by Alex Mulder
“Attention, students. Before we begin first period today, we’re going to have a mandatory assembly in the gym. Please make your way there now.”
Luke’s locker was just upstairs from the gym. He and Sam made their way down, finding seats near the front of the auditorium. The principal stood on the stage behind a microphone.
“Huh, I wonder what this is…” Luke glanced to his side, and realized that Sam was no longer sitting next to him. He looked around and saw more students filing in and sitting down. One took Sam’s seat before Luke could save it for her, but as he looked back up at the stage, he saw that there was no need.
“Hmm, yes, alright.” The Principal was toying with the microphone stand with the assistant principal on one side of him and Sam on the other. “Settle down, everyone. Quiet!”
The clamber slowly died down and the Principal cleared his throat.
“I’ve gathered all of you here today to talk about the elephant in the room.” The principal paused, and then scanned the gymnasium, making sure that he had everyone’s attention. “Virtual reality. It is destroying lives, families and communities. It is tricking your peers into killing themselves.”
This feels like the anti-drug seminars they make us sit through every year.
“Virtual reality games, such as Call of Warfare, Yvvaros, and Cropville, are not like the video games that all of you grew up on. They’re something much more pervasive and addictive, and we need to recognize the threat while there’s still time.”
A murmur spread through the room. Luke glanced over his shoulder at the student body, and suddenly realized that it looked a lot smaller than it had at the last assembly he’d been to.
“Over a hundred students, just at our school have…” The Principal cleared his throat again. “Well, let’s just say that they aren’t here right now. This isn’t a fad, this is a pandemic. That’s a direct quote from the President of the United States.”
“Shut the games down!” shouted someone from the back of the room.
“Governments all around the world have begun taking appropriate, regulatory action to stem the problem,” said the Principal, “With that said… the issue is a rather complicated one.”
The students in the gymnasium broke out into whispers. The principal frowned and tapped on the microphone.
“We’re taking our own measures here at this school to provide guidance as you encounter this new danger in your lives.” He gestured to his left. “I’m going to let Sam Jennings talk about her efforts on this front. She’s begun a student organized support group called ‘Life is the Game.’ Sam, go right ahead.”
The Principal stepped away from the microphone and Luke felt his heart begin to pound in his chest as his childhood friend became the center of attention.
Oh no… She’s not going to-
“Luke, come on up here!” Sam smiled and pointed to him as she called him out on the microphone. “I want to start by introducing all of you to someone who has fought against VR addiction and is winning the battle. Come on up, Luke, tell your story!”
God fucking damn it.
The crowd, filled with a number of students who had once been Luke’s tormentors, broke out into applause. He slowly stood up and awkwardly made his way down the line of students and over to the stairs leading up to the stage.
He forced a smile onto his face as he walked over to the microphone. Sam smiled back at him and set a hand on his shoulder.
“Tell everyone what happened Luke, why it happened, and what it showed you.”
Luke stepped in front of the microphone.
“Uh, hey.”
The crowd was dead silent.
“About a week ago, I… I tried to go all in to a VR game…”
This is stupid. What the fuck am I supposed to say?
“I’ve seen other people do it before. I’ve seen why they do it before. I’ve played Yvvaros, a lot of it. Yvvaros… it isn’t like most video games. It isn’t like any video game I’ve played before. It feels real.”
The Principal and Sam looked cautiously at each other from behind Luke.
“The players that have gone all in, some of them I knew really well…” Luke paused, and thought about what he was about to say. “They haven’t killed themselves. I know that’s how the media portrays it, but they haven’t…”
Students began talking in the audience. Luke could hear arguments taking place. Something landed next to him on the stage, a crumpled wad of paper.
“I guess what I really have to say about what’s been happening is that it’s not what you think,” he said. “It’s not what any of you think. It’s not an addiction, and it’s not a pandemic. It’s a transition, a scary one. I know it’s hard to understand, but-”
“Thank you, Luke.” The Principal grabbed the microphone stand and pulled it away from him, sending a loud screech of feedback through the auditorium. “That will be enough.”
Sam was glaring at him and shaking her head. Luke started to think of something, anything he could say in his defense, and then looked away from her.
I can’t lie anymore, not to her and not to myself.
Several paper projectiles flew from the crowd, a couple of them hitting Luke in the head and shoulder as he made his way toward the back of the room. He left the auditorium, and then continued walking through the empty halls of the school and out the exit.
Luke was half expecting Sam to follow after him, but as he walked across the school’s parking lot, there was no sign of her. He took a deep breath and started off.
Before heading back to his own, empty house, Luke stopped off at the one place where he felt like he could talk to someone who would understand. Ben was living alone. His parents had come home for the funeral, but they left right afterward, only staying long enough to make sure that Ben’s physical needs would be met.
Ben’s not okay on his own, and I’m not sure if I am either.
Luke knocked hard on his friend’s front door. He knew that it was pointless, and that Ben wasn’t going to answer. After a couple of seconds, he turned the doorknob. It was unlocked, and the door swung open easily.
