3. Sun Day

Sunday, September 30 2007

-Morning

Today I went to school to play football with Fredrick and his teammates. Fuko is a small town. There’s no dedicated football field here except in Fuko’s Public High School, and the local park field is usually packed with kids and adults.

Here, we can use school facilities as we like, so long as we tidy it up before noon. Some students are also here to do extracurricular activities.

…As expected, Sana isn’t here. I wonder if she’s joined any club activities…

…

6-2 was the score. We easily beat the 1st year students.

Eric: ‘You’re awesome as always! You got a hattrick!’

Fredrick: ‘You too, man. That was a great save at the last minute!’

As we took a seat, we saw three girl students in the distance, seemingly gossiping and pointing their fingers at us. These girls would always appear whenever the football club plays at the field.

Eric: ‘There’s your admirer again~’

It’s Fredrick, the guy that they want. Among the club members, his long hair is the coolest, similar to actor Wei Ming Tse from that old drama ‘Comet Garden’.

Fredrick: ‘Dude, not those girls again. Whenever I go out, I always feel like I’m being stalked.’

Eric: ‘That means you’re popular, man! Why not take one of them out? Problem solved.’

Fredrick: ‘If I do that, the other girls will stalk me twice as much!!’

Even though we haven’t got a girlfriend yet, Fredrick is one step closer from getting one. I’m envious of him… Being athletic and having awesome hair. I wish I went into a sports club.

But that means I have to forgo board games…

-Noon

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. - Matthew 6:16-18.

At Sunday church, Father Bonamy gave us a wonderful lecture about life reflections. His high energy speech lifted our spirits.

We are also entertained by Daniel’s piano skills. He never let us down.

As the service reaches the end, I look at the cross, and remember about the church fight I had 2 days ago… It’s hard to imagine Father Bonamy getting pummeled to the wall.

Me, Fredrick, his and my family went out of this packed church. I looked around and didn’t find Sana…

I then parted ways with my family to go eat with Fredrick.

-Afternoon

We went to the local ramen shop to order our favorite shoyu ramen. Somehow Aaron isn’t here. He usually works with his dad on Sundays. Good for us though, because he always likes to mess up our orders and is arrogant as always. Today’s ramen is very delicious!

After eating, I decided to ask Fredrick… There’s something that pops in my head.

Eric: ‘Hey, do you know anything about Sana?’

Fredrick: ‘Not really… Aren’t you supposed to know more about her? She’s in your class, dude… What’s this, you want to date her? I’d say that’s a terrible choice. She’s in my class during the 1st year, and she’s super duper quiet!’

Eric: ‘Not that, idiot. You see, I had a magical dream where I met a girl with purple hair. Her name is Sana. She's the total opposite of what you said. When I asked if she’s from our school, she said yes!’

Fredrick: ‘I mean it’s just a dream isn’t it?’

Eric: ‘Well, she seems to know our school, so I don’t think she lied about that. She’s really enthusiastic about video games, and said that my dream is like that. Also, I had these same dreams two days in a row.’

Fredrick looked at me strangely, probably because I’m spouting nonsense, before showing a wow mouth gesture.

Fredrick: ‘Eeeeh?? A dream about video games? That sounds fun isn’t it?? And you are saying it may be connected to that quiet Sana?’

Eric: ‘Yeah! I still need to confirm it though, but really I had so much fun with that dream. I felt so alive there!’

We kept talking about my bizarre dream. Fredrick seems very interested in that.

It would be fun if Fredrick is in that dream, roleplaying in video games… We never had a chance to play JoySet games before.

-Evening

As usual, on Sunday, Me and my family went to the supermarket to buy groceries, snacks, and cleaning soaps. It feels a little colder inside, maybe because of light rain from outside, plus the air cons.

When I walk to the electronics section, one of the giant LCD TV shows the prime news segment.

(Today’s news! Continuing from yesterday, the unconscious man is still… Unconscious, ugh, who put these lines?)

(‘We still need more time to monitor his brain activity. He’s still able to eat with his mouth.’)

