《The Wired West》 Chapter 1 At the entrance to an old western town, located in the middle of nowhere, a crowd of people were materializing out of thin air, one by one. All of their minds had just been uploaded into a new, digital world. Among them was a young man named Dan Mercer. Like everyone else, he was fully clothed in 19th-century American Western attire, complete with deep-green long coat, button-up shirt, slacks, and a thin vest. He pulled off his stetson hat to take a look. It was a light tan, which contrasted the dark tone of his clothing. While he slowly came to, Dan rubbed at his face, causing him to notice that his dark-brown hair and beard had grown out¡ªnow about the length of ten days stubble with a long mustache that concealed his mouth. All in all, it took only the briefest of moments for full consciousness to come back to him. Once it did, Dan surveyed the area around him. It was an easy enough task due to the miles of treeless, desert sands that surrounded him and the town he was about to inhabit for the next four weeks. The town itself was like those he''d seen in TV shows and movies. It was small¡ªa few buildings, some of which held apartments on their second floors for the NPCs who ran the shops. Dan¡¯s excitement built up in his chest until he simply couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. ¡°YEAH!!¡± Dan shouted and threw up his arms. His sudden outburst scared some of the others standing closest to him. A few chuckled, but most gave him dirty looks. He offered an embarrassed wave of apology and a smile. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said, ¡°I''m just really stoked!¡± They mumbled various replies, most forgave him, but he could have sworn he heard the word ¡°ass¡± underneath it all¡ªthough he wasn¡¯t about to let that bring him down. Dan smiled even broader, spread himself out in the wind and started taking a deep breath in before gazing around himself once more. This place truly is beautiful. What surprised him most of all was the precision of his senses¡ªeverything felt, smelled, sounded, and looked completely lifelike. The rough fabric of Dan''s clothes were slightly abrasive against his skin. The breeze, gentle as it was, burned, bringing with it the smell of dust, and earth, as well as the now rumbling sound of conversation from the crowd surrounding him. In fact, if he hadn¡¯t just experienced being strapped and wired to a table, naked as the day he was born he might have considered the possibility that he''d just been drugged, and dragged out here to cosplay, rather than becoming a digital being. At a modest five-feet and seven-inches tall, Dan was unable to see over the crowd to judge how many people had just uploaded with him. Fresh disappointment stung him as he reflected on the hard ¡°no¡± he''d received after requesting to be taller. The developers had taken very exact measurements of his body before this. Then when he inquired, they looked at him, clearly irritated, before mentioning something about unrealistic physical changes, increasing the possibility of data getting corrupted, and so on. Most of it was technical stuff he didn''t understand, anyways, he didn¡¯t push the subject. He supposed it wasn''t important. If he was being honest with himself, it probably wouldn¡¯t have changed his comparative perspective. Most of the men before him probably asked to be taller, too. Still, he would have liked to experience life as a tall person. A sudden wave of cheers rushed toward Dan from behind him, causing him to whip around. Some of the crowd, he noticed, had just started gathering in front of the largest building in the town¡ªit was a long, wooden structure topped by a sign that read Welcome Center. Something important must have just happened in that direction. Something he definitely wanted to see, and curiosity overcoming him, he walked over until he spotted what the commotion was all about. Ten professional-looking individuals stood in front of the closed doors of the welcome center. The team was smiling warmly, but didn¡¯t seem to notice the people around them. Their anachronistic uniforms were crisp and new, with name tags that gleamed with the Lucid Enterprises logo. They weren¡¯t themed to fit this old west setting. They had to be the ones running the show today, only here to guide these newcomers through their indoctrination. Dan also guessed that they were AI employees of Lucid, who¡¯d soon disappear afterwards. