"I come here sometimes when I want to be alone," Astrid said, grinning. "We can talk all we want."
As she gazed at the sprawling city before them, the wind caught her hair, making it flow like a golden cape. Alan stared at her, mesmerized. Last time they met, Astrid had worn a short bob that barely reached her earlobes. When the wind died down, her hair fell softly to her waist.
Is this what three Novus years look like? Her face hasn't changed though. She looks exactly like the last time I saw her.
Hair length aside, Alan could not spot any other differences, which led his gaze to take in her stunning figure. She wore a skinsuit similar to Marissa Laflamme's, but navy blue, and Alan could not help but notice the contrasts between the two women.
Astrid had a slender waist—the same one he had wrapped his arms around minutes ago.
Wider hips that defined her hourglass figure.
And most notably, a more ample chest that Alan could not believe had been hiding beneath her old plain clothes all this time.
She caught him staring and giggled. "Like my outfit? Pretty tight business, huh? Let me slip into something more casual." With swift fingers, she navigated her User Interface, scrolling up and down through options for half a minute. "J-Just hold on—There!"
Astrid's body blurred for a moment as the system changed her clothes automatically. When it cleared, Alan caught glimpses of a top beneath a glossy jacket. Her exposed midriff ended at latex shorts, followed by knee-high heeled boots, and a long ponytail completed her blue 'city girl' outfit.
"So!" she exclaimed, swiftly sitting at the tower's edge. "We have a lot to catch up on, huh?"
Alan peeked down and instantly regretted it. Swallowing his vertigo, he carefully sat beside her. "Yeah..."
"It's been three years," she began, making Alan clench his fists. She noticed immediately. "B-But it's okay!" She waved her hands. "We don't have to talk about that right now! How about I tell you what I've been up to?"
And she talked.
Alan watched her beaming face as she told her story. She told him about her solo adventure through the Beginner's Area, and how, stubborn as she was, tried challenging her first dungeon alone.
"Remember ‘Dylak's Mansion’? It was supposed to be our next quest..." Astrid then told him about meeting her first friend in The Novus besides Alan, a girl named Helen Reed. "She's one of the snarkiest people I've ever met and loves pranking me, but honestly, I wouldn't have made it through that first month without her. Those were dark days because... Well." She smiled at him. "You know why. Because you were gone."
Was Astrid always this direct? Alan saved that question for another time and focused on her every word.
As an hour passed, Astrid's timeline had jumped ahead a year, sending a wave of sorrow through Alan's chest.
I missed all of it... I wasn't there for these important moments because I took Isabella's request—But I couldn't just ignore the ship's problems! It was my responsibility. We're all on this space vessel together!
I signed up as a technician, I knew what it meant. Missing three years in this virtual paradise shouldn't bother me, so why does my throat feel like it's closing up? Why do my fingertips feel like ice?!
"Alan, are you okay? You're pale!"
"Don't mind me! It's just... Nothing." He looked away, making her frown.
"Let's grab a snack. I know a place, open 24/7."
This time, her winged mount carried them to eastern Londorus, landing atop a three-story apartment building. She really likes high places.
As she promised to return in a minute, Alan turned his attention to a giant screen on a nearby skyscraper. It showed a fierce competition between high-skilled Users. A repeat of today's tournament from the Dragon's Belly. Ground-cracking punches, metal-melting fire magic, and high-speed moves that needed slow-motion replays for viewers to follow. It all reminded him of what Marco Souza had shown earlier.
"Is this what ultimate power looks like?" he muttered as Astrid reappeared.
"Sorry for the wait. Here you go! Best fish and chips in the city."
Alan stared deep at the fried fish and the bottle of fizzy purple liquid. Having both in his hands felt nostalgic. This is the first thing I ate in New London.
His tutor's face flashed in his mind.
When Aslan asked her, 'What the hell is dandelion and burdock drink?' she just sighed heavily while lighting a cigarette.
'Finish that quickly so we can go,' she replied, looking bored. 'And stop babbling. Show some respect, kid. That food is a national treasure, got it?'
"Don't you like it?" Astrid asked, noticing his distant look. "N-No problem! I brought flapjacks, pork pies, and scotch eggs too!"
"Thanks Astrid. Can't remember the last time I had this." He proved it with a large bite. "So good!"
When she smiled and sat beside him, Alan glanced down. Did she just make a 40-foot jump from the street like it was nothing?
"What do you think?" Astrid asked, pointing at the screen. "Pretty cool, huh?"
Oh, Astrid. You too?
"Yeah. It's amazing what Users can do now. Remember how we struggled to beat a single boss? These guys could probably one-shot it." He took a sip, and when he turned around, Astrid's face was inches from his.
