Martin woke from a dangerously good dream.
He stared at the ceiling, and for a mont, he felt the urge to get up and slip out of bed for his usual morning routine. Then he rembered he was on a paid vacation and could lounge around for as long as he wanted, at least until the afternoon. It felt great, way too great, and Martin couldn’t help closing his eyes and rolling onto his side.
Still, he couldn’t fall back asleep. He had only gotten six hours, but he felt amazing, and the dream had left him energized right off the bat. What kind of dream had it been?
Of course, it had been a collage of his sexual experiences, all stirred up by the peppy girl from his party.
Morning wood had never been a problem, but today, all Martin could tell himself was, "Good moaning, I guess." Instead of good morning.
His sleep had been great, but his body was still sore from lying in bed for hours while fighting in the ga world. He needed a warm-up, so real exercise, and food. In this cramped studio apartnt, Martin could only dream of having enough space to work out properly, so he decided to go for a morning run.
It was five a.m., and his neighbors were already filing out of their studio apartnts for work, their office suits and briefcases looking way too heavy for that hour. None of them even had the energy to glance his way. They moved like machines, locking their doors and heading downstairs in silence.
Martin watched them and felt a strange sense of satisfaction. He hadn’t accomplished much yet, but he had stepped out of that cycle for at least two weeks.
It felt satisfying as fuck to see the goblin boss’s reactions to my blocks. It’s human nature to want to stand above others. That just makes people like Cassandra Selfmore even more impressive.
Wealth, social influence, beauty, she has it all. She also gave a damn two-week vacation, so all praise to Cassandra. I’ll write a good report today and tell her about the Goblin Boss so the guild can loot as many mana crystals as possible and control the market.
Each academy had its own the, and the thought stayed with Martin as his shoes hit the pavent. If the Forest Hidden Monster Hunter Academy was built around mana crystals, then those things might end up shaping the place from top to bottom, from weapons to fighting styles to the identity of every player there. His crystal warhamr alone was enough proof that they were not just resources, but the kind of material that could define an entire academy.
He wanted the report to land. He wanted Cassandra to see the value in it, the guild to move on it, and the academy to open up even more. If he played this right, maybe the ga would not just be fun.
It might even beco a ladder.
And maybe, if he climbed high enough, won like the ones in his party would stop feeling like people from another world. The thought alone put a hot little charge in his blood.
He headed downstairs and started jogging. The early morning air had never tasted this good.
—
NukEncore, or rather Elisebeth in real life, woke in a vast, soft emperor-sized bed, her body hidden behind curtains draped around the entire fra like a private stage. The mattress was deep, the blankets smooth, and the pillows plush, yet none of them looked as inviting as Elisebeth herself, all sleepy warmth and soft curves beneath the sheets. Her chest pressed lazily into the bedding, and when she stretched, the blanket slipped just enough to bare the soft line of one shoulder and the heavy outline of her breasts before she pulled it close again.
It was so fun yesterday. Romantic, even. But next month is concert month... I won’t have much ti to play with the others.
The thought made Elisebeth lift her legs and kick the bed with her heels like a child throwing a tiny fit. Her hands clutched the blanket, bunching the smooth fabric against her chest until she finally wore herself out a few minutes later. Then she slipped out of bed with lingering reluctance, bare legs touching the cool floor first before she padded over to her desk in a loose top that swayed against her curves with every sleepy step.
A morning podcast started playing while she gently massaged her throat, still soft and warm from sleep.
Her voice was her greatest talent, and she took care of it even on vacation.
Afterward, Elisebeth settled into her chair and tucked one leg beneath herself. She would log in during the afternoon and have fun with everyone else in the ga. For now, though, the whole morning and evening belonged to her.
Her screen filled with album numbers, ticket sales, fan reactions, and the usual music-side buzz that followed her everywhere.
Normally, she could spend a long ti sorting through all of it. Today, though, her mind kept drifting back to yesterday instead. Fans adored Elisebeth for the feelings in her songs, for the sweetness in her smile, for the warmth she could pour into a performance.
Very few of them ever saw what those feelings looked like before she turned them into sothing safe to consu. Maybe that was why yesterday had stayed with her so much. In the ga, she had laughed, pouted, wanted things, and said silly nonsense without having to polish any of it first.
Martin’s so cute when he wants everyone to get their own share, even if we don’t need it.
That thought hit her again, and Elisebeth picked up her phone.
"Call Mom," she said.
Her phone automatically dialed the contact labeled Mom. The screen was crowded with other nas and missed attempts to reach her, even on vacation, but Elisebeth ignored them as naturally as breathing.
Her mother’s voice was old but gentle. "Hi, Elise. How are you doing, my sweetheart?"
"Mhm! I’m doing aweso! I had a lot of fun yesterday in the ga I told you about," Elisebeth replied, smiling to herself.
"Ah! I’m so happy to hear that! Being away from all that stress, from other celebrities and all those eyes on you, must have really helped you relax. Did you make any good friends?"
"Yes! And yes! We have such a weird dynamic that whenever I think about it, I feel inspired! But nuh-uh! I’m on vacation, so no working hard!"
"Nuh-uh! That’s right! You have to take care of yourself!"
"Mhm! I was thinking we could have dinner together this evening."
"Ah, darling... but I don’t really like those fancy restaurants, and..."
"Nuh-uh! I want to eat your food at ho."
"Eh, really?!"
"Hehe! Yes!"
Just then, the podcast volu jumped, and both Elisebeth and her mother heard it clearly.
[Podcaster 1: By the way! Have you heard about Betty’s recent case?]
[Podcaster 2: Oh, I have!]
[Podcaster 1: It’s such an outrageous case!]
[Podcaster 2: Absolutely! Betty, the famous single actress known for playing seductive, bold won, had an affair with a married man. But in reality, he wasn’t married at all, and he only wore a ring to attract won!]
"What a bastard of a man!" Elisebeth and her mother blurted out at the sa ti.
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