[Excuse me, mortal?]
The dark mist of the man was standing up, and he was walking towards me. For some reason, I was able to bear his true voice, but it was his presence and gaze itself that shook me to the core. I couldn't even see his face, which added to this chilling situation.
(Is this his symbolic body?)
The King of Riches and Death was imposing. This dark palace, and his misty form... he seemed to melt into the environment itself.
[Now, now, honey, let's not be too hasty and scatter his soul,] Queen of the Darkest Spring said. [Let's get back on topic. First, do you know who we are?]
The Queen of the Darkest Spring gestured to all of the people present in the room.
"I do know who you are. All of you," I answered meekly.
[Then say our names, mortal,] King of Riches and Death said.
I turned my attention to the women in Yu Sangah's body.
"She is actually Persephone, a daughter of Demeter and Zeus. You are actually Hades, the eldest son of Rhea and Kronos. Horkos-" I turned my attention back to them, and dug through my memories. "Well, all I know is this: he is the Greek god of oaths. Thanatos and Hypnos are twin brothers, and Thanatos is your lieutenant."
I turned my attention back to Hades, bowed my head, and said, "That's all I know, Your Eminence."
[Fuuu, Ethan does seem to know us,] Persephone crooned. [Hypnos!!]
"Yes, your majesty?"
[This is the boy you have been sneaking into our realm, correct?]
"Yes. Your majesty... please pardon me, but may you use a different voice? You can threaten their very existence...."
[Whether we damage them or not, it is no problem. We can afford the probability,] Hades interjected. [Persephone, I must leave and visit Tartarus. Deal with the mortals as you see fit. I'll return shortly.]
With this last sentence, Hades dispersed and faded away. The only people that were present were: Me, McFarland, Horkus, Hypnos, Thanatos, and Persephone. To be truthful, I didn't know who to be afraid of. Within TWSA, it is stated that Yu Junghyeok was able to make a deal with Hades, but Yu Junghyeok was the protagonist, while I was just some ordinary scrub. Yu Junghyeok was also a Regressor, and he was handsome, so that made him much more powerful.
He could use his persuasive words on Hades, and use his handsome looks to curry Persephone's favor. He could probably avoid any oaths by killing himself as well. All in all, Yu Junghyeok was stacked with abilities, and he was the typical, overpowered protagonist.
With Anna Croft, she was a prophet that could predict the future. She had the Aesir Nebula backing her, and she was granted the power of future-sight by the Norns; they were the ones who bought the Great-Demon Eye that could allow her to see the future.
In the end, I was nothing but a pathetic boy who had to be born in this world. I didn't have much, but what did I have? Grit, I think. Selfishness, mostly. I could latch onto a goal, and complete it to the end. I could also latch onto this world like the human parasite I was.
[Alright, now that my husband is gone.... what do you mean you wish to die, Ethan Nakamura?] Persephone asked.
"I don't want to die alone. If I could die, make sure to take this man with me."
I gestured to McFarland, who was still kneeling.
[Well, to be honest, Ethan, I don't really want to do that.]
"Is it due to the probability?"
[Oh no, Ethan. I want to eat you.]
I felt a shiver run through me. An intrusive thought decided to enter my mind, and it didn't help that Persephone was wearing a Chinese dress with a garter belt. It showed Yu Sangah's clear skin, and I felt more ashamed of myself for some reason. It felt as if I was peeping on someone without any consent.
Although, I knew what she actually meant. Constellations didn't eat like normal, physical beings. They ate stories.
(Where in the hell did she get such an outfit though? How do I even know Yu Sangah?)
It was probably due to the Fragment Holder in South Korea. His memories might've been shared with mine, or some such. I decided to respond to Persephone's eerie statement.
"Your Majesty, I don't think you want to eat me. I'm too thin and short, and I bet I'm too salty as well. Humans these days are extremely unhealthy, just look at America!! Obese as well, damn Americans...."
[Stop rambling. The answers you give will affect the fate of you and that man. First, how are you here? It's a basic requirement, but a soul should be dead before it enters the Underworld.]
"Well, to be honest, I was just dreaming, and Hypnos just took me here," I answered honestly.
I wasn't afraid to throw Hypnos under the bus. He kinda deserved it.
[All right then. How long ago was that?]
"Well, since the last dream he invaded.... I don't know. He did it a month ago."
