Chapter One

Adrian takes his first steps towards the entrance of the great Mezima building, a beautiful tree-
lined path ahead matching with the great promises of a better life awaiting him, he takes a deep
breath and enters, walking to the receptionist "h- hey uhm, my name is Adrian.. im here for my
first day as a coder?" He smiled nervously. "Full name and date of birth, please" the receptionist
said with a tired tone and expression, "o- oh yea sorry, Adrian Ochsen and uh, 2nd of March" he
swiftly replies, as she nods and types away Adrian looks arround the lobby, eyes wide at the
several elevators already in continous usage, even though it is early morning, "is it always this
busy arround here?" He asks the receptionist, "only on mondays and fridays" Adrian nods,
feigning clarity. Suddendly the receptionist looks up to Adrian "alright Mr Ochsen your Mentor
will be here shortly, just go ahead and take a seat over there" she points behind, to the coffee
shop built into the lobby, he turns arround and his jaw drops "how did i not see that coming in..."
she sighs once more, slightly louder, adrian nods and walks to the coffee shop, and reaches the
register, as he's about to order, a man in a loose suit and tie pats his shoulder "hey there, adrian?"
adrian stops and slowly turns, "you're asking like you're not sure... what would you have done if i
wasn't adrian?.." he simply looks at him with a neutral expression "lets just get you to your
cubicle, before these guys scam you out of your first paycheck before you even get it" he then
just begins walking, "w- wait so what's your name, sir?" adrian presses the elevator button and
answers without turning to him "Nathan, Nathan Draven, drop the formalities and call me nathan
or something" he says casually with his hands in his pockets. "Oh alright... im uh, Adrian Och-"
"ochsen? Yea i read your file big dawg" he chuckles, as the elevator doors open and he steps in
"o- oh alright..." he said slightly confused at his behaviour.

Inside the elevator it got quiet immediatly, Adrian looked arround, before spotting himself in the
mirror next to him, and he began to check his teeth and hair, "You excited for it?" Nathan breaks
the silence, Adrian stops checking and simply looks himself in the eyes, as if waiting for himself
to answer, but eventually: "Actually... im not even entirely sure what the job really is, i just know
its for the position of a coder, and i assume i'll have to code" he replies in a shaky voice, still
looking at himself, "oh boy...." an unwanted cough escapes nathan's throat. "Well, not really.. i'll
show you later because its hard to explain, but since you know this building is the headquarters
of Mezima's Gaming department, you'll be dealing with game bugs and software issues alot, but
not in the way you quite expect" he chuckled akwardly before continuing: "have you played
Adaparo? The historic fantasy game?" Adrian turn to him with an unamused expression "the
most popular game? Yea. Yea i've played, is it that buggy? I didn't encounter any bugs when i
played" Nathan smiles stupidly cuz he a stupid boy stupid stupid, "yea you're welcome" he says
contemptly. "Wha-" as adrian tried to say something the elevator doors open, and adrians eyes
are immediatly caught by the astonishingly, amazingly BORING ass view of a normal fucking
office with what feels like miles of cubicles, dread enters his very soul as the dead air seeps into
his lungs "ist-" but he got interrupted by nathan "alright follow me special boy, yeaa i saw your
grades" he looked at adrian again with that stupid fucking smile, adrian just kinda ._.
Nathan waves to him to follow him and adrian complies, walking out of the elevator, met by
surprizingly high cubicles, unable to even look at the people inside them

Nathan strolls about the office space carelessly, dodging everything on the floor easily, and
adrian stumbles over EVERYTHING caught by surprize by seeing people in some kind of pod??,
he turns to nathan "Nathan what the hell are these things.." he turns his head slightly "huh? Oh,
yea so you're not gonna be coding at a table on a desk on a computah whatever, no you'll be
transfered into the game via pod, or other methods, but pods are the most common, and
comfortable... anyhow, you'll be inserted into games with the goal of fixing physical or visual
mistake directly at its core, you do have to have at least basic coding comprehension" he sways
his finger in the air "but yea thats about it from sun up to sun down as they say" "w- who says
tha-?" "Anyways you can pick your perferred method after i show you what they all do, you can
either pick the pod, in which you'll be lying down as you do your job, your brain will be active
and you will be immersed in your dream, but your job will remain priority, and there IS penalties
for disobeying or slacking off OR you could pick the biochron, it is a wrist accessory which will
allow you to go into the games just a little more fleshed out, it feels like you're really there
sometimes" he stares off, reminiscing. Adrian speaks up a bit confused: "wait but the game is
pretty hard from what i've heard, what if you die in the game?" Nathan snaps back and smiles his
smile at adrian again "you just wake up, and come back" and after a short silence he gasps "oh,
yea so the biochron basically links you up, and you'll go inside of a... uhm i guess something
similar to the pod, BUT you won't be surrounded by mysterious liquid or whatever, instead you
get to move freely in the world and you actually go into the simulation, i like it alot more that
way" he shrugs, and points at a big office, seemingly much more fresh than the rest with a giant
window for a wall, letting fresh air. "And thats where it is, well thats mine at least..."

