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Brisshal then. Meet me where the three trees love each other!

With guts, and effort!
From: @Seigi
To: @Verity

The cryptic message said... .

Seigi was standing under one of three trees that somehow ended up intertwining each other surrounded by a gigantic sea of grass. Her days in Terrasphere could be counted on one hand and yet she had probably seen more than a year's worth on the other side. Nature so untouched was truly a beautiful thing!

It was truly a gigantic world. A gigantic world that had so much evil that a single Hero was, clearly, not enough. Maybe that was true. Maybe that would be what anyone who wasn't cut to fight for Justice was thinking.

"I simply have to try harder!" Were the words the girl whispered to herself with confidence as her eyes scanned the horizon. If she wasn't good enough she simply had to get better. There was no deeper meaning behind it. No complex thoughts. It was a simple, straight-forward, truth. Her truth. That was all that mattered.

For today, however, fighting evil had to wait... a bit. As today marked the day a certain Verity person had planned to take on a task many others before had failed. A task so tremendous hard one had to be literal Godslayer level to succeed!

Passing Seigi Ling Ling's trial was one thing, though she doubted Verity had the right mind-set for that anyways, but trying to put common sense in the girl? At least that was the hunch the hyper girl had gotten.

For now, however, it simply meant to wait. That this lone trio of three loving trees simply happened to stand, in what was otherwise a vast ocean of green grass, here was a simple coincidence.

 

He hoped that should try giving him an exact location on their meeting place, but he sighed that she had to put a cryptic riddle in her last message. He wanted to ask her where exactly, but because of his forced personality changes, he decided to find it himself to ease his newfound urge to take risks. Deep down, he still disliked the new changes within him. Yet his new desires made him grow curious at this virtual world and the NPC around them, which it revitalized his motivation to stay in Terrasphere.

But back to the task at hand, he still needed to solve what this @Seigi person just told him. As what he can remember, he has to go "where the three trees love each other". He questioned why did she make that kind of riddle, but if he wanted to find her, he had to look for some trees that matched that description. Thankfully, he managed to retain his cautious and calm composure even after the "changes" as he patiently scanned as many trees as he can. Of course, he made the right decision as he found three trees intertwining each other, which may match the riddle's description.

As he walked through the trees, he has to look around to find someone waiting near these trees. If not, his urges may try to come back to bite him as he was still adapting to it.

 

The rustling of leaves! The breath of a living! Seigi turned around and saw... "MASTERFUL!" The girl, wearing rather traditional martial-art clothes, clasped her hands together. "Though sneaking up on someone is a rather villanous act!" After all, Seigi kept on look-out for anyone getting closer. Of course she didn't have some sort of omni-vision... yet.

"You must be Verity?" Who else could it be? Regardless, the young teenager started making some sort of weird pose, like one would see in one of those super hero or magical girl animes. "Seigi Ling Ling! Heroic Hero of Justice! At your Service with Guts and Effort! You may call me Seigi or Ling Ling, though. As for Autographs I gotta improve my hand-writing first!"

First impressions were a big deal! And clearly Seigi tried her best to make it as memorable as possible. Now, however, she was waiting with great expectations for the not lab-coat wearing stranger to introduce himself!

 

With his previous conversation with her, he can expect on her exaggerated portrayal of her character in this game. But he never expected her to act like an over-the-top magical girl/superhero. Thank goodness he still retained his critical line of thoughts to mentally sighed himself in disbelief. "Y-Yes, I am. And I'm sorry about that. I would have got here sooner if I didn't take my time figuring out your message."

He said this while he scratched his head as he stared at the young new player. Even though he was enduring these changes doesn't mean he had to announce his arrival like her. One thing he knew was he just wanted to enter just as a wallflower, hoping to be alone at whatever he was doing. Also, just acting like @Seigi was somehow embarrassing for him to do.

