I couldn't say anything more about the Well.
As soon as I decided to leave, as if the ground swallowed me, the system spat me back out at the great silver door. Even though the exhaustion and pain had disappeared, I remained lying there longer than one would expect.
—You did well.
I knew she would be the first to come looking for me. With a charming smile, Rachel looked down at me from above.
—I don't even know how I managed it.
—I told you it's just a matter of believing it…
For an instant, a very quick one, but those same words…
I know Ale once told me that.
The feelings began to surface on their own.
I think I had never cried.
Since my death, I had never cried.
I had attributed that to panic or to the system itself, but now, right now…
The tears flowed naturally. Taking a deep breath, I tried to relax while other familiar faces approached.
Saladin, Díaz, Bonaparte, Roberts… I think that somehow, I could call them friends.
"Right?"
—Alright, don't stay lying there —Saladin said boastfully, holding Roberts by the arm—, this pirate here owes us a banquet.
—What are you talking about? —Roberts replied with an obvious look of panic.
—Well, you don't think you can take advantage of the boy without compensating him with something, so you're paying for the meal.
—Free food, the real kind? —Bonaparte said quickly—. I'm in!
—You can taste things now? —Díaz asked beside him, adjusting her long lemon-colored dress.
—Of course I can. Are you in too?
She discreetly gave me a quick glance. Still on the ground, our eyes met and, with a masculine smile for her refined face, she replied:
—Free food is never wasted.
—It's settled then! —Rachel had jumped to grab Roberts' other arm and, together with Saladin, they dragged him toward the food area while we followed closely behind.
—Why do these things always happen to me…?
Roberts suffered the spending of credits on a buffet I could only describe as "complete." There were white meats, red meats, pastas, salads, seafood, everything perfectly cooked and served like a photograph from social media.
At a round table within everyone's reach, those of us present had sat down to enjoy the moment. For me, it was almost an idyllic scene… impossible.
Everyone present, including me, had died who knows how long ago, and yet we were all here together, enjoying a post-mortem meal.
"Isn't this the closest thing to an afterlife that could actually exist?"
—Why climb?
I blurted out.
Everyone turned to look at me instantly. The truth is I hadn't thought about it in a long time, but seeing them all interacting together, I truly didn't understand.
—Forgive me —I corrected my question—, if you can live well here, why risk your existence and climb…?
—The boy found the heart of the matter —Roberts said, playing with a snail shell.
—Well… I… don't know —Bonaparte replied, genuinely confused—, I think…
Tears began to fill the emperor's eyes before he answered, clutching his knees.
—Many died for me, in life and in death. They sacrificed their legacy for me. I keep fighting for them, Tristan. I don't care about becoming a constellation, my name is already framed in history… I… only want them to remember my men.
The tears did not stop flowing, though his monologue was clear, without a trace of a choked throat. It was pure conviction.
—I just want to reach Gold… I don't really see the hope of reaching Platinum, to be honest —Roberts replied, somewhat discouraged.
—You mustn't stay behind —Díaz said, taking a long sip—. I must reach Platinum, that's all.
Her eyes shone with a conviction difficult to decipher.
—Well… —Rachel, as every time she sits beside Saladin, her expression turned into that of a gentle maiden, enhanced by her evening dress—, Sal and I have our reasons…
—Oh, do you ever —Roberts replied shamelessly, grabbing a sausage and a clam.
Instantly both Saladin and Rachel jumped up to smack him hard on the head.
—Huh…?
I muttered.
"I'm slow… is there some reference I didn't get?"
—There's no point hiding it —Sal said.
Rachel turned red like a tomato before taking a long drink of wine.
—I want to recover pleasure…
—Pleasure?
—Excuse me, what?
—You're slow, Tristan —Díaz said, somewhat disappointed—. Those two just want to make love… intercourse… sex, you understand?
She assumed many things, and perhaps I had been too wrapped up in my own matters. In fact, I hadn't felt any sexual impulse since I arrived. I assumed again it was my situation… "I don't have Ale by my side."
—So the system also holds back our sexual desires?
—Are we really going to talk about this? —Rachel said, somewhat embarrassed.
—Where did my bold lioness go? —Saladin asked, gently caressing her face—. We're adults, and I doubt anyone here is a virgin… unless Díaz is.
Instantly Díaz spat out her food, accompanied by coughing that ended up splashing Bonaparte, who stood up immediately.
—You bastard.
—Hahaha —Sal burst out laughing—. Well, I suppose it would be a waste. They say women enjoy orgasms much more than men. Are you telling me you're not curious?
—I'll reserve my answer —Díaz simply took a long sip, looking away from the table.
—If you ever feel like it, let me know and I'll—
Roberts' face had tasted the table more than the food itself.
—I think you've already noticed it, right, Tris? —Saladin asked me.
—I was told that every time you rank up you recover something like a "true sense."
—Exactly. When you reach Platinum you recover the pleasures of life: sex, food, sleep, even going to the bathroom, damn it. Platinum is living again.
—And look who's telling us —Bonaparte added, grabbing more pasta and seafood.
—So —I gathered my thoughts— the reason to climb is to enjoy a second life… to live again.
—There you have it —Saladin replied—, but life hurts, and to earn it you must struggle a lot. That's why the Platinum rarely challenge the system.
—Why would you? —Roberts replied, standing up once more—. You can ask for food, drinks, men and women as you please. I bet if I asked for a damn Dalmatian they'd give it to me.
—Well, yes —Sal said, dropping back into his seat—. Anything you want, without spending credits. That's the reward for being Platinum.
—And why don't you tell us the important part? —Díaz said coldly.
Everyone at the table felt the shift. Even I shivered seeing how Saladin's expression changed.
—What do you want to know? I'm in a good mood.
—How to reach Platinum… and the thirteenth…
—What an interesting conversation we're having here.
A masculine and piercing voice that I knew perfectly appeared behind me, accompanied by a strong slap on my back.
—Heracles!
—Hello, boy. You've grown. I think I should start calling you Tris.
—That would be an improvement.
At his side, dressed in a hoodie and sweatpants, stood her: short wavy hair falling to her shoulders in jet black, with beautiful deep gray-green eyes…
Jean.
—We meet again… Mr. Malory.