"There's no way! I actually won?"
Bam!
Theo fell right off his chair, barely able to contain his excitement. He had just been scrolling through his emails as usual, skimming past the ads and junk, when one message jumped out at him.
The email was about the closed alpha for the new VRMMORPG, MythHaven. This wasn't just any game; it was still in the early experimental phase, with the equipment as much under testing as the game itself. People from all over had registered, hoping they'd be among the lucky few chosen to play it. But it wasn't just about playing. Participants would get paid. It was like a job with gaming as the main task. And on top of that, everyone would be staying together at the company's headquarters, closely monitored by doctors and specialists to keep everything running smoothly.
Theo wasn't exactly a hardcore gamer, but he'd still felt compelled to try his luck. MythHaven wasn't just a standard VRMMORPG. It was already making waves with promises of lifelike immersion, where everything from the touch of armor to the sounds in the air would feel hyper-realistic. Then, there was the complex class system, which had been the main draw for so many players. It wasn't the usual pick-your-class setup. MythHaven offered an array of combinations, allowing players to develop unique abilities and personal fighting styles. Even two people choosing the same class would end up with different skills, building their own legends as they progressed. That's how the game got its name; it was a place for players to create their own myths.
Let me take a closer look, Theo thought as he stood up and sat back down in his chair.
He looked closely at the email, reading every detail carefully.
[Congratulations, Theodore Fletcher! You are one of the 500 chosen ones.]
[Please check in at our headquarters by July 27, 2045. Travel expenses will be covered by us.]
July 27, 2045. Theo raised his eyebrows. It was just about two months away. There was not much time to prepare. He would need to find someone to rent his apartment. And there was the problem of a visa. The headquarters of Nexaverse Studios were in the United States, and Theo lived in Germany. Getting a visa in less than two months would be difficult.
He continued reading.
[Your visa will be processed by Nexaverse Studios.]
One less problem to worry about.
[As outlined in the registration agreement, we are authorized to access your medical history. Your medication will be stocked on-site.]
This was another of his worries. Truth be told, Theo hadn't even realized this. He hadn't taken the registration seriously and had only skimmed through it back then.
[The game starts on August 5, 2045. Until then, you will receive a general briefing. Nexaverse Studios wishes you a happy journey.]
That's it? the lucky winner wondered, re-reading the final line to make sure he hadn't missed anything. It was short, but it covered the essentials he needed to know for now. There was no mention of a salary or other terms, but he assumed all those details would be clarified in the briefing. After all, Nexaverse Studios was a huge company; they surely had their process down to a science.
Now... let me take care of the rest first. Theo ran a hand through his short black hair, feeling the weight of the tasks ahead pressing down on him. His blue eyes fixed on the monitor, thoughts whirring. He wanted to wrap up his current work as quickly as possible so he could start searching for a subtenant to rent his apartment while he was away. That alone would be an extra source of income, which might come in handy if the adventure turned out to be longer or more intense than he expected.
And then there was the matter of telling his family and friends. He imagined the reactions—his mother's inevitable worry, his friends' surprise, and the questions that would likely follow. He knew they would have doubts and concerns, just as he did, but he hoped they would be supportive, even if this whole thing felt surreal.
A faint headache started to creep in as he considered the sheer amount of planning he'd need to do over the next two months. There were calls to make, forms to fill, arrangements to finalize, and belongings to organize. There was no question that a lot of work lay ahead, but a flicker of excitement made him smile. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and he knew he would regret it forever if he didn't dive in fully prepared.
-----------------
July 22, 2045, Berlin Airport
The last two months had felt like a dream for Theo. He had quit his job as a credit counselor, something his boss didn't fully appreciate at first. However, he came around after Theo explained his reasons. With the help of an old friend, Theo found a subtenant quickly as well. His brother now owned his car, and the arrangements for his parents' medical care were settled. His mind was free of worry.
At the airport, outside, a family of four stood hugging each other and saying their goodbyes. Among them was Theo, dressed in shorts, a white T-shirt, and a light blouse over it. The heat was intense, and his clothes were already soaked, with sweat dripping down his forehead. But Theo was smiling regardless.
Today was the day he would leave Germany for the first time and travel to the United States. He hadn't slept a wink last night, and he couldn't bring himself to eat a thing. His entire body buzzed with excitement, his mind filled with anticipation for the journey ahead.
"Make sure to eat enough. And be careful. Don't forget, it's just a test! They don't even know if everything will go all right, do they?" Theo's mother spoke, her voice thick with concern.
"Let him do his thing, Lilly," another, rougher voice interjected. It was Theo's father.
"He's not a kid anymore, Mom," the last family member chimed in. It was Max, Theo's older brother and his biggest supporter. While their parents were happy for Theo, they couldn't help but express their worries. He was leaving behind his old life for something that might not even work out. As parents, they naturally felt protective, concerned for his well-being.
But after many long talks, they came to understand how deeply Theo wanted this. In the end, he was old enough to make his own choices, and they knew they couldn't stop him. They chose to part on good terms, letting him go without any lingering worries.
