The rest of the dinner was very enjoyable. While the two did not joke around much, they enjoyed closing the gap that had grown during the past month.

After having explained his reason, and Jen having accepted it, and then her sharing her troubles, both of them felt much better.

Ordering some desert, Eldrian asked, "Are you still against trying the game out?"

Almost choking on her food from the abrupt question, Jen had to quickly take a gulp of water. "Your situation certainly didn't make me any more interested in it."

"But what about the virtual home system they released?"

Jen paused as she tried recalling what she had heard. At this point news about ANW, outside of those visiting the official forum, was slim at best. However, it was gaining traction with each passing day.

Especially with how Miracle had started advertizing the tournaments. Explaining that for now, it was just a league in which players could battle, but soon a proper tournament will be held. Where all those who had reached the rank of legend would be able to join.

While most people, who focused more on their daily lives, cared little for this. The increasing advertising had certainly drawn attention, especially with how the company had also marketed the virtual home system.

A way to get the same bonus of not needing to sleep, but also not need to play the game.

It was something almost no one could ignore. Especially since if you wanted to sleep you could still do it. This just gave you the option of not needing it.

If not for there being no headsets being sold, most everyone who could afford it would have likely tried to get one. Indeed, Jen had also thought about it. Just that one function would help her catch up on the work she had been lagging behind.

"I can't say I haven't thought about it, but..." Jen took another spoon of her ice cream. "Have you seen how expensive they've become?"

Shaking his head no, Eldrian said, "Can't be that bad. I can help you if you're a little short."

"That's not the main problem, I mean they aren't selling them yet. Seems like they plan to only start doing that again after the championship. And then each headset will go for 50 000 dollars."

In disbelief, Eldrian mumbled a long-drawn-out what.

"Yup, ten times what you had paid."

What on earth? Eldrian wondered, before thinking about the fact that he was working for Miracle. Or at least collaborating with them.

"What if I ask for one for you, I mean I still have the one they gave me," Eldrian mumbled the last part, realizing that they never took the headset after installing the immersion chair.

However, he knew that headsets couldn't just be shared. It was linked to a person, through some sort of brainwave length detector or something.

"You can try, but.. I won't get my hopes up. In any case, I just want it for the virtual home. Not feeling tired because I only managed to sleep four or three hours would be great."

Eldrian knew how she felt, however, he never crammed as hard as her. So for him, the sleep was never less than five or six hours. Still...

With that, the conversation died down again as both placed their attention on their melting dessert.

...

Arriving back at Miracle and looking up at the communal building, Eldrian wondered what else was going on in the top and basement floors. Sighing, he decided to leave his suspicions be for now.

Before talking to the system, and his sister, he had never realized just how crazy it was that Miracle was so unknown. Almost no one knew of them. This was especially strange now that he knew people had actually died in their experiments.

It made little sense that that didn't gain a headlight in the news. Ignore that for now, Eldrian told himself. Knowing full well that snooping would do him little good. However, that didn't mean he had to just accept things.

Heading in, he headed directly for Joren. This time his appearance caused less of a stir, however, most of those working in the department had taken the time to glance at him as he passed through.

"Joren," Eldrian said, entering the room directly.

"Ah, what brings you here?" Joren asked, looking up from his desk where he was busy on his tablet.

"I would like for a favor."

"Oh... What kind of favor?"

"A headset for my sister, I still have the one I was using. Can you guys just wipe it clean so I can give it to her."

Changing his sitting position, Joren asked, "We can, however, it takes quite a while to wipe a headset. We have locked the software due to security concerns. I would actually rather give you a new headset."

Eyebrows raised, Eldrian asked, "Isn't that more expensive? I just heard of the new price you are selling it for."

"Ah... That. That is because we have proven ourselves and the game. Yes, there are still a few things unknown, but we felt increasing the price was validated. Considering the new functions, enabling the headset to be used more commercially."

Eldrian nodded and asked, "If you would rather give me a new headset, that is fine. Also, can I ask that... If she does decide to join the game, that she can choose her kingdom?"

"Oh," Joren's voice raised slightly in surprise, "We actually thought that all future players would directly join the empires. We are also working on a few more features to make it more gamelike."

Pausing a little, Joren then continued, "It isn't hard to do."

"Great," Eldrian felt very satisfied with that. As he was about to leave, Joren asked, "By the way, remember to be careful."

Eldrian nodded, and as he started leaving he wondered if he could ask for the same favor for Erik. However, thinking about the fact that Akarui was with him, and the trouble with the AI and even NPCs being independent, Eldrian gave up this idea.

It might work, but... I have no idea if Akarui can also be brought with. For players it is easy, just set our spawn point... Not so much for NPCs. Eldrian sighed and decided to go and greet Constantin for a bit. Sharing some of his magic insights, hoping to receive inspiration from the game tester.

Returning in disappointment to his room, Eldrian climbed onto the immersion chair and realized he forgot to ask them to make it more comfortable. Heaving a long, slow sigh, he logged in.

...

Appearing where he had logged off, Eldrian was shocked to find his surroundings completely different. He was now standing in a bare area. The trees up to three hundred meters from the cave having wilted. All the grass and leaves have turned to dust.

"What the hell happened?" He questioned as he turned around and saw that where the cave used to be, a massive crater of ten meters diameter now lay.

"Did the undead put up such a large fight?" Eldrian questioned as he saw a few scattered bones. There were no corpses, likely what had happened to the surrounding plants had happened to them too.

Returning to the outpost just outside of the fort, Eldrian was given another shock. The newly built wooden walls were damaged. It had been a simple wall, with the trunks and large branches simply buried in the ground.

Yet now, some of them were burnt, others snapped, and others still pulled out from the ground.

"You! Stop right there!" A centaur shouted and charged upon Eldrian with a spear at the ready. Placing it right in front of Eldrian's chest.

"What happened here?" Eldrian asked, raising his hands to show he was unarmed.

Naturally, the centaur cared little for this show of sincerity. It was far too easy to pull a weapon out from a dimensional storage. Eldrian not having a sheath nor any visible weapons made it clear that he had one.

"Keep your hands where I can see them." The centaur growled, threating Eldrian with his spear as he did. He slightly turned his head, not daring to let Eldrain out of his sight, and shouted to the back, "Teodoris, we have a suspicious elf here!"

"An elf?!" A voice came back from behind the walls, "What kind?"

"Let me check," The centaur said, using Observe to see what kind Eldrian was. His eyes flying wide open when he saw the information displayed.

"Nevermind, it's the Chosen Pelaros asked us to keep an eye out for!" He said, slowly lowering his spear. Not fully willing to lower his guard, but also not wishing to upset Pelaros's special invitee.