~~~~
*Earth*(Year 3910)
*Hospital*
*Day Time*
*
×To Navir Blackthorn×
Congratulations, you have been accepted to enroll in the MMORPG VIRTUAL REALITY ACADEMY:ARCANE CATADEL, here you would be given the chance to enter the virtual realm NineEther, the battlefield for which all wars and large conflicts now take place, where in mastered experience upon reaching level 100 can be brought back to the physical world, join us now and be the first to touch that sacred level and become, a God.
See You In Four Months For The Entrance Ceremony.
Signature:
T.TT
Principal
*
Both Navir and Whitney stared at the letter, one calm and the other in absolute shell-shock, Navir closed the letter and placed it back on the bed.
."Wha, what is with that reaction Navir, do you have any idea what that letter means, with this you have an almost predetermined destiny in being apart of the top 1% in the world."Whitney said nibbling on her fingernails in a panic, sweat dripped from her brow as she got up pacing the room.
Navir looked at her strangely, he still didn't see the problem."..Wh..at?."He asked calmly but his eyes held curiosity.
."Hm, oh yeah how could I forget, my God I'm so sorry Navir, I neglected you."Whitney said as she wiped a tear from her eyes."You see, what happened is.."
.""After the war had ended 9 years ago the world and economy was barely holding on by a fine line from falling totally apart, but because the population was only that of 4 billion people, the resources left behind were very abundant"".
.""So in a feat of great unity the world came together bringing their most brilliant minds from all over the world together, and almost overnight it ushered in a new age of advancement and with that, the creation of the World Council"".
.""The World Council's greatest goal is to make everlasting peace here on earth so with their genius minds they found a way to create an advance technology call VrMS, Virtual Reality Mind Scape, connecting the digital world of code, to the spiritual world of the mind"".
.""And all this was only possible through the creation of the new element, the Pixel Element, it allows one to download their entire body's function onto the digital world and make an exact life like avatar to use in VR"".
.""This also resulted in the game called NineEther, a world almost like earth but there you could use magic, be strong enough to destroy mountains and even fly in the sky with dragons and others mythical creatures"".
.""It's also been said that because of the new element, Pixel, upon reaching level 100 you can fuse your digital mind body with your physical body and have all your power in the real world"".
.""That's why gaming is at the very top in terms of professions but the gamers are also hand picked as they are only 5 great academies that nurture Vr gamers"".
.""Alot of people took advantage of the war to gain great wealth and stuff so there is still that divide, so obviously alot of rich families would get to send their children to the academies which are prosperous in resources"".
.""Though, the cut off for entrance into the academy is 27 years old, so even with wealth age is still the limit"".
"Now though I said all that, it is still possible to get into the NineEther realm without being in the academies but you wouldn't have the proper knowledge of that world or equipment, plus other special privileges or benefits"".
.""I heard that the NineEther realm is very dangerous and even though you can't technically die, you can still feel pain and if you are killed then your mind still experiences the shock which could sometimes result in death"".
Whitney said giving him a full tutorial of the last nine years in just a few minutes, Navir now understood why she was so excited but he still doesn't understand her panic.
."Navir the reason I was so worried is that the Pixel element downloads your body's data and uses it as foundation for the NineEther, that means if you do it now you will not be able to walk in the game."Whitney said with worry on her face."You only have four months to prepare, I wonder who was the idiot that registered you for this year and told you so late, bastard!."
Navir said nothing he just patted the bed next to him and looked at her, the instructions were clear, Whitney sat down next to him.
."..I....can,...bel..ieve...me.."Navir said as he brought his boney hand to her face as he gently touched her cheek.
Whitney leaned into his hand as she held it."*Sigh* Ok, I believe you Navir, let's go get you cleaned up and get something for you to eat, I'm hungry as well I didn't take breakfast."She said as she got up holding his hand, she kicked away the wheelchair and helped him get up.
Cushioning his body with her's she helped him walk as they left the room.
~~
*Few Days Later*
Mandasa City, the only city currently in the world and the largest in all of recorded history, being the home of over four billion humans.
The city was built after the war from the threat of nuclear radiation that polluted the atmosphere, now they are within a large city barrier see-through crystal wall that one couldn't see unless they go extremely close.
But still the city was so big that no one ever really does, they don't need to, they have already everything they could ever want here inside the city.
In a region in the far south of the city, one would see a building with the name "Tell Them How Studios", a music studio or a studio for vocal training.
Inside the studio was a multitude of people but most familiar were two, Navir along with Whitney who as his personal nurse could come and go with him anywhere.
.""Alright class, my name is Roger Gonas, welcome and thank you for coming, um before we begin I would like to know who In here has some experience in singing already?"".
The vocal coach spoke with a smile, he was a handsome man with sharp features and a ball head, he wore casually strange clothing expressing his creative mind.
