After finishing his business with Hubert, Ren logged out of the game.
He stretched his limbs and leaned back on the chair, blinking at the sudden return to reality. The hum of the Pod quieted as it opened, releasing a faint hiss of cool air.
There was still an hour before the scheduled raid.
No rush. He had time to breathe.
Ren went to the kitchen, grabbed an afternoon snack, and munched quietly while scrolling through his phone. After eating, he decided to call his parents to let them know he had settled into the big city.
They were relieved to hear from him, though his mother couldn't resist her usual reminders about meals, laundry, and sleeping early. He smiled faintly through it all, replying with short reassurances until the call ended.
Afterward, he washed his face, did a light round of stretching, and took a moment to gather himself.
