Chapter 2: Event Notification
Afira had just picked up some groceries and was walking home when he got the texts.
He looked at his phone seeing event notifications from the virtual reality game he's been playing, Dawn of Reason.
He had received three in quick succession. The first seemed to be an official event release notification from the game company. The second was from Gramma Nina, an NPC he knew from starter town. The third was another NPC but this one he didn't recognize.
For a while, he just stared at his phone in surprise. The event notification I get, but the other two? Isn't that seriously weird? How can NPCs text me?
He opened the text from Gramma Nina first.
[Afira my dear boy I have an important favor to ask. It seems my sweet granddaughter Tilly has gotten herself into trouble. She went to Hayden town to sell this months herb crop. Hayden town will be besieged by Vortex Wolves soon. I'm so worried about little Tilly. Please get to Hayden town and act as a guard for her until the Vortex Wolves have been drawn away.]
Oh! I see, like a special side quest. That makes some sense then, nodding his head. He decided it was probably fine and reasonable.
Next, he opened the official game notice taking a quick glance. The event would begin in three days. After the regular weekly update. There was a listing of goals and rewards to achieve during the event. He briefly scanned through and lost interest.
The third text was from an NPC in Hayden. Their title is Blade Master Rinai. Is it a woman? Hmm, Blade Master, that sounds pretty cool. Afira thought as he clicked it open.
[Greetings Hero of the outside world. You may have heard Hayden town will be besieged. I would inquire if I could party with you in assisting the villagers.]
Oooh, that's new. I can form a party with an NPC!? A Blade Master even. Sounds promising. Do I just reply to the text? Or contact in the game?
He completely forgot his unease about NPCs contacting him on his phone in his excitement over finding a new aspect of the game.
[Thanks for the invite. I am planning to head for Hayden this evening. Where can we meet?]
Better let Gramma Nina know I'm accepting her request as well.
[Don't worry Gramma. I'll head for Hayden town right away. I'll make sure little Tilly is safe.]
~~~
He could just see the apartment building he owned as he continued on his way. He walked by slowly, looking over everything to be sure it was all in order for his tenants. His own place was at the back of the lot. A little two bedroom cottage his grandfather had built. Afira's father had added the apartments to the property when Afira was a little boy.
Afira made himself breakfast alone like always since his parents died. He then washed the dishes and tidied up his small kitchen.
He checked his phone again before he settled down to enter Dawn of Reason and meet his soon to be party member. He'd be meeting the Blade Master Rinai on the outskirts of Hayden town.
He had logged off pretty far from there but he could use one of the travel tokens he had been saving. He was way too excited to meet this NPC to take the time to travel any other way.
Arriving at the meeting spot, he noticed a tall figure with multiple belts low on the waist accentuating the hips. Multiple scabbards with various swords attached. He was pretty sure it was a woman now with long pale pink hair waving in the breeze slightly. Wearing a long half skirt? type of clothing reaching the ankles at the back and shorter in the front. Fitted pants with boots up to the mid-calf. A short jacket with fur at the neckline.
At least she has a pretty modest character design. Not too flashy and none of the excessive skin exposure he often saw in other gamers.
He was sure this was the Blade Master NPC he was meeting. Afira walked over and politely called out, "Hello Miss Rinai, it's good to meet you."
As the Blade Master turned he realized his mistake. That's definitely a man, he was burning with embarrassment at calling the male a miss. Ah, crap will he be angry? Probably won't be willing to form a party anymore.
At least he's a very cute man. It'll be a shame if he doesn't want to talk to me after this. I shook myself from my daze, this isn't the time to check him out I should be apologizing. He thought all this in an instant as the NPC looked bewildered and then embarrassed.
The man just looked so shocked and was checking his own appearance.
"I'm so sorry! As soon as you turned I could see you're a man. I.. just it's that from behind. The hair and umm the belts accentuated the hips. There's that long skirt type thing and umm your so graceful and slender looking I just guessed." He was so flustered he lost control of the thought to speech abilities of the game. Half of what he said was just his jumbled thoughts he hadn't meant to say out loud.
"Arhhgggh I'm babbling. Just... I'm sorry. Can you forget what happened?" he asked cringing.
The man has just been staring at him then looking at his hair, then belts and everything that was mentioned.
"No!" he finally said loudly.
Damn, well that's that then. He's pissed off I guess. Afira was disappointed.
"I can't forget it! This stupid skirt looking thing." He ripped it off. "Damn unnecessary belts." He unbuckled and dropped them. "Useless hair gets in the fucking way anyways!" As he took out a longish dagger and chopped his hair short dropping that too.
Afira was completely and utterly shocked senseless.
That was definitely unexpected. He continued to strip as Afira stood watching him dumbly. Feeling heated when the jacket and shirt dropped off.
Wow, he's ripped! The kind with lean muscles just everywhere. The kind that is completely my type. Afira shook himself from his daze AS HE STARTED TO UNBUCKLE HIS PANTS!
"You can stop! Those are manly pants! No mistaking you anymore. I swear." Afira reached out his hand to the man's wrist, stopping his unbuttoning. They both froze and blushed at the awkward situation.
At that moment his control slipped again in his flustered state as thoughts of wanting to touch that delicious looking chest became reality.
Oh damn. No no no no inappropriate! Stop stop stop. Afira's naughty virtual hand finally listened to his more rational thoughts and stopped reacting to his dirty mind. His hand that had been drawing lazy circles around the man's chest dropped to his side and Afira stepped back.
By now he was fully expecting to be stabbed with one of Rinai's deadly looking swords.
"N-nice pecs. Very m-manly." Afira squeaked and made a thumbs up gesture.
"Ok....thanks." the man smirked, " Very memorable meeting. How about we go and pick up supplies for the siege? I need some new gear too." Rinai just casually kicked the dropped gear aside and headed towards the market area.
Afira looked at him stunned. "You still want to form a party with me? Even after I've been such an ass." He was flabbergasted but hopeful as he stared at Rinai.
Rinai paused, then turned back. "Of course I do. You're the hero from the outside world. I never thought you would even respond to my message actually. I guess I expected someone uptight and formal. Even though the other NPCs all rave about you. But you're hilarious. And cute. I'm really relieved I don't have to be all rigid and formal as with other players. So let's go. Alright?" He held his hand out motioning for Afira to follow him.
So I did just that. In a daze at being called cute by the sexy Blade Master. I followed close behind letting him lead the way to wherever he needed to go. I caught myself almost touching his back and slapped my hand down. Looking at just his shoulders. His well-formed broad shoulders. Then that also was just way too hot. So I stopped looking at him entirely.
Kinda stopped looking at anything.
Like an idiot.
Almost falling on my face in the middle of the street.
Rinai moved in a flash to steady me. "T-thanks."
He was so damn fast. I took more time than I needed letting go of his strong arm.
"It's just there." Rinai was pointing at a small armor shop across the street. He leads the way as I followed face on fire with embarrassment at my behavior.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone