Standing watch over an endless Sea of Souls stood one of the 12 Guardians, a being known as the Keeper of Souls.
Within the Keeper’s palm floated a small speck of light; A soul. This soul, fished from the infinite Sea of Souls, standing out not because it was unique in strength, but because it was dying, its light slowly seeping out through the cracks of its shell, growing ever dimmer as the Keeper observed, and as it watched, believing the soul to finally fade away, it was surprised to discover that no matter how long it waited, the embers of this seemingly ordinary soul refused to yield to fate. Nevertheless, the Keeper knew the souls flame would go out eventually, so the Keeper put it to one side as it continued to observe the other souls, fishing them out when they began to crack and go dim, watching as they faded away into nothing. However, every time the Keeper looked back, that seemingly dead flame would still be burning, going against everything the Keeper had ever known. As the Keeper observed some more, it finally noticed what this strange soul was doing, it was attempting to rebuild, to fix the cracks, yet every crack fixed would only pause the issue momentarily as a new crack would form soon after. Within this state of tireless resilience, an equilibrium of sorts was formed, but it wouldn't hold forever as the flames will was slowly slipping, mistakes were starting to appear. The Keeper couldn’t help but feel a hint of sorrow for this tiny flame, watching it’s futile attempts to live on, and so in this moment of intrigue, the Keeper broke one of the Universal rules and interfered with fate, reaching out a finger and allowing this dying soul fire to obtain a slither of power, just enough that it could repairs it's cracked shell before quickly dropping it back into the Sea of Souls as it felt the approach of another, The Guardian known as The Mother of Fate.
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Amid the stark white sterility of the hospital room, a twisted harmony of life and death unfolded. The air was thick with palpable tension as doctors and nurses, their faces obscured by masks, moved swiftly with a precision only years of training could forge. The centerpiece of it all was Silvia, her body worn and trembling from a grueling labor. The pregnancy had been an uphill battle, the baby coming far earlier than anticipated. Her husband, Kane, held her hand tightly, a comforting presence despite the fear in his eyes. Their baby arrived into the world with the feeblest of cries, like the barest whisper of wind through the leaves. But quickly, the room went ominously quiet. Their tiny child, a bundle of fragile hope, had lost the battle for breath. Monitors beeped erratically, an urgent symphony that reverberated through the room and pierced Silvia and Kane’s hearts. The team of doctors worked relentlessly, their faces etched with determination and an urgency that seemed to defy time. Silvia could only hold her breath, each second extending into a lifetime of longing and desperation. She watched Kane, his face pale, tears welling up in his eyes. Outside, their son and Silvia’s father waited, their hearts filled with trepidation.Then, after what felt like an eternity, the room filled with the sound of a strong, powerful cry. Their baby had come back, pulling itself from the precipice, a miracle of modern medicine. Relief washed over Silvia and Kane like a tidal wave, bringing with it tears of joy and breaths of gratitude.
Once things had settled, the doctors gently handed Silvia their newborn. Cradling her child for the first time, she could feel its heart pulsating against hers - a sweet rhythm of life. Kane stood by her side, his hand gently brushing the tiny crown of their baby's head, his eyes brimming with awe and love. The door to the room opened quietly, their son tiptoeing in, led by Silvia’s father. Both had been spectators to the roller coaster of emotions from a distance. Now, they stood at the threshold, absorbing the tender scene unfolding in front of them.
A family, knit closer by a thread of shared struggle and survival, basked in a joy that was raw and overwhelming. The baby held softly in Silvia’s arms, oblivious to the dramatic entry it had made into the world. In that moment, it was just them - united by love and the profound miracle of life. Silvia looked down at her child, with a gaze filled with pure love, and whispered…..
