I was floating in a grey void, I could see and feel my body, but it didn’t feel like it was a part of me, but rather some abstract thing outside of my control. “Initiating genetic analysis for initial attributes.” Said the voiceGenetic analysis? Initial attributes? I hadn’t played very many games given my circumstances, but I’d seen a few videos. Attributes, if I recalled correctly, were often things like strength, dexterity, intelligence, foundational things that determined the path of your character.“Anomalies detected, evaluating”Now I was starting to worry, what kind of genetic anomalies could I have? Did I have cancer? Some kind of life threatening mutation? None of those questions got answered.“Gene sequencing complete, unknown genetic structures determined non-harmful, initiating mental scan.”This is where it got really weird, inside my head it was as if my entire life was watched via super fast forward. I caught glimpses of certain events that brought forth strong emotions. The joy of having been selected as a cadet for the Institute, the feeling of loss and hopelessness when my parents left, so much more. Somehow even the darkest deepest secrets of my mind were brought into the light and cataloged.“Scan complete, optional parameters now available.”A light blue panel popped into existence next to me with a multitude of options available along with toggles and slider bars. The entire experience was surreal and I took a moment to collect my thoughts before browsing the available options. The first option I saw said ‘Height’ and the slider bar was slightly to the left of center. Considering that I was shorter than average I assumed moving the slider to the right would make me taller, I was correct. I played with the various options but eventually settled on making myself slightly taller than average and balanced my body along with it so I didn’t end up looking like some kind of weird walking stick. I may have changed a few cosmetic items, even my limited vanity needed to be given it’s due, otherwise I left things alone. I might not be happy with my circumstances, but I’d trained as hard, or maybe even harder than the rest of the cadets. When I wasn’t training, in class, or dodging physical threats, I was holed up in my room reading everything I could find in the Inistute’s online library.I gave myself a once over, now instead of a short kid, I was just shy of 2 meters tall and a firm but not bulky build. With my Asian features courtesy of my father, I fancied myself a young version of an old martial arts hero named Jet Li. As soon I selected the ‘DONE’ button on the panel I had the strangest feeling, as if my body were being wrapped around me.“Integration complete, commencing selection testing.”The panel disappeared and a number of tables appeared with various items on them, behind the tables the word ‘CHOOSE’ flashed several times before returning to the grey void. There were 5 separate choices, from left to right were a simple walking stick, wand, bow, a massive two handed sword, and finally a sword and shield. I admit the idea of using a wand tugged at me briefly, as did the sword and shield, but the only thing that really stood out for me was the stick. Everything else was fairly obvious as to what they were, but the stick, that one stood out as being unusual. I moved closer and inspected the stick. It appeared to be a solid piece of wood nearly as long as I was tall capped with iron on both end. I couldn’t tell you why it called out to me like it did, but I selected the staff without any further hesitation, it just felt right.“Selection complete. Name?”I responded without thinking, “Jackson”While I berate myself for using my real name another panel popped up, this time in front of me.

Name: JaxonPath: UnknownExperience: 0Strength: 12Agility: 15Intelligence: 15Fortitude: 20Skills:Sneak – level 1 (+25% skill gain due to previous life skills)Unarmed Combat – level 1 (+25% skill gain due to previous life skillsScholarship – level 1 (+25% skill gain due to previous life skillsEnhanced Senses – level 1 (+25% skill gain due to previous life skillsThick Skin – level 1 (+25% skill gain due to previous life skillsMental Map – level 1 (+25% skill gain due to previous life skills

“World insertion in 10 seconds” I had just enough time to chuckle at the misspelling of my name and then wonder about the skills and attributes before the grey void went black and I felt like I was being forced through a straw. My entire body felt as if I’d been plugged into an electrical socket while simultaneously being stretched out like a rubber band. Without warning everything stopped, as if time itself had hit the pause button before the blackness around me began to fade.I found myself standing on the ground trying to find my balance as I adjusted to my new body, bright light making it hard to see clearly as my eyes teared up. I remember hearing a voice shout ‘TRAVELER!” as I looked up to see a tall figure running at me. I felt the sword piece my chest and enter my heart, then I was back in the grey void.I saw a small blinking light in the corner of my eye and when I focused on it, several lines of text came into focus.“Welcome to Archessi Wanderer”“You have entered The Wild”“You have been slain, 0 experience lost”

