Elias has spent a total of ten days in the game with the swordsman. In that time, he learned as much of the warrior's story as he could. A basic premise in his opinion- one that's been used by every game he had played. It had started off strong with Kairo's tragic childhood, but the latter part was just a boring slew of heroics, and repetitive story-telling. So much so that he even skipped some parts of it unconsciously.
Which begged the question in his mind: Why would Lucius lead him to learn it?
His mind snapped back to the present as footsteps clacked on wooden floors. The old swordsman paced slowly, his steps steady on the worn wooden floor, each footfall a quiet reminder of the years he'd seen and battles he'd survived.
"You've done well," the old man said, his voice a low, gravelly rumble. "You're beginning to understand—a warrior's strength isn't just in his sword arm. It lies in the choices he makes and the burdens he carries."
Elias tightened his grip on his blade, feeling the question grow almost unbearably heavy in his mind. The story continued to loop, vivid and unbidden as part of The Company's promise of an epic virtual experience: Kairo, standing solitary against a storm, living a life painted with violence and loss. He scratched his head, letting a frustrated question escape his lips.
"I don't understand," he murmured. "He did everything right story-wise. He was the greatest warrior, fought some wars, and got amazing powers. So how did the Devourers win?"
The swordsman stopped, his gaze steady, unreadable. "The truth is rarely welcome, especially when it costs people their comfort."
After he said that, a new wave of memories crashed through Elias, sharper this time. He saw Kairo, resolute, standing in a grand hall surrounded by his people, warning them of the Devourers' deception. The creatures had promised prosperity, offering wealth, power, endless resources. And the people had loved them for it. But Kairo had seen past their gifts to the darkness within. When he took a stand, they'd cast him out, branding him a pariah.
Elias's grip tightened, his hands trembling as he felt the storm of Kairo's emotions—anger, grief, the crushing weight of isolation. Even after Kairo forged the blade meant to end the Devourers, it was too late. The world he loved had already been devoured.
The old man's voice cut through the haze. "You will walk his path, boy. You will fight alone. And you will carry the weight of those who do not believe in you."
When Elias blinked, the old man had vanished. In his place stood Kairo, blade drawn, his eyes hard as steel.
"And you will lose," Kairo said, his voice as cold as a winter wind. "Just like I did."
Elias gritted his teeth, drawing his sword with a flash of steel, ready for another round.
Meanwhile, Naomi traversed the expansive world of Celestian Requiem, picking off monsters with pinpoint precision and collecting items as she went. Ava followed, still adjusting awkwardly to her new avatar, her basic gear slightly mismatched as she fidgeted with the straps.
They'd gathered what they needed in the real world, and now, their only goal was to find Elias. But Naomi's mind drifted—not just to the strange discoveries they'd unearthed, but to Elias himself.
Is this what I've been missing all along? she wondered, gazing around the breathtaking landscape. It was beautiful in a way she hadn't anticipated. A place to lose yourself, not just to escape but maybe even to belong. Regret tugged at her, sharp and unyielding. What if, instead of trying to pull him back into my world, I'd joined him here? Would things be different? Would he have let me in?
She shook the thought away, but the regret lingered, anchored deep in her mind.
"This place is massive," Ava murmured, gazing around at the towering mountains, the sprawling cities glinting on the horizon. "How do you even know where to start?"
Naomi offered a small, knowing smile. "I've spent years researching ancient civilizations. This isn't too different. Just start somewhere and keep moving."
As they continued, Naomi's chat window blinked open. "Holy crap, Dan to the rescue."
Ava leaned over her shoulder. "What is it?"
"I sent the symbols we found to my coworker. He's deciphered them," Naomi replied, a hint of wonder in her voice. "He's also the one who pointed us to that bar yesterday."
"That was fast," Ava remarked, arching a brow. "And reliable."
Naomi chuckled softly. "If anything gets him going, it's conspiracies on ancient civilizations," she said, tracing her fingertip over the message. "The glyphs we found talk about a civilization called the Aetherians. They worshipped beings they called gods."
Ava frowned, her brow furrowing. "So that lines up with what the cultists were saying. But…?"
Naomi's gaze darkened as she swiped to the next line. "There's more—it looks like instructions on how to kill them."
Ava blinked. "Wait, what? Why worship gods you're planning to kill?"
"That's the question," Naomi replied grimly. "Either the Aetherians knew these beings weren't benevolent, or they were preparing for the day those beings turned against them."
Ava rubbed her temples, her initial skepticism fading as she absorbed the weight of it all. "So, it's true. And we're really in the middle of this."
Naomi glanced at her, expression unreadable. "More real than we thought."
Before Ava could respond, the world around them flickered—just for a moment, a glitch in the fabric of reality. She stumbled, the disorienting sensation leaving her momentarily off-balance.
"Did you see that?" Ava whispered, tension lacing her voice.
Naomi quickly opened her in-game communicator. "Elias, we've got a problem."
"I know," his voice crackled through. "Sharing my screen now."
Elias's point of view flashed across their screens, and both their hearts skipped a beat. They saw Kairo, blade drawn, the air around him distorting with each step, the very code of the game glitching and twisting in his presence.
Naomi cursed softly. "Damn it…"
The world flickered again, this time like a corrupted file struggling to load. The air grew heavier, charged with a sense of impending danger.
"Log out!" Naomi shouted. "We don't know what'll happen now if the world crashes while we're still connected!"
They yanked off their headsets, gasping as they returned to the quiet of the hotel suite. Gone was the calm, the illusion of peace they'd grown accustomed to. The memory of the virtual encounter felt like a specter lingering in the dim light.
Elias's phone buzzed, breaking the silence. A new message from Lucius: I hope you enjoyed your stay in the hotel. Feel free to bring snacks and other necessities to your next destination.
Naomi was already dialing someone on her phone. "We need to figure this out. Fast."
Ava turned to Elias, her voice barely above a whisper. "So… what now?"
Elias's jaw clenched, a steely resolve settling over him. "I don't know. But Kairo… he was there." He looked to Naomi, who nodded, understanding clear in her eyes.
She spoke into the phone. "Dan? We need to meet."