There's something funny about living a life with nothing to live for– and that is the fine line between giving up and aspiring to be something. When you ask yourself what you wanted to do with your life, as a kid, it was easy to find an answer. However, asking yourself the same question as a young adult, it becomes a plethora of Ifs, whats, and whys.
What do I want to be?...
Why can't I be the things I want to be?...
If only there was a world where I could be
what I wanted to be...
.....
"Virtual Reality?..." Skepticism was written on the face of young Jan Santos. The salesman made it sound too good to be true. Afterall, he was selling these consoles out by the corner of the abandoned hardware store, in a rather shady section of the city. Jan always walked this way on the way home but only now did this strange vendor appear before him.
"That's right! Everyone's doing it! Just give it a go, Sir. Imagine! A world where you could be anything you want! A world where u could live out your every ambition and fantasy, just a single moment away!".
It was a very large claim indeed.
"How about I do you a deal. Half price for the headset and I'll throw in a game of your choice. Anything. On the house.". Well with that offer, it'd practically be a steal. "Alright, I'll do this one." He points at the screen set up on the left side of the stand. "Ah yes! Fantasy is a very popular genre. I'm sure you will be most pleased with the attention to detail. It'll be as if you've been sent to another world" He gestures with his hands to display the "magical" essence of the genre.
With the unusual amount of pocket change Jan had, he pays up, and holds the package by its convenient plastic handle. Upon arriving at his apartment building, he pauses and recalls the words of the salesman... A world where you can be anything you want... Sounded like something out of fantasy, but then again, man can make practically anything in this day and age. Even a fake reality where you can be whoever you want.
He stares blankly at the apartment building, eyeing its every detail, its every chip and crack, its every leak and vine, just as he had done the previous day and every day before, and pondering his own worth in this world. He wasn't what you'd call an interesting man at all, not exactly the most handsome, and definitely not living the most comfortable life. He pretty much looked like an ordinary white man with black hair and brown eyes. Today felt like an insult from the universe. Giving a man, with nothing to live for but a dead end job in a corporation that couldn't care less about the lesser class, the closest thing he could get to free will.
"Anything I want to be, huh?... Every ambition and fantasy." He delved within himself what he really wanted to be. "I want to be free. Free of everything.". Unboxing this package wasn't the hardest thing in the world, but for someone living under a rock, this all felt kind of new to Jan. After what felt like forever, setting up cables and whatnot, it was finally ready... Jan's one-way ticket to his supposed paradise.
He places the console over his eyes, ignoring any hesitation. It was about time he gets with the program...
He's met with darkness... "Oh right. The power button." He places a finger on the side of the console and is immediately met with a startling–
*Beep!* *Console startup chime*
The screen illuminates slowly, displaying the logo "Orion4k™", followed by a new screen.
[What is your name?...]
"I can be anyone I want, right?... what's a good name?..." he thinks to himself.
"Maximus"
[ What is your name?]
{Maximus}
[Confirm] [Deny]
"Confirm"
Welcome!
MAXIMUS!
"Welcome..." this was probably the warmest welcome Jan had recieved in a long while. His anticipation brought a smirk to his lips. He was going to experience true freedom for the first time in years, and it was going to be in a virtual reality. A fake reality. The main hub was nothing special: A cozy room, the setting outside being a cold snowy evening, and the fireplace lit but not animated. An interface appearing before him displays standard settings and features, the only thing really standing out being the artistic game cover smack in the middle of the interface with the title "The Cyberspace" pasted above.
The console was already growing uncomfortable resting on his face, but not enough to take it off, because Paradise seemed worth it. He raises his hand outside the console and is amazed to see a hand appear in the virtual world– This wasn't his real hand, it was an illusion, but the virtual world made him believe otherwise.
He points at the game and pressed it as if he's pressing a tv screen and is further dumbfounded– he felt it. He felt his finger press a screen. Was this headset connected to his brain? Sending false signals to make him believe he's feeling something? It was terrifying, but funny enough, exhilarating.
[Now entering....]
[THE CYBERSPACE]
As straightforward as everything has been so far, Jan couldn't help but feel alien to all of this. Like he was setting foot in a world never seen before by man, as a new person... Maximus. He shuts his eyes as his surroundings become blindingly bright...
[...hel-?]
[...hello?–]
Maximus slowly opens his eyes to see his feet in strange footwear: leather shoes he's never owned before, wool socks that made his feet feel warm, and beige shorts made from what seemed to be cotton.
"Hello, recruit..."
Maximus jumps at the sudden voice, before shifting his view towards the voice. It came from a woman. "Recruit? Me? You must have me confused with another man, Miss." He paces backwards before finding that he's not moving any further. He's hit some sort of in-game barrier. "No, you're wearing the issued uniform, recruit." Her emerald eyes beam into his chest through her deep brown curtain bangs.
Her presence woke him up as he stood tall. Now that he thought about it, his body felt different... it felt heavier, and the ground looked further away. In the real world, he stood an average 5'9 (175.2 cm), but in this world, he had to be at least 6'2 (188 cm). Everything about this world felt off... Aside from the obvious change of setting, everything was uncannily realistic, like this place could exist on Earth. It all felt so real– yet so fake at the same time.
"Welcome to CyberSpace, Recruit! I am your superior officer, Lelan. I will be guiding you through basic training. We are currently in the Central Training Grounds, in the Heart of the Grand Ironkeep, set at the foot of the great Mt. Sagitus. Yes, you will have to remember this for the quiz, later on in your training."
Lela guides Maximus around the training grounds, introducing him to every bit of strange equipment and their purposes. "Now that you've seen the place, it's about I know you formally. What is your name, recruit?"
"Maximus, o-officer–" Maximus stutters, althought this woman had to look up at him to properly talk, her presence was much bigger than his. Like how an animal recognizes another, higher on the food chain. If this woman weren't on a job, she'd probably eat him alive. Figuratively of course.
"Welcome to the CyberSpace, Maximus."