7/09/44. 18. 08/23/26
When morning finally came, Elara stirred awake, blinking against the early light that seeped through her window. For a brief moment, she let herself hope it had all been a dream. But the weight of the realism around her—the textured sheets, the slight chill in the air—told her otherwise. She let out a quiet sigh and glanced over at Astra. The tiny red dragon was curled up, wings folded neatly, chest rising and falling with a soft rhythm.
Elara couldn't help but smile at her companion before gently slipping out of bed, careful not to wake her. Moving to the small kitchen, she set about preparing breakfast for the two of them. She had quickly learned how immersive this new reality was—each chop of vegetables, each sizzling sound, every savory smell filled the room as though she were truly there, making a meal at home.
As she stirred the pot, a sudden thought struck her: she'd forgotten about her stream entirely. She froze, looking around, wondering how she'd connect with her viewers now without the familiar menu.
"I used to access the stream through the menu... but how do I...?" She mumbled to herself, trying to make sense of the new rules. Elara tilted her head, pondering. "Would it be considered magic now?"
Determined to figure it out, she experimented, trying different phrases like "Show stream," "Access chat," and even "Broadcast." Each attempt made her feel a little silly, but eventually she came to think of a phrase on her own. With a slight crackle, a small magical screen appeared in front of her, displaying her stream's current status and viewer count.
"Words of the Gathering, open the gates," she muttered, a grin spreading across her face as the chat messages began to scroll across her view, each one shimmering faintly as they appeared. Astra, her loyal companion, was woken up and decided to watch with a curious glint in her purple eyes, head tilted slightly as if trying to understand this new magic. [All Magic chants are spoken in Latin, currently having a friend translate for me, in the meantime, they're in English.]
Just then, a soft ding echoed in her mind, and an announcement was made: "New Spell Developed. Broadcast."
Elara's grin widened. She'd successfully crafted a unique spell, one that allowed her to bridge the realms and stay connected to her audience. Glancing down, she gave Astra a pat. "Looks like we're breaking new ground, girl. Who knows what else we'll discover?"
[Chat]
DragonFire69: Morning, Moon! Is that a real dragon?
NightWalker: So, the game's full reality now? How's it feel to cook like that?
YeetYet:Moon!! Please hang in there!
Knight4Life: I heard they added realistic damage... How intense is that?
SunsetSeraphim: Astra looks like she's curious about the food, haha. Love seeing this little bonding moment
NeneeBone: For someone in a death game, you're pretty calm about it!
VinVin: Moon are you alright?!?!?!
JustHere4Fun: How's the magic different now? So you have to, like, chant or something?
FairyFlame: Astra is too cute! She looks like she's really enjoying watching you cook.
RogueWatcher: Are you planning to go out for supplies today? Wonder what's changed in the shops.
Yougritty:If anyone can conquer this game, it's going to be you Moon! You've always conquered every game you played!
GipsyLord: Moon are you doing alright?
SilverSorcerer: So, does this feel more like real life now? NPCs acting differently too?
LurkingShadow: We're here to watch your back, Moon! You've got this!
MithrilMage: Astra's adorable, Moon! What's the plan today? Crafting, exploring?
Nightshade12: Are NPCs aware of everything happening? Do they know you're a player?
StormSeeker: What's on the agenda today? Adventuring, crafting, or just getting a feel for things?
WhisperWeaver: How are other players handling it? Seen anyone teaming up?
NeatNeat: How are you holding up, Moon?
"I'm trying to hold it together, if I have to be honest I'm terrified, but if I let this get to me, I won't be able to get out. I appreciate the concern, thanks, guys... but do any of you have updates on what they're planning to do for us trapped in here?"
Responses quickly flooded in, bringing both relief and a touch of unease. Her viewers informed her that everyone trapped in the game was to be transferred to hospitals, where they'd be hooked up to life-support systems to keep them stable. The developers had informed the public that each player's helmet could be unplugged for up to twenty-four hours before the internal power would drain, leading to a fatal shutdown.
Elara swallowed, her fingers brushing gently over Astra's scales as she took it in. At least there was a plan in motion to keep them physically safe as she was wondering how long it would take before her parents realized she was stuck in the game. Surely, it wouldn't take long—they did live together, after all. Her parents had always been supportive of her gaming as long as her grades stayed up. Now that she'd graduated high school just last month, they were letting her stay with them until she was ready to live on her own. That and they watch the news a lot in the morning.
Elara finished her breakfast with Astra, savoring a quiet moment before the day's challenges. After donning her armor, she meticulously packed her supplies, making sure every potion and tool was within easy reach. The weight of her equipment was familiar, grounding her, yet she knew it wasn't just her armor she'd be relying on; Astra's keen senses and her own instincts would need to be sharper than ever.
