It was 5pm on a Sunday evening. In the basement of William's house, four friends gathered around a long wooden table, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their dungeon master. Nirvana, Jin, William, and Christopher had been looking forward to continuing their Dungeons and Dragons campaign all week, but their fearless leader, Fable, was running late.
The basement was dimly lit, with a few scattered lamps casting a warm glow over the table. Stacks of rulebooks, character sheets, and colorful dice were strewn across the surface, ready for the adventure to begin. The air was filled with a mixture of anticipation and playful banter as the friends passed the time.
Wang Jin, ever the jokester, was doing his best to annoy Christopher with his witty remarks and exaggerated gestures. Christopher, the youngest of the group, tried to maintain his composure, but couldn't help cracking a smile at Jin's antics. William, meanwhile, leaned back in his chair, his fingers gently plucking the strings of his guitar as he played a tranquil melody. His eyes drifted between Jin and Christopher's exchange and the basement door, an amused grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Nirvana, on the other hand, seemed distracted. She was leaning over the table, her gaze alternating between the book she was reading and the basement door. A worried expression etched on her delicate features, her light pink eyes filled with concern. As she glanced towards the door for the umpteenth time, William and Jin exchanged knowing glances and couldn't help but chuckle, causing Nirvana to snap her attention towards them.
Jin, still laughing, teased, "Don't worry, your boyfriend just texted me. He'll be here soon."
Nirvana's cheeks flushed a deep pink as she hurled her book at Jin in embarrassment. "Sh-Shut up! He's not my boyfriend! We are just..." she stammered, but before she could finish her sentence, Christopher interjected with a mischievous grin, "Not yet!"
Christopher's remark earned him a high five from Jin and another round of laughter from the group. Nirvana's face was now a vibrant shade of red, her usually pale complexion replaced by a rosy hue. She fidgeted in her seat, her hands nervously playing with the ends of her long, pastel pink hair as she tried to compose herself.
After a few seconds, Nirvana managed to calm her rapidly beating heart as she glared at Jin. "I thought you said you wouldn't tell anyone!" she accused, her voice a mixture of embarrassment and frustration.
Jin quickly responded with a casual shrug, "I didn't. You're really obvious about it no matter how you try to hide it!" His words were met with a slight nod from Christopher, while William smiled and changed the music to something more romantic, further teasing Nirvana.
Jin gave William a silent thumbs up as he continued, "The only one who isn't aware is Fable because you keep trying to hide how you feel when he's around. I wouldn't be surprised if he sees you more as a sister than anything." He finished with a sly smirk.
Nirvana stuttered, trying to form a response. "Well, that's because..." However, just at that moment, the basement door swung open, attracting everyone's attention and causing William to stop playing music.
The room fell silent, and Nirvana's face quickly turned a deep shade of red as she laid her head down on her arms, hiding her face away. Standing at the door was Fable, holding a large bag on his back and eating a donut. His caramel brown skin seemed to glow in the warm light of the basement, his short black hair slightly tousled from the wind outside. His brownish-gold eyes sparkled with curiosity as he surveyed the scene before him.
Fable proceeded to walk down the stairs, finishing the last few bites of his donut. William resumed playing a casual song, acting as if nothing had just happened. Fable placed his bag on the floor and looked around, noticing the smirks on William and Christopher's faces. Jin was trying really hard not to laugh, while Nirvana kept her face hidden in her arms.
Fable stopped moving and raised an eyebrow, asking, "Is there something on my face?" His question caused William to stop playing music as he, Christopher, and Jin burst out laughing, while Nirvana dug her face deeper into her arms, her embarrassment reaching new heights.
As everyone settled into their seats, William's fingers danced across the guitar strings, setting the mood for the night's adventure. The soft melody filled the room, creating an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement. Fable, now seated at the head of the table, began to weave the tale of their characters' journey, his voice rich with emotion and intrigue.
Thirty minutes into the campaign, the story had taken a thrilling turn. The characters found themselves in the midst of a raging battle between the armies of humans and the forces of orcs and goblins. Fable's description was so vivid that the players could almost feel the ground trembling beneath their feet and hear the clashing of swords and shields.
Suddenly, a deafening boom echoed through the basement, causing everyone to jump in their seats. William, with a mischievous grin, had switched the music to an epic battle soundtrack, the intense notes perfectly portraying the gravity of the moment. The players leaned forward, their eyes wide with anticipation as Fable continued to narrate the scene.
