When Love Lasts: A Sapphic Short Story Collection

⚡️ The Lightning Mage: The Game, Part I

May 15, 2022

(Non-Canon) Fanfiction Short story of my book, The Lightning Mage, written for the Summer Parody Contest hosted by NiaDninja

Summary: Nia receives the beta version of The Lightning Mage game adaptation and decides to test it out. Unfortunately, she and her friends find themselves drawn into the game, literally.

Word Count: 1,548

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When I invited Kitty over to my place, I did not expect her to bring four of our friends along with her.

And now, five excited people—Kitty, Gabby, Lorraine, Ayah, and Seth—are sitting on my couch, eating my pizza, and looking at me expectantly. The pizza is supposed to last me for the week, but I guess not anymore.

"So, what is this game that you were talking about?" Kitty prompts. She is perched on the arm of the couch in the cutest dress ever. She is supposed to be sitting on my lap as we cuddle, but like every other plan I have in my mind—I guess not anymore.

"Game?" Seth sits up like a golden retriever sensing a treat. "We're here for a game?

"Yes! Nia called me over because she said she has a new game to try or something," Kitty replies. "And I thought it'll be more fun if you all were to join!"

"Oh my, a game..." Lorraine drawls. She exchanged a look with Gabby, and the two of them wiggle their eyebrows in amusement. "Are we perhaps interrupting something here?"

I roll my eyes. "Not that kind of game..." I mutter, even though every ounce of my body wishes it was. Well, Kitty and I aren't on that level yet. I think. I don't know, I never asked.

Anyway, moving on... I clear my throat. "Basically, Wei sent me a game last week. Apparently, her book, The Lightning Mage—the best book on Earth, by the way, get to reading it, Seth—got adapted into a video game. She sent me a beta version of it and asked me if I could try it. And of course, I said yes."

The room lets out a collective gasp.

"A game? Wow!"

"Her book got adapted into a game?"

"Dude, that is so cool!"

"Yeah, yeah, blah, blah, we're all happy for her, yada, yada." I wave my hand as I dismiss everyone's exclamations. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for my friend, but when she sent me the game, she promised me that there is a two-player, couple's version that I could try with Kitty. Some kind of dating simulation between Lyn and Cydney or something. I was so excited to try it. And now—I guess not anymore.

I grit my teeth and ask, "So, we down to play this now or what?"

"Yes!" comes the unanimous response.

"Alright, let's get to it."

I put the disc into my Xbox system and wait for the game to load.

"So, there's the single-player, two-player, and multi-player..." I read out the available gameplay options. Seeing the two-player dating game makes my heart drop once more.

"Dude! Multiplayer!" Seth cries. "Let's go!"

"Yeah, yeah, calm your balls. Let's do that." I let out a sigh and click on that option. A list of the entire cast of The Lightning Mage appears. "Okay, pick your character, guys. I am Lyn because I am real-life Lyn. And that's confirmed by the author herself." Without waiting for anybody else's approval, I select Lyn Bronte as my character.