Meeting Across the Road

“It’s probably going to be very, very busy on the stairs and elevator,” John reasoned, looking at the window. He figured he could easily either use Jump to get to the ground or Move to break his fall. More than anything else, he was just looking for an excuse to test it out.

“You just want to show off again, don’t you?” Abigail asked, taking headphones out of her ears.

“It’d be faster! You could make a fall like that easy, right?” John asked, looking over to Abigail. The announcement had rung out a minute ago, and still he heard voices in the hallway of the dormitories. The moment it was over, Abigail had changed out of Jenny’s clothes and back into her brawler gear, supplied back to her by John. He had put his girlfriend’s clothes into his inventory.

“I can’t really argue with that logic,” Abigail said, taking the initiative and leaping out of the window. Apparently, some people above and below them had similar ideas, and a crowd of people were going to the ground at various speeds. At first it looked like Abigail was going to freefall, but a few meters from the ground, gouts of flame exploded from her hands and slowed her descent. John followed, reaching a compromise and using Jump for half the way, using Move to slow his fall for the rest of the way.

“You know, you could use the ability to move stuff with your mind in your close quarters combat. Messing up attacks with no effort,” Abigail commented, fascinated with John’s diverse skill set. While he certainly appreciated what he had been given, Abigail’s endless streams of fire left him with a little envy.

“That’s not a bad idea,” John said, feeling stupid for not thinking of that sooner. He added it to the list of experiments he had to do. “Wait, how’d you know I could do that? I never told you that.”

“Jenny explained your powers to me when she told me what video games were. Late bloomer powers are always weird, and sometimes personalized, but you got really lucky,” Abigail replied, opening the door for both of them.

“Says the girl who can turn into fire,” John joked, walking in after her. That comment was apparently misplaced, as her face fell. He used Mind Reading on her before he could stop himself. It had levelled up, and so he caught a snippet of her thoughts.

Couldn’t possibly know…

“There’s nothing lucky about my abilities,” Abigail responded, though her usual smile quickly replaced her despondent looks. “Anyway, looks like we’re about to be lectured.”

Abigail pointed to where yesterday a long desk had stretched along most of the wall, replaced by a slightly raised platform and a metal podium. A large, old looking man that John recognized from the information hologram to be The Emperor cleared his voice into the microphone, and the crowd fell silent.

“You have done well to make it this far, all of you. The last of the trials will be completed in one of three Kingdoms. This means that you will have to make your way to our sister complex in an orderly fashion. Those in Class C will be directed by The Magician,” The Emperor raised his hand to the side, and a man who looked to be in his thirties stood up, seemingly hispanic and dressed in a red cloak and a white undershirt. He bowed deeply to the crowd and showed off a refined smile.

“I’m sure it will be a pleasure to work with you all,” The Magician asserted, having no need for the microphone The Emperor used, his voice carried across the room by his magic.

“Those in Class B will be directed by The Chariot,” The Emperor continued, and the young blond man at his side leaned in to the microphone.

“Do as I say when I say it and don’t cause any problems,” The Chariot spoke, his kind appearance broken by the hostility in his voice.

“Those in Class A will be directed by myself. Now, enter your ID into the screens on the left side of the room as you did yesterday. This will initiate your partner assignment. When that is done, you will go outside and use the barrier that has been erected to travel to our sister complex. You will receive further instruction upon arriving. You may go,” The Emperor finished, stepping down from the microphone.

John and Abigail were luckily already close to the screens, so they were able to claim a spot each before the lines formed. Entering his ID, it was revealed to him that his partner was named “Lucille Palmer” and her codename was “The Prodigy”. There was also a photo of her which showed a girl with elven ears and eyes that had crosshairs instead of pupils. What’s with that codename? We chose our own, so is she just that full of herself? That aside, she looks kind of… familiar.

He was disappointed that he and Abigail wouldn’t be partners, but happy to find that they were both in Group A of Class C. That probably means we’ll take the test together. Looking over, he noticed that Abigail’s partner was someone named “Grace Aria” and her codename was “The Joker”. He was shocked that that wasn’t already taken.

“So, we find each other during the test and work together anyway?” John prodded, and Abigail flashed him a thumbs-up in response. Assuming we can even do that. With that settled, they set off for the other building.

Partway through walking, a shortish girl with white hair joined them, looking at Abigail. “Are you,” the girl squinted at her phone before continuing, “Cherufe?”

“That’s me! You’re ‘The Joker’?” Abigail asked, to which the girl nodded.

“I am, I am. Glad to be working with you!” Grace answered, putting out her hand. Abigail shook it, and John noticed the tattoo on the Brit’s chest glow as they shook hands. Immediately, Abigail recoiled back and Grace began laughing, peeling a sticker that had sparks on it off her hand.

“Right! Now you know what I can do. All these stickers and patches on my jacket do stuff, and the little brand here on my chest glows when I activate them!” Grace explained, putting the sticker back on her jacket. “Hope I haven’t coal your trust already? What’s the deal with him?”

Laughing it off, Abigail explained, “He and his teammate are going to work with us on the test, we’re friends.” After thinking about it for a while, John realized where he had heard her voice before, she was the one who answered Jenny’s phone yesterday!

“You worked with Jenny on the second test,” John said aloud. “I was the guy who called her. Nice to see you in person.”

“Right, I did. Let me give you a lump of ice - she’s cold. I’d wager she’s more protective of her bass than you,” Grace laughed, and Abigail joined in.

“You don’t know the half of it,” John answered, deciding to bite back his snarky reply and join in on their laughter.

“So, what do you think the third test is going to be?” Abigail asked her new companion, who simply shrugged as a response.

