It had been two days since his last login to the virtual world, and by now Hachi was itching for adventure. Real world stresses of bill paying and studies all seemed to wash away the moment he’d found himself safe within his home. After a quick shower and a microwaved meal, he found himself lying flat on his bed, a large helmet beeping and flickering with red and blue lights adorning his crown. And after his body unwinded, growing more relaxed and lighter by the moment, he’d awaken in the comfort of his small, warm and snug virtual cottage.
*Loading*
*Entering World of Aleria*
*Welcome - Hachi Nokugoma*
Ding!
The chiming of a notification welcomed Hachi as he slowly pixelated into existence within the virtual world of Aleria. After taking a moment to gather himself from the woozy sensation of spawning in, he got to his feet. With a single finger he poked into the air for his digital menu, scrolling through his inventory of missed messages. 48 Unread Messages read a small text. Most were months old. There was one from Guren, advising on a quest that was available. That was a day ago. There was one from the development team, and the most recent one from another player. Other than the message from the developers that showed up as red, this one stood out amongst the rest with violet wording. This color wording meant a gift was attached.
“From Blu?” he read, brows furrowed at the peculiar gamertag. “Who are you?”
He pressed onto the menu, opening up the message entirely before his expression contorted into one of confusion.
“Thank you for your hospitality.” the message read. Only after thoroughly investigating the user’s profile did Hachi recognize the boy from before. The one who’d been poisoned and escaped through his window. At the bottom of the screen, 3x Attachments read as a clickable option. This immediately shifted the boy’s puzzled expression into one of intrigue.
Turning to hover his digital menu just above the small kitchen counter in his pantry, he selected the option and watched as three small boxes pixelated out of thin air landing atop the surface before him.
Inside the first small, shanty wooden box, a cloth sack sat. As he shifted it in his hand to observe, a jingling sound sounded from within.
“Could’ve used this when I went shopping.” he scoffed, putting the small pouch of gold aside and focusing his attention on the next gift. This box, compared to the first, was a bit larger. The metal trimmings around the wooden exterior were worn and spotted with rust. On the front face, a small latch stuck out, and as he pushed it back with his thumb, there was a slight pop as it opened, revealing a medium sized potion vial. Inside the vial, a blue liquid oozed as he removed it from the box. “Mana potion,” he said. “Could’ve used that too.”
Sitting the vial to the side, he clutched onto the last box, thoroughly investigating it. Compared to the first two, this one seemed a bit more regal. Unlike the two wooden cases, this gift was adorned in a sleek skin of blue velvet. Around the case, gleaming gold trimmings. As he opened it, a gasp escaped as his face scrunched with an intrigued puzzlement. Inside, a stone pendant.
“Woah,” he marveled, picking it up by its leather rope of a chain, eyes twinkling with admiration as his mouth practically watered.
“An Opaline Gem.” For a while he studied the necklace. Its centerpiece, an aquamarine colored gem that seemed to reflect the small rays of rising sun managing to seep into the cottage. It was an unusual shape, encased in a thin cocoon of silver. Encircling it, carbon trimmings intertwined with silver shaping around as if a shield to form up the odd shape of a teardrop. Like the Orb of Vitality before, Opaline gems were rare in the virtual world. Furthermore, he’d never seen one on jewelry. How the hell did a newb even get this? he thought, staring on in disbelief. He’d just attached the rope around his neck when a notification chime sounded alerting him of a new message.
From Guren - You have to get over here…. Fast! the message read.
On my way! he sent With this he closed out his digital menu entirely. Now sporting the rare gem, he carefully clutched the pendant around his neck, removing it and turning to place it back in its box. As he turned to start his morning routine, he was stumped to turn around and find his digital menu still present in the air behind him, displaying his unsent message.
“Huh?” he grunted, reaching out to press onto the menu and send off his message yet again, but still it remained idle. Attempting to type in another message, he confirmed the screen had become frozen entirely and as he sat there tapping away, he stopped at the sight of another pop up window.