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. The crowd grew awkward as the silence of the AI team remained. It seemed that they¡¯d all be waiting a while longer. No one knew how much longer it would last until the last person had finished loading in. It was at that moment that the team took action. They began splitting the crowd for indoctrination: each Lucid member moving forward, pulling a list out of thin air, then calling out each of the newcomers by name, one by one. Lines began to form in front of each AI, as they had instructed. Dan was called by a woman sporting a short, blonde bob. She handed each individual a flier as they congregated. A very short and thin woman, she had blue eyes and perfectly white teeth, and while she wasn¡¯t unpleasant to look at, she was, somehow, off-putting. Trying to be respectful, Dan maintained his polite demeanor as he approached her. When she handed him his flier¡ªheavy, and embossed with a glossy finish¡ªhe read her name tag: ¡°Claire¡± was prettily etched into it with bold letters. Claire, still smiling warmly, flicked her eyes back and forth with the efficiency of someone who had done this too many times to count. Her intent for efficiency was made very clear as she walked right past Dan to the next individual in line. Dan looked at the flier more closely. Welcome to the Frontier! was typed across the top, followed by a list of instructions and basic guidelines for survival. Dan was half-way done through the instructions when Claire suddenly spoke in an assertive, yet gentle voice. ¡°Congratulations on making the leap,¡± she began. ¡°In a few moments, the doors behind me will open, and you¡¯ll each be given the tools you¡¯ll need to start your journey. Remember, this world is designed to be as immersive as possible. Pain, hunger, thirst¡ªit¡¯s all real here. Yes, just as real as it was out there. Well, as real as it needs to be.¡± Her smile widened. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t die unless you truly want to. That¡¯s the only difference. The most important one, if you want my opinion.¡± Dan felt a prickle of excitement in his chest once again. This was exactly what he¡¯d signed up for¡ªa life where everything mattered, where every decision felt weighty, but not permanently so. He wanted adventure. He couldn¡¯t help wondering, though, how many of the others around him felt the same or if some were already regretting the choice to leave the real world behind, forever, as the crowd stirred in anticipation. After giving them a moment, Claire went on. The other groups started filing inside the building. Some of the new citizens looked confident, others hesitated for a moment before following. But despite all of that, the process ran like a well-oiled machine. These AI were good at what they did. Dan couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was wrong, however. Claire wasn¡¯t showing any indication that they¡¯d follow the others inside. Rather, they remained a good distance to the side, away from everyone else. As she continued to speak, Dan even thought he glimpsed a bit of sadism behind Claire¡¯s eyes as everyone slowly realized something was going on and started to glance nervously at the front doors. Were they going to be rejected? Was their code somehow corrupted? For the first time since he¡¯d arrived, Dan¡¯s heart sank. But just before he felt like he¡¯d completely lose it, they heard the doors to the welcome center shut. It was in that instant that Claire¡¯s tone shifted. She was suddenly direct. Oh god, no! Dan thought, panicking. This is bad, what did they do to us! Then... ¡°Now that we¡¯re alone, I can freely inform you that we will be doing things a bit differently than everyone else.¡± Shit¡­ ¡°As you¡¯ve surely noticed by now, they have entered the building, yet we remain out here. ¡®Why?¡¯ you¡¯re asking yourselves¡­ And I know you¡¯re scared,¡± a gleam of light shot from her eyes as she swept across them until she finally pronounced, ¡°The answer is simple. You¡¯re all special.¡± Her smile was now broader than ever, as if she¡¯d just revealed the best news in the world to them, but they were too stupid to understand it. Not a single person moved. No one said anything. Claire¡¯s face relaxed, ¡°You all, of course, remember the tests you took in the weeks leading up to today? You were told that they would serve as a baseline for your character models. We said we would use that information to match the brains and bodies you¡¯ve now left behind. All of that was true. Yes. But there was one additional trait we at Lucid were looking for, one we informed nobody of. Something we thought would¡­ alter the honesty of those in the building right now. Each of you has that trait,¡± she said, her eyes still scanning the group, back and forth. Claire then gestured quickly at the blank wall behind her. The group, now more confused than ever, peered around her breathlessly. Suddenly, the wall began to split, revealing a secret door that only she and the others in her team must have known about. ¡°Any questions before we begin?