Chapter 2 : The bittersweet taste of Freedom

Sig' looked at her as if he wasn't sure of what he just heard.

Did she really said "a job"?

"Please don't joke with me, I'm not really in the mood" He said while focusing on his food.

"Do I look like I'm laughing Sig'? I'm pretty serious, from what I've seen you have some…skills that could be useful to me, and from what I know it's not like you have something else to do right now".

The young man looked away, lost in his memories. It wasn't the first time he heard those words, but last time it was in a different context.

Back then he was younger, his mother died a few days ago and he spent his days wandering in the streets, without knowing where he was going. It was at this moment he met him, the one who said him those same words "I could need someone like you, how about I offer you a job?"

As he remembered their meeting, he also remembered how it ended.

His trust was misplaced, he was just a pawn on the chessboard, a pawn whose the only use was to be sacrificed.

But it was the occasion for him to learn an essential lesson, be careful with those who land you a hand when you're in the need, you never really know what they want from you.

Morgana sighed while looking at him.

"You don't trust me, isn't it? I can see it in your eyes."

Sig' shakes his head.

"Don't take it personally, when I was younger something similar happened to me, and it didn't ended as I wanted, so now I'm a little bit more careful".

"Do I look like someone who wants to take advantage of you?" She asked playfully.

"You cannot know what someone really want Morgana, especially if it's someone you met just a few hours ago".

She nodded "You're right, I know the situation is a little bit strange, but I don't really have the choice."

Sig' looked at her with curiosity, her last words were tinged with sorrow, and there was a special glint in her gaze.

Morgana looked desperate.

Was it the reason why she invited a stranger in her home?

"Tell me more about this job, I'll decide later if I want to accept or not" He said. After all, there was nothing to lose if he just listened to her.

The young woman got up from the table and started to walk around him nervously.

"As you may know we are in a new era, the era of the virtual reality, people spent their time in all sort of games to escape from this world and the stockholders started to put money in this entertainment. The videos games are heavily broadcasted, everyone pays attention to this new world, I even heard of a company which started to shoot a film in virtual reality."

Sig' nodded to show that he knew all of this.

"VR games gained a lot of importance, it even became a way of earning money for everyone. Big companies formed their own guild with their names just to get influence and publicity, and they fight between them to show who is the best".

Sig' nodded again, wondering what was her point.

"Actually my situation is a little bit complicated, so I want to join the new game which is the most waited, Hope, whose opening is in a few days. I want to make use of it to gain money and fame, and for that Sig', I need someone like you".

Morgana stopped in front of him, staring at him as if she was waiting for him to laugh at her.

But Sig' didn't laugh, in fact he was pretty serious.

"What do you really want? You're smart and observant but I'm not stupid either Morgana. You're not someone who seems to be in need, so what is your aim?" He said.

She smiled at his answer.

"As I said it's a little bit complicated, I may be educated and from a noble milieu, but actually I don't have anything, and I can't rely on anyone. Except you Sig'."

The young man take his time to consider everything, the proposal wasn't bad at all.

But there was a problem.

"I don't mind joining you, but I've never played a game like this, I don't have the material."

If you wanted to play a VR game, you needed a special VR helmet and an example of the game, which wasn't his case.

She clasped her hand, obviously pleased.

"Don't worry, my friend has everything and we can borrow all we want for as long as we want !".

"Your friend seems to be a good person, where is she by the way?"

Sig' was curious, what sort of person would lend her house, her car and her gaming helmet like that?

"She won't come back before a long time so you don't have to worry for this too". Morgana said, as if she didn't wanted to talk about that.

Sig' shrugged. It was her choice, he wouldn't insist if she decided to keep some secret for herself.

"Now tell me more about your plan, how do you intend to reach your goal ? How are we supposed to gain money and fame with just the two of us ?"

"At first you need to read the guide, it comprises everything you need to know about the game."

Sig' grimaced.

That was a big problem.

"What ?" she asked after seeing his face.

"I never learned to read."

"Oh."

Morgana blinked, it was…unexpected.

The young man blushed, ashamed, what sort of guy wasn't able to read at his age?!

But unfortunately his mother was too busy to take care of him, and he couldn't go to school, so he always had to rely on others to read for him.

He was ready to see her mocking him, but surprisingly she just smile at him, and her smile was so warm and bright that he stayed in a daze before her.

"It is not a problem, you mustn't have the chance to learn those last years but now we have time, so tomorrow we'll go to the library. I'll teach you, don't worry."

Sig' nodded, unable to say anything. It was the first time someone showed so much concern for him and it felt unexpectedly good.

