Chapter Five: Tickets to Olympus

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The surrounding light intensified, blinding him again before finally easing. When it did, the room was gone.

Jason's vision blurred as the game-world materialized around him. He found himself in the luxurious cabin of a massive ship, the gentle creak of wood and the rhythmic hum of distant engines filling the air.

The plush leather seats were a deep, rich burgundy, their smooth surfaces inviting and luxurious. Dark wood paneling adorned the walls, polished to a gleaming finish that reflected the soft, ambient light from ornate brass sconces. Delicate scrollwork and intricate carvings decorated the trim, adding a touch of classical elegance to the space. A small table, also made of dark wood and inlaid with a fine mosaic, sat between the seats, completing the sophisticated ambiance.

Outside the porthole, the vast ocean stretched endlessly, its surface rippling with a silvery sheen under the light of an unseen sun. The ship sailed through the mist, which clung to the vessel like a shroud, hiding the horizon from view. The water lapped gently against the hull, a soothing contrast to the thrill of anticipation coursing through Jason's veins. As the ship sliced through the mist, a massive mountain began to emerge in the distance, rising from the far shore like a monolithic sentinel. The peak thrust into the heavens, its jagged slopes veiled in clouds that swirled with diffused radiance, weaving a living tapestry of shadow and light.

Jason’s breath caught in his throat as he recognized it: Mount Olympus. Even from this distance, he could make out the glittering spires and grand colonnades of Mount Olympus University, nestled high on the mountain’s slopes, with its enormous marble pillars and intricate friezes. It was all breathtakingly real, yet he knew it was an illusion. The sky above the mountain was brushed with hues of orange and pink as the sun hung low, casting long shadows across the landscape.

His awe was tinged with disbelief. It was like stepping into a fantasy painting. Every detail was meticulously crafted, from the ornate carvings on the cabin’s wooden paneling to the shimmering water outside. As the ship glided through the digital sea, Jason couldn't help but feel a surge of adrenaline mixed with nervousness. This was just the beginning of his journey, and there was no turning back now.

Jason let out a slow breath, trying to steady his pounding heart. This was the moment he had been waiting for—the chance to start over in Terra Mythica, a virtual world where he could leave behind the mistakes and regrets of his past. But first, he had to survive Olympus University, the Tutorial. He flexed his fingers, fascinated by how real they felt. The texture of his skin, the tiny lines and creases, all seemed impossibly detailed.

The ship plunged through a patch of thick mist, the world outside momentarily swallowed by a dark fog. The sudden transition was disorienting. Then, just as abruptly, the mist parted, revealing a new expanse of the mesmerizing landscape. His vision shimmered, and he blinked hard, trying to clear his sight.

"First time, huh?" A woman, no older than twenty, was seated by the sliding door of the cabin, her attention absorbed in a holographic tablet. She glanced up briefly, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

How long had she been sitting there?

"Is it that obvious?" he managed, his voice dry and cracking.

She offered a faint, knowing smile. "I'm Alice. As in Wonderland. This place is something, right?" she said, gesturing to the view outside.

Jason took a moment to study her. She had an almost otherworldly quality, with porcelain skin and piercing blue eyes. Her blonde hair was tied into a neat bun with a silver pin that glinted softly in the light. She wore a simple yet elegant dress made of finely woven linen, its classic folds draping gracefully over her slender frame. The fabric, plain and unadorned, made her blend into the background, yet there was an undeniable elegance to her presence that was impossible to ignore.

The room fell into a silence. Jason wasn't sure if it was an awkward silence or if it was just a regular silence that he felt awkward about. He shifted uncomfortably, glancing around the cabin for something to focus on.

Alice broke the silence, her voice softer this time. "Want to see something cool?"

Jason nodded, grateful for the distraction. "Sure."

Alice leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. "Watch this." With a few subtle gestures and a whispered incantation, the scene outside flickered. For a brief moment, part of the porthole vanished, revealing a matrix of strange swirling symbols and unfinished textures, all moving around and within thousands of glowing circles. The opening quickly collapsed, and the view of the distant mountain appeared again.

"Totally fake," she explained, her voice gaining a touch of excitement. "Right now, we're being calibrated and prepared. This is like the game's loading screen."

Jason's curiosity was piqued. He could feel the detail and craftsmanship of the world around him, and now he understood why it was so captivating. "That's... really impressive."

Alice leaned back, her reserved demeanor softening. "The calibration process is fascinating. They're syncing our minds to the game world. It takes time, but they designed it to feel engaging. It’s why everything feels so real. And don't worry, it only glitches and horribly mutilates someone every once in a while." Her eyes sparkled with a touch of dark humor.

Jason felt the blood drain from his face as a wave of nausea churned in his stomach. His expression must have betrayed his horror because Alice’s smile faltered, and she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. The silence that followed was definitely an awkward one.

“What’s your name?” she asked.

Jason tried not to show his moment of panic. A prompt appeared.

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New Quest

A Rose By Any Other Name

You have been asked for your name. I know it may seem an insurmountable task, but I believe in you. As this is a new account, you may choose a new name.

Notice: You are currently on a scholarship. Well done! You must have studied very hard and impressed the High Council during your application trials.

