Chapter 6: Discussions, Recollections, and Decisions

The Treetop Settlers had an emergency meeting in the Assembly Place of the Treetop Settlement.

“I already told you, Mika! These people are out of our concern! Look what they brought to us! Our camp was almost devastated! A Defensive Turret was destroyed completely!” Raft scolded.

“It’s not good to blame everything on these players,” Mika answered.

“Then who would you want me to blame?”

Mika was irritated by Raft’s sarcastic tone, “Then, go on! Blame me! Geez, Raft - what’s gotten into you!? Why are you like that?”

Another person from the Treetop Settlement butted into the conversation. The person has a bulky masculine body - almost muscular. But in the way the person acts: his poise, his tone of speaking, his micro mannerisms, and the colorful dye on his face - which is meant to be his makeup - it can be assumed that the person has a feminine heart.

“Gosh! Could you blame Raft? Even I, myself, am doubtful of this, Mika,” the person said.

Arii asked the person genuinely, “Uhm… By the way, where were you when the Slimes attacked, Frenz?”

“There… In my Room… Resting…” the person said in an unapologetically sassy way.

“You were sleeping all that time?” Lumine’s reaction.

“Goooorl! I already told you! I am not feeling well. Even though we’re in a survival game, I still need my beauty rest. I need to stay fresh, and sassy,” Frenz replied. He, then, winked at Marco.

Marco embarrassedly sighed.

“*cough* *cough*” A noise of a hard cough resonated in the area. The coughs belonged to another member of the Treetop Settlers. The person has a well-built feminine frame. She is sporting a boy-cut hairstyle and she has a tomboyish demeanor.

“Virgo, are you alright? You didn’t have to join the meeting. You still don’t look good,” Arii asked with concern.

Virgo was meant to be a Game Guide for the players - she is a personnel of GlobalPlay (the company that developed the game). But because of the strict ‘Fairness Policy’ of the company, she, too, had to take the Technology that every player took before they entered the world, making her forget some major details about the game.

“You don’t need to be too concerned about me, Arii *cough* *cough*” Virgo replied in a tough tone.

“Well…okaaay…”

Lumine leaned closer to Marco. She whispered in his ear, “Why is Mario-Buddy like that?”

Mario was seen sulking in the corner of the Assembly Place - looking all too depressed and blue.

“His Hammer was destroyed when we escorted Mika,” Marco replied.

“Oh… I understand now…”

Mario starts wailing and weeping.

Meanwhile, Mika and Raft’s arguments were not yet done.

“Come on, Mika. We already have an unstable man in our foster, and now you want these people to take shelter in our camp?”

Raft was talking about a player with an IGN ‘Papa’. He is a player who lost his family when the Slimes first invaded the Plain Settlements. Papa has this mind-corrupting Scythe equipped in his arm, making him very unstable and unpredictable.

“I thought we already talked about Papa?”

“Yes, we already talked about that - but I didn’t agree completely. Only you and Lumine had the agreement.”

Lumine responded, “Raft… We already agreed to let Papa stay here until we removed the weapon from his arm. And besides, I think he and Tommy are getting along.”

Tommy is a child who lost his family during the Dungeon raid. Because of the similarities in their circumstances, Papa and Tommy agreed to accompany each other.

“Okay-Okay! I think Papa is fine. But those players… those players, Lumine! They came from the group that abducted us. At least give me a logical reason to accept them.”

“Honestly… I don’t know how I will answer that…” Mika replied. “It’s just… there’s something inside me - telling me to help these people.”

“So, it’s just your feeling?”

“Uuuhh… Yes?… Not exactly. But…”

“That’s nonsense, Mika!” Raft uttered in an intense tone.

The room was silenced after that.

“Please, Raft. They already had enough of this game; some of them already lost their loved ones when the Slimes attacked their Settlement in the Plains. Then again, they were attacked by the same creatures that bereaved them. It must be very traumatic for them,” Mika said to persuade Raft.