Not exactly an auspicious start to my new life, why would it drop me in the middle of whatever that was where I’d be killed instantly. If this simulation had a luck factor, I suspected mine would be a negative number. “Preparing for respawn.” Said the voice.Huh, that was odd, I remembered the commandant had said that any death in game would cause a 1 day waiting period before respawning. Giving it some thought, I realized I had no real sense of time here in the void, it could be a second, or it could be eternity, I’d never be able to tell the difference.This time when the sensation of being spawned into being within the simulation started I was slightly better prepared for it. I managed to not wobble and get my eyes open enough to discern a number of various shaped Traveleroid figures along with tents, the smell of campfires, and various sounds before a voice rang out, “TRAVELER!”. This time I never saw my attacker, rather I felt their presence behind me just before a sharp stabbing pain in my back caused me to sag forward. “Same one as last time” was all I heard before I found myself, once again, in the timeless void. I saw the same blinking light in the corner of my vision, focusing on it I found what I’d expected.“You have been slain, 0 experience lost”At least I wasn’t losing any experience for dying since I had no experience to lose in the first place. That being said, I’d much rather not die in the first place, aside from being rather uncomfortable, I hadn’t even had time to get a sense of the world. Hopefully the Ais running the simulation would show a little compassion and spawn me somewhere else the next time around.“Preparing for respawn”This time I held my staff out defensively in front of me as I was sucked down through the electric straw. I’d like to say the 3rd time was the charm, but it wasn’t. Either the mysterious they were waiting for me, or I was just naturally blessed with poor luck. I watched my body topple over as my head tumbled to the ground before returning to the void.Seeing yourself be decapitated isn’t really high on the list of things I’d suggest experiencing, but it was novel in it’s own way. My brain had continued to function long enough to feel my head hit the ground and see my body fall. At least it was a clean cut, I barely felt anything before it was over, one moment I was alive, the next I wasn’t.This time when I spawned I dropped to the ground hoping to dodge whatever was waiting for me, and it worked. I managed to escape a crushing blow to the head, but immediately I felt knees on my back and a knife at my throat. Whatever, or rather, whoever, was on top of my breathed into my ear, “Move and you die Traveler.” I held myself still as I could while trying to breath through the weight on my back. I felt my legs being tied up as my arms were pulled behind me and bound with rough rope. I knew what was coming, likely before they did, and braced myself for the kick to the head that would knock me unconscious. My lucky streak continued, it took 3 solid kicks to the head before I finally blacked out.I woke up to a nasty headache, my stomach growling, and my body feeling like I’d been used as a training bag. Based on the bruising I saw everywhere, the latter seemed less unlikely than I had imagined it. Whoever these people were, they clearly didn’t appreciate my being Traveler and showing up in their territory, not that I had any control over either situation. My cell, or what I assumed was a cell, was a simple room made up of stone blocks with a wooden door. A bowl of something that looked like rancid gruel and a cup of tepid water had been shoved through a small opening at the bottom of the door. Hungry as I was, I didn’t feel like risking further discomfort by eating whatever was in the bowl. Drinking the water soothed the roughness in my throat and the headache lessened slightly, so that was something. I tested the door of course, it’d be silly not to on the off chance someone had left it unlocked, it wasn’t. Kicking the door only caused a muffled thump and added another bruise to my collection, note to self, kicking wooden doors with bare feet is a bad idea. Having nothing better to do I sat down with my back leaning on a wall and closed my eyes, which is of course when I noticed the blinking notification.+1 Thick Skinned+1 experience – survive a fight+1 experience – spend a night in jail+10 experience – meet another raceThinking back I recalled that the people who had killed me and captured me called me ‘Traveler’ like it was a dirty word, this were not looking up. I hadn’t heard a single sound since I’d come to, yet the cup of water had been refilled and the bowl of gruel lacked the thick skin that had formed over the top of the previous bowl. I drank half the cup before taking a long look at the unappealing bowl of gruel before giving in. My stomach had been growling for hours and now it was more than just a mild discomfort. Thinking back, it made sense, I probably hadn’t eaten in almost a week considering the day long time out every time I died. Despite it’s unpleasant look, the gruel tasted of oatmeal with hints of cinnamon and apples, and quickly put an end to the gnawing feeling in my gut. Having finished the bowl, I took the water with me and sat back against the wall again. Random thoughts drifted through my brain as I pondered my circumstances and what might be next for me. So far my introduction to this simulated world had been harsh and unforgiving, I wondered if the other cadets were facing similar tribulations. My inner pessimist suggested that it was unlikely and that more than likely they were being treated with at least a modicum of decency.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.