Supreme Lord of Soulnight

What Matters

For the next five days, Liwan’s team concentrated on gathering the requirements according to the recipe of creating fruit potions. Before setting out, Liwan made sure that each and everyone understood their purpose. He sent them the recipe of creating fruity potions which he copied from the forums to broaden their understanding and fuel their sense of purpose. He also assigned his team to maps specific to a certain type of fruit bearing trees.

Liwan sent Valeria to the underwater Kingdom of Sinta, the only place where the blue fruit bearing Agwah trees are grown. The blue fruits of Agwah trees are the main ingredient for creating mana fruit potions. Shadowstrikes was sent to Dolba, known as the Sky Kingdom where Veeles trees are natives. These trees bears yellow fruits, vital to the creation of speed fruit potions. To the Kingdom of Tanukar where Yabuh trees abounds, RagingInferno was sent to gather bright green colored fruits necessary to produce life fruit potions. And finally B-Champ was assigned to gather fruits of trees known as Saalak which bears red colored fruits, one of the ingredients of strength fruit potion.

While everyone is busy on their tasks, Liwan turned to his list of personalities he was meaning to invite to his future guild. His core team is complete. What he needs is another fifteen players to fill up the slots in order for him to create a full battle team. Four teams composed of five people in each party is the number he’s gearing for.

At this point, not everyone is strong. Only those who are fortunate enough to have a head start in the game are the ones who are on the lead. But Liwan is not worried. With his advance knowledge of the game, he has already laid out his future plans how to make up for the lost time. And the figures on the leader boards remained mediocre almost a month into the launch of Soulnight.

In the past, his reputation in the game stemmed from fame in guild wars. This time around, he will attract those people he’s eyeing for through a different approach: the leader boards. There is nothing more effective to speak in your behalf for it speaks of your strength. But first, he has to take care of his own people to enable them to stand taller people would find it difficult to ignore them.

Back to reality, Liwan kept his promise to himself in mind. If his mother used to complain about his laziness in his studies and even in the house, now she’s singing a different tune. He heard her complain to his father one time just as he slipped his foot on his slippers when school was over.

“Can you ask your son, dear? I’m getting worried. He comes in everyday after school and helps around the house. It’s the first thing he does after school, day in and day out. And then he does his home work. It’s so weird I’m getting goosebumps every time I see him do that.”

Father Li chuckled and folded his newspaper.

“You’re the only mother I know who finds it weird that their son is trying to be a responsible youth at his age.”

Mother Wan rubbed her arms, a little shiver running through her back as if a cold draft blew on her.

“You can’t blame me, dear. He’s like he’s possessed! It has been almost a month. I tried talking to him but he just laughed and brushed me off. I wanted to find out what’s going on with him to no avail. And remember the test score I showed you? He has grown consistent. I get calls from his school from time to time, informing me that he’s won some contest or that he’s top scored subject areas I never dreamed he could.”

“Is that impossible for him? Our son is smart, we both know that. He just never exerted efforts in his studies. And now he is. Let’s just be happy and support him. At least now he’s gotten rid of the laziness you were so annoyed about.”

Before his mother could answer, Liwan showed himself.

“Hi mom, hi dad. I’m home.”

“O-Oh, there you are. How’s school?” Mother Wan asked.

Liwan shrugged.

“It’s the same old school, mom. Nothing new.”

“Your mother has been telling me about your changes, son. Unlike her, I don’t see things I should complain about. In fact, I’m happy.”

“Nothing is wrong with me, mom. Let’s just say I dreamed of the possible future I’d be getting if I don’t pull myself together at this point. And that I don’t like it so I am doing everything in my power to change the course my life is heading for as early as I can. After all, time waits for no one. There is no rewind.”

“You’re really not sick? Or depressed? Or bullied?”

Liwan laughed, shoulders shaking that it earned him a swat from his mother.

“Mom, don’t be too dramatic. Your son’s okay. Just tell me if you don’t like me messing around your kitchen, no need to tire yourself from over thinking. I’ve seen the looks you were giving me each time I handle your precious kitchen tools and equipments, you know.”

Mother Wan finally smiled. She extended her arm, her palm landing on the top of Liwan’s head, messing his hair.

“Don’t worry about the housework, and yes I don’t like you in my kitchen. Go to your room and play your computer game.”

“Wow! that’s a first,” Liwan teased. “Who are you? What have you done to my mother? My real mother would never say that. She’d scream at me to stop playing and study.”

Mother Wan’s answer was pinching his cheek. Liwan yelped from the pain and scrambled to get away from his mother. His parents’ laughter was something that would remain precious to him and he would treasure those moments, keeping them close to his heart.

He finished his home work in an hour before firing up is computer. He did not log into the game immediately. Instead, he checked his e-mail. He asked his teachers to send him the lecture notes for the day. He takes notes during lectures but there are still things he missed thus the need for the lecture notes.

It wasn’t only his parents who noticed the big changes in him. Like Mother Wan and Father Li, they found it weird at first too. But Liwan showed his teachers that he’s serious. His performance in every test convinced them. Then he talked to each of his subject teachers and asked them for help which they gladly extended. From a mediocre student, Liwan has slowly grown into every teacher’s pet.

Ah, mediocre. How I hate that word.

Finding the lecture notes, Liwan printed them and set them aside. He’d read them before going to sleep. He developed a routine balancing his gaming hours and his study hours at this point. Just as he was finished tidying his desk, a ding was heard. Liwan paused when he saw the message box pop up. Or rather, the name of the message sender.

“Hi, Liwan. Can I ask you something about today’s lecture?”

Anne Marie Heckert.

Liwan’s brows drew closer to each other. He recalled the last time he had an interaction with Anne. As far as his memory serves him right, every incident was unpleasant. He was too smitten then that he didn’t realized what kind of person she was. But now the scales in his eyes has long been shed off.

Nevertheless, Liwan’s hands moved. His fingers swiftly keyed on the letters, Anne Marie’s face conjuring in his mind. His chest used to thunder whenever she’s around. This time, Liwan is as serene as a monk. Not even a ripple appeared in the vast ocean of emptiness in his so-called feelings for the girl. His reply was composed of two words which he immediately sent to Anne Marie.

“I’m busy.” He close the chat box as if nothing happened and logged into Soulnight.

She doesn’t matter anymore.

Soulnight’s log-in screen appeared. Liwan smiled, feeling a strange lightness.

This is what matters.