As the sun settled over the rocky hills of Zeonsi the city’s neon lights brought the streets to life once again. The people of Zeonsi were reckless and brutal, it was mainly due to the lack of sleep. This was one of the sleepless cities, it was more dangerous at night. The police never so much as lifted a finger when it comes to crimes being committed right in front of them.
Life was difficult and with each passing day it was getting darker.
The darkness they felt was their true and only friend. It also felt quiet in the darkness, they didn’t have to listen to screaming each night the sounds of laughter or crashing. It was peaceful in their dark little corner.
It was when they stepped out into the light is when things were so unbearable.
But it was necessary.
They had to leave the dark, quiet and peaceful area just so they could get something to eat in the morning. Dragging themselves from their warm bed, they got dressed in black uniforms with the red belt and the bright red logo on the chest. The shape was a star with its many points and a burning heart in the center. It was suppose to represent Hope and Loyalty. But from what they could see is that it was just the heart burning to ashes at the gates in the Clouds.
“Draven! Morning to you, we got the East side today,” a similar looking man walked to them, dark hair, dark tired eyes, but a bright smile. It was probably the one bright thing about people these days. It was refreshing to see, but it was very difficult to return that kind of feeling back.
“Early,” their tired voice still cracking into a gravel pit, it only seems to make the other guy smile more, “East? Why there? Why can’t it be the peaceful South?”
“I love you in the morning, lets go. We have a lot to catch up on,” Early slung his arm around them and they started their walk to the East side of Zeonsi.
“We saw each other last night!” Draven complained, lightly pushing Early away.
“Yes and last night was eventful with the Missus! Now shut up and listen!” Early pulled them closer to ensure there was no chance of escaping. Draven didn’t mind and let the guy do what he wants.
“You know, I liked the dark and quiet places of your mind! Why couldn’t you be there?” Draven asked, it was those times where Early was quiet and not as talkative.
“Because there is where I want things to end completely.”
“You’re not alone there,” it was true, with how this world is, it was difficult to just keep living where all you hear is pleas for help or crying.
“You always seem to pull me out of it and see the good in life,” that was a bit of a surprise, someone like them pulling someone like him out of their spiral?
“What good?”
“My lovely wife who would miss me dearly, my best friend who doesn’t smile for the life of him and their morning voice I live for that voice alone!” Draven couldn’t help but chuckle at that, Early responded with a smile and shaking him lightly before he went off about his Wife and the news they received.
For the most part Draven didn’t dread the day while Early was there and for the longest time he found it hard to tell him that. But today seemed different, it felt as if he could do pretty much anything as long as he sets his mind to it.
“Early...” Draven interrupted the rant about high priced cucumbers.
It really was ridiculous.
“Yeah, Draven?” hesitating a moment, not sure how to even begin to thank the guy for all he is. It was mostly trying to fit words together.
“Thanks for being my friend,” was all they managed to come up with. Hating how short it sounded, hating that it felt less genuine because it wasn’t longer or heartfelt.
“Best friend! Get that through your feathery head!” Early ruffled up his black hair messing it up even further. “Everyone says that you’re impossible to be around, they don’t know how I do it or how I manage. When really all they have to do is offer you a cookie every once in a while.”
“I’m not that bad...” it was surprising how Early took his short words. It also felt that it wasn’t wasted effort, if there was cookies mentioned.
“You are, you stay quiet forever, you always look at someone with a glare and your words hurt!” Well when put like that maybe friend was too far of a stretch at first but he doesn’t mean to be all those things. He thought he was nice, he thought he was smiling and he didn’t think his short words would effect others that much.
“I don’t mean to be...”
“I know that, it takes a bit for you to talk, you look mad because you made that face in the mirror and now its stuck. You also tell nothing but the truth with no sugar added,” if anyone would know him best it would be Early, he was the first one to reach out to him and continue to come back.
“You seem to have me figured out.”
“I’ve been telling everyone how to be friendly to you.”
“I’ll say, Blake says good morning to me when they see me, Kray smiles, Clint tries to high five me maybe this time I’ll actually try. Casey offers a muffin, Sarah tries to up her in offering a specially made cupcake.” There was more people that were offering their greetings and the occasional treat. Only those that were repeating the gesture were remembered.
“Wait tell I tell everyone that you remember their names.”
“You’re just trying to torture me aren’t you?” they didn’t care much for that much attention to have everyone flock to them would be a nightmare.
“So Casey and Sarah?” Early teased gently shaking him on the shoulder, “Or Kray and Clint?”
“Why those people specifically?”
“Because you took your time saying their names and what they did. You were all dreamy about it to,” sometimes Early could be a little too perceptive. But it felt nice to have someone notice such a small thing.
