The forest slowly began to thin as we followed the winding dirt path toward the outskirts of the Rift. Shafts of golden sunlight pierced through the canopy, casting warm patterns across the worn road. My HUD waypoint pulsed faintly, guiding us toward the nearest outpost—a pce marked on the map simply as "Hollowrest."

  Devon led the way. Selene walked beside him. Behind them, Mason strolled casually, his hammer banced over one shoulder. At the same time, Fi stayed close to me, her sharp gaze occasionally flickering in my direction as if she could see the shadows flickering at my feet.

  It was a rare moment of peace, and I intended to savor it.

  “So… what exactly is Hollowrest?” I asked, breaking the quiet.

  Devon gnced back at me. “It’s a pyer outpost—one of those neutral safe zones built outside dangerous territories. Think taverns, trading posts, overpriced potions… you know, the cssics.”

  Mason grinned. “Oh, and the best-grilled meat skewers this side of the Rift. Trust me. I’ve been there before.”

  “You’ve been everywhere before, apparently,” Fi quipped, raising an eyebrow at him.

  “It’s called being well-traveled, Fi. Try it sometime.”

  Selene shook her head faintly. “If they’re still intact after all the anomalies, we’ll be lucky.”

  Pyers moved casually, chatting with NPC vendors, ughing over tankards of ale, and lounging at tables piled high with steaming ptters of food.

  It felt like the chaos had been left behind for a brief moment, and the immersion was staggering.

  Inside The Hollow Tankard, the warm scent of grilled meat, fresh bread, and sweetened drinks filled the air. The food on every table wasn’t just visually appealing—it looked real. Every texture, smell, and taste was indistinguishable from reality.

  I sat at our corner table, staring at a bowl of beef stew so aromatic I could almost feel the warmth soaking into my fingers through the wooden bowl. Devon was devouring a ptter of roasted meat skewers like a man on a mission while Selene calmly sipped a dark red wine. Mason had taken one of the biggest mugs of ale I’d ever seen, and Fi was halfway through what looked like a berry tart.

  “It’s insane how real this feels,” I said, breaking the silence. “Every taste, every smell—it’s better than restaurants IRL.”

  “That’s why Nexus keeps pulling pyers in,” Devon said between bites. “The devs didn’t just build a game—they built an experience. It’s not just grinding and loot drops; it’s living in a different world.”

  Selene’s gaze flickered briefly toward me. “And it’s exactly why UNKNOWN wants control of it. Imagine holding the strings to something like this—a world that feels real enough for people to forget they’re wearing headsets.”

  Her words hung heavy in the air before Mason raised his mug with a grin. “Alright, mood drop detected! C’mon, let’s focus on the important things: like the fact that this ale tastes like a dwarven king brewed it.”

  Fi snorted into her tart, and the tension broke.

  I let out a slow breath and took another bite of stew. Even if this was just a game, right now, it felt real. And in a world where glitches and corruption threatened everything, moments like this felt precious.

  After finishing our meal—and Mason insisting on trying “just one more” dessert—we stepped out of the tavern into the cool night air. Pyers still wandered about, the outpost glowing softly under hanging nterns.

  Fi stretched, her arms over her head. “Man, that hit the spot. I think I can actually sleep in peace now.”

  Selene smirked faintly. “Before you get too comfortable, I heard there’s a hot spring nearby. Supposedly one of the best spots in Hollowrest.”

  My head snapped up. “Wait… a hot spring? Like, a real hot spring?”

  “Yup,” Fi said, a mischievous grin across her face. “Come on, Kiera. We’ve earned a little luxury.”

  Devon blinked. “Wait, are you guys serious?”

  Fi was already grabbing my arm, pulling me away. Selene followed behind with her usual composed stride.

  “Looks like it’s a girls’ night,” I said, gncing back at Devon and Mason. “See you two ter!”

  Mason raised a finger in protest. “But—!”

  Devon sighed, dragging Mason back by the colr. “Let them go. They’ve earned it.”

  The path to the hot spring led us through a grove of faintly glowing trees. The faint sound of running water grew louder as steam rose gently into the cool night air.

  ?????°???°?????

  It was more beautiful than I’d imagined—a tranquil sanctuary surrounded by rocky outcrops and glowing nterns hanging delicately from tree branches. Steam curled up into the cool night air, and the faint sound of trickling water filled the quiet space.

  Fi was the first to unequip off her armor. “Alright, dies, let’s get this gear off. You don’t truly know rexation until you’ve soaked in one of these.”

  Selene rolled her eyes but began removing her leather gear with graceful precision. Meanwhile, I hesitated, clutching the edges of my armor like it might suddenly offer me moral support.

