Level 587 : "Where we used to have fun"

Name: "Where we used to have fun"
Author: Greggita Mahayfaio
Rating: 32/36
Created at: Mon Jun 26 2023

"How… How much further up?"
"Not long now! C’mon, we've hardly walked far!"
"Well… I got lost. But! We're definitely nearly there now. Look! I recognise that path over there."
"Yeah! Who knew taking a B-line was a bad option?"
"Tsh… Nah, really? I'd never have guessed."
Honestly, the worst part was that it still took an extra half an hour to reach it; I was always so incredibly bad at directions… Regardless, though, we made it to what I wanted to show, and I'll never forget her reaction. The marvel, the craftsmanship, the colour, the way it stood out in the dense foliage of the clearing, like a gleaming gem in the crown of a queen. It was a beauty.
And I'll definitely never forget the utter fibs I told about it.
"Here it is~! Pretty cool, right?"
"Absolutely! I mean… I did build it after all!"
"Oh, that's a secret! I can't be revealing my secret ultra craftsmanship powers, now, can I?"
"Oh, uh… okay, yes, maybe he helped a little bit?"
"Perhaps more than a little bit… He helped a lot?"
"Ah, you got me. He built it."
"Well, yeah, but… I wanted to impress you. Heh."
"You bet it is! And that part's not a lie. My dad surprised me with it yesterday, and I uhh… I wanted to share it. With you. I was thinking it could be… our place. If… if you'd like? For… just the two of us."
"Uh… so, what do you say?"
It felt like history was made that day. A single, dramatic event that forever swayed the course of history. From that day on, the treehouse became our place to go, our place to hide, and our place to play and have fun. After school, after dinner, in our free time during holidays, and frankly whenever we fancied, it was ours! All ours! Magical is the biggest understatement to describe that place.
We'd act like completely naive kids in that thing. Heck, I still remember playing childish games even when we were just becoming teenagers. We did tag, a few bouts of truth or dare, and even headed out around the forest to pick up various "treasures", which usually were pinecones, odd rocks and big sticks. She was the sole person coming up with the games and activities to play, which wasn't to say I didn't get involved, but I could tell she loved the outdoorsy activities she set us on. I never understood at the time why I didn't like them as much, but I remember liking her ideas much more than my own.
Above anything, though, I'll never forget the first time we dared to stay overnight. We sat on the balcony, looking up at the stars…
"Gosh, it's cold…"
"Eh, I’m sure you'll be fine… but do you need a blanket just in case?"
"What… what are you doing?"
“Uhh… why…?”
"Heh, yeah. What do you think stars even are?"
"But they're so much more! Remember what our teacher said in class the other day? I… I bet they're other worlds!"
"Well, apparently there's many of them beyond the ocean! One is a recreation of your bedroom!"
"Oh, I'm telling you, it's real! One day, I… I think we should go find them. There's so much more out there to explore beyond this island, I just know it…"
"So does staying in a treehouse overnight, and you took that idea without a second thought!"
"You're more than just 'cut out' for it… I think you'd be a spectacular explorer. I can see you going to faraway places Hyperia's never imagined before!"
. . .

"Definitely."
Of course, as with most kids' fantasies, that little dream between the two of us stayed as nothing more than a tired, half-awake idea. It was brought up time after time, of course, but as we progressed through the latter half of our teen years it became ever more of a fantasy, disappearing away like the fables of old. It's almost bittersweet, looking back at it, seeing how that innocent dream from us both is so different to where we are today. At least in the past we stayed together, and stayed strong.
We still met at the treehouse, usually at the end of every school day, chatting gleefully and even studying there from time to time. Of course, the treehouse became less… fashionable… as time went on. I suppose it was childish for anyone over 16 to chat in treehouses, but we still did! Besides, who hung out with who and where became trivial in the wake of the news that shook the town next.
Outsiders en-masse flocked not only to Hyperia, but to the entire island itself. The M.E.G. appeared practically from nowhere but showed up with around 20 or so folks from what we'd later learn was Level 7. They were incredibly curious people, and for the longest time were stuck with us, the only known exit out of our world being through the impossible legends of the sea. With them, however, came new legends. The legends of other worlds, stories of heroes and gods.Stories that captivated the whole nation greatly. Stories that captivated… us.
It kept the spirit of the treehouse alive.
"OH! There's one I just remembered! It was… some level with giant mouths in the floor! It sounds horrifying, but… I sort of like it?"
"Hah, of course you do… you’re a strong lass. But… I you think you could handle the place?
"I… I guess it's a good thing we were born here, huh?
. . .

