Chapter 71: A Great Guy As rain began to pour unexpectedly, Xin found himself in Victor’s car, on their way to the bus stop.
Xin hadn’t brought an umbrella, adding one more thing to his mental checklist for when he got back home.
"You’re entering Eternia tonight, right?" Victor asked, breaking the silence as he navigated through the rain-soaked streets.
Xin glanced at Victor and nodded. "Yes, tonight’s the night."
Curiosity piqued, Victor pressed on, "Got any plans for your first steps in the game?"
"I don’t have a specific plan, but I’ll likely start off in a beginner-friendly town, maybe take on some quests," Xin replied.
"Good idea. The game usually guides new players to a suitable starting point," Victor acknowledged.
Raindrops continued their rhythmic dance on the car’s roof as Xin agreed, "Yeah, I’ve heard that."
Victor’s tone grew more inquisitive. "And what’s the deal with asking Patrick about NPCs in The Castle of Doom? Thinking of braving that dungeon?"
Xin paused briefly before responding, "Just gathering information for now. Considering it, but I want to be well-prepared before I make any decisions."
Understanding Xin’s cautious approach, Victor nodded. "Smart move. The Castle of Doom isn’t a walk in the park, that’s for sure. It’s one of the Seven Wonders. It’s not like your regular dungeon, so don’t attempt it with your current level."
Xin shook his head. "No, I’m just curious about it," he replied, hoping his nonchalance came across convincingly.
"No one’s dared to tackle that castle in months. Brotherhood Legion and Shadowblade were the last, and rumor has it, they still haven’t fully recovered from their losses in there."
". . ."
"Word on the virtual street is that Doombringers and Phoenix Rising are planning an attempt. You know, the current third and fourth-ranked guilds. Many other guilds are looking to join their raid, and it seems they’re even considering recruiting mercenaries."
"Are you considering it?" Xin asked, his curiosity genuine.
Victor shot him a quick grin. "I’m on the fence. That dungeon is a beast, and it’s supposed to be the ’easiest’ among the seven wonders. Once you step in, it’s do or die –– there’s no turning back. Brotherhood Legion and Shadowblade survived mainly because they had the sheer numbers to compensate for their losses."
He then stifled a laugh. "You won’t believe it, but it took their leaders, generals, and core members a whole month to regain their levels back to ninety. And during that time, every guild worth its name was challenging them to guild wars.
"They scraped through by recruiting strong solo players left and right. Plus, their coffers were brimming with rare treasures, and they’re supported by multiple corporations, so bouncing back wasn’t as painful for them. It’s a different story for players like us, though."
". . ." Xin remained silent.
"But I have to admit . . . I am intrigued with those dungeons," Victor admitted.
Xin merely gave him a glance.
"Is this your bus stop?" Victor inquired as they pulled over.
"Yes." Xin exited the car, thanking Victor.
"Catch you later, and maybe we’ll team up for a dungeon run?" Victor suggested.
"Sure," Xin agreed before shutting the door, and drove away.
While waiting for his bus, Xin was called out by his name.
"Xin!"
Turning, he spotted Tyler under the shelter.
"I was waiting for you," Tyler said with a wide grin.
"You could have waited inside my department," Xin pointed out.
Tyler scratched his head. "I didn’t know your major, and I wasn’t even sure if you got into Fate Academy. I only knew you passed when I saw you from the cafeteria during lunch."
"That’s true." Xin nodded. "But you could have approached me in the cafeteria."
"I was going to, but you left before I could. So I decided to wait for you here."
Before Xin could inquire further, Tyler jumped in.
"Anyway, I’m here to ask you why you haven’t accepted the GC yet."
". . ." Xin sighed in frustration. He had actually forgotten about the GC invitation.
"Don’t tell me you forgot?" Tyler’s voice was exasperated.
". . ." Xin averted his gaze, feeling guilty.
"Everyone is on edge right now, you know? Since I’m the one who posted your picture in GC, they’re all bombarding me for updates on you. Come on, man, just accept the damn invite."
Xin locked eyes with Tyler, seeing a hint of desperation.
Despite his burly appearance, Tyler seemed on the verge of tears –– an unusual sight.
"Okay, fine, I’ll do it," Xin relented.
"Not later. Now."
Xin clenched his jaw, realizing Tyler wouldn’t give up until he complied. He reluctantly reached for his device and paused just before pressing the accept button. A fleeting image of Meilyn crossed his mind, causing him to hesitate.
But Tyler’s expectant stare pushed him to finally press the button.
"Thank you, man. You’re a lifesaver," Tyler said with a visible sigh of relief.
Soon after, Xin’s notifications began pinging incessantly, prompting him to mute them. He decided he’d respond to everyone once he got home.
"Xin!"
Both Xin and Tyler turned in surprise at the approaching figure of Victor, who was marching toward them under the rain.
"Victor? What are you still doing here?" Xin asked, bewildered.
Without a word, Victor stepped in front of Xin and eyed Tyler suspiciously. "Are you bothering my friend here?"
"Bothering?" Xin and Tyler echoed simultaneously.
𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎 "I’m the one who’s feeling harassed here," Tyler chimed in, scratching his head in confusion as he assessed the situation. It seemed that Xin’s friend was acting out of concern, which had taken him by surprise.
Xin realized that Victor must have seen him with Tyler and interpreted the scene as bullying, prompting his protective response.
It was a testament to Victor’s character that he had rushed through the rain just to defend him.
’He’s actually a great guy,’ Xin thought, quickly moving to defuse the misunderstanding before it escalated any further.
After a brief introduction, Victor’s face turned a shade redder as he apologized to Tyler.
"Sorry about that. I jumped to conclusions and thought you might be bothering Xin."
Tyler waved off the apology, his expression returning to its calm demeanor. "No worries. I’ve never harassed anyone in my life." He paused and grinned. "We’ll, except my little sister. That one is a terrorist."
"Well, I better be going," Tyler announced. "I’ve got to fetch that little terrorist from school."
With a spring in his step, Tyler headed towards his parked car by the side of the road.
Turning his attention back to Victor, Xin said, "Thanks."
Victor met his gaze, a hint of a blush touching his cheeks. The small smile on Xin’s face seemed to have caught him off guard, and Victor looked away, pretending to hold his nose while he felt the heat rising in his face.
"Ah . . . it was nothing, really. Anyway, your bus is here. You should head home."
Before Xin could utter another word, Victor swiftly made his escape, sliding into the comfort of his car and driving away.
Xin watched him go, a mix of confusion and intrigue swirling in his mind. He eventually shrugged it off and boarded the waiting bus.
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A/N
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We’re currently in ARC 2 and the start of the real game begins.
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