(S1) Chapter 4- Out of Time
Two days later, Henry woke feeling as though he hadn’t slept at all.
He rolled onto his side and squinted at the clock. The numbers blurred together.
A yawn tore through him as he pushed himself upright. Walking to the bathroom and turning on the bathroom light, he squinted at the sudden brightness.
He braced both hands on the sink and stared at the man in the mirror.
Dark circles pooled beneath his eyes. His stubble had grown uneven. He looked older than he remembered.
This all happened because of Colin.
No.
It started the moment Colin asked him to play Real Mode in Horizon’s End.
Henry had wanted to refuse immediately. The idea was reckless. Ninety percent pain sync. Real consequences.
That’s insane.
But when he looked at Colin — really looked at him — and saw the quiet understanding in his eyes… the knowledge that time was running out…
Henry hadn’t been able to say no, but he’ll think about it. And ever since, Colin had been there every time Henry logged in — waiting, patient, relentless. Following him through the village.
Henry splashed water onto his face and exhaled. He dressed quickly and left the house, determined to think about anything else.
The morning air was heavy with rain as he walked toward the car. He was about to get in when another vehicle pulled in behind him.
Henry frowned when he saw George’s truck pulling up. George had never once come to his house unannounced.
He closed his car door and approached the passenger side window.
The window lowered halfway. “Get in,” George said.
Henry hesitated only a moment before opening the passenger door. “What’s going on?” he asked. “I was heading to work.”
George let out a dry chuckle. “You would’ve been late again.”
Henry just stared at him, wondering what was going on.
“I was looking for you and Ava the other night,” George continued. “Wanted to tell you in person. But you didn’t come.”
“Tell me what?”
George stared forward at the rain sliding down the windshield.
“Since your father died, I’ve been looking after you,” he said slowly.
“And looking at you now… I should’ve pushed you harder. Should’ve made you set goals and reach for something.”
Henry’s stomach tightened. “Uncle George… what are you talking about?”
George finally looked at him. “It’s time I give you that push.”
George’s voice remained steady as he continued. “I’m closing the shop. Selling it. With that money, I’ll have enough to retire comfortably.”
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The words didn’t register at first.
“What?” he breathed.
“I’ll pay you through the end of the week,” George continued. “Your severance will hit your bank in a couple of hours.”
Henry felt the world tilt.
What about Ava?
What about the house?
What about—
“Use it to move forward,” George said quietly. “Not to stay where you are.”
The rain intensified as Henry nodded absently, opened the door, and stepped out into the downpour.
Before closing it, he paused. “Thank you,” he said. “For everything.”
He shut the door harder than he meant to and watched the truck drive away.
Henry stood in the rain for several seconds before turning back toward the house.
Inside, he leaned his forehead against the door.The ringing in his ears drowning out the sound of footsteps behind him.
A tap landed on his shoulder, making him turn around, to see Ava standing there, irritation sharpening her expression.
“Can you move?” she said. “I have to get to work.”
Wordlessly, he stepped aside as she brushed past him. The door slammed closed behind her as she went.
When she was outside she paused for half a second — glancing back at the house — before pulling on her helmet and leaving.
Henry climbed the stairs like a man moving underwater and collapsed onto his bed.
He closed his eyes.
He didn’t want to think.
He just wanted to disappear.
?
The alarm dragged him back hours later. For a moment, he didn’t remember where he was.
Then it all returned.
George.
The shop.
The severance.
Alira.
He sat upright.
Today was the ceremony.
He wiped his face with both hands, grabbed the VR headset, and powered it on.
The world fractured.
Light poured through the visor.
Reality dissolved.
?
Night had fallen over Horizon’s End.
Lanterns glowed warmly. Laughter spilled from Tiffany’s Tavern. Music drifted across cobbled streets.
Bram moved quickly toward the village gates— and immediately tripped.
He hit the ground hard. “Damn calibration,” he muttered, pushing himself up.
Switching from Henry’s tall frame to Bram’s compact dwarven body always required adjustment. His center of gravity lagged behind his thoughts.
He stumbled twice more before his balance stabilized. Outside the village, the plains stretched wide beneath a moonlit sky.
Players battled rabbits and wolves, grinding for level ten.
Bram kept his distance. The last thing he needed was to accidentally aggro a beast and be sent to respawn.
The mana wind grew thicker as he approached the forest. Mist spilled from the treeline, rolling low across the grasslands.
When his stamina returned, he jogged forward through the woods.
Finally, the woods opened up, and before him lay a vast lake glowing an impossible blue.
Light shimmered beneath its surface, illuminating dozens — no, hundreds — of players standing upon the water.
Some were surrounded by family. Some stood alone. But every face shone with anticipation.
Bram stepped into the lake hesitantly. The water rose to his knees and stopped.
No matter how far he walked, he did not sink further.
Yet when he looked down, he could see depth — immense and endless. Schools of glowing fish drifted below in hues of red, gold, green, and violet.
For a moment, he simply stared in awe before moving through the crowd.
“Alira!”
She turned instantly. Her face lighting up.“Old Man Bram! You made it!”
“Of course I did,” he said, smiling. “Wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
He noticed her hands trembling.“Are you ready?”
“I’m excited,” she admitted. “But a little scared.”
“Where are your parents?”
“They’ll meet me on the other side,” she said. “They didn’t want to delete their characters just to come back to the starting village.”
Bram nodded.
He reached into his inventory. “I have something for you.”
He withdrew a silver necklace bearing a half-moon sigil glowing softly.
?? Lunaris Half-Sigil
Rare – Necklace
Stats
+5 Intelligence
+3 Wisdom
?? Passive — Lunar Convergence
? +6% Mana Regeneration
? At Night: +12% Mana Regeneration
? During Full Moon: +18% Mana Regeneration
Her eyes widened.
“W-wow! How did you even find something like this in the tutorial?”
Bram only shrugged. “Turn around. I will put it on you.”
She knelt so he could fasten it around her neck. The sigil settled against her collarbone, pulsing faintly.
When she stood, her eyes shimmered brighter than the lake.
He pulled her into a hug, making her freeze for a second before she hugged him back tightly.
“Please don’t stay here forever,” she whispered. “Follow me soon.”
His throat tightened. Before he could answer, the lake shifted.
Blue turned to green, as a beam of emerald light shot skyward.
Players began to sink into the lake slowly. Alira stepped back as the water pulled her downward.
She smiled.“I’ll see you on the other side!”
She vanished beneath the surface.
Bram looked down at the massive golden portal opened at the lake’s bottom.
Through it, he saw—
A warrior clashing steel against steel.
A mage weaving arcs of blazing magic.
An archer moving like wind between shadows.
A cleric kneeling in radiant prayer.
It unfolded in blinding gold.
His heart pounded.
Not out of fear, but something else.
Desire.
When the final player disappeared, the portal sealed shut.
The lake returned to stillness, with Bram standing alone on its surface. Am I really about to do this?
He thought of Colin.
Of George.
Of the empty house.
Of the ticking that never stopped.
“Henry?”
The world shift with him now standing once more in front of his forge.
Colin sat on the steps outside the shop, watching him.“What’s wrong?”
Bram exhaled slowly.“Let’s do it, Colin.”
“Do what?”
Bram met his gaze.“Let’s play Real Mode.”
Colin’s grin spread wide. “Well,” he said, rising to his feet, “it’s about time.”
