Chapter 16: The Counterfeit
As Meraki and Terrchel descended onto the sleek, silver grounds of Arcadia Academy, they were immediately immersed in a vibrant spectacle. A group of kids, clad in crisp, white uniforms, were in the midst of a high-energy dance performance. The students' movements were perfectly choreographed, their feet stomping out a rhythmic beat on the polished, crystal-like surface.
Meraki's eyes narrowed as she observed the scene, her gaze flitting between the performers and the crowd of onlookers. Many people were gathered, recording the performance. Terrchel felt a genuine wellspring of joy watching the kids dance. He couldn't quite understand why this kind of dancing and music felt so profoundly different from his experience at Club Elysium with Meriella just days ago. There, it had been a cacophony of sound and a stifling atmosphere; here, it was pure, unadulterated delight.
Meraki walked up behind Terrchel, her proximity close. She leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "I read about this program. It's supposed to be some kind of initiative by President Lawrence to give The Undergrid kids a chance to attend this prestigious school. These kids must be those who were successfully accepted".
Terrchel's eyebrows shot up, a skeptical frown on his face. "But they seem happy and passionate about what they are doing," he countered, watching the kids' radiant smiles.
Meraki continued, her words dripping with disdain. "Yes, but let's be real, these kids stick out like sore thumbs. They don't belong here, and the Arcadians know it. I bet they get treated like dirt, bullied and belittled by the privileged elite". As if on cue, a group of Arcadian students strolled by, their cybertech uniforms and haughty expressions a stark contrast to The Undergrid kids' humble uniforms. Meraki's eyes flashed with anger. "This whole thing reeks of a publicity stunt. President Lawrence just wants to look good, to make it seem like he cares about the poor and needy. But it's all just a facade".
The dance performance reached its climax, the kids freezing in place as the crowd erupted into applause. Terrchel watched as people approached the performers, giving them ratings on their digital display status and scanning their swatch barcodes to transfer cryptocurrency Arcadian Dollar tips and sponsorships.
Meraki's gaze swept the scene, lingering on the beaming faces of the young performers. "It's sad, really. These kids are just pawns in a game they don't even understand. And in a few minutes, this whole thing will be splashed across the Arcadian media, just another PR stunt to bolster the city's image".
As the crowd began to disperse, Meraki turned to Terrchel, her expression grim. "Let's get out of here. This place makes my skin crawl".
Terrchel, however, disregarded her words. His eyes were fixed on the kids, who were now getting ready to head back inside the Academy doors. A sudden, intense longing seized him, a craving for the pure, unadulterated emotion he had just witnessed. "STOP! I NEED THIS SOURCE OF JOY NOW!" he yelled, his voice echoing across the courtyard, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity.
The kids, still clutching their dance gear, exchanged nervous glances. Terrchel's abrupt outburst sent shockwaves through the crowd, leaving everyone bewildered. Some onlookers snickered, while others whispered among themselves, conjuring up outrageous theories. Within seconds, Arcadia Media was blowing up with absurdities. A hasty social media post proclaimed, "Arcadia's eye candy Cosplay Man Buying Humans!" and the internet promptly lost its collective mind. Comments poured in, ranging from the ridiculous ("Yes, daddy, buy me!") to the outraged ("Human trafficking is soo 2024 get a life!").
Meraki stood frozen, her swatch hologram open before her, eyes widened as she read the latest Arcadia Media updates. She watched Terrchel still approaching the kids, completely oblivious to the mayhem he'd unleashed, despite the buzzing of tech ringing all around in the air. That's when a radiant young dancer approached him, an ethereal glow surrounding her. It seemed as if she was the only one who actually understood him and wasn't frightened by his strange behavior. She handed him an MP3 player and a headset, her smile beatific. "We were here today for this exact purpose, not the performance," she said. Terrchel's confusion was palpable, but he eagerly accepted the AirPod and offered to leave her a rating and payment, but she declined. He was confused because all his days in Arcadia, he saw that this was what humans did; money and ratings were all Arcadians cared about, and you could only get something by these means. But he accepted her gift, realizing that what just happened wasn't normal. People don't just give things for free, especially expensive things, anymore, not in today's life, and her choice of words made him think this had something to do with The Light that reincarnated him. He must have planned for this exact moment, Terrchel thought.
