Chapter 67 - Episode 67: Dependence.
Chapter 67 – Episode 67: Dependence.
Emma and I are surprised and William waves at us.
"Hurry! They're still fighting in the Colosseum!"
We both drink our wine and then go to the basement hurriedly with William. We both log in to the game. I immediately open the Event tab and enter the Colosseum.
As soon as I enter the Colosseum. So many players are standing in the spectator seat and looking down at the middle of the Colosseum. I peek my head and see Ivonna with the others facing Kingstar and Queenstar. Francesca is holding Ivonna as if she's preventing Ivonna to get close to Kingstar. Emma approaches me and she nods. We both run down to the middle of the Colosseum and approach Ivonna and the others. Francesca notices us, but she keeps focusing on holding Ivonna down.
We have no idea what is going on, then I look at Ivonna's face and it surprised me to see her making an angry expression while gritting her teeth. Ivonna is pointing at Kingstar and starts screaming.
"So this is how you want to do it, huh!? You poached our clan members by promising them to carry them into dungeons and instances! You're a shameless bastard! To think you are afraid of us in the skirmish game and then you used this kind of strategy against us!"
I can hear her loud and clear. I believe everyone in the Colosseum can also hear what she said. Now I know what this is all about. Poaching players to join their clan is not something rare in any game. It's not wrong since the players have the freedom of choice and choose whatever they want. But still, it's a dick move no matter how they look at it.
Kingstar is smirking.
"So what? It's their decision to join my clan. You can't blame me for that. They chose to join our clan then there must be something wrong with your clan. Don't blame us if you can't even satisfy your own clan members. You might want to reconsider disbanding your clan because you're not fit to lead."
I look at Francesca since she's the most hotheaded person among the rest of them. But I'm surprised that she still has her composure and looks at Kingstar normally. I can see her looks down for a second and then exhales deeply while closing her eyes. I look at the others and every single one of them is furious with Kingstar's words. I look at Francesca again and she's not mad at all. Francesca looks at me and when she notices that I'm staring at her, she immediately looks away. Because of that, I know there's something going on between her and the rest of them.
Queenstar is scoffing and taps on Kingstar's shoulder.
"Let's go. I don't think they can continue barking because cat stole their tongues."
Kingstar is chuckling mischievously.
"You're right. Let's leave. Why bother talking with incompetent people."
They both are leaving the Colosseum while mockingly laugh at them.
Francesca removes her arms from Ivonna. Ivonna turns around and looks at the others.
"Let's go back to the base. We have something to tell to our members."
I look at Francesca.
"Can I have a talk with Francesca for a minute?"
Francesca looks at me with surprise. Ivonna looks at me from the corner of her eyes and nods. Then Ivonna and the rest of them leave the Colosseum and go to their base. I approach Francesca and she's staring at me while crossing her arms.
"I think you know what this is all about. Let's find a quiet place to talk because I don't think this is the right place to talk about it."
Francesca nods and raises her eyebrows.
We go to Fjel town since it's the only place with fewer players during this event. We are outside Fjel town and walking to a field with so many livestock around us. Francesca is following me from behind and then I turn around.
"Do you want to tell me what's going on with your clan?"
Francesca is crossing her arms while looking around. The wind blows her hair and then she sits down on a rock.
"First of all, I know this will happen sooner or later. Ivonna's kindness is always taken for granted. I know her so well and it happens in every game we are playing. I'm surprised that I'm the only one who notices it."
I sit on the ground in front of her.
"I think I know where this is going. Then?"
Francesca raises her eyebrows and sighs.
"This isn't the first time something like this happened to us. Ivonna helped everyone and she ended up exhausting herself. Until at some point she stopped helping them for a few days. Then the people she helped back then felt dissatisfied and left to a different guild or clan. Once a player took advantage of her and then she didn't give them what they wanted, they will immediately go to a different person who would help them. I told her many times that it's not the right thing to do and she needs to put some boundaries between herself and the people around her. I'm not saying it's wrong to help them, but at least don't do it too often and let them do things on their own because it will only make them be dependent on her. But she didn't listen and in the end, she was devastated. She spent a lot of time for them and exhausted herself for them, but in the end, it was all for nothing. As a leader, it's not about taking care of the members by helping them achieve whatever they want, but also about being assertive. That's what she doesn't have. She needs to put boundaries and be a bit strict with them so they will respect her as a leader. How can the members respecting her if what she does is only giving what they want? Some of them only look at her as a stepping stone."
Frances looks at the sky and takes a deep breath and exhales deeply.
"I'm tired of this. I'm tired of looking at her exhausting herself. I'm tired of looking at her getting betrayed. I'm tired of being disliked and hated by the members because I kept being strict and sometimes disagreeing with Ivonna's decision that made them preferred others than me. I keep telling myself to endure it and don't leave her side, but on the other side, I'm so tired of this. Sometimes I just want to leave and make my own clan and show it to her about leadership. Or at least join someone else's clan and guide them to be a great clan."
I look at the cows who are eating grass.
"But you can't because she's your best friend and you want to be there for her no matter what happened?"
Francesca is humming with an agreement.
"Yeah, exactly like that."
Francesca is weakly smiling while staring at me. I raise my eyebrows. She scoffs.
"Now I know the reason why Emma is so clingy towards you. You're different than most of the people I know. If you're someone else's with me right now, they would comfort me and told me to talk about it with Ivonna even though I didn't ask for their comforts and I didn't need their advice since I already said that I did and it was pointless. But you're different, you're just sitting there listening to it and I can tell that you're concern about it without even saying a single word."
I scoff.
"I know when people are asking for advice and when people only want to rants by just listening to their problems."
Francesca chuckles.
"You're good at this. Is it because of experiences?"
I raise my eyebrows and chuckle.
"Yeah, once I was with my precious friend. All I could do is listening to his problems because no matter how much I wanted to comfort him and giving him advice, it won't change anything."
Francesca is staring at me.
"And how is he now?"
I weakly smile.
"He's doing alright."
It goes silent and we both are sitting here while enjoying the wind and the nice weather in this area. I look at her and tilt my head.
"You know. It was easier for me to get closer to you than to Ivonna. There's an unknown reason for it. I don't know why it's harder to get to know her compared to you."
Francesca is laughing.
"I know you would say that. You're not the only person who feels that way. Most of them are saying the same thing when they want to get closer to her. You actually know the reason why, but you just haven't realized it yet."
I tilt my head and raise my eyebrow.
"Really? What is it?"
Francesca is chuckling.
"It's because Ivonna is barely expressing herself. She's not being true to herself is what I called it. It's like a barrier to anyone who wants to get closer to her. Compared to me, I say and do anything to express myself. I'm more or less like Emma, don't you think?"
I scoff and raise my eyebrows.
"Now you said it, you're right. I just realized it now."
Francesca is laughing at then she looks at the time.
"I have to go back to the base. Ivonna must have gathered all the members by now. And thank you, for listening to my problem. It helps me a lot."
I nod and then she stands up while looking at me.
"Do you want to join me? It's fine for you to be there. You're a special guest anyway. Let's go."
I scoff and shake my head.
"Yeah, sure."
We both went to the teleportation device and went to Forsaken- Clan base.