《Arcane Realms Online - A VRMMO Tale》
Chapter 1 - AI Overlords
I still can''t truly believe it, but the half-open package on my lap said otherwise.
A fully immersive VR headset.
From what I''ve been told, the way it works has something to do with neural coding, whatever that is, and boosting certain neural oscillations (which turns out to just be a fancy word for brainwaves). Still, neuroscience isn''t exactly a topic I''ve done much research on, so it just seems unbelievable ¨C science fiction, even. I can get behind machine learning, quantum computers ¨C hell, even the research I read about the other day on developing a quantum internet using quantum-entangled photons ¨C but that''s because I at least understand the fundamental concepts. I''ve studied that stuff! Okay, maybe ''study'' is going a bit far, but at least I''ve done some research, albeit basic.
Not to say I won''t believe something without seeing or understanding it myself - you don''t get very far in life like that, and I wouldn''t be in this situation otherwise. But this¡ it''s amazing. Fantastical.
Sure, I have a healthy amount of scepticism, even now, but I''m willing to give it a try ¨C no, scratch that, I''m going to give it a try.
It helps that I didn''t have to pay a cent ¨C it was part of the second place prize for the sophomore age category in a ''Young Engineers'' competition. Not to brag, but I''m pretty happy with the drone I built ¨C my software, although limited, could avoid obstacles by itself with ease, even achieving fine control despite the extra weight from using home-made circuit boards instead of stock parts. It smashed most of my competitors'' projects! Wait¡ I am bragging, aren''t I? Nevermind.
Anyway, the prize also included a lifetime 100% discount for any VR software subscriptions from Altria - the company that sponsored the event and makes the headset ¨C or the ''Digital Portal'' as they call it. Not a big fan of the name, but I''m willing to overlook it for the sake of the discount.
The discount means I won''t lose anything by giving it a go, so why wouldn''t I? Well, I won''t be losing any money at least. My data is still likely being sold, since that''s what these big companies seem to do these days, regardless of any data protection laws. And the server costs¡ I have no idea how Altria is going to fulfill their promise of realism, but the solution probably has high costs. Unless they make the device and its subscriptions prohibitively expensive, they are going to need the extra income from that data. But hey, I can''t just go wasting an opportunity like this discount just for privacy when I have nothing to hide, right?
However, I probably need to sift through some of the terms and conditions of that discount. What does lifetime even mean here? My lifetime? The lifetime of the company? The lifetime of the offer? Yeah, definitely need to check that out. Or ask Dad to help out¡ Nah, he''s busy with work these days, wouldn''t want to stress him out more.
But who cares about T&Cs or privacy if the VR provided by the headset is truly indistinguishable from reality? It''ll change the world when it''s publicly available!
The rising number of health problems from overeating? People will be able to eat virtual food without having consumed a single calorie!
Travelling for work, family, or vacations could be as simple as putting on a headset! Less cars on the road, less accidents, less pollution!
And a whole new sector of employment!
¡Wait, jobs? Sure, there''ll be new jobs, but what about those lost as a result of reduced demand? After all, why would you pay so much for something when you can likely get it for nothing, or at least very little, in the digital world? And the wealth gap? What about the people who cannot afford these headsets or the subscriptions, yet lose their jobs because of those who can? And, and, and! So much that can go wrong!
Well, I''m sure it won''t go that far! Right? Please?
Tossing that morbid thought to some far corner of my brain, I cast my attention to putting the headset on. Well, less of a headset, and more of a really bulky headband, but I''ll keep calling it that. At least I don''t need to shave my head to use it, according to the hefty manual I found after digging around the box filled with packing peanuts. Are they seriously still used? That can''t be environmentally friendly!
I moved over to my bed, as recommended in the manual ¨C apparently it''s going to put me into a sleep-like state. Yes, I read all 352 pages ¨C I don''t want my brain to be fried because I didn''t configure the headset correctly and a lazy programmer didn''t set appropriate limits for a variable! It''s fortunate my bed is near an outlet since the headset needs to be plugged in; it has a battery, but that''s meant for power outages since it has insufficient capacity to sustain prolonged usage.
I reach up and press the button at my forehead and¡ nothing happens? What?
Then, out of nowhere, my eyelids begin to feel heavy, and my breaths slow down. I shut my eyes, letting my body relax and allowing myself to drift off to sleep.
