The Enigmatic Chronicles of Ignatius Thorne Echoes of Destiny

The hum of fluorescent lights cast a dull glow over the deserted office. Ignatius sat in his cubicle. Surrounded by tall partitions that boxed him into his small world. His desk, cluttered with stacks of reports and empty coffee cups, bore the marks of his long hours.

The screen of his computer flickered with the final emails of the day, the blinking cursor a reminder of the hours he had spent typing and retyping.

Outside his cubicle, the office was a mix of dimmed lights and the occasional chatter. Most of his coworkers had already logged off. Gathering their belongings, their laughter echoed down the hallway.

As they discussed their plans to head to the local bar. Ignatius could hear snippets of conversation, talk of drinks and laughter. He felt disconnected, his mind preoccupied with the game waiting for him at home.

He wished to be a novelist who would break free from this life feeling unfulfilled. His work entailed answering complaints via email. He yearned for adventure and freedom.

 Afraid of socialising and women. Making being adventurous a bit difficult. Ignatius sighed, If only he could break free from his hell.

He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He let out a sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose to stave off the creeping fatigue. The clock on his desk read well past ten, and he could feel the weight of the long, relentless hours pressing down on him.

Ignatius saved his work, shut down his computer, and began to gather his things. His coat, draped over the back of his chair, was his last office armour piece.

As he stood up and stretched, his coworkers' voices grew louder. One of them, Mark, peeked over the cubicle wall.

"Hey, Ignatius! You are coming with us?" Mark's voice was friendly, his face flushed with excitement.

Ignatius forced a smile. "Not tonight, Mark. I've got something to take care of at home."

Mark shrugged, not pushing further. "All right, next time!"

Mark looked at him with a worried expression. "Go to bed early. You need the rest."

With that, Ignatius turned to leave, his footsteps echoing in the quiet office. The elevator doors closed with a soft chime. He descended to the lobby. He could already feel his excitement building for the night ahead.

The game, the new character, and the adventures. The only things he thought about as he stepped out into the cool night air.

The city's lights twinkled in the distance. Ignatius walked towards the subway. He couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Tonight was the beginning of something extraordinary.

He never had time for games, but something about this game intrigued him. He would sit and watch ads and influencers talking about the launch. Looking forward to this new earth-shattering experience. He stopped at a takeaway and bought a meal and three energy drinks.

Introverted as he was, Ignatius preferred solitude. He found comfort in the quiet of his home, where he could ponder and write without interruption. His dream of becoming a world-famous novelist had never materialised.

Being the youngest son of a wealthy family placed him last in line for everything. His mother was the fifth wife of nine wives. Ignatius, the youngest, was last in line.

The eldest daughter in the family Cynthia was his only sibling he loved more than his life. She was ten years older than him. She had been married of to a wealthy CEO. The two family's companies merged into a conglomerate dominating the market. He had not seen her since that day. His father made sure that they never met again.

His tenacious curiosity often got him into trouble. Driven by a relentless need to uncover truths and solve mysteries. Depending on your point of view.

He was always in the wrong or right place to uncover gossip or hear secret confessions. Which earned him the nickname "busy body." His brothers and sisters did not trust him and ignored him.

A workaholic to the extreme. A fitting description for this thirty-two-year-old neat. Ignatius addicted to work and often lost himself during long work hours. Despite wanting to balance his life. He struggled to break free from his workaholic tendencies. A true reclusive.

He lives a secluded life, avoiding social interactions except for necessary engagements. As a well-groomed middle-class worker, he took excellent care of his appearance.

With his eye for fashion, which he inherited from his mother, he had impeccable clothing taste. He was always well-dressed, often in elegant and stylish attire.

Eating his meal as he walked, he rushed to the train, hoping to catch the game shop open. He had finally saved enough money to buy special editions and add-ons for the game that launched tonight at twelfth.

Meticulous planning and saving on luxuries. He had worked overtime non-stop for months since the game launch announcement.

Rushing into the store, he saw that the front display looked bare.

Ignatius leans on the counter with his elbow. "Tell me you still have stock left."

The shop assistant pulls a few items out of a box behind the counter. "I forgot to pack these special edition add-ons."

The clerk hands him the remaining boxes. The character on the box is a beauty with long black hair and deep purple eyes.

The clerk points to the character on the box. "She's not even a magic user. Are you sure about this?"

Ignatius took the other boxes, the name Primordial set written in fine print at the bottom. The character on the box was a Primordial half-elf. She was smoking hot. He decided that gaming with such a beauty would be a blessing.

He calculated the cost of the items, and it would take all his saved-up money. He decided he could live off instant noodles for a week till payday.

His excitement peaks as he buys the unique character Silvian. A famous novelist and primordial half-elf. The butler Zarkon, a primordial vampire.

