Stepping off the ship I took in the extraordinary city that I missed seeing from the sky. I had been too focused on the directions, information and well wishing. Now I wasn’t sure what I was looking at. My mind knew it was a city but at same time I was overwhelmed with the brightness and artistic expression of the city. Under my feet were smooth cobblestones the colour of deep jade green. It stretched before me into a city that mixed sci-fi with nature in a melting pot that I couldn’t believe. The hangar where I arrived was like looking out of a gigantic opaque vase that had all kinds of vehicles and spaceships coming and going.
I felt a displacement of air as the ship took off. I felt a hand at my elbow and a gentle tug guiding me to the waiting area, “Sir, can you please move aside. The next ship is waiting for clearance to land.”
I came out of my flabbergasted stupor long enough to be guided to a side room that resembled the familiar and unmistakable transportation waiting area. The walls were checkered pattern pastel pink and clear pink glass. I walked over to a pink wall looking at the elegant script wrapping each panel. I reached out and I ran a finger down it feeling not hard cold stone but warm hard stone.
I wonder what the script says.
I stood transfixed for a moment longer before reaching in my backpack. My hand wrapped around my phone to do what came natural to anyone in a state of curiosity. I almost had the phone out when I remembered that my phone was not going to have the answers for me. And with a mentally facepalm I let the phone drop back down into the bag.
I initiated my bracer, and my field of vision was immediately filled with a message from my system assistant.
>This is Dev. I have stepped out of my comfort zone to interact with my family unit. Press your thumb down on your inner wrist area to be put on hold while I excuse myself from the mandatory acts of “socializing” with family members. As this might take a while as all disentangling from family takes a momentous amount of time, please stay aware of your environment and endeavour to not be startled when the icon appears.
Hum, a prerecorded message, that's unexpected. Looks like my system rep is a real person. I hope it's not one of those corporate drones.
Turning around to leave, my mind sharply focused on the new flexibility in my steps, accompanied by a rhythmic flow that made everything feel almost like a dance. I sensed a subtle vibration in the air, a delicate resonance generated by the mere act of turning, as if the very atmosphere responded to my presence with a faint, rhythmic pulse.
Did I just perform a dance move to turn around? Is that why my mind acknowledged the uniqueness, the newness? I have many, many questions for Dev! I hope they don’t take long to get back with me.
I engaged the hold function, ensuring it was securely activated before leaving the transport station.
Stepping out I saw people of all types racing down the walkway. The people moved with purpose and urgency, resembling a colony of ants scurrying across the land on fast forward. Each person was a part of a larger synchronized movement that contributed to the hustle and bustle of a metropolis like I had never seen before. There were two layers of foot traffic. Just above the people walking on the jade stone were people floating like they were on an invisible pathway.
I walked up to the edge of the walkway; looking up I was astounded to discover that people were on a second level above like an tiered interstate back home. I saw a vibrant, swirling trail of colors following each person's passing, leaving an intensely radiant rainbow ribbon that lingered slightly, blending with the steps of their fellow urbanites that created a magical sight. Without being able to recognize the people above I took a step back, observing the colours pulsing up along the edge of the walkway to about knee height.
When they look down, does it just look like they're walking on a rainbow?
I noticed there were no cars or buses, the only sound I recognized was the chatter of people conversing as they walked by.
I searched the surroundings trying to find something that could tell me about this city. I noticed a complete lack of familiar city signs. Business names, regulatory signs, safety signs, street name signs, banners, and billboards were absent from the street.
The skyscrapers were all as colourful as the ground with smooth and elegant geometric stone facades that defied the rigidity of urban architecture that I was accustomed to seeing. Instead of gray, tan, white, and steel exteriors. I looked at stones with every possible colour. Reminding me of the flowerbeds at my aunt's. The buildings were vibrant, glowing and brilliantly colored stone that looked like a garden in the sunlight. The shapes were equally magnificent. There were no just simple tall rectangular buildings here. One of the buildings in my view literally looked like a prickly thistle and another looked like a sci fi building with floating levels with orange static energy surging between each level.
I can only imagine each street is filled with odd artist buildings. Maybe that is why there are no signs? It's more likely they are accessing the UTI.
I stood investigating the people passing searching for any indication of a system bracer like my own. There had to be something people were using to navigate the streets besides hey look that's a thistle. I must be on unnamed street five. I finally spotted someone with a bracer.
Taking a step back from the flow of people I opened the system to look for a mini map, menu or help desk. Only thing visible was the message left by Dev. No menu, no cog, nothing.
