This is Just a Game...Right?

Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Life in the Game

The room is spacious, with nothing inside, except for a large statue in the center. I approach it curiously.

"No! Stop!" Lily cries out, but it's too late. I had already placed a hand on the statue. It starts vibrating, and then it moves.

"Damn it! You just woke it up!" Lily snarls, and Rei and I get into an offensive position, while everyone else gets ready to defend or fight.

"Well! We're gonna fight it anyways!" I snap back, and the stone monster lunges at us. I strike it with my sword, only to have it bounce away with a clang, the vibrations rolling through my body, paralyzing me for a moment. I see Rei strike it with a thrust, and part of its armour falls off. That means brute strength would work as well. I leap in the air, hovering above the monster, then fly straight towards it, angling my sword, hoping it would pierce through the armour. But I didn't think about the fact that it would try to hit me out of the air. Before I knew it, I lay on the floor, whole body in pain.

"Ah...ouch." I groan, trying to sit up. I cough into my hand, and when I draw it away, I see blood. Tch. That's not a good sign.

"Rica!" Rei shouts, and when I look up at him, I manage a weak smile.

"D-don't worry about me, Rei." I cough again, seeing more blood. Mayumi rushes over to me, healing me. I see the pure fury in Rei's eyes as he turns to the monster. It's almost...animalistic.

"You hurt Lyrica. I won't forgive you!" He growls, and a light envelops him as he charges at the monster, and I notice that he's changing shape...? When the light disappears, instead of Rei, there's a rhinoceros. The huge animal tackles the monster, bringing it to the ground. The monster falls with a weak groan, and then the animal turns back into Rei. He lies there, tired and defeated, but happy smile is on his face. I leap away from Mayumi and her healing light, and lift Rei up into a sitting position.

"Rei! Are you alright?!" I shout, worry clear on my face. He nods, holding up a peace sign, smiling at me.

"Didn't we agree? No dying. And if that means I risk my life to protect you, then I'll do it." He says, and my heart skips a beat. He sounds so...cool.

"Ooh. Chivalry at it's finest." Mayumi whispers to me, and I push her away. Then I hear a groan from behind us, where the monster lay, and I draw my sword, ready to kill it if it wasn't dead. But instead, a small girl with light blonde hair sits up, and opens her eyes. They're a really pretty shade of brown, or hazel. I lower my sword slightly, although I'm still ready to attack. But then I hear a gasp from behind me.

"Y-yuka...? Is that really you?" Mayumi breathes, tears spilling out of her turquoise eyes. A hand is pressed to her mouth in shock, and she's moving forward slowly, one step at a time. But I still can't trust the girl. I stand between my friend and the body that came out of the boss.

"Mayumi? Do you know her?" I jerk my head towards the little girl, and Mayumi nods frantically.

"She the dead person I wanted to revive!" Mayumi shouts, running past me, enveloping the lithe girl's body close to her, crying. The little girl hugs back, tears also flowing from her eyes. I let out a sigh of content, sheathing my sword. The three other members of our party moves forward to stand next to me, watching the beautiful scene unfold. I start crying a little when I see them, out of both happiness and sadness. I'm reminded once again of my dead brother. Rei puts a hand on my shoulder, and looks at me in worry.

"I'm not crying." I insist, brushing away my tears.

"Sure." Rei replies sarcastically, and I keep insisting until he gives in. But eventually, I do break out crying for my friend, happy and sad at the same time.