In a white room I stood, in normal speak I was in a white room. A weird place, like every thing was light. The only reason I even knew there were limits to this space is that at the corners it's a little less white , and more gray.

In the middle of the cube or what ever cube-ish space, I don't know if it's a perfect square yet. Was an female human with wings, a halo, white hair. she had white clothes, with gold trims. She was looking the opposite way of my location, I saw her interacting with some screens. Not being an idiot, and not looking at a potential enemy's beauty. I started slowly and quietly walking towards the woman, there wasn't anything I could use inside this space, not even a stray rock. So I chose to choke the weird woman till unconscious.

The woman was very invested in her screens, not even noticing me when I was right behind her in striking distance. It was too easy and convenient for me to let my guard down, I was not sure if it was a trap or not. I chose to get a little closer, and she didn't notice.

Thinking that I shouldn't push my luck, I striked. My elbow being pushed against the woman's throat should've stopped her from breathing, but the woman's body was too strong for my elbow to press against her larnyx or trachea. All I did was shock her, not being dumb and keeping the choke hold I let go the moment I realized that it wasn't doing anything. Trying something while the woman was still suprised I made a round house kick, not even the slightest nudge. It even hurt my foot.

I set my foot on the ground as quickly as possible so that this increadibly powerful woman couldn't grab my leg, and jumped back. If a round house kick can't do it, my fists can't too. Choosing to act like someone apeared, attacked her, and fled.

The Woman turned around and said "Able, we just met and you attack me. Isn't that cruel? Attacking someone you don't know."

I made a small cough to convay that I'm going to speak "Sorry but who is able? I just appeared here, and some weird crack in space was made, a humanoid being came out and attacked you, and left. So I think you've got the wrong guy, can you tell me where the exit is?" Bullshiting is so nerve wrecking-

The woman had a suprised face, then a sorry expression "I am so sorry! I think I mixed you up for someone else, his name is 'able drake' if I'm correct. I'm supposed to offer him a sponsorship today, the meeting with a canidate happens after their dreams." The woman scratched the back of her neck "I must've accidentally chosen you instead of him, I'm really sorry!" -But it feels so good when it works.

But something seemed of about what the woman said 'Able Drake, Able Drake. That feels so familiar, what was it? It was my name in the coma fever dream, was that real and my decade in the modern world a dream? Not like I am going to tell this humanoid this realization. And what the hell is a sponsorship? Best to not embarrass myself for asking.'

I said "Then how do I leave?"

Still with a sorry expression "W-well, you leave after a few minutes or after accepting the sponsor ship."

"What to do for that time? It's not like you're going to ask me to take the sponsor for you to not lose your job." I said the last sentance as if it was obvious.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

The woman scratched her arm with her other hand, and said "Y-yea that would be ridiculous."

I reached my hand out for a hand shake, which was somehow a thing in Icarus. "Then I will introduce myself, my name is howard."

The woman nervously reached out with her hand, till her hand accepted my handshake. "This is how you do it right?"

I nodded absent mindedly, affirming her. I looked at my hands, and it wasn't young like my time as Able, or old like the howard in the snake oil chronicles. It must be something to do with what you unconsiously think of as your real self.

The woman perked up with that half-hearted nod, must have low standards. "I don't know if it's a name, but my friends call me 7."

I raised my eyebrow, and said "Most humans would say it isn't, but the definition of a name is-" I cleared my throat "-'a word or set of words by which a person or thing is known, addressed, or referred to'. (look it up)" I sighed "But to be blunt, it's a bad name."

'7' made a frown and made an "Awww" sound, then asked hopefully "Then can you give me a new name?"

I made a pained expression, and said "Aaahhh, so the thing is, we're not close enough for that. How a bout you ask your boss, okay?"

'7' got even more downtrodden and said "Okay."

And then the conversation ended, there wasn't really a lot to talk about. It was very awkward, but I wanted to make the most of this chance "Soo, do you have any hobbies?" Which was befriending a weird angel girl.

'7' tilted her head in confusion and said "What's a hobby?"

I frowned and said "The dictionary definition of 'hobby' is, 'an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure'."

'7' looked like she understood and said "I guess I have somthing like that, through the screens I look at the lives of the sponsored."

I put my hand in front of my face and said "So you can see what the sponsored do through screens?"

'7' quickly said "Yes."

"Oh." I said, and the situation again became awkward.

This time '7' tried to break the ice "Then, what do you do?"

I anwsered her with "I'm an investor."

'7' asked "What's that?"

I laughed and said "That's elementary, an invest-"

At that moment a screen popped up

The time for convincing is up.

Looking at candidate's thoughts of accepting...

then another

Thoughts of accepting too low to continue.

'7' started waving and said "Goodbye."

Then all dissapeared, my senses were gone, stimuli was gone, light was gone.

Then it all returned, and I was laying in my bed.

I got up and sat on my bed thinking 'Was that a dream? Or was it real? Now that I think about the time with my society, the time between the end and the beggining is very hazy. I only know the big strokes, I guess this is hindsight biass. The biggest thing I got from this little night time excursion, is that gods actually exist. I was still suspicious if they were truly real, not being sure if it was skill shenanigans or actual divine beings. But what is a sponsorship? Lets think about that later.'

Then I looked at the crystal that was still laying on my table, I put it there absent mindedly when I went to sleep 6 days ago. I should have activated it yesterday, but I completely forgot that it existed. A blatent reminder that I'm not perfect, I don't like it.