Swordsmen

Worried Players

Cj went for a swim in the waters nearby. She always liked the water, both in game and in real life.

She went back up to the surface, expecting to be on her own. But that was not the case when she went up.

She saw Fuego and Hielo there, sitting at the docks. They had worried looks on their faces. She wanted to help them. She swam over to them.
" Have you guys ever thought about coming in here? " she asked them. They turned to see her.

" What? " they said. Cj smiled.

" You know, in the water, " she said.

" Oh. Well, we never tried to before, " Fuego said.

" You should. You're part merfolk. You should have your tails, " Cj said. The twins looked at each other. They stood up at the edge of the dock.

" I'll go first, " Hielo said. Fuego nodded. He took a step back. Hielo took his armor off, and waited a while before launching himself into the water.

He came up to the surface, his merfolk ears bluer than usual, his clothes were gone, and was replaced by a brown strap hanging across his upper body. Scales could be seen on his shoulder and neck.

" You did it! " Cj said. Hielo lifted his lower body to reveal an ice blue tail. Hielo smiled.

" Yeah, I did. Come on, Fuego! " Hielo said. Fuego nodded and removed his armor. He jumped in next to Hielo. His appearance changed just like how Hielo's did. His tail color was fiery red.

" This is amazing! " he said, flipping himself around in the water. Cj and Hielo laughed as they followed him in the water.

" Race you to the reefs! " Fuego said as he already swam towards the reefs.

" Hey, no fair! " Cj said as she swam after him.

" Hahaha! "

.........

Trueno watched his twin brothers and Cj play together from the balcony. Looking at them soothed his anxiety. He pulled out his blade and stared at the blade.

" Hey, you alright? " he heard someone say behind him. He turned around and saw Laila.

" Yeah, just tired, " Trueno said.

" I thought you would be. You have offered to clear dungeons and paths the past few days, " Laila said, going next to him. She saw Trueno sigh, she could feel his worry.

" Hey, " she said. Trueno turned to her. " What's really bothering you? " Trueno stared at her for a while, then turned back.

" I'm just... It's just so hard to stay calm. I look at my brothers, Cj, Scopio and the rest, they don't seem as anxious as me. In my mind, all I can think of is get out of this game, " he said. " Everything seems so much worse now that I have my ears and tail. Almost everyday I can't smile, no matter what I do I'm always worried. Worried that you won't get out of here, that you can't live another happy life. "

Laila looked at him. " 'You' ? " she said, repeating what he said. Trueno looked at her. " You don't think that we're going anywhere without you right? "

Trueno sighed. " If you have to, " he said.

" Trueno. We'll get out, you'll get out, together. We won't leave anyone behind, " Laila said.

She smiled at Trueno, hoping he will smile back. Trueno saw the calmness in her eyes and smiled.

" Thanks, Laila, " he said.

..........

" Pike! I told you not to jump off that cliff! You lost half your health! " Calypso said as she healed Pike. Pike laughed.

" Sorry, I couldn't help it! " he said.

" Geez, you Catpeople are so lively, but you can't go around jumping off of high places. You might die from the fall! " Asantia said.

" Haha, okay, we'll be more careful, Asantia! " Xela said.

Viento and Tierra helped Hoja and Sol up from the ground after they had healed them. " You're lucky Trueno isn't here, " Viento said. The two younger brothers smiled.

Allan was sitting on the grass, he noticed a little ladybug flying towards him. It landed on his ears. He tried to look at it.

" Hey, Pike. Look, " Calypso said as he nudged Pike. Pike looked at where she pointed. He blushed whne he watched Allan attempting to catch the bug.

Calypso snickered. Pike nudged her to stop. " Hehe, " Calypso said. " Was he always like this? Even in real life? "

" Yeah, but he actually opens his mouth to talk. He's shy in both here and real life, but Xela and I don't mind, " Pike said. " Poor thing. "

" Hm? " Calypso said.

" His brother died when he was just 3, he was his ray of light, ever since he lost him he had been very very quiet, sometimes refuses to eat, forced to think suicidal, " Pike said. " His parents told us about him. Told us to take care of him, that happened two days before they died in a car crash. "

" Oh... " Calypso said, feeling pity for Allan. " I'm sorry for his loss. "

Pike laughed with his mouth shut. " Ever since then, Xela and I have been a taking care of him, protecting him. But he's a good guy, he protects us as well. That's what I like about him. "

Calypso smiled at him, he smiled back. They didn't know that Hoja was accidentally eavesdropping on them.
' Why... Does that sound so much like Trueno? ' he thought to himself.

..........

Trueno was polishing his blade when the door opened. The first thing he saw was Hoja suddenly hugging him.

" Woah! Hoja, what are you doing? " he said with a smile. Hoja looked up with a smile too.

" I can't wanna hug my brother! " he said. Sol took him off of Trueno. Their conversations were interrupted when they heard a loud and low voice.

Attention, players.

" What? " Scopio said.

" What was that? " Cj said.

I am the inventor of this game. First and formost, I would like to congratulate you for coming this far. I knew you wouldn't disappoint me.

" The... The rest of the players outside don't seem to hear the voice, " Asantia said as she looked outside.

Of course they don't. I speak only to you. Thunderstorm, Cyclone, Quake, Blaze, Ice, Leaf and Solar.

This made the brothers nervous. This voice just called all of their real names. Trueno readied his sword.

" What do you want? " he asked.

Your elemental powers are one of a kind. I want them in my possession.
" WHAT?! "