The initial clash was devastating for the human army. Countless soldiers fell as the right flank collapsed under the onslaught of the orc and goblin forces. The main force in the center began to falter, panic spreading through their ranks. The human commander, desperate to maintain control, ordered his troops to fall back and adopt a defensive stance.
As if by divine intervention, ethereal dice materialized in the air above the battlefield, unbeknownst to the combatants below. The dice rolled, their faces glinting in the ethereal light. A golden radiance suddenly bathed the human soldiers as the number 20 floated in the air above them.
Emboldened by this mysterious blessing, the human commander unleashed a greater scroll of grease, adorned with a rune meaning "wide" inscribed in the bottom corner. The scroll's magic coated the ground before the defensive line, causing the charging orcs to slip and fall, their momentum lost. Although some managed to reach the human soldiers, they were unable to break through the reinvigorated defense.
On a nearby cliff, the characters played by Nirvana, William, Jin, and Christopher watched the scene unfold, their eyes wide with disbelief at the sudden turn of events. They exchanged glances, wondering what role they would play in this epic battle and how their choices would shape the fate of the warring armies.
Nirvana's elven archer stood tall and slender, her long pastel pink hair cascading down her back, contrasting beautifully with her porcelain-white skin. Her light pink eyes, framed by delicate pointed ears, held a calculating coldness as she surveyed the battlefield before her. With a steady hand, she nocked an arrow, ready to let it fly at a moment's notice.
William's human barbarian was an imposing figure, his muscular frame barely contained by his armor. His dark skin glistened with sweat as he gripped his massive battleaxe, ready to charge into the fray. Despite the chaos around him, he remained silent, his hazel eyes focused on the enemy lines, a quiet strength emanating from his very being.
Jin's human clown was a sight to behold, his face painted in a garish array of colors, a big red nose adorning the center of his face. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he twirled his staff, dark magic crackling at its tip. He let out a maniacal laugh, sending shivers down the spines of friend and foe alike, ready to unleash his twisted sense of humor upon the battlefield.
Christopher's halfling alchemist stood barely three feet tall, his youthful face scrunched up in concentration as he rummaged through his satchel, searching for the perfect potion. His curly hair bounced with each movement, his hazel eyes alight with curiosity and determination. Though he may have been small in stature, his intellect was vast, and he was ready to put his alchemical skills to the test in the heat of battle.
Suddenly an ethereal window materialized before them, its golden letters glimmering against the transparent blue background, Nirvana, William, Jin, and Christopher's characters spoke in perfect unison, their voices ringing out across the battlefield, "We accept the almighty window lord's request."
Fable, caught off guard by their sudden declaration, looked around at his friends, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Almighty window lord?" he questioned, his tone a mixture of disbelief and amusement.
Nirvana, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink, quickly turned away from Fable, pointing an accusing finger at Jin and William. "It was their idea," she mumbled, her voice barely audible over the din of battle.
William, his fingers still plucking at the guitar strings, slowed the pacing of his music and lowered the volume, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched the scene unfold. Jin, meanwhile, flashed a mischievous grin, his eyes twinkling with barely contained laughter. "Isn't it a good name?" he chuckled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I mean, you never gave us any context about the magical floating windows, sooo..."
Fable, at a loss for words, could only scratch his head, his thoughts racing as he tried to make sense of the situation. "That's a little offensive," he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with a hint of exasperation.
Suddenly, the music picked up its pace once more, the notes swelling with renewed intensity as the scene shifted back to the moment when the heroes spoke in unison. The ethereal window pulsed with energy, the golden letters shimmering brightly as if in response to their acceptance of the quest.
'Defeat the Orc Lord in the Goblin and Orc's Encampment'
An ethereal dice materialized next to William, spinning in the air before landing on a 15. With a grin, William shouted, "Let's give them hell!" His character stomped on the cliff, causing it to crumble and fall towards the battlefield below.
Screams and yells erupted from the armies as the massive chunks of rock hurtled towards them. Jin's mouth twitched as he turned to William, his voice laced with disbelief, "What is with you and breaking cliffs?"
William shrugged nonchalantly, a smirk playing on his lips. "What? It's like an elevator that doesn't go up. Plus..." He pointed down at the armies below, their faces a mixture of shock and awe. "Isn't this cooler? See, they're all in amazement of our majestic entrance."
Fable could only shake his head, a resigned sigh escaping his lips as he reached for the dice. The fate of their characters now rested in the hands of chance. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the dice tumbling across the table.
