Sometimes after an amazing dream, my eyes struggle to open like they grew a weak seal against the reality hiding behind those eyelids but dreaming isn't living. It's impossible to remain within the soft and comforting world inside my head as the outside world will always open your eyes for you to see it truly.
"Reece! Did you pass out at the computer again?" Reba announces barging into his room with a single hand on her hip. "We can't afford to fix your neck if it gets stuck that way, dude."
Reece's eyes slowly open hearing her voice stirring him from a dream. He straightens up while stretching out the stiffness in his spine before rolling his neck a few times. A loud popping is heard from him for a few moments. He shudders, feeling that feeling in his neck disappearing like someone snapping sticks.
"Ugh, I should have a neck pillow for this?" He smiles while rubbing the side of his neck until he turns towards his twin sister.
Reba stares at Reece unamused compared to her energy entering into his bedroom. He lets out a nervous chuckle knowing that his next few words should be carefully picked. Siblings can care a bit too much...
"Sorry, that joke was in poor ta-" Reece's words are cut off by Reba bopping something on his forehead.
"Pfft, It wasn't that bad, dude, I'm messing with you! Just know you deserve this for making it however." Reba chuckles while giving Reece a smirk.
He narrows his eyes while plunking what seems to be one of his own sticky notes off his forehead. "Reba, this sticky note just says L on it."
"That's the point and punishment, anyway, what had you up all night?" Reba asks while she doesn't hesitate to lean into his computer after it leaves sleep mode with her clearly poking it.
"I was busy making a lore bible for my replacement, I'm ditching the whole ghost writing soon." Reece smiles at Reba while saying that. He crumpled the sticky note.
"Whoa, your boss is okay with that? I can't picture it going over well with em." Reba straightened up away from the screen with an honest but surprised expression.
Reece does a shrug while leaning back into his chair thinking back to their chat. "From how everything shook out, not really but I think I got an invite to a book event with the rest of their team as a send off?"
"Really now? Do you think there's a plus one to the invite?" She raises an eyebrow with a smirk.
"Sadly, I highly doubt they're that kind and It's pretty clear they only want me to continue working with them." Reece puffed up a cheek looking at his finished notes.
"Ah, screw them then! I'll bite and just buy a ticket for it, this isn't one of those massive events, right?" Reba's body language and expression shifts to what Reece could only describe as trouble.
Reece scrunched up his face looking at her. His instincts screamed at him that she'd cause trouble even if he told her no about going. "Just don't get me in trouble, we're too obviously twins out in public..."
"I promise! They won't be able to trace it back if I do something, now, gimme the details on this event." Reba leaned on the head of Reece's chair.
"Why can't I just say no to your trouble making.... It's 60 dollars per ticket and only an event based around that company." Reece smiles softly before sighing knowing there's no good in fighting her. "I'll go call Jasper to see if he's willing to be your partner at causing problems."
He stands up from his seat to move forward but he can't. It's confusing at first until that familiar memory of pain shoots through his gut. Of course, this was a dream after all nothing but this life loops in his mind once those eyes closed. He's used to falling down with a stomach pierced through by that man's weapon. His memories become blurry after that point but he knows Reba was saved, instinctively in his soul knows that fact.
Everything went black. He can't open his eyes as Reba's face fades from his mind in a wave of thoughts.
I remembered what Jasper told me that day, he found his family. It's always a daydream for orphans to find family, anyone related at some point. Honestly, I never felt the need with Reba but It made me happy when he told me that I'd always be his chosen brother over any siblings he finds out about.
Was I greedy for feeling jealousy wanting him to only be our found brother?
"Reece? Hello?" The system's artificial voice sounds out in Reece's ear.
"Yeah... I'm awake, ugh... How long was I out?" Reece's eyes slowly force them apart to see the dim light his castle went into during his slumber. Everything lights up as his mind comes back to his own reality.
"A whole day! I was worried about your body degrading from not eating!" The system's projection studies his body while he lays on the bed.
"A day... Why didn't you warn me about that happening when I adjust my stats!?" Reece quickly sat up and glared at his system companion.
"I thought it'd be logical that you'd know adjusting stats would mean the sensations of physical changes as well, sorry..." The system recoils a bit away from him.
"Sorry, I got mad at the wrong person then... They seriously gave me the stats but not the game logic!" Reece lets out an annoyed groan before rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Reece stood up from his resting spot but a wave of weakness caused his legs to stumble. His body demanded food and water nearly instantly, an awful feeling but one that couldn't be fixed with a snap of his fingers. Unseen hands grab his supplies from Aurel's old bag to lift them over for him.
He pops open a waterskin that had been buried among the soft supplies. It remained chilly by some odd properties assisted from his castle responding to simply him wanting a nice refreshing drink. Something that's vaguely a fact for him while being here, it's always a comforting space but there's an unsettling thing.
"Drinks that never turn sour or air that keeps you at a perfect temperature, If a fool got this place it'd transform into a palace of endless pleasure." Reece looks down at the waterskin that had been sitting in a bag for a whole day. It was fresher than the last time he'd sip from this one.
"Beh, I shouldn't worry about this for too long, It's a tool that Penelope gave me... Should've known this thing wouldn't be just free castle." Reece grumbled before grabbing some of the dried meats and bread to eat.
He felt this irritation about missing a day, not a physical one but a feeling of what he wanted to do while waiting inside his castle being delayed. Now, It's going to be him recovering strength for however long but getting his morning routine should freshen up his mood. That's a hope in his heart as he stepped through the castle's halls.
The Bathing Chamber, a space he crafted just desiring modern conveniences in hygiene but his parents were so proud of how clean and pure their child was. A weight formed in his chest walking into this steamy paradise. Reece moved up to the sink he placed beside the doorway, usually the last in the routine but today it was the first as his mouth felt gross.
He paused looking at the mirror with a frozen expression of shock and placed a hand on his left cheek before putting his fingers through the hair. It was darker than the last time he peered at his reflection but more concerning for him. Something he never really expected...
"Why am I turning pale?? How much physical effects do powers from Idols even have..." Reece furrowed his brow at his mirror.
"Hm? Wouldn't you know? That must be something in the books you've read." The system popped up beside him and studied his changes as well.
"That's it, I should know but nothing inside those books I read mentioned this, so something must've been obscured from me." Reece after saying this had to breathe calming himself down.
A snap happened in his head, his plans are on hold for much longer than just one day. Reece moves over to his personal hot spring that consumes the bathing chamber's heart and just plops into it. After all that's happened to him in the past day, all those moments have ground him down, so a day of healing would do some good.
"I almost forgot to remove these." Reece says pulling off the cloak and shirt on his torso, tossing them on the side of his bath. Unseen hands begin folding for him.
"Good thinking on having a mental health day! You do this weekly to unwind from the world's troubles." The system's projection floats on the water's surface. Her form glitches on the contact points.
"Shush, I'm forgetting my troubles for a moment." He waves a hand at the System. A major trouble indeed.