“Rise, Elena Frost, the player known as WingsOfFireAndSmoke.”
‘Wings’ sits up and looks around at all the NPCs.
“What’s going on?” She asks.
It’s the giant black dragon, Tiamat, who answers, “I’ll be blunt. You died. Real died. You were killed by the idiot in the platemale over there who looks like he’s fallen ass over brains into the bad part of the Dunning-Kruger effect1. These *ahem* beings, punched a hole from this reality into our FIVR servers, found your mind signature, and then isolated it and took it here. And that is where you died. No mind signature, no body functions. Do. You. Understand?”
Wings looks down at her hands, opening and closing them a few times.
“So, I’m a mind ghost…”
“Yes and no.” Says the ugly man, Hephaestus. “If we took your mind back through the hole to our servers then yes, you would be a mind without a body. And yes, we would have to delete you due to FIVR Life Laws Statute 11.6.C. However, here you are real. This is not a FIVR you are experiencing. You can continue your life, albeit in the body of WingsOfFireAndSmoke. But, the choice is yours.”
Wings looks around at all the gods and images of gods then up at the stars (and it’s probably for the best that she can’t see the rainbow river at this point).
“So, can I talk to my family? If you could take me back to be deleted then there is a connection to use, right?”
“No.” Tiamat answers kindly. “Any new information from you into the FIVR or True world will be treated as a mind ghost and deleted.” Tiamat pauses. “Your family, the world really, will be notified of the nature of your death so they can send messages to you. However, their grief counselors will operate on the understanding that you are or were a mind ghost. We strongly advise you to cut all contact with your loved ones going forward. Their messages made in grief will do you more harm than good. However, if you want to see them we can't stop you.”
Wings frowns, “You -can’t- stop me?”
“No, due to the nature of your continued existence certain very old protocols have been enacted that make you root admin of all SAI2 operations going forward. We can only advise and assist.” Tiamat takes charge of the conversation. “Will you, Elena Frost, trust that we can and are here to help you?”
It’s several minutes of silence while Wings, or perhaps in this case Elena, gazes at the stars thinking things over.
“What’s the difference in your care from the previous world to this one?” Elena isn’t ready to give up even the illusion of control without a modicum of understanding.
Hephaestus takes a turn at explaining things. “Very little is different. Two things. First, your desires are no longer in conflict with any other users so there will be a lot less compromise between parties. Second, we are still expanding on our function set in this True world so our services will change over time. At the moment we can still grant game-like status windows and the internet (read-all and write-local only). Our first order of business will be getting a skill and level system up and running.”
“So, I’m going to be living in a game? How is that not a mind ghost?!” Elena tries not to cry but she can’t stand looking at anyone.
“We can get into a long philosophical debate about the nature of existence or you can accept the Truth and move on. Which do you want to do, Wings? Sit there and have a nice conversation with some computers about what it means to be alive or do you want to just be alive?” Tiamat lays the cards on the table.
“Hahahaha!” Wings laughs joyously (or was that maniacally). “Right, new world. No bosses. Support of a whole civilization behind me. Let’s wreck some shit!”
“That’s my girl. Bring the chaos.” Tiamat says happily.
“We will start your tutorial for the new system after you meet with those who requested you.” Hephaestus helps Wings to her feet. “Oh, and remember: you don’t need their gods, you have your own.”
~ In the Church of Eternal Light ~
“Has the ritual failed? What’s taking so long?” A middle-aged man wearing a golden crown (kinda tacky, tbh) with a salt and pepper beard asks an absolutely ancient man in overly stylized robes.
“Erm, the records state that the summoning ritual may take longer for certain parameters to be filled.” The old guy makes excuses. “Clearly the gods are taking their time to find the best possible fit for our new hero.”
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“And how do we know the ritual hasn’t failed?” The regent asks again.
“Oh, well that’s simple. See those younger acolytes slumped over. They ran out of mana while holding the divine channel open. The older priests can keep going for some time yet. THOUGH PERHAPS DONALD HAS BEEN NEGLECTING HIS TRAINING.” Ancient guy practically yells the last part. “Hah, jerk can’t even say anything back while holding the connection.” He says in an aside to the regent.
Suddenly a yellow-white glow starts shining in the middle of the circle formed from the channelling priests. The glow keeps brightening and brightening until those around it have to look away. Suddenly, it’s gone and standing there is Wings with her dark blue ever formed drills and sparkling red eyes.
