December 4, 2037
The delivery notification pinged on Aiden's phone at 7:13 AM. He stared at the screen, heart hammering against his ribs, before forwarding the message to the group chat.
Aiden: They're coming. Today. Jo says we should head to the café.
The responses came in rapid succession:
Marcus: On my way after shift. Don't you dare open without us!
Elena: Cleared my schedule. ETA 2 hours.
Sophia: Taking an early lunch break. Bringing food.
Liam: Already en route. Bringing tools.
Aiden's fingers trembled as he set the phone down. Two months of grinding, betting, streaming, saving. Countless sleepless nights. Arguments that had nearly torn them apart. All for this day.
He glanced at the small photo on his desk—his mother, before the accident, her smile bright and carefree. "We're almost there," he whispered.
...
The Golden Mouse looked different in the daylight, Aiden thought as he approached the café. Without the usual glow of screens and the crush of night-time gamers, the place seemed smaller, more worn. But today, it felt like exactly where they needed to be.
Old Man Jo was waiting at the entrance, keys jingling in his weathered hand.
"Right on time," he grunted, his gruff voice barely concealing his own anticipation. "Come on, I've got something to show you."
Instead of leading Aiden to the main gaming area, Jo walked past the counter and toward a door Aiden had never noticed before—tucked away behind a stack of supply boxes and an old vending machine. The door opened to reveal a staircase.
"Didn't know the place had a second floor, did you?" Jo said, a rare smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. "Used to be my living space, back when I first opened. Been using it for storage the last few years."
They climbed the stairs to find a surprisingly spacious loft. The floor was dusty, with scattered boxes and old gaming equipment pushed against the walls, but large windows allowed natural light to flood the space. An open floor plan with exposed brick walls gave it an industrial, almost stylish look beneath the years of neglect.
"This..." Aiden breathed, immediately seeing the potential. "This is perfect."
"Got the best internet connection up here," Jo said, pointing to a high-end router installed in the corner. "Separate line from the café downstairs. No lag, no sharing bandwidth. And no rent," he added, giving Aiden a knowing look. "Consider it an investment in your team's future."
Liam arrived first, arms full of tools and cleaning supplies. His eyes widened behind his glasses as he took in the space.
"The electrical setup here is amazing," he said after inspecting the outlets. "These are commercial-grade connections—more than enough for five pods."
By noon, the whole team had assembled, and the cleaning operation was in full swing. Marcus moved heavy furniture with ease, creating an open area in the center of the loft. Elena organized the remaining items into neat categories—keep, donate, trash. Sophia wiped down every surface with disinfectant, her nurse's attention to detail evident in how she tackled even the smallest corners. Liam tested outlets and network connections, mapping the optimal setup for their equipment.
"Why didn't you tell us about this place sooner?" Elena asked Jo as she labeled a box of ancient gaming magazines.
The old man shrugged. "Wasn't time yet. Needed to see if you kids were serious."
By mid-afternoon, the space was transformed—floors swept and mopped, windows cleaned, walls dusted. Five distinct areas had been marked out in a rough pentagon, each with its own power supply and network connection.
"Delivery truck's here," Sophia called from the window.
They rushed downstairs just as the delivery driver was consulting his tablet.
"Five identical packages for... Aiden Kim?" he asked, looking up at the café's faded sign with mild confusion.
"That's me," Aiden stepped forward, signature tablet already extended toward him.
The unloading process was a reverent ceremony. Each massive box was carefully maneuvered up the narrow staircase, the cardboard monoliths emblazoned with the sleek, silver logo of Eternal Realms dominating the freshly cleaned loft space.
When the delivery driver left, they stood in a circle around the boxes, a moment of quiet awe settling over them.
"We actually did it," Marcus murmured, his usually boisterous voice subdued.
Jo appeared at the top of the stairs, holding a tray with steaming mugs of coffee. "Thought you might need this. I'll be downstairs if you need anything else." He set the tray down on a table they'd uncovered and cleaned. "This is your space now. Make it count."
As the door closed behind him, Liam stepped forward. "We need to be systematic about this," he announced, a new confidence in his voice. He pulled out a tablet displaying schematics he'd studied for weeks. "We unbox one at a time. I recommend starting with mine—if there are any technical issues, we'll catch them before opening the others."
Everyone looked at him with surprise. Liam, usually so reserved, now stood with authority.
"When did you become the pod expert?" Marcus asked with an impressed grin.