 

"Apology accepted! And you would have just needed to ask to send you the exact location! Clearly you weren't think that such an easy task was the super-duper hard trial, was it?!" Seigi simply responded as she finally stopped posing.

"Sooo..." The self-proclaimed super hero looked Verity up from top to bottom as she made a ominous pause. "How are you?" Was a simple question, wasn't it? "I hope you're feeling great because soon you will feel even better! The bestest, and all!" Seigi wasn't all too sure but her guts told her that he needed that! And a superhero's guts were a important part of the everything, after all.

 

He would have asked, but again, his new personality traits made this even more difficult for him to find this location. Regardless, at least it satisfied his urge after that. But still, he might need some time to adapt to these "changes" until he can able to return to his usual self.

However, while he prepared himself for what kind of trial she would give, he wasn't expected @Seigi's question at all. It might be a weird question for this situation, but he might as well try to answer just for her sake. Also, he didn't want to let her notice at his current troubles on his mind right now. "O-Oh... Sure... I-I'm actually okay. But what about this "trial" then?"

 

Seigi shook her head. "Nonono that's not how it works. EVERYTHING! Is part of the trial! Life is a challenge and all, aye!" The hero girl shook her head while saying that, clearly dissatisfied.

"I'm actually super duper serious. If I am to call you Master ...Verity? Or, Verity Senpai! I, first and foremost, gotta get to know your better! How am I supposed to dedicate my entire being to a stranger?! You already missed a super heroic entrance and all!" That... nearly sounded like a weird sort of confession if it wouldn't come from someone like Seigi?

 

Master Verity? Verity-senpai?! Guess @Seigi has a lot of imagination when it comes to this game. However, he was still disbelieved that "trial" was actually that small question he asked. Was she was even serious about playing this game without knowing the mental dangers of it? Not to mention the looming dangers that were coming for them. Either way, he decided to take her offer as a mentor for this game just to protect her.

"And by getting to know me better, you don't just mean my masteries and the weapons I used, correct?" He just prayed she read more about the privacy of their real-life identities. Otherwise, she might be very troublesome to teach than his students in the university.

 

"Correct! Though, don't go ahead and think I'd care about your real name or such details and whatever! It's all about the immersion! I M M E R S I O N. So, again, tell me about yourself, Verity. " Seigi nodded a few times before a light-buld turned on inside her head. Maybe he just needed a little nudge in the right direction?

"I am Seigi Ling Ling! Though Seigi, or Ling Ling is fine. Seigi stands for JUSTICE, literally! And Ling Ling... well... I like the sound of it? And don't you think a martial art person thing suits the name Ling Ling? Anyways, when I grow up I want to be a real heroine! Just like in these comic books, manga and TV shows I have seen! Some stuff I like is heroism, challenges, sweets and sleeping in! Oh and I actually like suits! I want to wear one too but I think that doesn't go with my... style? Mhm. I dislike liars, injustice and people who don't think I can take care of myself! I have a love-hate relationship with money. My super awesome punch-line, 'With Guts and Effort', is actually from my favorite heroine! She's my role model!"

Having said all this, Seigi was sparkling like a rainbow. "Now you! It's only fair. Whatever comes to your mind! Oh and I really wanna ride a Tiger into battle one day!" It couldn't be that hard, could it be?

 

Well, at least her description about herself gave him an impression that she was a hero fanatic. He just hoped that she was aware of the dangers in this game despite its virtual nature. As for himself, he decided to try to make it brief for the sake of his real-life privacy.

"Alright... As you already know, my name is Verity. My motivations for this game was to just explore this virtual world and challenge myself. I'm okay with any kind of events here as long it fits with my current level in here. I don't know most of my likes and dislikes, though I despise criminals and liars." He would say people who would destroy his trust, but that description would be the best fit for him.

"I'm very neutral with money, but I prefer to spend them on some items I feel it may need in some situations." That's all he can say about himself unless @Seigi needed more description about him.