“Welcome to the world, my little Emily”
*17 Years Later*
Emily's eyes blinked open reluctantly, the remnants of sleep stubbornly clinging to her as the world around her gradually swam into focus. The harsh melody of her alarm clock competed with the distant call of her mother, "Emily! Stop ignoring your alarms and come downstairs! I’ve already made breakfast and I’m not having you be late for school!" She groaned, burrowing further into the soft cocoon of her bed for a few more precious seconds, her hand instinctively reaching for the comfort of her favorite green fluffy bunny. Her room, a charming mix of the traditional girlish pinks and bolder expressions of her personality, reflected the duality of her interests. Posters of her favorite sports teams and video game characters peppered the walls, adding a unique touch to the space that was so unmistakably Emily.Finally, with a resigned sigh, she sat up, the chill of the morning air from her open window causing her to shiver slightly as she reached over to pick up her glasses and to turn her phone's alarm off. Muttering under her breath, "Ughhh mornings suck ass…," she put on her glasses with practiced motion, pushed back the covers and swung her feet onto the floor, slipping them into her perfectly placed fluffy black slippers. Finally heading downstairs, already mentally preparing herself for the long day of school that lay ahead.
Now that she had finally decided to surrender to the reality of morning and leave her bed, she looked like your typical morning teenager. Standing at a petite 5'2, she was a charming blend of youthful spirit and the beginnings of womanhood. Her shining, sleepy eyes a bright silver and her long hair, a beautiful silvery blonde like her mother's, cascaded down to her waist in a river of tangled waves. It was a natural spectacle that often drew envious glances, especially when tamed and styled, but right now, it was as tousled as her just-out-of-bed self. Emily's physique, sculpted by a combination of genetics and her love for sports, bore testament to her athletic lifestyle. She had a trim build, her muscles toned and firm from regular exercise. Neither excessively curvy nor overly skinny, she was a balanced blend of femininity and fitness. Fresh out of bed, her face was devoid of any trace of makeup. Her skin glowed with natural health and the innocence of youth, her cheeks tinged pink with warmth from her sleep. Her outfit, some cute full-length bunny-themed pajamas, added a nice touch to her appearance. The bunny prints hopped about merrily across the fabric, mirroring the green of her beloved bunny. Emily, in all her morning glory, was a sweet mix of sleepy frustration, and charming youth.
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She slowly made her way down the carpeted staircase, lazily thinking about what breakfast would be. The walls alongside the staircase were adorned with framed memories - pictures of family vacations, school achievements, birthdays, and simple everyday moments. Over the years, Emily had navigated these stairs countless times and those images had faded into the background of her daily life.
As she neared the bottom of the stairs, her gaze was drawn towards the open doorway leading into the dining room. Inside, her family had already gathered around the breakfast table. The first person she spotted was her father, Kane. Dressed in his sharp work suit, he was engrossed in the newspaper, the morning sunlight catching the silver streaks in his hair black hair. To Kane's right, sat Marcus, his back turned towards Emily, his attention absorbed by something on his phone. Two empty chairs faced Marcus, one next to him, waiting to be claimed by Emily. At the other end of the table, Terrance sat with a cup of coffee, his warm eyes watching Emily as she approached. His face lit up into a smile as he greeted her, "Good Morning, Emmy." Beyond the dining room, through a connected doorway, Silvia was a whirl of activity in the kitchen. Sounds of sizzling and the aromatic fragrance of breakfast drifted into the dining room.
Emily crossed the threshold and settled into her usual seat next to Marcus, who looked up from his phone and chuckled, "Finally decided to join us, sleepyhead?” Then with a mischievous grin he happily exclaimed as if in sudden remembrance “Oh Yeah! You excited for your exams today?."
Emily's eyes widened at the reminder “Ah shit I forgot about that…!”Just as she had uttered the swear, Silvia walked in, a plate of steaming breakfast in her hands and a green apron tied around her waist.
"Emily Starfield!!" she chided in a semi-annoyed voice, setting the plate in front of her daughter. "What have I told you about that language?"
