The Abandoned Playground

The next morning, Ji-woo woke up with a pounding headache. She blamed it on the lack of sleep and the strange messages from the night before. She tried to convince herself that it was all a hoax, but the curiosity gnawed at her. She couldn't shake the image of the portal, the promise of a new world."It's probably just some kids messing around," she muttered as she got ready for the day. "Or maybe a marketing stunt for a new game."But even as she said the words, she knew deep down that it wasn't that simple. The messages had felt… different. More real.She spent the morning trying to distract herself. She watched some dramas, played a few casual games on her phone, even attempted to clean her room (a rare occurrence). But nothing could truly take her mind off the mysterious invitation.As the clock ticked closer to noon, her anxiety grew. She found herself pacing her apartment, debating whether to go to the abandoned playground or not."It's probably nothing," she said to herself. "But what if it's not? What if I miss out on something amazing?"The fear of missing out, or FOMO as the internet called it, was a powerful motivator. Ji-woo, despite her usual skepticism, was not immune to its allure.Finally, at 11:30 AM, she made up her mind. She couldn't ignore this. She had to see it for herself.She grabbed her phone, her keys, and a small backpack containing a water bottle and a few snacks. She hesitated for a moment, then added a small, foldable knife to the bag. Just in case.The abandoned playground was a short walk from her apartment complex. It was a relic of a bygone era, with rusty swings, a broken slide, and a faded merry-go-round. Weeds sprouted through the cracked concrete, and the air was thick with the smell of damp earth and decaying leaves.As Ji-woo approached the playground, she noticed a strange shimmer in the air. It was subtle at first, like heat haze on a summer day. But as she got closer, it became more pronounced, a rippling distortion that seemed to bend the light around it.Her heart pounded in her chest. This was it. The portal.She cautiously approached the shimmering area, her hand instinctively reaching for the knife in her backpack. As she got closer, she could see that the distortion was centered around the old merry-go-round. The air around it crackled with energy, and a low hum vibrated through the ground.She took a deep breath and stepped into the shimmering zone. The world around her dissolved into a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. She felt a strange tugging sensation, as if she were being pulled in two directions at once. Then, just as suddenly as it began, the sensation stopped.Ji-woo blinked, her eyes adjusting to the new surroundings. She was no longer in the abandoned playground. She was standing in a vast, open field, bathed in the warm glow of a golden sun. Towering trees lined the horizon, their leaves rustling in a gentle breeze. In the distance, she could see a majestic city, its spires and towers gleaming in the sunlight.She gasped, her mind struggling to comprehend what she was seeing. This was… impossible. And yet, here she was.A voice startled her from her thoughts. "Welcome to Aethelgard, Player Park Ji-woo."She turned to see a tall, slender woman with long, flowing silver hair and piercing blue eyes. She wore a flowing white robe adorned with intricate silver embroidery. She looked like she had stepped out of a fantasy movie."Who are you?" Ji-woo asked, her voice trembling slightly.The woman smiled. "I am Elara, your guide. I am here to help you navigate this new world and prepare you for the Ascension Games."Ji-woo's mind was reeling. This was all too much to process. A portal, a magical world, a mysterious guide… it was like something out of a dream."The Ascension Games?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Are they… real?"Elara nodded. "Indeed they are. And you, Player Park Ji-woo, have been chosen to participate."