Chapter 10: Updates in The Arcas House.

After a long and intense session in Morphantasia, Sionna, Wadjet, Grizz, Borealis, Circy, and Teddy all logged out of the game, leaving their virtual alter egos to rest as Aergia, the panda, settled into her new den. Back in the real world, Maven and Iris awoke in Blakely's room, each still gripping one of the unconscious girl's arms, a posture of deep concern mixed with fatigue.

The room was quiet except for the subtle hum of the VR equipment cooling down. Iris, noticing that Blakely was dressed in a different-colored panda onesie—lavender and matcha mint—leaned in closer, detecting the fresh, soothing scents. It was evident that someone had taken care of Blakely while they were logged in, attending to her hygiene and comfort.

"Why are you smelling Blakely like she is the best chocolate bar ever made?" Maven asked a hint of amusement in her voice despite the situation's gravity.

Iris, slightly embarrassed but still curious, replied without really addressing the question, "Maven, remind me to ask Mrs. Arcas who cleaned Blakely."

Maven nodded, her expression turning serious as she too noticed the care that had been given to their friend. "Will do," she murmured, a mix of gratitude and concern in her tone.

After freshening up themselves, Iris and Maven headed to the dining room for dinner, where they bumped into Claire and Circy. The atmosphere lightened a bit as they exchanged stories about their recent adventures in the game.

"We had quite a bit of trouble on the way," Claire began, recounting their unexpected encounter. "We got attacked by a pack of Zephyr wolves. It was a close call, but we managed to fend them off without too much trouble."

Cleo chimed in with excitement about her own experiences. "I got a profession class quest line for alchemy," she explained enthusiastically. "Once you bring your herb lore skill to Novice 2 Tier 1, you unlock a skill tree option. It's going to open up a whole new set of possibilities for crafting and experimentation."

Iris spoke up and felt the need to share what they had discovered during their in-game investigation. "We've encountered player hunters who seem quite intent on harming Aergia. Luckily, Theo managed to put a tracker on them and then used his puppeteer magic to keep tabs. We should be prepared for them to strike at any moment."

As Iris and the group gathered in the living room, the conversation naturally drifted toward the ongoing challenges in Morphantasia. Amidst the talk of crises and safeguards, Iris, always proactive and deeply invested in the in-game strategy, redirected the focus towards their next major objective in the virtual world.

"How did the journey to the Temple of Asphodel go?" Iris inquired, her eyes scanning the faces of Claire, Cleo, and Maven who had embarked on that particular mission.

Claire, who had been coordinating some of their broader in-game tactics, responded with a mixture of frustration and intrigue in her voice. "It's a bit more complicated than we initially thought," she started, adjusting her posture as she leaned forward slightly, indicating the seriousness of their new obstacle. "The Temple isn't just nestled deep within a remote part of the game world. It's located within a different world gate altogether."

She paused for a moment to gauge the group's reaction before continuing. "I'm not entirely sure what that entails on a technical level, but from what we've gathered, it involves traversing through a sort of dimensional gateway, which isn't accessible under normal circumstances."

Noticing some puzzled looks around the room, she elaborated, "The quest instructions were quite clear. We need a specific key to gain entry through this world gate. Without it, the Temple remains out of our reach, sealed off by whatever ancient magics protect it."

Maven chimed in, her expression thoughtful as she pondered the implications of their quest. "Finding this key is our next step. It's not just about gaining entry to the temple but understanding the deeper mechanics of these world gates. There's likely a significant reason why such protections are in place."

Cleo, who had taken notes during their earlier adventures, pulled out her digital pad, scrolling through her compiled data. "The lore suggests that these gates were designed to protect sacred or dangerous places from unwarranted access. If Asphodel's temple is hidden behind one, the key may be guarded or hidden with equal care."

The discussion then shifted towards strategizing their next moves in the game. They debated potential locations where the key could be hidden, historical precedents for such quests within the game's lore, and the possible guardians or puzzles they might need to overcome to retrieve it.

Pamela, ever the strategist, offered a corporate perspective. "Consider this an operation. We need to deploy resources both in the game and here, pulling information from all available databases and leveraging our connections within the gaming community for insights."

The group agreed, motivated by the complexity and the high stakes of their virtual quest, drawing parallels to their real-world efforts to safeguard Blakely. With renewed determination, they set about organizing their approach, ready to tackle the challenges of both the virtual and real worlds with a unified front.

