Holding unto secrets (Part 1)

Dan: [Take a look at this video. It seems that Aarmus Town it's on its feet again, thanks to this construction company that is entirely composed of NPCs.]

Lady Unicorn: [Just look at all those bastards working like ants…]

Stella: [Oh, what a lovely sight to behold!]

Erwin: [I don't think they're doing it for charity.]

Dan: [Seems like not. The company is run by this user named Bill Warren.]

Erwin: [Never heard of him. But I'm okay with that. Even if he's doing it for profit, you have to give him credit for it. He's helping the Novus community just when its 'keepers' abandoned it.]

Lady Unicorn: [Please… Let's not get started all over again…]

***

**

*

Ashley closed the podcast video and pondered about it for a brief moment. The wind hit her face when she looked frontward. Her companions were riding their own flying Mounts around hers, each one of their minds in their own world.

(Is something wrong?) the slime kid, who was sitting in her lap, asked.

(Everything is okay, Sloochie. Why do you ask?) Ashley responded through Party Chat, but the Advanced Slime tilted his head, curious. She then called up to Alan, (Guild Master.)

(Don't call me that. We're not streaming anymore.)

(There's something I need to do.)

Alan turned to her from his flying hovercraft and raised his eyebrows. (What? Like, right now?)

(I'll return tomorrow morning, I promise.)

(Okay. Take care, then.)

After helping Sloochie board Alan's vehicle, Ashley said goodbye to everyone and flew in the opposite direction, followed by her group's gaze.

(Take that stupid puppy-eyed expression off your face,) Clara sneered. (She'll be fine.)

(I know.)

Why wouldn't she? he thought, resuming his journey back home.

Half an hour later, the flying mounts and the hovercraft landed in front of the Phantom Seeker's HQ and were quickly received by familiar faces.

People I didn't expect to see this soon.

"Good evening, Alan," Oscar greeted, and stretched out to him.

Alan shook his hand as he craned his neck up to see him in the eyes. I'd forgotten how big this guy is.

"You didn't come to 'forcefully invite' me to your HQ again, did you?"

Marissa chimed in, smirking. "That's in the past, Alan! Let it go already!" She then checked Alan's info. "You're level 30 now, eh? I can see you haven't been sitting on your ass this whole time."

"Oh, there is, the other Laflamme! Come on, you can say it. I'm still a weakling."

Marissa glanced at the group standing behind Alan for a moment before whispering in his ear. "Nah. I won't tease you tonight, Ghost. At least not that much."

As she stepped back, Alan's gaze landed on the third Shooting Star, who frowned slightly at him. She spoke first. "Nice to meet you. I'm Brenda Hannes, from Shooting Stars' Strikers Division."

"Hi, Brenda, nice meeting you!" Alan stretched out his hand to her. "Strikers, huh? That sounds cool! What do they do?"

Brenda examined Alan's hand for a moment and decided to ignore it. "We're the ones that specialize in close quarters combat," she explained and looked away.

Alan shrugged her attitude off and presented each member of his guild. Clara acted rowdy as always, and the NPCs spoke in a cordial manner. Marissa found Sloochie adorable, and Brenda took interest in Dylak, who tried her best to gather as little attention to her as possible.

Finished with the introductions, Alan turned to Oscar. "So, what brought you here?"

"I'm here to represent Astrid Bradford." Oscar straightened up, making himself look even taller. "There's certain info I'd like to discuss with you in private, Alan."

Alan's eyes widened. "I… see! If that's the case, come on in! And why don't you stay for dinner?"

"That's right! We were going to throw a party anyway," Clara chimed in, hugging Alan's neck. "We're going to celebrate that our Guild Master has reached level 30. What do you say?"

"W-We don't want to be a bother at all!" Oscar replied, forgetting his tough-guy persona. "Talking to Alan would only take a few--"

"We'd like to hang out," Marissa interrupted, prompting Brenda by her side to glare at her. "I brought a couple of bottles of wine that I bet will make Amelia go crazy."

"It's all settled then!" Clara grinned, pushing Oscar toward the house. "The more, the merrier! Nya-ha-ha!"

As the group made their way too, Marissa took a moment to whisper at Brenda. "You don't even have to say it. I know you hate this, but please, I need this. I'd make it up to you later. Yes?"

"It's okay," Brenda said, wrinkling her nose. "I know why you're doing this, so don't mess it up." She then looked Marissa in the eyes. "Although you never mentioned why she's so upset with you."

Marissa sighed and averted her gaze. "Because I kept secrets from her…"

"Come on…" Brenda snickered. "There has to be something else."

"…Let's go."

*

*

*

It was in their nature for the NPCs to serve dinner. Even if Alan had told them that everyone in the guild was equal, the NPCs were always the first to bring the food, to open beer bottles, to take the dishes and clean.

Once everyone had a place at the table, the servants ate and drank too. Although programmed to eat and differentiate flavors, they never fought for the last chicken wing or asked for seconds. For them, eating was something the system told them to do and nothing else.

Brenda knew all that, and yet, she could see the face of the NPC called Dylak light up every time she put a piece of strawberry shortcake in her mouth. Brenda double-checked the info the system was giving her and confirmed it, the woman with platinum hair and red eyes belonged to a User just like the Slime sitting in the other corner of the table, sampling every dish available.

"What are you?" Brenda asked Dylak, and the digital woman in front of her stopped munching.

Dylak swallowed first before smirking. "I'm just me. I'm what you see… So tell me, what do you see, Ms. Hannes?"

"Forget it," Brenda grunted as she turned to check on Marissa's progress. Despite the two Laflamme sisters sitting in front of each other, neither seemed eager to initiate a conversation. "This is going to be a long night…" Brenda muttered to herself before throwing a frowny look at the Guild Master sitting next to the slime.

Alan said something to Oscar, and the two stood up from the table.

"Could you do that for me, Clara?" Brenda heard Alan say, and the aforementioned woman kept her gaze glued to her User Interface as she devoured fries.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm already on it."