It felt as though he just woken up.
...But he was sure he had just said; "Game start.".
"Ugh.. Where am I?" He asked blearily, rubbing at his eyes- he looked around. Tossing silk bed sheets aside. The room was very regal looking, like a room at the white house. Or a French mansion.
He rolled out of the bed. The light-brown hardwood was polished and smooth like Samanthas house. Then he saw what he was wearing.
He would've laughed, but he was a man on a mission... People used to wear some ridiculous pajamas back in medieval times though.
He saw himself in a standing mirror in the corner of the room. He had to wave at it to make sure it was him- it randomized his character creation it seemed. That was a huge bummer, but he hadn't planned on staying long in any case.
His hair was a light green color- at least his eyes were green like before. Very tan. The ethnicity was vague and hard to place.
Theo shrugged. He seemed more handsome than before. Theo wanted to follow an OP build he saw online, but apparently somethings changed and it picked for him., 'Wonder what my class is then.', he found some clothes hanging from a wardrobe.
The regal outfit was a puzzle to put on, there were many different pieces. But after several minutes there here stood- in the frilly looking suit. A dark purple in most places, white and off-green.
It was just like the gameplay- indistinguishable from reality. Every touch or sensation- felt real... It spat in the face of the real world how convincing it was. Theo was faced with a bit of an existential crisis just thinking about it. Outside, his body laid comatose.
'But there was a bit of reality here- it's not so bad. There's other players, for one. For two, it's using my own brain to create it. It's not as real, but it's real enough.'. Here he sat, dressed like a French noble at some opulent desk. And he looked different, beyond what any plastic surgery could do. He had to shake away these existential thoughts.
"Is that a freakin' sword?" he said aloud as he saw it- a sheathed cutlass leaned against the wall near the door. Theo eagerly snatched it up- it had a dark green sheath with golden embroidery.
As he unsheathed it, the blade was a gleaming teal color.
"That's badass." he swung it around, it was difficult to balance with. The end was heavier like a scimitar. This place probably had the culture where nobles would carry around decorative swords. He hoped it did.
"Lord Malton?" a voice called from beyond the opulent off-white door.
Theo stammered as he responded. "Y-yeah?" he had no idea how to act like a noble person! But it was an Npc surely, they shouldn't care how he acts. The way the voice sounded though- it elicited a genuine response from Theo. He couldn't help it. They were just too real.
"Are you well? The staff had elected to allow you to sleep in regarding the events of the other day... But it is noon now sir and we're worried you may fall into melancholy."
Theo opened up the door. There a middle-aged butler stood. He had nearly trimmed salt and pepper hair and goatee. A few other shadowing maids or butlers walked away as the door opened.
The butler seemed pleased. "Ah! Very good sir, miss Celica prepared a Chicken Liver & Pineau Pâté that is simply delectable. I'll have a portion prepared- your friend Sir Khaeve sent word he plans to visit, I believe he intends to offer a trade with you... Also- it's not my nature to pry my Lord, but that duel yesterday was closely fought. Lady Malton has beaten even commanders of the guard mind you-"
The butler noticed the thousand yard stare Theo was giving him. He wasn't disappointed about whatever the outcome of some duel was. It was all just so overwhelming to him, his brain was still processing.
"-Anyways sir, should I have the Pineau Pâté send to the dining room, or perhaps the library?"
Theo pinched the ridge of his brow and sighed.
"Uhhh... The dining room. -What was your name again?"
The butler seemed taken aback by that. But after a moment of consideration he actually seemed pleased by it.
"My name is Stelios my lord." he bowed politely and left down the hall.
"Oh! One more thing... Which way is the dining room?"
---
The second question confused the butler, but Theo had anticipated on the place being a maze.
It was massive. The walls lined with paintings, hunting trophies, suits of armors or weapons, just various trinkets and baubles.
Every now and then there'd be a fancy set of couches or rugs out in the open.
The dining room itself had a tall glass door that led to a veranda, which had a garden beyond it.
'Not bad. Did all players start like this? Surely this world would run out of castles.',
Theo sat there sipping his coffee. They had it, evidently. The staff were giving him confused glances as he drank.
It wasn't hard to see why -he was eyeing the wall decorations like a tourist. Theo felt that he shouldn't have to try so hard, he was a player after all. The NPCs had to play along, but him? Not so much. They were just too convincing not to respond to genuinely.
The food was good, at first he was a bit iffy about eating chicken liver. But the fact that it was only 1's and 0's- and tasted good convinced him to clean his plate.
