Project Anima : A Virtual Reality / Reincarnated Tale

Chapter 4.3: Path of the Ace

"You used Enchant," Raiden spoke, his voice edged. "Am I right?"

The silver fennica smiled, dodging his question. "I admire your confident bidding." She offered a hand. "I'm Yselle."

Raiden had no intention to shake the cheater's hand, however, Slater took it. Raiden gave an exasperated look at his love-struck companion.

"I'm Slater!" he said, shaking her hands with excitement. "Nice to meet you!"

The silver fennica chuckled. "Your companion here is quite a strange AI, isn't he?"

"Tell me about it!" Slater began. "He even claims he's a player, not a bot!"

"Is that so?" she looked at Raiden with intrigue. Meeting his glare, the girl chuckled. "You think I cheated, and yet you were able to bid, even with the red rep. Isn't that cheating as well?"

Raiden looked away.

Slater laughed wryly. "She has a point."

"Raiden..." she said. "Your name sounds familiar."

"What do you mean?" Raiden said.

"Never mind," the silver fennica smiled. "I hope we meet again."

Slater reached out. "Please join our party!"

"Thanks for the offer, but I already have one."

"Wait," Slater said. "At least let me send you a friend request—"

Raiden headlocked him. "Ignore what he said."

The silver fennica giggled. She winked at them. "Goodbye."

When the fennica mage was out of sight, Raiden let go of his companion. Slater grabbed him.

"Why did you stop me, man?" Slater said.

Raiden shook him off. "Don't be ridiculous. We should stay as far away from players like her. She would do nothing but take useful resources away and slow down our progression."

"But she's beautiful..." Slater said with a sigh.

Raiden palmed his head. "I think you've been afflicted with the Stupid status effect."

"Hey, I ain't the one who got charmed during a bid!"

"It's a slight oversight," Raiden said. "I didn't anticipate them allowing magic tricks during an auction."

Most of the bidders had already left their seats, exiting out of the large tent.

Raiden turned to his party. "How else do you think the other two bidders dropped out? They might've been charmed as well."

"It doesn't make sense," Slater scratched his head. "Are you saying she cast the Enchant skill thrice at the same time? That's impossible."

Raiden turned to the healer. "Molsie, just now, did you see any foxfire near this Yselle player?"

The healer thought for a moment, and shook her head.

"I knew it," Raiden said.

Slater looked confused as ever. "Foxfire? What's all this?"

"It's advanced magic. Foxfire, one of the fennica race's passive skills. It allows them to cast two or three spells at a time, but channelling it is tricky. And considering she was able to do it, undetected, I'd say there was a considerate amount of proficiency involved."

"Man...but what does that have to do with what Molsie saw?"

"Three orbs of light always orbit a fennica, but this is only visible to their race," Raiden said. "You know someone has used foxfire if these orbs are missing."