“Okay, Mr. Markson. I understand it will be your younger brother who will be treated using Royal Road. Am I correct?”
“Yes.” Henry replied. After his meeting with the doctor, he was introduced to a Lilly Ashbern. She was a child psychiatrist with a speciality in amnesiac cases. She had informed him at their introduction; that she had been hired by the Unicorn Corporation a year after the release of the game Royal Road. Unicorn Corp. had come up with a very brilliant idea; through the speed at which the game played they hoped to use it to their advantage by opening to a new market. This new market was a very lucrative one, there was a very large amount of people suffering mental illness that just need more time than a life time. Especially with amnesia cases, to try to live ones life just a couple steps behind was no road to success.
“Being as intelligent a man as you are, I'm sure you know of the basics of the game, correct?”
“Yes, I do. But I really don't see how this is going to help Derec.”
“Well the idea is to try and catch up Derec's mind. At this point his mind is about 7 years behind the development of his body. How Royal Road will help us is through the fact that the game runs four times the speed of reality. In effect we hope to catch up Derec's mind, at the latest by age 20. Though I would expect that he will begin to regain his memories slowly without the aid of the game, we just wish to speed up the process so Derec may have a normal life.”
“I can kind of understand that. But isn't this just going to be like another game to him?”
“Well, if we don't make any alterations to his console then yes. But what will be specific to Derec's console are some restrictions that will leave him at the age of him mind. While the game usually allows alterations to the physical appearance of the character, that will be set of the rest of the game unless they find one of the various ways to change it. In Derec's case we have used a special program that has determined his appearance at age ten, this will be a restriction on his console making his appearance unalterable. Furthermore based on my findings from the videos of his game play that will automatically sent to me, I shall determine when Derec's avatar will age. Other than that, the only other thing we have changed is the beginning stats for his avatar. For any regular player, they would begin with ten points for every basic stat. In Derec's case we will reduce his strength and intelligence stats by two, thus leaving him with equivalent stats to that of NPCs of the same age.” Dr. Ashbern finished a little out of breath with the long spiel. She could almost see Mr. Markson's mind processing the amount of information she had given him, evidence of his work buying and selling stocks.
“How much is this going to cost me?” Henry asked already realizing that this service didn't come free.
“For the restrictions on the console, the price is raised on the console by 50%. And monthly fees are doubled as you will also be paying for my time.” This brought the price of the console to $15, 000 and the monthly fees to $600. For any other family they wouldn't accept the price just. They would have completely backed out of taking care of their family member, but Henry wasn't the same. He still felt guilty for not knowing about Derec, for not helping him or keeping him from Jeraldine and Frank. To him this was the least he could do.
“Is there anything you suggest I can do for Derec?”
“I'm sure Dr. Hans has already informed you, the best you can do is make him feel comfortable and safe.” With that, Henry and Dr. Ashbern said their goodbyes. Henry returned to Derec's hospital room waiting for him to awake.
******
Cloud had spent the last three weeks within the city limits as a messenger. The city itself was absolutely beautiful, a marvel because of the way in which nature was a very large part of the city. It could have almost been an abandoned city, from how nature seemed to be reclaiming the land. Many houses had a tree growing from the center, and the sky bridges stretching over the city were really very large branches.
He learned the layout of the city, from the location of every shop and stall the the intricacies of the underground labyrinth that existed beneath the city. He used this information to his advantage, becoming that fastest and most reliable messenger within the city. In this time he had gained level four as well as numerous stats points as well as a two skills and three stats.
New Stat: Fighting Spirit
You can call on superhuman strength temporarily, or bring weaker monsters to their knees with a force in your eyes alone. You are prohibited from distributing stat bonus points to this stat, and it rises spontaneously, depending on the avatar’s action, especially if you fight monsters for a long time, or often confront monsters stronger than your current level.New Stat: Sustenance
You are likely to use less stamina in action. You are prohibited from distributing stat bonus points to this stat.New Stat: Efficiency
You are able to move more efficiently, reduces the amount of stamina used for movement. You are prohibited from distributing stat bonus points to this stat.
Besides delivering messages there were still moments he faced criticism because of his avatar's appearance. Whenever this got to much for him, he would return to the training hall and take out his anger on some poor, defenceless scarecrow all the while listening to but more criticism until he tired and escaped to his nest.
Through these actions Cloud became well known throughout the city as the little black bird. Often he was treated like a little brother, adored by many of the female players.
Quest Complete!
After reading ht love note from Samson, Helena rushed off to confess her feelings in return. In the near future they shall be married, and live a happy life together with their three children and two grandchildren.
Reward: Leather Breast Plate
Level Up!
Quickly equipping the breast plate, he was lucky it was adjustable at the sides so it fit him.
Cloud rushed to the closet city gate. He was finally free to leave the city and hunt on his own.
Looking into the forest before him, he was awestruck. The trees were nothing in comparison to those in the forest. They could easily be hundreds of years old.
