The Shadow Keeper (A Land of Shadows Novel- Book 1)

-8-

September 3

The Town of Grounder

Shade Tower, New Expansion, Foreign Residential West Wing

"So, you promised her what," Masa asked the doctor, growling under his breath as the thoughts of the current reveals bounced around in his head.

"I promised I'd save her if she flatlined before she achieved her goal, but that if someone else were to appear in need of similar treatments, I would drop her as an ICU patient and move them to top priority, no matter what. She said that she wanted nothing more than to save the other players here, and since ICU is full right now, she wanted to make sure she wasn't prioritized. That was the deal." Porter leaned back in his chair as the link flickered a little, its daily update being received.

"So, you're saying that if some player in that hospital needed to be moved, you would move someone with heart failure out just so you could save them," Masa growled again.

"As a doctor, I am obligated to treat everyone the same without discriminating by wealth, lineage, or ability. I am also obligated to respect every patient's wishes, Mr. Kagemune," Porter said, picking up his coffee mug and taking a big gulp. Masa looked less than pleased on his computer screen and he had to laugh at how immature Taro's brother was. Taro was wise and mature and selfless to a fault, while her younger brother Masa was like a child, naive and self centered, always willing to give up anything if it meant less pain. Porter knew the three Kagemunes well, and he had to say, they were all great kids, but Masa was obviously the most frustrating of them all. "Masa, listen closely. Your sister is a great woman. She has been amazing, and I am honored to meet a prodigy like her. I mean, even before the game she had graduated from MIT with a doctorate degree in computer sciences when she was 16, and then she had worked for the next two years on foreign relations and interpretation for the UN before getting another degree in medical sciences in three different fields. She's amazing! But I can't put her above anyone else, and she has given consent for this."

"But-"

"Masa, she is going to get out of this. Even if she isn't in ICU, I'm sure Towa would figure out something to keep her alive. She's stronger than a lot of people I know. Please trust her, even if you don't trust me," Porter sighed.

"She had another major heart attack last month, Porter. I don't know what to do anymore, but I can't lose her," Masa said quietly. "I appreciate you playing psychiatrist for me and the others as well as keeping us updated on this. I'm sure you're a busy man. I can't thank you enough for this."

"It really is an honor, Masa. Taro is a legend here in the real world, and she's a great woman. We're getting close to getting her a heart now, and she's getting even closer to getting out of the game. You don't have to worry about losing her," Porter said, taking another gulp of coffee. The line was silent for a moment before Porter spoke once more. "So, I have to go soon, but tell me something. How's that boy Taro's so fond of. What was his name?"

-..-..-

"Benji!" Taro smiled at her new live-in partner. He was one of the only people she could stand to be around recently. Everyone else had been pushing her to quit fighting or fight even harder before she kicked the bucket. It was bad enough that she was forced to live in the new Foreign Residential West Wing of Shade Tower, she didn't need the added pressure of the other players.

"What," he asked, finishing the last line of written orders to the newly instated co-guildmaster of the Sun Guild. He glanced up at her and skimmed the screen she was at before cocking his head. "A breakthrough?"

"Yeah! I figured out how to add in emotional support systems! That and I found a way to share some of the magical abilities of a Shadow Keeper with the others."