He patted his stomach contentedly. 'Reminds me of that scene from the matrix. The steak. If its anything like this then plug me in baby.'
"You're acting awfully glib considering." A woman said as she strutted into the room. She was dressed in a ball gown, a similar faded green color as her eyes and hair.
She looked at him expectantly- suddenly Theo was put on the spot. This wasn't like the staff NPCs, she expected a conversation.
"What can I say? I'm in a good mood. Have you tried this?" Theo pointed down at his plate.
She scoffed and sat in one of the fancy chairs, dragging it loudly across the floor. Theo looked to see if it was leaving marks. It wasn't.
"So you're making excuses then, of how you lost?", she waved a maid over and began speaking in her ear.
It gave Theo time to think. The hair, the attitude, this was his sister. And evidently she had beaten him in a duel yesterday.
Theo shrugged, "We're all good at different things. I'm not much of a fighter. Nice... Dress?"
She gave him a confused look, a look many of the NPCs thus far has given him.
"...What?" Theo asked after a moment.
A servant approached a delivered some kind of salad to the woman.
"You're behaving strangely..." she picked at the leaves on her plate.
"Uh, well, you know- *ahem*" he coughed. Was she suspicious? An NPC? Could his cover be blown?
[Assimilation]
He heard an unnaturally deep voice say. It was inside his head- he was sure of it. His 'sister' didn't notice it at all.
It would've made him flinch but he suddenly had an inspiration as to what to say;
"No that's fine. I'm no sore loser, I've just reflected on what really matters. There are worse things than to lack the capacity for violence. No, I'd like to be the sort who can convince others to do as I say because of the merit of my arguments. Though I can see the value of combat for self defense. Not that is something WE'D have to worry about." Theo gestured to the mansion around him.
"Fair enough... It is good that you could be so graceful in defeat brother. Lesser men would never accept a duel with the opposite sex to begin with."
Theo shook his head knowingly;
"Our house has always been very liberal that way. Women with the right preparations can overcome mundane biological differences. If combat is their vocation in any case."
She seemed satisfied with that, she wiped her mouth with a napkin and left the table.
"Very well then, you acknowledged my ability so I shan't flaunt my victory so much."
The tension seemed to drain from the room- Theo hadn't realized the staff had been holding their shoulders a bit high.
The two of them must be known for their arguments.
'But what was that voice? [Assimilation]? It seemed that it allowed him to get in touch with what his character would have said.'
He shook his head. "Stelios?", "Yes my lord?", his faithful attendant stepped forward from where he was standing patiently.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"I'd like to go riding, where were the stables again?"
---
It was overcast, and it would sprinkle every so often. But he enjoyed it. Real fresh air. A horse, a real horse! Well, real enough.
He had ridden once before, and it showed. A nervous butler rode close by as they did one lap around the state.
The lands around the estate were cleared of any dense thickets. They passed through a series of gardens and lawns, fountains and cobblestone pathways.
Even a hedgemaze. But they rode beyond.
To the forest.
"Say, Stelios, or is it Sir Stelios? I've heard you called."
"Either is fine my lord, I was once a knight in his majesties guard before serving house Malton."
"Sir Stelios then, what would you say my best qualities are? Am I a warrior, or just a handsome fool?",
Stelios seemed taken aback by that. "Sir, I am quite flattered but I do not prefer the company of men, and it would be inappropriate considering my position-"
"No! Fuckin' ew- no you old bastard!" Stelios seemed to breath a sigh of relief.
It was hard to keep speaking like everyone else did, they spoke using old english rules often times. Their accents were close enough, but that might be the games language settings at work.
It seems that it was easy to misunderstand him. He'd have to work on that.
"I just meant like, what was I really good at before fighting my sister yesterday? And be honest." Theo asked.
They were at a slower trot now as it would be unsafe to ride any faster.
Every so often they would have to duck or lean out of the way of a branch.
"Ah, I see then... Your prowess in combat is not irredeemable my lord. It is simply that your sister is very talented and trains rigorously. I'd say you would best the average soldier, and that is enough of a man of your station."
'Was it that obvious?' Theo and this guy he role played as likely had a lot in common then. Theo had an athletic build in real life like this, but he was no fighter either. Just every time he fought, he couldn't put his heart into it. It just had always felt wrong and pointless to Theo.
But if a retired Knight thought a guy like Theo could beat the average soldier- that couldn't be so bad.
Theo puffed his chest out a bit as he rode. Much to the chagrin of Sir Stelios.
It did confirm one thing at least- he didn't have the [Warrior] class. Perhaps he was a bard, if how he was dressed was anything to go off of.