A big red ethereal 1 appeared before their characters' eyes, hovering ominously in the air. The group exchanged wry grins, realizing the gravity of their situation. The human army below turned their attention back to the battle at hand, leaving the unfortunate heroes to their fates, while a small division of goblins broke off from the main force, their eyes glinting with malice as they advanced towards the cliff, intent on finishing off the misfortunate group.
The battle was grueling, lasting around two hours. The right flank of the goblin and orc army fought fiercely, their crude weapons clashing against the battered shields of the human soldiers. The air was thick with the stench of blood and sweat, the ground littered with the bodies of the fallen. Goblins and orcs snarled and growled as they pressed forward, their eyes gleaming with a savage hunger for violence.
Thankfully, Christopher had made a batch of feather fall potions last week, which allowed the heroes to safely descend from the crumbling cliff. As they landed amidst the chaos, they wasted no time in joining the fray, their weapons flashing in the dim light of the battlefield.
Fortunately, they finally made it to the orc and goblin encampment, a sight that assaulted their senses with its filth and crudeness. The ground was muddy and trampled, littered with the corpses of goblins and orcs, a testament to the heroes' prowess in battle. The tents were haphazardly erected, their canvas stained with blood and grime. The air was heavy with the stench of unwashed bodies and rotting flesh, a nauseating cocktail that made the heroes' stomachs churn.
In front of the battered heroes sat the Orc Lord, a towering figure standing three meters tall. His skin was a sickly green, mottled with scars and tattoos that spoke of a life of violence and brutality. His eyes were small and beady, glinting with a malevolent intelligence that belied his brutish appearance. He wore a mismatched assortment of armor, cobbled together from the spoils of his conquests, and wielded a massive war hammer that looked capable of crushing a man's skull with a single blow.
However, just as the battle was about to begin, the Orc Lord opened his mouth and declared, "Hey kids, I made some homemade hot chocolate and cookies. Do y'all want any?" Everyone stopped, looking at each other in confusion, even the Orc Lord himself.
The voice rang out again, this time from the sky. Everyone looked up as it continued, "If you don't say anything, I'll just take them to Emily. You know she's having a sleepover next door, and I'm sure they would love some hot chocolate and cookies!"
William and Christopher's eyes flashed as they were the first to disappear, running up the stairs with lightning speed. Nirvana, Jin, and Fable were all in a daze at how fast the brothers had vanished, their minds still processing the sudden turn of events.
Jin, however, was quick to realize the severity of the situation. He slammed his hand on the table and jumped out of his seat, his voice filled with urgency, "Crap, those two are gluttons! They'll eat all the cookies!" He turned to Nirvana and Fable, his eyes wide with determination, "Nirvana, Fable, let's go! You know Mrs. Harris makes the best hot chocolate!"
Fable could only shake his head, a chuckle escaping his lips as he called Jin an idiot. He stood up, preparing to go upstairs and indulge in the sweet treats when he noticed Nirvana still sitting there, seemingly lost in thought.
"Nirvana?" Fable called out to her, his voice gentle yet firm, grabbing her attention. She looked up at him, her light pink eyes meeting his brownish-gold ones. Fable hesitated for a moment, a hint of nervousness in his voice as he asked, "Do you want to get some hot chocolate?"
Nirvana's heart skipped a beat as she gazed into Fable's eyes, a warm sensation spreading through her chest. She stood up, her cheeks flushed a delicate pink as she responded nervously, "Sure."
Nirvana pulled herself up as she started walking to the stairs connected to the door. She stopped, looking at Fable in confusion before asking, "Are you coming?" However, Fable just remained in place, not saying anything.
At this time, William and Christopher arrived at the door, but William stopped his brother, causing him to nearly spill his hot chocolate. William made a shushing gesture as his sixth sense told him he shouldn't descend the stairs right now. He and Christopher sneakily looked through the door, listening in. Wang Jin and Sarah (Mrs. Harris) noticed the actions of the two boys and copied their behavior. Jin wondered aloud, but quiet enough that only he, Sarah, William, and Christopher could hear him, "I wonder if one of them will finally come clean." Everyone responded with a nod.
Fable, not wanting to make the situation more awkward, took a deep breath before walking in front of Nirvana, causing her to begin blushing and looking at the ground. Fable, still nervous, lifted her chin, making her look directly into his eyes. Nirvana's face turned a deep shade of red as Fable proceeded to say, fumbling his words, "Y-You know, I might've heard what you and the others were talking about, earlier, before I opened the door. I-I… I was planning on waiting until we finished this session to talk to you about it, but seeing as I have you aloone now; I, wanted to tell you that I..."
