(S1) Chapter 3- What Time Remains
Clang.
Clang.
Clang.
Sweat rolled down Bram’s temple as he drew the glowing steel from the forge.
The heat shimmered in the air around him, firelight reflecting off his thick beard.
With steady hands, he lowered the blade into a trough of water.
Hissssss.
Steam burst upward in a violent cloud. When the metal cooled, he lifted it free with his tongs and examined his work.
Dagger (Uncommon)
Attack: 12–16
Attack Speed: 0.60 sec
+2 Agility
A wide smile tugged at his lips.Not bad. Not bad at all.
He carried the dagger to the front of the shop and hung it carefully among the others, rubbing his beard as he considered pricing.
The door creaked open behind him, making Bram turn. A human man stepped inside—thin-framed glasses, dark mage cloak, posture slightly uncertain.
“Sorry,” Bram said automatically. “I only sell metal armor and weapons. Cloth gear’s next door at the seamstress.”
The man didn’t move. “Henry… is that you?” The name struck like a hammer to the anvil.
Bram slowly turned fully toward him. “Do I know you?”
The man’s smile widened. “You don’t recognize an old friend? It’s me. Colin.”
Bram stared. “…You’re Colin?”
“The one and only.”
For a moment Bram simply stood there. Then he crossed the space between them and clasped Colin’s forearm in a firm shake.
“It’s good to see you again!” he said, genuine warmth breaking through.
Colin laughed. “You’re a hard man to track down.”
“What brings you here?”
Colin’s grin shifted into something more deliberate.“Let’s grab a drink. I’ll tell you everything.”
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
Bram hesitated only a second before nodding. “Let me lock up.”
He flipped the sign to Closed, secured the door, and stepped into the evening air beside his old friend.
A soft breeze rolled in from the woods beyond the village. It was thick with mana, sending a faint tingle down Bram’s spine.
It’s almost time, he thought, glancing toward the forest’s edge.
Colin cleared his throat. “I should admit something… this is my first time playing this game. I have no idea where to buy you a drink.”
Bram barked a laugh and slapped him between the shoulders. “Don’t worry. I know the best place in town.”
Another wave of mana swept through the village, stronger this time. Colin frowned. “What’s with the wind?”
“It’s a sign.”
“A sign of what?”
“Every day, a new group turns sixteen or hits level ten. When they do, there’s a ceremony. They get transferred out of the starting village… into the real game.”
Colin followed him down the cobbled road. “So this place is just training wheels?”
“Yes and no,” Bram replied. “It’s to get used to your character… but mostly?”
He glanced toward the distant treeline.“It’s to make what comes next feel bigger.”
“Bigger how?”
Bram shrugged.
“You’ll see.”
?
They arrived at Tiffany’s Tavern—its windows glowing warm gold, laughter spilling into the street.
Inside, the tavern pulsed with life and the tables clustered close but not cramped. A bard sang on a small stage to the right—some heroic ballad about dragons and rescued maidens.
To the left, a magical fireplace shifted colors—pink, blue, white—casting ever-changing light across stone walls.
Behind the counter stood a broad-shouldered woman with dark skin and a brilliant grin, polishing a glass with a white cloth.
“Well look who it is,” she boomed. “Old Man Bram finally crawled outta that forge.”
“Your cooking has that effect on me, Tiffany.”
“You always were smooth with words.”
Her sharp eyes moved to Colin, “And who’s this?”
Bram hesitated, realizing he hadn’t asked Colin for his in-game name.
Colin stepped forward smoothly. “Silas.”now that he introduced himself, the name appeared above his head.
Tiffany smirked. “Welcome to my tavern, Silas. Ya eatin’?”
“Yes,” Bram cut in quickly. “Outside, if there’s space.”
“Lucky night. One table left.”
They were led upstairs to a balcony overlooking the village.The lanterns glowed below like scattered stars.
Beyond the rooftops, the forest stretched dark and deep beneath a sky streaked with early auroras.
They sat. Menus flickered to life in their hands. Colin glanced around. “No server?”
“Just select your order.”
Moments later, plates and mugs materialized before them.Colin looked shocked before taking a bite.
His eyes widened and he started to eat faster.
“I told you,” Bram chuckled. “Best place in town.”
Unlike Colin, Bram’s headset dulled taste to a fleeting sweetness—like cotton candy dissolving before you could savor it.
Colin must have a capsule, Bram realized. “How’s Ava?” Colin asked between bites. “And Stephanie?”
That name hit like cold iron. Bram reached for his ale.“Stephanie left,” he said quietly. “Three months ago.”
Colin froze.
“And Ava… blames me.”
“I’m sorry.”
Bram swallowed and forced a small smile. “What about you? You tracked me down for a reason.”
Colin leaned back, staring at the lantern light.“I became CEO of the most prestigious company in the world.”
“That’s incredible,” Bram said honestly. “You finally did it.”
“Yes.”Colin say silently,“But at what cost?”
Bram frowned.
“I chased it my whole life,” Colin continued. “When I got it, I protected it. Expanded it. I was damn good at it.”
His hand tightened around the mug.“And then a few weeks ago, I got news—— “I have cancer, Henry.”
Bram’s stomach dropped as the world seemed to narrow. “W-what?”
“The doctors said it’s lung cancer. They can try to prolong my life,” Colin said steadily. “But I’d be bedridden. Hooked to machines and that’s not living.”
The breeze shifted. It no longer felt warm. “I’m sorry,” Bram whispered.
He waved it away “I’ve made peace with dying,” Colin said. “What I haven’t made peace with… is being alone.”
He looked up.“No wife. No kids. Parents gone. And I pushed everyone else away chasing a title.”
He swallowed.“Then I remembered you. And Ava.”
Bram looked away toward the village lights.“A lot’s changed.”
“I know,” Colin said. “But maybe we can start over.”He gestured to the world around them. “Here.”
Bram blinked. “Start over… here?”
“Let’s play together. Travel. Fight. Live. Make up for lost time.”
Bram’s hands grew damp.“You mean… leave the starting village?”
Colin leaned forward, voice dropping.“No. Bigger than that.”
He whispered:“Let’s play Real Mode.”
Bram went still.“Are you insane? That’s ninety percent pain sync.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because I don’t want to waste what time I have left feeling half-alive.”
Tick.
Tock.
The sound echoed in Bram’s skull.
“I want to delete this character,” Colin continued softly. “Start fresh in Real Mode. And I want you with me.”
Bram leaned back, heart pounding.“You’re asking me to delete everything.”
“I’m asking you to move forward with me.”
Tick.
Tock.
Silence settled between them as Colin spoke gently.“Just think about it.”
Silence settled around their table
Then— A brilliant green beam erupted from the forest beyond the village.
It shot into the sky like a pillar of light,making the heavens shimmer.
Auroras rippled across the night, with people Cheering from the streets below as another group was transferred beyond the starting zone.
Beyond safety.Into something
unknown. Bram stared at the light.His heart hammered.
And somewhere deep in his mind—
The ticking did not stop.
