…
Once again, Lorn woke up gasping for air. His body felt much weaker this time, and the paralysis in his hand felt even worse. He was washed, then allowed to rest and during this process, he got used to reality once again. He then took the tests again, and an hour later, he met Reina, who had a ton of questions ready for him.
Most of them were about spirit and skills, and once again, Lorn replied to the best of his abilities. Thankfully, she didn't ask anything about Lorn's past, the one he mentioned to Sybil.
After her questions ended, Lorn asked a few of his own.
What would happen if he started introducing modern technology to the One World?
Reina explained that he would need to have the necessary knowledge and expertise in the form of an Obtained Skill. If they just have the knowledge as an Innate Skill, they wouldn't be able to work with the technology.
They would get boosts to their Obtained Skills if it happened to overlap with a skill they already possessed. Like how Lorn's 'Spirit Meditation' turned to 'Focused Spirit Meditation' due to him having the 'Meditation' Innate Skill.
Lorn then asked if it was possible to stop the monitoring of the researchers at least briefly.
Reina explained they were already working on a solution. Their goal was to make the One World, something of a second life to the players, so they were aware of how un-immersive the monitoring was. They couldn't completely get rid of it as they needed the data, but they could definitely give a brief reprieve to the beta-testers when they asked for it.
Reina expected something to be introduced in the next week. She also revealed that the players would be able to see their status without a mirror in about two or three weeks. For now, they'd hear a little 'ding' in their head when they get a new notification.
Finally, Lorn asked about something extremely important.
"What'll happen to us beta testers when they game launches officially to the public?" he asked. "Will we have to start from scratch?"
Reina sighed. "I'm only a scientist, so I don't know what the game designer team's decision will be. From what I understood, they're aiming for the fantasy of second life so it would be unfair for all the beta-testers to receive nothing after all the hard work they did before the game started."
"But I can imagine people would say it's unfair for the new players," Lorn said. "They wouldn't have a chance against us when they game starts for serious later on."
"But you can also argue that the risks you all overcame would justify the advantage. Damage to the brain and consciousness is never something to scoff at and add the fact that there's 80% chance to get it… those are pretty harsh risks."
"…"
"There's also the problem of skills. I'm not sure, but once you learn how to use a skill, I don't think we'll be able to make you forget it. We can put hard blocks on the system to cancel the skill every time you try to use it, but probably, that's too much work for something that's just designed to fuck you guys over. I, personally, am totally fine with letting you guys keep what you've already built."
"Thank you."
"But. Once again, not my authority. And probably not the Design team's as well. I'm sure the One Leader will have the final say."
Lorn chuckled. "Are you hinting that I should beat the game and demand it from him directly?"
"Who knows?" Reina shrugged. "Well, if you have no more questions, there's another person you'll see added to your usual routine. She's a new face here, who's trying to fix the 80%."
"The brain damages?"
"Yep. And she's quite famous as well. Who knows? You might even be a fan."
Lorn tilted his head. "Who is it?"
"I don't wanna spoil the surprise," she winked. "Anyhow, come back in two or three days. Your choice."
Lorn was guided to another room and heard the loud clicks of a keyboard. He saw another woman wearing a doctor's suit, sitting behind a monitor. However, he could almost immediately recognize her as her face would pop up all day everyday on his social media feeds. The curly golden hair, the crooked smile on her lips and the slight tilt of her nose which was accompanied by a horizontal scar.
"Oh shit, it's Gwen!"
Lorn tried to keep his expression cool, but he still couldn't help but exclaim.
The clicking stopped.
"Come sit here," she gestured at the chair. "I'm no longer a streamer so no need for an over-the-top reaction like this."
Lorn calmed himself.
"Okay."
"Good. I'll be working on a solution for your paralyzed hand," she spoke. "Is there anything that feels different with your hand this time?"
"Not really. It was extra weird when I just logged out but I'm getting used to it. Probably because I can move them around freely in the game, it's weird when I get out."
"Is there anything else that feels off? Pain, discomfort, difficulty doing certain things."
"No. The test results were fine as well."
Gwen then typed something on her computer.
"Good. In that case, I have maybe good news for you."
Lorn's eyes sparkled.
"Statistically, the likelihood of you getting better on your own is about one in three," she said. "You're quite active in the One World and you don't experience any problems in there so fall into the better cases."
"Thank you."
"But don't rejoice yet. You still have 70% chance to stay paralyzed," she smiled. "But don't despair either. Statistics don't really mean much to the individual."
"What should I feel then?"
"You should feel determination. Those stories of people overcoming their incurable diseases have a touch of truth to them. Obviously, if it's impossible, then it's impossible, so don't feel too bad if things don't go well… but at the very least, you'll be able to say you did your best."
