Their house stood on the outskirts of Rovaniemi, surrounded by snowy pines and open fields. It was a spacious, well-built home that reflected a quiet, comfortable life.
Noel had been successful in his career, accumulating enough wealth to ensure that he and his family could live securely without worrying about the future. He no longer needed to work, but Eevi, despite their financial stability, was driven by more than money.
As a professor specializing in Philosophy and Ethics at the University of Lapland, she valued her profession deeply to give it up.
After breakfast, Eevi kissed Noel on the forehead and ruffled Leon's hair. "Have a good day, both of you," she said before grabbing her bag and heading out the door.
Once she was gone, the house grew quiet, and the father and son made their way upstairs, made easier by a special track installed in the house that smoothly carried Noel's wheelchair along a railing.
They soon reached the upper floor. The house was large by any standard. Each room was spacious, decorated with elegant furniture and lined with beautiful paintings.
After passing a few of them, they made their way to Leon's room. The space was dim, with no windows to let in natural light, instead bathed in a soft glow from the RGB lighting subtly embedded in every corner.
The shifting colors lit up his elaborate desktop setup, which included a high-end PC, multiple monitors, a PlayStation, and more.
Noel hadn't been in the room for quite a while, but it was clear how much it had changed since he last saw it.
Noel smiled faintly with a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. He couldn't help but think about how different his son's life was from his own. While Leon was surrounded by high-end gear and a desktop setup built around his interests, Noel had grown up in a lower-middle-class home, without the means to pursue his passions until much later in life.
He had to fight hard to convince his parents to let him chase a career in racing, building his dreams piece by piece. Seeing Leon surrounded by the things he loved, without having to face the same struggles, brought a quiet sense of satisfaction mixed with bittersweet memories of his own battles with his parents.
Noel brushed those memories aside, refocusing on why he was there.
"So, how exactly does this game work?" he asked curiously. "You just put on the helmet, and that's it? You see through the goggles and hear everything through the headphones?"
Leon gave a small, knowing smile. "It's not that simple, it's way more immersive than just visuals and sound. When I said you wouldn't believe it unless you tried it yourself, I meant it. Just give me a second, I'll grab a spare helmet."
He walked over to the wardrobe and opened the top shelf, revealing five neatly packed boxes labeled Neurodrift Helmet with the sleek branding of the F.U.T.U.R.E. Conglomerate. He pulled out one and brought it to his father.
Noel's eyebrows lifted as he took in the sight of multiple helmets lined up in the wardrobe.
"What's with all the helmets? Does your mom know about this?"
Leon lowered his gaze, speaking softly but not backing down. "I bought them with the money I earned in the game."
Noel shook his head with a small frown. "It's not about the money, son. I'm just asking, why so many? One or two would be enough, don't you think?"
Leon fidgeted for a moment, his fingers nervously tracing the edge of the helmet boxes. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. "I got them so that maybe… maybe one day you and Mom could play with me."
Noel's expression softened at Leon's words, followed by a realization he had avoided for years. He hadn't seen just how much Leon wanted them to be part of the world where he felt less alone.
Memories flickered in his mind as he thought of the hours they used to spend playing video games, board games, or just kicking a ball in the yard.
But after the accident that took his legs, those days became a distant memory. That loss had pulled Noel inward, turning him into a shadow of the man he used to be.
Only recently had he started to feel better, slowly pulling himself out of the misery as time helped him heal.
He now realized, with some regret, that if he had healed sooner, their relationship might not have become so distant. But even with the time lost, there was still a chance. Better late than never.
The idea of reconnecting, even through a virtual world, gave him quiet hope. Maybe in this game, he could start to fix what had faded between them and find his way back to the closeness they once shared.
Noel wheeled himself closer as Leon carefully opened the box, revealing a sleek, futuristic device inside. The black matte helmet was light and compact, with streaks of grey spreading across the front in root-like patterns that added to its futuristic look.
The inner padding felt almost organic. When Noel touched it, it cushioned his hand so well that it felt surprisingly comfortable. He could only imagine how much comfort it would offer once worn. As he ran his fingers along the surface, he found himself quietly admiring its design.
"So, how does this thing work?" Noel asked, still trying to wrap his head around the advanced tech in his hands.
Leon's enthusiasm ever so slightly bubbled over as he began to explain. "It's pretty simple, but there's more to it than just putting on the helmet. First, you'll need to lie down…"
"Lie down?" Noel interrupted.
"Yeah," Leon nodded. "Once you complete your registration, you can enter the game just by using a voice command. No buttons needed. The helmet connects directly to your neural network for full immersion and your consciousness drifts straight into the game."
Noel's expression shifted, half intrigued, half wary. "Connects to my neural network? That sounds… intense."
"It does, but trust me, it's not as overwhelming as it sounds," Leon reassured him. "Once you're in, it's all pretty intuitive. You start with character customization, but there isn't much to tweak there."
"Okay, and then?" Noel asked, trying to follow.
"Then, there's a quick tutorial on how to manage your status screen and a brief introduction to your randomly generated Innate Talent. After that, you will be dropped into a survival scenario. You might find yourself in a jungle or some deserted wasteland or or some other random place. The main objective is to adapt and survive. It's challenging, but that's what makes it fun."
Noel took it all in, still trying to piece it together. "Status screens and Innate Talents, huh? I'm not sure I get it, but I'll do my best in there."
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Author Note:
The revamped version of EAP Volume 1, 2 &3 are now live on Kindle. You can find them on Amazon by simply searching the book title. Thank you for your support, and I hope you enjoy the new edition!
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Exclusive artwork for every free chapter is now available on my PATRE0N page! You can find the link in my Discord server.
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Discord Link for 'Earth's Alpha Prime' :
https://discord.gg/P6cWGg2G
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