A Forbidden Path

"Now, talk," Nisha demands Algron.

"Have you practiced my teachings?" he asks instead.

"I don't care about that. Just do what you swore."

"Alright. It exists."

"I knew it!" she celebrates. "So, how do we find it?"

"I do not have the slightest idea."

"Aw, man. . .," she complains. That blazing excitement suddenly turns gloomy.

The meat is cooked now and he gives each of us a piece. Nisha refuses but I'm hungry so. . . It's hot! "Ow!" I quietly cry out. I let it sit on my lap until it cools down. How is he holding this without getting burned?

"Eat," he says to her. His eyes are fixed on her but she looks to the side spitefully.

"No, thanks," she says.

"Don't blame me if you become mad for blood again."

"I won't," she says proudly with a very wide grin. "because I already have someone who can help me avoid that."

He swallows his food and looks at me seriously. "What are you, boy?"

"Uh. . ." *Gulp* "I'm—"

"He's an Anthropa and he's all mine! Bwahahaha!!!"

"What are you talking about?" I ask as I'm finding that statement of hers, ridiculous nonsense.

"Stop this," he says. His deep voice is loud and clear. It's as if the breeze stops blowing to pay respect to his words.

"And why would I do that?" Nisha questions.

"This is a forbidden path you are taking. It will only cause you madness. And madness will be your demise."

"I'm gonna be fine. I won't go mad as long as—"

"As long as he's here—your cattle? Right," he nods. "But what if he dies and you've gone deeply obsessed with his blood to the point you cannot revoke the Curse?"

Curse? What are they talking about? I want to ask but this is not the right time.

"I don't want to revoke it!" She rises to stand. "I am a vampire! This is who I am! If I throw it away I will be forsaking my parents' sacrifice!"

"You will be forsaking their sacrifice if you give in. The era of vampires is over. We might as well learn how to live with the Abyss Daemons. You might be giving up your inherited identity, but you are still your parents' flesh and blood. And I don't think you're doing this for their sake. You're doing it for yourself because you don't want to endure the suffering of the Revoking Ritual."

I have so many questions. . .

"I tried so hard!" she sobs. "But I can't! I'm not like you, Algron! I'm not as strong as you. I'm. . . not a chad."

The seriousness on his face melts down into confusion. "Chad?" he asks. "What's that?"

"Never mind that. You know what I mean."

She walks away from us, kicking the sand in her every step. That leaves me and Algron around the campfire. His glare fuels the fire. I can feel it becoming hotter and see it getting brighter. *Gulp* This is scary, at the same time, awkward. Maybe I should leave.

I stand up and before I could fully straighten my knee, his grim stare looms over me. My knees shake, forcing me to sit back. I look at the fire, afraid to move, afraid to meet his eyes.

"How long have you been with her?" he asks. He adds timber to the fire.

"Uhm. . . just. . . not long."

"How many times has she drank your blood?"

Ugh. . . I'm shaking too much. "Thrice," I say in a shivering voice. The fire in front of me isn't enough to heat away the frost of fear.

"Are you proud of what you've done?"

The fact is I don't know. How am I supposed to know? We just met like twenty-four hours ago! To avoid any further conflict, I zip my lips and throw away the slider.

"She needs at least a hundred years to starve herself to revoke the curse. Thanks to your existence, she relapsed and has to start all over again."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know!" I'm panicking and could not think of a better excuse. "If I knew, I wouldn't have—"

He shakes his head. I'm surprised by his sudden calmness. "I should be the one apologizing. My anger has clouded my mind. It was not your fault but mine. I knew I should've watched over her. I never thought an Anthropa like you would be summoned here. Why have you come to this world?"

Should I tell him? Where should I start? Answering the "why" question is rather hard.

"At first," I say in a humble voice. "I was brought here by Zaori."

"By the Rave Queen?"

"Yeah."

"Cunning lady, that one."

"Yeah, she is."

"Well, continue. I assume you have more to tell."

I take my time coming up with a way to say it without making it confusing. With my finger, I draw random shapes on the sand. It makes me less uncomfortable.

"When I was a little boy, my mother left me with the words, 'Find me at the Edge of the Server'. I was confused about what she meant but I remember that those were exactly the words I heard, engraved in my memory. And the last words I heard from her before she disappeared."

"What is the meaning of this word, 'Server'?" he asks. I guess that word is not well-known here.

"Well, it's a world where players like me gather to play at the same time. Shannia has only one vast server. It is the world we're in right now." I knew this from the File. "However, I wasn't sure if the server she talked about is Shannia. After her disappearance, I suddenly lost control of my legs. But here, I am free from that illness."

I feel lighter, knowing that I can use my legs here all I want. I can't believe that I sometimes take it for granted.

To continue, I say, "Then somehow, a memory came back to me. I remember her telling me that she wants to make Shannia a safe place. It is so that we can play it together. That didn't come true." I grab a handful of sand and squeeze it tightly as I rise. "But I feel she's here somewhere. She said to find her at the edge of the server. And that's what I'm going to do."

My face is as fierce as my desire to find her.