¡± Chapter 2 Dan¡¯s mind raced, questions piling up faster than he could organize them. But he stayed silent. He wanted to experience everything for himself, not spoil things with too many preemptive details. Instead, he looked around at the faces of the others¡ªsome eager, others hesitant, but all captivated by the prospect of stepping into a world where their fate was entirely in their hands. The large wooden doors creaked open, and the group collectively tensed, leaning forward as if about to be let into paradise. Claire motioned for them to enter. Dan found himself jostling along with the rest, heart pounding in his chest. He was ready for this¡ªfor the adventure, the danger, and everything that came with it. Dan¡¯s group had all finally congregated into a space so large and empty that it resembled a hangar for a commercial aircraft. Claire, at the front of the group, began to speak again. Her voice carried unnaturally in this room, even for one as large as this. ¡°As I stated outside, each of you has been selected for a reason,¡± Claire repeated, ¡°now before we move ahead, I need you to stand on one of the numbers you see beneath your feet.¡± Dan blinked, glancing down as bold numbers began to materialize, seemingly being etched by invisible hands onto the floor beneath them. There was no clear pattern to any of them, however¡ªno logical order to how they appeared. Some were close together, others scattered randomly across the room. He hesitated for a moment, eyeing the two closest to him: a large, blocky 12 and a sleek 28. Something pulled at him, an instinct that urged him to keep moving. As he stepped past number after number, his gaze landed on one that piqued his interest¡ª47. Next to it stood a nervous-looking woman. He recognized her as one of the people who had given him a dirty look outside. She had caramel skin, complemented by long black hair, which she¡¯d split into two braids and pulled over her shoulders. Her equally black eyes stared straight forward, though Dan could tell she had noticed him approaching. She was attractive, standing just a bit taller than him. He did his best to be respectful, but couldn¡¯t help admiring her widely-curved hips. Without another thought, he stood on 47. He wasn¡¯t sure what it was that drew him here, the number didn¡¯t mean anything to him. All he knew was that it felt right. The floor beneath his feet became oddly cool and solid, as if it was confirming his choice. Claire watched as the remainder of the group settled on their chosen numbers. ¡°Now,¡± she said, pacing slowly in front of them, ¡°Most of what you receive will be the same as everyone else, including the other groups, though it will all be based on the style preferences you provided in your tests. However, each of you will also receive one additional item, one uniquely chosen to fit you. This is where that little ¡®trait¡¯ we were searching for comes in. You all have exhibited extraordinary leadership capabilities. Each for different reasons. It doesn¡¯t matter what your trait is; what matters is that we will need people like you to aid our other residents who will surely go¡­ astray at times. This world is near perfect, but alas, it is not. As much as we¡¯d have liked to create a perfect world, there is one thing that we could not control in its development. You. You are all still human beings, all with flaws and personalities that will conflict. We have accounted for that. I want to assure you all, and make it very clear that we are not designating you any official positions of responsibility. Aside from your own nature and your individual item, you will start at the same level as everyone else. You will live your lives as you wish, just as we promised. Some of you may not want this gift, and may very well never lead. That¡¯s perfectly fine. You still get your additional gift, and you¡¯re welcome! This is all simply a precautionary procedure.¡± More mumbling passed through the group for a brief moment, before Claire continued. ¡°As for that gift¡ªsince you¡¯ve all been determined leaders, based on different aspects of your personalities, no two of you will get the same thing. It¡¯s designed for you¡ªbased on your skills, your instincts, and what you¡¯ll need moving forward. Here, ladies and gentlemen, is your starting point. Get to it, wranglers!