Auren took a shower, dressed up and walked out the room silently. He only gave his butler a look and he got the signal and started talking,
"Young Master the madam shall be in the garden today. To win her over and allow the retrieval of the headset we need to first, please her heart. Second corrupt her with something similar."
Auren raised a brow but understood what Han was talking about. [The marketer could prove useful at a time like this.] Auren decided to call the marketer whom he met.
"Hello this is Reves from Linkstone company. How many I be of assistance?" A professional voice sounded over the terminal.
"It's Auren."
" Ah! Your highness. It's good to hear from you. Are you enjoying our product? I hope it was to your satisfaction. The advertisement that you modeled for is doing magnificently and..."
"Quiet." Auren's voice was cold and calm making the Reves sweat.
"I need a game for my mother. I want something that noble women are into specifically Queens." Auren instructed as he walked to the garden. His steps were slow because he did not want to arrive to his mother's presence soon.
"I have just the thing. Our Linkstone company had been making these games for..."
" If you prattle anymore I shall end this call and your career." Auren threatened already bored with the pleasantries.
"The game is Happy Fam. It's a child rearing game where you raise a child, cultivate it to perfection and watch that generation unfold." Reves quickly blurted out fearful of Auren's calm.
"Send it to my butler within the hour. Have a full set manual of instructions as well as a list of all the women playing the game."
"Your highness, I cannot share user information as it is a violation of the company." Reves began slowly and when he heard Auren's sigh he panicked.
"Wait! Before you destroy our company.. I can give her a direct link to the Queen's gaming group."
Auren smirked and asked Reves to do so before ending the call. He had already arrived at the garden and had been standing there for a while.
Auren was about to walk out when he heard his mother's fan snapping shut with a thunderous crack.
"Rai'en. You just arrived this morning from school. You dare," she said her voice dangerously calm, "Reduce time for me just to engage in some stupid game?"
Auren's shoulders stiffened as he peaked to see the garden's gazebo. Rai'en stood there sheepishly, his red hair tousled and he was currently holding his headset awkwardly in his fingers.
"Mother," Rai'en started weakly, "I can explain."
"You need not." Seraphina's tone was icily clipped. "Auren is already into it and you were here about to sneak way after receiving the same device as your brother."
Rai'en winced. He knew he was wrong but he really wanted to play this game. Everyone at Genesis Academy was looking forward to coming home just to play it for the holidays.
Auren walked forward, hugging his mother who gave him a side glare and flung his hands off her.
" Two of my sons, both enthralled in this...this... Tell me, what sins have I committed for the Threads to curse me so?"
Auren just bumped Rai'en on the ribs. His gaze said it all, [Freaking do something.] Rai'en gazed back at Auren, his entire face spelled, [I don't know what to do.]
Auren sighed and smiled, holding his mother's hand, " it's not a curse, Mother. It's just a game."
That single word sent her bristling, "Just a game? You...!"
Auren quickly soothed her but tricking her, "Mother. I got into gaming because... I made a friend. His name is Eiran prince of Myrra Dominion. He told me his mother plays a game called Happy Fam and they even have a group about it."
Truly, this strategy worked. Seraphina's interested was claimed,
"You mean Hanazuki is playing a game? There's a group?" Seraphina's voice was shaky almost like she faced a betrayal.
"Yes. Gaming has become a relaxation. Mother maybe the other Queens are also relaxing in this way."
As Auren spoke, Rai'en had already taken their headsets that Seraphina had placed on the side.
"Mother, the game I give you is not just a game but a relaxation. It's a noble pastime and the Queens and Noble ladies of several Dominions are indulging in it. Please try?"
Auren gave her the puppy eyes and she caved.
"What is it about?" Seraphina asked with a sigh,
"It's a child raising game. Gentle, proper and relaxing. Han, deliver it straight to my mother." Auren instructed as he kissed his mother's right cheek and walked away.
When Seraphina looked to the side she found that Rai'en had already taken the 2 headset and vanished and now Auren also vanished.
Han quickly brought the game to her before her anger woke again. Against her better judgment, Seraphina accepted the device and also logged into the game group from her terminal.
A mother raising a virtual child? It sounded absurd to her but when she slipped on the headset, the soft lullabies, the chubby cheeks and the gentle choices filled her with a warmth she hadn't felt in years.
Just like that, the Queen of Blest Dominion. The terror of diplomats, the iron hand of discipline was gently patting a virtual child to sleep in the afternoon sun.
By evening, Auren and Rai'en were practically vibrating at the dinner table. Both inhaled their meals in record time, utensils clinking as if it were a contest. Seraphina's sharp eyes tracked every bite but they finished before she could begin a lecture on table manners.
The moment the last morsel disappeared, the two exchanged a conspirational glance.
"Excuse me." Auren muttered.
"Goodnight mother! Enjoy your game." Rai'en added quickly.
Chairs scrapped and the two figures blurred into streaks as they vanished down the hallway towards their chambers.
"What are they talking about love?" Fenvaros asked looking at his wife's flustered yet angry face.
"I'm playing Happy Fam." Seraphina admitted and also left the dining table heading to her chamber to comfort her virtual child. Fenvaros just watched all this and smiled. At least his wife is having fun.
Meanwhile, Auren slid the headset back on the moment his body landed on the bed. He was very eager to reclaim his mortal alter ego.
The transition was seamless. Bright lights, roaring crowds, the smell of sweat and canvas. Except when he logged in something was wrong.
Auren was on the ground, shoulders pressed against the cage. The crowd was in an uproar jeering at him while his opponent stood over him victoriously.
"G.AI what happened?"
[Dear player: You have failed your match. Logging out without setting a save point causes the world to progress automatically. Time does not wait for mortals.]
For a heartbeat, Auren just stared then slowly, a grin spread across his face.
"So even in this world... Time is of essence.'
Instead of disappointment, exhilaration coursed through him. There was saving progress but no resets. It you turned away life would move without you. It was a fragile way of life, a mortal way of life.
Auren instantly gave the game a 5 star rating and review before resuming the game. The cage doors opened and some NPC coach was talking to him.
When Auren left and got into a car, he was driven to a quiet estate. It seems this MMA champion role did not live in gilded halls or citadels of power.
Auren found the vehicle entering a beautiful gated community, streets lined with trimmed hedges, modern houses gleaming under electric lights. The sound of dogs barking, cars humming and children playing by the sidewalks.
It was so ordinary that it felt magical. There was no teleportation waypoints. No Therion children tinkering with machines or wrestling with robots. No hovercars or even spaceships. The Caethirian ordinary is now a fantasy.
Auren exited the car and nodded to his driver before walking slowly. As he walked to his home, a voice reached him.
"Yo."
Auren looked up. There's leaning against a white picket fence, was a young man about 20 years old. His hair was a sun bleached blonde. His skin tanned from afternoon ls spent outside and his green eyes sparked with mischief.
The young man wore casual clothes, a hoodie, ripped jeans and sneakers but he walked with the air of someone who owned these streets.
Auren was about to turn away when a name flashed in front his eyes.
Name: Bryant Lakeland.
Role: Hero
Background: A third generation rich kid who wants to elevate the world's status in the universe.
Auren looked at this information again and turned away to his house.
[Fuck].