"...Julius, hey Julius!"
"What? I'm still studying, leave me alone!"
Hearing this, the girl with black hair flowing down to her waist forcefully grabbed his arm, causing the small boy who'd been reading his book while laying on his bed to let off a yelp, as he fell onto the floor from the sudden pull.
"...oops. Sorry for that brother, but you have to come with me to see this! Father actually bought one of those capsules from Aeron! He's laying down in it right now too, he's probably already in Alethea!"
Hearing Meiya's words, Julius frowned, as he got up with a darkened expression and held his arm which was in slight pain from falling down. He just couldn't understand. Professor Orlando had already given a press conference stating the inhumane nature of using the capsules.
Even if it was just a virtual reality, was it still right to cause harm to Alethea’s people like that?
He didn't want to go with her since he felt like he'd only be giving his father some support instead, but the innate sense of curiosity that existed in every twelve-year old overcame him, as he still decided to go anyway.
"Bring me there."
As so, he decided to go with his younger sister. They exited his room and went out of the house, where they were greeted by a gorgeous view of the snow-capped mountains in the distance being illuminated by the morning sun, as the mountain reflected its light. The cool fresh air greeted them, revitalizing his spirit a little.
And before Meiya could even lead him there, he started walking through the snow towards his father's workshop himself, which was built a few steps away to the house's right. He could see the moonlight transceiver he'd seen on television sticking out from the right end of the workshop, as a series of cables dangled down from the receiver's antenna disk, connecting to three blue containers that looked like power cells as they shone with a soft blue glow. It was not that hard to piece together where his father could possibly be.
He had sometimes wondered what purpose the workshop even held now, since both his parents had already retired. But now, it seemed to have found a new purpose. In the first place, the main house likely didn't have enough space to house a capsule.
I guess he'll be using the workshop to play Hero's Saga from now on...
As he pushed open the door to the workshop, the first thing that caught his sight was a lengthy black rectangular box, with a glass top. It had light blue lines running across the center of the capsule, as it occasionally flashed with a blue light.
Although he had seen it on television before, looking at it in person for the first time didn’t make him fascinated as he thought he’d have been, but creeped out instead.
It really looks like a coffin…
As this left a memorable impact on Julius, a woman’s voice called out to him, “Meiya, Julius, you’re here. I did try to tell convince your father against buying the capsule…but you also know that he’s always loved the field of virtual reality.”
It was only now that he noticed his mother standing near the foot of the cof-capsule on the left, Her chestnut brown hair seemed to be almost touching a wire stripper on a workbench which seemed to have various electrical tools scattered around. Although this made Julius mildly concerned, what caught his attention was the helpless look on her face.
Julius understood. She didn’t have the heart to stop him from finally fulfilling one of his life’s wishes, where true virtual reality was actually realized.
Although Professor Alfonso argues against this belief that it actually has been accomplished…
Remembering the Professor’s words caused a hint of disgust towards the capsule to resurface in his heart, but he tried to suppress it as he thought he should feel happy for his father, who finally got to realize his dream.
Even if I don’t like it…I shouldn’t be forcing my beliefs on others.
As he had this thought, the curiosity he’d felt the moment he entered the workshop returned slightly. It was then that Meiya finally spoke up.
Stolen story; please report.
“It’s alright, mom! Why do you have to stop him anyway? We should just do what our heart tells us to, without being stopped by others…”
Hearing this caused his mother to gently smile, with a hint of pride showing on her beautiful face which seemed to show traces of age, “You’re so young, yet you are already so mature, aren’t you!”
She knelt down and patted Meiya’s head, who had at some point already stood beside their mother. Meiya put on a happy smile, as she spoke, “And that’s why you should let me go meet Enno! I thought he was a blockhead, but he’s finally invited me for a dat-meeting at his house. His parents are also going to be th-Ahh!”
Julius paid little heed to his mother and Meiya whose cheeks were being pinched while being berated by their mother, as he went closer to the capsule and started to observe it in earnest.