Amongst the 21 people present including Navir and Whitney only 3 people in total raised their hands, the vocal coach Roger nodded.
."Alright then, we will begin with some light warm ups, sing along with me to Laa Ahh Ahh Ahh""".
Everyone for the most part sung along fine as it was a basic vocal line anyone could do, well everyone except, him.
."..L..aG-*cough* Ahgg...Mm."Navir tried and fail miserably, his voice cracked and his vocal cords buckled under the pressure of his own lung capacity.'*Sigh*.'
Whitney who was able to follow through with the exercise effortless felt bad seeing Navir struggle."Just take your time, it's not going to happen overnight, you can do it."She said giving him encouragement.
Navir seeing her like this just nodded his head and continued trying his best just so she would feel better, it didn't really bother him but it seemed that all the emotions he is unable to express she responds in kind.
Soon an hour passed and the session was over.
.""That's it for today's vocal lessons, hope to see you all next week, thanks for coming, by the way everyone is welcomed to get some refreshments down stair on your way out"".
Vocal coach Roger spoke with a smile as he wiped some sweat off his face, at the corner of his vision he saw Navir being helped up by Whitney and got curious.
Roger went up to them."Hey, Navir and Whitney right, glad to have you here taking one of my classes, hope to have you back next week."He said smiling as he glanced over Navir's body."By the way, I don't think I've heard you speak throughout the class Navir."
."I'm sorry about that Mr Roger, Navir is unable to speak properly, he had a little incident, that's why we're here, I hope you can take good care of him."Whitney said as she bowed her head deeply.
Roger raised an eyebrow, he glanced at Navir."Incident, I see, I'm sorry to have brought it up, Mm but this is going to be a problem, for something like this he requires personal instruction."He said shaking his head."I'm afraid I won't be able to give him the attention that he needs."
."Awe man, really?."Whitney's shoulders slumped as she asked with a disappointed tone, she gripped Navir's hand tightly afraid to look at him now.
Roger gained a difficult expression as he scratched his ball head."Man now I'm feeling like a dick for bring it up, alright how about this, it will cost 1000 DC's(Digital Currency) more a week but I can make time on the weekend maybe, you think you could bring him in then?."He said compromising, weekends are usually his days off but it was more money so win-win.
."Yes yes we'll take it, I don't care about the cost please just help him as fast as you can, if you can get him talking fluently again within 3 weeks then I'll triple the price and round it off at 10,000."Whitney said hurriedly throwing out that large sum like it was just change.
Roger was a bit surprised at that but he only smiled brighter."Then considered this challenge finished."He said rubbing his hands together like a merchant.
While the two made plans Navir on the other hand didn't know if it was worth it, he felt that maybe he could practice by himself, he nugged Whitney's arm.
."Mm, oh don't worry about it, I said I will take care you and I meant it, till you are completely fine then even if I have to spend every last DC in my bank account, I definitely will."Whitney said softly but her words were firm as she gazed into his eyes.
Roger was impressed."My, Navir you've found yourself a great woman to be in your corner, man I'm jealous all I've got is some old guitars and a piano."He said calmly as he shook his head jokingly.
."N-no you misunderstand me, w-we are not together, Navir is like my family, I've known him since we were small is all!."Whitney said hiding her face, she felt her face burning with embarrassment, she sent glances at Navir but his expression was still the same as usual.
Roger raised his hand in mock surrender."If you say so sweetheart, unfortunately I'm not the one you have to convince."He said as he went over to a chair and sat down.
Whitney glanced down."L-let's go Navir."She said as she helped Navir walked out.
~~
~2 Weeks Later~
Just like that 2 weeks has passed and it was an eventful two weeks, not only an emotional 2 weeks for Whitney seeing Navir's progress but it was also a panicked one.
First off, Navir was "discharged" from the hospital, or more like moved to be placed under Whitney's care at her home, which she was happy about by the way.
Then a week ago Whitney got her doctor's license and a promotion to surgeon in training, meaning that she was no longer just a nurse, so she would have had to be replaced by someone else as his personal nurse.
She almost got a heartattack when she heard the news, she considered it her life destiny to take care of Navir, how can she just let someone else take her spot.
She fought tooth and nail and eventually the director gave in as she was such a good worker, but it was at the price of a 10% pay cut of a doctor's salary as doctor's are payed by time, which was still more than what she made before.
But some good things also happened, not only had Navir improved immensely in his vocal training, he was now even able to speak sentences before his voice starts cracking.
And his body was now starting to get better as she even hired a fitness coach who was also a dietitian, but just to be sure she also hired an actually dietitian.
Even though she might have over done it, she felt better also hiring a Biologist that excelled in human anatomy.
