Between Dream and Reality

A young, visibly exhausted man walked down a quiet street at night, his gaze fixed on the glowing screen of his phone. The dim streetlights cast long shadows across the pavement, being the only company on his lonely walk home. His fingers scrolled through a news article, the bold headline catching his eye.

"The game From Ashes to Empire has once again shattered records, surpassing 1 billion downloads. A truly remarkable milestone for a strategy game."

Nate smiled slightly, a flicker of nostalgia crossing his features as he slipped the phone into his pocket and fished the keys.

'That game has come a long way...' he mused, gripping the cold metal and turning it in the lock. With a soft click, the front door of the residential building creaked open, welcoming him into its dimly lit hallway.

The rhythmic sound of his footsteps trailed behind him as he ascended the stairs, creating a dull background score to his fatigue. He ascended floor by floor, step by step, until he reached his apartment. He pushed open the door, the quiet hum of the city beyond the window seeping into the space. As he shut the door behind him, darkness swallowed the room whole, leaving only the faint red glow of the digital clock on the kitchen counter.

He sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck as he kicked off his shoes near the entrance. The day's weight clung to his shoulders, an invisible burden that never seemed to lift. Crossing the small space, he let his bag slide off his arm, dropping it near the table with a dull thud.

After grabbing a change of clothes, he wandered the bathroom, tossing them on the laundry basket. The mirror reflected a young man with almost white-blond hair, his grey-blue eyes dull with exhaustion, lifeless like a dead fish. The heavy bags under his eyes made him look far older than twenty-one. His semi-muscular frame, standing at about 180 cm, barely concealed the toll of late nights and stress.

Nate turned on the shower, letting the warm water soothe his tired muscles. After washing up and brushing his teeth, his mind drifted back to the news article. He recalled the initial time he played the game, thanks to his former colleague Aria's introduction. The game revolved around strategy, where players were randomly spawned into a kingdom—or, in the worst case, a struggling village—and had to expand their territory through warfare or diplomacy.

Nate had enjoyed it. As a fan of strategy games, it had been right up his alley, though he always found the lack of proper interaction with NPCs disappointing. He had hoped the game would evolve to give them more depth. Still, he had spent countless nights grinding through the ranks, even after Aria had left the company. Her departure had been unexpected, but they had never been close enough for it to affect him.

Lost in thought, he drifted into the kitchen and opened the fridge, retrieving a cold lemonade and some pre-prepared chicken. He threw the chicken into the microwave and settled onto the couch, pulling out his phone again while waiting for his food to heat up.

Nate considered picking up the game again. The recent download surge was likely due to a new event. Game companies often introduce updates or special features upon reaching milestones. Surpassing 1 billion downloads would surely bring something big, he thought.

After scrolling through the game's main page, his tired eyes scanned for any announcements. Before he could read further, the sharp beep of the microwave pulled him from his thoughts. Setting his phone aside, he grabbed his meal and went to bed.

'I'll check it out tomorrow. Right now, I'm too tired,' he thought, sinking into the mattress.

As Nate settled into bed, the exhaustion from the day weighed heavily on him, yet his mind stayed restless. The game From Ashes to Empire just couldn't leave his mind for some strange reason. It had been years since he last played, and with the game's sudden rise in popularity, he couldn't help but wonder what had changed.

The dim glow of the city outside barely filtered through his curtains as he stared at the ceiling.

'Maybe they finally improved the NPC interactions,' he mused. That had always been his biggest gripe—NPCs felt too mechanical, their responses predictable. If the game had made significant updates, it might be worth revisiting.

A yawn escaped him as he turned onto his side, his body urging him to sleep. He would check tomorrow and maybe even start fresh if there was a reason to. But for now, the comforting embrace of fatigue finally pulled him under.

A strange sensation pressed against Nate—like floating in thick air, weightless, suspended in something unseen. No sound reached his ears, only a faint pressure, as if reality had momentarily held its breath. His body felt sluggish, his limbs heavy, and his mind wrapped in a thick fog that refused to clear.

Then, a sharp inhale. His eyes fluttering open, he first saw an unfamiliar ceiling—wooden beams stretching across, worn but sturdy. The sight sent a jolt of confusion through him. 'Where am I?' His fingers pressed against the fabric beneath, coarse and rough, entirely unlike the sheets he was used to.

Sitting up slowly, a dull ache ran through his shoulders, and his muscles were stiff as if he had been lying still for far too long. The dimly lit room around him looked nothing like his apartment. Walls of aged wood enclosed the space, and a single window let in the pale morning light, casting faint golden streaks across the floor. The air carried an unfamiliar scent, a mixture of damp earth and fresh timber, something more prosperous and natural than the artificial sterility of the city.

None of it made sense. The last thing he remembered was falling asleep after checking the latest news about From Ashes to Empire. A logical conclusion formed—this had to be a dream, the product of an exhausted mind still fixated on the game. Before he could dwell on the thought any longer, a sudden flash filled the room.

[Welcome to From Ashes to Empire, player!]

[You have been chosen to Conquer the Lands of Schachtel!]

[Build, Expand, Conquer!]

Nate's breath caught as a glowing text window hovered before him, pulsing faintly. Its golden hue cast soft illumination on his hands. Every letter was sharp and clear, unlike dreams' hazy, distorted visuals. Blinking rapidly, he reached out instinctively, hesitating as his fingers passed through the translucent panel without resistance. The message didn't vanish. It remained unwavering, waiting.

Heart pounding against his ribs, Nate glanced around, searching for anything to explain what was happening. Everything felt too real—the blanket's texture, the cool air brushing against his skin, the scent of wood and earth filling his lungs. Dreams never held this much clarity. Nate curled his fingers into the fabric at his sides, nails digging in slightly as he suddenly heard something strange.

A quiet breath.

Not his own.

The steady rhythm of someone else's breathing reached his ears, soft and even the unmistakable sound of another presence in the room. Every muscle in his body tensed as he turned, eyes widening at the sight beside him.

Aria.

Dark hair spilled across the pillow, her face calm in sleep, her chest rising and falling slowly. The sight made his mind stutter.

'What is she doing in my dream?' he thought. They hadn't spoken since she left the company, and there was no reason for her to appear in his dreams. 

'Am I that desperate?' Nate wondered, thinking that the lack of proper social interaction had affected his mental stability. Shaking that off, he turned his attention back to the message.

The system window still hovered before him, leaving him baffled.