Lucas woke to the pale light of dawn filtering through the curtainless window.
The distant hum of early-morning traffic drifted into the apartment, mingling with the faint chirping of sparrows perched on the powerlines outside.
For the first time in what felt like months, he felt well-rested.
He rolled onto his side and glanced at the clock on his phone. 6:15 a.m. Early enough to get things done.
Sitting up, Lucas stretched, wincing at the familiar ache in his lower back. His mattress was little more than a worn-out futon layered with blankets to make it somewhat bearable.
He padded over to the bathroom, splashing water on his face and staring at himself in the mirror.
Dark circles had taken up permanent residence under his eyes, but today, there was a spark behind them — a sense of purpose that had been missing for far too long.
By 6:45, Lucas was in full cleaning mode. The tiny apartment, though cramped, demanded constant upkeep to keep it livable.
He started with the dishes, scrubbing away dried residue from last night's dinner. Next came the floor, sweeping up stray crumbs and dust that seemed to accumulate no matter how often he cleaned.
The living room — if their all-purpose main room could be called that — was cluttered with Mia's schoolbooks and his makeshift gaming setup.
He organized her books into neat stacks on the corner table and wiped down the surface.
"Lucas?"
Mia's sleepy voice drifted from the bunk bed. He turned to see her peeking out from the top bunk, her hair a tangled mess.
"Morning, squirt," Lucas said with a grin. "Time to get ready for school."
She groaned, flopping back onto the bed. "Five more minutes."
"Yeah, no. You said that yesterday, and I had to drag you out. Come on, up and at 'em."
Grumbling, Mia climbed down from the bed, still wrapped in her blanket like a burrito.
Lucas handed her a fresh uniform he'd laid out earlier, and she shuffled off to the bathroom.
By the time Mia emerged, looking more awake and dressed for the day, Lucas had breakfast ready: a couple of scrambled eggs and toast.
"Wow," she said, sitting at the table. "This is fancy."
"Don't get used to it," Lucas teased, setting a plate in front of her. "I just had a little extra energy this morning."
Mia raised an eyebrow but didn't push. She ate quickly, clearly running late.
"You finish your homework?" Lucas asked, sitting across from her with his own plate.
"Yup. Mrs. Carter gave us that extra credit worksheet, so I did that, too."
Lucas smiled. Mia was always determined to stay ahead, even with their tough circumstances. He reached over and ruffled her hair.
"You're gonna ace everything. I know it."
At 7:30, a knock at the door signaled the arrival of Mia's friends.
Lucas opened it to find Sarah and Jasmine, both wearing the same school uniform as Mia, their backpacks slung over their shoulders.
"Morning, Mr. Lucas!" Sarah chirped.
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Lucas? Since when am I old enough for 'Mister'?"
The girls giggled as Mia grabbed her backpack and joined them.
"Ready?" Jasmine asked.
"Yep," Mia said, waving to Lucas. "See you later!"
"Be careful," Lucas called after them as they bounded down the stairs.
He waited until they'd disappeared from view before closing the door, leaning against it with a deep exhale.
It always left him a little uneasy when Mia left for school. The city wasn't the safest, and he couldn't always be there to protect her.
But she had good friends, and she was smart enough to stay out of trouble.
With Mia gone, the apartment was silent again. Lucas cleaned up their breakfast dishes and double-checked that everything was in order.
Satisfied, he sat down at his desk and stared at the VR headset.
The events of the previous day played through his mind — Kael's cocky smirk, the thrill of the fight against the Ravager beasts, and the realization that this game could be more than just a game.
He slipped the headset on, lying back on his bed as the device powered up.
The familiar hum of the system starting filled his ears, and the faint glow of the Ethereal Nexus logo appeared before his eyes.
[Welcome back]
The login screen faded, and a surge of energy swept over him as his consciousness transitioned into the virtual world.
Lucas materialized in Nexus Haven's bustling town square.
The sights and sounds of the game enveloped him — the chatter of NPCs and players, the distant clang of a blacksmith's hammer, and the faint hum of magical energy.
He took a deep breath, the crispness of the virtual air oddly refreshing. His HUD appeared, displaying his level, inventory, and a map of the town.
"Alright," Lucas muttered to himself. "Let's see what today has in store."
The coins he'd earned from his last session had already been converted, but that only fueled his determination to earn more.
He glanced at his map, looking to go to the quest shop, when a familiar voice called out to him.
"Rookie! Back for more?"
Lucas turned to see Kael Varen leaning against a wooden post near the market square, his arms crossed and his trademark smirk firmly in place.
"You're everywhere, aren't you?" Lucas said, shaking his head.
"Just keeping tabs on you," Kael replied. "Figured you'd be back. Ready for another adventure?"
Lucas grinned. "Always."