《The Fall of Chiros [Dropped!]》


 Chapter 01

    The dim haze of a dusty sun illuminated the land as the heat beat down upon my brow. Clinking metal and the stamping of boots were a constant companion as I strode forth upon a landscape that had all life stripped from it. At one time, these plains were filled with grass, bushes, and splashes of color from the many flowers that once bloomed unmolested. But now, parched earth that had cracked from a severe lack of moisture spread as far as the eye could see. Behind me marched a grim-faced army that made no sound other than that of marching. An army comprised of the battered but not broken remnants of our land, Chiros. Humans, Beastkin, Goblins, and Dwarves all marched shoulder the shoulder in unity that, before these dark days, had been unimaginable. These soldiers, these heroes, were the remnants of the once proud nations that ruled these lands. They were the ones who stood between this world¡¯s destruction at the hands of the Daharillm, invaders from another realm. The Daharillm had destroyed everything in their path of total conquest and their ravenous nature had scourged these once-green lands.


    The rumbling of our footsteps echoed off the dusty land as we marched across what had once been the Kingdom of Tigleon. Our silence was bred from the acceptance of our impending demise. We knew that we may die, yet we marched on anyway. It was the only way to ensure the future of our world. Ever since the emergence of The Rift, not a soul had had a restful sleep within our lands. So dire was the invasion of these strange monsters that had wiped out entire kingdoms in rapid succession.


    This was our final stand, our final stab at the darkness. I wiped at my face, brushing away the sweat that beaded from the merciless sun. The metal rings of my armor that had once shone brilliantly had been stained a light brown by the dust that constantly blew with the wind. Dark clouds swirled in a circle through the sky, like an obsidian vortex that could usher forth a devastating cyclone at any moment. At the center of this phenomenon would be the Rift. Lightning crackled to the east, surging from the ground up towards the sky as if to defy all sense. We were close.


    ¡°Nervous Commander?¡± A broad-shouldered man with the head of a falcon spoke beside me. He wore leather armor riddled with holes that had been hastily patched. His eyes at first glance appeared sharp and alert. But if you looked closely, you could feel his exhaustion. The same exhaustion we all felt. Dirt marred his feathered head. Two eagle-like wings grew from the soldier¡¯s back. One was bent at a slightly odd angle. He hissed in pain through his beak as he attempted to stretch them.


    ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself Hallock.¡± I warned, but he rolled his eyes.


    ¡°We all need to push ourselves this time Commander.¡±


    ¡°I still say you should have stayed behind in Ullond.¡± Hallock growled at my comment.


    ¡°What? And miss all the fun? I¡¯ll not let them say that the last Sashomyrr hid away from the final battle due to a broken wing!¡± He boasted and beat his chest. Neither of us knew if he truly was the last of the winged Beastkin, but none refuted him his boast. Hallock looked to me with a grin, ¡°When we¡¯re finished here lets have a duel. Just you and me, like old times.¡±


    I smiled, ¡°Yeah, sure Hallock. I¡¯ll kick your ass just like every other time.¡± Behind us rumbled gravel-like chuckles. Distractions like these helped cast aside the constant feeling of doom as we marched to our fates. ¡°There it is, the Rift.¡± I pointed as we crested a hill not two miles west of the ruins of a town, the remains of which still stood like the bones of a long dead animal. Not a stone¡¯s throw away was our goal, a massive rip in the fabric of the world. Small, gray-skinned figures scurried about in the ruins of the town, forming into a mass of bodies that faced us. Closer to the Rift, an even larger group was forming up to charge towards us in a wave.


    ¡°The sheer power¡­¡± A robed girl, no older than fifteen, with long blue hair gasped as she stared with wide gray eyes at the Rift.


    ¡°Cyrene.¡± I spoke to draw her attention and smiled, ¡°Focus.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes. Sorry Commander.¡± She bowed her head and returned to staring at the wound in our world. Out of all of the magi that survived our march, she was the most powerful. As such, she was to be the focal point of the ritual to close the Rift. Protecting those Magi was our utmost priority, even at the cost of our very lives.


    ¡°We¡¯ll get through this.¡± I assured the Magi that looked at me nervously. There were only twenty of them left after all our battles with the Daharillm. We had left Cassantium with over two hundred. The eldest of the magi had privately warned me that they may not be enough to close the Rift, but we continued anyway. To turn back after all the sacrifices we had made would be to consign ourselves to death. I clenched my fist over the pommel of my sword that hung snugly at my side in an attempt to hide the shaking of my hands. I looked back towards the army¡­my army. Even after all this time, it still felt weird to call it that.


    Scores and scores of men and women of all races looked back at me expectantly. We were not ready for this. I was not ready for this. Yet we would stand all the same.


    One of our battles marching towards the Rift had claimed the life of our previous Commander, Massawe Edwirs Bastolfyr. A wolf type Beastkin with an unnatural cunning that had helped hold the Empire of Cassantium together when they stood alone against the Daharillm. He was a legend in the army, and losing him had nearly cost us everything. But thanks to Hallock, myself, and our many subordinates, the army held together just enough to beat the Daharillm. As we stood atop the hill overlooking the ruins of what may have once a peaceful farming village, I could feel the weight of the entire world upon my shoulders. The far off army of gray-skinned invaders began to rush towards us. It was time.


    Gods I hated public speaking.


    ¡°Nervous Commander?¡± Hallock repeated his initial question and smirked as he stared towards The Rift.


    ¡°Nah, just hungry. Daemon-spewing portals always bring out the glutton in me.¡± Everyone within earshot shared a chuckle.


    ¡°Then hurry up and eat that damn thing so we can all go home!¡± A soldier shouted from behind, followed by a chorus of cheers.


    ¡°Hey, I brought you lot along because I thought you¡¯d want a piece for yourselves! Edwirs always claimed I was the caring type after all!¡± I shouted back which only made the men laugh more. Backs straightened as the men laughed. Humans joked with Beastkin, while Goblins stood shoulder to shoulder with Dwarves, each boasting of the trophies they¡¯d be taking home.


    ¡°Good on you Commander.¡± Hallock whispered. ¡°Poor bastards haven¡¯t had much hope these past few¡­¡±


    ¡°Months?¡± I finished for Hallock and lightly punched his shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re all the hope the world needs.¡± I pointed towards the army arrayed against us. ¡°Look, they¡¯re practically pissing themselves at our arrival!¡± I laughed. The men followed, shouting obscenities at our foes.


    ¡°Pikes forward! Double Wall Formation!¡± I yelled atop my lungs. The army that had marched in a column behind me rapidly spread out into two horizontal lines. At the center of the front line was our heaviest infantry. Beastkin, Dwarves, and Humans in multiple layers of leather, chain, and plate armor wielding deadly pikes and durable war-picks. At the flanks stood forces wielding axes, maces, and swords in their chain mail attire. The second line was comprised of everyone else who wore lighter leather. Those in the second line wielded both bow and blade. Their goal would be to pelt the enemy for as long as they could and would stay close to the Magi should they require support.


    My greatest regret is that we had no cavalry to speak of. Horses had always been focused by the enemy in every battle. They hated the mobility and power that a unit of heavy cavalry could bring to bare. I gave a silent prayer to Sorris, the Goddess of Chrios, for victory. But of course, nothing happened. Still, it never hurt to ask for divine intervention at every moment. Who knows, perhaps this time she¡¯d come down and win the war for us.


