced around the room and observed the sparse furnishings. The lights flashed back on when they noticed him. The room gave off a claustrophobic feeling. It was not the office for the chief executive of a company. Malkin had even given him the choice of any office in the building. The room seemed in poor taste but, well, to each his own. The lack of decor made it difficult to read further into Kurosaki's character.

Malkin observed Alsheimer who stared at the walls awkwardly to try and lessen the uneasiness of the wait. He almost felt envious of the young CEO's position. Almost. Sometimes ignorance truly was bliss.

As he was about to address him, the door to the office flew open and Kurosaki rushed inside while still in the midst of adjusting his tie. An expanding file folder was wedged under his arm which he tossed on the desk with a heavy thud.

“I apologize for the delay, but there was an issue that required my attention.” His words were barely coherent.

“Not a problem,” Malkin responded. He made it a point to add emphasis to his words.

Alsheimer simply leaned forward in his seat and clasped his hands.

Kurosaki pulled open a drawer at his desk and rifled through a pile of papers. Malkin frowned as a small stack dropped on the floor. Kurosaki muttered something inaudible under his breath.

Jesus. This guy...

He spoke when he seemed to find what he was searching for. “As you both know...right, the universal code that the virtual world runs on is constantly evolving at an astonishing rate. It is also accompanied by a similar program that amends itself according to the code. Fascinating really, how a code bends the program instead of the program-”

Malkin interrupted him, “Yes, we are aware of this. Can you get to the point? We don't need the frivolities.”

Kurosaki cleared his throat and collected himself at the sudden interruption. “Ah, yes of course, well, you see, there is a problem concerning the code itself, er...” He trailed off and glanced between his two guests. Malkin could tell that the executive was more out of sorts than usual.

Alsheimer spoke up, a hint of vehemence in his voice that Malkin couldn't quite place. The young man's eyes stared hard at Kurosaki. “What in the hell happened? What is wrong with the code?”

“Well,” Kurosaki started. “We don't really know how it works.”

Malkin shifted in his seat. Didn't "know how it works?" What was that supposed to mean? Kurosaki's own company was responsible for the creation of the universal code in the first place. They even made its program. The statement didn't make the least bit of sense.

“What are you talking about?” Malkin asked evenly. He surprised himself with the restraint he was able to muster. “Your company made the damn code. How can you not know how it works?”

Kurosaki cleared his throat. “Well, technically, it was Takamura who made the code.”

“And what? Wait, are you saying that the only person who knows about the code is deceased?” Alsheimer asked.

Kurosaki nodded. “Yes, that is exactly what I'm saying.”

“And Takamura left nothing behind?”

“Well, we are still looking into that.”

“Then just trace the code back to the original source.”

“It is evolving at such a pace that nobody, not even in a collaborative project, could possibly keep up with it.”

“There are other methods, other programs to be implemented.”

“The only program that can interpret it is the one being used now.”

“We have digital organisms and the newly remodeled artificial reboots meant for this sort of thing.”

“They all get destroyed. The replication is so fast that it deprives all countermeasures of any computational resources.”

Malkin interrupted the two of them with the raise of his hand. “Let me guess - Takamura made the program that runs it too. Am I right?”

He could practically hear Kurosaki swallow at the observation. He looked down at his desk.

Alsheimer stared agape at the floor, his eyes and hands trembling. “So what you're saying is, this project is all for nothing.”

Alsheimer rose from his seat and planted his fists on the desk. Malkin had never seen him lose his cool like this. The calm demeanor that the young CEO usually assumed was gone. He was passionate about his work. And now all of it might be put into jeopardy. Years of effort he and his employees put into the project.

“How can you not know?” Alsheimer growled.

Kurosaki shook his head. “I'm sorry. Takamura never did tell us how he discovered the code. We just simply worked with it in the program. That's all. Without the original source of the code, if the program or this facility should collapse, it will be lost forever.”

Malkin sighed. “So that's why you wanted your own equipment here instead of transferring it to my facility. Everything you presented to us at the pre-alpha meeting came from Takamura's own findings, and you pulled some extra flair out of your ass to push it through.”

“We could have done something,” Alsheimer said. “But you let your pride get in the way and compromised this whole project.” He couldn't handle anymore. He punched the desk one last time before he stormed out of the room. He threw open the door and slammed it behind him. The pictures on the walls shook from the force.