(Staff reported missing ID and vehicle licenses…)

Lil Sis: ‘Can they show something else already… This is boring!’

I agree… News these days, they only cater to things they think are easy to report and make money from it. At least it’s not politics though.

…

When we returned home, I worked on my english homework, took a bath, washed my teeth, then went to sleep.

I’m pretty tired, but it was a usual Sunday after all.

…

I wonder if that strange dream will come again for the third time.

Sweet dreams, Eric.

***

Welcome to the Dreamfield.

Unbelievable. It actually happened three times. Third time’s a charm.

I’m at the cloth store. Sana isn’t here, and I’m watching myself through a mirror. I don’t look cool at all with a tanktop… People might look at me weirdly.

I decided to browse the clothes. It seems they sell stuff similar to real life clothing, but with less color and a bit plain.

There’s also robes here with bright colors.

They seem to be made with cheap silk, and they cost 225 money. I decided to buy the black robe and wear it immediately. When I look again at the mirror, I look like a priest.

Way to go, Father Eric!

***

My money’s running low, so I decided to go to the notice board.

I saw Sana looking at the posters closely. It would be nice if I could team- er, party with her again.

I shouted at her from a distance.

She turned around to me with a surprised face.

Sana: ‘Ah! You! Stalker! Disgusting stalker! Get away!’

She stepped away with a scared face when I tried to approach her.

Eric: ‘It’s me, Eric. How’s your-’

Sana: ‘KYAAAAAA!!’

Sana then turns around then runs away.

I have to chase her! I swear I didn’t do anything wrong!

I chased her through the streets, slipping through the citizens. At the turns, she topples down a box of fruits, blocking the path… Then I jump over it, and continue chasing after her. I kept shouting at her to stop, but she kept running.

I ran to the busy market, where I noticed her distance with me grew larger. At this rate, I’ll lose her!

I have no choice… I open the menu, then…

Eric: ‘Soul Bolt!’

The white bolt strikes her right leg, causing her to fall over to the cobble ground!

PRIIIIIIIIT!!

Suddenly, a loud whistle noise came from behind. I turned around and saw two guards with blue duster jackets rushing to me, pointing their spear towards me before stopping.

One of the guards then draws a… Yellow card to me? What’s this, football referee??

Guard: ‘How dare you attack another person in the peaceful town of Howald! In the name of Dream Lord, I sentence you to 200 money fine! If you commit crimes again, we will evict you out of Howald!’

Without even having a chance to talk back, I immediately lost money, leaving me with 105 money!

The guards then put their spear away, and walked away, as if nothing happened…

More importantly, Sana’s injured. She’s in pain. Her leg’s bleeding. Even in dream, I can tell her pain is ‘real’.

I approach her, only for her to slowly crawl away.

Sana: ‘Ack… Get away, stalker!’

Eric: ‘I’m so sorry for what I’ve done, but really I’m not a stalker!’

Sana: ‘You’re wrong! You chased me and made me fall off! I don’t need another stalker in my dream!’

Eric: ‘I’m terribly sorry, but I had no choice. Please listen to me!’

As my hand was about to touch her wounded leg, she slapped my hand away.

Sana: ‘No! No! IYAAAAAAAH!’

She crawled much further away from me.

Her face truly shows it… Her scared face, her tears flowing from her eyes, her heavy breathing…

Meanwhile her legs kept bleeding. Nobody around us tried to help her.

I decided to treat her wound first. My first aid response kicked in. I tried to rip apart my robe as makeshift bandages, but the robes became mysteriously very hard like plastic. Then I looked around the market anxiously to find anything that can be used as medicine, and found something labelled ‘Healing Potion’.

I immediately ran to that stall, and grabbed it, which then mysteriously disappeared from my hand.

When I approach her, I open the inventory, drag the potion to my skill trigger, then point my finger at Sana, who in a brief widened her eyes before closing it.

Eric: ‘Healing Potion!!’