    As the men finished their formation I strode purposefully before them with a serious look upon my face. Hallock strode along at my side, glaring at everyone arrayed before us in an attempt to show that he was far more fearsome than our foes. I¡¯d like to think it worked.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been marching a long time!¡± I shouted at the top of my lungs. The men whispered my words down the line so that all would hear what I said even if my voice didn¡¯t reach them. ¡°And still we cannot rest! The Rift, the source of these demons, is before us! Every moment we wait is another moment more of those bastards break through!¡± I stabbed my sword into the parched earth beneath my feet. ¡°No more!¡±


    ¡°No more shall we let these bastards blight our lands! No more shall we live in fear of the next onslaught! On this day, we put a stop to the Daharillm! My brothers and sisters in arms, when this day is done we will return to our homes as heroes!¡± I paused for a moment, ¡°No. Not heroes. Legends! Our names shall be sung from coast to coast for the rest of eternity! Stories shall be spun that live through the centuries so that those that come long after we are gone will know! We stood upon this very ground and refused to yield!¡±


    Roars of approval surged higher than the loudest crack of lightning. The sound of blades clashing against shields in rhythm thundered across the land. The quaking sound of marching in the distance reached my ears. I turned my head to regard the small force from the town ruins charging towards us. The ocean of bodies that surged from the Rift followed far behind.


    I drew my blade from the earth and pointed it towards the enemy. ¡°Let them come! We are the wall that will break this dark tide! We are the ones that will usher in a new dawn for all races of Chiros!¡± My roar joined the army¡¯s as we charged down the hill to meet the enemy in combat.


    Clashing steel sung in my ears as my blade clashed against blackened metal, parrying a thrust aimed towards my chest. I paid the enemy little mind as I rebuked his blow and cut off his arm, a shrill cry cut short as my blade sunk into it¡¯s neck. At this time the Magi would have stayed atop the hill just behind the second line and began their ritual. I hoped against hope that those twenty would be enough to close the Rift. We had our objective, they had theirs. All we could do was hold the line. The sweet sound of twanging bowstrings and the whistling of arrows overhead spoke of the second line beginning to fire their ammunition. Once their arrows were spent they¡¯d draw their blades and form a circle around the Magi.


    Arrows sunk into the armor of the oncoming horde of Lisek, the weakest type of Daharillm that many referred to as ¡®Swarmers¡¯. These small Daharillm stood no taller than the average goblin. Their chitinous armor was all the protection they relied upon, for they carried no shields. Weaponry wise, they favored scythe-like swords and hooked spears. Most would consider it a stroke of luck that we only faced Swarmers here, but I knew better. In the shadow of The Rift, the more monstrous of invaders would certainly come to end our assault quickly.


    As is, what we were fighting were no better than a mob of well-equipped peasants.


    After the third volley of arrows had cut a swathe through the enemy ranks, the rain of arrows ceased. My heart pounded constantly as the rush of adrenaline surged in my veins. Time itself seemed to slow as I my blade met tender flesh, tearing limbs from their owners. A Swarmer cried out in his harsh tongue as my blade chewed through his right arm. Their armor, more accurately described as carapace, was thickest around the chest, legs, and head. Their elbows, wrists, knees, shins, and armpits were where their protection was weakest to provide flexibility. Over multiple battles, I had developed the muscle memory of where exactly to strike the Daharillm. As my foe clutched at his stumped arm, I pierced his neck with a quick stab and moved onto the next target.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Screams cried hauntingly all along the line as soldiers from all walks of life died in the faith that we would be victorious this day. I stepped forward towards another swarmer and separated his head from his shoulders in a single sweep. My blade sung as I fell into a battle trance, focused entirely on eliminating as many of the enemy as possible. Minutes felt like hours as I cut through countless foes. Step left, upward swing, thrust, step back. The pulse of battle throbbed echoed within as I tore through any enemy that rushed towards me.


    Parry, counter, dodge, kill. Every movement another step towards sending the enemy to their end. My chest felt heavy as I sucked in air any moment I could spare. A hand pounded twice on my shoulder in rapid succession from behind me. The signal to rest. I nodded gratefully and moved behind the soldier. It was time for me to get a breather and the man behind me would my place in the line.


    Battle was far more than a quick dealing of death. They were long, drawn-out things that could last for hours at a time. Massawe had always said, the first man to tire is the first man slain. Twenty minute rotations were drilled into us from the moment we joined his forces. Gods bless that man, wherever his soul may be.


    I took a quick breath and surveyed they situation as I retreated to safety behind the line of heavy infantry. We were holding well, despite the oncoming surge of Swarmer reinforcements. In our constant struggle, we had become a well-oiled war machine. But there were just so many of them. Like an ocean of darkness spread out before us that threatened to drown the world, they poured constantly from The Rift. I washed my face with water from the bladder that hung at my side. A few more minutes of rest and I¡¯d be back into the fight.


    The ground rumbled violently as the Rift churned. Hellfire spewed from within the Rift as a large amount of flying creatures broke through the portal that merged our worlds. Gazaks they were named, but we coined them simply ¡®Fliers¡¯. They were similar in stature to the Goblin-esque Lisek, but with longer arms and less chitinous armor. They also had four dragon-fly style wings protruding from their backs that buzzed maddeningly. Shrill screeching soon covered the battlefield as they swarmed overhead, throwing short spears into the mass of my army before descending with long arms and sharp claws.


    ¡°Drown them in iron!¡± Hallock cried out far behind me as he managed the second line. The snapping of bowstrings soon followed, countering the incessant buzzing of wings. The storm of arrows sent multitudes of Fliers falling rapidly to their deaths, taking Swarmers with them as they fell upon their own forces. Clouds of Fliers tried to flee from the feathered death, but to no avail. With each volley, large amounts of them were struck from the skies. I grinned as I cleaved a Flier¡¯s head from its shoulders when it dove directly towards me with outstretched claws. I could feel my comrade¡¯s eyes on my back as I moved to intercept the next dive-bombing Flier. They preferred to attack lone targets rather than grouped up forces.


    Once more, the Rift churned violently. But this time, grand figures clad in obsidian-like armor charged out from the portal riding large mounts that resembled scarabs. These would be the Shrask, or Brutes as we called them. They were the deadliest of the Daharillm¡¯s forces throughout the war. Even as they thundered across the dry ground, smashing through their own forces to get at our own, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a the touch of terror grip my heart. Whenever the going got tough, the Brutes were sure to be where the fighting was thickest. Inhuman cries uttered from their gullets as they brandished their weapons as they drew ever nearer.


    ¡°Pikes up men!¡± A heavily armored Grundomyrr, or bear-kin, called out as the mounted Brutes closed the distance. Men quickly followed suit, stepping back and presenting a firm wall of steel to counter the Brute¡¯s deadly charge. Swarmers threw themselves towards the pikemen in an attempt to disrupt our formation. They found no purchase, only death. Either by being impaled on sharpened steel, or crushed beneath the coming Brutes. But there was one major flaw to our use of pikes versus the enemy¡¯s version of cavalry.


    Metal clashed as the Brutes and their mounts smashed into our wall of pointed death. Roars of rage reached the heavens as screams of pain haunted my ears. Pikes punctured through chitinous armor and tore Brutes from their mounts as they suicidally charged our line. But those scarabs that they rode kept charging forward. And their armor was much thicker than the Brutes¡¯. A pike would find no purchase against such beasts, and so we had to ignore the mounts and go for the riders.


