Henry and Heather woke to a warm room, the embers in the fireplace casting a gentle glow. Henry woke up first, smiling as he watched Heather sleep peacefully beside him. Last night, they celebrated their engagement with vigorous passion. The memory brought a contented smile to his face.

Heather stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She smiled sleepily at Henry. "Good morning," she yawned.

"Sleep well?" Henry chuckled, leaning in to kiss her forehead. The warmth of their love filled the room, making it feel even cozier.

"Last night was all your fault," Heather grinned, stretching languidly, her muscles pleasantly sore from their passionate evening.

Henry chuckled. “Then why do I remember it the other way?”

They spent a few moments teasing and laughing, basking in the glow of their engagement. The sunlight streaming through the window painted the room in soft hues of gold. Eventually, Heather propped herself up on her elbow and looked at Henry. "I know I told you last night, but I really love this ring. It’s beautiful."

Henry took her hand, his expression serious yet tender. "I’m happy. I don’t know what is going to happen with Earth, but I’m looking forward to the rest of our lives together in it."

Heather nodded, her eyes shimmering with emotion. "I know how you feel. I believe that as long as we’re together, we’ll be able to face whatever comes our way."

Henry squeezed her hand. “Alright, fiancée, shall we get dressed and head to breakfast?”

After another vigorous workout, they got up and began their morning routine. The dining room was filled with the delicious aroma of freshly brewed coffee, ripe fruit, and light pastries. The table was set elegantly, the polished silverware gleaming in the morning light. Around the table, their parents chatted happily about the upcoming nuptials, particularly the mothers. However, as they ate, a disagreement arose between Eva and Lindsey about the wedding’s location.

"The wedding should be in Louisville," Eva suggested. "We have a large family, and I’m sure my pastor would be willing to officiate the ceremony. Besides, there is no way my daughter is getting married in some game!”

“Some game?” Lindsey scoffed. “Most people are in this game more than the actual world. If they don’t want to log in, then they shouldn’t be invited to the wedding in the first place.”

“It’s not our family’s fault you two are stuck in this make-believe. I raised Heather as a good Christian; she’s going to get married in our family’s Baptist church, not in some fake heathen godless cathedral.”

“This is my wedding. I’ll decide for myself where I get married,” Heather interjected, her voice firm.

“That’s fine with me,” Lindsey smiled knowingly.

“Heather, I know how much you love this make-believe. But don’t you want to get married in the real world so your aunts and uncles can come?” Eva asked cautiously, her eyes pleading.

“Mom, this world isn’t a game. Besides, most of our family is already in this world. I’m sure it would be easier for them to come to Woodhaerst than Louisville.”

The wedding discussions continued far past breakfast, with Heather, Lindsey, and Eva entrenched in their beliefs.

After breakfast, Henry took his routine walk around Woodhaerst. The cool morning air was refreshing, and the town was abuzz with activity. The townspeople greeted him warmly, offering congratulations and expressing their excitement about the harvest festival. He talked to the town council as he watched townspeople decorate the central plaza in celebration of their lord’s engagement. The plaza was filled with laughter and the sounds of happy chatter as everyone worked together to hang lanterns and arrange flowers, their colors vibrant against the backdrop of the clear blue sky.

When he finished inspecting the town, he arrived at Iron and Oak. The forge was alive with the sounds of hammers on anvils, the hiss of steam, and the rhythmic clatter of machinery. He worked late into the afternoon, helping the blacksmiths, leatherworkers, and carpenters craft furniture. The smell of wood shavings and hot metal filled the air, a testament to the hard work and dedication of the craftsmen.

As the day went on, Henry began to notice some unusual behavior among the townspeople. People seemed unusually tired, yawning frequently and complaining about needing a nap. Several villagers mentioned feeling unusually sleepy and needing to rest.

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"Is it just me, or is everyone acting a bit strange?" Henry whispered to himself as people took longer and longer yawns. The sight of people dozing off in the middle of tasks was unsettling.

‘Something's definitely off,’ Henry thought to himself, his brow furrowing in concern.

When he left his company and walked to Heather’s alchemy shop, he continued to observe the townspeople, noting the increasing number of people who seemed affected. It wasn't long before he realized that the problem was widespread.

When he opened the door, he saw Heather helping an elderly woman who looked as if she was about to fall asleep while standing. The elderly woman gladly received the tincture and paid, yawning as she walked away, her steps unsteady.

