Memory exists as an entity in a formless vast that only appears when summoned. In the sense that in as much as there was life, there would inevitably be memories to uphold, either sad or happy memories.
The reason for Dimm's own arriving only at the time of his demise was unfathomable.
Maybe, because he was still alive, he pondered thus. He journeyed, as it were, through an immense canopy of profound darkness, with the sole illumination of his memory emanating from the annals of his past. Regrettably, the memories that comprised his history were tinged with sorrowful events.
The memories that surged forth from the moment he was condemned with the words, "Depart, you sorcerer. This is why you are bereft of parents," to the days when his sole abode was the slums, and his means of feeding was drawn from the fruit of the trees.
He could not fathom why all these recollections had to surface amidst the shadows.
Yet, he understood one truth: he deserved recognition for enduring life's trials. A substantial reward should be bestowed upon him for embracing the life fated to him, rather than succumbing to the fate of many who chose to end their own lives.
Life posed significant challenges for him, particularly as an orphan. He never had the opportunity to meet his parents or possess the insight to recognize who had sheltered him, until that fateful day when he was cast out into the streets.
He exhaled a breath through his nose...
'If hell indeed exists, I ought to be provided with the means to construct my own realm of despair, for I have witnessed horrors surpassing even the torments of hell.'
This moment shrouded in darkness, however, seemed to culminate in a spell of vertigo. The swirling gusts of wind, which appeared to churn within the shadowy entity that had engulfed him, now rendered him disoriented.
But, why was he experiencing such dizziness? If all had transpired as expected, his body would now be at the mercy of vultures. Yet, this was not the case.
Dimm was abruptly awakened by the unfamiliar voice that reached his ears.
[Welcome to Ellipse. Candidate 160!]
"Huh!"
His eyes opened to reveal a vast and well-illuminated hall. As he surveyed the interior, he discerned that it accommodated tens of hundreds of young individuals who must have arrived by the same means as he did. However, in contrast to him, they appeared to be prepared.
On a general note, his observation noted that each individual was impeccably dressed, with small bags discreetly tucked beside their legs. In their hands, they all clutched identical cards, akin to the one he had extracted from the chocolate that had led to his presence in this place. He was uncertain of the card's purpose or where his own was kept.
Yet, this entire assembly of teenagers made no effort to conceal theirs.
He continued to survey various corners of the vast hall with his gaze when he heard murmurs seemingly emanating from individuals near his position.
"Wow, these clothes are nice."
"I wonder what could have happened if I followed the other instruction."
"But, why did it have to be in all snacks? I was never interested in this shit."
"Did your clothes change as well as mine?"
With the final voice he heard, he turned his gaze inward, observing himself, and found he was akin to the others as well. Although his attire remained unchanged, his tattered garments appeared resplendent and mended, astonishingly renewed.
Adjacent to his right leg lay a small bag, similar to those of the others, bearing the inscription CANDIDATE 160. He found himself unable to cease pondering the world into which he had been thrust, as well as the enigmatic nature of this Ellipse he had heard the strange voice call. It wasn't until he heard yet another mysterious voice that his musings were interrupted.
«Welcome! Body binding initiated...»
«Body bound successfully...»
«Consideration Stage— processing!»
Dimm seemed utterly perplexed by the whole situation. To add to the complexity, as the voice dissipated, he heard a familiar voice—the very one that had welcomed him upon his entrance into the realm known as Ellipse.
[Welcome to Ellipse. Candidate 399!]
[Welcome to Ellipse. Candidate 400!]
"..."
"..."
"..."
[Welcome to Ellipse. Candidate 999!]
[Welcome to Ellipse. Candidate 1,000!]
"With the last candidate for the year, we shall now commence!"
Much like Dimm, everyone within the hall shivered, casting their gaze about in search of the voice's origin, yet none could. Dimm proposed that in such instances, the vacant podium ought to be claimed by an Instructor.
However, before them, the podium was inhabited by an object that emitted a gentle luminescence, flickering with each sound that came from it.
He didn't know what this world was about, but at least, to the best He was uncertain about the nature of this world, yet, to the extent of his understanding, it was one of the most effective methods to introduce candidates.
"I am Elios, the god of fate," the voice now took a guttural tone, as every candidate in the hall turned their gaze at the object erected on the podium.
"You have teleported into a virtual world called Ellipse, where your survival will mean a lot for and, as well, need a lot from you. This teleportation for some, had come as reincarnation, while for others, it had come as bilocating."
"It all depends on the instruction you followed."
The crowd was overwhelmed with these words as they couldn't stop murmuring to each other. The only exception is Dimm, who kept his reserve but couldn't stop thinking.
'This usage of "For" and "From", what does it possibly mean? And, the voice mentioned instructions, just like the young girl had done in the real world.'
His hand inadvertently brushed against an object within the trousers he wore, and upon revealing it, lo and behold, the very card he believed to have abandoned in the realm of the living. Inscribed upon the card were the words "Ellipse Game," preceding an array of inscriptions that followed.
'Game Card? Is he in a game?'
But the voice once again interrupted.
"What I am trying to say, in essence, is that Ellipse is a game of virtual reality that is more or less themed survival, where all players are expected to undergo certain missions to ascertain future outcomes."
"What are those outcomes?" a girl from the crowd had mustered the courage to ask.
"That, cannot be revealed to you now, as you are not officially players of this game. You will indeed have to undergo missions similar to players, but yours will be as candidates."
"You can only be a fulfilled player when you succeed with the first mission hunts. It is called your recruitment test. That will be what will determine your place in this game."
"Are you trying to say that an unsuccessful hunt meant death?" a gray-haired boy, who stood inches not too far from Dimm asked.
"An unsuccessful hunt in this game meant death, but fortunately for the candidate, he will return to his real body on earth to live his normal life. Of course, except those who had reincarnated."
"Mind you, purposeful laziness to the missions of this first hunt will be termed disrespect to the gods of this game."
"And that will attract an ultimate punishment–everlasting death, both in the virtual and real world. So, all candidates are advised to show their best out there during the missions. With this…"
The voice appeared to be waning toward its conclusion when Dimm revitalized it with an inquiry.
"Since you said our death in this game will entrust us back to our real bodies..." he paused. He was not sure of the method which he had arrived with.
Not letting the thought bother him, he continued. "Are you trying to say that we are illusions created by the game and that our real bodies are still alive?"
"No," the voice responded. "Your bodies are under what the gods of the game refer to as temporal death. So, you are not alive, and you are not ultimately dead."
We will keep his body safe until he either dies completely or returns to life. He remembered the last voice he heard before his teleportation into this game world.
The voice hadn't clarified the conditions of survival and death yet. If they died in the game, it meant survival in real life, but, what if they succeeded? The voice was not telling them something.
And to crown it all, it had clearly warned against laziness. Meaning that they must put in their best efforts to complete any mission they were assigned to, except if their efforts failed. He looked around him once again, every other candidate seemed to be an enthusiast of this game, except him, who knew nothing.
How was he going to strive? Will the game rules see his inability as laziness and grant him eternal death? Or…what?
"We have no time left," came the voice again. "There are two doors at the sides, upon your entrance into any of the doors of your choice, your test will begin."
"Your survival after this test will now tell if you will be selected as a player or will be thrust back to life," the voice paused, then declared. "For the reincarnated, your failure brings upon permanent death."
"Mind you, deception in any environment you find yourself in can be inevitable and realistic," the voice added.
With a concluding utterance, it declared, "You may now proceed. Best of luck!" and the device shut down.