The house was a mess. Several pizza boxes, still half full and attracting flies, were stacked on the coffee table in the living room. Soda and beer cans littered the counter, and the air smelled stale.
Luke hurried upstairs. Ben was exactly where he’d been expecting him to be, sitting at his desk chair, VR headset on. On the table next to him was a bottle of liquor, a rainbow colored array of pills and his pipe.
“Damn it, Ben….” Luke sighed and shook his head. “What the hell are we doing?”
Maybe we should just go all in. Become Kato and Silverstrike, and give up on trying in the real world.
Luke didn’t bother trying to pull the headset off his friend. He turned and left, walking out of the house and heading down the street toward home.
CHAPTER 4
Luke wanted to play Yvvaros. Or rather, he felt like he had to. The distinction between where the real world ended and where the fantasy world began was becoming almost arbitrary, despite the sharp, physical boundaries that separated the two.
When I think about it and hear about it in the real world, it just seems like a place, like Mexico, or Russia. A place I can go to and visit, only it’s a lot easier to get to.
Luke pulled on the VR headset and stepped back into Dunidan’s Rest. It was midmorning in-game, and as usual, the sky over the Sarchia Desert was crystal clear.
“You’re back…” Tess walked into the guild hall almost immediately, crossing her arms and leaning against the door frame. “I didn’t think I’d be seeing you for another few hours.”
“Yeah,” said Luke. “I got out early.”
He wanted to tell her about being set up at the assembly by Sam, and about the mess his real world existence was devolving into, but something stopped him.
None of it matters to her. There’s no reason for Kato to talk about Luke’s problems.
&nb
sp; He smiled and ran a hand through his hair as he stepped out through the door of the guild hall. Tess followed after him slowly, her expression a mask of concern.
“Silverstrike was looking for you earlier,” she said. “I think he found something interesting. Or at least, if I had to guess, that’s what I’d say, he’s not exactly chatty with me lately.” She added.
Luke said nothing. He had unsheathed his sword and was slowly digging a hole into the sand with the tip of it.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” He shrugged. “Where’d you see him last?”
“Just outside Dunidan’s Rest.” Tess moved so that she was a little closer to him and leaned in so that their eyes met.
“What is it?” asked Luke. Tess shook her head slightly.
“You don’t have to pretend for me, Luke.” Tess took a deep breath. “We both have to make our own choices when it comes to life and what we want out of it.”
“I know what I want out of life, Tess.” He took her hand into his and gave it a gentle squeeze. Tess frowned at him.
“Do you?”
“Tess…” Luke tried to think of something else to say to her, some way of explaining the confusing thoughts fighting for supremacy in his head. But nothing came to him, and after a moment, Tess turned away.
I know what I want. I want to be able to relax, to not have to worry about the stress that torments every decision I make, every responsibility I have.
Luke stared at the sand as he walked across the inner yard of Dunidan’s Rest. Katrina and her guild had already begun construction on the smithy.
I want to live here without worrying about the real world, and without worrying about the Arbiters.
“Kato!” Silverstrike was stepping in through the front gate. Luke made his way over to him. “Yo, I think I found something we should… Are you okay?”
Luke frowned. It was too much of an effort for him to keep his emotions from leaking through, so instead, he waved a hand as though physically dismissing his friend’s concern.
“I’m fine,” he said. “Now, what is it that you found?”
Silverstrike nodded, and Luke was glad to see that he’d let it drop.
This is the basis of our friendship. I ignore his issues in the real world, and he ignores mine.
“There’s a new player controlled settlement on the northwest coast, right in between the border of the Inner Plains and the Blue Void.” Silverstrike pulled his map out of his satchel and tapped his finger on a spot. “It’s called Megwin’s Bay.”
“So what?” asked Luke. “At least a dozen have popped up in the last week. What makes this one special?”
“Would you stop interrupting and let me get to my point?”
“Fine.”
Silverstrike cleared his throat.
“I sent one of Katrina’s guild members out to Megwin, the guild leader, to talk about opening up the supply lines. We have access to a lot of rare crafting ingrediants out here in the desert that we won’t be able to use up on our own.”
“And?” asked Luke.
“Megwin is interested in working something out, but that’s not all.” Silverstrike set a hand on Luke’s shoulder. “He knows about you, Luke.”
“Everyone knows about me,” he replied, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes. “The Battle of Kantor has practically been turned into mythos at this point.”
“He wants you to come to the meeting with me,” said Silverstrike. “He says that it has to do with…”
Silverstrike glanced around, making sure nobody could overhear.
“With ‘dealing with’ the Arbiters.”
“What?” Luke tried to keep his surprise in check. “Dealing with them? Did he say how?”
“I don’t know, that’s all the messenger was able to get out of him,” said Silverstrike. “Which is why you being here right now is perfect. We can head up to Megwin’s Bay and find out for ourselves!”
Luke couldn’t resist smiling.
“Alright,” he said. “Let’s do it.”
The two of them spent a minute eating lunch in Dunidan’s Rest and gathering up supplies before they set out. Tess was lounging by the oasis with Katrina, and Luke was glad that she didn’t come to the gate to see him off.
