Darkness.

Is not only the abscence of light, but also a part of life.

Where despair, tragedy, sadness, frustration and everything negative dwell within the depths of one's heart.

It may shape a person or cause them to crumble. It may help them rise or cause them to fall.

But in my case. I experienced both of these ups and downs

Sure I may have suffered and grown stronger from that pain But, instead of rest, I even faced greater challenges than ever before.

It was frustrating, even so with a tragic beginning.

And No, I didn't loose my family, I still have them but our life of poverty that we've been through was making our lives difficult

I never wanted to add weight into their burdens, so that's why I left and worked. And worked, and worked with various difficulties I faced I have overcomed them all. I became successful and finally reunited with my family, we finally became happy, that pretty much sums up my life. But despite all those success, am I truly happy?

I may have my family back, I am now also a successful businessman and influencer.

But I took more than I can handle, I got greedy.

I never mentioned these to my family because I don't want to ruin our happy lives, I worked so hard to maintain.

But the success I mentioned only added more and more to my burdens

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

My passion suddenly turned into a responsibility

Responsibility turned into a burden.

Everyone has high expectations from me

It was tiresome

I'm a person too, not a god

So please treat me like one

so the only way I escaped from that reality is through video games.

An MMORPG called Arcana.

It'd remind me of dungeons and dragons, everythings a fantasy an opposite from reality

My place of peaceful solitude, where I have met friends I can open up too, where I can be

Normal, where I can be myself around them.

Where backgrounds and status didn't matter

While playing this game

We conquered dungeons, doing quests, goofing around, enjoying each other's company until we got to the point where we came on top without even realizing it

But even such happiness won't last forever.

My friends already have their own lives outside of this game, they didn't left it. They're still here, it's just.. The game's going to shut down. For good. So I'm left here alone with the last remaining minutes in this game

Waiting for my friends to show up, I won't resent them if they don't

But even then, I am happy. I am satisfied

For the precious memories they gave me

While waiting, I asked one last request to the devs.

I asked them for administration, godmode and all sort of things to for me to try

They granted my request, after all. This game's going to shut down anyway, so why not make the most of it?

So here I am flying around the map while looking at players gathering like herds.

They're probably having they're one last virtual reunion before this game shuts down. Some just straight up griefing the hell out of everyone, while some just started exchanging contacts.

But one thing that stands out from the rest of them, that caught my attention is that there are others like me, walking around the game reminiscing about the past, it was such a mood.

Until finally the game's about to shut down

I, Jovin Aceda hovering at the sky on top of the clouds looking at the sunset as everything is about to end

I closed my eyes as I accepted everything.

Until..

I woke up. In the vast open plain sitting at the grass with trees and mountains that can be seen at the distance, there weren't any signs of civilization

What?

"How did I get here and.."

"Are they going to shut down this game or what?"

I was confused, did the countown on the upper right corner of the screen delayed or something?

Did the devs changed their mind?

Or..

"Don't tell me, did I get Isekaid?"