Serena

Selene City, Moon – The Holy Land of the Star Seekers

Nestled beneath the Moon's south pole, Selene City was a marvel of technology and tradition, a sprawling underground metropolis that stood as both a sanctuary and a fortress. At its heart, the Temple of Divine and Destinies loomed like a celestial beacon, its grand spires reaching toward the artificial sky.

This temple wasn't just a place of worship—it was the seat of power. Those who ruled here were not kings, presidents, or corporate executives. They were the Star Seekers, individuals gifted with the ability to read the celestial bodies, predict planetary weather, and chart the safest paths through space. Without them, space travel was a death sentence.

Holographic billboards flickered along the curved city streets, displaying endless job postings and desperate offers:

"Hiring Star Seeker! Location: Jupiter. Earn your big bucks now!"

The demand had skyrocketed. Recent unrest on Jupiter had caused a mass exodus of the wealthy, but without a Star Seeker, their ships were as good as floating coffins in the void. Space was unpredictable, full of storms, gravitational anomalies, and invisible dangers. Only those who understood the cosmos could guide them safely.

In the center of the city, hovering over the land like a divine entity, stood Serena Palace.

Unlike the ancient temples and carved lunar dwellings, this structure was a masterpiece of modern engineering—a levitating fortress made of reinforced titanium and luminescent crystal. But more than that, it was a fully operational spaceship, capable of launching into orbit at a moment's notice. The palace itself was a symbol of power and security, an escape route in case of an unforeseen catastrophe.

Yet, for Serana, the palace was nothing more than a gilded cage.

A Prison of Privilege

A soft click echoed in the quiet chamber.

The lid of a game pod slowly lifted, releasing a faint mist of cooling vapors.

Standing beside it were three women, dressed in flowing robes woven with threads of silver and blue. Their expressions were tight with concern, their hands clasped in a mixture of duty and hesitation.

Inside the pod, a pale girl with snow-white skin stirred, her breath slow and measured.

One of the women, a stern-faced attendant, stepped forward. "Madam, you've been spending too much time in the game. This isn't good for your health."

Serana didn't answer.

She didn't need to.

They wouldn't understand.

To them, she was nothing more than a fragile girl, the Moon's sacred oracle, bound by prophecy and power. They saw her weakness as something to be pitied, her condition as something to be managed.

But they were wrong.

She wasn't simply playing a game.

She was searching for something.

From the moment she was born, Serana's body had been weak—too weak to walk, too weak to live freely. She had spent her childhood trapped within sterile walls, her every movement dictated by the careful hands of doctors and caretakers.

But she had never questioned it.

Not until she discovered why.

Her illness wasn't natural. It wasn't a curse.

It was a gift.

Her body had been sacrificed in exchange for something greater—the ability to see the future.

When the Lunar Council discovered this, they acted swiftly. Soldiers came to her home, their polished boots clattering against the marble floors as they presented her parents with an irresistible offer.

Wealth. Power. Medical care.

In return, their daughter would serve the temple, guiding the fate of the city with her visions.

Her mother and father accepted without hesitation.

At first, Serana had felt relief. No longer would she be a burden. No longer would her parents have to worry about her survival.

But over time, she realized the truth.

She had not been saved.

She had been enslaved.

Her world shrank to the confines of Serena Palace, a beautiful prison where her every move was watched, where every decision she made was influenced by unseen hands.

She had power, yes. Influence, wealth, connections. But it all felt…

Empty.

Then, one day, everything changed.

She broke the one rule she was never supposed to break.

She calculated her own future.

And for the first time… she saw something impossible.

She was walking.

Moving.

Living freely.

And at the center of that vision—was a name.

Shaoran.

Ignoring every warning, every risk, she made a decision.

She joined the game of Solva.

The Awakening

When she opened her eyes, she was inside a coffin.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Her limbs were still useless, her body unmoving.

For the first time since entering the game, fear crept in. Had she been wrong? Was this a mistake?

Then—

A creak.

The lid of the coffin slowly opened.

A shadow loomed over her.

A man.

Tall, broad-shouldered, his eyes cold and unreadable. Shaoran.

He studied her for a long moment before speaking.

"Hmm… Somehow, I feel you'll be very important in my adventure."

Without hesitation, he reached into the coffin and lifted her into his arms.

Serana's breath hitched.

It was the first time in her life that a man had touched her.

Her body trembled violently, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sensation. But before she could process it, something cold pressed against her lips.

A red vial.

"Drink."

The liquid was thick and bitter, like cherry laced with iron.

Heat flooded through her veins.

Her fingers twitched.

Then her legs.

For the first time in years, she felt her body respond.

Shaoran smirked.

"Looks like it worked. Pretty girl, you're lucky. Since you're part of the first batch of players, I'll give you a novice bag."

He tossed the bag toward her.

Her hands were still slow.

She couldn't catch it.

It landed on her foot—hard.

Pain shot up her leg.

A sharp cry escaped her lips.

Silence.

Every gaze in the room turned to her.

Embarrassment burned through her.

She quickly bowed her head, her voice small. "I-I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

A chuckle rippled through the players. Not of mockery—of understanding.

She wasn't used to this body yet.

But she would be.

She would learn.

A New Beginning

Her first job was unexpected—caring for baby goblins.

At first, she found it strange, but it wasn't much different from running the orphanage she had in Serena Palace.

Then she became a cook, learning from Uncle Bai, an old man with a thousand recipes and a sharp tongue.

And as time passed, she noticed something terrifying.

When she logged out, her real body felt stronger.

It was healing.

What no medicine, no doctor, no advanced lunar technology could fix—this game was repairing.

Then, one day, a new face arrived.

A man stepped into town.

Jerry.

The moment he appeared, All eyes turned to him.

Serana pushed forward.

Jerry's cold gaze locked onto hers.

"What's your name, player?"

She stepped closer.

Then, in a whisper, she spoke.

"Hi Jerry, long time no see. I am Serana."