Ready, Player 1 (2)

"Claire."

Nod, nod.

The woman whose name was called nodded her head while seated in the chair, her eyes wider open than usual as she looked at Aiden.

"If there hadn't been any issues, we might have found something to do together, but because of what happened yesterday, that's difficult right now. We need to address that first."

Claire nodded again. Twice, just like before. She lifted her head, staring straight into ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Aiden's eyes as if to emphasize that she was listening properly.

"That's why I called you at this hour—there are a lot of things I want to ask before we move forward..."

"......"

"May I ask why you've been so quiet since earlier?"

"Ah."

The moment Aiden posed the question, Claire's lips curled up, and she averted her gaze. She covered her mouth with one hand for a moment to compose herself, then glanced sideways at Aiden and burst into laughter again.

"Hee hee..."

Finally, she looked straight at him and let out a small chuckle, ending her sudden outburst.

Aiden couldn't understand at all why she was acting like this.

"I was just trying it out. To see when you'd start nagging me."

"......"

"It's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not that serious a situation, right?"

Aiden pondered for a moment before replying.

"Even if you tease me like that, it's hard for me to react properly."

"Why?"

"...I'm not used to it."

"That's exactly the kind of unfamiliar reaction I was hoping for."

"I hope you won't be disappointed later."

She's saying that again. Somehow, she seemed even brighter and more cheerful than usual. What on earth is going on with her?

"Well, there was actually another reason."

"What else?"

"I'm sleepy. So sleepy..."

Claire's voice grew much weaker as she rubbed her eyes with slender fingers. Upon closer inspection, her previously wide-open eyes were now only half-lidded, heavy with drowsiness. She looked like she might fall asleep right there in the uncomfortable chair if left alone.

"The sun has set, and quite some time has passed."

"Then let me sleep..."

"In that case, let's wrap this up quickly and get you back to your room."

"Yaaay..."

Perhaps because of her sleepiness, Claire sluggishly clapped her hands in slow motion at the promise of sleep, welcoming the idea.

If she stayed this cooperative, they might really finish up in no time.

"Then, can we get to the real talk now, Claire?"

"Yeees, you said questions... right?"

Claire pulled her chair forward and straightened her posture. No matter how much they lightened the mood, some conversations couldn't be avoided.

"About that item you sometimes carry around..."

"The cane?"

"I'm talking about the book."

"Oh, this one."

Claire pulled out the book as if she'd known what he meant, tossing it carelessly onto the table. Once again, there was no sign of it coming from some hidden space or being summoned—it was as if she'd simply had it in her hand all along.

"What is that thing, exactly?"

"A book."

"More specifically."

"If I tell you everything, you won't report me or anything, right? Like, guards waiting outside?"

"I wouldn't do that..."

Even though she knew it was unlikely, Claire deliberately peered out the window with a frown. Besides, this was the second-floor room at the inn they'd been using for the past two days. Even if guards were waiting, they wouldn't be visible from here.

"Just so you know upfront, I'm not some witch or anything. I've probably done some bad things in life... but I'm normal."

"If you stop there, I'll believe you."

"Great!"

Claire twirled her finger in the air, and the book's cover flipped open. It turned to the first densely packed page of text, then the second, third. The pages flipped so rapidly that Aiden couldn't even count them properly before stopping at what seemed like the middle of the book.

"Just out of curiosity, old man."

She pointed to an illegible sentence on the open page and asked,

"What do you think about quotes or proverbs?"

"Quotes?"

"Yeah, the kind you're thinking of. Those inspirational ones. No beating around the bush—just say what you think."

With an invitation like that, there was no need to overthink. Aiden gave the most ordinary, safe answer.

"I think they're good words to engrave in your mind and put into practice."

"Most people probably think that way. No real reason to think otherwise."

"You seem to have a different opinion."

Claire nodded.

"Yeah, maybe because I like dwelling on silly thoughts."

"How do you see it?"

"I think quotes are just obvious truths dressed up to sound profound."

"Hm..."

"Yeah, like 'live kindly and work hard,' 'don't give up,' 'don't be pessimistic'—all obvious stuff, right?"

Aiden nodded moderately. He'd never thought of it that way, but quotes might indeed be like that. Words anyone could learn, experience, and feel, carefully worded to sound impressive. Advice you could give to a friend right beside you. But leveraging fame to turn personal experiences into universal truths...