    Mounts that were now trampling into our line, crushing those in their way.


    Sharp cracks like ice crunching underfoot sounded in the air. I gave a silent thanks to the late Massawe in reverence. By his orders we had pike formations mixed with soldiers wielding war-picks. Thus far, it was the best option to counter mounted foes. Pikes to strike at the riders, picks to crack through even a Scarab¡¯s hardened armor. Even in death, his brilliance lived on to see the Daharillm ended. I¡¯d like to think myself a competent commander, but none could compare to Massawe¡¯s mind.


    Regrefully, all I could do was watch as men died by the score in face of the Brute¡¯s onslaught. I so desperately wanted to join the fight. Wanted to feel my blade cut through the necks of those that would kill those under my care. But I knew better. So I stood at the back of the front line. Watching. Waiting.


    I didn¡¯t have to wait long.


    An ungodly sound like that of a massive volcanic eruption cascaded from the direction of The Rift. Moments later the ground began to quake and I felt my footing fail me. For a moment, there was blessed silence on the battlefield, as if both sides had suddenly decided to cease fighting. Even as I pushed myself to my feet, I knew that wouldn¡¯t be true. And yet, as I stood, I found that it was true. The remaining Brutes, Swarmers, and Fliers had retreated from the front line. My muscles tensed as I saw the reason why.


    A single Daharillm strode forth from the portal. One that stood taller than even the tallest Brute and twice as wide. In an instant, I knew exactly what was coming. This new monster¡¯s body would be exceedingly bulky, almost entirely of muscle. It¡¯s chitin armor would cover it from head to toe nearly three inches thick. A Bokkul Daharillm. A ¡®Breaker¡¯. A single one of those could demolish an entire squad of warriors with ease. With large lumbering steps, it made its way towards us. None dared disturb the silence that had settled upon the battlefield.


    With gargantuan hands, the monster cradled a brutal looking maul of what looked to be pure obsidian. Normally, this would have been a Bokkul Daharillm, but it sprouted a set of six dragonfly-esque wings from its back. Wings that, no matter how hard they tried, would never be able to lift their owner. This was a Commander subspecies. Far more intelligent, and therefore, far more deadly. In an effort to steel my resolve, I clenched the pommel of my blade and strode forth. Towards the enemy.


    A sea of metal parted before me as the men cleared a path. Only the crackling of magical energy behind us could be heard as I made my solemn march towards destiny. Halfway through the ranks, the sound of metal clashing against metal rung out in ordered intervals. First only a few, but before long a massive chorus joined in as they clashed gauntlets against armor in a drum-like salute. I could feel my pulse echo that of the beat. With a deep breath, I raised my sword. An avalanche of cheers spurred me on, filling my body with their energy, their hope.


    Before long, I stood beyond the army and awaited the coming Daharillm. As the Commander approached, the ground trembled with each step. New cracks formed atop the dry landscape as he lumbered towards me, as if he sought to demolish the land itself. When we stood twenty paces apart, he stopped.


    ¡°You are the leader?¡± It questioned, resting its massive maul upon it¡¯s shoulder. I nodded, surprised that one of them could speak. They had never bothered to do so before. A strange gurgling sounded from behind the monster¡¯s chitin helm. It then paused for a moment, as if in contemplation before nodding. ¡°Yes. We see. Your resistance was admirable, but you will all end here.¡± It pointed towards the hill where the magi were focused on their ritual.


    The ridge was covered in Swarmers charging directly for the ritual.


    ¡°Second line!¡± I shouted out of reflex, ¡°Intercept!¡± But my words fell on deaf ears as the first of the Swarmers reached the Magi, piercing their bodies with wicked blades. Nobody moved as the hill was overrun.


    ¡°This is how Chiros fell.¡± The enemy commander spoke behind me in a far different voice than it had original spoke. An old voice. A tired voice. A female¡¯s voice. ¡°They took us completely by surprise.¡± it continued. ¡°We had no warning, no forethought to watch the rear. Our eyes focused solely on the Rift. Everything was focused on this final battle. So much so that we forgot one simple rule of battle.¡±


    ¡°Yostul val krassal Tilvols!¡± One of the few remaining Magi chanted in a booming voice that echoed throughout that battlefield. As the words left his tongue, a massive eruption of blinding magical energy blasted into the sky from where they had stood. A chorus of fearful shouts matched my own from the explosion that knocked me to the ground. Surely, I was not the only to fall from such a shock-wave of energy. Helplessly, I rubbed at my eyes to recover my vision as I rose to my knees. When my vision returned all words left me. The entire hill was gone. No signs of the magi, nor the Daharillm force remained.


    ¡°Always assign a watch at the rear.¡±


    Sickening laughter gurgled from behind as the commander¡¯s voice returned to normal. ¡°You, and all who remain in this world, are finished.¡± Were the last words I heard before a pain erupted in the back of my head, causing me to black out.


    The words ¡®Congratulations¡¯ appeared in red lettering as I stared into the darkness.


    ¡°What?!¡± I cried out in surprise. This was it? This was the ending to Fall of Chiros? I reached up to the side of my head and pressed the retract button upon my visor. In an instant, the black screen in front of my eyes was sucked into the small metal contraption that surrounded my head like a circlet. Carefully, I detached the visor from the implant in my head and rested it upon the small table next to my bed.


    ¡°What the hell was that all about?!¡± Just as I was about to head over to my computer desk a call alert appeared in the corner of my vision from a number I didn¡¯t recognize. With a mental click, I accepted the call. ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Good afternoon Mr. Turelli,¡± The voice on the other end began accompanied by the clicking of a keyboard. My body tensed as I recognized her voice. The same voice from in the game. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll excuse me for watching your stream of our product. I also hope you¡¯ll accept my congratulations for being one of the few who have seen the ending to our game.¡±


    ¡°Uhhh thanks.¡± Our product? It must have been some sort of Chrios Productions representative. ¡°Who am I speaking with exactly?¡±


    ¡°Oh! Please excuse my poor manners. My name is Christine Hordavos.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the owner of Chiros productions!¡± I shouted in surprise. A light chuckle sounded in my head. Thankfully she wasn¡¯t around to see my embarrassment.


    ¡°The one and the same.¡± She paused for a moment as the clicking on her end continued at a rapid pace. ¡°I was wondering, would you be able to do dinner later tonight?¡±


    ¡°Dinner? Tonight?¡±


    ¡°If its a problem, we can always reschedule for another time.¡±


    ¡°Oh! No, its no problem.¡± I looked at the clock in the corner of my vision. It was currently four after one in the afternoon.


    ¡°Excellent!¡± She cheerfully exclaimed. ¡°How does six thirty sound?¡±


    ¡°Sounds good.¡± I responded. ¡°Hey wait, this isn¡¯t exactly a local meet-up! Isn¡¯t your headquarters in Montreal? I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be able to drive that far that fast without getting a ticket or ten.¡±


    ¡°No worries deary.¡± The woman laughed. ¡°I¡¯ve already dispatched an air-shuttle to your home. It¡¯ll be there at around two thirty, so strap in around five-ish and we¡¯ll be golden.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll be there.¡± Christine chuckled,


    ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll have much to discuss. See you then!¡±


    With an audible click, the call ended. Thoughts began racing through my head like a stampede of cattle. Was I really going to meet the reclusive Christine Hordavos? What was I going to wear? But above all, what the hell was that ending? Regardless, I quickly sat at my computer desk to check in with the people who watched my stream of the game¡¯s ending to see what they thought of it. But as soon as I sat down at my desk, a ¡®Connection Reestablished¡¯ alert popped up on my screen.


