Clack!

As I opened my eyes, a little girl walked up to me.

“Ah!” she exclaimed. “It's working! Right? It's alive!”

An old man behind her crossed his arms. “Of course! Don't doubt my genius!” He puffed out his chest, proud of his masterpiece. “Wait! Did you just call me an old man?!”

Before he could scold me, the girl started to sprint across the white floor. She let her golden hair flow over her shoulders. While she flapped her wings and hopped around, her blue eyes occasionally glanced to mine.

“It works! It really works!” She laughed.

The old man chuckled. “I did you a favor, what should you say?”

“Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! Uncle, I love it! Can I use already?!”

“Sure! All yours...”

She turned to me, and her smile widened in excitement. “Then, I wish you to...”

*****

The Sun sank behind the buildings letting a frail tint of orange cover the grey city. The mesmerizing horizon could be seen through the classroom window, but the students, while yawning, didn't pay attention. Classes are almost over, that's what it meant.

Two boys silently idled on their own desks, but the ever running clock moved at the pace of a snail. Out of boredom, the one close to the window asked, “Did you play it?”

Startled by the abrupt question, his friend almost fell from his chair. “Huh? Played what?”

“You know what! So, did you play it?”

Flint, the daydreamer, let out a short yawn as his brain started its gears. The game his friend asked about was The Light Hero.

“Ah! I did... Going for the last boss tonight.”

“It’s The Demon Queen y'know...”

“I know.” Flint frowned. “And don’t give me spoilers!”

The boy next to the window shrugged his shoulder. “Pft, spoiler alert: It's impossible.”

“Is it that hard?”

“I checked online, dude. Nobody defeated her yet.”

Flint lifted his heavy eyelids. “What? They released her with a glitch?”

“No, seems like whoever made the game wanted it to be near impossible.”

A continuous ringing alarmed their ears. It echoed through the empty halls, soon to be filled by hundreds of students. Classes were over and Flint stood up from his desk.

“I'm going home! Bye-nerd.”

“Hey! Not so fast! You need to pass by our club...”

It would be pointless for the boy to continue his protest. Flint had jolted out of the classroom and was nowhere to be seen.

“Weird dude.”

*****

Flint sprinted on the pavement from his neighborhood. He thought walking back home was time wasted. The boy always stated those minutes lost on the streets could be addressed to his studies. But truth be told: He devoted most of his free time to video-games. Only to promise never procrastinate before the school exams anymore.

“Finally!”

His lungs let out heavy paused breaths as he reached the doorknob of his house. He pulled out the key with his trembling fingers and unlocked the door after three attempts. All that running had taken its toll on his body. Entering the house, a piquant aroma greeted him.

“… The recently released fantasy game, The Light Hero, just hit the record for the video-game with most copies sold in the world…”

Inside the kitchen, Flint’s mother cooked dinner with a television broadcast on. That name, The Light Hero, ringed a bell. As she put spaghetti noodles to boil, Flint passed by the counter. She couldn’t lose this opportunity to ask:

“Is that the game you play Flint? The one on the screen?”

She was right, but the boy wasn't looking forward to a pep talk.

He shook his head. “N-not really mom.”

Such a bad liar! Stuttering by saying harmless little lies.

In the background, the broadcast continued. “… What pushed the game this far was the incredible work on the realism, for example, the characters seem like actual people…”

“Hm... I could swear the name was the same,” Mother said.

“All these game titles are alike nowadays.”

Before she could hook him with another topic, Flint stepped out of the kitchen and climbed the stairs to his room. Opening the door, he pushed the button to turn his computer on.

He could use the night to defeat the last boss. His friend said it was near impossible to beat, but he trusted his gaming skills. It was the sole thing the boy excelled at. Best-case scenario, he would become a gaming legend. Worst-case, hours would be wasted having fun while sacrificing his poor in-game hero to The Demon Queen.

Fortunately, video-games are virtual simulations. The characters don’t mind the constant harassment. They wouldn't come out of the screen to attack the boy.

The monitor brightened up.

“Time to play!”