2 A weird book
As I opened the first page an oddly familiar view greeted me.
"Welcome DevaVentus to your very own storyline. This book will help you achieve your dreams, hopes and it will let you achieve whatever you ever wished for."
I didn´t know what to think of this. Who even knows my IGN anyway? Like, 100 people at most, if I'd had to guess.
That was everything that stood at the front page though. No author once again, nor anything that looked even close to familiar. I flipped another page and I couldn´t stop marveling at the sight.
-----
-Stats Page:
.Gaming stats:
Mechanics: 5
Endurance: 3
Patience: 7
Vision: 7
Reaction Time: 8
Luck: 2
Keyboard Memorization: 6
Understanding: 9
.Body stats:
Strength: 66%
Dexterity: 74%
Intelligence: 85%
Flexibillity: 55%
Health: 93%
-Talents:
.Journal (1/1) - A Journal of your life. It´s like a diary but better! -
-----
"This... Hold on, is this a genuine stats page of myself?", I asked myself in great concern. "I don´t get it. Why are my gaming stats in full numbers but my body stats are in percentages? Also, why is my luck so low? The rest should be pretty much accurate since I knew that I was mediocre at best. Although it´s a positive surprise that my Vision, Reaction Time and patience are this good. "
I flipped to page 3 (oddly enough only the left sides of the book are inscribed) and met with yet another surprise. It read as follows:
-----
Quest Page
1 Quest out of ? currently in progress.
- A lazy gamer.
-- You haven´t finished a game in forever. It´s time to get you up to speed. Play through a Metroidvania or a Roguelike in one sitting.
Min. Playtime: 4 Hours
Platform: PC
Breaks: Every hour for up to 10 minutes. Keep yourself hydrated!
Reward: 1 Skill Point; 1 Mystery Box
-----
I closed the book and went to my balcony where I lit up a cigarette. This book really gave me stuff for thought. "Okay, let´s pretend for a second that this is real. Let´s say the book was magically transported to my world through some magical wizardry ways. Also, let´s pretend for one second that all of this works. Wouldn´t that mean that I can actually become a pro gamer?"
It´s not like pro gaming was ever on my mind. I thought about it, on more than one time. But I´ve always been torn between being a realist and optimist. I was never optimistic enough to think that I could become a pro gamer though.
Streamer, on the other hand, was a possibility that didn´t seem to far fetched. I have some spunk in me and I´m no total shithead, so that could have worked out. Time and motivation was always the issue though.
I inhale the last bit of my cig and leave the balcony. It´s early in the year right now, so the weather is freezing. My land where I live has kinda extreme opposites. Well, not really extreme but we range from -15ish degrees in winter to +40ish during summer. I´d say that's quite a bit.
Anyway, that book gave me quite a bit to think about so I went off to bed. It´s nearing 11 PM now, no idea how I spent that much time looking at a few short passages in an even smaller book.
After setting up my Alarm I fell sound asleep.
***
"You can´t be serious!"
"Are you telling me that we did it?"
"Yes, President. It took us 15 years of constant development, but we finally achieved our dreams. We can do anything now. Money won´t be an issue any longer. And the games will be even more so. I know you are nearing 50 years of age, Mr. President, but that won´t stop you any longer!"
"Good", mumbled an aged person sitting in a wheelchair. He stared out of the window, lost in thought.
"When can we start mass producing Chief of Science?"
"It should be in about 1.5 years at most, Mr. President. There are still some serious issues with the battery, the connection, and some other minor details, but it works just fine."
"Alright, you are dismissed. Put all personal on full duty. I don´t care if they work for 16 hours a day, I´ll pay them accordingly. I can´t wait much longer."
"Yes, Mr. President!"
***
The next morning.
I heard the alarm ringing and for once what felt in like forever I wasn´t tired after sleep. Guess 7 hours of sleep do the trick for me. I complete my morning ritual and get off to work. Thank god its Friday, so I´ll be home at around noon. Let´s see if I can´t complete this quest today!