“Henry, something’s off. Is there a sleeping sickness spreading around town? I’ve sold out of caffeine pills,” Heather asked curiously, her face etched with worry.

“Actually, I came in here to ask you the same question,” Henry frowned, his concern growing.

Later that afternoon, Henry called an emergency meeting with the town council and key players. They gathered in the town hall, the room buzzing with concern.

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice," Henry began. "I have noticed some unusual behavior among the townspeople. People are feeling excessively tired and sleepy. Have any of you noticed anything similar?"

The council members exchanged worried glances and nodded.

Mayor Brand spoke up. "Yes, I've noticed it too. Several people in my district have complained about feeling unusually fatigued."

Arthur, the farm manager, added, "Some farmers were so tired they couldn’t deliver their grain to the silos. I caught several falling asleep on their tractors.”

Priestess Thera, looking troubled, said, “I spoke to the Goddess Demeter. She foretold a great slumber that awaits the inhabitants of this world. She said there will be great changes during the slumber.”

“Great slumber?” Henry repeated curiously, his mind racing.

“Yes,” she nodded. “To make sure the people do not suffer, they will undergo a great slumber.”

“So that’s it? Everyone is going to sleep until the great changes are finished, and there is nothing we can do about it?” Henry confirmed, his voice tinged with disbelief.

She nodded again. “There is no need to worry. With people and beasts asleep, there will be no death, hunger, or misery. Everything will remain as it is until the great awakening.”

As the meeting concluded, Henry wondered what was so severe that the gods decided to put this world’s creatures to sleep. He slowly walked back to his manor from the town hall. As he walked, he noticed the increasingly empty streets, the usual hustle and bustle replaced by an eerie quiet. Across the bridge, he saw the town’s twinkling lights growing dimmer, their brightness fading as if in a dream.

When Henry and Heather returned to their manor, they saw their families waiting. They tried to keep the alarming news from their parents but could see the house staff incessantly yawning, their eyes heavy with fatigue.

Dinner was a hearty meal, filled with rich flavors and comforting aromas. With the mothers’ dispute resolved, the topic moved on to other affairs. However, the atmosphere shifted when Eva brought up the real-world news.

“I’ve heard the weather has only gotten worse," Eva said, her voice tinged with worry. "These solar flares are terrible causing widespread outages. Did you know because of the communication, earthquakes, and storms EMS is having trouble getting people. My friends told me the hospitals are overcrowded and groceries are empty. Who could have predicted this?”

Heather and Henry exchanged glances. They had hoped to keep this from her parents a bit longer, but it seemed they couldn't avoid the topic any longer.

Thomas, Heather’s father, looked at them with concern. "Is there something we should know?"

David took a deep breath and nodded. Starting from the beginning, he informed Eva and Thomas, albeit limitedly, about the energy sources and what was expected to happen next.

“Heather, is this true?” Eva panicked. “No, it can’t be. This can’t be real.”

“I’m afraid it’s real,” Lindsey added, her voice solemn.

Eva's eyes widened with fear. "What does this mean for us, our friends, and our family?"

Heather reached out to hold her mother's hand. "It means you’ll live in Woodhaerst with us. If they choose, they can live in Woodhaerst too.”

Eva, grief-stricken, could only nod her head, her eyes filled with tears.

Thomas ambled over to her and gently helped her up. “Excuse us, we’re going to leave the game for a bit. Henry, it was nice to meet you. Thank you for taking care of our daughter.”

Heather watched her father guide her mother upstairs to their room. Her heart ached as she wondered if she would ever see her parents again in the same way.

After dinner, Henry and Heather retreated to their room. Tearfully, Heather wondered, "What’s going to happen to my parents?"

Henry, trying to console her, said, "I'm sure they'll be back. Your mother would never miss your wedding. Not when she's having so much fun planning it."

Heather managed a weak smile. "I hope you're right."

As the night deepened, they lay in bed, holding each other close. The sense of impending doom hung heavily in the air, but they drew strength from their bond. "No matter what happens, we'll face it together," Heather whispered, her voice filled with determination.

Henry nodded, kissing her forehead. "Together."

Back in reality, the world outside was changing. The news reports grew more alarming by the day, with scientists struggling to explain the increasing seismic activity, storms, and the effects of the solar flares.