Chapter 207: But At What Cost

When I looked down, I could see what was keeping the ship above the water. Massive almost completely invisible blocks surrounded the ship and around the sides. It gave the effect that let us float in the air, but I could see the bottom of the block and it was at least ten meters above the surface of the rolling sea.

"I wonder how it works?" I asked out loud to no one in particular.

"Magic!" Came the sound of an old man's voice that whistled through what I assumed had to be missing teeth.

I turned to find a strange old man, sweeping the deck. I looked at him as Kyla climbed up my leg and into my arms to hang off my shoulder and stare out at the sea, while I tried to place the old man's face. I had gone over the crew with Black, and I remembered this guy…

"Gerald! Do you know how these things work? Besides that they use magic?" I asked, while putting Kyla down to run back to the girls.

'Watch her please and let me know if she is getting into trouble, please girls?'

'Roger, boss!' -Trinity.

'Mmhmm!' -Eva.

I checked on Kyla again, but she was back with the girls, climbing up and down each one of them like jungle gyms. I turned back to Gerald, I remember now why he was such a memorable person. Gerald had begged to be brought alone.

"No, clue, other than that they are magic, they don't use magic."

"Okay, how are things going? Excited to make it to the islands?"

"Very, I have heard the stories on the place, and I have travelled all over Bjrothrone, but never to the Monster Islands. It's the last place on my bucket list. So, if it is my last trip, and something happened to me, it's fine. I can say that I have lived my very best life!" Gerald said with vigor.

I envied the old man. The NPC on this world were so much different then the ones in the game worlds, it was almost like they were real people, but I know that wasn't the case. There were some people that used NPC bodies in games, but they were employees of Second Life that Dave had saved. They were still very restricted and had to follow the guide lines sten into their NPC Avatars, but Dave had promised them it would just be for the single game.

The broken promise was not his fault, but still. It must be hard for the gods and people like Greg and Greshaha. Just how many times had they been tossed around?

'Hyde!' -Eva/Trinity.

I whipped around to see the girls chasing after Kyla who was down on all four. She was out pacing the girls easily, but the little shit was running right for the edge of the ship and there was no bottom railing. I snapped open two Gates and burst across the deck at top speed, leaving dents in the ship. There wasn't any way the deck plating could handle the third gate, but I wasn't going to make it on time, but Tamika was already in the air, trying to catch her.

All the girls were screaming for her to stop now, but it just made the little shit run faster! I was less than five meters from her when Kyla's expression of mischief turned into wide eyed shock, then instantly to fear as her head tried to turn to see why there was no more ground to run on. 

Time almost stopped as something in me snapped. Instantly I had her and I threw her upto Tamika who was flying as I flew over the edge, and then I got sucked into one of the blocks. Instantly, my body forced the last two gates open, and that was never a good sign.

Everything was moving so slow, but I was able to see Kyla be caught by Tamika, then my body was hit by a force. There was no time react, think, even blink, A force like a mountain fucking smashed me the second I entered the invisible block, and every consecutive one. Five mountains hit me and then I was flying through the air at breakneck speed.

Even with the four Gates open, It was all I could do to stay conscious. The force that hit me broke bones, everywhere. Fuck, is this how it all...but I blacked out after the third time i hit the water. The last thing I remember was thinking that I was going to have a headache when I woke up, if I ever did. 

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[4 days later, unknown island, unknown hut]

I couldn't move and that was fine, I didn't want to. I could feel my body wrapped in something smooth, but I couldn't even open my eyes to look. My face felt fucking massive, and yes, I had a nasty headache.

"Ver mm I? Dis," and I had to pause before continuing. "An on der?"

My head was so fucking swollen I could barely even move my lips, I didn't want to think about my body, nothing worked, it was like...I wasn't fucking parazyled was I? No, this couldn't be right! I was starting to panic and I tried to move my toes, but nothing was happening. 

My panic level was skyrocketing out of control. I can't remember another time that I had been hurt this bad. My panic was starting to make my face and head hurt, and that just made it worse, because that was the only thing that I could feel. 

"Calm down Hyde. I know this is scary, but I am here with you,"

That voice cut some of the mounting tension, but I was able to focus on the voice. That voice...I knew it.

"Haruna…" 

"Yes, dear. You finally found me, but you need to rest. I will take care of you, so just sleep for now my champion."

I had found my little spring flower, but at what cost to myself?