"Maybe you should’ve just paid for a valet," Fenix muttered, eyeing the endless rows of cars as they circled the lot for what felt like the hundredth time.

  Maya didn’t even gnce his way, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. "Like I said before, I'm not wasting twenty bucks for someone to park my car," she grumbled. Her eyes darted around, looking for any sign of a space. Just as Fenix was about to suggest they give up, Maya spotted it—a car backing out, halfway down the row.

  "There! Finally!" she said, steering toward the spot. But at the same time, another car appeared, heading straight for the same spot.

  Fenix gnced at Maya. “You’re not gonna—"

  Before he could finish, she pressed the gas, the second the other driver cleared out, Maya darted her car into the space, narrowly cutting off the other car. Tires squealed slightly, but she made it.

  "See? Who needs a valet?" she said smugly, fshing Fenix a triumphant grin.

  Fenix, who was still gripping the seatbelt like it was a lifeline, raised his eyebrows. "Clearly, you do. Because that parking spot nearly cost us our lives."

  Maya just ughed, brushing off his words. "Don’t be so dramatic."

  "Dramatic, my ass! You're the one who went Fast & Furious for a parking spot," Fenix shot back, shaking his head. "If that's not dramatic, I don't know what is."

  "Please," she said with a dismissive wave. "Just admit you enjoyed it. Anyway, enough talking. Our convention awaits."

  Fenix unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out of the car, stretching his legs as Maya popped the trunk. The parking lot buzzed with life, filled with excited chatter from other attendees making their way toward the towering convention center ahead.

  He gnced over as Maya rummaged through the trunk before pulling out the Hoover chair. With a smooth click, the sleek device unfolded easily in her hands as she set it up on the pavement.

  "You really think I need this?" Fenix asked, eyeing the chair. "I mean, I could probably manage walking for a bit."

  "Don’t even start," Maya said, not even looking up from the chair as she adjusted it. "We’re gonna be on our feet all day. Your leg is not gonna make it."

  "I know, I know," Fenix sighed. His fingers brushed his left leg for a moment before he looked away, frustration flickering across his face.

  "Look," Maya stood up, turning to him. Her voice softened. "No one cares if you’re using the chair. And if they do? I'll handle it. No questions asked."

  Fenix cracked a grin. "Yeah, I bet you would."

  "Damn straight I would," she said, giving him a firm nod. "Anyone who messes with you, I’ll kick their ass. You know that."

  That pulled a ugh out of him. "Fine, fine. You win. I guess I don’t mind being comfy while you suffer on your feet all day."

  "Exactly," she smirked, giving him a pyful shove. "That’s the spirit."

  After a few adjustments, Fenix settled into the chair. It was comfortable, and though he would’ve preferred to walk, the chair made things easier. He stared down at his leg for a moment, a flicker of anger creeping up inside him. If it weren’t for that bitch, he would be. The thought soured his mood, but the knowledge that she was going to get what was coming to her brought a flicker of satisfaction.

  "You ready?" Maya asked, snapping him back to the present.

  Fenix patted his pockets, checking for his phone and wallet. "Yep, all set."

  Maya grinned, pushing the chair forward. "Let’s get this show on the road."

  They joined the steady stream of people heading toward the convention center. The air buzzed with excitement like static before a storm. Huge banners hung from the building, fshing holographic ads for exclusive in-game items, VR challenges, and live meet-and-greets with popur streamers.

  There were people in eborate costumes—many dressed as their Haven Online avatars-milling about, proudly showing off everything from glowing weapons to intricately detailed armor that gleamed in the sunlight. Some even had animatronic wings or tails that swayed with every step.

  “Look at that armor!” Maya excimed, her eyes wide as she pointed at a cospyer decked out in full metallic pte, complete with a massive sword slung over his back. “I wish I’d dressed up too.”

  Fenix grinned, taking in the scene. “Next time, I’m coming as my Dryad avatar. If there’s another convention like this, I’m all in.”

