The morning light stread in through the window as Jon was roused by his mother’s familiar voice. "The coffee’s ready, Jon. Co down quickly!" It was the morning call Jon had been hearing every day since he arrived in Aeloria. "I’m on my way, Mom," he replied, rubbing his eyes.
Eric, observing his son with a growing smile, felt rejuvenated. He was sure Jon would soon set aside the bow and return to being the playful boy he’d always been. However, the boy persisted, improving day by day, and now even earning a respectable inco for his age.
"Jon," Eric began, "about that custom bow you asked for... I’ll consider the idea once you reach the Interdiate Archer level." It was Eric’s way of testing and motivating his son, hoping the challenge would drive him forward.
However, Jon’s reaction was unexpected. "Really? Thanks! I can’t wait!" As Eric smiled at his son’s enthusiasm, he heard Jon mumbling sothing about calculations and deadlines. "If I keep hunting every day, I should reach that level in about a month. And don’t forget, I want it crafted by the village blacksmith."
Helena, who was observing the interaction, shot Eric a reproachful look. "Jon," she said gently, "don’t push yourself too hard. Your father and I will take care of it, regardless of your progress." Jon, surprised, simply nodded and said, "Alright, Mom, it shouldn’t take too long," and after finishing his coffee, he left the house.
Eric, still smiling, was interrupted by Helena’s serious gaze. "Did you really have to do that? Couldn’t you have just promised him the bow?" Before the situation could escalate, Eric quickly responded, "If he doesn’t achieve it in a month, as he planned, I’ll surprise him on his birthday." With a quick kiss to Helena, he tried to slip away discreetly, but her warning made him pick up his pace. "I certainly hope so, ERIC!" And so, with a mischievous smile, he left the house, feeling the weight of expectations on his shoulders.
As Jon approached the Riverwood exit gate, he spotted Gwen, who seed lost in thought, staring out at the horizon. "Good morning, Miss Perfection!" Jon greeted, trying to break the pensive atmosphere with his usual playfulness.
Gwen turned, a forced smile on her lips. "Good morning, Jon. Ready to get started?" Despite Gwen’s typical energy, Jon sensed sothing was amiss. "Is sothing wrong, Gwen?" he asked, genuinely concerned.
She lifted her chin, trying to maintain her confident deanor. "I was just considering by how much margin I’m going to outdo you in the hunt today!" she declared, thumping her chest with pride.
Jon chuckled softly. "If you say so... But rember, it was never a competition, Gwen." He started walking but paused for a mont, looking at his friend. "Actually, I have sothing in mind for today."
Gwen raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what might that be?"
In his mind, Jon contemplated how to explain his idea without revealing too much. Thanks to a MOD Jon had installed that would greatly ease his life, he was adding a dungeon to the mountain west of Riverwood, complete with spawns of various types of goblins. This complented the other MOD, the "Master of Potions," which introduced a basic HP and MP potion recipe, making Jon’s life easier. He considered exploring this dungeon alone in the future, but due to the caravan that had arrived in Riverwood, he decided to try his luck.
Shifting his focus to Gwen, he said, "There are rumors of a hidden dungeon to the west of Riverwood. They say it’s inhabited by goblins, rare creatures in Aeloria. Their blood might hold value for potions. I thought maybe we could explore the place and see what we find."
Gwen glanced at Jon, her eyes gleaming with interest. "So, you want to investigate this dungeon? Just the two of us?"
Jon nodded. "Exactly. What do you think?"
Gwen smiled, her usual energy returning. "I’m in! Let’s do this, Jon!"
The sunlight began to dip in the sky as Jon and Gwen arrived at the location Jon had ntioned. The landscape was dominated by an imposing mountain, its base covered in thick vegetation and tall trees. However, what truly caught Gwen’s attention was the ancient stone structure partially covered in moss and vines, concealed among the trees.
Jon, with a determined look, approached the structure and began examining the stones. Gwen observed with curiosity, trying to grasp what he was doing. After a few monts, Jon found what he was looking for: a series of stones that seed out of place. With precise movents, he adjusted them, and a tallic sound echoed through the forest. A rusty door, seemingly sealed for centuries, began to slowly open, revealing a deep darkness.
Gwen looked at Jon, a mix of admiration and surprise in her eyes. "How did you know about this?" she asked, her voice slightly shaky.
Jon shrugged, trying to appear casual. "Just heard so rumors," he lied, not wanting to reveal his prior knowledge. He recalled his morning conversation with his mother, how he had reassured her that he wouldn’t return for lunch and asked if Gwen would mind, and she had agreed, seeming to have her own secrets. Jon was determined to uncover what was going on with her. But now wasn’t the ti.
Ard with torches, the two ventured into the dungeon. The air was cold and damp, and the silence was almost deafening. Jon knew that, despite having a rough idea of the dungeon’s layout due to his previous experience, the reality now was very different. Every step, every sound, every shadow felt more real and nacing than ever.
They proceeded with caution, mapping out each corridor and room they encountered. The atmosphere was oppressive, and both could feel the history and secrets the dungeon held, this unique experience making their hearts almost ask for permission to beat.
Not even when Jon was a player in the Nexus ga had he felt anything like this. He rembered that Nexus, the VR MMORPG, had been praised by everyone on Earth for its 100% imrsive reality, but this was different. It was real. The small rats and spiders that occasionally appeared, which would usually put Jon on high alert, now thrilled him.
On the other hand, Gwen trembled whenever she heard sothing moving in the corridor ahead. ’Seems like this girl isn’t as fearless as I imagined,’ this thought left Jon intrigued. The years of unstoppable gaming that had made him the top player in Nexus seed to be paying off...
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