They talked for a while longer, exchanging smiles and a few final words, until Theo glanced down at his watch. It was already time to depart, and he would need to hurry to make it through security.
"Bye, Mom, Dad, and Max," Theo said, his voice filled with both excitement and a hint of sadness as he hugged each of them tightly. Grabbing his small suitcase, he took a last look back at his family, then turned and started jogging toward his gate.
New York, here I come, he thought, a smile spreading across his face as he picked up his pace. His other belongings were already shipped to the headquarters, so all he needed was himself and a few essentials.
-----------------------
New York City Airport
Walking out of the airport, Theo scanned the crowd for his driver. He felt refreshed after sleeping for most of the flight. It had been a direct trip, so there was no hassle with layovers. He had taken off from Berlin at 14:00 and landed in New York at 16:00.
Time zones are really crazy, Theo thought with a smile.
At the entrance, he spotted a man in a black suit with finely styled hair, holding a sign with his name along with another. Theo approached him and greeted him. Although English wasn't his mother tongue, he had, of course, attended something called school and learned it there. Over the years, he'd practiced enough to feel fairly confident, though he sometimes found himself stumbling over unfamiliar words or phrases.
"Hello, I'm Theo."
The man gave Theo a professional nod and asked, "May I see your ID?"
Theo reached into his wallet and handed over his identification. After a brief inspection, the man nodded again.
"You're not the only one I'm picking up today, so we'll need to wait a bit. I hope that's fine with you."
"Sure, no problem," Theo replied, glancing around at the busy New York arrivals area.
A few minutes and small talk later, another man walked toward them. He seemed to be around sixty, if Theo had to guess. He wore light, comfortable clothes, and had a neatly trimmed gray beard and a bald head.
As he reached them, he introduced himself. "Hello, I'm Ji-hoon, from United Korea."
His voice wasn't rough; it was quite soft. He extended a hand to Theo and the driver.
"Hello, I'm Theo," Theo said as they shook hands. He felt a bit awkward, knowing that this man was old enough to be his grandfather. But in the gaming industry, age wasn't as important as skill level. Still, Theo wasn't sure how to address the older man without seeming rude.
Ji-hoon noticed Theo's troubled expression and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "No worries, young man. Just call me by my name. I don't mind."
"Sure," Theo nodded, feeling more comfortable.
Just then, the driver clapped his hands, cutting in. He pointed at his watch. "We need to drive soon, so let's not waste time. We can talk in the car."
Both Theo and Ji-hoon nodded, gathered their luggage, and walked toward the parked car.
Some time later, they arrived at their destination. It wasn't the company headquarters, but the testing station and sleeping area, located in the industrial zone of New York.
They were currently waiting in line before the security check. From where Theo stood, he could already see two enormous buildings in the distance. They weren't just tall but stretched out long, dominating the skyline.
The buildings were completely white, and the company slogan was displayed on them in bold letters, combining a clean, modern look. Theo took it all in, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves as he prepared for what was to come.
"This is as far as I go," the driver chimed in, pulling Theo out of his thoughts.
The driver opened the trunk, took out their luggage, and handed it over to them with a practiced motion. Then, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out another ID, offering it to Theo.
"Take this," the driver said. "You'll need it for the security check. Just show it to them, and someone will guide you from there. I'm afraid this is where I leave you."
Theo nodded, taking the ID with a grateful smile. He felt a bit more at ease, knowing the next steps were already set in motion. As the driver gave them a final nod, Theo and Ji-hoon made their way toward the entrance, ready for whatever came next.
---------
"ID?" the security guard asked, his voice emotionless. He'd probably asked the same question a million times before.
"Sure," Theo and Ji-hoon replied in unison, handing over their IDs as instructed.
After a quick scan on the computer, the guard handed both of them a watch.
"This is for you," the guard said.
[ID: Theodore Fletcher, Room 301.]
Theo took the watch, curious. The guard continued, "All the important numbers and your basic information are stored on this device. It also has apps like WhatsApp, which is linked to the in-game system. This means you can add each other as friends beforehand. You'll also get notifications here if anything important happens."
Theo examined the watch in his hand, impressed by the sleek design. It was small but packed with function, a tool that would surely come in handy in the days to come.(Author's Fun Fact: In German, the word "Handy" is commonly used to refer to a mobile phone.)
"Which room are you in?" Theo asked.
"15," Ji-hoon replied. "And you?"
"301."
"Well, let's add each other first, then head to our rooms. I want to see if everything I sent is here."
"Sure."
They added each other as friends on the watch, and then headed to their rooms. The watch had another useful feature: a map and GPS. It made navigating the large building much easier. With the help of the map, they quickly found their rooms without any trouble.
------------
July 31, 2045
In the next few days, Theo made himself familiar with everything here, from the grounds to the watch to his neighbors.