¡± She finished abruptly, letting the weight of her words sink in. Dan felt his heart race in his chest, his mind buzzing with possibilities. A leader? What would he receive? Would it be a weapon, a tool, something more abstract? And how could something so unique be tailored to him when the numbers seemed random? Did they somehow know what number he¡¯d pick? Was the number even important, or had it called to him in some way? The air around him seemed to hum with anticipation as he waited. His eyes flicked to the others, each standing on their own number, for what seemed like eternity, but what was in reality less than a few seconds. A low rumble vibrated through the floor. Dan looked down, startled, as the ground in front of him began to shift. Slowly, a section of the floor slid open, and before he knew it a two-foot by four-foot table was rising up to meet him. The surface gleamed and on top, neatly arranged, lay an assortment of tools and weapons¡ªeach item meticulously placed, waiting for him to claim. Dan glanced around again, seeing the same thing happen for the others. With a solid clunk the tables locked into place, leaving each person to collect their gear. No two sets of items looked alike, just as Claire had told them. Dan scanned the objects on his table, overwhelmed with joy. The first thing that caught his eye was a finely crafted, waxed bedroll. Its forest green color stood out against the rest of the gear, rich and deep like pine needles after rain. The straps were tough, embossed leather the color of mocha, with intricate patterns etched into the surface, and the buckles gleamed like freshly polished bronze, shining in the light as though they¡¯d been freshly polished. He picked it up, feeling the weight and quality in his hands. The waxy surface shimmered, clearly designed to repel water and weather. Without hesitation, Dan unrolled it, checking its length. It had exactly enough space for all of the remaining gear; the pockets and straps all crafted to perfectly fit everything that lay on the table. They really thought of everything¡­ Dan carefully set the bedroll, still opened, onto the floor. He reached for the first items he¡¯d be packing, practical yet plain in appearance. A small, cast-iron pan sat near the edge of the table¡ªsolid, heavy in his hands, the kind of tool that would last a lifetime. Practical and deadly. Next up was a steel canteen, simple but functional, with a matching cup that fit neatly onto the bottom. Its heft surprised him at first. It was already filled with water. He sniffed at it and when he decided it was safe enough, he sipped. It was fresh. Very fresh. Taking a couple of heftier, glugging drinks Dan clicked the cup into place with a muffled snap. He slid the set neatly beside the pan, making sure it was secure. A single set of utensils: a fork, knife, and spoon followed. Like the other necessities, they were plain but dependable, with no unnecessary flourishes; just the bare essentials. He tucked them in alongside the other items, noting the reassuring weight of the gear he was assembling. Lastly, there were enough rations to last a week, neatly wrapped in thick paper, and a coin purse filled with various coins. He inspected the money, noting copper, silver, and just a bit of gold, the values of which he had yet to find out. There was nothing glamorous about any of these items, but that was exactly how he liked it. He was sure Lucid knew that already, having spotted much more elegant equivalents on the tables nearby. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Those look far too valuable, thereby making you all look valuable to rob. After securing the basics, Dan¡¯s eyes landed on something a bit more striking. A pair of spurs gleamed in the light, their golden color catching his attention immediately. He picked them up, feeling the surprising weight in his hands. Despite their rich appearance, they were as tough as titanium, built to last. The stars of the spurs had five points, sharp and bold, not unlike the stars on the American flag. He turned them over once before tucking them into the bedroll with care. Next, his gaze fell on his new pistol holster. The leather was the same as the straps on his bedroll, embossed with the same intricate patterns, clearly made to match. It was sturdy but elegant, crafted with precision. Dan lifted it, running his fingers over the familiar texture. This time though, instead of setting it aside, he strapped it around his waist, tightening the buckle until it fit snugly. The holster felt like it belonged there, settling against his side with a sense of purpose. The revolvers were another sight to behold; silver and polished to perfection. Their handles were made of fine, light-colored wood, carved with intricate swirls that formed ravens on each side. The craftsmanship was beyond anything he¡¯d expected, each curve of the carving flowing seamlessly into the next. He turned the pistols