"Glad to know that it was all for something."
Second apologizes, "I'm sorry, First. I never thought of that. I admit that I got angry with you for leaving me, but… Thank you."
She also expressed how much she felt bad for him, a sincere message asking for forgiveness and being grateful for what he did for her.
"Anytime. Forgive me, too, and thank you for being alive."
She smiled, even though she might not see him in person right now, while in the game, she could feel his tone. After their dramatic scene, they were now planning how to solve the connectivity problem they encountered. First told her about how she did not die in Zarod's fatal stare. He did something to her inventory as part of the game options in exchange for their communication and his control over her. She was glad to know that it was all for something.
"There's a map here. You need to stay in a hotel first. In the meantime, we can use voice communication and describe to me where you are now, then I'll give you the directions."
He mentioned to her that her life percentage was only 91%. It must have been because of the first encounter with Zarod. To help him, she told him and described her position and environment.
"Okay, turn right on that street."
She just followed the directions he told her to find the hotel where she would stay. While walking and getting cold, she asked him, "Can you still control me even if you can't see me?"
"That's the good news, yes, I can. I can prevent you from an attack."
It was still quiet here, and the streetlights provided light. It was dawn, so it was getting a little brighter, and there were a few people walking. She's getting tired because she had a wound, making it harder to walk when it's snowing, and she walked quite a distance.
"Are you fine?" he suddenly uttered. How many times has he asked her about this? First is indeed a thoughtful person.
"Yes," she didn't want to make him worry anymore. If they have better progress in exchange for her rest, then she's willing to give it up.
"Next, sit on that bench for a minute." She was a little confused when he next gave her a weird direction. "I know you're hurt. I can tell it by your hard and heavy breathing. You also walk slowly and carefully, even though that area has been cleared of heavy snow."
Her eyebrows met at what he uttered. Did he find out she was injured just because of that? He cornered her, and she had no loopholes.
Second just followed what he said. She sat on a bench. She thinks she's in a park. It was mildly snowing on the side of the road, but not in the middle, compared to the heavy snow they had earlier. She saw that there were people cleaning the street and removing the snow.
"How did you know there was no snow on my path?"
"It has no sound—the sound of snow touching and rubbing against your leather shoes. I can hear the sound of a metal thing from a distant against concrete." He deciphered her situation just by the sound she and her surroundings produced. He already knew the snow was being cleared on the road. He told her to wrap a scarf around her wound, which she did.
"You're here."
She raised her head and looked up at the 8-story hotel. 'The Grand Chase Hotel'. She entered the hotel's lobby. Although this hotel is not too big, it is stylish and cozy. She met the beautiful woman who was smiling. She must be a receptionist
"Bonjour," The receptionist greeted her, she guessed.
Second raised her two eyebrows, asking 'what did you say? Excuse me, please '.
"Que puis-je faire pour vous, madame?"
What is she talking about? She can't understand a thing.
"Um, sorry. I didn't understand you. Anyway, can I have a room, please?"
"Quel type de chambre voulez-vous?"
This must be a foreign language on Earth. Or who knows, maybe a specific language on the nth planet.
"How're you?" She heard First's voice.
"First, why can't I understand what she's saying?"
She saw the woman frown, probably wondering who she was talking to, and she turned away promptly from the woman to talk to First.
"Oh, I forgot. This is a virtual reality game. The settings changed. Look what's outside."
When First announced that, she looked outside the hotel. She was shocked...
Eiffel T-Tower…
Earlier, she was near Big Ben in England, and now there's an Eiffel Tower!
"That's right. It changes from time to time. I'll now change the language settings. What language would you prefer?"
"English, please," she sighed at First's question. What other language should it be? Kidding.
"Affirmative"
If there's an Eiffel Tower, then the receptionist spoke in French. No wonder she understood nothing at all.
"You may now talk with her. There's money in your pocket. By the way, you can turn on our communication line by biting your lower lip once, and twice when you want to turn it off," he informed her.
"Alright, I can do this. We'll talk later after I rest. Thank you."
"Got it"
She has bitten the lower part of her lip twice.
She confronted the receptionist again and took the smallest and cheapest room for herself. She only needs a solo room to save money for future use. She took the elevator to go to the 2nd floor. She exited the elevator and searched for room 205. When she found it, she pressed the hotel's key card instead of a traditional key to open it. She went inside and saw a small bed, a small bedside table and lampshade, a cabinet, and a clean bathroom.
She took off her jacket, bonnet, and gloves. There is a heater and an air conditioner to keep her warm. She also removed the scarf wrapped around her wound. She went to the bathroom to wash away the dried blood. After doing that, she lay down on the soft bed and fell asleep. What a cozy place after an exhausting initial encounter with Zarod.
***
Second yawned, stretched, and gaped. It's nice to fall asleep in this type of weather. She gazed out the window, and it was snowing. She looked at the wall clock opposite the cabinet. It's 9:00 AM. She had six hours of sleep. Her body feels refreshed. The Eiffel Tower is visible from her window. How she wishes she could always get to see such a view every day.
By the way, she has to talk to First. She bit her lower lip once.
"Hey, how's the day?" She even preceded First to speak. He seems very eager to talk to her.
"I feel better." Funny how sleep can recharge a person's body and mind.
"That's great. Um... there's..." he spoke hesitantly.
"Hm?" She asked him what he meant.
"You know... that thing after you wake up... on your lips?"
On my lips?
She touched her lip and...
"Oh-"
"S-Sorry, I didn't mean to..." This is what he meant. "Hahaha!" She thought he would be sorry, but he just laughed.
Oh no. She forgot that it's been over 5 hours, and First can already see her on his screen. He just continued to apologize, but with a mixture of laughter and teasing. She wiped her drool off her mouth.
When she got up, she noticed that there were pamphlets, booklets, and fliers on the small bedside table. She took one, and what is written here is all about the hotel. 'TGCH' is the acronym of the hotel. She shrugged and took a shower. After bathing and getting dressed, she spoke to First again.
"What are we going to do?" She requested him for a plan.
"You need to leave the hotel and fight those minions of Zarod."
"What? He has minions?"
"Yes, our only goal is to defeat Zarod. But we must first defeat the lower-class enemies, and then we'll plan on how to trample their heinous leader," First declared with conviction.