The day after the grand ceremony of honor, Henry, Heather, David, and Lindsey prepared for their journey back to Woodhaerst. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over the Ursa Kingdom as they bid their farewells to the friends and family, they had grown close to during their stay.
Henry stood at the gates of the Bearington estate, the seal of the Bearington clan safely tucked away in his pocket. Yesterday, his grandfather had told him that distance does not negate familial duties and that he must continue to adhere to the clan’s creed. He also informed Henry that the kingdom planned to increase trade with his territories. Thanks to merchant caravans traveling back and forth, Henry was earning an extra 25 cultural points a week, which meant he was now earning 200 cultural points a week and just two weeks away from his next cultural achievement.
Henry thanked his grandfather and promised to welcome any Bearkin or beastkin who visited his territory. Hearing this, the patriarch smiled, his eyes reflecting a mix of pride and happiness. Turning to face his daughter, with a hint of remorse, he wished her well, “Daughter, the estate will always be open to you and your family.”
Lindsey, holding David’s hand, stepped forward. “We’re grateful for housing and finding our son.”
With final goodbyes exchanged, the family set off on their journey. Autumn air was turning colder, and the vibrant reddish-orange leaves gently glided to the ground. The road to Woodhaerst was long, but the camaraderie and support they felt from one another made the journey feel warmer. They traveled through dense forests, across rolling hills, and along winding rivers, each step bringing them closer to home.
When they crossed the border into the Akkadian Empire, Henry saw Heather finally relax. He knew life in the kingdom had been hard on her. In Ursa, humans were treated like second-class citizens. Even with her assistance as a healer during the war, she was seen merely as his mate. Her identity was tied solely to his, as the mate of a Bearington clansman and warden. In the empire, however, she was recognized for her own merits as an accomplished alchemist.
As their carriage meandered down the highway to the jump gate, David and Lindsey asked endless questions about the places they passed, their eyes wide with wonder. Heather and Henry took turns answering, sharing stories of their adventures and the history of the land. Henry, on horseback beside the carriage, saw his parents' faces filled with excitement and curiosity.
As they drew nearer to Woodhaerst, familiar sights began to appear: endless grassy prairies, a dense grove, the wide lazy river, and finally, the town itself. In the distance, Henry saw townspeople on the battlements cheering their arrival. Just inside the gate stood Priestess Thera, Mayors Brand and Vakdraen, and town council members, all smiling broadly.
Lindsey and David were surprised to see the townspeople of Woodhaerst and Ironwood welcoming them back with open arms, their faces lighting up with heartfelt joy. Henry, too, felt a deep sense of fulfillment. Through the carriage window, he saw Heather smile warmly at him. “We’re finally home,” she said softly, tears gently gliding down her cheeks. Feeling a profound sense of devotion, he agreed.
Stopping outside the gate, he dismounted his horse and greeted his officials, his heart swelling with pride and gratitude for the community they had built together.
Henry embraced Priestess Thera first, feeling the warmth of her blessings envelop him. "Welcome back, Baron," she said, her voice carrying the serenity and strength he had come to rely on. "Woodhaerst has missed its lord."
He turned to Mayors Brand and Vakdraen, shaking their hands firmly. "Thank you for holding things down in my absence," he said. "I trust everything has been running smoothly?"
Mayor Brand nodded. “Indeed, Lord Henry. The townspeople have been diligent in their duties, and the harvest this season has been bountiful.”
Mayor Vakdraen added, “Aye, it has. Welcome back lad. I saved an excellent bottle of wine for your return.”
Henry smiled, taking the wine. "Thank you for your excellent governance while I was way.”
As he walked through the gates, leading his family and officials, the townspeople gathered around, cheering and welcoming them home. Children ran up to Henry, their faces beaming with excitement, while the adults offered warm greetings and well-wishes. The sense of community and belonging was palpable.
David and Lindsey gasped at the town their son had built. They were astonished when to walk past the botanical garden and public green. They were impressed by the walls and houses Henry built. Afterward, they took in the sights of the cathedral, town hall, Crafter’s Guild, auction house, casino, theatre in the Central Plaza.
“Henry, this is amazing!” David complimented.
“Your townspeople are all so wonderful,” Lindsey complimented, with a sense of relief and happiness. "Henry, this place is wonderful. No wonder, you and Heather missed this place so much."
Henry nodded, squeezing her hand. “Woodhaerst is your home now too. Heather and I want you stay with us until your house is built.”
The family made their way to their residence, a modest yet comfortable manor that sat atop a hill looking over the Old Town and New Town districts.
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As they approached, Henry saw that the staff had prepared everything for their arrival. The gardens were in full bloom, and the manor had been cleaned and aired out. Even in their absence the servants meticulously maintained the estate.
Inside, they were greeted by the household staff, who had arranged a welcoming feast in the dining hall. The table was laden with dishes prepared from the freshest local produce, and the aroma of roasted meats and freshly baked bread filled the air. Henry's stomach growled in response, reminding him of how long it had been since he had enjoyed a home-cooked meal.
