Chapter 4: The Consequences of Gaming

Seashell gently sighed as she thought of the fate that would meet her when she logged out and decided to focus on her loot instead. Seashell picked up the rare Cleric staff and tried it out. It felt weightless in her hands, and as she swung it around, she felt a power she had never experienced before.

She then put on the Cleric robes and felt the soft material envelope her body before inspecting both items.

[Threadbare Cleric Robes] (Robes, Common)

Level of equipment: 1

Equipment Requirement: None

Stats:

+10 Defense

Passives: Divine Blessing - Increases mana regeneration after using a healing spell by 10%

Actives: None

Backstory/remark: These simple white robes are worn by novice clerics during their training. They are made of a soft, comfortable fabric that allows the wearer to move freely while still maintaining a modest appearance.

Holy Grail Staff (Staff, Unique)

(Bound to user Seashell)

Level:2

Stats:

+15 Intelligence

+5 Wisdom

Passives: Grail's Blessing: Allows the wielder to cast the Healing spell 3 times a day without expending any MP.

Actives: Grails Blessing Uses: [3/3]

Backstory/Remarks: The Holy Grail Staff is a legendary staff that was said to have been created by the gods themselves. Stranded by time it now only holds a fragment of its power but can be restored to its former glory with perseverance.

"This can't be real," she whispered to herself, running her fingers along the intricate engravings on the staff. "How rare is this?"

She couldn't help but feel a bit confused, wondering if she had somehow glitched the system to get this incredible item. She knew that some players would go to great lengths to obtain epic or legendary gear, but the Holy Grail staff seemed to be in a league of its own.

As she pondered over the staff's rarity, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and excitement. This powerful item would help her become a formidable healer, and she couldn't wait to try it out.

Seashell quickly shook herself out of her reverie, realizing that she had been staring at the staff for far too long. She quickly went over her other items, making sure she had everything she needed before logging out of the game.

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As she logged out of New Dawn, she hurriedly took off her VR helmet and left her room. She could hear her mother's voice from the living room, and she knew she was in trouble.

"Izumi, where have you been?" her mother scolded as soon as she entered the room. "You've been in your room all day! You missed lunch and dinner!"

Seashell lowered her head in shame. "I'm sorry, Mom. I lost track of time."

Her mother let out a sigh. "You can't keep playing video games like this. It's not healthy. You need to take breaks and do other things."

"I know, Mom. I'm sorry," Seashell replied, feeling guilty.

Her mother gave her a stern look. "As punishment, you're not allowed to play any video games for the next two days. You need to catch up on your school work and do something productive."

Seashell groaned inwardly but knew her mother was right. "Yes, Mom. I understand."

Seashell trudged back to her room, feeling ashamed and disappointed in herself for having disobeyed her mother's rules. As she sat on her bed, staring at the blank wall, she couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness. The exhilarating adventure and excitement of New Dawn had been replaced by a dull reality.

With a heavy sigh, Seashell got ready for bed, following her usual routine of changing into her pajamas and brushing her teeth. She climbed into bed and stared up at the ceiling, her mind still reeling from the events of the day. Eventually, exhaustion took over, and she drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Seashell awoke to the sound of her alarm clock, groggily rubbing her eyes and getting out of bed. She stumbled over to her closet, pulled out her school uniform, and got dressed. After a quick breakfast, she grabbed her bag and headed out the door. As she made her way to the door, her mother called out to her.

"Seashell", don't forget to come straight home after school. We have a family dinner tonight."

As she made her way to school, Seashell encountered her friend Izumi, who greeted her with a smile. They exchanged casual small talk, discussing their plans for the upcoming weekend and the latest school gossip.

Seashell couldn't help but bring up the topic of the VR game she had been playing, despite feeling a twinge of guilt for disobeying her mother. She excitedly told Izumi about her adventures in New Dawn, explaining the game mechanics and the different classes she could choose from.

Izumi listened intently, intrigued by Seashell's description of the game. "I'll have to check it out. What level are you?"

Seashell hesitated for a moment before responding. "I'm only level 3. I haven't had much time to play lately."

Izumi nodded understandingly. "Yeah, school can be pretty time-consuming. But we should play together sometime."

Seashell smiled at the thought. It would be fun to play with a friend. "Definitely. Let me know if you decide to start playing."

As they arrived at school, they parted ways, with Seashell feeling a sense of satisfaction that she had shared her passion for the game with her friend.

The rest of Seashell's day passed by in a blur of classes, homework, and extracurricular activities. During lunch, she sat with Izumi and their group of friends, chatting about their plans for the weekend and catching up on the latest school news.

Despite her guilt over breaking her mother's rules, Seashell couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation at the thought of logging back into New Dawn and continuing her adventure. However, her excitement quickly died down as she realized that still was restricted for another day.

Seashell's walk home with Izumi was pleasant, the two chatting about their day and making small talk. They parted ways as Izumi continued down the street towards her own home, and Seashell walked up the driveway to her own.

As she entered the house, she was greeted by the delicious aroma of her mother's cooking. She went straight to the kitchen where her mother was already dishing up plates of food.

"Hi, Mom," Seashell said, taking a seat at the table.

"Hello, Shelly," her mother replied, using her pet name as she set the table.

Dinner was a simple affair of rice, stir-fried vegetables, and grilled chicken. As they ate, Seashell told her mother about her day at school, mentioning the upcoming exams and a project she was working on. Her mother listened attentively, nodding and offering words of encouragement.

After dinner, Seashell helped her mother with the dishes and then retired to her room to do some homework. She spent the next few hours working on her assignments, occasionally glancing over at her VR helmet sitting on the shelf next to her desk. The temptation to log back into New Dawn was strong, but she resisted it, knowing that her mother's restrictions still applied.

As the evening wore on, Seashell began to feel tired. She changed into her pajamas, brushed her teeth, and climbed into bed. She lay there in the darkness, listening to the quiet hum of the house as she drifted off to sleep.

𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺.