Light Within

Busted

"[Sneak] lets you instantly teleport behind your enemy, and strikes them with a single-fatal-blow, eh?"

            Noir and Haiz were discussing their skills near the Resting Nest. Resting Nest, is a place, specially designed for players, to hang out with their friends or relax before they embark to their journey. While those two are having a heating discussion, Astral and Ritsu utterly just taking their break from the exploration earlier. Astral takes a 'power nap' at the long, wood bench behind Noir and Haiz, while Ritsu is checking the map, to see any available dungeon nearby. "Yeah, but [Rapier Ace], huh? That's skill is quite impressive if I might say", surprised Haiz, with all Noir's skills. The conversation was so loud, wake Astral from her sleep. "Hmm, are you guys still discussing?", yawned Astral, trying to focus her eyes. Both Noir and Haiz turned around when they realized, their loud voice had woke her up. "Ah, sorry Astral. We got too carried away", apologized Haiz. Ritsu glanced over and quickly turned away. Noir, realizing that glances, quickly plan an idea. "Oh my, I think I still don't have enough skills for the event. Ritsu, take care of Astral while me and Haiz going out for a train, okay?", asked Noir, as she quickly grabbed the dumbfounded Haiz, and swiftly disappeared from their sight. Ritsu looks confused, then realized that they were both alone now. 

             Astral gets up and ushers Ritsu to go somewhere. "So, do you found any new area?", asked Astral half awake. Ritsu quickly toggled the map, and showed her the area, "How about we try to go here? It kinda unpopular area among the players". Ritsu continued, "We might found something there". Astral stretched and ready to wander around. "Let's go then, shall we?"

            "Oof, it's hot here. Never thought the place like this exist here", lowered Astral, as now, both she and Ritsu in the Blazing Desert. They both took the Ostrich's Cab to get here because if they walked, it might take a few hours. The desert, with fiery-looking sands, decorated with purple cactus that blooms beautiful purple flowers on every of it thorns. Heatwave from the desert clearly made Astral wants to take off her clothes and only wear her undergarments. Ritsu, on the other hands, enjoys the blaze, as it was a warm welcome from his home. They travel further in the desert, only to finds sands and winds flew onto their face. Irritated with this, Astral casts her [Defence Wall] spell, shields herself from the hot sands. "Are you sure we're going in the right direction?", asked Astral, wiping her sweats from her forehead. Ritsu smirked and replied: "Well, we never knew what surprises await if we know where to go right?". Astral rolled her eyes until she noticed that they were not alone. Her eyes had been locked at the huge boulder that located not far from where they were standing now.

 "Ritsu, shh. Look there". 

Astral pointed towards the boulder, mouthed 'someone behind there'. They both nodded and agreed to take that suspicious thing by surprise, side by side.

 "Ready?"

Astral nodded and...

"Holy Spear!"

"Flamero s***h!"

            Eventually, both of the spells did not hit the enemy, as it was only a mere flag, standing with a white cloth tied on the edge of it. Both of them looked at each other and laughed at how stupid they look earlier. Ritsu analyzed the flag, and he pulled the flag, which suddenly becomes a chest afterwards. "Wow, a treasure chest! We do not even explore enough.", exclaimed Ritsu. Ritsu opens the chest, when Astral nods, as the sign as approvement, and they find out a blazing armour and mystical-looking earring in the chest. "Ooh, an armour! You can have it, Ritsu", said Astral. Ritsu was a bit down because he wanted a unique series, but since it is a new gear, he accepts it. Astral noticed the change in his face, put her hand on his shoulder, "Aww, don't worry~ We will find you a unique series later. I promise". Feeling assured with Astral's word, Ritsu took the armour and quickly equipped it. "So, how do I look?", asked Ritsu, while posing in a few pose in his new armour. Astral replied, nervously: "G-good, you look hot. I mean, because the armour is red, and you know hot as good". Ritsu chuckled, and he put the earring on Astral's ear, "And you look good in this". Astral swiftly toggled her Stats tab, to see the effect from the pendant. 

[Blazing Passion]: [+15 Int]

"Even the name of this is quite, pleasure", jokes Ritsu. Finally, they decided to return as the side of the desert is filled with higher-level monsters. "Wait, I'll message Noir", told Astral.

'We're done explored. How bout you?'

A second passed, and Noir replied, 'We're done too. Catch you later'. Both Astral and Ritsu decided to just walk for this time. To enjoy the moments.

"So, anything new?"

            Astral asked Noir and Haiz, as the group once again have their break in the cafe. Astral, sipping her strawberry smoothie while waiting for the answers from both of them. Noir and Haiz looked at each other, replied: "Well, you guys have to wait for that". Noir continued, "Don't want to ruin the surprise, right, Haiz?". Haiz extended, "Surely, we need to be secretive for now. We're not in the same team, correct? Maybe, I will show one or two during the event". Somehow, both Noir and Haiz are projecting some kind of shady, yet vicious auras around them, which made Astral did not bother to pry more. Ritsu put his hand onto Astral's shoulder and replied: "Well, we too, don't want to surprise you with our new gear, right, Astral?", winking at her. Astral laughed, "Well, Noir, I will know your skills later since we're in the same team, likewise Ritsu and Haiz". Noir smirked. "Well, of course, you. We just need to hope that these two boys will not meet us during the event", she continued, "Or else, I have to 'annihilate' them". Both Ritsu and Haiz alarmed. "She's right. You don't want to mess with her. My condolences to the monsters we're defeated before", replied Haiz, looking afraid with Noir's presence alone, while doing a hand's prayer. Ritsu gulped and thought, 'I'll definitely watch my back around her', and then he proceeds to laughed, nervously. All four of them laughed and continued to chat about the upcoming event.

"See you guys later."

            Astral logged out from the game first, followed by Noir and Ritsu. Haiz waved at them. "You had grown up, huh, Katherine". Finally, he too logged out from the game. 

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Changing to Katherine

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"That's so much fun!"

            Katherine removed all the gears, put it on the tables and danced around her room, until, she noticed her dad was at the door, leering at her, seriously. Katherine immediately stopped her dancing and smiled, nervously while greeted her dad: "Oh, h-hi Dad. Didn't see you there". Eddie looked at her, and then he proceeded to look at the VR set on her table. He entered her room, sitting on the chair, turning to face her, while holding the helmet of the VR's set and replied, coldly: "We need to talk".