<Author's note: The things (racism, sexism, political views, etc.) depicted or mentioned in this story do not reflect the real world and are purely coincidences. If they do, please keep in mind that they are simply for world-building and are only work of fiction. Thank you for your understanding.>
Nathan suddenly felt bad.
This isn't what he was expecting to happen.
He was hoping Karen would stay and accompany Vincent while he goes home and watches anime.
He glanced at Vincent and could see the sad expression he was wearing.
He scratched his nose awkwardly and said, "Uh… I think I change my mind. I'm just going to stay here before dinner."
Vincent looked at Nathan and a happy expression appeared on his face.
Nathan then turned to Karen and asked, "What about you?"
"Well, since you decided to stay, I'm going to stay as well."
"Vincent, didn't you say that you have some new toys? Is this the only new toy you have?" said Nathan.
"Oh, my dad also bought me another ball and an electric scooter," said Vincent.
"You mean another football ball?" said Karen.
"Yeah."
Unfortunately, unlike Vincent, Nathan and Karen weren't big fans of football.
"What's an electric scooter?" said Karen.
"Remember that cartoon movie we watched where the main character was riding that thing that looked something like a motorbike but you had to stand on it and you said it was very cool?"
"Oh yeah, I remember!"
"Yeah, my dad bought me one like that."
"Wow!" Nathan and Karen said.
"Yeah, but it can only carry one person…"
"Well, you guys can play with the scooter or whatever. I'm just going to watch anime here," said Nathan.
"Okay," they both said and left.
Finally alone, Nathan quickly switched off the PC3 and then changed the channel.
The climax of the fight between the MC and the final boss was being aired.
"Oh, great timing!"
***
A couple of minutes later…
The time was now 5:40 pm and the third anime was being broadcast.
'The episode today is a bit boring…'
Nathan glanced at the door.
'Vincent and Karen haven't returned yet…'
He returned his gaze at the TV.
The show cut to commercial.
He glanced at the PC3.
'Well…'
He decided to check the PC3 games.
He grabbed one of the CD cases.
'Looks ugly…'
He grabbed another one.
'Looks like for kids…'
And another one.
'Dinosaurs? Nah…'
And finally, he picked one that was more or less in line with his taste.
'A vampire game, huh…'
'And it looks cool…'
He also noticed the print on the cover.
'Five-in-one pack and remastered version…?'
The first two games were originally released on the PC1 platform, while the rest was on the PC2 platform.
'Let's try this.'
He switched the channel to video, turned on the PC3 and then inserted the disc.
On the main menu screen there were five games to choose from.
Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2.
Blood Omen 2.
Legacy of Kain: Defiance.
'Let's choose the first one.'
He highlighted Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen and then pressed X.
On the game's menu screen, he chose New Game and the screen played the intro.
A few seconds into the intro…
'Why is it so ugly?
'The cover on the CD case looked so cool…'
The intro finally ended and it was already the gameplay.
His character was inside of what looked like a tavern.
The first thing he noticed was the medieval aesthetic of the game.
There was also the voice acting which was dubbed in Regisian.
Although he couldn't understand it completely, the VA's voice combined with the Shakespearean style dialogue sounded like a dark haunting spell that he couldn't help but be captivated by it.
'Although it looks ugly, I really like the voice…'
He tried to move around and swing his sword.
'Hmm…'
'The controls...'
He pressed down and exited the tavern.
Outside the tavern, he encountered a couple of enemies.
He swung his sword like crazy.
He was able to kill two.
However, the enemies seemed endless and he eventually died.
'What's going on?'
'Why is it so hard?'
'What a stupid game.'
He was about to exit the game when the second intro played.
'Huh? There will be an intro every time you die?'
'Annoying...'
The second intro was about how the character became a vampire.
The second intro finally ended and the second gameplay began.
This time, his character was now a vampire and he was inside a crypt or mausoleum.
'Now this looks cool.'
On the first gameplay, the game screen featured a medieval aesthetic. But now, the main character was a vampire and the game screen featured a Gothic medieval aesthetic.