In the cafeteria, Theo and Ji-hoon sat together eating their breakfast. After it, it was time for their first briefing or lesson. Since 500 people were too many for one class, they were split into 10 groups of 50.
Originally, Theo and Ji-hoon weren't in the same class, but they found someone willing to switch.
Munching down on his eggs, Theo asked, "Excited?"
Ji-hoon, who wasn't much of a morning eater, swallowed his piece of apple before replying, "Not really."
In the past day, they'd talked a bit about their backgrounds. It turned out Ji-hoon had once been the president of a huge Korean company. Now, his son was the president, as Ji-hoon had retired. This was most likely why he was so used to handling stress.
Theo also found out the reason why Ji-hoon was so casual with him. He was fed up with all the sycophants in his work and personal life, constantly trying to impress him or gain favor. With Theo, there was no need for pretenses, and Ji-hoon appreciated that.
But sometimes, his older behavior slipped through, and he'd nag at Theo if he saw him doing something wrong or struggling. However, he also gave Theo the occasional piece of good advice. It was like a mix of having a best friend and someone with a lot of wisdom.
"Let's go, we need to hurry a bit," the older man urged.
They still had some time, but Ji-Hoon's body wasn't as young as it used to be, no matter how much he tried to pretend otherwise.
Theo quickly finished the last few bites, then cleared his plate.
They walked slowly to their classroom.
--------------
The classroom was full of people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. They all sat quietly, watching the man who was their "teacher."
"My name is Mr. Winston, and I am one of your doctors. Today, we will go over the basics of the game. Tomorrow, we'll discuss the technology behind it. But for now, let's focus on today," he said as a large monitor in the front of the room lit up.
"The first thing we should talk about is the world."
He paused for a moment, ensuring everyone's attention.
"The world is 100 times bigger than Earth, and it consists of multiple realms. The first is the Mortal Realm. This is where you all will start. You can choose from 20 starter villages, and your level won't affect your choice. However, different zones have level recommendations, so take those seriously. The Mortal Realm has a medieval theme, meaning there are kingdoms and empires."
He continued.
"Then there's The Haven, a world where the light factions reside. And then there's Hell, where the dark factions are born."
Mr. Winston paused again, scanning the room before continuing with a bit more detail about the world.
Afterward, he moved on to levels.
"Leveling is quite simple: kill enemies and complete quests."
"You can level up both your class and your race. Your race gives you racial abilities and stat points. Your class gives you abilities suited to that role and skill points."
He glanced around to make sure everyone was following. "Understood so far?"
No one spoke, but everyone nodded.
"Good. Then let's move on to the class system."
"There are seven basic classes you can choose from when you begin. These basic classes are the same for every race, and they only start to differ as you progress through the game. But all of you will start as humans."
He cleared his throat before continuing.
"These classes can be advanced, and that's where the fun starts. You'll be able to choose one skill every five levels, with three options for each. The options you get will depend on your quests, race, stats, and your team, which will be either dark or light. You must choose your side at the beginning, and your skills will be based on that decision."
"For example, take the Summoner class. If you're on the light side, you can summon beasts classified as holy or light. On the dark side, you'll summon creatures with darker attributes. It's a simple system, but it's very effective."
And he continue once again.
"At last, I want to talk about your in-game character."
"You’ll have the freedom to design it however you like, even to the point of changing its gender. But be careful,this could mess with your mind, so think carefully before you decide."
The day flew by, and before Theo knew it, the next day had arrived.
---------------------
The doctor stood once again before the class, ready to give the final lesson for the day.
"Today, we're going to talk about the technology behind it all, and how your body will react to the experience," he began, his tone a little more serious than before.
"To access MythHaven, your body will be connected to the Gaming Pod ZX. Through your brain, you'll be able to enter this world while your physical body essentially shuts down for the duration. It's not like sleeping. Your consciousness will be fully immersed. But don't worry, your body will be monitored the entire time."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing.
"There are risks, and I'm not going to lie about that. We're still in the testing phase, and while everything has been thoroughly tested, there's always some level of uncertainty when it comes to new technology. But don't let that concern you too much. We will be watching over you, ensuring everything goes smoothly. If anything goes wrong, we'll be there to help."
He flashed a small, reassuring smile before continuing.
"Your brain will be completely integrated with the game, and the connection is designed to make the experience as real as possible. It's almost like entering a dream, except you have full control. You'll feel everything, taste, touch, emotions, just as you would in the real world. But remember, your body remains in the pod while you're inside the game."
"Now to get to the good part. You won't need to log out daily. We will provide your body with all the nutrients and medications it needs. Once every month, we'll do a test with all of you, and that's when you'll log out. This is also when you'll receive your payment. The test will last for weeks, and it will feel like a vacation for you. You just need to stay nearby."
He continued on with the more mundane details, droning on about procedures and regulations.
As the session came to an end, Theo felt exhausted and excused himself to his room. With only a few days left before the game started, he wanted to take the opportunity to relax and enjoy the real world one last time before diving into the virtual one.
