I found myself in a dark room, but knew it was something larger than even a container. When you're in a dark room, there is still an outline of where its walls and roof should be, if only faint, but there was nothing like that.
There was nothing at all, not even a floor to stand on. Usually, without solid footing, you would fall and wake up in a panic once the assumed collision with the ground happened, but I was not falling. I was floating. Steadily, as though second nature, I floated.
"First Warrior."
A voice with grace and elegance interwoven to each syllable called out, a slight echo as it travelled and dispersed through the emptiness.
I looked around, only greeted by voidness, then noticed once I had completed a full turn that there was the tiniest speck of light. Despite knowing it was tiny, it seemed like the brightest thing I had seen in my nineteen years of living.
A floodlight, perhaps? A star? A star seemed to be the best guess, as I felt myself being magnetised towards it through no will of my own. I didn't try to fight it though, as if knowing it would be futile and against what I wanted.
"First Warrior, you have made quite a name for yourself in the replicated Aralia," the light spoke, and as I closed in I could see there was a form taking shape within it. It was slim, a small dip in its waist, and long hair that held the same shine as its aura did. "I am the Archangel Miriam, the direct subordinate of the Lord, Our God Moxus."
"Moxus?" I asked as I watched the light fade slowly, down to that of a high wattage flashlight. "Is this about the invitation?"
"Very perceptive," she replied with the smallest hint of a smile on her face. "You, along with five other candidates have been chosen by the God Moxus to enter Aralia, the real world of Aralia," she clarified, "and work to protect it from the beasts and evildoers that have plagued it."
"It's this a dream?" I asked. Miriam reached a hand out and, although I wanted to pull away, I also wanted to see what she was planning to do. She pinched my arm and I felt the nip, then looked at her with wide eyes. "What does this mean?"
"Exactly what you think it does," she replied as she clasped her hands at her waist once more. "This is no dream. You have been chosen, and have accepted God Moxus's order."
"What now?" I asked, my resignation to whatever was happening blatant in my voice. "Will I be transported now?" I asked, and she shook her head gently.
"We need to prepare your vessel first. I am supposed to ask if you would prefer to be in your own body or not, but I can tell from your soul that you have bad memories with it," Miriam said. I opened my mouth to argue, to say anything, to tell her I was happy with my body, but I couldn't. "It is alright, little one. Many others made the same choice- even those who worked had to shape their body. This should be done by the next time you fall asleep. When you wake up from your dream on Earth, you will be in Aralia."
"And my wish?" I asked, remembering the notification. "Do I get a wish? And I can ask for anything? What's Aralia like?" My tone reminded me of a kid in a toy shop, unable to choose what new toy he wanted. Miriam nodded, and took a deep breath before she started her description.
"Aralia is a world less advanced than Earth by some time. The use of electricity, automobiles, and things such as those have not been thought of in Aralia. They would rather keep their way of life- one of magic, fighting, and monarchies. You will be able to use magic in your quest, should you wish to," she added with a knowing smile. "The other candidates also asked that, so I thought i'd save you the time."
"Can I give you my wish when we meet again?" I asked, unsure what I would ask for. Riches, land, companions, the best weaponry they could offer… all these things rushed through my mind as I looked at Miriam's emotionless gaze.
"Of course. It is wise to think it over, as it may decide your future," she agreed. "Enjoy your final day on Earth, Spencer Black. God Moxus looks forward to watching your life in Aralia."
Then she was gone. The void we had conversed in was gone, too. I was in my bedroom, sat upright. I glanced to my phone and tapped on the screen.
'07:23' was the time, and I let out a hefty sigh as I debated between going back to bed or getting up.
After five minutes I decided to wake up. I made my way to the bathroom and turned the shower on. The water ran down my face and bathed my body in a comforting warmth.
"Aralia…" I whispered, ignoring the water that trickled into my mouth. I spit it out and washed myself, trying to take my mind off the day of work that lay ahead of me.
I turned the shower off and stood quietly for a moment, looking at my hands. Was I really going to spend my last day on Earth working? Slaving away for a boss that didn't even send condolences when my mother died? For the same man that used some flaw in the system to reduce the time off I got?
I got out of the shower and dried myself off. Fresh boxers on, socks on, and I glared at the suit in my wardrobe. I pulled out a t-shirt and some shorts instead. I reached onto my bed and grabbed my phone from under my pillow.
I put it to my ear as it rang and waited until I heard a click. "Can I get a taxi?" I asked. I told her where I lived, and she said someone would be there in ten minutes.
I went into my contacts and looked for Naomi's name then messaged her.
'Did you have a strange dream last night?'
I watched as it sent, and put it back in my pocket, awaiting a reply. I scrolled through my contacts and hovered over Roslyn's name. I clicked it and phoned her, but a beeping denial played before I could even lift it to my ear.
I put my shoes on and wandered around my house for a moment, unsure how I felt about leaving everything behind. It was… a melancholy tour of somewhere I had been since I could remember.
I stood in front of my mother's bedroom door and readied myself before I entered. I clicked it open and pushed it, the emptiness inside seeming less intimidating than the night prior.
"Hey mama," I said to the air as I entered and closed the door. "I, uh… I know i've not came in recently. I've been, y'know, thinking too much. You said that was a good thing, but, recently I just…" I trailed off, unsure of myself and my words. "It's all what-ifs, you know? Just thinking about how stupid I was before. How you might still be here if I wasn't."
A chill ran up my spine, but my skeptical nature dismissed it as the room being cold since the window had been open since she passed. Still, a small chuckle escaped me as I allowed a wave of sadness to flood from my eyes.