“I thought the test I took yesterday was exactly what we’d be doing, so I’ve got no idea,” Grace replied. “I heard it was different for everyone, what did you lot do?”

“She and I had a simulated prison break; it was pretty difficult, but we made it through. What did you and Jenny do?” John asked in reply as they neared the other building.

“We were in this big forest, right? And we had a bunch of tasks we could do, and we needed to have three of ‘em done. I reckon this test will be like that, if it’s trying to show people what it’s really like to be a Bounty Hunter,” Grace answered confidently as the three of them exited the transit barrier and entered the barrier for the travel complex. John had the same thought Jenny did upon first seeing it - that it looked like an airport. Upon entering, the gentle, robotic voice that he had grown accustomed to hearing in the other building came over speakers.

“Those of you in Class C, please report to the West Wing. Those in Class B, the East Wing. Those in Class A, the North Wing. Thank you.” Following its directions and the signs posted, the trio made their way to the West Wing, which was a long hallway with large teleportation mirrors on either side, doors between them. Currently the mirrors were dull and devoid of light, which John took to mean they were inactive. The Magician stood on a levitating platform, directing the over two hundred applicants in Class C who had already made it there. The large hallway was filled with rows of chairs, most of which were already occupied.

“Everyone, please settle down. Now, this is going to go much faster for you than for those in the other Classes. I am going to split myself into ten and meet with each of you. The second you walked into the West Wing, a black number and letter should have appeared on your hand,” The Magician informed them, and John realized he was right.

He was able to put it on me, even though I have Gamer’s Body ? Weird, John thought, noticing “E1” was on his hand as if tattooed there. Suddenly, letters A-J appeared in the air, and John felt ten barriers appear, one under each letter.

“Each time somebody before you finishes, the number on your hand should decrease. Ones, please report to the corresponding barrier at your earliest convenience. Those of you who need to wait, I’ve done the courtesy of hiring a crew to prepare some breakfast for you while you wait. It is through that door.” As The Magician spoke, the door swung open. Immediately, the smell of bacon wafted through it. “The wake-up call was pretty short noticed, and you can’t take a test on an empty stomach! After you’re done eating, you may relax until it is time for your meeting. Please do not be late.”

With that, The Magician disappeared. Abigail, who apparently was I1, moved with him toward the meeting barriers. Grace, who had A15, waved them off as she moved toward the now open breakfast hall, practically drooling.

“Well, see you on the other side, I guess.” John said, entering the “E” barrier. He was greeted by a comfortable office with The Magician sitting in a black swivel chair behind an oak desk. John took a seat across from him, in a comfortable red armchair.

“John Newman! Our meeting is going to be a little unorthodox. I’m trying very hard not to give you any preferential treatment even though you fascinate me. Not because of anything you’ve done - you’ve performed well enough so far, don’t get me wrong - but because of who sponsors you. Honestly, if The Hermit hadn’t sponsored you, I was thinking about doing it myself, but-” The Magician began eagerly, leaning on the desk toward him.

“I ramble. Are you comfortable? Since you were in the first wave, you haven’t had a chance to hit the breakfast bar yet - I’d avoid the pastries, they’re not so good. Something to drink perhaps?” With that thought, several different cups and bottles appeared on the desk in front of them, not all of them immediately recognizable. John did recognize a cup of orange juice, a bottle of water, a mug of coffee, and a glass of… pickle juice?

“I’m fine, really. We should get to business, right? Don’t want to keep the other people waiting,” John replied, half because he had already had breakfast and half because he didn’t quite trust the man. Despite knowing the man would detect it, he used Advanced Spy on him as the Spaniard reached for the glass of pickle juice.

“Suit yourself,” was his response as he took a sip of his drink, the others disappearing. John hardly noticed that, as he tried to discreetly read The Magician’s sheet.

“So, I’ll just come out and ask it. Why is The Hermit interested in you?” The Magician questioned, putting down his drink.

“You know as much as I do,” John replied, feeling The Magician study him intensely. After a moment, his face fell.

“You’re telling the truth,” The Magician asserted, to which John nodded. “Well, in the end I think I’m glad it’s not that easy. A greater mystery makes solving it that much more appealing, eh?”

“I’d prefer knowing,” John commented, feeling much more at ease with the man after reading his stat sheet. He had revealed so much about himself so willingly, which made John trust him more, ignoring the option that he could have fabricated the information in the window.

“Well put! Well put, young man,” The Magician laughed raucously, pounding the table. “Well then, we better get down to what this meeting is supposed to be about. In approximately half an hour, you and your partner will walk through one of the mirrors in the central hall along with the other Class C members. After that, you will be randomly teleported into the large forest in the midst of the Kingdom you will be in by yours truly. I very much wish I was able to tell applicants which Kingdom it is to give them information to prepare, but I cannot. So, prepare.”

“This is the list of tasks you and your partner can choose from to pass the test,” The Magician explained, a piece of paper appearing in his hands. Shortly after, he handed it to John. “Complete a task, report it, and survive twenty-four hours in that environment, and you pass. Simple enough, yes? Good! I look forward to seeing how you perform! Any questions?”

“If you find out why The Hermit is interested in me, will you tell me?” John asked, slipping the paper into his inventory.

“Of course, my friend! Knowledge is meant to be shared. Any questions relating to your task?” The Magician asked, implying he wouldn’t answer any further questions about The Hermit.

“I’m fine, thank you,” John smiled, and The Magician took another sip of his pickle juice before standing up.

“Very good! Please take your leave then. Good luck!” Alvaro exclaimed, offering his hand. John shook it, and was put at ease further. With that, he exited the barrier, the number and letter disappearing from his hand in the process.