As she prepared, Elara's thoughts drifted to the path ahead. She'd always preferred solitude, navigating her journey without the noise and complexities of others. Only when necessity dictated did she exchange words or lend her skills to upgrade someone's gear. Yet, the silent question lingered: how far could she go alone? The thought stirred within her as she glanced at Astra, the dragon's purple eyes meeting hers. If she was going to make it out, she might have to in the future.
"Alright," she muttered, more to herself than Astra, "before diving into the depths of that mine, I'll scout the forest and see if I can level up a bit more. Supplies should last four days, I've got ten potions...." Adjusting her pack, she headed out with Astra by her side, ready to make the most of the hours before facing the depths of the mine
The rumors and stories before the update told of a formidable boss waiting on the 50th level of the mine. Each descending level held increasingly dangerous creatures, making every step a test of endurance and skill. Even with the mine's elevator, she'd need to be cautious of where she chose to step off; underestimating the monsters would only lead to unnecessary risk. That however was something to worry about later.
As Elara ventured further into the forest, her thoughts wandered, dissecting the mechanics of "Oblivion's Embrace." She couldn't shake the notion that the game's realism was less about straightforward difficulty and more about a complex blend of intuition and skill.
Pausing to examine her surroundings, she noticed the subtle shifts in the forest—the trees seemed older, and the underbrush denser. This was a place where higher-level beasts might lurk, but so far, she had yet to encounter anything that tested her limits. Still, the faint hum of magic in the air reminded her that the game was anything but simple.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
"Instincts don't come out of nowhere," she murmured, casting a skeptical glance at her armor and sword. Each piece of gear felt almost like an extension of herself now, like tools she'd crafted and maintained for years, though in reality, she'd only recently learned to work the forge. "It's as if... knowledge itself was implanted."
Thinking back, she remembered the feel of hot iron, the rhythm of hammer strokes that somehow resonated as natural. She hadn't struggled like a novice should. Instead, the game's 'realism' bridged the gap, filling in the blanks, making her movements efficient, almost practiced.
"There's so much to take in...I'll just have to figure it out as I go." She muttered to herself.
She continued her journey into the depths of the forest in order to hone her skills. After about ten minutes of walking, she eventually caught sight of two hobgoblins eating a deer carcass. Two perfect enemies to handle. She had Astra stay away as she was going to handle them.
Elara took a deep breath, feeling the weight of Stormrender in one hand and the Aegis of the Lone Knight strapped firmly to her other arm. She'd practiced enough that her movements should come naturally, thanks to her Shieldmaster and Swordmaster skills.
With her armor, sneaking was impossible, so she stepped forward and planted her feet and lifted her shield. As she stepped forward, the hobgoblins caught sight of her and dropped the deer, baring jagged teeth and snarling. One held a crude club, and the other brandished a rusted spear.
The hobgoblin with the club lunged forward, swinging downward with brutal force. Elara shifted her weight, raising Aegis to meet the blow. The impact rang out, but her shield absorbed the brunt of it, deflecting the attack effortlessly. Instinctively, she sidestepped and swung Stormrender in a smooth, arcing slash. The jagged edge of her sword bit deep into the hobgoblin's side, drawing dark blood and forcing it to stagger back with a howl.
The second hobgoblin, undeterred, lunged at her exposed side with its spear. Elara reacted quickly, angling her shield to intercept the strike. The spear glanced off, and in one fluid motion, she pivoted and drove her shield forward in a powerful Shield Bash, the adamantine surface slamming into the hobgoblin's chest. The creature stumbled back, stunned by the force.
She seized the opening. With her sword raised, she swung down hard, and as Stormrender connected, a surge of electricity crackled down the blade, sending a pulse of energy through the hobgoblin. The creature shuddered, momentarily paralyzed by the stun effect, leaving it vulnerable. Elara took advantage of the moment, driving her blade through its torso with a final, decisive strike.
The first hobgoblin, still clutching its wound, snarled and tried a desperate swing at her legs. Elara saw it coming, sidestepping with practiced ease. She brought Stormrender down in a clean, slashing motion, cutting the creature down. Its weapon fell from its hand as it crumpled to the ground, defeated.
She took a step back, breathing steady. Her sword and shield felt like extensions of herself, each move as natural as breathing. The hobgoblins lay defeated at her feet, and she felt a surge of satisfaction. Her skills had carried her through yet another victory.
Elara allowed herself a slight smile, satisfied with her victory. Her skills were becoming second nature, each movement flowing effortlessly. But now, it was time to test magic in this new version of the game.
Before, casting spells was simple—a point and a thought, and fire or ice would spring to life. But now, spells required chants, a verbal incantation to channel her energy. She wondered if the basic spells, like Fireball or Ice Shard, would come to her as naturally as her combat maneuvers. Maybe her familiarity with these spells would make the chants surface on instinct, or would she have to study and experiment to unlock each one?