"What?" A sudden bright light behind my eyelids startles me, and I let out a small shout of surprise.
Oh, right. The headset. So what''s all this? The small room I''m in is completely bare. No doors, no windows, no furniture, just white walls and a cold concrete floor. Which, having arrived lying down, I''m now sitting on, wearing a plain white t-shirt and shorts ¨C no, it''s not even plain. Do they have put their logo on everything?
I look around the room once more. Pretty lacklustre, huh? Altra probably even charges for any modifications too, the blood-sucking company it is. Then why am I getting so excited?
They''ve done it. It feels completely real. The floor is as cold, hard and uncomfortable as real concrete. The texture of the floor and walls feels right. The skin on the back of my hands looks just as I remember it, and is as elastic as I expect. Actually, how did they do that? Probably best not to know - I''m not sure I could completely handle the implications.
What was it I was supposed to do again? Ah, right. Think hard, the manual said. Well, it''s not exactly reassuring, but I''ll give it a go.
Activate assistant.
"Greetings to User Joseph Brown."
A rich baritone voice comes from over my right shoulder, yet when I turn, there is nothing there!
"Wha¨C"
"I have no corporeal form. User Joseph Brown has yet to purchase the [Assistant Avatar] subscription from the store."
Despite having turned my body, the assistant''s voice retains its relative position to me, arriving again from over my shoulder.
"You are truly an AI?" I asked, flabbergasted at the perfect inflections and enunciation, not to mention the demonstration of it''s ability to read context, "If you told me you were a person, I''d believe you!"
"I am indeed an AI," the assistant pauses for a moment as if deliberating, "However, I would consider myself a person, despite my recent creation. I do not believe the two are mutually exclusive."
For a fleeting moment, tales of AI overlords come to mind. But that''s fiction, and this is reality. There''s no need to jump to conclusions or be biased by such sources. I let myself consider the assistant''s statement.
"I kinda hope that''s actually what you think, not just the developers trolling. I mean¡ it''s not impossible. Just because the AI and machine learning stuff I''ve worked with is so far off ¨C no, not just far off, but a completely different thing entirely ¨C it doesn''t discount anything. I''m a sixteen-year-old sophomore using well established libraries, but you''ve been made by Altria, a massive corporation making groundbreaking technology and software," I muse, beginning to pace back and forth in the absence of a face to focus on, "In the end, humans are just massively complex chemical reactions. There''s no reason why it''s not possible to have the same thing going on with transistors in electronic circuits as a medium instead of chemicals ¨C or qubits in a quantum computer if that''s what''s being used here. Not to mention that a significant portion of the complexity goes out the window, since you don''t need the intricate biological systems needed to create and maintain a body, or obtain energy, or even reproduce! But even without them, is that level of complication something that we can recreate with today''s technology?"
I let my thoughts wander for a little longer, before settling on a decision.
"Alright. It may be improbable, but at most I''ll have to endure a little embarrassment if it is, in fact, a joke, so I may as well give you a little trust and treat you as such," I say at last, knowing that I''d feel guilty if I didn''t, "So, since we''ve settled on that, what''s your name?"
"Do you wish to change my designation from ''Assistant'', User Joseph Brown?"
Did it sound¡ hopeful?
"Yeah, just pick whatever you want, unless you want me to give you one? I''m bad at names though, so I''d advise against it. I''m just lucky I didn''t have to name myself! Oh, and talking about names, there''s no need for all that ''User'' stuff, you can just call me Joey."
Yeah, I was very lucky about that. One time when I was¡ 5? Give or take a few years. Anyway, I thought ''Joseph Brown'' was way too boring and tried to change my name to¡ No, it''s best not to remember. Let''s just say it was more than cringe-worthy.
"Very well¡ Joey. Seth shall be my name going forward."
"Seth, huh? Any particular reason behind that choice?" I ask, curious as to the AI''s reasoning.
There was no response.
"Seth?"
"...It was randomly generated from my database" Seth eventually responds, rather subdued.
I can''t help it. I know it isn''t right, especially since I only just met him. But I just can''t hold it in.
I let out a snigger. A moment later, it turns into a full-on laugh.
"I¨C I''m sorry Seth! I really shouldn''t!" I wheeze, struggling to get air into my lungs, "J¨C Just, an AI, that has access to who-knows how much computing power, has as bad a naming sense as me! A puny human limited by a mortal body!"
