Ramsey laid back on his bed and looked upon the now familiar list.
'I really need more information than this, but it won't answer any questions about other settings.'
"What does attributes and path mean?"
[Attributes are selectable Avatar characteristic options for the chosen Setting.]
[Paths are selectable Avatar development options, which affect the evolution of Attributes, for the chosen Setting.]
'The evolution of attributes? Okay, now we're getting somewhere!
If the attribute options are different for each setting.. maybe they're unique to its theme. And if they can evolve.. that could mean getting better, stronger, or turning into something completely different.
Only two setting options have attributes and path - Vraus, Heroic Era and Elorr, Birth of Mana
Heroic Era… I wonder what makes them heroes? Anyone can be idolized as a hero, people can also be brainwashed into believing their leaders are heroes. But to name an era after it, it has to be world changing. Evolving attributes in a world with heroes… strength, speed, and agility most likely. Is it ridiculous to think about flying, teleportation and invisibility?
Birth of Mana… Hopefully 'Mana' is not the name of some messiah. I really have no interest in an unknown world's religion. But I don't think attributes would fit for something like that.'
Ramsey suddenly realized that the names of eras for each Setting were written so that he could read them.
'Surely, they don't all speak English. Does that mean they're described this way so that I can understand them? Then 'Birth of Mana' should mean what I think it means, right?! It has to be magic.'
After the initial shock of the time travel option, it was quickly losing its appeal. Perhaps if Ramsey had some lost love or revenge driving him, it would outweigh his other options, but he did not.
Similarly, artificial intelligence has never been portrayed well in fiction. It could be a utopia, man and machine living in harmony, a place where life is so wonderful that they restarted the calendar. But Ramsey felt uneasy just looking at that option, it felt.. dangerous.
This further made the case to not allow an automatic reset. Ramsey absolutely had to choose.
***
Ramsey was so deep in thought, running through all the possibilities, that he didn't notice how much time had passed. He also didn't notice Amanda peering into the room a moment before she entered.
"Ramsey, thank you for being so patient. How have you been feeling?"
'Shit, did she just see me staring off into space with a weird excited face.'
"I'm doing fine, no recent issues. I was just thinking about what I might be doing after I leave here." Ramsey mentally chuckled.
Amanda pulled a rolling stool up to the bedside and sat down.
"We received the results of your scan." She paused an uncomfortable amount of time.
"An abnormality was identified. It's a mass in the parietal lobe of the brain. We would like to do an MRI to get a better look at it.
I can tell you that tumors in this part of the brain have been known to cause sensory issues, specifically with vision and hearing."
Ramsey was speechless.
He truly had no idea what to say.
'I'm actually sick. And everything... None of it was real.'
"Ramsey, I'd like to order the MRI now. That will help us to diagnose the issue and options for treatment, okay?
"Y- Yeah.. please.."
"Okay, good. It won't be today, but we'll get it scheduled within the next couple days. For now, your vitals look good and I think you're okay to rest at home. You can work, but I'm suggesting that you don't drive or operate any heavy machinery.
Do you have any questions?"
Ramsey's expression had not changed since hearing the word abnormality. It was a combination of shock, disappointment and fear.
"I'm not really sure," he said.
"Well, I'll go get your paperwork. I'll be happy to answer any questions you think of when I come back."
Ramsey just nodded.
'I'm so stupid. I can't believe I thought any of that was real. Fantasy worlds, time travel, avatars and attributes.
I guess I should be proud of my brain's creativity.
I was really starting to believe it too.'
***
The drive home from the hospital was silent. Unsure of what to think or how to feel, Ramsey just drove, despite the nurse's advice. Of course, she didn't really understand his symptoms. He knew he could handle it if they reappeared - at least if they stayed the same.
That last thought terrified him.
It had only been one day. Worsening symptoms were very likely for such a serious problem.
'I wonder what I should expect next.
Figures, now I think of a question.'
Through muscle memory or subconscious thought, Ramsey's car found its way home. He didn't remember much about the drive.
'Maybe I should've gotten a ride', he thought as he threw his keys on the table and fell backward onto the couch.
"Crazy day.
Hm, in more ways than one."
Ramsey's hand rubbed the top of his head as he thought.
'I guess I wouldn't be able to feel it.
I wonder how big it is.
Is it cancer? Is it treatable?
Surgery… chemo… I'll probably lose my hair. Maybe I should go ahead and shave it.
Ramsey thoughts we're spiraling. He grabbed a throw pillow and pressed it tightly to his face. "I need to think about something else," he said muffled.
In one quick motion he sprang up, threw the pillow, and headed toward the kitchen.
'It's almost dark and I haven't eaten anything today.'
Ramsey's kitchen wasn't exactly stocked. If he wanted a snack or a bowl of cereal, he was all set, assuming the milk was still good. But there was no meal to be had. After a full day of nothing, he wanted something substantial.
'Looks like delivery then.'
This was not surprising, in fact, it was the norm. Ramsey pulled his phone from his pocket, opened the delivery app and began scrolling. 'Pizza.. chicken.. burgers.. tacos.. Ugh, why is Chinese never on here?'
He put the phone down, opened a drawer next to the fridge and began shuffling through it.
"Where is the damn menu?"
"…"
Ramsey froze.
"Holy shit"
Now occupying his entire field of vision, was the black text.
Ramsey closed his eyes and kept them tightly shut.
"Dammit, it's getting worse." He exhaled sharply and took in a slow, deep breath.
The thought of being practically blind was terrifying. Ramsey's heart was racing and his stomach was in a knot. With his eyes still closed, he felt for the kitchen table and carefully sat in a chair.
'It's okay. It'll go away.'
Ramsey opened his eyes again to see the text was still there. With some of the initial panic starting to fade, he studied it.
It was... a menu.
There was a column on the left which listed
[*Avatar]
[Setting]
[Attributes]
[Path]
Avatar seemed to be selected, while Attributes and Path were grayed out. To the right, was mostly the same information he had been shown before.
[Name: Ramsey Garrett]
[Age: 44]
[Setting: Earth, Information Age, Year 2025]
[Attributes: N/A in current Setting]
[Path: N/A in current Setting]
However there was one ominous new addition.
[Countdown: 2 days, 5 hours, 50 minutes]
As Ramsey was looking, the 50 ticked down to 49. 'Jesus Christ, it's like there's a bomb in my head.'
"Ha, HA! And there actually is!"
The hilarious irony was clearly not lost on Ramsey. After a fit of laughter, he read all that remained, a row of words at the bottom.
[Menu] [Reset] [Options] [Help]
'Menu is probably what I'm looking at now. Reset has to be what my new pleasant girlfriend keeps asking me to do.
Options and Help.
Honestly, I'd love some help, but I don't think it's going to come from my own imagination…
Let's give this a try.'
Ramsey readied himself and said "Options"
The text changed! Both the column on the left and the text to the right were different. On the left it read
[*Response]
[Text]
[Voice]
The text to the right said
[System response initiated by: *Voice / Thought]
Voice seemed to be selected. As before, Ramsey readied himself and said "Thought".
The selection changed to Thought, but nothing seemed different. Ramsey took a deep breath and thought about closing the menu.
And just like that, it was gone.
"Yes!" Ramsey jumped up out of the chair, throwing a fist in the air.
He walked to the couch, fell back on it with a sigh, and smiled. After being subjected to his imagination's jump scares all day, learning about his condition, and finally a period of partial blindness - this felt like a win.
Ramsey stayed there for a few minutes, staring at the ceiling, feeling the best he had all day.
"Okay, time to eat!"