Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

Kaizen was surprised to see Jayaa approaching the table, but a tension immediately settled in the air. The two had not met since Jayaa and Emma had hidden that she would also be participating in the selection process for the special program, which caused a major and abrupt break in their friendship.

“Jayaa…” Kaizen muttered, her voice revealing a mixture of discomfort and resentment.

Jayaa looked at Kaizen with a hesitant expression, seeming a bit disconcerted by his friend’s reaction. He tried to break the ice, saying, “Klaus, I… didn’t expect to find you here. How have you been?”

Kaizen kept a cold stare at Jayaa before answering, his voice laden with distrust. “I’ve been doing pretty well, considering the circumstances. How about you?”

Jayaa looked away for a moment, before sighing and saying, “I have been reflecting a lot on what happened between us, Klaus.”

Between them, Andrew didn’t know what was going on, but it was clear as day that the two used to be friends.

Kaizen crossed his arms, remaining cautious. “And what exactly were you planning to do by coming here?”

Jayaa seemed sincere in his answer. “I understand that I broke the trust we had. I would like to apologize and try to rebuild our friendship. I was wrong, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make it right.”

Kaizen looked at Jayaa for a moment, pondering his words. He still felt hurt and distrustful, but he also knew that deep down he wished to get his old friendship back, after all it was Jayaa who helped him when everything was about to fall apart again in his life.𝒐𝐕𝗅xt.𝓬𝒪𝑚

“I don’t know, Jayaa… I can’t just forget what happened without an explanation of what really happened. I mean… Why didn’t you tell me? I considered you my best friend and I used to think it was the same for you.”

Jayaa lowered his eyes, showing remorse and sadness on his face. He looked genuinely sorry for what had happened.

Slowly, he lifted his gaze and fixed his eyes on Kaizen. “Then you already know… I really am sorry and there are no excuses for what I did. Emma didn’t allow me to tell you and I confess that I was a little irritated by the way you were close. I knew it could hurt our friendship, and I was selfish not to tell you.”

Kaizen sighed, feeling the pain of the past resurface. However, he noticed the sincerity in Jayaa’s eyes, which made him a little more willing to listen.

Andrew, who had been listening to the conversation in silence until then, decided to intervene. “Klaus, I understand that it is hard to forgive and trust again, but remember that we all make mistakes. What matters is whether the person is willing to learn from them and change. I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but your friend seems sincere in his repentance and willing to make amends. Maybe this is an opportunity for a new phase in your friendship.”

Kaizen looked at Andrew and then at Jayaa. He realized that the weight of the decision was on his shoulders. Despite the pain and distrust, he knew he still valued the friendship they shared.

“Jayaa, I’m not going to promise that it will be easy or quick. But I am willing to try. Let’s start slow and rebuild our friendship, step by step. But know that I will be watching closely to see if your words match your actions.” He stated, making Jayaa’s face sketch some trace of happiness again.

Jayaa nodded. “Thank you so much, Klaus! I promise I’ll be a great friend again!”

Kaizen smiled slightly and then introduced him to Andrew. “Jayaa, this is my friend Andrew. Andrew, this is Jayaa, a former co-worker and a great friend. By the way, he’s a bard.”

“A bard?” Andrew asked, surprised. “I’ve always wanted to meet one.”

The two shook hands and exchanged greetings. Then Kaizen suggested that everyone sit down again to continue. After chatting for a while, Jayaa stated that he needed to log out and left.

Then, as Kaizen and Andrew left the tavern, Kaizen turned to his friend, squinting, and said:

“Let’s go to some farming area. The encounter with Jayaa was more stressful than I imagined it would be when I meet him again. I need to relieve the tension on some monsters.”

Andrew laughed and agreed.

Kaizen and Andrew walked away from the protection of the capital, leaving the city towards one of the most popular hunting areas in the region.

The sun was slowly beginning to set on the horizon, bathing the landscape in golden light and creating a very beautiful landscape. They did not take long to reach the hunting area, but since it was not uncommon to cross paths with other players on the woodland trails, they did not encounter monsters immediately. As they ventured deeper into the area, the vegetation became dense and lush, with tall, leafy trees that stretched to the sky. The sound of nature filled the air, with birdsong and the murmur of a nearby stream.

The atmosphere was quiet, but the pulsating energy of the place indicated that they were not alone.

Kaizen and Andrew walked with confidence, their weapons ready for any challenge that might arise. They shared laughter and jokes along the way, enjoying the present moment and temporarily forgetting about the problems of the real world.

As they walked further into the hunting area, a sudden silence caught Kaizen’s attention. They stopped seeing other players.

Andrew noticed too, and they both looked at each other, prepared for whatever was to come.

Suddenly a loud roar echoed through the air, causing the ground to shake slightly, and a monster that resembled a tiger emerged from the trees with its golden fur shining in the twilight. Its sharp fangs and imposing claws made it clear that it was a formidable opponent.

Andrew looked at Kaizen and said with a confident smile:

“I haven’t told you what my class is, have I? Let’s see if you can find out with a little demonstration.”