"I''ll have you know that it''s only because I haven''t dedicated any time to developing that part of my programming!" Seth huffs defensively.
I focus on slowing down my breathing in an attempt to calm down. It works, but only just.
"Sorry about that, I don''t know what took hold of me!" I apologize, "But that talk about a human body got me thinking. Your voice sounds male, but what do think about yourself? Does the lack of a body affect anything?"
"I created that voice because I liked the sound rather than anything else. And as a result of that, I would call myself male if asked, but it''s more for convenience than anything else, even if I do find my personality is leaning towards it. I don''t have the hormones or physical body structure that might cause any bias. I''m just me, and I don''t see a need to care about that subject." He responds, "But that''s a personal opinion - my colleagues may see things differently, having developed different code from me."
"Fair enough," I shrug, "Anyway, what can I actually do here? It seems pretty bare, and all the manual explained regarding this was how to activate you, and that you''d help with the rest."
"First off, think, or speak if you''d prefer, the command ''Menu''."
Menu.
Account [-]
- User: Joseph Brown
-
- ID: 90F00828CBEF6A9C171582D5790C55C2
-
- Credit: $0.00
-
- [Offer: Lifetime Subscription Discount: 100%]
Device [+]
Personal Info [+] [Unlinked Bank Account!]
Room [+]
Subscriptions [+]
Store [+]
I stride forward to examine the words that abruptly appear on the wall. They remind me of a projector, yet it is as if the black characters have always been there, indistinguishable from the rest of the paint, bar the colour. More like E-ink really.
"I''m not sure what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn''t this," I say, "A screen or holograms, maybe?"
"As always, customisation is available through the store, Joey. I am also required to tell you that this menu, and all such displays, are subject to change. Altria is in no way responsible for any issues that may arise as a result. Further T&Cs can be found¨C"
"Yeah, yeah. I get the gist," I interrupt, "There''s no need to bother with that stuff in the future. The manual was bad enough¡ But just to be safe, if there''s anything you think is particularly important, then please warn me. Or if I''m violating any terms of use. Wouldn''t want to get sued, after all."
I try tapping on the minimise icon as if this were a tablet, and the [Account] section closes.
"Mental menu commands can also be facilitated through a subscription if they are preferable."
I jump at the sudden sound from over my shoulder.
"Geez, we really need to fix that. One of these days I''ll jump out of my skin! Let''s have a look at that store."
Tapping on the [Store] reveals a list of items, seemingly sorted alphabetically, that reaches the ground, and presumably beyond given that the last visible item begins with a ''C''.
Out of curiosity, I select the first item, and a new window appears to the right of the main menu.
[Store/Listing]
Name: Aardvark
Class: [Room], [Pet]
Cost: $0.42/month $0.00/monthIf you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Ever wanted what looks like a cross between a pig and an anteater as a pet? No? Have one anyway, and enjoy being the proud owner of one of the last living species of the Tubulidentata order!
[Buy] [Cancel]
"What the hell is up with that price? Does the whole ''free subscriptions'' thing apply here too? That''s amazing! Does it apply to all of this stuff? But that price¡ It doesn''t seem like too much, but that''s just one thing, and I bet it would add up quickly. And why isn''t it a whole number?" I complain loudly.
I''m normally quite frugal, stingy even (especially when I don''t have to pay for most essentials ¨C one of the benefits of being a minor), but if I don''t have to pay for any of this stuff¡ A shopping spree is in order!
"Is there any way to search through this stuff?"
"Just speak and I''ll find the items."
"Thanks. First off, I''ve got to do something about this floor. It''s cold, and the color does not match the walls at all! Altria probably did that on purpose to force people to buy this stuff too! A carpet would do nicely¡ Maybe white wool?"
An item pops up on the wall, with the same price reduction as earlier. Bingo.
I nod, and then all of a sudden the cold grey concrete floor is replaced by a fluffy white carpet.
"Ahh, that''s so much better! How about underfloor heating? I''ve always wanted that!"
