We moved along the winding forest path until we reached a stone bridge overlooking a sparkling river. Beyond it, faint towers loomed in the distance, their banners catching the breeze under a golden sunset. The road stretched out before us, and faint silhouettes of pyers on mounts and foot traffic began to emerge as we drew closer.

  Selene stepped up beside me, her voice low. “Welcome to Havenmoor City.”

  The city gates towered over us, carved from gleaming white stone and reinforced with enchanted steel. Fgs bearing the crest of Havenmoor—a stylized golden sun rising behind a mountain—fluttered proudly from every battlement. The gates stood open, and pyers and NPCs bustled in and out with bags full of loot, enchanted weapons slung over their shoulders, and enchanted cloaks flowing in every direction.

  The sheer noise hit me first. Merchant cries, pyer chatter, and the distant hum of magical contraptions created a chaotic yet lively symphony. Bright enchanted nterns floated along the main thoroughfare, casting warm golden light over cobbled streets with towering medieval-style buildings.

  Notifications flooded my HUD:[Entering Havenmoor City – Pyer Hub Zone][Safe Zone Active – PvP Disabled][EXP Boost: +10% for Rested State]

  “Look at all these pyers…” Ethan muttered, his eyes wide as he took in the crowded pza.

  Fi whistled low. “Oh-ho, jackpot! Look at all these vendors. I can already smell overpriced loot.”

  Mason cracked his knuckles. “I could use a bcksmith. My hammer took a beating back there.”

  Devon exhaled, his shoulders rexing slightly as he scanned the pza. “This should be a good pce to regroup and prepare. We’ll need supplies, information, and some downtime.”

  We passed several pyer-run stalls set up along the main pza. Exotic weapons, glowing potions, and enchanted gear glittered under the warm light. An armored elf pyer performed tricks with enchanted daggers nearby, gathering a crowd of cheering spectators. Children—likely NPCs—darted between pyers, giggling as they chased floating enchanted balloons.

  Selene gestured toward a rge building with an engraved wooden sign above its entrance: [The Golden Drake Inn]

  “Let’s set up base there,” she said firmly. “We’ll rest, resupply, and then figure out our next move.”

  The arrival at Havenmoor City had been a relief wrapped in golden ntern light and the chatter of hundreds of pyers and NPCs. The city buzzed with life in a way the wilderness couldn’t replicate—pyers haggled at markets, mounted beasts with glowing eyes trotted down cobbled paths, and the soft hum of enchantments created a background symphony.

  We passed through the bustling main square, where towering statues of armored heroes loomed. Banners fluttered above ancient spires, and distant fireworks cracked against the twilight sky. Havenmoor was not just a city but a pyer hub, brimming with adventure hooks, merchant stalls, and guild postings.

  Notifications pinged in rapid succession as we entered the city gates:[Entering Havenmoor City – Pyer Hub Zone][Safe Zone Active – PvP Disabled][EXP Boost: +10% for Rested State]

  “Look at all these pyers…” Ethan muttered, his eyes wide as he took in the crowded pza.

  “Finally,” Fi sighed as she stretched her arms above her head. “Actual civilization. I might start photosynthesizing if I have to sleep on moss one more night.”

  “Bold of you to assume you’d make a good pnt,” Mason said dryly, though a faint grin tugged at his lips.

  Fi stuck her tongue out at him before pointing dramatically at a group of NPC bards pying lively music by a fountain. “Behold! The true treasures of Havenmoor: overpriced trinkets, questionable quests, and tavern food that tastes almost real.”

  “Save the dramatics for the stage,” Devon muttered, though his smirk gave him away.

  We passed several pyer-run stalls set up along the main pza. Exotic weapons, glowing potions, and enchanted gear glittered under the warm light. An armored elf pyer performed tricks with enchanted daggers nearby, gathering a crowd of cheering spectators. Children—likely NPCs—darted between pyers, giggling as they chased floating enchanted balloons.

