New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

In a calm part of Korea, in a recluse mountain village a few hours away from Seoul, in the Gangwon-do province, lay the Jin household. And inside this household, in a locked room, lay a gaming pod.

Its occupant, Jin Sil Yeoja, known as player Athena Woodland, was in a deep sleep state, still inside the game, even as the sun rose outside of New Eden, and fell over the game.

Her mother, who had to calm the fuming temper of her husband after her daughter had threatened him, was currently standing outside the room, with a platter of food, presumably breakfast, waiting for an answer to her knock.

Seeing as there was not a peep from inside the room, she pulled out a key from her pockets and unlocked the door. Her husband didn't know she had this key, as her daughter had made her swear to keep it a secret.

She quietly opened the door and stepped into the room, closing it behind her. Seeing the pod's lights were still flashing, she understood her daughter was still inside her game.

As she had done many times, the mother carefully left the platter on a nearby desk and crouched next to the pod. She opened the compartment for the IV bags, and carefully replaced the empty ones, to ensure her daughter didn't get sick, and closed the panel up again.

After picking up the platter she had left in here the last time, she threw one last look at the pod and left the room, locking it behind her.

'She spends more time in there than out here these days. I hope she comes out soon, and mends things with her father…'

But she knew this was wishful thinking.

Her husband had been sour ever since their daughter had stopped competing in archery. He kept telling her she was wasting away her future.

She could only hope that someday, he would realize he was pushing their daughter away.

With melancholy on her face, and sadness in her heart, the mother quietly walked away, her steps heavy with remorse. Remorse for not staying her husband's hand every time he went to scold their daughter.

But the past was the past.

***

Far to the west of the Jin household, in China, in a small city house, with a placard spelling Hóngsè hanging over the door, a similar situation was happening.

Only, in this household, where Rì-chū, who many now knew as player I'die Ad-Tempus, there was no underlying sadness or floating anger.

Ever since their son began playing this game, he had been more happy overall, and every other endeavour he undertook, he did so with gusto and a spryness that hadn't been there before.

This made his parents so happy, and when he started bringing in money as well, they became supportive of him. So when his mother knocked at his door, to see if he was out of the game, and got no answer, there was no lock baring her way into the room.

She changed his IV bags to this brand new pod he had bought himself, humming a little tune as she did, and left him a note saying the food was in the fridge when he got out.

There was no sourness present in her, and she even picked up a few pieces of clothing lying about before leaving the room, still humming.

***

The contrast between these two situations was as stark as the difference between night and day. And yet, the situation for these two players inside the game was one and the same.

As they stood under the moonlit sky, on a small island that they still had to explore, Athena took I'die by the hand, pulling him into the jungle.

"Where are you taking me? It's the middle of the night, there might be monsters," I'die protested.

Athena giggled at his whimpering, but kept dragging him along. Her higher strength stat made this very easy.

"Oh, don't be a scared-y cat, Yeobo. I only want to show you something nice. You're going to love it."

He kept meekly resisting, even though his curiosity was piqued, until they reached a small clearing, with the pond where they had bathed earlier shining in the moonlight.

"Is this what you wanted to show me? I saw this already, Athena. Although I will admit, the moonlight makes it incredibly pretty."

Athena smiled at him.

"Prettier than me?" she asked, biting her lower lip slightly.

I'die froze, his head spinning as he tried answering.

"That's n—I wouldn't—I can't—"

His stammering made Athena laugh.

Her delicate laughter sent a shiver down I'die's spine. But not one of fear.

Feeling his face become hotter, I'die closed his mouth.

Athena backed up into the water, until it reached her hips, and lowered herself completely inside it.

I'die raised a brow, but his mouth dropped open right after.

Athena had risen back up to her feet, but her equipment was gone. She was in a white tunic, no longer than mid-thigh, that caressed every one of her curves tentatively, as the now wet fabric appeared more translucent than white.

"How about now?" she asked, as she walked toward him seductively.

I'die's mind went blank.

His heart started beating faster and faster until he could hear the thumping in his ears. He felt his throat dry up in nervousness as Athena stepped closer and closer.

Until she was standing mere inches away from him, her breast already pushed against his chest.

He stared into her eyes, still frozen, jaw hanging loose.

When she leaned in to kiss him, he had to shake himself into action, mentally, lest she kiss his slack, open jaw.

When he returned her kiss, Athena did not hesitate to take his hand and lead it to her body. She would move him like a puppet if she needed to until he understood what she wanted.

It took much less time than she had expected, before I'die finally let go of his nervousness, and abandoned himself to her embrace.

And right there, under the moonlight, bodies half submerged in the lukewarm pond, I'die finally professed his feelings openly to her, through action and words.