Dragona's Awakening: MMORPG System

After spending the rest of the night with Niyane, he still couldn't call her his girlfriend. She told him that she was his girlfriend, but that she couldn't officially say it due to her father. She still wanted him to treat her as such, but not openly. That meant, Being off the market, calling her, asking how she was doing, and sharing his life with her.

Niyane had left to go back to the girl dorm and Ryuichi was laying in bed looking at raid videos when he received a message from MorTyous. "Hey, my parents would like to invite you for dinner after the official ceremony at the guild academy for the raid. There will be pictures and interviews."

"Yeah... sure, no problem." Ryuichi Replied with a bit of resentment. He couldn't help but think,

Where were they when I was poor, thrown out as an orphan living in the street? Why didn't they do anything? Not one of my so-called father's friends did a thing. Not one of these so called guildies spoke to me. Were they really my parent's friends? Now that he had some skill and that I am worth something, they are inviting me in their rich luxurious homes. When my father's house was seized and sold for pennies because I couldn't afford to pay the bills, they weren't there, and I had to live from stealing to pay rent.

The award ceremony loomed over him like a shadow. He struggled to force a smiles, the fake laughter, and the shallow conversations with people he had no interest in knowing. These were the people who hadn't lifted a finger to help him when he needed it most. Yet here he was, expected to smile, to show gratitude. His hand trembled slightly as he adjusted the lapel of his coat.

Outside in the port area where mounts would arrive, there was a spectacle of different mounts—unique ones, rare ones. You could hear the sounds of mounts roaring, flying, taking off, and landing on the ground like a spectacle. Ryuichi went to the cloud vendor and gave him a coin. With a soft whir, a cloud emerged from the vendor's wand, and Ryuichi stepped onto it, allowing the magical mist to lift him gently into the air and cover his entire body for intimacy. Within town, you could use a cloud for a silver, but to fly out of town, you needed a flying mount, to take a griffon, or use a portal, which could be expensive depending on where you were going.

He landed softly, and as soon as his feet touched the ground, a hush fell over the crowd. All eyes turned to him. The announcement of his arrival rang out like the chime of a cathedral bell, echoing through the air.

"Ryuichi Kurogan, son of Lougi Kurogan," the voice boomed, and a wave of applause followed.

He felt his chest tighten. The images of his last battle floated around the hall in holographic projections, showing him fighting through blood and fire. He did not like being the center of attention. He walked toward the center of the gathering. The faces of the raiders present turned to him—men and women who had trained for years, their children dressed in fine clothes, looking at him with wide eyes, as if he was a walking ghost of the past.

Then, he spotted them—MorTyous and his family. Ryuichi approached them slowly, his heart pounding louder with every step. "Calm down he thought."

"Hi Sir, I am Ryuichi Kurogan" he said, his voice steady but hollow.

The tall figure of Dextev turned. His suit was like nothing Ryuichi had ever seen, adorned with shifting runes and drawings of leaves that swirled around him like a gentle breeze. Lightning crackled around the cuffs of his sleeves, and his tie—woven with threads of light—seemed to carry the energy of the sun itself.

MorTyous's face softened as he looked at Ryuichi. "You came here alone? You probably got a lot of questions." he said while looking at him. "I understand you must be holding some anger in you, If you knew how we feel about the death of our dear friend and you, alone, here. We couldn't even provide for you or help you or any other ones."

The words weighed heavily on Ryuichi, each one pulling him deeper into the pit of emotions he had been trying to bury for years. He stood there, unsure of what to say, his mind racing. He didn't want their pity, but what could he say?

 Ryuichi began, the words catching in his throat. His voice was low, laced with frustration and something deeper. "I'll be honest. I don't understand, and I can't be a hypocrite. I want to know. I was never introduced, never spoken to by the guild. Why?" He met MorTyous's gaze, his eyes burning with years of pent-up confusion. "You all left me to die. I can't just stand here smiling, pretending everything's great, like I'm in the heavens or something..."

MorTyous's face darkened. The imposing raider, known for his stoicism in battle took a deep breath, his expression hardening as he spoke. "Kid, you don't know anything yet, or even the importance of this guild in Noviak. I seen hundreds of friends died in raids, some I thought of helping their family, then there was more and more and more! What do you know of anything, the guild compensate, should I pick you, or one of the hundreds more to train, this world is nothing nice, It is all." His voice was firm like a man bound by responsibility beyond his comprehension.

A hand clapped gently on his shoulder from behind. He turned around to see Valentine.

"Ryuichi," Valentine said, his voice deep and steady. "I'm glad you're here. You made it..." He said looking at him like a ticking bomb of emotion. So training paid off, he said sipping on his drink. Ryuichi looked at him in the eye with somewhat of rage but it only took one look from valentine for him to feel so cold like death its self had slain his soul. 

