Right, I'm still in the middle of the woods. I look around and it seems that Emma is no longer here. I check my friend list, Emma said that she was hunting near the Alliance Kingdoms with Ivonna and the others. Emma's location is at Lockhart Valley, which is at the Alliance Kingdoms territory. I shrug.
"Well, I guess I don't have to worry about her anymore."
A message appears in front of me. I check who messaged me and turns out it's Emma.
[Trev, where are you at? I'm going there with my friend.]
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[I'm on my way back to Fjel.]
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[Okay, we are coming there using a teleportation device.]
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[Teleportation device? Is it available now in Fjel town?]
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[Yeah, they added that this morning in Fjel town.]
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[Okay, I'll wait for you at the bar.]
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[Understood!]
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I'm at the bar to meet Hacal. He's sitting at the corner of the bar. I approach him and he smiles at me. I sit in front of him and he shows me a giant piece of leaf that covers his face. I tilt my head because this is the first time I see such a huge leaf like that in the game.
"What is that?"
Hacal put the giant leaf on the table.
"I got this from the dead body of the fallen hero. I was there when heroes fought Queen Arachne. They fought for weeks and many of them died on the battlefield. A saintess was there when I took this giant leaf. She said that this leaf belongs to Land of Sigrid."
I heard about Land of Sigrid from the book. Becker told me that there's a place that is forbidden for players to enter. It's a place where the souls of fallen heroes and other NPCs live based on the stories. It's basically an afterlife world for the NPC. I managed to enter the Land of Sigrid using a glitch. As soon as I entered the Land of Sigrid, a titan was guarding the huge door behind him. I fought for hours and barely did any damage to him since he regenerates his HP to full every second. Then I gave up and killed myself to get out of that place. Becker said if I want to enter the Land of Sigrid I need a specific item so I can enter the Land of Sigrid.
"I heard about it. It's the place where the fallen heroes go to, right?"
Hacal chuckles and nods.
"You're right. Land of Sigrid, or Victory Land is what the people here called it."
I lean on the wooden chair.
"So, why did you show it to me?"
Hacal is grinning.
[Hacal's second request.]
[After you defeated Queen Arachne, Hacal now trusts you more than any players. Hacal showed you a leaf from the Land of Sigrid and he is curious about the Land of Sigrid. Find the Saintess that Hacal met when he was a child and ask her about the Land of Sigrid. Maybe you will get something from it.]
[Rewards: None]
[Failed: No Penalty]
[Accept this quest? Y/N]
...
...
[Yes]
Perhaps, by doing this quest I'm able to enter the Land of Sigrid now. I'm also curious about it because Becker said it's the most beautiful place in Orion.
Hacal grabs the leaf and puts it in his bag.
"I honestly don't know where the Saintess is at. I never saw her again since that day. 30 years ago to be exact. I don't know if she's still alive or not, but I heard a rumor that she's in the Alliance Kingdoms."
The Saintess should be alive now. She's already dead when I started playing with Becker because one of the World Bosses invaded the Alliance Kingdoms and she sacrificed herself to protect the people. So I have no idea where she's at since I've never met her in the game. But I do know an NPC that can lead me to meet the Saintess in this timeline since she became the next Saintess after the previous one died back then.
Hacal stands up and pats my shoulder.
"I believe you can find her. Well then, I have to go back to work. I will see you later."
Hacal left and I felt something heavy on my shoulder where Hacal put his hand on earlier.
[Brooch of the Saintess obtained!]
[Brooch of the Saintess: A light purple colored brooch with flower patterns on it. It's just a normal brooch without any effects.]
I turn around and Hacal is already gone. Then Emma comes in with her friend. Her equipment changed drastically. She's now wearing silver light armor and gauntlets, she's also wearing a long black buttcape and silver armor greaves up to her thighs. I'm squinting my eyes because I think I have seen the guy beside Emma somewhere before. Emma is looking around to find me and then she spots me. She waves at me with her big smiles. I wave at them and they both sit in front of me. A light green-haired guy is staring at me for quite a while and I'm also looking at him while tilting my head. He immediately surprised and opens his mouth.
"You're the guy who bought Lazy Luck daggers from me!"
Now I remember him. I smile.
"Yeah, that's right. We met at the bank's main branch."
Emma is tilting her head and looks at me and that guy back and forth.
"You guys met with each other before?"
I look at my friend list. His IGN is Maine Cassair. Maine nods.
"Yeah, remember when I told you that someone bought items from me for $1000? That's him!"
