Prologue

It was a dark and silent night, an overcast sky preventing the moon from illuminating the horizon. The sound of chattering was especially clear in this silence, easily reaching through the empty streets. A group of four had just ended their drinking session, and were taking a short walk to clear their heads before driving home, even if the effect on their ability to focus while driving would have been minimal. Their pace was in no way considered fast as they aimlessly strolled along.

"It's so cold out here tonight!" April hugged someone's arm tightly as she complained. "I'm glad I at least wore a blazer tonight!"

"Who can you blame for feeling cold when you are in such a short skirt?" Leon, whose arm was held onto, did not seem to mind it the least. Instead he seemed to be enjoying every moment of it as he felt the two lumps pressing against his arm.

"Well, girls are not like you guys whose suit and pants fit every single occasion! We need to dress the part too! Right, Elaine?" April looked up at him and sulked before turning to the only other girl within the group.

"That's exactly the case! You have no idea how much hassle it is to choose our outfit every time!" Elaine chimed in instantly.

"Hahaha! I guess I got lucky then, getting to feast my eyes everyday on the dressing that you two put in so much effort for!" Leon just laughed it off as the quartet turned the corner into a narrow alley.

"Well, now you know how lucky you are!" April laughed as well, but only shortly before getting her attention captured by a small store within the alley.

It was especially eye-catching, considering the bright lights above its door and that there was not a single other store that was operating at this timing. It looked like a small storefront, with a sign labelled 'Open' hanging outside its entrance and a similarly tiny signboard was fixed above the door, lit by bright blue lights that flashed once every five seconds.

"The Life Game. Enter for an unprecedented experience bound to change what you think of life from now on!" seeing April eyes focus on the store, Leon looked over and read out what was written on the signboard.

"Had this store always been here? Why don't I remember ever seeing it before?" Elaine questioned curiously.

"Who knows? It is in such a deserted alley, we probably just passed by without noticing it previously," April shrugged as she answered. "Why don't we go in and have a look? We have time to spare anyway!"

"Haha sure! Sounds like fun!" Leon agreed easily to the lady who was still tightly hugging his arm before looking behind at the last of the quartet. "Is our genius engineer okay going in to have a look as well?"

Paul merely nodded in agreement as he saw all three's attention turn to him. With that, the four headed straight into the store.

It was clean and tidy within. In fact, one could say that there was no space for any clutter to form. From the entrance, the group of four entered a small room, which had nothing but a counter at the end and another door beside it which seemed to lead to the back of the store. A young man sat behind the counter, eagerly welcoming the four with a bright smile as he watched them enter.

"Welcome, dear customers! May I know how I can help you?" his voice was just as bright as his smile.

"What do you guys provide here? What's this Life Game?" April tugged Leon along as the two led the way to the front of the counter.

"This beauty over here asked a great question! Since you four entered just as I was about to close shop, I guess we can be considered quite fated as well! How about this, why don't I let you experience it for free this time? You can see for yourself what it is exactly then!" the young man was all smiles as he eagerly rubbed his hands together in front of his chest.

"Well, of course we wouldn't mind since you are letting us experience it for free, but is that really okay?" April smiled coquettishly after her initial surprise at his offer.

"Hahaha! Why are you doubting his sincerity, April? If he says he will let us try it for free, then let's just take him up on his offer!" Leon was quick to cut in.

"That's right! Would the two of you behind like to try it as well?" the young man's smile had never gone away since the start.

"Yes, we would like to!" Elaine hurriedly answered as she walked to the front of the counter along with Paul.

"All right then, shall we start?" the young man reached below the counter before bringing up two small boxes which he then placed on top of the counter.

The wooden boxes were similar in size and cubic in shape, each about 15cm tall. The top of which was open, but veiled by a black cloth with a slit in the middle, likely the only opening that gives access to the contents within.

"First of all, what is contained within these boxes are cards. Each of you should first draw a card from each box, and the cards you draw will be what determines how your life will change from this moment on!" the young man kept up his smile as he nudged the boxes slightly towards the group of four.

"That's it? Isn't this something like fortune telling?" Leon felt his mood dampen a little upon hearing the instructions.

"Well, doesn't hurt to try! It's free anyway!" April released Leon's arm promptly. "Let me go first then!"

She didn't hesitate before reaching into the boxes and pulling out a card each. They were the size of ordinary poker cards, but their illustrations were completely different. One of which depicted a man tilling his farm, while the other was that of a dragon. Confused, she simply stepped back to allow space for the other three. One by one, they stepped forward to draw their cards. However, the only matching card that the four drew was shared by Leon and April, in the card that showed a man tilling his farm.

"What now?" Leon asked curiously as the four turned their attention towards the store attendant.

"Don't worry, dear customers! As I said before, I will allow you to experience it for yourself!" the young man continued smiling as he slowly clapped his hands three times.

Just as the third clap sounded out within the store, the group of four suddenly felt their vision start to blur. Their limbs slowly lost strength as they stumbled to lean on the wall for support.

"What did you do?" those were the last words that a furious Leon could muster before he fell to the ground along with the other three. In fact, their bodies started to dissipate into a dark mist before slowly fading away.

"I wish you the best of luck!" the young man murmured to himself, a strange glint of light in his eyes as his smile continued hanging on his face.