Malkin waited a while to see if Kurosaki had anything more to say. The man seemed shaken by Alsheimer's anger, or perhaps more by his words. Having another spell out one's fears tended to have more of an effect than replaying it over and over again in one's own head.

Malkin wiped off some non-existent residue from his pants and moved to leave the room.

He stopped at the door and turned to Kurosaki. “We'll see what we can do about this.” Then he added, “You all really fucked this one up.”

He left Kurosaki to muddle in his thoughts.

Pirugan Continent

Sacred Bakke Mountains/Special Dungeon

Ray limped over to Leilan who still rested on her knees staring at Verche's unmoving body.

He winced as he took another strained step to stand next to her. He applied too much weight on the foot that had been impaled by Verche's sword and he was overcome by a dizzy spell as the pain swelled. The leg gave out and he fell to one knee.

They sat in silence as particles of light drifted from portions of Verche's body. Leilan rested a hand on his helmet. Minutes past as fragments drifted and swirled around them. The dance halted when the golden knight vanished completely. Her hand hovered in place with nothing left to touch but the empty air.

“Leilan, I-” Ray started. The words eluded him. He'd told her that Verche would return as his old self. Now he felt like a cheat. It was like he deceived her into fighting for their own self-preservation.

“It's not your fault,” she said quietly. The dryness in her voice made Ray's stomach drop.

She wiped her face with the back of a hand. “Better this than having to sit alone in this dark place forever.”

Ray didn't know how to respond to her reasoning.

“Leilan, you don't have to-”

The words caught in his throat as he saw a cluster of particles drift in front of his eyes. They faltered and ceased movement. It was as if a chain reaction started. As one fragment stopped, the ones closest to it also froze. The acknowledgment of the other specks of light continued until even Leilan, still absorbed in her grief, noticed the change as well.

Leilan rose from her knees and stood next to Ray staring in bewilderment.

The light drifted back to where Verche's body had rested and converged. They warped, pulled and twisted around each other. They assumed a specific shape, and a white light filled the space. It took on a physical form as the light faded. Color flooded its surface until it revealed a large golden egg.

Ray and Leilan stared at the egg. Neither one of them dared to touch it.

It was a brilliant sight to behold as the egg suddenly exploded in a splash of luminous yellow. A glowing lump melted and morphed into the shape of a body. Glowing fingers flexed and limbs bent as the shining mass convulsed. It came to rest as the last of the light merged.

The dust particles burst and scattered, leaving behind the unconscious, armored form of Verche.

Ray and Leilan stood dumbstruck within the stillness that followed. Leilan didn't move until she saw the slight twitch of Verche's body and the barely discernible, muffled groan that escaped from his helmet. Before Verche even had time to gather his bearings, Leilan was already back on her knees and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. Verche's warrior instincts kicked in for moment as he propped his elbows underneath him to rise. He relaxed himself as he realized who held him.

He wordlessly placed a hand on Leilan's back and returned the hug.

Ray respectfully stood to the side and watched the exchange. He tore his eyes away from them and gazed around the room to take in the result of the battle.

Part of a crumbled wall here and a shattered ceiling there. Debris strewn throughout the end of the cavern. The blood splattered and prominent.

He gazed up at the ceiling. His fingers flexed and smeared the flaking blood on his palm. He forced his eyes down and observed the result. A held breath escaped him as he looked up at the two humanoid monsters.

Real...it's real.

Pirugan Continent

Demeter Forest

Ray kept to his own thoughts on the return trip to the outpost. The forest was silent. Not a single enemy dared to cross their path. On one occasion, Ray noticed a group of demons crouched behind a pair of squat hills with their tridents and pikes. But as soon as the two god monsters trailing behind appeared they immediately backed off and retreated into the safety of the forest.

Ray stopped at the edge of the clearing and observed the guards patrolling the wall. A shipment of supplies was being escorted through the front gate.

Leilan and Verche waited as they saw him lost in deep contemplation. He figured they sensed the concern welling up in him.

Ray crossed his arms and leaned against a tree and heaved a heavy sigh. “Okay,” he said. “I guess you both know I have a lot of questions to ask about all this.”

