Well, new chapter, but this one is significantly shorter than the last. Sorry, guys.

REMNANT ONLINE

It was mid morning that Thursday and the weather was warm and pleasant despite it being early November in real life - which was fortunate as Rose wasn't a fan of cold weather. She sat in a large amphitheater surrounded by a bunch of other players. Including herself, there were 21 people total.

They were called there that day because Torchlight had something to say to every player in [Cypress Town]. One would normally think that he'd have a hard time gathering them, but in actuality, he had a very easy time. Majority of the players who were in town were beta testers - and every beta tester knew who Torchlight was. And since every beta tester was going to the meeting, it was only natural that the newbies tagging along with them would go as well.

Rose looked around nervously. She was seated the back row, near the middle. Crocea and Milou were seated a few rows in front of her. Myrtenaster was sitting with Gambol Shroud and Wilting Blush near the exit. That left Rose sitting alone to wait for Torchlight to arrive. Not that she was upset or anything. She was used to being alone. She had, after all, favored playing solo back in the beta. It wasn't so bad.

Her introspection, however, was put on the back burner when Torchlight stepped onto the stage and addressed them.

"Hello, ladies, gentlemen, and others. For those who know who I am, there is no need for introductions. For those who don't, sorry but you'll have to stay in the dark until someone else enlightens you since I'd prefer not give any information for free." There were a few chuckles from the crowd. "Suffice it to say, I am a very powerful man. Not in terms of combat, of course. I'm not half bad in the battlefield, if I do say so myself, but there are four individuals in this very gathering who are several levels higher than any of us." Rose saw his eyes lock with hers. His grin was annoying yet strangely... endearing? She felt an amused smile tug on her lips even as she awkwardly looked away.

"In any case, everyone here right now is a person who acted smartly and left the [Town of Beginnings] the moment this whole incident began. It's been five days and according to one of my contacts who stayed in the first town, the people there have been very... how you say, difficult. Some have been acting extremely violent. Others have been struck with severe depression. With the exception of a small amount of people, everyone still in the [Town of Beginnings] is afraid and confused.

"Which brings me to the reason I brought you all here in the first place. You all are people who kept calm when things got crazy. You didn't panic. It's either that or you're all very good at hiding your fear. Either way, you're everything that some ten thousand people who are still stuck in the starting town just aren't. That said, I want to change that"

Murmurs began among the players. What was he talking about? Rose, of course, knew the answer.

"My dear players, tell me what kind of fear causes the most amount of mass panic?" The crowd was silent. "No answer? Alright then, I'll tell you. It is fear of uncertainty. And I'll tell you this as well: there's a lot of things uncertain right now. All of these people are confused. We need to tell them something - anything - in order to placate them. In order to make them all feel less afraid." The audience seemed unsure of how to react - even less so when Torchlight laughed and added, "Maybe if they believe, we'll believe it too, right?"

Rose frowned. What Torchlight was proposing... She wasn't sure if she was comfortable with it but something inside her was telling her it had to be done.

"To those who've pieced it together, yes, what I'm proposing that we fabricate a story in which everyone's fears are either confirmed or denied with utter certainty. We're basically going to give them a sort of official report. It needs to be believable enough that majority will accept it. I could even begin spreading rumors to reinforce how truthful it is. Anyone who doesn't want to participate in this little lie of ours, just stand up and leave. I won't blame you for it - but don't blame me if I decide to use it against you if you ever cross me."

Rose watched the players around her think and come to a sort of conclusion. After a few minutes, all the hushed whispers had died down, though no one seemed to be standing up and leaving. Torchlight started talking again.

"I'll assume your silence and that none of you have left means you've come to a decision. I say: we begin. First order of business, does death in game mean death in real life? My sources, and all the evidence they give me, say yes. Anyone with proof want to counter that?"

Rose shifted in her seat. Of course he'd start with that one. She shook her head. Uhhh. This is gonna be a long day... she though tiredly

REMNANT ONLINE

Rose lied down alone in the fields outside the town, watching the clouds pass over her view of the sky.

The meeting was called to a recess some minutes ago. So far, it was going well. Torchlight was uncomfortably thorough in asking questions people seriously didn't want to ask - to neither themselves nor to anyone else.

What happened to their bodies in real life? Apparently a couple of people fainted in the middle of town one day because their bodies were likely moved to a hospital. It could only be assumed that everyone else would experience the same at one point or another. Or at least that's what was what the accepted theory was.

What's the purpose for trapping them all in the game? The creator was crazy. Had some sort of god-complex or something. They were going to have every single player eat, drink, and breathe the game. And the only way they'd let the players leave is if they complete the game. Or at least that was what they were going to tell people.

It was all unbelievable. Yet Rose found herself easily accepting them. The fact that it was Torchlight telling it - a player who somehow knew everything that everyone else knew about the game and then some - was one of the reasons for that. The other reason... well, she supposed Torchlight was right about that as well. She wanted to believe it. She wanted her life in game to have a purpose.

Ever since she and her friends arrived at [Cypress Town], she had been wandering around with nothing to do. Unlike when she was traveling and had a destination in mind, nothing was keeping her attention. It let the whole situation catch up to her.

She started playing to escape. To have fun. Now, with death actually being a threat and there being no way out, it wasn't a game for fun anymore. It was life - as real as reality. What was she supposed to do with her life in virtual reality if it started becoming like actual reality? She had no idea what to even do with her life in actual reality!

"My purpose for playing this game" Rose whispered to herself. "Is to beat it and get out..." She scowled. And go back to the real world where everything's just as bad? She asked. She shook her head "No, it can't just be that. Others may accept it but I'm not like them."

