Chapter 1
Gerard stood on the hill surveying his farm and couldn’t help but to let out a sigh. “Three generations and it comes to this.” A smile touched his lips thinking back on a memory of him as a young boy standing on this very hill surveying the fields with his grandfather.
“Did you know this was nothing but trees and rocks only twenty years ago?” Grandpa asked after taking a long drag from his pipe. “You see this is a beautiful world full of mystery and magic but also horrible cruelties. Your grandmother and I moved here after experiencing some of that cruelty so we could use that magic to create something beautiful.”
Gerard asked “Magic? What cruelty? Papa said you and grandma worked on a farm owned by the king. Magic?”
“Yes, yes Magic.” Grandpa said with a chuckle. “As for the rest of that, I’ll tell you when you are at least this tall.” He said while holding his hand a foot above Gerard’s head. “Do you see that building over there?”
“Of course I do, that’s where we live. There’s nothing magical about that.”
“Ahh but that’s where you’re wrong; without that building we would’ve just been a family living in the woods. You see inside that building is our farm’s command Console. With that we can create fields with a thought, hire workers from faraway lands, even improve our attributes and learn skills. With that command Console we are the masters of our destinies.” Grandpa said with a huge smile.
“Masters of our destinies. Fifty-three years and I stand here alone, the fields are choked by weeds and the old farmhouse is barely standing. Beauty, mystery and magic but also horrible cruelties.” The words spin in his mind as he looks into the distance seeing a dust cloud coming down the road. “No time to waste now, I will not let that man take the farm.”
//////
Lorcus slowly came awake and tried to prepare himself for the day. Another day of work at his great job with great pay and yet it’s not enough. It should be enough Lorcus knows. Thinking about all the people he’s met and how satisfied they are with their lives; striving to get ahead and looking forward to bettering themselves. He was once like that until time slowly wore him down, now he just goes through the motions hoping to find something that will finally make him happy.
Cracking an eye open Lorcus sees the sunlight pouring through the window. “Shit, I did it again!” Lorcus threw the blanket off him and jumped out of bed. “Why would anyone willingly take a job where they must get up so early. Well, I suppose money and the never-ending want for more things will do that.”
Picking up a pair of jeans off the floor he quickly slid them on and threw on a new T-shirt. Should I make lunch? No, No time. Checking the pockets of the jeans he picked up from the floor he finds his keys and all the other essentials needed for the day. Maybe I should just call in sick or better yet quit my job, sell everything, and find something that will make this life worth living. After all I don’t lack skills. Pulling out his phone and glancing at the time he thinks, I’ll be late but better late than not showing up at all.
Driving perhaps a little too fast, Lorcus thinks. What is the point of all this, I had such big dreams growing up and yet nothing in this world satisfies me. No matter how much money I make it’s never enough. Almost every relationship I’ve had has taught me not to trust, not that I’m some charismatic movie star, but still people suck. “Shit!”
Violently pulled from his thoughts by a deer running out of the woods and standing in the road Lorcus stomps on the brake and pulls the steering wheel to the right. As soon as the tires leave the road they sink into the soft mud and jerk the truck towards the woods. Trying to maintain control Lorcus pulls the wheel back to the left causing the tires to catch in the mud and puts the truck into a roll. The last thing Lorcus saw was a tree spinning towards him.
For the second time that day Lorcus slowly opens his eyes to find the sunlight streaming through the window mocking him. Looking down He sees a tube entering his arm and realizes he is in a hospital. “Well fuck, I really liked that truck. Guess I won’t be going to work today.” Just then a beautiful woman comes walking into the room and flashes him a brilliant smile.
“Hello Lorcus, I’m Julie and I’m the nurse looking after you. You were in an accident and took a nasty blow to the head. You also lost some blood. How do you feel?”
“You know I feel much better now that I’m talking to you. Maybe we can share some pudding from the cafeteria and talk for a little while so my condition doesn’t deteriorate.”
“You’re sweet and that’s good, you shouldn’t experience any complications however we want to keep you overnight to observe you. Other than that, I must apologize they don’t like us becoming too familiar with the patients. Please let me know if you need anything or if the pain worsens and I’ll make sure you get that pudding.”