Error 202 - Content Is Modified/Prohibited. Use Of Such Items Could Result In Swift Account Termination.
“What?” he hissed, as the digitized menu disappeared entirely. Turning to face his new collection of gifts, his eyes focused on the pendant. No wonder he hadn’t ever seen such a pendant in the virtual world. It became clear how someone just starting out in the game would’ve gotten ahold of something so rare. This item was hacked and it was now attached to his account.
2.2
Player - What’s with this item you sent?
Blu - ?
Player - What is it? What does it do?
Blu - don’t know
Player - Well where’d you get it from? This thing is giving me a hard time!
Blu - no idea, unequip maybe?
Player - I can’t! This item you gave me is a hacked item, it can’t be unequipped! That’s the thing with hacked items!
Blu - outdated game?
Player - My game is up to date and that’s way besides the point! Wtf? If my account gets banned I’m reporting you just so you know.
Blu - K
"Ugggghh," Hachi growled, exiting his message inbox as he trudged along the path leading to the town of Wilkerbrook. His frustration with this Blu player was palpable, but what irritated him even further was the mysterious pendant. No matter how many times he snatched it free, it would only reappear around his neck moments later, pixelating back into place. As he stepped into town this morning, he came to a halt, scanning the town’s plaza and marketplace. Though known for its bustling environment teeming with players and NPCs alike, this morning the town was far more lively compared to any standard day. At the marketplace, thousands of patrons shuffled through a crowd spread out amongst the host of merchants stalls. Chatting and feet upon the cobbled stone street blended with jangling of coins making up a chorus of mayhem. There was the scent of brewing potions wafting over, mixing with the scent of street food that seemed to bring his stomach to growl. At the center, hundreds of players mingled and loitered, laughing and bantering all around the ancient fountain as dancers and street performers entertained along the sidelines.
“Exciting, right?” came a voice accompanied by a pat on the shoulder. Hachi turned to find Guren standing there, smiling as he watched the populated town before them.
“What’s all this about?” he asked, still scanning the area.
“The VIP of course.” said Guren.
“Oh,” nodded Hachi, now searching Guren’s face for any other answers. “What about him exactly?”
“Haven’t you heard?” asked Guren, eyes widen as both his hand palmed the side of his head in shock
“Of what exactly?”
“The VIP. He resigned.”
“Oh.” said Hachi, not displaying the excitement Guren had expected. “What exactly does the VIP do again?” he asked, face frowned with ignorance.
“You’re joking, right?” Guren asked, stepping back to scrutinize Hachi’s expression. When he’d found no hint of a smile or any indication that Hachi was, in fact, “joking,” he sighed. “Don’t you keep up with the game at all?”
“Well I do. But like.. only if it affects me I guess.” This earned him another sigh from his NPC friend.
“Well in your world I suppose you’d call him a king, or prime minister, or emperor.”
“Like a world leader?”
“Exactly,” Guren snapped his fingers and pointed to the boy as if he’d given him a quiz and Hachi had managed to get the answer correct. “He’s the one who makes the policies for players and NPCs as far as cohabiting. He’s the one in charge of the entire Alerian Guard.”
Guren thumbed to the other end of the town’s square where a band of NPCs clad in majestic golden armor stood, watching the festivities around them. From the knight's impressive armor, Hachi's gaze shifted to a young lady sitting on the stone ground a few yards away, behind a hat. A small crowd stood before her as she raised her leg, placing it far behind her head. His head tilted lower as her leg went higher.
“What does .. any of this have to do with the VIP?” he asked, his tone laced in skepticism yet not removing his gaze from the scene.
“Public appearances of course.” With this, Guren regained the boy’s attention. “Max levelers all over are looking to run for the seat. They’re making public appearances to build up their followers.”
“Well is someone here?” asked Hachi. His question was answered with a devious smile from his friend. As if on cue, a small chant began to stir. “MOXIS! MOXIS! MOXIS!”
The forming crowd rallied as everyone began to gather around the outside of The Enchanted Chalice, an old tavern that lay ahead.
