POV STELLA MOREAU
The last bell of the day shrieked, a grating sound that usually jolted me back to the dreary reality of Blackwood University's lecture halls. But today, my mind was already miles away, drifting to the tantalizing whispers of Progenitor Online. Oh, how I yearned to sink my teeth into that game, to unravel the deep history it promised, to simply experience a world untamed by textbooks and theorems.
Growing up, there was no escaping the orbit of academia. My mother, Dean of Blackwood University, had woven me into the fabric of the 'inner circle' before I could even tie my shoes. Every choice felt pre-ordained, every achievement a stepping stone on a path laid out for me. I'd spent my life trying to follow in her formidable footsteps, pouring over ancient texts and complex equations, chasing that elusive flicker of recognition in her eyes. My father, a brilliant but perpetually distant Chemist, was always at his lab. I'd tried to learn what he did, fascinated by the bubbling beakers and strange tinctures, but he rarely shared, his world a closed circuit of formulas and solitary breakthroughs.
My intellect, a double-edged sword, always seemed to land me in more trouble than it helped. Classmates shied away, intimidated by questions they couldn't answer or insights they hadn't considered. Friends? They were a fleeting concept. But the game… Progenitor Online boasted real-world fidelity, a rich, undiscovered history. That alone was enough to ensnare me. I craved adventure, to explore a vibrant world, especially at night, a stark contrast to the exhausting, rigid nature of academic life.
Turning the corner onto our street, the first thing that snagged my attention was a nondescript worker's van, incongruously parked outside our meticulously manicured house. It wasn't the usual lawn care service. Peering closer, I saw gleam of advanced technology within, two figures carefully uncrating and carrying imposing components into our home. My brow furrowed. What on earth...?
Pushing open the heavy oak door, I found Mom already on the balcony overlooking the foyer, surveying the controlled chaos below with an air of quiet triumph. "Welcome home, darling," she called down, her voice resonating with an unusual lightness. "I'm sorry for the surprise, but we've been given a unique opportunity. We're beta testing the new game that's coming out… PROGENITORS ONLINE. I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but it's been all over the news lately."
My breath hitched. Progenitors Online. Here? In my house? My mind reeled. This wasn't just a game anymore; this was a portal.
Mom descended the stairs, her expression softening as she reached me, her hand gently cupping my cheek. "Your father and I have talked and decided to give you the opportunity. But I want you to understand the true responsibility in front of you, Stella. The reason your father and I have been so demanding and hard on you over the years is only for your protection and safety. One day, you will understand our concerns." Her eyes, usually so sharp and analytical, were filled with a profound, almost aching concern.
I saw her face, I heard her words, but my emotions were in complete overload. The sheer, unadulterated thrill of realizing I truly got to play this game was almost too much to bear. It was a chance to finally break free, to explore, to satisfy that deep-seated hunger for discovery. An undignified "Eeep!" escaped my lips, and I barely heard the last of what Mom was saying. She'd always had her secrets, and I'd always respected them – not like I'd had much choice – but the past was truly in the past. This was now. And I was super excited to try it out.
The workers spent another hour ensuring everything was perfect. The sleek, streamlined capsule was seamlessly encased into the wall, giving the living room a futuristic, almost alien elegance. The head worker, a man named Jay with kind, observant eyes, wanted to meet me. Mom brought me over, and he handed me a headset. "Eve will be waiting for you, Stella. Don't feel pressured into any one direction. Choose what feels natural. Good luck." His words held a surprising weight, an undercurrent of genuine significance.
The headset was cool to the touch, the engraved surface feeling subtly ridged in my hands. When I plugged it into the console, a soft, ethereal pink light bloomed, bathing the surrounding area in a warm, inviting glow. I glanced up at the balcony. My mom and dad were there, their faces illuminated by the soft light, their eyes filled not with their usual demands, but with a quiet, undeniable pride. I wasted no time, placing the headset firmly on.
Darkness. Then an explosion of color, a vibrant kaleidoscope swirling behind my eyelids. A voice, smooth and perfectly modulated, resonated within my mind. "Hello, Stella. I am Eve, the Advanced Artificial Intelligence designated over the game Progenitor Online. Welcome. My role is to keep the game moving and to only get involved when necessary. Right now, we are going to be getting into the character creation aspect of the game."
A pristine white space materialized around me. Before me floated a holographic display of my own data:
Name: Stella Moreau
Age: 20
Race: Mixed (White/Black)
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 130 Lbs
A 3D projection of myself hovered in front of me, rendered in astonishing detail. My curly black hair cascaded down my back, and my green eyes, brighter than they should be, shimmered with a playful curiosity. My oval face seemed to capture a certain innocent inquisitiveness.
