Silent Spirit Online
Chapter One
Atlantia "Lantia" Forrest felt the lose of her sister the moment they had first seen the trailer for the new Virtual Reality Massive Multi-player Online Role Playing Game, VRMMORPG, Silent Spirit Online. Oceana asked for it for her sweet sixteenth birthday, the following February. Since the girl had cancer tumors, she wasn't expected to live, their parents bought a set for Oceana. Her tiny sickly body could not go outside so the doctors agreed to let the VR be her freedom. It wasn't like Lantia didn't understand the game, it was just that she wanted to spend as much time as she could with her sister in reality. Games gave false hopes.
"Have a heart, Lanti. Just come play with me." Lantia's boyfriend at the time, Gerald, bought her a set so that she could play with Oceana. Between her April grad and the fall school year, Lantia got to level three. Oceana was over level twenty. Lantia landed up spending time in towns meeting people. She was having dinner with a particular blonde warrior, with the brightest blue eyes Lantia had ever seen, named Azura, when she heard her sister's giggle. Gerald was with her under age sister, coming out of the tavern.
"So I think tomorrow night the boys want to take you to White Top Mountain." She nodded. "The dire wolves up there should push you over to ten by the morning." Gerald kissed Oceana. "Red?" Azura asked seeing the cleric across of him shatter her glass. He had never seen the green eyes elven cleric so much as frown since he had met her in April. "Do you know them?"
"That is my real life boyfriend with my real life sister." Lantia glared as them hugging and kissing until she heard her name. Dropping money on the table, Lantia didn't excuse herself before storming out of the cafe. Azura followed the cleric across the street. Part to keep her from doing something she would regret. Part to watch this new side of a girl that interesting to him.
"What Lantia doesn't know won't kill her." The other man's actions angered Azura. How could this barbarian do this to this sweet girl? Azura thought. And how did he get name like GodDick?
"I won't huh?" They stopped shock cross her sister's face. "Shame I can see what is going on." Oceana pulled away from her sister's boyfriend to eye up the man that was coming up behind her. Turning back at her sister. It was evident that Lantia was as angry. Though it was a game, Oceana had seen the emeralds blaze bright like this.
Azura could see the resemblance between the two, though one was auburn and green where the other was blonde and gray. They had the same nose. Azura had also seen that same saddened look before. There was something else there in the younger girl's eyes. A realization directed towards him. It was the same look on the face of the man. Azura couldn't see any redeeming qualities in this black haired, black eyed monster of a man. He was the darkness to Lantia's sweetness. That angered Azura. This was not the kind of boyfriend that Azura's Red deserved. She needed someone who saw her selfless being then spoiled her. Not a man that would take whatever he wanted from her.
"So it is okay for you to cheat on me but not the other way." Gerald snapped at her. Lantia backed away into the strong arms of her training partner. Lantia felt a warm safe arm wrap her waist. It was odd she didn't feel like she was in danger. "You are such a hypocrite." The man attacked, which Azura defended easily.
"Wait he thinks we are an item?" Azura asked laughing. "It would be an honor." Lantia pulled away from the men to send her sister away. That just fueled Gerald more.
"Who the hell are you to be with my girl?" Gerald drew his bastard sword against Azura, who just raised his hands. "When she logs out I am going to prove it to her until she screams."
"Excuse me?" Lantia snapped back. She put herself between the two warriors. "Azura was helping me train which is more than I can see for you. Go ahead chase after my sister I will not stop her. In fact I don't want to see you ever again." Lantia pulled down her friends list only to delete Gerald's character's name. "I never want to see you again. If you come near either of us in or out of character I will do more than blacklist you." Azura took her hand. Gerald vanished from her view. "The only reason that I am playing this game is them." She whispered, deleting GodDick from her friends list.
"Find a different reason." Azura said back. A single tear fell. God did she have him by the heart. "I agree that he is not worth it but I think you are making some good progress. Don't let one dickhead send you from the game." The sapphires begged her. Maybe she shouldn't give up. "Think of the reason that made you join. To spend time with your sister."
"Azura-"
"Red?" Azura's friends Ob and Indie questioned seeing her standing in the middle of the street. A crowd had gathered. Indie pulled her into a hug when he saw the streak on her cheek. Ob growled until Azura put his hand on Ob's shoulder.
"I will have to think about it. Right now I don't want to be any where near this place." He seemed to understand. "Thanks for today."
"What you are leaving?" Indie held her at an arm's length. "What did Azura do to you?" The man in question rolled his eyes. Between his guild mates and the now ex-boyfriend yelling at her this was probably the best option.