As they sat down to eat, the atmosphere was filled with laughter and stories. David and Lindsey were surprised when they recognized many of the staff. Many of the staff remembered greeting David on his visit to Brown Manor. For which David and Lindsey was eager to share their experiences and adventures with the household staff, who listened intently, their faces alight with interest and amusement.
After the meal, Henry took a moment to himself, stepping out onto the balcony that overlooked the town. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over Woodhaerst. He felt a deep sense of contentment as he watched the townspeople go about their evening routines, knowing that he was part of something greater than himself.
Heather joined him, wrapping a blanket over them, and slipping her arm around his waist. "What are you thinking about?" she asked softly.
"Nothing, just glad to be back," Henry replied.
Heather smiled, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Me too. It was nice seeing everyone again after such a long time away."
As the night fell, Henry and Heather snuggled together. Henry mind turning to the next challenge, but with his family by his side and the support of his community, he knew they could what came next. Holding hands, they logged out of the game and returned to reality.
Rising from their VR capsules, they took a moment to adjust to the real world. The bedroom was dimly lit, the only sound being the hum of the VR servers cooling in the corner. Henry stretched, feeling the slight stiffness that came from hours of immersive play.
"Woodhaerst feels more real every time we go back, Heather remarked.
"Likely because it is,” Henry explained reading over the messages he received from Twilight.
"It’s really happening?" Lindsey asked concerned.”
Henry and Heather turned their attention to their real-world obligations. Henry had a series of meetings lined up, discussing the increasing number of bugs in the software. And Heather had appointments with some chemistry students who sought help with alchemy.
By late afternoon, Henry and Heather wrapped up their tasks and met at a quaint café, enjoying a leisurely afternoon coffee. In the background, a KVUE channel weatherman was reporting on unusual solar flares and their effects on technology and the environment.
Henry turned up the volume, to hear the report. "These solar flares are causing quite a stir," the news anchor reported. "There have been widespread disruptions in communication networks and an increase in seismic activity worldwide. Scientists are working to understand the full impact of these events."
Heather frowned. "Solar flares? That's unusual.
Henry nodded and looked at his email. There was a message from Sun and Moon addressed to Twilight mentioning this was just the start.
As they watched the news, the anchor continued, "In addition to the solar flares, there have been numerous reports of earthquakes in various regions. Experts are investigating whether there is a connection between these phenomena."
Heather looked increasingly worried. "Earthquakes and solar flares?”
Reading his email, Henry quietly replied, “The boundaries between worlds are weakening.”
“According to seismologists these earthquakes are going to get worse before they get better. Now, we’re hearing the same thing from NOAA. It appears the disruptions are caused by a once in a generation solar event,” the newscaster reported, through the static in the TV.
Henry and Heather exchanged worried glances as the news report continued. The implications of the solar flares and earthquakes were becoming increasingly alarming. The mention of weakening boundaries between worlds struck a chord with both of them.
"We need to stay vigilant," Henry said, his voice firm. "Let's head back home and see if we can gather more information."
They quickly finished their coffee and made their way back to Henry’s apartment. Once inside, Henry immediately logged into the developer's network, searching for any updates or reports related to the game's stability and the strange phenomena.
Heather sat beside him, her expression tense. "What are you looking for?"
"Any signs that these solar flares and earthquakes are affecting the game," Henry replied. "If the boundaries are weakening, we might see more glitches or anomalies."
As Henry scoured through the reports, he found sporadic messages from other developers and players reporting unusual occurrences in the game. Objects from the game world were appearing in the real world, and vice versa.
"This is worse than I thought," Henry muttered.
Heather nodded, her mind racing. "What’s going to happen to my family?"
Henry thought for a moment. "Send them capsules and tell them to get to Woodhaerst? That way when the worlds merge, at least we’ll all be together.”
“Hm, that’s a good idea,” Heather affirmed before immediately calling her parents.
As Henry continued to gather information, Heather got on the phone with her parents. "Mom, Dad, I need you to listen carefully," she said, trying to keep her voice calm. "With everything usual happening in the world. I think it best to join me in the game. I’m sending you all VR capsules to log into Heaven's Gate. When you get in the game contact me, and I’ll bring you to Woodhaerst. It's safer if we're all together."
“…”
“No mom, I’m not on drugs!”
“…”
“Mom! Didn’t you listen to the news reports? Things are only to get worse?”
“…”
“No, dad this is not a government conspiracy. Just listen to me! When the capsules arrive log into the game.”
“…”
“Why is this so important to me?” Heather thought, growing increasingly frustrated with her parents. “Because…because…Henry is going to propose to me this week and I want you to celebrate with me.”
Hearing that, Henry whipped his head around in surprise.
“Sorry,” Heather whispered covering the receiver. “I had to give me mom a viable excuse.”
“…”
“It’s fine mom, we can go dress shopping in-game. Okay, great. I can’t wait to see you too,” Heather said coxing her parents off the phone.
Heather ended the call with a sigh of relief, turning to see Henry's surprised expression. "Propose, huh?" he said with a teasing smile.
She blushed, shrugging sheepishly. "I had to think of something they'd believe. But... if you were planning on proposing, I wouldn't mind."
Henry chuckled, pulling her into a hug. "Well, now I have to make it special, don't I?"