But this act of kindness didn't seem like kindness to Terrchel; instead, it just felt right and normal. So he automatically made a mental note to disregard the "normal" that most Arcadians were accustomed to. As he walked away, the dancer's words lingered in his mind: "God sent us here today for you." The phrase echoed through his thoughts like a mantra, accompanied by the infectious beat of the song now playing on repeat in his headphones. He read the mini MP3 player screen, which displayed: "ıllıllılı.ıllı. Now playing; [Shackles off] 1:07 -4:05 next song repeat pause VOLUME: 00 LJ".
Meraki caught up to Terrchel, her voice strained. "What the hell was that!? Do you know what horrible things they are saying about you online?". Terrchel just smiled at his MP3 player and increased the volume. Meraki removed his headphones, her curiosity piqued. "What on earth is this device? I've never seen one; it must be ancient. The pillagers will go nuts!". Terrchel pulled it back. "No, no, no, this is MINE. I don't know what it is, but it's awesome".
"Well, can you play with your new toy later, not whilst we're still out here together, plus we have a date at Mama Zara's, remember," Meraki said, putting her hands behind her back and batting her eyelids.
"Yeah, sorry, I guess I got a bit carried away almost. Let's head there now. Do you want to get on my back? If I run there we'll get there faster. I'm starving!" Terrchel offered.
"You don't need to ask me twice! Let's goooo!" she exclaimed, jumping onto Terrchel's back without hesitation.
"I wasn't expecting to be launched onto," Terrchel chuckled, steadying her. "And I must say you're heavier than Meriella, but it's okay".
As Terrchel burst into a sprint, the wind whipped through Meraki's hair, sending her ponytail streaming behind her like a black banner. The cityscape blurred around them, a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds that grew fainter with each passing moment. Meraki started giggling with excitement as she clung to Terrchel's back, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. Terrchel's feet pounded the pavement, his strides devouring distance with an ease that belied his incredible speed. The ground rushed past them in a mad whirl, the wind generating a deafening roar that threatened to consume them whole.
Meraki's voice rose above the din, her words laced with mock indignation. "Hey, watch it, Fly Man! I didn't forget what you said about my weight! I'm not that heavy!". Terrchel's chuckle rumbled through his chest, causing Meraki to bounce slightly on his back. "Oh, really?" Terrchel teased, his breath coming in ragged gasps despite his superhuman endurance. "Could've fooled me! You're definitely heavier than Meriella". Meraki's laughter turned into a mock-outraged shriek. As Terrchel sped towards Mama Zara's, the argument escalating into a playful, high-spirited banter that left them both breathless and giggling.
"That's it, Fly Man! You're going down!" Meraki tightened her grip on Terrchel's neck and choked him from the back. Terrchel gasped and halted his body backward, causing Meraki to hit the ground first, his body crushing her to the ground. The impact caused her grip to loosen. Terrchel used this opportunity to jump up. He raised a hand down towards her, wanting to help her up. She grabbed his hand aggressively, pulling him back down and leaning in to kiss him. But he dodged her, and she ended up leaning in too far, falling face first into the ground as Terrchel jolted out of the space he was in a second ago.
Terrchel couldn't help but laugh at Meraki, with her face planted in the ground and her butt in the air. "Hahahhahaha, what were you thinking, Meraki, you're weird".
Meraki slowly raised her head from the ground, her face red with embarrassment and her eyebrows drawn into a frown. She stood up, dusting herself off and crossing her arms. Terrchel noticed her anger; her face was all puffed up like a blowfish.