He could ride, he could travel. And he was a noble person, which gave Theo another idea.
"Could you do me a favor Stelios?", "Of course Sir.", "I'd like to post... A 'bounty', I want it to be known that I'm searching for someone. An elderly woman named Samantha Lemont. But ensure one thing, that she is given the upmost respect and curtesy. I want any information regarding her location. I'll give them 10 gold."
The butlers eyes widened.
"20 gold?" Theo added.
"...No other description Sir?" Stelios asked after awhile. "Nope, just the name and the fact she's a crazy old lady." Theo smiled a bit at the thought.
Imagining what she'd say if she saw him now.
---
They rode back to the estate grounds but were intercepted just before they got there.
A few soldiers dressed in green tabards and armors- a uniform of sorts- stood barring their way. Horses turned to the side covering the narrow path.
"Apologies Milord, we simply wanted to inquire to the message you left at the guard yesterday."
The central guard spoke as Theo and Stelios rode over to them. Theo only shook his head.
[Assimilation]
It seemed to trigger whenever he was nervous. The deep voice sounded in his mind and his nerves seemed to calm a bit. There was an air of suspicion again.
"I'm sorry, but I had quite a bit to drink then and may of had a bit of a misunderstanding. Could I see the note? I hardly remember."
He delivered the line perfectly, as casual as can be. With even a hint of embarrassment.
The guard hardly looked away from him- but nodded and reached into his saddle bag producing a folded letter.
Eloquently written;
'Guard Ishka, of all the guards- I've confided in you before. I don't know where to turn now. I've consulted with alchemists and healers and while they assure me that I am in perfect health- I do not know for sure. But I feel that as though a shadow hangs over me. Perhaps it is madness- but in the event of my demise, I ask that you get to the bottom of it.'
'Oh shit.', Theo immediately thought. A 'shadow'? How did this whole [Backstory] system work? Was it challenging him to keep up his cover? To 'act' better? Theo knew that the system created memories of the player for each NPC when they spawn. But did it also challenge them to fill that role?
Or did he actually replace a guy? He wrote right here- this was evidence of his existence!
This wasn't as advertised. It wasn't what he had seen in the gameplay videos. He was at a loss.
"Lord Malton?", the guard asked.
Theo looked back up. "Yes, I have been feeling paranoid as of late I must admit." he was only half lying.
"Did you anger anyone in town? Receive any threatening letters? Or are you just... Concerned?" they were clearly confused as they questioned him.
"I received a... Warning. Yes! A warning of my demise from a woman named Samantha Lemont."
The guards looked between one another. One produced a quill and paper. "Samantha Lemont? From town?"
"I'm not sure where she is from but I intend to find out and question her further. The warning was ambiguous to say the least but none the less disconcerting... She had said things they no one besides myself knew. Rest assured- I made sure to destroy her letter to me."
The knights seemed to shiver at the idea. But that was the affect Theo was going for. For whatever reason, this 'Lord Malton', felt threatened. And now he had to make an excuse as to why.
"How odd Lord Milton... Very odd indeed. We'll spread the word about this 'Samantha Lemont', perhaps it's some prankster angry with the ruling house. Wouldn't be the first time."
"True. And that would be appreciated, thank you. Good day."
"And good day to you too milord." they nodded and rode on by. Theo breathed a sigh of relief.
As they trotted into the estate grounds Stelios muttered; "Samantha Lemont, so that's why you wanted to find her..."
Theo nodded. It lined up enough. He felt [Assimilation] fading, but while it was active it was easy to 'become' the Lord Malton.
[Backstory Quest added: Obtain the 'Amulet of Drassus']
The words blinked in the corner of his vision. No voice this time.
'A quest? Now?' he blinked a few times and the text disappeared.
---
After taking the horses back to the stables, Sir Stelios went to help one of the staff with a problem they had been having.
Theo felt bad for him, had he been monopolizing Stelios' time?
'I feel like a prick, ordering these people around. Sure they're NPCs, but real people used to do this. And they seem so real... Hundreds of people in service to a few dozen, it's so unfair.'
Theo had seen how the staff acted- so poised and patient. Just waiting to be needed. 'Why did they do it?'
He decided to approach one and ask.
Theo turned to the maid that started following him around when Stelios left.
"Excuse me miss, but I was just curious. Why are you here exactly..? Why are there so many here that serve so few?"
She stammered nervously; "I-I'm here because my family owes a debt to the Malton family... My mother she was sick, it was... Many reasons. We're grateful for the Maltons and a few years of service is the least I could do Lord Malton."