  “Uh… Are we just… doing this now?” I stammered.

  Fi grinned mischievously, already stepping into the water. “Come on, Kiera, it’s not like we’re in a public lobby. Just unequip and get in!”

  Reluctantly, I began to unequip my armor, each piece disappearing into my inventory with a faint shimmer of light. Finally, cd in a simple towel provided by the spring’s entrance, I stepped carefully into the water. It was warm, almost luxurious, and I felt my muscles begin to rex immediately.

  Selene settled gracefully onto a rock ledge partially submerged in the water, her hair cascading over one shoulder. Fi floated nearby, arms stretched out as she let the water carry her weight.

  Then, with a wicked grin, Fi turned toward us.

  “Okay, question. Are these… accurate?” She gestured vaguely at her chest. “Or did you guys, y’know, tweak the sliders during character creation?”

  Selene arched an eyebrow, her amber gaze sharp but faintly amused. “Really, Fi?”

  “What?” Fi said innocently. It’s a valid question! You can actually put your real cup size in the game, and it will transition directly to the game.”

  Selene let out a faint sigh. “Mine are… accurate enough.”

  Fi grinned and then turned toward me, her mischievous gaze on my face. “And you, Kiera?”

  The shadows curling faintly around me betrayed my embarrassment as heat flooded my cheeks. “I—I didn’t mess with the sliders! I put in my actual size… 34 DD… and they came out like this, okay?”

  Fi’s grin widened. “So you didn’t change them? and you’re actually stacked in real life? Damn girl, Look at those things!”

  To emphasize how ‘big my knockers were,’ she tried to grab them, prociming it was just to see if the developers made them feel real, too.

  I whacked her hand a few times, but Fi insisted on chasing me through the water despite my filing about.

  Selene smirked faintly as my face turned a deeper shade of crimson. “Fi, leave her alone. You’re going to make her glitch out.”

  Fi leaned back against the rock ledge, still grinning. “Fine, fine. For the record, I boosted mine. Just a little. Couldn’t resist.”

  I buried my face in my hands, steam curling faintly around my fingers as shadows twitched beneath the water.

  The ughter that followed was warm and genuine, echoing softly in the mist-filled air.

  The peaceful ambiance was abruptly interrupted by a familiar voice.

  “Uh… is this co-ed?” Mason’s uncertain tone drifted through the steam.

  I froze as I sunk a little deeper into the water.

  Selene sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Really?”

  Fi grinned, looking far too pleased with herself. “Oh, this just got interesting.”

  Devon stepped into view, one hand firmly covering Mason’s eyes. “I told you not to barge in. You could’ve waited for confirmation.”

  “You didn’t stop me!” Mason protested.

  Fi stood up in the water, arms spread theatrically. “Come on in, boys! The water’s fine!”

  “Absolutely not,” I hissed, sinking further into the water until only my eyes and nose were visible.

  Devon let out a heavy sigh, finally releasing Mason (who was bright red and staring at the ceiling like it was the most interesting thing in the world). After awkward hesitation, Devon carefully stepped into the spring, settling on a ledge near me.

  Mason followed suit, though his movements were far less composed. He nearly slipped twice before finding a spot near Fi, who was grinning ear to ear.

  Devon ended up sitting to my right, his powerful frame leaning casually against the smooth stone. His damp hair hung over his brow, and the ntern light and rising steam softened his usually sharp gaze.

  Selene, on my left, leaned back elegantly against the stone, her amber eyes half-lidded and faintly glowing from the nearby ntern.

  I was stuck between them, shoulders barely brushing theirs. It felt… oddly intimate.

  I gnced at Devon out of the corner of my eye, and he gnced back at me, his brown eyes steady. It felt like something unspoken passed between us for a brief second—a faint flicker of something deeper than our usual camaraderie.

  I looked away quickly, only to meet Selene’s calm, amber gaze. She raised one brow faintly, a hint of a smirk pying at her lips.

  Fi floated zily nearby, her gaze flicking between us with a knowing grin. “Oh, this is interesting.”

  Mason, oblivious as ever.

  “You guys are awfully quiet over there,” Fi said, her voice dripping with pyful intent.

  “I’m just… rexing,” I stammered.

  “Sure,” Fi replied, her grin widening. “Rexing. That’s definitely the vibe I’m getting.”

  Devon shifted slightly, clearing his throat. “It’s been a long day. Let’s just… enjoy this.”

  Selene let out a faint hum of agreement, though I didn’t miss the flicker of amusement in her gaze.

  The tension slowly melted away, repced by quiet conversation and occasional ughter. The steam carried away the weight of the past few days, and it felt like we could breathe for once.