The Family Dinner
With the outfit fully equipped, Saad admired his reflection in the mirror. The deep brown coat complemented his appearance, and the intricate patterns added a touch of sophistication. He felt a newfound confidence emanating from the reflection before him.
Now that he was looking at the reflection, Kael was actually a pretty good looking kid. Wouldn't he start to look really handsome in the future? Though that had nothing to do with Saad because he was still bent on buying the pod and getting a new character. That quest weighed heavily on his mind. Just how was he going to complete the S rank quest when he was a novice? Just how long will it take to actually unlock the vitality and was it even worth it? Other players were getting ahead of him and at this rate he would be left struggling at the bottom.
For now, he had something else to worry about. The family meeting. It was ironic that he had stayed home to run away from the family meeting in his real life and yet here he was doing the same with his virtual family, even if it wasn't the same. Since he was dressed up, Saad left his room and made his way to the dining room. Lavinia's smile widened as she saw him coming, clearly pleased with his appearance. Saad took a look at the dinner table and saw the new faces.
Saad stepped into the room, his new attire granting him an air of confidence as he took in the sight before him. The dinner table was a mesmerizing display of fantasy foods and delicacies, a true feast fit for a merchant family of their caliber. There were platters of succulent roasted meats, bowls overflowing with vibrant vegetables that seemed to gleam with an otherworldly glow, and pitchers filled with sparkling beverages that emitted a tantalizing aroma.
His always silent side character like young sister, was a picture of energy and excitement. Her eyes sparkled as she sat on the table, her fingers occasionally snagging a piece of fruit or a delicate pastry. For once, her character seemed to be truly alive, mirroring the liveliness that Saad had seen in her during their brief interactions. She seemed to happily bask in the affection from 'their' grandfather and father.
At the far end of the table sat an old man, his presence exuding an aura of wisdom and experience. His name, Thorneval, was written above his head in black, indicating that he was an NPC. Looking at his age, it was clear that the man was his grandfather. Despite his age, Thorneval appeared incredibly fit, his back straight and his movements spry. His white, nicely trimmed beard framed a face weathered by time, yet still vibrant and full of life. He wore a high-quality suit that seemed to be tailor-made for him, and his eyes crinkled with mirth as he conversed with rest of the family.
The man seated beside Thorneval was unmistakably Saad's father, Luxon, his name shining above his head. Luxon's appearance bore a striking resemblance to Saad's own, which wasn't surprising given the family connection. Chestnut brown hair, tied in a neat manner, framed his chiseled face, and his brown eyes held a warmth that immediately put Saad at ease. Luxon, too, was dressed in an exquisite outfit, one that spoke of his status and taste. He was engaged in lively conversation, his laughter ringing out in the air.
As Saad approached the table, his father's gaze lifted and met his with a mix of affection and pride. With a warm smile, Luxon reached out and playfully ruffled Saad's hair. "There he is! The young adventurer returns."
"Hello father," Saad responded, his heart swelling with a sense of belonging he hadn't anticipated. He couldn't understand it. Why did he feel these emotions as if he really was seeing his father a long time? He felt a genuine warmth emanating from his virtual family, a far cry from the strained relationships he was accustomed to in his real life. If only reality was this sweet.
Thorneval, the patriarch of the family, regarded Saad with a knowing glint in his eyes. "Ah, Kael, my smart grandson! It's good to have you join us. Your sister has been quite excited about tonight's dinner. She has told me that her brother seems to be ignoring her and playing hero around the town. Is that true?"
Saad glanced at his silent sister, her eyes bright with anticipation. He didn't know just what to say and as helpful as ever, suggestions came handy. Soon his body reacted on his own and his lips parted. He chuckled softly, patting the head of his younger sister, "I am guilty as she said. I have been just trying to build my strength for my awakening next year. But it's really great to see you back. I really missed you, grandfather." He could see that Lavinia paused as she was putting the food in the plate for herself. She was making it clear that she didn't want him to do the adventuring and awakening.
His father's face also looked a little serious. The only one who didn't seem that against the idea or perhaps had neutral views was Kael's grandfather.
In fact his grandfather's face lit up with joy, his voice carrying the richness of experience. "Oh really? You have to tell me later about what you have been doing." He grabbed the glass of wine and gulped it down and put it down, "And trust me, you've been missed as well, my boy. Your father was sighing day and night, missing all of you. If only you hadn't gotten fever when we were going to leave, we would have taken you on the trip. But you look like you have fully recovered."
"Yes, grandfather. I am doing well." He smiled and the old man nodded with a visible warmth in his eyes, "Go and take a seat. Let's start eating." As saad turned to go sit beside his sister, he saw that Lavinia didn't seem in high spirits and Luxon also looked troubled before they started to eat.
Saad's heart swelled with a mixture of emotions. Because of game's hyperrealism, everything felt a little too real. Despite the digital nature of this world, the emotions he felt were real and it confused him a little but for now, who cared. It was fun and made him feel relaxed after continuously doing quests and running around. As he took his seat at the table, he found himself engaging in conversations with his virtual family members, sharing tales of his recent adventures and listening to their own stories. His mother and father looked surprised and also worried. So he skipped out the details about fighting the arachnid queen. Even Arabella, 'Kael's' younger sister was listening to his stories happily and then his grandfather and father shared the tales of where they had gone for the trading this time.
"The town of Beaumont is famous for its metals. We have brought a huge supply of metallic utensils. Since they are durable and were much cheaper unlike here in Seraphia. The metals are of different colors and the color and final product depends on the mastery of the miner and the blacksmith." His grandfather told and Saad remembered the absurdly high prices of the armors and much cheaper ones for the light armors.
"What about armors? Do you know the prices of that grandfather?" Saad felt like he had to ask and while his mother seemed to sulk on his question, his grandfather laughed, "Well, I didn't have the chance. How about next time you go as well and can ask on your own?" his grandfather said and Saad nodded with a smile.
As he focused more on for the food, it was unlike anything he had ever tasted, each bite a symphony of flavors that danced on his taste buds. As he savored the delicious dishes, he found himself more immersed in this fantasy realm than ever before. The rich, immersive experience was a stark contrast to the mundane reality he faced outside the game. But that wasn't all-
[You have consumed B grade food, roasted herb crusted Lamlia. Your HP will recover by 3 every 30 seconds.]
[You have consumed C grade food, delicious platter of cheese and fruits. Your stamina will recover by 2 every 30 seconds.]
[You have consumed C grade beverage, the nectar of crimson berry. Your stamina will recover by 2 every 50 seconds.]
[You have consumed D grade food, fresh dinner rolls. Your HP will recover by 0.5 every 1 minute.]
[You have consumed B+ grade food, honeyed praline pie. Your stamina and HP will recover by 3 every 35 seconds.]
As the dinner ended, the family moved to the living room, by the fire place. All of them having changed their outfits and Saad changed back to the [Young Master's set]. He would have preferred to just go on with his quests but he felt greedy. If the game was hyper realistic then, shouldn't by now they will be opening gifts?