This past week, a friend from Taiwan sent me the first Half Prince book. As I saw the cover, my immediate reaction was "Oh gosh... he's as hot as they say!". I can't really read Mandarin, but I did have lots of fun trying to decipher the first two pages (it took me an hour, and I was reading the words in English, Japanese and Portuguese). But it made really pumped to write this chapter, so I hope you like it – and even if you don't please review!
Chapter Nine
Bai Yu An's current date was called Er Niao Yu. She was of a really light skin complexion and had beautiful long hair down to her waist. Their date at the amusement park was a success, and Yu An thought they could form a nice couple.
He was thinking of that as he and his friends sat in the school cafeteria.
"Hey, Yu An, in the end I never took a night off from my team to go and help you in Second Life." Feng Yang Ming suddenly remembered. "How are you doing over there?"
"My character is doing fine." Yu An thought he would have to spend far less time evading Prince's fan girls if more people would make that distinction between one's character and one's self. "I made a friend in game and we formed a party. We finally decided on our classes, so now I'm not really sure about what we'll do next."
"You could come to Infinity City." Feng Lan said absentmindedly between bites (one thing Yu An had noticed about Yang Ming's twin is that she wasn't a girl to let her food get cold while chatting. Others could do the small talk as she ate.)
The mood around the table seemed to change. Jin and Yun shot her a worried glance, and Yang Ming looked puzzled.
"I mean, that is what I am doing, but it is so hard to get money to go to the Central Continent..."
"That's your own fault for not wanting to play with us in the first place." Jin chided, but you could see she was joking.
"So you guys aren't all one team?" Yu An asked, surprised.
"No, not really. I don't know if you've heard of Dark Emperor? It's my team."
"Sorry, don't really know the names of teams and stuff. Are you famous?"
"Sort of. One of my team members is in Infinity Band."
That got Bai Yu An interested.
"Does that mean you know Prince? I really wanted to meet that guy," failing to hear the choking sound farther along the table, he continued, "on account of me being continually mistaken by him and such. I just wonder what kind of person he actually is, and... Xiao Lan, are you okay? You're coughing pretty bad... Yang Ming, I think your sister's choked!"
With all of that, it wasn't until later that Yu An saw a message from Niao Yu. She had wanted to meet him during lunch time.
"I'm really sorry, I hadn't seen your message. Can we meet after class?"
Her reply came in a matter of seconds.
"Can't you say you have to see the nurse and meet me? It's really important."
He could, and even though he didn't like using his numerous medical conditions as an excuse, he did so.
"Hey, Niao Yu, what happened?"
"Well, it's just that, ever since the amusement park, I've been thinking and... We need to talk."
Bai Yu An felt a chill run down his spine. Somewhere deep inside an instinct told him no relationship could survive the words "we need to talk". Of course people needed to talk, but Yu An just felt that, if everything was good, they wouldn't announce it. If they were good they would just talk.
The same instinct told him Niao Yu was about to say something extremely nice, and then say "but".
"You know, I had such a wonderful time with you. You are really so nice, and creative. I feel like a girl dating you will never ever get bored. But..."
And there it was. The killer word. Bai Yu An wondered whether if would feel less awful if they didn't say something nice first. Perhaps.
"... Have you ever heard about 'the language of love'?"
"You mean French?"
"No, once I read an article about in a magazine, and it basically said that different people have different ways to give and receive love, like... No matter how much you hug and kiss them, some people will only feel loved when you say it, but other people will feel loved when you hug and kiss them, no matter how much you say it. Are you following me? Good. So, it is really important in a relationship that the two people can speak the same 'language of love'. The problem is... For me, cooking is really important. I show love to people by preparing treats for them, and I feel really appreciated when they eat and like my food. And, I know this is not your fault, you have all those allergies and stuff, but... I just can't connect like this, you know. I feel like there won't be an 'us', just a 'me' and a 'you'."
So this was it. Bai Yu An didn't want it to end like that, but a memory from 8th grade kept him from arguing There had been this girl who had had sort of a crush on him, and it was Valentine's Day. She made him a single square of homemade chocolate, and she did do her research before she started cooking: it was gluten free, sugar free, lactose free, phenylalanine free, trans fat free, no artificial coloring or scents and, in the end, it still sent Yu An to the hospital with a food allergy that hadn't been addressed No, he couldn't just eat anything, not if he wanted to live long.
