Legend of the Mage
There is no time travel, no rebirth, neither the classic online game battles for dominance nor the tale of an invincible gaming prodigy. There are no countless foolish beauties nor endless funds for romantic escapades. This story is simply a recollection of my own years spent in the world of Legend—a beautiful memory of an ordinary person playing the game. It is written in tribute to those feverish days of duels, the thrill of obtaining powerful equipment, and the friendships forged through Legend. Once, this online game drove countless people to obsession; this tale is dedicated to all the brothers and sisters who harbor endless memories of those days. P.S.: The content of this novel is composed of fifty percent personal experience, thirty percent what I witnessed and heard, and twenty percent embellishment and exaggeration, resulting in the pure and authentic "Legend of the Mage."
Legend of the Mage
Pushing open the window, I let in the cold, crisp air of a winter morning, hoping it would clear away the heavy smell of secondhand smoke lingering in the study. I coughed, trying to soothe a throat left dry and bitter from too many cigarettes, and took a sip of the coffee gone cold, swirling it around my tongue to wash away the lingering taste. With one hand, I clicked the update button with my mouse, sending out the new chapter I’d spent the night writing.
Slouched lazily in my chair, I hammered the F5 key, refreshing the page to check if everything had been successfully published. This was the second novel I’d finished on Qidian Chinese Network, and at last, the grueling labor that had wrung my mind dry was over.
After refreshing, a bold, red notice appeared on the author’s management page—a term I hadn’t thought of in years leapt out at me, rousing me from my half-drowsy state, for I’d never been one to read announcements carefully.
“Hot-Blooded Legend Online Game Literary Contest: Cash Prizes Await! (2007-2-2)”
A themed writing competition?
Leaning back into the soft chair, I stared at the glaring word “Legend,” and a torrent of memories I hadn’t thought of in ages flooded my mind. Lately, I realized, I’d become somewhat numb—besides work, all I did was hammer away at the keyboard. Yet, years ago, I too had been one of those who lost themselves in this very game!
That youthful arrogance, that wild and unrestrained spirit, seemed to have faded with the changes in my life. Now, I couldn’t help but feel that I’d grown old inside.
