Back in the cafe, Selene blinked, trying to steady her racing heart. Her surroundings felt both intriguing and overwhelming, a stark contrast to the quiet forests of Celestra she'd left behind. Everything in the cafe—the warmth, the glow from the lights, and the faint hum of the virtual helmets—seemed surreal yet oddly inviting. Just then, a man approached her with a calm smile, moving with an unhurried grace that immediately put her somewhat at ease.
"Welcome to the Phantom Realm Gaming Cafe," he greeted her, his voice gentle, like a soothing melody. "I imagine you're feeling a bit disoriented?"
Selene nodded, still unsure of her voice. She glanced around at the adventurers in sleek helmets, thoroughly absorbed in something she didn't understand, and then looked back to him. "What… is this place?" she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Gelian chuckled softly, nodding. "It's a unique kind of cafe—one where people come to explore, to relax, and even to venture into dimension beyond their own." He gestured subtly toward the adventurers, their expressions intense under their helmets. "These people are here from different places, experiencing things they can't find anywhere else."
Selene's eyes widened. "Different places?" She found herself glancing at the portal she'd just stepped through, realizing the truth in his words. She took a shaky breath, processing this revelation.
Gelian continued, his tone reassuring. "Like them, you must have found a portal. These doors don't appear often, but when they do, they connect places like your home to here."
Selene's wonder deepened. She'd always craved knowledge and exploration, but this was beyond anything she'd imagined. She took in the cozy but otherworldly ambiance, the sounds, the laughter, the chatter—a feeling of comfort and excitement mixing inside her.
After a moment, Gelian gestured toward a nearby table. "How about trying something while you're here? We serve more than just experiences—our food and drinks are quite special too. I think you'd like them."
Selene hesitated, glancing from the table to Gelian's reassuring smile, before finally nodding. "Yes… I'd like that."
Gelian soon returned with a steaming cup of noodles and a cold, fizzing glass of Koke. The steam wafting from the noodles was rich and inviting, carrying an aroma that piqued her curiosity. She took a cautious sip of the Koke first, her eyes widening as the crisp, refreshing bubbles danced across her tongue.
"This is… incredible," she murmured, slightly stunned. The drink was unlike anything she'd ever tasted—sweet, yet balanced, and wonderfully cooling.
Encouraged by Gelian's warm smile, she picked up her chopsticks and tasted the noodles. The flavors were rich and harmonious, the broth savory and comforting, and the noodles soft yet substantial. She felt herself relaxing with each bite, savoring the dish, almost forgetting her initial apprehension.
As she enjoyed her meal, Selene's gaze drifted back to the adventurers. The group was fully engrossed, their helmets pulsing with a soft blue light. Their expressions were vivid, a mix of concentration and thrill, and they seemed almost as if they were somewhere far away.
"What are they… doing?" she asked, glancing curiously at Gelian.
He smiled knowingly. "They're playing games, but these aren't ordinary games. The helmets connect them to a world where they experience quests, battles, and adventures. They feel as though they're really there, seeing and interacting with a place as real as any they've known."
Selene watched the adventurers more intently now, a sense of amazement blooming inside her. The idea of experiencing a place so vividly, a world beyond her own, thrilled her. The thought of seeing and doing things she could only dream of in Celestra brought a sense of wonder she hadn't felt before.
As she returned her gaze to Gelian, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had just begun to uncover the mysteries of this strange, captivating but weird cafe.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author:
Leave a review for me to read
Support me at @patreon.com/SecretAgentBalls to decide what the next game will release