over, appreciating the balance in their weight, before sliding them carefully into the holster. These weren¡¯t just weapons¡ªthey were art, and they fit into his growing collection as naturally as if they had always belonged to him. FInally, Dan¡¯s gaze shifted to the last item on the table: a beautifully bound leather journal. The cover was just as dark and smooth as anything else he was given, also with intricate embossing along the edges. A thin cord wrapped around the journal, holding it closed by a small, gold clasp shaped like a raven. The craftsmanship was as fine as anything he had ever seen. He flipped through the blank pages, half-expecting to see something, anything, that would explain its significance. But nothing. No words, no instructions. Just empty paper, thick and slightly yellowed, yet smooth as glass. Something about the journal felt alive, as if it was waiting for him to make the first move. Instinctively, Dan looked around the table for a pen or pencil, eager to test it out, but there was nothing. He cursed as a small wave of disappointment hit him. He stared down at the open journal once more, lingering on the first page, still curious about its use. Then, just as he was about to close it up and place it within the rucksack, something strange happened: a faint shimmer crossed the surface of the paper. Dan blinked, watching as words slowly began to materialize, seemingly written by a ghost. Brief, cryptic, but undeniably clear: Lead with purpose, or others will lead you. ¡°Hooooly shit,¡± Dan exclaimed under his breath. He looked over at the table belonging to the rigid woman. Her gear¡¯s style had a Victorian flair¡ªpolished brass buckles, leather straps, and lace trim that reminded him of another world entirely. Huh, fascinating, he thought before deciding to break the ice. ¡°Can you believe this?!¡± He gestured his journal, then turned it over in his hands¡ªrunning his fingers over the embossed leather. ¡°I¡¯ve been dreaming about this for months. Everything is better than I imagined. Especially the ¡®move¡¯ into this place. I really thought the transition would feel¡­ weirder.. I guess?¡± He chuckled, flipping through the blank pages once more. The woman, still nervous, surprisingly smiled. She adjusted the brim of her hat before replying. ¡°Yeah, they really nailed the details.¡± Her voice was steady, but Dan noticed a slight tremble in her hands as she opened a small, ornate compass. She had the air of someone who was just told to act natural. ¡°It¡¯s everything I was hoping for, I guess.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem very excited.¡± He motioned to the group¡ªall talking loudly, admiring their new gear. ¡°Nervous?¡± Her smile faltered, just for a moment, before she tucked the compass away into her coat. Her cheeks flushed. ¡°No, I¡¯m happy. Really. It¡¯s just¡­¡± She trailed off, adjusting the straps on her bag, avoiding the question. ¡°Leaving everything behind¡­ It¡¯s a lot to process. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s strange to feel this way. In fact I think it¡¯s pretty normal to find this difficult.¡± And with that, she sharply cut her words off in agitation. Dan frowned, still sensing something unsaid, but recognizing that he was being impolite to a complete stranger said, ¡°sorry, yeah, I get that. Totally¡­¡± then hastily added, ¡°but we¡¯re free now, right? Isn¡¯t that what this is all about? A fresh start at something amazing?¡± Her eyes flicked up to meet his, and for a brief second, her expression softened¡ªguarded, but honest. She gazed back down at her compass, and sighed. ¡°Free. You¡¯re right.¡± Her nerves showed once again, despite her attempt to hide them. Not wanting to pry any further, Dan pretended not to notice. When their eyes met again, she snapped the compass shut with an unsettling familiarity. As though she¡¯d had it her entire life. Did the program give some people items they had in their previous lives? That wouldn¡¯t be suspicious, he supposed. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Dan said awkwardly, pointing toward the compass, trying to keep the conversation going despite the tension. Even though Nancy was guarded, there was something about her that he really liked and he hoped he hadn¡¯t just ruined any chance at a friendship with her. ¡°Thanks,¡± Nancy replied, forlorn, then turned back to her packing with more haste than before. Shit. Dan stepped back to his table and quietly secured his bedroll then strapped it to his back. Silence hung between them, leaving him deflated. He pried too much, he knew. He glanced at Nancy now and then as she packed, the weight of the moment building. Pressure built up in Dan¡¯s chest as he wrestled