The air crackled with the remnants of magical energy as Snow Angels celebrated their hard-fought victory over Feral Domination.
Laughter and cheers filled the virtual space, guild mbers patting each other on the back, their avatars exchanging triumphant gestures.
Yet, beneath the surface jubilation, a hint of unease lingered.
Scarlet glanced around the crowd, her brow furrowed with concern. "Sothing doesn’t feel right," she murmured to Xiaxia. "This victory, it doesn’t feel entirely ours. We had help, and while I’m grateful, it’s a strange sensation."
Marry nodded, her eyes scanning the crowd. "You’re right. We can’t fully claim this win as our own. Those pro players helped us."
Xiaxia took a deep breath and spoke, her voice laced with regret. "I’m truly sorry, everyone. This is on . I didn’t foresee this twist. If it weren’t for Xin and Victor, we might have lost our standing again."
Marry gently placed a hand on Xiaxia’s shoulder, her tone comforting. "You can’t bla yourself, Xiaxia. None of us anticipated the tactics they used. It caught us all off guard."
"Absolutely," Scarlet chid in, her voice firm yet reassuring. "None of us could have predicted this turn of events. It’s not your fault, Xiaxia. Let’s take this as a lesson, learn from it, and be more cautious in the future."
A small, appreciative smile tugged at Xiaxia’s lips. "You’re right," she said, her confidence slowly returning. "We’ll learn and grow stronger from this experience. Together."
The three friends smiled, each grateful for the support and care the others gave.
Until Scarlet suddenly changed the topic. "Where’s Lord Schrodinger? He was the one who turned the tide of the battle with that brilliant maneuver. I want to thank him personally."
Marry nodded in agreent. "Exactly. Lord Schrödinger was the one who alerted us, allowing us to prevent the worst-case scenario for our guild."
Xiaxia shared her confusion. "He was here just a mont ago."
"Perhaps he logged out?" Marry suggested.
anwhile, unbeknownst to Snow Angels, Xin had logged out of the ga without informing them.
In the real world, he sat on his bed, catching his breath after the battle. Feeling a wave of thirst, he decided to head to the kitchen for a glass of water.
The transition from the virtual battlefield to the quiet of his ho was stark, but Xin welcod the montary respite.
As Xin entered the kitchen and filled a glass with water, he heard footsteps approaching. Seconds later, Xiaxia erged, her eyes wide with excitent.
"Xin, there you are! Why did you log out? We’re still celebrating our victory in the ga."
Xin sighed, his expression reflecting his exasperation. "You shouldn’t be celebrating a victory that wasn’t entirely earned. If those pro players hadn’t joined the fight, you might have lost your legendary equipnt, and, worse, your guild could have dropped in ranks, causing mbers to leave."
Xiaxia’s smile faded, and her face soured by his words. "Can’t you just let us have this mont?"
"You need to be more cautious in the future," Xin said instead.
"Don’t you think I know that better than anyone?" Xiaxia shot back, her frustration evident.
Seeing the disappointnt in Xiaxia’s eyes, Xin softened his tone. He decided to uplift her spirits instead of reprimanding her further.
"You should thank Victor, too," he suggested.
Xiaxia’s face brightened. "Really?"
"You should ssage him."
"Eh?" Her eyes sparkled even more. "I should call him!"
"I said ssage," Xin replied firmly.
"Oh my god, what should I even say to him?" Xiaxia cupped her face, her fingers fidgeting nervously.
"Just keep it simple, ’Thank you and good night,’" Xin said with a stoic face.
"But maybe I should start with the weather, then transition to the ga, express gratitude for his help, and perhaps subtly hint at recruiting him or offering sothing in return for his assistance," Xiaxia rambled on, lost in her thoughts.
"And what about asking him to join us for adventures or dungeons? Oh, and I should definitely inquire about his hobbies and tomorrow’s schedule. Maybe I could invite him to watch movies this weekend as a way to repay him . . . There are just so many things to say!"
Xin watched his sister, his expression remaining paralyzed as she drifted off into her dreamland, her steps light as she practically skipped toward her room.
He couldn’t help but worry . . . for Victor’s sake; at this rate, she might inquire about Victor’s preferences in won and shock him with talk of marriage.
