He carefully searched the shop as if time was endless, diligently selecting the items he was certain he would need, just like a mom rushing to get everything before Christmas. With only a minute to spare, he made his purchases.
[+55 items to inventory]
Would you like to be redirected to your inventory?
[Yes] [No]
[Yes] Selected.
Woahhhh, the UI design for the inventory is nice!
[Healing pot]
Held: 50
Description: The healing pot [rare] are easy-to-access items that can heal minor injuries or illnesses.
[Fire starter]
Held: 1
Description: The fire starter [common] is essentially what they sound like; you can create a fire just like a match.
[Stink-a-Bomb]
Held: 3
Description: The Stink-a-Bomb [epic] can be used to draw the attention of certain monsters.
That -90% off sale seriously helped me. If I didn't have it, then I could've only got a tenth of this...
[Well, you have made your purchases, so I will be on my way.] The lizard said, bowing to me.
"Yeah yeah, see ya later, lizard."
[I am not a lizard.]
The lizard moved from his bowing position, dashed towards Arthur and grasped Arthurs neck and tightened his grip. His strength was even greater than Ricardos.
"You're gonna...kill me!" I said through my spit, suffocating me.
[That is enough, ZXQ.]
A voice sounded from above and a large arm dropped from the sky. It looked more like a hologram, like the idol. It grabbed onto the lizard from behind and pulled him up to the sky.
[This isn't over you clown!] The lizard said on his exit.
Haha... what the hell just happened to me. Can I file a report of assault?
"Arthur!" A girl's voice from behind called out to me, of course I instantly recognized who it was.
It was Mia.
I spun around to see where she had called me from, since it sounded like she was quite far away, but to my surprise she had already tackled me over by the time I turned around.
"Uff." I said as she slammed me down into the cement. My clown mask fell off my face and got knocked back somewhere with my top hat.
"Are you okay Arthur?! You're not hurt anywhere are you?"
"I am just fine, Mia," I assured her, my fingers gently tracing the contours of her hair. Beneath the bravado, a swirl of emotions danced, my newfound identity settling within me.
A man from behind us cleared his throat and spoke, "So, where is it, Clown?"
"Huh? Oh, right over..."
"there?"
I turned around to show Simon my clown mask, but it wasn't there, it had vanished despite the fact my top hat was there, where the mask should be.
"Hah, nice lying. I'm not into role playing as you might be, so I would advise you to not joke around like that, you faulty clown~" Simon said playfully.
"Neither am I! Look I'll show you."
I flipped open my menu and showed them the [magic] tab.
Though, it isn't there.
"It was right there! What the hell is going on?!"
"You didn't uh...hit your head, did you?" Edward asked from behind.
"Besides Mia tackling me, no I didn't!"
The group laughed and discussed unimportant events, Arthur used his Fire Starter already, though he planned to save it. But he used it to light a fire for them to cook dinner.
Now that their dinner has concluded they've decided to talk about a more urgent topic.
"Arthur, we need to try and piece together what this world really is and what the hell has happened." Michael said.
"Did you wait for Edward and Mia to go to bed first before discussing this? Why?"
Michael clenched his hands together. "Don't take any offense from this, Arthur, but, those two just aren't cut out for this yet. Mia has been freaking out all day, not knowing where to go, what to do or even how to breathe. Though that is exaggerating, you get my point.
"I do get your point, you needn't say more."
Simon walked up to the fire and sat across from Michael and Arthur.
"You two I will let you in on the information I have about this world." Simon said, taking a sip of his tea that he made with the left-over tea-bags he had with him.
"Hm? How do you know things we may not know?" I asked.
"Eh I don't know much about him yet but the guy took out an ant in a single swing Arthur, let's hear him out at least."
I nodded at Michael in response.
Simon sighed and then looked into my eyes. Staring into his eyes I saw nothing. His silver-colored eyes just reflect sadness, abandonment, and loneliness.
I thought I was the one true lonely person in this world and yet even I don't carry a look like that, just who is this guy?
"This will be a lot, so get ready. For starters, the Ruined World title they use is merely an act; we are inside a video game brought to life."
"A video game? Like a console game that kids play?" Michael asked.
"Yes. And if you couldn't tell the reason for their holographic or incomplete appearance is due to the malfunctioning of the Ruin portal."
"So it failed?" I asked.
"More-so they rushed it. Basically, the reason that magic had actually been discovered was the world slowly adjusting to the games systems. Information got leaked too early, and then they decided that they would make the magic institution as a cover-up."
"So what does that mean about this all? I don't fully understand what's going on yet, besides the fact that the world is now a video game, like you said." I said, I too, took the tea bag out of my drink and sipped at it.
It's cold.
"Well, in simple terms to sum it all up, the world is slightly a video game now, but still lingers to the past... even the creators of this video game world are under the influence that what they are is, [real]."
"So, do we have to play along with this game?" Michael asked.
"Yes, sadly. If we can conquer the game, then we should be able to stop this and return to real life."
Simon is very suspicious. I don't understand why but he...knows too much to just be 'some guy'. I will have to keep an eye on him. Of course, that goes without saying.
"So, we have roughly 36 hours left to get to the flag, I forgot to mention this, but I have all the standard tabs unlocked now... except for..."
"Magic." Simon said, interrupting me.
"You are a clown who cannot use magic, that is your role in this war." Simon was now standing up, looking down on me with a cold look on his face.
"I-uh..."
"I'm just kidding, Arthur. Don't be such a bore~" He said, playfully tapping my shoulder.
The surrounding fire crackled up and down.
It's sad to see, frankly.
The fire exists just to provide for us, then when we no longer have any use for it, it is extinguished.
I looked up at the night sky. The moon was glowing brighter than I'd ever seen it. The night sky is filled with stars so bright that even the moon is quite hard to see. I suppose this is how the night sky looks without light pollution.
I raised both my arms into the air, my wand in my right hand, grasped tightly.
This is real life, isn't it?
My life will never truly be the same from here forth. A video game. That is quite comedic, honestly. Knowing that I live in a video game now is somewhat worrying though.
I can't help but feel...
Hopeless.
It's like a knot in my throat exists but doesn't exist at the same time. Is this what it means to be a clown? Am I still Arthur Ran, the magician? Or have I become just as extinguishable as these flames that are before me?
I suppose the answer isn't something I can just decide with words or my own emotions, despite how I feel, or what I say.
It's something that will be chosen by my actions.
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