I am not sure I want to risk just giving random orders to the system. I just have no idea if I could lock myself out of the system. I definitely don’t want to be stuck here unable to continue on my quest to be Claeffens apprentice.
Not wanting to stay still in such a magnificent city I looked up and down the street. Down and across to the left I saw a huge tree that resembled a dragon blood tree. It was the closest building that resembled anything I had ever seen before. I wonder what might be inside a huge tree in a sci-fi city.
I braced for traversing the cosmic flow with the locals while gauging how far I would need to go. Looking for anything that would indicate when I should shoulder my way out of the hubbub. I counted five different building colors until the tree's dark brown base.
I took a deep breath and stepped into the bustling city street. In the midst of the fast-paced crowd, I noticed that the people were not human. Humanoid yes, but not human. I probably wouldn’t have noticed their ears until much later but I was behind someone with their hair up. I spotted floppy ears that blended with their hair, hanging beside their head. The ears swayed gently with their movement. I looked around to see that everyone else's ears seemed to seamlessly merge with the flowing locks of their hair. It was almost as if the ears were a natural extension of their hairstyle. Other than that they looked exactly the same as people back home.
So caught up with this revelation I almost walked right by the tree. I noticed the dark brown about to eclipse my view.
I squeezed my way out of the sea of people. I stood before a surface that shone like stone or glass reflecting light. Captivated by the grandeur of the architectural tree trunk, I marvelled at the minds responsible for these buildings. I stood still for a moment before my curiosity nudged me closer. I reached out to a texture that was so meticulously crafted that it mimicked not just the appearance of tree bark but also the feel, all the while still looking like gemstones when I peered closer. These buildings could only have been crafted with magic. There was no other way for stone to feel so wooden.
I turned to the gigantic entrance that pulsed with a mystical energy. Runes were etched deeply onto the edges creating a majestic and otherworldly glow. The shimmering dance gave me the unmistakable impression of a portal.
I made my way over to the huge door entrance. Several people entered the building before me. A gust of wind blew over and past me and I instantly discovered the building's purpose. I inhaled the rich aroma of springtime in the deep forest, earth mixed with the subtle fragrance of blooming flowers as I entered.
I entered the huge conservatory with my senses overloaded from the depth and richness from the contrast of the city. The outer wall had a walkway that circled up to the top canopy. There, placed in the center of the first floor is a typical city park. The area was covered with rich, thick, dark brown grass, with people picnicking on blankets, and I could make out recreation fields with goalposts in the distance.
This place is huge! Why is the grass brown?
I moved forward stepping onto the brown grass, I bent over, and felt the softest and most robust grass I had ever encountered. It wasn’t like the purple grass that felt like hair. That was soft like fur but this was something I wanted to lay down on and stare at the night sky on. It seemed more like natural grass to my senses than the purple one had felt.
Standing I made my way over to the outer walkway and began the climb up. There were a few niches with circle pads, not the benches I expected to see. With no context for how to use them I continued up the ramp. What are the applications of circle pads? Surely it must relate to resting. Could they be some type of recharging or transport pad?
I nearly lost my step when a blinking icon of a smiling face entered the edge of my field of vision. I activated my bracer wondering not for the first time if there were different interface artifacts because I had only seen a few since being here.
>Mal, are you doing alright? Looks like you got away.
“Yeah I am fine. I am in complete awe of my surroundings”
>What do you need assistance with?
An abundance of questions occupied my thoughts, and I began to regret not planning on how this query would play out..
“Can you start by explaining how people find their way around this city?”
>Yes, as you have probably guessed, this city is magically and technologically evolved. Its citizens start to utilize the system at a very young age. Before they have access to the system they are accompanied by someone who has the system or in care centers that incorporate a general aesthetic that becomes second nature to navigate.
“I knew it. Is there a mini map or something? This city is too huge for people to just memorize it.”
Yes, there is a map.
“How do I access the map? I haven’t seen anything but our dialogue.”
>Oh yeah, your benefactors' limitations. Let me see what I can do.
>Please wait.
>Mal, you already have a Mana Map activated. It's just that you have to activate it by thinking about opening it. However, you think of it as a “minimap" and not a mana map. So, you’re looking for a minimap and not thinking “Open Mana Map”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
I did do a facepalm this time. Placing my fingers back on the bracer I activated the map. “Open Mana Map”
The conversation text left my view showing me a zoomed in map square of my location on the walkway. I was represented as a red triangle. I noticed seven yellow hexagons were getting close. Why was mine different? “Exit Mana Map.”