However, before he could finish his words, Nirvana leaned in and kissed him, her soft lips meeting his in a tender embrace. Fable's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly melted into the kiss, his arms instinctively wrapping around her waist as he pulled her closer. The world around them seemed to fade away as they lost themselves in the moment, their hearts racing in perfect synchrony.
As Fable and Nirvana shared their tender moment, their friends watched from the top of the stairs, their eyes wide with anticipation. Jin, ever the impatient one, couldn't contain his excitement any longer. He jumped up, shouting with glee as he prepared to rush down the stairs to congratulate the late bloomers on finally confessing to one another. However, William, wanting to give the couple a moment longer, grabbed Jin's shirt as he was descending. The sudden tug caused them both to tumble down the stairs, spilling hot chocolate and cookies all over the floor.
Fable and Nirvana, startled by the commotion, broke apart from their embrace. Their faces flushed a deep crimson as they realized they had an audience. Nirvana's porcelain-white skin was now a vibrant shade of red, her light pink eyes darting nervously around the room. Fable, equally embarrassed, rubbed the back of his neck, his brownish-gold eyes unable to meet anyone's gaze.
Jin, unfazed by the fall, bounced up and slung both his arms around Fable and Nirvana, shouting, "It's about time!"
Sarah and Christopher descended the steps, Christopher choosing to sit in the middle of the stairs as he muttered to himself while munching on one of his many cookies, "This is really cringe."
Sarah looked at her son still laying on the floor before pushing Jin away and hugging both Fable and Nirvana. "I'm so happy for you two! See, Nirvana, I told you he was just a late bloomer."
Fable, embarrassed, looked down, blushing. Sarah continued to say, "But we are going to keep things rated PG between y'all, right?"
Fable responded weakly, "Yes, ma'am."
But before Nirvana could respond, Sarah cut her off, saying, "That's sweet, Fable, but I'm not really worried about you." She stared at Nirvana, who was starting to feel lightheaded with the amount of blushing she was doing.
Nirvana responded weakly with an "I know, I understand," as she wished a hole in the floor would just swallow her.
William chuckled and finally got up, brushing the crumbs onto the floor. He glanced at his brother's plate full of cookies, looking a little sad. William suggested they should take a picture to commemorate the moment, but Christopher sensed his cookies were in danger.
Everyone gathered together as Sarah took out her phone and set the camera on a timer.
William stood on the right, his eyes half-closed as he glanced down at his little brother's plate of cookies. His lean, muscular frame was accentuated by his fitted black t-shirt and jeans, his short curly hair framing his handsome face. Despite his casual attire, there was an air of quiet confidence about him, a strength that emanated from within.
Jin, with his infectious grin and mischievous eyes, stood between William and his mom, jokingly leaning on her shoulder. His short black hair was styled in a messy, carefree manner, perfectly complementing his playful demeanor. He wore a bright red hoodie and black jeans, his lean frame radiating an energy that was impossible to ignore.
Christopher, the youngest of the group, was looking down, trying to finish eating his cookies before the picture was taken. He knew that the moment the photo was done, the cookie wars would begin. His cherubic face was framed by his curly hair, his hazel eyes focused intently on his plate. He wore a simple blue t-shirt and khaki shorts, his small frame nearly hidden behind the table.
Sarah, the matriarch of the family, stood tall and proud, a warm smile gracing her face as she pinched Christopher's arm, trying to get him to look at the camera. Her chestnut brown hair was pulled back in a neat bun, a few strands framing her gentle features. She wore a floral blouse and dark jeans, her elegance and poise evident in every movement.
Fable, his hand intertwined with Nirvana's, glanced at her from time to time, his brownish-gold eyes filled with adoration. His caramel brown skin seemed to glow in the warm light of the room, his short black hair neatly styled. He wore a simple white button-down shirt and black jeans, his lean frame exuding a quiet confidence.
Nirvana leaned on Fable's shoulder, her delicate frame nestled against his as she smiled at the camera. Her porcelain-white skin was a stark contrast to her long, pastel pink hair that cascaded down her back in gentle waves. Her light pink eyes sparkled with joy, her ethereal beauty captivating all who looked upon her. She wore a flowing white sundress, the soft fabric draping elegantly over her slender frame.
The camera flashed, the colors white, red, and orange intertwined; capturing the moment forever.
However, after the flash of light the surroundings became dark; trees and untamed grass filled the landscape while the rain poured down in torrents. In the distance, an ethereal figure that resembling Fable was sitting on a rock, his form glowing with a white core in his chest. Tears streamed down his face as he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the sound of the falling rain, "They're all dead!"