***
After leaving the village and entering the Silent Meadow Rainforest, she discovered she was walking in circles. Fearing she might be lost in the woods once more, she quickly activated her Plant Affinity skill, linking herself to the forest's trees before turning to face Blues, who appeared deep in thought.
"How is it, Blues? Did you find anything about the Gardenia Residence?" Rouya inquired. Since Blues had memorized all the books from the End Village library, she might have some knowledge of it.
"Hm... yes, I did."
"So... what exactly is the Gardenia Residence?"
"According to legend, Gardenia is one of the Ten Legendary Supremes. This entire continent was her personal flower garden, which is why it bears her name. The Gardenia Residence was her home, and the members of the Sacred Sword Pavilion serve as her followers and worshippers. From what the map shows, it's impossible to reach on foot."
"That's my minor quest. Now that we have a clear direction, things are looking good – plus, we might come across a city as we travel."
"You're right about that. I'll hold onto the map for you."
"Of course you will – you're the one with the storage space." Rouya rolled her eyes and silently grumbled at the game designers. Why was storage tied to the pixie guide instead of the players themselves? In most virtual games, players had their own personal storage for belongings, not such an odd setup like this one.
Their journey began without incident, and Rouya soon grew comfortable with her Plant Affinity Skill as she experimented with combining it with Blues' abilities. Since Blues' skills would unlock gradually, Rouya knew teamwork would be essential – using skills effectively wasn't just about executing them properly, but also about perfect timing and precision.
As they walked along the path, they suddenly stopped and looked at each other—surprised joy written across both their faces. After making their way through the Silent Meadow Rainforest, they had finally reached the first town.
Unlike End Village, which had a rustic, country feel, the town before them was far more bustling and prosperous. Residents and vendors called out to promote their wares, while pedestrians moved steadily along the streets.
Even better, she spotted several people accompanied by pixie guides—marking them as fellow players.
"Master, now that we're here—what's the plan?" Blues asked as they made their way through the crowd.
"Since we already have the inheritance map, there's no rush to stick to our original plan," Rouya said, pausing before continuing. "I've realized that to gather more specific and detailed information about this game world, I need to connect with other players. Plus, I should find at least one trusted teammate. What if the map's location is full of dangers? I need to be prepared first."
"That makes sense. Just remember—don't disclose anything about the map. You can only do so when you actually set out for the marked location."
"I will," Rouya replied cheerfully, as she began mingling with the people in the town market.
As she explored the marketplace with obvious delight, she's unaware that several people had their eyes on her and observing quietly from nearby.
"A new player? No... that can't be right. The game's been running for months now, and the outside world must know what it really is and how dangerous it is. They wouldn't let anyone else become trapped here like we were," said a girl with long silver hair, her brow furrowed in thought. She looked no older than seventeen or eighteen, and her beauty was truly striking.
"Maybe she's just visiting town for the first time?" suggested the girl beside her. With black hair and captivating violet eyes that held a mesmerizing gaze, she offered a different type of beauty.
The two girls possessed contrasting types of beauty: one exuded elegance, grace, and an ethereal purity as if untouched by the world; the other carried an alluring charm, tempered by a grounded awareness of worldly desires.
"Why don't we just go over and ask her directly?" A petite girl who looked no older than fifteen pushed her way through the crowd toward Rouya, who was still happily exploring the stalls.
"Ginger, wait! Come back here!" the two girls shouted in unison.
But Ginger paid them no heed and made her way to Rouya, who paused mid-step when she saw the small figure before her. Though the girl was tiny, Rouya knew the game had an age restriction—players had to be over fifteen and not older than twenty-one.
"Do you need something?" she asked.
"Nope! I just wanted to know if you're a newbie—" she paused and added, "you act like one," the girl said, her round, beady eyes fixed on Rouya. Baby fat still lingered on her cheeks, and with her small frame, she looked as tiny and cute as a young child.
"Well... I was lost in the forest this whole time, so this is my first time in town. Did I do something to bother you?" Rouya replied carefully. She was new here, and she didn't want to offend anyone unintentionally.
"Not at all! I just wanted to check if you're already part of a guild. You see, forming one needs at least five members, and we're still one short."
"Oh... I thought I'd accidentally upset someone," Rouya said, letting out a relieved sigh.
"Hehe..." Ginger lightly touched her nose, a hint of embarrassment on her face, but then straightened up and met Rouya's gaze directly. "So... would you consider joining our guild?"
"Eh...? Sorry, I—" Rouya began to decline, but her words were cut off by another woman's voice.
"Sorry to startle you," the voice said. Rouya looked over to find the two beautiful girls from earlier—one with silver hair, the other with black hair and striking violet eyes that immediately drew her attention.
"Why don't you join us for lunch?" the silver-haired girl offered. "My treat."
Though confused, Rouya held back her initial urge to decline. These were fellow players, and she'd been looking to connect with others like her. The opportunity couldn't have come at a better time.
"Sure."
***