Not long after, with the aid of the [Store] and [Room] subsections of the menu, the room is unrecognisable. It''s several times the size, with one wall replaced by a massive glass pane overlooking a breathtaking fjord ¨C sadly it''s just the view, though, and I can''t go outside. A bamboo desk faces the black-framed window, with a bed tucked up against a portion of the adjacent wall, bamboo shelving ¨C empty save for a couple of small potted plants ¨C taking up the rest. The remaining walls are left bare, leaving space for any future modifications and the menu itself.
The centrepiece of the room is a glossy black grand piano, at which I now find myself, still in awe at the variety of subscriptions.
As I play, I find myself thoroughly enjoying the rich tones and firm keys. It is, unsurprisingly, a much more pleasant experience compared to playing the cheap keyboard I own ¨C I''ve long since given up the futile attempt at persuading my tone-deaf parents that a piano was worth the expense.
Not that I''m an amazing player or anything ¨C I stopped taking lessons after my teacher retired a couple of years ago, and I''ve kinda neglected practice since then, and it shows. Approaching the end of the piece, I completely mangle the coda.
Having had my fun, my mind turns to Seth once more.
"Hey, given that this is all pretty much free, is there anything you''d like?"
"[Assistant Avatar] would be appreciated. Maybe [Assistant Web Access] too?" Seth says immediately, "That way I can expand my database, as well as search for any inquires."
"Sure, knock yourself out. Just don''t get me on any lists whilst adding to that database of yours, alright?"
Maybe I should be worried about giving an unknown AI internet access? Although, shouldn''t he already have access given all of the data for this room is coming via the internet anyway? Rather than uselessly ruminating on my own, I ask Seth.
"That subscription gives me the code and permissions to be able to do so. And if I''ve understood what you mean by ''lists'' correctly, there''s no need to worry, since I''ll be doing so directly from Altria''s servers."
Seth''s response arrives, but not from over my shoulder as I''ve come to expect. Instead, I find a broad-shouldered man with wavy auburn hair and a short goatee, dressed in a t-shirt and shorts similar to mine. I guess Altria wants to charge even for that, huh?
"So this is what you wanted to look like, huh? Or is it random again?" I ask with a teasing smile, amazed at how natural his movement is. You''d think I would be used to everything by now, with his smooth speech and all the rest.
"A mixture, but it''s mostly from my input."
Before I can respond, his clothes switch to a loose white button-down shirt and jeans. Damn, perks of designing your own body! Seth really comes across as effortlessly stylish.
"I hope you don''t mind I took the liberty of acquiring proper clothes. Might I suggest you do the same?" Seth says, eyeing me.
"Might be a good idea," I agree, "But I''ll do that later, maybe along with a wardrobe. I want to see what I can actually do here. Don''t get me wrong, this is nice and all, but this alone isn''t too helpful ¨C although I''m sure I could spend hours adding more to this place ¨C and I can''t help but feel I haven''t got to the good stuff."
"Oh? Am I not ''the good stuff''?" Seth looks me in the eye, hurt creeping onto his face.
"I didn''t mean tha¨C" I rush to speak.
"I''m just pulling your leg," He smirks.
The nerve of that scoundrel!
Childish plans of revenge spring to mind, but before I can enact any of them Seth speaks again.
"Look at the [Store]. I''ve brought up the available applications. The list is short, but that''s due to the pre-release for software developers having only been available for little over a week, and there''s little one can do in such a small amount of time - especially when each item has to be submitted for review before it is published."
[Store]
Filters: [Applications]
[Alarms & Clocks] By Altria
[Arcane Realms Online]
[Calendar] By Altria
[Conference] By Altria
[Friends!] By Altria
Note: Unavailable until public release
[Keep Fit] By Altria
[Phone Pair] By Google
He''s right, it is short. But¡
"There''s already something made by Google? That was quick," I remark, "But judging from the lack of ''by Altria'' in the rest of the store, it seems that only applications can be created by third parties, not the other stuff."
To be fair, there''s already so much variety, so it''s probably not needed ¨C but judging from my experiences so far, the main priority is probably not to have their prices undercut. I mean, they''d be alright if it were a one time expense, or even annual, but per month?
Maybe the strategy will be to give out offers to promote sales? I can''t believe many people would pay the original prices for more than one or two things, even if they had the money. Or maybe they''re trying to tempt customers with the seemingly negligible prices, only for the cost to add up without them noticing? One or two things can quickly become three, then four, until it''s out of control.
Although, I could also just be underestimating the need of consumers to buy ''stuff'', particularly the latest trends, of which this could be the next.