Raft breathed deeply. Now, he spoke in a much more mellow manner, “The last time I trusted a person, all of us were almost killed. I know how you feel about these people, but we should think wisely, Mika.”

“At least give them a chance.”

“Let’s just say, I did that - I gave them a chance… But who will look after this number of people? Can you minister all of them? Are you sure our camp can attend to all their needs? Back then - even with our few numbers, the resources here were not enough to sustain us - what more if more people will be staying here?... How are you so sure that they will be safe? Added that our camp is currently in shambles due to the Slimes’ rampage?”

“Raft… After everything we’ve been through - after everything you’ve done, you’re still doubting what our team can do?” Mika said confidently. “I know you, Raft, I know all of our capabilities. Surely, we can think of a way to make this work.”

“I’m not doubting what we can do; I’m skeptical of what these people can do. They were Aize’s people; surely, they adapted some of his crooked conducts.”

Lumine spoke, “Raft… I don’t know if this will help, but I’ll tell you this... During the short time that I worked with their group, these people never treated me wrong, nor did Aize, and also Coco. Hence, they even helped me in my research.”

Orixa followed, “Rafty… Coco and Aize - they’re still our friends; they’re still our former Guildmates. Aize is still our former Guild Leader. And out of all people - you know that Aize wasn’t like that before. Maybe there was a reason behind the drastic change of persona.”

“I’m… I’m still not convinced,” Raft murmured.

Mika started narrating, “Back then, inside their base - when the Anahata merged inside my body… I had this weird experience; it was very unreal. It's as if I merged with every person inside the room. I saw what’s inside their hearts; their desires; their sorrows; their griefs. And when I saw what’s inside Aize’s heart, I just couldn’t help but sympathize with him.”

The aura inside the place changed as Mika narrated her experience.

“What did you see, Mika?” Arii asked.

“I didn’t understand the details. But I can assure you it was about Roze.”

“Roze?” Arii responded. Then she turned her face to Orixa and asked her, “If I remember it correctly, she was your Vice Guild Leader way back in Gaia’s Awakening, right?”

“Yes,” Orixa answered. “Roze was the original Vice Guild Leader of the Pineapple Gang 13. She is also the wife of Aize.”

“AAAAY!!!” Frenz suddenly screamed.

Everyone’s attention was directed to Frenz to see what happened to him.

“AY! I think I remember their story now!” Frenz said dramatically.

“F*ck it, Frenz. *cough* You scared the hell out of us,” Virgo uttered.

“Wow. It’s my first time seeing you this interested in someone’s life, Frenz,” Arii said.

“What? I can’t sympathize with someone now?” Frenz said while lifting one of his eyebrows.

“Okay. Go oooon…”

“I remember the scene with Tusha when Aize reunited with her. I remember him saying something about his wife. Hmm… I think he was asking Tusha about Roze… or something like that. I don’t know - I can’t recall exactly.”

They were talking about Tusha - a child who happened to come across their camp when a Game Event occurred. Tusha was a very peculiar kid; she didn’t have the features and tools present in the common standards of a player. Upon further investigations, it turned out that Tusha was Aize’s long-lost daughter.

Along with Roze, Tusha was abducted from Aize way back before the game started. She was one of the people who were subjected to experimentation by the Game Developers. She was brainwashed, altered, and programmed to become an NPC in this game.

“I also remember that,” Arii affirmed.

“I heard that Aize will be having an expedition to Tusha’s Village. He is hoping to see Roze there.” Marco stated. “Is this also the reason why you want to go with them, Mika?” he asked.

“Yes. I want to learn more about Roze. Also, about Tusha and the other villagers,” Mika replied.

“Is it really necessary?” Raft asked.

“I don’t know. It’s what my heart tells me…”

Raft sighed deeply. “It’s your decision, anyway. Who am I to stop you?” he said to Mika. “But about these people...” he is referring to the evacuees this time, “... it concerns all of us. So, it should be decided by all of us.