Liam pushed his glasses up. "Someone had to."
...
The unboxing process was excruciatingly slow. Liam insisted on documenting every step, photographing each component as it emerged from the layered packaging. Elena organized the parts into neat categories, while Sophia carefully preserved the manuals and warranty information.
When they finally lifted the sleek obsidian shell from its foam cradle, a collective gasp filled the room. The pod was beautiful—a gleaming black capsule with subtle blue illumination tracing its contours. It looked less like gaming equipment and more like something from a high-end research facility.
"It's... perfect," Elena whispered, her usual composure giving way to childlike wonder.
Marcus ran his calloused hand gently along the surface. "Hard to believe we actually own these."
The interior was lined with a plush, contoured material that resembled memory foam but felt more responsive to the touch. Embedded sensors glinted beneath the surface. A neural interface crown, delicate yet substantial, hung suspended above where the user's head would rest.
For Aiden, seeing the physical manifestation of their sacrifice was overwhelming. The exhaustion of the past months—the double shifts, the all-night gaming sessions, the constant worry about money—crashed over him. He sank onto a chair, suddenly lightheaded.
Sophia noticed immediately, her nurse's instincts kicking in. "When did you last eat?" she asked quietly, moving to sit beside him.
"I... don't remember," he admitted.
She pushed a protein bar into his hand. "This is exactly why I brought provisions. We need to take care of our physical bodies if we're going to explore a virtual world."
...
Setting up the pods was more challenging than any of them had anticipated. Despite Liam's meticulous preparation, the process was fraught with technical hurdles. Connectivity issues. Calibration errors. Software updates that took hours to download.
"Why won't it recognize the network?" Elena muttered, frustration evident as she reconfigured the router for the third time.
Liam's fingers flew across the control panel. "The bandwidth requirements are massive. We might need to stagger our usage."
Marcus struggled with the physical setup, his strong hands suddenly seeming too large for the delicate connections. "Damn it," he growled after dropping a small component. "This is like trying to thread a needle wearing boxing gloves."
The stress of the day began to wear on them. Tempers frayed. Doubt crept in. What if they couldn't get them working? What if all their sacrifice had been for nothing?
It was Jo who cut through the tension, appearing at the top of the stairs with a tray of sandwiches and energy drinks.
"You can't solve problems on an empty stomach," he said gruffly, setting down the tray. "Or with a fried brain. Take a break."
His simple gesture calmed them. They took a break, eating in companionable silence, remembering why they were doing this. Not just for the game, but for each other. For Sarah, lying in her hospital bed. For a future where they could rise above the grinding poverty that had defined their lives.
"How's your sister doing?" Sophia asked Aiden quietly.
"She's staying with a friend tonight," Aiden replied. "Said she didn't want to be in the way."
"She's never in the way," Marcus said firmly. "Bring her by tomorrow. She should see what her big brother helped create."
...
By evening, all five pods stood fully assembled in their pentagon formation, humming with potential. Their smooth black surfaces reflected the loft's lights like pools of dark water. The final calibration was complete.
Jo had come up once more, standing in the doorway to observe the finished setup. "Like something out of a sci-fi movie," he commented, genuine admiration in his voice.
"So," Marcus said, staring at the open pods, "who goes first?"
They looked at each other, suddenly hesitant. After months of anticipation, the moment was finally here.
"Together," Aiden said firmly. "We do this together."
Jo nodded his approval. "I'll keep an eye on things out here. Take your time." He moved to a chair in the corner, an old paperback novel in his hands. "Some journeys are better with a guardian at the gate."
They each chose a pod, settling into the contoured interiors. The neural interface crowns lowered automatically, making gentle contact with their temples. The pods sealed with a soft hiss.
Aiden's heart raced. The interior lights dimmed, and for a moment, there was only darkness and the sound of his own breathing.
Then, light bloomed.
[WELCOME TO ETERNAL REALMS]
The logo—a stylized, swirling vortex of energy—expanded to fill his vision, accompanied by music that seemed to resonate not just in his ears but throughout his entire body. A wave of sensory input washed over him—the subtle scent of a forest after rain, the gentle caress of a breeze against his skin, the distant sound of rushing water.
[NEURAL CALIBRATION INITIATING]
[PLEASE REMAIN STILL]
A tingling sensation spread from his temples down his spine. The darkness gave way to flashes of color, geometric patterns that seemed to respond to his thoughts.