"Don’t bother Victor too much," Xin said, but Xiaxia was already lost in her daydreams. She didn’t hear him; instead, she giggled, completely engrossed in her thoughts.
As she reached her room, just before closing the door, Xiaxia hesitated. "Hey . . ." she called out.
Xin turned his attention back to her, waiting for her next words.
Fidgeting by the door, avoiding eye contact, she muttered with a shy tone, "Thanks."
Then, she closed the door.
Xin couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusent and exasperation at his sister’s behavior. Tsundere tendencies, he thought, shaking his head with a small smile on his face.
In the dim glow of the refrigerator light, Xin reached in and grabbed a carton of milk, the cold plastic feeling reassuring in his hand.
He opened the lid and took a long sip, the chill of the liquid montarily easing the fatigue from the virtual battle.
As he gulped down the refreshing drink, he heard a soft voice behind him.
"That’s a lovely conversation between siblings."
Startled, Xin nearly dropped the milk. He turned around to find Seraphina’s face, her expression amused.
He wiped his mouth hastily, his cheeks slightly flushed. Why does she appear so suddenly at night? Was it a hobby?
"Seraphina," he greeted her, trying to regain his composure. "You’re still up?"
She chuckled softly. "I have a lot of things to finish."
"It’s the weekend tomorrow," Xin pointed out.
"I didn’t say it’s about school," Seraphina replied with a sly smile.
". . ." Xin fell into silence, wondering how he would proceed in this conversation.
Seraphina’s gaze softened as she looked at him. "You seem to have a good relationship with your sister."
Xin shrugged. "Well, she’s family."
A small smile tugged at Seraphina’s lips, though there was a hint of lancholy in her eyes. "I’m an only child. My father is always busy with work and . . . other matters."
"You’re not close with your father?" Xin inquired.
Seraphina hesitated for a mont before admitting, "We have . . . a respectful relationship."
Respectful relationship? Xin didn’t understand what she ant by that, but he wasn’t in a position to ask.
Surprisingly, Seraphina reached for a cup of milk taking a sip.
Xin watched her, his expression one of surprise.
"What?" Seraphina asked when she noticed Xin’s face.
"I thought you didn’t like drinking milk," Xin answered her, genuinely surprised.
"I never said that. I just ntioned that sleeping pills work better for ," Seraphina clarified. "I decided to try drinking milk because I noticed you liked it before bed. Thought I’d see if it works for , too."
". . . That’s good, then." Xin was surprised that she would drink milk just because he was drinking it too, though his expression remained blank.
At school, Seraphina was glorified as the epito of perfection, a goddess to her fan club, and a role model to all won out there.
Her grace, intelligence, and beauty were the subjects of awe and admiration, creating an aura of unattainable splendor around her.
However, as days passed and Xin spent more ti with her, he began to see beyond the pedestal on which everyone had placed her.
He discovered the genuine warmth in her smile, the occasional laughter that bubbled up, and the monts of vulnerability she shared.
Seraphina, he realized, was more human than the flawless image painted by her reputation. She had her unique personality, her fears, and her quirks, just like anyone else.
At this mont, Xin found himself drawn to her in a different way. It wasn’t just admiration for her outer perfection but a genuine appreciation for the person she was beneath the facade.
Xin appreciated the depth of Seraphina’s character beyond the glamorous exterior. It was a connection that went beyond the surface, a bond of understanding and friendship that was slowly blossoming between them.
"Are you free tomorrow?" Seraphina broke the silence between them, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity.
Xin shrugged nonchalantly, not reading much into her words. "No. I’m heading to our old house to see if I can buy it back."
"In Area 44, right?"
Xin nodded, still unsure of where the conversation was going.
Seraphina’s smile turned sweet, almost sly. "What a coincidence. I’m also going to that area to inspect the properties we’ve purchased for condominium developnts. Need a ride?"
Initially, Xin was about to decline, insisting that she didn’t need to bother.
However, the thought of saving both money and ti struck him. Taking multiple buses to get there, followed by a private cab within the private residences, would be both costly and ti-consuming.
With a brief mont of consideration, Xin found himself nodding in agreent.
"Sure, that would be great. Thanks."
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