  Selene walked ahead, her confident stride cutting effortlessly through the crowds. “Let’s make for the inn first. The Golden Drake should have space for all of us.”

  The Golden Drake Inn’s interior was warm and inviting, lit by flickering nterns and an enormous firepce crackling with enchanted blue fmes. Long wooden tables filled the common room, crowded with pyers and NPCs sharing meals and stories. A bard pyed a lively tune from a corner stage while servers in matching uniforms darted between tables carrying ptters of roasted meat, buttered bread, and mugs of glowing ale.

  [Safe Zone Bonus: +15% HP and MP Regeneration while Resting]

  The innkeeper, an NPC named [Grimbold – Tavern Master], waved us toward an empty table near the back corner.

  “Welcome, travelers! Rooms are upstairs if you need ‘em. Food and drink are plenty down here. Just keep your weapons sheathed and your gold pouch tight.”

  Devon dropped a small pouch of gold on the table. “Food for the table and rooms for all of us.”

  Grimbold nodded and shuffled off toward the kitchens.

  Fi practically flopped onto a bench, stretching her arms with an exaggerated sigh. “This. This is the life. Food. Warm beds. No shadow hags trying to eat us.”

  We cimed a rge corner table near the window. Ptes piled high with hearty food appeared before us.

  Ethan sat beside me, his eyes wide as he gnced around the inn. “It’s… loud. And warm. And—wow, that bread looks so real.”

  “It is real,” I said with a grin. “Well, game-real. Eidolon Nexus’s immersion is why it’s still one of the biggest VRMMORPGs in the world. It’s why everyone keeps logging in.”

  Fi had already started juggling bread rolls. Mason ughed as one nearly hit him in the face. “You’re going to get us kicked out before we even check-in.”

  “Live a little, Mason!” Fi said, tossing him one of the rolls. “You could use some chaotic energy in your life.”

  “And that’s why I have you.” Mason chuckled. Fi reacted by tossing a roll at him, but he caught it mid-air before carefully setting it on his pte. “Yeah, my reflexes are on point, ba-by!”

  Fi wrinkled her nose. “Show off.”

  Selene sat beside me, quiet but observant. Her sharp, amber eyes scanned the room, and her posture was rexed but ready. Ethan seemed to hover between Fi and me, his smile hesitant but genuine, before taking a seat.

  ?????°???°?????

  The Golden Drake Inn had settled into a quieter hum after dinner. The common room still bustled with distant ughter, the occasional clink of mugs, and the soft strum of the bard’s lute in the corner, but most of the crowd had thinned out. Pyers logged off, others retreated to their rented rooms, and a warm stillness settled over the inn.

  Devon had been quiet after dinner, his usual teasing smirks repced by something heavier—something unspoken. Selene, too, had kept a cool mask of composure, but I caught glimpses of vulnerability in her amber eyes whenever they flickered toward me.

  And me? I felt like I was walking a tightrope over a pit of emotions, tangled feelings, and unspoken truths.

  Devon gestured toward the stairs. “We should talk… privately.”

  Selene nodded silently, already moving toward the upper floors. I hesitated for a second before following them.

  The room was cozy and modest, with wooden walls, a small enchanted firepce crackling softly in the corner, and two rge beds covered in thick quilts. The flickering light cast long shadows across the room as Devon shut the door behind us.

  For a moment, none of us spoke. The tension was palpable—thick enough to choke on.

  Selene leaned against the wooden dresser, her arms crossed over her chest, her sharp amber eyes fixed on the floor. Devon stood near the window, one hand resting on the sill, his profile illuminated by the faint moonlight.

  I lingered near the edge of one of the beds, my fingers curling into the quilt as I tried to steady myself.

  “So…” I started, my voice small but steady. “We’re here. We’re talking.”

  The quiet hum of the enchanted firepce filled the room as Devon, Selene, and I sat in a tight triangle, each of us hesitant, vulnerable, and uncharacteristically still. The weight of everything—every kiss, every look, every unspoken word—pressed against the walls, threatening to crush us if someone didn’t break the silence soon.