"how about I buy you a drink, it's on me, go get one, and I mean Now!" he said with a smile, Almost looking threatening. His hand then hit his back, it felt like a murder weapon had touch him, a hand of steel that could rip out his spinal cord.

A sudden chill creep on him, like he had hit a wall bigger then him self. The air around him seemed heavier, and for the first time, he really saw the raiders as—hardened warriors who had been witness to pain worst then he could imagine. Compared to them, his thoughts and emotions felt small, almost meaningless. It wasn't that they didn't care—it was that they had seen and lived through things far beyond his understanding.

Feeling out of place, he stood up and walked to the bar, glancing at the menu as the weight of his surroundings sank in making him feel very small and vulnerable.

Drinks

1. Thunderclaw Brew

A hearty, dark ale with a bold taste brewed by the mountain dwarves of the north. Its earthy flavor has a smoky finish that lingers on the tongue.

Price: 7 silver per mug

2. Sunleaf Mead

A sweet mead made from golden sunleaf honey, with hints of wildflowers and a dash of elderberry. Best served chilled, perfect for summer evenings.

Price: 6 silver per mug

3. Emberfire Whiskey

A fiery whiskey distilled from volcanic springs, known to warm you from the inside out. Beware, it packs a punch with its spicy cinnamon kick!

Price: 10 silver per shot

"I will take a Thunderclaw Brew with a Emberfire whiskey shot in it, please, 50 Proof" said Ryuichi.

"Thunderclaw Brew with a cinnamon whiskey shot in it, right here," the small Dwarf bartender chirped, sliding the drink across the counter with practiced ease.

Ryuichi grabbed the mug, watching the frothy liquid swirl as the cinnamon whiskey mixed with the dark brew. He took a couple of sips, the warm spice hitting his throat, and sat down.

His thought swirling as much as his drink. For a second, he thought, "Maybe it would be nicer if I had a few more of these." So, without hesitation, he waved over the gnome again.

"Three more Ember Fire whiskey shots," he ordered, and the gnome, ever efficient, quickly lined them up.

Ryuichi downed the shots one by one, feeling the burn as the fiery liquid slid down his throat, warming his chest. He alternated between the whiskey and sips of his Thunderclaw Brew, the combination making his head buzz pleasantly. The edge of his frustration began to dull, replaced by the warm haze of alcohol.

Just as he was starting to feel a little lighter, Devtix sat beside him. "Triple Shots 400 Proof"

"You mind if I sit, I hope not" he said sitting down. He motioned to the bartender for another, not even flinching as he downed a second whiskey as quickly as the first.

Ryuichi raised an eyebrow, glancing at him. Ryuichi tensed at the words, the bitterness returning despite the alcohol, but yet looking at him, he did not look like the comfortable rich guy he thought of, he more looked like a serial killer in a nice suit.

He set down his glass with a firm thud. "So how about you come over tonight?" he said looking at him like he was a sad pup. "It brings back good memories seeing you here.". Putting his 8th triple whiskey shot of 400 Proof, he looked like he was starting to feel a buzz. Ryuichi looked at him and there was fire mixed with lightning in his eyes, as if his mind was constantly at war in its self, ready to kill, Feeling like hell was in his soul ready to unleash and and destroy.

"Its not an option, your coming over tonight", his eyes were now blacken and shot fear in his heart."

He nodded, feeling awkward. "Sure" he said. Swallowing back.

"Its, Yes Sir!" he said looking at him.

"Yes, sir!"

"Ah, Better! Also you ever speak to me like that again and I will latterly smack you so hard you will hear so much preaching from the priest that you will convert to one". "Am happy your joining us for dinner", "Here how about a triple shot of EmberFire Whiskey 400 Proof for an old friend's son"

The dwarf then put down a triple whiskey shot in front of him, looking at him in the eyes like he was about to drink his death. He looked at the shot and shot it down his throat. The shot felt like fire down his entire body had consumer him, he felt like a hammer had hit his head, he wasn't sure if he could safely get off this chair.

In a distorted double view he looked at Devtix and who had took his 10th shot with him, laughing a little, looking at him.

The spirit then said "You are one little boy beside those people you... You need to shut your mouth and learn."

"Alright kid, you need to sober up... that shot was one too much for you" Devtix's voice slurred, the words slightly stretched, like they were bouncing around Ryuichi's head. "A single shot... and you're down... you are not a raider yet... I can't wait... to see you at this raid..." His voice wavered, echoing. "You're going to see... what a real raid is like... if I tell you to jump in a lake of fire... you do it..." The words warped as his speech slowed down, "If you need to get shot at... so we regrow your legs... you get shot... is that... clear...?", "Follow... orders... your dad... would thank me...".

He reached across the table, shoving a loaf of bread into Ryuichi's hands. "Here... take this... Sobering Bread," he said, the words barely coherent, like they were being pulled apart and echoing through Ryuichi's mind.

Later that night after eating with MorTyous family he was given all the information for the raid. All he had to do was train and get ready for next week.