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Chapter Text

Prologue

Virtual Reality Immersive Gaming took the world by storm when Tales of Aesteria debuted as the most complex MMORPG to date. Offering a massive and magical persistent world with changing seasons, unique and extravagant geographical scenery, and enough play modes to fit every type of gamer, the community multiplied exponentially in the first two weeks. Like its predecessors, you could choose your appearance and define your character’s role within Aesteria. Except this time, the gamer could see it and experience it not through a screen but in first person, thanks to the neuro-links developed specifically for the game, submerging the player into a slumber-like state to let their mind wander freely in the meta world.

People flocked to the game for the chance to bring their dream persona to virtual life, be it a farmer and homestead enthusiast, a master builder in charge of developing cities and temples, a racer, adventurer, crafter, fighter, or anything in between. Possibilities were endless if you had a bit of spare time and access to the meta neuro-links, which were quickly becoming a staple in homes, gaming and relaxation lounges, and even hospitalization facilities that realized the benefits of keeping their immobile patients entertained.

Lu SiCheng had always loved gaming. It was the perfect escape from his grueling routine of studying and fulfilling his family’s expectations when he was younger. Then, when ToA launched, his affinity led him to invest in it not just financially, but also with his time, participating in the original batch of testers, leveling up, becoming a mentor, participating in tournaments, winning and gaining sponsorships that translated into real-world currency, which stayed his father’s displeasure when he realized his son’s interest in games was not such a waste of time as he’d originally thought.  

By the time ToA launched its competitive phase, SiCheng’s carefully crafted and trained battle guild, ZGDX, sat comfortably in the top 3 of the Asian servers, constantly competing for the ever-changing no. 1 spot with TAT and Youkai, the top Korean and Japanese guilds, respectively. His earnings skyrocketed, and ZGDX became an official full-time esports team. 

11:11 am- May 1st, 2025

SiCheng opened his eyes with a start. Instead of the crisp industrial ceiling of the team’s training room he’d been expecting, a vibrant blue sky greeted him. He sat up, absentmindedly noticing he was in a grassy patch surrounded by tall trees with a distinct triple-leaf pattern. He knew where he was at once. His team often used the clearing to train new skills and tactics before going out to the mid-range areas around Hanyan City, the centermost population hub of the world of Aesteria. 

A chorus of groans and startled voices behind him made him turn, only to find most of his core team members in varying levels of alertness sprawled around the space. Ming was the first to fully rise. He was wearing the wyvern leather cloak he’d finally finished crafting two days ago. The piece of equipment had been labeled as Legendary by the system, granting his Druid friend the level of Master Smith, the highest for his subclass. While his apparel was the same as usual, his appearance was slightly different. A quick scan of the rest of his players revealed the phenomenon was not limited to their spellcaster. They all still sported a few of their chosen race’s distinct markings, like K’s elvish ears and Mao’s forearm serpentine scales, but now they looked more like their real-life selves in height and overall facial features. Furthermore, the stats floating above their heads now revealed their IRL first names instead of the alias some used when gaming.  

“What happened? Why didn’t we disconnect?” asked Ming, looking around confusedly. 

SiCheng’s eyes narrowed. “Something’s not right,” he said evenly, focusing on a spot to the side. Ming recognized he was probably accessing his virtual inventory and menu. “Several options and settings have become unavailable. Including the log off command.”

They all accessed their menus, and gasps rang around the clearing. “What the fuck? Not even the Tech Support option is available!” said Mao disbelievingly. 

“General world settings are off too,” confirmed Ming, noting the background music and subtitle options had faded. 

“Item inventory seems to be working normally,” chimed in K, pulling up his ebony bow and arrows with ease, watching it materialize in his hand and back as usual. 

“Food and credits are there too,” said Pang, checking on his inventory of food items.

“The rest of our guys are also online,” commented Mao, scrolling through their guild’s roster. “But I don’t see the rest of our friends outside of ZGDX.”

“Can we still communicate with the guys?” asked K rhetorically, pulling up his own list and clicking on Rui’s username to initiate a voice call. His eyes widened when it connected.

“K, oh my god! Where are you?! What is going on?!” came their friend and self-appointed manager’s panicked voice.

K glanced at SiCheng, who shook his head to signal he couldn’t hear anything. “Hold on, I’m gonna make a general guild call so we can all listen at the same time,” said the archer, only waiting for Rui’s acceptance to hang up and place the general call. 

They all picked up in record time, questions overlapping from Rui and Yue, while their last member, KunHyeok, also elsewhere at the moment, remained silent. “That’s enough,” came SiCheng’s quiet but definitive command, making the two blabbering ones quiet down immediately.  

“Our map visibility and team tags are limited to a 10 Km radius, as if we have to unlock the land markers again like when we first started exploring the territory,” began Ming, taking on his usual role of analyst. “Where are you, Rui?” worried for their only non-combatant guild member.

“In Hanyan. I can see the whole city on my map, and Yue’s position on the other side too,” said Rui thoughtfully. “I woke up in the town square near the teleport station, but I’m at Jaebum’s Inn right now.”

SiCheng hummed in acknowledgement to the scribe and then called on his younger brother.

“I’m near the north gate of Hanyan,” said Yue, nervousness coloring his voice. “I was going to buy those potions we talked about for tomorrow’s dungeon raid before logging off, but then everything went black and I woke up in the middle of the street along with everyone else!”

“After we finish with this call, head to the Inn and meet up with Rui. Stay there until we come to find you,” he ordered, only waiting for both of their affirmative responses before calling on his best friend. 

“Hyeok?”

“Same as you, my map is limited, but I recognize this place as the southern inner gate of Spirit Mountain,” came the deep and quiet response. “I was supposed to be fast-traveling back to Hanyan, but halfway through the loading screen, everything went black and I woke up here.”

SiCheng cursed inwardly. Spirit Mountain’s surrounding valleys were a medium-high danger zone. Hyeok had already reached level 50, the highest achievable at the time of the bizarre events going on at the moment, and he was also one of the best Assassin Class warriors in the whole Eastern Server. Still, SiCheng hated the fact that one of the most important people in his life was separated from the rest of them in such an unknown situation. 

The sharp snap of a twig and a high-pitched growl had SiCheng whirling around, drawing his sword in a fluid move and sending an arch of amber light flying. The magic sliced through the wild boar that was about to attack them, making it shriek and disappear in a familiar flash of light. A small loot appeared where the animal had been, as usual. The rest of the guys stared in disbelief. “Did you just manifest your sword and cast an attack without referring to the menu?” asked Ming with a calculating gaze.

SiCheng looked down at the gleaming black steel sword in his hands and hummed in affirmation. The blade’s weight seemed more solid in his grip, real. He twirled it in a signature move his character had unlocked some time ago after finishing a limited-time seasonal challenge. The short sword dance was meant to speed up the recovery of Essence, the limited energy source they all carried and which enabled them to fight and use magic. The movement came naturally to him, muscles flexing and rippling realistically in his arm, even if he’d never done it in real life and wouldn’t have known what it truly felt like before. “I just thought about what attack I wanted to use and did it.”

In his upper left field of view, the green bar that represented essence re-filled the few points that had dropped after his attack. As he stared at it, he subconsciously thought of not needing his sword anymore and in a new flash of muted light, the steel body of his blade disappeared from his grasp. 

There was quiet for a few seconds on their voice chat. “At least that means we’re not at the mercy of whatever the wild areas harbor,” said Ming finally. “We’re all over level 47, and by general rule, the monsters living near the main roads are under level 15. We should be safe while travelling if we stick to the inter-city routes.” 

SiCheng made a quick mental calculation. “Hyeok, if I remember the general world map correctly, you should be about 120 Km away from Hanyan. Walking an average of 25 km a day, it should take you about 4 to 5 days of travel to get back.”

“I still have my ocarina,” reported Hyeok. “It won’t work until I’m out of the Mountain’s magic nullifying zone, but if I get going now, I should be able to reach the Gold Fountain safe zone by nightfall. I’ll rest there for the night and use it in the morning to call a transport beast.” 

SiCheng hummed again. “We’re not sure of the amount of damage we can sustain and remain functional or if dying in-game will have major repercussions IRL, so don’t get yourself killed when riding,” he said. To everyone else, his tone was monotone and cold, but Hyeok knew him well enough to detect the worry and uncertainty in his voice. 

“Remember, I’ve been riding horses since before I was able to walk, Cheng. I’ll be fine,” assured Hyeok, with a lilt of humor in his voice.

SiCheng tisked. “A horse and a magical beast are two very different things, Hyeok. Not to mention the 1000-meter fall distance if you slip off a sky mount.” Around him, the others exchanged tense glances. 

A low chuckle came through. “Dramatic. But I’ll stick to ground transport if that makes you feel better.” A collective sigh left them, and after agreeing to additional precautions to take until they could all meet up again, they finally hung up.

Considering they were a few hours away from the safety of the nearest city, SiCheng had his team spar amongst them to try out some of their attacks. “Everything in this area should be low level enough not to pose a real threat to any of us,” he explained. “But the last thing we need right now is to be caught off guard if a monster comes at us.” 

They verified that their attacks still used the same amounts of Essence as before and still had similar cooldown times. Feeling somewhat more grounded, the team finally set out to return to Hanyan, walking in their usual formation with Ming and Mao at the front and SiCheng taking the rear.

As their captain had foreseen, a horde of level 12 shadow wolves came at them not even an hour into their trek back. The unfamiliarity of feeling actual pain made most of them falter after they received their first wounds, but soon enough, they all fell into their routine monster-hunting rotations, finishing up the fight in less than ten minutes. They stood in the now-empty road, not really out of breath but feeling the realness of the situation crash over them like a bucket of cold water. 

SiCheng narrowed his eyes as he studied the bleeding cut on his arm. An injury he’d sustained by interfering with an attack that would have had the potential of being fatal for a hesitating Pang. It stung like a bitch but there was also a tingling sensation rapidly numbing the whole area. The others gathered around him and gaped as the wound healed as if in fast-forward mode, closing up and scaring right before their eyes in less than a minute. As they stood there, SiCheng paid attention to his red health bar, filling up quickly along with his Essence bar. In five minutes, they had all gone back to full health. No one spoke as they resumed their trek, too engrossed in their own thoughts about the fantastical reality they had found themselves in.

Hours later, as they reached the summit of the low mountain they were on, Mao cocked his head and glanced around. “We’ve been walking for a while at a fast pace, and uphill,” he commented offhandedly, making K raise an eyebrow at him. “Does anyone feel tired?”

They stopped for a moment, and Ming took note of their health bar. “We’re not even winded and still at full health,” he said, brow furrowing.

Pang shrugged. “I’m a bit peckish, but I don’t feel lightheaded like I sometimes feel after our IRL fitness sessions.”

SiCheng nodded. “If my math is correct, the four hours since we woke up after the event are equivalent to one hour IRL,” he said. No one questioned him, already used to his quick calculations. 

Ming’s frown deepened. “We had a roughly sixteen-hour game-time session already done when everything happened, so that would be around 5 to 6 hours since we last ate IRL. We should be hungry.”

SiCheng said nothing but started walking again, prompting the others to keep going. They could already make out the city gates looming over the trees up ahead. “There are many variables at play, and we don’t have all the data yet. Let’s get back to the city and we’ll try to make sense of everything once we’re at the Inn.” A chorus of affirmations followed his orders while the team picked up the pace. 

Entering the city felt surreal. People looked scared and uncertain all around them. Lower-level players sat despondently around the main plazas, and some others with higher status had already taken to bossing others around. “I don’t like this,” said Ming to SiCheng, getting an agreeing nod from the captain. 

“There should be automatic safeguards in place to prevent inter-player combat within the city walls,” he said, a twinge of wariness coloring his voice. “It’s best we don’t step in unless it’s completely necessary.”

The presence of his guild, which was known for not tolerating bullies, walking around the streets, was enough of a deterrent for many hot-headed players who thrived off of conflict. They made it to the Inn without having to break up any unruly behavior, only having to stop once or twice to glare at a few loudmouths who slinked away as soon as they recognized them. 

Inside the big establishment, Rui raised his hand and called them towards one of the furthest corners of the main room, where a worried-looking Yue sat at their table nursing a pint of rye beer. Their youngest jumped up and fussed over them for a few moments, searching for injuries and bruises. 

“We’re fine, Yue,” said Ming with a reassuring clap on the healer’s back. “We’re just a bit hungry, that’s all.”

Rui nodded and gave the beaming bartender a thumbs-up. “I ordered something for everyone, it should be here soon,” he said, ushering everyone into a seat. 

Dinner was a bizarre experience. Before, eating something in the game restored their Essence and health, but tasted like nothing and felt like sipping on sparkling water without actually swallowing anything. Now, flavors and textures came forth like any real food would, delighting Pang, who nearly cried when he tried the fluff rabbit stew for the first time. 

“Jaebum, the innkeeper, said his in-game wife, who is a line cook IRL and has a chef subclass,  was able to actually cook instead of referring to the menu to craft dishes,” shared Rui while they ate. “It came naturally to her, like fighting with your sword was instinctual for you.”

“Ge has been using swords since he was a teen for wushu,” said Yue with a flick of his hand. “Of course, it comes naturally to him, magic or not.”

“It’s why I chose the swordsman class,” confirmed SiCheng with a dismissive shrug. 

K cocked his head. “I chose the archer class because I used to do archery in school, and Mao is a brawler because he did MMA in uni.”

Ming sat back and crossed his arms. “Most of us chose to base our characters on things that were already familiar to us in one way or another. It would be understandable if that played a big part in how well we perform in this situation.” 

SiCheng nodded, thinking of Hyeok’s black belt in Taekwondo and Kendo. It gave him small relief to know he had the means to protect himself out there. The Korean was the silent type and always preferred to follow rather than lead, but SiCheng trusted him implicitly to remain level-headed and sharp regardless of the situation. Still, there was a heaviness in his heart at the knowledge he would not be able to see him for at least a few days.  

As they relayed the information they had gathered to Rui and Yue, his thoughts went out to the rest of the people they knew. Most of them were merchants, suppliers, and members of other teams with whom they often had friendly competitions or provisional alliances. There were also solo players they sometimes encountered and temporarily teamed up with for special events or emergency boss fights. So far, they weren’t able to reach out to any of their previous non-guild friends until they made one-on-one contact again. Jaebum, the innkeeper, was the first of their recovered contacts when they realized they could add him as a friend to their lists again after greeting him physically and reactivate the messaging option between them. 

There were many others out there that SiCheng wanted to check on. How were they handling the situation? Were they safe, or had they been caught in dangerous areas like Hyeok? His thoughts went straight to her, the one player he had always wanted on his team, but who continued to drive him insane with her constant teasing refusals. 

Flashback

Her onyx tresses flew behind her as she leaped down from the cliff wall, looking like a vision in her amethyst armor and wielding her moon steel sword over her head. He almost swore out loud at her risky move, but his current position rendered him unable to move or even speak, too busy focusing his energy on sustaining the tanking spell that was keeping him from being crushed to death in the cave golem’s grasp. A few paces from him and also with his health bar dangerously low, Hyeok was desperately trying to hack the monster’s arm off to get him to release SiCheng to notice her. 

She landed lightly on the golem’s back and sank her glowing weapon into the boss’s neck. The monster roared and flung SiCheng away, the movement taking out Hyeok too in one go. Both of them recovered swiftly mid-air and twisted around to land feet first into a crouch that launched them back at it, weapons at the ready to finish off the trashing golem. Between the three of them, the fight ended quickly in their favor. 

As they convened around the pile of bounty left behind after the defeated monster, the girl sighed fondly at them. “Didn’t I tell you not to go this way when we crossed paths earlier today?” she asked, perching her hands on her hips and cocking one eyebrow up. “Naughty boys. You guys never listen.”

SiCheng smirked as he kneeled and ceremoniously offered her a heaping bag of freshly collected gold and some of the rare items that he knew she would appreciate. “Warrior Princess Smiling, I hope you can forgive these foolish subjects for accidentally, but most definitely on purpose, not listening to you.”

She laughed and took the bag with one hand while handing them two vials of shiny red liquid.

The two men looked down at the top-notch healing potions and softened. As usual, she was nothing if not caring. “You’ve saved us again, Lady Smiling,” said KunHyeok, smiling gratefully at her as he took one of the potions and donned it in one go. His wounds sealed shut, and his body felt lighter now that he was not so low on health and Essence. “And just in time, as usual. Thank you.” 

She shrugged and her eyes sparkled in mirth, letting them know she was smiling behind her facemask. “You’re welcome! Besides, I would have never been able to take on this dungeon on my own, so I should be thanking you for inspiring me to come after you,” she retorted, looking less tense now that the two of them were back at full health. “Come on, I heard this boss re-spawns every forty minutes, and unless you want to go another round with him, I suggest we scram.”

SiCheng fell in step with her, taking her right side while KunHyeok naturally stepped to her left. “Not gonna ask us why we’re on our own today?” 

She shot him an amused glance. “You’re the only two members of your team who are crazy enough to come into this dungeon knowing losing here would bump you down two whole levels. I’m surprised MingShen didn’t talk you out of it,” she snarked back. 

“The reward was too good to pass up,” said KunHyeok, a small satisfied smile playing on his lips. “We’re just a few points from reaching level 45 now, thanks to this.”

“You almost got yourselves killed for 9,000 xp?” she asked incredulously, preparing to jump up onto the ledge where the exit passage was. 

SiCheng nodded to KunHyeok over her head and in one swift move lifted her between them, both of them smirking at her adorable squeak of surprise. She remained steady despite the surprise and easily pulled herself up. They chatted comfortably the whole walk out of the cave’s maze, relishing in the familiar feeling of being just the three of them, like it had been from the start, before SiCheng had decided to officially form ZGDX.

That day, they watched her leave with heavy hearts, but grateful for the chance of having lived another adventure beside he r.  

End of Flashback

SiCheng sighed. He knew she had many friends who wouldn’t hesitate to lend her a hand if she found herself in need, but she had a penchant for finding trouble and taking off on her own half the time she was online, despite her lecturing the two of them everytime she found out they had deserted their guild for one quest or another. He only hoped she’d been somewhere safe or at least not on her own at that moment. “Be careful out there, Shorty,” he thought to himself.  

Chapter Text

The day following the “awakening”, as people were starting to call the starting point of the current situation, was spent going around the city helping others sort themselves out. Alliances would be paramount to their survival if things continued the same way, so SiCheng devised contracts that Rui, as a scribe, could infuse with magic to make them unbreakable. Merchants, farmers, and artisans all breathed easier once the contracts were explained and signed, marking ZGDX as allies and protectors. Other guilds soon followed their lead and extended contracts of their own, creating networks of fair treatment and safe trade that had the whole city relax marginally out of the previously suffocating uncertainty. Eateries, inns, apothecaries, and a myriad of other commercial spots were now running full tilt again.   

