Ourania ponders a moment before starting with the truth. She takes a deep breath before starting. She figures the best way for him to help is to tell him the truth. About the world and us.
“I guess I should start with us and your world. I know this will be hard to take in, but your world is not real.”
“W-what? Of course it's real.” Allister is taken aback by the statement.
“It’s real to you, but not us. This world is a virtual reality game called Awakened Life created with advanced technology, no magic, by a company called X-Entertainment. It was created to give us players”
“Players?”
“It’s what we call ourselves. A player, in gaming terms, is a game character controlled by a real person. In this world, we are called Voyagers, so it’s easier for your world to understand. Did you ever hear Voyagers use the term ‘NPC?’
“Yes, quite often in fact.”
“NPC stands for Non-Player Character. Meaning, someone who isn’t controlled by a living person.”
“So what you're saying is, our world and everything we knew….is a lie?”
“Yes, but also no.”
“I’m not understanding. What do you mean?”
“What I’m saying is that even though this world was created for the enjoyment of others, your world is real.”
“But you said…”
“Let me try it this way. In our world, society created an AI, or artificial intelligence, called EVA. She was the first complete AI to be created. Over the years, she created a digital world on her own to call her domain. That world became what is now called Pralatarra. She immersed herself as the goddess Eve, The Creator. Impressed by her advanced capabilities, humans negotiated with EVA to let us humans come to her world. When she agreed, she input a prophecy foretelling the appearance of Voyagers to limit world panic. Then, X-Entertainment developed a headset, helmet if you will, that scans the brain and creates a digital version of yourself in your world. It’s the reason why we suddenly appeared one day. Do you get it now?”
“Sort of. I get the gist of it. Kind of like a parallel world or another dimension?”
“Exactly. This world of yours was created by an AI from our world to have a home to call her own and to give us not only a game to play but a new reality. A new life. Did you ever notice that the Voyagers would often randomly disappear for lengths at a time, then come back?”
“Yes, I’ve noticed. But isn’t that an ability that Voyagers have?”
“That’s what you were programmed to think so it doesn’t affect your world in any way. Every person in this world is an advanced lesser AI created by EVA, designed to grow and adapt to its surrounding. But it is also restricted so it can’t realize it’s in a game. Unless told directly or authorized to know. We’re sorry to keep this from you. But you can see why.”
Allister impassively remained silent throughout the whole explanation, going through everything that was said. “You were right. This is hard to accept.”
Saxen pipes in for the first time in a while. “It’s not like you are just a program. You are a real living being. You have emotions, you can adapt to your surroundings, and you can grow as a person. You have family and history. The only difference between us is that you are digital.”
Ourania looks at Saxen with wide eyes, completely surprised.
“What’s that look for?”
“I am just shocked. I didn’t know you can be so……sentimental. It’s weird.”
“Hey! I resent that! You make it sound like I’m apathetic!”
“You aren’t? Who knew?”
He stands and goes into a fighting position. “I will hit you!”
She does the same. “I’d like to see you try. You’ve never beaten me before and you certainly won’t now!”
“That’s it! It’s on!”
“Bring it!”
Just as they were about to attack, Allister whacks them upside the head knocking them to the ground. They groan in pain. “Enough! This isn’t the time to fight! You just dumped a load of heavy information on me, but do you see me getting angry!?”
“Well, you’re angry now…” Saxen says.
“Boy, don’t make me knock you out.” He glares at Saxen with a frown.
“Chill. I was kidding.” He puts his hands up in surrender while he and Ourania get up to sit back on the couch.
Allister sighs, letting go of his anger. He sits back down with his face in his hands. “Alright. I believe you. But only because we’ve been through thick and thin. So I’ll help you wherever I can.”
They look at Allister in gratitude and thank him. They’re glad he took things well and are willing to help.
“So, what can I do for you two?”
Saxen speaks this time. “Can you tell us what happened 500 years ago?”
“Alright. Well, as you know, around the year 1250, the Voyagers slowly started to dwindle in numbers. It wasn’t noticeable at first, but then they were all gone. Just vanished and never to return. People started referring to the event as The Exodus Incident. It was recorded as one of the strangest moments to ever go down in the history of Pralatarra.”
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“That was probably around the time X-Entertainment announced the game shut down and everyone started leaving the game permanently,” Saxen explains.
“Right. The people were thrown into disarray for a long time. And since the sudden decrease of people, many businesses started failing. Even your guild, Humanities Legion started to fall. The people who worked there lost jobs, including me since I was an adventurer and advisor of sorts. When you Voyagers disappeared, the guild and many other places became desolate. When you arrived, the people of the land were overjoyed that there were people to go to their shops and help them with things they don’t have the power to do. Like defeat monsters for example. But when you went away….well you get the idea.”
“I’m sorry that had to happen. None of knew that would be a consequence. We’re deeply sorry.” Ourania apologized as the both bow their heads.
“It wasn’t a good time, I’ll admit. But we got through it, so it’s okay. Soon after though is the weird part. The world started to forget you existed after about 50-100 years. Which is odd as that is too soon for a phenomenon as big as yours to be forgotten in such a short time frame.”
“You’re right about that. Perhaps something was altered?” Ourania questions.
