I woke up inside my friend's video game

In the midst of playful banter with the mad servant, I steered my character toward the quest marker—none other than the opulent Blue Palace. Drawing from my somewhat reliable memory, I recalled that the path to Sheogorath's domain lay concealed within the peculiar Pelagius Wing of the palace.

As my character traversed the streets of Solitude, a familiar sense of excitement stirred within me. The regal ambiance and grandiose architecture set the stage for the quest ahead, evoking a flood of memories from my college days and past encounters with the Daedric Prince.

Each in-game step unraveled a mix of nostalgia and curiosity. As I neared the Blue Palace, anticipation coiled tightly in my chest, the allure of unsolved mysteries growing stronger.

I vividly remembered this mind-bending quest from my earlier gaming days, still wondering if it would grant me the infamous Daedric artifact, the Wabbajack, courtesy of the unpredictable Sheogorath.

Embarking on the madman's quest, a lingering thrill coursed through me, half-expecting a twist or some heightened absurdity. However, to my surprise—or slight disappointment—the quest unfolded much as I remembered, without the unexpected deviations I had come to anticipate.

Yet, two peculiar differences emerged. First, upon entering the Blue Palace, the game promptly whisked me away into the convoluted mindscape of Pelagius Septim III. In the unmodified version, players had to navigate the Pelagius Wing first, using it as the gateway to this bizarre realm.

Within Pelagius' fractured mind, I maneuvered through layers of surreal encounters, guided by the ever-capricious Sheogorath. Spells and persuasive words paved my way as I worked to pacify Pelagius' anxieties, gradually restoring order to his deranged thoughts. The distinction between reality and madness wavered, bending under the influence of the Daedric Prince. Despite the lunacy surrounding me, I ultimately succeeded in subduing Pelagius' fears.

Upon exiting the madman's mindscape, Sheogorath expressed his amusement at the resolution.

The second deviation occurred just before Sheogorath sent me back to the Blue Palace. In an unsettling twist, the Daedric Prince imparted a cryptic warning.

"Ah, prepare yourself, mortal, for a tempest of chaos shall descend upon you precisely at the stroke of 11:59 PM! Sheogorath's whimsy knows no bounds, and the storm shall be a symphony of madness! This, dear friend, is merely the overture to a grand spectacle!"

A chill prickled down my spine, compelling me to pause and save my progress before shutting down Nikolai's laptop.

Oliver, my younger sister's black cat, lay curled up in a peaceful slumber on the floor. I could already picture Maricar in a frenzy, wondering where he had disappeared to. I should probably call her and let her know he was safe with me.

As I dialed her number, my gaze drifted toward the window. My breath hitched.

A dark, roiling mass of clouds gathered over the ocean, swallowing the horizon in a creeping void. An ominous weight settled in the air, pressing against my skin like a tangible force. A shiver coiled through my spine, my heartbeat stuttering against my ribs.

The air grew thick, heavy with an unshakable dread. A frigid tendril of fear wrapped around me, quickening my pulse as I stared at the unnatural storm brewing in the distance.

Instinct surged through me. Shaking off my paralysis, I scooped Oliver into my arms, settling him on my shoulder before carefully lifting Erica. Cradling her against my chest, I turned on my heel, panic coiling tight within me.

Then, I ran.

Every step through the yielding sand felt agonizingly slow, the dark storm churning on the horizon like a living entity. Each gust of wind carried a whisper of impending disaster, its icy breath crawling over my skin.

Fear drove me forward, my movements fueled by a desperate urgency. My breath came in ragged gasps as I sprinted toward the event hall, the rhythmic pounding of my footsteps syncing with the frantic beat of my heart.

"I have to warn them," I muttered under my breath, the words barely audible against the rising howl of the wind.

The storm loomed closer, its presence oppressive, thick with unseen menace. The sky darkened, deepening into an unnatural abyss, as though the world itself recoiled from the approaching calamity.

Reaching the event hall, I burst through the entrance, the warmth and noise of the celebration crashing over me in stark contrast to the dread outside. Laughter, clinking glasses, and carefree chatter filled the space—completely oblivious to the impending disaster.

"Hey, everyone!" My voice rang out above the revelry, drawing scattered glances. Maricar's eyes widened in recognition before lighting up in delight upon spotting Oliver perched on my shoulder. But I had no time for her reaction.

"We've got a massive storm coming!"

My words met with dismissive chuckles and amused smirks. To them, I might as well have been ranting about an apocalypse in the middle of paradise. The thought of their celebration being interrupted by something as mundane as a storm seemed laughable.

But fate had a cruel sense of humor.

Before my protests could continue, the atmosphere shifted. A hush rippled through the crowd as the first distant rumble of thunder rolled through the building, low and foreboding. The laughter faltered, uneasy glances exchanged between guests. And then—

The storm struck.

A deafening roar swallowed the hall as a violent gust of wind howled through the open doors. In an instant, the warm glow of celebration was snuffed out, consumed by darkness. Shouts of panic erupted as the wind surged inside, sending decorations flying and shattering glasses in its wake.

Laughter turned to screams. People scattered, scrambling for cover as chaos descended upon the once-lively gathering.

In the pandemonium, my mission shifted.

I needed to find Maricar and Oliver.

Thunder cracked overhead, the force rattling through my bones. The warnings had been real—undeniable now as the storm raged with merciless fury. I plunged into the fray, pushing through the terrified crowd, my heart pounding with a singular focus.

Find them. Before it's too late.