[You see, Ethan, that is where you are wrong. My husband and I detected that Hypnos did this twice in quick succession; he brought you here for a few minutes, and then he waited another few minutes to do it again. Why is your perception of time so disarrayed?]
"Wait a minute.... What?"
"Ethan, that's why I encouraged you to make contact with me. It's so you wouldn't lose yourself in there," Hypnos said to me.
[Hush, brother,] scolded Thanatos.
Hypnos fell silent. I made sure to keep my eyes locked onto Persephone.
[Oh, I remember! You are in the Washington State Dome! Let's see, where is your scenario?]
With a wave of her hand, Persephone began to manipulate the air, and a blue screen appeared in front of her. She began typing away, but she appeared troubled after a moment.
[Thanatos!]
[Yes, Your Majesty?]
[Help me with this. How do you spell "Ethan Nakamura?"]
[I think his name is Japanese, Your Majesty. You may have to spell it in Kanji, or katakana, but it truly depends on the spelling system his respective country uses.]
[Hmmm. Which channel is he in? Hypnos, you may speak!]
"..."
[Hypnos, do not test me.]
"Ethan Nakamura is in #HE-2020," Hypnos said remorsefully.
(Don't worry, Hypnos. She may subscribe to the channel, which is more important,) I thought.
I didn't know if my thoughts could reach him, but I hope it did. I didn't really hate the deity, and he payed me coins, so there was no hard feelings.
[I see. Let me click on vods, look at articles... my oh my, Ethan. Aren't you the celebrity? You are under the Constellation "The Black One, Lord of Muspellheim" and you are working with quite an interesting fellow as well....]
Persephone began to scrutinize the page, as if trying to look for more information.
[Hmmm. It seems that you are in some simulation. That's why you're perception of time is different. Alas, we know the answer to that question. Now we need to get to the bottom of how you were able to come to the Underworld. Hypnos, you may speak! Clarify the situation.]
"Well... Your Majesty, I took an interest to the boy, and decided that I wanted to meet him."
[Hypnos. You know that Hades and I rule the Underworld. This is the equivalent of sneaking a friend into your parents' house,] Persephone said angrily.
"I apologize, Your Majesty."
[Anyways, who is the other man?]
McFarland was about to answer, but all of a sudden, he began to fade away.
"No! What's happening to me!?!"
I looked to Persephone and happily asked, "Are you killing him?"
She answered and said, [No, he seems to be fading on his own accord. Both of you seem to have a strange ability to untether your souls momentarily, but the duration seems to be short.]
"Ethan!! Help me!! It doesn't have to be this way!!"
"No. I don't want to be around you. To be honest, you disgust me. I can't wait to kill you for what you did to your daughter."
"How do you know of my daughter?!"
"It's easy, McFarland. I just read some stories."
"Eth-"
He just cut away. McFarland was gone in an instant.
[Hmm. Now that irritant of a man is gone, what should I do with you, Ethan Nakamura? There must be some form of punishment for you. After I'm done with you, I'll deal with that other mortal that you seem to dislike.]
McFarland was gone. I didn't want to do this in front of Hades, but it was time to activate the bravado.
"Let's not pretend. I have a feeling you can't do anything right now, Queen of the Darkest Spring."
Persephone clenched the armrests of her throne.
[What makes you so sure of that?]
"Because you would've already done it. I'm not going to be overconfident, but I have a feeling that there would be backlash, especially if the Incarnation of Surt would mysteriously vanish from the scenarios. Also, I do not wish to assume, but aren't you a legendary-grade Constellation? Surt is at least Myth-grade."
[My, are you threatening me?]
"I'm not. I'm simply stating the facts. By doing something drastic as this, you can upset the probability."
[I feel you are too arrogant. How do you know I can't just afford the probability, kill you, and devour your story?]
"You said it yourself. I'm a celebrity. Murder isn't perfect; there will always be traces. This is the same concept. I'm nothing but an insect compared to the Constellations, but I'm still a form of entertainment to them. If you kill me, you can upset some of them. When you're investigated, you won't be able to excuse your actions."
Persephone's eyes carried a glint. I felt like prey being scrutinized by a predator much more powerful than I could comprehend.
[How about this, Ethan. Make a deal with us. If you promise to do a few tasks for us, then I can guarantee your place in Elysium.]