    ¡°What the¡­¡± With quick fingers I checked my Internet connection history. ¡°Impossible¡­¡± The world had long since created a world-spanning connection to the net. It was almost impossible to lose a connection anywhere in the world. And yet, somehow, ten minutes ago my connection had been cut.Spinning some quick math around in my head to account for the accelerated time distortion of Virtual Reality gaming, I came to a conclusion that sent shivers down my spine.


    The connection was cut moments before the enemy commander emerged from the Rift. And it had only just been reestablished.


    ¡°What the hell¡­¡± Much to discuss indeed. But before that, I needed to find something to wear, shave, and shower.

 Chapter 02

    The hum of the air-shuttle¡¯s engine filled my ears as I soared through the air straight for Montreal. The interior of said air-shuttle was quite spacious, enough for two people to sit comfortably. Leather seats with built in heat and massage settings provided maximum relaxation for up to two people. Relaxation that I took full advantage of, as I had just woken from a nap and the massage was still going. It felt like I had gotten a full night¡¯s rest for just over an hour¡¯s sleep. To be given such luxury and not use it would be wasteful indeed.


    Spacious windows provided a line of sight to the vast countryside below and the skies above. It even had a mini-fridge full of various spirits and liquors. The on-board AI in charge of the flight had offered to play my choice of music or a movie at the start, but I declined. I had then poured myself a glass of wine that sounded expensive and tasted faintly of strawberry. After downing my second glass I had decided on taking that nap which I had just awoken from.


    Some found auto-driving vehicles rather unsettling, and publicly campaigned against their development. But the majority of those were of the older generation, or hysterics who believed the robots were taking over. It was such a laughable view that it almost made you wish it would happen. I myself preferred the automatic vehicles to the manual ones. Whats not to love about getting to lay back, enjoy the sound of the engine, and stare at the landscape passing by? Or in my case, take a nap while the AI handled the rest.


    I shot a quick glance at my reflection in the windows as I gave myself a once-over. That was one downside to this shuttle, no mirrors to make sure I didn¡¯t look terrible for the dinner. Blue eyes stared back into my own in a searching manner as I shifted my focus to my hair. An unruly patch stood straight up as if it were rebelling against the the hair spray I had used before leaving my home. A quick lick of the finger, and a hard press down, brought it back into line amongst the rest of my light brown hair. As I removed my hand from my hair, that same unruly bit pushed itself back up just a bit. Not enough to be noticeable unless you looked straight at it.


    ¡°Meh, good enough.¡± I muttered as I looked down over my black suit, pants, and deep purple tie.


    It was a strange feeling, looking at myself wearing a suit I hadn¡¯t worn in four years. Four years since the accident, the funeral, and everything that came after. Four years, and the suit still fit the same as it did back then. Many times I had considered giving it away to others more in need of fine tailoring. I never did though. It was a memento of those dark times, and a reminder that I made it through them.


    It was proof that I could persevere. Even when the world itself seemed against me.


    ¡°Guess I¡¯m just sentimental.¡± I smiled at my reflection. It was a nice suit.


    ¡°We¡¯ll arrive at our destination in ten minutes.¡± The AI controlling the shuttle reported in a cheery voice. I grunted in response and closed my eyes to help focus. Here I was, about to meet the head honcho of a rising star company. Many would probably be nervous in such a situation, and rightfully so. Its not everyday you get to dine with a big shot. Those people would be obsessed with making a positive impression upon their host, hoping that a meeting such as this could set them for life. Me, I just wanted answers to a few questions.


    ¡°We will now be slowing down on our approach. Please keep your seatbelt fastened at all times during descent.¡± The AI spoke just as hum of the engine began to subside. Back when these shuttles had first come out, they didn¡¯t have any such warning. Then someone had a heart-attack thinking that the shuttle was going to crash with the engine shutting down. Needless to say, mandatory voiced AIs were quickly implemented.


    The relaxing sights of fields of green soon gave way to a forest of concrete with a multitude of other air-shuttles sharing the sky. Far below would be the hustle and bustle of Montreal itself. Horns would blare brazenly into the night as drivers competed for the privilege of getting home a few seconds earlier than each other. Tires would screech as one got too close to another, bumpers would be bumped, arguments would erupt, and life would go on. Except for the times it didn¡¯t.


    ¡°I hate cities.¡± I grumbled as the air-shuttle began to descend into the city proper.


    ¡°We will now be landing at your destination. Please remain seated until we have safely landed.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡± I responded half-heartedly as I took in the sights. Large buildings arose into the sky as we made our descent into the parking lot of a building only three stories tall. With an audible ¡®thunk¡¯, the air-shuttle had landed close to the building where a single woman watched the shuttle I was in, clad in a formal attire. At least I wasn¡¯t over-dressed. With a deep breath, I opened the door.


    ¡°Jack Turelli, welcome to Chiros Productions Headquarters.¡± The woman spoke in greeting with an out-stretched hand which I readily shook. The woman from the phone, Christine Hordavos. If I were to guess, she looked to be about forty years old, but could have been much older. Age treatment therapy had long since been something that almost everyone had access to. Her white hair had been tied into a professional bun.


    ¡°Happy to be here.¡± I smiled as the handshake ended. ¡°You must be Christine. Glad to finally be able to put a face to the voice on the phone.¡±


    ¡°Likewise.¡± Christine nodded, then turned and motioned towards the building. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re interested in touring our facilities, but that can wait until later. For now, we must be on our way. I made reservations at this fantastic restaurant you¡¯re sure to enjoy.¡± She beamed as she entered the air-shuttle. I followed close behind. We barely had time to finish a single glass of wine before we landed once more. People sat at tables outside a visibly appealing restaurant simply titled Maurice¡¯s.


    As soon as we entered the extravagant building, the receptionist instantly recognized Christine and signaled a waiter to take us. With a pair of menu¡¯s in hand, the waiter led us to an outside patio where a few other groups in fine clothing dined and conversed amongst themselves. Our table sat at the far corner of the outdoor dining area. Large hedges with flowers blooming within formed a wall separating the patio from the outside world. The calming tune of a violin melted all worry away as a man deep in concentration played in the center.


    ¡°Nice place.¡± I complimented after the waiter had left to fetch a bottle of wine that Christine had ordered. ¡°You must come here often.¡±


    ¡°As often as I can.¡± A sighed a content sigh, ¡°Its great to just come here and relax after a day at work.¡±


    ¡°I can see why.¡± I nodded as I watched the violinist ply his craft. ¡°Is there always live music?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but only during the evenings.¡±


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    I fingered through the menu as I looked for something that sounded appealing. From seafood to steak, they seemed to have a bit of everything at hand. While I perused the selections, the waiter returned and poured us each a glass of wine before setting the bottle upon the table and readying his pen and pad.


    ¡°Are you two ready to order?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have the smoked salmon.¡± Christine spoke without even having touched the menu once. A true regular.