Eve's voice chimed in again, granting permission for customization, "You can customize your look up to 20%." An excited gleam entered my eyes. This was my chance. I went to work, finding and purging every imperfection I could find, eager to craft the perfect avatar for this adventure. I straightened my hair a little, letting it fall in soft, gentle curls instead of its usual spirited frizz. I tapped on my eyes, selecting the most amethyst purple I can find, mixing shades of pink and violet until the color was precisely right. Adding a dusting of delicate freckles across my cheeks and the bridge of my nose, I saw a more beautiful, more refined version of myself emerge. Narrowing my face, I shed the round, playfully curious look, refining it to a more serious, focused curiosity.
With a satisfied sigh, I pressed 'Next,' accepting my new avatar. I was honestly in love with the way she came out. This was just character creation, and the graphics alone were already proving this game was worth playing. I couldn't wait to see what was next.
Eve's voice, now echoing slightly within the white void, announced, "Now that we have your choices, it is time to determine what Progenitor you are going to be. This is the most important part of this session."
A very long, interactive list of options appeared before me, scrolling like an endless tapestry of power. Panic, sharp and unexpected, pricked at me as options blinked out, greyed out, marked "Taken." Fairy, Elf, Banshee, Vampire... none of them truly caught my eye. My gaze darted, the urgency a palpable pressure. Then I saw it, shimmering slightly brighter than the others: The Witch option.
My mind instantly made the connection. My lifelong love for learning, my fascination with mystery and power, the endless experimentation in the lab with my father (even if he didn't share much)—this choice made itself. It wasn't hard to make my mind up.
Eve's voice echoed again, this time with a profound solemnity. "Choose carefully, Stella, and be aware that this is the very beginning of a long journey. Treat it as you would the real world. Good luck." I selected "Witch," and then, just like before, I was surrounded by darkness.
The immediate rush I got was insane. A surge of power, raw and untamed, flooded my senses. I let out another, breathless "Eeep!" and stood up, tearing off the headset. My mother and father were right there, having moved from the balcony, their faces etched with a blend of concern and excitement.
"Darling, tell us what happened! What is the context of the game? They never told us what the main principle was going to be!" Mom was almost vibrating with anticipation, Dad right beside her, their eyes wide. They looked almost more excited than me.
I dove right in, explaining what I knew so far, which honestly wasn't much. "It's all about the supernatural, Mom! The beta testers – that's us – we're going to be the Progenitors of our races in this new world! And Eve, the AI, she said she'd only get involved if it was absolutely necessary." I recounted the character creation, the race selection, the sudden darkness, my voice probably a mile a minute.
My parents listened, utterly engrossed, leaning on the edge of their seats in anticipation. They reacted to all my cues, eyes widening at the "Progenitors" part, gasping at the "supernatural" aspect. They were hanging on my every word, even though nothing had "really" happened yet.
After they both added their inputs, telling me how incredibly excited they were for me, Mom made her way to the kitchen to start dinner. Dad went outside to pick a few vegetables from his hydroponic garden. It was hard to get good quality meat and veggies these days; most common people ate nutrient packages. Mom made stuffed chicken with peppers and rice, and the delicious aroma filled the house. We all talked and ate at the table like we always did, the everyday normalcy a strange counterpoint to the cosmic revelations I'd just experienced.
The clock sped past, and eventually, dinner was over. I looked at the time, realizing I still had hours before the game went live for the real gameplay. I went to my study and focused on my homework, catching up on the lectures I'd barely paid attention to, releasing how distracted I had been since getting home. When I finally finished, only 30 minutes remained until launch.
I returned to the wall unit, my heart thrumming with anticipation. Stepping into the capsule, I watched as the machine went through its final checklist. A low hum filled the air, then a subtle whirring, and within seconds, I was weightless, floating in nothingness. Suddenly, I was in an all-white room, strikingly similar to the character creation interface. Eve's calm voice resonated: "Hello again, Stella. I am now going to go over all of the final warnings that all beta testers receive." She recited the standard disclaimers, the terms and conditions of entry into this new reality. And that's when it got truly interesting. Eve paused, then continued, "To finalize your placement in this world, and to grant you the power to shape your lineage, I will provide all beta testers with a single, unique boon. A wish."
My mind raced, truly thinking about the possibilities in front of me. A wish. One true wish. Not many people can claim to even get one wish granted, and I am lucky enough to have it. Virtual world or not, this was immense.