He continued moving around until he found an enemy.
It was a skeleton.
He swung his sword and the enemy died.
'He moves faster now…'
'But the controls are still…'
He moved around more until he found more enemies and he killed them.
However…
'The controls are really hard!'
'But it looks and sounds cool though…'
He exited the game and went back to the main menu.
This time, he highlighted Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver and then pressed X.
At the game's menu screen.
'Wow… Looks cooler and scarier compared to the first one…'
He chose New Game and the intro began.
"Kain is deified…"
"The clans tell tales of him…"
'Wow… What is this?'
From the beginning of the intro until the end, his mouth was left open.
'This game is so cool!'
Compared to the prequel, this game was superior.
'Now let's see about the controls…'
He was about to move the character around when the door suddenly opened.
Ka-cha!
"Hello, Nathan my dear, do you want to join us for dinner? Karen's joining us."
Nathan turned his head to the door and saw that it was Vincent's mother, Vanessa.
He paused the game and then turned to her.
"Oh hi, aunt Vanessa…"
"It's been a while since you three have been together so I thought: Why not let you guys have a nice dinner together?"
Nathan glanced at the window and noticed that it was already getting dark.
"I'm sorry, aunt Vanessa."
"I can call your parents to ask permission for you if you want."
"I'm really sorry, aunt Vanessa, but I already promised my mother I'm going home before dinner."
"Oh, I see. No problem."
He put the controller down and got up.
"I need to go home now, aunt Vanessa."
"Okay."
Vanessa moved away from the door to let Nathan pass.
When he stepped out of the room, she said, "Oh, I almost forgot."
Nathan looked at her.
"I bought some souvenirs for you and your parents. Please bring them with you."
"It's okay, aunt Vanessa."
"Please, I insist."
"Uh…"
"Come on, don't be such a shy kid. You know that I see you like my own son," Vanessa said as she smiled and lightly pinched his cheeks.
Nathan blushed and then looked down before saying, "…Okay."
She pinched his cheeks again and said, "Such a cutie~!"
***
A few minutes later, Nathan came home with some gift bags.
"What's that and where did you get those things?" said Nadia.
"They are souvenirs from aunt Vanessa," Nathan said as he handed them over to her.
She took a quick look at what's inside before putting them on the corner.
"Did you say thank you?"
"Yes."
"Good. Let's have dinner. Your father will be joining us shortly. He's still cleaning some things inside the storage room."
"Okay."
***
At the dining table.
Nathan and his mother were already eating but his father was still inside the storage room.
"Mother, can you tell father to buy me a PC3?"
"PC3? What's that?"
"PlayerConsole 3 or PC3. It's a videogame console."
"Videogame console? So it's a ting-tong game?"
"No, it's not like the arcades. It's a computer that you connect to the TV."
"A computer? I don't think we have money for that. And even if we do, I'm not sure if your father will even agree to buy you one because it might affect your studies"
"But I've been doing well in school anyway. I was even among the top 10 in my class. Please, mother. Please?"
"..."
"I promise I will study even harder. I really promise!"
"Okay, I'll try to talk to your father."
"Thank you! But can you just tell him after dinner?"
"Okay."
"And don't forget to tell him about my grades and how I was among the top 10 in my class!"
"Yes, yes, I'll tell him that. Don't worry."
"Thank you!"
*********************************************
Author's thoughts:
Hello, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for reading!
By the way, this former Grandmaster Immortal who failed months ago in keeping his sacred immortal oath and is now nothing but a Lowly Shameless Immortal is shamelessly going to open once again the path of Power Immortals and Immortal Patrons.
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Please note that the chapters posted there are only drafts. So when this Lowly Shameless Immortal will publish them here in the First Immortal Book, there will be some edits.
And at the moment, this Lowly Shameless Immortal posted the draft of Volume II: Ch. 74 - 78 there.
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Thank you once again Power Immortals and Immortal Patrons. This Lowly Shameless Immortal will see you in the next chapter... *Kowtows 300 times*