Dimm rushed through the passageway of the elves' housing abode, breathing in short grasps with the unconscious girl carried in his arms.
As he ran, his mind raced with thoughts reeling from the revelation that this was the same girl who had given him the chocolate that altered his existence in real life.
He paved off the thought and focused on the path ahead.
Behind him, Minxx followed, trying her best to take a glance at the girl Dimm carried. Her face was mixed with curiosity and irritation.
As they reached the room, Dimm kicked it, hoping it would open, but it didn't. He kicked it two more times before Minxx, who was behind him, whirled the doorknob, pushing it open.
"Thanks. I couldn't do that with my two hands anyway," Dimm said, stepping inside.
The room was modest and well-arranged. Dimm immediately thought the elves had done a good job once again.
He, however, smiled and laid the girl carefully onto the bed, brushing away the strands of hair that had fallen over her face.
Dimm stood for a while above the girl, noticing the rapid yet steady rise and fall of her chest.
"I guess she used up much energy," Dimm said curtly, turning to face Minxx. Instead of an approval reaction, he got an unexpected reaction.
Minxx crossed her arms and leaned against the wall by the doorway. "When you're done tending to the stranger, meet me at the royal hall."
Dimm frowned and shoved his hands towards the girl. "She's not a stranger."
Minxx scoffed. "You don't even know her name, do you?"
"At first, I also thought things would be wrong when the system asked me to save her," Dimm argued.
"The system?" Minxx asked.
"Yes, it did. I got this notification immediately she was about to be sent to her ancestors to save her, you know," Dimm explained.
"On getting there, I realized it was a familiar person. I knew her. She helped me once," Dimm continued explaining, his voice form. "Her help meant something."
Minxx rolled her eyes, flickering them and heading out of the door.
"Fine. But don't let your kindness make you blind, Dimm. Don't let our kindness be a disappointment. The elves won't tolerate unnecessary risks," Minxx said, and turned sharply and left.
"Our kindness, she says," Dimm sighed heavily, running a hand through his disheveled hair before sitting beside the unconscious girl.
He waited in silence, watching over her until, at last, she stirred.
She opened her eyes sharply, the deep purple glow in them momentarily flickering before they returned to their natural shade. She groaned softly, trying to steady her vision before locking onto Dimm.
"You're awake," he said gently. "How do you feel?"
The girl inhaled deeply and exhaled, rubbing her temples. "Drained," she admitted and fell back to the bed.
Dimm nodded. "That battle seemed to take a lot out of you. You were reckless. I mean, I don't know what had transpired but you should have taken a peaceful approach."
She gave him a tired smile, turning over to the other side of the bed. "Reckless or not, I survived."
Dimm leaned forward. "How did you end up here?"
The girl shifted, sitting up slightly. "The route. Didn't you use it, it was meant to connect you with your pair."
"Oh, that's true," Dimm agreed with her. "But, I really meant, how did you end up in this game? And, your body features seemed to change."
The girl nodded in understanding of the question Dimm asked and replied, "I used the game card from the Chocolate."
She nodded. "It led me here. I don't know why or how, but it did."
Dimm fell silent, contemplating her words. "You knew about it?"
"Yes, it's common knowledge to every kid who made use of snacks in the real world," the girl explained.
"I didn't know about that," Dimm said.
"Although, I expected you to...but—"
"But, why did you have to appear here. And, your body changed," Dimm said, noting his observation.
"First of all, you should know that the game only allowed teenagers that clocked sixteen to participate," the girl began to explain. "Uhm...I clocked 16 when your real body lost its life."
"Okay," Dimm said, surprisingly. 'Minxx was right anyway. Being alive doesn't guarantee your survival in the real world.'
Dimm clenched his fist in anger, wishing there was something he could do to stop this deadly practice. He swore within himself that he must stop it, no matter what it will cost him.
"But, are you done? Your body changed," Dimm asked.
"Yes. Two instructions will lead you into this game. The first was going to grant you reincarnation into a body you imagined in your thoughts during the process."
"While the second instruction was only going to grant you bilocation. The second instruction seemed to be the most used, yet, the most useless," the girl explained.
"The most useless?" Dimm asked.
"Yes. When I saw your body crumble lifeless, I thought it was going to be useless to take the same process as yours. I decided I was going to make use of the reincarnation instruction, imagining only a few changes to my body."
"And that is how I have come to be," the girl stated. "But, I can see you didn't face any dangerous situation, so it was a false statement."
"What is a false statement?" Dimm asked.
"It was believed that if you consume any snack without following proper instructions, you will face situations that can end your life instantly," the girl said, turning Dimm to observe. "But, you seem fine."
"Yes, I'm an exception I guess," Dimm said.
In his thoughts, he wanted to tell the girl what had really happened but decided to keep to himself at last.
Dimm hesitated before saying, "You never told me your name."
The girl blinked at him, getting down from the bed.
Dimm smirked, scratching his head. "Back then, on Earth, when you gave me that chocolate, you left before I could ask. I mean, I left before I could ask, either way."
The girl looked away, as though the thought had never crossed her mind. "I… I don't know if it matters now."
"Well, it does to me." Dimm leaned back and folded his arms.
"I'm not really sure I can remember the name. I can only remember having the game ID [400]," the girl said.
"400?!" Dimm exclaimed, shocked with widened eyes.
"Yes, is that a deal?" the girl asked.
"Not really," Dimm lied. Inwardly, that was not his actual feeling for having exclaimed, but he couldn't tell as well. "I will have to give you a name. I hope so."
She looked at him, slightly taken aback. "You'd name me?"
At that instant, the screen materialized before him.
«Alteration Activated!»
«Course—naming against the game rules.»
«Do you wish to go on?»
"Yes," Dimm answered immediately.
Turning to the girl, with his hands scratching his head, he asked. "How about...Khobba?"
The girl tilted her head, testing the name on her lips. "Khobba..."
Dimm smiled. "It suits you."
For a moment, Khobba stared at him, as if trying to read his intentions. Then, a small smile touched her lips. "Alright, Dimm. Khobba it is."
«Congrats. You have successfully named a girl—Khobba!»
«5% stats reduced from all physical stats.»
'Huh, you didn't let me know there would be a disadvantage or a price to pay. But then, it's okay.'
Dimm grinned, turning to Khobba. "Good. Now, let's go to the royal hall. Minxx might be waiting there to tell me about the prophecy as she had promised."
"The prophecy?"