I was shocked. Elysium was a place for the virtuous, and I couldn't help but feel farther from that. There had to be a catch. In Greek lore, heroes would always be sent on tasks that would probably kill them. Plus, I didn't want to even be in the Underworld in the first place. I had to continue the scenarios, and make it to the end of this world. This was probably a trap of some sort.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I don't want to go to Elysium. May I propose a different deal instead?"
"Wait, Ethan?! What are you doing? She's offering you a place in Elysium when you die!! There's no better afterlife in Star Stream!" Hypnos said.
(I doubt it,) I thought sorrowfully. (When I die, I would probably go to hell.)
"I apologize for the impudence, Your Majesty. I have a different contract in mind, one that would still benefit you."
[What would the terms of that agreement be, Ethan Nakamura? What could a mortal offer me, a god?]
I finally smiled and showed my sharp teeth.
"I'll tell you."
***
I was back in my dream state after talking with Persephone and Horkus. I was a little shaken from swearing on the River Styx, but the terms of the deal weren't too detrimental to me. If I followed it, my deal with Persephone and Thanatos would be beneficial.
Anyways, I saw McFarland waiting for me. He seemed enraged.
(Ethan.)
(Wassup, bitch.)
(You should've never ran away from me. I can protect you.)
(No, you can't protect anything, McFarland. I feel uncomfortable that you stalk me. Aren't you busy?)
(I know that you killed Cinnamon.)
(That whore? Of course I did. You sent her to spy on me.)
(Why did you do it?)
(I like strong women with substance. She had no personality.)
(There is still a place for you in my group. Wanderers can't survive alone.)
This statement said a lot about him; he was willing to allow someone who murdered a teenage girl back into his group.
(That's where you're wrong, McFarland. I'm not alone.)
[The blessing of Hypnos has activated!]
[Your dreams are under the sanctity and protection of Hypnos!]
(Wait, what is happening again!? My Fragment is bigger than yours!!)
(Indeed, it is, but I'm not a douchebag like you. Some people can actually like me, and they give me things sometimes. Such as blessings!)
McFarland began to break down, and drift away into the darkness of this dream.
(Ethan!! This isn't over!!) he shouted. He charged at me again, hoping to wrap his hands around my throat.
(Oh, I know it's not, McFarland. I know. Please, have some sweet dreams while you can. I'll turn them into nightmares, sooner or later)
He faded completely, and was finally gone. After that, I began to talk with Fraggy.
(Be honest with me. Having a larger Fragment equals more power, doesn't it?)
[It do es.]
(When can I wake up?)
[Ri ght now.]
***
"Ender, are you alright?"
I saw Alai and Shen standing over my bed, and they seemed to be worried.
"Ender, you were shifting and sweating a lot as you slept."
"You okay?"
"Ya'll think I'm just a little Launchie, ne? I'm good," I answered back.
I rose out of bed, clothed myself, and grabbed my tablet.
"Let's get our asses to class. Make sure not to wriggle yours, Shen."
My joke brought laughs from my classmates. Even Shen got over it, and he was smiling as well.
***
I was playing the Mind Game after a hard day of schoolwork. It was grueling to study from multiple classes, and grueling to work out in our gyms. We had to train harder than normal children so our muscles wouldn't atrophy; it's much easier for that to happen in space.
The only solace I had were Alai, Shen, and Fraggy. I also had the solace of this game.
(Within Ender's Game, the Mind Game shows the inner psyche of the child. It's a journey between the computer and the player,) I thought.
Right now, I was at the Giant's Drink, one of the most perverse parts of the game. In this segment, you had to play as a mouse. When you come across the Giant, he offers you two drinks in two different shot glasses. He says that he can take you into fairyland if you choose the correct drink.
I knew this was a lie, though. In the original novel, Ender kept on dying because he always drank the beverages the giant offered him. Every single time the game was run, both of the drinks would generate some gruesome death.
In the novel, Ender's avatar died in horrid ways whenever he would choose a beverage; one liquid dissolved the mouse's head, one liquid trapped the mouse's head in cement, which allowed the Giant to debone your avatar and eat it like a fish.
Although, I was a person who read the novel, and watched the movie. As I remembered more and more, my memories of both media become clearer. My recollections were obviously jumbled overtime, but that wasn't the point. I knew how to beat the level of this game. You had to kill the Giant, instead of following the rules he set.
With quick, decisive swipes of my fingers, I maneuvered my mouse and knocked down the glasses, which caused the Giant to cry out and yell, "Cheater!! Cheater!!"