Emma is looking at me with disbelief.
"Trev? You spent $1000?!"
I chuckle and shrug.
"Well, it was worth it, isn't it? Without those daggers, we wouldn't be here now."
We talked. for quite a while. Maine's real name is William. Emma called her Willy back then. He's a college student and in his senior year. He lives on his own since both of his parents are abroad. Emma has been taking care of him like an older sister. But the way I see it, William misunderstood Emma's intention and interpreted it as a sign of interest.
Emma chuckles.
"Trev, Willy asked me earlier before we came here. He asked me if you're my boyfriend. His expression was so funny."
William is flustered and hides his face.
"Miss Emma... I told you not to mention it."
Emma is chuckling mischievously. Then she grabs something from her inventory and gives it to me.
"Ohh, by the way. Here, the item I want to give you."
[Red-blood Tainted Scarf obtained!]
[Red-blood Tainted Scarf: A scarf that is infamous for its purpose to hide one's identity. Hide the title and the player's name, DEF+5 when equipped.]
I tilt my head and furrow my forehead while looking at Emma. She's grinning happily.
"Well, I thought of this because you said you don't like to attract some attention. So this item is perfect for you. Honestly, Ivonna is the one who gave it to me and said to give it to you."
I scoff and shake my head.
"So basically this is Ivonna's gift for me, not from you? I'll thank her for this later."
Emma nods.
"So, what are you planning to do now, Trev?"
I shrug while looking at the scarf.
"Do some quest and hunt to increase my level, maybe. Why?"
Emma is playing with her lips.
"Umm... I'm planning to go on my own from now on. I've been thinking that I was dragging you down and you have no obligation to take care of me. So, you don't have to worry about me anymore since I can ask others for help when I need it. I'm also going to choose the Alliance Kingdom faction with Ivonna and her friends."
I nod with understanding.
"That's good to hear. Just ask me when you need my help with anything in-game. Look at you, you're like a decent player now after you're playing on your own and I'm happy for you."
Emma is frowning and booing.
"Huh, I thought your response would be sadder or something like that. Like, 'Oh no, why are you leaving me alone, Emma. I can't do this without you' or something like that. But yeah, I'm enjoying this game and I think it's time for me to do it on my own."
I laugh and shake my head because of how stupid it is.
"Before you leave, I still have a responsibility to guide you. I promise you to do the quest with the blank scroll, remember? Let's go and I'll guide you to the NPC."
Emma snaps her fingers.
"Right! Let's do that."
The three of us left the bar and go to a small house not far from the bar. I knocked on the door and an old man opened the door. He looked at us for quite a while and let us entered his house. I told Emma to showed him the blank scroll. The old man surprised and took the blank scroll immediately. His hands trembled and looked at it as if it was something important to him. He looked at Emma.
"You said you got this scroll from a kid, and his name is Gervase?"
Emma nods. Then the old man sits down on a chair. He clears his throat.
"So he is not with us anymore... I should have to pay a visit. But it is already too late."
He looks at Emma.
"My apology. I have not introduced myself. My name is..."
I raise my hand to stop him from introducing himself. They are looking at me with confusion. I look at William.
"Which faction are you in?"
William is pointing at himself.
"Me? I'm in the Aarus Empire faction, why?"
I look at the old man and he flinches his hands. I shake my head to him and he shakes his head as well. I nod and then look at Willy.
"Can you go outside for a bit?"
William is confused but he nods.
"Yeah, okay."
William left the house and the old man sighed with relief. Emma was confused and then the old man started to introduced himself to her and told his story to Emma. His name is Rodwane the third, the former overlord of the Alliance Kingdoms, and he still has a bounty on his head because of the information he has about the two empires. The Aarus Empire and Eluna Empire are looking for him. Any player who managed to find his whereabouts will be given a hefty reward. That was the reason why I asked William which faction is he in. After Emma heard Rodwane's stories, she apologized to him. After she got a new quest from Rodwane, we both left his house.
Emma is looking at William like nothing happened and casually talks about something else to distract him. Then Emma is looking at me.
"I guess this is it. I have plans with Ivonna and her friends, so I guess it's time for me to go."
I nod with understanding.
"Got it. Don't forget to have some fun and enjoy the game to the fullest. I'll see you again later.
Emma nods.
"Of course! Well then, bye-bye!"
Emma and William left and went to the teleportation device to go back to the Alliance Kingdoms territory.
I'm looking around and smile.
"It's time to get stronger..."