At that moment the sharp ring of his phone broke through his thoughts. Ethan hesitated, staring at the screen for a moment before finally pulling it out of his pocket. His grandmother's name flashed on the display.
With a steadying breath, he answered.
"Ethan," her voice came through, warm but firm, "I'm just reminding you about this weekend. You must come, no excuses. And," she added after a brief pause, "stay safe."
Hearing Lady Madison words Ethan nodded, even though she couldn't see him.
"I will," he said simply.
"Good," she replied, her tone softening slightly before the call ended.
As he slipped the phone back into his pocket, a sudden flash on the nearby system console caught his eye. A message scrolled across the screen:
[Host has ascended to Level 2. The Intermediate Level.]
Upon seeing what system display. Ethan's gaze lingered on the words, his mind now racing with questions and possibilities.