  As they joined the long line to get inside, Fenix gnced at Maya. "So, you still think not getting a valet was the smartest choice?”

  Maya waved him off, her eyes darting to the entrance. “Rex. We’re almost at the front. See? It wasn’t that bad.”

  Sure enough, after a few more minutes, they reached the ticket scanners. They held up their phones and scanned their passes, and the gate attendant spped bright, holographic wristbands onto their wrists with a practiced flick.

  ~

  The moment they stepped into the convention hall a sea of color and sound greeted them. Booths lined every inch of the massive space, some decorated with glowing crystals or animated banners showcasing the test game updates.

  Holographic characters from Haven Online floated in the air above them, performing choreographed dances, their forms shifting with bursts of pixeted light as the bass of the music thumped through the room. Every few feet, virtual dispys projected ads, while vendors shouted out deals on limited-edition merchandise.

  “Whoa…” Fenix muttered, his eyes wide as they took in the scene.

  The crowd was massive but not overwhelming, giving the hall a lively, electric feel without feeling too cramped. The smell of food wafted through the air—something sweet, like cake, mixed with the more savory aroma of grilled meat. Plushies, weapons, and even life-sized figurines of favorite game characters were scattered across the vendor booths, tempting every passerby.

  They both stood there for a few seconds, gawking like country bumkins. When they snapped out of their awe, they exchanged grins like kids in a candy store.

  “What should we do first?” Fenix asked, gncing around at the rows of booths. He had set a budget, but just seeing the variety of items, he knew sticking to it would be tough.

  "As much as I want to start exploring all the booths, I think we should sign up for the VR events before they fill up," Maya suggested. "We don’t want to miss out on them."

  "Good idea," Fenix said. "I heard the prizes for those events were going to be awesome."

  "Exactly. We have to win something," Maya said, nudging him as she grabbed a convention map from a nearby employee.

  They navigated their way through the maze of booths, dodging cospyers and eager fans snapping pictures. A group of people in matching outfits walked by, ughing and comparing their in-game achievements. Fenix really had an urge to get a picture with them, but decided not to bother them.

  As they continued to their destination, a booth caught Fenix’s eye. It was a vendor selling hand-painted game figurines. The craftsmanship was so intricate that he could practically see the texture of the character’s fur, the gleam in their eyes. He made a mental note to come back ter. ‘I’m definitely spending all my money here,’ he thought, grinning to himself.

  Eventually, they found the VR event booth tucked into a corner of the hall, decorated with sleek, bck panels and pulsating neon lights that flickered in sync with the electronic music overhead. The booth had a massive screen above it, with an announcer giving event details.

  They stood in line for a few minutes before finally reaching the front.

  “Hey there!” Fenix greeted the booth operator, a bubbly woman with bright blue hair that shimmered under the lights. “We’d like to sign up for the VR events.”

  Her eyes lit up as she checked the system. “You two are lucky—there are only three spots left!”

  Fenix shot Maya an appreciative gnce. "Good call on signing up first, we might’ve missed out if we waited."

  "You can thank me with one of the prizes when you win," Maya said, pretending to be serious.

  "As if," Fenix chuckled. "Acknowledging your brilliance is more than enough."

  The operator handed them a small receipt after scanning their bracelets. “You’re all set! Keep this with you—it has your event times and is your proof of registration. The VR events start at 1 PM, 2 PM, and 3 PM.”

  Fenix gnced at his phone. It was just after 11 AM. “Looks like we’ve got plenty of time to explore.”

  "The event rooms are on the second floor,” the operator added, pointing to a pair of elevators behind the booth. “You can head up whenever you’re ready.”

  “Thank you!” Fenix said, tucking the receipt safely into his pocket.

  As they moved away from the booth, Maya looked around eagerly. “So, now that we’ve got time, do you want to start exploring?”

  Fenix shook his head, already scanning the bustling convention floor. “We should find the booth giving away the pod first. It might be one of those limited-entry things, like the VR events.”

  "Good point. Let’s track it down before doing anything else," Maya agreed, steering him back into the crowd.