With supplies and services secured, ZGDX and other adventuring guilds headed out on the second day, scouting the wild areas around to enlarge the map and hunt for game and other goods they could sell to the city establishments for profit. The lower-level groups stuck to foraging the areas closer to the city walls, while SiCheng and the others went deeper into the forests. Having something set to do seemed to do the trick, and soon people were regaining their enthusiasm for the game, even if it was no longer for leisure. 

On the third day, the team had taken the task of clearing up a colony of water gnomes from the north-eastern stream so the local fishermen could set up their fishing huts to provide the much-needed resource for the city. The water beasts were relatively low-level and small, so SiCheng allowed his team to practice long-range attacks from a nearby cliff to boost XP gain. His men all had high enough levels for competition, but survival was a whole different thing altogether. Getting all of them safely to the power cap at level 50 was his main objective. 

Suddenly, the animals scattered in fright as a low tremor shook the earth. In the distance, a thick column of black smoke rose to the sky. Quickly checking the map, SiCheng took one look at the name tag that had just appeared on the edges of his map, cursed out loud, and took off running full speed, shouting orders from over his shoulder to his worried team.

The angered roar of the slimy forest giant reached him before he even made it to the clearing. When he finally broke through the tree barrier, the level 42 boss towered over him, full agro and ready to bowl over everything that moved. A message to join KunHyeok’s raiding party popped up, and he accepted it without a second thought, only pausing to notice there was one other unknown person in the party roster. 

Hyeok appeared at his side, the shimmer of his camouflage spell dispersing in the air and taking his undivided attention. “Scissors! You take left and I right!”

SiCheng knew better than to question or argue when his lieutenant issued one of his very rare tactical orders. He invoked a speed buff, layered it with a camouflage of his own, and took off to the left. They criss-crossed each other, chipping away at the monster’s life bar and evading his attacks to the best of their abilities. He prioritized dodging the poisonous needles that would sting him with dangerous debuffs, but that meant he had to endure the rain of sharp rocks that followed. He still wasn’t used to feeling real pain when he fought in this world, but he managed to stay focused on his task at hand.

“He’ll deploy his ultimate any time now, we just need to keep him busy to give her a clean chance to cast hers,” called Hyeok through their battle voice chat.

SiCheng raised an eyebrow, parrying a projectile with his sword and sending it back with a blast. “Her?”

At that moment, the monster’s chest glowed, and they both jumped away in opposite directions to prevent it from charging after them. They kept up a steady stream of attacks until it opened its mouth, ready to rain poisonous magic upon them. A single blast of white energy shot from behind them at full speed and crashed into the monster’s open maw. The beast exploded, covering everything in a shower of sandy debris.

A few seconds passed, and the cloud of dust began to settle. “Not to seem ungrateful, but what were you doing so far away from the city?” asked KunHyeok as he stepped around the boulder he’d been using as cover. At the same time, SiCheng jumped down from the tree branch he’d been standing on. The two embraced tightly, finally breathing easier now that they had each other close again. Only the knowledge that they weren’t alone stayed his impulse to plant a possessive nip on the Korean’s neck—a dull punishment for making him worry for days.

“Clearing the stream for the fishermen,” he responded instead, stepping back and crouching down to inspect the boss fight bounty now glowing on the floor where the forest giant had been. “I wasn’t expecting you so soon.”

Kun Heyok nodded and crouched beside him, sifting through the gold and dividing it into three equal parts. “Caught a ride with a friend,” he said, a small smile playing on his lips as he turned his head back to the forest.   

SiCheng finally noticed the location marker of the third member of their party, having been too preoccupied with Hyeok’s safety to pay attention to it before. As he turned, an enormous white fae tiger with lavender stripes and pointy, fluffy ears, poked its massive head out of some bushes, staring at SiCheng intently. He blinked in surprise, studying the very human-like hazel eyes locked on him.

Hyeok chuckled. “You can come out, YaoYao, he’s the captain of my guild, and he will likely have what you need.” 

The mystical tiger’s head tilted to one side, its ears twitching once. A soft chuff later, the female shifter came out. Her massive paws were about the size of his head, and her particularly-colored fur gleamed with subtle magical iridescence in the afternoon light. He studied the majestic animal for a few seconds, until a slight limp caught his attention, drawing SiCheng’s gaze to the dark patch of miasma clinging to her left hip as she walked slowly toward him.

“How long?” he asked, swiftly standing up and meeting the shifter halfway so she wouldn’t have to walk more. Such a poison would debuff 30 health points every ten seconds until the victim died or an antidote was applied, stinging like a second-degree burn the whole time. Her stats, clearly visible over her head, stated she was level 32, and her health was just a little under one-third of her bar. She would be in trouble soon. He deduced then she was purposefully keeping her animal form because it was likely more poison-resistant than her human state.      

“About ten minutes,” responded Hyeok tersely, also walking toward them. “I was not planning on crossing the map on foot when everything happened, so I didn’t equip as many antidotes as usual. The few ones I had and hers were all used up yesterday.”

SiCheng nodded and swiftly pulled out a shiny vial of blue liquid from his inventory. He offered it to the tigress, who sat on her haunches right before him and sniffed at it like a cat. After a quick glance at Hyeok and a soothing nod from him, Yao opened her mouth and allowed SiCheng to feed her the antidote. A powdery shimmer burst around her momentarily, making her sneeze. In the next second, her form blurred, and a cute girl barely tall enough to reach his breastplate stood before him, nose scrunched in distaste. 

“Ew, how can the antidotes taste so awful but look so pretty?” she whined, pulling an amused chuckle out of the two men. Her long raven hair was pulled back into a battle braid adorned with small metal rings that glinted in the light of the fading sunlight. Dressed in customized purple leather gear and wearing thick combat boots, she looked like a tiny war goddess. Recognition lurked on the edges of his subconscious, but SiCheng was hard-pressed to give in to the hope flaring up in his chest. She was smaller in all counts than the person he’d been constantly thinking of the past few days, and her voice was softer, younger. Still, her demeanor was wonderfully familiar. 

Once she finally got over the apparently foul taste of the potion, she looked up, dazzling him with a megawatt smile and an offered hand. “Thank you! I’m Yao, shapeshifter and beast-tamer. Nice to meet you!”

He took her small hand and shook it gently. “SiCheng, Captain of ZGDX, Swordsman.”

She summoned her inventory and pulled out an item before offering it to him with both hands. Sicheng looked down and stilled. Nestled in her small palms was a shard of black diamond, one of the rarest materials available. It was only obtainable through completing a particularly hard and old puzzle that remained popular because it was so hard to solve. Yet here she was offering it to him as if it were a mere sack of silver coins. 

“Please take this in exchange for the potion you just gave me. I know it was a very expensive one because it healed me and restored all my Essence in one go,” she said, smiling still.

SiCheng’s lips quirked up as he quickly stepped back, putting his hands up in refusal. Beside them, Hyeok sighed. “YaoYao, I already told you it isn’t necessary. I will pay him back for the potion if you want.” 

SiCheng glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. “Not that I would have let her pay me in the first place, but why would you pay for her?”

Hyeok walked around her and gently clasped both of her shoulders from behind, looking at him from over her head. “She saved me from a gold-level arachnid last night,” he said seriously, making SiCheng’s eyes narrow. “She’s been carrying me on her back since this morning, and the poison you just cured would have hit me if she hadn’t seen it coming first. ”

Yao craned her neck back to look at him after putting away the rare item she’d been holding. “It was faster than just walking, and my hearing when shifted is far superior to even yours being a top-level assassin,” she retorted with a proud grin. She then turned her head to look at SiCheng, wide eyes shining with honesty. “I have reasons to believe my friends are in Beinang, and Hyeok said it would be safer to team up until we reach Hanyan, which is about halfway there. I can restock and then make the rest of the trip on my own.”

SiCheng shared a meaningful glance with Hyeok. She would not go alone, they silently agreed. Over them, the sky was quickly turning dark with heavy rain clouds that rumbled with the promise of a storm. Yao tilted her head up and hummed. “If we fly the rest of the way, we should make it to the city in just a few minutes.”  

Hyeok looked down at her. “Is your hip all healed now?”

She wiggled in place and nodded. “Yup, good as new.”

SiCheng stepped closer. “You said fly. Do you have an ocarina too?”

She grinned and shook her head, taking a few dancing steps away from them. “Better than that,” she said. A blurred ripple took over her, and in the next second, a giant, majestic phoenix trilled before them, stretching her wings. The main part of her body was the size of a sports car, and her wings spanned twice her length, with plumage the color of silver with accents in purple hues instead of the usual warm palette that he’d seen in other phoenix specimens during their quests around the fire mountains. 

Being a tough class to develop and therefore not a common choice, there weren’t many shifter class players around to befriend and study, so SiCheng knew very little of their abilities. However, seeing her transform so easily into such a legendary creature skyrocketed his respect for her and flared up his curiosity.  

He stepped up to her slowly, and she lowered her beak to look him in the eye. “Amazing,” he whispered, gently running his fingers over the crown of lilac feathers around her head. Her expressive, hazel colored orbs shone with pride as she emitted a soft chitter in response. She hunkered down and extended her soft wings to the sides. 

“She wants us to climb on,” said Hyeok, walking around him and gently petting her side before carefully pulling himself up and taking position astride her back, right behind the junction of her wings. SiCheng followed his lead and settled behind him with ease, like he’d done hundreds of times when they went out riding as children in Hyeok’s parents' sprawling estate. 

Feeling her powerful muscles move underneath him was surreal. Much like riding the huge stallions that Hyeok’s family raised, but three times the size of one. She carefully got to her feet and started flapping her wings. Without preamble and with a powerful push off the ground, she took to the skies.       

She soared over the tree tops but didn’t go any higher, chittering with glee when a flock of wild geese slid into formation around her. SiCheng enjoyed the ride far more than he’d ever done so astride a regular sky mount, watching the scenery below them pass by with an increased level of detail while the cold wind wiped at his face and rustled his hair. In the distance, the horizon expanded in 360° without the usual blurriness that came with unrendered areas. This world, while extremely similar to that of Aesteria, was definitely more complex than anything a computer could code. It was too tangible, too real.

In front of him, Hyeok looked lost in thought, and SiCheng could have bet he was pondering something very similar. Yao’s trilling chitter got both their attention just as she started to descend. The city was less than a league away, but Yao was aiming for a small clearing just on the edge of the woods. 

When they climbed off her back, she shook her wings and gave out a clarion call to say goodbye to her geese escort before reverting to her human form. Hyeok and SiCheng zeroed in on her, growing tense. Over her head, her Essence bar had dropped to 45%, and her health was at 70%. She seemed to notice their gaze and smiled soothingly. 

“Transforming into flying beasts is always more taxing than any other kind,” she said with a shrug. “I still heal slower than 40+ level players, but I’ll probably be back up to full bars in half an hour.”

SiCheng pulled an apple from his inventory and broke it effortlessly in half with his bare hands before offering it to her. “Here, eating something will restore your stats faster.”

She stared at the fruit with huge eyes before tentatively taking the offered pieces. “Just how strong are you guys? Hyeok did the same thing last night with some wild pears.”

Both men chuckled, sharing conspiratory glances between them but refusing to answer. Hyeok herded her gently to the path with a hand pressing lightly at the small of her back while SiCheng walked leisurely at her other side. They both kept their strides purposefully unhurried so she could walk normally and enjoy her snack instead of having to keep up with her shorter legs. 

“How exactly did you two meet?” asked SiCheng, allowing himself to be openly curious. 

Seeing that Yao had her mouth full of fruit, Hyeok answered for them both. “I came across a small encampment of rookies near the Baldurn Caves being attacked by arachnids. The kids were all under level 25, and most of them had been stung already when I got there,” he said. 

A small downturn of his lips told SiCheng the sight had been gruesome. “I had just dispatched the last of the horde when a gold one emerged from a hollowed-out tree.”

SiCheng hummed in understanding. “They probably missed the markings of the nest when they scouted the area.”

Hyeok nodded. “It stung me, but I managed to blind it so it wouldn’t go after the young ones. Thought I was done for when she dropped from the sky in her phoenix form and finished it off.”

“I just plopped on it and crushed it,” she said, pausing to make a hole with her boot beside the road. “I know arachnids are weak to overhead attacks, so I was aiming to at least stun it for a bit. Turns out phoenixes are much heavier than I thought,” she giggled, burying the apple core and patting the earth. SiCheng and Hyeok grinned and nodded at each other at her cute gesture.

“We gave the group our antidotes and escorted them to a safe zone,” finished Hyeok, offering her a handkerchief and giving her a fond look. “She’s been keeping me company and watching my back since.”

She took the offered cloth and beamed at him. “What you did for those kids was very brave, and you are obviously powerful. I knew we’d make a great team,” she shrugged, thoroughly cleaning her hands. “Besides, dying feels horrible and disorienting. I wouldn’t want to go through that alone again if I can help it, so teaming up was the best decision, I think.” 

Both men stopped cold on their tracks and stared down at her. “You’ve died?” asked Hyeok, gently turning her around so she was facing them. 

She cocked her head at them and nodded slowly. “Yeah. I woke up in Fangoul Jungle because I had been practicing one of my new animal forms that thrives in rainforests,” she said matter-of-factly, as if training in a part of the map that was notoriously dangerous and often avoided by players under level 40 was an everyday thing for her. Even with her impressive shifting abilities, she would not have been able to leave the area without getting hopelessly lost and dying more than half a dozen times.

SiCheng stopped himself from pulling her to him to examine her all over. “How many times?”

She blinked and looked up as if trying to remember. “Twice on my way out of the jungle, and then once more before I met Hyeok,” she counted as if it wasn’t a big deal. “The first one was downright traumatizing,” she shuddered. “Depending on how you die, it can be more or less painful, but then you just black out for a moment and wake up about a minute later feeling incredibly fuzzy and nauseous. Thankfully, the safety measure that brings you back into a safe area when you die in the middle of a fight is still in effect, otherwise, I would have gone down a few dozen times more at the hands of the same monsters,” she chuckled, waving away their stricken gazes. “The feeling is awful, but it goes away after a few seconds. Also, when you’re brought back, health and Essence are at half bar, that hasn’t changed either.”

The two men stared at her for a few more seconds before they both sighed and ushered her back to the path, both of them walking closer on either side of her. “Any side effects you may have noticed?” asked Hyeok, voice terse and worried.

She shook her head. “None yet, but it’s been just a few days,” she said, strangely unbothered. “I don’t recommend you go around dying just to study the repercussions of it, tho.”

“We’re not planning on it, Shorty,” said SiCheng, half amused and half worried for the girl who had saved Hyeok. “No more dying for you either.”

She snorted softly. “It’s not like I can avoid it forever, you know? My level is still quite low in this class. I managed to climb one level after waking up. Hopefully, I’ll rank up another one by the time we get to the other city.”

Hyeok and SiCheng once again glanced at each other, but their follow-up questions were forgotten when Ming and Mao called for them from the city gates less than fifty meters ahead. 

After quick introductions, they all raced into the city to avoid getting wet in the incoming rain. Later that night, the team sat once again at the corner table that was now usually reserved for them. Hyeok and SiCheng had taken a bath and were now lounging on a set of casual robes that were more comfortable than their usual battle gear. The food had just arrived when Yao walked up to the table with a shy smile. She, too, had changed into casual wear. SiCheng recognized her outfit, as it had been a prize from a server-level treasure hunt some weeks ago. The magic-infused lilac hanfu-style dress suited her beautifully and made her look even more delicate. 

SiCheng stood up and ushered her gently into the booth, leaving her between him and Hyeok, who was already piling food onto her plate before she had finished saying hello to the rest of the team. She groaned in satisfaction as she tasted the varied dishes, having stuck to eating fruits and other raw items on the road to avoid making a fire in unsafe areas. Beside her, both the captain and the team’s second-in-command seemed to be under a spell of some sort, constantly stealing glances at her and hyper-focused on her every move, much to Ming’s and K’s interested amusement 

“Am I hallucinating?” asked Ming quietly to K. 

The archer shook his head subtly. “If you are, then it’s a collective hallucination because I’m seeing it too,” he mumbled. Beside him, Yue chuckled softly, but shook his head when both men turned questioning eyes to him. 

“You’ll see soon enough,” was all he offered, smirking when they both glared at him.

“You said earlier your level was still quite low in the class you have right now,” commented Hyeok casually. “I’ve seen you fighting, and your strategies are far superior to many 40 + levels I know. This isn’t your first character, is it?”

Yao nodded, fiddling with a piece of carrot on her plate. “This is the third fighting character I developed in Tales of Aesteria,” she said, making the rest of the table fall silent at her quiet admission. “The first two were a Priestess and a Swordswoman,” she shrugged. “Maxed them out and then got started with this one about three weeks before everything happened.” 

They all stared at her in awe, except for SiCheng and Hyeok, who had already deduced it earlier when they talked in their shared room. The captain nodded and placed another bit of braised pork on her plate, having noticed earlier that she seemed to like it more than chicken. “And these previous characters, did they happen to go by the callsign Smiling?” 

Her eyes grew wide, and her mouth dropped open. “How did you know?” she asked quietly, frantically looking around to see if anyone else in the hall had overheard him. “You couldn’t have possibly recognized my face.”   

She was right, they hadn’t. Smiling, in both her previous characters, besides having a different voice, taller and sturdier physical builds, had always worn face coverings and had amethyst colored eyes. They had teamed up with her many times in massive special dungeon events, always working together seamlessly and parting ways amicably after repeatedly offering her a permanent position on the team. Despite her always declining, they had maintained a close friendship with her over the years. They had not known her appearance in this new version of her, but her warm personality and overall aura were the same as her previous two instances.

“You knew the weak points of two very dangerous creatures that would have killed anyone below level 45,” said Hyeok reassuringly, filling up her glass with juice. 

“You also know the map by heart, even if it’s unavailable right now,” added SiCheng, turning slightly towards her and tapping his index finger on the table. “But more importantly, you planted an apple core.”

She blinked at him and sighed in resignation, a small smile blooming on her face as she remembered doing the exact same thing after their last dungeon adventure at the New Year’s event. “An apple tree grows if you do,” she said, a fond note coloring her voice. 

Hyeok nodded in confirmation and smiled down at her. “And the person who planted it will always get twice the benefits from its fruits if they eat from it,” he repeated the same thing she’d told them back then.

She laughed, delighted they had remembered. “Yeah. Well, nice to officially meet you,” she said, eyes soft and happy, swinging her head around to include the whole team in her statement. 

They continued their meal with gusto, reminiscing about the several times they had teamed up on previous occasions and catching her up on the happenings around the city. 

“So, how old are you, Yao?” started K. “We’ve been seeing you around since practically the beginning of ZGDX a few years back, but unlike our captain and lieutenant, I don’t think the rest of us have ever had the chance to officially sit down and talk with you before.”

