Cinnamon Biscuit

"Since I returned, this is the first time you took notice and interested at those replicas." Clyde talked as he washed the small kettle and the French coffee press.

"Hmm... yeah. I just remember something when I look at those swords. Ah... so good." Eirwyn picked up the cup and took another sip of coffee.

"I see." Clyde rinsed the press and kettle then he wiped them off with a dry cloth.

The bell rang as the door opened.

'Cring cling cling!'

"Oh, Eirwyn! As expected, you're here quite early. Long time no see brother!" The young man waved his hand as he entered the café.

He had narrow eyes and glasses. He was a bit taller than Eirwyn. His body was thin and his complexion was pale white. He wore a grey sweater and a grey beanie hat.

"Terrell, nice to see you again." Eirwyn greeted Terrell and sipped his cup of coffee.

"Do you know the news about the newest VRMMORPG?" Terrell sat down on a stool beside Eirwyn.

"Halcyon? Yeah. I already registered as a beta tester." Eirwyn put his cup down on the saucer.

"Oh! That was fast! Why you didn't tell me earlier!?" Terrell slammed his palm on the counter.

"Hey, watch out." Clyde reprimanded Terrell.

"Oops, sorry." Terrell scratched his head.

"Well, I want to play alone." Eirwyn took a glance to Terrell and took a little sip.

"Why?" Terrell was puzzled.

"I don't know, but I felt I don't have any interest to join a guild anymore." Eirwyn placed down the cup on the saucer.

"..." Terrell was speechless his face look really sad.

"I guess you're here to invite me again and play the new game with you. Hahaha! Deja vu! Do you remember what happened next? I'll join your guild and then we will establish our guild workshop. After that, we will be spending our whole time to play virtual reality games to earn tons of cash. That was way back 4 years ago. Hahaha!" Eirwyn laughed as he recalled a memory.

"Of course! That's why I dropped the university!" Terrell nodded and folded his arms.

"Why are you proud of it? I graduated Bachelor of Information Technology and I got my own diploma, but I still earned money from VR." Eirwyn teased Terrell.

"Hmph! What an ingrate, because of me you could feed yourself until now! Tsk! Clyde, I want espresso with cream please." Terrell was grumpy as he asks his order to Clyde.

"Alright. Please wait." Clyde smiled and he started to prepare the ground coffee and the espresso machine.

He gave a glass jar filled with cinnamon biscuits to Terrell and Eirwyn so they could eat it while having their conversation.

"So what are your plans now?" Eirwyn got a piece of biscuit and bit it as he handed over the jar to Terrell.

"I plan to register to beta. I don't want to wait for the official release. Early bird gets the worms as they say." Terrell picked up a biscuit from the jar.

"Yes, that was also I thought before." Eirwyn nodded.

"Oh, wait. I saw it on the forums, they said the game seems like real, right?" Terrell held his biscuit and swayed it in the air while talking.

"Yeah, I think its called Quasi-realism Technology. Also, the hardware is really different compared to its predecessors. It's called Zephyr. Uhm... but for me, it's more like a fancy casket or a tanning machine." Eirwyn got another biscuit from the jar.

"Oh, then Halcyon Expanse is different to other VR games! I can't wait!" Terrell was excited. He didn't take a bite on the biscuit.

"Here's your espresso with cream." Clyde placed a cup of espresso in front of Terrell.

"Thanks." Terrell dipped his biscuit on the coffee. The biscuit became soggy and he ate it.

"You forgot about the class selection, Zettabyte called it Sui Generis. This game's feature is one of a kind to all VRMMORPGs, other VR games didn't have it." Eirwyn took another sip of hot coffee.

"It that so? There are no warriors, mages, rangers, and healers?" Terrell scratched his head.

"Indeed. I think we don't need to pick generic classes. We can create our own class." Eirwyn sipped the remaining coffee from his cup.

"Ooh! I'll choose a cool and overpowered melee class then. Hehehe!" Terrell snickered as he got another biscuit from the jar.

"Do you have any ideas what class you will choose?" Terrell dipped the biscuit on his coffee.

"Yes, but this time I'll choose a class unlike than before." Eirwyn took the last biscuit from the jar and he ate it.

"Why? Are you tired of being a swordsman class?" Terrell sipped his espresso.

"No, you are wrong. Not only I am a swordsman, but I want to forge my own sword." Eirwyn fixed his eyes at the replica swords displayed on the shelves.

"Hmm... is that so?" Terrell followed his gaze and nodded.

"I'll go now, I have something to do Terrell." Eirwyn stood up and activated his Anima. He paid his coffee using electronic banking service.

"Hey, hey! Wait for me!" Terrell didn't want to be left alone. He hurriedly sipped his espresso.

"Ouch! So hot!" Terrell's tongue was scalded by the hot liquid.

"Okay. Take it slow, I'll wait." Eirwyn sat down.

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Morning. The sun radiated the city with warm light. The snow began to melt.

Terrell and Eirwyn went out from the café.

"Come again." Clyde waved his hand.

"I'll return as always." Eirwyn nodded his head. He preferred Clyde's brewed coffee than his own instant coffee.

The bell rang as Terrell slowly shut the door.

'Crring clin.'

The price of coffee at the 'Sanctuary' was cheaper than other cafés in the city. Clyde ensured to provide a hospitable service and exquisite coffee brew to his customers. That's why Eirwyn wanted to frequent here every morning to start his day.

Eirwyn started to walk and went home, but Terrell suddenly stopped him.

"Bro, why not visit our place first? I have something interesting to show you there." Terrell put his arms over Eirwyn's shoulders.

"Okay, okay. I won't run." Eirwyn shoved Terrell's arm away.

"Okay then! Let's go, hurry up!" Terrell was glad and he led the way.

"Tsk." Eirwyn hesitantly followed behind Terrell.

They went to a narrow street, a sports car was parked on the side, that was Terrell's two-seated Lamborghibli Revenge.

'Twit twit!'

Terrell activated the sports car with his Anima. Its headlight was flickered, the scissor doors were automatically opened.

He went inside and gestured his hand to tell Eirwyn ride in the car.

"Okay." Eirwyn went to the right side of the sports car and he sat down on the passenger seat.

'Vroooom! Vrooom!'

Terrell used his Anima to start the engine. The scissor doors were closed shut. Terrell manually drove his sports car and set off.

After traveling for an hour, they arrive on a luxurious condominium. Terrell drove the sports car to a parking space to park his car.

Terrell and Eirwyn disembark on the sports car and walked towards the entrance. They entered the automatic sliding doors and went inside the building.

The ground floor was spacious. The tiles are clean and smooth that one can see one's own reflection.

The ceiling has sophisticated lighting fixtures, such as glass chandeliers. There also many indoor plants placed on certain spots for decoration.

There are comfortable seats and tables in the lounge. The residents hanging out at this place with their visitors or friends.

They set foot in the scenic elevator, Terrell pressed '18th Floor', and lift up. The transparent tempered glass on the elevator viewed the cityscape covered with white snow.

Within seconds, they exit the elevator and walked along the hallway towards Room 18-8.

"Hey, we're here. Open up!" Terrell pressed the doorbell and used the intercom.

Within a couple of minutes, a figure appeared as the door opened.

Eirwyn was shocked from the inside, but his expression was stern.