    ¡°And you, sir?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have a steak, medium rare with a side of Caesar salad.¡±


    ¡°Will that be all?¡±


    ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± Chrstine nodded politely and the man retreated. She then turned her eyes to me.


    ¡°Well, since our food will be awhile, tell me about yourself Jack.¡±


    ¡°Whats there to know? I¡¯m just a simple network admin for a local school in upstate New York and I spend my free time avoiding doing anything that may prove to be productive.¡± She laughed at my candor,


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.¡°What about hopes? Dreams? Aspirations?¡±


    ¡°I wanted to be an astronaut when I was young. The feeling of exploring boundless new frontiers in a space ship and potentially finding new intelligent species of life. Then I found out all exploration is done by robots, so that dream died pretty quickly. I guess best I could do these days is going on a multi-world trip and see Venus and Mars. At least on Mars you can take a buggy out and explore. Can¡¯t do that on Venus, atmosphere is still too acidic.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯ve been gripped by wanderlust it seems.¡± She nodded, ¡°I can understand the appeal. Is that why you played my game? The desire to explore the unknown?¡± I shrugged,


    ¡°Thats one reason I play many games. The feeling of exploring new territory and meeting strange and interesting characters. Its like my old dream of exploring the galaxy. And I can do it from my own home.¡±


    ¡°Well then, how about family or relationships?¡±


    ¡°Parents passed a few years ago. No siblings. Had a girlfriend who was more interested in my inheritance than me so I ended that pretty quick.¡±


    ¡°I see, my condolences.¡± She bowed her head politely.


    ¡°Thanks, but no worries. Losing my parents was a rough time, but I¡¯m sure thats the same for everyone. As for the whole girlfriend deal, well, we know theres no such thing as a storybook romance these days. Everyone¡¯s out for something.¡±


    My words seemed to put an end to the conversation as Christine sat there in contemplative silence. I sipped my wine as I leaned back in my chair and glanced around the rest of the occupants in our section. My mother had always called me a people-watcher when we went out for dinner together. It was a habit I had never been able to kick, it was just so interesting watching people. Trying to see their ticks and habits.


    ¡°Is there anything you¡¯d like to ask me?¡± Christine spoke from across the table. I shifted my focus and looked her straight in the eyes.


    ¡°What¡¯s the deal with Chiros¡¯ ending?¡± She merely smiled at my question.


    ¡°Oh? Not about me personally, but the game itself?¡± I shrugged,


    ¡°I already know a fair deal about you.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Then do tell, what do you know about me?¡± She smiled.


    ¡°You¡¯re an only child of an adoptive family who excelled in school. Eventually you went to some college I can¡¯t remember the name of for technology. Again, excelling until you graduated and proceeded to start your own company, Arwald Technology Incorporated. Ten years ago you handed over the reigns of that company to start another. Chiros Productions in fact. From then on you became reclusive as you hired employees to create your dream augmented-reality game. Now here we are, ten years later, and Fall of Chiros has received, praise, critique, and rage of all forms.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve certainly done your homework it seems.¡±


    ¡°Its all on your Wikipedia page.¡± She laughed,


    ¡°There is only so much one can learn from that website. Well then, perhaps the answer to your question should wait until the tour of our offices? It¡¯d be such a waste to discuss business here when we could be enjoying dinner instead.¡± Christine suggested as our waiter returned with our food in hand.


    ¡°Fine by me.¡± I conceded as the aroma of our food invaded my nostrils.


    ¡°Excellent!¡± She beamed, ¡°I assure you, you will find the answer rather interesting.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll look forward to it then.¡±


    Dinner seemed to pass rather quickly as we made small talk while we dined. When we had finished our plates, and almost the whole bottle of wine, the waiter returned with the bill. As he left with our plates, Christine put down two hundred-dollar bills and arose from her seat without even checking the bill.


    ¡°Shall we take that tour now or tomorrow? I didn¡¯t expect dinner to take as long as it did.¡± She asked as I got up from my seat. The timer from my implant showed it being five minutes after eight.


    ¡°Nows fine. I¡¯m used to staying up late anyways.¡±


    ¡°Likewise.¡± She commented as we made our way out of the still-packed restaurant.


    Lights from the city rushed past our shuttle as we made our way back to Chiros Headquarters in the darkness of the night. Christine kept to herself and sat in deep concentration, saying nothing during the ride. Her face betrayed her inner thoughts as she appeared to be considering something. She¡¯d be a horrible poker player.


    ¡°Something wrong?¡± I asked, breaking the silence between us.


    ¡°What? Oh no. Nothing¡­well¡­¡± She sighed, ¡°This may sound strange, but have you ever experienced Deja Vu?¡±


    ¡°Of course, hasn¡¯t everyone? Why, you getting a bad case of believing this has all happened before? Its nothing more than a brain hiccup.¡± She laughed and her face visibly relaxed.


    ¡°A brain hiccup? Really?¡± I shrugged,


    ¡°Thats what my friend from school always called it. Kinda stuck when he randomly shouted ¡®I¡¯m having a brain hiccup!¡¯ in the middle of class.¡±


    The rest of our ride consisted of Christine uttering ¡®brain hiccup¡¯ in-between gasps for breath and bouts of laughter. Even as we landed out front Chiros Headquarters, Christine was still doing her best to calm herself. After multiple failed attempts at introducing the company once again, we decided to just head inside and do a tour.


    ¡°As you can see, this is our reception room.¡± Christine managed to say without breaking into a small fit of laughter. A large, welcoming room full of potted plants, comfortable sofas and chairs, as well as a water and coffee machine for guests. A wooden desk sat at the far end of the room where the receptionist would alert the higher ups of arrived guests. A set of doors were marked off to the side of the room as bathrooms. Christine opened the door just past the receptionist desk with a swipe of her ID card that she kept tucked under her suit. ¡°Now, welcome to Chiros Productions.¡±


    The first floor of the building consisted of a few large rooms dedicated to game testing and development as well as a cafeteria. Q&A testers would come and go while coders could respond to their feedback and fix any bugs that arose. The second floor however, was filled with various props, models, and artwork of the various races, landscapes, and architecture of the world of Chiros.


    ¡°What would you say is our product¡¯s strongest and weakest points would be?¡± Christine asked as we walked through the halls.


    ¡°Strongest? I would have to say immersion. Everything felt so real, NPC interactions were spot-on. It almost felt like I was talking to real people at times. As for the weakest, well, it¡¯d probably be the Daharillm invasion.¡±


    ¡°Why do you say that?¡±


    ¡°It happens far too soon for the player to prepare any sort of countermeasure. Even knowing all the events beforehand, a player can only do so much before the world goes to hell in a hand basket. And the Daharillm adapt far too fast. If you so much as use any sort of cavalry against them, even in a skirmish, the next battle they have spears and aim exclusively for the horses instead of the soldiers. Pretty much everything is stacked against the player.¡±


    ¡°Interesting. So you¡¯re saying the difficulty is our weakest point?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it just seems that the game is pretty much unable to be won. I mean, I made it to what seemed to be the final battle, only for everything to go horribly wrong.¡± I sighed.