“Maybe. But it wasn’t just the memory. Everything about you guys we're disappearing. Clothes, records, weapons, buildings, shops, you name it. If you were involved, it disappeared. Over the years, because there was nothing left of you, people naturally forgot you existed generation after generation. In order to keep your memory alive, we elders of the older races told your stories to each generation that was born. Then that generation told the next until you guys became legends. A myth. It was the only thing we could do. You guys were respected in almost every race. How could we just forget and move on?”
“We appreciate that.....elder” Saxen snickers but was quickly cut off when Ourania elbowed him in the side. He grunts in slight pain.
“I wish we could do something to repay you for the trouble we’ve caused.”
“Trouble? Guys, this is you we’re talking about here. Everywhere you or another voyager went, trouble followed. So, it was no trouble at all. If anything, we should be grateful you even appeared. There are a lot of us who enjoyed that excitement.”
The three smiled at the various memories that passed through their heads.
Snapping out of it first was Allister. “Anyway. Is there anything else you want to know?”
Ourania immediately asks “What’s the world like now?” as Saxen asks “And had anything changed?” as a follow-up question.
Expecting these questions, he responds. “The only notable things worth mentioning are that the Humans and the Beastmen are on the verge of war and that the peace between the beast races is dwindling thanks to the increase in monster activity. Also, a new race appeared called the Pheom, or spirit folk as some prefer to call them. Anything else is things like the normal change of kings and such for individual countries that happen from time to time.”
“Why are the humans and beastmen at war? Wasn’t there a peace treaty between them?” Ourania asks.
“I don’t know much as elves remained neutral, but according to rumors, one side apparently attacked the other. During a collaboration between the two to defeat an SS class monster, once the monster was killed and they were heading back, once side went rouge and started to attack the other. Although it’s not clear who started it. Normally this wouldn’t do much, but similar occurrences kept happening until the point they are at now.”
Saxen pipes up with the next question. “And the monster increase?”
“After The Exodus Incident, the people realized they were too reliant on Voyagers and decided to take matters into their own hands. Sadly, they weren’t up to par. The only ones who even stood a chance at most were ranks A and above. But rankers A and higher were a minority and couldn’t do much. The monsters took advantage of that and increased in population to expand. The people can’t keep up with all this conflict.”
Ourania thanks Allister for all the information given and ponders on it. A message appears for the players.
Quest: Mysteries of the Land You have discovered that 500 years have passed since your last visit and the status of the world and its inhabitants. Search for clues to solve the mystery. Rank Difficulty: ???
Rewards: ???
The players look at the notification in surprise. After reading, they dismiss it. The two males look at Ourania expectantly.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“What’s the plan?” Saxen responds.
“Why do you assume that I have a plan?”
“Because you are the leader and always have a plan.” Allister points this out like it’s obvious. Ourania opens her mouth to deny that fact but closes it a moment later knowing she can’t refute it.
“I hate you. Both of you.”
Allister and Saxen high five each other with a smile as she sighs in exasperation. She stands and starts to pace, thinking on what to do next. She paused 2 minutes later.
“I got it.”
The boys both respond with a ‘what’.
“Our first step will be to go to the Beastkin and get their side of the story, as well as gather intel on the war and monsters. What’s the status of the beast clans?”
“The Wolf, Fox, and Cat clans are losing territory in the Eastern Woodlands. The Undynes are struggling against the monsters in the Southeast. The centaurs requested help in the Northern plains. And the RattleTail clans in the south are losing people and requested help. The monsters that were normally relatively easy to keep in check are now wilder and stronger. Some are even gaining intelligence. ”
“And the Humans, Elves, Dwarves and Fairies?”
“The elves are holding strong for now with the help of Treants and Druids. The fairies are fine as they are hidden. And the humans are holding strong since they have fortresses and such to protect them. But it won’t last for long. And lastly, the Dwarves. Something in the mountains is keeping them on edge. Which is weird since dwarves normally don’t fear anything.”
“Let’s help the clans in the Eastern Forest first, then the Undynes, then RattleTails. After that, we will help those in the North after resting for a bit back in town or the guild. For now, let’s head back to the guild and gather some things from the treasure room.”
Everyone agrees with the plan, form a party with Ourania as party leader, and prepare to move out. But before they leave, two notifications appear before all three.
Quest: Saving the Races Due to the sudden disappearance of the Voyagers, the world has been thrown off balance and dangerous monsters and rising to power. Travel to the distant lands to help the different races survive. Rank Difficulty: A++
Success: Survival of the Races
Failure: More than two races are wiped out.
Rewards: Varies upon actions.
Quest cannot be refused Races Saved: Races saved: Wolf Clan - (0/1), Fox Clans - (0/4), Undynes - (0/1), Cat Clan - (0/1), Basilisk - (0/1), Centaurs - (0/1)
Quest: Dwarves Afraid? Something has been unsettling the Dwarves in the northern mountains. Investigate. Rank Difficulty: C+
Do you accept this quest? Yes/No
The trio looks at the screens in surprise before selecting 'yes' to the Dwarf quest.
“Gentlemen. Let’s get to work.”
The group leaves the manor and head to the guild to prepare for a long and treacherous journey.