The first thing he was his father lying inside the capsule through the clear mirror. His rugged face, which might even be called handsome by some, had a serene expression as his eyes were closed. He had the same black hair as Julius did, and his arms were resting on the sides of his body as tiny suction cups that reminded him of plungers were attached to both his arms.
He then looked at the foot of the capsule, where there were several black wires flowing out, and through the wall made of wooden logs on the left, which Julius presumed were attached to the transceiver outside.
Attached to the head of the capsule on the right seemed to be a screen, which displayed several intuitive buttons. Julius observed that these included emergency evacuation buttons, as well as buttons to change the pain parameters as well as several sensory parameters.
At the bottom was also a row filled with many bars, and half of them seemed to be flashing with silver, indicating the current level of moonlight consumption based on the sensitivity of the sensory parameters.
Julius had always been confident in his intelligence. This was not because he was a genius, but because of his curiosity. He would need as much time as a normal person to grasp concepts, but once he was interested in something, he would find himself diving deep into the topic, paying little attention to other matters.
And this curiosity was what led him to try and wake his father up. His curiosity, and also perhaps because felt wronged since his father had ignored his warnings and went ahead to purchase the capsule. He thought for a moment, then lightly tapped on the glass panel.
Seeing that this had no response, he simply tried calling out to his father instead.
“Father! Father? Wake up!...Master Kazen. Are you awake?”
“…Master Kazen?”
…
Kazen’s eyes opened, as he heard the dull knocking of the door. Right as he was unsure if Kayleen had left, he heard a knock on the door once more.
“Master Kazen, may I enter?”
Kazen rubbed his face, feeling refreshed after having taken some rest as he replied her, “Sure, come in.”
The door opened, as Kayleen walked in while rolling in a serving tray, atop which lay a plate with some rice, some gravy which had chunks of meat which let off a tantalizing smell, as well as a glass of purple juice that he couldn’t identify.
As she entered the room, she let go of the tray’s handles and bowed, “Master Kazen, the Head Butler had instructed me to prepare your lunch and serve you, and also to inform you that the ceremony will be taking place in about five hours, in the evening. May I arrange the table with your lunch?”
Kazen nodded, and the maid started to get to work. As she was doing so, Kazen’s mind recalled the dream he had had, which still remained fresh in his mind now.
Was that…a memory of my past?
He suddenly felt a little nervous. He had become whom he was because of his experiences in Alethea, and suddenly getting memories of his past…he wasn’t sure if it was a good thing. Regardless, he shook his head and chose to put the matter aside for now, since nothing good could come from worrying about it at the moment.
As he stretched and decided to have his lunch, he paused for a moment, before deciding to open the curtains he’d drawn close before he went to sleep.
He could see small rays of red light leaking through the gap in the bottom of the curtain, and this made Kazen curious. Was daytime here not bright like that in Alethea, but red in color?
That…shouldn’t be the case, if my memories are to be believed.
Remembering the bright sunlight shining on the snow-capped mountains he’d seen when he exited his house in his dreams, he drew the curtain. And his mind turned blank.
Ahead of him, an enormous red moon, somewhat similar to the white Moon of Serena he’d seen when he had come here, loomed in the distance as it filled up half the horizon. The reddish light it reflected gave rise to a somewhat eerie feeling, as Kazen’s heart skipped a beat. He then recalled…that Kayleen was serving him his lunch.
“…Kayleen?”
Kayleen paused as she was finally laying down the final item from her serving tray, and looked up at Kazen inquisitively, “…Yes, Master Kazen?”
“Where is…the daylight? Is it not afternoon now?”
Hearing this caused Kayleen to look somewhat amused, as she tried to find the right words to say to him.
“That…Master Kazen, I’m afraid I don’t understand. Did you perhaps have a dream about the ‘Sun’ that those from the Church of Origin like to talk about? You can clearly see the Moon of Zania outside!”
Hearing her words, Kazen couldn’t help but respond while at a loss, “…there’s no Sun over here?”
Kayleen giggled, “Master Kazen sure is a funny man! Of course there isn’t! You certainly know as well as I do, that in the Forsaken Continent...”
“All of us live under the eternal blessings of the Four Goddesses.”