The next morning, Blakely, Maven, and Iris reconvened in their usual spots, eager to log back into Morphantasia. They shared one last laugh about the previous evening's antics before donning their VR headsets, each of them taking a deep breath as they prepared to immerse themselves once again.
When they opened their eyes, the familiar scenery of Dew Lake came into focus. The quiet murmur of the town, with its thatched-roof buildings and quaint shops, greeted them warmly. But despite the calm surroundings, there was a palpable energy in the air—a readiness, as if everyone in Dew Lake knew that an important battle was still to come.
As Blakely adjusted to being back in Morphantasia, her gaze fell on her pandas, who had been waiting for her return. Matcha, Coral, Ember, Bamboo, Stormie, and Umbrie all perked up, circling around her with excitement. Matcha gave her a gentle nudge, his familiar warmth instantly grounding her.