I hurriedly deactivate the scroll and shut every monitor away from my face. A loud beeping sound resonated from the screens as the slides moved towards my flank. The scroll gripped in my hand disappeared and went inside my [astral space]. It was the storage that my system provided long before I beca a player.
The system did not place it inside with the rest of the packed als and potions. The coiled sheet snuck inside a distinctive site with the label "story collectable items" written in the middle. A quest popped up at the sides, but I had no ti to read any of that.
It could be sothing important, so I placed it in the corner to view it later.
I faced the stubby stairs behind and waited for the shapes taking their forms. A bobbing head ca out from the space, accompanied by another round scalp, paired with stern spikes at the side.
"It must have been the two ears pointing at the heavens above," I thought, and imagined the only creature that has those features.
Two footsteps running across the stairs apprised of their location. Match and the ranger erged from the low ground and t my worried eyes staring back at them. The little girl waved her hand while the warden stood back and let go of Match's free hand.
I turned around for the last ti, hoping to see the rchant. However, the dragonewt left without uttering a word, even before I could even say goodbye. The dark crows flew above and made blaring craws as they touched the sky.
I spun my head around and greeted the child once again while returning her wave.
"I cannot believe you missed it, Red! I saw many roses, flowers, and even fishes near the pond! Can't you believe it!? They have a pond!" the girl shrieked, and held my hand.
I returned her squeeze and stared at her eyes. A smile erged from my face as I continued listening to her story. She had a delighted tone every ti she explained what happened down there.
I could only wish that I had fetched her from the maze and experienced the joy with her. However, there were other things that I needed to fix and attend to, which were the rchant I conversed with a while ago.
Match attempted to drag back from where they ca from, but the warden stopped her from returning to the maze.
"I think it is getting late," the ranger announced, and nuzzled her body forward.
Match could only pout her lips and frown as she felt her body getting dragged by soone older than her size. She was still a child, so Match was feeling this way. Her lips grumbled inaudible sounds about how awful she had experienced with her.
Maybe the ranger limited her entry inside the maze down below? I can never know.
The elf brought us back inside the vast castle and escorted us to a series of steps. We had to kiss the garden goodbye and move on to our schedule. It was getting late, so Match and I needed so rest.
But before heading inside, I glanced behind and marked the areas on my map. It was the sa hallway that Guinevere and La Finta had gone through. I had to rember these.
I might use their passage soon.
We stumbled upon an extensive corridor filled with nothing but dark-coloured doors at each parallel side. Each of the gates had tags written in the language of elves. I could still read them thanks to my system, translating every word to the knowledge I know.
This passive ability applies to all players as well, despite their various nationalities playing the ga. My system told these. My mind went crazed as I stared at the abyss while the chasm glared back at . The hall was an endless loop of road that we trod down.
But our efforts did not go astray as the ranger halted our walk and directed her finger at the wooden door, with the crest of an elf-like face carved at the centre. The piece reminded of La Finta, observing my every movent.
The elf nudged the door open and revealed the interior designs of the room. With a soft creak coming from the door, we entered the room. Our lips left hanging in awe.
"Wow! We are going to live here, Red?" Match asked.
"Yeah, we will. But for the ti being," I answered.
Match dashed straight to the bedroom and scread like the little kid she was. As soon as she arrived at the mattress, her body bounced off, kissing the ceiling. I shook my head and let out a faint chuckle after seeing such a pleasant scene.
"I will call you once the eting is over," the elf announced. "If you need anything, please do not hesitate to call or the rangers standing by. Since the two of you are friends with the Grandmother, we also deem you worthy of our attention."
"I will."
After our exchange, the elf gently shut the door, leaving Match and alone inside the boundless room. The elf's footsteps resounded from the hallway and beca softer as she strode away from our room.
The last stomp made realise the corridor was extensive enough to trap the sound waves from each step on the floor. I could hear anyone from a few feet away, since the wooden ground had a few nails sliding in and out of the joist.
I sauntered towards the bedroom and t with the exhausted Match, staring blankly at the vault. My hands reached out for the little girl and caressed the strands of hair. But Match jerked upwards and twisted her head with widened eyes, as if she had seen a ghost.
"You scared !" she exclaid, and flailed his hands.
I giggled and snatched her back, lying flat on the bed. Match returned my chortle and held her in my hands. After her energy died out, she stared at with her earnest eyes and grasped my hands.
"Thank you for saving back then," Match expressed. "I would have died if you were not there for ."
The child fought back her tears from dripping at her sides. Match hurriedly averted her gaze, despite her bold statent. My lips curved upwards for a smile as I slid my fingers across her youthful cheeks.
Match was too young to beco an orphan at such a young age. She should have been playing outdoors with the sister that she had. However, everything changed when the monster horde attacked.
The sa fate struck . We were two peas at the sa pond, struggling to survive.
"I did what a normal person can," I answered.
"But the people I know ran away from . I thought my neighbours were going to rescue my sister and . I kept shouting, but nobody heard . And then I saw weird screens appearing from my face and theirs. It told I should run with the rest of them and leave my sister behind," Match explained.
She unravelled her mysteries and narrated everything that happened from when I first found her. Match could not stop her tears as they flooded her face, wetting the mattress. But I did not mind. Instead, I kneaded her hands tighter and continued listening to her story.
"What happened next?"
"My sister pulled away from the monsters, but they caught us near the forest. She pushed and scread to run as fast as I could and never look back. She promised to co back for . I believed in her words, so I ran, and I ran, and I ran. But when I turned around, I saw my sister lying on the ground, devoured by the monster who pursued us," Match continued.
Her tears cascade from her eyes, never-ending her sorrow. Match, the little girl, had enough with her story and paused for a mont.
She needed so air to breathe.
"And then, I saw you."
I raised my head and t her drenched eyes. I offered my hands to wipe her face. Match gingerly lifted my arm and used my palm as a towel.
"I miss my sister."
"I know," I answered.
"I want my life back,"
"We can't. Not anymore," I replied.
"Red,"
"Yes?"
Match hugged as tight as she could and snuggled around my chest. She kept crying for a complete minute before expressing her trapped thoughts inside of her head.
"Don't leave , okay?"
"I will never," I answered.
"Really?"
"Even if it kills , I will be there for you, Match," I responded.
Her eyes glistened after hearing my confirmation. She moved backwards and wiped the remaining liquid obstructing her eyes. Match stood up from the mattress and jumped as high as she could, only to hit her head at the ceiling.
A loud thump reverberated inside the room as the little girl scowled in pain, wanting to curse at the roof above us. Match reached out for her head and felt the pinkish hill coming out from her hair.. Thank goodness she was just a kid, or else I would hear her sailor's mouth.
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