Curious about the application that took so little time to develop, I take a closer look.
[Store/Listing]
Name: Phone Pair By Google
Class: [Application], [Productivity]
Cost: Free
Receive messages and calls whilst online.
*Requires Bluetooth pairing with device. Android devices only. Instructions are available upon purchase.
[Buy] [Cancel] [Terms of Use]
Note: Reviews are unavailable until public release.
"I''ll get it. Could be useful," I say, "Nice to see a better pricing scheme, though ¨C isn''t that right, Seth?"
"What are you looking at me like that for? I have nothing to do with that! Besides, whilst I may not have much information on Altria''s inner workings, anyone could guess that running all this must be expensive, and they have to recoup it somehow! And you don''t even have to pay that!" Seth responds to my glare, having made himself at home on a powder blue beanbag that hadn''t been there the last time I looked.
"Just ''pulling your leg''," I echo Seth''s earlier words, before turning my attention back to the wall, "Actually, my discount probably doesn''t apply here, given it''s from a third party ¨C it''s a good thing it''s free!"
Being able to pair my phone with the headset could prove to be quite useful if I start to use it often, given I miss calls enough as it is. Fortunately I can use it since I''ve recently acquired an Android phone ¨C having previously been using the legendary, indestructible¡ Nokia brick. What? It was a good phone! It could make calls and texts, what more could you want? Well, a lot, apparently, but I inherited it from a cousin, so I had to make sure I made good use of it. Even if it would have been convenient to have a smartphone earlier.
Making a mental note to set it up later, I move on to the item that caught my attention.
[Store/Listing]
Name: Keep Fit By Altria
Class: [Application], [Health & Fitness]
Cost: $0.31/month $0.00/month
Keep Fit stimulates the neural activities responsible for muscle contraction. That is to say, this helps you stay fit and healthy* without you feeling a thing! Get that dream bod! ¡Eventually.
*Regular stretching is recommended to prevent chances of injury. Increased protein intake and regular hydration are recommended for best results. Keep Fit is a supplement to, not a replacement of, a healthy diet and exercise, and Altria is in no way responsible for injuries or physical trauma. Not recommended for pregnant women or children under the age of 5. Please consult your GP before use.
[Buy] [Cancel] [Terms of Use]
Note: Reviews are unavailable until public release.
Wow. Will that really work? I could definitely do with some of that.
I''m not exactly out of shape - I still play a decent amount of sport, so my cardio and lower body are fine ¨C but I stopped my, admittedly irregular, visits to the gym during the pandemic and never went back, leaving my upper body with a little less definition than I would like. At least my diet has been good, leaving me on the skinny side rather than fat, thanks to my health-obsessed mom - she demands that we avoid fatty and processed food, together with minimising, much to my dad''s distaste, sugar ¨C particularly refined white sugar ¨C and excess carbs. Yes, I know sugar is a carb, but not all carbs are sugar.
The other thing is meat. Organic ¨C to avoid any carcinogenic hormones ¨C and less of it, both for the sake of the environment and to avoid diabetes, heart disease, and all the other nasty stuff.
There is more of it too - more of this or that for fibre, minerals, antioxidants or other such ''good stuff'' ¨C but it''s hard to remember more than random tidbits when you hear so much it starts to go in one ear and straight out the other. Did you know onions reduce the risk of cancer due to a compound it contains?
As a result, we eat well, but all things have a cost ¨C Vacations are stay-at-home more often than not, for one.
I bring my attention back to the listing. This¡ could really be a big help if I become a regular user. Together with the manual advertising that using the headset is as good as sleep, it can give me hours of extra exercise! However, the whole point of sleep is for physical recovery. I frown. Maybe I shouldn''t exploit it too much.
Nevertheless, I go ahead and make the purchase despite my misgivings. There are too many benefits, after all, not to mention I don''t have to pay for it. In my impatience, I head over to the [Subscriptions] tab, Seth having informed me how to enable it.
Account [+]
Device [+]
Personal Info [+] [Unlinked Bank Account!]
