The door clicks shut behind me. Overhead lights flicker on, cutting through the pitch darkness. I shut my eyes, opening them closely to accommodate the sudden brightness. Crashing into the door, my fingers losing their hold on my luggage. I grip the metallic box tighter with both hands.
My body goes limp against the wood anchoring me to the ground as my knees threaten to buckle. Exhaling, I lift my eyes to the living room set-up.
My living room.
Oval-shaped, one arc occupied by a sitter-sofa and two couches on both sides. A 32-inch flat screen at the other end. A centre table with a vase of dark blue flowers, an empty shelf near the windows.
Grey curtains drape the windows, offering nothing to the room's ambience.
Simple, practical and elegant. No ostentatious designs or golden ornaments. Wheels scrape loudly as I descend the elevated platform into the living room, my worn sandals flung to the side.
The soft, velvety rugs beneath my feet make my muscles loosen, my body going slack in respite. The fatigue is now only a distant echo. Across the room, an arched passageway leads to the kitchen and the dining area.
Lights flicker on as I traverse the darkness to the last door in the hallway. Twisting the knob, the door creaks open slowly to the master bedroom.
A mid-sized bed sat at the centre, a study table directly to the windows, and a vanity table to the left of the bed. I move inside, crossing the distance in a few seconds.
The bed sinks under my weight, soft and sturdy all at once. I place the box beside me, finally taking notice of the walk-in closet–I hadn't noticed it at the door.
Another door next to it. The bathroom.
I sigh, the day's exhaustion finally catching up with me. I stretch, the crackling of my bones audible in the silence. Flexing my limbs both ways, I wipe my hands over my face.
This whole complex was three times larger than what I called home.
I tilt, staring at the metal box beside me.
Time to see what's in the starter pack.
I set the box over my lap, shivering slightly under the cold metal. Under the lights, faint flowery patterns stretch across the metal's smooth surface in pairs. I trace the patterns lightly, the engraved lines ebbing with silver lights through them.
Jerking away my fingers, I watch fascinated as the light recedes through the lines, finally going out. I reach out again, this time more confident, tracing the whorls gently. Silvery beams of light sprang up, lighting up every petal I touch.
My lips curve up at the sight of glowing flowers, my hand hovering inches away from the surface as it flickers at the proximity.
Decisively, I press my palm on the surface, and a bluish strand of light shoots up, slithering through the space between my figures. It wraps around my hand slowly, tickling my warm skin.
Intricate threads of bluish light cover my fingers just like the first time. But this time slowly. The threads grow complex interlacing in woven patterns lighting up the flowery engravings in one swoop.
Chimmmg
A sharp, chilling sound of metal being sliced cuts the silence, the bluish light receding sharply. I raise my hand cautiously, tracing the slight opening where the patterns stopped.
It was sliced open. Brutal, precise and clean.
I suck in a deep breath, fascinated, my fingers lightly tracing the cut. The covering falls open, its top hinged to the main casing.
Two black cards.
A phone.
A crystal watch.
They lay side by side on a solid material that took up most of the box leaving very little room for the items atop.
I pick up the first card, pitch black with no engraving whatsoever.
Shifting, I stretch my palm towards the overhead light directly above me. The rays hit the card, and the black pigment swallows the light showing nothing.
Disappointed, my fingers curl tightly around the sleek metal.
Grey, light grey sweeps over the black surface, before I can move my hand away.
'The light and my fingerprints.' I nod slowly in realisation
How the hell was I supposed to figure that out without help? I sigh, grateful for whatever luck I had to have chanced this
I watch the card extremely focused, examining the etching spreading across the blank surface in black ink.
"Status.." Legible and cursive strokes of characters appear glowing faintly in the amethyst finish.
Inching forward, I tilt the card toward the light for more visibility.
Status: Init…
A flash of blue catches my attention, I freeze looking up to the words hovering mid-air. The card buzzes faintly, bluish tendrils runs across in root cluster emitting bluish shimmers into the air.
A holographic display under direct light!
My heart pounds against my chest so loud I hear it in my eardrums.
"Incredulous" I whisper, half frightened and ridiculously fascinated. The holographs flicker at my slight movement, drawing my attention to the floating words.
Identity: Missus of the Hales
Status: Initiate
Name: Lilliana Halecrest
Major: Locked
Alliance: Locked
Net worth: Locked
...
Blinking, I stare at the panel again.
Missus of the Hales. What a title. Was I mistaken for the daughter of an aristocratic family? I chuckle, noting the 'initiate' status.
The craz..Esmeralda addressed me as such.
What does that even mean? I pull through my head, feeling a headache underway.
Nothing about any of this is ever simple!!!
The rest of the field. My brows arch at the other fields, they were dim, locked it seems.
Major, I understood but Alliance, Net worth, Alias, Victories….
