"Yeah..." Victor was quite surprised that she knew him.
He didn't realize just how popular he was in school... for all the wrong reasons of course.
"Thanks for the help," Amara stated.
Victor blinked as his brain scrambled to form a coherent response. "Y-yeah, no problem! Just, uh, doing my civic duty. Saving the world one cereal box at a time."
Amara smiled, and Victor felt like his legs might give out.
'Did… did she just talk to me?' he beamed internally while staring at her. 'And smile? At me?'
He shook his head, snapping himself out of it. 'Okay, Victor, play it cool. You're a legend in Ascendant Realms. You've fought wolves, escaped cultivators, and eaten roasted beast meat. You can handle a conversation with a girl.'
Victor adjusted his bag of groceries and walked beside Amara as his heart thumped like a drum in his chest.
He had no idea how the universe had aligned to give him this chance, but he wasn't about to waste it. She had asked for help grabbing something else off another shelf, and one thing led to another—they were now heading toward the register together, chatting like old friends.
"So," Amara glanced at him with an amused smile, "do you moonlight as a grocery assistant, or are you just a good Samaritan?"
Victor smirked. "Oh, this is just the day job. At night, I'm a vigilante. You know, stopping crime, rescuing damsels in distress, and occasionally rescuing cereal boxes from high shelves."
Her face beamed up as she laughed heartily. This made Victor feel like he'd just unlocked a secret achievement.
"Well, cereal box rescues aside," she said, "You're pretty funny. I heard that about you."
Victor tried to play it cool, but his chest swelled with pride. "Funny is what I do best. I mean, if I had a superpower, it'd probably be making people laugh. Not exactly great for fighting off humanoid invaders, but hey, it's something."
Amara tilted her head thoughtfully. "You'd be surprised. A good laugh can save lives sometimes."
Victor was caught off guard by the depth of her comment. "Wow, that's… surprisingly profound. You sure you're not secretly a philosopher?"
She grinned. "Maybe I am. Or maybe I just have a soft spot for bad jokes."
Victor chuckled, deciding to take that as a win. They reached the register, and Amara set her items on the counter. As the cashier rang them up, Victor couldn't help sneaking glances at her, still in disbelief that he was having an actual conversation with his longtime crush.
"Well, thanks for the help once again," Amara said as she paid for her items. "Guess I'll see you around?"
Victor nodded, trying not to look too eager. "Yeah, definitely. Anytime you need a cereal hero, just call."
She laughed again, giving him a small wave before heading out of the store.
---
The mana-powered train zipped toward his neighbourhood at incredible speed.
The interior felt like being in a time machine. Streaks of white enveloped the train due to how quickly it was moving.
Victor sat by the window, clutching the grocery bag and replaying the encounter in his head.
"I talked to her," he whispered to himself with a goofy grin plastered on his face. "And she laughed. Twice! I'm practically a legend."
By the time the train reached his stop, Victor was practically skipping. He hurried home and opened the door to find his mom in the kitchen.
"Got everything on the list," he announced while placing the bag on the counter.
His mom glanced up from chopping vegetables and raised an eyebrow. "You're unusually cheerful today. Did something good happen at school?"
Victor hesitated. Telling his mom he'd just had a full-on conversation with his crush felt… weird. "Uh, yeah. You know, just a normal day. Nothing special."
His mom smirked but didn't push further. "Well, thanks for picking this up. Dinner will be ready soon."
Victor nodded and headed toward the living room. The holo-television was on, displaying a live news broadcast.
He flopped onto the couch with a look of curiosity and turned up the volume.
---
On the screen stood a tall woman clad in dark green battle gear that seemed to glow faintly with mana.
Her long, dark hair flowed down her back, and her piercing green eyes scanned the crowd of reporters around her. She was flanked by a group of equally intimidating individuals, each bearing the distinct aura of high-level awakened.
"Legendary Mage Cecilia Thorne," the reporter's voice brimmed with excitement as she called out. "Level 87 and one of the strongest awakened in the city, is here with her team after a successful mission outside the barrier. Let's see if we can get a statement."
The reporter pushed through the crowd, thrusting her microphone toward Cecilia. "Ms. Thorne, can you confirm the success of today's operation to reclaim a portion of the territory from the Sylrith?"
Cecilia's expression remained unreadable as she adjusted her gauntlets. "We've secured several new zones. The barriers will be extended soon to encompass the reclaimed areas."
The reporters buzzed with more questions as their voices overlapped. "What about the aquatic zone near the East Gate? Can you comment on the mission there? Reports suggest it was a significant struggle."
Cecilia's lips tightened, and for the first time, a flicker of frustration crossed her face. "No comment," she said sharply before turning on her heel and walking away.
The reporters weren't deterred. They trailed after her, bombarding her and her team with more questions.
"Were there any casualties during the mission?"
"Is the government planning further operations in that area?"
"Can you confirm the presence of Umbryx forces in the reclaimed zones?"
Cecilia ignored them.
Her team swiftly formed a protective circle as they moved toward a waiting vehicle.
The camera panned back to the anchor, who speculated on the situation, but Victor wasn't listening anymore.
He shook his head while leaning back against the couch. "Even the strongest awakened look like they want to quit half the time. Guess being a living legend isn't all it's cracked up to be."
Victor turned off the TV and headed to his room. The events of the day had filled him with energy, and he knew there was only one way to burn it off. It was time to log back into Ascendant Realms.
He sat at his desk, donned the VR headset and booted up the game. As the glow enveloped him, Victor couldn't help but grin.
The world of Ascendant Realms awaited.