The broadcasting spell she'd created to reach her chat had been different, something unique she made herself, something she hadn't really "chanted" before the update. The basic spells however...
Elara turned her attention to a tree nearby, focusing on it as her target. She took a breath, let her mind quiet, and concentrated on calling forth a fire spell. She didn't know if the words would come on their own, but she felt the intent, the familiar spark of fire waiting to be unleashed.
Her mouth opened, and almost instinctively, the chant came to her: "Orb of Fire, rise and strike!"
A small orb of flame crackled to life in her palm, hovering there, warm and potent. She released it, watching as it sailed forward, striking the tree with a burst of embers. It seemed that, just like her combat skills, these basic spells would indeed come naturally. She felt a spark of satisfaction; this new system would take adjustment, but she was learning to navigate it—one chant at a time.
"Alright, so I think I get it now. If I was using it before the update, the game is essentially pinging it in my head to allow me to "instinctively" know what I'm doing. So if I never did it, then I will essentially have to be taught like usual...I think it has to do with how the Embracer functions." She put a fist in the palm of her hand.
Now that Elara was getting the hang of her own combat abilities, it was time to see what Astra could bring to the battlefield. She wanted to keep things straightforward to start, aiming to test Astra's potential without diving into anything too dangerous.
She scanned the nearby woods until she spotted a small herd of deer grazing in a clearing. Elara crouched beside Astra, pointing to the group with a nod. "Alright, let's keep this simple. Let's see what you can do."
Astra's purple eyes sparkled with excitement as she understood her cue. The dragon moved forward with surprising grace, wings tucked close to avoid rustling the underbrush. Elara followed closely, watching as Astra's instincts guided her approach. With a quick, practiced flick of her tail, Astra sent a soft pulse of energy towards the closest deer, catching its attention just long enough for Elara to move in.
As Astra circled around, her instincts sharp and precise, Elara studied her companion's abilities. A few more successful attempts, and Elara could tell Astra would be a powerful asset, especially once they took on tougher opponents.
Elara watched with fascination as Astra, though still small and untrained, showed flashes of instinctive talent. Her movements were quick and surprisingly nimble for a dragon her age, and even her unrefined abilities held a raw potential that could be shaped into something formidable.
"Astra," Elara whispered, gesturing towards a lone rabbit that had strayed from the clearing. Astra's purple eyes narrowed as she focused on the small creature, crouching low to the ground. Her wings flexed slightly as if readying for takeoff, though she was far from being able to fly just yet.
With a tiny rumble, Astra let out a breath, and a faint wisp of smoke escaped her nostrils. It wasn't fire—at least, not yet—but Elara could see the promise of it, the beginnings of what would one day be a powerful flame. Astra gave a determined little snort and sprang forward, pouncing on the spot where the rabbit had been a split second before it darted away.
A bit disappointed but undeterred, Astra turned back to Elara with a look of resolve. Elara chuckled, crouching down to scratch under her chin. "You're getting there," she reassured her. "You've got plenty of time to grow into your strength."
For now, Elara would focus on honing Astra's instincts. She guided Astra through a few more practice rounds, encouraging her to track, pounce, and direct that budding energy into small pulses. Each success, no matter how small, earned Astra an encouraging pat, and her eyes sparkled with each bit of progress.
As the day wore on and training finally came to an end, the sky dimmed into shades of twilight. Elara and Astra, both feeling the weight of their efforts, prepared to make camp for the night. Elara settled by the crackling campfire, the warmth a welcome contrast to the cool evening air. She remained in her armor, knowing the risks of vulnerability in the wild; the weight and cold metal pressing against her skin reminded her that she would have to adapt to resting this way.
Glancing at Astra, she offered a tired but contented smile, reaching out to scratch beneath the dragon's chin. "Today was a good day. Are you ready to train some more tomorrow?"
Astra's response was a puff of smoke, her purple eyes bright with determination. The small display brought a chuckle from Elara as she watched her dragon's spirit shine through, undaunted by fatigue.
She shifted slightly, adjusting her position to get comfortable. "I wonder if you grow naturally or if it's based on levels," she murmured, pondering the mysteries of Astra's development. Her thoughts briefly wandered to her horse, her dependable companion left unattended in the recent chaos. "I can't believe I almost forgot about my horse with everything going on. So much has happened lately." She gave Astra a gentle scratch behind the ear. "But for now, let's have some of that deer we hunted and call it a night." After eating. She set up alarms around the camp to protect them while they slept through the night and before she finally got some sleep, she chanted the spell to speak with her viewers. Reading their comments, she smiled again and wished them a good night before falling asleep.