    ¡°And why do you want to close the portal? A lot of players fortify at the Mabirs Kingdom and can hold back the Daharillm indefinitely.¡±


    ¡°Well, unlike the players who only defend the Mabirs Kingdom, I know that the Daharillm wouldn¡¯t be stopped by their mountains and walls. Stopping them from invading doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re defeated. I did a play-through defending Mabirs once. After awhile, the Daharillm stop attacking. And while they don¡¯t attack, they don¡¯t stop building up their forces. I¡¯m sure even Mabirs¡¯ great wall would be overrun by Breakers and Brutes if given enough time to build up. If those players truly wanted to save Chiros, they¡¯d work on closing the Rift. No Rift, no more invaders.¡±


    Together the two of us walked into the elevator that had taken us from the first floor to the second. Christine was about to scan her ID card, but hesitated.


    ¡°And what would you need to close the Rift?¡± She looked at me with a serious look on her face.


    ¡°Time mostly.¡± I stated simply.


    ¡°What about five in-game years?¡± She asked, giving me her full attention.


    ¡°That¡¯d be enough for sure.¡± My mind raced at the possibilities of five years before the Daharillm invaded.


    Christine sighed as if a great weight had been removed from her shoulders.


    ¡°Jack Turelli.¡± She spoke in a formal tone. ¡°What if I were to tell you Chiros is¡­was¡­a real place?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d have to say the wine has finally gotten to you Christine.¡± I laughed.


    ¡°My name is not Christine.¡± She whispered with a hand held off to the side. A hand where electricity crackled between her fingertips like small snakes made of lightning. Lightning that quickly changed to small beads of flame. Flames that vanished in a puff of smoke to make way for a small globe of water that instantly froze to ice.


    ¡°My name is Cyrene Stavm. The last survivor of Chiros.¡±


    ¡°Wha¡­¡± I uttered, unable to comprehend what I just saw.


    ¡°Jack Turelli. This entire evening I have been watching you. Judging you. And I have finally decided to answer your question about the ending to The Fall of Chiros.¡± She spoke, drawing my attention from her hand to her face. Fear and anxiety visibly surging through her facial features. Her eyes glistened with tears as her next words echoed in my mind.


    ¡°Will you help me save my world?¡±

 Chapter 03

    ¡°Will you help me save my world?¡± Her words echoed in my mind as I stared at the spectacle before me. My gaze firmly fixated upon her hand, which now she held firmly at her side. With effort, I tore my attention from her hand to her face. Worried eyes locked onto my own, expectant of my answer. My heart pounded wildly in my chest as my mind reeled from the impossibility that had been dropped right in front of me. My mouth felt as if it had been filled with sand.


    Magic! Thats what that had to have been. The lightning, the fire, and the ice! All formed within seconds of each other. But that was impossible! Magic was always just a pipe dream, a superstition drawn from folklore from days long past when we didn¡¯t know much about the world. It didn¡¯t actually exist in our world¡­and yet, there it was. An impossibility made reality right in front of me and all I could do was gape as words failed me. Thoughts within my mind became difficult as each thought felt as if it were trudging through a sea of waist-deep sludge.


    Christine wasn¡¯t Christine at all, but Cyrene from the game? She called herself the last survivor of Chiros? Chiros wasn¡¯t actually a game, but a real world? And above it all, she wanted my help? So many impossibilities that the logical part of my mind screamed that I was dreaming. And yet, it wasn¡¯t a dream. This was real, and I had been shown the evidence right in front of my eyes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­¡± With an iron grip, I clenched the bars along the edge of the elevator to keep myself steady. ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡­¡± I managed to utter after taking a few deep breaths.


    ¡°You¡¯re taking this much better than I did all those years ago.¡± Cyrene smirked in self-derision. ¡°Perhaps before we continue, we should have a seat?¡±


    ¡°Y-yeah¡­good idea¡­¡± Slowly, I set myself upon the elevator floor.


    ¡°I had meant a chair in a nearby room, but this is fine I suppose.¡± Cyrene smiled as she sat across from me.


    The two of us sat in silence as we regarded one another. Slowly, my mind recovered from the initial shock as the aches began to set in from over-thinking. Thoughts, questions, and assumptions all sped through and collided within my skull without mercy.


    ¡°How are you here?¡± I questioned, breaking the silence and putting to words the biggest question in my mind.


    ¡°You asked about the ending to The Fall of Chiros during our meal.¡± She closed her eyes, reminiscing. ¡°The truth is, beyond the events you saw, I don¡¯t know what happened afterwards.¡± She sighed as she slumped against the elevator wall. ¡°From what I know, a fellow Magi cast a teleportation spell in an attempt to save their own life. And, as best I can tell, it reacted violently with the gathered energy, as well as the influence of The Rift. The blast knocked me unconscious, and when I came to I found myself in your world. Your Earth.¡±


    ¡°Mmmmm¡­¡± I scratched my head in thought, ¡°So what is Chiros exactly? Another world in our universe? A different universe?¡±


    ¡°We believe it to be Earth in an alternate reality from your own. One where magic is allowed to flourish.¡± She held up her hand and a small ball of flame popped into existence. ¡°This is all I can do in your world unaided. All my power amounts to the ability to create a flame the size of a golf ball.¡±


    ¡°We?¡±


    ¡°I have a colleague of sorts who¡­well, he knows a lot about these sorts of things. Hes a bit of a strange one at that. And yes, he does know about my situation.¡± She answered before I could form the question.


    I rubbed my head in an effort to calm the ache that continued to pound in my skull unabated. ¡°I¡­don¡¯t know what to say.¡± I sighed, ¡°It all just seems so¡­¡±


    ¡°Impossible?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°I know how you feel.¡±


    A brief silence returned between us as I did my best to digest all the information I had been given.


    ¡°I¡¯m grateful.¡± Cyrene began, breaking the silence between us.


    ¡°Grateful?¡± She nodded,


    ¡°I could have died in that explosion, Jack. Yet there I was, thrust into a strange land. A young girl in tattered robes walking along a foreign road made of strange black rock in the middle of the night. The next thing I knew, bright lights approached from behind as a loud horn-like sound broke the previously silent night. I¡¯m ashamed that in that moment I froze in fear as a loud screeching sound came from the coming lights. I thought it was a monster at first.¡± She laughed in self-derision, ¡°It was my first encounter with a carriage that hadn¡¯t been pulled by horses. I was amazed at such a thing, even as a man and a woman barged out, the man gesturing wildly as he shouted while the woman ran towards me speaking words I did not understand. As she looked me over, speaking in an alarmed but calm manner, I felt safe.¡±


    ¡°Jeane and Riley Hordavos.¡± Cyrene nodded,


    ¡°Yes. They became my adoptive parents.¡± She smiled fondly. ¡°They took me in. Fed, sheltered, and taught me. I owe them everything, and so I used everything I learned to repay their kindness. After graduating college I had started my first company, which received great success. Now they will never have to work again.¡±


    A sad look crossed her face as she continued her story, ¡°I had been transported to a good home, but it never truly felt like home. I was brought to this wondrous world of metal and light. A world that didn¡¯t know the taint of the Daharillm. A world where carriages pulled themselves, and some flew through the sky like the Sashomyrr. A world that had done away with hunger and famine. A world where every day wasn¡¯t a struggle for survival.¡± She sighed wistfully, ¡°A world that made me realize that everything I knew was but a small grain of sand in the vast ocean of what your world had accomplished. I, once one the most promising pupils of the Zanimastros Magi, felt small in the face of everything your people had brought into existence. All without even a drop of magical ability in your veins. A world full of people who dared to dream and strode forth until they made those dreams reality.¡±


    ¡°While I was in schooling, I knew what I had to do. I had to acquire someone with that same strength of will. That relentless drive to accomplish their goal no matter how insurmountable the objective. But I needed money and a plan. After many years of tireless effort and planning, I had met a disgraced scientist by the name of Erik Krasston.¡±


    I recognized that name. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he the man who had a theory for bending space, allowing for instantaneous transportation between two points in space?¡±


    ¡°The one and the same. It was his idea to create a game that mimicked my own world. And so I left my old company to start a new one. Together, we created the Fall of Chrios for the sole purpose of finding an individual like yourself. You are not the first person I¡¯ve contacted Jack, but you are the first I have told all of this.¡± She sighed, ¡°The others I had interviewed only saw me as a way for them to put their foot in the door. A quick shot to success and wealth.¡±


    ¡°Mmm.¡± I nodded in understanding. My ex had been the same.


