Chapter 2

The mention of "Starfire" echoed in Maya' s ears long after the guild meeting ended.

It was a direct hit to her carefully constructed quiet.

Lex hadn't named Sparrow, but everyone knew who lacked "visibility."

It was a betrayal in the making.

He used to praise her strategy, back when the guild was smaller.

"Sparrow, your plans are genius," he' d said once, after a tough boss fight.

"We wouldn't have won without your calls."

Those words felt like a lifetime ago.

Now, it was all about image.

Maya tried to message Lex privately in-game.

"Lionheart, about the tournament team..."

No reply.

The system message flashed: "Lionheart is currently busy."

Busy, or avoiding her.

The rejection stung, a small, sharp pain.

The next morning, the alarm blared.

Real life. The barista job.

Maya dragged herself out of bed, the anxieties of Eldoria clinging to her.

She had to face people, talk to them, smile.

It was exhausting.

At the coffee shop, the morning rush was a blur of faces and orders.

"Latte, extra hot, for Alex!"

Maya looked up.

Alex "Lex" Miller stood at the counter, scrolling on his phone, handsome and oblivious.

He was in New York for a tech conference. He'd mentioned it in guild chat.

He didn't recognize her.

Of course not. In real life, Maya Rodriguez, with her striking features usually hidden under a baseball cap and a shy demeanor, was not the plain, unassuming Sparrow.

Today, a scarf strategically covered half her face, a habit born from her past trauma.

A jolt went through her.

Should she say something? "Lex, it's Sparrow."

The words died in her throat.

The fear of exposure, of him connecting her real self to her mousy avatar, was too strong.

What if he laughed? Or worse, pitied her?

He took his latte, gave a generic "thanks," and walked away, still glued to his phone.

His indifference in real life mirrored his in-game dismissal.

It was a double blow, confirming her insignificance to him in any world.

The hurt deepened, settling like a stone in her chest.

Later that day, curiosity, or maybe masochism, led Maya to Lex' s public social media.

He' d posted about the conference, and tagged in a picture was Jessica "Jessi" Bellweather.

"Starfire."

The caption read: "Catching up with the amazing @StarfireStreaming! Big things coming for Eldoria!"

Jessi, a moderately successful Twitch streamer, looked exactly like her Sorceress avatar – meticulously crafted, overtly sexualized.

They knew each other from a game convention years ago, the post said.

A comment from Jessi: "So excited to be back in Eldoria with you, Lex! <3 The Crimson Vanguard is gonna dominate!"

It wasn't just a casual acquaintance. There was history there.

A pang, sharp and unwelcome, hit Maya. It wasn't jealousy, not exactly. It was the dawning realization of how easily she could be replaced by someone who fit Lex's ideal.

Back in Eldoria, the game' s forums were already buzzing.

"Starfire is joining The Crimson Vanguard!"

"Lionheart and Starfire, the new power couple?"

"RIP Sparrow, guess she wasn' t flashy enough lol."

The public humiliation had begun even before anything official happened.

Maya felt a cold dread. Her safe space was crumbling.

She tried to focus on Lex's old words, "Sparrow, your plans are genius."

She clung to that, a lifeline. Her skill had to matter, didn't it?

He wouldn't just discard two years of loyal service for... for glitter.

The next guild meeting was announced.

Jessi "Starfire" was officially welcomed.

Lex beamed, his avatar practically glowing beside Starfire' s.

Then he made another announcement.

"For the tournament, to maximize our reach and engagement, Starfire will be taking on a more prominent role in our main team' s strategy and... public presence."

Maya' s breath caught. Prominent role? What did that mean for her?