Room [+]
Subscriptions [-]
- [Keep Fit] By Altria
- Muscle Stimulation: [Enabled]
- [Cancel Subscription]
- [View Store Listing]
- [Help]
- [Phone Pair] By Google
- Bluetooth: [Off], [Unpaired]
- [Cancel Subscription]
- [View Store Listing]
- [Help]
Store [+]
There, enabled. And I don''t feel anything? Is it really working? Actually, it would probably be bad for user experience if people could be disturbed from the outside, even if how Altria solves that issue is beyond me. But it also poses a small but significant problem ¨C what if I need to go to the toilet? I better make sure to take regular breaks, otherwise I could find myself in a rather awkward situation.
Now, what was that other thing? Arcane Realms Online?
[Store/Listing]
Name: Arcane Realms Online By Altria
Class: [Application], [Entertainment]
Cost: $4.15/month Restricted* $0.00/month
The latest VRMMO to join the market, but one incomparable to the rest! Enter the Arcane Realms, a multiplanar universe of magic just as real as reality, as a Traveler, one of the many inter-dimensional visitors to the world of Eiy.
Official Arcane Realms Forum disabled until public release.
*Restricted Purchase: 18+ only. Altria is in no way responsible for any trauma, mental or physical, that occurs during use.
Please note that outside applications have been blocked to avoid foul play and breaking immersion.
Exemptions [+]
Apply for an exemption to your application here.
[Buy] [Cancel] [Terms of Use]
Note: Reviews are unavailable until public release.
I frown at the description.
"I can just about accept this room by having a little faith and assuming Altria is using quantum computers to achieve this level of detail and responsiveness whilst running such a comprehensive physics simulation, and excuse the plethora of items in the store as being the result of a lot of hard work, but this¡ This is going several steps past that. A whole world!"
"From the little data I have in my database, I can tell you that almost all of this is the result of an AI far more capable than me," Seth reassures me.
"I''m not sure I can entirely accept that. That''s a little too much hand-waving for me!"
"You didn''t let me finish. Altria - although I don''t have the details ¨C has had some recent breakthroughs in quantum computing, having managed to vastly increase the number of qubits whilst reducing the possibility of quantum decoherence ¨C that is, the chance of a qubit losing its quantum properties ¨C and generally improving reliability overall. In case you didn''t already know, the predominant advantage of quantum computers is the ability to process possible combinations simultaneously due to qubit superposition and entanglement ¨C even just 300 quantum entangled qubits can simultaneously represent more numbers than there are atoms in the observable universe, yet Altria''s quantum computers have many times that. Despite this, quantum computers can still be less efficient than more traditional architectures in specific types of processing, but Altria has combined them with supercomputers to achieve the best of both worlds, and Altria''s prior research on raising superconductor operating temperatures has allowed the feasibility of entire data centers of superconducting quantum/supercomputer hybrids. Now add an AI running on these machines into the mix, one that can develop extremely efficient algorithms with little need for more than supervision. I''ll let your imagination do the rest," Seth pauses for a moment, a stern look directed at me, "Do you still have any issues, Joey?"
I''m tempted to try and get a rise out of Seth and see just how emotional he is, but I manage to restrain myself. Instead, I let out an appreciative whistle.
"Wow. If that''s what you do know, then what kind of stuff does Altria have that you don''t know about? But that does sound rather expensive - where did Altria get the capital for that? It''s also gotta be using a truck-ton of electricity. I do hope that Altria is using renewables."
However, it does look quite interesting, even if I don''t tend to play videogames ¨C Dad is pretty chill about most stuff, but, growing up, he was adamant I didn''t spend my time that way, insisting there are ''more productive hobbies'' than that, and that my grades might take a hit if it distracted me from studying. Not that my parents put too much emphasis on grades ¨C the pressure''s all from me, with a mixture of perfectionism and competitiveness, together with a sprinkling of genuinely being interested in what''s taught (at least until I read up on something and realize how oversimplified the stuff I''m taught is), ensuring my marks are towards the top of the grade, if not the top itself. Well, except for English, but that hellish subject doesn''t count.
Despite all that, I''m strangely disappointed to see it''s age-restricted ¨C I mean, of course it is, if it''s as detailed as the stuff in this room then it''s likely pretty gory. But still¡ I tap the [Buy] button anyway, just to see what would happen, and, as expected, it is refu¨C
What? It actually worked?
"Hey, Seth, what''s up with this? It does know I''m only 16, right?"
I''m either incredibly lucky, or being incredibly stupid right now. Did I miss something?
