Chapter 29 - Chapter 29 - The Shape of Tomorrow

Light collapsed into darkness as the game faded, and Riley pulled the VR headset off with a slow exhale. His hair stuck up at odd angles from the foam padding, and his heartbeat still thudded faintly, echoing the adrenaline of the Blossom Wolf battle. Aria yanked her own headset off like it had personally offended her. "ALIVE!" she shouted to the ceiling. "SPIRITS OF GAMING — WE SURVIVED!" Sofia removed hers delicately, blinking fast as her eyes adjusted. "That was… so intense," she breathed. "I actually thought the wolf was going to—" "—eat Riley?" Aria finished."Same. I was mentally preparing your funeral speech. It was going to be heartfelt." "It was a mini-boss, not a demon lord," Riley protested. "You were one bite away from being a snack," Aria countered. Sofia giggled softly, covering her mouth. Riley stretched, wincing at how tense his neck felt. Funny how VR wasn't supposed to strain your body — yet stress still crept into the muscles. "Let's go down," he said. "I think Mum's cooking." Aria sprang upright like she'd been hit with a lightning spell. "FOOD." Sofia rolled her eyes but smiled."Food," she agreed more gracefully. They made their way downstairs, feet thumping on familiar old carpet. The smell hit them halfway: rich broth, herbs, simmering beef — the kind of warmth that wrapped around your ribs like a blanket. Mum stood at the stove, ladling stew into bowls. "There you are," she said with a fond smile. "I called you four times." Aria gasped."We were in a BOSS FIGHT, Mum! Lives were at stake!" "It's a game, sweetheart." "A GAME WITH FEELINGS." Mum laughed and waved them to the table. "Sit. Eat. Tell me everything." They flopped into chairs, steam curling from the bowls in front of them. Aria didn't wait — she dove in like she'd been starved for days. "Mmmfff—hot! Ow—worth it!" Sofia ate politely, then made a tiny happy noise as she swallowed. "Oh… wow. That's really good." Riley took a bite. The warmth hit instantly. He hadn't realised how hungry he was until that moment — or how comforting real food was after hours spent in virtual forests and caves. Mum wiped her hands on a towel and sat across from them. "So," she said, eyes twinkling. "How was adventuring?" Aria slammed her spoon down. "MUM — I PUNCHED A ROCK MONSTER." "…What?" "With SCIENCE." "Aria," Sofia whispered, giggling into her fingers, "they were just gauntlets." "TECH. NO. LOGY," Aria corrected. Riley swallowed his mouthful."There was a boss made of stone. She, uh… actually did punch it." Mum stared. "You're… proud of that?" "YES." Riley hid a laugh in his bowl. Sofia leaned forward, excitement glowing softly in her eyes."Aria's new gauntlets make sparks when she punches things—" "Cool sparks," Aria interrupted. "—and Echo learned a healing skill today. She can help our whole party now." Mum's face softened."That sounds lovely, dear." "It is," Sofia said, cheeks pink. "I never get to be the helpful one in games." "You always were," Mum said gently. "You help more than you realise." Sofia ducked her head, smiling shyly. Then Mum looked to Riley. "And you? You've been very quiet." Riley paused. He wanted to say everything — the relief of levelling up, the thrill of Lumi's glow, the strange comfort of knowing exactly where they needed to go next. But instead he said: "It was a good day." Aria snorted. "UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR." "He got a new bow," Sofia explained sweetly. Mum's eyebrows lifted. "Oh? A bow? That suits you." Riley blinked. "You think?" "Of course," Mum said lightly. "You were obsessed with archery when you were younger." Aria jumped in immediately. "He literally wouldn't stop pretending to be a forest ranger for like three years." "I was nine!" Riley protested. "You were INSANELY committed to the bit." Sofia giggled."I remember the sticks…" "Sticks?" Riley echoed. "You used to sharpen sticks and hide them behind the shed," Mum said. "Said they were 'spirit arrows.'" Riley stared into his bowl. A memory flickered. A little boy racing through a garden with a toy bow, pretending he was chosen by some magical creature— He had forgotten that version of himself. It made something warm and aching swell in his chest. Mum watched him quietly."Seeing you three together again… it's good. You're laughing. You're talking. Feels like before you all grew up too fast." Riley lowered his eyes. Before the team.Before the burnout.Before everything collapsed. Sofia leaned her head gently against his shoulder. Aria, not wanting to be left out, slung an arm around both of them and nearly knocked over a glass. "GROUP SQUASH!" she declared. Riley huffed a laugh. Mum stood and gathered empty bowls, her voice soft. "Tomorrow's another game day, yes?" "Yep," Aria said. "We're gonna go into the woods, hunt some plants, fight some monsters, catch more spirits—" "And not die," Sofia added firmly. Aria shrugged. "Mostly that." Riley nodded. "We're preparing for the first dungeon. We need materials. And levels." Mum gave him a knowing look. "You seem… motivated," she said quietly. "Happier." "I guess I am," Riley admitted. And he meant it. The game wasn't just a second chance — it was giving him back the things he'd lost.Purpose.Team.Family.Something to care about beyond survival. When dinner was done, they helped Mum clear the table. Aria "accidentally" sprayed Sofia with the sink hose. Sofia chased her with a dish towel. Riley got roped in and ended up with foam in his hair. Laughter filled the kitchen. Later, they drifted upstairs, full and tired. Aria dropped into bed like a corpse.Sofia brushed her hair at her vanity.Riley folded his headset cords with careful hands. Sofia's voice floated softly in the dim room. "Riley?" "Yeah?" "I… like this. All of this. Us." Aria mumbled from her bed."S'cause we're awesome…" Riley looked at his sisters — one chaotic, one gentle — and felt a fierce, steady determination rise. "We'll keep it going," he promised quietly. "Tomorrow… is going to be huge." Lumi's soft glow shimmered in his memory, and the world felt full of possibilities. Riley lay down, stared at the familiar cracks in the ceiling, and let his eyes drift closed. For the first time in a long time… He couldn't wait to wake up.