Jada Blackburn stared at the glowing screen of her VR console, her jade-colored eyes reflecting the flickering logo of Ethereal Genesis Online. She'd been waiting for this day, not with the giddy excitement that most of the world shared, but with a sense of quiet anticipation. At seventeen, Jada had already mastered more games than she cared to remember, but this one—this game—was different. Her father, Jadon Blackburn, had played a hand in its creation, though she had no illusions about what that meant. He was just one cog in the massive machine that had brought EGO to life, and Jada didn't care much for the intricacies of game development. All she wanted was an escape from the tedium of post-high school life.
The day had started like any other. She'd woken up late, lounged around the house in her usual black attire, and ignored her father's attempts at conversation. He'd given up quickly, as he always did, retreating to his study where he could lose himself in work. Jada didn't mind; she preferred the solitude. Besides, Ember would be over soon, and then they could finally dive into EGO together.
The thought of Ember brought a small, involuntary smile to Jada's lips. Her girlfriend was the complete opposite of her—bubbly, enthusiastic, and endlessly optimistic. If Jada was the dark, brooding storm cloud, Ember was the bright, shining sun that pierced through her gloom. They'd been inseparable since childhood, their bond only growing stronger as they navigated the labyrinth of adolescence together. And now, they were about to embark on a new adventure, one that promised to be unlike anything they'd ever experienced.
A soft knock on her bedroom door interrupted her thoughts. Jada didn't need to look to know who it was. "Come in," she called, her voice lazy, uninterested.
The door swung open, and Ember Weiss stepped inside, a grin already spreading across her face. Her platinum blonde hair caught the light, almost glowing against the dimness of Jada's room. "Are you ready for this?" Ember asked, her tangerine-colored eyes sparkling with excitement.
Jada shrugged, a nonchalant gesture that did little to hide the warmth in her gaze. "As ready as I'll ever be. You?"
Ember bounded over to the bed and flopped down beside her, her energy infectious. "I've been ready for weeks! I still can't believe it's finally here. This is going to be amazing, Jada. Just you and me, conquering dungeons, fighting monsters, leveling up…"
"Yeah, yeah," Jada muttered, though she couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. Ember's excitement was a force of nature, impossible to resist. "Let's just get this over with so I can go back to napping."
Ember laughed, a bright, melodious sound that filled the room. "You're such a slacker. But that's okay. I'll drag you through every level if I have to."
Jada rolled her eyes but didn't argue. She knew Ember meant every word, and honestly, she didn't mind being dragged along. As long as Ember was with her, she'd go anywhere, do anything. It was the only reason she'd agreed to dive into EGO in the first place. Well, that, and the fact that she had nothing better to do.
With a sigh, Jada picked up her VR headset and settled it over her head, the familiar weight pressing down on her skull. She heard Ember doing the same beside her, the soft click of the device locking into place. A brief moment of darkness followed, and then the world around her faded away, replaced by the vibrant colors and sharp, digital lines of the game's login screen.
Ethereal Genesis Online appeared in bold, metallic letters, shimmering with an ethereal light. Beneath the title, the words "Welcome to EGO" floated in a delicate, cursive font, a message that was both inviting and ominous. Jada hesitated for a moment, her finger hovering over the confirmation button. Once she clicked it, there would be no turning back. Not that she expected any real consequences—this was just a game, after all. But still, something in the pit of her stomach twisted with a strange, unfamiliar anxiety.
"Ready?" Ember's voice echoed in her ears, cheerful and oblivious to Jada's inner turmoil.
Jada swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded, more to herself than to Ember. "Yeah. Let's do this."
With that, she pressed the button, and the world around her shattered into a kaleidoscope of colors. For a brief, disorienting moment, she felt like she was falling, the ground disappearing beneath her feet as gravity lost its hold. And then, with a suddenness that left her breathless, she was standing in a new world—a world of fantasy, of magic, of endless possibilities.
Ethereal Genesis Online had begun.