"Just private message me when you get back. We will help you train some more." Despite enjoying the company of Azura, Obsidian Knight and Indigo Ranger, Lantia left the game. Azura turned back to the barbarian. "Now Mr. GodDick, if you ever touch either of those girls, I will know."
"Screw off! Lantia is my whore. She will think better of this in a day and come begging for my cock. If she doesn't I will force her." Gerald spat back. "Just because you are the creator's son doesn't mean she is going to fall over you. She is too stupid to know about anything that isn't banging her." Ob punched him before Indie got a chance.
Azura had something better in mind than a sound beating. "That piece of shit needs to meet the Dragon King." Ob, alone, was enough to subdue GodDick. "Indie go get Lero. This is going to be a long night." Azura's Indigo Ranger gave a down right evil smirk before leaving.
This was a first for her. Lantia had never had to break up with a boyfriend. It was embarrassing. That didn't stop her from putting on the mask the following night. Back in the town she dropped her map to see where her party was. Not seeing them on the map Lantia went to the Mountains, Azura had told her about. The boys were not there so she trained alone.
Everything in her said to PM them. No she needed to find a reason to be in the game. Oceana wasn't talking to her. Her parents knew something had happened when Gerald called but she wouldn't take it. Now she was alone in the dark mountains. The first wolf attacked. She swung her sword. Ob was right. These wolves were a piece of cake with that new sword technique he showed her yesterday.
Finally, as Azura watched, Lantia fell to her knees, screaming out like a banshee. They had been watching since only more the moment she stopped in the waist deep snow. Why had she not gotten snow shoes? That was when he noticed she was on her knees. Lantia was certainly one of the more amazing players in the game. She fought on her knees as well if not better than on her feet.
"I can't just watch this." Indie groaned. "How did you know that she would still come?"
"There was no other place for her to be alone to cry." Azura felt her pain in the screams. "Just keep the wolves off her for now." He walked down the slope away from her. Every fiber in his being wanted him to hold her but he knew it would do no good. The beautiful Crimson Cleric would be trapped here just like he was. He wouldn't have even been drawn to her if she hadn't picked that name. It fit so well with the Dragon's Inn Guild, or the Rainbow Legion as she called them. Red was the only color he was missing. Why did she be the one? "Will she be the one to break my curse?" He said scrolling to his Inn.
Hours later Indie stormed into Azura's room, where he had been pacing for the last three hours. Torn between seeing her and forcing her back to the guild hall, Azura found that he was just as possessive as her last boyfriend. When the purple man punched him so hard, Azura fell to the ground. He knew then he was wrong to stay away. "She was screaming your name at the end of her crying." Azura frowned at him. "She cried herself dry then started attacking the wolves again. When she hit level ten she screamed your name again."
"She knew that we were there but when she screamed your name. You didn't go to her." Obsidian flatly said. "She thanked us for watching over her and then logged out."
"You needed to go to her. She wanted you." Ob held Indie back. Indie was normally the more emotional one in the guild but Azura say the pain in Ob's eyes. "Don't you want her? Aren't you falling in love with her?"
"Problem is that I want her." Indie left their leader there. "I need to give her time." Humans were so frustrating. Indie thought as he threw his dagger into a vase. "She will come back and I will see her when that happens."
"Maybe by then I won't let you." Indie warned.
It wasn't until Christmas when she thought about the game again. The machine kept asking for an update. Logging in again was odd. Everything was white when she appeared in the beginning town. The large Elizabethan town was still as packed with new player characters. Maybe even more so. A massive pine tree fully decorated stood where the fountain had been in the autumn. It lifted her lonely heart.
In her private message box were three messages. One from an admin telling her about the new seasonal quests were out there to take. One was from Indie wishing her Happy Holidays, with an invite attached to a Christmas party at their guild hall. The last was a personal message from Azura.
"Good day to you, Red. I hope that this finds you well. The boys wanted me to tell you that they eagerly await your return. Well mostly Indie. You know Ob, but I can tell that he misses you too. He really enjoyed training with you." There was silence for a moment.
"I am sorry that I wasn't there when you wanted me to be. I sincerely hope that it did not drive you from the game. If you are back before Christmas there is a party at our guild hall that I know that Indie probable spam invited you to. I am sorry for that." She laughed at that. She could see Indie repeatedly sending her the invite until she finally said yes.