Plus a Kinesiologist, a world champion bodybuilder who became a coach, an Injury Prevention Specialist, a Massage Therapist and a Orthopedic Surgeon who she already knew.
Only then could she relax knowing he was in good hands, even though it costed her alot of money, like almost all her saving over years of being a nurse through the war was now on the low.
Right now Whitney was sitting on a bench in the park watching with happiness as Navir and two of his coaches were training together, he could finally walk long distances by himself.
He could even do a full two squats, according to the specialist his progress was truly unbelievable, too much even, he may have to dial it back a bit as attrophy still plagued his body.
Navir was down on the ground trying to do a push up, his arms were buckling and his core tightening almost to his back but with a crazy look in his eyes and a smile he pushed giving it everything he had.
."Navir if you can't handle it we can come back to it later, don't force the natural process."Navir's Injury Prevention Specialist Josie said calmly as she analyzed his body in great detail looking for signs of tearing or possible breaking which she saw none.
Navir of course ignore those words of warning and pushed with everything he had and succeeded through sheer will and balls of titanium alloy, when he said he will do it, he wasn't joking.
*Clap*
*Clap*
*Clap*
."Good job Navir, you did good."His fitness coach Brian said as he clapped along with the other's, he nodded his head feeling proud of the boy, determination like his is hard to come by.
Navir smiled calmly as he remained in push up position, Whitney ran up to him excited."Yay Navir, you were so awesome."She said with visible glowing joy, she just wanted to dance, it has only been a little over two weeks and he's already made such incredible progress.
Even though she was broke now but it was all worth it and for a good cause, she never even gave this type of treatment to herself.
."Mm, Navir?."Whitney looked down and realized that he wasn't getting up, his face was turning blue and his hands were trembling violently.
Navir glanced at one of his trainers.".I.c..an't..get up..."He said calmly as his body proceeded to give out, luckily he was caught by his personal trainer.
."Sorry about that buddy, you are just so strong, could've had me fool, do you actually know how good you are, you may not believe it but 15% of the population would struggle to do a single push."Personal trainer Blain said giving a thumbs up."You are now in the top 85 percent of people congrats."
Navir nodded as he walked over to the bench breathing heavily, he was handed a towel by Whitney."..My..eyes.blurr-agh-*cough*.blurry."He said casually choking feeling a tightness in his chest.
."Don't worry about that, it's normal blood flow, you should be going on back for a check up by your Biologist, Orthopedic Surgeon, your Massage Therapist and get a smoothie from your dietitian."Josie said clapping her hand, he has to go into recovery now.
Whitney looked at Navir as she rubbed her chin."Mm, do you guy's think he might need some red light therapy?."She asked innocently as she glanced at the coaches.
.""No!"".×2
.""Miss, please stop buying stuff, he doesn't need all that, it's too much!"".
.""You'll be poor"".
."..oh..."Whitney somehow looked down cast, maybe she was indeed getting too excited, just maybe a little.
Navir took her hand and gently put her to sit down next to him, he brought his face closer to hers and for the first time Whitney was speechless.
."Ohh, would you look at this."Josie said with a twinkle in her eye, she covered her mouth with a multitude of hot thoughts in her mind.
Brian grinned and gave a thumbs up."That's my boy, if only he had the smooth suave of myself."He said as he did a stiff little dance, he then held his back."Man I'm getting old."
."Maybe it's all the ego you're carrying around, you and those big useless muscles, also you need some grease for your hips."Josie said giving him a mean side eye.
Brian felt an invisible pain in his heart at those words, he couldn't even come up with a retort, he fold his arms and looked away."*Hmpm*."
Navir who had pulled Whitney towards him touched her head with his own, he raised his hands grabbed her face and stared into her eyes calmly.
Whitney on the other hand, she was feeling it hard to breathe, she glanced at his lips and back into his beautiful green eyes."N-Navir..."She whispered with stuttered breaths.
."...Family.."Navir said plainly as he pulled away from her, he closed his eyes and went off into his own mind.
Whitney sat still and dazed at Navir's words, it's soundwaves penetrated deep into her chest and ripped her heart into tiny pieces.'Fa-Family.'She thought in defeat as her shoulders slumped and a depressed cloud covered her.
Watching them Josie and Brian had an expression like kids who were caught doing something wrong, Josie even started to feel second hand embarrassment.
On the drive back to Whitney's house, there was an awkward silence and reasonable so, Navir gazed through the window at the city, Whitney sat next to him, Josie was in the passenger seat and Brian drove as it was his car.
.'Maybe I jumped to conclusions, it was just me, but in the end he doesn't owe me anything.'Whitney thought to herself as she played with her fingers.'All I can do is stay by his side till he becomes better, hopefully, one day, I..'
With those thoughts bearing on her mind the car made its way.