Yvvaros: The Clash of Worlds Read Online Free PDF Page A

stopped off at the one place where he felt like he could talk to someone who would understand. Ben was living alone. His parents had come home for the funeral, but they left right afterward, only staying long enough to make sure that Ben’s physical needs would be met.
    Ben’s not okay on his own, and I’m not sure if I am either.
    Luke knocked hard on his friend’s front door. He knew that it was pointless, and that Ben wasn’t going to answer. After a couple of seconds, he turned the doorknob. It was unlocked, and the door swung open easily.
    The house was a mess. Several pizza boxes, still half full and attracting flies, were stacked on the coffee table in the living room. Soda and beer cans littered the counter, and the air smelled stale.
    Luke hurried upstairs. Ben was exactly where he’d been expecting him to be, sitting at his desk chair, VR headset on. On the table next to him was a bottle of liquor, a rainbow colored array of pills and his pipe.
    “Damn it, Ben….” Luke sighed and shook his head. “What the hell are we doing?”
    Maybe we should just go all in. Become Kato and Silverstrike, and give up on trying in the real world.
    Luke didn’t bother trying to pull the headset off his friend. He turned and left, walking out of the house and heading down the street toward home.
     

CHAPTER 4
     
    Luke wanted to play Yvvaros. Or rather, he felt like he had to. The distinction between where the real world ended and where the fantasy world began was becoming almost arbitrary, despite the sharp, physical boundaries that separated the two.
    When I think about it and hear about it in the real world, it just seems like a place, like Mexico, or Russia. A place I can go to and visit, only it’s a lot easier to get to.
    Luke pulled on the VR headset and stepped back into Dunidan’s Rest. It was midmorning in-game, and as usual, the sky over the Sarchia Desert was crystal clear.
    “You’re back…” Tess walked into the guild hall almost immediately, crossing her arms and leaning against the door frame. “I didn’t think I’d be seeing you for another few hours.”
    “Yeah,” said Luke. “I got out early.”
    He wanted to tell her about being set up at the assembly by Sam, and about the mess his real world existence was devolving into, but something stopped him.
    None of it matters to her. There’s no reason for Kato to talk about Luke’s problems.
    He smiled and ran a hand through his hair as he stepped out through the door of the guild hall. Tess followed after him slowly, her expression a mask of concern.
    “Silverstrike was looking for you earlier,” she said. “I think he found something interesting. Or at least, if I had to guess, that’s what I’d say, he’s not exactly chatty with me lately.” She added.
    Luke said nothing. He had unsheathed his sword and was slowly digging a hole into the sand with the tip of it.
    “Hey, are you okay?”
    “I’m fine.” He shrugged. “Where’d you see him last?”
    “Just outside Dunidan’s Rest.” Tess moved so that she was a little closer to him and leaned in so that their eyes met.
    “What is it?” asked Luke. Tess shook her head slightly.
    “You don’t have to pretend for me, Luke.” Tess took a deep breath. “We both have to make our own choices when it comes to life and what we want out of it.”
    “I know what I want out of life, Tess.” He took her hand into his and gave it a gentle squeeze. Tess frowned at him.
    “Do you?”
    “Tess…” Luke tried to think of something else to say to her, some way of explaining the confusing thoughts fighting for supremacy in his head. But nothing came to him, and after a moment, Tess turned away.
    I know what I want. I want to be able to relax, to not have to worry about the stress that torments every decision I make, every responsibility I have.
    Luke stared at the sand as he walked across the inner yard of Dunidan’s Rest. Katrina and her guild had already begun construction on the