Rioneed: VRMMORPG

Ruliv looked at Oya with questioning eyes, so she elaborated further:

"He… he isn't here anymore."

"What do you mean he isn't here? Did he leave the game world and stay in your real world? I believe he told me it was named Earth, right?" Ruliv asked with doubt and disbelief.

"No, he isn't on Earth, he left here," Oya replied with some bitterness.

"What do you mean by that?" Ruliv asked as he moved his chair closer to her as he added, "Is he at Apidon world?"

"No, he left the whole universe," Oya said it clearly this time, which made Ruliv's eyes widened. Ruliv wasn't some random player, he was one of the oldest here. He had seen a lot, and his mind was widely opened on extreme ideas, even those who seemed impossible. 

So, he didn't doubt Oya's words, instead, he started to think how Ibro did it. if Ibro managed to escape from here, then they could also do it.

"Do you know how he did it?"

"No, he just vanished, all I know he was taken through a strange relic site that appeared specifically for him," Oya replied while squeezing her hands from nervousness and sadness.

"Do you mean he was targeted? Like those Pnroian monsters tried to do that?" Ruliv asked with some anger in his tone.

Oya just looked at him, as she knew that calling for those monsters were wrong. She wanted to correct him, but she knew Ibro would advise against this, so she stopped herself from doing that. 

She didn't see anything wrong about telling the truth to people who were directly related to it, but she still decided to honor Ibro's decision and respect his call.

"They aren't the monsters, and I don't know who they are, all I know is that he is still alive, and that's enough for me… for now," Oya said.

"Sigh," Ruliv sighed loudly, "This kid, I mean Ibro, was always unique. I have seen many different types of players walking out here, but none of them were like him, you included."

Oya wasn't upset by his words, as she knew she wasn't as good as Ibro. Ruliv looked to her as he muttered:

"I feel you are kind of lost, like you miss something, part of you, I don't know, I only spoke with you a few times already."

Oya smiled as she looked at him while saying:

"I too feel the same way, but it might be just me."

Ruliv pointed to a nearby chair as he said:

"Sorry I got carried on by Ibro's news, please have a seat."

"Thanks," Oya grabbed the chair and moved it sitting in front of Ruliv, who continued to say:

"I believe you didn't come here to tell me this news only, right?"

Oya looked at him in the eye, she didn't know why but this old player was like some close relative to her. She took a breath and then said what she came here for:

"I came here because I needed some help."

"Help with your game world, right?"

"I need to do something Ibro left to me, but it's very tiring and costly, so I thought maybe I can come here and ask for help," Oya said.

"What do you need?" Ruliv said while taking back the parchment again as he looked at it. Oya replied simply:

"Ibro told me about a deal he made with you, a deal for helping you gaining access to this world, right?"

"Yes, he did have a deal with us," he then put down the parchment, "Don't tell me you want to replace him."

Oya shook her head as she felt strangely nervous as she replied:

"No, no, but yes."

"Is it a no or a yes?"

Oya kept silent for a moment as she tried to get rid of all those distracting ideas in her head right now, she didn't know why her head was full of these disturbing images that she didn't know anything about, and she couldn't tell anything from. 

Most of them were about a dark gloomy place with no light or air at it. She could only spot a fog, endless fog there.

"Sorry, what were you just saying?" she asked with a lost look over her face.

"Are you alright, your face is strangely pale?" Ruliv asked with concern.

"I think I'm just stressed, or maybe because I lost Ibro, I don't know," she replied with shaking her head and looking everywhere like a lost.

"That's normal; I quite understand your feelings. Listen, I have something here that helped me a lot when I lost my daughter a long time ago," Ruliv said as he took out a beautiful necklace with a small heart like a deep orange stone. She took the necklace as she said with courtesy:

"Thanks, I really love it."

"Now, can you tell me what you intend to do in Ibro's place? Do you know what agreement we both had?" Ruliv asked as he leaned back to sit more comfortable on his chair.

"I don't know the specifics, but he told me it was something for the future war with the… monsters," Oya replied.

"A war, huh," Ruliv nodded as that was exactly what he expected before. He then explained:

"Ibro and I had a deal regarding the use of this world and other worlds resources, after all the resources here are very rare, unique, and precious. He had his share of the scrolls we made, and he could have some ores too if he wants. 

Now, as he isn't here, I approve of you being in his place regarding this agreement, so do you want the scrolls or the ores?"

Oya looked at him hesitantly, which was something that didn't escape the keen eyes of Ruliv, who added:

"It seems to me you didn't come here for either of those, can you tell me what you really need?"

"Ibro had a dream to build a strong guild at Ihnasia city, his home, and I intend to see this dream fulfilled," She explained slowly.

"So, you need gold coins?" Ruliv asked.

"No, not gold coins, I need to secure a way to produce enough gold coins for my guild," Oya replied.

"That's nice, and wise as well. So, you are here to find a way to maintain a stable income, so neither the scrolls nor the ores would help you, so what do you have exactly in your mind?" Ruliv asked with a serious tone this time.