Caught Between Two Worlds

Despite the food not being completely cooked due to the mysterious wave fire, Ashen was still eager to eat because it was well-prepared and well-organized.

The plate was a golden colour with an engraved design on it. On the plate were green, red, and violet vegetables, along with some dried fish. In the middle of the plate was a small bowl containing orange nectar. Beside the plate was an ancient-looking bronze wine glass filled with purple liquid.

After enjoying his meal to the fullest, he let out a heavy sigh and strolled around the Palace until drowsiness took over. Summoning Dominic to guide him to his chambers, Ashen soon found himself face to face with a new bed - the old one having been broken beyond repair.

With a gentle smile and a wish for a good night, Dominic bid his lord farewell, leaving Ashen to ponder the events of the day as he sat on the edge of his new bed, lost in thought.

He changed into comfortable clothes, as if diving into a treasure trove of softness. As he sank into bed, the gentle glow of a lamp made from fireflies illuminated the room. Looking up at the ceiling, he let out a heavy sigh, feeling the exhaustion from his training. With a lazy stretch, he opened his status window and saw the following:

Name: GreyGhost

Race: Human

Title: Lord

Planet Name: Midnight Bay

Level: 2 Experience: 30/100

Status:

Health Points (HP): 100/100

Mana Points (MP): 50/50

Stamina Points (SP): 75/75

Condition: Normal

Attributes:

Strength: 8

Intelligence: 8

Wisdom: 10

Charisma: 4

Dexterity: 9

Skills:

Iron Phalanx (level 1)

Inventory:

[No items in inventory]

Civilization Window: Locked (Requires Level 5)

He was overjoyed to witness his strength, dexterity, and wisdom tripling in value. Ashen deduced that his tireless training and relentless hunting with Rahil had imbued him with heightened strength and agility, while his practical thinking and assimilation of knowledge from the library had broadened his wisdom. Moreover, his level-up had bestowed upon him an incredible boost in all areas.

He was overjoyed to witness his progress, but his delight was interrupted by the appearance of a small button in the bottom corner of the status window,

labelled "log out." The sight of it filled him with hesitation; the game felt so real that he didn't want to break away from it. A timer near the log out button added to his unease, ticking down with only fifteen minutes remaining. If he didn't log out before the timer hit zero, he'd be forcibly removed from the game and banned from playing for the next four weeks. It was like a cruel countdown to his gaming exile.

"Kingdoms of the Unseen" is akin to a beguiling drug that simultaneously enables one to manage their addiction. Now, Ashen has uncovered the true purpose behind the game's restriction to VR gameplay once a week, with the rest of the week available on other devices with comparable graphics, yet not quite as enveloping. With a heavy heart, he depresses the "log out" button just as the timer winds down, already longing for the immersive experience he must wait a week to relive.

His vision blurred, enveloping him in darkness. Subconsciously, he closed his eyes and felt his body's weight, as if sinking in quicksand. He removed his headset and opened his eyes. As the warm, young sunlight poured in through the open window.

His emerald eyes glimmered like precious jewels in the gentle morning light. As Ashen looked outside, he could see that the rain had finally subsided, leaving behind a soft and mesmerizing scent that lingered in the air.

It was 8 am in the morning, indicating that the game could only be played for another 12 hours, give or take. While taking in the scenery of the park, a sudden gust of wind swept through, ruffling his silky black hair. Despite feeling refreshed, Ashen was also exhausted from playing the game for an extended period.

As Ashen admired the surroundings, he heard a gentle rustling sound, as if someone's clothes were brushing against each other while walking. Goosebumps appeared on Ashen's skin as the sound came from near his door. He abruptly turned around and saw a figure in a white dress hiding near the door, which he recognized instantly. Seeing the figure, his eyes welled up with tears.

Ashen stood up from his chair and approached the door to see who was there. As he neared the entrance, the figure began sprinting towards him. Suddenly, he was overcome with terror, and his legs felt as heavy as stone, refusing to budge. This was not simply due to fear, but rather the alarming appearance of the approaching figure.

It was the woman in her 40s, with long black hair, wearing a flowing white dress, and possessing dark eyes. She was his mother. As she approached him, he regained his senses and walked over to the table. Opening the drawer, he retrieved some medicine.

After taking the medication, Ashen's mother began to fade away before his eyes. He was on the verge of crying out loud.

He sat on the chair, drenched in sweat, while his personal AI sent him warning notifications about his rapidly increasing heart rate.

Ashen was taken aback as he regained his composure and his phone began to ring. The incoming call was from Kaid, Ashen's best friend from college.

Ashen answered the call and heard Kaid's sweet voice saying, "Hello Ashen, how are you?"

Ashen replied, "I'm doing well. And how are you, Kaid?"

"I'm fine," Kaid responded. "But why did it take you so long to answer my call?" he asked, confused.

Knowing that Ashen lived a solitary lifestyle, Kaid was puzzled by the delay.

Ashen replied in a nervous and saddened tone, "I just went to the bathroom, nothing's wrong."

Kaid immediately expressed concern, "Ashen, are you still experiencing hallucinations of your parents?"

He continued, "It's been nine months," before trailing off and asking, "What did the doctor say about this? When will it stop?" with genuine concern.

Around 9 months ago, Ashen's parents were returning from a business trip when their car crashed due to heavy rain, resulting in their untimely demise.

Since then, Ashen has been plagued by hallucinations of his beloved parents. Upon confiding in Kaid, he was referred to a doctor who diagnosed him with acute grief, citing bereavement hallucinations as a common symptom.

Ashen replied, "The doctor prescribed me antidepressants for a temporary period, but he warned that these hallucinations might last for months or even years," his voice tinged with fear.

Ashen also added cheerfully, "Don't worry, I followed your advice and started playing Kingdoms of the Unseen."

Kaid responded in shock, "Really?!"