[Year 2, Day 91… three days later]

POV – Rin

Rin slowly twirled the small coin in her hand.

It had been several days since she’d confronted Tobias about hiding things… which had accomplished nothing.

Theoretically, they should reach the burning plains if they traveled a few more hours… but, something else was bothering Rin.

Rin hadn’t seen this game coin when she’d found the leather armor last time.

It hadn’t existed, as far as she was aware.

It was different.

Redeemable for a game, but...She'd been wondering for awhile, how do you redeem it?

Staring at the small coin.

On the face of the coin, it had the number 10… Whilst, on the back, it had the word ‘Hell’, presumably to indicate the coin was acquired in Hell Difficulty.

Whilst Rin was simple lost in thought, A system message appeared.

<Now redeemable to join Decima Game; 23 hours: 59 minutes remaining.>

<Multiple people can join and act as one player in the Decima Game.>

<Join? 0 people currently registered.>

Would it expire if left unused? Probably, considering it didn’t exist last time.

Reaching a near instantaneous decision to join.

Beforehand though, Rin decided to save.

Which file should she override though?

The first file reloads slightly before Tobias gets soul attacked.

It can be excluded, it’s ideal to keep a file from as early on as possible for potential emergencies.

The second file would reload to before she separated from Tobias in the previous zone…

The last file was saved in the residential area, just before entering the Third Zone.

Deciding the second file was the best option, she overrode that save point.

Rin preferred to leave the option to reenter the Residential Zone.

Decima Game?

Games are supposed to be interesting.

Glancing toward Tobias, who was still sleeping (despite it being midday with two of the suns already high in the sky).

The game does mention that multiple people can join… Tobias can join then.

If it takes too long, I’ll reload and abandon the game and leave it to Tobias.

It’s doubtful Tobias would survive entering the burning plains.

Having a game would probably be able to keep him distracted until I return with the trapping artifact would be useful.

Registering joining the game, a tattoo appeared on her left hand. It appeared to be constantly scrolling through numbers.

Specifically, the numbers zero through nine.

Eventually, it stopped on number 4… Three small red dots appeared afterward below it.

<Player 4’s Registration Confirmed>

<Companion Slots Remaining: 2>

Gazing absentmindedly at the back of her hand, Rin pondered how someone managed to set up such a complicated magic spell.

It seems to be a type of tracking spell, combined with a teleportation spell and calculative functions.

Nothing particularly harmful, though…

Dissolving it would probably mess with the Decima Game.

Seems complicated for a game.

Sporadically glancing toward Tobias.

What secrets do you have?

If they’re bothering you, simply tell me.

I’d probably be able to help… After I’d finishing mauling you for refusing to answer me when I asked earlier.

[Several hours later…]

POV Swap – Tobias

…Staring upward toward the triple suns, I blinking constantly.

When had I fallen asleep?

What time is it?

Having multiple suns makes sleeping and time keeping confusing.

This planet seems to only become night every few days. Even then, night seems to only last for five to six hours.

How a planet with three suns ended up with that result? No idea.

If I had to bet, I’d probably go with a combination of magic and complicated astrophysics.

Why didn’t Rin wake me up?

Normally, she’s detests wasting time… and sleeping apparently falls under that definition.

Looking around, I spotted Rin simply sitting down staring off into the distance.

The desert background and scattered palm trees (or their magical equivalents) behind her. Thin veils of sand fluttering in the wind.

How does she seamlessly go from being overwhelmingly intimating to utterly beautiful?

It’s downright unnatural… It’s like a movie scene with the beautiful female protagonist staring melancholically into the distance.

I don’t even want to bother her… I could probably waste an entire day simply staring at this wallpaper-like scene.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.

Rin’s wolf-ears turned in my direction, followed by her gaze.

At least, she no longer seemed angry over keeping secrets from her.

Instead, her gaze seemed more melancholical and tired.

Did…did something happen whilst I was asleep?

Cause, it definitely feels like something happened.

Don’t tell me time-travel shenanigans happened again…

Rin spoke up, “Amadeus, I’m tired.”

For a moment, I simply stood there shocked.

It might seem like a simple sentence, but I’d never told Rin my last name.

It’s a symbol. A symbol to past me.

A symbol that I’d told her... everything.

At minimum, it symbolizes that I’d told her power about knowing her power and that I have a lot of future knowledge.

Probably more.

Closing my eyes to cope with the situation…

The situation must be, or have been, rather dire to have done that.

Judging by how depressed Rin seemed – along with her wording, ‘I’m tired’- I’d wager the current situation is dire in itself.

What happened?

Monsters, I can deal with.

Angry Rin? I’ll figure something out.

Depression and sadness? I’m… rather clueless on how to solve that.

How would I know how to go about fixing emotional problems?

Shit, what exactly happened?

This makes no sense?

What changes someone from anger and aggression to melancholy and depression?

Reopening my eyes, I stared straight into Rin eyes.

Speaking up, I said, “What happened?”

Rin understood that I’d received the message, and simply continued staring into the desert sands. Replying briefly, “My sister…”

Sister? What…

Since when does Rin have a sister?

Never mentioned her family tree, besides her dead father, in the story…

Carefully probing Rin for a more thorough explanation, “Sister?”

Rin's wolf ears twitched before mumbling, “Not everything then.” Rin paused before replying. “My little sister, Kara… She’s in trouble.”

