Valley Of Innocence (MxM)

Level 2

Chapter 2: Level (2)

***

They headed out of the underground resting space and Dante seemed fairly confident about their next destination... It was a maze, a huge maze with stone walls that it was impossible to look over. He took hold of Alphonse's hand and spoke to him. "I want you to keep your hand on his wall and just follow it, we'll reach the exit like that..."

Alphonse did as instructed and placed his left hand on the wall, tracing it while his right hand was holding onto Dante. "I've heard of people using such a methood to escape mazes... but... will it work in the game?" He asked rather meekly.

"Yep, the game is far more realistic than you might think. A maze like this is nothing and it's meant for low level players to up their stats by completing a simple mission..." Dante explained. "Even so... there are a few idiots that don't even know how to solve it. It's a bit silly really..." He continued with a bit of mockery clrealy detected in his voice.

'He talks about it as if it's so easy but I would have definitely been one of those idiots unable to solve it...' Alphonse thought to himself. They walked for what seemed to be about thirty minutes, they weren't rushing or being chased by anyone. As Dante had said it was a simple task that costed nearly no effort from either of them to complete it.

When they got to the end of the maze they received rewards and bonus points for the completion of the task.

"That's so cool! Does it glow like that each time we complete something?!" Alphonse asked in an excited voice as he held onto Dante.

"Yes... you really are doing this for the first time, aren't you?" Dante remarked, finding the other a little bit silly, he chuckled.

"Yes? I told you it was my first time... I don't really like games in general." Alphonse said while letting go of the man. 'Suddenly I'm all comfortable touching him...' He thought to himslef a bit embarassed by himself. But it was true, he felt a strange sense of comfort while with the man, even though they'd never met before.

"You'll be surprised just how many people would lie they've never played before just to get someone like me to help them level up..." Dante said in a casual voice as he headed to the next stage, it was another more tame game that anyone would be able to play.

"Would people really go so far for a game?" Alphonse asked while following after the man. To him it didn't seem worth it at all.

"Even further... There are also competitions in V.O.I. you know? You can earn real prize money which is nothing to sneeze at." Dante explained. "And only high level players can enter them, so many would just do whatever to level up faster..."

"Wouldn't they fail when it came time for the games if they weren't the ones leveling up?" Alphonse asked in an interested voice as they registered for the next game via card system.

"Not nessessarily... Many of these games you can play with no prior experience... thus you can sort of wheezle your way out of things. Or you could partner up with someone better than you which is always an option..." Dante continued explaining as they sat at the table next to each other. "Not to mention... cheating is also allowed in most games, as long as nobody else recognize it..."

"What?" Suddenly Alphonse was surprised as he watched the table they were at begin filling with other players, then cards began shuffling and spreading evenly to the players present.

"It's a game of poker, the easiest kind with five cards..." Dante said as he held up his five cards in hand but only showing the back of them to the man. "I assume you know how to play?" He asked.

"Y-yeah, I've played before... I just didn't know there was such an option to play something so normal where you don't have to run from anything..." Alphonse remarked as he looked down at his cards they weren't bad at all. He had a king of hearts and a kind of spades, a jack of spades, ace of clubs and a five of hearts.

"Good, just play it as you normally would..." Dante said as he shot the other man a smile and glanced over at his own cards then quickly put them down on the table. "No exchange..." He said, then he moved chips from his side of the table, those chips were equal to the amount of in game coins he could offer, there was no way to offer an amount if you didn't have it in advance. "Raise 2k..." He said, instantly other players began folding knowing they wouldn't be able to take such a large loss.

All the while Alphonse decided to exchange two cards, his five of hearts and his ace of clubs. The two new cards he got were a pair, a two of hearts and a two of clubs.

"Raise me the same amount..." Dante said in a low voice.

"But I don't have...-" Before Alphonse could finish his sentence he got a notification on his phone saying that Player Dante had transfered 4k coins to his account.

"I pay your 2k and raise 2k more!" Alphonse said in a confident voice. Then even more players began folding one after the other. Until they both won the game without even trying.

"That was so cool... this was... so easy..." Alphonse remarked as he saw the same flashing screen as they received their reward from the game and bonus points for completing the round. "Hey, how do I transfer it back to you?" Alphonse asked as he still wasn't too sure how the in game mechanics worked.

"Keep it. You'll need it for the following challenges." Dante said as he ruffled through the man's hair with a smile. He seemed happy somehow.

"Really?! Thanks! You know what after we finish the game, let's go out for a drink or something, my treat!" Alphonse said as he followed after Dante like a lost puppy.

"You want to go out with me in real life?" Dante asked in a surprised voice, as if nobody had ever offered him something like that before.

"Yeah of course!" Alphonse replied. "You're really helping me have a good time here... so take it as a thank you." He said with a bit of a shy voice sounding voice. 'To be honest I kind of like him... though not in that way... or maybe exactly in that way?' He thought to himself, his own feelings still unsettled.

"Alright then... we'll go..." Dante too looked a bit embarassed by the offer. 'This guy... really is cute...' He thought to himself as he headed down for the next challenge.

Continuing just like that both of them went through more and more challenges together, each time Dante putting aside even his own points to give them to Alphonse.

'These games are fun... nothing like the first place I was transfered to...' Alphonse thought to himself but then glancing at Dante he had a realization. 'No, it's not that these games are different... Dante's choosing these games for me, purposefully leading me to easier challenges... even though he's obviously bored... he's so kind...'

"Do you want to try another one?" Dante finally asked as they managed to clear the entirety of Level 1 together.

"No, I think I'm good. Let's go grab something to eat though!" Alphonse said as he turned around as if he was ready to leave the game then he paused and turned back to look at Dante. "Uh... how exactly do we exit?" He asked awkwardly.

"Hahaha..." Dante couldn't hold a bit of laughter as he grabbed the man in for a hug. "You really are interesting..." He remarked.

Before Alphonse could realize what happened, he oppened his eyes. He was awoken from the simulator and saw the staff helping him get out of it. He was still a bit dazed but nothing too serious. He got out of the chair and he looked around to find Dante, who walked up to him after spotting him as well...