    ¡°I ended up thanking them for their time and told them to look forward to our future products. I judged that they wouldn¡¯t be able to accomplish what I asked. But you¡¯re different Jack. You aren¡¯t here for wealth or prestige, you only sought answers to the game¡¯s ending and now you have them. So I must ask you once again, will you help me save my world?¡± She asked with her head bowed towards me.


    And there it was. A question with a world¡¯s worth of weight behind it. I could accept, and try my hand at saving a world. Or I could decline, and continue to live my normal life. If I said yes, would I truly be able to help? I know if I decline I would always look back at this moment and think ¡®what if¡¯. My head pounded in frustration of weighing these two choices in my mind. Could I help save a world that wasn¡¯t my own? I didn¡¯t know what to think. There were more than a few things still bugging me that I had not had the answers to. Answers I felt I should have before coming to a decision.


    ¡°Did you cut my internet connection during my stream?¡±


    ¡°I-¡± She uttered, caught off guard by my question. ¡°In a way, yes. It was Erik acting at my behest.¡± I nodded, I had a feeling she was behind that.


    ¡°You do know disruption of a public service is ten years imprisonment minimum, no matter how small the offense right?¡±


    ¡°I would suffer any hardship to save my world.¡± Her voice radiated determination.


    ¡°What would helping you entail exactly?¡± Her entire face lit up with joy. ¡°I haven¡¯t said yes, I¡¯m just asking questions.¡± I quickly noted to her. Her enthusiasm didn¡¯t fade.


    ¡°We would need time to prepare.¡± She spoke rapidly, ¡°I would need to teach you my language, both written and spoken. We would have to constantly review everything about my world until you know it better than your own. I would also send you to professional training for actual fighting experience and physical fitness. A game is a poor substitute for real world experience, though you¡¯re much more fit than previous potentials.¡± She smirked, ¡°But if you accept, Erik and I could go ahead with our plan.¡±


    ¡°You seem to rely a great deal on him.¡±


    ¡°Yes, hes quite the interesting man. Though a bit of a troublemaker at times.¡± She smiled, reminiscing.


    ¡°You asked if five years would be enough, what did you have in mind with that?¡±


    ¡°We¡­theoretically have a way to get you to my world five years before the invasion.¡±


    ¡°Theoretically?¡±


    ¡°Its never been tried before.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re pining all your hopes on an experiment. Cant say I like the sound of that.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I wish I could guarantee more.¡±


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you tried sending yourself back then?¡±


    ¡°I wanted to. But it was Erik who convinced me to gather support. If it were up to me, I¡¯d already be back in my world with a wealth of knowledge to use against those invaders.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask Erik to join you?¡± She shook her head,


    ¡°He has too many attachments to Earth to leave. A wife and two daughters. I couldn¡¯t take him from them.¡±


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.Taking a deep breath, I asked my final question.


    ¡°And what if I decline?¡± All the energy in Cyrene quickly deflated.


    ¡°Then I would have to go back to hoping for someone that will accept. But if it takes too long, I will go myself.¡± She whispered. ¡°All I would ask that you kept everything we discussed tonight private.¡±


    She had laid everything bare and now it was up to me whether to accept or decline. Chills crashed through my body at the sheer weight of such a decision. I wanted to decline, I truly did. It wasn¡¯t my world. It wasn¡¯t my problem. But how could I merely stand on the sideline and say its not my fight? How could I continue living, knowing full well I could have done everything in my power to help countless people? Could Cyrene and I truly save an entire world? My father had always told me, ¡®If you want something done right, you do it yourself¡¯, but I¡¯m sure he didn¡¯t have this in mind when speaking those words.


    ¡°Cyrene.¡± She looked up at me with defeated eyes, as if she had already guessed my answer. Who in their right mind would accept such a request? Guess I¡¯m just not right in the head then. ¡°We may not be able to save your world Cyrene, but I¡¯ll be damned if we don¡¯t at least try.¡±


    Her eyes widened in shock. Her mouth opened, closed, and opened in repeated motions, like a fish out of water. I felt a great weight lift from my shoulders as I stood up and held out my hand towards her. Gingerly, she took hold of my hand as I helped her to her feet. Her eyes flooded with tears as she rushed towards me and embraced me. Hot, wet tears soaked my suit as she sobbed into my shoulder.


    ¡°I¡¯ve waited so long to hear those words.¡± She managed to say in-between sobs. I was thankful that we were alone in the building, as her wailing pierced the silence of the night while she cried into my shoulder.


    ¡°Sorry it took so long.¡± She laughed,


    ¡°Ever since I was ten years old, when I came to your world, I hoped to hear those words.¡± She spoke, her words muffled by her face upon my shoulder.


    ¡°Ten years old?! Wasn¡¯t your in-game character fifteen?¡±


    ¡°Sixteen.¡± She sniffled, ¡°I had to change my own age to get past the censorship laws.¡± I couldn¡¯t help myself, I began to chuckle. My chuckles quickly turned to laughter. And my laughter was soon joined by Cyrene¡¯s.


    It wasn¡¯t until almost eleven at night that Cyrene had calmed down.


    ¡°I still have one last thing to show you.¡± She spoke as she punched her ID into the elevator. A small panel with a single button opened below the floor selections which she pressed. The doors closed with a hiss, and we began our descent towards the first floor. And then the first floor passed us by.


    ¡°Hey what-¡±


    ¡°Basement.¡± She stated as we descended further and further. ¡°Only Erik and I can access this section of the building. Its our secret project and the key to getting back to my world. Its also the reason why I asked if you¡¯ve experienced Deja Vu earlier.¡± Before I could ask the question forming at the tip of my tongue, she held up a hand. ¡°You¡¯ll understand shortly.¡± The doors clanked open as she spoke.


    A short passageway walled and floored in rubber led to a high-security doorway not ten feet from the elevator. The two of us walked side by side as we made our way towards the door. A faint tingle in my head quickly turned to erupting pain in my skull as we made it halfway to the door.


    ¡°Wha¡­what the hell is this?!¡± I yelled out as I clenched my head. A wave of nausea erupted from my stomach as I fell to my knees. My mind felt as if it were splitting in half. Cyrene knelt worriedly next to me, speaking words that I could not hear as I began to see.