He buys the primordial bonding rings. With the hope to quest with a female companion and spends his last money on the Mystic Orb of Fate. As a man who had never had a girlfriend. His sister the only women he ever loved. Silvian's looks attracted him like a bee to honey.

He reads the packaging and the character description. Intrigued by the image of the small town of Misty Cove. He has purchased a unique character and matching equipment.

"I cannot wait to load these add-ons." Ignatius rambled as he took the bag with his purchases from the clerk.

He had the complete primordial set.

The clerk reads from a list on the computer. "You're in luck. It is a once-in-a-lifetime deal collector's edition, and only one set available."

The clerk's eyes widened as he realised that he had given away something that would be worth a fortune. The store owner had kept them in the box for himself. Ignatius finds that the information about his purchase only heightened his excitement.

Unlocking his door, the condo his father had bought for him sparkled. One of the maids from his father's estate came in twice a week. Placing the remaining energy drink on his desk next to his computer. He opens the can and takes a mouthful, smacking his lips at the sour drink.

He can't wait to load the addons and see how the characters looked. The boxes present a challenge. He wanted to preserve the packaging in pristine condition for his wall as a trophy. The anticipation builds as the game starts to load.

As the game starts, Ignatius feels disoriented and confused. The transition is abrupt and jarring, leaving him in shock. Enveloped in a mystical, swirling vortex of colours and sounds. Further disorienting his senses.

He disappears in a flash of light, his computer screen dead. Smoke fills the condo as the fire spreads, the fire alarm sounding. Sirens in the background, and people shouted fire outside, fleeing down the stairs.

A fairy fluttered into the living room on gossamer wings. That shimmered with an iridescent glow. Flames danced in the condo, her wings catching the light and reflecting a spectrum of colours.

Her tiny, delicate frame moved through the air, leaving a trail of sparkling dust in her wake. She hovered near the ceiling. Her wings beating so fast they were almost a blur, creating a soft, melodic hum.

There was a flash of light, and the fairy disappeared.

Ignatius chewed deep in thought, placing his beef sandwich on the silver tray in front of him. Before him sat the character, the elf on the box. Her midnight black hair swaying in the breeze, her deep purple eyes alive with laughter.

He noticed her fantastic cleavage. He swallowed, his eyes darting back to her purple eyes. He could hear a young, vibrant, youthful giggle next to him; he turned his attention to a young elf girl beside him.

He realised two females were staring at him. He picked up the sandwich and took a bite out of it. The silver tray, now empty, was on a checkered blanket they sat on; he picked it up and stared at his reflection. The girl in the box stared back. Shock rocked Ignatius as his hand snaked down to his crotch.

Silvi moved closer to Ignatius, touching his shoulder. "Ignatius, what is wrong, my son."

His hand stopped midway through its descent. He realised his only chance to feel up a girl was gone.

Memories of a life he never lived invaded his mind. He suspected he was a new character with a backstory.

Luna touched his hand. "What happened? You had this strange look on your face."

Silvi touched his cheek. "Ignatius, tell me, should we call for a doctor."

Ignatius placed the tray down. Lavishing in this woman's calming and gentle tone. It sounded like a comforting embrace that warmed and calmed his racing heart. He stared into her deep purple eyes, becoming lost in them. He wondered if he had died and gone to heaven.

He blinked, his surroundings coming into focus. Before him sat Silvi, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her long, midnight-black hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her piercing purple eyes seemed to see right through him. As a recluse, Ignatius rarely encountered beautiful women, and his mind reeled at the sight of her.

No one could compare to his sister Cynthia. Her Flaming red hair and Icy blue eyes lingered in his mind. Her body shaped by years of martial arts firm yet soft to the touch. With medium sized breasts. She had posted him a picture of herself at the beach. In a white one-piece swimsuit on. Two sizes too small. It accentuated her body. Her charms a feast for his eyes. She blew him a kiss in the picture with a smile. Yet her eyes were sad and full of tears. He hid the picture afraid the maid would find it. His father would be going ape shit if he knew she had sent him this picture.

Beside Silvi sat a little girl, the prettiest girl Ignatius had ever seen. Her youthful innocence only added to her charm. Ignatius couldn't help but wonder how he had ended up in this situation.

He tried to act normal, but his awkwardness only drew more attention to himself. His elf fetish now realised. His heart raced, and he felt a wave of panic. As he was about to speak, Silvi touched his forehead, her fingers calm and soothing.

"Relax, Ignatius," she said, her voice like a melody. "We should head in. You have turned pale."

Ignatius looked at her, his mind racing. The pointed tips of her ears and the grace of her movements made it clear—she was an elf. The picture of his acquired add-on box flashed in his mind. Realisation dawned on him, and he felt awe and confusion.

"I... I'm in the game world," he whispered, unable to believe it.