She laughed lightly, trying to keep the blush off her cheeks. “I’m twenty,” she said dismissively, avoiding all their surprised gazes by reaching for another bread roll. “My first fighting character was created when I finally turned eighteen as per the rules of Aesteria, but I’ve been here longer than that, playing on the other modalities of the game.” 

“That makes all of us your seniors by a couple of years,” said Ming, shooting a subtle warning glance in SiCheng and Hyeok’s direction. “The oldest of us are between twenty-four, in SiCheng and Hyeok’s case, and twenty-five in mine and Rui’s.” The two leaders nodded to him in understanding. They had already felt somewhat responsible for her whenever she was around, but to confirm she was younger than them by four years sobered them up. 

“Not me!” chimed in Yue, leaning over the table and wiggling his eyebrows in Yao’s direction, pulling a laugh out of her for his silly expression. “We’re the same age Yao’er, even if you are tiny and look much younger.”

She gasped and flung a small piece of bread in his direction, hitting him square in the forehead. “Just because you are a giant doesn’t mean you get to be a nuisance, Yue!”

The table dissolved into laughter and teasing after that, until someone brought up the following day’s agenda. “So, Bainang floating city, right?” said Mao after a while, a chicken leg dangling from his right hand. “What time are we leaving, Cap?”

Yao blinked in surprise and lowered her fork, looking up at SiCheng and then at Hyeok. “You’re going to Bainang too?”

They both nodded. “We have a guild hall there,” said Hyeok, turning slightly to face her. “And it’s the closest city to us right now. It would make sense to start expanding our map in that direction.” 

She hummed pensively and pulled up her map. “I’m not sure if it’s because we formed a raid party together, but my map now reflects all the areas you have unlocked around here.”

SiCheng shook his head on her other side, getting her attention. “Apparently, it is a collective map, updating every twenty-four hours,” he said. “We weren’t able to at first, but now you can zoom out enough to see other pockets of unlocked areas that none of us have visited. Especially around other cities.”

Her eyes brightened up. “So if anyone explores any given area, it’s automatically added to our maps, whether we know that person or not.” 

“Exactly,” said Ming, leaning forward and resting his chin on his clasped hands over the table. “But no one has travelled from one city to another yet. It would be well worth the risk to visit Bainang and see if we can activate the inter-city portals.”

She nodded in excited agreement. “Of course! If fast travel can be reactivated, a lot of people could reunite with their teams and loved ones without having to brave the wilderness.”

“Indeed,” said Hyeok, a small, worried frown taking over his usually inexpressive face as he coaxed her to look at him with a gentle finger under her chin. “However, it’s not the kind of trip to make alone. Not if you want to avoid dying repeatedly in the process.”

She hummed again and looked down at her hands thoughtfully. “Yeah. Even if I can shorten the trip by shifting and flying most of the way, it will be dangerous once I reach the Wyvern Pass and have to face the flying monsters without having reached at least level 35. A larger, experienced party would make it easier.” 

SiCheng swung his arm to rest on the back of the booth behind her, capturing a lock of her hair and softly pulling on it to get her attention. “Then I guess you won’t be getting rid of ZGDX for the foreseeable future, Smiling. You’ve got yourself a team.”

She gaped at him in surprise and then turned to Hyeok, alternating between them as she talked. “If you’re doing this only for me, you really don’t have to! I can make do on my own without having to risk any of you dying out there. We still don’t know if there are any long-term side effects of dying in this world!”

Hyeok sighed and gently placed one hand on top of her head to make her look at him again. “We’re going because we want to, little one. We’re doing it for us as much as we’re doing it for you.”

Yao frowned in confusion. “What do you mean?”

SiCheng boldly leaned over and rested his chin over her shoulder, making her startle slightly at his sudden closeness and blush profusely. “We won't rest easy knowing you’re out there on your own. So we’re going.”

“And before you bring the rest of us up,” said Yue from across the table, deciding to save her from spontaneous combustion as her blush reached dangerous levels of intensity, “we’re going not because they’re telling us to go, but because we want to.”

“Don’t think we’ve forgotten how many times you’ve saved our asses in a dungeon,” added K, Mao nodding along in agreement. 

“Or the times you helped us out when we crossed paths while roaming around,” commented Ming. 

“Yeah! You even gave us those golden lychees from your orchard that one time so we could unlock that special quest last Spring Festival,” said Pang enthusiastically. 

SiCheng felt her starting to relax in his and Hyeok’s hold and knew they’d won the argument. “So, unless you want to stick around here for longer, at what time would you like to leave tomorrow?” he asked her softly.

She turned her head slightly to him and smiled tentatively. “Nine would be alright. You can have breakfast while I go buy some things I need.” 

SiCheng leaned back and turned to his men. “You heard her boys. Be ready at nine.” A chorus of enthusiastic agreements rang out around them. Yao laughed and shook her head, relaxing further into her seat. 

That night, SiCheng lay on his back with one arm curled behind his head. Beside him, Hyeok rested on his side, facing toward the window. “It’s time, Light.” 

SiCheng hummed, eyes not straying from the wooden beams of the ceiling. “It is,” he responded just as softly.

Some minutes later, Hyeok’s voice broke the silence again. “What if she doesn’t want us? What if she only wants one of us?” His voice was filled with uncharacteristic uncertainty that had SiCheng alert.

This time, his eyes did slide down to fix on Hyeok’s bare shoulders, noticing the rigidity of his defined muscles. “If she doesn’t want us, then we protect her from afar, nothing changes. But if she wants you, then I’ll step aside.”

Hyeok’s whole frame stiffened for a second before he sat up, the sheets pooling around his trimmed waist. “No.” He turned fluidly to him, arms caging his head on either side.

SiCheng sighed and smiled softly, bringing up his hand to cup his cheek. “Ok. Then you tell me.”

Hyeok melted out of his stiffness and captured the hand on his face, turning it around to caress the hard calluses on his palm born from extensive sword use. “Both of us or nothing,” he said quietly but resolutely. “As much as I’ve been dreaming of her, I couldn’t bear to lose you. Not after everything we’ve been through together.” 

With a heavy sigh, SiCheng pulled him down to his chest, breathing easier when his familiar weight settled against him. The past few days they’d been apart had been hell for him. Sleeping without Hyeok’s warmth beside him had been difficult, and worse still, to wake up without him after so many years of being used to his presence. His absence in his personal space made him feel cold and incomplete. He admitted to himself that walking away from Hyeok would be the end of him.  

They had searched and waited for the final piece to their puzzle for years, until they met her on a legion-scale raid back when she was a Priestess. Smiling checked all their boxes and so much more with her vibrant persona and warm nature. Every time they encountered her, they confirmed she was the one they were looking for. Still, she wouldn’t join their guild and always skipped off into the sunset, leaving them more in love with her than before. They had never outright confessed to her, in part because they wanted clear signs of attraction on her part before exposing themselves. And also, because despite it being just a game for her, ToA was their job. 

Now, though, things were vastly different. Nothing was certain anymore, and whatever awaited them in real life no longer took precedence. This would be their new reality for the foreseeable future, and as such, they had to take risks. But his partner was right. If, after everything, Smiling wanted only one of them, then she wasn’t the right one.

Chapter Text

Yao woke up with a start, the phantom pins and needles on her body fading with every shaky breath she took. The last few nights, she hadn’t had the nightmare and thought it might have been because Aesteria had changed into a new world where the ghosts of her memories couldn’t haunt her. Now she wasn’t so sure.

With a sigh and knowing there would be no way to go back to sleep, she threw off the covers and walked over to the window. Beneath the bare soles of her feet, the wood floor was chilly and rough, further pulling her attention from the dark memories that had lingered like a cape around her shoulders. Outside, the town square was empty, but the fairy lights, along with the fog that had rolled in after the storm, maintained a soft glow over the area, making it look ethereal despite the early hour. She leaned on the glass, letting the coldness of it chase away the burning flush on her cheeks. She looked down at the windowsill where she’d placed a few loose items she wanted to ensure she took with her in the morning. Hyeok’s handkerchief was freshly washed and neatly folded atop her room key. Her fingers hovered over it as a small smile blossomed on her face.

Hyeok and SiCheng, Hierophant and Chessman. She’d recognized them both easily enough. They weren’t the type to alter their avatars too much, so their appearance after the awakening was just like she remembered from all those times they’d teamed up together when everything had been just a game. Handsome, imposing, and strong, both of them. Powerful warriors when fighting alone, but downright lethal when working together. Add to that the might of their team, and there was nothing that could stop them.

They’d been there from day 1 of ToA, bright-eyed and excited to explore a new magical world just like everybody else, but with drive and determination that was very rarely seen in the average gamer. It was no surprise to her when she heard through the vine they would go pro. She had seen the pamphlet they had hung in her city’s main plaza announcing the open auditions to join their guild and she cursed her youth for rendering her unable to try out. She even encouraged a quiet but sharp archer to go try out when he stopped by her orchard looking for directions to the nearby grotto, knowing he would be a great addition to their team.

She had seen them both grow into their characters, form everlasting bonds with their team, and at the same time she observed their relationship with each other grow stronger and solid with each passing day, filling her chest with warmth every time she got to witness from afar just how deep their connection went when they thought no one was watching. It was beautiful and as much as she admired them at first when she’d been only sixteen, by the time she’d turned eighteen and was able to actually interact with them from up close when they teamed up for massive dungeons, she realized she also envied them. Their closeness and the intimacy of knowing you belong to someone as much as someone belongs to you was something she craved for herself, yet… alas, reality would never let her have that.

When they met, they had been consummate professionals if not a bit standoffish but she hadn’t expected anything else. Towards the end of the event, three days after their first meeting, she could feel their change in attitude towards her, and she was sure a friendship was blooming, leaving her elated over the prospect of getting to fight alongside them again. After the second event, however, some things started to take an unexpected turn in their dynamic, subtle at first and then downright obvious to someone as observant as her. They were being softer in their interactions with her, being deferential and initiating small physical contact whenever possible, something that had never seen them do with anyone else. The small touches soon became warmer, longer lasting and decidedly not platonic, especially if they were away from the rest of the team. Their continued attention and apparent interest in her made her fear she would be an unwilling catalyst to the rupture of their beautiful relationship, but soon those fears dissolved when she realized they did it mostly when they were both present and neither of them seemed to react negatively when the other made a move. It became clear it was not a situation of either/or, but a together sort of thing.

That realization had left her flabbergasted for a grand total of two weeks, making her avoid them to mull over the information in solitude until she felt ready to face it. She went from mourning the fact that she thought she would have zero chances of romance to finding herself the subject of a two-pronged courtship from none other but the two men she had spent years admiring from afar. Because, court her they did. Subtly by society’s general standards, yes, but she was nothing if not observant, and she could then see plain as day all the small little details and quiet acts of service that made her heart race with emotion. Yet with understanding, reality came crashing down and she had to take another week away from them to nurse her broken heart.

It physically pained her to feign ignorance and turn her back on them every time they asked her to join ZGDX, because what they offered her was everything she wanted. A strong guild, the chance to expand her possibilities beyond what a solo player could, and to form close relationships with others outside her own little circle of people. Furthermore, the chance to love and be loved in return as fiercely and loyally as she knew Chessman and Hierophant were capable of. Yet… how could she tell them that their relationship would be strictly digital? That once they returned to the real world, she wouldn’t follow? There was no contract that ZGDX, with all its legal advisors and fierce board members, could make her sign to make her physically move to the clubhouse, take pictures, and make public appearances for the press and fans. And that was only speaking of their professional ventures.

When it came to feelings, she wasn’t ready to let anyone know of her situation, much less them. It’s not that she was ashamed of what happened to her, she knew it wasn’t her fault. But she still couldn’t voice her fears and hang-ups on living a half existence. She couldn’t bring herself to see their eyes grow cold when she told them she was not exactly the woman they thought she was. Would they still want her when they figured it out? She wasn’t sure back then and that made her all the more determined to keep them at arm’s length.

And now, they were trapped here in this new Aesteria for the foreseeable future, much like she had been from the start. She sighed, her breath fogging up the glass. Why were they here? Was this a fluke of destiny, giving her a fleeting chance at living the life she’d always wanted? Or had her mind fallen into a deeper and more complex mirage, and this was all a fever dream?

She shook her head. No. She couldn’t think like that. SiCheng and Hyeok both had promising lives outside Aesteria, they couldn’t just waste them trapped here in her fairytale, right? She had to figure out what happened and devise a plan to get them out, no matter what it cost her. Even if their touches felt firmer now, real, igniting a fever and a longing under her skin that hadn’t been there before when everything had just been a game to them. How would she be able to ignore their heated gazes and the warmth of their proximity now?

It was so confusing. With a huff, she pushed away from the window and set out to prepare. Once she showered and donned her usual adventuring outfit, the sun was peeking over the horizon, and she deemed herself ready to face the day, and more importantly, to face them.

Jaebum, the innkeeper, was already behind the counter when she came down the stairs. “Miss Yao! Heading out already?” he asked, pouring and offering her a mug of freshly brewed tea just the way he knew she liked from all the times she’d visited his establishment since he first came into the game to live out his dream of being a hotel owner.

She smiled gratefully and took the offered drink, humming in satisfaction as she sipped carefully. “Yeah, I still need to buy a few things before we get going.”

He nodded and leaned on the wooden counter. “I heard you’re all heading to Bainang. Relatively short trip, but a tricky path, I reckon,” he said, face serious and worried.

She smiled reassuringly at him. “Yes, but I’ve gone through it enough times to do it with my eyes closed,” she soothed, waving her hand in dismissal. “Besides ZGDX will be with me, so I’ve got nothing to fear.”

He seemed to relax at her words, his usual smile making a comeback. “You’re right, of course. Those boys are nothing if not reliable,” he chuckled.

She nodded, feeling proud that the team she most admired was so openly recognized for their hard work and ethics. “I want to settle my tab before I go if that’s alright with you,” she said, pulling up her gold inventory, getting ready to transfer the funds needed.

Jaebum pursed his lips and cocked his head. “Your tab’s been taken care of already. Captain Lu and Lieutenant Lee settled it in advance last night when you went to bed.”

Yao stood there processing for a few seconds. “What?! Why?!”

“Consider it as payment for saving me from the golden arachnid, little one.”

She whirled around and found herself face to chest with Hyeok. She craned her neck back and pouted. “But Hyeok-ge! I thought we were even already, considering Cheng-ge gave me an Ultra Potion and those are ridiculously expensive.”

Warmth spread through her back, and she looked behind her to find the aforementioned captain smirking down at her, obviously pleased at hearing her use such a familiar honorific to refer to them. “You also gave us both a ride on your back, so we’re still in your debt, Shorty.”

She set her teacup down on a nearby table and crossed her arms over her chest to glare half-heartedly at both of them. “No! This nonsense ends here and now,” she said, stomping her foot like an angry little rabbit, making both men grin wider at her. “Whatever happens, we’re even from now on.”

They both chuckled, completely endeared by her feisty attitude. “Fine, calm down, Bunny,” said Hyeok in a soft soothing voice, picking up her cup and coaxing her to take another sip of her cooling tea, while SiCheng offered her a bite of the breakfast pastry he’d ordered for her beforehand. While Hyeok made sure she finished eating, SiCheng surreptitiously paid a grinning Jaebum for her meal.

The innkeeper leaned closer and sternly held the captain’s gaze. “I know what you two are up to. I was the same when I was courting my wife. You better take good care of that girl, Cheng, because if I see her coming back with a broken heart, you’ll find yourself with no place to sleep in this, or in any other city for that matter.”

SiCheng nodded seriously. “Of course! I give you my word, and Hyeok’s by extension, we’ll look after her to the best of our abilities and honor her choices.”

Jaebum, clapped him lightly on the shoulder and handed him a wrapped package with their lunches. “See that you do. You’re good men, I know, but that girl is special. My wife and I are very fond of her and although I know you two can be very good to her, I can’t help but worry.”

“I understand,” said SiCheng thoughtfully. “And I appreciate you looking out for her.”

They spoke a few more minutes, until Hyeok signaled to him Yao had finished eating.

“Come on, I know you wanted to restock your inventory for the trip,” said SiCheng coming up behind them and guiding her out of the Inn with a hand on her back.

Yao perked up and waved goodbye to Jaebum before allowing herself to be herded outside. “I don’t need much. My inventory is abysmally small ‘cause I haven’t leveled up enough to do the magic bag quest to expand my slots,” she sighed. “I can only carry ten to fifteen items at a time.”

“We have plenty of empty slots if you want to store some things with us,” offered SiCheng casually. “Keep the everyday things with yourself and give us the items you don’t need as often.”

She tilted her head. “That would be incredibly helpful! But… are you sure? I don’t want to hinder your ability to store loot.”

They both chuckled, and Hyeok opened the door to the first merchant’s store for her. “Trust me, we wouldn’t offer if we weren’t sure.”

At nine, the three of them stepped out of the Western gate to meet with the rest of ZGDX, who were all huddled under one of the outer courtyard trees conversing amongst themselves. SiCheng nodded to Rui and the scribe promptly pulled out his pre-adventure checklist to make sure they had everything. Yao watched the proceedings with fondness and pride. This was one of the reasons ZGDX was at the top, they were the epitome of responsible and well-prepared.

“Take your ocarinas out. We’ll be traveling in pairs on land transports all the way to the outskirts of Red Canyon. Hyeok and I will take point,” ordered SiCheng, voice hard and sharp as it usually was when issuing orders for battle. Yao had long ago noticed how much it actually softened when he spoke to her, but now the difference seemed even more distinct. She wondered if it had anything to do with how openly they were flirting with her now.

Hyeok touched her arm gently, getting her attention. “Would you prefer to travel with Cheng or me?”

She tilted her head and smirked. “Why don’t you both travel with me instead?”

SiCheng frowned in worry. “That sounds like it would be exhausting for you, little one.”

“It’s tiring, but the longer I remain shifted, the faster I level up. And if the two of you are with me, even if we get attacked on the way and I’m caught with low health, I know I’ll be safe,” she reassured.

Both men hummed in understanding, but Hyeok’s frown stayed in place. “Communication would still be a problem, though. You got stung yesterday because you couldn’t warn me in time and took the stinger for me instead.”

Yao pursed her lips and nodded. “Yeah, that’s a downside. I wish there was some way we could communicate non-verbally when I’m shifted.”

“There is a way.”

All three of them turned as one to Yue, who was standing to the side with a wicked grin, twirling his magical staff in one hand like it weighed nothing. “I was speaking to Jaebum-Ge yesterday and found out some of the rumored features that were supposed to be added to the game in the upcoming patch did come through after the event happened.”

K crossed his arms. “Are you talking about the 'Home Life' expansion pack?”

Rui perked up and also chimed in. “Yeah, I heard you can now bond with people and claim them as your family as long as both parties agree, much like joining a guild or getting married in-game.”