"-Oh. Very well then. Thank you.", of course it would be something like that. They wouldn't be here 'just because'. It's like cleaning the dishes at a restaurant when you can't pay.
It was still awkward.
Theo walked along the castle grounds for the remainder of the day. Talking with the staff. Gardner's, hunters, butlers and maids, the occasional guard. So many people were working while he just walked around, no one ever asked him to do anything.
He found out his first name was Charles. And Charles Malton was... Not the best guy. He was probably 'decent' as far as noble people go.
But he was a bit of a womanizer- Theo had suspicions, based on how some of the female staff treated him. The treatment was... Mixed.
His favorite pass-time was frequenting the town on shopping trips. Fraternizing with other nobles as parties. Playing the lute, writing poetry, but besides that he was relatively average. He could swing a sword and ride a horse at an adequate level.
Piece by piece, Theo managed to figure out Charles Maltons life. He found discreet ways to bring it up in every conversation he had as he explored the estate grounds.
It took hours and now the sun had begun to set. And his maid attendant Urla asked if he planned on attending dinner with his family.
He decided to.
---
The dinning room was well lit, chandeliers and wall sconces lined the room.
The off-white color of the walls had dark oak trim, and they were mostly covered by decorative pieces or furniture.
The silverware, the food, it was all so bourgeoisie. Theo hated that he liked it so much, but when in Rome, live as the Romans do. But even he had to admit- classism it had its' perks.
The other Maltons' had already joined the table before he had, "Look who has decided to join us." the man- likely his father- at the head of the table said.
He was an aged version of Theo essentially, but paler skin. A woman with dark skin and hair sat next to him.
Theo hastily sat down. "I apologize for being late father, I had many things to attend to."
A child or two and a dozen young adults also sat at the table. Including his sister who had beaten him in a duel. They mostly disregarded him as he sat.
'There were so many!' Theo thought. Who said the rich didn't have kids? Because they were wrong, at least in this case.
"Yes, galivanting around the grounds pestering the staff is not worth demonstrating rudeness over. Be sure to arrive on time in the future."
Theo went to say 'yeah, sorry' or something but the man continued speaking disregarding him.
"-In any case, I hear you received top marks in your magus classes Leslie. Something about a rogue elemental?", he spoke to a little girl with dark hair like her mother who sat nearby-
"Yes papa, one of my student peers had foolishly summoned an elemental beyond their ability to control. Fortunately I was able to dispel it using a flame cantrip and no harm came to anyone."
Theos mouth dropped. 'She was what- 10 years old!?'
She spoke so eloquently and humbly. And that girl could shoot fire? Children always creeped Theo out. And this one gave Theo 'psycho/genius' vibes.
"Very well done Leslie. Perhaps we should reward you, some fire stones from the treasury perhaps?"
Leslie beamed at the compliment.
Theo had leaned forward at that. He had a quest to find some amulet. Maybe he could find it there.
"I was able to best Sir Rokir in a duel father!" a kid about five years older than Leslie spoke next.
The middle aged man only shook his head.
"You likely accomplished so because Sir Rokir has aged significantly since he's last seen combat. Perhaps it is time we get you a more advanced tutor?"
Corvus blanched- "That's unnessecary father! Sir Rokir might be slower now, but he's-"
"Now, Corvus, let's not form personal attachments so easily. A tutor is a tutor, if one does not serve to further your studies than another will be provided. Now, anyone else?"
"I won a duel as well father." a woman around Theos age said coyly. She sat across from him a few seats over.
Theo looked up from his plate that he had been devouring and saw a small smile on her face.
'What about my pacifist speech from before? I thought we settled this.', he thought as he starred at her but she just returned a look of 'Oh well, sucks to suck.'.
The father just sawed off a piece of mutton with a knife and fork without looking up as he spoke; "I'm afraid I'm not impressed of that either Elise, Charles is a man of the arts clearly, not the sword."
At that, Theo nodded proudly. Elise deflated, but only a bit, she seemed one of the proudest nobles here. After that, the table of nobles, cousins, children, parents, all began having different conversations.
Just idle chatter.
Theo motioned over one of the attendants that stood waiting. "Can I have a bit of the chicken liver?" he asked, it was weird but he really liked it when he had it that morning and was craving it.
"Yes Lord Charles", -only now they use his first name? In a room full of Maltons it was likely necessary.
"Thank you.", he went back to eating a biscuit.
"What is this politeness Charles? How unlike you to be so kind to the help. I heard you've been going around, making amends with the help all day. What brought about this change?"
