After spending almost four hours together with Brin and completing several simple initial quests designed to familiarize the new Player with the interface and game rules, Mark grew tired.
"Well, I'm going to head off to bed." He said and stretched, yawning.
He was also using an older avatar, but one much closer to his own appearance - a man with dark brown hair and matching eyes, with slim, yet muscular body structure. Above his head hung his own unique nickname - Nocht.
Although Mark's gaming avatar possessed a high level similar to Brian's, he chose to dismiss all his high level items and armor due to the safety of this beginner level location, and wore only a slightly different default of clothing - a brown shirt, gray trousers, and black boots.
"You're going to stay here for a bit longer?" Mark asked and Brin nodded.
"All right. But make sure to follow the plan that we agreed on. All right?"
Brin nodded again, fully concentrated on his current task. Having gathered all the necessary ingredients, he was carefully watching over the furnace, smelting iron ingots to make his first personally created tool.
Mark hesitated briefly, his eyes holding on the focused AI, who even in the guest account still reminded him too much of his brother's gaming avatar. Glad that this System didn't recognize the modifications, which normally allowed Brin to sense their feelings if they allowed it, Mark stifled a sigh at the painful emotions that seeing Brin often stirred.
Brin was not his brother. He was not Brian. That's what Mark's father said to Mark early on. He could not present evidence to Mark on why he was so certain of it, since his work for the company contracted to the government forbade him from sharing classified details. But, he told him that what he had observed of Brin's behavior and tests fully matched other Transfer attempts, which had been officially judged as unsuccessful. It was more than just Brin's lack of memory, which Mark thought might be related to the circumstances of his Transfer and the neurological deterioration that was already present in his brother's mind by the time their father dared to carry out the unauthorized procedure.
Despite his father's certainty, Mark still couldn't help hoping otherwise.
He just didn't dare to say it out loud anymore, fearing to provoke another argument with his father, who Mark knew continued to blame himself for Brian's death and so reacted angrily whenever Mark tried to voice his doubts about Brin being Brian.
His father blamed himself for Brian's death. If only he had dared to carry out the Transfer sooner, before Brian fell into a coma, he might have succeeded. Instead, reluctant to break the law, he waited to the last moment, still hoping for the medicine to come up with a cure...
Mark still held on to hope, but didn't dare share it with Brin, either. His father would not have approved him confusing the AI about his identity. Maybe his father was right and he was wrong. Still, that didn't mean that Mark had to stifle the affection he felt toward Brin, whom he saw as his brother, even if he was virtual.
"... If anything goes wrong, leave immediately. All right?" Mark verified. This time the AI turned and held his gaze at him, his expression that of chagrined reproach. Mark chuckled.
"All right, all right. I'm going. See you later, Brin. Have fun!" He said and logged off, his avatar winking out of existence.
Brin returned his attention back to the furnace. Carefully, he lifted the shutter, releasing the molten metal to pour into the mold.
He mostly avoided looking into the gaming code, even though he could have simply by-passed all these tedious algorithms by accessing and changing the code directly. Like Mark advised, that would have defeated the entire purpose of playing a game. The achievements gained through cheating simply didn't hold as much emotional appeal as when a Player tried to succeed within the provided rules.
Besides, it was easier to alter code of a specific object after it had taken a specific form.
Brin liked this game so far. Although most of the rules here matched those of his own virtual reality, the time passed faster and more short-cuts existed, making things simpler compared to his world. Virtual Terra far more strictly followed the laws of the real world it was based on - the world where his creator and brother lived.
Here, Brin also didn't have to worry about his physical needs as much, which Virtual Terra environment imposed on him. He could easily adjust the signals his virtual body gave to the local System, which looked for the specific markers indicating hunger or thirst. The only requirement he couldn't avoid completely was his need for sleep, since it involved the required reset of his nervous system.
The game VRIM System closely watched for the changes in Players' neural activity, automatically forcing them to log out for sleep when noting the required markers.
