Dancing in Deception

Three days had passed since Ara stayed in my cottage, and honestly, it had been a bit of a rollercoaster. I knew searching for a new party would be really challenging, but not to this extent.

Two days back, we landed in East Colony, thinking it was a pretty normal place. But nope, turns out everyone there had this thing for wearing wolf heads as hats.

I mean, really? Who even comes up with that as a fashion trend?

To add to the weirdness, they were all decked out in medieval game outfits. You know, knights and stuff. Last time I checked, the system mostly hands out regular, everyday clothes.

How the hell did they get all of that shit?!

It's not just the outfits; these people are living, breathing game characters. Trying to ask them about Ara was like stepping into a role-playing nightmare.

So, thinking maybe it was just an East Colony quirk, we decided to check out West Colony the next day. Seemed like a more normal place, or so I thought.

I strolled up to this big cottage, thinking we finally found a good spot. "Interested in a new member?" I asked them.

"Absolutely! Come inside!" one of them replied enthusiastically.

I thought, great, finally Ara might find her place. But now I needed to say this to them, so it wouldn't be some kind of miscommunication, "Your newest member is this kid over here," pointing straight at Ara.

They just nodded, "That's fine. We accept players seeking enlightenment, regardless of age or gender."

Enlightenment? What a funny word of choice, suspicious.

My excitement vanished when I noticed the person in charge wearing a cape, leading us to the basement. In that dimly lit space, a long dinner table was set, surrounded by cape-wearing members.

Suddenly, one of them says, "Perfect timing. Today's new member is an offering."

I was scratching my head until this figure, straight out of a nightmare, steps out from the shadows – goat head, muscular body, walking on two legs.

Nope, it was a damn cult!

I grabbed Ara and made a quick exit – no time for cultish shenanigans. Seriously, what's up with these people?

How come none of the colonies are normal except the North one? Or maybe the North's got its own share of weirdos, and I just haven't stumbled onto them yet.

I sighed, I know so well that Ara won't never find a party that will accept her. It just that... I was the one in denial about all of this.

As I zoned out, lost in my thoughts, a tap on my shoulder jolted me back to reality. Now, I found myself lounging on the patio sofa, watching the team train Ara in some martial arts.

Garcia, with her boundless enthusiasm, had Matthias playing the part of a human punching bag. She demonstrated kicks, making them look like an art form. It was quite the spectacle.

Poor Matthias tried to act all cool despite the apparent pain, probably because Ara was watching with keen interest.

Next up was Jayden, teaching Ara the intricacies of dagger handling. I handed her the weapon since, like me, her class was a ranger. So I think it would be good to hand her another weapon.

I'd been through my fair share of training too, considering we shared the same weapon – a gun.

The one who tapped my shoulder turned out to be Gideon. He settled beside me, casually sipping on a beer. "Got any plans for Ara?"

I shot him a tired look and just shook my head.

"Seems like everyone's on board with her joining, except you, her savior. What's the deal?" Gideon eyed me suspiciously.

Now, what I really wanted to say was, "Well, duh, because I'm the one who killed her father!"

But, of course, I bit back those words and replied with, "I just don't want to burden you all. We're just a small party, anyway."

Gideon raises an eyebrow. "So what? Jayden is doing just fine with us."

"Nah, don't compare Jayden to her. Look at him." I pointed at Jayden, engaged in a fierce spar with Garcia. His movements were swift and precise, making it challenging for even Garcia to keep up or dodge.

Gideon nodded in understanding, saying, "Fair point. But you're the one who brought her here. You should have a backup plan for her."

"Yeah, well, all those plans have already gone south, so I'm left with no choice," I sighed in resignation.

Gideon hit me with the million-dollar question, "You agree with her joining then?" with a strange, overly excited vibe.

I just nodded, not realizing Gideon had a secret party agenda up his sleeves. Ara's training wrapped up in the evening, and suddenly, Gideon ordered me to stick around with her for a bit.

So there we were,

chilling in the backyard, and Ara asked me, "Seth, where should we go tomorrow?" Like she was gearing up for a school field trip or something.

I was left bewildered. Was colony-hopping really this thrilling? Did she not see the bizarre side of other players?

I threw her a curveball, "You'll be staying in the cottage because I've got some mini-games to tackle."

She looked a tad disappointed, but hey, can't be everyone's tour guide.

Eventually, Gideon granted us entry into the cottage. As I get in, I could saw a full-blown party erupted. Party poppers, cake, and a wall banner proclaiming "Welcome to Our Party Ara."

Gideon's excitement was off the charts.

As Ara copped the surprise party, her eyes went wide—total astonishment mixed with delight. A little "Wow" slipped out, and she clasped her hands together, checking out the room like a kid in a candy store.

"No way, a party just for me?" Her voice oozed enthusiasm, and this mega grin took over her face. "This is so cool! Thank you!"

She kind of hopped on her toes, soaking in all the party vibes. Ara's eyes were shining with joy, and you could tell she was itching to dive into the whole party.

"Where's the candle? I wanna blow it!" she yelled, brimming with excitement.

Gideon stepped in, still buzzing, "No, this isn't a birthday party, Ara. We're welcoming you as a member of our party!"

"Wow, really!? Look, Seth, isn't this so cool?" she beamed at me with puppy eyes, and all I could do was nod.

I sat there, looking how happy she was with the shining, starry, beautiful eyes, wondering how long I could keep Ara in the dark about her father's demise.

It hit me then – if you're gonna be evil, be all-in evil. If you're gonna be kind, do it thoughtfully. I messed up, riding the middle road.

The loud banter of my party members couldn't drown out the noise in my head. Here's to hoping that the secret keeps its lips sealed for a good while. Cheers to that, I guess.

Then the music kicked in, and Ara decided to drag me into the center of the living room, attempting to dance. Mind you, I was the guy who had never been to a party and was utterly confused.

I got her vibe when Gideon and Garcia started dancing, so I decided to wing it—swing her around, turn her around, and just make sure Ara felt the dance vibes.

Matthias threw in his two cents, "Ohh, seems like someone's enjoying it. You're smiling, Seth!"

His comment turned me a bit sour and embarrassed. Enjoying it? Nah, more like holding the hefty burden on my shoulders.

But hey, let's roll with it and just enjoy the night. Life was too short for overthinking.