“Stats Window”
Character StatusCharater name:CloudAlignment:NeutralLevel:5Profession:NoneTitle:NoneReputation:120Health:180 (+25)Mana:100Strength:18 (+5)Agility:97Dexterity:13Vitality:24Stamina68Fighting Spirit19Luck0Leadership0Wisdom10Intellect16Attack9Defense2 (+3)Magic ResistanceFire:0%Water:0%Earth:0%Black Magic:0%
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Cloud was happy to see that the leather breast plate had given him and increase in strength, defence and health. He could only attribute it to the armour as it happened to be the only piece he wore other than the initial traveller’s outfit.
“Skills Window”
Sword Mastery (Lv. 3 6.8%): Increases attack power and hit rating for swords.
Sprint (Lv. 5 2%): Increases speed running short distances and reduces chance of stumbling.
Overcome with excitement, Cloud raced between trees, ignoring other players in their parties as they battled raccoons. He delighted in the feeling of freedom as he ran. There was no one to stop him. No one could stop him he imagined. He was free as a bird, fast as a wolf.
Jumping a root his front foot landed on a rock, losing his footing. His feet flew out from under him and he crashed to the forest floor, right on his tailbone.
Sitting there for a moment dazed. When he snapped out of it he quickly stood up and glanced all around him, 'good no one noticed'. Rubbing his tailbone slightly he continued on at a much slower pace.
The next time he fell, wasn't from some mere rock. A fox had whipped its tail around to smack the backs of his knees. They buckled and he caught himself with his hands before doing a complete face plant.
His health had dropped by a whole 30 points due to his low defence. If he took any more of those hits, he wouldn't last much longer.
Staring down the fox Cloud considered his best options. He could go for the wooden sword in his inventory, to use against the fox. But he wasn't in the best of fighting poses and the fox could attack in the time it took him to retrieve it.
The only thing that left him was to get out of the foxes range, give himself some breathing room. Dodging to the left as the fox pounced, Cloud executed a clumsy roll and managed to stagger to his feet. Backing up as the fox advanced he open his inventory and rummaged through it to find the sword. The fox was visible through the transparent window, and crouched just as Cloud found the sword.
Holding it in front of himself with two hands, he looked quite ridiculous. To anyone else he was just a scrawny little boy holding a sword much to large for him. Furthermore he thought to fight a fox, and the sword was wooden to boot.
Cloud in reality had a small bit on inborn talent when it came to the handling of a sword, or any weapon for that matter. Firming his stance the held the sword at the proper angle and waited. He was not ready to attack first, as he had completely no combat experience.
The fox stared, waiting in turn. They both stood motionless for a whole minute before the fox lunged at Cloud. Stumbling back a few steps, his foot caught another treacherous rock and he fell to the left. Luck was on his side as the fox missed his shoulder by an inch and he fell against a tree rather than the ground. Thus he was able to regain his stance.
Luck increased by 1 point (+1 LUC)
Cloud beamed at his accomplishment. An accomplishment that really had nothing to do with his own ability.
When the fox's paws slashed through empty air it barked in frustration. Spinning around as soon as it landed, the fox again began stalking Cloud. Every step it took forward Cloud flinched. He had no real knowledge on how to fight, let alone how to win.
As the fox attacked, Cloud would dodge. His high agility made up for his lack of finesse. As time passed he slowly began to tire.
Cloud swore the fox was smirking. It knew it would win in the end. And with how this fight was going, the fox really would win. But this didn't defeat Cloud, it was something he was used to; people looking down on him, underestimating him because of his age.
Anger filled him to the brim, he wouldn't die like an old dog. He wasn't to be pitied then forgotten.
Raising his sword above his as the fox crouched, he held it there. In this position he was wide open for attack. As the fox pounced it's jaws wide, it had left itself open in the same way.
Instead of bringing the sword down in a straight cut, he arced it out to the left. If it had been a real sword, the fox would then be on the ground, it's innards spewing from a slash to the stomach. At most it was bruised and its attack faltered allowing Cloud to quickly dodge a body slam from the fox.
This occurred a few more times before the fox learned. Circling the fox looked for an opening, its instincts guiding it. Cloud turned as the fox moved always keeping it in front of him. He needed a new strategy, but nothing was coming to mind.
Again Cloud perceived a smirk upon the fox's face. And his anger consumed him, slashing at the fox he gave as good as he got. The fight turned savage, much like that of two animals fighting for food.
Quickly the fox and Cloud were nearing their last 10% health, both were panting each breath an effort. Neither the fox nor Cloud being stronger than the other, they would become each other's end.
But at the deciding moment, Cloud proved but a fraction faster than the fox.
CRITICAL HIT!!
Hitting it on the side of its head caused the fox to stagger. Stunned the fox became defenseless and Cloud finished it with a final blow to head taking the last points of health the fox had. The fox turned grey and disappeared. In its place lay a piece of meat and a fox pelt.