VR was something new and foreign to Amber....Nova...she had to remember her name was Nova here. Everything felt so real it was almost hard to distinguish game from real life. The creation process had been a blur. Heart thumping with excitement at all the possibilities - the anticipation. Yet Nova had been meticulous. She had to get it right. Every strand of hair, every curve and muscle from head to toe. She was creating her new self, her fresh start, and she wanted it to be perfect. Or well, at least different than outside of this. Out there.
Once she was satisfied she closed her green eyes, and when they opened what felt like only a moment later they shined a brilliant gold. Deep magenta colored hair whipped across her face as she soared through the air. She still felt like herself, yet different. Like her spirit had been poured into another being. She was her...but not. It was too much to wrap her mind around as the wind stung at her face. Yet she couldn't hide the smile that stretched at the corner of her lips. She was flying. Freaking flying!
The vast new world spread before and below her. Vivid fields of green, thick forests, sprawling cities and cozy towns. It streamed past her vision in colorful blurs yet perfect detail. Time felt like it was both fast and slow, and she felt both overwhelmed and in awe. Until she felt herself starting to descend. Quicker, and quicker. The world below becoming closer, too fast.
Nova felt her stomach threaten to rise into her throat as she braced for impact. Throwing her arms out towards the earth and to her amazement the wind began to curl around her. As if coming alive, slowing her fall and guiding her down in a gentle glide instead of a wild nose dive. Was this aeromancy? She had selected it as one of her masteries, yet if she was being honest she hadn't fully understood how it worked. Until now. It felt natural. Second nature even.
Her feet touched the grassy ground softly and silently. Yet instead of taking in the world around her she couldn't stop staring. It hadn't even occurred to her before this. She had...legs. Real legs. She could feel them. Something that she had lost over a decade ago. Instead of stumps and uncomfortable prosthetics...she had LEGS! Tears pricked at the edges of her golden eyes as she pulled off one of her boots, feeling the soft grass and earth beneath her bare foot. She wiggled her toes and a joyous giggle escaped her lips. She had legs again!
If anyone saw her now they probably would think she was crazy. Yet she didn't care. It was like the accident had never happened. Like she was whole again. The nagging thought of this disappearing when she left Terrasphere pulled in the back of her mind but she ignored it. She wouldn't let that ruin this moment for her. Wiping at her eyes she smiled, slipping her boot back on and lacing it quickly before she finally took in everything around her.
This was unlike any other VR experience she had ever had. Not that she had much experience with it in the first place. But this was beyond what she had ever believed possible. It was like the most vivid dream, yet it wasn't a dream. She could feel the breeze tickling at her face, smell some wild flowers close by, and hear the birds chirping in the trees.
And as she took a step forward she almost wanted to cry...again. She could walk without pain. Without the prosthetics pinching at her skin uncomfortably. No more aches, no more unsteadiness. She felt confident, and she felt free. Before Nova knew it she was running. Gusts of wind from her aeromancy boosting her slightly in the air with every skip. Running straight into a beautiful patch of the wild flowers she had smelled earlier. Spinning on her heels she let herself fall back, stretching out amongst the tall grass and flora. Staring up at the bright blue sky above her.
This was the spark. The spark she needed in her life. This was her new beginning.