Yue’s grin widened. “And there are additional perks for bonded people,” he said, lifting a hand to count on his fingers. “Any XP gained on a raid will be multiplied by 1.5 automatically for familiar bonds and 1.75 for romantic bonds, which makes leveling up faster and easier as long as all the people involved are in the same raiding party.”

Noticing he now had Yao’s undivided attention, the young healer barreled on. “A protection buff goes into effect if the bonds are fighting within a range of a hundred meters of each other, minimizing physical damage.”

“That does sound helpful,” murmured K to Ming. “We might need to consider becoming cousins or something.”

Seeing everyone’s clear interest, Yue continued his explanation with more enthusiasm. “Married bonds can now activate non-verbal communication that’s supposed to work like a two-way call with your spouse, except it is only with your thoughts. And get this, it remains active even in non-combat scenarios unless you manually turn it off, regardless of the distance between you.”

He didn’t miss SiCheng’s and Hyeok’s exchanged glances, and the way they both looked down at Yao. He knew then he’d hit the spot. He struggled to contain a chuckle, disguising it as a cough before barreling on.

“And the absolute best improvement, if you ask me,” said Yue with a flair. “Is that they now accept not only same sex marriage bonds… but also multiples.”

Silence reigned over the group for a few seconds. Yue kept his attention on Yao, but out of the corner of his eyes, he could see his brother’s hands being balled into fists and Hyeok’s lips being pressed into a thin line.

Yao let out a shaky breath and an airy laugh. “That sounds awesome,” she murmured longingly, eyes going soft and wistful for a moment. “It was about time, in my opinion. Everyone should be free to love whoever they want as long as all parties involved are on the same track.”

Yue nodded and smiled, noticing behind the girl, SiCheng and Hyeok exchanged yet another hopeful glance. “But enough chit-chat. Let’s get going! I want to make it to Red Canyon before dusk to try and collect some moon-dew from the slopes. Those potions sell very well!”

Amidst the snickering of the rest of the party and Ming scolding Yue for being a shameless businessman instead of a proper healer, Yao transformed once again into her tigress form, drawing all of their attention at once. After letting the others admire her briefly, she walked over and butted her head softly into SiCheng’s shoulder and then on Hyeok’s side before crouching down to let them climb on. Around her, the others had called transport beasts and had settled in pairs atop the bulky lizard-like monsters that provided the service. Yao took point with SiCheng and Hyeok, followed by Ming with Yue on one side and Pang with Rui on the other. Mao and K took the rear, watching their six.

They ran for three hours straight, maximizing the time they could make use of the transport beasts, crossing over valleys and small streams, until Hyeok patted Yao gently and signaled her to stop. She slowed down and trotted over to a small copse of trees by the side of the road. Tall greenery was becoming scarce the further west they went. Soon, as they ventured further into the desert, shade would not be so easily found.

They dismounted, and while the rest of the team dismissed the transport beasts, SiCheng caressed Yao’s soft, furry ears. “We’ll have lunch here. You need to replenish your energy,” he said, looking up at her stats bar and noticing her health had dropped to 65% and her Essence was at 45%.

Yao chuffed gently and, after shaking her fur out, she stepped back, getting ready to shift. Before she could do so, a deep rumble resounded around them. They all sprang to their feet, weapons at the ready. Out of the earth, dozens of level 12-15 dust-crawlers came out, looking like a crossbreed of locusts and spiders the size of a large dog.

Yao jumped into a large one, tearing at it with her claws and teeth before lunging for the next. Around her, the others dispatched the rest with small blades and club-type weapons to preserve ammo. It was swift but gruesome, with insect parts scattered around them by the time they were finished. Yao stood panting heavily a few meters away while the others dispersed to pick up the loot and set up wards around the area to not be disturbed any more while they ate their lunch.

SiCheng and Hyeok approached her, worriedly noticing her health was now at a dangerous 10% while Essence was practically null. “Yao?” called SiCheng, petting her head softly. Hyeok kneeled in front of her, noticing the many cuts on her legs and belly.

“Their pincers got to her,” he said softly, making room for a worried Yue to crouch next to him.

She growled softly and nuzzled Yue’s head. He pushed her snout away playfully. “I know, I know. You said to only heal you up to 75% so that you earn the QuickHealth buff by healing naturally five hundred times. I remember.”

While their healer worked his spell, SiCheng continued to run his fingers through her fur, and Hyeok surveyed her healing process, petting her healing flank. Yao rumbled contentedly and closed her eyes, seemingly enjoying their attention and bringing soft smiles to both of their faces.

“All done, Yao’er! Take it easy while you get back the rest of your bars,” Yue patted her side a few minutes later, getting a soft headbutt from her in thanks, making him laugh as he retreated toward the others to eat.

“You’re 10xp away from level 33, little one,” said SiCheng softly, smirking when she opened one eye and looked at him, gaze full of questions at his tone.

“You could have leveled up already if you were bonded,” he continued, keeping his petting continuous and unhurried to not betray his nervousness.

Hyeok stood and reached out to pet the other side of her head. “You would have been more protected, too, fighting within range of your bonds.”

Yao chuffed softly and looked down at her now healed legs. After checking her stats were both steadily climbing, she shifted back, almost falling over when her human legs faltered. Two sets of strong arms held her up. “Easy there,” said SiCheng, easily swinging her up into a bridal carry with Hyeok’s help, fully enjoying her red cheeks and flustered squeaks.

“I can walk!” she protested weakly as the captain walked back to the others.

“We know you can,” said Hyeok, pulling her bangs out of her eyes. “But it would be best if you didn’t right now.”

After setting her down amidst the other in the shade and taking seats on each side of her, they ate the sandwiches Jaebum had prepared for them that morning, studying a hand-drawn map that they had put together the night before from memory. “Sand worm territory starts beyond the ridge over there,” said Ming, pointing to the yellowish hill that loomed over them less than a kilometer away. “Ground transport is not advisable until we cross to the other side of the dunes and enter the heart of the Red Canyon.”

Rui nodded and pointed further to a narrow passage on their drawing. “If we manage to find the Night Pass safe zone, we’ll be safe from monsters for the night. That passage is long and complex but relatively safe. We will come out at the base of Emerald Mountain tomorrow.”

“That’s where things will get tricky,” said SiCheng with a pensive expression.

“I have a few routes in mind,” said Yao tentatively, gaining confidence when the boys all turned to her, seemingly eager to hear her suggestions. “Option one would be Emerald River. The fishermen's village near the exit of Night Pass has a ferry that takes you as far as Wyn Lake. From there on it's a matter of crossing Wyvern territory to get to the cliffs that surround Bainang.”

Pang shuddered. “Going through that is a nightmare though. If you walk, their nests are impossible to notice until you fall into one.”

“And if you do fall in, fighting your way out requires at least a ten-person team, all level 40 or more if you want to make it out alive,” said Mao with a grimace.

“And if you fly, you face the adult wyverns that are always above level 30 and travel in flocks of up to twenty creatures,” said Ming with a shake of his head.

Yao winced and nodded. That would have been her preferred route before, but she was smart enough to acknowledge she wasn’t strong enough yet in her current character to face that threat. “The other option is to go underground, through the Onyx caves,” she said, hands twisting the hem of her shirt. “It’s the fastest route, and the monsters down there are relatively easier than wyverns, considering they don’t attack in hordes and very seldomly go over level 27.”

Hyeok took one of her hands in his, stopping her from tearing out the fabric in her unconscious agitation. She looked up at him questioningly, but when he simply smiled at her, she settled down against him, leaving her hand in his. SiCheng nodded to him subtly. “We have options, that’s all that matters. We’ll revisit that part of the plan once we’re out of the Night Pass. Be ready to move in twenty, we’ll be taking sky mounts to Red Canyon,” he ordered, getting affirmative nods from the rest.

He then turned to her and caressed her cheek to get her attention. “Any small animal forms in your roster, little one?”

“A few shapes,” she nodded, but her eyes grew wary. “What are you planning?”

He smirked softly at her. “To have you ride with Hyeok and me, that way you get XP while being safe.”

She pursed her lips, and a light blush took over her cheeks at the thought of cuddling close to them like that. “That’s really not necessary,” she murmured, pouting when both of them grinned wider.

Hyeok softly squeezed her hand in his. “Whatever it is, I know it’s going to be as adorable and cute as you are.”

Her cheeks flamed at his comment, and her pout deepened. “Stop that!”

“I bet it will have soft lilac fur and big soulful hazel eyes that melt you on the spot,” teased SiCheng, twirling the end of her battle braid around his finger. Around them, the rest of the team did their best to not look too invested in their conversation. Most of them were failing horribly and tried to hide their smiles by taking bites of their food.

Her contemplations before dawn suddenly filled her mind. They were truly going for it, she realized. They were openly flirting with her, and she was unable to feign ignorance anymore. They wanted her, and she wanted them just as much, but she knew what it would mean to let them in. Chest tight with anxiety, Yao abruptly stood up and glared heatedly at them. “You two are impossible!” she huffed, completely mortified. When the two only chuckled at her outburst, she stomped her foot and walked away, determined to get some air and her blush under control away from their teasing remarks and scalding touches.

When the time came to saddle up into the sky mounts, Yao was scowling at a grinning Hyeok, already sitting astride the big, bird-like creature. Seeing she wouldn’t mount up on her own, SiCheng sighed and, after sliding unnoticed behind her, lifted her up from the waist.

“Wait!” she yelped, clamping her hands around his wrists to stop him.

He frowned and lowered her back down. “What’s wrong, YaoYao? I didn’t mean to scare you, little one, I’m sorry,” he quickly apologized, making her startle at the unexpected gesture.

She shook her head quickly and looked down, embarrassed. “It’s not that at all! I just,” she paused, uncertainty clear in her eyes. “If I ride with Hyeok, you’ll have to ride separately.”

He frowned, not making the connection yet. “It’s no problem, Yao’er. We split up all the time.”

“Not because of me!” she retorted, clamping her mouth shut as soon as the words left her. She closed her eyes for a moment to re-center herself and take a deep breath. When she opened them again, Hyeok had dismounted and was standing next to SiCheng. Both of them were looking down at her worriedly, and she hated herself a little for putting that expression on their faces.

SiCheng turned to the others. “Head out, we’ll catch up with you,” he ordered. Yao once again shut her eyes and cursed at herself quietly, resigned to having the conversation she had been most dreading since she found Hyeok two days ago.

As soon as the rest of the team took off, he turned back to her and gently cupped her jaw. “Look at me, darling. Don’t be afraid.”

His soft tone and gentle grip centered her enough to look up at him, gaze fearful and uncertain. He smiled, proud and warm. “That’s it. Now, tell us what’s bothering you.”

Hyeok stepped up to her side and cupped the back of her head in a steady hold, further grounding her and prompting her to answer. “I know you’re together,” she started bluntly. “It’s the most beautiful relationship I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing, but…” At their encouraging nods, she swallowed and continued. “But it feels sometimes like I’m between you two, and I worry that it will cause nothing but trouble.”

They both sighed, tension leaving their frames and their gaze. Hyeok closed in further, dropping his forehead on the crown of her head and inhaling her scent. “You are between us because we want you there, little one.”

Wide-eyed, Yao processed his words while SiCheng studied her face intently. When her apprehensive eyes lifted to him once more, his expression softened in understanding. “You’ve been aware of our intentions for a long while now, haven’t you, darling?

She nodded, biting her lip to prevent herself from tearing up as she revealed what she must. “As much as it pains me to walk away every time, I have good reasons for constantly turning you down. What you’re offering can’t happen, even if it’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

SiCheng stiffened, and Hyeok lifted his head with a frown. “And why ever not?” asked the latter, a note of defiance in his tone.

She shook her head and detached herself from their hold, hurriedly taking several steps away. “I’m a wandering mind!” she finally said, feeling the weight of the truth slipping from her shoulders. “You have lives beyond ToA, full of dreams and goals that are at your fingertips. A lifetime to be together for real. But my mind is tethered to this place. I can’t leave ToA… I don’t think I ever will.”

SiCheng took a tentative step toward her, hating how shaky her voice was and how pale she was getting. She stepped away, and he stopped. Hyeok took his hand, and they held each other as they watched her break, feeling as if a chip of their soul was fracturing with every jagged breath she took.

She turned and faced the yellow hill, eyes distant and full of tears. “When we figure out what is going on and find a way for you to return to the real world, you will leave and pick up your life like nothing happened.” Her hands once again twisted the edge of her shirt, thinking of the loneliness that would eat away at her when that happened. “Aesteria will be my home until either what is left of my body dies IRL, or the servers get burned. We are not the same, and I can’t ask you to just accept that.”

A set of strong arms hugged her waist from behind, crushing her against a warm and firm chest, seconds before a different set of hands got buried in her hair and brought her head gently upward, forcing her eyes to lock with the serious, cognac-colored gaze of SiCheng. “You don’t have to ask us, Yao,” he said firmly, lips a hair’s width away from hers. “Be it two hours, two years, or a digital eternity, as long as you want us too, then we want to be with you. Both of us.”

Hyeok’s rich, velvety voice caressed the shell of her right ear. “If we are forced out of this world at some point, as long as you are here, we will find a way to come back to you,” he promised, leaving no room for doubt in his words.

Yao shivered at their intensity and sighed in contentment at their proximity. Relief and hope warred with what she thought was right in her mind, but her body acted on instinct, relaxing in their hold and allowing herself to be cradled between the two of them. They took turns kissing her temples, cheeks, hair, and everywhere else that was safe enough not to tempt their already frayed control, murmuring sweet nothings and reassurances that had her melting out of her anxiety into a pliant state of mind.

It was SiCheng, ever the leader, who groaned into her hair a few minutes later and reluctantly pulled back. He flashed a satisfied grin to his partner behind her when he noticed the dazed and glassy-eyed look on their lady’s lovely face and the way her tiny hands clung to his armour and Hyeok’s wrist where it was splayed over her tummy to keep her in place. He squashed the urge to find out how much lovelier she would look riding high on pleasure at their hands. It was not yet the right time for that nor the place, regardless of how long they had both been waiting for her.

“We should get going if we want to be able to catch up with the others. We can talk more tonight in the safety of Night Pass.”

Hyeok nodded from where he still stood holding Yao tightly to his chest. “How do you want to travel right now, little one?” he asked, rubbing his thumb softly over her hip as he turned her to face him.

Yao blushed, remembering their teasing comments from their earlier conversation, and pouted. “Not a word from either of you,” she threatened halfheartedly, leaving them with no time to respond when she suddenly shifted between one breath and the next.

Hyeok and SiCheng looked down and fought the urge to coo at the adorable creature now huddling at their feet. A fluffy, long-eared little bunny with lilac fur and hazel eyes stood on its hind legs looking at them. “I called it,” said SiCheng softly as he gently picked her up and settled her against his chest.

Hyeok chuckled, running gentle fingers over her soft fur. “Adorable indeed, little Tokki,” he said with a fond grin. “Come, we should get going.”

They called another beast and settled carefully with Yao safely ensconced within SiCheng’s robes, further protected from the wind by Hyeok’s back. The beast took to the sky, and they raced against the currents to catch up to the rest of the group.

SiCheng looked down at the ball of fluff nestled in his clothes occasionally, making sure she was comfortable and safe. Regardless of what happened next, his path and Hyeok’s would undoubtedly be mingled with hers, and only one thing was certain… he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Chapter Text

Hyeok’s masterful handling of the currents had them catching up to the rest of the group in less than half an hour. Below them, sandy dunes extended almost to the horizon on either side. In front, the tall western cliffs of Red Canyon were becoming more prominent the further they flew. Hyeok turned his head slightly, catching SiCheng’s attention.

“How’s our girl?” he asked, raising his voice so he could be heard over the wind.

SiCheng looked down, and Yao, in bunny form with her head barely visible between the folds of his tunic, looked up and twitched her pink nose at him. “She’s looking cute and warm,” he responded, fondness dripping from his tone.

Hyeok smiled to himself and nodded. “Good! We’ll be landing in about twenty minutes.”

They dismounted on a low outcrop of red stone about halfway up the rock wall, the last big enough platform for their transports to land. Ming strode up and voiced everyone else’s concern. “Where’s Yao?”

SiCheng carefully pulled out the fluffy bunny. Mao cooed, and Pang gasped dramatically. “No fucking way?! If cuteness were an attack, Yao’er would be invincible!”

She started squirming in SiCheng’s hold, and he quickly put her down with a laugh. She wasted no time switching back, her human form emerging with red cheeks in embarrassment. “If you’re all done teasing me, we should get going,” she groused, walking away at a brisk pace. The team chuckled but rushed after her nonetheless.

The paths between the jagged rock walls that compounded the eastern ridge were narrow and steep, but they trekked easily following her lead. She wasn’t kidding when she said she knew the road by heart, after all she’d been crossing the maps for close to five years now, being one of the few adventurers who preferred to actually walk, ride, or fly through the distances instead of relying on fast travel all the time. She had nothing but time anyway, unlike everyone else who had lives in the real world to get back to.

SiCheng walked right after her, while Hyeok took the rear to make sure no one stayed behind. While she was used to pushing through on her own, it was nice for Yao to have the boys so close to help her when she needed to reach an overhang that was a bit too high for her, or to push debris or dead trees away from the path whenever they came across one. Once in a while, a small monster slithered out of the crevices, and K would shoot it down with deadly accuracy before the others had barely had any chance of reacting. Mao and Pang amused the whole party with their gaudy tunes, and Yue would pipe up at the most random of times to share a completely inappropriate observation that had them all cackling. Yao noticed after a while that she’d been smiling the whole way. Perhaps, she thought, it wouldn’t be too bad to join ZGDX.

They finally reached the summit, a small plateau overlooking the draw of Red Canyon. Around five hundred meters below them, a rushing dark river flowed South, flanked by dense emerald-colored forest on both sides. Across from them, the western ridge loomed much higher and thicker than the wall they’d just crossed, looking dark and imposing with the afternoon sun already sinking behind it and casting deep shadows over them. There would be no trekking through there. It was either going around it, losing precious time; going over it, risking the violent wind that threatened to crush you against the mountain; or finding the elusive Night Pass.

“We used to be able to jump down using the rocks as stepping ledges,” commented K, looking down and localizing said stones. “Now I’m not sure fear of falling would allow us to do it correctly.”

“We could do it rappel style,” suggested Rui, getting everyone’s attention.

SiCheng looked down and nodded. “The ledge over there is big enough to hold all of us and is about halfway down. We’ll slide down one by one,” he ordered, signaling Hyeok and pulling out his tool bag.

Together, they hammered anchor spikes into the rock so the others could use them to tie their ropes. Ming, Mao, and K went first. It took them longer than usual, once again, fear of falling playing a part and making them second-guess most of their movements for the first few minutes. Pang, Rui, and Yue took even longer but safely reached the ledge. Once it was finally their turn. Yao slid down gracefully and quickly, much to the choked surprise of the group waiting for them below. SiCheng landed about half a minute later and immediately looked up at Hyeok to ensure he would land safely in the now crowded outcrop. A shriek pierced the silence of the canyon, and they all turned just as a huge 39-level griffon flew over them. It circled back and dove straight for Hyeok, who barely managed to dodge its sharp claws and beak by propelling himself off the cliff wall and to the side.

