[Your consciousness is being summoned back to Earth]
[STAY]
[RETURN]
Huh?
Rain was confused. This hadn't happened before. This was the first time he had encountered something like this.
Fearing that something was happening to his real body, Rain pressed [RETURN] after making sure that everyone got their tasks.
Back in the real world, Rain woke up to the sound of his phone ringing. He checked his surroundings first, making sure he was alright and still breathing. Once he was sure that there was no imminent danger to his life, he deduced that his consciousness must have been stirred by the sound of the phone.
He had read that their souls could be forcefully pulled back to Earth if something disturbed their bodies awake. Of course, they could opt to remain in the Spirit Realm, but it was best to check if their body was alright back on Earth.
After all, Rain didn't want to be stuck in the Spirit Realm forever as a lost soul. So far, he hadn't heard of players' bodies dying while their souls were in the Spirit Realm. This was probably because they could afford those protective pods.
Those Sleeping Pods cost hundreds of millions, far more expensive than the Sleeping Head Gear.
The Pods were the pinnacle of the Association's technology. Rain read that they were made from materials sourced from the Spirit Realm that no human-made weapons could break. They were incredibly safe; even in the event of a fire or earthquake, the pod would remain unbreakable.
Inside the pod were the latest technologies, including sleeping gas — not the harmful kind, but the good and natural kind that was safe for the brain and the body. It also had vitamin infusions inside that would give the body its needed nutrition while your spirit was in the Spirit Realm.
Additionally, the pod had features for disposing of bodily waste, such as urine and feces, ensuring that nothing would disturb your physical body while your spirit was in the Spirit Realm. You had to enter the pod naked, though, and its jelly-like interior would maintain your body at an optimal temperature and in good health.
Rain didn't know the specifics since he didn't own one and definitely couldn't afford one. He didn't have hundreds of millions, and only the top players have these pods he heard.
Rain's musing was interrupted by the insistent ringing of his phone.
"Just who is it that keeps calling this early in the morning?" Rain asked himself.
Rain picked up the call and saw that it was from his friend, Nathan, from school.
At the thought of school, his face drained of color. It was only then that he realized he was still a student!
"H-hello?"
"Hello, my ass! I've been calling you for days now. Why haven't you returned my calls? Where are you? Why are you absent? I'm warning you now, if you're absent again today, Mr. Henry will be forced to expel you!"
GAH!
Rain stood on his feet, pacing left and right, not knowing what to do first.
R-right! I should probably take a bath. I stink!
"W-wait. I'll come to school now. Tell Mr. Henry not to expel me!"
"It's past seven already. School starts at eight."
"I'll be there! Just a little late. Can you make an excuse for me?"
"I'll see what I can do. But you better get your ass in here fast, and you better tell me what you've been doing these past few days!"
The call ended, and Rain immediately rushed inside the shower to get ready for school.
He had really forgotten that he was still a student, and he had been absent for almost four days now.
Rain grumbled under his breath as he quickly took a shower, got dressed, and rushed out of his apartment. He didn't bother to eat and just bolted to the bus station, hoping he could make it to school in time.
Momentarily, Rain forgot about the Spirit Realm as a more urgent matter needed his attention. If he was expelled, his parents would surely kill him!
Never mind the Spirit Realm; he would practically die in the real world if he flunked out of high school.
"Agh! Why does everything have to be so hard!" Rain let out in a roar of frustration.
Then he realized he was inside a bus, and all the people were staring at him. Some girls at the side stepped away from him while looking at him weirdly, gossiping with each other. Meanwhile, the boys were laughing and pointing fingers at him.
An old man patted Rain's shoulder and laughed. "Young man, you're still young. You know nothing of hardship. Ohohoho!"
Rain was so embarrassed that his face turned beet red. The moment the bus stopped, he got out in a hurry, almost stumbling over his feet, which added to the laughter of the people inside the bus.
Rain didn't pause to catch his breath and went straight to his classroom. He opened the door just in time as his name was being called.
"I-IM HERE!" Rain yelled, out of breath and disheveled.
Teacher Henry's frown deepened as he glared at Rain. "Indeed, but that doesn't excuse your absence these past few days without a reason. Report to the guidance counselor and explain yourself there. You better have a good excuse for why you've been absent, young man, or I will not accept you in my class."
"N-no way . . ." Rain's shoulders slumped.
At the back of the room, he could see Nathan shaking his head and grinning from ear to ear while the rest of his friends laughed and teased him.
Rain could do nothing but head to the guidance counselor's office, all the while thinking of a believable excuse as to why he had been absent for almost four days. He felt a sinking feeling in his stomach as he walked down the hall, knowing that his explanation would have to be convincing enough to satisfy the counselor.