She kicked up her legs and sat up, looking around. Crocea and Milou were waving at her from the gate. With a smile, she jumped to her feet and ran towards them at top speed, dust clouds billowing in her wake.

REMNANT ONLINE

At a small cafe near the amphitheater where the meeting was being held, Rose sat munching on a sandwich. It tasted like bacon but apparently it was [Wild Boar Meat]. It could be assumed that food ingredients in the game had counter parts in real life.

"So, that Torchlight guy was a bit of a condescending prick back there" Crocea noted. "Milou tells me that's how he normally is, though"

"Yup." Rose said in agreement. "He's every bit the asshole he was in the beta. If he wasn't so good a weaseling info for people, he'd long have been PKed by now."

"Player killing? That's a thing in this game?" Crocea asked nervously.

"Back in the beta, yeah. Players who kill someone get an orange cursor, temporarily losing safe zone protection. If they kill again while they're orange, they'll get a red cursor and can't enter towns." Rose explained. "If the person who killed was the one attacked first, all they get is an orange cursor, so a person just defending themselves won't be punished permanently."

"I don't expect there to be as many PKers after this meeting, though" Milou said. "Considering it's established to be actual murder now, I'd certainly hope not."

"Too true" Crocea said, raising his cup of tea in agreement.

"By the way, Rose, what were you doing lying down on the grass outside town?" He asked. "Being all mopy and brooding again?"

Rose blushed. "Oh shut up. I wasn't brooding." She sighed. "Just thinking, you know? This isn't a video game anymore... well, I mean it is but... you know what I mean, right?"

Crocea smiled sadly. "Well, I definitely didn't think I'd end up actually being in danger of dying when I started playing, that's for sure. I'd be terrified at the thought of dying. Never mind no longer living, just think of what'll happen to those I leave behind, right?"

Rose turned to Milou who was staring idly at her drink. Rose frowned. "Hey, uh, Milou..." She began awkwardly. "You okay...?"

Milou shook her head slightly. "Not quite. But don't worry. I'll manage."

Rose frowned. Milou lost her team to Beowolves, she remembered. Oh man, that was really insensitive of us talking about death so casually... She glanced at Crocea who was also wincing guiltily. You realized it too, huh? Oh man, we're terrible at this...

Rose grit her teeth and nodded. She and Crocea looked at Milou, feeling distressed by the situation. Crocea spoke first.

"Uh, Milou. I'd just like to know that me and Rose will be here for you if you need anyone." He said stiffly. He turned to Rose "Right, Rose?"

"Er... yeah." Rose said in awkward agreement. "We'll do our best."

Milou smiled sadly, nodding, leaving their table in silence for many minutes.

Rose flicked her left index and middle fingers downward to bring up her menu. It was nearly 1pm. She stood and shoved the last of her sandwich down her throat. After a difficult swallow - and internally thanking the game designers that there wasn't a choking on food status effect - she turned to the two who had also stood. "C'mon. The meeting's about to start back up. We can't be late"

They left the cafe, feeling less hungry and significantly less happy than they were when they entered.

REMNANT ONLINE

The meeting had long ended and the sun was already setting yet Rose remained at the amphitheater, taking in the shades of orange coloring the sky, the wind of late afternoon blowing on her skin, and the sound of silence ringing in her ears.

In the end, Rose being there did nothing to add or distract from the meeting. She merely watched as the more things were said and the amount of lies they were going to feed to the masses increased. Of course, she knew not all of them were lies - with everything going on, she was sure at least some of the accepted theories were actually true - but the uncertainty of the info they were going to release left a bad taste in her mouth.

And she still doubted if people would really believe it.

Why had she not said anything? Sure, she had already told Torchlight everything she thought was useful, but she certainly could have given some input on some other stuff, right? Well, yes, that's true, but what could she say that other players couldn't have said in her place? What could she say that would make a difference? For what she knew, it didn't have to be her who said it. Why not anyone else, right?

But still...

"Why should I even care...?" Rose asked, leaning back in her seat.

"Being all emo again?"

Emo? What? Rose frowned and turned to look at Crocea and Milou climbing up the steps to join her.

"Yo", "Hello again", said Crocea and Milou respectively

Rose turned away, moving her gaze to the sun, slowly disappearing over the horizon. She smiled wryly. Yeah, I guess I am being all emo again...

"Hey Crocea, Milou" She greeted, bringing her legs up and hugging them. "How's it going?"

"Eh, same old same old." Crocea said, laughing softly. He and Milou sat on either side of Rose and watched the sunset with her.

A familiar feeling welled up inside the girl. She was a similar scene less than three days ago when she and Crocea arrived at [Juniper Town]. She closed her eyes, the beginnings of an actual smile forming on her face.

"You know, Rose, the offer we gave to Milou? She and I are also offering it to you. We're here if you want us to be."

"You should get some rest. Crocea and I will carry you back to the inn"

That was the last thing she remembered hearing before her exhaustion suddenly took her. That's what I get for not sleeping for nearly two days... She thought in drowsy annoyance.

REMNANT ONLINE

A bit short, huh? Yeah, I'll make sure to make up for it, don't worry.

Anyway, this chapter dealt with how things are going to move forward from here. Once the people finally find a reason to keep fighting, Rose is gonna have a lot more to do. No more waiting around for players to arrive in town. No more moping about the possibility that death in game was actual real death. No, they're going to make PROGRESS!

The next chapter will be an interlude of sorts. After that, well, I have something planned.