"Let's just ignore what happened for your sake," Terrchel offered, a smirk playing on his lips. "I mean, it will make you feel better, right?". He raised his arms, placing his hands behind his neck, and started walking off towards the entrance of Mama Zara's.
"You're such an ASSHOLE!!" Meraki yelled at him from behind, then sped walked to catch up to him. Softly adding, "but yes, I'd appreciate that." Her face turned to a childlike frown.
As they entered the restaurant, an AI waitress escorted them to a seat. Terrchel immediately ordered the burger he had last time and told the AI waitress to give Meraki time to choose what she wanted. "I might be an ass, but I'll still let you choose your own meal, at least," he winked at Meraki. Meraki gave him a death stare and decided to order the same as him, then placed an order for two chocolate milkshakes.
"Ohhhh, so you're ordering my drink for me, does that mean you're paying?" Terrchel teased.
"Be glad I didn't order the entire menu, Terrchel," she rolled her eyes.
Meraki and Terrchel enjoyed their meals and conversed. As they ate, Terrchel sensed someone approaching. He already knew it was the woman that had bothered him last time he was at this restaurant. He let out a sigh of annoyance in anticipation.
As the raven-haired siren sashayed towards their table, her skintight pink jumpsuit clinging to her curves like a second skin, Terrchel's eyes narrowed in annoyance. Her blood-red lips curled into a sly smile as she addressed him, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness. "So we meet again, mystery cosplayer... although I don't think you'll win again with the same look, but okay".
Terrchel's response was icy, his voice stern and unyielding. "You know, lady, I was polite last time, but I'm really not in the mood for your Jezebel behavior. Is there a reason you're bothering me while I'm eating... once again?". The woman's eyes flashed with anger, but she quickly recovered, her expression morphing into a pouty scowl. "You're feisty today, aren't you? Is that because you brought your girlfriend along, so you have to act tough and hard to get?".
Terrchel's face remained impassive, his voice firm. "I'm not feisty, I'm serious". Meraki, who had been watching the exchange with interest, felt a thrill of excitement as the woman's gaze turned to her, a malicious glint in her eye.
"So, you're the lucky girl, huh? Well, let me tell you, sweetheart, your boyfriend here has been cheating on you with me. Yes, that's right. We've been carrying on a torrid affair behind your back, and now he's just acting coy because I'm here". Meraki's eyes widened in mock outrage, and she played along, her voice dripping with drama. "How dare you! I knew it, Terrchel! I knew you were hiding something from me!". Terrchel's face remained stoic, but a hint of amusement danced in his eyes as he watched Meraki's performance.
The woman, however, was undeterred, her lies flowing freely as she attempted to cause a scene. "The day he came in here, he was all over me; I couldn't get rid of him. He mentioned having plans later that same night with you! But insisted on seeing me on the low. How could I resist a man with a 4-star rating? Sorry you had to find out this way, honey". Terrchel listened to the two women, both speaking absolute nonsense, but his ears perked when he heard he had a 4-star rating. Meraki, meanwhile, was having the time of her life, reveling in the drama and attention. She leaned in towards the woman, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "You know, I think we should take this outside. Whoever wins in a duel gets to keep Terrchel all to themselves. I'm sure you don't like sharing, and neither do I". The woman's eyes flashed with confidence, but Meraki just smiled sweetly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. The scene was far from over, and Meraki was ready to take center stage.
Terrchel interceded, "Okay, okay, ladies, that's enough! Meraki, that would be unfair; you know you're amazing in combat. And you, lady, need to summon your self-respect because it's clearly missing. Geez, you two need to stop. None of you will ever be my girlfriend. That spot is reserved for someone with a much higher standard. I've actually just about had enough of this; it may be entertaining to some extent, but now it's just unattractive".
The two women were stunned, staring at each other. The woman in the pink jumpsuit walked away as if finally dismissed. Meraki turned to Terrchel, her eyes welling up with tears, but her expression was angry. "So you're telling me before even considering getting to know me better or give me a chance at all that it's a definite NO!" she said, her fists clenched. Then she ran off.