My finger magically ‘spawns’ a green ray towards her legs. The bleeding immediately stops, and her skin gradually renews and closes the wound. No doctor can ever do this.

Eric: ‘Amazing… So this is how magic works… Are you okay?’

Sana simply nodded. She also stopped crying, and showed astonishment. This time, she doesn’t try to get away from me.

Eric: ‘I’m sorry.’

Sana: ‘You… Healed me?’

Eric: ‘Of course I do!’

Sana: ‘You sure…? You are not stalker, then? You don’t hurt people, then?’

Eric: ‘I’ve never done that before, and I will never do that! If there’s someone hurting, I will always help them! If there's a bad guy trying to pick off the weak, I will stop them!’

Sana: ‘Why would you go as far as that…?’

Eric: ‘My dad is a firefighter. When there's a big fire and someone’s got trapped inside, my dad will dash in, fighting through fire and smoke to rescue them! If I can’t even help a single person hurting, I can’t call myself dad’s son!’

She paused a little, putting her head down, before looking at me with a weak smile.

Sana: ‘Then… Thank you.’

I nodded with a smile and then lent my hand to her to help her stand up.

I think I understand why she acted that way before. She must’ve had a rough life either at school or outside. She might be bullied too because she might not have friends, that’s why she’s been quiet and lonely at school.

I can’t stand against jerks who hurt girls!

I decided to protect her. The next time I see her at school, I should talk to her more, have her open up her problems, and solve them.

…

Somehow when I think about that, I felt I got a little closer to her.

***

That healing potion dried up my money. Now I only have 5 money.

Sana is still wary about me, but she’s a lot calmer now.

Sana suggests that we take on a more difficult task to earn more money. She explained that the more difficult the task is, the further away we have to go from town. This time, we took an escort task to Bronson’s Fort, a town northwest from here.

Eric: ‘The rewards are really good… But are you sure we can do this?’

Sana then opens her menu, then turns her head up. A ding dong sound appears.

Eric: ‘Er, what are you doing?’

Sana: ‘Don’t you know it? I’m levelling up my elemental skill. You should do that too when you have enough points.’

When I opened the menu, I saw flashing light on my ‘Soul Bolt’. I mimic what Sana did before, and then the ding dong sound appears too.

Now it says ‘Soul Bolt Lv2’ with ‘60/60’ skill stock. This cost me 100 points, leaving me with 80 points.

Sana: ‘With that, our chance of success grows! I have a level 3 skill now.’

Eric: ‘What does this do exactly?’

Sana: ‘Why don’t we try it?’

***

Currently we are escorting the farmers carrying a wagon to Bronson’s Fort through the boreal forest. The wagon’s full of those heavy crops. I tried to convince them to help them carry some, but they refused.

It’s amazing that they can do this…

Meanwhile all we have to do is walk and enjoy the views, which by the way it’s pretty amazing. Nature shows its true beauty when there’s no cars polluting the environment.

However, our enjoyment had to abruptly end, as we stopped our tracks. We’re just a few kilometers away from a large castle in the distance.

About 5 green looking humanoid blocks the path. They have tattoos. Some of them carry a club or a knife. According to the task, they call themselves a Gobo Thug.

One of them steps forward, with their face grinning. They look like trouble.

Gobo Thug: ‘Hehehehehe… Give us the wagon, or else… We’ll skin you alive!’

They actually can speak! Maybe it’s possible to convince them else…

Eric: ‘Can we not fight? Let’s just calm down.’

Gobo Thug: ‘What? Nonsense! We are here obviously to fight! Let’s kill these fools!’

Sana: ‘Did you already forget?? These guys are NPCs!!’

I’m disappointed with myself… Sana’s pouting face clearly shows it.

Enough of that. These 5 enemies are charging towards us.

Eric: ‘Soul Bolt!’

The white bolt flew like a bullet, hitting right on their head, sending them flying backwards!

I noticed that not only do I have more skill stock, the bolt flew a bit faster too!

The wounded Gobo gets up though… and I have to worry about another one that’s charging at me.

