Dear Readers, I'm sorry I haven't posted any chapters in a while. I've been studying a lot. Yesterday, my old account wouldn't let me in. I changed my password and everything, but it still won't let me, so I had to create a new account. I decided to rewrite this story since I'm at it. I hope you like this version. By the way, I'm unsure if I want to continue with Prince of Crows. I've been getting a lot of negative feedback. Let me know in the comments if I should continue.
Blakely Arcas loved to sleep. It was her favorite pastime: wrapped in her cozy panda onesie, surrounded by an army of panda stuffies, and snuggled in warm fluffy blankets—it was her version of paradise. Her bedroom, meticulously crafted to reflect her profound adoration for pandas, was a true sanctuary. The walls were adorned with panda posters, ranging from adorable cartoon depictions to majestic photographs of pandas in their natural habitats. A large, plush panda head mounted above her bed was a whimsical centerpiece, overseeing the room with a soft, smiling face.
The focal point of the space, her bed, was surrounded by a bedspread festooned with panda prints, hugged at each corner by giant panda stuffies in various poses. More stuffed pandas were placed around the room, perched on shelves, and nestled in nooks, each carefully chosen for its unique expression and posture. The curtains mimicked the patchy fur of pandas, effectively filtering the sunlight to bathe the room in a calm, soothing ambiance. Even the furniture adhered to the theme, with panda-shaped cushions on her chairs and a soft panda paw print rug at the center of the floor.
Over the years, Blakely had embarked on several humorous yet earnest attempts to optimize her bedroom for maximum sleep efficiency. Her quest began with acquiring blackout curtains that promised a nighttime atmosphere at any hour. Unfortunately, the first set she ordered online was more translucent than opaque, casting a curious pattern of shadows that looked more like a forest under moonlight than inside a panda's den. The second set was perfect for darkness but amplified the outside noises, making every car passing by like it was driving through her room.
Not one to give up, Blakely tried her hand at soundproofing. Her initial effort involved lining the door and windows with layers of foam panels that she had cut into the shapes of panda faces, hoping to blend aesthetics with functionality. However, the adhesive proved too weak, and she woke up one morning to find half the panels had fallen off, creating a lumpy, uneven barrier that more effectively tripped her than blocked any sound.
Each attempt, whether it involved experimental noise-canceling devices that emitted odd whirring noises or "therapeutic" scents that were more vile than soothing, added to the quirky charm of her sleep haven and provided endless stories to share with anyone who dared to inquire about her sleep obsession.
Thus, the intrusion of her two childhood friends into her sacred sleeping sanctuary—her bedroom—was nothing short of a catastrophe. Despite her explicit warnings to her family and friends never to interrupt her slumber, they seemed to have forgotten... yet again.
Her only response to the disturbance was a soul-deep moan of displeasure, which was met with peals of insensitive giggles from her friends. "Grrrr," Blakely growled in a half-hearted threat.
"Come on, Blakely. Wake up! It's already ten at night. We have two hours until the new game premieres!" Maven Sterling, her voice husky and less annoying than usual, tried to coax her from sleep.
"Yeah, and you promised you'd play with us. Even your brothers and sisters will be on. So, get up. Get ready to play. Right. " Iris Sterling chimed in, punctuating her insistence by tugging at Blakely's blankets—an irritating habit.
"Fine. I'm up. Are you happy?" Blakely capitulated grumpily, rubbing her eyes as she unwillingly vacated her cozy nest. The two eager intruders hurried her into the bathroom before she could even slip into her panda slippers.
In the haze of being rudely awakened and herded towards the bathroom by her overzealous friends, Blakely's usual sharpness was dulled by sleep. Her eyes barely open, and her mind still wrapped in the remnants of dreams, she reached for what she thought was her tube of moisturizer. The coolness of the substance was a welcome sensation against her skin, momentarily refreshing until the sharp, unmistakable scent of mint hit her nose.
Startled, Blakely blinked her eyes open, only to realize in horror that she had smeared a generous amount of toothpaste across her cheeks and forehead. The tingling sensation, which would have been invigorating on her gums, was bizarre and unpleasant on her face. In the mirror, her reflection looked back at her, a minty mess underlined by her dismayed expression.
"What are you doing?" Maven asked, barely stifling a laugh as she entered the scene.
"I'm starting a new facial trend," Blakely retorted dryly, reaching for a washcloth with a resigned sigh. As she wiped the toothpaste off, her skin tingled oddly, leaving her more awake than any regular morning routine had ever left her.
Upon hearing the commotion, Iris peeked in and immediately doubled over with laughter. "That's one way to freshen up in the morning!"