"I too would like you to come. I left instructions in Maronville for the seamstress, Linda, to make you a dress for the party. I am paying for it as a peace offering. Please accept it." Opening her map she looked to see where Maronville was. That was an area too high level for her to travel alone on foot. She would have to portal there. Did she really want to go? Lantia was still angry with him for sending Ob and Indie.
"RED!" Before she could turn she was hugged from behind. The purple armor gave away the much taller ranger. "I have never been so happy to see anyone. I am so glad that you came back." He whispered in her ear. Lantia softened then. "Please come to the party. I missed you."
"Greetings Crim." The black steel armored knight stood in front of her now with a gold blonde woman, whom just smiled.
"Thank you, Ob." Lantia tried to reach a hand out to the new woman but Indie wasn't letting up. "Indie I want to say hi to your friend here."
"Nope. I am not letting you leave again." He said. For a man so easily in his twenties he certainly acted like a child.
"Indigo!" The woman snapped. "Let the poor thing go before you knock her hp to zero."
"No, Red is mine. I am taking her shopping."
Lantia smiled at her much taller friend. "Indie please." She kissed his cheek making him blush. Even Ob smirked at Indie pulling away from her. "Hi I am Crimson Cleric, Red to the Rainbow Legion."
"Rainbow Legion?" The girl looked to Ob. He must have whispered something to her because she smiled widely. "I am Goldie, half the Metal Twins. It is nice to finally meet you." They shook once. There was no tension. Lantia didn't know why she thought there would be.
"A pleasure." Lantia saved the messages that she was reading before turning back to Indie. "Now it seems that your fearless leader is trying to bribe his way back into my good graces. Would you care to come with me to Maronville?" She said to Indie. "Since you are scared that I might leave again."
"The dress shop? Or the cake place?" Indie asked.
"Dress shop." Goldie cheered.
"Pay up Ob. I knew he would take my idea." The stoic man passed Goldie a tiny bag of gold. "Thank you." Goldie then turned back to Lantia. "I know the place. They have the most beautiful designs. I wonder if he picked something out for you already? I bet you would look great in regency. Big chest small waist. You will knock Azura dead."
"Wait." The girls looked back to Indie. "Does this mean that you are coming to the party?"
"Yes, Indie. You can go tell Azura I will be there." The girls giggled watching the man being dragged back to the portal but Ob before he could tackle Lantia again. Goldie took Lantia's arm like a good friend would. Lantia hoped that this woman would be her best friend.
"It is strange. I have never seen any of these three act like this in the five years that I have been here. Ob smirked. Trust me that was earth shattering. Indie was forced to go out to find a gift for Azura. They have been at odds for a while."
"What for? Indie doesn't seem like the kind to be mad at any one." Yet he was pouting now. That made Lantia think of a five year old.
"Azura let a girl, I think you, leave the game." Lantia nodded at the story. "Indie thought that Azura should have gone to you in the mountains. The fight between them was epic. Azura took so much damage." She was laughing. Why was Goldie laughing at this? "I think that he knew either way that you needed time." Lantia blushed.
"I did dump my boyfriend of three years the day before. I am sure he didn't want to set himself up as a rebound."
"Don't worry about that dear. I am sure that bastard got what was coming to him for everything he said about you." Goldie dialed up the portal for Maronville. "However tonight we are going to strike them all dead."
The Restoration to Neoclassical period designed buildings were decorated brightly. Maronville's buildings were whites and browns, surrounded by green fields. Lantia thought it was something out of a dream. If anything this was where she wanted to buy land to make her house. Goldie didn't say anything until they arrived at their destination. The dress store resembled one out of something like a Jane Austen novel. Beautiful bay windows, each with something that Lantia never thought she would ever see in person. Gowns in silks and satins, richly colored from every era.
"Red, you coming in?" Indie asked from the door.
"This is too rich for me." Lantia protested. Goldie rolled her eyes pulling her new friend into the shop. "I can't accept this."
"If you don't, it won't be just Indie and Azura that are going to be disappointed." Goldie sat her in the chair. "Mistress Linda, can I see the designs for regency and on." The PC handed Goldie a small pad. Linda's avatar was dresses as a Gothic Lolita maid. Curls and all. "Now Red I need you just to pick a design. Pick a few and we will see what we can do."
It was easier than Lantia thought it would be once she got started. All the designs were gorgeous. Until she came to a replica of something from her favorite movie, Born Yesterday. Not that John Goodman one either. This was the only outfit from that era that she loved. "Goldie this one." Goldie shrugged handing the pad to Linda.
"I love this movie." Linda smiled at Lantia. "Okay I need you to stand in front of the mirror. They will show you want it will look like on you." Lantia hesitated. "Azura is going to die when he sees her in this."