  “Okay, fine, I’ll start. We can’t keep… dancing around this,” I said softly, my fingers nervously twisting a loose thread on the quilt beside me. “We can’t keep pretending it’s not there.”

  Selene’s amber eyes flicked up to meet mine. Her expression was guarded, but there was something tender in how her shoulders softened. Her lips parted slightly like she wanted to say something but wasn’t sure if she should.

  Devon sat cross-legged on the floor, his elbows resting on his knees. His piercing blue eyes stayed unwavering on me, but the faintest flicker of uncertainty lingered there, too.

  “I told Devon earlier,” I continued, trembling slightly. “That we’d need to talk. The three of us. And… I’ve been thinking about it. A lot.”

  Neither of them interrupted, giving me space to continue.

  “I care about both of you. And not in some shallow, surface-level way. You both mean so much to me. But this whole thing—how we’re all handling it—it’s not fair. To any of us.”

  Devon’s brow furrowed. “Then what do we do, Kiera? Because I… I know how I feel about you. And I don’t want to hurt either of you. But I also don’t want to lose you.”

  Selene let out a faint sigh, her gaze drifting away as she spoke. “It’s not just about feelings, Devon. It’s about trust. I don’t want to feel like an outsider—like the third wheel in whatever this is.”

  My chest tightened. “That’s exactly why we need to stop avoiding this. The three of us… we work, don’t we? Not perfectly. Not cleanly. But there’s something here. Something real.”

  I swallowed hard and pressed forward, my cheeks heating as the words formed in my mouth. “What if… what if we stop trying to choose and just… try together?”

  Both of them froze. Selene’s amber eyes locked onto mine, her brows raising slightly. Devon’s head tilted, his lips parting faintly in surprise.

  “A… poly retionship,” I crified, the words tasting strange on my tongue but feeling right in my chest. “It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be all figured out right now. But if we’re all open, if we all talk—really talk—and if we’re all honest with each other… maybe this can work.”

  Silence followed. The flickering light of the enchanted fmes danced across their faces, painting them in gold and shadow.

  Devon was the first to break the quiet. “If it means I can still be with you, Kiera… I’m in as long as we all communicate. As long as none of us are left in the dark again.”

  His voice was steady, but the vulnerability in his eyes made my chest ache.

  Selene’s gaze dropped to her p, her arms crossing over her chest as she released a shaky breath. “You know… I’ve never really been good at this kind of thing. At opening up. At… letting people in. But… I do like you, Kiera. A lot more than I pnned to when I first met you.”

  I felt my heart skip a beat as her voice softened.

  “But,” she continued, looking up again, her amber eyes sharp and certain. “If we’re going to try this—if this is going to have a chance of working—I need one thing.”

  “Anything,” I said quickly.

  “I want to meet both of you in person,” Selene said firmly, her gaze shifting briefly to Devon before returning to me. “I can’t… I won’t keep building this thing without seeing both of you face-to-face. No more yers. No more distance.”

  Devon nodded, his voice low. “That’s fair. More than fair.”

  I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, my shoulders rexing slightly. “Okay. We’ll meet. In person. All three of us. No masks, no avatars—just us.”

  Selene’s lips curved into a faint smile, small but genuine. Devon’s expression softened, and the air in the room felt lighter for the first time in what felt like days.

  “We’ll figure it out,” I said quietly. “Together.”

  Devon stood up, stretching his arms behind his head before ruffling his hair. “Well… that’s one hell of a party meeting. Someone should’ve taken minutes.”

  Selene rolled her eyes, but a chuckle escaped her lips. “Idiot.”

  The tension in my chest unwound slightly as ughter—light, real ughter—filled the room for the first time all night.

  Eventually, the conversation drifted into smaller topics—our next steps in the game, the fragmented binary codes, and where our journey would take us next.

  Selene stood and stretched, her cloak shifting with the movement. “I’m heading to bed… See you both tomorrow.”