“No way.” Hachi gasped, mouth gaping open and eyes widening in shock. “Moxis is here?” He could barely contain his excitement as without noticing, he began making his way towards the tavern as well.
At the forefront of the crowd, Moxis Everhart stepped out from the tavern. Revered as one of the most brilliant minds amongst the real world, he was an author Hachi admired dearly. His views on spirituality and mental health were inspirational to the boy, and had he known his idol would be here, Hachi certainly would’ve come prepared with a book seeking a signature. He was an older man, with freckles decorating the fair skin around his narrow eyes. His bald head reflected the overhead sun, and a gray, triangular beard on his chin emphasized his seasoned age. Attired in monk garbs, he waved on, making his way down an aisle, splitting through the crowd with the assistance of the Alerian guard, and headed towards the Whispering Wyvern Inn on the other side of town.
“How long is he going to be in town?” Hachi asked as the crowd around them now migrated to follow behind the man.
“Hearsay is a few days. Not too sure though if I’m being honest.” shrugged Guren.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Perfect! That gives me time to grab something for an autograph.”
Hachi’s excitement was now visible. And as he began his farewell to his friend, another idea flickered in his mind like a lightbulb illuminating under his skull. “Oh, I have something I want to sell,” he said.
"Sure thing, let's see it," said Guren, before leaning in as Hachi pointed to his pendant for inspection.
“Hm” he pondered, clutching the necklace. “I’m pretty sure this is an outdated item.” he advised, releasing it. He stared at it with narrow eyes before confirming. “Yup, definitely outdated.”
“Outdated? I had a pop up on my window that said it was hacked content.”
“Right, it shows that way because those lazy developers of ours haven’t updated the coding for those items to the current game’s version. To the current version of the game, those outdated items are unfamiliar.”
“I see,” said Hachi, nodding as he took it all in. “Well I can’t seem to get rid of it. Every time I remove it, it just reappears around my neck again.”
“Sounds about right. That item is kinda like a glitch or a bug in the system. In this case the only way to get rid of it would be to replace it with another item from the same update that pendant was released, that’s also still current in today’s version of the game.”
“You wouldn't happen to know of any would you ?”
“Sorry my friend, I don’t.” And before Hachi could thank him for his efforts, Guren’s face lit up with a gasp and a finger pointed upwards. “Try the Relic Reservoir. I’m sure Lady Eutella would have something.”
“I see,” said Hachi, trying to sound grateful, though deep inside, he detested this truth. Even the name brought an uneasiness upon him.
2.3
On the northern outskirts of the town lay a small, isolated cemetery, far removed from the bustling town square. Encircled by brittle, gnarled trees and dotted with rows of wilted flowers and hedges, it was a place Hachi had always loathed. Were it not for his current situation, he would never have ventured here at all. He shuddered as he passed by, his eyes scanning the graveyard as if something would emerge from it. This part of town felt like a different world altogether—old, decrepit townhomes, shabby inns, and abandoned taverns, all evoking a sense of unease and a fight-or-flight urge. There wasn’t much business on this end of town, and as he came to a halt in front of an old shop, the bell rang as two young boys ran out holding a small sack, cackling deviously. They obviously had mischievous plans with whatever laid inside of it.
The Relic Reservoir at first glance was nothing worth staying around for. A splintered, ash, gray wooden floor sat as the resting place for a thick coat of dust. Large wooden shelves made up four aisles of the store with the center two ending at the counter which sat at the rear of the shop Adorning these shelves, items of all sorts sat, some gleaming with rarity and value. There were some with vibrant coloring, and pieces of obsolete jewelry. Along the walls held in place by thick wooden hooks, a collection of broadswords, spears, pikes, and rapiers.There was an oddly positioned mannequin dressed in magnificent armor. There were few others with less magnificent armor. There were magical artifacts and ancient tomes.
The light had failed to reach inside, and only the ancient, dim lights illuminated the space so the room bore a gray hue. For a while he searched the items all around him, most unobtainable in today’s version of the game, but none the one he came for. Only when a sickly cough sounded, snapping him away from an odd looking stone did he turn up the aisle where an older woman sat behind the counter.