“Keep it away from Hyeok!” shouted SiCheng, his hand-knives already on his hands and ready to be thrown at the hungry beast. Both he and K rained arrows and blades on the griffon, but the beast’s feathers were armored and were hard to pierce. They managed to distract it long enough for Hyeok to tuck himself into a tiny alcove away from its razor-sharp talons, but the monster was relentless. A thrilling clarion call made them all turn again. Yao had taken her phoenix form and was flying head-on at the griffon.

She crashed into the beast with enough momentum to smash it against the cliff face, but the griffon recovered quickly, and she had to dodge its beak as it attacked her. She flew away, and it gave chase, quickly catching up with her and tackling her. SiCheng’s breath left his lungs as if he’d been punched when he saw it tear its talons through her back, drawing a pained cry from her. Both flying creatures plummeted to the ground, still tangled in a fight with one another.

“Yao!” screamed Hyeok, who had just managed to land and free himself from the rope harness to kneel next to a pale SiCheng on the edge of the rock.

“Ming! Mao! Get the others down safely! Track us down when you reach the bottom!” ordered SiCheng in a hurry. Both men had barely responded in the affirmative when the captain and Hyeok were already jumping down from stone to stone, fear of falling pushed back to the furthest recesses of their minds and replaced by terror of losing Yao.

Eagle-like screeches lead them to a sunken clearing not far away from the cliff wall. In the distance, they could seeYao was still in her phoenix form, facing off with the battered griffon. One of her wings was torn and clearly broken, dripping blood on the flowers growing around the meadow. They were still too far away to be able to read her stats, but it was clear her opponent was on the brink of death. With a mighty body slam, she sent the griffon sprawling, and moments later, it disappeared in a flash of light. Still running, both Hyeok and SiCheng pushed themselves to go faster when she stumbled back, shifting out of her animal form as she fell. Hyeok, being the fastest of the two, reached her just in time to catch her from behind before she hit the ground. He lowered himself to his knees on the grass with her cradled to his chest, stabilizing her head in the crook between his shoulder and neck.

“You’re ok, little one, I’m here, I’ve got you,” he crooned as she whimpered and her breath came out in pained wheezes. Her eyes fluttered closed. “Don’t close your eyes, love, please,” he murmured, gently pushing her hair out of her face where it was sticking to her clammy skin and pressing a comforting kiss on her temple. His trembling hand gently cradled her broken arm, shushing her sweetly when she whined in discomfort.

“Here, darling, drink this for me, yeah? I know you don’t like it, but do it for Gege, and I’ll give you something sweet later,” coaxed SiCheng, voice strained as he kneeled beside them and carefully cupped her jaw, applying enough pressure to make her open her mouth. When she complied, he tipped a glowing blue potion past her lips.

She coughed once but drank the whole thing obediently. They looked up at her stats and sighed in relief when her health quickly climbed up to 16%. The potion was meant to restore 15% of your health, meaning she had been at 1% when they got to her. They exchanged glances but said nothing while Yao recovered her breath. Her arm had healed at least, but some blood remained smeared on her skin, making them clench their teeth at the sight.

Voices called out for them in the distance, and SiCheng was about to get up to call for them back, knowing their location marker would not be helpful due to the hidden nature of the clearing, but Yao’s small hand caught his sleeve. He turned back to her and covered her cold fingers with his. Her eyes fluttered open slowly. “Gege,” she mumbled, blinking fast to dispel the disorientation fogging her mind.

“We’re here, love, both of us,” said SiCheng softly as he kissed her hand and caressed her cheek.

“Cheng is just going to get Yue so he can heal you,” said Hyeok soothingly. After a few moments, she nodded, and SiCheng left to guide the others.

She winced in pain but tried to sit up, prompting Hyeok to hold her up more firmly against his chest so she would be somewhat upright. Once she was relatively more vertical, she sighed and lay back against him. “I’m sorry I worried you,” she said softly, looking back over her shoulder at him. Her eyes were big and full of apology, deflating him out of his previous tension. He dropped his head on her shoulder and basked in her sweet scent.

“You need to stop doing this, baby. You don’t need to keep putting yourself in front of me if there is danger,” he chided softly, nuzzling her neck.

The pet name sent a pleasant shiver down her back, but she still shook her head in denial. “I will keep doing it, because we don’t know if dying will have repercussions for you IRL. Whatever effect it has on me, it’s negligible. If it's in my power to do something about it, none of you will die while I’m here,” she said firmly, “especially not you or Cheng-ge.”

This time, it was Hyeok who shook his head with a frustrated growl. “I hate it! I can’t bear to see you in so much pain,” he said gruffly. “It should be us protecting you.”

Yao’s eyes softened. She reached over her head and behind to caress his hair. “This is nothing to me. I’m glad to be able to do this for you.”

The others broke through the tree line and rushed to them. Yao welcomed them with her most dazzling smile. “Hi! Are you all alright?”

Ming facepalmed, Rui sighed, and the rest of them groaned in vexation. Yue elbowed his way through them and kneeled beside her. “You’re going to make me level up a lot faster if you keep pulling these stunts, pip-squeak. Twice in a day and the sun’s still out!” he said, casting his spell and watching her health climb up.

She laughed weakly. “I won’t give you so much trouble once I’m at level 40, promise!”

They had noticed she had leveled up during the fight and was now level 33. That meant she had regained full health somewhere along the fight, as it usually happened when you climbed a level and had still almost died at the hands of the monster that was much stronger than her. They all shuddered at that. Glancing at each other, silent oaths were taken. She wouldn’t be in this situation again if they could help it.

She was clearly used to doing things on her own. Even when they had teamed up in fights in the past, at first, she was mostly there as an external aid rather than operating fully within their usual team structure, never asking for backup or expecting them to save her. She’d even been surprised the first few times they’d jumped in to assist her. As time progressed and she got used to their fighting style, she still didn’t ask for help, but was no longer taken aback when the team rallied around her to allow her to heal. She used to tank for them a lot, taking on most of the enemy’s fire and sustaining damage that could have easily impaired them thanks to her high level on her previous characters, but back then, dying was simply a matter of respawning a few moments later. Now, the risks were very different and real.

Once Yue had brought her up to 75% health, he patted her leg gently and stepped back. With a silent nod from his partner, SiCheng took her carefully from Heok and started walking toward the Night Pass location with her in his arms. “We’re not far, but these forests have plenty of crawlers around; make sure to maintain the perimeter,” he ordered.

The others quickly got into position and escorted their leader and his precious cargo the rest of the way. This time, Yao didn’t complain about being carried, but her red cheeks and nose still made both the captain and his lieutenant smile fondly at her shyness.

The Night Pass entrance was easy to miss, being nothing more than an unassuming crack in the stone wide enough for Mao, who was the bulkiest of them, to squeeze through. Despite the dim light of the late afternoon, they’d found it easily enough guided by Yao, who was now back to full health and was once again walking on her own. They crab-walked through the narrow entrance for a few minutes, until suddenly the cave opened up into a wide tunnel full of self-illuminating crystal formations and iridescent plant life adorning the walls. Their soft, bluish glow gave the whole space a magical ambiance that set them all at ease.

Yao advanced, flanked by both Hyeok and SiCheng at the front of the group, while Mao and Ming took the rear.

“I can’t believe this place is even more beautiful than I remembered!” whispered Pang in awe.

“Most of us only came through here once. I’m surprised you remember it at all,” mumbled K, admiring a bioluminescent pink mushroom he passed by. Next to him, Yue was gleefully scraping Moon Dew off the walls and bottling it up, getting help from an annoyed but still helpful Rui.

Yao looked back at them and smiled. “We’ll reach the midway point in about one hour. We can then take a small detour to get to a safe zone for the night.”

SiCheng raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware there were safe zones here,” he commented. “It’s already a pretty safe area, being a secret passage and all.”

Yao smiled and nodded. “It is, but only about 0.5% of the players have discovered the hidden area within this pathway. It’s probably the most unknown Safe Zone in the whole western region.”

“And I’m guessing you are one of those rare few players,” said Hyeok with a proud little smile from her other side.

She turned to him and giggled. “You’ll see!”

After reaching the midway mark, Yao took them down a narrow tunnel that could have easily been mistaken for a shadow in the wall. They took out their fairy orbs to illuminate the way, and they gasped as the faint light reflected off the walls as if they were made of polished onyx. Soon, the floor tilted downwards, and the air grew cold. SiCheng pulled out a coat made of direwolf fur he’d earned on a legendary raid from his inventory and draped it over a surprised Yao.

“You really don’t have to, Cheng-ge! I can manage,” she murmured up at him, trying to lift the garment off her to give it back. Strong hands on her shoulders stopped her and made her turn her head to look at Hyeok.

“We’re both level 50 and have done the Weather Master challenge. Temperatures don’t affect us, little one, but you are not there yet. Just accept it, for our peace of mind, hm?” he coaxed, letting one of his hands fall but letting the other one rest over her shoulders to bring her closer to his side. SiCheng said nothing but caressed her cheek with a gentle finger in reassurance when she turned her head in his direction.

She pursed her lips but nodded reluctantly. They were right, she did need the coat, and she’d forgotten how temperatures dropped in this area because she’d been impervious to cold the last time she visited. Besides, it was a wonderful coat. Soft, warm, and it carried the soothing scent she was beginning to associate with SiCheng, leather and something woodsy that she couldn’t quite pinpoint. It soothed her in the same way Hyeok’s honey wax and ambergris scent relaxed her. She smiled softly to herself, drawing the coat’s collar closer. They were officially courting her now, so their actions were completely normal and, if anything, expected. She just wasn’t used to such attention and sweet gestures.

The glowing mushrooms and crystals from the main path paled in comparison to the tall, glass-like flowers and towering glowing rock spears that were revealed when they took the last turn in the narrow tunnel and emerged into a massive cave that could have well been the heart of the mountain. A serene body of water sat placidly taking up most of the space, and in its center, a small island with a traditional-looking building called for them. A neat row of white wooden boats waited for them on the shore, and by Yao’s directions, they divided again into groups to row their way across the water.

Having been the first boat to arrive at the island’s pier, SiCheng disembarked first and held out his hand to her, while Hyeok hovered his around her waist just in case she stumbled. Yao giggled and, at their inquiring gazes, she blushed. “You’re treating me like I’m made of glass,” she mumbled, thoroughly embarrassed.

Before any of them could answer, a honeyed, elderly voice broke through the stillness around them. “They are only treating you with the respect, reverence, and care that you deserve, Lady Yao.”

They turned, and Yao laughed, rushing forward and up a flight of ornate steps to embrace their hostess. It was a humanoid female serpent with golden eyes and dressed elegantly in a red winter Hanfu. Her long and claw-like hands were delicately holding a paper lantern. The detailed embroidery and fur trims on her robes, along with the ornate hair accessories decorating her intricate hairdo, gave her an air of royalty that had them all feeling like they were in the presence of a very important character of Aesteria. One that held no name, level, or any other sort of tags above her head like all the other players, NPCs, or any other creatures of the world.

Yao finally detached from her hug and ran back to SiCheng and Hyeok to take their hands and pull them to her. “Aunty Shang, these are KunHyeok and SiCheng, Lieutenant and Captain of ZGDX!” she said, pride dripping from her voice, making the two men stand straighter as the tall female looked over them. Yao then went back down the steps to the pier to fetch the rest of the team, who were just descending from their boats. In the interim, the serpent woman, Aunty Shang, studied the two men before her with a serious expression.

“I’ve heard both of your names from Lady Yao before,” she said quietly. “I know you’re interested in her, but if I find out your intentions are less than true and honest, I will make sure you rue the day you came to Aesteria.” Her tone left them no doubt she was being one hundred percent serious about her threats, but neither SiCheng nor Hyeok flinched back at her hostility.

Instead, both of them saluted and bowed to her. “If we ever hurt or dishonor Yao in any way, feel free to rain your punishment on us,” said SiCheng formally.

“Her happiness and well-being are our priority,” added Hyeok firmly.

Aunty Shang smiled then, dangerous and satisfied. “Good. I’ll be watching you, to make sure you do as promised,” she whispered, leaving both men to look at each other in surprise as she made her way further down the stairs to greet the rest of the team.

“Aunty Shang’s Inn is the best and safest in Aesteria,” gushed Yao as they all trailed after the female serpent up the stairs and towards the huge and ancient mansion-like building. “You’ll love it here, I’m sure.”

The boys thought Yao had been exaggerating a little, considering they had been to the most expensive Inns across the land and those were very hard to surpass, but once they crossed the round main gate and found themselves staring at the exquisite gardens, courtyards and pristinely preserved imperial-styled palace, they weren’t so sure anymore. They were given rooms in pairs, save for Yao, who got one for herself in a completely different wing from the rest of the team, despite her rolling her eyes at the doll-like NPC manning the front desk, named “SiSi”. “Lady Shang’s orders, Lady Yao,” she chirped, and they all snickered at Yao’s huff.

SiCheng leaned down. “She’s doing everything in her power to keep us villainous, lascivious males away from the pure and innocent female lead,” he whispered in her ear, smirking at her furious blush.

“But distance is irrelevant, little bunny,” said Hyeok, voice low and growly on her other side, lips just a hair’s width away from touching her earlobe, making her gasp. “If you want us with you tonight… All you need to do is call us, and we’ll be there.”

She shivered and whirled around to glower at them, pouting at their unrepentant grins. “You two are impossible!” she huffed, cheeks growing even warmer when their grins turned into predatory smirks that sent hot butterflies scattering across her tummy and made her legs feel weak.

SiCheng winked at her and turned away to herd the rest of the team up the stairs to the left wing, where their rooms were located. “See you in a bit for dinner, love,” said Hyeok with an indulgent smile and a quick caress to her chin, before he too turned and left.

Yao went up to her room, the same suite she always got whenever she visited, and plopped on the huge bed with a contented sigh. Her cheeks were still beet red from her boys’ teasing, but her lips were pulled up into a nervous smile. Her hands trailed down to her lower abdomen, where she could feel the effects of their sultry words whenever they teamed up to tease her. “If they can make me feel like this with just words, what would it be like…” she trailed off, unable to voice her thoughts out loud. She turned around and squealed into a pillow.

Dinner was served at a lavish open pavilion overlooking the serene water and illuminated by pretty paper lanterns that gave the space a warm atmosphere. It was closer to a banquet than a normal dinner spread, and the boys, dressed in their most formal wear by orders of their hostess, waited eagerly for Yao to arrive so they could dig into the mouthwatering dishes. SiCheng and Hyeok both wore matching black and gold robes that made them look like royalty, seated at the head of the table side by side. Between them, a plush cushion of purple silk waited for their lady to take her place.

The doors opened, and Aunty Shang appeared in the doorway, drawing their attention. Their focus shifted completely, however, when she stepped to the side and Yao came into view, looking like a goddess in white and gold silks with fur trims and a gorgeous hairstyle that had half of her silky tresses tumbling over her shoulder.

Ming leaned over and whispered to K. “The pavilion could catch fire and neither of them would notice,” he said humorously.

K snorted softly. “We might as well become one with the decoration, from this point on, it will be as if none of us exist at this table.”

As if to prove K right, both of their leaders quickly stood up and rounded the table to offer their hands to Yao, who looked startled at their sudden move but took their offer with a shy little smile. Once she got comfortable on her cushion, the two of them lowered themselves on either side of her and began putting food on her plate. She sputtered. “Don’t just watch me eat! Have some yourselves too!” she chided after a few minutes.

SiCheng took a bite of meat to appease her, but immediately picked up an even juicier morsel to offer her. “I eat better when you eat first,” he said serenely, taking her by surprise.

She searched his eyes for a couple of seconds, finding only honesty in his amber gaze. She smiled teasingly and leaned forward to take the offered meat straight from his chopsticks, savoring it and humming in appreciation. She looked up at him from under her lashes and almost giggled at the stunned look on his face.

“Naughty Bunny, now you’ve done it,” said Hyeok from her other side with a wicked grin. He had his cup slightly raised as if ready to take a sip from it, and Yao decided then and there she was all in for it.

She reached over and, taking advantage of his surprise, she pulled his arm closer to her. She held his wrist gently with both hands, drinking down a mouthful of sweet juice from his cup. She sat back with a satisfied smile and laughed lightly at the gaping looks the rest of the boys were giving her.

“Welcome to the family, sister-in-law,” said Yue, laughter and delight coloring his voice as he raised his cup in a toast. The team quickly recovered and offered their own congratulations boisterously, joining in on the toast. Yao waved them off with a laugh, while beside her, she could feel the scorching heat of the two bodies now pressing closer to her, keeping her blissfully warm in the cold night air of the cave. She continued to take bites of meat from SiCheng’s chopsticks whenever he offered and took sips from Hyeok’s cup as he gently held it up to her lips. She didn’t dare to look at either of them in the eyes after her first attempt revealed a burning fire in their gazes that made her feel excited and nearly overwhelmed with anticipation.

Eventually, the food was all gone, and the team was rising to retire for the night. SiCheng and Hyeok escorted her to the foot of the stairs that led up to her room, like the perfect gentlemen they were. She stepped up to the first step, but then faltered for a second. She then turned and, in a swift but graceful move, planted a small, sweet kiss on the corner of their mouths. She then mumbled a good night to them and ran up the stairs. SiCheng and Hyeok watched her go until her form disappeared from view.

Hyeok laughed, half exhilarated and half frustrated. “Do you think she knows what she’s doing to us?”

SiCheng sighed and rubbed his face with the palm of his hand as if to dispel something from his eyes. “Doubt it, but I’m ready to level up in patience and self-control at this point.”

Hyeok snorted and swung an arm around his partner’s broad shoulders. “Come, let’s take a walk around the gardens to clear our heads before we go up to the room,” he said, knowing perfectly well that a few rounds of intimacy would not quench the fire Yao had ignited on them that night.

Aunty Shang tutted at a blushing Yao as she helped her get the accessories out of her hair. “I almost feel sorry for those two boys. You knew perfectly well you would wreck them by flirting that way.”

Yao blushed, but her grin was unrepentant. “I did, but you shouldn’t feel sorry, Aunty. It’s not like I plan to leave them hanging.”

Aunty Shang looked up from her task and locked her eyes with Yao through the mirror of her vanity. “Are you sure, YaoYao? You don’t have to if you don’t feel ready.”

Yao smiled thankfully at the female serpent. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life, Aunty. They are it for me.”