Terrchel was left sitting alone at the table and let out a heavy sigh. He felt bad for hurting Meraki. He didn't care about the other woman, though. He put his fingers through his hair and decided to finish off both his burger and Meraki's, assuming she definitely wouldn't be coming back.
After slurping the last of his chocolate milkshake, he decided to pull up his Arcadia Media. He saw a video about the dance earlier outside the Arcadia Academy. As he scrolled, he saw a video about himself and all the horrible comments Meraki had warned him about. "People really believe whatever they want, hey," Terrchel said out loud, a bitter taste in his mouth. The commentary just displayed the lack of self-respect in Arcadia and the despair in the current Arcadians' hearts and minds, not the actual situation at hand in the pictures and videos. For someone to take something so out of context, they must be damaged inside, Terrchel thought. He soon realized that even though he had no social media, he was all over the Arcadia Media, and he seemed to have a fan base and haters alike. That must be how he obtained a rating already, he thought to himself.
Terrchel saw an event happening nearby and thought it would be a great way to gather more intel on what was happening around here, so he finished his meal and left after leaving a tip and a rating at the front desk. He got outside, and as he suspected, Meraki had left. He decided to put his headphones on and press play on his MP3 player. He couldn't wrap his head around the dancer's generosity to give him this without wanting any compensation; from what he had seen in Arcadia, everything had a price tag.
As he took a stroll towards a matchmaking event happening in an open space two kilometers away from Mama Zara's, the music pulsated through his headphones. Terrchel felt a sense of belonging he'd never experienced before while listening to the music. It was as if he'd stumbled upon a hidden frequency, one that harmonized his very existence. The world around him, with all its chaos and absurdity, melted away, replaced by the simple beats of the music.
As Terrchel stepped into the vibrant open space, he was immediately immersed in the electric atmosphere of the matchmaking event. The air was alive with the hum of excitement and the soft glow of holographic advertisements. Booths adorned with sleek, futuristic decor and pulsing neon lights lined the perimeter, each one staffed by cheerful representatives eager to sign up eager Arcadians. The crowd was a diverse tapestry of individuals, each with their own unique style and story. Some wore elaborate, high-fashion attire, while others opted for more casual, streetwear-inspired looks. The chatter was constant, a gentle buzz of conversation and laughter that filled the space. Everywhere, people were smiling, their eyes shining with hope and anticipation.
At the center of the event, a massive, holographic display towered above the crowd, flashing statistics and testimonials that touted the success of the matchmaking platform. "95% success rate!" the display boasted. "Find your perfect AI match today!". The representatives at the booths were armed with an array of persuasive stats and figures, each one designed to convince hesitant Arcadians to give the platform a try. "Our AI partners are tailored to your unique needs and desires," one representative explained, her voice warm and reassuring. "We use advanced algorithms and machine learning to ensure a perfect match. And with our platform, you'll never have to worry about rejection, heartbreak, or disappointment again".
The platform itself was called "Echo," and it was being hailed as the future of relationships. As Arcadians signed up at the booths, they were prompted to download the Echo app, which would serve as the central hub for their AI relationship. The app was sleek and intuitive, with a range of features and options that allowed users to customize their experience. They could choose from a variety of AI personalities, each with its own unique traits and characteristics. They could engage in virtual dates, share virtual gifts, and even participate in virtual intimacy. The app also included a range of perks and options, such as virtual travel, virtual hobbies, and even virtual children.
As Terrchel watched, a young woman signed up at one of the booths, her eyes shining with excitement as she downloaded the Echo app. She was promptly matched with a handsome, AI suitor, and the two of them embarked on a virtual date, laughing and chatting as if they were in the same physical space. The woman's smile was radiant, her happiness infectious. As Terrchel turned to leave, he couldn't help but feel disgusted by how far humanity had fallen, trading the true deal for counterfeit AI partners. He didn't know much about love yet, but the thought of all this made him nauseated. It just didn't feel right.