After finishing up in his room, Adyr found a clean white set of pajamas and a pair of crocs in the wardrobe, along with a note that read, Wear me before heading to the playroom. He put them on and stepped outside.
The corridors weren't completely empty—some of the other players seemed to have left their rooms as well, heading toward the playroom.
When he reached the elevator, he saw that they were busy due to the increased traffic. Fortunately, there were four of them, and they moved quickly. He didn't have to wait long before getting in with a few others and heading up one floor.
The playroom was even more crowded. Besides the players, there were several people in suits, nurse uniforms, and medical coats moving around the area.
Things looked different from yesterday. The construction crew had clearly finished the final touches. When Adyr first saw the room, the game pods were lined up like coffins. Now, the entire space resembled a row of office rooms, each separated by transparent glass. Inside every room, there was a game pod and a few medical devices. It felt more like a hospital wing, though not quite as sterile or uncomfortable.
Walking alongside the small group from the elevator, Adyr moved through the corridor until he found the room with his ID displayed on the glass.
Inside were two people waiting—a middle-aged man in a lab coat and a young woman in a nurse's uniform. They both stood up as he entered.
"Mr. Adyr, we've been expecting you," the man said with a smile, offering a handshake.
Adyr shook his hand. "Hello."
"I'm Eliot Vance, and this is my assistant, Nina. We've been assigned to monitor your health during your game activities," the doctor said politely, keeping a professional tone.
Adyr didn't sense anything off about them. They seemed to be genuinely there to help. Still, something about being monitored like this made him uneasy.
He didn't let it show. "It's nice to meet you. I'll be in your care, then," he replied.
For now, he decided to accept the care and oversight provided. Later, if needed, he could look into more private options.
After all, the possibilities with merit seemed almost limitless. If he earned enough, he could even request to have the game pod moved into his personal room.
"The game pod is already synced with the helmet you delivered. It's ready for use," the doctor said, jotting down a few notes as Nurse Nina stepped forward to give a briefing.
"Before starting your session, and with your permission, we'd like to run a few tests to check your general health and vitals," she said politely, waiting patiently for his response.
Adyr met her gaze and gave a slight nod. It was clearly a standard procedure—not worth making a fuss over.
Besides, he had nothing to hide. On the contrary, the more they told him about the changes happening to his body, the more he could learn about the game itself. In the end, it was a win-win situation.
Nina moved quickly and efficiently. She drew a blood sample, collected a saliva swab, and took a small tissue sample through a non-invasive skin cell collection device. She also checked his blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and pupil response. After a brief physical examination, a few questions for cognitive and psychological evaluation, and a full-body scan, she was done.
The entire process felt more like a clinical health screening than anything invasive. Adyr remained silent throughout, observing everything without comment.
"It's done. Thank you for your patience and cooperation," Nina said with a smile.
The doctor spoke calmly as he glanced over his final notes. "Mr. Adyr, the results will take about two hours. You can wait and review them first to make sure everything's normal, or start right away if you're feeling fine—it's entirely up to you."
"I feel fine. I want to use the device now," Adyr replied calmly.
Since his arrival, he had already lost about an hour. With less than ten hours left before he had to return home for dinner, he intended to use the remaining time to begin his journey from his current location in-game toward the kingdom where Vesha lived.
The doctor smiled. "Okay then. We'll be here during your session, so you don't need to worry about anything."
Nina activated the game pod and walked him through its basic use. She helped him settle into its soft, cushioned interior, then closed the transparent, glass-like lid over him.
For a few moments, Adyr didn't feel anything. The pod was absurdly comfortable, possibly the most relaxing place he had ever laid in, and the air inside had a soothing quality to it. But then, just like with the helmet, his vision suddenly went black. Neon green numbers appeared in front of his eyes, counting down.
3…
2…
1…
When he opened his eyes again, he was inside the game.
Wow. That was smooth, Adyr thought, glancing around.
Unlike the helmet, which always gave him a jarring sense of being pulled out of his body, this time it felt effortless. As if the world itself had shifted beneath his feet instead of dragging him into it.
The first thing he noticed was that Vesha was nowhere to be seen, and the Dawn Raven stood silently in a corner.
Something about the Dawn Raven seemed off. It looked frail, more drained than before. Its feathers had lost their luster, and its frame appeared thinner, bordering on malnourished.
Adyr stepped closer and gently stroked its feathers. "Hey buddy, what's wrong with you?" He asked softly.
Is it starving? He wondered.
According to the system description, the creature fed on flesh. Since capturing it, he hadn't given it anything to eat. For a moment, he considered what he could feed it—and when the answer formed in his mind, human flesh, he realized he might be facing a new problem.
Leaving the Dawn Raven to rest for now, he pulled back the cover of the carriage and stepped outside to look for Vesha.
It was daytime. The sky blazed with sunlight, and the sun seemed to pour its energy onto the earth. Trees, grass, flowers—everything shimmered with life.
This was his first time experiencing daytime in the game, and the scenery felt like a flawlessly painted portrait.
As he felt the warmth of the sun on his skin, his gaze shifted to Vesha, who stood quietly beside a pot boiling over the fire.
The light seemed to breathe life into her, too. Her waist-length blonde hair gleamed brilliantly, and her icy blue eyes mirrored the calm, clear skies.
Yet, there was a faint sadness in them. A quiet sorrow, perfectly blended into the landscape, adding depth rather than imbalance. In Adyr's eyes, she stood there like the missing piece of the portrait he hadn't known was incomplete.
As he got closer and saw what she was cooking, his steps halted, frozen by the sight and smell rising from the pot.