Regret

In the dimly lit room of Logan's apartment, the air was heavy with the aroma of wine as he sat alone, nursing his glass with sorrow. The visuals displayed the MMORPG game he had devoted two decades of his life to, now showing a blank login screen. The memories of his time as the esteemed commander of a renowned guild weighed heavily on his heart.

Logan's life had revolved around the virtual world, where he found solace and purpose. He had led his guild to countless victories, built strong bonds with his members, and earned a reputation as a master tactician and a fierce mace warrior. But a single moment of folly, offending the girlfriend of the guild owner (who is a tycoon of billion dollar gaming company) during an XP farming mission, had cost him everything.

As he took another sip of wine, regret flooded his thoughts. He felt the sting of betrayal when the guild master removed him from the guild and took back his account, stripping him of his virtual identity and achievements. The meagre compensation he received only deepened his sense of loss and disappointment.

Lost in despair, Logan wished for a chance to rewrite his story, to reclaim his glory as the greatest mace warrior in the game. He continued to stare at the "Realm of Legends" logo of the MMORPG game. There is a new blank game card inserted in the helmet around his head. But he is still staring at the game logo without moving any further. The memories of his past achievements and his old account card are still flashing inside his brain. But he lost everything because of one single incident.

He took of his gaming helmet and tossed it on the sofa. His gaze lingered on the mirror like device displaying the his past character inside the game. "Number one mace warrior of HYDRA" golden letters decorated below the picture.

As he gazes at his character, adorned with illustrious armour and prestigious guild insignia, Logan began to mutter to himself. His speech is a mix of nostalgia, pride, and regret, his thoughts pouring out like a stream of consciousness.

"You see this character? Look at the blood, sweat, and tears I poured into building it," Logan says with a hint of pride in his voice. "I devoted countless hours to levelling up, grinding for gear, and mastering the game mechanics. I was the backbone of the guild, strategising and leading raids to victory. I single-handedly led the army of Hydra and won two major kingdoms and several medium palaces and forts. "

His eyes glaze over, and his words become tinged with melancholy. "But now... now I've lost my job. I gave so much of my time to this game, and they erased all my glory. A shattered career and a few virtual achievements. It feels like I've let my life slip away in the pursuit of helping others."

Logan takes another swig from the whiskey bottle, the liquid burning his throat. "If only I had played solo from the start, maybe I could have focused on my career, made connections, and built a better future for myself. Instead, I put all my efforts into this virtual world, and where did it get me?"

As the alcohol takes its toll, Logan's mind drifts into what-ifs and alternate realities. "What if I had been a solo player, honing my skills to become the best in the game? I could have streamed my adventures, gained a following, and turned my passion into a profession. Or maybe I would have pursued other interests, found a different path in life."

His thoughts waver between pride in his gaming achievements and the haunting realization that he may have lost everything in this life. The virtual world had given him purpose and a sense of accomplishment, but now he grapples with the consequences of investing so heavily in his gaming account which belonged to a money minded organisation.

Despite the whirlwind of emotions, Logan knows that dwelling on regrets won't change his current situation. If life presents another chance he will never sign that documents. For the sake of easy money, Logan signed the documents to play for the Hydra guild.

He worked so hard to level up their gaming card. In the process of accomplishing great victories and spending countless nights for farming XP, he forgot that the game card is never belonged to him.

Ahh… With regretful scoff, Logan lifted the entire bottle of wine. There is a white paper on the table before him as he wrote all the important tasks, secret mission and several location to level up faster. He also gathered a lot of information on bugs and strategies to conquer the lower dungeons.

Even though he is over forty years, his thrust for playing is still alive. That is why Logan spend his time in gathering all this info to sharpen his memory to have a head start. But when put on that gaming helmet, his past memories occupied his brain, making his stagnate. While thinking about where to start tomorrow, Logan fell asleep on the couch.

As Logan fell asleep in his dimly lit room, the clock struck midnight, and a sudden surge of energy enveloped him. The room seemed to blur around him, and a mysterious force tugged at his very essence. He felt weightless, as if time itself were bending to his will.

In an instant, the scenery outside his window changed drastically. The bustling cityscape of the present vanished, replaced by a serene and distant landscape. Logan transported exactly 20 years into the past, back to the time when he first embarked on his virtual adventures in the MMORPG game called "Realm of Legends."

But his drunk body is still sleeping on his old bed inside an old wooden house. The houses are very scare around his living hole. But it is not a village. He is just outside the bustling city area. Three kilometres away from his place a wooden board stood describing the city name. Welcome to FLORIDA…

As the early morning light filtered through the window, Logan stirred from his slumber, still in a daze from the strange journey he had just experienced. He reached out to silence his ringing phone, only to be greeted by the voice of his class leader on the other end.

"Logan, are you okay? You've missed school for a few days now. Is everything alright?" she inquired with concern.

Confused and groggy, Logan tried to make sense of the situation. He rubbed his eyes, looked around the unfamiliar surroundings of his old room, and then glanced at his reflection in the mirror. To his astonishment, staring back at him was his younger self - a teenager on the verge of starting high school.

"What... what's happening?" he muttered, a mix of bewilderment and excitement surging through him.

As he tried to piece together the puzzle of his situation, Logan's gaze fell on his phone. He checked the date, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw the screen display the exact release date of the highly anticipated MMORPG game, "Realm of Legends." It was as if he had travelled back in time to the very moment when his gaming journey first began.

Intrigued, he opened his messaging app to find his class group chat abuzz with excitement about the game. Everyone was discussing the revolutionary features and cutting-edge technology that "Realm of Legends" promised to offer. Logan couldn't help but smile, knowing that he had experienced both the future and the past of this remarkable virtual world.

Suddenly, he realised why his class leader was worried about his absence. In this timeline, he is absent for the school for four days continuously. He assured her that everything was fine and that he would be at school soon.

As he joined the class chat, he decided to keep his incredible experience a secret. After all, who would believe that he had travelled back in time to the game's release date? Several students were enthusiastically posting their pictures with the helmet.

Throughout the day, as the chatter about the game continued, Logan couldn't help but feel a mix of nostalgia and anticipation. He knew that the game held endless adventures and possibilities, and now, with the knowledge of his future gaming expertise, he was determined to make the most of this unique second chance.

With a newfound sense of purpose and excitement, Logan decided to embark on his virtual journey once more. He began remembering and writing down the early quests and encounters, knowing that this time, he would seize every opportunity to become a true legend in "Realm of Legends."

As the day went on, Logan couldn't help but wonder if his time travel experience had somehow shaped the game's development and technology. Regardless, he knew that this time, he would savour every moment, cherish the bonds he formed with fellow players, and embrace the magic of the virtual world that had once captured his heart.

____________

Yours' lovingly,

_PeterPan_