“What’d ya looking for?” she grumbled, her voice almost a growl. She stood behind the counter, her eyes sunken deep in their darkened sockets. On her nose, a mole caused the boy to feel queasy. She was a rather short lady, dressed in gray and violet garbs. And as he approached the counter, his eyes twitched at an unusual aroma of cheap perfume and burned herbs permeating from her.
“Uh— hi.” he stuttered, stepping up to the counter. Despite her small size and old age, something about this lady was eerily intimidating.
“I— I’m looking for something apart of the current game’s version that could replace this.” said Hachi, pulling the pendant around his neck out for her to see.
For a while she studied the pendant, her eyes narrowing as her lips puckered and moved to the side of her face in deep thought.
“A breakup I’m assuming?” she asked. There was an odd, subtle amusement about her now as she glared at him. Considering the boy’s face contorted into ignorance and confusion, her assumption was incorrect. “Come.” she scoffed, rolling her eyes and stepping from behind the counter. Hachi followed behind her, turning down the aisle on the far end of the store. More unique artifacts and items were positioned upon the shelves and walls, and when she came to an abrupt halt at the center of the aisle, she pointed a single finger and his gaze followed. From the distance and the overwhelming amount of items decorating the shelves, it had taken him a while to notice it. “That’s—“ he breathed, glaring up at a mannequin adorned with the same pendant as his own.
“The Nexus Pendant of Binding” said Lady Eutella, poking into the air before her so that a gray digital menu appeared before her.
“From expression alone I can tell you don’t have any idea what that pendant’s for,” she said, swiping away.
“I don’t too be honest,” Hachi admitted, going quiet at the sound of a notification chime.
From Lady Eutella
He tapped into the air, opening his digital menu so that a window displaying a picture of the same pendant was before him. Below it, an extensive paragraph.
NEXUS PENDANT OF BINDING
WHEN A PLAYER IS GIFTED WITH SUCH A PENDANT, NOT ONLY WILL HE/SHE WITNESS A BOOST OF EUPHORIC BLISS ALONGSIDE THE BESTOWER, BUT AN ADDITIONAL 50% EXPERIENCE BOOST WHEN BOTH PLAYERS ARE ONLINE. HOWEVER AS A BINDING ENCHANTMENT, SHALL ONE FACE DEMISE, SO TOO WILL THE OTHER.
“It’s a binding item you’d give to your real world spouse to honor your commitment to one another.” Lady Eutella advised.
Her statement earned her a nervous chuckle from the boy.
“It almost sounds as if you’re saying it’s like a marriage or something,” he said.
His words were met with a blank stare from the old shop owner. “Wait, are you saying—“ he asked, earning a nod from Lady Eutella who’d already known his question
“No,” said Hachi, the realization settling in. “And if he-”
“That’s what it said.” nodded Lady Eutella, her subtle smile of amusement returning.
“You’re in a marriage now and it sounds like an unwanted one.”
“Of course it is,” said Hachi, an anger swelling in him. “How do I get rid of it?”
“You know how, replace it.”
“Can you help me?”
“I cannot. I have nothing from that version of the game in stock.”
“Well where can I find something? That’ll help.”
“I only know of my own shop’s inventory.” said Lady Eutella as she turned to talk away. “Which reminds me, everything is twenty five percent off if you purchase before midnight.” she grumbled, leaving the boy alone as she slowly made her way back up the aisle and back behind the counter.
Defeated, Hachi exhaled. "I'm sure someone would have it." he said.
As the day wore on, the scorching flames of anger beneath his skin seethed more intensely with each shop he left empty-handed. What’s more, reporting the player who had given him the pendant was no longer an option as there was no wrongdoing to justify it. It could easily be seen as a simple gift from one player to another. Up above the sun had quietly been replaced with the brilliance of the moon. The sky was violet, peppered with small dots of gleaming silver and accompanied by a cool breeze.