    I saw Cyrene open the door ahead of us, her lips moving as she spoke to me. I followed her with ragged steps, my hands firmly clenched to my head. Together, the two of us entered the room and a stranger met us inside. A man that Cyrene seemed to know quite well and angrily yelled at. The man laughed and began typing on a control panel. In an instant, I saw myself standing as if the pain had never been there in the first place. The vision went on and on with no end in sight.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Cyrene worriedly asked. ¡°I don¡¯t understand, the room shouldn¡¯t even be working at this time. Erik had already gone home¡­¡± She mumbled to herself as she walked forwards. Slowly, I rose to my feet and followed close behind, clenching my head from all that I was¡­remembering. That was the best way I could describe this strange feeling. It was as if I were living a memory I never knew I had. Except that memory hadn¡¯t occurred yet. It was Deja Vu on steroids.


    ¡°Erik? Man about six feet tall? Blond hair, green eyes, with a shaved face? Yeah he¡¯s here.¡± I uttered through clenched teeth. Cyrene¡¯s expression rapidly contorted into a snarl.


    ¡°That man. I¡¯ll give him a piece of my mind¡­¡± I¡¯d have laughed were it not for my head thumping uncontrollably.


    ¡°Whats going on?¡± I gasped as the vision kept moving forward. My mind was screaming at me being in two places at once and yet only in one place in reality.


    ¡°This room was designed by Erik and I.¡± She spoke quickly as we moved through the passageway. ¡°Call it a little piece of Chiros. This is what it will feel like as a Seer within my world.¡±


    ¡°A Seer?¡±


    ¡°One who can see the future.¡± She began, ¡°They were rare in Chiros. Most are driven mad by their visions, and those that don¡¯t end up taking their own lives to escape them. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the vast majority of people in your world possess such a ability, only for your world to hamper it.¡±


    ¡°Is it magic?¡± I asked with gritted teeth.


    ¡°I¡­I¡¯m not sure honestly. Possibly? It was never considered such when I was at the Zanimastros academy. Though, some may call it a sort of brain hiccup though.¡± She smirked and punched in her ID to the door.


    ¡°Greetings esteemed colleague and her chosen hero!¡± A man shouted with acclaim as the doors opened.


    ¡°Erik what the hell are you doing here at this hour? And why did you activate the room without notifying me? Jack here didn¡¯t even have a warning for Sorris¡¯ sake!¡± Cyrene fumed.


    ¡°Hahaha!¡± The man posed before typing on a control panel and the massive migraine vanished as if it had never been there to begin with.


    ¡°Are you okay Jack?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m good now.¡± I took in a few breaths to steady myself.


    ¡°See? The boy¡¯s fine!¡± Erik grinned. ¡°Of course, I knew he¡¯d be fine way ahead of time!¡±


    ¡°You¡­you what?!¡±


    ¡°I foresaw everything that would happen today, yesterday while you were working!¡± The man grinned.


    ¡°You knew that we would find Jack? And that he would accept my plea?¡± Cyrene growled, ¡°And you didn¡¯t tell me?!¡±


    ¡°Pay attention Jacky boy, this bit is important!¡± Erik grinned mischievously, ¡°Your first lesson in changing the future! Also known as knowing when to not alter it!¡± He shifted his attention towards the woman staring daggers at him with crossed arms. ¡°Dearest Cyrene, what if I had told you of our friend here, hmm? You would have approached him differently. Perhaps with far more confidence, as you would be assured it would be a surefire thing? But, said confidence may not have been able to shift his disposition towards helping you. In fact, it could very well have been your very desperation is what drove him to act!¡±


    ¡°I have a question for you.¡± I addressed Erik as Cyrene mulled over his words.


    ¡°The answer is training, my boy. With enough practice, you¡¯ll be able to stave off the constant visions by training your mind to subconsciously block them. Cyrene has told you of her people¡¯s Seers going loony and killing themselves, but this room here will help so you don¡¯t! We have the advantage of turning off this room to allow our minds time to breathe as we learn how to filter out these constant visions. Though I will admit, getting to that point is quite difficult, it took me nearly three months to be able to do it!¡±


    ¡°And how did you go about doing that yourself?¡±


    ¡°The scientific method my boy, trial and error!¡±


    ¡°He locks himself in this room for hours at a time everyday. He does it everyday for the past few years.¡± Cyrene turned to face me, ¡°It¡¯s something you¡¯ll have to master before we can attempt our journey to Chiros. Otherwise¡­¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Well I¡¯m glad introductions are over, I¡¯ll be heading home now. I don¡¯t need to see the future to know my wife is going to kill me for working late again. See you both later! Ta-ta!¡± The man scrambled out the door and rushed to the elevator in a mad dash. He turned as he reached the elevator, waved, and was on his way.


    ¡°How did you get him to sit still long enough to help you?¡±


    ¡°I asked him if he believed in magic. He called me foolish and ranted about how it was unscientific. He changed his tune pretty quickly.¡±


    Not long after Erik had left the scene, we made our way outside the building. Cyrene had offered to pay for a hotel, but I declined. I had to go home, shower, catch some sleep, and put in my thirty days notice at my work. After saying my goodbyes, I entered the air-shuttle once more and sped off into the night towards my home. Complete exhaustion gripped my mind as the comforting sound of the humming engine lulled my consciousness away.


    The heavy scent of smoke crashed into my nostrils as an unbearable heat assailed my entire body, waking me from my peaceful slumber. Gone was the sound of the humming engine, replaced by the roar of a massive fire. All around me, wooden buildings were consumed by flames that licked at the night sky. Clouds of smoke billowed into the air as the flames raged and buildings collapsed. Keeping low, I moved through the cobbled streets, doing my best to avoid falling debris. Occasionally, I¡¯d rush towards a street only to find it blocked by a burning collapse.


    Minutes seemed like hours as I traversed through the hellish inferno. Other than the crackling of flames and the thunder from collapsing buildings, there was no sound. No people yelling, no children crying. Just a hellish landscape devoid of all life burning to the ground. Time had no meaning as I rushed from street to street, coughing from the smoke all around me. If I didn¡¯t get out of here soon, I¡¯d die from the smoke inhalation.


    Stone walls arose in the distance as I made my way through the city, and with no better landmark, I made my way towards them. The closer I came to the walls, the less smoke there seemed to be. My breathing eased and the heat faded when I had finally broken through the inferno that had consumed the entire city. Gasping for breath, I inhaled the cold, clean air. With curious eyes, I glanced along the stone wall, looking for an exit. I didn¡¯t have to look far, the walls had been destroyed in many sections. Piles of rubble formed massive mounds on the inside of the walls, as if they had been broken through.


    I jogged towards the nearest hole in the wall and peered outside the ruined city. Barren landscape stretched as far as the eye could see. Not a single blade of grass, nor a single tree for miles and miles. A cloud of dust drifted across the land, kicked up by a gust of wind. Claws dug in to my shoulder from behind. Before I could cry out in pain, the claws ripped sideways, spinning me around to face my attacker as my arm was ripped from it¡¯s socket.


    ¡°You will change nothing.¡± A Brute-type Daharillm uttered before sending it¡¯s claws towards my face.


    Reflexively, I reached for my face, only to find myself in the backseat of the air-shuttle. My entire body was drenched in sweat from the nightmare I just had. In a practiced manner, I took a few sets of deep, calming breaths. I had had nightmares like this before, years ago. Merely a dream affected by self doubt and fear. I knew this dream wouldn¡¯t be the last, I¡¯d have plenty more ahead of me.


    ¡°I will change nothing?¡± I mused with a smile as the shuttle descended. I was finally home. ¡°Just watch me.¡±