Chapter 3: End Of The Flashback(Remake)

Raven couldn't help but bombard Lindy and Dan with questions. Everything felt so bizarre and surreal. The white, empty space around them was so stark and oppressive that it made her anxiety feel almost tangible. Each breath seemed to bounce around the void, amplifying the dreamlike quality of the experience.

She was used to a world overflowing with cutting-edge technology and vivid virtual realities. This stark emptiness felt like a total shock to her system, making everything seem even more alien.

When Lindy brought up the idea of comparing their worlds, Raven's curiosity was instantly piqued. She'd always had a thirst for knowledge, and this was like stumbling into the ultimate mystery. Her mind buzzed with a mix of fear and excitement.

"Okay, I get it," Raven said, trying to sound more composed. "Let's figure out what sets our worlds apart. How about you start by telling me about yours?"

Lindy nodded, looking thoughtful. "Alright, I'll give it a shot."

Lindy hesitated for a moment, trying to pinpoint what would be most interesting to Raven. After a beat, she settled on something that seemed pretty significant.

"Well, in my world, one of the big things has been the rise of smartphones and some early public AI," Lindy said, her voice echoing slightly in the white space.

Raven's eyes widened in surprise. She was so taken aback that she couldn't help but wonder if Lindy's world was even close to the level of technology she was used to.

"Smartphones?" Raven repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Doesn't your world have virtual reality yet?"

"Virtual reality?" Dan, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke up. His voice was deep and resonant, slicing through the stillness of the void.

Raven turned to Dan, surprised he was talking. She'd thought he might be more of a background presence. His sudden involvement in the conversation added another layer of complexity, and she was eager to explain.

"Oh, yeah," Raven said, her tone picking up as she spoke about her world. "In our world, virtual reality is everywhere. You can watch movies from a third-person view, play games as a coach or player, and even attend concerts from your own living room like you're actually there."

She could see the amazement growing in Lindy's eyes. "Schools use virtual reality for all sorts of things too, like showing how volcanoes erupt or how space looks up close. We pretty much left the smartphone era behind about twenty years ago."

Lindy's eyes widened with each detail. She had always thought her world was pretty advanced, but Raven's description made it seem like a different league entirely.

Dan's expression grew thoughtful. His own world wasn't as advanced as Lindy's, but he had seen virtual reality in movies. The idea of virtual concerts with artificial fans unsettled him. He prided himself on his connection with real people and the energy of live performances. The thought of losing that felt like a personal blow.

Lindy's initial shock seemed to fade into fascination. The advancements Raven described sounded nothing short of incredible, almost like something out of a sci-fi novel. Her eyes sparkled with wonder as she absorbed the details.

"Wow, that's amazing," Lindy said, her tone full of genuine awe. "I can only imagine what a concert in your world must be like. The special effects must be out of this world."

Raven smiled, seeing Lindy's enthusiasm. "Yeah, it's pretty wild. You really feel like you're part of the experience, even when you're just at home."

Just then, a cold, mechanical voice pierced through their heated discussion: "

[Five minutes before the end of the semiannual meeting.]

The sterile, white void around them felt even more oppressively empty, the lack of any distinguishing features making the space feel both infinite and claustrophobic at the same time.

Raven's heart skipped a beat, a familiar rush of anxiety surging through her. She instinctively looked at Lindy, seeking reassurance.

The announcement's echo felt like the flashbulbs of paparazzi, bringing back memories of her past scandals and the chaos they caused.

Lindy, always the calm and collected one, didn't let Raven down. She explained with a patience that spoke of her experience dealing with such situations.

"I told you this is the semiannual meeting. It happens every six months, and this is the third meeting."

"Now it's the system explaining that the meeting is about to end."

Raven understood what Lindy meant. It seemed that they could only continue their talk later.

"Well, it seems that we'll have to talk about it later during the chat function."

Hearing what Raven said, Lindy sighed, a hint of frustration in her tone. "You don't know, the chat function is so limited. Only text messages, no videos, no voice messages. It's like being in the dark ages."

Raven was surprised. Something as advanced as the system couldn't even send videos or other media? But considering that it was only level 1, maybe they needed to level up for other features.

"Haha, it seems I'm too optimistic. So we should wait for the next meeting, it seems."

Raven felt a bit relaxed. It had been a long time since she had a good discussion with anyone, especially considering her scandal and other troubles. Even if she was dreaming, she was very happy right now.

Lindy was surprised by how easily satisfied Raven seemed when she should be more demanding.

"It seems that you are very satisfied, but I have a good idea, although you may not like it."

Raven smiled, "You don't know my situation. Even now it feels like a dream. I don't have that many requirements. Let's not dwell on this. What is your good idea?"

Lindy scratched her head, a little embarrassed, "My idea is how about we share our memories?"

"Impossible."

Raven almost replied instinctively. It was her instinct as a celebrity to hide her secrets, especially her preferences.

Realizing she might have come off too harsh, Raven softened. "Sorry, I'm just very guarded about my secrets. Being in the public eye has taught me to protect myself at all costs."

Lindy could see how Raven was against her idea, but she couldn't let it go, her curiosity and determination were stronger. That boring gourd Dan refused to share memories with her, and she was crazy about knowing other worlds, especially the advanced world of Raven.

"Please, Raven, just think about it. The chance to share someone's memory and knowledge is incredible. I'm the best violinist in my world, and I know my experiences could help you. Plus, imagine discovering a new parallel world through my memories."

"Also, think about discovering a whole new parallel world through my memory. It's a fair deal, please, please, please."

Looking at Lindy, who was very obsessed, Raven was obviously a little tempted. She would be in the detention center for about three to six months.

Although she could request a virtual reality headset, in reality, she would still be in the room. She might as well take this opportunity to start something new. Plus, she heard music helps with leaving depression and therapy.

Raven made up her mind but still, she needed to make something clear.

"I can accept sharing my memory, but you have to know, there are some secrets I don't want you to share with anyone in the chat. When the time comes, they will naturally know."

Lindy was surprised that Raven accepted so easily. She thought she would have to fight very hard. Nonetheless, "Don't worry, I will not share your secrets with anyone."

Then she directly said, "System, initiate the memory share with Raven Blackwood."

Raven followed her and said, "System, initiate the memory share with Lindy Starling."

[Request received, please confirm your choice.]

At the same time, a new message with OK and No appeared in their panel. They both clicked OK.

[Request Confirmed, Memory sharing will start during the sleeping time.]

[Time for the end of the semiannual meeting reached, the next meeting will start in six months.]

End of the flashback