"Ahhh~ how I miss this fresh air!" Ioki exclaimed as he stretched his body while taking a deep breath.
The beautiful fantasy he had yearned for the last few days has finally become a reality again before his very eyes.
He looked around and found himself exactly at the open spot in the forest where he logged out last week.
He inhaled once again the forest's cold, fresh air before running to the bushes, "Ruina is this way, right?" He muttered under his breath.
His relaxed expression changed into a tense one as he started dashing between the bushes and the trees, jumping over the rock and bashing any mobs coming his way.
Soon enough, he could see the gate of Ruina. The difference? Many people, from NPC to Players, were gathered in front of it. While some could even be seen from the top of the gate, observing way beyond the horizon.
"Halt right there! State your name and affiliation!" A guard shouted as he readied his weapon toward the approaching Ioki.
Seeing the boy covered in a sinister set of armor made them wary. The others soon raised their weapons toward Ioki as well.
"I'm the child of Light, you bastard! I have a business that needs to be done as soon as possible!" Ioki replied hurriedly as he rushed toward the gate entrance.
"Do not utter that name in vain!" The guards replied once again with their weapons pointed toward Ioki.
Suddenly, a fat man walked toward Ioki, a familiar figure who brings back a bad memory.
He looked different this time. Instead of the usual Priest attire he donned, this time, his body is covered in white leather armor with mace holstered in his waist while his left hand is holding a book.
"The problem ---" His eyes widened before he opened his mouth and shouted toward the guards, "Let him pass! This is indeed a child of Light. The last time I saw someone with such vibrant Light was when I first saw Elia when she was a child."
"Priest Albert..." Ioki mumbled as he saw the plump Priest before him.
Ioki's heart was flowing with negative emotions as he saw Priest Albert. It was mirrored on his face... The Holy Church of Light, contrary to their names and teaching, harmed Ioki while he was vulnerable...
Raising his hand, Priest Albert gestured as a sign of apologies for what had happened. "I'm sorry, child. Sister Elia nor us never meant harm to you." A sorrowful tone was followed by a bitter smile from Priest Albert.
Ioki stepped back in reflex, seeing Priest Albert offer his hand. The memory of Sister Elia crushing his was still vivid in his head...
Seeing how Ioki reacted, Priest Albert instantly retracted his hand and apologized again.
"C---can I go in?" Ioki asked with a trembling voice.
The guards looked at each other before lowering their weapons and making way for Ioki, "Don't cause any trouble. The last thing we need before a war is another lunatic causing chaos!" One of the guards said firmly.
Without paying attention to his words, Ioki ran past the gate and entered Ruina.
After Ioki made his way to Ruina, a man clad in silver armor with a blue cape approached the guards and Priest Albert.
"What's that commotion all about?" The man asked while smiling.
The man had a familiar look with someone Ioki had crossed paths with, although he wasn't in his right state when Ioki met him.
"Ah, Captain Arden! It's nothing. It's just another Guided Soul!" The guard replied with a salute.
***
"To think he managed to get the Kobolds under his command. What a boy, huh?" Skye asked with a smile toward the figure in a nun outfit behind the bar counter.
Skye's Diner had seen better mornings than this one. The usual smell of warm meals to fill the citizen of Ruina's belly for their day is nowhere to be found.
No matter what time it is, Skye's Diner would be filled with a friendlier atmosphere than this. When you entered the Diner, followed by Skye's greeting, the sight of people enjoying their meals and the sound of chatters could be heard, accompanied by the relaxing aroma of cooking coming from behind the counter.
Skye poured another round of wine in a glass from a bottle. After she put the bottle down, she imbued her hand with an icy cold aura, with flowers of ice visibly coming from her hand.
A breath of cold wind blows from her hand and is directed to the glass of wine. Slowly, dews start to form as the glass frosty. "It's on the house. Drink your worries away. Get a full rest for today and tomorrow. We need to defend Ruina the day after!"
With a slight smile on her lips, the Nun took the glass and drank it bottom up.
"Ah! That was refreshing~ Let me crash at your place these two days. Take care of me." The Nun exclaimed with a smile after she put her glass down.
*BANG!*
The sound of the wooden door of the Diner banged against the wall as a boy in red came through.
"Talk of the devil, huh?" Skye said with a sly smile while staring at the Nun.
"Skye! Skye! Where is the temple of the monk or whatever it is? Please po---" Ioki froze in place as he saw the back of the Nun by the counter.
Slowly, after hearing Ioki's voice, the Nun turned her body. "You see, you should listen to some---" Her eyes widened as she fixed her gaze on Ioki.
As if drinking an elixir, her tipsiness was gone as her eyes locked on Ioki. She stood up hurriedly almost tripped on her attire while she rushed to Ioki.
"ELIA!" Skye's voice echoed inside firmly.
Hearing Skye's voice, Sister Elia stopped midway while she tried to stabilize her body by supporting it with the wooden table nearby.
Ioki's complexion turned pale as he saw the approaching Sister Elia; with a deep breath, he tried to move his body, but he couldn't...
Skye jumped over the counter and held Skye by her wrist, "You! We've talked about this. Why would you do it again?!" Skye scolded Sister Elia with a slap on her arm.
"I'm sorry... it's just..." Sister Elia replied slowly while looking down, covering her face with her palm.
Skye let go of Sister Elia's wrist before slowly walking toward Ioki, "Hey... it's fine, okay? She doesn't mean any harm to you. It's just she's been on the edge lately, especially with one of the prophecies being revealed before us..." She assured Ioki with her hands in the air.
Ioki tried to move, but he couldn't do anything, no matter what. No matter which monster he fought or what trials he went through, he couldn't escape from the demons inside him weighing him down...
Slowly, the warm embrace of Skye's body could be felt as she hugged Ioki. Her flowery scents entered Ioki's nose as she whispered slowly in his ears. "It's fine... it's fine..." Her hand caressed Ioki's head, that's covered with the cowl.
Ioki, with his mouth trembling, slowly his eyes welled up in tears...
Feeling his body tremble, Elia stopped hugging Ioki and put her hands on his shoulders, staring at him with a warm smile.
"Hey, hey... let me see your face, okay?" Skye asked.
Ioki slowly moved his finger to open his equipment window and removed both his cowl and mask.
The sad expression of the boy could be seen clearly as Skye used her thumbs to wipe away his tears. Sister Elia's expression changed as she saw Ioki with such looks... feelings of guilt washed over her heart as it tightened her chest.
She performed a sign of praying as her hand slowly glowed in white Light, "Goddess, forgive me for hurting the poor boy..." She prayed with a soft voice.
Who would've thought the first time Ioki felt lust and love is inside this game... he never had anyone to comfort him like this in real life. By the time Skye embraced him, the dam that's been holding his bottled emotions broke down...