Kaiden and Naō warped back to Sunveil, materializing in the familiar town square. The warm glow of the sun illuminated the cobblestone paths, and the distant chatter of merchants and players filled the air.

  They made their way through the bustling town, heading straight to the Farmer and his wife, who stood by their modest stall at the market’s edge.

  “You’ve returned,” the Farmer greeted them warmly. “And I take it you have the seeds?”

  Kaiden handed over the Tether Seeds, completing the quest. A notification flickered across both of their HUDs:

  [Quest Complete: Rewards Received - Antidote Crafting Recipe]

  The Farmer’s wife clasped her hands together. “For all your help, we’ll give you a discount on any of our wares from now on. We may not have as much as the general store, but our antidotes and potions are fresh and crafted with care.”

  Naō wasted no time purchasing a bulk supply of antidotes, his excitement evident. “I’m going to master crafting in this game,” he declared. “That way, I can support us better.”

  Kaiden smirked. “Good. Crafting’s never been my thing.”

  As they browsed, the Farmer lowered his voice. “Listen…there’s something you should know. There have been reports of a man trying to bribe Dayslayers into giving him the seeds. If you gather more and come across him, do not take the offer. That man is not just a liar, he belongs to an Omni Clan known for selling counterfeit and dangerous goods on the black market.”

  His wife nodded solemnly. “Rumor has it an item is being auctioned soon one that can summon a monster under human control. If it falls into the wrong hands, it could bring devastation to the town, or worse.”

  A new quest marker flashed in their logs:

  [New Quest: Rooting Out the Truth]

  Investigate the dark Omni clan’s dealings and uncover their whereabouts.

  Kaiden exhaled. “Guess we’re not done yet.”

  “The quest notes say that the Solarium would be the best place to gather intel,” Naō noted. “Someone there has to know where we can find the Omni clan.”

  “Right. Let’s make our way there.”

  They walked to the Solarium and stepped inside to a new atmosphere of players chatting, some engaging in trade, and others simply unwinding from their adventures. It was the city’s social hub, the perfect place to gather information.

  But before they could start, Kaiden hesitated.

  “I think I’m done for today.”

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  Naō blinked. “Huh?”

  Kaiden clenched his fists. The battle with the Snareweed Spouts had freaked him out. His system was malfunctioning, and the pain he felt was all too real. “I need to check on something.”

  Naō looked at him with concern but didn’t press. “Alright, Just take it easy, okay?”

  Kaiden forced a slight grin. “I will. Let’s exchange invite codes.”

  Naō nodded and pulled up his HUD so he could send Kaiden an invite.

  A message appeared in Kaiden’s HUD:

  [Adding Naō to your Friend’s list. Accept?]

  [Yes] [No]

  Kaiden accepted, watching as Naō’s information was stored in his system. “Thanks. I’ll hit you up later.”

  With that, Kaiden logged out.

  ???°?°???

  Kaiden’s eyes snapped open. He was back in his dorm room. The dim light from his window barely illuminated his surroundings, but an immediate stinging sensation coursed through his body.

  He hissed, sitting up and pulling off his headset. A dull pain spread across his torso, and as he lifted his shirt over his head, his breath hitched.

  Red lash lined his skin.

  He gingerly touched them, wincing. “What the hell?”

  His mind raced. The game did this; it had to. But that was impossible, right? No VRMMO, no matter how advanced, should be able to affect a player physically.

  But then, no game should be able to kill you in the real world.

  A knock at his door jolted him to his feet. He hesitated before opening it, a familiar face being revealed, Professor Dillinger.

  The professor, a man in his early fifties, wore a tweed suit, thick black glasses over sharp gray eyes, and a neatly trimmed beard. His expression was firm, but there was a glint of concern behind his usual strict demeanor.

  “You missed your exam, Kaiden,” Dillinger said plainly. An English accent layered his words.

  Kaiden’s mind scrambled for an excuse, but nothing came. He had no explanation, at least, not one that wouldn’t make him sound insane.

  Dillinger’s gaze flickered down, and for a brief moment, his eyes extended. “What happened to you?”

  Kaiden stood confused at first, but tracking his professor’s eyes led him to realize that the marks on his skin were visible. He hastily grabbed his shirt to cover the marks.

  “It’s nothing.”

  Professor Dillinger’s eyes shot back up. He didn’t push, but his expression darkened slightly. “I know losing Alex has been hard on you. He was one of my best students, and I know you two were close.”

  Kaiden swallowed the lump forming in his throat.

  “I’m not here to give you a lecture,” Dillinger continued, his tone softening slightly. “But you can’t just disappear. I’m offering you one chance, be in my office tomorrow morning after class. I’ll let you take the exam. If you don’t show up, you will fail the course.”

  Kaiden clenched his fists, his frustration boiling under his skin. No one believed him. No one understood what was happening.

  But he forced himself to nod. “Alright. I’ll be there.”

  Dillinger studied him for a moment before patting his shoulder firmly. “Get some rest, Kaiden.”

  With that, he turned and left.

  Kaiden closed the door and exhaled shakily. He looked down at his injuries again, his mind a whirlwind of conflict.

  His grip on reality was slipping. He didn’t know who to turn to, what to believe.

  Which was more important: School or the game?