What the hell?
Not right now. I pick up the next item, placing it directly in the light expectant.
A minute goes by and yet nothing. Withdrawing my now numb hands, I place the card back in place skipping the third item directly to the last for peculiar reasons.
It was light, smooth and oddly cold against my palms catching the light in reflective and refractive prisms of colours that danced within the crystal. The straps were linked in fragmented crystals, its case sculped by a multiple pieces of crystals.
I stare, lips parting at my reflection on its surface. However, there was no dial.
Is this just ornamental? I smile twirling the watch in the light, streams of lights refracting into a dazzling rainbow of colors.
My fingers splay across the case in soft caress admiring masterpiece of crystals and light.
BEEP BEEP BEEP
The sharp beeps of the watch resound in the room, the case lighting up where the dial should have be situated. The light brightens into a beacon across the room, the room's lighting going off.
"Welcome, Liliana." My head whips back to the watch, where the voice came from.
"I am Eave, your AVA–Artificial Virtual Assistant."
"Oh," I say quietly, shocked by the turn of events.
The blue lights return to the watch, the overhead lights flickering back on.
"I can speak to you from various sound channels available. I spoke through the watch to minimise your level of bewilderment," she continues, this time through the netted opening on the ceiling I only noticed now.
"Have you always been here?" I ask. Cursing the next second at how ambiguous that was.
"No, I activated the moment you placed your finger on the watch." She replies without missing a beat to my relief.
"So, this is your casing or something?" Raising the watch up as if to show her.
"No, it's your direct access to The Consciousness." She replies vaguely.
"So what's its purpose?" My brows furrow in confusion, not getting her reply.
"It has numerous uses. But for your level," She begins, voice loud in the silence. Blue lights seep from the watch. This time with purpose, constructing something in thin air.
"It's useful for navigation." The lights blur into a stretch of buildings consolidating into a map. "Information," the scene changes to a panel bearing my passport, bio data, admission details. "and many more you have no use for right now. Most importantly, it projects your presence to the Consciousness, so I advise you, have it with you at all times."
Carefully, I strap the watch to my wrist as delicately as possible on hearing her words.
It wasn't for decoration after all.
It wasn't for decoration after all.
"You will learn more with Guide Zara tomorrow." She continues, like she were waiting for my compliance with her advice.
Zara…
So that's her name.
That aside, I look back to the third and last time in the box. A pang of uneasy growing in my chest. Leaving the room, I return with my luggage in tow, fishing out my phone. My hands are shaking in unknown trepidation.
No signal whatsoever.
I check the SIM card, make adjustments, yet nothing.
Sighing heavily, I look at the sleek phone sitting quietly in the box. Hesitating briefly, I grab the phone, its smooth texture resting on my palms. It turns on with a single click.
Full Signal. My eyes go moist at the implication.
No contact with anyone outside wherever this is.
A sign-in notification pops up. I click on another page requesting I sign-in to my student account. I hesitate for a moment before placing all my fingers into the respective prints on the screen.
A chime comes from the study table. The sleek laptop chimed on with the same pop-up on the phone.
Congratulations on your Sign-In Initiate Halecrest.
I sigh. Everything was already planned, it seems
Swiping through, my fingers slide smoothly across the screen. Aside from the phone, calendar, messaging, calculator and recorder apps, I knew nothing about the rest with odd names.
The Forum. Some kind of platform of sorts. I could understand.
Forge.
Weaponry
Marketplace
Storyline
Simulations
Hire
Rankings
Resources
I click the Resource App in curiosity, the black card flickers. I pick it up, buzzing in close promixity to the phone. I bring both closer, the phone scanning it briefly.
Silver replaces the pitch-black card revealing a boldly written word: Resource.
The app flickers to life afterwards, displaying a set of numbers.
Initial Deposit: 1,000,0000 silver coins
Earnings: 0
Investments: 0
Dividends: 0
...
What in the name of God is all this about? I sigh, hoping Eave will explain. For reasons unknown to me, she remains silent after her closing remark.
At least, I know the second card is a bank card
Find out with Zaara tomorrow, it is then.
The warmth of the bed envelopes me, easing the tension in my taut muscles. Tossing to tuck in comfortably, I sight my suitcase by the edge, flipping up with a sigh.
Pulling the luggage, my body hissing grudgingly in weariness, I open the door to the wardrobe. Unzipping my suitcase, I turn towards the closet, freezing at the sight.
Leather pants paired with short-sleeved shirts.
Strapless, corset gowns with slits of varying lengths in single hangs.
Layered skirts paired with various tops in double hangs
Short pinafores paired with colored hoss
Short layered gowns.
Numerous elegant and luxurious clothes filled the racks.
Different zones racked with varying designs, each zone varying by three distinct colour shades.
