1 Prologue

My black long sword slashed through the air cutting the ugly goblin head cleanly off in an immense amount of speed. As the last enemy in the dungeon died, the dungeon had finally been cleared. A victory sound chimed and the sound of 20 or so people yelled out in victory.

I check the timer next to the victory notice. The time read 10:56 a personal new record. The raiding party was getting more refined but still needed some work. I quickly take out my notebook to write something down but get interrupted by a fellow raid member.

"Hey good job Akaran, this raid was no trouble thanks to you."

Not wanting to get distracted from my writing I just give him a simple thumbs up.

"We plan on doing a raid soon after this. Do you think you would come along?" The white cross alliance member stands there waiting for my reply.

"Maybe later I got some stuff to do right now."

He gives a sad sigh but a nod of acknowledgment and teleports out. I too decided to teleport out of the dungeon. My light armor had taken quite a beating in this raid so I should hurry up and repair it.

I take a glance at the leaderboard and scoff. Even after all this time, I'm still unable to beat the best. Sadly it's not like my real life is any better.

Akaran, or Akari if you want to be more accurate, lives a bit of a boring life. That's probably why I got so connected with video games like Aetherian Online.

As soon as my friend told me about it and I started playing, I was totally hooked and started playing every day. It filled my boring normal life with one of adventure and excitement.

It came to a point where all I did was play. People even started saying I was wasting my time. Well, at least my time did go to something since now that I'm in the top ten on the leaderboard.

Me and my friends were quite proud of this achievement when it happened. We even had a small celebration in-game. My sister on the other hand - just then I hear a loud knock at my door.

"Hey, dinner is done, hurry up! Or don't, I don't care." Ren doesn't really think that kindly of me.

"I'll be there in a second," I replied to my sister.

I say goodbye to the raiding party and head to dinner. We have a big raid coming up soon so I plan on getting on as soon as possible.

Walking out of my small room I can hear Ren's voice from the kitchen. She must be getting in another fight with mom I guess.

When I get to the dinner table it looks as if a fight happened and also a vacant spot where Ren should be.

"Where's Ren?" I ask.

My mom looks at me with a saddened expression and sighs.

"She decided hanging out with her friends was more important than eating dinner with family."

"Sounds like something she would do," I reply, I sit down and start eating.

My sister has always been like that; she's always hanging out with her friends and going out late. It's not like she always acted like that though.

For a long time, she just acted like a normal sister and was actually pretty kind. It's too bad that it stopped for some reason a few years ago. My mom says it's her "rebellious phase" or something. It's just annoying at this point.

"I was going to ask Ren but since she's not here do you think you could pick up some groceries."

Oh great now my sister is pushing her responsibilities onto me.

"Sure mom, I'll be happy."

As if I would be, I just don't want to have to burden mom anymore than she is. Looking to the counter in the dining room I see a stack of papers. At least I can do something to help

After a silent dinner, I quickly take the list and leave the small house I call home.

Damn, why does she have to make me get them at night time in winter nonetheless? Goddammit Ren, why'd you have to push this on to me? I'll definitely get her back, I think proudly.

As I speed walk to the store to hurry up and get out of the cold, I see the small corner store. Creepy... it's only being lit with a dim street light. The atmosphere reminds me of something I would see in a horror movie.

Thankfully I'm not tho and when I walk in the atmosphere is totally different. I walk into the store and see a familiar cashier worker.

"Hey Akari, how's Life been treating you?"

I give my friend Mechie a wave and walk over to him. Mechie of course is the person that introduced me to Atherian Online I could never forget him.

"Not too bad other than doing my sister's chores, that is" I hold up the small list gave me so Mechie could see.

"Oh that sucks bro lets hope it doesn't cut into your game time too much"

"Na don't worry my new grinding idea really helps me out."

When I first started playing Atherian I had always noticed small things with guides people made. I had always thought (I can save some time here) or (I think there's more of an efficient way to do that)

When I put them into practice I realized I was right and it really helped to get as far as I am. I did plan on changing the wiki but I decided to keep it secret from everyone, well except Mechie that is.

"You mind passing that over" Menchie is looking at me with puppy eyes."

"Don't worry about it, I'll send it over tomorrow" I move away from the counter and start picking out the few items on the list.

After picking anything up I check out at the counter.

"That will be $15.12 and don't forget about the raid tomorrow."

"Don't worry I won't miss it." I say as I check out. "See you there then."

I give him a wave as I leave, walking out of the store with a bag of basic groceries in my hand.