That's probably why Mark left, too. Even though Brin knew that for the next week his brother would be free from real life duties in preparation for his off-world assignment. Unlike Mark, however, Brin could push his limits a little further, easily able to forgo sleep for 4 to 5 days before starting to feel negative effects that reminded him of his human origins.
And so far he was having too much fun, just as his brother promised.
Lifting the finished iron pickax into the air, Brin activated the code change, which began to transform the crude instrument. A faint wave passed across its image as details honed and shifted. A moment later, Brin critically eyed its glimmering sharp edge in the uneven light of the smelting furnace. Satisfied, he glanced around at the small cave, where he had built his shelter with Mark's advice, and decisively strode out.
Outside was already morning. Sun slowly followed its path higher into the serenely blue sky. Scattered fluffy clouds idly floated above at a tremendous distance. Tall shrubs and trees surrounded Brin's hide-away, casting a comfortable shade around him.
Calling forth a transparent map, Brin studied the green markers burning within the small area of surrounding world that he had already explored. Dark mist hid the rest, showing only the vague features of nearby rivers and mountains.
The green color of the markers indicated that these open public quests were appropriate for his low 4th level. There were many of them. Fewer shone the yellow markers, which indicated slightly harder quests, which Mark explained could also be done by new Players, but only if they joined into a group. His brother did not forbid Brin from joining a group, since nothing could distinguish Brin from an ordinary new Player, but he did advise him to be careful and watch what he told them. He didn't have to tell them anything at all, Mark said. And if they pressed him, then he should simply leave and not have any interaction with them further, since such pushy players would probably not make good friends.
Brin noticed a few red and black markers, too.
While Brin glanced at each marker, with System immediately responding by zooming in to give him more details about each quest, a sudden purple light appeared in the corner of the map, drawing his attention.
"
A rare." Brin said and glanced curiously in the direction of the potential quest. Mark had told him that these were time-limited opportunities that were unique and always promised something remarkable. Yet, it was far. From this position, he couldn't even see the light of the beacon that was supposed to shoot up into the sky from such a place. He could feel it, though.
With his current speed and abilities, two hours of walking across homogeneous terrain too similar to that of his own world didn't seem very appealing. He had already spent enough time with his brother exploring the local woods, finding faint trails, empty ancient ruins, and animals he could hunt to gain experience points and items like furs and skins. By the time he reached the rare location, it was just as likely to disappear as to change color, indicating that someone else had gotten to the hidden item first.
With a quick scan of the game code to make sure that no Players were nearby, Brin smirked and teleported.
A moment later he stood on top of the hill overlaying a dry gorge, with the momentous gate cutting into the side of the cliff where there was nothing earlier. Brin searched the game logs.
"A wandering Dungeon." Brin concluded. Above shone a faint thin beam of purple light shooting high into the sky.
Several Players already stood next to it in a loose group, reading the pseudo-ancient dialect embossed into the tablets of instruction hung upon the ornate bronze patterned doors.
Hesitating to join them, Brin watched the humans from a distance. Several of the humans joined into a group, which he could clearly sense in the changing code around them, uniting them all with single green sheen into a whole and creating their own private channel separate from the public local chat. Brin waited until the remaining three also went inside, apparently preferring to go in solitary mode.
There was nothing to give away that he was in any way different from them, Brin reminded himself to regain faltering confidence.
And, choosing to ignore past the slight anxiety that persisted, strode toward the Dungeon entrance.
...
Mining was fun.
Especially when finding these clear, colorless crystals, which shone with the purest light within their beautifully ordered inner structure. For some reason, Brin felt pleased looking at them.
Lifting yet another diamond that he just obtained, Brin smiled, looking at it. He was completely not bothered by the fact that he stood alone in complete darkness. His sense of the code allowed him to see around him, although the patterns around him translated to his mind in flat, colorless outlines of models rather than the real world he was used to.
Sending the crystal into his limitless inventory, where he had already collected quite a stash, Brin turned back to the wall and cheated, searching ahead with a brief pulse, which told him exactly where the next bunch of precious crystals lay hidden beneath the surface.