"You don't sound too impressed though."
Those long eyelashes... and those crystal-blue eyes up close!
"Y-You want the truth?"
"Always!"
"It's not that impressive when they're just fighting each other."
"Huh? Fighting people is way harder! They can think, strategize, and adapt mid-battle."
"True, but it doesn't feel... heroic?"
Astrid studied his face. "You'd rather watch them fight evil monsters?"
"Maybe? I mean, this is still a simulation, right? Unless something changed while I was gone, you're all fighting programmed mobs and bosses, right? There's no real evil here. Just fake glory and pretend justice."
"Oh… That’s how you see it," Astrid whispered, turning back to the screen. The digital light framed her oval face, giving her an almost angelic glow.
That's when Alan realized what he had said.
Crap! I really stuck my foot in it! Marco showed me that the guild regularly competes in these tournaments, so I basically called their achievements hollow and meaningless. Astrid's whole life here revolves around these kinds of battles, you moron! Quick, take it back and…
"I missed talking with you," she blurted out. "You always think outside the box, even before we entered the Novus. Not just to be different, I mean, you're always sincere about everything. I missed that."
He felt his face heat up. "That's how you see me?"
But something in the atmosphere had shifted. She sat there hugging her legs, watching the screen with a gleam in her eyes.
Alan, you idiot.
He cleared his throat. "Still… the dedication it takes to reach that level is incredible. They wouldn't broadcast these matches if just anyone could do it, right?"
She turned to him, eyes bright. "True."
"Maybe you could explain something then." Alan crossed his arms, trying to look serious. "I watched a match earlier and got lost in all the terms they were throwing around. 'Special Talent', 'Super-duper', and 'Ultimate-something'. What's all that about?"
She burst out laughing. "You mean Unique Talent, Ultimate Move, and Super Form? Don't worry, I got you covered!"
Astrid's face lit up as she shared her knowledge, using the action on screen as reference. Half of it went over Alan's head as he found himself distracted by her wide smile and infectious enthusiasm. Even though he barely followed the strategies she was breaking down, watching her talk about it was mesmerizing.
"You're quite the expert."
"Of course!" She raised her chin proudly. "Years of combat experience right here!"
"That reminds me, are you still a fire user? Because that outfit earlier doesn't exactly scream 'mage.'"
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"Oh, I don't fit any stereotype, trust me! And yeah, I've mastered every fire spell in this simulation, and then some."
"I see, I see. So... how strong are you?"
Astrid raised her eyebrows before looking away. "W-What do you mean?"
Through Alan's eyes flashed a scene from earlier, when Marco had shown him a video of another pyromancer, Amelia, carbonizing their enemies. I could bet everything I have that Astrid is better than that gal.
"Well, compared to others? You're the leader of a 100-strong guild. Are you not only at the top of the chain of command, but also the biggest powerhouse?"
Astrid seemed to be struggling internally. She was biting her lower lip before replying. "I'm seventh..."
"Seventh? You mean you're the seventh strongest in the guild?" Alan asked, and she shook her head, pursing her lips. "Whoa. You mean, the seventh strongest in all Londorus? That's amazing! Congratulations, Astrid."
"Y-Yeah, let's leave it like that..." she muttered before getting to her feet and offering a hand to him. "It's getting late, and you must be tired. Why don't we call it a night? You're not going anywhere again, right?"
Alan thought of his current mission for a fraction of a second before dismissing it and smiling. "I won't."
The flight back was slow and quieter, as if Astrid was stretching out that moment so it would last forever, but they eventually reached the guild headquarters. she then told an NPC servant that she would escort Alan personally to his room, even though Alan said it was not necessary. Maybe she thinks I'll just wink out of existence if she blinks.
Finally, in front of the door, they remained quiet for long seconds.
"See you tomorrow then," she said quietly, gazing down.
"Can we have breakfast together?"
She looked up, smiling. "Oh, I'd love that. Till tomorrow."
"Good night."
After waving goodbye, Astrid crossed the corridor at a slow pace, followed by Alan's gaze, who refused to enter his room until he lost sight of her.
Maybe I'm the one too afraid of not seeing her ever again if I blink.
Suddenly, Astrid turned around and marched toward Alan while forming fists with a determined expression. She then held Alan's face, kissed his right cheek and said, "'Common occurrence', am I right?" before finally disappearing out of sight at a rapid pace.
Alan would spend an entire hour trying to figure out why she said that until finally falling asleep.
