Chapter Fourteen

Bonds of trust

October 13, 2009

I feel just offal, I just received word that my friend Drako has been hospitalized, from what I've heard, his case is the same as my brothers. I feel so foolish, I was helping Draconair settle in as she's staying with me now, and arrived the day he was attacked. I wish that I'd paid more attention that day, but the fact of the Delta server being down made me decide not to.

I know that Draconair is concerned, but I wish to have my space to think right now, I'm logging in and going straight Delta, Hidden Forbidden Sanctuary, I know no one will find me here for a while.

The sanctuary was rather dark today, a massive storm was overhead, the sound of rain pounded against the roof, I found it really relaxing, but it didn't lift my spirits. Why did I have to be away that day, why, this is my problem, why are my friends getting punished, instead of me. I lowered my head and stared at the floor, my eyes full of tears as I was afraid that I might have lost my dearest friend. I heard the sound of thunder in the distance, and then I heard the main door open, I didn't look up to see who entered, probably another lost newbie, I thought.

"Drac, are you alright?"

I looked up in response and saw that it was Draconair, however, I changed her name to confuse CC Corp, so now she was Drakanair, not much of a difference, but enough to change her codes. "Oh, what are you doing here?" I asked trying to clear my eyes up really quickly.

"I'm looking for you, you logged in without telling me what you're going to do"

"Oh, I-I-I want some space, please!" I shouted unintentionally, she looked shocked, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell, but please"

"Drac, what's the matter, you can tell me"?

"I don't want to talk about it"

"You know I won't stop bugging you about it" She said with a smile, but I didn't look back at her, "What's bother you, so much?"

"I don't want you to worry about it" I said unintentionally cold.

"Drac, I'm worried, you haven't said much of anything or even eaten much of anything since yesterday"

"Just don't worry about me alright, I just need some time to myself"

I could tell she wasn't going to take no as a answer, she got right in front of me, lifted my head up with her hand under my chin, and stared at me with her emerald green eyes.

"Drac, please, the last time I saw you this upset was when–"

"Was when Silverwolf backstabbed me! I know, I don't need to be reminded" I interrupted.

"He didn't backstab you"

"He betrayed my trust!" I moved away from her and faced the wall, "He took my trust and shredded it up before my eyes. After everything I did for him, he turned away from me, and from Drako!"

"Is this what it's about?"

"Nothings about him anymore!" I said coldly.

"Then what is it about?"

"Please, I don't want to talk about it" I said softly, near the brink of tears again.

"Dractaros, don't you trust me?" She said in a small and sad voice.

I turned around and hugged her, "I trust you more then anyone in the whole world, and nothing can change that."

"Then why can't you tell me?"

"Because it hurts to much to tell, to much to speak of"

"Is it Drako? Is something wrong with him? Please Dractaros tell me"

I stood silent a moment, thinking, and then said "Drako has been hospitalized"

"What! How!" She said in a shock as she back away from me.

"Databug," I said weakly, "He logged in while the delta server was down, when to a dungeon, and fought a databug". I turned away and lowered my head again, not feeling any better then if I hadn't told her.

"Drac, I'm so sorry, but he'll be ok, I know it"

"No, he won't, and it's all my fault, ALL MY FAULT!" I shouted, I punched the wall, leaving a small mark on it.

"What do you mean it's all your fault, there was nothing you could have done"

"Yes there was, I was busy helping you get settled in, because I thought nothing would happen if the delta server was down, but I was wrong! My best friend now is in the…. in the hospital now because I was careless, how can I ever ask anyone to help me now, knowing what might happen to them."

"But Drac-"

"No! I can't ask you to help me anymore, you've already lost your job because of it, Helba warned you, warned me from taking help, I should have listened"

"Drac-"

"How will I ever be able to talk to him again if he comes out of his coma, how will I-"

"Drac! Stop it" She came around to me and slapped me hard across the face, I looked at her shock and realized she was crying. "You think we didn't know the risks, we wanted to help you no mater the cost, you have no one to blame but us! Is it a crime to want to help the one you love and care for, he's your sworn brother dammit, and he was my friend to!"

"Drakanair, I-"

"No, don't tell me to relax, your sitting here not telling me what's wrong and making me feel like I shouldn't even be here! All I want to do is help, please don't shut me out" Tears where streaming down her face now.

"Drakanair, I'm so sorry, it's just that I didn't want you to get hurt, I don't know what I'd do without you." I moved towards her and hugged her, her head in my chest, "Please don't cry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you, I just don't want to lose the only other person in the world that I trust just as much as you."

"Then please don't shut me out, I want to help you, I want to help all those who've fallen into a coma"

"I won't, but please, don't leave me"

"I won't, nothing will drive us apart, not distance, not people, not illness"

"Thanks" I let go of her and moved towards the statue of the girl, still looking as gloomy and sad as the first day I saw it. "However, that still doesn't change the face that Drako may be hospitalized as long as my brother has been, and until we figure out what has happened, that could take a long time, possibly we may never find out what happened"

"I found a report from a while ago that might cheer you up"

"I'm sorry, but I doubt it"

"Listen before you say that, the report dates back to when the crimson knight where around, there captain was struck down in the game by a monster and fell comatose"

"So this has happened before?" I asked with interest as I raised my head up and looked at her.

"Keep listening, he was in a coma for a few days and when he came out of it, he suffered from amnesia for a time. Some time after that happened, others, both players and crimson guards where struck with it, but it ended within a short time, all recovered, but showed the same symptoms as the captain did. The report basically says that there may be a chance that Drako might come out of it, so there is a bit of hope that he will not end up like your brother."

"Even if so, we still need to find the source of this, knowing what even greater risks are ahead, do you still want to help me?"

"Just try and stop me"

"Thank you"

My spirits raised, I'm hopeful that she's right, however I just hope that nothing happens to her. I make a promise to myself that I will protect her, neither heaven nor hell will stop me.