Dark Haven Fortress. Training Ground.
Sanya finished her practice. She was about to play the game again.
But Rudra stopped her. He shouted from behind, "Sister! Sister! I heard from those disciples that you've already started playing a game. I want to play too!"
Sanya smiled.
"It's okay. Come with me. I'll help you get familiar with it."
She began walking toward her room.
Rudra followed eagerly.
Once inside, Sanya explained everything: the game's features, functions, controls, and basic rules. She downloaded it on another phone for him.
Then she said, "Rudra, when you enter your lobby, remember to choose your outfit and character carefully. Okay? You can't change it easily later. And then send me a friend request. This is my ID number…"
Rudra nodded seriously and did as he was told.
Sanya, meanwhile, dove back into the game.
The moment she entered her lobby, she noticed two new players in her friend list.
One was Ruyi.
The other was the short-haired girl.
Both were online.
Sanya called them into her lobby.
They arrived instantly.
She greeted them warmly.
"Hi guys. How are you?"
But she didn't get an immediate answer.
She looked at them.
Both were staring around the lobby like they had stepped into a magical realm for the first time—eyes wide, mouths slightly open.
Ruyi murmured, "Wow… Roxa… you are really ri—"
"Really rich!" the short-haired girl—ID: The Female Knight—finished the sentence.
Sanya just laughed softly at their words.
She opened her mouth to say something, but then noticed another player requesting to enter her lobby.
She glanced at Ruyi.
Ruyi smiled quickly.
"Oh, Roxa—that's my friend, Jina. I told you about her. Remember?"
Sanya nodded and accepted the request.
Jina stepped inside.
She too froze, stunned by the grand, beautiful lobby—purple butterflies drifting lazily, starry violet sky overhead, crystal chandeliers shaped like wings, velvet couches embroidered with silver.
Inside, Jina shouted to herself:
Oh god… how many points did she spend to decorate her lobby?!
Sanya then looked at the short-haired girl and apologized again for yesterday's mistake.
The girl shook her head gently.
"Well… it's okay. It was also my fault. I created this outfit and character without much thinking. Now I regret it—the armor is heavy and slows me down. And people keep mistaking me for a male, so no girls want to team up with me… and I don't want to team up with any guys. So… I've always been alone."
Her face twisted into a wry smile on the last words.
Sanya saw the quiet loneliness there.
She spoke softly.
"Well, I can help you with that. Wait."
Sanya opened her store interface. She began customizing an outfit and character specifically for the girl—something light, elegant, feminine, and powerful. She planned to gift it directly.
Of course, it would be easier to let the girl customize herself. But customization cost points, and the girl had none. Sanya had none either… but there was still a way.
She could create the items first in her own lobby—free of cost—and then gift them. No points required.
Sanya paused for a second.
She knew this might be a glitch. The developers could fix it any moment and take back everything. If she gifted the items, they might disappear later.
But she decided to do it anyway.
Even if the items only lasted a short time, the girl could feel happy for now.
In her mind, Sanya promised herself:
If I earn enough points later, and the developers take these back… I will definitely gift her new ones—with real points.
Sanya focused and began creating.
On the other hand, Ruyi, Jina, and the female knight sat together on the velvet sofa in the lobby, watching Roxa stand with her eyes closed, deep in the store interface.
Jina leaned forward slightly.
"Ruyi… is this the player Roxa you were talking about?"
Ruyi nodded.
"Yes, she is."
The female knight crossed her arms, eyes wide.
"Well, she almost exploded the internet last night. Who wouldn't know her now?"
Jina smiled.
"Yeah, you're right. By the way, what's your name?"
The female knight shrugged.
"Well, I'm Clara. But I'd prefer you call me Galaxy."
Jina tilted her head.
"Okay, Galaxy. I don't know why you prefer that, but it's fine. I'm Jina. And you already know my friend, right?"
Galaxy nodded.
"Yeah, I know her. We talked yesterday."
Then both girls looked at Ruyi.
Ruyi was staring at Roxa intently, clearly wanting to say something but holding back.
Galaxy noticed.
"Ruyi, just tell her."
Jina nodded in support.
"Yeah, just say it."
Ruyi looked at them both, still uncertain.
She hadn't said it yesterday. She had stayed silent. Speaking now might give the wrong impression.
But their encouraging eyes made her hesitate less.
She took a small breath.
"Okay… I'll tell her."
Just then, Sanya opened her eyes and said, "Oh… what happened? Tell me. And sister, you check—I sent you something."
Galaxy blinked in confusion. What had Roxa sent her? A friend request? But they were already friends… right? So what could it be?
Ruyi, meanwhile, took a deep breath. Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke.
"Sorry, Roxa… for yesterday. I doubted you. I didn't talk to you. I just stood there while those people said bad things about you. I'm really—"
But Sanya raised a gentle hand, stopping her mid-sentence.
"Well… don't worry about that. It's not that serious. Everyone gets suspicious at one point or another. But it's okay once it gets cleared."
She smiled—soft, reassuring, without a trace of anger.
Ruyi's shoulders relaxed a little, though guilt still lingered in her eyes.
Galaxy watched the exchange quietly, then glanced down at her interface to check whatever Roxa had sent.
A notification popped up.
Not a friend request.
A gift.
She opened it—and froze.