By now the town was much more calm as small parties of players lingered and chatted away within the plaza. They didn’t stay long as the town’s NPC’s had all begun their nightly routine of cleanup. Tending to merchant stands, storing unsold potions, tending to fire meant for cooking in the day, and herding cattle back to their homes.nAs he exited out of the last shop on his quest to replace his burden of a gift, his teeth gritted in irritation at a notification chime, alerting him of a new message. Already aware who it was from, he forcefully poked into the air before him to display the message thread.
Player- You married our characters!! wtf!
Blu- lol
Player- What’d you mean lol? I’m serious.
Blu- fine. but you’re the wife.
“I’ll kill you!” he growled, typing away with a brow furrowed in anger, and nostrils flaring. For a moment he stood there jamming his fingers into the air and muttering to himself. He was only a few characters away from completing his lengthy, demeaning, and insulting message when in the distance a bloodcurdling scream sent shivers up his spine.
“Heeeeelp! ” it shrieked. It was the shrill cry of a woman. “Pleeease!” she screamed here pleas soon followed by that of another woman.
“Someone get help!” demanded the other voice. For a moment he listened, and when he confirmed the direction of the distressed call, Hachi swiped his menu closed and burst into a sprint in the direction of the town’s square.
As he ran, he noticed the noon breezes were gentle and crisp layered with a subtle nip that could bring chills upon one’s skin. Though it wasn’t the breeze that brought on these goosebumps that trickled upon the boy’s arms and the back of his neck as he turned a bend to enter the town’s square. There were others who’d come running as well, and just like them, Hachi stopped in a stumped state of awe, eyes widened and pupils quivering, taking in the horrific scene before them.
“Oh no,” he breathed, the words escaping him the moment he was able to grasp the situation at hand. He’d only known such gruesome scenes like the one before him to belong to cinemas in the real world.
Just a few feet away from the grand fountain, a small crowd gathered, some with their mouths taped open, and others frozen in place surrounding a kneeling woman. She was hunched over someone, bellowing madly as dark streaks of ink trickled from her eyes and down her rosy cheeks. Her once regal, yellow dress was now stained with dots of crimson as below her a puddle of red slowly seeped outwards into several streams that oozed across the cobbled pavement. It gleamed with the brilliance of the moon light beaming down from above.
As Hachi came closer, he focused on the unusually stiff person under her. A gash at the neck, cutting off both the airway, and the victim’s connection to life altogether had been the reasoning for this. There was a potent metallic scent lingering, and as he got closer, Hachi’s hand clenched as he quivered with grief.
“Moxis.”
2.4
In the virtual world, murders among players were treated as real-life homicides since a player who died in the game also died in reality. However, catching the culprit in the virtual world was far more complicated. The digital realm offered countless items and options to help a murderer instantly flee the scene. As a result, it was rare for digital culprits to be caught and convicted of their crimes.
It didn’t take long for the Alerian Guard to arrive at the crime scene. Their golden armor gleamed under the warm lamplights along the plaza’s sidelines. By now the small group of bystanders had now morphed into a massive crowd spectating the crime scene. Sobs filled the air as some bickered with each other and even the Alerian Guard.
“Do you even work? It took you ages to get here,” one man complained as he was shoved back to give the authorities room to set up investigation. Even Guren seemed rattled by the situation. Up until now, Hachi had only ever seen him in good spirits. Now the NPC carried the expression of a man staring down the wrong end of a rifle and not able to say much.
“At this time, all players will be asked to take their departure from the town of Wilkerbrook.” a brash, profound voice called over the crowd, demanding silence and all eyes. At the center of the now isolated crime scene stood an Alerian guard. Unlike the others who donned golden armor trimmed with forest green trimmings, his armor was the opposite, forest green armor with golden trimmings at the sides. He was obviously of higher authority and was the one who’d given the initial order to isolate the crime scene. He was a rather stern looking man. A poker faced expression with a small collection of wrinkles decorating his forehead. His gaze was intense with the corners of his mouth turned downwards in a permanent frown. “As for the residents of the town, please be aware you’d need to be on standby for the next seventy two hours for questioning. Until then, we ask that you return to your homes.”
