Team Game (I)

"What are you doing here?" Kiyro said with a slight gasp. He didn't expect to see the one and only Alex here at this location. The chances of meeting so many people he played with in-game and ending up in Georgia were surprising. He looked slightly different in-game and in real life, but he could tell they didn't look too far apart from his original avatar.

"I was in the process of doing an errand. I'm assuming you're Zero." Alex asked. He walked up towards the group and slightly bowed towards them in acknowledgment. His eyes caught Isabel's stare, and he sweetly smiled back. "Hello, little lady, what is a cute flower-like you doing here?" He winked at Isabel. She blushed red and averted her eyes away from him.

Alex glanced behind her and noticed Eve. "It seems Mrs. Wildfire is doing well. I'm sorry I couldn't hang out with you when you called online. I had something important to do at that time."

"No. No. It's alright. We all have a life."

"Thanks for understanding."

"Ahem." Jack coughed, trying to break their little world. Alex glanced up at him. "And you guys are?" He looked toward Jack and Will with interest. Everyone was silent from the unexpected encounter, especially Kiyro, who would have never expected to meet him here.

Kiyro noticed that Alex still had that glamor that he often sees in-game, but it seemed his character in real life was slightly different. It was calmer and polite, which threw him off guard. He stepped up towards him and replied, "This is Jack, Isabel, and Will. They gathered here because of the call that I had sent out. Are you here for the same reason as well?"

Alex slowly shook his head as he took in each person's demeanor. Finally, he smiled a gentlemanly smile. "As you heard from Kiyro here, I'm Alex. I go by the name of Zeraph in-game."

Each one gave their greetings and shook his hands. Alex confidently took their hands and grasped them firmly without wavering.

"How do you guys know each other? Friends?" Jack asked curiously while shaking his hand.

"You could say something like that. We have been hanging out together quite frequently in the game. Like you guys, I'm meeting you all for the first time."

"Actually," Eve cut in, "Kiyro and I had already met a while ago."

"Really?"

"Yea, since the Yami Hikari convention."

"What a surprise. I have been there as well, but I don't think I have seen any one of you before. It seems fate has brought us here today."

"Apparently so," said Kiyro. Fate had a funny way of bringing people together.

Alex turned towards Kiyro. "So, will you be handing the quest out now?"

Kiyro slowly nodded. Automatically, the Alive gear sent out a message to each of the five people. The Alive gear pinged, notifying them of receiving the quest.

Real World Hidden Quest: Alpha Division individual quest

You have been given another quest by an unknown user. This quest has been confirmed to be transferred over to Zero. An automatic call out to the nearest group of players has been accomplished, and all six players are present. Please head to the Fire and Ice Bookstore and buy one Selenite for each player.

Total Individual quest that needs to be completed 3333 worldwide. 1325/3333 completed at this time.

Time Limit: Four hours out of six hours left

Quest Level: B

Reward: Depends on your completion of the quest. Each individual party member will be different.

The map has been sent to each teammate.

What would your team name be?

"Fate," Kiyro replied

Your team name has been registered.

"Fire and Ice Bookstore?" Jack replied, confused. "Why do we need to go there, and what is a selenite even?"

"It is a pure white translucent crystal," spoke Isabel. Everybody turned towards her, curious at her answer.

"So what purpose does this crystal have?" Jack asked carefully, trying to find the right word without sounding too ignorant. Everyone listened to her with interest, and even Kiyro couldn't help but wonder why this quest needed a crystal stone.

"Well, it's a bit complicated. Think of it like this. In a metaphysical aspect of the stone, it has a very fine energy vibration that brings clarity of mind, opening the crown chakra. It can help access angelic consciousness and higher guidance. Another aspect is to link the body to the higher light realms. Selenite can be used to form a protective barrier around an area, creating a safe and quiet space that does not allow outside influences," said Isabel, like a teacher teaching her student. "I use it to set up a protective barrier where I live."

"What do you mean energy? You're not talking about physics, are you?"

"Well…"

"I think I might know what she means," said Kiyro. "If I'm not mistaken, I remember what my sensei used to say back in my old Academy. He told me something different." Kiyro was a bit nervous to voice what he had to say. "He said that the concept of metaphysical energy is similar to physics and follows almost similar laws. No energy is created or destroyed, just transferred from one to another. That said, the energy from the crystals was already present and radiated off energy throughout its lifespan. Even rocks have an expiration date. So we are looking more into the energy the eye can not see. Almost like an aura, their essence, or some kind of etheric energy form. Right?"

"Yea," nodded Isabel quickly in agreement. "How does he know this?"

"He used to rattle off some different aspects that didn't completely make sense during my martial arts training. But, I think I'm slowly starting to understand him as we speak."

"But I still don't fully understand how a piece of rock could do all this that you said," said Alex in disbelief. He scoffed at the idea that a piece of rock was more than it seemed.

"Well, to put it simply, the energy that a selenite gives off is purely high energy where it cleanses the surrounding area that it protects. A light shield is erected from it. Think of the Selenite as the source that sets up a white dome-like barrier, or it could be used to connect energy points from one to another, feeding off each other," said Isabel.

"Wait back up. Set up a protective barrier? Have connections to angels? What kind of bogus are you saying." Alex was having a hard time believing Isabel's words.

"What it protects does not stop physical aspects, but more on a spiritual plane. Don't you ever wonder why there are so many sightings of ghosts, demons, and unusual mythical creatures? This is because this world does not stop on the physical plane. Things on the other side have the power to influence the physical plane without us knowing and even seeing."

"You guys believe in all that?" Alex asked the group. Everyone replied one by one.

"I'm not a believer, but I'm open to new ideas," said Will. He shrugged it off.

"Ghosts? I don't believe in it at all," stated Eve. She folded her arms and began to tap her feet on the pavement. "Unless I have some kind of proof, it sounds like a fairytale."

"I do. I think there is more to this world than we imagined, " Jack replied. "Science has not explained everything yet to state ghosts are not real. So it's all up for grabs right now."

"What about you, Kiyro?" asked Eve. She was waiting for his answer.

Kiyro was quiet for a moment, thinking about an answer to give them. "She might have some validity to what she said, and what I'm remembering now could slowly hold true to what my sensei said," Kiyro answered. If what happened in the last quest had some kind of similarities to this quest, he did not take any chances.

"Really? Why do you say that?" said Eve. She was surprised at his answer.

Kiyro breathed in deeply and calmed his nerves. It was not something he usually talked about, but he knew that whatever happened on his last quest could happen again. "I had a quest before this, one of the Real World quests."

"You did?" asked Eve. She inched closer, interested in what she would have to say. "So what happened, and what does this have to do with what we were just talking about?"

"I think showing it to you would be faster than me retelling the story." Kiyro checked his Alive gear. "Slyph, I need you to send them my video. Can you do that for me?"

Sylph responded, "Yes, boss, I can do that. Will you give me some kind of reward for helping you out here? Possibly you know some rated R stuff?" Sylph wiggled his imaginary eyebrow and asked in a mischievous tone.

"No. It's a simple task. So why would you need some kind of reward for it?" Kiyro shook his head in reluctance to Sylph's demands.

"Who are you talking to?" Will asked. He stared at Kiyro strangely.

Kiyro sighed, "He's my guide and accessory in the game. His name is Sylph."

An animated bird cartoon message appeared before each person's Alive gear. Then, like a virus, Sylph invaded each Alive gear and sent his own small personal clone with a message embedded in it.