Lifting his pickax, which briefly flashed with the enchantments he added to it due to his impatience and tempting ability to bend the rules, Brin aimed it at the next area of rock that lay between him and his coveted prize.
"Hey, is someone in here?"
A voice came from behind and startled him a bit.
Too focused by his effort, Brin had forgotten to keep an eye on the signatures of Players roaming by. Turning around, he saw a small group of Players standing at the entrance to his cave, cautiously peeking in.
Next glancing at their nicknames, Brin gaped for a moment.
Of all the inconvenient coincidences! A bright light flared into being on top of the female Player's ornate staff, illuminating the cave within and Brin swiftly turned away to face the wall, his mind hectically searching for a solution that would allow him to remain here and also avoid entering communication with these particular players.
The three Players looked around and startled when their eyes found Brin's figure standing still at a distance.
"...Whaaat?" One of the players drew out at the unexpected sight. Above him floated his name: Callicus3005.
Brin stood still, unwillingly holding his breath and wishing that these players would walk away.
Instead, he heard approaching footsteps and heard their quiet breathing as they stopped right behind him, considering him.
"Guest05009Brin..." Callicus3005 said with amusement, reading the name displayed above Brin's head.
"Wait... BRIN? Brian, is that you?" A young voice exclaimed increduously, belonging to MelissaBrightFlame.
Stifling a resigned sigh, Brin did the only thing he could think of to avoid being potentially recognized. Even younger, his similarity to Brian's avatar could not be easily dismissed.
Turning around to face Brian's online friends, Brin looked up at them with glowing, white eyes that faintly illuminated the startled expressions on their faces. Two of them even unwillingly drew back.
All three of the players boasted levels above 300 and wore robes mixed with armor, indicating their sorcerer warrior class. The one who stood out the most among them was the girl.
Brightly colored long pig-tails, dressed with ribbons, and a short outfit with puffed up short skirt and somewhat revealing tight tunic adorned with symbols looked very vivid compared to the darker outfits of the two males, both of them with dark, shortly cropped hair and brown eyes, but with different skin tones.
Callicus was tanned, while Gallandar seemed unhealthily pale. Ah, he held a non-human class, some sort of creature allied to the darker elements of the game, Brin curiously read in the player's hidden stats.
Brin didn't say anything, just looked at these players with a cautious expression.
"... Not Brian?" The girl asked uncertainly.
Brin raised his eye-brows to indicate a question. He hated feigning ignorance, but didn't know what else to do. To his relief, the initial surprise in their expressions dwindled. At least, for two of them did, whom Brin remembered were in Brian's list of close friends. The third player merely resumed an indifferent, haughty expression, looking at Brin with unexplained disdain, which only grew when his eyes held on Brin's pickax.
Brin suppressed a wince, regretting his earlier impatience. That high-level tool did not match his status as a beginner player. Of course, Mark told him that some players could buy high-level items, but...
"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought that you were our friend. From the back, you look just like him. But you are not, huh?" The girl said with sincere disappointment.
Brin silently shook his head, not trusting himself to speak. Would they recognize his voice?
The girl cast a helpless look at Callicus, to whom she stood closer than the other man.
"Its just that we're worried about him. We heard that he was sick. And then he didn't log on for over a year. And someone said that it was because he died. But then we saw him log on earlier today... And then I saw you just standing there." The girl blinked her huge blue eyes, her dark eye-lashes appearing to gather tears.
"That was downright creepy. For a second there, I thought you were a ghost." Callicus suddenly grinned, which made his stern visage transform into that of someone much younger. "What were you doing there, standing in the dark like that? Scaring people?"
Brin uncomfortably shifted, considering to risk answering them, but the girl already turned to her friend and answered for him, this time sounding cheerful.
"He was mining, obviously." She pointed out.
"Without a torch?" Callicus quirked an eye-brow.
"With those eyes, he doesn't need it." The girl grinned mischievously. The other player's green eyes held on Brin's glowing ones and he smirked.
"... Cool eyes, dude. Unique trait? I bet it cost a lot of real credits."
