Memories of Fated

Chapter Three - The Dive

POV: Ito Tsubaki

"Link Start!"

I stand in a black room, the login room and a pop-up hovers in front of me that asks for my name. Without hesitation, I type in 'Yira' as a substitute for my real name. I decided on Yira because it wasn't too far from my real name but was close enough that it wouldn't feel weird when people called be that.

I press the circle to confirm my name and a few other pop-ups appear, explaining the mechanics of the game, but I just brush those aside. I already know how to play.

And finally, after too many pop-ups, it asks me where I want to spawn of the first level and I pick the main plaza as it is the closest to the meeting place me and Kyoto decided.

Then I am dropped into the bustle of the plaza. In the centre stands a fountain and around it, shops and stalls advertise everything from swords to healing potions. Players crowd around each one, interested in the products on display, some even burning through their automatic given coins.

From the main plaza, several streets lead off and I take the one to my right, having to dodge eager players running about. It doesn't take me long to reach our meeting place out of the gaggle of people.

I deliberately choose a place that wouldn't be too crowded so that we wouldn't lose each other. I also choose the sector of the main city that was the closest to the fields as it is the most important for Kyoto to learn the basic skills to get ahead of the other players.

Our meeting spot is a tree that curls around a lamp post and next to it, in between the sprawling roots, a bench stands. And next to that bench stands a boy with his hands shaped into an X.

Kyoto.

He hasn't changed any major features, unlike me. He still has his copper hair sticking up in a familiar fashion. I guess the only thing different is what he is wearing. Which for Fated, is very simple. Something you could wear in the real world.

A tan jacket is worn over a white t-shirt and black jeans. Belts wrap around his torso like the ones strapped around mine and boots similar to mine on his feet.

He looks kinda stupid standing there behind the bench with his hand in an X. I smile. Maybe playing this game with him won't be bad after all.

I stroll up to him and when I am about a metre away, I make an X with my hands like him.

"Ito?" He tilted his head, questioning.

"That's Yira to you, Kyoto"

"Call me Kyo then" his infamous smile on his lips.

**********

So we gonna get some weapons?" Kyo asks as we stroll down the streets of the town of roses. It is loud from the hum of people's voices and the pounding of boots against the hard beige stone that echoed through the narrow streets.

"I don't know but what I do is that we, well more specifically, you need to practice our, I mean your skills"

"What!" Kyo's body drops with disappointment "why can't I be like you already?"

"Because you weren't in the beta," I say quietly, avoiding attention but then say louder "You are lucky you have me, really"

"I think you have a loose definition of lucky" Kyo's eyes seems to catch on of the swords on display as he stops examine the item. Among the land of swords stored on a velvet purple cloth, Kyo's eyes pick the flashiest one.

It is curved like an s, the handle wrapped in leather and the sword metal is coloured gold with a glowing blue gem set in the middle.

"You know, you probably won't even be able to lift that" I point out "or afford it"

He raises his eyebrows.

"Just trust me on this"

I point to the simple flat sliver blade, priced as the second cheapest, a simple leather bow and arrow set and three small but sharp throwing blades. "Can we have these please"

"You sure know what you are doing Missy" A guy around 18 comes up to me and grabs my hand midway through pointing "You didn't happen to be in the beta test, did you?"

"No, I just happened to read the instruction manual, something clearly beneath you it seems," I say as smoothly and as coldly as I can, wrenching my hand away.

Kyo snorts at the man's shocked expression and I return to buying the weapons I and Ryo will need. The vender hands me the items and we half the price of the items.

Then we leave the town behind and head for the fields, were the grasslands sprawl before us and the waterfalls reflect light into perfect little rainbows. A few other players dot that landscape, those who know that the most important thing to do first is to get a sense of the game.

"Ok Kyo listen carefully"