I don’t have to convince her to stay here. I’m not sure if I’d be able to this time.
“Ready?” asked Silverstrike.
Luke nodded, and they left the settlement heading off to the north.
For a moment, it felt almost like it had when Luke had first started playing the game. Silverstrike was an Agent, a Rogue class subtype, and he dexterously moved across the desert, one shotting Sand Scamps as they went.
“I’m at level 17 now, Luke,” he said, with a smile. “Let me know if any of these guys give you trouble and I’ll do what I can to save you.”
“Your sense of humor is as sharp as ever.” Luke grinned, and spotted a group of Sand Scamps approaching from their left.
CONJURE SWORD 3
Luke launched off his three magical blades a split second before Silverstrike used his own combat ability, an exploding oil potion that he lobbed through the air. Luke’s swords skewered the low level Sand Scamps, and then Silverstrike’s potion splashed fire onto their corpses.
“Teamwork,” said Silverstrike. “Nothing can stop us, man.”
Luke shrugged.
Let’s hope not.
The Inner Plains had become much more populated since the Battle of Kantor. Luke could see groups of players moving across the grassy hills as the two of them approached, taking out enemies as though it was their job to keep patrol.
“Permadeath has changed how people play,” said Luke. “It’s a little messed up to see how many players are afraid to confront more than the low level content.”
“Well, the alternative is risking your avatar’s life,” said Silverstrike. “Not everyone is a thrill seeker.”
Luke shook his head.
“They shouldn’t have to be to enjoy Yvvaros.” He turned and looked out to the western ocean. The high level islands on the horizon were practically empty compared to the Inner Plains.
Luke’s anger was much deeper than he could easily express. The game or rather, the world of Yvvaros felt like a bastardization of its former self. Arbiters wielded absolute power, and even the rules of the virtual reality had been rewritten to oppress the player base.
“Come on,” said Silverstrike. “Megwin’s Bay is just ahead. Let’s stay focused on why we’re here.”
“Sure.”
The settlement of Megwin’s Bay was reminiscent of a medieval port town. A guild hall similar to the one Luke’s guild, The Consulate, had built in Dunidan’s Rest, was the center point. Another two buildings, one of which was clearly an inn, were set up on either side of it.
Its location directly on the northwest coast of Yvvaros allowed for another building that Luke almost didn’t recognize at first. It was larger than any of the others, and a long wooden pier extended out into the ocean next to it.
It’s a boathouse… That’s how this zone has developed so quickly.
Luke and Silverstrike slowed to a walk as they approached the outskirts of Megwin’s Bay. There was no wall encircling the settlement, but a couple of players in heavy armor stood outside of the main guild hall. One of them held up a hand as the two walked toward the door.
“State your business,” said the guard.
Luke started to answer, but Silverstrike beat him to it.
“We’re here to meet with Megwin,” he said. “I’m Silverstrike and this is Kato. We’re the co-leaders of The Consulate, and founders of Dunidan’s Rest.”
The guard leaned over to one of his companions and whispered something before turning back to Silverstrike.
“Wait here.”
He disappeared inside the guild hall. A minute later, he reappeared in the door and gestured for Luke and Silverstrike to follow him inside.
Sitting in a large woo
den chair was a player dressed in a striking silk outfit. There wasn’t a single piece of armor on his body, or a weapon at his side, and as Luke and Silverstrike studied him he smiled and waved them in closer.
“Welcome, welcome,” said the player. “I’m Megwin. Please, have a seat.”
He’s not exactly what I was expecting.
“Hello, Megwin,” said Silverstrike. “Thank you for having us.”
He reached out to shake the guild leader’s hand. Megwin was polite, but his attention was entirely focused on Luke.
“And you brought the man of the hour,” said Megwin. “The Hero of Kantor.”
Not this again.
“I’m just Kato,” said Luke. “There’s no need to-”
Megwin broke into raucous laughter and clapped him on the shoulder.
“You have so very much to learn about making a strong first impression,” said Megwin. “Someone like you is never ‘just’ anything.”
An awkward silence hung on the air for just long enough to make Luke wince. Silverstrike made a noise, and Megwin finally turned his attention away from Luke.
“So, we’re here about the message you left with our emissary,” said Silverstrike.
“Straight to business. I like it.” Megwin leaned back in his chair and brought his fingers together. “Yes… There is something that I think would be of interest to you, your guild, and especially to Mr. Kato right here.”
Luke took a deep breath and tried to bury his frustration in his exhale.
“The information does come at a price, however.” Megwin looked as though he was enjoying himself, speaking each word with a slow, narcissistic drawl.
“What do you want?” asked Luke.
“Your zone is in the desert. Mine is on the coast.” Megwin gestured with both of his hands, holding each one out to either side. “I’d like to set up regular trade routes.”
“That’s why I sent my messenger here in the first place,” replied Silverstrike. “We could have settled all this with a couple of letters, Megwin.”
“Nevertheless, you are here, and we’re all businessmen, are we not?”
Luke and Silverstrike said nothing. Megwin nodded, and then continued.