with himself, debating whether he should try to fix the awkward tension that had just settled between him and Nancy. The air felt thick, and each heartbeat echoed in his ears, amplifying his uncertainty about how to bridge the gap that had formed. He knew that he was being selfish in his desire to resolve things, yet he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that it would be in bad taste to leave their first conversation hanging in the air like this. The thought of walking away without addressing the tension gnawed at him, a reminder that connections¡ªhowever fragile¡ªwere worth nurturing. Finally, he took the shot: ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I know I can be a bit much. I just¡­¡± Nancy glanced over at him, her brow furrowing as annoyance and exasperation flashed across her face. ¡°I get excited¡­ and it feels good to share that with someone. And that¡¯s selfish behavior, so¡­ Just, I¡¯m sorry. And I¡¯ll leave you alone from here on out.¡± Dan finished by giving her an affirming nod before turning to his things, waiting to leave. A few moments later, Nancy¡¯s voice rasped beside him. ¡°God damnit, Nancy¡­¡± She turned to Dan, ¡°Okay¡­ No. You didn¡¯t do anything wrong. I understand why you¡¯re excited¡ªanyone would be.¡± She paused, her gaze drifting away as if searching for the right words. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ in a different situation than most. I didn¡¯t exactly choose to be here. This was my last option.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t choose to be here?¡± Dan¡¯s voice softened to a near whisper. He stopped himself from prying any further, not wanting to push it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry it had to be that way for you. But, hey¡­ we¡¯re here now, and this may be too much at this point, but, if you¡¯re open to the offer, I¡¯d like to make it up to you with a drink. No obligation, no¡­ anything really. But you can find me at the saloon after this is all over.¡± Nancy hesitated at first, then nodded wordlessly. ¡°Great, and don¡¯t worry,¡± Dan added quickly, a small grin tugging at his lips. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to hit on you or anything. We can talk, or not talk; hell, you can leave right after you¡¯re handed the glass¡ªwhatever you¡¯re comfortable with. But if you do decide to hang back with me, I¡¯ll just make it look like we¡¯re together so no one else bothers you. How¡¯s that sound?¡± Nancy seemed like she wanted to say something more, but after a pause, she simply replied, ¡°Yeah¡­ that¡¯d be nice. Thank you.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Dan said, still smiling, the tension between them easing slightly. I¡¯m saying ¡°great¡± too much¡­ cool it. ¡°Let¡¯s get through this first, and then we¡¯ll get a seat together in the far corner where, surely, no one will already be.¡± Nancy offered him a small, appreciative smile before turning her focus back to her pack. The weight of their earlier conversation still lingered, but the moment felt lighter now, less strained. Chapter Three Dan¡¯s group was herded outside by Claire after everyone had stowed away their new equipment and was ready to go. As the welcome center¡¯s doors closed behind them with a heavy thud, a wave of excitement rippled through the gathered crowd. The crisp air was filled with the earthy scent of hay and the distant whinnying of horses. In the distance, horses lined up, their coats gleaming in the sunlight, waiting patiently for their new riders. Each one was striking to behold, a blend of strength and grace. ¡°And now, finally, our last gift to each of you,¡± Claire called out, her voice rising above the murmurs of the group. She gestured toward a pen where a handler stood, surrounded by a variety of horses. ¡°Every one of these horses will suit your needs. None is better than the others. Strictly speaking they are physically the same¡ªthe only real difference being their coats. That said, each horse does have its own personality. Some may not warm up to you as quickly as you¡¯d like, so remember to be careful¡ªbeing kicked by a horse can knock you out cold! Now, make your pick!¡± Dan took a deep breath, his heart racing with anticipation as he approached the pen. His eyes roamed over the horses, each one a potential companion for the journey ahead. His gaze finally settled on a pinto stallion, his light brown coat splashed with white, his long mane and tail gleaming in the late afternoon sun. Dan held his hand out for the horse, palm up, the same way he recalled learning in his childhood. As the stallion approached, he exuded a calm demeanor, his large eyes radiating a wisdom that went beyond any horse Dan had ridden before. The stallion gave a confident, calm neigh then nudged Dan¡¯s open palm in acceptance. Holy shit this is awesome. ¡°Hey, Buddy,¡± Dan said gently. The stallion nipped at his fingers, playfully, in response. ¡°You like that name, huh?