The wind blows lightly on the sand of Afar. Tumbleweed-esque balls roll around on the ground, leaving tracks behind. In the distance, two people square up, ready to fight.
“Go!” Gray said, excitedly.
Xiang pounced at Valerie, winding his fist up for a punch straight to her head. Valerie swiftly dodges, and backhands Xiang’s neck.
“Agh!” Xiang exclaims in shock as he faceplants into the sand.
Valerie extends her arm out towards Xiang.
“Get up,” she said.
Xiang grabs her hand and stands back up.
“You have to have better stance, Xia-” Valerie exclaims until she is interrupted by a sudden gust of wind.
The three look over at the wind, seeing blue light shine down from the sky. The light suddenly stops shining, revealing a man in dark blue armor. The man steps towards Xiang. Xiang moves back, defensively.
“The king has summoned you two and the Crown Princess.” the man says in a deep voice.
“Why does dad wanna-” Valerie tried to say before they were transported to the inside of the Afar Castle.
Xiang looks around, disoriented.
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“VALERIE! WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELF?!” a loud voice boomed across the hall. Gray winced, hearing the voice resonate off the walls.
“Dad, wait!” Valerie says, reaching out.
A dark figure walks into the light, revealing a tall man with black flames trailing behind his every step.
“TO THINK YOU WOULD OFFICIALLY PARDON-”
The man steps back. He faces Xiang.
“This aura…” He murmurs under his breath. “It’s reminiscent of the strongest…”
***
“Xianghui Lu…” Señor Habanero said. “You really are a strange person.”
“Pause the deletion of the game. We need to enter it.” David ordered.
“Ok… But why?” Señor Habanero asked.
“No time for that. We have to go. Let me get my coat, and say goodbye to my daughter,” David said, as he ran towards the doorway near him.
“Veronica!” David says as his daughter walks past him, coming inside.
“Not now, father,” Veronica apathetically says.
“I just want a goodbye before I leave!” David pleads.
“My statement stands,” Veronica replies.
David, disappointed in his daughter’s response, grabs his coat and trots back to Señor Habanero.
“How did it go, David?” Sañor Habanero asks.
David facepalms and says, “Teenagers…”