Ne:
I adjusted my headset, the familiar hum of the server filling my ears. The screen glowed with the vibrant colors of our shared virtual world. Neon Berlin, my OC, stood poised, ready for the next challenge. Beryl, my new online friend’s OC, shimmered beside him, her academic aura contrasting with Neon’s street-smart vibe.
“Ready for this, Neon?” ‘Beryl’s’ voice crackled through the headset, her excitement palpable.
“Always, Beryl. Let’s light up the night,” I replied, my fingers dancing over the keyboard.
The raid began, and our characters moved in perfect sync. Beryl’s academic prowess and elemental control complemented Neon’s raw power and tactical skills. We navigated through the labyrinthine corridors of the virtual university, battling rogue elements and solving intricate puzzles.
“Watch out for the sulfuric acid trap!” she warned, her voice tinged with excitement.
“Got it. Cover me while I disable it,” I responded, my focus sharpening.
As we dodged the trap — expertly, might I add — I couldn’t help but think about who it might be behind the avatar. Her voice didn’t sound like a fifty-year-old man so I’m pretty sure she’s legit. Her voice was youthful, filled with enthusiasm and a hint of mischief. It was hard to imagine her as anything other than a kindred spirit, someone who shared my passion for this fantastical world we had created together.
“Neon, over here! There’s a hidden passage,” she called out, her voice pulling me back to the game.
“On my way,” I replied, guiding Neon to follow Beryl through the narrow corridor. The passage led to a secret chamber, filled with rare items and powerful enemies.
We fought side by side, our characters’ abilities complementing each other perfectly. Beryl’s precise elemental attacks and Neon’s brute strength made us an unstoppable team. As we cleared the room, I couldn’t help but admire her skill and quick thinking.
“Nice work, Beryl. We make a pretty good team,” I said, a smile creeping onto my face.
“Thanks, Neon. Couldn’t have done it without you,” she replied, her voice warm and genuine.
As we gathered the loot, I found myself wanting to know more about her. What was her real name? Where was she from? What did she look like? But I knew better than to ask. We had an unspoken agreement to keep our real lives separate from our online personas, at least for now.
“Hey, Beryl, have you ever thought about what it would be like to meet in real life?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
There was a brief pause before she answered. “Yeah, I have. It would be interesting, wouldn’t it? But for now, I think I like the mystery.”
“Yeah, me too,” I agreed, though a part of me wished I could break through the screen and see the person behind the avatar.
We continued our raid, the conversation shifting back to strategy and game mechanics. But the thought lingered in my mind. Who was Beryl, really? And would we ever get the chance to find out?
As the raid came to an end, we logged off with our usual farewells. “Goodnight, Beryl. See you tomorrow?”
“Goodnight, Neon. Same time tomorrow,” she replied, her voice fading as the connection was about to end.
“Wait—” I called out. “I won’t be playing as often as every day anymore.”
“Why not?”
“College. It’s my first year. I wanna turn back time and go back to elementary but… government has laws against it... ugh...”
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