"You'll get yours eventually, but for now we'll be working directly together, alright?" Adrian
nods at him "sounds... great.." he looks back at the others just before they enter Nathan's office
"so uhm, we do know that the liquid is safe in the other pods.. right?" Nathan turns to him coldly
and responds: "just don't stay too long." After another akward silence they enter the office, and
Nathan puts snaps a Biochron onto Adrians wrist.

As they walk towards Nathan’s office, Adrian keeps looking at the Biochron, trying to figure it
out. but then he accidentally bumps into Nathan’s back-“agh" he groaned as he stumbled back a
step, “my bad” Nathan snorts trying not to laugh just before opening the door to his office and
pushing Adrian in. "just get in you doofus" as Adrian stumbles forward he utters "what did you
just ca-" and suddenly they're both standing in a field, surrounded by trees, Adrian’s eyes widen
as he looks around. "w- what-" his eyes widen even more, as he slowly realizes where he is. "oh
my god, is this it?" he grins from ear to ear at Nathan, and Nathan simply nods. “Now, i hope
you did some research for your job and actually kno-" Nathan stops himself as he realizes that
Adrian has already sprinted off towards the first village, he sighs deeply rubbing his forehead
with two fingers. "little shit.." Nathan walks after him very nonchalantly. Meanwhile, Adrian is
talking to all the npcs, striking up random conversations with a joyous bliss in his eyes, that of a
child’s. Nathan catches up, pulling him away from the villager he just tried to convince that
paper money will replace coins in an attempt to break the A.I, Nathan interrupted "what the hell
do you think you're doing" Nathan rolls his eyes as he scolds in a very tired voice "you break the
A.I and the higher ups are sure to put you through psychological training, OR WORSE fire you
immediately, dumbass"

Adrian simply looks at him unfazed with that blissful smile "hey man i always wanted to play
this game, especially because of how much i've heard from people about the characters and i
gotta say im not dissapointed" Adrian grabs him by his shirt and whispers at Nathan "that felt
like a real fucking person duude" Nathan pushes him to the ground as he pats himself off "Pull
your shit together Dude. Im supposed to show you around, but yeah go see for yourself i guess.
HOWEVER do not leave the village, and for the love of god, don't go into the forest. got it?”
Adrian nods as he already searches for the next place to visit. Nathan grabs him by his hair and
pulls him back "i mean it Adrian." his tone is now firm and serious, but Adrian brushes it off,
"yeah yeah, whatever" Adrian stands up and runs to the closest shop to check out its items.
Nathan sighs AGAIN and looks to the ground, consumed in thought, his expression softens
"potential.." he whispers to himself. Suddenly, Adrian flies past him, his head snaps towards him
as he gasps "Adrian?!!” Nathan hurries to him, looking down at him "you okay man?" he asks
before turning his head to see what or who threw Adrian, only to see a girl... wearing loose black
clothing and a short cloak no longer than elbow length.

As she walks towards them, she speaks up with a rather snarky tone "you that boys friend?"
Nathan squints his eyes to try and get a better look, blinded by the sun, then his eyes widen
slowly and he grabs Adrian urgently to bring him up to his feet. "alright, thats enough, get out of
the game. NOW" he says with a tremble in his voice. Adrian scoffs brushing him off "no, what
the hell" he grits his teeth as he glares at the girl "you've got some nerve, bitch" Nathan grabs
him by his arm again as Adrian tries to step towards her. "Adrian. i told you to get out of the
game. NOW" Adrian looks at him "Why? what are you scared of? its just a girl" Nathan’s eyes
narrow slightly in resignation, as he lets go of adrian. "fine then, but don't expect me to pay for
the heals" he steps back. Adrian turns his head to Nathan "Wha-" the girl kicking his head,
sending him flying again, "tch, brat, have you no shame?" she says while looking toward his
trajectory. she turns her head to Nathan, who's still deciding whether he wants to be part of this
or not. She speaks up, "get your boy and get the hell out of here, next hit won't be so gentle"

she glares at Nathan "what, you deaf or something?" right then Adrian appears right next to her,
swinging his fist with all his might towards her head, just for his fist to get caught by her without
her even looking at him. She just pushes him back slightly, aiming one finger at him "I won't..
Ask again." She keeps her eyes locked with Nathan. Finally, Nathan raises both hands and tries
to make a deal, "20 gold coins and we forget the entire thing happened. alright?" she chuckles
responding: "seriously? trying to pay me off? ... pathetic" as she moves her finger towards
Nathan, a single crystal of ice materializes between Nathans hands, flying directly at her, but she
just slaps it away "and here i was, thinking it couldn't get any more pathetic" she rolls her eyes,
and gently swipes her hand in his direction, for just a moment, everything stood still, but before
Nathan was able to fully realize what she had done, he's already flying high up through the air

Nathan quickly deactivates his biochron, falling backwards in the real world, breathing heavily,
clutching his chest, after a few seconds, he hurries over to adrian, trying desperately to remove
his biochron forcefully.

[scene switch to adrian]

Adrian looks up at her in defeat as he watches her holds a short sword above his head, striking
down at him. Swiftly he puts his arms up to try and block the sword whatsoever but the blade
slides through his arms effortlessly as it connects with his forehead, breaking the skin, but just
before the blade reaches his skull, his vision goes black. Nathan grabs him by the shoulders and
yells out "Adrian? Adrian!?"