[center][b]Offline ~ Bedroom[/b][/center]
It was a typical afternoon for Kotaro. Sitting in front of his PC, Kotaro was engaged in a... "friendly debate" on the forums. He'd become quite active and prolific there, particularly his thread he started titled "Mythology of The World" which was intended to serve as an open discussion and debate about the game's background lore and its history. Honestly, at the time he first created the thread, Kotaro wasn't holding his breath for activity, believing he was alone in his fascination for the game's storyline. To his surprise, however, the thread had since gathered quite a modest following. And right now, Kotaro was debating the origins of the Lost Grounds with one of his online acquaintances. At least, he [i]was[/i] until his computer pinged him with a new email. Kotaro opened up his inbox and could scarcely believe what he was reading...

[center][b]To:[/b] Grimsley
[b]From:[/b] KISU
[b]Subject:[/b] I need your help!
[b]Attachment:[/b] -

[b]Body:[/b] Grimsley,

My name is Kohe Nanae and I'm Hitsu's son. I sometimes helped out during class for her.

I'm not sure if you heard the news with school being out for the next month or so but...my mother's fallen into a coma. I found her two nights ago on the computer, slumped over and nonresponsive. It was terrifying. I still feel numb, in a state of shock to be honest. Ever since she and I relocated from Tokyo, we only have each other. We were on our own and now I'm on my own.

The doctors told me she's stable for the time being but that's not enough for me! I can't just wait around for her to recover. She is the most important person in my life and I will do whatever I can to help her. I know she enjoyed your company and that she spent time with you and your friends outside of school. I think she event invited you all over for dinner last Christmas? In some ways you guys were like secondary children to her and I know she might not like that I'm involving you but I had to still ask.

I've been doing some research and trying to piece together her last few moments. She was playing The World with this account (KISU) so I am going to take it over and investigate from inside the game. Supposedly there are a handful of other cases of people falling into comas who also have accounts in The World. I don't know what any of this means but I am going to find out. My other account can't be used, it's better if I leave it at that. So for now I'll be using my mother's and I hope you'll help me.

If you want to help, meet me at Delta Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground at 3:00 PM, you're not the only one of my mother's students I've contacted. One last thing, I looked over the forums and noticed a number of threads started by you pertaining to discussing The World.
 If the answer does lie within the game, it may possibly relate to the in-game writings. Please tell me if there's anything in the discussions that might help, every little bit counts. Thanks in advance.

-Kohe Nanae[/center]

"No way! Hitsu-sensei is...?" he didn't want to finish the thought. He remembered Hitsu-sensei well, and Kohe too. He even recalled trying to talk to Kohe early on but had no real luck at getting him to open up. He owed a lot to Hitsu, not the least of which being his current participation and interest in The World. If she was in trouble, Kotaro owed it to her to help in whatever way he could. So without any debate over the matter, Kotaro switched back to the forums and quickly changed the topic of discussion in his thread.

[center][b]Topic: Mythology of The World
User: Grimsley
RE: Have any of you guys ever heard of people falling into a coma while playing the game?[/b][/center]

Once that was done, Kotaro spent the next hour rereading his various posts and notes about The World, hoping to - as Kohe suggested - find some kind of clue hidden within them. Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be anything related to comas. Hopefully that would change after Kotaro switched his research focus. For now, though, all that was left was to log in and meet Kohe.

[center][b]Online ~ Mac Anu[/b][/center]
In the root town, a series of golden-yellow rings heralded the arrival of an older-looking gentlemen in a black coat and hat. The Flick Reaper named Grimsley appeared and the login was complete. Grim stepped forward but only for a moment. Deciding this meeting was too urgent to waste time, he turned toward the Chaos Gate and interacted with it. Within the menu that popped up, Grim entered the keywords from the email and clicked to confirm his choice. Just as suddenly as he appeared, the Flick Reaper vanished within a similar set of golden rings.

[center][b]Online ~ Hulle Granz Cathedral[/b][/center]
"Is this... a Lost Ground?" Grim asked himself when the area finished loading. He walked toward the giant cathedral before him and opened the doors. While he approached, he noticed the alerts signifying many of his friends logging on and he wondered if they had all received the same email from Kohe. When he entered the cathedral, Grim was greeted with the sight of only one player, and it wasn't KISU.

"Al?" asked Grim as he stepped forward. Just as many had taken to calling him Grim, he had also been calling Allegory "Al" for short. It looked like Al was the only other one who had arrived for now, but that at least was proof that Grim was not the only one to have received an email, "You got the email too, right?" as he asked, Grim began to notice the melody that accompanied this particular area. It was nothing like anything he'd heard in other areas or dungeons. The statue at the center of the cathedral was also very eye-catching. On any other day Grim would be spending several minutes, if not hours, examining the statue and the rest of the room for that matter. But today he would set aside his personal interests to get down to the matter at hand.