Midnight blue, slate grey, and dark teal
Forest green, espresso brown, and wine red
Gunmetal grey, dusty mauve, and navy
Charcoal grey, burgundy and navy blue
Black, maroon, and steel grey
Midnight blue, chocolate brown and charcoal grey
Espresso brown, black and dark olive
Midnight blue, black and emerald
Eight zones of eight distinct sets of colours divided into sections of gowns, shirts, pants, skirts, with various footwear underlay.
At a glance, I can tell they are perfect fits.
"What the hell." I utter in disbelief.
"These are the basic sets of apparel given to all Initiates. You will have the option to customise further up you go." Eave suddenly replies, her calm voice resounding within the enclosed space
I stare down at my clothes folded neatly in rows, biting my lips at the disparity. Zipping up the suitcase, I leave it outside the closet walking back to bed. The metal box sat open empty save for the wrapped item within.
Curious, I unwrap it slowly, revealing a hardcover.
A diary.
A huge one.
A pen tugged at the side. I
Sinking into the bed, I flip the covers open to a cursive write-up
…A loyal companion in this new journey of yours…..
I smile, my fingers lingering on the words.
This was very thoughtful of them.
Whoever was this empathetic
I unfurl the bound pen, scribbling quickly along the dotted line beside the diary's name.
Flipping to the next page, my hold on the pen tightens, scribbling against the pages.
31/08/2021
Dear Dearie,
'My name is Liliana Halecrest. Today, I lost something very dear to me. Where to start is something I don't know, at least not anymore. The simple truth, however is that I lost not just her but my whole world.
Maybe I'm just paranoid, but something tells me things will never go back to how simple they were.
Today marks the beginning of my new journey without her by my side. Luckily, I have you here.' I smile, blinking away the tears that burned in my eyes.
'Frankly, I've no idea where this is. Jack left without explaining a thing. And the people here,' I pause, the pen hovering slightly above the sheets. The memory of the day crashes back like waves.
'are not so nice. They seem odd for some reason I can't quite grasp.
I have so many questions, unfortunately, no one's interested in hearing them.' I stare blankly, frowning at the purple-haired girl's words.
'Regardless, I won't stop searching for these answers and I hope you'll bear with my numerous questions till I find the answers to every one of them.
What tomorrow brings, I have no idea. Still, I face it with a smile on my face.
I hope you don't mind sharing my burdens,
My only companion.' I close the book, stowing the pen at the side. Tears slip down my cheeks, my eyes heavy with sleep, embracing the hard cover beneath me.
Steam curled around me, filling the closet. The clothes stared back at me under the light. The towel clung to my skin even as water dripped to the ground in soft platters from my wet hair.
Rows and rows of clothes filled my line of sight. Its been ten minutes and I still can't take a pick.
Not because they weren't nice or uncomfortable.
They simply didn't feel like me, while wearing them would be inevitable.
Just not right now.
"It is not explicitly stated that Initiates must wear Velmoran Apparel, so you can wear your own clothes." Eave's voice fills my ears, sounding exhausted by my dawdling.
"Oh," I whisper, a grin gracing my lips. Skipping out of the closet, I select a floor-length forest green gown.
Anything else would make me an eyesore.
Looking into the mirror by the vanity table, my fingers deftly lace the tie-back straps opening of the gown.
"This should do.." I twirl, scrutinising my reflection on the mirror. This is one of my not sunshine outfit, so it will have to do.
Smiling, I adjust my wristwatch, slipping into one of my flat shoes.
"Eave," I call furtively, preparing to be ignored.
"How may I help you, Initiate Liliana?." She teases, heat rushing up my face.
"Uhh, what are breakfast arrangements around here?" I ask, glancing at the clock. It was past seven, enough time before I met up with Zara.
"The cafeterias are open, but you will only be allowed access after you complete your Tutorial."
"Oh!" Her words dampen my mood. My hands pressed on my grumbling stomach, I couldn't remember when I last ate before the plane yesterday. No, two days ago.
"Isn't that inconsiderate?" Fiddling with my new phone on my lap.
"Initiates don't usually arrive this late into Preambule." She mutters softly, almost as if whispering under her breath. I freeze at her human-like response.
"Anyways, there are independent restaurants on Campus." Ignoring my bewilderment, she continues lightly.
"Oh, really!" I perk up at the mention of restaurants.
"Yeah." Her voice falls through the speakers, muffled by something that sounded like laughter.
"So, how do I get there?" I shift uncomfortably, realising how bizarre it was to converse with thin air.
"Not there. You have numerous options." Blue lights flare from my wrist, projecting a map of numerous restaurants, most of which go immediately except for a dozen or so at the outskirts of the map.
"You don't have access to starred establishments. But these few will serve your needs for as long as convenient." I look at the map, noting the green circle on the available restaurants.