"This book is full of that kind of thing. Poetic if you put it nicely, weird ramblings if you don't."

That was how Claire saw it, and she said as much.

"I'd love to show you, but only I can read it."

"So all the strange powers you've used while talking so far..."

"Were just magic-like effects from reading what's in here."

It was a power used in an unheard-of way, but with that explanation, Aiden could finally understand Claire's actions up to now. Whenever she used her power, she'd always recite something too long for a spell yet poetic—and it turned out that really was the incantation.

"You've seen it a few times, so you know—the effects usually follow the content of the sentence read. Like making someone unable to speak if it warns to watch your words."

Did they follow the sentences?

'A voiceless village, echoing footsteps.' A sentence that temporarily sealed magic use. And the one from earlier today probably halted movement by something grabbing the ankle.

Yeah, that could be considered following them.

"So you don't know exactly until you try it."

"Yeeep... That's why I used to test all sorts of things in empty places, and one time it went really wrong."

"Really wrong?"

"I'll tell you one by one when we're bored together later..."

Claire's blinking was increasing, and her words were growing weaker. He'd promised to let her sleep soon, and she'd been cooperative, so it was time to send her back for real.

"That's everything I wanted to ask. You can head back to your room now."

"For real...?"

"Yes. Sorry for calling you so late."

"...I don't even have the energy to get up. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I wanna just sleep here sitting."

It was nonsense. Aiden had no intention of leaving someone to sleep sitting up in his room instead of going to bed. When he grabbed her arms to pull her up and usher her out, Claire followed obediently but whined all the while.

"Eeeeh..."

"You can walk the rest of the way yourself. Your room's right next door anyway."

"If you let go, I'll just collapse in the hallway and sleep..."

"See you tomorrow, Claire."

"Ack."

Aiden ignored the odd threat and set Claire down in the hallway. She wobbled for a moment, making him worry briefly, but she steadied herself—proving the threat was empty.

"...Good night."

"Yeah, good work."

Aiden gave a simple farewell and closed the door.

Now, he was alone in the room.

It's rare for a day to feel this long.

With a deep sigh, he sat on the edge of the bed and closed his eyes. It was late at night—no loud noises would disturb him, and no one would come looking for Aiden at this hour. If there was ever a time for a conversation, it was now.

To the one who had intruded into his life.

"What the hell are you, exactly?"

Aiden voiced the question aloud and waited for a response.

In truth, up until yesterday, he'd had no intention of delving deeply into things like Players. Ever since encountering one in the cave, nothing major had happened. The voice never stopped chattering, but aside from that, everything was normal. He'd thought that as long as he didn't seek them out, nothing would occur.

...Or so he'd believed.

But it was all an illusion. Or rather, he'd forced himself to think that way until reality hit.

Players appeared even in places unrelated to death memories, recognizing Aiden.

"I've never heard of any group calling themselves 'Players' in my entire life. Was it just that we didn't know? Or did they start appearing from the day you showed me those memories?"

That evening, Aiden had searched for books with promising titles to investigate if there was any group self-identifying as Players. That was part of why he'd summoned Claire so late. Thanks to it, he'd memorized all sorts of useless conspiracy theories that would never help in a lifetime—but the word "Player" hadn't appeared even once.

It was only natural. "Player" was just a term for people enjoying games with chess pieces or cards.

"What the hell do you want from me?"

What scenario did they desire? What did they hope he'd do upon contact with Players, and ultimately, what was their goal?

The response came in a thoroughly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠disappointing form.

It was beating around the bush in some strange way, but the intent was obvious: it had no intention of answering his questions properly right now.

"Why? Am I supposed to just keep getting one-sided announcements and live in anxiety?"

In the end, it was just telling him to obey meekly.

"Players..."

The only one coming to mind now was the red-haired Player, Sephirah. She'd smiled at Aiden, said see you next time, and the voice was recommending conversation as if welcoming it.

Is that okay?

For a moment, Aiden wrestled with a meaningless dilemma. The chance of not being threatened if he sought dialogue. The possibility of finding and meeting the same Player again. And the risk of voluntarily leaping into danger.

His mind was a whirlwind, but Aiden nodded toward the empty air, where someone was surely watching.

"...I'll do that."

After all, Aiden had no other choice.