The blue glow of the monitor was especially harsh in the dead of night. Sophia rubbed her tired eyes, fingers tapping out the final lines of code on the keyboard. On the screen in front of her, the title Love & Chronos shimmered in soft, elegant lettering.
"Finally done..." she exhaled deeply, stretching with relief. As the lead designer at Starlight Games, this romance simulation had consumed the past two years of her life. Now, on the eve of its release, the game was finally complete. Set in a fantastical world where magic coexisted with advanced technology, players would take on the role of a student at a royal academy of magic, navigating romantic entanglements with four unique male leads.
Sophia clicked the "Test Run" button. The progress bar slowly crept to 100%. She smiled, reaching for her coffee cup—just as the screen abruptly flashed blue.
Lines of error code began to scroll at dizzying speed.
"What the hell?" Sophia frowned, slamming Ctrl + Alt + Del—but the keyboard didn't respond. The lights in the room flickered, and the monitor pulsed with an intense white glow.
"Warning: System anomaly detected," said a robotic female voice from the computer.
Sophia felt a sharp current shoot from her fingertips through her entire body. Her vision blacked out.
"Hey, wake up! The library's closing."
A stranger's voice pulled her back from the void. Sophia jolted upright, nearly bumping heads with the girl standing in front of her.
"Whoa!" she gasped, glancing down to find an old, leather-bound book splayed open on the wooden table. Around her, towering bookshelves stretched to the ceiling. Stained-glass windows bathed the space in golden evening light.
This was... the in-game library of the Royal Academy of Magic.
"Are you okay?" The girl wore a familiar deep blue academy robe with a silver belt and a crescent-star badge pinned to her chest—just like in Love & Chronos.
Sophia looked down. She was wearing the same uniform.
She pinched her thigh—hard.
Ouch. It hurt. It was real.
"I'm fine. Thank you," she said automatically, though her mind was racing.
Was this a dream? Or...
"System activated. Welcome, Player, to the official version of Love & Chronos." A voice only she could hear echoed in her mind. "Current identity: Transfer Student Sophia. Magic potential: to be assessed. Main quest initiated: Meet the Four Key Characters."
Sophia's breath caught. She'd somehow been pulled into her own game. As its creator, she knew every character, quest condition, and hidden secret by heart.
"Attention, students," a soft chime rang from the crystal orb in the center of the library. "The library is now closing. Please exit in an orderly manner."
Gathering her books, Sophia followed the stream of students toward the exit. If the game was following its original plotline, then...
"Oops!" She deliberately stumbled on the stairs, sending her books tumbling forward—right at the feet of a tall figure just entering the hall.
The man bent down, his slender fingers brushing the book's gilded cover. Ancient Theories of Magic—specifically chosen because she knew it was a personal favorite.
"Your book," he said, his voice calm and crystalline.
Sophia looked up—and found herself staring into eyes that gleamed like midnight stars.
He looked about twenty, with long silver hair tied back with a dark blue ribbon. His flawless features almost didn't seem human. The golden crest on his chest signified his status: the Academy's top mage, and the third prince of the royal family—Lucien.
The game's first male lead.
"Thank you." Sophia took the book, her fingers "accidentally" brushing his—just as she'd programmed. Lucien had a mild germophobia, but tolerated contact from people he was genuinely curious about.
Sure enough, his brow lifted slightly, but he didn't pull away.
"Ancient Theories of Magic," he noted. "Not many people care for such obscure topics."
"Especially Chapter Three's misconceptions about dimensional folding and time-space summoning," Sophia replied smoothly. "The author clearly confuses theoretical layering with active rift-casting."
Lucien's eyes sparkled with surprise. This was precisely the topic he'd been researching.
"Interesting," he murmured. "You're the new transfer student?"
"Sophia," she said, extending her hand. "First day."
Lucien hesitated, then shook it. "Lucien. If you're interested in ancient magic, there's a seminar on Wednesday evenings. You might find it worthwhile."
With a nod, he turned and walked away.
Sophia couldn't help but smile as she watched him leave. Having insider knowledge was like playing with a cheat code—she knew his likes, dislikes, and even his hidden vulnerabilities.
In her mind, a soft chime sounded:Lucien Affection +10. Current Affection: 15/100. Achievement Unlocked: First Encounter.
Sophia took a deep breath and stepped out of the library. The Royal Academy glowed in the twilight—its spires and domes glistening beneath the dying sun. In the distance, the bell tower tolled.
This wasn't just a game anymore.It was a living world.And she, the game's architect, was ready to write a new story—one move at a time.