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Alan saw himself working in The Santa María's hangar, moving weapon crates and repairing compromised locks. His favorite task, however, was maintaining the Custos—giant mechanical suits. To do this, Alan climbed up a ladder and walked across a service ramp to reach their heads and check their systems. His favorite was a red one with green eyes, which he nicknamed Captain Ketchup.
"How are you doing today, Cap?" Alan would ask each morning, greeting it with a wave. The stationary, 60-foot-tall humanoid machine always remained silent. "Your day to save the universe will come, I know it! In the meantime, let me make sure everything's in order, okay?"
This routine continued for a week until the eighth day, when Alan noticed that Captain Ketchup's eyes were glowing.
<
"Captain?" Alan muttered as the shadow of a giant foot loomed over him. The last thing he saw before a service robot pulled him back was another blue Custos shielding him.
<>
Even after the automatic reinforced doors closed, he could still hear a constant, metallic banging.
The reverberating sound echoed through his head until he opened his eyes.
Huh?
Alan found himself soaked in sweat, lying on a bed that smelled of lavender, in a room he did not recognize at first.
Ah, yeah... I'm at the Shooting Stars' HQ.
The images from his dream were still clear in his mind, and his heart was still racing. Panting, he buried his sweaty face against the pillow and groaned.
Dreaming inside what technically is a collective dream is... pretty darn confusing.
After sighing, he inspected the room. The light of the Novus sun entered through the window and reflected on the wood-patterned tiled floor. In front of him was plenty of furniture at his disposal, and a large, rectangular mirror from which his reflection stared back.
He stood up and looked through the window, finding tall buildings and busy streets to explore. This is a real city. Unus Town could never compete with this.
Glancing at the furniture again, he noticed a yellow piece of paper stuck to a drawer. It read: ‘Open me’. Inside, he found a pair of white sneakers, black baggy pants, a red sporty jacket, and another note: ‘I hope you like them’. The signature, a star.
With a single tap, he got fully dressed in a couple of seconds. Checking his reflection, the dark bags under his eyes caught his attention.
Even though I slept like a rock, these things haven't vanished yet. Doesn't matter. Disregarding that and the fact that I need a haircut, I'm looking good!
"Thanks, Astrid." He chuckled, remembering her warm welcome.
I knew that even if I found The Novus engulfed in flames, you were going to be safe and sound, no matter what. But actually seeing you, proud and beautiful as always, melts my heart… Thank god!
His smile widened from ear to ear before he jumped onto the bed and started rolling on the mattress, back and forth, while hugging the pillow.
"She really looked damned good yesterday, didn't she?! Her new long-haired look is stunning! And the way she embraced me so tight, as if she didn't want to let go of me ever again, and how she looked into my eyes was driving me crazy! Don't do that, Astrid, or I'd fall for you all over again, you!"
After venting that out, he checked his reflection one more time and nodded approvingly.
Outside, a girl quickly swiped her User Interface out of sight and beamed at him. “Good morning, Alan Warden! The Guild Master has instructed me to… uh...” She squinted at him. “Is something wrong with your eyes?”
“Hi. Please don’t mind it. I was just—Wait...” He suddenly blushed. “If you’ve been here all this time, you didn’t hear me yelling a moment ago, did you?”
The girl stared at him, confused for a second, before shaking her head vigorously. “What? No! Of course not! These walls are quite thick! I didn’t hear a thing!”
She heard it all…
“Were you saying something about the Guild Master?”
“Ah, yes! Allow me to introduce myself first. My name is Tamara Morin, and I’ll be your guide today. I’ll give you a complete tour of our facilities and assist you as much as I can.”
The girl with black pigtails offered him a kind smile. Beneath the blue cape and white robe, Alan could discern a petite, feminine figure. Almost the same frame as Isabella II... I mean, Ashley. Alan then stared at Tamara’s young features, making her tilt her head. Would Ashley look as friendly as this girl if she acted like a regular human being?
“Is something on my face, too?” she asked.
“Nothing. Sorry. So, where is Astrid? We’re supposed to have breakfast together.”
The girl wrinkled her forehead. “Oh, Alan, I’m sorry, but Astrid won’t be able to join you. She has something else to attend to. That’s what I’ve been trying to say. She instructed me to show you around while she was gone.”
“Oh, it’s okay,” Alan said, trying his best to hide his disappointment. “She must be a very busy person. I understand that.”
It’s okay. I’m finally here. We’ll have plenty of time to hang out later on.
Tamara studied his reaction for a moment, pursing her lips tight. Then, after consulting something on her User Interface, she suddenly grabbed his wrist. “Hey, she hasn’t left the facilities. If we hurry, you might be able to catch her before she leaves.”