Just like that she was gone leaving Lorcus with his thoughts once again. I know that pick up line was cheesy but damn. Oh well another swing and a miss. What am I going to do here all day? Finding his phone on the side table Lorcus picked it up and began playing a game to waste time. Before long he got bored and decided to do a job search online and see what’s out there.
Why in the world does every job require years of experience or a degree and in most cases both? I mean how do you get experience if every job requires experience. Here is something, Jack of all trades.
Help Wanted: Jack of all trades.
Job Description: Console owner in need of a reliable and responsible worker to assume the responsibilities of the Console Commander and to restore a level five farm to its former beauty.
Location: Northwest of Terison in the County of Philexei. Greater Berizma.
Start Date: Immediately.
Salary: Varies on performance. Possibility of becoming the farms heir.
“Is this a joke? None of this makes sense; Console Commander, Level five farm, Terison, County of Philexei, Greater Berizma? What the hell, let’s see where this joke leads.” Clicking apply Lorcus was shocked again.
Attention; Unable to read users personal information including stats and abilities. Please insert manually. It seems like the joke continues considering I’ve never heard of someone having stats and abilities outside of a game.
Question one; What is your farmer level? “What in the world is a farmer level? Let me try, in progress of becoming the world’s greatest farmer ever.” Error, level must be a numerical value. “Okay I would say out of one and all the numbers I’m a level ninety-nine, hopefully that’s a good level.”
Question Two; Have you ever been a Console Commander and if so, what was the highest level achieved? “Considering I have no idea what a Console Commander is I’m going to say no.”
Question Three; Please list all your skills and abilities. “Let’s see here, for skills I would say jack of all trades, skilled with the skills and overall amazing. For abilities that’s tougher, Let’s say… I have the ability to have a good time and all around able.
Question Four; Are you willing to relocate to the farm Northwest of Terison in the County of Philexei, Greater Berizma? “Considering I’ve never heard of any of those places let’s say Yes.”
Question Five; Are you willing to accept a salary based on performance? “Yes.”
Question Six; Are you willing to start immediately? “Yes.”
Nothing remained after the sixth question except for a submit button. Letting out a little chuckle Lorcus pressed submit. A new box popped up saying; Your application has been submitted and will be reviewed by the Console Commander. Please stand by for response. With that Lorcus put his phone back on the table and saw Julie walk into the room with a smile and a pudding.
Julie said “Things are a little slow right now so I thought I would bring you that pudding. Just don’t tell anyone if I stay a little while to make sure you are recovering adequately.” Giving Lorcus a wink. Lorcus grinned and said, “I was really hoping…”. A ding came from his phone with a message saying, congratulations application accepted. the world went white.
//////
Lorcus found himself floating midair in the middle of a run-down hut with an old man staring at him. The old man was wearing what looked like homemade coveralls and a thin brown button up shirt. His face looked like a baseball mitt that was left out in the sun for too long with long white eyebrows that came halfway down his cheeks. They exchanged confused looks before gravity took over and he fell smacking his head on a table before completing his descent to the floor.
For the third time that day Lorcus woke up but this time it was because of a bucket of water thrown into his face. His head throbbed from the repeated blows throughout the day. Trying to get his bearings he looked around the room with the hopes of figuring out where he was. He was still wearing the gown from the hospital and nothing else. The rough wood floor was cold under his bare ass, and he groaned as he felt what was likely a splinter.
“I knew you were a weird one from the application I received but there is no time. Didn’t you listen to the system when it told you to stand by? That means get your stuff and be ready for transportation, not lay down in your dress. Just my luck I put this off for years and now I’m stuck with a cross dressing lunatic. Well boy we don’t have much time so ask your questions.”
Lorcus stared dumbly at the old man trying to understand what was going on and deal with his throbbing head. He asked “What’s going on? How did I get here?”
