“Ezec, this is the final prototype for the latest RPG game that our company is currently developing” Freyson handed him a package, on the front of the package, it was labelled, “Kingdom of Hartedvast”. 

Ezec take the package excitedly and check the content inside the package. There’s a manual book inside the package, and the word “The Manual of Kingdom of Hartedvast” is written on top of it.

He open the book and read the content inside. It’s a thoroughly written manual book, explaining about the world inside the game, the characters, the different type of races, occupations and so on. He browse the book slowly, complete immerse in the fantasy world inside the book. There is a section on the book with foreign writing and scripture, yet somehow it look so familiar to him.

“This scripture…?” Ezec lifted the book and show it to Freyson before continuing, “Isn’t this is our secret language that you make me learn since I was a kid?”

Ezec remember when he was five, Freyson teach him a new language and briefly tell him that this is their special language and they can share tons of secrets when they use this language. A language so special that only the both of them can understand and speak. Freyson would teach him how to read, write and speak diligently everyday. With Freyson strict teaching and Ezec enthusiasm, soon he was able to master the language as if he’s speaking in his own mother tongue. 

“Yes, that’s our secret language. For other players, its just a random meaningless scripture but since you’re able to understand this language, naturally it’s a different case for you. I’ve decided to integrate some of the things I’ve taught you in the past inside this game. You might find the world inside the game to be quite familiar to your knowledge.”

“So, its like a cheat sheet, huh?” Ezec hold his chin and nodded his head, recalling back all the stuff Freyson has taught him in the past. 

If there’s a word to describe Freyson and his way of raising Ezec, he would describe it as ‘living in hell’. Freyson was overly strict with him ever since he was a child. His daily life is no more than studying and training all kind martial arts, learning all sorts of knowledge and training his body endurance and strength. As a result from Freyson hellish training, the child grows up into a fine, handsome, genius, strong and muscular young man. It was only after he turns 15 years old that Freyson let him slack off a bit and pass him the responsibility of testing new game prototypes developed by his company.

Freyson Mizael is the CEO of a Hartsoft Studio, a well-known gaming company that is popular with RPG games and apps development in the country. His nephew, Ezecrain Mizael is an avid gamer whose main responsibility in his uncle’s company is to try out every single prototype they make and give them his feedbacks. His uncle raised him single handedly ever since he was born. Ezec never meet his parents, nor did Freyson ever speak about them. All Freyson ever said is that he found him near a ruin in a foreign country, almost eaten by wild wolf. It has been 18 years since Freyson took him in.

“You can say so. A cheat sheet. I decided to design the game based on the games we used to play when you’re young,” He took a sip of black coffee from the cup as he speak, reminiscing the past, “Consider it at your birthday present. The whole game is built especially for you.”

Tint of excited can be seen from Ezec’s face. He flipped the book once again and then put it down on the table in front of him before picking up a cup of iced mocha and slowly sipping and savoring the sweetness in his mouth.

 “This game is different from our previous project that you tried before. I would say, it’s the most high-tech game on the market. It’s a virtual reality game that take you inside the game, utilizing all your senses to make you feel as if you’re living inside the game’s world. You can even touch, taste foods, smell and feel pain inside this game.”

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Ezec stare at the man in front of him eagerly, “Seriously? That much?? This game is epic!”    

Freyson smile at him and speak, “Seven days from now at 10am in the morning, come to my apartment to test out the new prototype. The set up for this game is different from the normal games you used to play. We will need to try it on a specially built gaming platform. Within this few days, you need to study the manuals thoroughly.”

“You can count on me, Uncle Frey.”

***

The seven days passed in a blink of an eye.

FREYSON’S APARTMENT 

8.30AM

The doorbell ring nonstop for few minutes. A young guy can be seen standing excitedly in front of the door, pushing the doorbell few times while sipping his tall cup of iced mocha.

Freyson walk to the door grumpily. He was staying up all night working on the new gaming system and only managed to finish his work when the first rays of light shine on the horizon. He went to bed at 6.30am, only to be waken up by the annoying ringing sound of the doorbell. He open the door and the next thing he saw is his nephew barging in and rushing to the toilet. After a few minutes later, he come out with a relief look on his face.

“I thought I said 10am,” Freyson stare at him with annoyance written all over his face.

“I can’t fall asleep at all last night, so I thought I just come here first thing in the morning. What’s with that annoyed face?,” He study Freyson’s annoyed face for a while before continuing, “Wanna order some breakfast?”

“Whatever. Let me sleep for one more hour.” 

Freyson left him alone in the living him while he went back to his bedroom for one more hour of sleep. Ezec turns on the TV, scroll his phone and order some breakfast delivery. 

By the time Freyson comes out from his bedroom, he saw a spread of breakfast on the dining table. He walk over to the fridge and pour himself a glass of orange juice before sitting down on the dining table, with a serious look on his face as if his company is facing a huge crisis and going bankrupt. 

Nonetheless, Ezec start pouring himself another cup of coffee and start munching the foods in the plate, waiting for his uncle to come to his sense.

Breakfast time passed by quietly without a single word. Freyson look at the clock on the wall for few second before turning to Ezec.

“Are you ready?”

“I’m all ready since seven days ago.” 

“Alright, come with me.”

Freyson lead him inside a big, white room. Ezec study the room as he enter. The whole room is painted white. There’s several big monitor with control panel and a chair facing it. At the center of the room, there are four pillars with strange drawing all over it. It looks like an ancient script from an unknown race, different from the language his uncle taught him before.  Although he used to live in his uncle’s apartment until he move out a year ago, he never enter this room previously. Its a forbidden ground in his uncle’s place. 

Freyson hands him a cordless headset. It looks like a more complicated and sophisticated version of VR headset, looking more like a helmet than a headset. Ezec study the helmet in his hand, eager to put this on and try this new game.

“How does this works? Any brief explainations?” Ezec ask as Freyson turned on the system in front of them and start tapping on the keyboard. 

“Welcome to “Hartedvast”. A computerized voice can be heard coming from the speaker.

“Just put on the helmet and walk over to the center of the pillars, we call it the Portal. The system will activate the game and take you inside the game world. When you’re inside the world, a hologram screen will popped out in front of you and guide you over there. It’s the same concept as all the RPG game you’ve tried before, only more realistic.”

“Else than that? You said that I can feel pain inside this game, how is the pain level? Very painful?” Thinking about what his uncle said previously, his uncertainty rise along with his anxiety and excitement. 

“…” Freyson keep his hands busy tapping on the screen, ignoring Ezec anxious look.

“Sigh… Alright then, I’m off!” He walk to the center of the pillars and stand at the center of the portal. The portal beneath his feet looks sophisticated with all the strange writings and character on it. The four pillars around him start to glow in white light, and the strange ancient character beneath his feet slowly turned into a hologram characters, floating around him like a laser light. Excited, he put on his helmet.