¡± Buddy nudged Dan with his muzzle. ¡°That¡¯s it, it¡¯s confirmed. Claire¡¯s crazy,because you¡¯re definitely the best horse here, aren¡¯t you?¡± Buddy shook his head, and Dan was amazed at how they, somehow, understood each other. There was no doubt, this was already Dan¡¯s horse. Although, not in an ownership kind of way. No, they were old friends finally meeting after years of separation. Dan began running his hand along Buddy¡¯s warm neck, feeling the soft, muscled contours beneath his fingers. He then moved toward Buddy¡¯s back, tied his new bedroll and gear onto the saddle, and a sense of peace washed over him¡ªthis was the partner he had been searching for his entire life. Nancy, standing nearby, selected a quarter horse¡ªshe was a mare: sleek, light brown, with her mane trimmed short, no more than four inches long. A white stripe ran down her face from forehead to nose, giving her a dignified look. She rubbed the horse¡¯s muzzle as she secured her own supplies, a slight smile playing on her lips. ¡°You figured out her name already?¡± Dan called over to Nancy. ¡°Cadence,¡± Nancy yelled out in reply, her smile becoming a giggle as Cadence breathed into Nancy¡¯s face causing her hair to fly into it and tickle her. Dan¡¯s smile grew, feeling a bit warmer as he saw genuine joy from Nancy for the first time. Claire gave the group a final once-over, nodding approvingly. Introductions were over. It was time to set everyone loose. The other Lucid employees had gathered around her, waiting. Now that the excitement was over, it was clear that Claire was in charge of everyone. Which in hindsight, Dan admitted was obvious given that she introduced the ¡°leadership¡± group. ¡°That¡¯s it. You¡¯re now free to explore, wranglers! There¡¯s an inaugural party happening tonight at the pub. Drinks are on the house tonight only. There are also complementary rooms for anyone who wishes to stay, or you can begin your adventures if you¡¯re feeling eager.¡± Her tone was as gleeful as ever, though finality was there. She had made her offer; the rest was up to them. Dan turned to Nancy. ¡°Ready?¡± Nancy looked down the road toward the pub. Laughter and the bustle of adventure filled the air. ¡°Whiskey, one ice cube.¡± ¡°Intriguing choice. Why only one cube?¡± Dan chuckled, as they began their trek. ¡°Doesn¡¯t water down the whiskey, but it does bring out the aroma,¡± ¡°Huh, I think I¡¯ll try that. Thanks for the lesson!¡± They guided Buddy and Cadence toward the pub. As they approached, the building¡¯s wooden facade creaked under the weight of the festivities growing inside. The porch was lined with people, some already deep in their cups, but Dan and Nancy slipped through the crowd with little notice. They tied their horses to a post and stepped inside. The pub was warm, its low ceilings and flickering lamps creating an intimate, if rowdy, atmosphere. They found a table near the back, away from the worst of the noise. Their server came over, took their order with a gentle smile, and then went off to fetch it with confident professionalism. Dan grabbed his glass, ¡°So how do we do this?¡± Wordlessly, Nancy swirled her drink, took a quick sniff inside of the glass then sipped with a loud slurp. Dan followed suit, and though he hadn¡¯t doubted Nancy, he was surprised at how much the single ice cube augmented the whiskey experience.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Holy shit!¡± Dan gasped after swallowing, ¡°That¡¯s excellent!¡± ¡°Told you,¡± Nancy said, smirking at him. ¡°Where did you learn that?¡± ¡°My dad taught me. He worked at a craft distillery.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad to stay with you then,¡± Dan said, then trying to backtrack said, ¡°I mean, just saying I appreciate your opinion. Not that I think you¡¯re staying with me after this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Nancy said, awkwardly. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°You ever think you¡¯d end up in a place like this?¡± he asked, eyeing the lively crowd to change the subject. Nancy let out a small laugh, shaking her head. ¡°Not exactly. I was a coder and gamer in the real world¡ªspent more time behind a screen than in places like this.¡± Her voice softened slightly. ¡°So much time, actually, that I fell in love at work, too. Not a client, someone I worked with.¡± It was an innocent statement, but she stiffened a bit after saying it. ¡°Didn¡¯t turn out well, huh? You don¡¯t have to explain. But, I understand, that can be rough.