"I'm so sorry," I wept. "I'm so fucking sorry, Mama."
I wallowed in my tears for a few minutes, and began to wipe them away when I felt a vibration in my pocket.
'Your taxi has arrived.'
I stood up and gave the room one last look over my shoulder as I stood in the doorframe.
"I don't know if i'll be back, Ma. I'm going somewhere. Maybe all those years of fighting'll serve me after all. I, uh… I love you." I shut the door and quickly made my way down the hallway, then out the front door. I closed and locked it, stuffing the keys into my pocket.
I got in the back seat and shared a nod with the taxi driver. "Where to?" he asked, and I thought about what I was actually doing for a moment until he rushed me. "Where are you trying to go?"
"The, uh…" I hesitated, changing my destination at the last second. "Just take me to the city. I'll find my way from there, thanks."
He didn't reply, but he started the car and began the drive. I spent most of the drive on my phone, and posted a plea of sorts on the forum.
'To everyone who accepted the challenge of Moxus: good luck. See you there.'
I posted it, almost cryptically, then went to the chat I had with Naomi. She had read my message whilst I cried in my mother's room, but hadn't replied.
Before I knew it- through reading up on the lore of the game and debating what my wish would be- we had arrived in town. I told the driver to pull in, and handed him a hefty sum.
"You win the lottery or something?" he asked as I opened the door.
"I don't know yet," I replied with a small laugh as I got out and closed the door behind me. He tooted the horn and took off, merging into the sea of cars as I headed up the hill we had pulled over on.
I went right, and found myself downtown. I went into the florists and bought a bouquet of bluebells, Roslyn's favourite. I tipped the florist handsomely, too, and she had a worried look as she sifted through the bills.
"We're not allowed to date customers or accep-"
"It's just a tip. Just a tip," I read her name tag. "Frankie."
I left the store to the ding of a bell above the door and continued through the centre. It was a sunny day. Kids on bikes, adults on dates, and me, basking in it all.
I arrived at the apartment complex where my sister lived and rang her number. It rang for a moment before she answered with a click.
"Hello? Who's this?" she asked, and I smiled at the lack of argumentativeness in her voice.
"It's your brother. I came to talk about something," I replied, and that silence fell over the buzzer again. "I'm not here to defend myself, or try to win you over. I'm definitely not here to fuck around and play this shitty little game of ours. Let me in, Ros. Now."
"So you're here to bark orders?" she growled. "Here's a piece of advice, you slimy little weasel. Take your pity party and go die on another doorstep."
"I'm more likely to die here," I stated. "I am fucking dying, Ros. No shits, no giggles," I said, using an old running joke to emphasise the point. "I'll sleep on this doorstep, i'll die out here with a sign saying 'Give my love to Roslyn' if I need to. Or you can let me in, let me say my piece, and go die somewhere that wouldn't burden you."
She hung up the phone, and I bit my lip, thinking she couldn't let her anger go. The door buzzed open, and I smiled lightly as I pushed it open and waited for the elevator to come down.
It opened silently and I let a group of four men out. One of them winked at me as they passed, then I slid in. I clicked the seventh button and stood in silence as the doors closed and it lifted me up.
The elevator opened as it reached my destination and revealed Roslyn standing beside her open door. A slight nervousness was painted on her face, and she looked at me with eyes full of something akin to worry.
"You must be dying. Not even taking the stairs," she said, a slight wobble to her voice. She tutted and pushed off of the wall, then wrapped me in a tight embrace. "And you brought me flowers. Spencer, if you're-"
"I'm not joking," I consoled her. I wrapped. my arms around her neck and exhaled heavily. "I just didn't want to die thinking my sister wouldn't be at my funeral."
"I'll be the poor fucker that has to organise it…" she paused for a moment as she sniffled. "Prick."
She let me go and rubbed my shoulders with a forced smile. I smiled back and handed her the flowers, which she took as she led me into her house.
I closed the door behind us and kicked off my shoes. "Nice place," I noted, this being my first time seeing it. "It's very…"
"Beige. I know," she finished for me with a giggle. She wiped at her eyes with her fingers and patted on the couch. "Sit. If you die and shit yourself on the couch it might not be noticeable."
"Crass language from my proper sister. I never thought i'd see the day," I joked as I sat down and allowed myself to sink into the couch. "You can move some of this stuff into the old house. Maybe you can move dad out there to live with you."
"Maybe," she whispered, fidgeting with the fabric of her dress. "How long have you got?"
"As long as an energy drink can keep me awake," I joked, but she looked confused, so I sighed heavily. "I've only got-"
I was cut off by my ringtone. I took it out my pocket and grinned as I answered it.
"Spencer?!" Mark yelled from the other end. "It is ten o'clock! Where the hell are you?!"
"I used last night to have a good think, Mark," I started. "Thinking about why your wife left you. Have you got a small dick, Mark? Or does your authoritarian lifestyle seep into your home life as well? Here's some advice, Mark: go fuck yourself," I finished before I hung up the phone and sat it down. I looked at Roslyn with a nervous chuckle, and she laughed back at me, almost howling.
"Not long, then?" she asked, her tears now seeming slightly more joyous. "Hell's bells, Spencer. I thought you lost that attitude."
"It's hard to lose, easier to find," I shrugged as I rested my head on the back of the couch. "I know it's a bother, but… can I spend my last day here?"
"Sure," she replied quietly as she got up from her seat and walked past me to the kitchen. "Wine?"
"Sure. I know you've got beer, too. Gimme some."