The announcement was met with mutters and disgruntled groans of irritation from the crowd, though no one openly voiced their frustration.
“Sorry ya had to see that,” came the voice of Guren amidst the dispersing crowd. “I know Moxis was a pretty big deal in the real world.”
“Yeah,” nodded Hachi. “Who’d do this to someone like that?” He gazed off into the night air trying to make sense of it all, anger inside him began to replace the adrenaline coursing through his veins.
“Sadly there’s people out there who’d want corruption and chaos in both our worlds. I hope they find the one who did this.” Guren said, patting the boy on his shoulder in a way of comfort.
“Yeah,” said Hachi. “I should get going.”
“Wait, how’d your search go? Was Lady Eutella able to help?”
“She didn't have anything that could replace it.” said Hachi, purposely leaving out the fact of the binding.
“That sucks.” said Guren. “Well if I come across anything that could help I’ll be sure to let you know.”
“Thanks.” Hachi said, before he turned to set off out of town.
It was a fairly swift walk to his virtual homestead . This was due to the fact that the entire walk home he’d been enslaved in his conscious mind, fighting back the haunting images of Moxis’s lifeless body. The way his blank pupils were widened and fixed in fear. The way his mouth gaped open as if trying to release a yelp or call for aid only to be in vain. Only when the earthy aroma of his herb collection and the warmth only his cottage could provide rushed over him was he finally able to exhale. Before he logged out tonight, he indulged in his nightly routine. Checking over his inventory, tending to his herbs and plants, and though today had been physically uneventful, spent mostly shopping without much exertion or injury, a shower would still help ease his tense mind from the unsettling thoughts of murder. Freshly rejuvenated, he saved his game’s progress for the day. The room was then plunged into darkness as the hiss of the extinguished torch light echoed softly. “What a day” he exhaled, sauntering over to his bed to grip onto the covers and pull them back. Though he wanted the day to be over with, it seemed the digital world had other intentions as he let himself fall into his bed.
“What the hell,” he gasped, jumping up from his bed to freeze in place at its side.
For a moment he stood there in the dark, studying his bed. Even through the blanket of pitch blackness lingering over the room, he could make out a subtle shift in his bed.
“Ouch,” a calm voice broke the silence in the room. It was oddly familiar. There was another shift in the darkness, and after stepping back, poking into the air as his digital menu illuminated the bed before him, Hachi eyes became widened orbs strained with rage at the sight of the player from before. The same boy who’d given him the pendant. The one named Blu.
“What the—“ Hachi seethed, taking in the sight of the boy resting away on his bed as if welcomed. “What the hell are you doing in my home!” His voice rumbled into a growl as his bow and arrow set pixelated into his grasp.
“Used up my fast travel for the day and need shelter for the night,” said Blu, groggy with outstretched arms and a yawn.
“What the hell does that have to do with you being here?”
“Your place was close.”
“So what? That doesn’t mean you can come here. I don’t even know you! How the hell did you even get in?”A question that was immediately answered by the whooshing of the night’s gentle wind. He looked over to find the same small window on the opposite side of the room had been left open. “How long have you been here?”
“An hour or two. Not sure.” came the nonchalant reply. With this, Blu clutched onto the covers and pulled them back up to his chin as he laid back.
“Heck no,” said Hachi, now ripping the covers off the bed entirely. “I don’t know where you’ll go, but it won’t be here. Leave!”
“It’s dark out. There’s all sorts of creatures out there.”
“Well that’s not my problem.”
“You’re my wife aren’t you?” scoffed Blu, stumping into speechlessness.
Perhaps being so tunneled with rage had prevented Hachi from acknowledging the truths of the situation. Blu was a new player, which made him an easy target for creatures wandering in the night. With the pendant well in effect, if one was to see demise, so would the other.
Whatever happened to Blu, would ultimately affect him. It was with this in mind that Hachi, angered by the fact, found himself climbing into bed, angrily clinging to the edge before logging out.