The group journeyed on, the old wooden carriage creaking as it rolled down the narrow dirt path. Jason held the reins of the horse, guiding it through the dense forest that surrounded them. Inside the carriage, the others sat quietly, the tension from earlier still palpable.
The path opened into a clearing, revealing a village bathed in the soft, golden glow of lanterns. It was night, but the village buzzed with life. Wooden houses with sloping roofs lined the cobblestone streets, their windows lit warmly. Lanterns hung on poles, casting flickering shadows on the ground. The air carried the faint smell of roasted meat and spiced ale, mixed with the earthy scent of hay and mud.
The village was teeming with people—if they could even be called people. Among the crowd, there were elves with pointed ears and flowing silver hair, dwarves with thick beards and stout builds, and even feline-like humanoids with fur-covered faces and tails swaying behind them. A pair of towering trolls lumbered down the street, their rough gray skin gleaming under the lantern light.
Vendors called out from their stalls, offering everything from shiny trinkets to sizzling skewers of exotic meat. Children of various races ran through the streets, laughing and playing as if the strange mix of beings was the most natural thing in the world. The scene was vibrant and alive, yet entirely surreal to the group inside the carriage.
When they finally entered the village square, Jason brought the horse to a stop and looked around. "We need somewhere to stay for the night," he muttered. Spotting a human man leaning against a stall, Jason climbed down from the carriage and approached him.
"Excuse me," Jason said, "is there a place to stay around here?"
The man raised an eyebrow, glancing at Jason, then at the carriage behind him. "You're travelers, aren't you?"
Jason nodded. "Yeah, just arrived."
The man chuckled. "Figured as much. It's not common for folks to ask that. Keep going down this road," he said, pointing to a side street lined with flickering lanterns, "and you'll find an inn at the end."
"Thanks," Jason said, tipping an imaginary hat before heading back to the carriage.
Jason climbed back into the driver's seat and flicked the reins. As the carriage began moving again, Eleanor opened the small window connecting the carriage to the driver's seat. "You do realize we have no money, right?" she asked, her tone dripping with skepticism.
Jason smirked but didn't turn around. "Relax. I have a plan."
When they reached the inn, Jason jumped down and gestured for the others to stay put. "Wait here."
Marcus, however, had had enough of the cramped heat inside the carriage and stepped out. As he stretched, his eyes caught Jason inside the inn, speaking animatedly with the owner, a stout man with a thick mustache. Jason kept pointing to the carriage during the conversation, and Marcus frowned.
"What is this motherfucker doing?" Marcus muttered, watching as Jason and the owner finally shook hands.
Jason returned to the group, his smug expression giving Marcus an uneasy feeling.
"Negotiating in this game is harder than I thought," Jason said, patting the side of the carriage. "But we got three nights out of this beauty."
Marcus's jaw dropped. "What the fuck! You sold the only means of transport we have? You bitch-ass motherfucker!"
Jason shrugged. "It's not like we were gonna ride it forever. We need a roof over our heads more than a ride."
Eleanor stepped out of the carriage, her face calm but firm. "I'm with Jason on this one. I'd rather have a place to sleep than stay in that rickety thing."
"Fine. Whatever," Marcus grumbled, throwing his hands in the air. He climbed back into the carriage and lifted Liam onto his back, grunting under the weight. "Let's just get this over with."
Jason led the way into the inn, where the owner handed him two keys. "Two rooms, like we agreed," the man said, giving Jason a pointed look.
Jason nodded and handed one key to Eleanor. "Ladies get their own room. Boys, we're bunking together."
Sophia and Eleanor headed to their room, while Jason guided Marcus, Liam, and himself to theirs. The night was quiet, but the weight of their circumstances hung heavy in the air as they settled into their respective spaces.
The single bed in the room was big enough for the three of them, so Jason and Marcus laid Liam down in the middle. He was calm now, his breathing steady, and his body no longer overheated. The two exchanged a relieved glance before settling on opposite sides of the bed.
Marcus stretched, cracking his neck. "Man, I need to try the shower in this place. If the inn looks this real, the bathroom's gotta be top-notch."
Jason smirked, unlacing his boots. "Don't get your hopes up. This is still a medieval setting."
Marcus ignored him and walked into the bathroom. A moment later, a loud groan echoed out. "Are you kidding me?"
"What now?" Jason called, his voice laced with irritation.
"There's no shower! Just a bathtub. Damn programmers couldn't even code proper showers into the game," Marcus grumbled.
Jason chuckled. "Welcome to Elysium."
Marcus grunted as he stripped off his clothes and lowered himself into the tub. The water was surprisingly warm, soothing his sore muscles. But just as he began to relax, he shouted, "Shit!"
Jason, who was tugging off his second boot, shot up in alarm. "What's your problem now?"
Marcus's voice was a mix of disbelief and annoyance. "How the fuck does this game know what my dick looks like in real life? It's the exact same! I swear, every damn detail is spot-on."
Jason groaned, rolling his eyes. "Seriously? That's what you're yelling about?"
Marcus leaned back, ignoring the mockery. "I'm just saying, it's weird. They really didn't leave anything out."
"Maybe the game scanned your body or something. I don't know. Can I get some peace now?"
There was a pause before Marcus's voice rang out again. "Jason."
"What?"
"What do you think about the girls?" Marcus asked casually.
Jason frowned, unbuckling his belt. "What about them?"
"I mean, Eleanor's beautiful, no doubt," Marcus started, his voice carrying a hint of admiration, "but she's too strict, you know? Like, who's gonna hook up with someone that serious? No fun at all."
Jason sighed, not responding, but Marcus continued.
"Sophia, though..." Marcus let out a low whistle. "Crazy stuff, man. Gorgeous face, bountiful breasts, and that ass... Damn, it's like it was sculpted by gods. She must have a boyfriend back in the real world. No way someone like her is single."
"No, she doesn't," Jason blurted out without thinking.
The bathroom went silent for a beat before Marcus erupted. "Hey, hey, hey! How the fuck do you know that? Are you stalking her in the real world? You're a fucking creep!"
Jason's face turned red as he fumbled for a response. "I—I just know, okay? It's not like that!"
"Sure it's not," Marcus teased, his laughter echoing off the tiled walls. "You better not be fantasizing about her, you weirdo."
Jason muttered something under his breath and threw his boots aside, ignoring Marcus's cackling as he settled on the bed. Marcus continued to tease him from the bathroom, clearly enjoying himself as Jason pulled the covers over his head, wishing he could log out of this game—and this conversation.