A few hours ago, by the world that was devoid of light.
Victor erged from the light that vanished as soon as he stepped onto the dark ground.
"The world of death..." Victor raised an eyebrow.
It was the first ti he had been here, as this was his first death.
The death didn't make him mad or sad; it made him curious.
The infamous Dark World.
What was the reason that no one kept their mories of that place?
At that mont, he saw the only source of light coming from ahead. It was the gateway to the Dark World.
Victor narrowed his eyes and headed there, but when he was not that far away, he saw a silhouette that almost seed invisible inside this dark place.
The strange man was sitting on the ground, his back permanently hunched, staring blankly at the gateway like he wanted to go there, but since he was sitting for too long, he couldn't stand up anymore.
"Who are you?" Victor asked from him.
The strange man didn't answer.
"Hey," Victor said.
The strange man didn't answer.
At that mont, Victor just slapped at the back of his head, hoping to get a reaction.
This ti, the strange man let out a strong, guttural groan.
"That hurt, bastard..." The strange man whispered.
"So, you can speak." Victor said with a laugh. "You look horrible. What happened to you?"
"Good question..." The strange man said. "You woke up..."
"I woke you up?"
"Yes, I was sleeping." The strange man said. "That's the only thing I can do here. Sleep, sleep, and sleep..."
"Why the hell are you here?" Victor asked. "You're a player, right?"
"I am." The strange man said. "Are you from the New World?"
"Yeah, and no. I lived in the place that we, Wildlifers, called as Other World." Victor said.
"I am envious." The strange man said. "I've never been there, and then I died, so I can never get there."
"What's your na?" Victor asked.
"Noel's the na." The strange man said and rubbed his lengthy beard that had grown overti.
"You didn't answer one question from . Why are you here?"
"At first, out of stubbornness." Noel said. "Then I couldn't leave anymore. My joints turned stiff, and my legs got weak. I could never get there."
With his trembling finger, he pointed at the gateway. The place that he never could reach.
"Yeah, that's the gateway to the Dark World." Victor said, curiosity in tone. "By the way, have you seen three people co here before ?"
"I was sleeping," Noel said. "If they died, they stepped through the gateway."
"Why don't you co with there?" Victor asked. "There might be a way to return from the Dark World, alive."
"Has anyone done that?" Noel asked weakly.
"No, but we can be the first." Victor said with a grin.
"Foolishness..." Noel tried to stand up but couldn't. "I can't stand up. I need your help..."
Victor grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him up, but Noel stumbled and almost fell down, but Victor caught him just in ti.
"You need a little bit of foolishness in your life sotis," Victor said with a grin.
"Let's go then..." Noel said weakly and started stumbling towards the gateway.
With a couple of steps, they went through the gateway and vanished from sight-on the other side, the fabled Dark World, awaited their arrival.
...
By the Copper Tree Guild, the receptionist walked to the front door and checked the dark sky with its sparkling stars and hovering moon.
It was midnight and ti to close the door.
As she closed the door and was about to lock the door, a person ran to the front steps with a package in hand.
"Sorry, we're closed for tonight!" The receptionist said and was about to twist the key in the lock.
"I have a package for soone..." Adam read through the text on package. "Nad Tommy Loyald."
"Oh, for the guild master?" The receptionist opened the door and looked at the package. "I can't let you enter this late, but I can hand it to him first thing in the morning."
"Sure." Adam handed over the package and watched as she closed the door afterwards.
It didn't matter to him that he wasn't allowed to enter, as it was his fault for returning the package so late. He got pretty sidetracked, after all.
'I guess there is nothing else for to do tonight.' Adam thought as he walked away from the building.
When he thought about returning to Crimson Hounds headquarters, he felt a chill on his back and shook his head instead.
'What if she tries sothing again? I'll log off instead.'
With a press of a button, his avatar vanished from the street as he logged out and returned to the real world.
-
After climbing out of his VR pod, Adam greeted Hera, then used the elevator to go to his room, and from there walked to the kitchen downstairs.
As he poured himself a drink of water, he heard a door open from upstairs, and footsteps followed that sound.
He turned around to see sleepy-faced Alice enter the kitchen, wearing her favorite oversized t-shirt and ssy bun.
When she saw him, she smiled and greeted him with a yawn before pouring herself a glass of water as well.
"I didn't expect you to see up so late." Adam said and took a sip of the water.
"I was studying; exams are coming up-" Alice said and yawned. "I was about to go to bed."
"Mm, good luck then." Adam poured the rest of the water on the sink, washed the cup, and placed it on the drying rack.
"What about you?" Alice asked. "I thought it would take another few weeks before I can see
you again."
"Uhh..." Adam shrugged his shoulders. "I felt like getting so real air."
"Real air?" Alice looked out of the window. "Its dark already."
"I know," Adam replied. "I just felt like taking a jog for fun."
"Its dangerous." Alice said with worry. "I heard that there have been so shady individuals lurking around Navy Town lately..."
"Oh, again?" Adam raised an eyebrow. "I rember John talking about that a long ti ago."
"Yes, we were talking about it at school." Alice said. "Apparently they're all tattooed and have been causing trouble."
"Mm, I'll be careful." Adam said and leaned against the kitchen counter while looking at
Alice.
"Why are you looking at like that?" Alice asked from him with a pout.
She saw his lips curl upward in his classic playful grin.
"Nah, it's nothing." Adam shook his head and went to the front door to put on so outdoor
clothes.
Alice tilted her head in confusion, wondering what he was hiding from her.
"Is there sothing going on in that other world?" she asked out of curiosity.
"Oh, why do you think so?" Adam asked curiously.
"I just had a hunch." She said. "You're acting strangely, after all."
"You're overthinking it." Adam put on the clothes and was about to leave the house.
At that mont, Alice said. "Is this about Lady Yu?"
Adam froze like a person stuck in ti.
"How do you know that na?"
"You... whispered that na in your sleep." Alice said. "I happened to hear it."
"Mm..." Adam shook his head. "It's nothing; see you later, alright?"
With that, he left the house, but Alice noticed a look of longing in his eyes. She could tell that
person ant a great deal for him.
'Adam...'
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