“Uh, um... S-Sure! Let’s do that!”
As Tamara pulled him through the dorm corridors at a fast pace, Alan wondered what kind of ‘Guild Master duties’ Astrid had to attend to. Thinking about it only made his mind a mess. Don’t overthink it. Yes, we planned to start our day together, but it wasn’t guaranteed. She has a life and responsibilities, you fool.
He bit his lower lip. It’s okay. Just seeing her and waving goodbye from a distance will be enough for now.
Tamara stopped in front of a building Alan knew well. “This is the Guild Hall, where most of the administrative work is done. Astrid’s office is here,” she explained as she led the way to the entrance. “The Hall of Fame is also here, one of my favorite places in all of HQ.”
“Ah, yes. Very fancy.”
She frowned. “Have you been here before? When?”
Alan mirrored her disconcerted expression just as the double doors opened, revealing a flustered Astrid striding outside.
A frustrated Marco Souza was right on her heels. “Please, Guild Master...”
“We’ll talk about it when I return. That’s my final word,” the blonde said sternly as she marched toward the front yard.
Just by looking at the tense scene, Alan decided it would be best to stay quiet and out of her path. Tamara seemed to think the same, standing still beside him. But Astrid caught sight of him, and her tense expression melted in an instant.
“Alan!” Astrid beamed, hurrying toward him and wrapping her arms around his neck. “Good morning! Did you sleep well?”
Caught off guard, Alan blushed immediately. “Y-Yes! Great bed, even better pillows!”
“Did you like the clothes? You don’t have to wear them if you don’t want to. I can tell the NPCs to--”
“No, no! I like these. Thanks a lot.”
Astrid smiled again, as warm as the sun, entrancing him with her youthful beauty. Then he noticed that every single Shooting Star in the vicinity was watching them attentively. Tamara Morin fidgeted nervously beside them, trying to be as unobtrusive as possible, and a couple of guild members passing by had stopped in their tracks, whispering as they observed the scene. Even Marco Souza looked frozen, an incredulous expression on his face.
“Listen,” Astrid began, “I have to go. I know we promised to have breakfast together, but believe me, it’s something important. After all, I’m paying a visit to our da—WOAH!” She suddenly shouted, making Alan jolt. “O-Our dashing weaponsmith! Yes! He’s on vacation, but I’ll try to bring him back so we can start equipping you as soon as possible!”
“That’s not nece--”
“Don’t say another word,” Astrid interrupted, pushing her index finger against his lips. “I’ll be back soon, okay? And I promise we’ll have dinner together. I have a place. Deal?”
“Sure, Astrid. Can’t wait. Good luck on your voyage.”
Astrid smiled, glanced at Tamara, giving her a knowing look, and finally summoned her black lion. She was soaring through the sky in a matter of seconds, making that whole moment feel like a fleeting dream. But I’m awake. I’m sure of it.
Alan glanced at Marco Souza once again, but he was nowhere to be found. What was that all about? And hasn’t he told everyone about my arrival yet?
“Anyway!” Tamara clasped her slim hands together. “Are you hungry?”
He turned his gaze towards the smiling girl. Astrid trusts her. That’s all I need to know.
“Tamara, before that, can you help me with something? Is it possible to send a message to someone I’ve been traveling with lately? Does my User Interface keep a record of everyone I meet?”
Tamara tilted her head slightly. “No, I don’t think so. That sounds more like what an Administrator would keep track of. Do you know the name of this person?”
“Only her first name, sadly. And with that alone, I can’t add her to my friends list.”
“Bummer…” she said, pouting her lips.
Even if I could communicate with someone from Unus Town like Monique Ascencio to keep an eye on Ashley, I’m pretty sure that would only increase my debt. Besides, I told Ashley to wait for me at the Renoviato Caves. She doesn’t have a reason to leave without me. At least I hope so…
“Okay, another question. Is there a way to get in contact with an Administrator?”
“Unfortunately, they only talk in person with their Moderators, and they’re a different can of worms, believe me! The only reason we know the Admins even exist is because they occasionally make live announcements about some important update or big event. But, Alan, even if you get in contact with one, I doubt they’ll help you find your friend.”
“Thanks for all this info, Tamara.”
“Was I really that helpful? I just said what I know.”
“No, really, you truly cleared my doubts.”
“Glad to help!”
“So, by Astrid’s orders, you’re stuck with me today.”
“That’s right! Do you like pancakes? Follow me!” Tamara beamed and led the way, leaving behind a trail of floral scent. “You can order breakfast from your room, and an NPC will bring it to you, but it’s more fun to eat at the cafeteria.”