"I am truly sorry, Er Niao Yu. You are such a special girl, but I guess I am just not the man for you, if I can't give you what will make you feel loved. And... Well, I am sad, but I won't hold it against you. No hard feelings?"
She smiled, and Yu An knew he was in the friend zone. It was unpleasant, because he hadn't seen that coming, but he would survive.
Bai Yu An came back in time for the last period, which happened to be Professor Min's class. "Surviving" wasn't going very well, and he was absent-minded.
At the end of class, as the other students streamed out, Professor Min approached him.
"Student Bai Yu An, I've noticed you were kind of distant during today's class. Is there a problem?"
Yu An smiled. Professor Min was really one of a kind, not many teachers noticed and cared about their students that much.
"I am just a little upset about myself because I couldn't respond to a girl's feelings. She was really special, but now we won't be dating anymore."
So many emotions and disparate thoughts crossed Gui's mind that even his genius brain had difficulty processing them.
First, there was a vague, adult, responsible relief that the issue wasn't Yu An's health. By now, all teachers were aware of his conditions, and he'd heard from a colleague that Yu An had been absent from the two previous classes. That relief didn't last, for it was immediately followed by twin waves of elation and betrayal - elation for his Prince was trusting him with His personal problems, betrayal for they were matters of the heart, and it hurt to know his Prince had someone in His thoughts. The betrayal only started to subdue when he understood Prince's love affair hadn't been successful. He felt hopeful, then ashamed for rejoicing on the suffering of the love of his life. At the same time, some ancient predator instinct arose in him, saying things like "take him while he is down! The set back after a heart break was just the perfect scenario for you to get together with Prince!"
"I... Am sorry to hear that, P... Bai Yu An. Perhaps it was just not meant to be. I'm sure there is someone out there for you, perhaps closer than you think, and trying to reach out for you..."
Yu An saw Professor Min's expression get a dreamy, far away look. He wondered if the teacher had someone he liked.
"Thanks, Professor Min."
"You know, I'm not that much older than you. There is no need to be so formal after school hours. Y-you can call me Gui."
Gui hadn't been able to keep a straight face, and stuttered and blushed at the very end. Bai Yu An didn't seem to notice.
"Thanks... Gui. And you don't need to be so formal with me either."
"Thanks... Yu An."
If not happy, at least Bai Yu An was in peace when he logs into Second Life that night, so it was with a certain worry and later amusement that he found Jet screaming and kicking boxes in the alley where they'd previously logged off.
"What is the matter?"
"I hate that Prince guy! He cant just have a city or just have a band, no! He has to have all the attention to himself!"
"Jet, calm down, you're not making sense just yet."
Instead of explaining, she grabbed his arm and pulled him to the main plaza. There huge, colorful posters doted every wall, almost blinding and making it impossible not to see Prince's invitation to the newbie players: START YOUR JOURNEY AT INFINITY CITY! The posters explained how it was a convenient location, placed on the very center of the continent; how, besides the usual potion and equipment shops, they also had a magnificent cafe and book store. They explained about the touristic spots - "They've got a damned 'blessed lovey-dovey fountain' or whatever! They have barely even built the town and the fountain, and they already have freaking legends about it!", in Jet's words - not to mention the great personalities... And the fan club stores.
"I see..."
"Oh, you don't. Not yet."
With those words, she ripped another poster from the wall and shoved it under Crow's nose. He had to unfocus his eyes to read.
"Come... Participate... In Infinite City's..."
"Er... Is there any problem here?" - a stranger had dashed into the alley, but seemed to have found a scene quite different from what he'd been expecting.
The newcomer was of a tall, strong complexion, with clear blue eyes and golden hair just long enough to curl at the very tips. By his armor, you could tell he was high level – at least for a newbie – and he also wore a cape.
"No... there is absolutely no problem here." Jet answered, puzzled.
