Prologue
Three years ago. Rain poured heavily in the city park, drenching the bench where Reinh and Yui sat for the last time. The same rain that had witnessed their whispered declarations of love now accompanied a painful farewell. That day, Reinh and Yui met at their usual cafe, a place that had often witnessed their happiness. However, this meeting was different. Yui arrived with a face that held deep worry.
"Reinh," Yui began softly, but there was an undeniable tremor in her voice, "I know we've been through a lot, and I know the meeting with my parents didn't go well."
Reinh merely nodded, his heart sinking. He still clearly remembered how Yui's parents opposed their relationship, especially Yui's father, who had uttered words difficult to forget.
"But I love you, and I want us to get through this together," Yui continued, looking at Reinh with hopeful eyes.
Reinh wanted to reply, to say that he loved Yui too, but Yui's father's words echoed in his mind, making him hesitate. "I love you too, Yui. But that meeting was very painful for me. I can't forget what your father said."
Yui sighed. "Reinh, I have an idea. What if we leave together, leave all these problems behind and start a new life? We can find a place where we can be together without pressure from our parents."
Reinh fell silent, weighing Yui's proposal. On one hand, he wanted to be with Yui, but on the other, he felt responsible for his family and Yui's family. "Yui, I understand your wish. But I can't just leave everything behind. I have to respect my parents and your parents. They only want the best for us."
Yui's eyes welled up with tears. "Reinh, I can't live without you. Please, we can find a solution together."
Reinh shook his head, his feelings a mix of love and duty. "Yui, I can't do that. I have to continue to respect my parents and your parents. I can't be selfish just for our happiness."
Frustration began to show on Yui's face. "Reinh, do you really care more about what our parents think than about us? Don't you see how much I love you and want to be with you?"
An argument began to heat up between them. Their voices rose, and emotions that had long been suppressed began to overflow. The cafe, which usually was a comfortable place for them, now bore witness to a fierce debate.
"I love you, Yui, but I also love my family. I can't just leave everything," Reinh shouted, trying to explain his position.
Yui cried, her feelings hurt and disappointed. "Then what are we doing here? What's the point of all this if we can't be together?"
Their argument continued until Reinh finally stood up, feeling helpless. "I don't know, Yui. I really don't know."
With a heavy heart, Reinh left the cafe in the pouring rain. Yui watched him leave with tears streaming down her cheeks. She felt her heart shattered into pieces. Outside, Reinh walked aimlessly, letting the rain drench his body. He felt empty and alone, not knowing how to fix anything.
Yui chased Reinh out of the cafe. The heavy rain blurred her vision, but she didn't care. She had to talk to Reinh, find a way to save their relationship. "Reinh!" Yui cried, her voice drowned in the roar of the rain. "Reinh, wait!"
Reinh stopped and turned, seeing Yui standing in the rain with tears soaking her face. His heart was touched by Yui's steadfastness, but he felt too tired and desperate to argue again.
"Yui, why are you chasing me?" Reinh asked in a hoarse voice.
Yui approached him, panting from running. "I can't let everything end like this, Reinh. I love you."
Reinh shook his head. "Maybe we really can't be together, Yui."
"Why are you talking like that? We can find a way," Yui argued desperately.
"There's no way out. Our parents will never approve of this relationship," Reinh said, his voice cold and flat.
Yui looked at Reinh in disbelief. "Are you just giving up? You don't want to fight for our love?"
Reinh was silent, unable to answer Yui's question. He felt defeated and broken.
Yui finally said in a voice full of pain and anger, "Alright, if that's what you want, Reinh. But remember, one day you will regret it. You will never truly be happy without me."
Those words hit Reinh like a hammer. He knew Yui wasn't joking. There was a strong conviction in every word she uttered. Reinh could only watch Yui turn and leave, disappearing into the pouring rain that night. He stood frozen there, in the ceaseless rain, his body feeling heavy and his heart empty. He realized that he had made a decision he might never be able to fix, and that feeling haunted him every time he remembered that night. Yui's vow.
Time passed. Three years later, Reinh, now 23 years old, lived his days in an emptiness that increasingly gnawed at his soul. He became a recluse, rarely speaking to anyone unless absolutely necessary. His job as an elementary school teacher felt bland and monotonous, and he often daydreamed in the middle of class, lost in bitter memories of his past with Yui. His students often looked at him in confusion when he suddenly stopped teaching and stared blankly out the window, as if he saw something they couldn't.
Dreams of the farewell under the rain continued to haunt him every night, reinforcing the vow that shadowed his heart. In his dreams, he always saw Yui standing in the rain, tears streaming down her face, uttering the same vow repeatedly. Every time he woke up from that dream, Reinh felt more and more bound by that vow, as if it were an invisible chain tying him to the past and preventing him from moving forward.
Amidst the loneliness and emptiness that enveloped him, Reinh found an escape in the virtual world. There was only one place where he could escape from the bitter reality: the world of Tale's of Aurora.
In that fantasy MMORPG world, Reinh was Luminere, a powerful mage with "Awakening" status—an achievement that surpassed level 90 and was very rare among players. The "Awakener" status itself in the game's lore was often associated with great destiny and the ability to interact with ancient entities, even legendary guardian spirits, although Reinh focused more on improving his combat power than delving into these stories. As a respected and feared leader, he mastered elemental and support magic with unmatched power. He was a hero in that world, respected and admired by many. In Tale's of Aurora, Reinh could be someone different, someone strong and powerful, someone free from the pain and regret that haunted him in the real world.
However, even at the peak of his virtual glory, Reinh's ambition to break through level 91 only led to unbearable exhaustion. He spent most of his time in front of the computer, hours on end, trying to achieve his goal. He neglected his work, his friends, and even his own health. His real life faded further, replaced by a game world that became increasingly real to him.
That night, in front of his computer, as his fingers trembled and his eyes stung from fatigue, Reinh finally succumbed to an irresistible drowsiness. He didn't realize that this sleep would take him to a place far more real, more dangerous, and more full of mystery than any world he had ever imagined. A world where his vow might come true, where he would be forced to confront his past and find out if he was truly cursed to never find happiness.