"Alright. I'll do my best.
"But if that's impossible for you, then you should feel nothing. Immerse yourself in the One World, and forget about your troubles. Perhaps you'll get better," Gwen shrugged. "Or you won't. Not a problem."
"Either I'm an optimist, or I'm a stoic."
"Yep. Now, let me ask you some questions."
Gwen proceeded to ask Lorn many, many questions. Everything regarding his process of logging in and out. The differences in sense between the two worlds, ranging from sight and touch, to the feeling of his bladders filling and then pissing.
After that came the questions about Lorn's medical history. How often he got cold, did he ever break his bones someday, his athletic records, how traumatic would he think his childhood was, his anxieties…
Gwen fully intended to know everything there was to know about his body. Not only that, every state his body was in the past as well. Lorn obviously, kept some things secret, but Gwen insisted that he reply truthfully to her questions regarding his body.
But the questions lessened as time went by. She would ask something, and then just write a bunch of stuff in her computer. Lorn couldn't tell what exactly she was typing, but she was very quick about it.
And at some point, she started only asking for confirmation.
'Were you a child that didn't really wash your hand much?'
'Was the water you drank more polluted than what you drink now?'
'There must've been a phase when your hair was especially dandruff-y.'
'Are you sure you don't have an allergy to barley?'
This went on for three more hours. Most of it was her typing stuff on her computer. Eventually, Lorn got tired of it and asked if he could leave.
"Wait five more minutes. I might have a treatment for you."
Sighing, Lorn sat for another five, before Gwen stopped typing.
"Haah… I really overworked myself…" she stretched.
"Are you done?" Lorn asked. "Can I leave now?"
"Why the hurry? Come over, I found you your own personal treatment method."
Lorn got up and saw Gwen's desk. On the monitor, he saw two windows. One was filled with code, the other had a little program that looked extremely pre-alpha. 'TFOWP' the title read, and it had a ton of text on it. Lorn looked in and saw that they were questions that Gwen was asking for the past three hours. Next to them were his answers.
Beneath it all was a small title that said 'Treatment methods'. It had two lines.
"Acupuncture and shock therapy?"
"Yes. After compiling all your answers, the program I wrote decided that these two methods are the best way to help with your paralysis."
Lorn felt doubtful.
"Did you write that just now?"
"No, of course not. I've been working on it for a week almost. I just finally managed to put in all the questions and answers today. I'll have someone work on the interface now and my responsibility will be half finished."
"Uhh… So, it's basically just an app that gives you a specific treatment depending on your answers?"
"Yes. It has access to your test results as well, so it considers them too."
Lorn looked at the two therapies.
"I can see Acupuncture maybe being useful, but isn't shock therapy risky?"
"It's not shock therapy for your brain. It's for your hand and the voltage will be small, so it's completely safe."
"Even if you jut shock my hand, I'm pretty sure it still reaches my head…? I mean, that's how tasers knock people out, no?"
"Fine, fine, it'll still reach your brain. But you'll be fine, anyway. Since the program decided to offer it to you, it means it's safe."
"Then why didn't you just say that to me first?"
"If you weren't the know-it-all prick that you are, you would've believed me and your mental would be calmer."
"But didn't you say it's completely safe?"
"Shut up. Come over. We're trying them out now."
Lorn was brought to another room in which Gwen and a couple other doctors proceeded to put needles on his hand and back. Some needles seemed to be special, as they were used to shock Lorn with a small amount of electricity. And like he expected, he didn't feel anything different after the treatment. l
Finally, he was allowed to go home. He picked something up from a convenience store and after eating, he almost wanted to go back to sleep, but he needed to check on something first.
He booted the computer up and checked on the forums. There were many more posts this time.
The most popular ones were about players learning to use skills and sharing their experience. There were many replies asking for advice and many more calling bullshit. Lorn read a few and felt bad for all the players who had it so hard for them.
Most other posts were just about people's starting location and them inviting others to join them. Indra, the person who started trend had a post about starting an Undying only guild. Lorn felt that something like that would pop up sooner or later, but he wasn't sure how the natives would feel about it.
There were some posts that focused on the geography and culture of the One World much more. They were currently trying to create a map of the world, but there was much confusion in the discussion.
Then came the posts asking for changes to the system, to dial down on pain, to prevent sleep in-game, etc. Some received replies from the developers, but most were ignored.
Surprisingly, there weren't any shitposts.
And thankfully, there weren't any posts describing Spirit bonds as well.
Lorn's worry was relieved and he went to sleep.
***