Aunty Shang ran her fingers lovingly through the girl’s hair, and a small but proud smile bloomed on her face. “I’ve just renovated the hot springs’ bath house and the wards are back in place, so you can go bathe knowing you won’t be disturbed by other guests,” she said a minute later, pleating Yao’s hair.

Yao’s blush deepened, but she patted the elder female’s hands thankfully and nodded in understanding.

SiCheng and Hyeok ended up taking a walk around the island, admiring the vastness of the cave and the way it reassembled a night sky complete with twinkling stars, with the way the crystals embedded in the rocky dome reflected the light from the many lanterns strewn around the mansion. As they neared the path that would take them to the back courtyard, they heard a familiar voice singing sweetly. It was an old love ballad from a mermaid to her darling sailor, beckoning him to return to the sea to be with her forever. They had never heard Yao sing before, and her crystal clear tone had them completely mesmerized, following a small, winding path amongst tall shrubbery that neither of them had noticed before, looking for her.

They finally crossed a small archway and were met with clouds of thick vapor and a sight that would forever be ingrained into their memories. To their left was a small building with an open terrace, but they ignored it completely in favor of staring at the goddess standing up to her chest in the natural hot spring before them. She was wearing a simple white linen robe that clung, almost completely see-through, to her wet skin. Her long hair was braided and secured to her pretty little head in a coronet, leaving her elegant swan neck exposed for their adoration. She had her back to them, gently exfoliating the skin of her arm with a natural sponge.

She placed her tool in a small wooden tray and partially turned to them, allowing them to feast on her sweet profile illuminated by the warm light of the lanterns surrounding the space. “The water is nice,” she said simply, a small smile crossing her features. “Care to join me for a dip?”

“Yao,” warned SiCheng, voice rough and brimming with barely constrained desire. “Do you know what you’re asking of us, baby?”

She turned fully towards them, and a small, whispered expletive left Hyeok’s lips just as SiCheng swallowed thickly. Her movement in the water had made her loose robe hang halfway down her shoulders, revealing her collarbones and more than what would be considered a healthy dose of her cleavage for both men’s cardiac health. She smiled shyly up at them, but her eyes were full of certainty.

“I’m asking my suitors to join me for a bath in the hot springs,” she said, lifting one hand out of the water and swiping a lock of her hair that had come undone from her braid back into place, adding to the picture of innocence she was unwittingly portraying. “I trust nothing I don’t want will happen while I’m in your company. Or am I wrong to trust you?”

“Never,” said Hyeok without hesitation. “We’d rather chop our hands off than hurt you in any way, little one.”

She smiled and nodded. “Good. Then come and find me when you’re ready,” she sing-songed, slipping further away into the spring and disappearing behind a boulder. They could hear her singing again and water rippling as she drifted.

Hyeok turned to SiCheng just as he raised his hands to hold Hyeok’s face. “Are we really in control? Are we ready to do this?” he asked quietly, his dark gaze locking with SiCheng’s cognac eyes.

SiCheng took a step closer and pressed their foreheads together. “If she pulls back from us, would you still want to press closer?” he asked.

Hyeok’s answer was immediate. “Of course not.”

“If she says no… or even if she doesn’t but her body language tells you she’s uncomfortable, would you still want to continue whatever it is we’re doing?” he pressed again.

“Absolutely not,” spat Hyeok with vehemence.

SiCheng nodded. “Then yes, we are ready to do this,” he said, centering himself. “As long as she responds positively and explicitly allows us to touch her.”

Hyeok took a deep breath. “That’s our girl, Cheng,” he whispered, awe and disbelief warring with hope and pride.

SiCheng smiled and kissed him slowly, savoring his partner’s hope and sharing his own with him in return. “She is,” he agreed verbally when they parted. “Let’s go show her.”

They undressed down to their lower undergarments, which were essentially a longer and looser version of boxers. After neatly folding the rest of their clothes and placing them on a table on the terrace, they walked into the warm water. They waded their way through the small rock maze following Yao’s voice again and found her at a naturally formed infinity edge overlooking the lake.

“We’ve never heard you sing before,” said SiCheng conversationally as they approached, mostly to let her know they were close.

She laughed. “I’m a bit shy about it, so I do it mostly when I’m on my own,” she said, looking over her shoulder at them. Her robe clung dangerously low on her shoulders, and SiCheng couldn’t help but feast his eyes on the soft expanse of skin on display.

“Your voice is beautiful. Thank you for letting us listen,” said Hyeok, prompting her to look the other way to face him.

She blushed but smiled. “Thank you for making me feel safe enough to do it in the first place,” she said quietly, suddenly feeling very shy upon noticing just how much of their chest was visible over the water. They were built for battle and speed, full of lean muscle and quiet strength. She blushed further when their cocky grins appeared, meaning they had noticed her admiring them.

The teasing glint in their eyes emboldened her to tease back. “Being as tall as you does have its downside, I see,” she said, tilting her head cutely and smirking at their now confused gazes.

“And what downside is that?” asked SiCheng, taking a tentative step toward her, being echoed by Hyeok. They were now less than an arm’s length away from her.

She looked up at them with her huge, soulful eyes, and he knew whatever was about to come out of her mouth would set fire to the crumbling barrier between them. “I’m all warm and comfy with spring water almost up to my throat and having to walk on my tiptoes, but you’re just standing there, getting half your body chilled by the night air because you’re giants.”

SiCheng barked out a laugh, and Hyeok huffed in amusement. They both slid closer still and gently caged her against the smooth rock edge. “We’re plenty warm, even if we’re not submerged in hot water,” said Hyeok, taking one of her hands and lifting it up to his lips for a quick kiss to her fingertips. “Want to check for yourself?” he asked, bringing the same hand to hover over his naked pectoral, right over his heart.

Her eyes flickered between her hand and his eyes, full of patience and something else that she was still not ready to name. She pressed her palm to his skin, finding no resistance from him. He dropped his hand, and she traced a little wet heart into his skin, making him grin. She then turned to SiCheng and lifted her other hand toward his chest.

SiCheng pressed her hand with his into his chest and took a deep breath when she traced the same heart in his skin, too. “Are you marking us as yours, baby?” he asked, voice quiet and rough.

She glanced up at him and lifted her chin in cute defiance. “And if I am?” she asked.

He stepped even closer and placed an arm on the ledge behind her, leaning down but not quite touching her yet. “Then I thank you for the honor of being yours,” he said into her ear.

Her hands, still resting on their chests, trembled slightly as she shivered. Hyeok mimicked SiCheng’s stance on her other side. “Are you cold, little love?”

She shook her head and opened her mouth to respond, but she suddenly gasped and slid under the water. SiCheng's hand shot out and snaked around her waist to pull her up, bringing half of her body out of the water and against his chest. She sputtered a bit and hid her wince against his shoulder. Hyeok coaxed her to look at him and gently wiped the few strands of hair that had clung to her face out of the way.

“What is it, love?” he asked worriedly, noticing the way she was biting her lip.

She winced again and tried to wave his worry away. “It’s just a foot cramp! This part of the spring is deeper,” she explained hurriedly.

Realization dawned on their faces. “You were literally standing on your tiptoes this whole time! Our silly baby,” SiCheng admonished softly, turning her sideways in his arms so Hyeok could reach underwater for her legs. His arm around her waist and the one he’d just placed under her thighs to lift her toward Hyeok both tightened in reflex when her little hands turned to fists against his chest. He cursed inwardly when he looked down and the soft roundness of her breasts greeted him. The soaked white robe served only to teasingly obscure her delicate peaks.

“What foot, little one?” asked Hyeok, swallowing the lump lodged in his throat when he registered the silky smoothness of her bare legs in his hold and the picture she made, all wet and seeking comfort against SiCheng’s bare chest.

“Right one,” she said, wincing again when her muscle spasmed.

Hyeok expertly massaged her stiff calf with strong but gentle hands while SiCheng cuddled her closer to both comfort her and keep her warm. Once her muscles had relaxed, she sighed in relief, and SiCheng flexed his legs so she would be once again submerged in the warm water up to her neck. Hyeok led the way back to the front of the spring, where the rock had been carved into a wide and comfortable bench to sit in the shallower end of the pool. Hyeok took a seat, and SiCheng deposited her sideways in his lap before taking a seat next to them and pulling Yao’s legs into his own lap.
The water level once seated reached Yao’s collarbones and both men could breathe and think easier without the tantalizing view. Yao, for her part, was trying very hard not to think of where she was sitting and all the hard muscles holding her in place.

It was SiCheng, always the leader, who started the conversation. “I believe it’s time we continued where we left off earlier today, don’t you think, darling?”

His hands were softly kneading the tender spot behind her knees, while one of Hyeok’s was playing with her fingers on her lap. She felt cozy and cared for, knowing she was exactly where she wanted to be. She nodded and took a deep breath. “I want to tell you my story, all of it,” she said slowly. “If after I’m done you still want me, we can continue with this conversation.”

Neither of them seemed disturbed or put off by her words. Instead, Hyeok placed a lingering kiss on her temple, and SiCheng squeezed her leg gently to let her know he was listening. With a sigh, Yao revisited the most painful moments of her life.

“My name is Tong Yao, and on my fourteenth birthday, I was involved in a car accident that killed my mother and almost killed me.”

Chapter Text

“My name is Tong Yao, and on my fourteenth birthday, I was involved in a car accident that killed my mother and almost killed me,” she said, voice soft and laced with reminiscence. “My injuries were extensive, and I was left paralyzed due to the inflammation on my spine.”

SiCheng’s hands stilled for a moment, and then he resumed massaging her legs, his touch firmer and lingering as if to convince himself she was really there. Hyeok’s arms pulled her closer as he lowered his face to her hair. The notion that she could have been lost to them so many years ago was chilling to both of them.

She smiled faintly at their silent show of support and care, feeling more bolstered to continue speaking. “At that time, my father, Tong Yugong, was in the early stages of development for his new project, an MMORPG that would use Tong Technologies’ newly finished meta-neuro-links to create a fully immersive experience for the player.”

SiCheng and Hyeok exchanged glances at that. Not only were they realizing that Yao was the heiress to one of the most prestigious and wealthiest families in China, but also the daughter of the mastermind behind ToA, who had claimed in many public interviews to have dedicated the project to his beloved daughter.

Yao giggled quietly at their surprised faces. “Most of the conceptual world-building prototypes for ToA came from drawings and paintings I used to do as a child,” she said, gesturing to their surroundings. “So, when I was lying on my hospital bed, enduring pain no amount of morphine could alleviate, and the doctors offered to put me into an induced coma while my body healed, my dad had the brilliant idea to set me up with special neuro-links that would enable my mind to live here, in the familiar and beautiful landscapes of Aesteria, instead of being trapped in a dreamless darkness for an undefined amount of time.”

“And that was six years ago?” asked SiCheng quietly. His hand had gone mostly still on her legs, save for his thumb running soothing circles on her thigh just above her knee.

She nodded. “That first year, the game was far from ready for publication. There were parts of the map still unfinished, and most of the NPCs and monsters weren’t around yet. But the special neuro-links my dad used for me allowed me to exist here despite there being constant changes made to the code around me,” she explained.

“It was great at first! I got to help out a lot with the aesthetics decisions and even fine-tuned some of the original gameplay features by testing them myself,” she said enthusiastically, making both boys chuckle at her adorable outburst of pride.

SiCheng hummed. “So you had contact with the real world constantly, I assume,” he commented.

She nodded. “I would speak to Dad when he logged in as an admin, and he kept me updated on my body’s recovery. It was slow and bumpy progress, but my spine was healing, and the rest of my body was recovering well after all the surgeries they had to perform to save some of my organs,” she recounted, eyes becoming sad.

“But… We’re not sure what happened,” she continued, voice dropping in volume as her hands clenched into fists under the water, bunching up her already short robe. “I was almost sixteen when they first tried to bring me up from my coma. I didn’t wake up, no matter what they tried. After several attempts, we theorized that my being here while the game’s code was being altered somehow bonded my mind to this interface. Like my consciousness can’t find its way back to my body because it thinks this,” she looked down at herself, “is the real thing.”

SiCheng leaned forward and gently wiped the silent tears that had escaped her eyes. Hyeok’s hands captured hers and massaged them until she relaxed. With a deep sigh, she forced herself to finish her story.

“I wanted to die at first. I wanted them to disconnect me from everything at the hospital and just let me go, but I never voiced it out loud to my dad. I felt selfish for wanting the easy way out after everything he’d been through, first losing Mom and then trying to save me.” She shook her head to dispel the fatalistic mindset that always took hold of her when she remembered the despair she felt back then.

Hyeok and SiCheng thought back to how many people, NPCs and players alike, knew and adored Yao all around Aesteria. They’d personally seen how many of them would even go out of their way just to greet her when they saw her from afar. Their girl was a little social butterfly, and they couldn’t imagine her alone for such a long time. Hyeok kissed her hair comfortingly. “This aligns with the Beta phase launch of ToA, so I’m guessing he decided to publish it to give you the chance to interact with real people.”

She smiled softly. “Yeah,” she sighed, clearly remembering those days. “It was chaotic at first, but it was wonderful to be able to speak to others after so long!” she laughed. “We didn’t expect it to have such a massive success.”

“You were, quite literally, here from the start,” said SiCheng, tenderly caressing her cheek. “No wonder you seem so at home here.”

She leaned into his palm and nodded. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, preparing herself for the next bit of information she felt like she had to reveal. “While six years have gone by in real life, technically, I have lived here twenty-four years in virtual time, which makes me almost forty. I’m practically your elder.” Her boys were smarter than most and would eventually figure it out on their own, so her saying it now could save them from misunderstandings and discomfort later.

They both froze for a second, eyes wide and surprised. Of course, thought SiCheng, every hour in real life was the equivalent of four in the game. Both Hyeok and he had spent eight to twelve hours daily in real life, immersed in the game since they decided to become professionals three years ago, so they could understand how disorienting it could be to return to reality on a Tuesday evening after spending a whole weekend fighting in a digital magical world. Yao had seen decades go by on her own, yet she retained her sweet and innocent disposition despite it all.

“Yet you don’t look a day over twenty,” he said, a fond smile appearing on his face. He could understand her fear of being rejected by her perceived age. Except she was wrong. Neither he nor Hyeok would ever consider that against her.

“And you’re still our blushy baby,” said Hyeok in her ear teasingly, confirming SiCheng’s thoughts.

She blinked in surprise at them. “Did nothing of what I said weird you out?”

Hyeok nuzzled her neck lightly. “Nothing of what you said sounds weird to me, little one. Your circumstances are tragic, and I can only understand the turmoil and anxiety that must have been your companions all this time, but I’m not repulsed by any of it.”

“If anything, I can only wish we had known sooner so that Hyeok and I could have been around more often to spend more time with you here,” said SiCheng. The hand on her cheek now cupped her chin gently to lift her eyes to him, letting her see in his gaze his honesty.

A little sigh escaped her at their combined attention. The butterflies on her lower abdomen were in a fevered frenzy at their closeness, battling with her mind and making it nearly impossible to focus on anything else but them at the moment.

“You would have been our girl years ago,” whispered Hyeok hotly against her throat, depositing biting kisses in between words. “We could have pampered and spoiled you with love and attention all this time. Would have made sure you didn’t feel lonely.”

“Water under the bridge. What matters now is that we make up for all that time we lost,” said SiCheng, squeezing her thigh gently with one hand while his other tilted her head so Hyeok had more room to kiss. “If that is what you want, of course, little love.”

A satisfied smirk bloomed on his and Hyeok’s faces when her eyelids fluttered and she whispered a breathy “yes” in response. He leaned further into her and brought one of her hands to his shoulder. “I’m going to kiss you, Yao. And then Hyeok and I will show you just how much we’ve been wanting you for years,” he growled, lips a breath away from touching hers. “Tell us to stop, or pinch my shoulder if at any point you don’t want to continue. Understood, darling?”

Yao felt like she was burning, and it had nothing to do with the warm water surrounding her. Her hand on SiCheng’s shoulder went to his hair and pulled him to her, closing the distance between them and crashing their lips together. His surprise gave her the upper hand for all of two seconds, until he recovered and took over. The man kissed the same way he led his men into battle, decisively, without hesitation, and masterfully in control. Yao felt herself letting go of the tightly held awareness that she always carried, giving in and trusting that SiCheng wouldn’t let her fall, just like he never let his team down.

Behind her, Hyeok’s strong chest and arms held her like she was something precious, a treasure worth revering. His lips hadn’t stopped their assault on her neck, and his warm breath pressing sweet nothings into the sensitive skin behind her ear and throat was driving her crazy. There was no moment she didn’t feel cherished by them both, and it made her soul sing with love. Love for the two men who seemed intent on devouring her whole.

She was panting by the time SiCheng broke the kiss. Her mewls and airy sighs, no longer swallowed by him, now dropped freely from her lips every time Hyeok licked and sucked on a sensitive spot along the junction of her neck and uncovered shoulder, or when SiCheng’s hand on her thigh squeezed higher and higher, closer to the raging inferno she felt coalescing at her core.

“I think it’s time we took this elsewhere,” whispered SiCheng against her temple, voice rough and low-pitched.

Yao opened her eyes, unsure of when she’d closed them in the first place. “The room in the bath house is warded, no one else but us can come near,” she said shakily.

Hyeok chuckled darkly. “So you lured us into your trap, little siren? Did you want us all for yourself?” he asked, rubbing little circles over her tummy with his thumb as he pulled her flush against his chest. His hard bulge brushed her hip, and she shivered.

Her heated skin surprised her by flushing even hotter. “Can you blame me?” she retorted, fidgeting slightly in his hold and making him stifle a groan against her hair.

Sicheng laughed as he shifted on the bench and, with Hyeok’s help, pulled her with both arms around her waist to straddle him. She squeaked in surprise at the sudden movement, throwing her arms around his shoulders and then gasped when she settled and felt him, hard, hot, and wonderfully thick underneath her, the flimsy barrier of his undergarment cloth the only thing between them, considering her robe had to have parted away by now. He growled and pressed her closer, swallowing down a groan as he felt what could only be her exposed core slide over his aching member. She moaned prettily, and he smirked in wicked delight.

“That’s how much I want you, little love. All of it is yours and you’ll get to play as much as you want with it, but we’re still far from that,” he said huskily, loving her glazed eyes and swollen lips. One of his hands came up and gently guided her chin to the side to look at Hyeok, who had one hand under the water and the other thrown casually behind his head, watching the two of them.

“See that, baby?” he asked teasingly, signaling Hyeok to stand up. The Korean man laughed quietly and winked at a wide-eyed Yao as he obeyed, slowly rising and taking a few steps toward the shallow edge of the natural pool. Water ran down his chiseled torso and the prominent V of muscles on his hips, under which the translucent white fabric of his undergarments did nothing but enhance the massive tent created by his male anatomy. “That man is ours, darling. Isn’t he gorgeous?” taunted SiCheng, whispering the words in her ear but not letting his eyes stray away from his lover, who returned the gaze just as hotly.

