MONTH 3, WEEK 2

The RoadHouse kept their heads down and waited people to get used to the new guild and its rank. In the meantime, other guilds cleared 2 more Boss Dungeons, so now the 28th Island was unlocked.
"You can't level up fast enough if you guys don't put a serious effort in it." Seth rolled his olive green eyes while sitting in the corner of the mansion's Training Area, which was in the backyard, and watching Alina and Kai blocking a 62 level mob.
A Training Area was a place that exists only in some exclusive houses, such as The RoadHouse's. The area had 2 options to offer its owners;
  ~PvE
  ~PvP
With the PvE option, players could choose how many, what level and rank mobs they're going to fight against.
And with the PvP option, they could duel against their friends. The difference between the usual KMO combat zones and the Training Area was the fact that the players wouldn't be in serious danger in the area, like they were in the zones.
When a player stepped in a Training Area, their HP bars would turn purple from green and when a player's HP drops to 0, they wouldn't die, instead they would be just get kicked out of the Training Area without earning any XP. A Training Area wouldn't earn any gold or loots to the player but it was better than a low leveled quest.
"We're trying!" Alina glared at Seth.
In just 2 weeks Alina'd became level 59 from the level 51 and Kai became 61. The XP difference between each level was growing with the each level up. So it was getting harder to level up with the each new level. But Seth believed that they were going to get closer to his level.
He had seen many times that Alina was getting up early and staying up late to train, doing extra quests and such, unlike.. Kai who was more interested in reading.. about the Game Guide, which every player read at least 2 times to find a hidden clue for the exit, the History of Savillon, Book of Monsters, the Myths and Legends etc. He was reading everything he could get his hands on, taking notes too as he was analyzing them.
Although of course, he was still attending Seth's "mandatory" guild trainings.
The mob they were fighting used a combo attack with a special skill at the end and caused their HP to drop 0. Alina gave out a frustrated sound. Seth actually, already knew that they wouldn't be able to beat the beast but simply didn't say a word and enjoyed seeing their asses getting kicked.
"Let's try a 60 level mob, shall we?" teased Seth.
Kai sighed while Seth was grinning.
"You'll get yourself killed by Alina." commented the black haired boy.
It was, obviously, a joke. In those 2 weeks Alina and Seth became closer, not any closer than him and Kai of course but still.. They were good friends. They shared lots while living together all these months. Seth actually learned the story behind Alina and Kai, how they started dating after one and a half months since the game turned into a Death Game. It wasn't exactly a slow progressed relationship, told Alina when the subject came to that. It'd just happened according to the couple. You'll see when it happens to you too, assured the red-head, when he'd find a girl for himself.
He could still remember the face Kai made that time when Alina said that to Seth.
"I.. actually like men, Alina, but yeah, once I find the right person.." Seth had said.
"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't know! Hey, my cousin is gay actually, after getting out of here I can play matchmaker-"
"-No thanks!" Seth had smiled awkwardly. It was more complicated than Seth liking men and Kai was the only one who knew. He could be the only one. It was too dangerous otherwise. They'd have put those whom they love in danger. Seth and Kai'd agreed on not to tell a soul. It was the best for everyone. Ignorance is a bliss, right?
After the couple beat the level 60 mob, Alina went to the kitchen to prepare the lunch. It was basically her favorite hobby in this Virtual Reality. Well, baking was her favorite but she also liked cooking dearly. Kai walked next to Seth where he was playing with the puppy Misha.
"Hey." he said first.
"Hey?" Seth raised an eyebrow, the black haired boy was looking like he was about to ask something.
"Do you remember my friend Rein?"
Of course. Kai'd opinions about everyone in the 25th Island raid and he told Seth about them while they were talking casually. Rein was the one with the bleached front hair and a cut scar, the leader of the guild Iron Shield. Also a close friend o Kai, which he only had a few. So Seth nodded as an answer and the black haired boy got the cue to continue;
"I want you to meet him. When you're available. If you want to."
"Why are you talking to me like I'm your superior? I'm NOT, Kai."
"You ARE the leader of The RoadHouse, Captain."
"Cause you made me." the blonde rolled his eyes.
"Don't change the subject. About Rein-"
"-Okay okay! I'll meet him." Seth cut in and continued after a momentarily pause;
"But why are you so persistent about this?"
"First of all, he's my friend, you know our story.."
"Second?"
"Well, he might or might've not DMed me about how he was sure that I'm one of The RoadHouse's classified members and I HAD TO introduce him to the leader of the guild. That, being you." he avoided the eye contact.
"Interesting.." the blonde boy with pink shades grinned.
"Hey, don't tease him, okay? He also may or may not be scared of you according to the rumors spreading between the cities like how you're the most powerful player-"
"-True."
"Or you're the most dangerous PK-"
"So not true."
"Or you could even beat the Mage Knight-"
"Debatable."
"Seth.." he sighed.
"Okay~! I'll meet him AND I'm not allowed to scare him. Understood."
"Good."
"Not even a little?"
Kai glared at him as a reply.
"FINE, not even a little. BUT, I have some conditions."
"Conditions?" black haired boy raised his eyebrows.
"The meeting will be classified. He'll come here and he'll come alone. And he won't be allowed to speak ANYTHING about The RoadHouse; us, place, pets, ANYTHING. Even to his guild members. If only he accepts my terms, he can come anytime, even now."
"Aren't those conditions a bit strict?"
Seth looked directly at Kai's eyes but didn't speak right away like he was trying to choose his words carefully;
"I'm not implying that Rein is a bad guy or I don't trust your choice of friends, Kai. But I can't risk this guild's safety just because they're your friends. Of course our doors are always open to your friends and whoever in need of help anytime but that doesn't mean I can trust everyone."
Seth waited for Kai to get angry, yell him about how he couldn't trust one of his friends.. But it didn't happen. On the contrary, the black haired boy smiled at him warmly.
"What?" Seth asked, confused.. and a little bit uncomfortable.
"You've just sounded like a true guild leader, Captain."
"Shut up." the blonde avoided from his eyes by looking at his feet.
Kai and Rein exchanged several messages. In the end, they scheduled a classified meeting for tomorrow afternoon. Rein had no objections about the conditions and accepted them straight away. That's how the date had been set up sooner than expected.

To Be Continued~