1 Graduation and the Unknown
The glow of the early morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting a warm light on Wesley Barnes' small apartment. Surrounded by a mix of old textbooks and a laptop brimming with job applications, Wesley stared at his computer science degree hanging on the wall. It was a symbol of his hard work and dedication, but now it felt like a hollow victory.
His phone rang, breaking the silence. It was his dad. Wesley answered with a feigned enthusiasm, "Hey, Dad."
"Hey Bud, just wanted to call and check in! Once again, proud of you for graduating!" his dad's voice was filled with genuine pride.
"Thanks, Dad. It feels good to finally be done," Wesley responded, trying to sound more upbeat than he felt.
"How's the job hunt going?"
Wesley glanced at his laptop, its screen filled with emails — all responses to his job applications, most of them rejections. "Well, I'm still looking. The job market is tougher than I thought," he admitted reluctantly.
"You're a smart kid, Wesley. You'll find something soon. Don't lose hope."
"I won't, Dad. Thanks."
After the call, Wesley's gaze returned to his laptop. He clicked through email after email, each one a polite "thanks, but no thanks." He muttered to himself, "All these applications, all this effort, and for what?"
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of similar conversations with relatives and friends, each call a reminder of the expectations on his shoulders.
Later that day, Wesley received a call from his friend Kohen, a successful computer engineer. Wesley answered, "Hey, Kohen."
"Yo! Heard you're finally out of the academic woods. How's it feel?"
"Bittersweet, I guess. Hey, how's your job going?"
"It's going great! The projects are challenging, and the team's fantastic. You'll find something soon, man. You're one of the brightest guys I know."
Wesley smiled weakly, "I hope you're right. It's just a bit disheartening, you know?"
"Hang in there. Something will come up. And hey, if I hear of any openings, I'll throw your name in the hat. Also you down for DND this weekend?"
"Thanks, Kohen. That means a lot, and haha yes I am down. Hopefully I don't accidentally kill someone's character again."
"Haha, no problem man and sounds good, see you this weekend."
That night, Wesley lay in bed, his mind racing with the day's conversations and the sting of the job rejections. Sleep was elusive, his thoughts a tangled mess of code, algorithms, and uncertainties about his future.
In the stillness of the night, something extraordinary occurred. A soft blue wisp of light entered through the slightly open window. It moved with a purpose, its ethereal glow illuminating the dark room. The wisp hovered over Wesley, who was deep in a restless sleep.
Gently, it touched his chest. A radiant blue aura emanated from the point of contact, spreading across his heart, sinking into his very core. Wesley's dreams were suddenly vivid, filled with images of futuristic technologies and complex equations that danced beyond his understanding.
Morning came, and Wesley awoke in a start. He was sweating profusely, his heart racing. As he tried to gather his thoughts, he noticed something astonishing. A translucent, floating screen appeared before him.
The screen flickered erratically, displaying the words: "Error. Error. knowledge not ready. Errr. Errr. Err. Err. Errrrrrrrrr. Errrr. Errr. Error, Error."
Confused and disoriented, Wesley reached out tentatively. His hand passed through the screen, causing it to ripple like water disturbed by a stone.
The message on the screen stabilized: "System complete. System of Science acquired."
Wesley sat up, his mind racing. This was unlike anything he had ever seen or heard of. Was it a dream? A hallucination? Or had something truly inexplicable just happened to him?
"Huh, what the hell?"
The floating screen shimmered with a list of topics, each one more intriguing and mysterious than the last. Wesley's eyes widened as he read through the options, his mind reeling from the possibilities.
"[Quantum Computing]
[Quantum Mechanics]
[Psionic Energy]
[Nuclear Fusion]
[Nuclear Fission]
[Atomic Printing]
[Robotics]
[Virtual Reality]"
He read aloud, each term sparking a flicker of recognition and a surge of curiosity. The list seemed endless, delving into realms of science that were at the forefront of human understanding, and even beyond.
But then, his eyes caught on a different set of options, ones that seemed out of place yet inexplicably fascinating. "[Wisp of Runes], [Wisp of Time], [Wisp of Fire], [Wisp of Combat]..." Wesley muttered, a mix of confusion and intrigue in his voice. "What are these? They sound... almost magical."
He hovered over the option labeled '[Wisp of Runes].' The screen responded immediately, displaying a brief description: "Ancient symbols harnessing the fundamental energies of the universe."
"Wisps and runes? Fundamental energies?" Wesley whispered to himself. "This is like something out of a fantasy novel."
The existence of such knowledge challenged everything he knew. It was a blend of advanced science and something that bordered on the mystical. The more he delved into the options, the more he realized the scope of what he had stumbled upon. It wasn't just advanced human technology; it was something else entirely.
Wesley's mind raced with thoughts. "This system... it's not just about science. It's about something deeper, something more profound." He pondered the implications, feeling both exhilarated and overwhelmed.
The 'Wisp of Time' caught his attention next. He selected it, and the screen filled with complex theories about time manipulation, causality, and temporal paradoxes. "Time manipulation? This is beyond anything I've ever heard of," Wesley said, awestruck.
Continuing from the previous section, with the corrected KP allocation:
As Wesley navigated through the array of options on the screen, he noticed the small counter in the top right corner displaying "KP: 10,000." The price listed under each topic revealed the value of this knowledge in the currency of this mysterious system, 'KP' or Knowledge Points.
"KP... Knowledge Points," Wesley mused, his curiosity piqued. "I have 10,000 to start, but how do I earn more?"
He selected the '[Quantum Computing]' option, only to find that it was priced at a hefty 30,000 KP, far beyond his current means. "Guess I can't dive into this just yet," Wesley remarked, a tinge of disappointment in his voice.
His attention was drawn to a small icon, shaped like a lightbulb with a '?' mark. Clicking on it, a message appeared: "Earn more KP by applying acquired knowledge to innovate and create. New inventions, applications, or advancements will replenish your KP balance."
"So, to increase my points, I'll need to use what I know to innovate and create something impactful," Wesley thought out loud. The system was not just a passive repository of knowledge; it was a driving force for real-world application and change.
He browsed through other options, each fascinating in its own right but also beyond his current KP budget. '[Nuclear Fusion]' stood at 50,000 KP, '[Wisp of Time]' demanded a staggering 100,000 KP, and so on. The costs were a stark reminder of the system's potential and the value of the knowledge it held.
Wesley's gaze settled on the 'Wisp' categories, with '[Wisp of Runes]' at 75,000 KP, '[Wisp of Fire]' at 60,000 KP, and '[Wisp of Combat]' at 55,000 KP. These high prices underscored the extraordinary nature and power of these mysterious wisps.
"This system isn't just for learning. It's a tool for doing, for changing the world," Wesley said to himself, feeling a burgeoning sense of purpose. "I need to use this knowledge wisely to make a real difference, not just for personal gain."
The realization dawned on him that he was no longer just a graduate trying to find his way in a competitive job market. He was now a pioneer on the threshold of a new frontier, armed with a tool that could lead to groundbreaking discoveries and advancements.
As he turned off the system for the night, Wesley felt a mix of excitement and responsibility. Ahead of him lay a path filled with uncertainty, but it was clear that his life had changed forever. The challenge now was not just to learn, but to apply, to innovate, and to understand the ethical and practical implications of wielding such power.
Wesley Barnes, a recent computer science graduate, had become the unexpected custodian of a technology that could shape the future of humanity. With 10,000 KP in his virtual account and a universe of untapped knowledge waiting to be unlocked, his extraordinary journey was just beginning.
