Page 1 of Griffin

Chapter 1

Michael

Left. Right. Forward attack, dodge. I just needed to reposition myself for the final blow against the monster on the screen.

My fingers flew over the controller as my avatar executed each move in real time on the oversized display.

The crowd’s energy was palpable, their eyes locked on the screen as the game neared its climax.

I was at a booth in the Cinderfield City Gaming Convention, trying out a new action RPG as part of a live game demo.

To my left, Maggie, the company rep, sat with a bright smile, narrating the action for the onlookers, highlighting game mechanics I was barely managing to keep up with.

Her polished, upbeat commentary only added to the pressure—reminding me just how closely everyone was watching my every move.

At the far end of the booth, away from the camera’s view, Todd scrolled through his phone, likely double-checking my schedule for the rest of the day.

Todd wasn't just my manager; he was also my assistant, editor, and the guy who could tell, just by the way I held my shoulders, when I was running on fumes.

Today, I was especially grateful to have him here.

Behind the camera, the audio crew fiddled with their equipment—one adjusted a wire while another pulled a sandwich from the catering box.

My stomach growled at the sight, breaking my focus for just a second. And that was all it took.

I missed the final button input, and my character staggered.

The monster on screen seized the moment, unleashing a brutal counterattack that drained the last of my health bar.

The Game Over screen flashed before I could even react, followed by the end-game screen for the live demonstration.

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I glanced at Todd, who looked up with a slight frown.

He caught my eye and lifted the corners of his mouth with his fingers, pulling a goofy “smile”, reminding me to stay cool.

Right. Keep smiling. We were still live. I took a deep breath, forcing myself not to panic.

There were dozens of people watching outside the booth and probably thousands more online.

I managed a laugh and turned to Maggie, who quickly filled the silence.

“Well, that was a tough break at the end there!” she said brightly. “What happened, Michael? Looked like you had that monster right where you wanted it.”

I chuckled, trying to seem casual. “Yeah, it was close. It happens, especially with a new game like this. But honestly, that’s what makes it exciting. The combat system keeps you on your toes, and I’m really looking forward to playing more when it comes out.”

Maggie nodded, flashing her megawatt smile at the camera. “Well, there you have it, folks! Keep an eye out forShadowfall: Requiem, coming next summer. And if you’re here at the Cinderfield City Gaming Convention, make sure to stop by our booth. We’ll be here until Sunday!”

I gave the camera a final wave and nod before Maggie signaled the end of the recording.

“Cut! That’s a wrap!” a voice called out, and I let out a long sigh of relief, just barely covering the growl of my stomach again.

One of the audio guys unhooked the mic from my shirt, and I shuffled over to Todd, feeling a fresh wave of fatigue settle in.

The crowd had only grown, filling the air with the constant buzz of conversation.

I put my hand out, expecting to feel the cool, hard metal of my phone, which Todd was supposed to hand me.

I was already planning to check the schedule to figure out which booth I needed to visit for the next gameplay session.

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