"What are their delicacies? I ask curiously.
"Find out yourself." She replies lazily, a smile cutting across my lips.
"Sure. First, how do I get to any of them?" The atmosphere warmed significantly. The conversation flowed smoothly easing my apprehension about today.
"We have full houses over.." It zooms in on a few restaurants teeming with people.
"The Daily Delight just opened. You prefer that, right?"
Empty.
"I'll patronise the Daily Delight." I hop on my feet, relief surging through me.
After, yesterday's 'spectacle, I wasn't really keen on meeting more of them.
"You're in luck, its within the neighbourhood." The map zooms in on the restaurant's location, a green beeping dot tracing towards it, measuring 532 m of distance on foot.
"I'd better be on my way then."
The sun rays spill over me, my gown glimmers in the light. I arrived within ten minutes, my stomach grumbling at the exercise. I look up the Outdoor signage labelled Daily Delights with a smile.
Swinging the metal double doors open, I walk into the quiet space. Cushioned seats and tables spread across the room. I take a seat close to the door but inconspicuous enough.
Footsteps follow immediately heading towards me. I lock eyes with the approaching waitress. She's was older than I expected, her maroon gown trailing slightly against the ground.
"Welcome." She greets warmly, stopping a few feets away. Not too far, not too close.
"To what do I owe this visit?" She asks, her smile never faltering. Curiosity gleamed in her eyes.
"Uhh," I stutter, lost for words. Swiping a glance over me,
"Extern Initiate." She says, understanding flashing briefly through her glassy eyes.
"Pardon, my assumptions. Most Students don't really fancy my Delight except under special circumstances." I nod wordlessly, not understanding a thing except she owned this place..
Flipping through the menu, skim through the list of unfamiliar dishes in the menu , finally settling for the most expensive. I proceed to order at the spike of pain in my lower abdomen.
"I would like your premium full-course meal." Which was oddly 6 silver coins–very cheap for a special delicacy, if you ask me.
While I have little to no idea about the value of their currency. Restaurants' special offers were usually expensive.
Well, considering I had about a million silver coins, my stomach deserves a treat.
"Sure", She smiled visibly impressed by my choice.
Few minutes later, she rolls down a trolley of food toward me. I stare in surprise. For a restaurant with low patronage that was quick.
The sweet smell of spices and herbs wafted into by nostrils, satiating my throbbing stomach. The throbbing ache dulling licking my lips I straighten in anticipation, watching her set each meal on the table.
"Premium Course of Salmon-mousse, beetroot carpaccio layered with goat cheese and crunchy walnuts, lobster bisque, buttery lemon sauced juicy sea bass, filet mignon served with red wine and chocolate fondant for desert." She announces, eyes sparkling under the lights, pointing at each course.
Finally, looking at me, she smiles with an expectant look in her eyes
"Just as you requested." I return the smile, reaching for the cutlery, digging to the delight of a meal.
A wad of flavours drowned my taste buds even as I relished the meal, ignoring the lady's presence.
The entirety of the disappeared in minutes to my voracious appetite. Leaning, I smile, satisfied.
'It was better than good. I'll come here more often.'
I stroll to the counter where the older lady sat patiently.
"My bills." I said, placing my card before her.
She brings out a panel, inserting the card by the side. It scans a biometric print, she slides it over. Surprised, I placed my thumb on it. It blinks green, and she returns the card.
"Thank you for patronising Daily Delights." Humming pleasantly, she puts away the device.
"It would be my pleasure to host you again." She smiles meaningfully at me, voice low and soft.
"I will." I start for the exit, glancing at my phone briefly on my way out.
8: 37 AM
Just enough time to find Zara.
"Find Guide Zara." I raise my right hand, speaking softly at the watch strapped around my wrist. Shifting my gaze immediately, blue light swooshes upward into a map. A line quickly streaked from the Daily Delight's spot on the map to a field clearing 1,760 km away.
"She's in the Greeny Plains." Her voice comes from the wristwatch this time. I nod, following the map.
Thankfully, I was the only one able to see the holographic map. Or the curious glances I received as I walked past groups of students would have be far worse.
To my amazement their attire for today also had green in it, so I didn't stand out too much.
Maybe the quality and nature of my gown did.
Truly, the simple but flexible gown it was.
I dismiss the map when I reach the entrance of the Greeny Plains. Students huddled around in circles and smaller groups of three and two on the grassy field.
I look around, searching for Zara unsuccessfully. I wander into the field, resigning to asking Eave to pinpoint her exact location.
"Over here!" A familiar voice calls out, turning a few heads her way and back in my direction. Their gaze lingers for a bit, moving back to their personal matters, to my relief.
Looking toward the end of the field where the sound of the voice came from, I finally see her under a huge tree waving enthusiastically at me