"I just... I heard arguing and a ripping sound..." His voice died, as he saw the ripped poster in Jet's hand. "Never mind. I'm Dashing Mysterious Hero, nice to meet you."
Crow didn't think – the resolution he'd taken around chapter 4 took over – and the next second he was rubbing his hand and Dashing Mysterious Hero was unconscious on the ground.
"What was that for?" Jet was torn between amusement and shock.
"Long story... You were saying? Something about Infinite City's...?"
"Renascence Fair!" Jet completed. "I just can't stand it! Do you know what he is planning with that?!"
"To raise an army." Crow said simply, and Jet cooled down instantly.
"So you noticed?"
"Well... Yes. It's like you said, sooner or later they'll have to open up the NPC cities for conquering, so it makes sense he wants people going to his city so he can build an army. This fair, for example, the admission fee is way higher than strictly necessary, as well as the tickets for the concert they'll be holding..." He inspected the poster closer "...as the opening ceremony. The competitions are a chance to head hunt strong players, and bringing in the newbies is taking two birds with a stone: it's both mass recruiting and filling in the city's vaults with their taxes. This Prince is a fiendish economy devil..."
The girl was speechless. She saw through the renascence fair right away, but she had only though about the other matter enough to resent that Prince had agents even in the newbie village - because a player that had already taken residence on one of the main cities would never be able to come back to deliver or glue posters. She had to face the fact that Crow might have once been clueless about gaming, but he knew his politics.
Jet sighed.
"I just hate it... if Prince gets an army and conquers the whole continent, what will I do to be famous? Instead of one overlord ruling the continent, I'd much rather have four lords each ruling one city. More people could have power and fame that way, and the game would be a lot more interesting with their alliances and such."
"Well, we could fight back. We could form a faction before Prince launches an attack and oppose him."
"I know, but that wouldn't quite do the trick – because we would be opposing him. I don't want to be Prince's enemy, nor Prince's friend. I don't want to be famous because I'm his ally, nor notorious because I am his foe. I just want to be able to play and find my place in Second Life independently of him – a thing few people these days seem to even consider..."
Crow was silent for a long time. The Dashing Mysterious Hero on the ground grunted, but didn't move when Crow prodded him with his foot.
"There must be a niche we can occupy out there... Music is completely out of question, even if we went for another style... As you said, conquering a city wouldn't do. What do you think about traveling the land as legendary sculptors and leaving state-of-the-art masterpieces wherever we go?" One look at Jet's face was enough to see the answer was 'no'. "Ok, forget that I asked... And I don't think Second Life has a Circus we can run away with, but that wouldn't make us exactly famous anyways... Perhaps we could excel in our classes... well, you are a warrior, so that would take you to a clash with Prince sooner or later, but I'm an archer, so I could become some sort of Robin H... THAT'S IT! Jet, we could be outlaws!"
"'Steal from the high-levels to gibe to the newbies'?"
"Only if you feel that generous."
"Won't you feel bad stealing from people? Even though it's just a game, people place their hopes in it. They can feel pretty bad when they are robbed."
"I can't feel too guilty for crashing online hopes. Prince did that to a lot of people by stealing all the fame. Plus, people should have their real lives to places their hopes in."
Jet was swayed, but still seemed to have a few reservations, so Crow proceeded to convince her.
"We can minimize damage, if that will make you feel better. You've thought me: when you go out of town, you go with your inventory almost empty, so you'll have space for all your drops. It's when you're coming back into town that you have the most gold and items. If we rob them when they are going out of town, we will be hardly taking anything worth stealing, just making a name for ourselves, really."
Jet tilted her head to the side.
"That might actually work... this is just a game, after all..."
"Hey, did you just decide on being criminals?" Dashing Mysterious Hero finally rose from the ground, startling them. Worry crossed their faces. Would he try to stop them? If that was the case, they certainly could take him together, they were high level for newbies too. But what if he was going to denounce them? Actually, who could he denounce them to? The GM's? The NPC guards? Their train of thought was interrupted by Dashing Mysterious Hero next question:
"Can I join you?"
Also, I'll go back to the previous chapters to re-name them, perhaps fix a few typos. Let me know if there is anything that needs fixing!
Watch out for chapter 10: "Teammates".
