Max found a serene spot on the upper docks and sat, watching the ships navigate the waters of the Sky Ocean. The sun was setting, painting the crystallized water formations in shades of orange and purple.
His phone buzzed through the neural link.
Velara:Just saw your achievement notifications. You solo cleared the Whispering Catacombs?? Are you insane?
Max smiled and typed back: Maybe a little. But I got another legendary item out of it.
Velara:Of course you did. You're collecting legendaries like Pokemon. Come show it off at the guild hall?
Max hesitated. He could go back to the guild, show off his new gear, accept congratulations, maybe run another scheduled raid...
Or he could take the expedition tomorrow. Disappear for three days into unexplored territory.
MaxThorne:Can't tonight. Need to log off soon—been playing for six hours. But I might be offline for a few days. Found an exploration quest that looks interesting.
Velara:Exploration? You mean like actually exploring, not just farming?
MaxThorne:Yeah. Newly discovered continent. Thought I'd check it out.
Velara:That actually sounds amazing. Wish I could come, but I've got family obligations this week. Be careful out there—unexplored zones usually have nasty surprises.
Max closed the messages and stood, taking one last look at the Sky Ocean.
Tomorrow, he'd embark on something completely different.
This is what the game should be about, Max thought.
He logged out, the world fading to white.
**
The next day,
Max arrived at Dock 7 five minutes early, his expedition voucher in hand. The morning sun cast golden light across the harbor, making the crystallized water formations of the Sky Ocean shimmer like diamonds.
The ship waiting at the dock was impressive: a medium-sized ferry called the Wanderer's Promise, with sails that shimmered with enchantments and a hull reinforced with what looked like dragon scales.
Captain Reeves stood at the bridge connecting to the ship, checking off names from the list. When he saw Max approach, he smiled.
"You came! Excellent. Head aboard—we're almost ready to depart."
Max showed his voucher and walked up the bridge. The ship's deck was spacious, with cargo secured in nets, supplies stacked neatly, and various passengers already gathered.
But as Max looked around, he realized something that made him pause.
There were no other players.
Everyone on the ship was an NPC. Twenty, maybe twenty-five people, all going about their business.
A group of merchants discussed trade goods. Three scholars examined maps and notebooks. Several adventurers—warriors and mages based on their gear—stood near the bow, talking quietly. A few sailors worked the sails, preparing for departure.
And near the middle section of the ship, Max noticed a small family.
A father—a man in his early thirties with kind eyes and work-worn hands, wearing simple traveler's clothes. His nameplate read [Thomas Clearwater – Craftsman].
His wife, Elena Clearwater—Herbalist, was a slender woman with auburn hair tied back in a braid. She carried a leather bag marked with botanical symbols.
And their son, [Liam Clearwater], couldn't have been more than eight or nine years old. He had his father's eyes and his mother's hair, and he was currently hanging off the ship's railing, looking at the Sky Ocean with pure wonder.
"Liam, careful!" Elena said, pulling him back gently. "You'll fall in."
"But Mom, look at the water! It's floating! How does water float?"
"Magic, sweetheart," Thomas said, ruffling his son's hair. "The world is full of magic."
Max found himself smiling. The family dynamic was so natural, so... real. The way Elena instinctively reached for her son, the patience in Thomas's voice, Liam's childlike excitement—it didn't feel scripted. It felt genuine.
These are just NPCs, Max reminded himself. Advanced AI designed to seem human.
But watching them, it was hard to remember that.
The ship's bell rang three times, and Captain Reeves's voice boomed across the deck. "All passengers aboard! We depart in two minutes! Secure your belongings and hold on—there's always a bit of turbulence during takeoff!"
Max found a spot near the railing, not far from the Clearwater family. The crystalline engine's hum intensified, and magical energy rippled through the deck.
Then the ship lifted.
Max's stomach dropped for a moment as the ferry rose smoothly into the sky, leaving the dock behind. The sensation was incredible—like being in an elevator, but with the added dimension of watching the world fall away below them.
Veridian Gate spread out beneath them, the city looking like a massive toy from this height. Other ships navigated the Sky Ocean around them, and ahead lay the massive body of water, shimmering and glowing.
"Wow," Liam breathed beside Max, his face pressed against the railing. "We're flying!"
"Pretty amazing, isn't it?" Max said.
Liam looked up at him, eyes wide. "Are you an adventurer?"
"I guess so."
"Do you fight monsters?"
"Sometimes."
"That's so cool!" The boy's enthusiasm was infectious. "When I grow up, I'm going to be an adventurer too. I'm going to explore every continent and find hidden treasures and—"
"Liam, don't bother the gentleman," Elena said, approaching. She smiled apologetically at Max. "I'm sorry, he gets excited."
"It's fine," Max assured her. "I don't mind."
"We don't often meet adventurers," Thomas said, joining them. "Most of the travelers on this expedition are traders or scholars. You must be quite capable if you're heading to unexplored territory."
"I'm still learning," Max said modestly. "What brings you to the Iron Frontier?"
Thomas's expression brightened. "Opportunity. I'm a woodworker, and I've heard the Iron Frontier has trees unlike anything on Aetherra Prime—wood with unique properties perfect for crafting. If I can secure a good supply route, it could transform my business."
"And I'm hoping to discover new medicinal herbs," Elena added. "The Herbalist's Guild is funding my research. If even a fraction of the plants there are useful, it could lead to new healing remedies."
"What about you?" Max asked Liam. "Why are you excited to go?"