I shoot numerous Soul Bolts against two Gobos, while maintaining a distance by stepping back. I’m getting more proficient at aiming my bolts. If I imagine them like I’m using an arcade pistol, I can hit their weak spots. All I need is to spell ‘Soul Bolt’ repeatedly fast enough.

10 bolts is all it takes to defeat 2 Gobos. Meanwhile, Sana easily defeats 3 Gobos because she’s further forward from me. As expected of a video game expert!

With the threats gone, the farmers continue moving the wagon.

Not long after that, I heard a clashing sound in the forest bushes. The wagon is still moving though.

Sana: ‘There's a battle nearby. I think we should check it. Maybe there's a player fighting.’

I nodded and left the wagon with Sana.

Crossing through the bushes, we saw a couple of defeated Gobos, 3 Gobos facing against a man with a tanktop, spiky blonde hair, and wielding a sword.

Sana: ‘He seems to be struggling…’

Eric: ‘I know right? Let’s help him.’

Hiding behind bushes, we cast our bolt skills against these Gobos, and managed to defeat two of them. Then, at the last Gobo, that man charges forward.

Man with spiky hair: ‘UWOOOOH! Knee Split!’

He ducks and slices Gobo legs, defeating them!

After that, we got up from the bushes and approached him.

Man with spiky hair: ‘Oh, hey. Thanks a lot dude! I was just finishing my first task. Appreciate your help!’

Hmm? His voice sounds familiar…

Sana: ‘No problem. Say, you are from Bronson’s Fort, correct?’

Man with spiky hair: ‘Eh? Oh yeah, I am. I just got a job. It’s called swordsman. It has easy to use skill and I get to use cool katana! My friend isn't kidding when he says this dream is like video games. What are you guys doing here?’

Eric: ‘We’re escorting a wagon to Bronson’s Fort. Do you mind if we walk together there? We can talk along the way.’

Man with spiky hair: ‘Really?? That’s awesome! Sure, let’s do that!’

***

Along the way, we mostly talked about video games and its relation to this dream world. This man really has high energy, and is very interested in these sorts of topics.

When we reached the town, we received our money. 800 from task, plus 7 Gobo defeated, yields in total 842 money. With 847 money, I paid the daily tax of 120, leaving me with 727 money and 200 points. 150 tax due tomorrow.

I decided to upgrade my skill tomorrow.

***

Bronson’s Fort is unlike Howald. Here, the buildings are mostly fortified towers with big bows, giant walls, and castles. The people here mostly wore heavy clad armors, with some of them wearing animal pelts. It's not uncommon to see weapon and armor racks on the street. I wonder if there’s war nearby.

We are in the middle of the town, standing beneath the giant statue of an armored knight. This man kept talking about this town's awesomeness, but we clearly had no idea about this town's architecture.

Man with spiky hair: ‘Anyway, I’ve never seen anything like this! It’s all stones and boulders! Maybe I’m in a feudal era?? I don’t know!’

There’s something that bothers me though…

Eric: ‘Um, by the way, we haven’t introduced ourselves yet. I’m Eric, and this is Sana.’

Sana: ‘...Nice to meet you.’

Man with spiky hair: ‘Name’s Fred. By the way, I also heard about Sana from my friend. He said she had purple hair… Hmm, also your name is Eric… Wait…’

Oh dear. I think I cracked it! Fred is the nickname of Fredrick!!

Eric: ‘You’re Fred, a football club member from Fuko, right??’

Fred seems shocked about this. Us too.

Fred: ‘How the hell you know where am I- Wait, then you are… Eric? And she’s the real Sana???’

Holy cow!

Sana’s face is pouting, pointing her finger against me.

Sana: ‘Mmmmmm, you, Eric! Unforgivable! Stalker! Get away from me!’

Eeeeehhh??

Sana backs away before suddenly, I hear the beeping sound from my watch…

The world around me blurs away quickly before showing me my bedroom.

It’s 6 o’clock…

Unbelievable. This dream…

It's real!

I decided to prepare for school.