Kuza laid on the bench. The leaves covered his face. Bits of sunlight passed through the leaves, but it did not wake him up. Then, the presence of a familiar person caused Kuza to open his eyes.

“Airen? What are you doing here?” He raised his body.

“Let’s go. I have something to show you.” Her smile gleamed on Kuza. His heart started to beat faster.

“Ah- O-okay,” His feet touched the ground. Kuza followed Airen behind her back.

Her sweet scent tickled his nose. New shampoo? “Ermm, Airen? Where are you taking me?”

Airen stopped and looked at him. She touched his lips and said, “A secret.”

Her action made it even hard for Kuza to control his heartbeat. Airen giggle. Then, she turned around and continued to walk forward. Get a hold of yourself. Kuza sighed and followed her.

Kuza squeezed the red and white earpiece two times with a long pause between them. The voice of Spectre echoed on his left ear, “Proceed.”

Kuza and Airen arrived at the forest. Animals scattered as they noticed them. A big tree with a house on top of it; with old planks, worn red, white, and blue colors.

“Why are we here?” his index finger scratched his own cheek.

“This is where I always play when I was a child,” She kicked the grass in front of her with a light movement.

“A kid? But you do know that you’re made with zeros and ones, right?”

“I do, but the feeling… being someone tool to…. You know what I meant, right?” She closed her eyes, a silhouette course against her cheek.

Kuza nodded. His action caused Airen to sigh. Airen looked at her treehouse, and her eyes drew closer.

“Whenever I was sad, I would go here. Here, I feel relief, and my sadness would go away. Do you have anything like this in your world, Kuza?”

“Of course we do… we called it a treehouse.”

“A treehouse?” She placed her index finger on her lips. Her eyes darted elsewhere.

“Yeah, because, a house on top of a tree.” He shrugged.

“Ohh… have you felt lonely before?”

Her words cut deep into his heart. Kuza closed his eyes and said, “I-I do… but it’s all in the past.”

“Oh, I’m sorry if I ask but could you… you know…”

Kuza took a heavy breath before exhaling it. “When I was a kid till now, I always got bullied from school. My room is the only comfort. There, I always read light novels, mangas, animes, and play games. It provides me the escape I need.”

“So? this game makes you be a different person than the other world, right? She tilted her head.

“Yes…”

“You know, when I heard that I was made by zeros and ones. I felt very angry because I trained as a mage from my earlier childhood till now. Then, found out how mages can’t even protect the people they care about. I lost my parents, my little brother, and… him… Then, when you told me to write my own path… and give me that sword, I felt very happy, that first swing that I made, protected the people and the players and I thank you for that, you, Kuza, had saved me from my curse. Thank you.”

A wind blew her hair. The sight hit Kuza in the heart because of how beautiful Airen stood there with her eyes began to tears. If only you were on my side Airen, I would protect you. But deep down he knew, it never possible for them to be together.

Spectre planned to break the players and AIs. So, he ordered Kuza to kidnap her. Kuza clenched his fist.

Airen continued, “If I can change because of you, then can you change because of me… you don’t have to be strong or brave, just be someone that you can look back and be proud of.”

“Airen… I…” But then Airen laughed.

“Hahahahaha… sorry, I’m just joking around…”

Geez… This woman. But… Kuza laughed.

“Eh! Why are you laughing?”

“No No, it’s just… even if you were joking around… I get it…, by some reason I understand what you meant…,”

“Eh?”

“Forget it, the mood has passed, but thank you.”

She pouted, “Well, there’s something that I want to seriously talk about.”

“Okay. What do you want to talk about?” Well, there’s no hiding it anymore. Kuza squeezed his earpiece three times.

“You… You betrayed me.”

“Yes, I do.” Kuza closed his eyes. I’m sorry, Airen. Then. He opened them.

Airen drew out her sword. “I guess, they are moving to kidnap me, right?”

Kuza imagined Black Lion. A long sword and a dagger appeared in his hands.

“I’m sorry, Airen… it’s nothing personal… I like this world better than my old ones.”

“I understand… that’s why I’m going to take your head.” Airen sprung towards him. Kuza blocked her sword. The force behind their attack pushed Kuza backward.

Airen continued her onslaught of attacks. She tried to stab, thrust, slash and smash his head with her sword tilt. Kuza blocked each of her attacks with ease. He moved like a butterfly. Then, at the last seconds. Kuza sliced the ground in front of him.

The ground grumbled and a wall of stone appeared. He summoned two illusions and ordered them to flank her. He conjured a cloud of smoke to hide the illusion. Then. Kuza became invisible. He moved behind her. His two illusions forced her to jump backward in front of Kuza. Kuza appeared and looked at her eyes.

“Kuza,” her soft voice called out his name.

Kuza bit his tongue. I’m sorry. He used the tilt of the sword to smashed her head. Airen fell to the ground. Kuza pulled out an iron chain and cuffed her hands. He took her sword and stored it inside his inventory. Then, his hands lifted Airen.

A group of black hood men appeared in front of him. A man walked in front of them and reveal his face; horns, red eyes, and red skin.

“We finally have her. Thank you for your assistance, Kuza.” He stretched his hand. Kuza looked at Airen and closed his eyes before giving Airen to him.

“Don’t do anything to her. If I found out, I will kill you!”

“You can have my word on that, but… Lord Spectre… you know how he’s right?”

“Yes, I know…” he sighed.

“Well, we will be on our way?”

“Wait… let’s do it.”

“Oh yeah, I almost forgot.” He threw a dark orb at Kuza and it injured him. Then, his view went black.

Someone woke Kuza up. He opened his eyes. A familiar face above his face. Big trees behind the person and leaves swayed towards him.

“I thought we lost you. What happened here?”

“Airen! She… she… got kidnaped… We got attacked by Spectre’s black forces.” Kuza touched his own head. Damn, his attack hurts a lot.

“Crap, this isn’t good… if the players and the AIs know about her disappearance. It will deal a great blow on their morals.”

“Then, we have to save her!”

“Calm down! We will… but we don’t know where she is. Let me think of a solution. I call you when I figure something out. You need some rest.”

Kuza grabbed his shoulder. “Just! I just want to make sure she’s safe.”

“I know… now let’s go.”

Kuza clenched his fist, not because he worried about Airen, but how despicable he tricked her into believing in him and endangered her life. They left the forest.

They both said their goodbyes and headed in the opposite direction. Kuza went to his house. He opened the door and a letter placed on his desk.

Who is it from? He checked the letter and found her name on it. Kuza opened the letter and read the content. He gripped the letter.

“Y-you knew… but… why?” Tears flowed to the ground. Kuza slammed his door opened and sprinted toward the base.

Kuza arrived at the base and slammed the door opened. The player remained composed to his arrival.

“You knew… but why didn’t you capture me?”

“because Airen told me not to. She believes in you making the correct decision. Now, it’s your choice.”

Kuza closed his eyes. Airen, I will save you. “I know where Airen being kept at.”

The player laid the map on the desk and Kuza pointed at a castle. “Here.”