Author’s Note:

I feel that the last chapter should have been an arc’s epilog and this chapter feels like a prolog. Oh well, too late to change now. I might change it if I feel I need a bit more time before I write the next chapter for timeline A though.

On a side note: Blah blah blah overwatch blah blah blah.

Chapter 63- The Prancing Bear

          I was lying on top of a medical table, stark naked, that was slightly inclined. I look around in a panic, finding myself in a completely white room. Not a speck of dirt could be seen on the wall, the ceiling nor the door. On the ceiling, a blinding light shone down on me. It was so bright that it was hard for me to open my eyes. My hands and feet were tightly strapped by some velcro strips. I tried to struggle to free myself, but I couldn’t move a millimeter.

           The door burst open, and three people came into the room. The first two wore surgical gowns covered from head to toe, pushing two carts full of tools for surgery that looked more like torturing devices. It took me a bit longer before I recognize who she was because of the bright light. It was Wyn, wearing the same surgical gowns as the other two.

         I tried to talk, but I couldn’t. I could still feel my teeth with my tongue, but there was simply no opening to my mouth. I tried to loosen my open my jaw as far as I could, but a thin layer of skin that covered my mouth only stretched without getting pierced. I tried to yell, but all that came out was muffled sound.

          Wyn picked up a small circular saw, revving it a few times and slowly approached me. I looked at her with a pair of pleading eyes and shaking my head violently. Seeing my reaction, the two assistant got closer to me and held my head still.

“Alright, let’s open him up and see how he works.

          With a gentle smile that didn't befit the situation, she gradually brought the saw closer and closer towards my forehead. I have no mouth, and I must scream.

***July 6th, 965 A.F.***

***Dwarven Capital***

***Ajax McGuire**

*Gasp* *Gasp*

          I sprang up from the bed and opened my eyes as wide as I could. From head to toe, I was covered in cold sweat. I sat at the edge of the bed, trying to re-orientate myself. I had a terrible dream, a nightmare. However, I don’t know if I could call it a dream. It was so realistic that I could smell the suffocating stench of the rubbing alcohol in the room.

“It’s just a dream, Ajax. Nothing to be afraid of. It’s just a dream.”

           After calming myself down, I stripped down bare naked, to clean myself, summoning a towel and some water from the ring. I needed to clean off all the sweat I perspired during the terrible nightmare. By the time I was finished, it was already passed high noon. The sun shone through the wooden blinds into my room. I usually wake up at the break the morning. However, the fight last night has left me completely exhausted. I think I have earned the right to sleep in.

          I walked down stairs after I finished cleaning myself and I was greeted by Emmy Beare, the hostess of the Inn “The Prancing Bear”. I briefly met her and got to know her name when I checked in last night with Wyn. She was a brunette dwarf with a pair of upturned eye. She would be considered quite a beauty even by me if she was 20 years younger.

“Good afternoon young sir. Did you have a good night?”

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          Of course, out of common courtesy, I couldn’t tell her that I had a terrible night because of a nightmare.

“It was wonderful. The bed is so comfortable that I overslept.”

“Care for some lunch?”

“That would be great.”

           Before I pull out coins from my pouch to pay for the food, I was stopped by Emmy.

“No need for you to pay, young sir. The traveler that you were with paid everything in advance. You don’t have to worry about food and lodging for the next two months. What would you like for lunch?”

          Being teleported by Wyn, I was one week ahead of schedule. I was a bit troubled since my budget did not include staying at an inn for an extra week. I was planning to camp outside while traveling to the capital to save money. Since Wyn paid for everything already, it relieved me of some of my additional headaches.

“Recommend something light for me please.”

          Still haunted by that nightmare, my appetite was non-existent. Still, it would be bad for my body if I didn’t eat anything.

“Then I will recommend our chicken salad and broth.”

“I will have that, thank you.”

“One order of chicken salad and broth, coming right up.”

          She headed into the kitchen while I seated myself in the dining area. There were a couple of other parties in the dining area enjoying their meal. I picked a place in the dark corner alone to start brooding, I mean reconsidering, about my current situation.

           I told Wyn about everything, which let her know that I was a self-aware NPC. At first, I assumed that she was only a player. If she was, worst comes to worst, even if she exposed me to other players, I could have feigned ignorance and pretend that my self-awareness was wiped by the system or something.

           The worst case scenario happened, though. She wasn’t a player, but a GM. If she was only a player, there were multiple things I could do to protect myself against her. However, against a GM, I have nothing. I don;t know what a GM can do. I don’t know what can’t a GM do. I don't know where I can escape so that I would be safe. There was just too many uncertainties. A GM might as well be a god in the game. I did manage to get the information that I couldn’t be targeted by some of the GM commands, so that’s a little break for me.

          Seeing no other choice since I have already told Wyn everything, I had to use my last resort, one that I did not like using. I had to appeal to her using feeling instead of logic. I tried to portray myself as pitiful as possible. I hated using this method since the chance of success is basically fifty-fifty, and I suck at coin flips.

          It was a dangerous move, but it was the only move I could take. It was dangerous because I have announced my weakness: my family. Even if for some reason I could escape Wyn, by telling her that I value my family more than my own life, she could take them as a hostage and force me to come out of my hiding. It is checkmate for me if she does want me to become a lab rat.

“Here’s your lunch, enjoy.”

“Thank you, Emmy. Itadakimasu”

           After finishing the lunch, I walked out of the inn. There was nothing else that I could do about the situation with Wyn. All I could do is hope and pray at this point. Even though I am just a bit worried, there was no point for me to mull over something that I have no control over whatsoever. When Wyn comes for me, I will deal with it at that time. In the meanwhile, I should just stick to my original plan. I did a small stretch to loosen myself up a bit.

          Since I was one week early, I should use the extra time to explore the capital. Maybe I will find something interesting to bring home.

“Now, where should we explore first…”