Author's Note - Well, after some careful consideration and a bit of planning in my head - I've attested to figuring out a balance between chapters along with how much content I should give in each. But to be totally honest, I'm not planning this story out at all. I'm just winging it because Regalia Online is my imagination.
Chapter Four - The City of the Night [PART I]
"So, where are we currently?" Shaw asked breaking through the silence.
Keisuke tossed a glance over his shoulder at Shaw before looking around around at their surroundings. The trees were separated into two paths that framed a dirt road mosst likely leading to Magnolia. There was a light constantly weaving through the trees, it was a soft yellow color and shaped like an orb. At times when his eye would catch it, it would then disappear before reappearing somewhere else.
"The Sleeping Forest. That orb, it must be the Stave."
"...Stave?
Keisuke nodded and pointed towards the peering orb.
"The Stave is used to keep the monsters at bay so that new players can advance to the nearest town. Now, if you go beyond these barrier of trees then you're free game. But I doubt there is anyone crazy enough to do that unless they have a party along with them." Keisuke joked nudging Shaw with a slight smile.
"Is that why that Orc attacked us.. because we strayed off the path?"
"...To be honest, I don't know why that happened."
The rest of the walk was spent mostly in silence. Keisuke couldn't say that it was the most desirable experience upon coming into a game. Being greeted with a being that could give you a swift and promised death, it had to be the scaiest thing imaginable. In his mind, he pitied Shaw. The latter seemed to be someone of considerable woes and a tad bit fearsome of possible future outcomes. Something like this couldn't be reassuring at all, but those were the dangers that came with being a gamer.
"By the way, Keisuke, what is your class?"
"Huh?"
"Your character class. Are you a Squire?"
"Whats a Squire?"
Shaw's hand pressed against his face and he let out a low guttural growl before dropping his hand.
"How are you going to be a hero if you're not even brushed up on the knowledge required to grow?! Thats like trying to take a test and you haven't even been in class for the last three months!"
Keisuke stared blankly at Shaw after the outburst before letting out a chuckle.
"You're in high school, Shaw?"
The younger male's face colored a bright pink and he folded his arms over his chest before shrinking away.
"T-Thats not the point. Anyway, considering that you're using a sword, you must be one of the Disciples of the Blade."
"Disciples of the Blade?"
Shaw groaned and grabbed onto Keisuke's arm causing them to halt in their tracks. Looking around for a stick, he began to draw in the dirt once one was found. Keisuke looked over his shoulder, his arms crossed over his chest with a raised eyebrow.
"The Disciples of the Blade are those who utilize weaponry such as swords, daggers, lances, and all. Everyone starts out as a Squire but depending on the route that they take in the game decides what they could become. The other classes are Lancers, Dragoons, Assassins, Mercenaries, Knights, and Paladins."
Shaw reached out to grab the hilt of Keisuke's sword.
"You use a sword, but since you're LVL 1, you're a Squire until you decide to take on another path."
Keisuke nodded and unsheathed his sword once Shaw moved his hand.
"...And what are you, Shaw?"
Shaw grinned and pointed at himself with a haughty aura around him.
"I'm apart of the Disciple of the Hand. We use staves, books, mediums, and focuses to often channel our magic. Everyone starts out a Cleric, its often seen as the 'purest' class because we're unhindered by any brutality unlike you Disciples of the Blade. The other classes are Dark Mage, White Mage, Priest, Monk, Bishop, and Scholar."
Upon coming down from his high, Shaw peeked through one eye to see if Keisuke was staring at him in awe. Only to find the exact opposite. The other male was hunched over holding his stomach and trying not to laugh.
"W-Whats so funny?!" Shaw sqwaked pointing an accussing finger at him. "You dare mock a Disciple of the Hand?!"
Keisuke waved his hand trying to appease the flustered cleric while keeping himself from dying of laughter.
"But shouldn't you know about that, Keisuke?"
"Huh?"
"You seemed to know a lot about everything, even the <Heal> ability for Clerics. Then wouldn't knowing about the Disciples be a no-brainer? You're really weird Keisuke."
Keisuke's lips formed a small line before expanding into a small smile.
"This game is so vast. I suppose you can't remember every detail of it," he muttered before standing to his feet.
Shaw's lips pursed together and he stared up at the other male with squinted eyes. Keisuke could even feel the beads of sweat on his brow from the intense stare. Eventually the smaller male gave up and proceeded forward and Keisuke let out a heavy sigh.
Most of the content had been handled by Anna, so there was no way that he'd know everything. He just threw in ideas here and there. But in the back of his mind, he could see himself and Anna with their hands clasped whispering about a world of their own in the night.
Anna.
He didn't know how long he had been within the game, it couldn't have been long but he missed her. The two of them were rather different but they had a love for video games, and if he could have played with Anna. It would have been nice.
So imagine his surprise once they reached the gates of the City of the Night.
"Keisuke!"
Shaw looked from the girl standing before the gates. Her hands clasped in front of her, short black hair framing her face. Brown eyes that were laced with emotion that he couldn't quite put his finger on. She wore a dark blue cloth shirt with a silver breast plate over it, beige trousers and black leather boots. On her back was something reminiscent to a trident but it seemed banged up and bruised. She didn't seem quite older than himself, and she was small and rather... cute.
"Anna.."