"Oh... Sorry Mom... Thanks for the food," Emily mumbled, eyeing the fried eggs& bacon on toast, which she promptly dug into. The early morning ambiance was accompanied by the clattering of cutlery, the low hum of conversation, and the occasional bursts of laughter. It was the familiar, comforting noise of a happy family breakfast.
But then, midway through her second piece of toast, it started. A loud, monotone voice resonated through the room, seemingly coming from nowhere and yet filling every corner. The voice, devoid of any discernible source, its tone cold and impersonal, "Universe 100 has been successfully integrated into The System. Please be aware, your tutorial and introduction shall begin in 30 seconds."
The dining room plunged into silence as the announcement reverberated around them. All activity ceased, with every pair of eyes in the room darting from one family member to the next in silent questioning - had they all heard the same thing? They had just begun to process this when a green box appeared in the top of their line of vision, with a countdown ticking away. A second of stunned silence stretched into several, the room almost frozen in time. Then, as if on cue, chaos erupted. Silvia dropped the pan she was holding with a clatter, Kane's newspaper fell from his grasp, and Terrance almost choked on his coffee. Marcus and Emily, however, had a slightly different reaction. Their eyes met as they glanced at eachother, mirroring the realization dawning in them. It sounded eerily similar to the mechanics of the many games they had played.
"It's like... It's just like a game..." Marcus muttered, his gaze fixed on the glowing green box. His words hung in the air, drawing the attention of everyone at the table.
Emily quickly nodded her agreement, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yeah right? I just started reading a book where something similar happened." Her voice was steady, but the shaking hands betrayed the fear that was beginning to creep in.
Kane's voice cut through the chaos, loud yet firm "Everyone, calm down!" His command echoed through the room, forcing a momentary silence. "Marcus, Emily, explain. You know what this is?"
Silvia let out a small gasp, her hands flying up to her mouth in disbelief, the pan she'd been holding forgotten on the floor. "What... What do you mean? Like in those computer games you play?"
Terrance, though older and less familiar with the intricacies of gaming, looked at his grandchildren expectantly, trying to comprehend the bizarre situation.
As Marcus and Emily took turns explaining the parallels between the announcement and the scenarios from their games and books, the countdown ticked on relentlessly. It was already down to the last 12 seconds by the time they finished.
"Emily, do you have any ideas?" Kane asked, his eyes meeting his daughter's. Emily paused, suddenly the centre of everyone's attention. The idea of being thrust into an unknown scenario was daunting, and she felt her palms begin to sweat.
"I..." She faltered, her voice barely audible. A heavy silence filled the room as everyone waited for her to speak. She swallowed hard, trying to summon some semblance of courage.
"I'm not exactly sure..." she admitted, her eyes flicking to the glowing box and the countdown that was now at ten seconds. Her mind raced, trying to recall any detail from the book she'd recently finished that might help in this situation. But her thoughts were a scrambled mess, and the ticking timer wasn't helping.
As the countdown was reaching the final seconds, she found her voice again, though it trembled. "In my book they all gained a system that told…. that answered their questions. Like an AI. But everything was dangerous. Very dangerous! Lots of people died! Lots of people…. We can’t trust anyone, Only each other! They always met people that acted friendly but betrayed them…! Dad, I’m scared." Her silver eyes were wide with fear and uncertainty, she looked to her father for support. Kane tried to put on a confident smile and said assuredly “Don’t worry hun, everything will be okay I’m sure, we just need to stay together and everything wi-“. The countdown hit zero and an impossibly bright flash of white light accompanied by pure silence followed.
Momentarily, Emily felt…..weightless, like she had no body, no sense, like her soul was laid bare for the world to see, a tranquil peace overtook her mind and she felt like she was going to lose herself in the bliss and then…“Welcome, Emily Starfield, I am the System Tutorial Administrator, your tutorial shall begin in 1 hour. Your introduction will begin shortly". A voice shattered that silence with the same monotone apathy as before.