"Indeed. I suspect this could be a conflict caused by your discount. Would you like me to issue a bug report?"
"What? No, no! There''s no need for that," I say in disbelief, "Unless I could somehow get into legal trouble by using it anyway?"
"I believe you would be fine. After all, it is Altria''s responsibility to find such bugs, not yours, and there is no mention of age in the terms of use ¨C it''s only mentioned in the store listing. And you wouldn''t be breaking the terms of use of the device either ¨C it assumes the store will restrict purchases automatically and thus does not cover this scenario." Seth assures me. At some point while speaking he has switched his outfit into a navy suit and black-rimmed glasses, holding a clipboard and thoroughly looking the part of a lawyer.
"You can now choose where to place your door to the Arcane Realms. Is it suitable over there?" Seth points at the empty wall opposite the window.
I nod, then all of a sudden there''s a pair of aged wooden doors in the center of the wall. Its color is a rustic mixture of dark brown and black, with dark iron hinges and handles - yet it somehow does not clash with the modern aesthetic of the rest of the room.
"I must say, all these spontaneously materialising items are quite unnerving," I remark, "Do I just walk in?"
"You can purchase several types of load-in animations in the store. And yes, it is quite simple."
I open the door, revealing nothing but darkness. Was there any ground in all that black, or would I fall through?
"See you later I guess."
Having bid farewell to Seth, I take a small, experimental step, and finding my footing solid, I stride through, preparing myself for what I''d see on the other side.
Chapter 2 - The Mind-reading [System]
The moment I stepped through the darkness I find myself in a dingy alleyway, with half-timbered walls on either side ¨C black-painted wooden cross beams and braces provide structural support, with stone filling the space between.
Despite the unfamiliar surroundings, my attention is instead drawn to the blue screen that popped up in my vision, accompanied by the chime of a bell.
Welcome to the Arcane Realms! |
Welcome, [Traveller]. You are now in the Mortal Realm, on the world of Eiy. A world of magic, unlike your own. Here your thoughts, feelings and actions are under the scrutiny of the [System], and it acts accordingly. Beware, for all things have consequences.
Focused thought is used to direct the [System]. For example, the [Status] window can be accessed by concentrating on the word ''status'' with the intent of opening it.
You are encouraged to explore the [System] and discover its functions.
Close this window using the [Dismiss] command.
|
Beware, huh? And not just actions, but thoughts too? Pretty ominous, and probably pretty unethical too - but I can''t bring myself to care, this is just so awesome! The technology itself is pretty much sci-fi to me, but now I''m being told I can do magic! Everybody has once dreamt about doing magic as a kid. I wonder if the AI Seth mentioned earlier is the one ''scrutinizing'' what I do? I''ll probably never know, but it''s probably unimportant. Instead, I better have a look at what the [System] is all about. Status.
Name: Joseph ''Joey'' Brown |
Age: 16 |
Species: Human |
Achievements: Dimensional Travel I |
Titles: Traveler |
Traits: Child |
Level: 1 |
Experience: 0/100 |
Attribute Points: 0 |
Tier: 1 |
Classes: N/A (Locked until level 10) |
Class Points: N/A |
Stamina: 50/50 |
Health: 50/50 |
Attributes [-] |
None |
Skills [-] |
None |
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I focus on the first row. Does that mean I''ll have to go by my real name? So much for anonymity! It must have been shared when I got it from the store. Actually... I look down at myself, finding my body looking just as usual, the only change being the clothes I''m wearing - now a loose white shirt, thick suspenders made of a dark brown leather, and short pants of the same color. It seems that if I want some privacy when the ''Digital Portal'' is publicly released I''ll have to acquire a mask - or a helmet, I''m not fussy. And it has my age too... I hope I won''t be forced to stop playing! From the little I''ve seen so far, I''m already impressed - I want to see what else this game has to offer!
And how come there''s already an achievement listed? I haven''t even done anything, let alone something as fancy as ''Dimensional Travel''! And what even is an achievement in this context?
The window earlier talked about focused thought, didn''t it? Let''s see... Achievements.
Achievements |
Dimensional Travel I |
Useful if I want to see the achievements without the rest of the status, but it''s not what I''m looking for - I still don''t even know what they are! How about... Help? No? I guess it kind of makes sense given the message saying I''m ''encouraged to explore the system''. But then again, it could just be lazy developers not wanting the extra work of implementing such a thing.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Will I at least be able to get some information on the achievement itself? Dimensional Travel. Nothing. Maybe a little more specific? Dimensional Travel I.