¡± Nancy regained her composure, ¡°No. I just lost him last year. He got sick.¡± Dan¡¯s eyes flicked toward her, his expression shifting from curiosity to quiet understanding. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± she replied, though her gaze remained fixed on her drink. ¡°I came here¡­ not for adventure or a new life, but to find someone who can give me closure.¡± Dan frowned slightly. ¡°Closure?¡± She reached into her pocket and pulled out her compass. Dan hadn¡¯t noticed her pull it out from her saddlebag earlier. ¡°This thing,¡± she said, holding it up. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to guide me. Probably meant to help me find my way.¡± Dan stared at it, the needle spinning lazily in a direction only Nancy seemed to understand. ¡°You must have given precise answers in your tests if you already know that.¡± he said. He pulled out his journal, ¡°Not me. I think I just wanted to be surprised.¡± He began feeling the worn leather, and flipped it open. ¡°And so, this is my little piece of mystery,¡± he said, showing her the blank pages. ¡°I haven¡¯t figured out how to use it yet.¡± Nancy raised an eyebrow, leaning closer. ¡°You haven¡¯t checked it?¡± He shook his head. ¡°No clue what it does. But when I opened it earlier, words appeared on the first page.¡± ¡°Maybe try asking it something,¡± she suggested, curiosity lighting her tone. ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, like you said, it¡¯s your mystery.¡± Dan shrugged, giving it a shot. ¡°Where do I go next?¡± Immediately, the pages of the journal shifted on their own, writing slowly appearing on the parchment. Dan and Nancy watched in awe as a map appeared¡ªrevealing with clarity the path Dan and Nancy had taken from the welcome center to the saloon. Yet, every location they hadn¡¯t visited was still blank. They also noticed that it was marked with two small stars¡ªone blue, one turquoise¡ªindicating his and Nancy¡¯s locations. Nancy¡¯s eyes widened as she stared at the page. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ incredible.¡± She seemed almost mesmerized by the display of information. ¡°Wait, why is it including me and not everyone else in the saloon?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­ maybe it¡¯s just because you¡¯ve been with me?¡± ¡°Okayyy¡­¡± she said, disbelief now showing in her expression. ¡°No, really. I know we just met, but please believe me when I say I don¡¯t know why.¡± Nancy¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Ask it who you are.¡± ¡°O-okay,¡± he muttered, then looked down at the journal, ¡°Who am I?¡± Once again, the journal¡¯s pages flipped to a blank entry, and sure enough, there was a detailed breakdown of his identity, surprisingly including his attributes¡ªstrength, agility, intelligence¡ªeverything laid out for him. ¡°Wha- it¡¯s like a video¡­ game?¡± Dan said, confused and intrigued. He looked back at Nancy, who was still gazing at the character description, but something in her expression had changed. ¡°This could really help,¡± she whispered, almost to herself. Then, as if she¡¯d been caught off guard by Dan¡¯s presence, she turned to him. ¡°Dan¡­¡± Nancy began, then stopped as if questioning the rest of her request, ¡°Do you think you can help me get to where I¡¯m going? Wherever this compass is pointing?¡± Dan leaned back, his eyes twinkling with a blend of excitement and bewilderment. ¡°Of course. That¡¯s what I¡¯m here for. Adventure, right?¡± Nancy let out a breath, a hint of relief crossing her features, but still betraying her hesitation. ¡°Then I guess we¡¯re partners.¡± Shadows grew as the sun slid further behind the horizon. The noise from the party had grown louder, but it felt distant now. The two stood, then made their way outside, where the burnt orange glow signaled the end of the day. Saddling up onto Buddy and Cadence was far easier than the two had expected. Like riding a.. well .. horse Dan thought in surprise. He turned his journal toward the fading light, and they began riding out of town, Nancy¡¯s compass their guide. As expected, the map revealed more of their surroundings as they traveled along. For the first time, their journey was truly beginning. Dan and Nancy rode until the sun had gone, and night encompassed them. Dan noted a small clearing on the map¡ªthe perfect spot for a night¡¯s rest. ¡°Looks like we have our camp for the night,¡± he said, pointing to the mark. Nancy nodded, and they hopped off of their horses. As they reached the clearing and set up camp, the stars overhead blinked into existence, the moon lighting their path forward into the unknown.