The slacks started black. The blouse was white while the vest and half skirt were gold. "Make the shirt the same color as her eyes." It shifted. "Now a darker Moon's gray for the vest." Lantia felt Goldie messing with her hair. "Black accents on the vest. Can you length the skirt so that it has more of a train?"
"Can you change the slacks to leggings then add knee high boots?" Lantia asked. Watching it shift she smiled. "I want that."
"You are going to be gorgeous when I am done with you." Linda went to the back room. Twenty minutes later a small NPC girl came out with the boots and the leggings. Lantia placed them in her inventory. Linda brought out the rest them shoved Lantia into a change room. "I want to make sure that it looks right. I still get glitches at my level."
"Aren't you at one hundred?" Wow. Lantia thought. She wondered if she would ever get to level one hundred at anything.
"Yeah but the admins can't seem to fix the glitch I have with my satins. Then unravel as you put them on." That would be bad.
Lantia removed all her items. The outfit was called Azura's dream. She had to smile at that. What part of this was his dream? It was her dream that he would be crushing on her like she was him. Adjusting everything when it was on her, Lantia thought that Linda was a miracle worker. Well deserving of her level.
"You are a wonderful seamstress Linda." She said leaving the room to see Azura standing with the women. "Azura?"
He just stared at her. The blue eyes that haunted her dreams but his hair was now more mature. More spiky less page boy fluffy. Goldie back handed his shoulder frowning. He pointed without looking at the pad in his hands. Linda took it from him. Both women frowned at the man. When he was not two feet from her he smiled down at her. "Perfect." Lantia smiled. "I am going to test something Red. Don't be scared." He took one of her hand in his when wrapped the other around her waist making her blush. "You look wonderful. I am happy that you took the offer." He whispered in her ear. "I request to be your escort for the party."
"I will gladly be your date." Lantia saw his smile widely and it stopped her heart. God his avatar was cute. "What are you wearing?"
"You will not be matching if that is what you are asking." Indie called from a chair.
"His Majesty has his formals. Blues and blacks. You will love it." Goldie piped up. "What colors do you want this other one then."
"Green velvet, gold embroidery and the cape is black."
"She will be the talk of the town." Linda said. He turned Lantia around back to the mirror. The regency gown was regal. To refine for Lantia. She was a jeans and tee kinda girl. "This is for a special party that not even the Rainbow Legion is invited to." Her eyes filled. "Red?"
"You are too nice to me."
"What are you talking about?" She pointed at her reflection. "It is for the Developer's Ball on New Year's Eve. I know that I sent you the invite for the party. I would like you as my guest."
"I am not this pretty in real life. I shouldn't be in game. Why are you giving them to me?" Azura just smiled. She was beautiful even when she cried. So very humble. She didn't even know she was gorgeous.
"Red-" Goldie took a step towards her before he put a hand up.
"I am not a princess. I thought that you saw me as the simple girl I am." She changed back to her armor. Though she did save the outfit as a favorite. Red doe skin ankle boots, leggings and jacket over a cotton tank. That was her. "This is who I am. I am not pretty. I am a mess."
"You are more than that. I have seen the real you. The one that works her butt off in a game she says she doesn't like. I saw the woman that you are when to stood between me and your ex. I want to show the creator, the programmers and the admins the best of this world." She was stunned. "Dry your eyes dear. I am not asking for more than friendship for myself but I want the world to see what I see when I look at you." She fell into his chest. "Make it up for her, Linda."
"Thank you, Azura."
"No problem." He gentle pushed Lantia away to look down at her. "I know that you are starting on your black-smithing next, but if you need something, to remember that you are a beautiful woman, come here. Linda is the guild's personal seamstress."
"Guild?" Indie and Goldie high fived.
"Yes. Now that you are level ten I can finally invite you into the guild." Azura smiled down at her. His eyes begged her to accept. Her heart pushed away though.
"Azura, I can't." Questions filled the room as more and more people entered the room. "I will go to your parties. I will stay friends with you all. You have become so dear to me but I promised myself that I would not get too tied to this world. I am here for my sister."
"Seriously?" That was a new voice none of them had heard before. Oceana's cat-girl mage, Kitty Mirth, stood at the door. "You are so stupid." The younger sister ran from the store. Lantia didn't hesitate. Azura took her arm.
"She is my sister." He let her go. Lantia saw the annoyed tail flick first. Then the blonde hair of her sister. "Oceana wait." She called. The girl spun on her toes.
"Don't start with me today." She warned.
