n

n

n

"Thanks,

" Eldrian said, again feeling worse about how he had pulled away. Let's make everything clear today, He thought as Marcy finally let him inside, where they found Jen busy slaving over the stove.

n

"Thanks, Jenny. Turns out it was for you.

" Marcy said as they entered the kitchen. There she quickly took over and shooed them out of the kitchen. Causing Jen to be quite confused about why she seemed to be in such a rush.

nNot knowing how to start the conversation, Eldrian simply said that a driver was waiting outside.

n

"Where are we going?

" Jen asked and Eldrian shrugged in response,

"You pick.

"

n

"Alright,

" Jen nodded, taking a jacket for incase, and then continuing,

"Let's go to Olden Fire.

"

nEldrian nodded but did not reply. Seeing this Jen sighed,

"It's where we went out when you just got the headset. Before things got...

"

n

"Oh, right.

" Eldrian suddenly spoke up,

"We had promised to make it a regular place for us.

" As he said this he again felt guilty, however, he quickly shook it off, deciding to just focus on getting things back on track.

nSmiling in reply, they headed out. After a short drive they arrived, Eldrian again caught up in the style of the place.

nIt seemed like it had become more popular, or else the added tables wouldn't make much sense. Taking a table inside, the two sat down and thanked their waiter.

nHow should I start? Eldrian wondered as he picked up the menu and started perusing.

nTheir drive has been awkward, with only the soft music of the radio had made it bearable. The menu was an easy distraction, however, letting it do that would just make things more awkward.

n

"Jen...

" Eldrian paused,

"I'm sorry that I pulled away. Quite a lot of things happened and I got so overwhelmed that I nearly forgot about everything else.

"

nNot getting a reply, Eldrian sighed and looked at the menu again. After a while of silence, the waiter came to take their orders. After which Jen finally spoke.

n

"Are you safe?

"

nEldrian sighed upon hearing this, not wishing to lie to her and not able to share everything, he thought properly about how he was going to respond.

n

"For the most part.

"

n

"For the most part?

" Jen echoed, concerns and a bit of anger in her voice. She did not wish to sit here and listen to excuses or half-answers.

n

"I can't really remember all that I had shared with you, and I can't share some things with you due to a non-disclosure I signed. However, you should know that Miracle isn't a normal gaming company.

"

n

"I did some research, and they had never made any games before. So I had felt something was off.

" Jen agreed, glad that he seemed serious.

"What are they then?

"

n

"It is more a research company. The game wasn't their focus, but rather something they basically stumbled upon.

"

nEyes opening wide in surprise, Jen asked,

"What do you mean. What research?

"

n

"I'm not too sure myself. Basically anything and everything.

"

nA moment of silence ensued, during which their drinks arrived. After taking a sip Jen asked,

"Why is it important that they aren't a gaming company?

"

n

"Because of what it means. The game was not meant to be a game at the start, and while I can't share what their original intents were,

" Eldrian paused, wondering if he should just break the NDA.

n

"It just means that the game wasn't designed to be a game. It isn't like any other either, there is no real progress system.

"

n

"Sure there are levels, tiers, and even ranks. But! There is no straight path between them, it is like the real world. Only instead of diplomas and degrees, you get a level, tier, or rank.

"

n

"What does this have anything to do with if you are safe?

" Jen asked, not one bit interested in the game itself. Her life had enough things keeping her busy, and she didn't even have a boyfriend at the moment.

nThinking of this saddened her, as it reminded her of Sarah. Making her half grateful she did not have a boyfriend, her brother was enough of an emotional burden.

n

"It matters because it links into a lot of things. While I can't share what their plans were and are, I can share what I have learned. Especially what I learned on my own.

" Eldrian said, not sure if this was actually legal. It was a gray area, and he was going to walk on that tightrope.

n

"You see...

" So Eldrian started explaining to her almost from the start. But this time with what he knew at this moment.

nHe explained to her why he had experienced pain above the normal levels, the main thing she had actually been worrying about. Hearing that he now knew why it happened and how to avoid it basically put most of her concern to rest.

nThat was until Eldrian got to the point about how they entered the game, and how he was being hunted. Especially when he told her that the method of entering can be destroyed.

nThis all took a long time, and by the time Eldrian had finished he was on his third smoothie. His sister though had turned to cocktails once he started talking about being hunted. She was now on her fourth.

n

"That is why I had decided to not explain things. I had thought you would not really worry, as compared to before, this situation is much much worse now.

"

nInstead of replying, Jen down the last half of her cocktail.

"You were right...

"

nA long awkward silence ensued, and as Jen's fifth cocktail arrived she asked,

"Why would you continue? Especially when you can literally die?!

"

nHer voice raised quite a bit end the end, Eldrian slightly flinching. Taking a moment, and a few sips of his smoothie, he finally replied.

n

"I don't really know. For one, I am almost addicted to trying to figure it out. I want to know why I am different from the other players. I want to know if I can truly master magic. No, I want to truly master magic.

"

n

"I want to see if it can be brought to earth. And...

" Eldrian paused,

"I can't abandon my friends in the game.

" He ended up not mentioning Vivian, though what he said was basically the same thing.

n

"I don't get it, why would you want to do that if the risks are so great?

" She asked, ordering another cocktail while at it. She simply could not understand how Eldrian could be so addicted to a game.

nNot even truly knowing why he would go so far, Eldrian realized he couldn't explain it from his own perspective. Instead, he looked around and thought of something easier to understand. Something that might take the stigma of it being just a game, away.

n

"What would you think if I told you I want to become a policeman?

" He asked, totally catching her off guard as she was about to take another rather large sip.

n

"What, where did that come from?

" She asked irritably.

n

"Just follow along, what would you think?

"

n

"I would want to know why.

"

n

"But would you be worried about the danger. About the fact that I might be shot and killed?

"

n

"Of course, who wouldn't in that situation.

"

n

"And what if I wanted to join the army?

"

n

"Why would you ever want to do something so dumb?

"

n

"But if I wanted to, would you be able to understand?

"

n

"No! I can understand becoming a policeman, but not joining the army!

"

nEldrian nodded, having figured out what she considered an acceptable risk, then asked,

"And what if I wanted to become a fireman?

"

nJen was again caught off guard, so much so that she had not touched her cocktail since the turn of conversation.

n

"I would again want to know why.

"

n

"But would you be concerned that I might die trying to save someone. As certainly the reason for wanting to become a fireman is that you want to help people.

"

nJen nodded, she understood that it was a thing all three jobs he had mentioned had in common. However, the army was certainly the one with the most questionable will behind it. Still, many people joined it believing they were defending themselves and their loved ones.

nIt was the questionability of it that made her so against it. The other two, however, she didn't really have anything against them. Heck, they were respectable jobs. No one would try and debate that.

n

"Of course I would be concerned.

" She finally said, realizing that the alcohol was making it hard for her to keep to a single thought train.

n