As Sarah turned the corner toward her apartment building, Adrian lingered for a moment on the sidewalk, watching her go. The faint glow of streetlights caught the edges of her silhouette, and he felt an odd mix of relief and unease settle over him. She had dropped more than just playful jabs tonight—she'd laid bare pieces of herself that she rarely shared, even with him.
Her words echoed in his mind:
"What if we grow up in different directions?"
He hadn't expected that kind of vulnerability from her. Sure, they teased each other mercilessly, but this was something deeper. Something real. And it left him unsettled—not because he didn't trust their bond, but because he knew how quickly life could change. How fragile those connections could be.
Adrian shoved his hands into his pockets and started walking again, the chill of the night seeping through his jacket. His thoughts drifted back to Reaper's Echo . To the book still tucked safely in his inventory. To the weight of the orbs and the cryptic warnings from the Elder. This world wasn't just a game anymore—it was alive, evolving, and somehow tied to everything happening around him.
The Weight of Choices
When he finally reached his apartment, the familiar hum of the city faded behind the door as he stepped inside. The space felt smaller than usual, almost suffocating compared to the open expanse of the virtual village or the bustling energy of the arcade. He tossed his keys onto the counter and sank onto the couch, staring at the ceiling.
His phone buzzed—a notification from one of his old review channels. Someone had commented on his final goodbye post:
"Why quit now? You were killing it, I wanna see you play this new game bro."
He stared at the screen for a long moment before setting the phone aside. Killing it. That phrase used to mean something to him—views, likes, subscribers. But none of that mattered anymore. Not when there was so much more waiting for him in Reaper's Echo.
Still, Sarah's question nagged at him:
"Why not share your gameplay? Why hide this one?"
Because sharing meant exposure. It meant letting people see too much—his face, his voice, his failures. Streaming had always been about control: crafting a persona, curating content, keeping parts of himself hidden while putting others on display. But now… now the game had taken that choice away. Everyone who played would show their true selves, whether they wanted to or not.
And yet, despite all his fears, Adrian couldn't deny the pull of the game. There was something intoxicating about stepping into a world where effort mattered more than stats, where growth came not from grinding but from genuine experience. Where unity—between body, mind, and spirit—wasn't just a concept but a lived reality.
Adrian woke to the faint hum of activity in his apartment—clinking pans, the sizzle of oil hitting a hot skillet, and low voices exchanging playful banter. For a moment, he lay still, disoriented. The smell of frying onions and garlic wafted through the air, mingling with something sweet that reminded him of pancakes. His groggy mind struggled to reconcile what was happening. Sarah? Alice? Cooking? Together?
He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes as the scene came into focus. Sure enough, there they were: Sarah at the stove, flipping pancakes with an exaggerated flourish, while Alice stood nearby chopping fruit with surprising precision. Both were dressed casually—Sarah in one of her oversized hoodies and sweatpants, Alice in pajama shorts and a tank top. It was surreal.
"Uh… what's going on?" Adrian asked, his voice rough from sleep.
Sarah turned, spatula in hand, and grinned. "Good morning, sunshine! You slept like the dead."
Alice glanced over her shoulder, smirking. "Figured we'd let you rest since you've been obsessing about that game all week."
Adrian blinked, trying to process the situation. "You're cooking. In my kitchen."
"Observant," Alice quipped, sliding diced strawberries into a bowl. "Don't worry, we didn't burn anything. Yet."
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Speak for yourself. My pancakes are perfect." She flipped another golden-brown disc onto a growing stack. "Besides, I thought it'd be nice to have breakfast together before we dive back into the madness."
Adrian frowned slightly. "Breakfast together" wasn't exactly their usual routine. Sure, they spent plenty of time gaming or hanging out, but this felt… different. Intentional. Almost nostalgic.
As if reading his thoughts, Sarah added softly, "I missed this, y'know? Just us. Doing normal stuff without worrying about schedules or responsibilities. Feels like forever since we did something like this."
Her words caught him off guard. Sarah rarely opened up like this, especially not so early in the day. He looked between her and Alice, who shrugged nonchalantly but gave him a small, knowing smile. Whatever prompted this little domestic experiment, it seemed genuine.
"Well," Adrian said finally, swinging his legs over the side of the bed, "if you insist on feeding me, I guess I can't complain."
Breakfast Banter
By the time Adrian finished washing his face and brushing his teeth, the table was set—a modest spread of pancakes, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, and orange juice. The three of them gathered around, plates piled high, and dug in.
"This is actually really good," Adrian admitted between bites, pointing his fork at Sarah. "Who knew you could cook?"
She smirked. "Told you I had hidden talents. Maybe next time I'll make my famous spaghetti carbonara."
"Oh god," Alice muttered, shaking her head. "Please don't. Last time she tried that, half the noodles were still raw."
