The soft hum of the interface lingered in Eron's ears as the Logout Successful message faded from his visor.
The walls of his cramped apartment were a jarring contrast to the dim glow of the ashen forge he'd just left behind. He blinked against the harsh daylight filtering through the blinds, the memory of heat still clinging to his skin like an echo.
For a few moments, he just sat there, headset resting against his lap, staring at the half-empty glass of water on his desk. The world outside was loud—cars rumbling in the street below, distant chatter from the open market a few blocks away—but his mind was still in the cursed land.
He opened the messaging interface on his wristband. His fingers hesitated before typing.
Eron: Got something to tell you. Meet me in-game. I'll be at the inn.
A reply came almost instantly.
Rai: You alive?
Eron: Depends on how you define it.
Another ping.
Rai: That's ominous. Fine. Alex and I will log in. Five minutes.
