Crunch Crunch Crunch
"Okay.. Let's recap." Ethel stopped his pacing on the grass that sat under his feet. "I was.. I was in my apartment and then I was fired. Then I clicked a link to a game from a rando and.." Ethel trailed off from his sentence, staring at the forest in front of him as it finally clicked. "AM I IN THE GAME?" He screamed, loud enough to scare the birds as they flew away frightened. "No. No.. Let's be rational here. There's no way I'm in a game. This isn't some type of anime or something." Ethel put his hand to his chin, thinking harder on the situation.
The sound of rustling caught Ethel by surprise, he grabs the closest thing on the ground to use as a weapon. "Who's there?!" He shouted only to get no response in return, only more shuffles in the bush in which the rustles came from. "I—I have a weapon!" Ethel checked to make sure he did indeed have a weapon, his body stiffened as he looked down at a tiny stick in his hand. 'Damn.'
The stick seemed to amuse the bush stranger as they began howling with laughter, "A weapon he says! That bitty thing would break upon impact!" The bush laughed and chuckled, causing Ethel's cheeks to redden with embarrassment. "Shut up! Who are you?!" He called, now knowing someone was watching him. A man with olive hair and blue eyes emerged from the bush, his hair messed with leaves and sticks but he seemed content. On his way out, as he began his introduction, a rock decided it had other plans and tripped the ecstatic guy. Ethel winced and cringed hearing the thud as the bush boy hit the ground, he made a quick recovery though and was back on his feet looking as happy as he was before but now with dirt on his face and a cut on his cheek in which he got from a stick or rock he met while on the ground. "I am but the great Benvi! An absolute genius!" Talk about confidence.
Ethel stared at Benvi in disbelief, this guy isn't for real is he? The same man who tripped on a rock and is covered in dirt is calling himself an absolute genius? Seems like a bit of a stretch.
"I saw your signal and knew there was a new player in town! I had to be the first to join your party!" Benvi exclaimed, pointing at the confused Ethel. While the mention of Ethel's "signal" intrigued him, so did the party thing. Could it actually be that he was in a video game world?
"My, uh. Party?" Ethel was awkward with this guy, who wouldn't be? He was overly excited and social to someone who is clueless about what was going on. "That's right! Your party. You know, a group of people to defeat a game?" The strange man looked at Ethel like he was the strange man between the two, in which he probably was. If this was a game, could Benvi be an NPC or something? There is no telling if this was a solo or multiplayer type of game.
"Uh, right.. What if I don't want you in my party?" Ethel looked at Benvi from head to toe, who would want a weirdo in their party? He doesn't even know if this guy is strong or not, or if he really is an absolute genius. "Such hostility.. Why wouldn't you want me? I'm smart, handsome, smart —"
"You came to me because no one else would let you in their party, right?" Bull's eye. Ethel watched as Benvi almost looked as if he were stabbed by the words itself, his smile remained however and he cleared his throat. "Heh.. Anyways." Ignored. "I would be a great addition to your party." Benvi clasped his hands together, looking at Ethel with desperate eyes. What would be the harm in letting him join? He may be useful and have some information about this place. "Fine, I guess.. I'll let you join."
A light is caught in the corner of Ethel's eye, he looks down to see the glow coming from his wrist. He squinted as the glowing light faded, leaving a tingling sensation and a tattoo like mark in the form of a bear paw on his wrist. "What the? Is this some type of tattoo or something?" Ethel furrowed his eyebrows as he rubbed at the mark in attempt to get it off. "It's to show that we are in a mutual party." Benvi lifted his arm to show the identical emblem on his wrist, it was then that Ethel saw the gloves he wore. It covered only his pinkie and ring finger. What was it called?
An artist glove.
"So.. What is this place?" Lesson time, Benvi began walking and Ethel followed. He doesn't know why but he did, he'd be lost without him. "A game. A world of magic. Nirvana. No one knows who made it but it's been around for some time." Benvi explains, moving a hanging tree branch out of the way for both of them to pass through. "Yeah? How long have you been here?" That is, assuming he is a real player but it's safe to say that he is.
"Maybe two or three years, probably five. But who's counting, amirite?" Benvi laughed and Ethel looked at him with the expression of shock. "Five?!" He shouted, "How old are you?!?" His voice became louder the more confused he was. Benvi looked at the shocked man, with a look as if his age was obvious. "I'm 24." He announced, pointing to himself. This man had been in this realm since he was 19, and is still younger than Ethel who is nearing his 30's. Ethel sighed and stared at the back of Benvi, wondering if he had ever tried to leave this world or if he just accepted the new way of living.
"..Ethel." He uttered under his breath, doubting the man in front even heard him but to his surprise he did. "What was that?" Benvi turned his head back to Ethel, "My name is Ethel." Ethel repeated, finally giving out his name. Benvi looked at him with an expression Ethel wasn't able to read. It was a few seconds of silence that Benvi smiled and finally said, "It's nice to meet you Ethel."
Ethel grunted with a nod as he looked around, noticing their surroundings wasn't just trees anymore. A small village was spotted from afar, "Are you going to show me around?" Ethel asked for clarification as he pointed to the village ahead. Benvi nodded in response, "Yup! And after, I'll show you your new home!" Benvi grinned and gave a thumbs up, Benvi raised a brow in disbelief.
"My new what?"
Comments (0)
See all