“You don’t think it was the food they were offering? Or the kind gestures?” trying to downplay it hoping it would work.
“Nope.” Right, this was Early he was talking to. Doesn’t let things go to easily unless they showed they were visibly uncomfortable with the topic. Must not be uncomfortable enough.
“They’re not scared of me as much and they’re thoughtful,” it was true ever since meeting Early the others naturally opened up to him as well. Not as much but enough for them to think he wasn’t going to peck their eyes out for some random reason or other.
“I have so much to tell them when we get back, they are gonna fight over you.”
“What do I say to them?” talking to others wasn’t his strongest trait. The mere thought of the others chasing him just for small talk was frightening. But he also didn’t want to run away like other times where he got spooked just from them saying ‘Hi’ to him in passing.
“What do you mean?”
“How do I talk to them?” he wanted to at least say a few words before running away and to let them know that he actually appreciates their efforts in trying to talk to him.
“By responding back to their good mornings and smiles, just a small wave will do or a nod whatever you’re comfortable with. You don’t have to offer them food but at least thank them. It will help when you say their name, it makes it special coming from you.” Now knowing that the small gesture back will do, it was a nice small step.
“Why should I say their name?”
“Because everyone thinks that you don’t know it or don’t care to know it. It creates a connection, and it’s special from you because you look as if you don’t care about anything at all.”
“It just sounds like your repeating yourself. Also, I don’t remember everyone's names like you do.”
“You don’t have to, but now I know that you don’t know some of their names I’ll tell you.”
“Thanks Early-”
[LOADING...]
[SAVEPOINT LOADED]
‘Strange... between saves it feels as if... never mind. It’s probably not important. The two voices sound close as least. That was nice to hear for once other than the screaming from the other times.’ Looking around they noticed the Player’s were back, with their ugly things and their trinkets too.
‘Get Rejected!’
They looked away from the gathered Player’s and refused to acknowledge them any further.
“Hello again, still here, huh?”
‘What is wrong with- Oh! It’s the Gentle one!’ she set down a piece of fruit down and they were on their way. Looking at it they seen that it was a Lime and it seems to be a starting weapon of sorts.
[Lime, a Starting weapon for Archer Class. Once Archer gets to Level 5 Lime can be consumed or Traded]
‘They gave me leftovers? Will anything happen after I eat this?’
[YES]
[ERROR: SKILL POINTS LOCKED]
‘Oh you’re back, wonderful. Is this about Skill points or a new Skill? Actually hold on. Answer Yes or No for Skill Points and just give me a quest for Skill. That should fix it.’
[QUEST UPDATED]
‘Perfect, we figured something out.’
[QUEST]
-CONSUME LIME •NEW•
‘Is there anything else I have to eat? I don’t mind but I would like to know what would happen if you continue to give me Quests about the things I’m suppose to eat.’ Their stomach growled.
-15 HP
+15 HP
Looking at the Lime for a moment, debating if eating it will be sour or not. Taking the chance and for the new Skill it was worth a shot. It might also solve the loss in HP. They took the Lime and ate it whole, the Lime floated around for a good five seconds before dissolving.
[New Skill: NuLl; SKill Chat]
[Hello?]
‘Did you break again?’
[No]
‘Well looks like you’re fixed.’
[Not quite I just have more free range]
‘You probably can’t talk for long, so out with it.’
[My name is NULL; VOID]
‘Nice to meet you?’
[...]
‘What else is there? I’m sure there’s a time limit as well.’
[Right, Midnight World was suppose to be a small quick game but it grew into something like this overnight]
[The more we added the popular it got]
[Until one day there was a Bug in the system]
[We don’t know how it got there or what it did but when it started eating the system codes we knew it was bad]
[I need your help]
‘Ok, what can I do?’
[You have two choices]
[Save Midnight World]
[Or]
[Let Midnight World die]
‘It seems like a good system for a simple game, if I do this will I go back to the darkness?’
[That is up to you]
‘When should I start?’
[As soon as you let someone Tame you]
‘Is there a time limit to this Main Quest?’
[...]
‘Understood, what will happen to my family?’
[To my understanding you don’t have one]
‘The Slime's are my family, I can’t leave them to be slaughtered by the Players.’
[That is for you to decide]
‘I’ll think about it, but I’m very picky to who I would trust to Tame me.’
The Green Screen showed no more words.
“Mr. Untameable, your awake early again.”
“Hello, Slime Warrior,” the Purple Slime brought along some little Slime's and they gathered around them.
“Will you tell us about Slime Hope?”
“I’ll tell you everything I remember but be warned, it won’t be how you were told. This story is my life, gather and let me tell you about Slime Hope.”
To the Clouds we go...
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