Aster pressed Log In.

  Immediately, the white room flickered, as if it were made of pure code. Lines of numbers and unknown symbols began to scroll across the walls, merging and recombining into indecipherable patterns. Then, a sound resembling a digital waterfall filled the air as the entire space around him started to shift.

  The floor vanished beneath his feet for an instant, leaving him suspended in the void. Then, a new reality took shape. Dark wooden beams appeared above him, the ceiling of a rustic room replacing the digital illusion. The walls filled with rough stone and oak furniture. The bed he had woken up in the day before reappeared beneath him, and the familiar glow of the Celestial Veil Tower filtered through the open window.

  He was back in his inn room.

  A light fluttering of wings made him turn around.

  Gelsomina, sitting on her floating sunflower, twirled above his head, illuminated by the warm morning light.

  "Finally! It's time to go!" she exclaimed enthusiastically, spinning in the air.

  Aster smiled at her, then stood up and headed for the door, but before stepping out, he grabbed Gelsomina off her head.

  She wriggled. "Hey! What are you doing?"

  Aster hid her under his cloak. "This time, I don't want to attract attention… or kidnappers."

  Gelsomina grumbled from beneath the fabric. "Mpf! You're too paranoid…"

  But she didn’t protest too much.

  The inn, more like a large medieval-style hotel, spanned multiple floors. The walls were a mix of stone and wood, with enormous exposed beams supporting the ceiling. The scent of freshly baked bread and spices lingered in the air, blending with the aroma of aged wood.

  Descending the oak staircase, Aster walked through the main hallway, lined with lamps mounted on wrought-iron brackets. Sturdy doors on either side led to the other guest rooms.

  Upon reaching the grand hall, he found himself in front of an imposing mahogany counter, behind which the innkeeper, a burly man with a dark apron, was speaking with a few players. The stone floor was covered with worn carpets, and the walls were adorned with paintings of epic landscapes and old weapons displayed prominently.

  Beyond the hall stretched the dining area, where long, solid wooden tables were packed with players and NPCs, eating breakfast or discussing their adventures. Iron chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a soft and welcoming light throughout the space.

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  Outside the inn, Aster paused and, following Gelsomina's advice, asked for directions to a good training spot.

  After a few tries, it was a player—a dwarf dressed in leather armor with an axe strapped to his back—who gave him the right tip.

  "Go to Lirisfont Plains, just outside the east gate. It's the best place to train early on."

  Aster nodded and set off.

  The city's streets seemed endless.

  Lirisfont was enormous, a maze of alleys and cobbled avenues, with timber-framed houses, bustling open-air markets, and merchant caravans constantly coming and going.

  After a while, Aster realized it would take too long on foot.

  He spotted an elegant carriage and asked for a ride, but the coachman looked down at him.

  "No coins? Then enjoy a nice walk."

  Disappointed, Aster kept walking until he saw a farmer with a cart loaded with wooden crates, heading toward the east gate.

  "Would you give me a lift?" Aster asked.

  The elderly NPC, with a thick gray beard and calloused hands, smiled. "If you help me unload the goods when we get to my friend’s place, then sure."

  Aster agreed.

  Climbing aboard, he observed the cargo: crates full of red apples, vividly colored pumpkins, sacks of potatoes, and baskets of golden grapes. The scent of ripe fruit was rich and sweet.

  The cart stopped in front of a small shop with a wooden sign engraved with a simple apple branch.

  Inside, the greengrocer, a burly orc with an apron stained with dirt, greeted the farmer with a slap on the back.

  "You're always on time, old friend!" he said with a smile.

  Aster helped unload the crates. They arranged them on wooden pallets next to displays filled with juicy pears, bright pomegranates, and walnuts still in their shells.

  "Thanks, young man," said the farmer when they finished. "Now let's head to the gate."

  Once past the east gate, Aster was met with a breathtaking sight.

  Lirisfont Plains stretched endlessly, a vast expanse of emerald-green meadows interrupted by rolling hills and shimmering rivers.

  The sky was clear, and the two suns shone high, casting a golden light that made the grass and wildflowers sparkle like a field of gemstones. Tiny blue butterflies danced in the air, and the warm wind carried the scent of grass and damp earth.

  Aster stood there, speechless.

  He took a deep breath, savoring the fresh, crisp air, brimming with life. The wind brushed against his face, and for a moment, he truly felt like he was there, in that perfect world.

  A bit further down the dirt path, he saw the farmer departing with his cart.

  In the distance, silhouettes of players fought against small furry creatures, which from that distance appeared as little more than moving blurs.

  Aster decided to venture deeper into the plains, looking for a secluded spot.

  Once he was far enough from the other players, he let Gelsomina out from under his cloak.

  She stretched in the air. "Finally! I couldn't take being under there any longer!"

  Aster smiled apologetically. "Now, will you explain how I learn my first technique?"

  Gelsomina nodded. "Open the menu."

  Aster followed the command.

  Gelsomina, floating beside him, broke into a cold sweat. She seemed nervous.

  She gave a hesitant smile, with a shadow of uncertainty on her face, and after a moment of hesitation, she said: "Alright… let's begin."