[CALIBRATION COMPLETE]
[SENSORY SYSTEMS ONLINE]
[GREETINGS, NEW ARCHITECT]
A voice—warm, feminine, with an otherworldly harmonic quality—addressed him directly.
"I am ARIA, your Artificial Reality Integration Assistant. I will guide you through your journey in Eternal Realms. Would you like to begin character creation?"
Aiden found his voice, surprised at how natural it felt to speak in this virtual space. "Yes... yes, I would."
[CHARACTER CREATION INITIATED]
The void around him transformed into a circular chamber with mirrored walls. A featureless humanoid form appeared before him, waiting to be shaped.
"Your appearance, abilities, and starting attributes will form the foundation of your journey," ARIA explained. "Choose wisely, but know that many aspects can evolve over time."
Aiden's mind raced with possibilities. Vale's words echoed in his memory—the value of non-combat roles, of strategic thinking, of seeing the bigger picture. He had spent weeks researching class options, weighing strengths against weaknesses, considering how his choice would complement his teammates'.
[CLASS SELECTION]
The options materialized around him, each represented by a glowing symbol:
[WARRIOR] [MAGE] [RANGER] [CLERIC] [ROGUE] [BARD] [DRUID] [TACTICIAN]
His hand hovered over the Tactician symbol—a chess piece surrounded by concentric circles. ARIA's voice provided details:
"The Tactician class specializes in battlefield control, resource management, and strategic advantage. Tacticians excel at analyzing situations, buffing allies, and creating favorable conditions for their team. While not the strongest in direct combat, their value in group activities is unparalleled. Special ability: Strategic Insight—Can temporarily visualize probability vectors in combat and environmental situations."
It felt right. Not the flashiest choice, but one that would allow him to support his friends, to see the patterns others might miss, to find paths to victory that weren't obvious.
"I choose Tactician," he stated firmly.
[TACTICIAN SELECTED]
[APPEARANCE CUSTOMIZATION]
Aiden shaped his avatar deliberately—practical, functional armor with muted colors that wouldn't draw attention in combat situations. A face that reflected his own but with slightly sharper features, more rested eyes. He kept his dark hair short, added a small scar above his right eyebrow—a reminder that every decision had consequences.
[NAMING YOUR CHARACTER]
Without hesitation: "Architect"
[NAME CONFIRMED: ARCHITECT]
[CHARACTER CREATION COMPLETE]
The mirrors around him shimmered, reflecting his completed avatar from all angles. It was strange seeing himself transformed, yet recognizable in this virtual form.
[WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN YOUR COMPANIONS?]
"Yes."
The chamber dissolved, reforming into a stone pavilion overlooking a vast, breathtaking landscape. Mountains rose in the distance, their peaks disappearing into clouds. Forests stretched out below, vibrant greens interspersed with the silver ribbons of rivers. A massive city sprawled along the coastline to the east, its spires catching the light of a sun that seemed impossibly bright and clear.
And there, waiting for him, were four figures—his friends, transformed into their virtual selves.
Marcus stood tallest, a mountain of a man encased in gleaming, intricately detailed armor. His avatar exuded strength and unwavering resolve, a tower shield strapped to one arm. The Fortress Knight.
Elena's archer was a vision of deadly grace. Lithe and balanced, with a quiver of arrows that seemed to shimmer with elemental energy. Her eyes, even in this virtual form, held that same sharp focus. The Elemental Archer.
Sophia radiated serenity in flowing robes of shimmering white and gold. Her healer's staff seemed to pulse with gentle light, her presence a beacon of calm amid the overwhelming newness of their surroundings. The Divine Oracle.
Liam's rogue was a study in shadows and precision. Cloaked in dark, flexible armor with countless hidden pockets and sheaths, he somehow managed to look both unassuming and dangerous simultaneously. The Shadow Assassin.
"Aiden," Marcus called, his voice carrying the same warmth but with a new resonance. "Or should I say, Architect?"
"This is... incredible," Elena breathed, looking out over the landscape. "The detail... it's beyond anything I imagined."
Sophia reached out, touching a flowering vine that climbed the pavilion's column. "I can feel the texture," she marveled. "Even the temperature of the stone."
Liam was less verbose but no less affected. "The closed beta information didn't prepare us for this," he said quietly. "This isn't just a game."
A chime sounded, and ARIA's voice addressed them collectively.
[WELCOME, NEW ARRIVALS]
[TUTORIAL SEQUENCE INITIATING]
[PLEASE PREPARE FOR YOUR FIRST STEPS INTO ETERNAL REALMS]
A shimmering path materialized before them, leading down from the pavilion into a forested area.
