In a small, dark, chilly yet not cold bedroom, a soft breath noise was audible in rhythm with a rising and falling blanket. A young man lay sleeping, a slightly prominent nose visible under tousled brown hair. Outside, the street was silent except for some fallen leaves rustling in the wind. A clock chimed, the information that it was two in the morning falling on deaf ears, as far as this bedroom's occupant was concerned.

Minutes later, a point of light glittered into existence next to the bed. Floating a few feet above the ground, it slowly and soundlessly expanded into a sphere, spawning smaller spheres that moved around it in intricate patterns. As the light grew larger and its companions started describing wider arcs, a dark object showed up in the center of the sphere. Its shape became more discernable as its size increased, until a slightly translucent, turban-wearing man looked down upon the sleeper.

His face was dominated by a black beard, tanned skin contrasted with white robes, and gemstone rings on his fingers sparkled slightly in the remnants of the lights surrounding him.

"Wake up, oh sleeper, for thy wish has been granted!"

A loud snore was the only answer. A sigh escaped the floating man.

"Wake up, oh sleeper, for thy wish has been granted!", he repeated.

Not even a snore this time, just rhythmic breathing. From his sitting position in the air, the bearded man moved his hand toward the young man's face and flicked the sleeper's nose. Two eyes popped open, and a hand shot to the disturbed olfactory organ.

"Ouch! What the... Who are you? What did you do that for?"

"Wake up, oh sleeper, for thy wish has been granted!"

"Well, I'm awake, mister genie! Now what?"

"Thy wish has been granted. Take hold of my hand and enter the realm thou hast dreamt of."

The young man blinked a few times.

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"I'm not just going to take your hand! What is all this? What realm?"

"The realm of Korean Grindfest Online, as thou requestedst."

"Wait, what? Take me to KGO? You can't be serious!"

"I assure thee that I speak only the truth."

"Well, you're about 10 years late, buddy! I haven't played that game for a long time. And I'm not planning to do so now! I need to sleep, gotta go to work tomorrow and all that. So leave me alone!"

"I sincerely regret my tardiness, oh wisher. I have sought long and hard for thee."

"Right. Hope the way back is easier to find. Bye!"

The young man turned his back to the genie and covered his head with his blanket.

"Pray, do not refuse the fulfillment of thy wish! Thou hast dreamt this dream strongly, and the divine beings have heard thy cries! I am but a humble servant, and shall not be allowed to return to my dwelling till thy wish has been granted!"

"Hold on! Just... too many fancy words, too many syllables..."

The young man sat up and looked at the genie.

"You're telling me you can't go home until you've granted my wish?"

"Thou hast comprehended my plight!"

"Fine. I wish for you to go home!"

"I may only return after fulfilling the original wish granted by the divine beings, exalted they shall be!"

"And that wish is to take me to KGO?"

"Truly, thine intellect shines bright with..."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let's..."

The young man sighed.

"Let me get this straight. If I take your hand, I will, bodily, be transported to the world of KGO?"

"Thy body shall vanish from this realm, but only for thy spirit to inhabit a game character's avatar. Thy body shall reappear for thy use when thou returnest!"

"Return? I will be able to come back?"

"Indeed! After thou achievest the level of 120, thou mayest return to thy birth realm."

The young man furrowed his brow and sat still for a moment.

"Will time here go on while I'm there?"

"When thou returneth, not more than one of twelve parts of the face of the timekeeper shall have passed!"

Massaging his temples, the young man closed his eyes for a moment.

"You're telling me I will return no more than five minutes after I left, no matter how long I spend in KGO?"

"Indeed!"

A silence fell, interrupted only by the sound of more leaves being blown across the pavement. The genie slowly drifted a few inches up and down, his gaze never wavering from the other's face.

"Well, I can't believe I'm saying this, but alright. I'll do it."

"The divine beings be praised! Take my hand, oh blessed one!"

"You're sure there isn't a catch?"

"The divine beings have smiled upon thy countenance, thy dreams to make reality! Reachest level 120, and thou shalt return as thou wilt!"

"Ah heck, never say no to adventure!"

The young man reached up and took the genie's now outstretched hand. A brief flash lighted the room, and both figures disappeared, leaving the bedroom silent and empty in their wake.