One of Yao’s hands came loose from around his neck, and she let out a little contented sigh as she pulled one of her knuckles into her mouth, pupils dilated, studying Hyeok’s figure. “Do you want to touch him?” he asked, lips twitching when she hurriedly nodded. “Do you want to explore his body and see how he looks lost in pleasure?” SiCheng smirked and stood, holding her with one arm around her hips, prompting her to lock her legs around his waist with the other and letting his hand rest on her upper thigh, just below the seam between her leg and her plump bottom. Again, she nodded quickly, not tearing her eyes away from their lover, but playing with SiCheng’s hair with the hand still around his neck.

Both men smirked at their silent but clearly eager little lover, looking like the very epitome of an erotic siren, see-through robe bunched up around her legs and partially open at the front, leaving very little of her gloriously shaped body to their very active imagination. SiCheng carried her out of the water, following Hyeok into the warm and fully furnished bath house. A cozy sitting area greeted them first with a fireplace already lit in the corner, and tea things set out and ready to be used on a small table to the side. Beyond, a rice paper screen stood elegantly separating the main area from a small bedroom. There, a bed covered in soft bedding had been prepared already, with soft plush towels set out for them.

Hyeok picked the softest one and unfolded it in time for SiCheng to put Yao down and usher her into his arms. Gently, he patted her face and arms dry, while behind her, SiCheng knelt and did the same on her legs with another towel. Just as Hyeok reached her chest area, SiCheng’s hands reached the edge of her robe around her upper thighs, and both sets of hands stilled. She looked at their questioning gaze and smiled at her respectful men. As SiCheng stood again and flanked her back, with certain hands but blushy cheeks, she undid the knot on the sash that had up until now done a miraculous job of keeping her robe closed.

The wet fabric slid down her shoulders in a torturously slow motion that two sets of eyes trailed hungrily. The rosy buds of her perky and full breasts finally came into view as the fabric finally gave way, making both men swallow thickly at the delectable sight. When her robe got caught on the crook of her elbows, SiCheng slowly took charge, giving her time to deny him if she wanted to, but finding no resistance from her whatsoever. His hands glided over her skin lightly, taking with them the fabric and pushing it down so it fell the rest of the way.

Hyeok slowly lifted a hand and caressed her cheek, sliding down his finger lightly over her lips, down her throat, and lower still until it reached the valley between her bosom. “How are you so perfect, little love?” he whispered right before he dove down and kissed her, hands going around her waist to pull her flush to him. SiCheng, for his part, looked proudly at his two lovers while he got rid of his underwear first and then reached over to deftly untie Hyeok’s. All three of them were now completely bare, and the heat emanating from their skin battled with the intensity of the fire in the chimney.

When Hyeok broke the kiss, Yao turned her head back and blinked cutely at SiCheng, who could only chuckle fondly before leaning down and planting a short but possessive kiss to her pouty lips. She giggled when he pulled back. “Learning to wield your powers over us already, little minx?” he asked, amused at her proud look.

She laughed outright, turning away from them and towards the bed, giving them a clear view of her round and supple bottom. Just as she reached the edge of the mattress, she looked over her shoulder and winked at them, leaning forward to pull the bedcovers away. Choked expletives from her men at the stunt she’d just pulled had her grinning as she quickly folded the cloth and set it atop the chest at the foot of the bed. A warm body pressed behind her, but what made her gasp was the sheer size of the hot and hard member making its presence known against her lower back. Warm hands settled gently against her hip and lower ribcage, not moving, just grounding her.

“You can tease us all you want, baby,” came SiCheng’s rough voice against her ear. “We’ll let you play to your heart’s content, but that means you will have to endure our teasing too.”

Hyeok then came into view, taking a seat on the bed and getting comfortable against the headboard using a few of the many pillows to cushion his back, one leg extended toward her and one casually bent. His right hand combed back his damp hair while the other rested over his bent knee in such a carefree fashion that made Yao stare. His defined musculature, his boyish grin, and the contrast of his light skin with the flushed, almost red hue of his engorged member standing at attention had Yao swallowing thickly with want. She’d never seen a man’s penis before so she wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting. It looked long and slightly curved towards his abdomen, with a somewhat bulbous head that reminded her of a lollipop. A small, translucent bead of whitish liquid leaked from the tip, and a strong urge to know what it tasted like invaded her along with the need to feel it filling her to the brim. She felt dizzy with all the possibilities.

SiCheng’s voice once again caressed her ear while his fingers squeezed her gently. “Do you want to explore on your own, Bunny? Or would you like me to guide you a little bit?”

She tore her eyes away from Hyeok’s delicious form and looked up at SiCheng’s dark and heated gaze. “What do I do, Gege? I’ve never done this before,” she confessed simply, breaking eye contact and lowering her eyes to the wooden chest in front of her, entirely missing the predatory and hungry expressions that flashed on both men’s faces at her innocent admission. They had, of course, suspected it, given her situation, but to hear it confirmed from her own lips fanned the flames of possessiveness in their chests.

SiCheng kissed her temple and guided her around to stand right next to the bed, his hands now circling her waist and hugging her to his chest. “I will guide you for as long as you want, Sweetness. But remember what I said earlier, just tell us to stop or pinch any of us if you need to. We’ll stop immediately, no questions asked.”

She nodded and looked up at him with a grateful little smile. “I trust you, Gege,” she said softly, looking back at Hyeok and smiling at him too. “Both of you.”

When she shivered, SiCheng lifted her, then Hyeok surged forward to pull her to him, settling her on his lap. Her eyes widened as she shifted and felt Hyeok’s hardness nestled right against her bottom.

“Don’t worry about that little one, you’ll get as much of it as you want later,” promised Hyeok, using both hands to hold her in place by the waist while SiCheng got settled behind her. Their warmth chased away the chill from her skin, letting her sink deeper into the feeling of safety and coziness that they both made her feel whenever she was around them.

“We’ll learn your body first, baby. We’ll study what you like and what makes you mewl so prettily for us,” said SiCheng, pressing kisses against the nape of her hair and caressing the skin down her back and around her hips to knead the soft junction of her thighs, just shy of the place she most wanted him. “Then we’ll make you cum as many times as you can stand tonight.”

SiCheng’s actions made her arch against him, and Hyeok wasted no time dipping down and kissing the soft mounds of her breasts, gently cupping them with both hands to bring her pink little peaks higher, lavishing them with his tongue. Her hands went to his shoulders but didn’t push him away, merely holding herself steady against the hot assault of their attention.

She panted heavily, feeling hot all over but still wanting more. “Please,” she mewled softly, turning her head slightly, looking for SiCheng. He perked up immediately.

“What does my little love want? Tell me and I’ll give it to you,” he pleaded, keeping his hands still, and tapping Hyeok’s shoulder to make him slow down in case she wanted out.

She dropped her head back and one of her hands captured his wrist, bringing it to rest over her womb, right over the dark curls that covered her womanhood. SiCheng’s eyes looked like molten embers. “You want my fingers, baby? Want me to show you how good it feels to fall apart in my hands while Hyeok watches you?”

She nodded fervently as she blinked up at Hyeok, whose gaze seemed pitch black with want and anticipation. “I bet you’ll look divine with your pretty little hole stuffed full of Cheng’s long fingers,” he said hotly, also putting his hand over SiCheng’s and pushing it slowly downward so his fingers were in direct contact with her slit. They both hissed out a curse when they felt her heat and wetness on their skin. SiCheng’s fingers gently parted her folds and dipped lightly into her, brushing her clit with every movement. Hyeok’s hand went back to playing with her breasts while he stared down, mesmerized, at where Sicheng’s fingers disappeared into Yao.

He then groaned out loud when she started rocking her hips in time with SiCheng’s fingers, brushing her bottom against his cock in a tantalizing way that had him seeing stars. SiCheng’s hardness pressed in against his, trapping them both against Yao’s plump cheeks, creating delicious friction that ripped moans out of the two of them.

Still, SiCheng’s fingers didn’t falter once, plunging into Yao’s tight heat, curving and moving, drawing moans and sighs out of her until she gasped and jerked violently. SiCheng smirked and curled his fingers just so, brushing insistently against that spot over and over again while with his other hand on her hip, he encouraged her to continue moving, riding his hand and giving him and Hyeok a taste of what it would be like to have her ride them.

She trembled and moaned, calling out for them both when her pleasure finally overtook her. SiCheng gritted his teeth and Hyeok bit his lip to stop themselves from falling over the edge with her. She slumped backwards against SiCheng’s chest while he slowly and carefully pulled his soaked digits out of her. Her eyes fluttered open in time to see Hyeok pulling SiCheng’s hand by the wrist and licking his fingers one by one. She whimpered at the sight, and Hyeok smirked at her.

“You are as delicious as you sound, my love,” he said once he’d finished cleaning her juices from their lover’s hand.

Her chest heaved as she giggled airily, the movement pulling soft groans out of the boys. She shifted her hips, taunting both of them. “Were you being serious when you told me I could have it?” she asked, eyes half lidded.

Hyeok sat up at the same time SiCheng pressed her forward, caging her between the two. “We’re always serious when we offer you things, sweetness. Always have been,” assured SiCheng, one hand snaking around her waist and the other going to settle at her throat. There was no pressure on his hand, just warmth and possessiveness. “If you want our cocks, all you have to do is ask and we’ll give it to you however you want it,” he growled, rocking his hips against her back to drive his point.

She moaned quietly and went pliant in his hold. “I want it, Gege,” she sighed. “Want to know what it feels like to be full of you, please?”

Hyeok chuckled. “What a polite baby we have, Cheng. She’s just too precious,” he cooed, thumbing at her nipples and pressing kisses against her collarbone. “Are you sure that’s what you want, little love? Do you want us to be your first?”

She nodded again, her hands cupping his face as she smiled at him. “Yes. I want you both to be my first, here, tonight,” she confirmed softly, looking back over her shoulder and finding SiCheng’s gaze studying her intently.

SiCheng kissed her shoulder. “Don’t worry, little darling, we’ll make sure you know nothing but our names and the pleasure of being stuffed full of us when we’re done for the night,” he promised, nodding to Hyeok.

Recognizing the order, Hyeok’s hand went to her core and gently slid his fingers into her, ripping a surprised moan out of her. He brought her up to the brink again, but just before her orgasm crested, SiCheng lifted her by the hips at the same time Hyeok’s fingers slipped out of her to be replaced by the tip of his shaft. She gasped and tensed up for a moment, but SiCheng’s grip on her held her steady, suspended until she was ready and lowered herself further.

Hyeok’s jaw was clenched in concentration, forcing himself to sit still through the delicious torture of being encased in her warmth, letting her go at her own pace. Behind her, SiCheng offered his assistance in holding her up, offering relaxing encouragement and sweet praises the further she dropped down. When she was finally fully seated, they both hugged her between them, taking turns kissing her and kneading her thighs until the fire ignited in Yao had been stroked back into a frenzy.

A subtle shift of her hips was all it took for her to discover a whole new realm of pleasure. Hyeok being inside of her made her feel not only full but complete, and every time his hardness brushed that spot inside of her, sparks of pleasure ignited all over her body. That, paired with SiCheng’s hands roaming her body and kissing her neck, sent her into a spiral of need that soon had her begging out loud for more.

Before she knew what was happening, she was placed on her back, and Hyeok was pulling halfway out of her. Her protest died in her throat when he rammed back in, punching a loud moan out of her. One of her legs was lifted by the back of her knee, and she turned her head to find SiCheng holding her, eyes laser focused on the spot where Hyok’s cock plunged into her. She surged up and kissed his chin, capturing his attention and making him dive down to capture her lips in a dirty kiss in which his tongue plundered her mouth in time with Hyeok’s thrusts.

Their kiss broke apart when her orgasm hit her suddenly, and she screamed in ecstasy while Hyeok grunted and stuttered in his pace for a few more thrusts until he groaned and bowed over her, spilling his seed deep into her. Beside them, SiCheng gripped his cock tightly, staving off his own orgasm. “Fuck you are both so beautiful when you cum,” he growled, kissing Hyeok deeply and then turning to Yao to kiss her and praise her more.

Once they had both come down from their high, Hyeok pulled slowly and carefully out of her. SiCheng shushed her gently when she whimpered and pouted. “I don’t like that feeling,” she grumbled when Hyeok settled on her other side.

SiCheng pushed back a few strands of her hair that had fallen on her face. “What feeling, darling?”

“Being suddenly empty,” she mumbled before glancing up at SiCheng and pouting at him. “Are you not going to keep your promise?”

SiCheng looked confused. “What do you mean, baby? Any promise I gave you, I’ll fulfill it.”

She lowered her eyes and he followed her gaze to his own cock, still red and hard, resting against her hip and smearing precum on her silky skin. “You promised to give it to me, too,” she said, pursing her lips.

Hyeok laughed and kissed her temple while SiCheng chuckled. “I just thought one round would be enough for your first time, little love,” he said soothingly, lowering the hand he’d placed on her stomach down to cup her sex, and smirking when she pressed her legs together and squirmed. “But if you are still feeling needy, Gege will fix it.”

She looked up at him hopefully, and SiCheng swore inwardly. Hyeok was a passionate and almost insatiable lover, which he’d considered a blessing given his own high stamina. Now that Yao was finally with them and was apparently as insatiable as Hyeok and himself, SiCheng could only realize just how blessed he’d been in finding them both.

He turned her over to Hyeok, who settled her straddling his lap but encouraged her to lean forward on his chest. His cock was half hard again, she noticed, trapped between both of their stomachs and Yao was confused for a moment until SiCheng rose over her from behind. One of his heavy hands settled on the small of her back while his other kneaded her hip. She inhaled sharply when the tip of his thick cock kissed her entrance but didn’t push in.

“You have no idea how gorgeous you look right now, baby. Splayed over Hyeok like that with your pretty slit on display and dripping with his cum, waiting for me to fill you up with mine,” he said, voice low and brimming with pride and possession. Yao shivered at his words, wiggling her bottom lightly and giggling when both men practically growled at her in response.

Hyeok clamped his arms around her when SiCheng pushed into her, slowly but deliberately, making her mewl and gasp at his thickness. When he bottomed out, she sighed in contentment and settled her head sideways on Hyeok’s left pectoral, closing her eyes in pleasure. SiCheng shared a warm look full of happiness with Hyeok at that.

SiCheng pumped slowly in and out of her, building their pleasure and savoring every second of her heat around him. Meanwhile, the movement and friction had Hyeok hard and weeping again, riding the slow wave under them, relishing her weight on top of him.

Yao had cummed twice by the time SiCheng finished and was half asleep already when the boys cleaned her up with moist warm towels. When they finally settled into bed, one on each side of her, she nuzzled into SiCheng’s shoulders instinctively and pulled Hyeok’s arm that had been around her waist closer to her chest to hug as if it were a teddy bear.

Hyeok and SiCheng looked at each other over her head, eyes soft and full of love for one another and the precious woman nestled between them. “This is our girl, light,” murmured Hyeok softly, a tender smile playing on his lips.

SiCheng nodded minutely. “And we are hers,” he responded just as softly, dropping a kiss to the crown of her head when she shifted slightly in her sleep.

They woke up to the alarm they had set up the night before, still tangled in one another and feeling wonderfully sated. “Any pain, little one?” asked Hyeok quietly, kissing her shoulder as they sat up in bed.

She shook her head. “Just a little bit sore. Nothing that would slow me down today,” she confirmed, taking the cup of tea SiCheng had brought for her and Hyeok gratefully.

“I’m sorry, baby. I wish there was a way to make it better,” said SiCheng, frowning at the idea of her in pain because of them. On her other side, Hyeok massaged her lower back.

She smiled sweetly at them. “You worry too much. I wouldn’t change a single second of last night. So please don’t start regretting it now.”

Both of her boys shook their heads at once. “We don’t regret it at all. I just hate to see you in pain,” clarified Hyeok, caressing her throat.

“I know, I know,” she soothed, pressing a quick kiss to Hyeok and then to SiCheng’s lips. “Let’s not fret about it and get ready. I want to talk to Aunty Shang before we set out today,” she said, bubbly as usual.

Hyeok and SiCheng watched her go into the shower room, careless about her nudity and unknowingly riling them up with the sight of her beautiful body on display. Moments later, the sound of water could be heard.

“She might need help washing her back, don’t you think, Light?” asked Hyeok conversationally, eyeing SiCheng’s half-hard erection with a smirk.

His lover lunged for him, making him gasp a moan when his strong hand closed around his cock and pumped him slowly using his own precum as lubrication. “I’m thinking we could both use a hand,” growled SiCheng in his ear, prompting him to reach for his shaft too.

They kissed and pumped each other with sure and knowing hands, reaching their peaks long moments later. “If this is to be an every morning occurrence, I’m thinking an earlier alarm is in order,” said Yao’s breathy but amused voice, bringing them both immediately to attention. She was sitting on the chest at the foot of the bed, a towel wrapped tightly around her, barely long enough to reach her thighs. Her eyes, full of interest and heat, were lowered to their hands, which were still wrapped around each other.
“I came in late,” she started, leaning further and giving them a fantastic view of her cleavage. “So I might need a repeat of this little show tonight.”

SiCheng groaned and Hyeok swore under his breath when she crawled into the bed and sat in the small space between them, taking their hands, and in an echo of what Hyeok had done the night before, licked their fingers clean, tasting both of them.

“Whatever you want, darling,” promised SiCheng, pulling her closer with a hand behind her head and ravishing her in a kiss while Hyeok pressed in close behind and hugged her to his chest.

“You’ll get all you want and need from us always,” said Hyeok into her hair.

SiCheng held her chin gently to make her look him in the eye. “All we ask is that you consider seriously taking us both as your husbands.”

She blushed, but her eyes betrayed the excitement she felt at his request. “You’re serious?” she asked softly, blinking rapidly and laughing at her own question. “I mean, I know it has perks and all bu-”

“The only perks we care about are the ones that benefit you, little one,” said Hyeok seriously, leaning over to be able to catch her eyes.

“We want you protected and bolstered,” added SiCheng, taking one of her hands and kissing it. “But frankly, I just want to be able to call you ours. We’re a bit possessive, Darling, as I’m sure you’ve already noticed.”

She smiled at that. SiCheng was being very mild with his words, she knew. She’d seen the man glare daggers at other players when they looked at Hyeok for too long. She’d also seen him running interference when others approached the handsome assassin and even getting physically in the way. Hyeok was less obvious about it, but she was certain he would never let his Captain meet with other guilds on his own, especially those led by women who thought they had a chance with him, even if SiCheng never gave any of them the time of day. To think that might just be extended onto her now made her chest fill up with a bubbly feeling. Being protected was not new; all her NPC friends and several of her player friends often did it despite her being more powerful than them on her last two characters. But being wanted like this, cherished, that was a new experience, and it felt wonderful.