The atmosphere changed again as they got back to the main topic of the meeting.

“Then, I suggest we should vote,” Marco stated.

The voting started.

 “Orixa, what’s your vote? Will you accept these players in our camp? or not?”

“Hmm… I guess I vote for ‘yes’,” Orixa answered.

“How about you, Mario?”

“I just want my Hameeeeer…” Mario wept.

“Just for once, Mario - forget about your damn Hammer. *cough* Just vote!” Virgo scolded.

“I don’t know what to choose…” Mario murmured.

“Tsk!”

“Then, I’ll consider that as neither ‘no’ nor ‘yes’,” Marco decided.

“*cough* I’ll go for ‘no’.”

“That’s 1 yes, 1 no, and 1 neutral,” Marco tallied. “How about you, Frenz?”

“Of course - I’ll go for no! We don’t even know if we could trust them!”

“Okay.” Marco faced Raft.”

“I think you already know my answer,” Raft said even before Marco could ask his question.

“That’s already 3 noes in total,” Marco announced. He then asked Mika, “I guess I don’t need to ask you anymore, Mika?”

Mika nodded her head.

“I go for ‘yes’,” Lumine voted.

“Me too,” Arii followed. “By the way, where’s Nikko? We also need to know his vote.”

Mika sighed. “You already know him - as always, he’s nowhere to be found again. It’s no use to find him just to know his vote.”

“Oooh… right.”

“That’s 4 yeses, 3 noes, and 1 neutral.”

“How about you, Marco? What’s your vote?” Arii asked.

“My vote?... I also agree… with Mika. We should give them a chance.”

“Then that’s 5 to 3. The majority have decided. We will accept them,” Orixa declared.

Mika’s face glowed after hearing the result.

Raft breathed deeply to contain his disappointment. “They still need to prove themselves to me,” he said. Then he looked at Marco, “Marco, can you do me a favor?”

“What is it?”

“I will give you the task of assigning each one of them to their respective roles and assignments in the camp. Let’s just talk about it in a separate discussion.”

“Understood.”

Raft stood up from his seat. “Let’s call it a day,” he said as he prepared to leave.

“Thanks, Raft,” Mika mumbled. “Thank you for accepting the result.”

“I just hope we will not regret this decision in the future.”

“If something would happen, I will take responsibility for it,” Mika said.

Raft didn’t reply. He just slightly nodded his head.

The meeting ended. The players went their separate ways; some went to continue their night routines, and some went straight to their Rooms. Mika and Orixa went to fetch the evacuees who were waiting for the conclusion of the meeting.

Going back to his place, Raft came across Lumine along the Settlement’s aisles.

Seeing his gloomy face, Lumine had to ask out of concern, “Is it still troubling you, Raft?”

Raft sighed. “Yes… But what can I do? It’s the decision of the majority.”

“It’s also my decision too, Raft,” Lumine replied.

The air became awkwardly silent after that. Raft changed the topic.

“Anyway… Do you think it’s right to let Mika join the expedition with Aize?”

“Oh, I see… You’re also worried about that. Don’t worry! I’m sure Mika has a good reason to join the expedition. And besides, I am also coming with them, remember?”

“At least you’re going with them to conduct research about Tusha’s Village - you have a logical cause. But Mika… I don’t see why she needs to go.”

“Well… It’s her decision anyway. Like you said, who are we to stop her?” Lumine replied. “All we can do is trust our friend.”

Raft bowed his head. “I guess you’re right.”

“Cheer up, Raft! Don’t worry! We’ll make the most out of our trip! We’ll make sure to bring home significant discoveries!”

“Hmm… okay! Okay! Just please - before you leave for the expedition - kindly update your records in your Journal so I can keep track of our progress.”

“Sure! Will do!”

They smiled at each other. Not long after, they bid their goodnights. Raft went back to his Room, and Lumine went to meet the evacuees too.

…

…

…

Days after,

“Finally! We reached Tusha’s village!” Lumine celebrated.