The atmosphere was one of tense anticipation. The Arcas family and their friends were all there, each person showing signs of concern and weariness from the day's events both in and out of the virtual world of Morphantasia.

Iris, taking the initiative, approached Mrs. Arcas with a pressing question. "Have you heard from Berenice yet? Any updates?"

Mrs. Arcas, looking as anxious as everyone else, adjusted her glasses before responding. "She should be calling in at seven. She mentioned finding something crucial in the old databases. It's similar to an old popular anime plot about a new VR game that launched, where the creator locked billions of players inside. It was as real as life itself, and if players died in the game, they died in real life."

A murmur of disbelief and concern spread through the room as Mrs. Arcas relayed the anime's storyline, drawing uneasy parallels to their current situation. The tension in the room grew palpable, with each person reflecting on the implications of such a scenario being more than just fiction.

As the clock struck seven, the phone rang, cutting through the tense atmosphere in the living room. Pamela quickly answered, and Berenice's voice came through with an urgent clarity that commanded the room's attention.

"Pamela, it appears we are dealing with a deliberate act of sabotage," Berenice began her composed and authoritative tone. "The culprit is an intern previously employed by our team, Casimir Peterson. He harbored an obsession with transforming the virtual environment into a substantive reality—an endeavor deemed far too complex and ethically ambiguous, subsequently vetoed by the board."

She continued, elucidating the technical aspects of the sabotage with precision. "Despite ceasing his official duties, Casimir clandestinely pursued his project. I discovered he had manipulated core data to embed realistic properties within the game, specifically targeting the genetic coding of Elysium's Spark herb. This aligns disturbingly with the anomalous effects we've observed in Blakely's transformation."

The room listened in rapt attention as Berenice outlined the implications. "My current efforts are focused on isolating and reversing these unauthorized modifications. However, the depth of integration presents significant challenges. We must proceed with caution to avoid triggering further unintended consequences."

She concluded with strategic advice, reflecting her comprehensive grasp of the situation. "For now, the immediate priority is ensuring Blakely's safety within the game environment. Maintain a defensive posture and avoid engaging with the player hunters; their interference could complicate our efforts to rectify the situation. We must contain this incident discreetly, as the broader implications could undermine public confidence in our platform."

As Berenice's briefing concluded, everyone in the room was imbued with a sense of grave responsibility, armed with knowledge and ready to act under her expert guidance. The plan was clear, and the path forward, while fraught with challenges, was illuminated by Berenice's sharp intellect and decisive leadership.

The atmosphere in the room shifted slightly as Bjorn brought the conversation back to Blakely, or Aergia, as she was known in the game. His tone was lighter, tinged with affection for his daughter, yet underscored by the genuine concern they all shared.

"Well," Wadjet began, leaning forward with a slight smile as she recounted Aergia's activities. "Our lovable panda has been quite the character in the game. You'd be surprised how she's adapted to her new form."

She painted a vivid picture of Aergia's day, emphasizing the gentle humor in her new routine. "She's been mostly wandering around Peridot Woods, exploring her surroundings with a sort of wide-eyed curiosity that's both heartwarming and a little comical. She's taken a particular liking to a variety of magical herbs she finds, which, when eaten, grant her some unusual abilities."

Grizz, who had spent considerable time guarding Aergia, added, "Yes, she's been experimenting with these skills. Imagine a giant panda trying to master elemental magic. She creates water balls that she paws at like a cat might chase a laser pointer, and sometimes she accidentally sets off gusts of wind that send her tumbling. It's quite the sight."

Teddy, chiming in with a grin, recounted a specific incident that had amused them all. "Just the other day, she found this cave that she's decided is her new den. She spends quite a bit of time there, arranging it to her liking, which mostly involves rolling around to make a comfortable spot to nap in."

"The funniest part," Iris interjected, "is when she tries to interact with her reflection in the stream near her den. She paws at it, sniffs it, and sometimes even growls a little before settling down beside it, apparently deciding that the other panda can stay."

Bjorn listened, his expression a mix of amusement and relief. "It sounds like she's managing to find some joy in her situation despite everything. That's our Blakely, always finding a way to adapt."

Pamela nodded, her eyes softening. "Yes, and while it's comforting to hear she's found some peace, it's up to us to ensure it remains that way. We must keep working both in and out of the game to safeguard her and to unravel the mystery of how this transformation happened." Under her breath, she whispered, "My poor baby is drinking water from a pond." Pamela shook her head in dismay.