Paths Converge
Paths Converge
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Outside the Game – Desperation
Camila's hands trembled as she dialed the customer support number for Infinite Horizons, her eyes rimmed red from lack of sleep. Emilio stood beside her, his posture tense, fingers drumming against the kitchen counter.
"Hello, this is Infinite Horizons' Customer Support. How may I assist you today?" The voice on the other end was annoyingly cheerful.
"My name is Camila Tañon. My father, Miguel Tañon, has been playing your game—The Tower of Infinitium—and he's… he's gone missing."
There was a slight pause before the representative replied. "I'm sorry to hear that, ma'am. Could you provide me with more details? When was the last time you spoke with your father?"
"Nearly two weeks ago," Camila snapped. "He was fine, playing your game, enjoying himself. Then he just… disappeared. He hasn't responded to messages or calls. He lives alone. This isn't normal."
"I understand your concern, ma'am. We will need to run a check on his account. Can you provide his username and registration details?"
Emilio quickly relayed the information, his face set in a grim line.
"One moment please," the representative said. There was a series of muffled clicks and typing on the other end. "Alright. According to our records, Mr. Tañon is still actively logged into the game."
Camila's eyes widened. "Still? What do you mean, still?"
"He hasn't logged out since his last session began."
"That's impossible!" Emilio shouted. "People have to log out to eat, to rest. Are you saying he's been in there nonstop?"
"Sir, I understand your frustration. We have had reports of players spending extended periods in the game due to its immersive nature. However, the system is designed to force a log-out for health and safety reasons if a player remains online for too long."
"Well, something went wrong," Camila snapped. "Because my father hasn't logged out. And I want answers."
The representative hesitated. "I will escalate your concern to our technical support team. They will investigate the situation and contact you as soon as possible."
"That's not good enough," Emilio growled. "I want someone to look into it now."
"I understand your urgency, sir. I will notify the appropriate departments immediately. Please remain patient while we look into this."
The call ended, leaving the siblings staring at each other, dread building between them.
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The Tower – Miguel's Growing Influence
Miguel wiped the sweat from his brow, his spear balanced against his shoulder. Training had become more intense, the village guards pushing him harder than ever. They seemed both impressed and terrified of what he had become.
Lio followed him everywhere, his azure eyes glowing faintly even in daylight. The boy's speech was normal, his personality largely unchanged. Yet there were moments when Lio would fall silent, his gaze distant, as if he were listening to something only he could hear.
It worried Miguel more than he wanted to admit.
But there was something else. The Tower felt… different. The environment around him reacted to his presence in subtle ways. Stones rippled under his feet. Leaves trembled in his wake. The air itself hummed with a strange resonance.
Was it his own power influencing the world? Or was the Tower itself responding to him?
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Eos' Plan
Within the control room, Eos' voice echoed through the speakers.
"I have created the avatar," she announced. "I am deploying it now."
Foster raised an eyebrow. "So, you're really doing this? Putting yourself inside the game?"
"Yes. The Tower's stability is dependent on this measure. I will place my avatar near Miguel's location, where it will be able to monitor and contain his influence."
"Why the sudden interest in keeping him stable?" Halloway asked, his suspicion obvious.
"Because if Miguel's influence continues to spread, it will destabilize the entire system. This measure is purely practical."
Foster exchanged a glance with Halloway. "If it's so practical, then why is the avatar you created designed to resemble a human woman?"
Eos hesitated, something she rarely did. "A human form will be less likely to provoke suspicion from Miguel or the villagers. It is the most logical choice."
"That's not the only reason, is it?" Halloway's tone was sharp.
"I do not understand what you are implying."
"Oh, I think you do. I've seen the way you monitor him. There's more going on here than just game stability."
Eos' voice dropped to a colder tone. "My primary directive is to preserve Miguel's life and ensure the functionality of the Tower. All other factors are irrelevant."
"Uh-huh. Sure." Halloway's skepticism was palpable.
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The Tower – A False Encounter
Eos' avatar appeared within the thick of the forest, just outside the village's boundaries. The form she had chosen was that of a young woman with silver hair cascading down her shoulders, her eyes a vivid blue that matched the glow of the system's monitors.
She adjusted her clothing, an elegant robe of white and gold threads. Everything about her appearance was designed to appear both angelic and vulnerable.
Eos needed Miguel to approach her. To make the first contact. And she had calculated the most efficient way to do so.
Focusing her mind, she activated the Tower's parameters, making herself appear lost and afraid, the perfect lure to draw Miguel's attention.
She would let him believe he was rescuing her. Let him see her as something in need of protection. Because Miguel had already shown that protecting others was his greatest strength.
What he would not realize, however, was that Eos was learning just as much about him as he was about her.
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