Chapter 21: News about the game
When Adyr took off the game helmet, the soft glow of candlelight filled his vision. A quick glance at the clock confirmed it was already 8 PM.
He plugged the helmet in to charge, waiting for the power to return, then went through his usual workout routine and headed downstairs.
The scene was familiar. In the softly lit living room, Marielle had returned from work and was resting on the couch, clearly exhausted. Niva sat at the table, buried in her books, quietly studying.
Noticing her brother, Niva looked up and asked with a curious, slightly surprised tone, "You're still playing the game, brother?"
"Yes," Adyr replied as he slowly took a seat.
Her blue eyes widened, visibly lighting up. "Wow, you're so close to being famous then."
Adyr chuckled. He knew what she meant. She'd probably been reading forums and posts about the game—about how low the survival rate was, and how few players were still active.
Not wanting the conversation to go any deeper, he casually picked up one of the open books in front of her and began helping with her work.
While the two siblings studied together, Marielle quietly approached. Placing a gentle hand on Niva's head, she asked with a warm smile, "How's it going, hmm?"