Before Ray could continue, Leilan stepped forward and lifted a finger to her lips.

“In due time,” she whispered. “Your people - they have eyes and ears everywhere.”

He'd nearly forgotten about that. It was surprising that Leilan so readily accepted the idea that his world was watching, almost like some omniscient beings.

“I know where we can go," Ray said.

He opened his database and scrolled through the menus until he found one that presented the map of Pirugan. The continent was massive. He traced the Bakke Mountains until he located Millshore. He took note of the clearing where the outpost was situated and decided to take the time to mark it on his map. To the northwest was a symbol of a house, and right next to it was a second symbol of what looked like a cluster of towers.

Ray lifted up the database so that Verche and Leilan had a clear view of it. He pointed to the house symbol. “All Players are given a place to live when they enter this world,” he explained. “It's safe to talk there.”

Leilan examined the map and grimaced. “They didn't make it easy for you to get there.” She pointed to a gray patch between the dwelling and the edge of Demeter Forest. “Those are deadlands. If we want to avoid those, then we will have to wrap around to Millshore first and then travel along Mercury Lake.”

“I should assume these deadlands are dangerous just by the name,” Ray said.

“That is why the city, Sarkast, has most of its defenses concentrated to the west,” Verche added. He paused for a moment and rested an armored hand to his helmet. A few stuttering breaths escaped him. The aftereffects of being controlled by the dungeon lingered.

“Years ago, that area used to be farmland. Everything living in that vicinity fell victim to a plague and it was cut off to protect the rest of the populace. The dead walk there.”

Leilan rested a hand on his shoulder in a comforting gesture.

Ray chuckled. “Great. Zombies. Yeah, I think we'll avoid that area. So, we stop in Millshore and then head for Sarkast. Sounds good.”

Leilan shook her head. “No. We avoid Millshore. Despite our current relations with Irina and her soldiers, I don't think we will pass through the town so easily.”

“Somebody say my name?”

Leilan, Verche, and Ray looked up from the map and saw Irina and a squad of soldiers approaching them. Irina had a broad grin on her face and the soldiers also seemed to be in a high spirits upon seeing the trio.

“Looks like you returned to us with success.” She nodded a greeting to Verche who returned it.

Leilan gestured to Verche and introduced him officially, “Irina, this is Verche - our new comrade. Verche, this is Irina Roche.”

“A pleasure,” Verche said.

Ray ignored that she opted to refer to him as a “new” comrade. He was about to speak until Irina interrupted him.

“Don't worry. I heard enough to get the idea,” she said. “A Player and two monsters would probably not be welcome in Millshore. That being said, you have been a great help clearing most of this area of the demon threat, so I would at least like to repay you myself on behalf of Millshore.”

Irina motioned to one of the soldiers who shrugged a leather bag off his shoulder. He walked up to Ray and held it out. Ray accepted it with a quick word of thanks and opened the bag. His eyes widened as he saw a red jewel emitting a brilliant gleam despite being shut out from the light. A crimson, metallic design in the shape of a flame covered its base.

Ray stared at Irina mouth agape. “Irina I-I can't possibly-”

She lifted a hand. “A miner discovered it within the mountains. I know what it is. I also know that these spirit jewels are useless to humans.”

“This puts you at risk,” Leilan said. “If your leaders were to find out about this...”

The soldier who had handed Ray the bag spoke, “That won't be a problem. Those who know of this will keep their mouths shut.”

Ray remembered the respect these soldiers had shown Irina out on the road. The way they kept silent with just a word and how swiftly they went about following her commands. They had entered the battle at the outpost without hesitation. These men did not fight for the leaders sitting contentedly in Millshore. They fought for Irina.

But still, a spirit jewel! He couldn't believe his luck. Not only had a new monster become part of the team, but he now had one of the rarest materials in the entire world in his possession. Spirit jewels were usually used as advanced evolution material to transform monsters. He wondered if it functioned the same in this world.

He added the jewel to his inventory and it disappeared from his hands.

“When will you be leaving us?” Irina asked.

Ray turned to Leilan for confirmation. It was already drawing towards evening, and the trip would take a few days.

“We leave at first light,” Leilan answered.

Night fell. With it came the cheers and hollers of the men hunkered down in the outpost. Hostiles lurked in the surrounding forest. Home was out of reach. But tonight was cause for celebration. Irina made sure that men running their rounds on the wall switched frequently so that everyone could share in the booze and merriment.