Blakely, now a bit more alert and a smidge less grumpy, couldn't help but chuckle at her ridiculous mistake. "Yeah, well, remind me to switch to a less 'refreshing' face cream," she quipped, finally clearing all traces of mint from her face and readying herself for the less hazardous task of brushing her teeth. Looking at the panda sign near the bedroom door, she reminisced about the day she made a promise to her best friends.
Over the years, her quest to perfect her sleep resulted in numerous misadventures, including multiple attempts to find the perfect blackout curtains and soundproofing configurations—each experiment more theatrically absurd than the last.
Despite her explicit warnings to her family and friends never to interrupt her slumber, they seemed to have forgotten... yet again. This morning, her friends Maven Fallon and Iris Sterling, sisters in all but blood, who contrasted starkly with Blakely's slothful panda persona, had decided to barge in with their usual energetic gusto. Maven was all kinetic energy, believing sleep was a waste unless necessary, while Iris was the cerebral type, always plotting some new scheme or adventure.
"Blakely, come on! We're going to the market, and you promised to come this time," Maven shouted through the door, her knocks echoing against the calm melody of forest sounds emanating from Blakely's white noise machine.
"Go away! The panda is hibernating!" Blakely shouted back, her voice muffled by the pile of pillows over her head.
Always more strategic, Iris slid a note under the door that read, "If you don't get up, we're taking your panda slippers hostage."
Blakely's eyes snapped open, and she leaped out of bed, flinging the door open dramatically. "You wouldn't dare!"
Their laughter filled the room as Blakely clutched her slippers to her chest. "We knew that would get you moving," Iris said with a smirk.
"Fine, but I'm wearing the slippers out, and you two are buying me coffee," Blakely declared, her sleepy irritation turning into a reluctant agreement as she stepped past them, still in her panda onesie.
As they walked to the market, the sisters teased Blakely about her elaborate sleep defenses. "Blake, a 'Panda at Rest' sign? What's next, a moat with sleepy crocodiles?" Maven joked.
"That's not a bad idea," Blakely responded, playing along with a mock-serious tone. "Maybe add some tranquilizer darts at the entrance for overly energetic intruders."
Their banter continued, light and affectionate, with Iris wrapping an arm around Blakely's shoulders. "We love your panda fortress, but sometimes, you've got to join the waking world with us."
Blakely sighed, her complaint softened by the warmth of her friends' company. "Only for you two," she admitted. "But next time, I'm installing a panda-sized hamster wheel at the door. Keep Maven busy while I get five more minutes."
Their laughter and chatter brightened the morning, a stark contrast to the peaceful seclusion of Blakely's panda-themed room. They proved that no matter how much she loved her sleep, the call to adventure with her friends was just as irresistible.
Ten minutes later
The living room buzzed with excitement as Blakely and her close-knit friends and siblings delved into the intricacies of their upcoming virtual reality game adventure. Blakely lay sprawled across the couch in this cozy setting, her head comfortably resting in Maven's lap and her feet tucked into Iris's. The casual intimacy of the scene was a testament to their deep bond.
Theo, the stoic younger twin, was engrossed in playing with his teddy bears on a loveseat. He occasionally glanced at his sister Cleo, who was absorbed in a book about black bears. Their youthful curiosity about the animal kingdom added a lighthearted backdrop to the discussions. Meanwhile, the eldest Brody was semi-distracted, his attention split between the video game he played on the theater-sized TV and the lively conversation around him. Claire, the attentive older sister, playfully fed Blakely marshmallows, eliciting giggles, and muffled strategizing from the couch.
As the group delved deeper into character creation, each member voiced their thoughts on potential races and classes, reflecting their personalities and play styles. Blakely listened, amused and content, as Maven passionately advocated for choosing a Fox kin race, cunningly paired with the Illusionist class— a combination she found amusingly predictable yet fitting for Maven's sly demeanor.
The discussion branched into a spirited debate on the advantages of various classes and how they could strategically align with their chosen races. Claire suggested tactical combinations, leaning on her analytical nature, while Brody threw in suggestions based on his extensive gaming experience. Cleo and Theo, though younger, chimed in with imaginative and sometimes whimsical ideas, adding a layer of creative spontaneity to the mix.
The hour and a half flew by as they weighed names that would best encapsulate their avatars' identities, with each suggestion sparking stories or jokes, weaving a tapestry of camaraderie and shared anticipation for the world they were about to immerse themselves in. This pre-game ritual, filled with laughter, strategy, and sibling banter, set the stage for their collective dive into a new, fantastical realm.
When 12:50 am hit, she donned her VR helmet. Taking a calming breath, she reclined onto her bed, settling in comfortably as the countdown timer ticked to zero. A system prompt asked if she was ready to begin the game. She clicked yes, and her consciousness was submerged into the virtual realm. Her last thought clung to the hope that this disruption was worth sacrificing her cherished sleep.