Man, I better hurry up. I don't like being away from the game too long.

I hate the idea of all the exp and other people passing me while I'm not there.

As I'm lost in thought, I decide to cross the street without thinking. I get halfway across the road when I feel something off. Looking up I couldn't believe my eyes.

Right in front of me was a car speeding at me without a care for if I was there. My brain is filled with clouded thoughts of what to do.

Run! Get out of the way!

But my body refused to move or my body just couldn't react fast enough. When the lights of the car filled my vision I knew I had died

(15 minutes before Ren POV)

"Aaaaand, done!" I put the last of my eyeliner on and turned to my phone.

"How'd I look?"

"Great!" Lyra responds from the other side of the phone.

A smile appears on my face and I turn back to the mirror to assess my looks. A back and white striped undershirt with a graphic tee on top, tucked into a simple mid-thigh black skirt.

"Alright, see you guys outside!" I grab my phone and end the call. I grab my bag and head downstairs.

I'm not too excited to see my mother though. She's been harder on me lately because I just turned 15, saying how I 'need to grow up and become a woman'. It's so annoying.

I turn the corner to the kitchen and hear my mom yell. "Oh Ren, honey, could you call Akari for dinner?"

"Sure mom" I turn around I walk back up the stairs and knock on his door.

"Hey, dinner is done hurry up!'' I yell through his door.

"I'll be there in a second" I hear his muffled reply.

I walk back downstairs and grab a cookie, now she can't bother me about eating

"And where are you headed before dinner?"

"Out with friends, we're gonna have a sleepover at lyra so don't stay up."

"Are you asking me or telling me?"

"Telling"

"Ren you are not leaving this house, you have gone out every day of this week. Stop running away with your friends every day, they're a bad influence!"

"Well, at least I'm not a shut-in like Akari!" I turn the handle and open the door escaping to my friends.

"And that's what happened after I hung up." I sighed as I told my friends just moments before we met up.

Lyra looked at me sympathetically as did Riri, well that's her nickname, her real name is Rya.

"Well, at least you don't have to deal with her right now, and plus we're here." Vinny came up behind us to remind us where we were going in the first place.

We looked up to the entrance of the evergreen forest. It's just a normal forest but it held a lot of meaning to us, because behind the thick layer of trees laid out a hideout. It was at the top of a waterfall. With a glass table and 4 chairs, each one was designed by us. Plus fairy lights!

We had to climb up a big mountain to get there. But it only took about 10 minutes, and no one was in a rush. As we approached our spot I and Vinny put down our bags and went to our respective seats.

"Hey, guys, guess what I brought up with us!'' Vinny spoke very suddenly, bringing our attention towards her.

She picked up her bag and brought out a teapot and 4 teacups.

"I picked this up the other day and thought it would be a nice addition to our hangout!" She rambled and put them on the table.

"It looks so pretty! You were right Vinny, it is very nice!" Lyra squealed.

"Can you fill it with water, Ren?" Riri asked, taking a quick glance at Vinny.

"Sure, I don't mind,'' I said, getting up and taking the pot.

"And, Lyra, can you go get some twigs so Vinny can start a fire?"

"Yeah! be right back!" Lyra yelled while running off.

I started to walk the path to the waterfall. There was a river there as well as a pump that water would come out of so I could fill it from the river or pump.

I got there pretty fast, it wasn't long in the slightest. I looked around to see the gorgeous water. The setting sun was sparkling off the running water with the sounds of the waterfall.

It was beautiful and calming, the best thing I could ask for. I crouched down and set the teapot to the side so I could touch the sparkling water.

As soon as I touch the water, a pair of hands appear on my back and I'm in the river.

I can't breathe, there's the only water that surrounds me now.

I looked up to quickly throw the blurry water to see a brunette and black-haired person.

Riri and Vinny.

I could sense the hatred and pride radiating off Vinny. Riri's face was emotionless, staring blankly.

I couldn't think anymore, I was so confused. I was only focused on surviving. I needed to get out of the water before I died. I swam back up to the surface of the water but at this point, the strong current was forcing me around like a ragdoll. As I go back up to the surface once again I feel a strange sensation, as if I'm weightless as the wind rushes past my face as I feel myself fall down.

Then, I realized that I had started falling down a waterfall, I was falling. I was falling? I'll be alright right it'll be fine. I can't die.

Watching as the last moments of my life would be, the people that I trusted killed me and I hit a rock feeling a sharp instant pain hit me. In a moment I see a spark of blinding white light, then, nothing.