The old man huffed “It looks like that blow to the head was a little more serious than I thought. Listen they will be here soon, and I have nothing to give them. They will arrest me, even though my family settled this land they think they can come here and take everything then kick me out! I won’t stand for it! Why are you here? You are here to run this place until I can come back, and I will come back so don’t you go putting dresses on all the animals and doing whatever ungodly things you probably do. Put your hand on the Console, I will transfer command to you until I can return.”
“Listen old man I don’t know where I am or who you are but this is no dress. I was in a hospital before I appeared here.”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
“Well, I don’t know what a hospital is, but I recognize a dress.” The old man then grabbed Lorcus’s hand and put it on a weird table. “As Console commander I transfer command to… What’s your name?”
“Lorcus, but what…”
The old man cut him off talking to the table again. “Lorcus until I can reestablish control. I grant him all rights to the Console and name him heir should anything happen to me.”
As the old man finished a text box opened in Lorcus’s vision. Attention: You have been offered control of this Console as the Console Commander until Gerard is able to regain control. Do you accept?
What sounded like a herd of wild horses made the bottles on the shelves rattle. Lorcus turned his head to the dirty window and asked, “What’s going on here old man, am I going to be in chains beside you when those horses arrive?”
“No, No.” the old man said while wiping sweat off his forehead. “You will only be a worker here since I will still be the owner of the Console. If I die you will be the Owner and Commander and my disputes go with me to the grave. Now it’s time… please, accept.”
“What exactly do you expect from me and what do I get in return for doing this?” Lorcus asked.
“Well… you will have full control as the Console Commander, your task is to rebuild this farm. Do anything and everything you can think of to achieve that. Any proceeds during that time will belong to you. Should I die you will inherit this farm, however when I don’t die and return I will judge you’re performance and decide if I will make you my heir. Trust me I have a plan to get out of this you just need to keep the place running. Now Accept.”
Just then a fist began banging on the door. Lorcus looked at the old man who was now giving him the most pity filled look he had ever seen. Letting out a deep sigh Lorcus accepted the prompt.
//////
Congratulations Console Commander you are now in control of your first Console. To access the Console, place your hand anywhere on it and mentally command engage. Here you can Upgrade, Customize and see the status of your farm. In addition, you can contract workers, purchase Console upgrades as well as personal skills and abilities. The Console provides many more services that you are encouraged to discover. Note that new services become available as you upgrade your Console so remember to come back often. We hope you enjoy your experience as a Console Commander and remember to leave a satisfactory review of your experience in the help and support section.
Lorcus had barely finished reading the prompt when the door burst in throwing splinters throughout the room. Lorcus jumped in his skin from the loud noise, shower of splinters, and cool air as his gown blew open. He spun around and couldn’t believe what he saw. Standing in the door was the largest man he had ever seen. His head was eight feet off the ground, however that wasn’t the weirdest part. The man had a normal human face with severe features except for the large horse ears where normal ears should be. He was shirtless with rippling muscles covered by scars.
That’s where it got really weird, where his waist should be there was a horse. Not like he was sitting on a horse, instead it was like someone took a horse, cut its neck off and put a human body there.
“Look what we have here, Gerard got himself a wife and isn’t she a cute little thing. I like the dress choice, who would’ve thought you had it in you old man? Nice easy access to that plump little ass, maybe we can keep her company while you’re gone!”
Lorcus was speechless, did he really get transported to a new world by some weird table that supposedly controls everything and now a giant horse man who wants to fuck him. At this point he was considering how to get back home.
“Cecrix, the only ass you’ve ever gotten was the donkey that trader had pulling his cart through town a couple years ago, I heard that was a male too. Aren’t you centaurs supposed to be proud creatures, not beast fuckers?”
Cecrix’s hand shot out and grabbed Gerard by the neck. Before Lorcus could blink the old man was picked up off his feet and thrown into the yard. Five centaurs circled around the old man kicking up dust and stomping their hooves. Cecrix strode out towards Gerard and put a hoof on his chest right above his heart.
“Go ahead old man say that again.” Cecrix said as he pressed down even harder. “You were given a fair offer for this Console, but you wouldn’t take it. You chose to run this place into the ground rather than to give it to its rightful owner. Now time is up, pay what you owe or die.”