 

Seigi, with closed eyes and crossed arms, shook her head in slight annoyance. "I understand, I understand." Yeah, she truly understand now! The meaning of this fateful meeting! The problem with Verity, everything! "I truly do... ." Opening her eyes and pointing at him she called out. "VERITY!"

A small grin on her face, full of confidence. "I'm sorry to say but you lack PASSION to be my Senpai! Challenge yourself while doing content fit only your level? No clue about your likes or dislikes?! There seems to be a void in your heart! A big, empty spot full of nothing!" Maybe, Seigi was just talking bullshit. Or it was actually the truth? Did it even matter? After all she was just a brat - at least mentally.

Still pointing her finger at him she nodded multiple times as if to give more weight to her words. "If anything, maybe it should be I that takes YOU under my wing. Kindle that tiny flame of yours into a fire that fills that void of yours!"

 

Verity's eyes widened as she declared that he has lacked passion as her "Senpai". He already knew she was somehow naive in terms of this world, but he never knew how she took on making him as her mentor for the game too seriously. Also, the fact that he wanted to "challenge himself" was actually true for him. He has no motive or goals inside the game so far, but he knew there was something for him waiting on the horizon. It was cheesy, but the old man's words made him want to search himself as well find the reason why he was sent to this game world in the first place.

"H-Hold on, I thought you said you wanted someone to teach you the game, not making a criticism about my goals here," he asked in a sudden stern tone. While he did have no goals in Terrasphere so far, he did have some experience here for a couple of months now. That means he was aware of the dangers if she wasn't careful. He hasn't experienced death, but he knew there would be consequences if he did. That would say the same with @Seigi. "I know that wasn't enough to tell you everything about me, but wouldn't you try to wait until you can think of your words?" Unless he has to find a way to teach her the reality of the dangers, he might as well be stucked with an overconfident martial artist.

 

"Teach me the game? Teach me the game? There seems to be a grave misunderstanding here! Or maybe a grave misinterpretation? I don't really need someone to tell me how to play a game, I already played a bunch of them! I want someone I can look up to! A master to the trainee! A batman to the robin! A fully blown heroic hero to the hero-in-training! The Obelix to the Asterix! I suppose you could call it a sidekick BUT it is not! I mean, who wants to be a sidekick anyways? No, I, Seigi Ling Ling, shall transcend the realm of fiction and tropes. I shall break the chains of human common sense and, one day, after my Master taught me everything, shall surpass him... or her!" Seigi was now taking a deep breath. After all she had talked quite a lot.

"I might criticize you, but one should always speak their mind! 'My Senpai' needs to have the same passion! The same ideals! The same goals! And all that stuff, y'know? Yeah? Yeah." She nodded once again, before opening her mouth to add something. "And think of my words before I speak? No, why should I?"

 

What has he got himself into?! Just witnessing this simple meeting/"trials" was enough to mentally facepalm at the martial artist's behavior. If she kept up with her nonsensical beliefs, chances are that will cause her death and potentially traumatize her in real life. Judging by @Seigi's words, he can tell how experienced she was in this type of games. Then again, the term "role-playing game" didn't stretch off from the truth.

"J-Just in case I have to avoid a mistake about this, did you play a VRMMO before? And is it true that you played this genre?" A simple question, but it was a good way to know more about this quirky girl. Although, there was a small doubt as DVRS are very strict when it comes to virtual reality in the US.

 

"I play a lot of games! I have, in fact, a lot of... how you call it... meta-knowledge? But where would be the fun in that?" Seigi answered with a light giggle. She wasn't the 'My dad this and that'-kind of girl but it did have its advantages to be the daughter of such a company. Especially considering that VR was slowly taking a presence in the modern battle-field. At least that's what the rumors said, and rumors were always fun!

"O-Oh but don't you go ahead and do weird assumptions! My parents, well my father, lets me play as much as I want as long as I'm not slacking too much!" Yeah, just because she played a lot of games didn't mean she was one of these people.