A man a bit older than him asked. His faded green hair meant he was likely an older sibling, or uncle.
"I'm unsure. Perhaps my less than graceful defeat humbled me."
They both laughed at that.
"If you'd like, I could give you some pointers. I don't boast it, but I am told that I'm at the level of a knight commander."
"Thank you, but as father said I believe my efforts are based directed towards where my talents lie."
The man nodded respectfully, swallowed and cleared his throat.
"-Still, a man such as yourself should be able to fight at the level of knights at least, we receive the same level of training they do after all."
Theo was reluctant to agree, but it couldn't hurt. If he was going to be in this world for the foreseeable future, he might as well.
He had to wait to see if there's any word about his grandmother anyways. Learn more, and figure out exactly what he's capable of doing as a noble.
"Fine. I could train with you, but I'm not a morning person." Theo said finally.
"Good! I will see you tomorrow afternoon then. Let's see if we can't make a knight out of you. There are plenty of poet knights after all."
They talked awhile longer as the sunset turned to night, and they went back to their different rooms.
--
The lights turned on automatically as he entered. Gems- or crystals inside of sconces began to glow orange and flickered like firelight.
He threw off the purple overcoat he wore. And plopped into a chair that sat at a desk. Then pulled an ink pot over. 'Suppose I better figure out how to word this bounty... Let's see; An elderly woman by the name of Samantha Lemont...' Theo began to write.
Then he saw movement in the corner of the room, two eyes glistened as they stepped forward.
"JESUS CHRIST!" Theo startled as he saw them, clutching his chest in fright.
"It's me!" a voice said, a maid appeared from the darkened corner. Laughing softly.
"You just about gave me a heart attack!", "Shhh! Do you want to get caught? And, who is Jesus Christ?"
"-It's a long story. And what do you mean, getting 'caught?'" Theo had an idea, and his cheeks slowly turned red.
The maid produced a bottle of wine that she was hiding behind her back. "What do you think?"
"Alright then.", he said finally. The woman set the bottle on the table and pulled some glasses from a drawer.
"You're being quiet." she said after pouring some of the wine in the glasses.
He stammered. "Uh- I'm-"
[Assimilation]
"-I'm just at a bit of a crossroads, Violet." he sighed- the redness fading from his cheeks.
"It's like... I thought simply being a noble meant I would be excellent no matter what I do. But it takes real consideration. Have you ever realized how much of a fool you were in a single day?"
"Yes, I dropped a plate of crepes the other day and miss Ethel made sure to make me feel like a fool... The old crone. -Is this about your duel with Elise?" she asked sympathetically.
"Yes. No. Not really, that's just one sign of many that I have not tried as hard as my siblings. Elise could lead knights for christs- gods sake!"
"Guards." she corrected him. "But I thought-", "It was the guard commanders she fights at an equal level. Better than knight alone, but a knight commander is another matter... You're stressed, but I think it's s you said at dinner, you just need to focus on what your talents are."
"...That's the problem. The only thing I rival my siblings in is arrogance." Theo deflated into his chair. Taking a drink of wine.
"Ever the poet..." Violet said rolling her eyes. Then she rested a hand on his, brushing a strand of dark brown hair behind an ear.
"In the end, it doesn't matter if you're a genius like your siblings. You're still you. There are more things to life than skills, or a persons abilities I think."
'You would think that, you're a maid.', Theo shook his head- those weren't his thoughts. Was that [Assimilation] at work?
"Is something the matter?" Violet asked.
"No, it's just- you're right Violet. Sorry for being a buzzkill.", "A buzzkill?"
"I-it means someone who is so sad it brings down the mood of others around them.", Theo explained slowly. 'Words. What words did these people use?'
He could almost feel the [Assimilation] wearing off, his connection to the original Charles Malton was waning.
She kissed him. "I'm just glad you finally trust me. Usually you push me away when stuff like this happens."
He was turning beat red again.
"Well, you know..." he stammered and she laughed. They sipped the wine and talked, laughed- Theo tried sneak in the fact that he'd rather spend the night alone into the conversation. But it didn't end up that way.
One thing led to another- but safe to say, this VRMMO came with an M rating for a reason.
Was it okay- to pose as this person he wasn't and be with a person he wasn't? Theo hardly had time to consider it, before Violet was on top of him.
It was a long night of drinking wine and... 'Talking', but eventually Violet relented and allowed him to sleep.
And when he awoke the next morning, Violet was gone. A strange life, a strange world. And he hasn't even seen magic yet.