As he screamed, my avatar ran up his arm, latched onto his face, scurried up his lips and nose, and dug into his eyeball.
"Aaaahhhh!!! You!!!"
[Constellation "The Black One, Lord of Muspellheim" is disturbed by your Let's Play.]
[Constellation "Abyssal Black Flame Dragon" likes the way you killed the giant.]
Within the novel, it is stated that Ender's avatar, the mouse, dug through the giant's eyeball and destroyed the brain matter. I read this, but the horror of it didn't register with me when I was younger.
As my avatar chewed apart the Giant's brain from the inside, the creature fell onto his back. After I was done, my avatar emerged from the eye-socket, covered in blood. I moved my avatar, and ventured beyond the Giant's body. I changed my POV, and saw that I was in a different place; there were lacy trees dotting this forest.
Suddenly, a bat came from nowhere, and landed on the Giant's nose. I was afraid. If the bat killed me, I would have to start again. Although, the bat began to speak, and it's screechy voice sounded reassuring to me.
"How did you get here? No one ever comes here."
A piece of the original chapter came to mind.
-[Ender could not answer, of course. So he reached down, took a handful of the Giant's eyestuff, and offered it to the bat.]-
I did the same. The bat took my offering, and flew away. As it did, the bat said, "Welcome to Fairyland."
I felt proud of myself afterwards. I won this game. I turned off my tablet, and went to bed.
***
I was floating in darkness. The white star and the flaming eye I was accustomed to see weren't present. McFarland was waiting for me instead.
(Hello, Ethan.)
(Wassup, dick prick.)
(Ethan, I don't like disrespectful children.)
(I know.)
(Ethan, if you really know me, then you should know what's going to happen to you.)
(Just try to choke me already, you bloody bastard.)
(Fine then.)
McFarland began chasing me. I suddenly remembered a story my mother told me once. She once told me she had a nightmare where her grandmother chased her. It was a scary dream, where my mother had to run through an invisible maze she innately knew how to navigate. She told me the dream when I was a young child, for some reason.
I felt that same horror. McFarland was faster than me, and he would always catch up. I had to somehow manipulate the dream, and avoid him. In this world, it wasn't a matter of stamina or strength. It was a matter of mental power and concentration.
(ETHAN!!!)
His loud voice echoed through my dream. I didn't know how long I was here, maybe I was here for 30 minutes, or 30 hours. Time was different for me. Although, I was patient and strong enough to withstand this time.
[Your Fragment of the 4th Wall is forcibly activating!]
[Your blessing from Hypnos is activating!]
(Thank you, Hypnos.)
I woke up.
***
It was a new day. My fellow Launchies were getting out of bed. I recalled the contract I made with Persephone before I left the Underworld. It was the only way to have Hypnos spared from Persephone's wrath, and to benefit from the meeting that I had with such an ancient monarch. One of the things I wanted was a blessing from Hypnos, which - supposedly - protected my dreams from intruders.
I continued on with another dull day. My time in Battle School was getting better, but I still felt dread.
(If I'm right, I'm going to have to go under Salamander Army. I'm going to have to go under Bonzo.)
I didn't want to meet one of Ender's antagonists. If the novel were to proceed correctly, then I would have to kill the kid. It was uncomfortable, though. I saw the boy time to time, who was played by the original actor, Moises Arias.
I didn't want to kill him, just like how I didn't want to kill Stilson. It felt horrible to kill someone, and I think that was something I forgot as a person. I didn't want to be like the 7th Apostle who beat Kim Namwoon. It felt horrible to hear their bones crunch, and when they cried and screamed.
(Is it okay to kill characters, though?)
I didn't know if it was okay to do that, especially when I was in a world where those characters came to life. I made sure to question myself even more when I saw the characters' faces. They looked real as me, sounded like me, and probably had their own hopes and dreams.
(But I have to make it to the end of this story. I wish I read all of TWSA.)
It was too late to have regrets, though. I had to keep moving forward.
I followed my Launch group, and did the usual. I studied, exercised, studied, and had lunch. I saw Dink Meeker at the Mess Hall. I met Dink by playing a PvP computer game against him.
(I was wrong. That moment when Ender played against Stilson in the movie is actually different from the novel. Ender played the space game against Dink, who became an ally later on.)
I made sure to keep my head down, and talk to my group. I saw the green uniforms of Salamander Army, and saw the young Heilee Steinfeld amongst them.
