The Price Of The Crown

06/04/2035 - Berlin

* Here is the future of video games ladies and gentlemen, we present the new headset for virtual reality, the new and super realistic VRFI !!! (Virtual Reality with Full Immersion). *

That was how that headset was advertised, no one could have thought that we would have reached that level of technology ...

Finally! After 4 months of work, I have enough money both to buy the new headset and to stay a couple of months at home without working!

Oh hi, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Kleinn Übert, a 22-year-old German who lives in Berlin. As said before, I am going to buy the brand new VRFI that came out, I usually dabble in games that don't require

the latter (like the strategic ones for example) but then why am I going to buy it? A new title has come out, proclaimed as a game that allows you to '' relive history '', and have been very interested and impressed by it I decided to try it.

<< Excuse me, I have a reservation for the VRFI bundle with the game '' Road to Glory '' attached in the name of Kleinn Übert >>

the clerk replied: << Good morning, give me a moment to check in our database. ... ah here it is! The whole bundle is € 349.99 >>

<< Here you have >>

As usual, to take that extra euro, they cost everything with ninety-nine cents ...

The clerk took a bag, put the box of the viewer and the game in it and gave it to me.

<< Thanks for your buying, hope you come back to visit us >>

On my way home I started to go through the game box a bit, to see what was written on it.

'Road to Glory is an RPG game with strategic and management traits in the first person and single player. Have you always been curious to see with your own eyes, with your feelings, what the much-vaunted Middle Ages was like?

You aim to become King, at any cost, so that you can rule your kingdom however you want. The computing power in Road to Glory has been developed so well that it can truly be perceived as real by all the people you will meet during your journey. Your story will be unique for every choice or action you will make, both good and bad. Also, the new GPE (Game Pain Effects) system allows you

to make your brain feel a pain (obviously shallow) of any pain you feel in the game, stimulating the pain nerves, making sure that once you remove the viewer you have no repercussions in reality.

What are you waiting for then? Immerse yourself in the history !!'

This was what was written on the back of the game. Reading it, it seemed like a unique game that I had so many expectations about. Nationwide I'm one of the best gamers concerning the great classics of the strategic genre. Besides, I like history (devouring myself entire documentaries).

When I got home, I quickly mounted the new headset. After lunch, I lay on the bed and turned on the game.

The screen appeared to me in a very modern style, I was very excited as it was the first time in my life that I was using a headset.

I began to hear a voice: << Welcome player, I'm Nadia, your voice assistant, I am here to help you to guide you in the realization of your character. Start by choosing a name: ______________ >>.

I spent a few minutes thinking about a name, the requirements were: no special characters, no numbers and a name suitable for the medieval era (it was as if I was thinking about the name for my future son).

Finally I replied: <<Attila >>

<< Confirm the chosen name? >>

<< Yes >>

In retrospect, perhaps I should have thought a little more, given future events, but even now I am proud to have chosen it.

<< Perfect Attila, now it's time to customize your character. You can add a wide range of details...>>

I decided to make a character with silver hair and crimson red eyes, even if it was not a common thing in the Middle Ages, I made him an average build without exaggerating.

In my mind, a cool guy.

Strangely, I was very happy with the character I created, I practically created him as I would like to be if only Mother Nature had not already chosen.

Nadia: << Perfect! We are almost done, only the difficulty of choosing is missing. You can select between three difficulties: ruler (easy), noble (medium), bourgeois (difficult) >>.

I grumbled aloud:<< Ahhhh but give only three difficulties pfff, okay then - >>

Nadia interrupted me and unexpectedly she said something that I never imagined that artificial intelligence could ever say:<<Ah, Nadia understands that the player wants something more eh? Unlock new game difficulty: farmer (impossible)>>

<< Nononononono, wait a moment Nadia -! >>

<< Automatically selected difficulty: farmer >>

<< Nadia I told you to wait! >>

There was nothing to be done, she ignored me even though I called her loud and clear.

<< Creating traumatic events, done. Creating difficult events, done. Making difficult choices, done. Increase in catastrophic events, done. Horrible background creation, done. Terrible childhood creation, done. Creation of the hostile world, done. Childhood flashback creation, done. Given the new difficulty, Nadia will not appear as a helper, Nadia can only communicate when it is possible to interact with the game. Nadia wishes Attila good luck >>.

During Nadia's explanation, as I kept shouting at her in a growing voice, I was terrified and excited at the same time. I could never imagine how things would turn out to be ...