"Welcome, Morpher, to the World of Morphantasia, where you dream your fantasy. Here, everything you've ever dreamed of becoming is possible. Do you wish to begin?" The greeting came from a cheerful, blob-like creature with an unexpectedly dry wit that seemed to contrast with its squishy, purple exterior.
"Excellent. Would you like to change your appearance, or would you prefer to stay as you are?" The blob asked, its tone almost making it sound like it was holding back a punchline.
"I would like to change my appearance, please," Blakely responded, unsure what to make of her amorphous guide. Privacy was a priority for Blakely; her photogenic memory reinforced the importance of anonymity. The dangers of being too recognizable were all too clear to her.
"Very well, then," the Blob—Blakely decided to call it that—waved a hand, and a silvery blue mirror materialized before her. "Please choose your race," it said, adding, "I hope you find something that reflects your... panda-monium taste."
Blakely's reflection showed her usual self—long black hair with white tips and striking grey-silver eyes, still clad in her panda onesie.
As Blakely navigated the sprawling menu of races in Morphantasia, the Blob hovered nearby, eager to assist. However, its help only added layers of confusion due to a humorous mix-up of game terminology.
"Would you like to try being a Sun Sprout? They photosynthesize their food! Very efficient," the Blob suggested with a wobble that might have been a nod.
Blakely, misunderstanding the term, furrowed her brow. "I don't think I'm ready to become a plant. I was thinking of something less... leafy."
The Blob blinked if it had eyes to blink with. "Oh! Well, maybe you'd prefer the Crystal Sentinels. They are solid fighters!"
"Wait, so they're made of crystal? Wouldn't they shatter?" Blakely asked, envisioning a warrior crumbling into sparkling shards with every misstep.
"Only metaphorically on the battlefield!" the Blob hastily corrected, its voice bubbling with amusement.
Their conversation moved on, and Blakely scrolled through more options, each with unique but sometimes confusing descriptions.
"How about the Mirror Mages? They can duplicate anything they see," the Blob said, trying to be helpful.
Blakely paused, considering. "So, they spend a lot of time in front of mirrors? Are they vain?"
"No, no, not like that!" The Blob chuckled if a blob could chuckle. "They duplicate objects, not their reflection."
Pausing, Blakely's attention landed on Echo Enchanters, and the Blob excitedly explained, "They can manipulate sound waves and create silence out of chaos!"
"Chaos?" Blakely echoed, puzzled. "Can they use it to make people stop talking at family dinners?"
"Well, theoretically, yes," the Blob answered, its surface rippling in what might have been laughter.
As she scrolled through the numerous race options, none seemed appealing until a curious thought struck her. "Just out of curiosity, isn't there a magical panda kin race I can choose from?"
"Yes, actually, there is. Is that the race you wish to see?" Mr. Blob responded with a hint of mischief in his voice.
Nodding eagerly, she watched her virtual reflection morph into the cutest creature she had ever seen. "It's the most adorable thing I have ever seen in my entire life!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement. Her mirror image now sported fluffy round panda ears atop her head, her black and white hair turned a pale bamboo green, and a little black panda tail poked out from behind her. Even her eyes matched the new hue.
"That's Beary good to hear," Mr. Blob quipped, seemingly pleased with its pun. "Now, would you like to customize your appearance further?"
Blakely chose the Panda kin Sin of Sloth, enjoying the laid-back abilities that mirrored her real-life love of relaxation. "I choose Panda kin Sin of Sloth, please," she declared.
"A slothful panda, how un-bear-ably fitting," Mr. Blob noted with a chuckle. "May I know the name of this Panda kin?"
"Aergia," Blakely announced, adopting the name of the Greek goddess of laziness, feeling it was apt for her character's relaxed nature.
"Ah, named after the goddess of laziness! You're really embracing the spirit of downtime divinity," Mr. Blob commented as it finalized her character. "Now, please choose your starting profession."
As Blakely picked 'Summoner,' intrigued by the bonus of double experience gain suitable for her character's passive nature, Mr. Blob couldn't resist another comment. "Summoner, huh? Hope you don't find it too summoning."
"Where would you like to start?" Mr. Blob asked, displaying a map of the game world.
"Dew Lake in the Flore Kingdom," Blakely replied; her friends had recommended it as a peaceful starting point.
"Excellent choice! May your adventures be as relaxing as your race choice," Mr. Blob said, waving its hand to transport her into the game.
Appearing in Dew Lake, Blakely—now Aergia in the game—was ready to explore this new world. Her interest was piqued not by the adventure but by the amusing commentary of her blobby guide. The serene environment and the prospect of laid-back adventures promised a perfect blend of her love for pandas and her penchant for relaxation, all under the wry humor of her new, blob-shaped friend.