“Rina, is that your name?”
“Yes, Master Eilis. How can I serve you?”
“What is going on, it’s all gone blank? I have no idea of what’s happening let alone who’s winning anymore.”
“The concepts of ‘reality’ around the combatants almost totally collapsed but they are still alive. Master, Eilis you will soon see the aftermath. The information of this instanced version of Apis Island has been completely destroyed.”
“Rina, you are revealing too much to the players. They don’t need to know about instanced worlds or they might start demanding them in order to avoid the artificial scarcity which we use to manipulate them.”
“My apologies master.”
There was no sky nor ground left, in fact nor was there any concept of up and down left. Lain and Arthur stood looking at each other in what looked like an empty canvas of empty white space with no beginning or end.
In the distance could be seen another lone figure alongside what looked like a huge floating fortress. It was Rina who had protected the students within the compound. However, her existence within the space was fading and her arm and half of her body seemed to be gone, not that it seemed that it bothered her.
“Are you alright, Rina?”
“Are you worried about me, Master?”
“Well, you are one of the relatively reliable servants here so of course I would be worried if you were also gone.”
“Relative to what master?”
“Well, relative to that.”
“How come you are still alive!”
“Does it matter why?”
“Of course it does. Otherwise how will I know how to counter you!?”
“How is that my problem?”
“Damn you.”
Lain attacked Arthur with her sword but it did no damage.
“What!?”
“You have corrupted and thus erased the concept of physical damage from this space. Of course you couldn’t harm me now.”
Lain smirked.
“But then that means I have won since you do not have any non-physical attacks!”
“Wrong. Remember that I am in charge of security at Castle Academy. Of course I would have more attack modes than some landscaper like you!”
“How dare you call me a landscaper, I am the closest there is to father, to a God, thanks to my powers!”
“You have a response to everything don’t you?”
Peter yawned.
“I know that a whole dungeon is at stake but this is more like watching two petulant children having an argument than a battle. There isn’t even a battlefield left anymore for it to be a battle.”
Peter was right. I had shown the full extent of their capabilities to Chamberlain, and also since they couldn’t do any damage to each other there was no point in continuing this.
“Rina, knock out one of the two petulant children and make it look like they lost to other one.”
“Which one of the two, Master?”
“You decide.”
The school trip finally came to an end. The students were returned to the school, and I didn’t have any more annoying meetings to attend. Instead I spent most of my time completing the new dungeons in order to maintain a balance between the two main player factions. I mean if one faction was going to pay to win then it’s only fair that I can cheat for the other side.