“Dev, just a minute.”
Without waiting for his reply I removed my fingers again from the bracers in time to observe a family of seven walking past me. Including some kids jumping up and down excited.
Reactivating the system I asked, “Why am I represented as a red triangle and that family as yellow hexagons?”
>This city has categorizations for off-worlders, that is what the red triangle indicates. This is typical with cities and planets that get a high volume of tourists. As you likely guessed they are locals.
“How do I access information about my location?”
>While in the mana map, zoom out to reveal the name location. You will see building names, businesses and street names everything you need to navigate. This works for small and large map views. Your map started with showing just a very close area due to you being in a walkway. There are no rooms or cross ways to navigate therefore there is no information on your map other than you and people around you.
“Open Mana Map”. I wondered not for the first time why the system seemed so inefficient. Surely I should be able to communicate with Dev while looking at the map. With a metal sigh I thought “Zoom Out” The map not only now showed me more area but had areas labelled. I focused on the buildings name: “Blossom Park” Then on the left bottom side text scrolled:
>You are currently located in Blossom Park. This city park features exotic botanical gardens and two observatories, picnic areas, playgrounds, sports facilities, pet parks, exercise stations, wildlife areas, educational trails, elemental features, performance amphitheatre, and sports arena.
“Dev, is that you?” I got no reply and decided it must just be a location description. This system was going to get annoying fast. For all its sophisticated technology, it was much less impressive than what I was used to back home. My phone could have answered all this and had me in multiple chats and calls.
“Exit Mana Map. Dev, why is the system so, um, limited? My phone can do more.”
>The system can do more. It can do a lot more. It’s just that you are using a unique bit of technology. Records indicate that you were gifted this model. If you went to see a local representative they would buy it off you for an exuberant amount as a unique off world item. You would get more there if you auctioned it off. Few of them exist in this city, and those that do are with wealthy collectors. Oh sorry Mal I just got a notification stating that you are not permitted to sell. Your benefactor would like to obtain it. They realize that the limitations might seem difficult at first but you are to consider it part of your training. Wait, you're in training? What are you train…
>Error 508
> Please wait.
>Hi again Mal. You’ve really got quite a bit of protocols attached to you. Where were we? Ah, yes. Your benefactor wants to remind you of your vow.
Without warning I was back in Claeffen’s room:
Claeffen drummed his fingers on the rim of the glass After another moment the tapping stopped and he spoke, his features grave and his tone serious,
“The process will not be easy. In fact, it will be quite dangerous, you could die.. Are you willing to take that risk?”
I smiled while nodding, “I’m sure.”
Claeffen returned the nod, “You understand, then, there will be no going back? Even if you survive you would have to make unbreakable vows, and you wouldn’t be able to return to your planet for many years.”
My grin never wavered as I silently acknowledged my understanding.
The screen filled my view again with the last messages from Dev. I had just experienced some type of forced recalled memory. It didn’t seem quite right to me however I knew it to be right. I had agreed that I would make a vow to become his apprentice. It is all I want.
I replied to Dev, “Thank you for relaying the reminder. If you could please inform Cla… my benefactor that I understand and I am doing everything I can to get back to where he sent me. Could you please tell me how to get to the closest Sphinx?”
>Message has been relayed with no response. As for the closest Sphinx, it's eight blocks away. If you open your mana map it will give you a blue line to indicate the path you should take to reach it.
“Open Mana Map” The map opened to the same view as before showing me the building name and information. Let’s see, “Directions to closest Sphinx.” The map recalibrated showing me city blocks with a blue line with an arrow. I memorized the directions the best I could and then closed the map.
“Dev, thanks for the help. I am wondering if you are able to assist me with something else. You mentioned selling the bracer. I realize I don’t have any money. Is this going to be a problem when getting a Sphinx?”
>No, your benefactor has approved necessary funds. With emphasis on necessary. You can use the Sphinx service or some other services that I am not allowed to inform you about until they become necessary. It will all be done for you automatically. Before using any service contact me to confirm it is an approved item. I am being prompted to end the communication. You won’t need to do this for the Sphinx as that is already approved. However, if you have any questions once there. Just let me know.
>One last thing, there is a note here… Mal you have the bag don’t get distracted.
