Gelsomina blushed slightly, but her playful nature quickly took over. She did a somersault in the air, then gently landed back on her flower. “Thank you! This is my true form.”
Aster also noticed the fairy's dress: a gown made of intertwined leaves and violet petals, moving as if it were part of her. Curious, he lowered his gaze toward himself. His clothes had changed. Now he was wearing a long, dark green tunic with golden floral patterns decorating the sleeves and hem. A braided leather belt with small ornamental leaves encircled his waist, while a light moss-colored cloak draped over his shoulders. Sturdy yet elegant boots, perfect for walking in the woods, completed his attire.
“Not bad,” he murmured to himself, observing the details of his outfit. Then, he checked for other changes: his pointed ears were still there, but nothing else seemed out of place.
Suddenly, however, he felt several eyes fixed on him. He turned around and realized that many people—both players and NPCs—were staring at him. But those gazes were not directed at him; everyone was looking at Gelsomina, still seated on the flower, watching him with an amused smile.
The crowd around them grew larger, and soon whispers began to spread.
“Is that… a nymph?” someone murmured.
“Aren’t they supposed to live in the Eternal Wood? What is she doing here?” another replied.
“I heard there’s only a 0.01% chance of finding a nymph in the Egg of the Guide!”
Curious glances soon turned into general admiration and surprise, and the crowd kept growing. However, the atmosphere shifted abruptly when a rough, commanding voice cut through the chatter.
“Hey! Move aside, make way!”
A massive orc with green skin, towering over two meters tall, appeared before Aster and Gelsomina. Two large tusks protruded from his mouth, and he carried a menacing air. He wore heavy, rusted armor, covered in scratches and dents, evidence of countless battles. At his waist hung an enormous sword, nearly the size of Aster himself.
The crowd murmured again, but this time with apprehension.
“That’s Prunto…”
“What is that brute doing here?”
“Let’s hope there’s no trouble.”
Prunto stopped a few steps away from Aster, scrutinizing him with a sly look, then abruptly pointed at Gelsomina. “Sell her to me,” he said bluntly. “That nymph. I want her. I’ll pay you well.”
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Aster stared at him, confused. “Sell her to you...? But she’s not for sale. And besides, she’s not an object.”
The orc chuckled, but it was a joyless laugh. “Maybe you didn’t understand, human. That wasn’t a request. If you don’t give her to me, my clan will make your life here a living hell.”
Gelsomina hid in Aster’s hair, trembling. “Please,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “Don’t let him take me. I don’t want to go with him!”
Aster gently placed a reassuring hand on her head. “I won’t sell you, don’t worry.” Then, he turned to Prunto. “You already have my answer. It’s never going to happen.”
The orc snorted, furious. “Then you’re an idiot.” He drew his sword, which gleamed menacingly under the light of the twin suns. “Let’s see if you change your mind when you’re in pieces!”
Before Aster could react, Prunto lunged at him with surprising speed. His strike was so fast and powerful that Aster barely managed to move—but not enough.
The sword slashed through him, cutting him clean in two. Aster collapsed to the ground, his lower half dissolving into a swirl of data. Lying there, he felt a dull pain—not as intense as real pain, but still unsettling.
With his gaze turned toward the sky, Aster saw Gelsomina being grabbed by the orc. “Goodnight, idiot,” Prunto sneered cruelly before vanishing into the crowd with the nymph, who was sobbing desperately.
Then, everything went black.
A floral screen appeared before Aster’s eyes, displaying the words:
Time to Respawn: 23:59:48
Aster slammed his fists against the screen, cursing. “Respawn time?! And why so long?!” Frustration and panic surged through him, but then he realized his legs were back. He looked around in the endless darkness.
There was nothing—just the glowing message in front of him:
Time to Respawn: 23:57:02
And below it, a small option: Log Out
He couldn’t think about anything except Gelsomina, kidnapped by that orc. He had to find her, to save her. But around him was only a black void, as infinite as the white he had seen before entering Encrypted. Aster started running in every direction, desperately searching for a door, a portal—anything that could take him back.
“Let me back into the game! I have to save her!” he shouted, but the screen remained motionless, indifferent to his pleas. He even tried touching the letters, praying for a chance, but nothing happened.
Eventually, exhausted and defeated, he resigned himself. “I have no other choice…” he sighed, staring at the Log Out option. With one last frustrated glance, he tapped it.
A moment later, Leonardo found himself lying on his bed, the VR headset still strapped to his head. The sensation of waking up hit him like emerging from a deep sleep, returning to reality with a dazed sense of confusion. His heart was pounding, his body was sweaty, and the bed felt stiffer than he remembered. He remained still for long minutes, trying to piece together what had happened.
Then, the sound of his smartphone pulled him fully back into reality. It rang insistently, casting a soft glow across the dimly lit room. Leonardo sighed, took off the headset, and answered the call.
“Hello?” he said, his voice tired.
It was his mother. “Leonardo, have you had dinner?” she asked with her usual caring tone. She always called to check if he had eaten—a small daily routine that reminded him how much she cared, even if it sometimes felt excessive.
“No, not yet,” he replied, rubbing his forehead. “I was… I was lost in a book.”