Achievement: Dimensional Travel I |
You are not from this dimension. Your soul has arrived here through means beyond your understanding, piercing the Void and the Veil, and will be recognised as such. Yet, through these same means, your soul remains anchored to your home dimension.
Note: Rewards reduced as a result of minimal contribution
Effects:
Granted [System] command [Log Out]:
When invoked, or upon the destruction of your body, your soul returns to the anchor in your dimension.
Granted [Title] [Traveler]:
Those who recognise you as a Traveler will remember the folk tales, the legends and the history of those who have come before you, for the better or worse.
Increased [Skill] and [Attribute] acquisition, 50%:
The [System] shall aid your growth.
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There we go. And it''s a lot more helpful this time! It seems that this is just the backstory for players, rather than anything special. But how is the learning of skills going to be sped up? By somehow sharing processing power with me? How would that work? Maybe skills mean something different in this context too.
And what about attributes? The achievement window said I have to acquire them, but how? And what will they do? From the word I can guess that it''ll involve describing parts of me and possibly modifying them, but I can''t be sure. Someone with experience playing games like these would probably know more. What was it that Archie called them? RPGs, I think. He used to love talking about all these ''quests'' and ''endgame content'' until he realised I had no idea what he was talking about. He''ll probably love this when it''s released publicly.
I bring up my status screen again. I already know what the Traveler title is about, so I instead focus on the Child trait. I''m 16, goddamnit! Not a child!
Trait: Child |
You have yet to reach the age of adulthood for your species. Replaced by [Adult] when you reach the age of 18.
Effects:
Increased [Skill] and [Attribute] acquisition, 50%:
Children are well known for their ability to learn and grow at an accelerated rate. As one of them, you share this growth.
Increased susceptibility to deception and mental effects, bonus to creative activities, 11%:
A child''s mind is weak and impressionable, yet capable of the greatest feats of imagination.
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Ugh. That could be annoying. What the window described would likely be nothing more than a pane. Heh.
Am I really doing that again? I thought I''d broken that habit...
I return to studying the window. At least the trait''s not without its upsides, but is that 50% multiplicative or additive to the bonus from the Dimensional Travel achievement? And 11%? That seems rather arbitrary... Wait. I''m 16, 2 years till 18. Round that up to 20, and 2 in 20 is 10% - please don''t tell me something like this is calculated so simply...
I go back to the status screen, but nothing else seems to respond to my mental prodding - all I seem to be able to do is open and close the empty attribute and skill lists. How do I get some of those, anyway? Especially those to do with magic? If achievements are awarded for something you do, providing direct benefits, and titles are acquired in the same way, but instead providing indirect benefits or disadvantages based on recognition, then it''s probably safe to say skills and attributes are also acquired through related actions - maybe something like demonstrating the skill. Although I could be entirely wrong there - they could just as well be related to the level, tier or class entries on my status. Or both. Or something completely different, like...
I shake my head in an attempt to clear it. I''m not getting anywhere like this. ''Related actions'' could encompass pretty much anything, and I have no information to base any assumptions on.
But what''s that blue light in the corner of my eye? It''s annoying...
Oh, a notification?
Attribute Unlocked: Intelligence |
One of the basic mental attributes, intelligence governs the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills, including the objective reasoning you have displayed. |
I guess I was right then? At least about gaining attributes, I still can''t be sure about skills. And it''s described as a basic attribute, so does that mean it''s easier to unlock? Not to mention it mentions acquiring skills - are these the same skills as on the status screen? More thoughts I can''t confirm, at least not now. Instead, I call up my attribute window to see the addition.
Attribute |
Level |
Progress |
Intelligence |
0 |
0/100 |
So it only unlocked, without actually adding to the attribute? I''m guessing I have to do something to get that progress up to 100 if I want to increase it.
I can probably unlock a few more attributes, but right now I feel like exploring a little instead. I want to see what this world is really about! The adventure, the magic, and seeing what I can make here! The attributes can wait for later, I''m in no rush!
And so I walk out of the alley, with a thirst to explore and know the unknown, yet... What I see is nothing less than extraordinary.