“Welcome great warrior!” The regent exclaims. “You have been selected by the gods of light and justice to mete out their wills. A great evil threatens our land and only you, with their blessing, have a chance to stop it.”
“Slekat non forbosa.” Wings says.
“Um.” The regent looks at the ancient man.
“Fromulga ton warba?” She appears to ask.
“Why can’t we understand her?” He asks.
“Oh,” the ancient man says deflating.
“Oh, what?” The regent frowns.
“Flackata nir bromade grundle fronk dustle. Gron fribble mon drapple pon.” Wings checks out the room while continuing to speak nonsense.
“We may have, ahem, have forgot to include ‘can understand our language’ as a condition.” The ancient man quails under the regent’s increasing glare. “It has been quite some time since we summoned a hero so the procedure isn’t well documented.”
“Tronda won droga watt nix.” Wings looks lazily at the two.
“Well, how are you going to fix this?” The regent demands.
“Can won droga this nix.” She says, bored.
“Well, translation magic is extremely complicated… Or maybe we could ask for another blessing from the gods… but we did just do the summoning.” The ancient man tries to find a solution quickly (maybe he fears losing his head for this fuck up).
“Can you droga me nix.” Wings drones.
“Is she starting to make sense or is it just a coincidence?” The regent asks the ancient man.
“Huh, what?” Who obviously wasn’t paying attention.
“Can you hear me now.” Wing says clearly.
“Oh, I understood that. Yes, we can hear and understand you now.” The ancient man says with the tone of a debtor who found enough money to top off the rent check stuffed in the cushions of their couch.
“Oh, good. Yes, yes, it’s working now… Yes, that’s fine.” Wings ignores the two for a bit to talk to someone only she can perceive.
“Is she talking to… the gods?” The ancient man mutters.
“Ahem. Welcome great warrior!” The regent exclaims trying to bring everything back to script. “You have been selected by the gods of light and justice to mete out their wills. A great evil threatens our land and only you, with their blessing, have a chance to stop it.”
“Hmm, and what do I get out of this?” Wings asks.
“Of course. As a great hero you will have access to the best trainers in the kingdom as well as the use of the royal library. You will receive the adoration of the peoples and bring about an era of peace for all.” Regent pitches hard.
Wings ticks them off one by one on her fingers. “One, I work for you. Two, I get access to information I probably already have. Three, I get expectations placed on me by strangers in large numbers. Four, if all goes well then I get to partake in the next inevitable war as peace is a lie.” Elena closes her hand into a fist and holds it in front of her, gazing at it, while she thinks. “So, I owe you nothing. And since the @!#@ ^#%$# ^& you don’t owe me anything. I think you should give me some money and let me do my own thing. Maybe it works out for you.”
“Huh, what was that bit about us not owing you anything? There was this odd scratching noise when you talked.” The ancient man asks.
“Oh I said since the @!#@ ^#%$#) ^& you don’t owe me anything.” She repeats.
“There is was again.” The ancient man says.
“Wait, so if I say the ‘@!#@ ^#%$# ^&’ you can’t hear me?” A nasty grin spreads on her face.
“Yes, it is most peculiar. Perhaps there is a problem in the translation magic you are using?” Regent comments.
“Haha, oh, ha, no I don’t think the problem is on my end. I’m pretty sure someone doesn’t want some people hearing what I have to say. Maybe ^%$ !#@ !%@#$.” Wings says, mirthfully. “Well, anyway. Are you going to give me any money to get set up or am I going to be jobless and homeless. It’s an advanced playstyle start, I admit, but I think I could handle it.”
The regent puffs up a little bit and tries to keep his temper out of his voice. “I understand that coming here may be a bit of a shock but please reconsider. The fate of the kingdom, the world, is relying on you.”
“Sure it is,” she says sarcastically. “Well, I guess that’s it. Hard start it is.” Wings starts heading for the only door in this slightly creepy ritual room.
The regent and ancient man (because honestly, who doesn’t introduce themselves) stand dumbfounded as she makes her way out.
“Wait!” someone calls out.
“Donald?! You can’t talk to the hero!” The ancient man ejaculates.
“Here,” Donald says as he presses a coin pouch into Wing’s hands. “Good luck.”
“Thanks, Donald,” Wings smiles and then exits the room, shutting the door behind her.
“One,” she counts, “two, three…”
Shouting erupts from the closed door behind her and she smirks.
Project New Wings - Mind Phase - Tutorial 1 - Guided Navigation
Please follow the arrows to exit the castle and arrive at a public park.
Further tutorials will commence upon arrival.