“So, who knows when the second world war started?”, asked Mr. Humble, the history teacher.

“Anyone?” Silence. Like always. No one did anything for school since this new game was published. Everyone except me played this game.

Everyone!

I don’t know why they do it or how they can afford it but... Arghh. It’s so frustrating.

My goddamn parents! Did they have to split up? I was a baby. Just a baby. And he left me. He forsook me. He left me behind with this hag. She doesn’t have a job, broke up school when she was 14 and, and - Ahhh. For gods sake, why me? WHY.

We live in a small flat at the end of the district. Financial we are ruined. She gets social money while I work all day to earn some money for myself. Well, at the moment I save it for this new game. Hopefully my mother doesn’t find the money.

She’s over 40. She never answered me or gave me a shrug when I asked her. Who cares.

My dad is somewhere around that age as well. Never heard a word from him and mom never talks about him either. What a splendid situation I am in.

But I heard from my teachers that my dad went to the same school as me and they say he is some important person which is why they can’t tell me who exactly he is. He paid them. Sounds important but he doesn’t give a piss about me. He never send money, nothing.

“Jason?”

Huh? Mr. Humble stared at me.

“You don’t even play Royal Road and you are still daydreaming. What’s so important for you that you don’t concentrate on the lesson? Everyone else has a reason but you - well, you don’t. So, do you know when the second world war started?” He irritated me. Since when did he mock me as well? Most did but for me Mr. Humble was one of the few persons at school who was okay. As far as getting not on my nerves and mocking went.

“1954?” I guessed. Where was the point to not say anything when he would say it anyways if I answered wrong.

“Wrong. Try harder. This way you will end up just like your mother. That b- Well like I said, try again.”

He truly went on my nerves.

“1938? Wait I remember it was 1939.”

“Splendid. Looks like you won’t end like her. But don’t get your hopes up too high. What I mean is, that you shouldn’t rest on your laurels. Work hard. Play harder. Ohh, sorry. I forgot you don’t play.”

Everyone laughed. Mr. Humble still amused whispered something in my ear..

“Well, you get what I want to say. It’s advice. Take it to your heart.”

What a weird situation. First he mocks me, then he makes me to a running gag and now?

Dingdong.

School was over.

“People, look at page 237 till next time. Ahh, well forget it. You don’t have time for that. And Jason.”

He stared at me. “What is it, Mr. Humble?”

“Never mind.”

The situation grew weirder from second to second.

I packed my bag. It was from Deuter. Stored 40l and was fashion just before the game came out. He Worked hard for it but now none gives a fuck. Everyone talks about this game. Levels there, items here and mysterious things over there. I wish I could talk with them. even the teachers played. Good point about that is that we don’t get any homeworks. Great!

Apparently I am the only one at school who doesn’t play Royal road. Royal road. Yeah, that’s what I am working so hard for.

It was winter, therefore it was already dark outside. Wonderful...

After going out of the school, on my way home, I thought about what happened in school. What kind of advice should that be? I know that I have to work hard to accomplish something. He doesn’t have to tell me that.

I heard a shout out of an allee. A woman. I strapped my bag tightly around my chest. I ran around the corner, stone in hand. Covered by the big buildings the allee was pitch black. I were not on the main street. Actually it was a side street, near my home. So there weren’t any people around who could help except me that is.

I slowly approached the corner with my back against the wall. Slowly, slowly.

Crunch

What the hell? The sound came from where I just were. I looked around suspiciously. Nothing. Weird. Maybe a rat?

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

I spied around the corner. Again nothing. Fucking strange.

“Anyone there? I heard a shout.” Right after he said it, he felt stupid. Did I have to shout? Dumbwit.

“A shout?” The deep voice came from around the corner. He just noticed that there was a door, let in into the site.

“I heard nothing” It was a man. That’s what I thought. But then a high pitched cry came from inside.

“Damn. Didn’t I say that you have to shut up.” I realized that I were not welcome. The man was attracted and this was my chance to run. Or should I run? What if the woman is chained inside and screams to get attraction by a bystander like me? What shall I do?

Unconsciously I ran forward, rammed the stone in a upside-down swing against his head. Or that’s what I wanted to achieve. He stopped my move in mid-swing by hitting a nerve somewhere along my arm which opened my fingers. The stone dropped to the ground.

“A brave little boy you are. But what do you want to do now? Thought about that?” I barely noticed before that the man was in the 60s.

“Ehmm, well...”

“Did I do anything wrong?”

“Well, you see I heard that voice - shout and yeah... I thought that woman was in danger. So...so..”

“So?” The old man laughed.

I didn’t know how I had to answer.

“A woman? If you mean that this sound came from a woman then you are clearly mistaken. Weird. I thought everyone knows this sound nowadays.” Apparently should I know what sound it was but I couldn’t categorize it.

“Wasn’t that a woman? I mean I heard her voice.”

The mysterious man laughed again even louder than before.

“That - he pointed inside - isn’t a woman. It’s the capsule for Royal Road. You know that game don’t you? You have to!”

That was it. The missing link. I felt like a fool.

“Aehm. I am sorry. I didn’t know that. Well I do know about Royal Road but...”

“But what? You are clearly a weird person. You didn’t know that this sound came from a capsule? Wait.” The man made a strange face. “ You never played Royal Road before? Oh my. And I thought everybody played and gives everything to play. You-”

“Yeah, but everything I have is not enough. I can’t afford it. At the moment that it. I am working hard to earn the money.”

The man was shocked. You could see at his creasings that he was thinking something up.

“I will help you. How much do you have?”

I was sceptical. Why would a complete stranger help me? There has to be a hitch.

“Around 200€ at the moment. But, you know can you afford to help me. I mean-”

The man laughed so loud that I feared my ears burst.

“Kid. I play Royal Road everyday. I am famous inside. And you say I couldn’t afford to give you some pocket money? He wiped some tears from his face.

“It’s a magnificent game. You know that, I know that, everyone knows that. Everyone played it except you. So I will give you the opportunity to merge into a new world, full of wonders, amazing quests, great people and beautiful landscapes. What you do inside is your own choice. Here take it.”

He fished some big cash from his pocket and counted to the amount of money I would need.

I was so amazed that this old man just got out, I don’t know, how much money from his pocket. At least 2000€. Just stored inside his pocket. I stared at the man and switched to the money. I gasped.

“Do you take it or not? I don’t want anything from you. So I would take it if I were you.”

I took the money.

“Thanks. I don’t know how I should pay it back. But thanks. I am truly in your favor.”

“No need to pay anything back. I got enough money and to give someone such an opportunity

is thanks enough for such an old man like myself.”

He laughed again. You could see that he laughed often.

“If you get strong enough come and visit me again inside the game. You will recognise me.”

With that he vanished inside.

I was speechless.