They called it a refractive error. He would call it an impediment to life. Lucien could still vaguely remember different colours, but the memories continued to fade with time as all he saw was darkness. His childhood had been fairly normal. Two loving parents ready to start a life together. The insatiable curiosity he’d had as a toddler constantly bombarding them with questions. Everything seemed normal. Neither he nor his parents realised anything was wrong for quite some time. Then shortly after his fifth birthday he woke up and realised the world was a lot blurrier than it used to be.
His parents hadn’t paid much mind to his worries at first, after all, he was just a child and couldn’t always express himself clearly. Nearly a month after his realisation, he accidentally ran straight into a pole. His parents once again brushed it off as a just a child not paying enough attention to his surroundings. The accidents kept happening and only a few months later, enough bruises had accumulated to worry his parents. Tests were done. Observations were made. Nothing could be done. He would completely lose his vision by the age of ten according to the doctors. That calculation was off by a year. A week before his ninth birthday Lucien could no longer see even a hint of colour or light.
The two people that had loved him so much now whispered in the hall about sending him away to be ‘looked after’ by family. Apparently, they were going to try again and hopefully live a picture-perfect life with their next kid. They mustn’t have realised that the loss of one sense had made another increase, allowing him to overhear them. Either that or they didn’t care. Probably both.
Two months later he was standing on the steps of his paternal grandparents’ house.
“Bye! Take care of yourselves!” his parents shouted from the car they had already hopped back into.
“Make sure to visit often” his grandfather nearly growled from the doorway. His grandmother ignored her son and daughter-in-law who were already beginning to drive off with no response to the final directive. She went straight to fussing after her grandson, and had been doing so ever since. A decade and a half later neither her aching back nor her hip giving out could stop her from coddling him.
“Lucien? Lucien! Its time for afternoon tea dear. I made your favourite, rocky road! Take my had dear. Oh, don’t give me that, I know you know the way but this old woman needs a hand herself you know!?”
Lucien frowned at her fussing, which lead to her admonishment. He hadn’t initially been comfortable with being constantly looked after, but had grown used to it. He just enjoyed hearing his grandma’s reactions to his apparent standoffishness. Growing up in the care of these two amazing people was something he would never wish away. It was the only thing he was truly thankful to his mother and father for. Making their way to the dining area his grandma called out the two things that had been moved and where to. A short time later he was sitting across from his Grandpa who he guessed was once again staring sternly at him. Grandma sat down and began serving the snacks.
As they began to eat Grandpa started to converse “Did you get some more reading done with those new braille books we got you.”
Lucien nodded.
The usual spark had been lit, and Grandma took the flame. “You should have seen him darl, his fingers were practically flying over the page! He’s been learning so much in his free time. We have every right to be proud of our little grandson all grown up,” they both nodded “Lucien the headset and microphone you ordered has arrived. Those are for the narration job you recently picked up isn’t it?” another nod “You know your Grandpa here was just down the street and…”
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He and his Grandpa listened comfortably as his Grandma led the conversation. He loved them both so much, but he thought he tended to take after his grandfather in personality.
His blindness had made him follow his grandfather’s example of being a listener, not just at home, but when he was out and about as well. Some people saw his walking stick and somehow came to the conclusion that disabled people were stupid people. The amount of gossip he overheard because someone thought there was no one ‘competent’ around was unbelievable. He’d even given a tip to the cops after hearing a guy brag about abusing his wife and kids over the phone. The idiot had spouted of his name and address during the call. Lucien had ended up sitting next to the same man at the exact same bus stop a week later. Hearing the man shouting into the phone about a court hearing had made him inwardly grin at the abuser’s confusion as to who ratted him out. No one suspected a blind man.
Even though life was okay, Lucien really missed having sight. Losing his vision had closed of apart off the world to him permanently. It was an impossibility to be a part of that world again, but he still dreamed. Relaxing back in the chair while eating the chocolate covered treat he craved, he continued to listen to his Grandma’s chatter. It might not be perfect, but life was good.
Suddenly green letters on a screen appeared in his vision. Green? Green! He could see green letters!
“Greetings, your world has now been incorporated into what is commonly referred to as the Nexus. Tutorial protocols are being activated. Good luck.”
“Tutorial is now commencing. In preparation it is advised you find a weapon. 10… 9… 8…”
The astonishment at actually being able to ‘see’ something made him slow to understand the ramifications of what was displayed.
“3… 2… 1…”
There was a shift as it felt like he was being moved somewhere. He fell from his sitting position onto the rocky ground. The surface grazed his skin, especially his left hand which landed on a large rock.
Congratulations!
One incorporated being from each country is awarded a ‘Special Tutorial’ to help their world grow stronger against the coming invasions.
Of [EARTH]’s 195 countries, you have been selected from [AUSTRALIA].
*DING*
You have entered the [EPIC] grade dungeon [LIMESTONE GREENSKIN GROTTO]
*DING*
“Tutorial Goal: Clear dungeon [LIMESTONE GREENSKIN GROTTO]”
Ah… What?
He knew straight away that he was no longer in the dining room. He could sense it. The scents in the air had changed, the surface beneath him was different and the calming sound of his grandparents breathing was gone. There was no point calling out to them, they weren’t there, or rather, he wasn’t there anymore.
“Keh, keh, keh, keh, keh,” came the sound of cackling in the distance. He could hear them shuffling around the corner. Maybe three or four of them, and the sound of armour and weapons weighed them down. The corner? Number? Amour? Weapons? How could he tell all that? His hearing was good, but it wasn’t that good. Was it?
Error…
Processing…
Innate Skill [SIGHT] Inactive.
Reactivating…
Error…
Incompatible.
Processing…
Substituting…
Skill: [ENHANCED HEARING] granted.
Processing…
Skill: [ENHANCED HEARING] already obtained.
Substituting…
Skill: [ENHANCED HEARING] upgraded to Skill: [ULTRASOUND]
Processing…
Substituting…
Skill: [DETECT SCENT] granted.
Processing…
Skill: [DETECT SCENT] already obtained.
Substituting…
Skill: [DETECT SCENT] upgraded to Skill: [BLOODHOUND]
In an instant, the area around him came to life. What had seemed impossible before was now not only possible but had manifested. The world was open to him again. Whatever this ‘Nexus’ was, it had reactivated not just his physical senses but also his sense of self. Whatever came next, he would come at it head on. To be able to take in his surroundings again, it was worth it.