With that my view changed to take in the walkway again. Part of me wanted to explore just a bit before following the directions. There had to be so much more than what I had seen so far. But eight blocks isn’t exactly close. That would give me plenty to look at before leaving this wondrous city behind. This time when in foot traffic I need to look at the buildings more. I had no idea exactly what I had passed on the other side of the road while walking here.
I started back down and out of the building.
Once outside I looked back and took in as many details as I could so I would remember this tree and the city with as much detail as possible. After admiring the magically designed structures close to me, I stepped back into the throng of pedestrians.
After I paced myself with the flow of people I looked up. I passed by buildings that ranged from completely transparent offices with an exterior in shape of a cone to a building that resembled a colourful dodecahedron speed cube puzzle with huge pulsing neon runes on the exterior looking like a huge difficult rubix cube.
Wait, did I just pass another road? That makes the seventh road. Just one more block to go till I discover what the sphinx building will look like. I think it will be either a huge sphinx or maybe some huge Egyptian temple with a star gate?
I encountered some truly astonishing architectural marvels, but the moment I laid eyes on the empty space, it took my breath away. There was no mistaking this spot for anything else. It was just a line of people.
What a let down! Nothing but a que of people. Is there even anything at the front of the line? I peered around to see what looked like a front desk and one person. You have got to be kidding me?
I stepped at the back of the line. It moved fast but I took in the buildings on each side. On the right was what I decided was a witches hat and on the left a vapor and clouds. Where do people stand? Are the buildings themed? I wonder what is inside the vapours and clouds. Is it a hotel? Some place to dream, play on the words, heads in the clouds?
“Welcome, sir, please indicate the service you would like to use via your UTI” A very bored young man asked.
I accessed the system to find a few options:
>Let Sphinx Luxury Spa access your mana map after indicating your service and location.
>Current services available to you based on your settings: 1) cryomassage 2) body wrap with spice salt rub 3) full body inner cleanse 4) mana purge 5) body sandblast exfoliating 6) time sponge 7) ocular wash
What the hell? A spa and travel. I definitely don't want to be sandblasted or cryo. “Dev?”
>Yes Mal?
“I don’t understand. Is this a spa or space travel?”
>It's both.
“Okay… Um…which service is going to be the most pleasant to me?” I asked not wanting to deal with the details of what a body sandblast might actually be. Let alone the ocular wash.
>I think you would probably enjoy the mana purge the most. And it might have benefits that I can’t say.
“Thank you Dev. I choose number four.”
>Thank you, loyal customer for your selection. Your reward points will be added to your account after transit. Please indicate your destination.
“The world with purple hair.” I learned from Chek that the UTI would be able to determine everything based on the data logs of our travel together. That I would just have to state something I associate with the location.
>Thank you for using Sphinx Luxury Spa. Please exit the system and walk forward to the line.
The interface faded leaving me looking at the guy indicating that I step around to the left. I walked forward to find myself in what I can only call a cab line. A universally bright yellow ship pulled forward and a guy leaned out of the doorway.
“You're Mal, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, just step on board then. I will take you to your location in no time.”
I walked on expecting to see something similar to Trek’s O’Slay but this was on a whole different level. It was like walking into a fancy hotel. Everything looked soft and comfortable. The decor was pristine and elegant completely in contrast to the driver.
I just stood there unsure what to do for a bit when I heard the driver say, “Sir, you booked the mana purge so please get into the tube.”
He gestured to a familiar space travel stasis tube from many movies and tv shows.
“Your bag, sir.” I placed my bag into the pilot's extended hand.
Probably enjoy the mana purge the most Dev said. How is getting into a tight, uncomfortable tube supposed to be the most enjoyable service when all around I see luxury seats?
Preferring not to debate or waste time, I swiftly hopped in and observed the pilot fading from view. I felt a light-headedness as my sight went completely black.
I woke up on the most comfortable reclining chair. The pilot was staring at me.
“Sir, we have reached your destination. I am surprised that you would choose to even come here. It’s not exactly known for. Sorry, sir, the UTI has just informed me to just help you off the sphinx or lose my tip.”
He walked me over to the door while handing me my backpack. “Thank you, Mal, for using Sphinx Luxury Spa to get to your best trip yet.” He said in the monotone voice of a corporate script.
I stepped back out onto the purple hair planet. In what I took to be the exact location that I had left from. There was a flattened area that I think I made when I went flying from the signpost.
I heard the whistle start and I ran back up the same path except this time I managed to do it on my feet. I watch the yellow ship leave feeling exhilarated to be back on the path to winning the spot as Claeffen’s apprentice.