Chapter 29: After The Water Dragon.
Emerald Grove - Spring's Journey Region
Birds, startled moments ago by the titanic clash, now flitted nervously between branches, their tiny eyes wide. Squirrels, clutching precious seeds, peeked cautiously from knotholes and crevices, twitching their noses as they sensed something immense approaching from afar. Then… it came.
Like a runaway water train, the Water Dragon, Hikari, surged through the forest. It slithered across the lush green grass, the ground drinking in the fantastical moisture it left in its wake, a vibrant, temporary river carving its path through the ancient trees.
Seconds later, with a final, rushing sigh, the Water Dragon exploded. It burst into a million shimmering, fantastical droplets of pure azure water that hung suspended in the air for a breathtaking moment before falling like a gentle, magical rain.
From the sky, the birds watched, their fear giving way to curiosity. Butterflies, their wings like stained glass, fluttered away from the sudden shower. Squirrels, safe in their tree hollows, observed the aftermath with wide, unblinking eyes.
Hikari lay flat on his back, completely drenched. His simple brown beginner adventurer's outfit was heavy with absorbed water, clinging to his frame. His golden hair, plastered to his forehead and scalp, dripped onto the grass. Water trickled down his cheeks, mingling with the moisture already there, and his blue eyes, wide and unfocused, stared up at the clear morning sky, where fluffy white clouds drifted lazily.
The oppressive, thrumming battle music that had filled his senses abruptly faded, replaced by the serene, peaceful orchestral theme of the Emerald Grove.
He pushed himself up with a groan, water sluicing off him. He sat there for a moment, looking around. "The OST changed," he murmured, a hint of relief in his voice. "The fight's over. I can finally log out."
Seniora's voice echoed in his mind, her tone approving:
| Well done, Rising Star. Listening to me and leaving that battle was the best decision you could have made… But… why that expression on your face? |
A look of frustrated annoyance was etched onto Hikari's features. His blue eyes were narrowed, and his teeth were lightly clenched, the very picture of someone who desperately wished they could have fought longer, tried harder. His face was a mask of discontent as he replied, his voice low, "I've always loved fighting and crushing those with higher levels than me. But what happened was… strange. I discovered so many new things at once that it became difficult for me to continue that fight. His blows had a heavy weight, even though he was using a normal sword. His rank was only B, the weakest rank among Knights. Why wasn't I more proficient? If only I had a few D-Rank potions…"
A simple, hand-drawn blue smiling emoji materialized briefly in his vision, a playful attempt by Seniora to lighten his mood.
| D-Rank potions, is that all you ask for? Hikari-san, to be honest with you, I'm glad I'm your AI companion. You truly are a Rising Star. No one is crazy enough to confront a B-Rank Knight. There are players whose levels exceed thirty who can't win a fight against that Knight, or Knights of the same rank. Yet you resisted, and you had nothing. No elixirs, nothing. |
"But I had the Water Fox Fang," Hikari countered, his gaze dropping to the spot beside him on the grass where the blade lay. "It's B-Rank. I should have been able to do something."
As he spoke, the Water Fox Fang began to shimmer. Blue digital sparks and pixelated squares flickered around its form, and then, with a soft, almost mournful sigh, it dissolved, vanishing without a trace.
A system interface popped up before him:
[ Awakening of Water Fox Fang weapon consumed. ]
The message faded, and Seniora continued:
| It would have been impossible to win against him with that blade alone at your current level. Most players use A-Rank weapons and potions to defeat a B-Rank Knight. But I'm always amazed by you, Rising Star. You fight those who are leagues stronger than you and still desire victory. And you even managed to damage his armor's DEF. He's the first opponent you've faced who possessed armor protection. |
Hikari pressed a hand to his knee and pushed himself to his feet. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, stirring his still-damp hair. "Thanks, Seniora," he said, his voice regaining some of its usual composure. "But this isn't the level I'm satisfied with. It seems I've become slower, weaker. I'll make sure to get back to a professional level when I return to the game. For now… log out."
[ Logging out… ]
His body began to dissolve from his feet upwards, breaking into a cascade of shimmering blue digital squares that winked out of existence.
His vision went dark. Then, a series of fleeting blue lines streaked past his eyes – the familiar interface of the Wistoria dive gear. He reached up and slowly pulled the headset from his eyes. The device, made of a sleek, blue, semi-rubber electronic material, was designed for easy wear and removal.
Hikari sat on the edge of his bed, still wearing the thin, blue, electronic-mesh gloves. He held the Wistoria headset in his hands. His blond hair was slightly tousled from the device, and his dark blue eyes, usually so vibrant in the game, held a tired depth in the dim light of his room. He wore a simple, dark t-shirt. He turned his head, glancing at the square digital clock on his desk. Its glowing numerals read 23:46, the numbers vibrating almost imperceptibly.
"Three hours of play, maybe more," he murmured, his voice quiet. "Perhaps I couldn't focus in that last battle because I was exhausted from playing."
He placed the headset carefully into its original cardboard box, then peeled off the electronic gloves and the matching ankle sensors, adding them to the box. "No…" he corrected himself, his voice barely a whisper. "The truth is, that Knight was strong. Or maybe… I was just too weak. I need to pull myself together…"
He closed the lid of the box and slid it into a corner of the room. Then, he opened his wooden bedroom door and walked out into the darkened hallway, his bare feet silent on the floorboards. He descended the wooden stairs. The lights on the main floor were off. He flicked the switch as he reached the bottom, bathing the living area in a soft glow. "Looks like everyone's asleep," he muttered to himself.
A few moments later, the sound of a toilet flushing echoed from the small bathroom off the hallway. He emerged, closing the white wooden door quietly behind him. "I don't know… I don't have an appetite for dinner," he thought. "Maybe I'll just sleep."
He walked through the main floor, heading back towards the stairs. Suddenly, he stopped. He heard a sound. Someone was crying.
His blue eyes, usually so impassive, flickered with a rare spark of curiosity. The sound was faint, muffled, but it seemed to be coming from his sister's room. Was that… Sera? He hadn't heard her cry like that in years. The house was otherwise still, wrapped in the heavy silence of approaching midnight, the atmosphere thick with the somnolence of its sleeping inhabitants.
He moved silently towards her door, stopping beside it, his back resting against the cool wall. The crying was clearer now, soft sobs and whimpers. His expression remained cold, unreadable, as he looked down at his bare feet on the wooden floor. His blond hair fell slightly over his forehead, casting a shadow over his dark blue eyes. He wore his white t-shirt and short black pants. The distant, sorrowful sound seemed to fill the quiet space.
He clenched his fists, a muscle twitching in his jaw. Then, with a sigh that was almost inaudible, he turned and began to walk back towards the stairs. As he ascended, he whispered to himself, a strange, almost detached curiosity in his tone, "I suppose… it's time to spy on this high school girl's life…"
[A/N]
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