Your scholarship includes a full ride to Year One of the Four Year Tutorial: Mount Olympus University. Choosing a new name will not alter your acceptance credentials, which will be viewable to all university faculty.

Objective: Choose a name.

Reward: A name.

Failure: I will choose one for you.

Warning: This name will be publicly available and displayed to all on your Friends List, World Standings, and Message Boards.

Jason stared at the prompt for longer than he meant to. Alice waited patiently, knowing the telltale sign of someone reading a prompt.

He couldn’t use his regular handle. What could it be? He recalled an old card game. He chose the first name he could think of. “Jace.” [Select]

Quest Update

Congratulations! You have chosen the name: Jace.

I never doubted you for a second. May this be the start of something great.

“It’s Jace,” he said.

“Oh, like Jason. I like it,” she replied.

Jason palmed his forehead and grimaced.

Can’t believe I didn’t make that connection. Way to go, Jason. Get it together, man.

A faint knock echoed through the compartment door, which slid open to reveal a man in a crisp, navy blue uniform adorned with brass buttons and gold piping. His cap, also navy, bore a polished badge that gleamed under the compartment's soft lighting. The ticket collector stepped forward, his posture rigid and professional. "Tickets, please," he requested, extending a hand gloved in white.

Jace patted his pockets, a frown deepening across his forehead. "I don’t think I have one," he murmured, a hint of panic threading through his voice.

Alice leaned in close and whispered, "Check your inventory."

How do I check my inventory? As if in response to his unspoken question, a translucent menu materialized before him, displaying a neatly categorized grid of items. Only two icons were visible: a silvery metallic stone and a golden ticket adorned with the Excelsior Tech emblem.

With a sigh of relief, Jace selected the ticket. It materialized in his hand, and he handed it to the ticket collector, who scanned it with a practiced motion before moving on to Alice.

Once the collector was out of earshot, Jace turned to Alice, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "Was he a non-player character?"

Alice nodded, her expression thoughtful. "They're called Citizens. Players are called Travelers. It's hard to tell the difference sometimes."

Jace leaned out of his seat, poking his head through the compartment door to catch another glimpse of the collector.

The vividness of it all was overwhelming. He hadn't expected Terra Mythica to feel so... real. He'd heard stories—how immersive the place was, how people sometimes got lost here, unable to tell where the game ended and reality began. Rumors claimed that the longer you stayed, the more this world replaced the one outside, turning life into a distant dream. But those were just conspiracy theories, the kind of talk you'd hear from people too far gone to make it back to reality. No one had ever proven it. Just whispers from the fringes, from those who’d already decided there was nothing left for them outside.

Jace could see why. If you had nothing to go back to, this place could easily become your everything.

"They really blur the lines," he said, watching the inspector disappear into another cabin.

Just as he started to pull back, he noticed a young woman heading quickly in his direction. Their eyes met—hers sharp with intent, his startled by the sudden connection.

Quickly, he ducked back into his seat and slid the door shut behind him. No sooner had he done so than the door clicked and slid open again with a soft whoosh, revealing the same young woman who had just caught his eye.

She practically bounced in, a whirlwind of energy and color. She was striking, with olive skin that radiated warmth and deep, expressive eyes that seemed to hold a world of secrets. Her angular features were framed by a cascade of dark, curly hair, and she wore a vibrant ensemble of bold colors and eclectic patterns that seemed to mirror her lively personality.

"Mind if I join you? Great." She didn't wait for a response, plopping down next to Jace with a dramatic sigh. "You haven't seen a man run by, have you? Tall, thin. Brown hair. Sort of handsome in a 'Huckleberry Fin” kind of way. Or maybe in a 'I'll probably hate myself in the morning' kind of way." She flashed a mischievous grin. "You know the type."

Alice's subtle reaction was immediate. Her shoulders tensed slightly, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her eyes narrowing just a fraction as she observed the new arrival. She glanced at Jace, then back at the newcomer.

Jace, caught off guard by the sudden entrance and the whirlwind of words, blinked and shook his head. "Uh, no, I haven't seen anyone like that."

The girl leaned back, crossing her long legs with a fluid grace. "Figures. Probably took a wrong turn somewhere. I'm Ell, by the way." She extended a hand to Jace, her confidence radiating.

He shook her hand, still processing her vibrant presence. "I'm Jaso.. Jace. This is Alice."

Jace, not Jason. I need to start thinking of myself as Jace to avoid any further slip-ups. He chided himself.

Alice offered a polite nod. "Nice to meet you, Ell," she said, her tone reserved.

“I’m sure,” Ell replied, her attention immediately shifting to the window in the door. She peered through it furtively, as if expecting the man she described to appear at any moment.

Jace watched Ell with a mixture of curiosity and bemusement. "So, what are you running from?" he asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Ell turned to him, her eyes sparkling. "Just a little misunderstanding. You know how it is." She waved a hand dismissively, though her eyes kept darting back to the door. “Anyway, this place is wild, isn't it?”

Jace wasn’t sure what she meant. Alice frowned.

The door burst open again, and a man stumbled in, breathless and grinning. His eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, and his tousled hair and slightly disheveled appearance only added to his roguish look. He wore a faded leather jacket over a casual shirt, paired with well-worn jeans and boots that hinted at a love for adventure and a disregard for rules.

"What did you do this time?" Ell asked as he shut the door behind him.