I felt initially shy from meeting her because I liked one of her songs when I was younger, but then I remembered that she wasn't the actual celebrity from real life. She was just a piece of code, which was given the body of the original actor.
(I'll have to meet her when I get inducted into Salamander Army, though.)
I played more of the Mind Game in my free time, which was one of the few privileges at Battle School. Eventually, it was time to sleep, and I deactivated it my tablet.
***
(ETHAN!!)
I was back in the dream-world. McFarland was chasing me again. As time went on, his calm demeanor was replaced with a feral rage. I made sure to dodge him, and manipulate the dream. I ran and ran, until I saw something strange.
It was the flaming eye. It was watching me. Whenever I saw the eye, it was always moving, and frantically staring at everything. This time, though, it stared directly at me. It was a single eyeball, but it was able to convey remorse in it's gaze.
The flames that licked the eyeball shot outward, and lashed against my dream-body. McFarland screamed in anger; it seems he couldn't chase after me. As the flames clung to my skin, I felt warm, and reassured. If this was reality, I would probably be scorched.
The raging fire blocked my vision, and I had to close my eyes. When I opened them again, I expected to be in my bed, looking at the bunk that was above mine. Instead, I was in an office. I saw Colonel Graff speaking with another man.
(Wait, am I using Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint? It can work here directly and spy on them?)
"Isn't it nice to know Ender can do the impossible?"
"The player's deaths have always been sickening, I've always thought the Giant's Drink was the most perverted part of the game, but going for the eye like that - this is the one we want to put in command of our fleet? How did Ender know how to do that the first time?"
"What matters is that he won the game that couldn't be won. Even if it was cruel, he surmounted that obstacle. He's showing his brilliance."
"I suppose you'll move him now."
"We were waiting to see how he handled the thing with Bernard. There were some weird things that Ender did, but he handled it well."
"So, as soon as he can cope with a situation, you move him to one he can't cope with. Doesn't he get any rest?"
"He'll have a month or two, maybe three, with his launch group. That's really quite a long time in a child's life."
"Does it ever seem to you that these boys aren't children? I look at what they do, the way they talk, and they don't seem like little kids."
"They're the most brilliant children in the world, each in his own way."
"But shouldn't they still act like children? They aren't normal. They act like - history. Napoleon and Wellington. Caesar and Brutus."
[Constellation "Brutal Betrayer of Stabs" is interested in this simulation.]
[Constellation "Almost-King of Rome" is interested in this simulation.]
[Constellation "Secretive Plotter" is interested in this simulation.]
I saw system messages, but my senior officers didn't seem to react at all.
"We're trying to save the world, not heal the wounded heart. You're too compassionate."
"General Levy has no pity for anyone. All the videos say so. But don't hurt this boy."
"Are you joking?"
"I mean, don't hurt him more than you have to."
I watched the short conversation between the two. I felt dread at the incoming events, but I was eager to end the simulation, and return to my reality. It was time to move onto the next event. I would enter Salamander Army, and go under the leadership of Bonzo. As I prepared myself to venture back into my dream-world, they began to speak more.
"Okay, let's talk more about Ender. Why did he call himself Ender Nakamura?"
"Are you still caught up that?"
"It doesn't make any sense. Does the kid have some identity crisis?"
"I don't know why he did that. Just leave it alone."
"I just want to say, Graff. We've been watching this boy for a long time, but why does it seem as if he changed so quickly?"
"Probably due to being in a new environment. That changes people."
"Just make sure not to screw it up, Graff. We need him."
***
(Why? Why does it seem as if my actions affect so much?) I thought.
I was back to floating peacefully. McFarland was gone, and I was back in my safe-space.
(Is this even a simulation?)
This was a fearful thought I had time to time. Maybe the story I entered wasn't a story at all, but an alternate reality. It wasn't far-fetched, since the world of TWSA was made of stories. Maybe Ender's Game actually existed, and I was teleported here.
(No. That's not true. Someone made this. It's a simulation. Nothing more. I think I know who made this simulation as well. The writer of TWSA, EG9. Who are they?)
I had thoughts. If the novel I read over the span of a few years came to life, how did it happen? Who was the author in the first place? Were they a prophet of some sort, and accidently wrote the future, or were they a higher being that created the future in the first place?
Were they a god? These were all of the rumbling, stray thoughts I had, but I eventually lost my lucidity, and truly fell asleep.