"I just want to know what is wrong." Lantia watched the girl's control snap.
"Oh where to start? You have been talking about how the game is not for you. So I gave you that. Gerald was an ass to you in the game and out. I thought that I would come home today and we could play some board games. I know you always let me win but I wanted you to smile. But I found you in the game. I came to find you to see if you changed your mind. I had hoped that you did."
"Oceana-"
"Shut up!" Lantia stepped back. "Do you even know who these guys are?" She looked back to see who she was waving at. "That is the more exclusive, highest ranked, most powerful guild in the game. Anyone would kill to get in that guild. I would sleep my way into the guild if I could." Lantia frowned at her sister. "You just had to be fucking useless and they are all in love with you." Oceana's eyes filled with tears. Her breathing was became more of a rasp. "I wanted you to enjoy the game enough to spend time here with me. I was going to invite you to my guild. That is what I rushed ahead of you for."
"Sweetie, I turned them down. I can still join you." Lantia said trying to calm her sister down. The last thing that she wanted was Oceana to get sick in her free lands.
"They are where you belong. You think that you are better than I am anyway. Go with the Elites. Be part of their guild. Leave me alone with my illness. I will do the Demon King run alone." The girl was now folded over clutching her chest. "Seriously the Developers Ball?" She snapped. "They love you. I don't any more. Leave me alone." Lantia looked away what was she going to do now. Then she heard the slap.
"Is that the kind of attitude you give her at home?" That was the shock that sent Oceana into arrest. "What the hell?"
"Oceana!" Lantia turned her sister on her side. "Azura!" Azura knelt down as the woman start CPR. She was very practiced. He knew that it would do no good in game.
"Tell me what is going on." He blinked. Azura had never seen this before.
"She has a tumor in her heart. I have to get her out of here. I have to get to the hospital." Azura saw the panic. "I have ruined the game for her."
"Red, listen to me. Once you log out I need you to hit the blue button on the back of her mask. It will force log her out. I will watch over her." She shook her head. "Lantia, I can't help you on the outside. I can keep her safe here. Now log out." He was so commanding but it was the use of her real name that shocked her. How did he know it? "The party is in three days. Come back and give us an update." He said softly.
Lantia woke from the game screaming for her mother. "What is it Hun?" The door to Oceana's room was locked. There was no time to get the key.
"Get the paddles. She is in arrest." She heard her mother gasp as Lantia kicked down the wood door. Out of instinct Lantia pushed the panic button. It would call the ambulance, the hospital and the doctor. "I am here, Oceana. Azura is keeping you safe. I am just going to hit the button, Sweetie. Between the two of us we can save you." The blue button on the back of the mask wasn't lit up. None of them were. Lantia pushed them anyway. The puffed clamped stayed solid to her head. The sensor continued to blink. "Speaker on!" The game's laptop sprang to life. "PM colon Azura." Everything she was trained to this came to the surface. Lantia didn't have to think about getting the heart monitor on, the sensor pads or even the CPR.
"Red, she is still here." He sounded as scared as she was. "What is happening?"
"It didn't work. None of the lights at on in the back." There was silence.
"Cut the power." Was all he said. Lantia placed her sister side ways to keep her from chocking.
"That will kill her." It had been in the manual. "I can't do that."
"I would rather her die there. You can still save her there." He had a point but it wasn't cutting through her mind. "Calm down Lantia. Breath like before you attack."
"I am not strong enough for this. If it kills her it will be my fault." She shook her head. She hadn't been this scared ever in game. That was the game though. Azura thought.
"I know love." He could hear her cry. Goldie took over holding the girl in the game. Indie was on line with an admin. Ob was trying to contact Azura's father or uncle. "Listen to me, Lantia. You are not this weak. I need you to summon it again and pull the plug."
"Azura-" Lantia looked up at her mother. "I can't kill my baby sister." Her hand just inches away from the plug to kill the whole system. Her mother covered her mouth to keep from crying.
"I know that you won't. I know you. Your sister is lucky to have you."
"I wish you could be here. I need your strength."
"No you don't." He sounded frustrated. "I don't know what to say to make you understand Lantia." He could hear her sniffle. "I think that cleric fits you so well. You, naturally, need to help everyone." He smiled. "I will be here when you come back. We can talk about it later but right now the only way to save your sister is to pull the plug. I know you are really the woman that fought the dire wolves in the mountains. You were alone. That take a certain kind of strength. You are my hero, Crimson Cleric." He heard her take a deep breath. It made him smile.
The plug released from the wall. "I love you." But he couldn't hear her.