Rin proceeded to toss the game coin from earlier toward me.

Catching it, a system message popped up.

<Join ‘player 4’ in Decima Game?>

<Companion slots remaining: 2>

<21 hours: 14 minutes remaining.>

Decima Game? Decima Game that sounds familiar?

Very familiar… Decima means 10 right?

Wait… maybe? The Nonary Game?

It seems to have a similar naming scheme… Nonary meaning 9, Decima meaning 10.

*Imaginary Cough…* For anyone whose unaware, I’ll grossly over-simplifying it.

It’s effectively a psychological puzzle survival game.

Objective being to exit through the nine door.

Completely oversimplified, but whatever.

I’m not certain it’s the same thing.

Whatever it is, it isn’t good.

Especially considering Rin’s reaction… but, how does it relate to her sister?

… unless her sister’s in the game?

That would mean, “Kara’s here, in this universe?”

Rin simply nodded, continuing gazing into the distance.

“She’s joining this game?” I inquired staring at the game coin.

Receiving another nod in affirmation, I stood there dumbfounded.

That… different.

Rin’s sister?

Obviously, I’d considered something that happened important enough to tell Rin everything.

Considering Rin mentioned her sister’s in trouble… that’s probably what I considered important enough to inform Rin about everything.

Why though?

Why would it be important enough that I’d tell Rin everything?

Rin should’ve reset away from any danger… Unless, I’d believed it would’ve been dangerous not inform her.

Right, well… I’m not letting Rin doing this game is alone.

<Player 4 joined>

<Companion slots remaining: 1>

<21 hours: 11 minutes remaining.>

Flicking the coin back to Rin, I noticed a brand new tattoo on my hand.

The number four, huh?

Two dots below it… hmmm…

Weird and potentially dangerous.

Now, I need information.

Any information Rin can provide.

Consider she’s already aware that I know about her power, asking isn’t particularly detrimental anymore.

Alright.

Walked toward Rin, I sat beside her, “Tell me everything that happened. I need information to work.”

With enough information, I should be able to figure out exactly what happened.

Exactly why Rin knows my last name.

How to save her sister from trouble.

Thus, Rin began explaining.

[Abandoned Timeline - Decima Game; T –10 Days]

POV - Tobias

When the flashing light of teleportation disappeared, Rin and I appeared to be in a closet of some kind.

Decima Game, it sounds really familiar… I can’t put my finger on it.

I’ll figure it out eventually.

Pushing on the closet’s door, it rattled, refusing to open.

No handle either.

Rin destructive tendencies, though, immediately came to light. She swiped clean through the door with her sword.

Seriously, Rin? It’s a door.

This is supposed to be a game.

There's probably a key to opening it hidden in the room.

You’ll just ruin the puzzles if you continue doing that.

Immediately outside the room seemed to be some kind of warehouse.

Stepping outside, I glanced about. Ten closet sized room were in a circular formation.

In the center was some type of projector?

Deciding that was probably the best place to discover more about this game, I headed over.

Rin wandered off in another direction. Probably ideal to be splitting up anyway.

Tapping on black-box projected in light. It burst into particles and turned into a holographic paper.

Attempting to grab the holographic paper, it seems to be a list of rules.

Interesting, it seemed to have some type of touch analysis capabilities.

This would probably be a nightmare to program.

Seriously, although I can’t feel any paper, it’s seems to act exactly like paper.

<Rule 1: Keep track of your points, 10 points allows you to leave…>

<Rule 2: The exit only opens once. Anyone with less than 10 points when it opens cannot leave.>

<(NEW |34 seconds ago) Rule 3: NO CHEATING! -1 points for cheating.>

That’s ominous... and new rules?

No cheating? Is that because Rin cheated by slashing apart the door?

Is there some kind of intelligence operating this place?

Wait… Actually, why is this in English?

I’m gonna require another opinion.

Glancing about the room, Rin seemed to have disappeared off somewhere.

How unhelpful.

Hearing a door click open, my vision jumped toward the door.

Slowly a figure walked out the door…

Stanley?

What? How are you here?

Shouldn’t you be of saving the draconic people’s princess from her own stupidity in that volcano?

If you bugger off to do random games, who's gonna save their princess?

Also, where’s Tracy?

Stanley seemed just as astonished to see me here, “Tobias?”

Resolving myself to berate him for avoiding his responsibilities later, I called out to him, “Hey?... How’d you get here Stanley?”

He looked somewhat sheepish, rubbing his head he said, “It’s a long story…”

Long story… Really? You expect me to believe that?

You probably don’t want to answer because it’s embarrassing or something.

Whatever, I suppose it isn’t particularly important.

Indicating him over toward the rule set.

I’m interested in knowing whether he can read it.

Stanley seemed somewhat confused, but strode over anyway… After finally reaching the paper, he exclaimed. “Whoa?! English?”

Apparently, he can.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t particularly tell me much.

Hearing another door click open, I noticed a young red-haired teenage girl emerge from it.

Her age wasn’t what caught my attention though, No.

What caught my attention was the crown as her guild symbol.

King’s Prophet.

Judging by the fancy jewels woven into the mark a higher ranked member of the guild.

What was the name of their leader again?

Kara Paradox?

This keeps on getting more and more interesting.