“Then yes,” she whispered, taking both of them by surprise. They had probably thought she would take a while to ponder it. But she’d been waiting for them for years. There wasn’t much to ponder.

“Are you being serious, baby?” asked SiCheng, trying but failing to mask the vulnerable tone of his voice.

She looked him in the eye and nodded. “There’s nothing I’d like more than to call you both my husbands,” she said firmly.

A whoosh of wind swirled around them, and a soft pink light engulfed them momentarily, leaving them feeling warm and smiling.

ZGDX gathered around the docks, waiting for their two leads and Yao. “Should we call them?” asked Rui with a worried frown.

“It’s not like them not to be at the rendezvous spot earlier than everyone else,” agreed Ming.

“Maybe we sho-” Pang’s suggestion was cut short when both SiCheng and Hyeok came into view at the top of the stairs. “Ah, there you are! Where is Yao?”

“She’ll be here shortly,” said SiCheng dismissively, directing them to sort themselves into groups again.

Aunty Shang arrived with Yao tucked on her side. “You will look after my precious Yao, won’t you gentlemen?” she asked, voice serious and echoey, carrying an underlying tone of magic that no one missed.

SiCheng and Hyeok bowed low to her, prompting the rest of the team to do the same. “With our lives, Aunty,” responded SiCheng.

The serpent woman nodded gravely and then turned to Yao to bring her into a tight hug. “Be as happy as possible, child,” she whispered to her.

Yao hugged her back tightly. “That’s the plan, Aunty. I’ll be back soon, promise!” she said, detaching from the elder female and taking a step towards SiCheng and Hyeok.

The elder huffed out a good-natured laugh. “Maybe next time you’ll actually sleep in your assigned suite, yes?”

Yao colored brightly while Hyeok and SiCheng smirked unrepentant. Around them, the team looked confused, while K, Yue, and Ming exchanged amused knowing glances. They were the only ones who had noticed their captain and lieutenant’s gamer tag had changed. There was a small icon next to their names now, something that only appeared for people who were married in-game. Curiously, but not really surprising, was the fact that the same symbol was now displayed next to Yao’s tag, too.

After explaining to the others what they had seen, the rest of the team cheered for their freshly married friends and warmly congratulated Yao, while Yue riled up both SiCheng and Hyeok about finally getting their girl and officially giving him a sister-in-law after so long.

“If Cheng is Captain and Hyeok is Lieutenant, what does that make Yao?” asked K quietly as they rowed toward the opposite bank from which they had come by Yao’s orders.

Ming chuckled. “She’s our Grand General, of course,” he said without a hint of sarcasm. “And honestly, I’m thrilled it’s her. I wouldn’t trust our safety in anyone else’s hands.”

Yue snorted. “If anything, she’s our Queen now,” he said, getting the other boy’s attention. He waved them away. “After Cheng-ge and Hyeok-Ge, I’m the one who has spent the most time with her. Now that she’ll be staying with us, you’ll see what I mean soon enough.”

The others shrugged and focused back on rowing. On the back row, once the others had turned to the front, Yue’s smile faltered. He was ecstatic for his brother and Hyeok, who was by now family as far as he was concerned. However, he knew a bit more of Yao’s situation than any of them thought. He was a medical student after all, and just last year he’d spent his first semester of residency at White Lotus Hospital and had toured the hospice wing.

He’d seen the terminal patients and those in medically induced comas spending their last moments immersed in beautiful digital worlds of their choosing, where time stretched and they got to live a little longer if they so wanted to. One day, having gotten lost, he’d come across the unique case of the patient whose mind had been the first to be uploaded to the digital network and had set the precedent for this type of hospice care. Her situation had been unusual, though. Her body was fully healed by now, sustained by an artificial diet and round-the-clock supervision that only the best kind of money could afford, yet her mind had been deemed “lost”.

The pretty girl he’d discovered tucked away in a private corridor had been small and frail, looking for all the world like a sleeping beauty. Now, though, those same striking features were laughing at something his brother had told her in the boat sailing just a bit ahead of his. There was no mistaking her. This was Tong Yao, the “wandering girl”. And also one of the two people his older brother loved.

Chapter Text

On their walk out of Night Pass, Yao decided the rest of the team should know about her circumstances. So, after reassuring both SiCheng and Hyeok, she was now fine with them knowing, and holding both of her boys’ hands to keep herself centered, she told them a summarized version of her story as they pushed forward.

The team, just like her boys, was very understanding and supportive, making her tear up at their gentle reassurances that they were not weirded out or adverse to her being around. Mao seemed hard-pressed to even grasp the whole concept, but quickly shrugged it off and stated, very vehemently, that whatever had happened to her didn’t define her as a person. Yue even hugged her and told her what he’d learned on his residency rounds. “You are as loved IRL by all your medical staff as you are in here by us, Sis,” he’d said. “And if anyone ever says anything mean to you about it, I can cast debuffs just as well as I can heal.”

That had made her laugh, much to his delight. But behind her, Yue could see SiCheng and Hyeok giving him approving nods, making him, in turn, smirk wickedly. He had a feeling someone had already made her feel bad about her circumstances before, and he was intent on finding out just who had made her doubt herself so much. Yao was his sister-in-law in-game, but he was certain she would be so as well one day in real life, and he took his family’s protection very seriously.

With her spirits soaring and with newfound family bonds building between her and the entire team, Yao led them forward and into the bright opening of Night Pass. Emerald Mountain loomed over them when they emerged from the tunnel, its peak shrouded by clouds and looking imposing against the early morning sky. The air was chilly and moist around them, prompting SiCheng to turn and tug his coat closed around Yao´s throat. She smiled up at him gratefully, burrowing further into Hyeok’s side embrace as they walked deeper into the misty forest in the direction of the fishing village.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been to this place before,” said Mao conversationally. Beside him, K shrugged.

“This village doesn’t have active quests or any special sort of resource, so many players skip it altogether,” responded the archer soothingly. He knew Mao, as a completionist, would be upset if he discovered there were achievements in the game he still hadn’t attempted.

The tall brawler frowned. “Then how come it’s there at all? Aren’t all villages in the game meant to enrich the gaming experience somehow?”

Yao looked back at them with a warm smile. “There are a few spots around the map that are not meant for casual players,” she explained gently. “Some hidden villages like this one were developed to cater to a different kind of user. The kind that isn’t interested in achievements or major excitement.”

The others looked curious at that. “Like homestead enthusiasts?” asked Pang with a tilt of his head, thinking about his great aunt who loved to play ToA when she’d been recovering from a major surgery and couldn’t move for a few weeks. She’d spent her day growing digital carrots and flowers to pass the time.

Yao nodded and brightened up. “Did you know you can create accounts in ToA as young as 5 years old?” she asked, taking their surprised expressions as an answer.

“There are several failsafes in place for users under fifteen, and these accounts are only allowed to be created from healthcare facilities for little patients with mobility issues or medical conditions that render them unable to partake in real-world interaction with others,” she explained, barely looking surprised when she was suddenly lifted by the waist by SiCheng and pulled up by Hyeok to get over a massive boulder. The rest of the boys rolled their eyes amusedly at their leads’ antics as they jumped up one by one and hurried to catch up to them, eager to hear the rest of the information.

She continued as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. “For children of schooling age, they are directed to a safe and tailor-made environment that doubles as a learning program mixed in with stimulating and interactive games that will enrich their cognitive, academic, and social development.”

“So that when they’re reintroduced to the real world, they won’t be too far behind their peers at school,” deduced Rui, impressed at the amount of thought put into it. The others’ stunned faces made Yao giggle with pride. It had been her idea after all.

“The games take on a more real-world dynamic for teens over sixteen. You are allowed to own property in ToA and profit from it to encourage learning about real-world economics, like regular homestead mode, but with a few restrictions on the nature of your activities,” she continued with a grin. “I had a farm before I was allowed to create my first fighting character at eighteen.”

Pang clapped his hands once, suddenly grasping at a memory. “That’s where those golden Lychees came from!” he exclaimed, recalling the rare fruit she had gifted them once to unlock a puzzle about a year back.

“Arms around my neck,” came SiCheng’s quiet command in her ear, and she automatically complied. Barely breaking his stride, he wound an arm under her legs and lifted, carrying her easily across a flooded part of the trail. Once across, he then passed her onto Hyeok’s arms so he could dry his pants and boots with a bit of magic.

Ming and K raised their eyebrows at their Captain’s and Lieutenant’s backs, shaking their heads in amusement. Yue snorted but said nothing, likely knowing the duo were barely getting started in their self-assigned quest of pampering their chosen woman to heaven and back. Meanwhile, Mao, ever curious, carried on with the conversation as if his leads’ overprotective shenanigans were everyday occurrences.

“You said it was from your orchard. I thought you meant like one of those small gardens you can have when you purchase a house in one of the cities.”

“You can purchase and own much more land outside the main cities in designated areas. My farm is in Amethyst Valley, for example. I’ll take you there sometime,” she said, ignoring how they all looked surprised at her casual mention of one of the most elite areas of the map. Getting there was not just tricky but also highly dangerous because the map didn’t work, and the land around it was like an uncrossable maze filled with traps and monsters.

K shrugged his shock off. “So, this fishing village we are going to is one of those areas?” he asked, finally understanding why a few of the settlements he’d found when roaming around had a completely different vibe and pacing than the rest of the game. They were made up of people just living a quiet and ordinary life amidst a sea of players who were only there for the thrill of adventure and achievement unlocking.

She nodded to a break in the trees ahead where the road opened into a small cobblestoned plaza. “Yeah! This one is made up mostly of the elderly from retirement homes and a few in hospice, so be on your best behavior!” she warned them with a stern glance that had them all fixing their posture. The team chorused in affirmation, now knowing the full picture and completely understanding where she was coming from with her warning. Some even changed hurriedly out of their battle armours and into less flashy adventuring getups.

They had all seen adventurers being rude and downright hostile to non-combative players. That was how they had met Rui, after all. The Scribe was being bullied by a fighting guild for not giving them a rare book he’d earned in a scholastic puzzle challenge when ZGDX had been passing by. SiCheng had put a stop to it immediately, and Rui, in return, had helped them with a few documents they were trying to procure. Their friendship eventually led to him becoming the team’s manager in both IRL and in-game.

Like Yao said, the village was full of people going about their peaceful lives, carrying wares, cooking in their stalls, preparing produce, or tending to their gardens. Many of them narrowed their eyes in weariness when they spotted the men and the unmistakable gait of a fighting guild, yet when Yao skipped ahead of the group and straight into the awaiting arms of one of the village chiefs, it was like a switch was flipped off, and glares became warm smiles.

The Chief was a bear of a man, sporting long white hair and beard that contrasted greatly with his deep maroon tunic. “Yao, my little fairy. What brings you to this wet place?!” he asked, voice booming and jolly despite his aging body.

“Chief Shu, I’m travelling with my guild to Bainang. I’m sure you’ve heard of ZGDX?” she said, turning back and wiggling her fingers in the boys’ direction. SiCheng immediately stepped forward, mirrored by Hyeok on his right, and fell into a deep, respectful bow. The rest of the team copied him a beat later, likely recognizing the importance of the gesture.

“Chief Shu, it’s an honor to meet you. Our team is just passing through, we greatly appreciate your assistance and promise we won’t be a bother to your people,” he said humbly, making Yao smile warmly at him.

The Chief eyed the boys gravely, but then Yao rose on her tiptoes and whispered something in his ear. The man’s eyes widened comically and then melted as he smiled gleefully. “Truly, child?!”

She nodded hurriedly, a shy smile playing on her lips, and burst into laughter when the man picked her up and twirled her around. “Ring the bells and pull out the rice-wine! Our little fairy is married!” he boomed, getting everyone’s attention. The team watched wide-eyed and a little panicked as the whole village converged around Yao, petting her hair and pinching her cheeks gently while those on the fringes of the mob enthusiastically yelled their congratulations. SiCheng’s fingers twitched at the sight, struggling to control himself against his first instinct of pulling her out of their grasp, but knowing none of them would even consider hurting her. Hyeok wasn’t faring much better if his rigid stance and clenched jaw were anything to go by.

“Who dares to think themselves good enough for my child?!” came another voice from further into the village. The crowd parted, and an old woman with knee-length white hair and obsidian eyes emerged from a large cottage. Her Hanfu was made in fine forest green silk and delicately embroidered with white and cerulean fish, a stark contrast to the rough work attire most of the village wore.

Yao went to her and curtsied before taking the elder woman’s hand reverently. “Grandma Shu, please allow me to introduce my husbands,” she said happily.

The woman’s brow arched elegantly at the plural word, but she said nothing more as Yao led her to SiCheng and Hyeok. “Grandma Shu, these are SiCheng and KunHyeok, Captain and Lieutenant of ZGDX, respectively,” she said, taking another step and then taking hold of both men’s hands as she stood between them. “Husbands, this is Lady Shu, Chief Shu’s lovely wife and also a leader of this village.”

SiCheng and Hyeok repeated their bow and greeting to the elder lady, who looked completely unimpressed by them. “Come have tea with me,” she ordered, turning around and leading them back to her cottage. “I want to hear why you think yourselves a good match to my favorite child.” SiCheng and Hyeok shared a glance when Yao scurried ahead and took the elder’s arm to help her walk. If they had thought the serpent lady had been intimidating, this woman was twice as scary. Big hands clapped them on the back and subtly pushed them forward.

“I expect nothing but the truth out of you boys,” came the low warning of Chief Shu behind them. “This village will be your grave if a single tear falls from her eyes because of you.”

The rest of the boys stood rock still at the sight, but their attention was quickly sidetracked when they noticed other villagers had surrounded them. “Say, kiddos,” started an old balding man with an impressive mustache. “We don’t have that fancy quest/reward system in place here, but if you’re willing to help out with a few tasks around town that require some youthful energy, I’m sure we can set you up with a few neat things. What do you say?”

Ming blinked away his shock and nodded, falling into his deputy leader mode. “Sure! Lead the way, sir, we’d be happy to help,” he said, knowing his leading trio would not make it out of that cottage any time soon.

By the time Yao, SiCheng, and KunHyeok emerged from the Shu’s cottage, the team had all leveled up at least once while doing chores and tasks that, although at first glance had seemed simple and easy, had required a great deal of effort none of them had anticipated. Yao grinned when she spotted Yue’s new white coat, recognizing Aunty Wang’s famous embroidery on the edges of his sleeves, and laughed when she noticed a bright-eyed Rui hugging a huge weathered book bound by hand that could only have come from Uncle Ran’s workshop. The others all had acquired new items too, it seemed. Special hunting arrows that would magically return to his quiver for K, anti-pierce wyvern leather gloves for Mao, a crystal rune pouch for Ming, and a magical water skin for Pang that re-filled magically.

“Looks like you’ve been busy, boys,” she teased, patting Yue on the shoulder.

He grinned at her, showing her the detailed red stitchwork on his coat. “Mana-infused red silk floss,” he boasted. “I won’t take damage while performing healing magic. Isn’t that neat?”

Looking over the rest of the team and their new gear, SiCheng smiled gratefully at the chief and Grandma Shu. “I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to prove ourselves worthy,” he said honestly.

The elder couple had grilled him and KunHyeok relentlessly for hours on their intentions with Yao and about their plan for the future, both inside and outside the game, given her special circumstances. Yao had been surprised about how aware they were of her situation, but it made sense that they knew, given they were also patients in the same program that was kick-started by her and her father. They were entitled to full disclosure on the origins of the procedure, and as such, her story had undoubtedly been shared with them before they entered a long-term connection.

“Don’t make me regret it, Captain,” came Grandma Shu’s terse reply before turning and pulling Yao into a tight hug. SiCheng’s lips twitched, and Hyeok laughed quietly. She hadn’t smiled once at either of them, but she withheld no warmth from Yao, and that was more than enough in their books.

After saying candid goodbyes to the rest of the village, they headed down to the docks. The Emerald River paid homage to its name with its bright colored, cold, and fast-paced current. On the other bank, the greenery stood taller and denser, giving the whole area an air of mysteriousness. Taking the elders’ advice, they had decided to take the Onyx Caves’ route, meaning they only had to cross the river instead of following downstream toward Wyn Lake. A large platform sustained by a set of magically reinforced ropes traversed the stream, and they took turns crossing on it with the help of a few villagers. Once they had all crossed and waved their goodbyes to the elders on the other side, the team resumed their trek through the ominous woods. Hyeok once again pulled Yao to his side, keeping a warm arm around her shoulders while SiCheng took the lead.

“Has any of us, besides Yao, ever taken this route to Onyx Caves before?” asked Ming curiously. Most quests that sent you to the area started from the north west in a large village known for its commerce on magic stones extracted from the cave system. It was a popular hub for adventurers looking for wares of a magical nature, and the ambiance was always lively. By contrast, the actual mapped area of the cave used for exploring and adventuring was abysmally small compared to the real magnitude of the system, and none of them had any idea it stretched as far as to connect with Emerald Mountain.

They all shook their heads, and SiCheng looked back as he held up a branch to let Hyeok guide Yao through. “I don’t think the cave lets regular players through. You’d have to be Yao for that privilege,” he commented, winking at his girl as she went past and smirking when she blushed prettily at his casual flirting.

She puffed her cheeks and glared playfully at him. “You just have to know how to find the passage. It has nothing to do with me being me.”

“Passage? Like a secret tunnel or something?” asked Mao, clearly excited about discovering yet another new location.

Yao smiled at him, but they all could see how strained it was. It wasn’t a fake smile by any means, but it lacked the carefree and joyful nature of her usual warm ones. Hyeok caressed her cheek tenderly. “What is it, little one? I could tell from the start you didn’t want to take this path, yet you insisted it was the safest for us. What’s going on?”

She took his hand and gave it a firm squeeze. At the same time, SiCheng hugged her from behind, and she took a deep breath. “To get to the passage, there is a section where the walls get so tight around you that it feels suffocating.”

Mao frowned as he recalled the tight squeeze to get into Night Pass. “Like the one we went through yesterday?” he asked, wondering if he could even fit this time, if even Yao, who was tiny, had a hard time getting through.

She shook her head. “I’ve only been through here once, but I could tell it wasn’t a physical thing, but a magical sort of squeeze,” she said with a frown. “It plays with your perception in a way, so it might even feel different for each one of you than it did to me.”

“I guess we’re about to find out,” said K tersely, nodding toward a small entrance a few steps ahead.

Yao took another deep breath and once again tightened her hold on her boys. “Hold hands, everyone. It will be pitch black for a solid five minutes, but you must keep walking straight ahead and never let go of the others. Understood?”

They all looked at each other worriedly but grasped each other’s hands without question. With a final glance back to make sure his men were ready, SiCheng leaned down and placed a sweet kiss on Yao’s forehead. “We got you, baby. You’ll be safe.”

Hyeok repeated SiCheng’s gesture and gently nudged her forward to follow their captain’s lead into the black abyss of the caves.