Gerard coughed out blood before replying “You will never have this property, My family built this farm before Philexei was born. I don’t care if the system says this is part of his county, It’s mine!”
“Yes, yes, we’ve heard it before Gerard, and we don’t care. The fact is the System rules all, and the System is on our side. You can’t pay the county taxes; you can’t keep the farm.”
“Unfortunately for you I paid the county taxes this morning.” Gerard wheezed out.
Cecrix’s ears stood up after hearing that and slowly lifted his head to look around the farm. A vicious grin spread across his face and he began to laugh. “You fool, you lowered the farm to level one to pay us? What’s next in your grand plan? That only buys you six more months until the next round of taxes is due. Better yet you will be spending that time in jail, but don’t worry we will let you see your precious farm one last time before we execute you.”
Lorcus couldn’t believe what he was hearing, he had been given control of a level one farm that was dying and had six months before the owner would be executed and then who knows what would happen to him. Fury burned in his heart, and he marched out into the yard. “Hey donkey fucker, what right do you have to imprison Gerard? He paid the taxes now go to the garden, get yourself a carrot and piss off.”
Cecrix looked at Lorcus bemused before looking down his long leg at Gerard. “Looks like your woman has teeth Gerard, she keeps getting more and more interesting.” Turning back towards Lorcus Cecrix said “You are mistaken, He paid enough of the back taxes to not be in default. That was the third time this has happened and now under the Counts law we have the right to imprison him. Without him here there is no Console Commander and therefore he is as good as dead. Don’t worry, I’ll come back for you when he’s dead.”
Gerard couldn’t take it anymore and said “you fucking idiot he’s not a woman and he is the Console Commander while I’m away. It became official earlier today, this farm won’t fall to you that easily.”
“Is that so? He is awfully fair and clean to be a human male.” Cecrix said. “In that case you may be sharing Gerards fate soon enough. Let me welcome you to the farm!”
As fast as any other movement Cecrix snapped a kick at Lorcus. Lorcus’s eyes flew open, and he crossed his arms in front of him to block the kick. The kick still caught Lorcus in the chest and he flew back into the hut’s wall promptly passing out.
“That was uneventful, what did you do Gerard get a level one to save you? I didn’t think even you would sink that low. Does he know as the Console Commander he will inherit Ownership if you haven’t specified an heir? If that happens he will be executed shortly after you. After all the count has plans for this Console.”
//////
A bucket of water woke Lorcus up the next morning. Spluttering Lorcus panicked as flashes of hooves played in his mind’s eye. “You filthy donkey fucker I won’t go down so easily a second time!” Lorcus was never a fighter by choice but that didn’t mean he couldn’t fight. Standing at 5’10” he had a slim but fit body sculpted to be lean but powerful in his youth. Unfortunately, the workout routine he developed through hard work and time in the gym fell away over the years. In his early thirties simple joys like food became more important than keeping his body in perfect condition.
A woman’s shrill voice sounded out “Who are you calling a filthy donkey fucker?” before she punched him in the face. The world went dark.
For the second time that day Lorcus woke up but this time it was to the smell of food cooking. He let out a moan and rolled to the side of the bed tossing his legs over the side. The same shrill voice talking way to loud said “Oh dear I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to knock you out! I’ve never heard of a level one at your age! I’m only a level eight and shouldn’t have been able to knock you unconscious that easily. Are you okay? Why are you wearing a dress?”
A man walked into the hut saying, “Deloris leave the poor boy alone, it’s not enough you knocked him out now you’re screeching at him.”
“I am not screeching at him Todd, if you want to hear screeching, I’ll screech at you!”
Todd’s shoulders slumped and he said, “No honey that won’t be necessary, let’s just let the boy come to his senses.”
“Hmph, well fine breakfast is almost done. Help the boy get ready.”
Lorcus looked between Todd and Deloris shaking his head. “I would love to know who you two are but first I need to use the bathroom. Where exactly is that?”
Deloris spun back around and said “What are you some kind of lord with your fair skin, pretty dress and bathroom? This here is a hut, and it has an outhouse. Todd Show him.”