"The path will guide you through basic movement, interaction, combat, and social mechanics," ARIA explained. "You will encounter your first NPCs, who will offer guidance and simple quests to familiarize you with the game systems."
As they stepped onto the path together, Aiden felt a profound sense of transition. Everything they had worked for, sacrificed for, had led to this moment. The real world—with its financial struggles, his mother's condition, Lily's future—still weighed on his mind. But here, in this new reality, perhaps he could find resources, opportunities, solutions that had eluded him.
The forest around them teemed with life. Birds called from unseen perches. Insects hummed. The undergrowth rustled with the movement of small creatures. A brook babbled somewhere nearby. The sensory immersion was complete—they could smell the damp earth, feel the filtered sunlight warming their skin.
An NPC—an elderly tracker with a weathered face and kind eyes—waited for them at a fork in the path. Unlike NPCs in other games, his movements were fluid, natural. His expressions subtle and complex.
"Greetings, newcomers," he said, his voice rich with personality. "Welcome to the realm of Eldoria. I am Thorne, and I shall be your guide through these initial steps of your journey."
As he spoke, explaining the basics of movement and interaction, Aiden noticed something remarkable. The NPC seemed aware of them as individuals, making eye contact, adjusting his explanations based on their questions and responses. This wasn't the scripted interaction they had expected.
"The world responds to your choices," Thorne explained, as if reading Aiden's thoughts. "Your actions will shape not only your own destiny but the very fabric of Eldoria itself. Choose your path wisely."
A quest notification appeared:
[NEW QUEST: FIRST STEPS]
[OBJECTIVE: COMPLETE THE BASIC TRAINING SEQUENCE WITH THORNE]
[REWARD: STARTER EQUIPMENT APPROPRIATE TO YOUR CLASS]
As they followed Thorne deeper into the forest, learning the mechanics of movement, interaction, and basic combat, the true scope of Eternal Realms began to reveal itself. This wasn't just a game with better graphics. The NPCs had depth. The environment felt alive. The systems were intricate and interwoven in ways they had never anticipated.
When they encountered their first combat scenario—a simple skirmish with low-level forest creatures—their individual roles clicked into place with surprising naturalness. Marcus held the front line, shield raised against claws and fangs. Elena's arrows found their marks with deadly precision. Sophia's healing magic mended minor wounds almost as quickly as they appeared. Liam darted through shadows, striking vital points with twin daggers.
And Aiden, as the Tactician, found himself perceiving patterns in the combat—seeing opportunities, calculating probabilities, identifying the optimal positioning for his team. His Strategic Insight ability created ghostly projections of likely movement vectors, giving him a momentary glimpse of the most probable outcomes.
"Left flank!" he called to Marcus. "Elena, target the larger one first! Liam, there's a vulnerability when they rear back!"
Their coordination was rough but promising. When the skirmish ended, they stood victorious, their avatar bodies registering exertion through accelerated breathing and light perspiration—another layer of immersion that blurred the line between game and reality.
"You work well together," Thorne observed with approval. "A rare quality in new arrivals. Perhaps the prophecies speak truly."
"Prophecies?" Sophia inquired.
"All will be revealed in time," the NPC replied cryptically.
As they continued through the tutorial, the complexity of the game world unfolded around them. They learned of the major cities, the ruling factions, the ancient conflicts that shaped the current political landscape. They discovered the basics of crafting, trading, and property ownership. They began to glimpse the vast possibilities that awaited them.
By the time they completed the tutorial sequence, standing once again in the pavilion where they had started, a subtle shift had occurred. They were no longer just players exploring a game. They had become inhabitants of a new world, one filled with potential and purpose.
"The tutorial is complete," ARIA announced. "You are now ready to begin your true journey in Eternal Realms. The world awaits your mark upon it."
Aiden looked at his friends—their virtual forms now familiar, extensions of their true selves. In their eyes, he saw the same mix of awe and determination that he felt.
"So," Marcus asked, his voice carrying a new resonance in this virtual space, "what now, Architect?"
Aiden gazed out at the vast landscape stretching before them—forests and mountains, rivers and cities, a world teeming with possibilities.
"Now," he said, a plan already forming in his mind, "we begin."
[TUTORIAL COMPLETE]
[WELCOME TO ETERNAL REALMS]
[YOUR DESTINY AWAITS]