-3 months ago-
I stood in the dark corridor of my office building. The light of the vending machine illuminated my face as I stared into it.
The canned coffee I had just bought leaned against the glass, failing to fall into the chute for me to retrieve it. To make things even worse, this was one of those vending machines with the metal flap so that you couldn't reach into the machine with your hand.
Resting my forehead against it I let out a sigh. Being this close I could easily see the reflection of my black pupils. They were empty. As dark as the suit I wore or the slicked back unwashed hair atop my head. The dark circles underneath my eyes made me question when I had last slept. I couldn't remember.
I reeled my head back a few centimetres before bumping it into the glass. The small twinge of pain jolting me awake. I did it again. Faster. Again. Even faster. Again. Again. Again.
Crrk! Tssh!
The glass splintered and shattered, and various canned drinks and loose glass shards poured out of the vending machine.
"Ah."
Red. A very familiar red. It came trickling down my face. Today was the anniversary of that day wasn't it?
Yeah. It was ten years ago today.
I had everything. A stable job, a house and a nice car. But more important than all of that... I had a family. I was married to the love of my life and we had a beautiful daughter, the ultimate combination of our love.
I worked as a journalist... And as they do, I ended up crossing someone I shouldn't have. The price I paid was that family I loved oh so much.
"..." Staring at the glass-covered ground, I let out a sigh. Touching the now dyed blood that leaked down my forehead I glanced at my watch. I had been standing here for over 30 minutes... A bad habit of mine.
After retrieving a broom and cleaning up the mess I had made with my little temper tantrum, I went home.
After my family's death, I fell into a depression and was fired from the firm I worked at. The only job I was able to get was this one which reported on events within VR gaming... Yes... I was a gaming journalist, I know. Not the most respectable job. But it was the only one I could keep, okay?
But I digress. Having cleaned up the floor, I made my way home. I technically had a second job- though it was more of a hobby than anything. I had joined the guild "Carcosa" about 3 years ago when I was still desperate. They had promised that they would be able to bring my family back. To be honest, it was a stupid idea. It's just a video game after all. But I was so desperate back then for any hope that their silver words were able to break me down. Now that I've abandoned that hope, I mostly played for a sense of escapism- and the pay.
Placing the helmet atop my head, I am dragged into the world of Eclipse Now and into the body of Alkaline. The 42nd strongest player in the top guild of Eclipse Now and within the top 200 strongest in the entire global server.
I stood atop the deck of a ship. This world was vibrant compared to my dark and damp apartment. The vibrant blues of the sky and sea, the white of the sand meeting the docks and the green far off in the distance past the red-bricked town. It was a refreshing sight.
Almost every single oracle was sent on this trip to the new continent. We had arrived yesterday, but due to my skill set, I was given a specific task: guarding Saint Hali. It was some NPC- I don't know, I stopped paying attention to the specifics of Carcosa's plots ever since I lost my faith in it. Anyways, I am currently waiting for the "Saintesses" ship to arrive. Thankfully, it didn't take long.
On the blue horizon, A grand battleship painted white and gold. Another ship rode on each side of the saintess' ship. After a short wait, the ship docked next to mine. A ramp descended from the ship and a young woman in a pure white dress walked down. She had short black hair and vibrant yellow eyes with catlike pupils.
Her eyes met mine and I felt a shiver run down my spine. But I had a job to do. And so, I took her hand and aided her disembark from the ship.
I was supposed to take her somewhere at the far northwestern side of the continent, meaning that I was to spend the next few months with her.
"My name is Alkaline, it will be a pleasure to work with you. Mam!" I gave her a short bow as her servants unloaded her ship. A man walked up behind me.
"Heya Al~ Is this the saintess?" This man was supposed to be my partner in this job. He was an eccentric one, obsessed with clowns and jesters. I think he actually worked as a clown in real life- y'know one of those ones that go to kids' birthday parties?
"I am so grateful to be blessed with the opportunity to work with you Miss Saintess! My name is Tweehee" He slid on his knees, stopping mere centimetres away from her before grabbing her hand and kissing it.
"... Hali." She introduced herself.