“Yes dear.” Todd said and jerked his head from Lorcus to the door. Lorcus followed but after a few steps he didn’t need a guide, the wind carried the fresh stink of the outhouse. “I have it from here thank you.” Lorcus said. Todd nodded and turned back towards the hut. Immediately turning towards the woods in the opposite direction of the outhouse Lorcus pulled up his gown to relieve himself.
Looking through the trees Lorcus understood just how much of a mess he was in. There was a field true, or at least there was a field once. The area was covered in weeds and even had saplings sprouting up here and there. Part of the field was flooded, and dead trees destroyed sections of the fence. “This may have been a mistake.”
Returning to the hut he found the couple sitting down at the table ready to eat. Deloris said “Come, the food is hot, eat now because the shelves are bare. Looks like this will be your last decent meal for some time. Now tell us who you are and why you are here.”
Lorcus took a bite of the eggs and was pleasantly surprised by the taste. Looks like he would have to get Deloris to cook for him more often. While chewing he thought about what to say. It seemed obvious this wasn’t earth. Who are these people and are there more here like me? He decided to keep it vague about who he is and where he came from.
“My name is Lorcus, I saw an ad for a job here and applied for it. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I can tell you it wasn’t this.”
Todd said “I assume when you say you saw an ad that the system paired you with the posting here. Was it the first time you migrated? It’s not common in these parts but has happened before. Too bad you got paired with that Wiley old goat. Might just get you killed before you know it.”
“Forgive me for the ignorance but what do you mean by migrated?” Lorcus asked.
“Migrated? You must be from far away. I don’t know what you call it there but when a Console Commander can’t find someone to fill an open position, they can pay the Console’s fees to be matched with a worker anywhere in the world. I assume you know that half of the story since you are here?” Todd asked with a crook of his eyebrow.
Lorcus nodded his head, remaining silent. Todd continued “Anyway it looks like Gerard really screwed you over to get you here. This place was level five the last time we saw it, it appears he downgraded the Console again to raise the resources necessary to hang onto this place for a few more months.”
Deloris picked up from there saying “Such a shame, I remember when I was a little girl his grandfather was the commander and got this place up to a level fifteen farmhouse. Then those damn centaurs showed up and ruined everything. You see the count is an ambitious centaur that wants to become a king. This is the border of the county with the great forest. Not many people enter it and survive. Every now and then a beast wave will leave the forest and swarm south.”
Todd Picked back up saying “And that brings us back to this farm. You may have noticed that hill in the center of the land? That’s where the count wants to build a castle to protect his northern flank before expanding elsewhere. Until he gets that castle built, he has to station a large force here in case of a beast wave or system forgive, the orcs start raiding for slaves. He will stop at nothing to claim the Console here. The only reason he hasn’t killed old Gerard yet is because he fears a rebellion from his new human subjects. Any questions?”
Lorcus had one pressing question “What do you recommend I do? Seems to me like the best option would be to run far away from this place.”
“Normally I would say yes, hell I would even offer you a job at my farm. In fact, I still will, we are only a mile down the road towards town. Feel free to come by if you have questions or want to take me up on that offer. However, you have an opportunity here, you see you are a Console Commander and that is an opportunity that very few people get even if it is only a level one farm.”
Lorcus looked at him like he was crazy. “What kind of opportunity could this place possibly hold for me? The opportunity to toil in the dirt for six months before being executed?”
Deloris jumped in saying “Yes that is a possibility on top of starving, however Console Commanders have many benefits from increased experience gains to the ability to gain experience from the people working for the Console. On top of that you are in complete control of what happens here; from the direction you take the farm, to what markets you sell to. You can even buy skills and abilities directly from the system market.”
Todd stood up and said “That’s enough for today, we have work that needs doing. I hope this conversation helps you out kid. My advice, take care of your necessities then start walking. You will find your path, just do me a favor and get rid of the dress. People may get the wrong idea with you flashing your ass every time you bend over.”
“Don’t tell him that! I might come cook for him more if I get to see that tight rump.” Deloris said while leaning over to pinch Lorcus’s ass.