"It was fine!" Sarah protested, though her cheeks flushed slightly. "Anyway, enough about me. Let's talk strategy. We need a plan for today's session."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Strategy? Already? The servers only launched yesterday."
"Exactly," Sarah replied. "Everyone else is probably running around like chickens with their heads cut off, grinding mobs and hoarding resources. Meanwhile, we're sitting here eating pancakes instead of gearing up. At this rate, we'll be stuck fighting wolves while other players are raiding dungeons."
"Relax," Adrian said, leaning back in his chair. "We've got time. Besides, it's not just about gear or gold—it's about understanding the mechanics. That's how we get ahead."
Alice snorted. "Says the guy who spent two hours last night chasing rabbits because they dropped 'rare hides.'"
"They do drop rare hides!" Adrian defended, though a sheepish grin tugged at his lips. "And those hides sell for silver, by the way. Not copper."
"Whatever," Sarah interjected, waving her fork dismissively. "Point is, we need quests. Real ones. Stuff that gives us experience, items, maybe even armor. Right now, we're basically walking targets."
"She's right," Alice chimed in. "I mean, look at us—we're rocking beginner clothes and wooden weapons. If we run into anyone with actual gear, we're toast."
Adrian nodded thoughtfully. "Fair point. There's a quest board in the village square. We can check it out after logging in. Most starter quests should lead us to decent loot."
"Or death traps," Alice muttered under her breath.
"We'll stick together," Adrian assured her. "No solo runs unless absolutely necessary."
Sarah grinned. "Finally, some teamwork vibes. About time."
They continued chatting, alternating between teasing each other and brainstorming ideas for their next play session. Despite the lighthearted tone, Adrian couldn't help but notice the underlying seriousness. They weren't just playing a game anymore—they were stepping into a world that felt increasingly real. And whether they liked it or not, preparation mattered.
Just as they were clearing the dishes, Adrian's phone buzzed loudly on the counter. He froze mid-step, recognizing the ringtone immediately. His mother.
Sarah noticed his sudden tension and raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you gonna answer that?"
"No," Adrian said sharply, turning away. "It's fine."
Alice shot him a curious glance but didn't press further. Everyone at the table knew how Adrian felt about his parents—or rather, how complicated things were. Conversations with them always left him drained, frustrated, or worse.
The phone persisted, buzzing again and again. Finally, unable to ignore it any longer, Adrian grabbed it and swiped to silence the call. But in his haste, his fingers slipped, and the device clattered to the floor.
For a few seconds, no one spoke. The room fell silent except for the faint hum of appliances in the background. Adrian crouched down, picking up the phone with trembling hands. His knuckles whitened as he clenched it tightly.
"You okay?" Sarah asked softly.
"Yeah," he muttered, avoiding eye contact. "Just… tired of dealing with them."
Neither sister pushed for details. Instead, Sarah placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, while Alice busied herself tidying up the remaining dishes. Their quiet support meant more than words ever could.
Logging In
After a few moments of awkward silence, Adrian forced himself to shake it off. Dwelling on old wounds wouldn't change anything—not now, not here. They had a game to play.
"So," he began, clearing his throat. "Ready to log in?"
Sarah perked up instantly. "Absolutely. I've been dying to test out my new sword skills."
"And I've been practicing my threat rotations," Alice added with mock seriousness. "Fear my wrath, ye digital monsters."
Adrian chuckled despite himself. "Let's just hope your mace doesn't accidentally knock me out first."
They moved to the living room, where the VR pods awaited. Each pod gleamed softly, its sleek design hinting at the advanced technology within. Adrian climbed into his pod, adjusting the straps and headset until he was comfortable. Across from him, Sarah and Alice settled into theirs, already cracking jokes about whose avatar would look cooler.
"Last chance to back out," Adrian teased. "Once we hit start, there's no turning back."
"Funny," Sarah shot back. "Considering you're the one who talked us into this whole thing."
"True," he admitted. "But hey, if we die, at least we will spawn in the one place all the players that are in the snow village."
"Comforting," Alice deadpanned. "Thanks for that."
With a final round of laughter, they initiated the login sequence. The pods hummed to life, enveloping them in warmth as the familiar loading screen appeared. Bright lights danced across Adrian's vision, followed by the soft chime signaling successful connection.
When the world materialized around them once more, they found themselves standing in the bustling village square. NPCs bustled about, vendors shouted their wares, and the faint glow of lanterns lit the cobblestone streets. Above them, the notification banner shimmered:
WelcomeBack, Adventurers!
Sarah stretched dramatically, testing her virtual muscles. "Alright, team. Quest board's this way. Let's grab some gear and show these noobs how it's done."
Adrian smiled, feeling a surge of determination. Together, they stepped forward, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them.