Desmond raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's your issue with boys?"
Without missing a beat, Lizzie replied, "They're careless and take everything for granted."
Desmond scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "We still get things done, though. Probably more than the other gender."
Lazy_Nerd sighed, interrupting their banter. "Alright, you two, can we focus? We don't have time for this."
"Hmph!" Lizzie snorted, rolling her eyes at Desmond before refocusing on the discussion.
Lazy_Nerd continued, addressing their concerns.
"As for the families and relationships you'll have in Crown of Glory, there's no avoiding it. You'll be given identities that blend with your personalities, which should make it easier to adapt.
The timeline will start at the beginning of Parker's journey through the academy. Keep in mind, though—you can speed up Parker's growth, but you can never slow it down."
"Wait, why is that?" Laurence asked, his curiosity unwavering.
"It's how I designed Parker's character," Lazy_Nerd explained, looking a bit self-conscious. "I wrote him with a destiny: he's meant to reach the peak of the world. That's unchangeable.
You can alter plot events, but within ten years—possibly less if he gets help—Parker will reach his full potential." Lazy_Nerd's words sent a chill through the group of teens.
Desmond gave a dry chuckle, drumming his fingers as the weight of the revelation settled in. "This just got worse," he muttered.
"How so?" Laurence asked, his gaze fixed on Desmond. Laurence never shied away from asking questions, regardless of who was listening.
Desmond leaned back, his expression serious. "If we're able to enter Crown of Glory to stop the destruction of our world, then what's stopping others from entering to speed it up?"
The group's eyes turned toward Lazy_Nerd, who looked down, a flash of worry crossing his face. "I… I never considered that," he admitted.
Laurence shook his head, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "So, what is this, a 'battle of extras'?"
Desmond's fingers stilled. "Battle of extras—it fits. But in the end, it doesn't matter what we call it. We just have to win."
"Easier said than done," Laurence replied, glancing over at Desmond, "but you're right. If we're going to save the people we care about, we have to find a way to win."
Lazy_Nerd gave a determined nod, then turned his laptop toward himself. "Let's begin the ritual to open the passageway."
He pulled up the second chapter of his novel, his expression growing more intense as he got ready to initialize his plan.
Looking up, he met their gazes, his face a mixture of pride and sadness. "Best of luck," he said softly.
Desmond, Lizzie, and the twins gave solemn nods, steeling themselves for what lay ahead.
As they prepared to cross into a world they'd only known through pages, Lazy_Nerd pulled off his glove, revealing a tattoo on the back of his hand and his thumb: the eye symbol, stark and intricate, marking the Illuminati connection that bound him to his creation.
"What's the tattoo for?" Lizzie asked, her eyes lingering on the artistry of the design.
"It's the key to the passageway," Lazy_Nerd explained, pressing his thumb firmly against the laptop screen. "Without it, no one can open the gateway to the world of Crown of Glory."
He removed his thumb, and they waited.
After three tense seconds, a crack began to form in the air directly in front of the laptop's screen, shimmering like a thin film of water bending light.
As the fissure widened, Lazy_Nerd turned the laptop to face them. His expression grew serious. "Even though you know the plot, the strengths and weaknesses of the characters, and the hidden encounters in the story, remember—the Illuminati will have people there too. Be cautious."
The group barely registered his words, their attention fixed on the crack in reality widening before them. The faint glow from the portal cast an eerie light across their faces, filling them with both fear and anticipation.
"It's open. You can go through now," Lazy_Nerd said, his voice quiet, as if reluctant to let them go.
"Who wo—"
"See you soon, Lazy_Nerd." Without waiting for the others, Desmond interrupted Laurence and thrust his hand into the portal.
His boldness was almost shocking, and for a brief moment, Laurence just stared, speechless, unable to understand how fearless—or reckless—Desmond could be.
"Just as I said, boys are stupid and take things for granted," Lizzie muttered, rolling her eyes as she glanced at Laurence. "Who's going next?"
Laurence shook his head, collecting himself. "Let's try going together. If it doesn't work, I'll go next."
"Alright," Lizzie agreed. She reached out with Laurence and Lucas, their hands hovering in front of the portal's shifting, water-like surface.
The instant their fingers touched it, the portal seemed to inhale, pulling them in with a force that left no time for second thoughts.
The portal's surface shuddered, rippling like disturbed water before settling again, glowing faintly as it stabilized.
"I hope you're right about them," came a low voice from the shadows as two figures emerged from a darkened doorway behind Lazy_Nerd.
Both were young men, their expressions unreadable as they watched the closing portal. "We really don't want to trap you inside your own creation and leave you to die."
Lazy_Nerd glanced at the portal, his gaze heavy with doubt. "I hope so too," he murmured as the gateway to Crown of Glory slowly sealed itself shut, leaving only a faint shimmer in the air where the passage once stood.
Desmond's senses slowly returned, but the first thing he noticed was an unexpected softness against his lips. The sensation stirred something within him, warm and electric, and he froze, unsure of what to do.
Go with the flow or resist? he wondered. He felt the warmth against him relax slightly, and his mind made the choice. Take action, deal with the consequences later.
He pressed his lips against hers.
As the seconds passed, Lizzie's senses began to awaken. First, her hearing caught the quiet stillness, then a faint scent, and finally—a tingling awareness on her lips.
Panic flared in her mind as she realized she was kissing someone. Oh no! This is exactly what I feared.
The initial shock and embarrassment surged through her, but before she could pull away, she felt the opposite pair of lips respond, pressing against hers, sending an involuntary thrill through her.
She jerked back, breathless, a mixture of emotions racing through her.
No longer feeling the touch of her lips, Desmond opened his eyes and looked over, watching as the girl beside him struggled to regain her breath.
"Are you alright?" he asked, keeping his tone neutral.