I lean forward. He definitely has my attention now. “What exactly do you want to have me on board with?”
“I want to ship immersion helmets to everyone in The Boxes and hire them as beta testers. You’ve been right all along that the conditions they live in are inhumane. It doesn’t matter if we spend ninety percent of our lives in Pangea, we still need a place that feels like home when we log out. What I’m proposing is the construction of new housing units across from the Pangea Headquarters Campus. It’ll take some time to get it all up and running, but I think it is the right thing to do. They are people too, regardless of the situation they were born into. You and Dean have shown us that a person’s beginnings do not define where they will end. I’m sorry that it took me so long to realize this.”
My mouth hangs open, and I don’t know what to say. All I’ve ever wanted to do was to help those in The Boxes, to show the world that we had something to offer. It looks like that is finally happening.
My throat is suddenly tight, and I have to clear it before I can speak. “Thank you. You have no idea the impact this will have on their lives.”
Benjamin looks down at his desk, lost in thought for a moment. “I wish that I did. I’m sure you want to get back to your friends, though, so I won’t keep you. I just wanted to run it by you beforehand.”
As I’m walking out the door, a thought crosses my mind. I stop in the doorway and turn around. “What happened to all of the immersion tanks and pods?”
He smiles. It’s a genuine smile that reaches his eyes. “We sent them over to the medical testing lab. The preliminary trials have been so positive that we’re bringing in more volunteers. After so many years of focusing on profits, it feels nice to know that I’m finally using my power for good.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I think in the end, our most lasting legacy is not the fame and the glory, but the mark we make on other people.”
Aleesia’s words come back to me. “You can’t help everyone. Focus on the ones you can.” If we all did that, then this world might not be such a bad place.
Epilogue
One year later.
Saltwater spray kisses my nose from the bubbling pool. I take off my boots and dip my feet into the warm water. A fish nibbles at my toes, startling me. The torchlight along the cave walls and gentle bubbling in the water offers a peaceful ambience.
Everyone has been so busy the past few months that this is the first time we’ve been able to meetup as a group inside Pangea.
“What is this place?” Dean crouches next to me. A year later, and he still wears the same red tunic that mirrors my own.
“Just wait.” Grayson takes a seat next to me, and his many necklaces jingle across his tattooed chest. “They’ll be here shortly.”
Buzz rolls his eyes. “I still can’t believe you never took me here. I mean, after everything we’ve been through.”
“You’re lucky I brought you this time,” Grayson teases. “But even you deserve to experience Pirate Bay in full-immersion.”
As of late, there seems to be a new full-immersion world opening in Pangea every week. The game worlds still work for those using haptic suits, but sooner or later, this will be the norm for everyone.
Grayson pulls a golden pocket-watch from his pants and flips it open. “Get ready.”
There’s movement in the water, and a moment later, a tan face breaks through the surface. Beautiful black hair drapes across her shoulders as she climbs up from the pool and sits along the edge. Her green eyes sparkle even in the dim light. Shimmering blue-and-green scales run along the lower half of the mermaid’s body, and clam shells cover her chest.
Buzz’s mouth hangs open as he watches her. Soon, four more mermaids join her along the pool’s edge. They sing a song in a language I can’t understand, but the words are beautiful. Their song bounces off the cave walls, engulfing us in their graceful harmony.
“Wow,” Dean whispers. “How’d you find this place?”
“That is a story for another time.” Grayson closes his eyes. “Just enjoy the moment.”
I don’t know if it’s minutes or hours, but we sit and listen to the mermaids sing. For once, even Buzz sits in silence.
I lean in toward Dean. “I wanted to show you this place before you went off to college. To remind you that Pangea isn’t all about leveling and tournaments. There’s beauty here. There’s peace. It’s okay to take time for yourself when you need to. And no matter how bad things may seem outside, people come here to escape, to feel something. Don’t ever forget that.”
He nods, and then lays back on the cool stone floor.
I lay back and close my eyes, losing myself in the song of mermaids.
The end.
Acknowledgments
Thank you for reading my book. I hope you loved it! If so, please leave a review. Reviews are as rare as Developer’s Chests and the more positive reviews I have, the more likely it is that others will read my books as well.
To all of my Patreon supporters, you’re the real MVPs, supporting me even when I’m not releasing as fast as I would like.
Platinum Tier supporters: Tim Krason.
Gold Tier supporters: Eric Sprague, Michael Percell, and Robert Schaefer.
Silver Tier supporters: Steve Caldwell, Nicholas K, Justin Thomas James, and Heather Jarvis.
Bronze Tier supporters: Frank Pisauro, Rachael Osterhout, Elizabeth, Cindy Koepp, Roxanne Baechler-Gill, and Ricky Brookes.
If this was your first foray into my worlds, I highly recommend you check out my other series, Sentenced to Troll, the story of an online gamer forced to play as a troll in a new form of behavior rehabilitation. It’s full of humor, action, and adventure.
Stop by my Patreon for exclusive content, signed paperbacks, and much more.
If you’re looking for more books similar to my own, check out the Gamelit Society, LitRPG Books, and LitRPG Guild; some of the best places for all things Gamelit and LitRPG.
About the Author
S.L. Rowland is a nomad. Born in the South, he loves traveling and has road-tripped coast to coast three times over. He currently lives in St. Louis with his Shiba Inu, Lawson. When not writing, he enjoys hiking, reading, weightlifting, playing video games, and having his heart broken by various Atlanta sports teams.
Where to find me:
SLRowland.com
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Email: [email protected]
Other Books by S.L. Rowland
Pangea Online: Death and Axes
Pangea Online 2: Magic and Mayhem
Pangea Online 3: Vials and Tribulations
Villains aren’t born, they’re made.
Path to Villainy: An NPC Kobold’s Tale
Who says a troll can’t be the hero?
Sentenced to Troll
Sentenced to Troll 2
Sentenced to Troll 3
Vestiges: Portal to the Apocalypse
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Pangea Online: The Complete Trilogy Page 74