This post is [participating in the Nexon PEAK Post Challenge].

To Begin

There’s a certain feeling that comes over me when I wake up, rush through the day in a blur, and then, after dinner and washing up, finally sink into the sofa. Ah... another day is coming to an end. It’s the moment when all the fatigue I kept putting off suddenly rushes in at once, and that’s when I open Mabinogi Mobile. It’s my way of being thankful that I got through the day once again, and also a little reward for my tired self. Sometimes gaming can feel almost like work, but at times like this, healing is the whole point, so I wanted to share three healing activities in Mabinogi Mobile that soothe my heart at the end of a long, exhausting day.

Cuteness saves the world.

I’m quite sure no one would disagree with this. Cuteness saves the world. And cuteness saves me, too. Just looking at something cute gives me energy. It’s lovely. It’s adorable. I want to nibble it. I want to scoop it up and hold it close. Simply seeing something cute is healing in itself for me. And right now, as of July 24, 26—the day I’m writing this—Mabinogi Mobile is running a Cat Day event. In other words, it’s a season of amplified cuteness. If you drink a cat transformation potion, you can turn into a cat, which means you can take photos like this with a pet that’s usually smaller than you.

You can have one pet accompany you in battle and one while walking around town, so I took out the friends who usually just sleep in my bag one by one and snapped some commemorative photos. After becoming a cat myself, maybe it’s just my imagination, but even the way they look at me feels a little different. Running around town with pets I don’t usually get to bond with fills the screen with pure cuteness, and it really does feel like the fatigue in my heart slowly starts to melt away.

A vacation without leaving home

On a hot day, there’s something especially nice about enjoying the cool air from the AC while taking in Erinn’s beautiful scenery. Summer in Korea is brutal. Hot and humid. Honestly, it feels like being trapped inside a dumpling steamer. So no matter how nice it may be outside, I end up looking for indoor comfort. Of course, playing in the water under the blazing sun or hiking up a mountain to catch the breeze can be lovely too, but right now, I’m tired. When both body and mind are worn down, it’s enough to lie on a cozy bed, let the cool air from the AC and fan wash over you, and quietly admire the beautiful landscapes of Erinn. From Emain Macha’s famous old family tree to the giant gateway rock of Gairech Hill and Colhen’s signature sea, it’s worth seeking out these beautiful spots. And beyond these three, Erinn has so many gorgeous places that you’ll lose track of time before you know it.

Garden life, best enjoyed only in a game

Just imagining a fresh morning, picking lettuce you grew yourself and eating it for breakfast, already feels peaceful. But gardens and farming are real work. In weather like this, you have to head out under the sun, drag your heavy body along, battle the humid air, and tend your crops while sadly wishing you could escape the heat. It’s potato season these days, so potatoes are coming in from all over, and I know—I really do know—how much effort, time, sweat, and care it took for those potatoes to reach me. So whenever neighbors share their crops with me, I eat them with a grateful heart. That’s why, if all we want is the healing mood of garden life, then let’s enjoy it in Erinn. A vegetable patch is difficult work that takes a great deal of effort.

What remains is the memories with people

In the end, healing comes back to people. Since one of the reasons a day can feel so exhausting is, in truth, other people, saying that people are also where healing ends might sound contradictory. And yet, even when the hurt comes from people and the fatigue comes from people, we are still healed by people too. Logging into Mabinogi Mobile, lighting a campfire, sharing food, and chatting together in those small, easy moments softly tells my heart, It’s okay. You worked hard again today. As we match our timing to play music and dance together, the hard memories of the day begin to fade, and what remains are the warm conversations and laughter we shared.

In the end, what remains are photos

Maybe that’s why we take pictures. And as we keep taking them, we can overwrite a hard day with a happy one. Should we take it like this? Or maybe like that? What about this angle? While wondering over it alone or together, let’s send those heavy feelings far away and fall into a deep, sweet sleep with a lighter heart.