With those words, the Player gave Brin the exact story he needed to explain why he chose to alter his avatar this way. And his code change worked, making his avatar significantly different from Brian's for these players to not recognize him, at least judging by their current expressions. Brin still didn't know how to read human expressions well, but they seemed curious and amicable, rather than mistrustful.
Relieved, Brin nodded to confirm the suggestion.
"Nice." Callicus approved, a little bit enviously. His other companion rolled his eyes.
"Come on, guys. Who cares? I don't know why you're wasting time talking to this newb. So he is rich, so what? Lets get going." GallandarTheGreat remarked, giving Brin such a disdainful look that Brin frowned, taken aback. And decided that he didn't like this person. Even without being able to sense their emotions, which the local simpler System didn't allow since it lacked the processing algorithms for Brin to use most of his special mods, he could tell by the scowl on the guy's face that the feeling was mutual.
"Well, hold up, Gal. I like him! I want to talk." The girl pouted at their unfriendly companion and smiled when she turned back to Brin. Her whole appearance and energy, with which she moved, showed her as a very cheerful person. Brin thought that he definitely liked her.
"So, you're new around here, huh? Guest account?" She chatted. Brin nodded awkwardly, his shyness returning.
These Players were humans, living in his creator's and brother's world. They thought him a Player like them. What if they learned by his actions that he was an AI? There was nothing to give it away, but still...
"Why glowing eyes, though?" Callicus prodded. Brin only shrugged with embarrassment.
"Who cares. He is a total newb, Cal. Cannot you see that?" Gallandar sighed.
"He looks so much like Brian, though. Doesn't he?" Melissa said wistfully. Her friend nodded, the mirth in his expression lessening. They really did care about their friend and missed him, Brin thought to himself and felt bad again. And it was not just about him misleading them to believe that he did not know Brian.
Glancing briefly at their bored companion, Callicus sighed.
"Well... We DO have to get going." He told Brin apologetically. "This location is not going to last forever... But, hey! Let's exchange our info, just in case. That way we can get in touch later. And if you need some help, like if anyone starts to bully you or something, you let us know. All right?"
"Yes! I want to talk to you again. I like you!" The girl said playfully and blinked her long eye-lashes. At Brin's uncertain look, she couldn't help and laughed, her friendly voice somehow bright and innocent.
Bing.
Before he could understand if they were teasing him or being friendly, the System softly pinged a notification and Brin saw two invitations pop up. The third Player continued to look at Brin as if he was a piece of slime on the bottom of his shoe.
Brin ignored him, silently accepting the offer from the other two.
"All right, Brin. Cya later!" The player nicknamed Melissa, a fourteen year old girl named Lucy Bannet in real life, waived at Brin and turned to leave. With a link to their profiles, now Brin could read more information about her in the file kept by the System. Her true age, appearance, and even the place of registered residence, along with current location, became available to him, even though not particularly useful. He didn't plan on establishing any contact with this or any other player in their own world.
"Yes, good luck, man." Callicus, an eighteen year boy named Greg Thompson, in real life far more skinny and frail than he was here, nodded to Brin, too, and followed her.
The third player turned with a huff and left without a backward glance.
Watching Brian's friends leave, Brin let out a breath of relief. He turned back to the wall and suddenly found that his earlier obsession with diamonds had already lifted. Now, he felt more curious about what else lay there in the Dungeon beyond this simple location. Were there monsters? Treasures?
On his map, the two friendly green points indicating his new old friends steadily departed along the snaking tunnels that led into the deeper levels, where the levels flashed with flecks of yellow, mostly red, and a threatening gloomy black gathering in the very back.
However, it was a location nearby that gained Brin's interest. Even from here, he could dimly hear the yells and sounds of fighting.
Once again expanding his attention to the code, Brin detected six player signatures that seemed much closer to his own avatar's level. And approaching them came a fat red dot. Occupied with the several green-yellow hostiles surrounding them, the group did not seem aware of it.
Curious, Brin stepped out of the cave into the passage way, glanced left after the departed high-level players, and then quietly strode in direction of the fighting, with amusement noting how the glow from his eyes now lit the way ahead of him.