Chapter 195: Time displacement syndrome (1/2)

Only when everyone in the group exited the game, did Xinya feel that it was alright to do so as well. Opening his interface, he located the cerulean button with glaringly red numbers that were slowly counting down and pressed it.

Closing his eyes he waited for the inevitable darkness to envelope him as the logout process transitioned him out of the game and into reality. A few moments had passed, and Xinya could once again see light fluttering in through his closed eyelids.

Knowing that he was back in the real world, he opened his eyes. Turning on his side, Xinya found the control pad that was located on the inside of the pod. Pressing the correct sequence he opened the hatch that was keeping him locked inside.

Pushing himself into a seated position, he pulled his wheelchair over towards himself positioning it in front of his pod. As he slowly began to maneuver himself into it, he couldn't help but miss the feeling of being able to walk freely.

He had these thoughts before whilst he was inside of the game, especially recently when he was racing against Wandering Sound down the mountain to reach Arkala's town gate. And as he struggled to get into his chair those thoughts began to manifest once again.

However, he also knew that he shouldn't let thoughts overwhelm him since his situation could have been worse. He should just be grateful that he could still walk, even if it's only with the use of a crutch. Locking away those harmful thoughts once more, Xinya made himself comfortable in his chair.

Flipping a switch, Xinya activated the chair's hoover mode, before making his way out of his room, and down the narrow hallway straight to the parlor. When he entered the living room his presence went completely unnoticed to Wei who was already there, lying lazily on the couch with her eyes closed.

Feeling playful, Xinya slowly floated himself over to where she was laying, grabbing one of the small pillows that were on the loveseat along the way. Once he was close enough, he raised the pillow high in the air, and using half of his strength he smacked her on the butt with it.

As soon as Wei felt the hit, her body reacted as though she was still inside of the game. Eyes snapping open, she jumped over the couch, it was only when she couldn't find her guns did she realize where she was.

”Not funny, Xinya!” Wei yelled, looking at the dark-haired man who was softly giggling to himself with ire.

”Maybe not for you, but to me that was hilarious,” Xinya told her, trying to hold back his amusement. ”Why are you resting here anyway? You can't be tired.”

Getting up from her crouched position behind the couch, Wei stretched her arms above her head. ”I'm not, I was just having some weird thoughts.”

”Like what?” Xinya asked curiously.

”Well, doesn't it feel like it's been longer than usual since we were here in the real world?” questioned Wei, with furrowed brows. ”It just doesn't seem real that so many days have passed in Haven online, but it's only been 23 hours here in reality. This didn't bother me before, but now.. it just seems so odd.”

After listening to Wei's words, Xinya could tell exactly what was happening to her. She was experiencing time displacement syndrome. This was something 5 out of 10 new players encounter when they start playing Haven Online.