She finally wished him a good night and left him alone. Sig' lay on the sofa and closed his eyes, thinking about his first day of freedom. During all these years he has imagined a lot of scenarios, but surely not this one.

His meeting with Morgana was unexpected but he didn't regretting saving her because deep inside his heart he knew it was the best thing to do. But despite so she was really mysterious, he could tell the young lady didn't reveal him anything about her but at the same time didn't try to lie to him.

Morgana was a true mystery, he was unable to see through her and it made him feel uneasy.

He fell asleep without noticing it, spending his first night outside jail in the house of an unknown woman, with someone he just met.

It was always the same dream, a nightmare. Each time he closed his eyes, Sig' was back in hell, in a tiny cell, surrounded by three men.

It was always the same dream, it felt cold and painful, he wanted to get away but he couldn't. Each time he tried to hide, they would find him and beat him until he was unable to stand.

"Sig', wake up, it's over now" whispered a gentle voice, it was like a fresh breeze in this tormented hell and he finally opened his eyes, breathing heavily.

The young man wasn't in jail, he was lying on a sofa and there was a woman close to him.

Morgana was wearing a nightdress which didn't hide that much of her skin and she was staring at him with concern.

Sig' held his head in his hands, he focused on his breathing, trying to calm down.

The young lady came closer, and hugged him, gently pushing his head on her shoulder.

"I heard you screaming Sig', it's over now, you don't need to be scared anymore" she murmured while stroking his hair.

Little by little he calmed down until he was able to normally breathe, however he didn't say anything, enjoying the moment.

Morgana smelled so nice, her skin was smooth, Sig' wanted nothing more than staying like this forever.

"I'm sorry to have showed you that" he apologized.

"We all have our demons, some are just better hidden than others", she answered enigmatically.

"I wonder what sort of demons a woman like you can have" Sig' said with a mocking smile.

"Do you wanna talk about your dream?" Morgana asked, eluding his question.

"No need, it's always the same thing and one day it will be gone, I just have to be patient".

The young lady nodded and released him.

"It's already the morning, get ready we are leaving in a few minutes".

Everything was back to normal, he was back in the real world, far away from his demons.

Demons, it was the exact word to describe them, they fitted perfectly for this hell.

The library was a huge building with a long stairway leading to a large solid wood door.

There were a lot of people in front of it, chatting with each other but they all stopped to look at them, or more precisely to look at Morgana.

She has chosen to wear a close-fitting skirt with tights and a blouse which revealed her cleavage.

However no one dared to say anything because at her side was Sig' and they could all feel he wasn't someone to mess with.

"Honestly Sig' I'm really happy to have you with me here" She commented.

"You could have also buy a dog, it would have been the same effect" He mumbled with dissatisfaction, how could he not understand what she meant?

"They aren't allowed in library if you're not blind".

"Then why did you choose to wear…this?" He asked, unable to find the right word to describe her dress.

"Don't you like it?"

Sig" rolled his eyes. Damned provocative woman!

"Who wouldn't like it? Didn't you looked at yourself before leaving?"

"I'll take this as a compliment" She giggled. "Plus, women shouldn't stop themselves to wear whatever they want just because men are unable to restrain themselves."

Sig" didn't knew what to answer, she was right after all, it wasn't her fault if this dress fitted her so well, but still, she was playing with fire.

"Moreover with you at my side I don't risk anything, so I should enjoying the moment while you enjoy the sight" Morgana said playfully.

They entered, leaving the noisy outside for the calm atmosphere of the inside and the heady smell of varnish and books.

It was even more impressive indoors, a huge room filled with big shelves and tables where students were silently reading.

Morgana looked around her before walking to the counter, where an old lady with a strict appearance was watching over the room.

"Excuse-me, where can I find tales and stories for children?"

The librarian looked at her and immediately lost her strict demeanor, offering them a warm smile.

"They are stored right at the bottom, on the right."

Morgana slightly bowed and guide him to their destination, there she crouched down and started searching while mumbling.

Finally Morgana choose a few books and held them out to him.

"This should be a good beginning for you, you already know the sounds so it wouldn't be too long to understand the principle. After this step, you'll need to practice a lot that's why we are starting with tales and stories for children, it's simpler".

Sig' nodded and took the books.

He was about to thank her when a burst of laughter echoed behind him.

Sig' turned toward the sound only to discover a young man with a scornful smile looking at him, then the newcomer stared at Morgana with a lustful gaze.

"Hello beautiful lady, what is someone as splendid as you doing with a trash like him?"