The AR Gamer Girl «Original story»

Chapter Twenty-Five

Mia opened the door and I looked at her. She didn't look well. "Follow me to my room, you'll just have to jump out of my window if it had to get to that, but let's go." I nodded. I was entering her space and she looked like she hadn't slept in weeks. She had no makeup on for the first time and I couldn't even begin to talk about her body language or clothes. We went to her room and she closed her door. Surprisingly she even locked it. "Sit." I made a small bow and sat myself down on her chair. She took her seat on her bed and looked out of the window. "Now that you're here, what do you want?" I looked down. "I don't know... Honestly, you don't look well Mia. And even though we don't really get along, I've always been happy to get along. I don't hold anything against you. Yes, I was a bit upset you took my bag because it had important things in it, but that's gone now, it's another day." She made a small laugh. "What?" She looked at me. "Lyra... If I hated you or resented you or just had anything against you, do you really think that I'd let you in my house? Let alone room?" I chuckled a bit awkwardly. Looks like I was just being stupid. "Yeah... You're right.. Anyway, let bygones be bygones, what's going on with you? You don't seem well." Her smile was quickly replaced with a horrified face staring down. "It's... Nothing." Now I couldn't hold myself back anymore. I stood up, set my hands on her arms, and gripped her tight. "Mia I know there's something wrong! Can't we just get over these differences and help?!" She hissed and pushes me away. Huh? "Mia.." She looked away. "Leave it. It's nothing." I'm sorry but..." I tackled her and she fell on the ground. "AH!" "Sorry Mia, but if you're not telling.." I hoped I was wrong since it would be pretty bad, but I sadly wasn't. I pulled away from her cardigan and lifted her shirt a bit. "Stop!" Mia's face seemed flustered, but in more ways than one.

I was horrified. I saw blue, purple, and even yellow-colored bruises. Due to my shock, I let loose and Mia quickly got up and got herself back together. "Mia..." "Shut up! You didn't see anything okay?!" I looked her dead in the eyes. "Mia. Your father is hurting you, abusing you. This is not okay." The truth said aloud made her even more horrified. "No... No! Lyra don't you dare say anything." She looked so scared. "Fine. I'll give you a week. If it's not getting better by than, I'm calling the poli--." "NO! No Lyra," she took my hands, "please, please just leave it be." She was pleading, but I couldn't condone this. "I'm sorry Mia.." "Go." She pointed at the door. I sighed. "Fine, but in a week top I'll come back for you." She didn't say anything, but I went out, closed the doors behind me, and went back home.

The rest of the day I just sat in my room, training in the company and finally sleeping. Although I couldn't sleep because of what happened, tomorrow would be an eventful day and I would need my strength. And even though everything seemed to go wrong, somewhere inside me, I felt a sense of excitement while falling asleep.

~~~

I woke up peaceful, almost forgetting what had been happening. Downstairs, I saw Jace sitting at the table. "Morning." "Hey. So today we're going to the company right?" I smiled. "Yup... With Zane and Will... So we'll see how that'll go... I already send them to meet us at the gate a bit before 10." I got up to go grab my stuff but stopped for a second. "Oh yeah! Don't forget some workout clothes~!" I didn't wait for his reaction and went upstairs. Hm, how will it go? What will they even do... There were a lot of questions in my head, but I had didn't have the answer to any. While lost in thought, time passed quickly and I heard a knock. "What is it?" "We gotta leave?" Oh, shoot! I hadn't realized it, so quickly changed, took my bag, and went with Jace as fast as we could to the company.

Arriving, Will and Zane were already standing there. "Hey! *huff* sorry we're a bit late *huff* I forgot the time.." "Heh no worries," Zane chuckled, "you're still on time." "Indeed, but let's agree on something first." I looked at the three boys. "Look, no fighting, no disagreeing, no useless arguments, no bullshit. Just follow what they ask and be polite, okay?" I smiled, but my killing intention was clear, as they all agreed at once. I let out a nervous sigh and went inside.
Inside, I saw Mr. Nagasaki standing there, waiting for me. "Hey, Lyra! Good that everyone is on time and here, follow me." I nodded and everyone followed along. We went back up to the seventh floor, as we did in the beginning. I smiled at the familiar feeling as I first came here. Daydreaming again, Zane brought me back whispering. "Umm... Just a question, but what's going on?" "Oh! Well, you'll see soon enough." He sighed but kept walking. We went inside a big office with an empty space and Mr. Nagasaki sat us down. "So, I asked you here all today to join the working of the new augma." As Will, but Zane was very confused, he told everything as in the beginning again. Starting from what it was, to what it will be.

"So, all of that said, do you, Jace, Zane and Will want to join? We were looking for recruits as the Augma will probably go in the world in a month and we want to check some final updates. You will be required to train here with Lyra and do all of the different tasks within your capabilities." Strangely enough, Jace was the first to reply. "I want to join." Mr. Nagasaki nodded happily. Soon after, Will and Zane also agreed. "Good, good! Glad you're all fine children." He stood up and went to three cases. "In each case is an Augma and a sword-stick. Put it on, accept the challenge, and choose your class and sword." They each put their augma on and I watched. I felt happy. As I was finally free of the stress of secrets between my friends. I could finally tell them, but now also play together with them! Mr. Nagasaki and I put our Augma's on too, so we could watch them. Jace was the first to form his sword and come back to us. He appeared in some black smoke with daggers in his hand. "Woah! You look so cool!" I pouted, "there goes my cute brother..." He chuckled. At the same time Will also came back, covered in light, wielding a scepter. And Zane with a broad sword. I looked impressed. "So... Which classes did you pick?" Jace made a funny bow. "But of course a rogue my lady, I got to protect some sister in the shadows." "Pffff! Yeah sure, you better watch out!" I laughed. "Well, to see my scepter, I went as a mage." And then Zane... "I took the adventurer. I don't know what yet, so I'll pick another time later. "Hm... Good choices, good choices!" Mr. Nagasaki clapped in his hands. "I'd let you train first, but with Lyra there, you have nothing to worry! Just remember, as you feel the heaviness of your sword, you feel pain and everything. This isn't a dream, it has become your reality as long as you have your Augma on."

We thanked him and went to the grass field. It was a training ground to defeat monsters. Luckily, it was a manipulatable place, so I chose the lowest setting. I turned to the boys because I couldn't just drop them. "Okay listen, you each got a monster. Learn about your class, learn how to fight, and defeat monsters. Pretty easy right? Well not really, but anyway. Just try, they are the easiest there are. I'll be on watch to help because the monsters get more and more difficult as time passes." "To which level have you been able to get?" Jace asked suddenly. "Heh... Little embarrassing, but only 7 out of ten.." "Seven?!" They all seemed shocked but I laughed at their stupidity. "It's not that impressive! Plus, they said these were only the first stages and that they'll add more to twenty or even thirty!" It was funny seeing their souls almost leave their bodies, but I continued and pushed them in. "Good luck~!"