+22 Change

"I will change"

I said while sitting on my bed , the room empty as always today's date was 20/04 it's been 20 days since beta testing started. From day 19th night to day 20th morning the Labyrinth incident took place.

After thinking for hours about the incident , I decided to change myself from here on. Today was the day we were to write our monthly report , every 20th day of the month was the day were had submit our report. In this report we wrote about our gaming experience , any bug & glitches , any suggestions to improve the game.

These suggestions were not limited to anything so we could suggest changes about anything ridiculous like changing the Exp Points we need to level up or Exp Points we got from a monster , etc. Of course it was up to them to take up on our suggestions maintaining the balance of system.

I simply reported about the bugs I came across while playing like getting stuck in ground or getting teleported to some unknown place instead of beginner's town. I also recommended them to de-buff many skills , increasing the monster's HP , simplifying the how the stats worked.

That sums my report up , I didn't go deep in any of the topics as I knew they would get what I meant. Their were still few hours left before Rin's lecture were over , in these hours I reflected on myself , what I've achieved , what good I've for my parents until now.

And the conclusion I could reach to was ,

"I've done nothing , what have I been doing for all these years. Was it because I didn't had a goal to look forwards to?"

'Well that's easy let's just prepare a goal for me right now.'

I walked towards my study table and picked up the pen lying there and opened the notebook nearby. With pen in my hand I was about to write my goal and wrote 'Goals' on

'Wait wasn't the hard part to do firstly , I couldn't create a goal for myself and this is where I'm right now. Let's see what do I wish for.'

Just when I was thinking of what I wish for , for some reason my heart started beating fast and the sight of a girl flying in the air with her silver armour shining in the moonlight flashed before me.

Snapping out of my thoughts I glanced at the book infront of me on which 'Yuki' was written. Seeing her name written below Goals made my heart beat faster. I reached for my heart and thought ,

'What is this feeling? Why is it making my heart beat faster? Why does it feels so warm.'

I scratched her name with my pen out of embarrassment. Regaining my composure I thought about it for few minutes and in the end couldn't create any goals.

'I'm going to something that I couldn't do in just one day , didn't think it would be this hard to do.'

In the past too I couldn't create any kind of goals and nothing has changed from back then. But this time I didn't give up and called my mom to talk with her about this. Dialing her phone number I video called my mom on my phone.

'I haven't seen or heard mom in a while.'

It took quite a lot time for her to pick her phone up , after she picked up my call I could see her face filled with excitement besides her my sister Rika and my father were also there. After seeing their faces I couldn't help but feel bad for casting them away from my life giving them no chance to even have the glance of real me.

'Really ; what have I been doing?'

"Hello Mom , Dad and Rika."

I greeted them with a forced smile , it looked like they were in the living room of the house I could see the kitchen behind them. The last time I visited my home was about a year or two ago , ever since my university started I haven't visited them.

"How are things going there? Your University's OGT is next right?"

As always Dad worried about me the most out of them.

"That's what I wanted to talk about too. Dad if I get ranked in 1000's in my second OGT will you let me pursue gaming."

Hearing my words all I could see were their widened eyes as if they were shocked by hearing my words. Tears started welling up in Mom's and Dad's eyes.

'Just how badly have I treated then till now for them to cry over something so trivial. I hope I can see your proud face one day dad , mom.'

After few seconds mom replied ,

"Axel even if you dont get into 1000 rankings we will let you choose anything you want."

"No , mom I want to earn this myself I can't just do anything I want , if I do that I'll go back to how I was."

'Yeah if I don't pay the price for my gaming career I will take gaming for granted let me pay the price mom.'

"..."

"Mom I'll definitely not regret my decision and even if I do I won't blame you or dad for any of this , this is my choice."

Mom didn't reply and left the room instead of mom dad said ,

"Axel , don't worry about your mom I'm sure she's alright you pursue your dream and live your life happily. Mom's just couldn't take all of this in , we will support you with your decision. Also don't forget our plan."

The 'plan' my dad was referring to was the promise I made when I asked them to buy me the VR Set. The promise was to visit them once at the end of the month.

"Sure dad I won't forget."

"Dad I wanted to talk with brother could you please leave us alone?"

"Ok you guys start catching up."

with that my dad left the living room. But the one he left before me was the problem I could see the smirk on her face and that wasn't of a 15 year old girl's face.

"So brother tell me , do you have a girlfriend yet?"

'Eh!?'

"Eh!?"

After talking with my sister for nearly a hour I was finally able to sort things out.

'It feels good.'

I browsed through the gaming community and saw the hype created by Infinite's trailer. Some gamers were ready to buy the beta tester accounts for million's , but those who were beat tester knew the price they had to pay if they sold or even leaked a screenshot the game.

After thinking for a while I decided to called Rin to tell about the decision I made.

'I should atleast tell Rin he's my best and only frien-'

Just when I was thinking that her smiling face flashed in my mind.

'I should atleast tell Rin he's my best friend.'

With that I called Rin after his lectures were over , I called him to tell him my decision. He picked up my call quicker than I without wasting point I said ,

"Rin , bet on my scores going up on the next test."

"..."

I couldn't hear anything from his side I checked the number again to make sure I didn't call someone else but it was indeed Rin. Just to break the silence I asked him ,

"Hey Rin , you okay? Say something."

"Yeah I'm fine , But Isn't our next test OGT? Are you planning to get in high ranks?"

'He really knows me well'

"Yeah I'm thinking of getting in 1000s so that I can pursue Gaming further."

Meanwhile hearing Axel's words Rin thought to himself ,

'Damn he sounds serious , I just guessed it as a joke.'

"With your brain you'll be able to score that high that easily , and It will be great to see you in the gaming scenario. By the way Axel Yuki asked me to tell you something."

'What does she wanted to tell me.'

"Yeah go ahead."

"The reason you were able to kill your First Noble Garfon was because of her skill 'Prideful Friend'. Apparently it switches Yuki's stats with her friend , she chose you to switch it with and in exchange she gets 90% of the Exp Points gained by her friend. The skill was incomplete or probably bugged that's why it didn't show you your changed stats."

He continued ,

"She really helped us a lot , when me and Yuki were facing those remaining Noble she helped me kill all the 3 of them which I got Exp Points for. Also-"

He didn't complete his words for the next few seconds he didn't say anything. Seeing him being silent , I said

"Why are you pausing in between just say what you want to say."

"A-Ah yes , after telling about me about the skill she left a voice message for you.

After few seconds I could hear her voice on the call , it looked like he played the message loud enough for me to hear it in the call.

"Don't meet me ever again I don't like puny losers like you. Leave Rin alone he will perform better that way."