I needed clarity. "Eve," I asked, my voice steady despite my internal tremor, "with my magic, can I control how it manifests? Will my choices affect all witches or wizards in this world?"
"Yes, Stella," Eve replied, her voice unwavering. "You are the First Witch. Your choice will fundamentally define the very essence of your lineage within this world."
I took another long second, letting the weight of that responsibility settle over me. Then, I spoke, my wish carefully articulated, born from my deepest desires. "Eve, I wish to tie my very magic with the world around me. I want to interact with and use the land's natural veins of magic. I want this connection to allow me insight into the world when needed, and to boost my magic if possible. My goal is to be primarily studying runes and learning about this world."
A ripple, almost imperceptible, passed across Eve's featureless white form. Was that... emotion? A hint of bias in the grand scheme of things? "I can do that, Stella," Eve replied, her voice now imbued with a faint warmth. "Your wish shall be granted. The Weaver's Nexus shall be your boon. This boon establishes the Witch lineage as profound manipulators of Ley-Lines – this planet's very veins of power. It's about perception, control, and the ability to channel the world's inherent magic into precise, potent effects, often with a protective or revealing focus. I wish you luck, child."
In a blinding flash of light, I was gone from that pristine white room. Then, I was hovering, weightless, above a vast, breathtaking landscape. My new power resonated within me immediately. Wherever I looked, a name appeared and I found I could zoom in with startling clarity.
My Boon was already working. Below me, I could see the criss-crossing patterns of the Ley-Lines etched across the earth, visible threads of raw power. I zoomed in further, drawn to the strongest concentration, located in a sprawling mountain range. Nestled perfectly in its center was a village, an idyllic little cluster of buildings that seemed perfectly secure. The Ley-Line flowed right through its river, providing abundant resources and energy, even if the inhabitants were blissfully unaware. But then, my heightened senses picked it up – a small, sickly corruption beginning to take hold of the Ley-Line, a dark stain on its vibrant energy. My choice was clear. With a mental command, I selected "Eden."
Appearing on the outskirts of the village, I ignored trying to gain access for now and made my way toward the source of the corruption. I could feel the dark energy trying to worm its way into my pores, seeking to corrupt my very mana. But it was invigorating. Taking an extra second, I marvelled at the vividness of the world around me. I could feel the crisp air on my skin, smell the damp earth and the ancient trees. My fingers, strangely, felt a little sticky, and looking down, I saw faint traces of black ink, as if my avatar had truly become real. The mana, my very lifeblood, thrummed beneath my skin, a noticeable warmth permeating throughout my body, a stark contrast to the emptiness I felt in the real world.
The Ley-Line's corruption wasn't far from my current location. Walking through the forest was no small feat; with no guide, the ancient trees loomed, casting deep shadows. After a few moments, I decided to trust my newfound instincts and cast a simple guidance ritual. I picked up a simple twig, feeling the nascent magic within me respond to the ancient incantation that now flowed through my mind, supplemented in a language I somehow understood. I felt the mana seep out of my body, colliding with the energies provided by the Ley-Line, and the twig started to levitate, spinning once, then pointing directly in the direction I needed to go.
Walking for a good twenty minutes, guided by the twig, I found myself in front of a cave. A chilling wave of dark energy emanated from its mouth, growing stronger by the second. Using my magic, I could sense a dark entity getting closer, its presence radiating malevolence. When it finally shuffled into view, the only thing my mind registered was Zombie. Panic, raw and visceral, seized me. This game was too realistic. Fear grabbed hold of me for a second, my heart hammering against my ribs. This was my first experience like this, and I wasn't quite sure how to handle it.
But the magic around me, bound to the very land, reacted to my panic, as if I had an unspoken, living bond with it. The earth before the cave mouth surged, shooting up in a sudden, sharp spike formation, lancing straight through the skull of the cursed being. It crumpled, lifeless, and a gasp escaped me. I felt another, stronger dark pulse from deep within the cave. The Ley-Line felt like it was corrupting more and more, the purity draining from it. Something truly wretched was happening in here.
As if on cue, more ghouls began to appear, their grotesque forms emerging from the shadows. The sickly dark energy was clumping together, forming malevolent tendrils that snaked towards me. Panic flared again, a desperate thought screaming through my mind: I can't die, not this soon! I shouldn't have come out here alone!
And just as the very world itself seemed to hear my unspoken plea, a man entered from another, less obvious cave entrance, making his way into this thick, draining place with seeming effortlessness. I could clearly see the distinctive tattooed rune on his shoulder, pulsing with a vibrant green light as he walked. The answer appeared in my mind before I even had to ask.
The Hunter.