Mikhailis lounged comfortably on the plush sofa, his head tilted back with an arm lazily resting behind his head, watching as Lira sat beside him, completely absorbed in the ga she was playing. The sight made him chuckle. Lira, usually so elegant and composed, had a furrowed brow and an intense gaze fixed on the screen as she guided her virtual farr through another day in the ga "Harvest Sun." Her delicate fingers danced over the controller, and every once in a while, she would let out a sigh—of frustration or triumph, he couldn't always tell.
"Alright, how do I... oh! The prices are up for tomatoes! I should sell them, right?" Lira muttered to herself, her voice almost a whisper.
Mikhailis grinned. He couldn't help but be entertained by how invested she had beco in the virtual world. This was the sa Lira who usually moved with such elegance and control, handling everything with an air of calm competence. Now, she was getting all worked up over pixelated crops and chickens.
"Yep, sell them while the market's hot. If you keep them for too long, they might go down in value," Mikhailis said, offering advice while trying to suppress another chuckle.
Lira didn't look away from the screen as she nodded, pressing the buttons frantically.
"Yes, yes... I'm selling! And what about these... strawberries? Should I wait on those?"
Mikhailis shook his head, smiling.
"Nah, strawberries are high-value right now. You should sell them too. Oh, and make sure to water your crops before the day ends. Otherwise, you'll regret it tomorrow."
Lira let out an exaggerated groan as she maneuvered her farr character towards the well to fetch water.
"This ga is deceptively complicated, Your Highness. Who knew farming could be so... stressful?"
He laughed.
"Welco to the world of virtual farming. It's all about the grind, Lira. You thought being my maid was tough? Try raising cows and growing strawberries while trying to keep those spirit sprites happy."
Lira's lips twitched into a smile, her gaze still glued to the screen.
"You jest, but honestly, I might prefer tending to you over dealing with these spirit sprites. They're very demanding."
Mikhailis nodded sagely.
"You've got to appease the sprites, Lira. Their blessings give you those rare seeds. Without those seeds, your profit margins are going to look terrible. And let's face it—a bad margin is unacceptable."
"Yes, yes. Rare seeds," Lira repeated, her eyes focused as she maneuvered the farr back to the barn.
"How do I get more of those again? The ones that bloom in winter—what did you say they were called?"
"Frost Lilies," Mikhailis replied, holding back a grin.
"You need to complete the sprite's challenge near the mountain. It's a tricky one—better get ready for a lot of running back and forth."
Lira sighed deeply, and for the first ti, she looked away from the screen, fixing Mikhailis with a dry look.
"I'm starting to think this ga is just your way of tornting ."
He laughed aloud, shaking his head.
"Nah, Lira. It's all about building resilience—a different kind of endurance training, if you will."
Lira shook her head, her ponytail swaying behind her as she returned her attention to the screen.
"I should've known your definition of 'relaxing' would be a form of labor."
"Hey, you volunteered! Don't pin this on now," Mikhailis retorted, his voice playful.
"True," Lira muttered, her voice quieter now.
"But I'm determined to figure it out. I won't let a simple ga defeat ."
Mikhailis leaned back, watching her with an affectionate smile. There was sothing oddly charming about seeing Lira in such a state—competitive, focused, determined to succeed even in the little things. It was part of what made her, well, Lira. The elegance, the calm—but beneath it all, a fierce determination that drove her forward.
She's definitely more competitive than I thought.
He chuckled inwardly, watching as she carefully navigated through another day in the virtual world.
For the next hour, Lira was completely engrossed in "Harvest Sun." Her frustration peaked every now and then—a failed crop here, a lost chicken there—but she pushed forward, learning, adapting, and improving. Mikhailis could only smile at the sight, feeling an unexpected sense of warmth.
While Lira was still glued to the screen, Mikhailis found his thoughts drifting. His eyes closed, and a small, satisfied smile spread across his face. Life had taken an unexpected turn since his arrival in this world, and he couldn't help but reflect on how far he'd co.
I've got quite the power structure going now, he thought, a sense of pride welling in his chest.
The chira ants, Skullborne Ravager, and now his little goblin faction—they were all part of the network he was building, each piece playing its role perfectly. Skullborne was becoming a real leader among the goblins, and with the chira ants working tirelessly on the fortress and assisting in all kinds of projects, Mikhailis felt like he was on the right path.
He let his eyes wander to Lira, who was still deeply invested in her ga. Her presence was another pillar of stability in his life. He appreciated her loyalty, her unwavering dedication. And then there was Elowen—the Queen of Silvarion Thalor, his wife. Despite the complexities and responsibilities that ca with her role, she had always supported him, encouraged his wild ideas, and trusted him even when those ideas seed strange.
And Serelith, he thought, his lips curling into a slight smirk.
Serelith was a puzzle—mischievous, strange, and driven by her own desires—but he couldn't deny that she was fiercely loyal. She was one of Elowen's closest friends, and over ti, she had beco sothing else to Mikhailis as well.
Yeah, I've got a pretty good setup here. A strong base, loyal allies... Maybe, just maybe, this peaceful life can last for a while. He sighed contentedly, settling deeper into the cushions.
Mikhailis's eyes snapped open, and he groaned.
"Rodion, really? You have to ruin a perfectly good thought like that?"
Mikhailis rolled his eyes.
"Alright, alright. Spare the lecture. I get it—fertilizer good, more food, kingdom happy."
"Whoa, whoa, one thing at a ti, Rodion," Mikhailis interrupted, holding up a hand.
"Inventions should be introduced slowly. We don't want people getting too dependent, and besides, it's more fun when the local inventors take the hints and run with them themselves."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Mikhailis said, waving him off.
"Let them figure so things out on their own. It'll be better for everyone in the long run."
Rodion was silent for a mont, then spoke again, his tone shifting slightly.
Mikhailis's smile faded slightly, his eyes narrowing.
"What kind of issue?"
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