I lifted my hand up to the sky like a gun.
"Bang." I whispered to myself, imagining those blue bullet holes striking through the clouds, letting the sun pour in over Aincrad. I shut my eyes as the light washed over my closed eyelids like a tsunami, lowering my hand amidst the dull heat cascading over my face. It was hot, but not too hot. That perfect, serene environment of ideal weather, allowing our worries to slip away for just a brief moment. The grass tickled my ear, or maybe it was my hair? I didn't really know the difference, data feels like data. Sitting up, stretching, I let out a god almighty yawn.
"Day three." I whispered to myself, once more. It had been day three since this death game began. Just saying that made it all feel so unrealistic, so impossible. I dare say I was practically quoting Kirito, something that had become irritatingly common in this replica of that floating castle in the sky. An Incarnating Radius. What a name.
I looked left and right across the vast, virtual field. Yawning once more, I sluggishly clambered to my feet, looking for the direction of the Town of Beginnings. This particular spot had become a personal favourite of mine - there were monsters not too far away to fight, in vast numbers yet spread apart enough for easy combat. In the top left corner of my vision, the HP bar that read Terallian, Level 9 with a long green bar underneath had a flashing dot next to it. Mail? No… Far too bland for that, and like I'd receive one. Perhaps it's… I stopped thinking and started moving, reaching my hand up to tap the dot. Immediately, a pop-up appeared in the centre of my vision. It read: "Your wallet is full!"
"My wallet it…" My voice trailed off before I realized what it meant. "What!?" I yelled, catching the stares of a quest-giving NPC. "What the hell kind of an MMO has a wallet limit? Am I supposed to blow all my cash on a new wallet now? Honestly…"
Without a many options, I started in the direction of town. It took a surprisingly short time to reach it; perhaps the game's distance perception was a shonky. That might be a problem in a fight… I turned a corner after passing through the main gate, spotting a blacksmith's shop ahead, or was it a general store? I didn't have a clue, as I spent all my time out levelling, hoping to get ahead of as many PKers as possible, which has proved less productive than I'd hope. The store turned out to be a cross between the two. Weapons, food, armour, maps, you name it. Heaven on earth? No, more like a heaven on Aincrad.
I knocked and called out ,"Ahh… Excuse me?" stepping into the building. I was met by an obviously NPC store owner, an assistant, and a black-haired boy, around my age. He had straight, long hair, coming just past his waist. No armour was visible, just the usual tunic you see most people wearing, in combination with a...
"Flute?" I asked. The boy turned around, he was probably fifteen or sixteen years old. A combination of embarrassment and surprise was plastered on his face. Realising how rude I was, I stuttered to correct myself.
"O-oh, no I didn't mean, ah, what I mean is… Why do you have a flute?"
What a dumb question.
"It's… It's my instrument." He replied, a hint of embarrassment flowed with his voice. He was obviously shy, and every word he said made me feel even ruder. I struggled to get myself out of this mess.
"A flute, I see… A-anyway, what are you here for?" I asked, desperately trying to change the subject. I looked to the name above his head. It read Ryan Griffiths, Level 1. I could have almost sworn I'd heard the name befo-
"I… I was hoping to get a weap-"
"Griffith!" I screamed, running straight towards him. The look on his face as I practically tackled him head on was priceless.
He let out a gasp, "What? Who are… Tera? Terallian!" He yelled back, grabbing onto me. For the first time in this dreadful week, I'd met a familiar face. He was one of many of the 'Age of Aincrad' users that had been trapped here, but he was the only I'd known from before it all started, and seen in game.
I grabbed his hand and pulled him out the store, feet moving faster than necessary. The door slammed shut behind us with a tell-tale ring of the NPC's 'goodbye' coming, muffled, from behind it. With the startled Griffith being forced into pursuit, I moved swift as the wind around the corner before making a streamline for the gate. My heart thudded in time as each footstep hit the ground with a thud. I almost hesitated for a moment, taking into account the fact he was only a Level 1 player. Shaking off the thoughts, I continued up towards the hill where I spent most of my time. Surprisingly, not a single complaint from Griffith was heard.
In a matter of minutes, we were there. The two of us were panting.
"Even with… Physical fitness being… Incorporated into… The game… This is exhausting." I laughed, panting between phases. I wasn't the fittest person in the world, obviously, but most of the activities in the game didn't call for it. Unfortunately, grinding, the one skill that did require it, was my only activity.
"Are you out of your mind?" He finally coughed out, just as puffed as I was. "I was buying… Buying… I forgot what I was buying." He laughed as well.
"A weapon, wasn't it?" I smiled. "Hang on, a weapon? That's not like you, Griff…"
"Well, someone I met on the first day, Foyoki, she suggested It was about time I had something to fight with." He replied, as I pondered as to who this Foyoki might be. I may have been the only person in the game to have stayed alone up until now, I refused to party up with anyone I hadn't met before, my own personal way of denying any of this was real.
From day one, I'd seen this as a fantastic opportunity, but within a day, maybe two, any dreams I had of a future here were crushed under the weight of reality.
"Foyoki?" I asked, hoping to bring some light to my curiosity.
"Yeah," Griffith began. "We were all shocked with what happened when the Rift, well, you know, and she…" His voice drifted off, fumbling for words. "She didn't handle it well."
It wasn't a huge surprise for it to happen, but dealing with those situations isn't easy. But, like I'd know…
"I see…" I muttered. He could pick my uncomfortableness and immediately said something about meeting her later. I simply nodded, but I still had a feeling I couldn't quite shake.
"Good afternoon." Came a voice from behind us. I began to turn around. "I hear your wallet is full. Allow me to assist!"
A swoosh sound cut the air as a blade swung straight for my head.