"Wow, that's a flashback! Things were simpler back then…"
"It is possible! And… I do hope they find an exit. From their stories, it sounds like Hyperia is nothing like the worlds—or levels, I guess—that they live in… But… I… don't know…"

“I… I don’t… really wanna go.”
. . .

. . .
"Look, I… these worlds, the stories I've heard about them… they're nothing like what I thought they'd be! When we were kids we dreamed about great cities, magical forests, and high seas. But out there… there’s so many frightening indoor places, and- and these creatures that you can't even kill! I-I-I… they frighten me. I don't want to get hurt. And I don't want you to get hurt!"
"Yes! Yes, I do! Please… it's horrifying out there, and I don't want you to just up and leave with these people and throw your life away!

. . .

"I'm… So sorry, I shouldn't be crying, I'm being selfish-"
I… I know I screwed up with what I said. Even if I still sometimes worry about what I said now, limiting your aspirations off of my stupid insecurities wasn't the way to act. After that day, things weren't the same, I'm sure you remember well… We met less, and we spoke less in school. It wasn't a falling out, per-se, but it was a hurdle our friendship never cleared. Suddenly, the mystique and intrigue of going to new worlds was fogged over by my outburst, and your willingness to… to… limit your life for me.
Even once we graduated high school, when we got jobs, when you met Grace, and when I met Jackson, and when all of that further limited how little we already saw each other, what I said weighed on you. You hardly spoke of your aspirations, and you didn't even join The M.E.G. when they caught rumours of a proper exit. By then, we were barely speaking, and you still went out of your way to make sure I wouldn't be upset. You were such an idiot – and so was I. I can't imagine how unfulfilled your life could've been had you not called me… right as it was announced.
"Well, I'm… happy you could make it…"
"It's certainly been a while, hasn't it?"
"Look, you can call me whatever you'd like for not having rung before you did. , it's been a busy year…"
"I… I deserve that correction., I didn't mean to downplay how long I've been gone, but I've just… lost track of the last time we ever even met up. Why did you even want to meet up? It doesn't look to be to talk casually…"
"You're not dying are you??"
"I'm all ears. Whatever it is, you can tell me. "
"Yeah, it broke the news… It was on the front page of the papers. You're… not going to-"
"I- But you-"
"Th-that's not-"
"Look, that's great, but that's not what I was talking about! I'm… well aware you can survive out there on your own., You’re right… we're not 17 anymore. We’re adults now. We… live our own lives… and we take care of ourselves. It’s just that I… I don't want to lose you! I doubt staying in contact would be easy…"
"…Really? We've… hardly been speaking. I figured this'd be where we part ways… Forever."

. . .

"You’d really do that for me?”
“I’m… touched. I thought I’d lost that right.”
“I know… but-”
// “I… I wish I could go with you… but I’m… I can't. I'm not nervous! I… I know we’re not 17 anymore. I know I can fend for myself, just as well as you. But my dad's… not in good health, still. It's only getting worse."//
"No need to be sorry,. There’s… not much we can do now. But I have to stay here. I want to be there when he… goes. He needs me."
"For sure. He built our treehouse.?"
"Uh, yeah, last I checked! It's a little worse for wear nowadays, mind you, but it's there!"
"Absolutely, it's… yeah. Those were simpler times, huh?"

. . .
"Th-this is the last time we're gonna meet up, i-isn't it…"
"You… you said it yourself! It's… hard to talk, between levels…"
"And you won't! Don't… don't let my own insecurities limit what you want a second time. Please… go with Grace, go live on that beach… on that seaside free of monsters, and… and when my dad's… found his rest… I'll come find you again, and we can catch up?"
"Yeah?"