The demons were mostly routed, and miners had discovered a number of valuable resources within the mountain. Millshore recognized the success of the operation and rewarded them with reinforcements. Two allied monsters had also appeared, along with a Player who proved that perhaps these people from another far-off land really did have their own world's best interest in mind.

Ray stared down at the wooden cup in his hand and swirled the clear alcohol. He dipped his finger in it. Cold.

He lurched forward as someone came up from behind and slung an arm over his shoulders. He winced at the thick smell of alcohol on the soldier's breath. It was Carther.

“Drink up, kid! Y'know this party is for you too!” The big man downed the last of his drink and slapped Ray on the back. He stumbled off to an open keg, took up the ladle and took another swig before filling his mug.

A group of soldiers conversing nearby hooted and hollered. They threw their heads back and finished off their rounds.

Well, humans will always be humans, Ray thought. He brought the cup to his lips and practically flung the contents into his mouth. He swallowed it in one gulp. The heat from the booze flared up in his throat and he fell into a coughing fit.

When he regained his composure he looked up and saw Verche standing in front of him still wearing his impressive armor. He held a cup of alcohol in each hand.

“Not a drinker?” the knight asked. He held out one of the cups.

Ray accepted the offer and cleared his throat. “Actually, I drank a lot in college. I'm just not used to something so strong.”

Verche tilted his head. “College?”

“Don't worry about it.”

The knight moved next to Ray and watched the scene of raucous laughter and shouts. A nearby soldier stumbled over a bench and a drink flew from his hand. The contents splashed on Irina's undershirt and she glared at her subordinate. The man immediately prostrated himself and shouted a string of apologies. Irina grinned and ordered someone nearby to grab a mug and have the man chug it as punishment. A circle formed and they cheered.

“I didn't have a chance to properly thank you,” Verche said.

Ray took a sip of his drink. “Well, you are Leilan's friend, right?”

“Aye. Is that why you did it?”

He shrugged. “I don't know. I'm still trying to get used to all this.”

Ray couldn't see the expression on the monster's face through the helmet, but he thought he heard a grunt of approval. The knight opened the lower section of his helmet and emptied his cup.

“Thank you,” Verche said.

They heard a surge in the cacophony and noticed a group of soldiers raising their mugs as Leilan moved to pass them. Even in their drunkenness they had enough sense to admire her with sideways glances and other clever ways of observing her figure. It was hard to blame them with that combat dress revealing a portion of her thigh with every other step. Take away her armored wings and she'd have the appearance of a normal, attractive human.

Ray felt the heat rising on his face. He knew the alcohol was only partly to blame.

Leilan approached them and crossed her arms underneath her breasts. Her eyes narrowed. “Don't drink too much. Last thing I need is you waking with a hangover.”

Verche responded by going over to the keg and refilling his cup. He returned and took a sip through the slot in his helmet.

Leilan did a poor job of hiding her amusement and chuckled. “Still a smartass.”

“Aye. I missed that.” He finished the rest and went for another. A group of soldiers around the keg seemed to notice his number of refills and encouraged him to join a drinking game.

Ray raised a hand and massaged his forehead as he watched them. It was difficult to comprehend the shift between combat and leisure – fiction and reality. He glanced at Leilan. She stared at him with that measured intensity. After a few seconds of verbal stalemate, her mouth curled into a half-smile.

She held out a hand to him. “Give me some of that.”

Ray stared at her hand stupidly for a moment as the haze slowly lifted from his brain. When he realized what she meant, he handed over his cup. Leilan swirled the contents around a few times and drank.

“Not bad,” she commented. She turned away from him. “Thanks. And I don't just mean the drink.”

Ray let his body relax as she returned it.

“Let's hope for more moments like this,” Leilan said. “I'll be counting on you.”

Players from one world, and monsters from another. The two worlds seemed so different at first.

Ray shut out all his previous thoughts of reality. He didn't need some definition established by his own world. He was experiencing it for himself. He decided to make the determination based on his own adventures with his monster partners.

He finished the drink and held out his hand this time. “I'm sure we'll have plenty.”

Leilan smiled and accepted the gesture. They shook hands.