Chapter 1: Becoming Forgotten

Breaking News

The death of tech revolutionary and CEO of Arbitrators Inc. has left the world in shock and mourning. Details remain scarce, but the tragedy raises questions about the company's future...

The words lingered on the screen before fading into silence. The television powered off, leaving the spacious conference room shrouded in dim light. A space once alive with the hum of ideas and heated debates now felt oppressively still.

Raji let the remote slip from his hand onto the table, the dull thunk reverberating through the room. His shoulders slumped as he sank into his chair. The room, designed to accommodate fifteen executives, now hosted only four—each as hollow as the chairs left empty.

Across from Raji sat Fenris—Aiden, as only a select few still called him. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, his sharp features shadowed by the dim lighting. Faint scars on his face, remnants of battles far removed from boardrooms, were highlighted by the flickering light. Normally, his presence was imposing, but tonight, it carried an air of resignation.

To Fenris's right, Lars adjusted his glasses and scrolled through his phone. His disheveled suit jacket and unkempt hair made him look like he'd been up all night. In truth, it had been days. He muttered something under his breath—numbers, perhaps—but no one asked him to repeat it.

At the far end of the table, the fourth member of their group stared at the ceiling, completely disengaged. They might as well have left already.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

"Are we shutting down?" Raji's voice was barely audible, but in the oppressive silence, it felt like a shout.

Fenris's frown deepened, his gaze fixed on the polished surface of the table. Lars paused mid-scroll, finally looking up.

"They'll want us to," Lars said flatly. His voice carried none of its usual wit, only the tired monotone of someone delivering bad news. "The shareholders have already started pulling out. Without Issa, we're just...a memory."

The weight of his words hit harder than Raji had expected.

---

Ten Years Ago

In a cramped apartment, Issa stood in front of a whiteboard filled with scribbled notes and crude sketches. "What if it's not just a text game anymore?" he'd said, his voice alive with excitement.

Raji had been skeptical. "We don't even have funding for a server upgrade, and you want to go 3D?"

But Issa had seen it, the vision others couldn't. It started as a tabletop game, then evolved into something greater.

By the time the first VR console launched, they had redefined gaming.

---

Back in the present, Raji shook the memory away.

Fenris leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "They can't shut us down if we don't let them."

Lars sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Fenris, we don't have the leverage. No CEO. No leadership. Mediator's Story is a relic. The console is obsolete in a market flooded with knockoffs. People have moved on. It's over."

"It's not over." Fenris's tone was sharp. "It doesn't end like this."

"And what exactly do you suggest?" Lars snapped. "Rebuild with no money, no staff, and no direction? Face it—this company died with Issa."

---

The Golden Era

Within five years, Mediator's Story had become more than a game—it was a cultural phenomenon. With six billion users at its peak, it wasn't just entertainment; it was a way of life.

Players formed guilds, alliances, and even economies within its virtual world. It was a universe that transcended reality, a place where people could lose themselves and find a community.

And now, it was just another memory.

---

Silence fell over the room again.

Later that evening, the boardroom emptied slowly, each person leaving as though they carried the weight of the entire company on their shoulders.

Raji lingered, staring at the table scattered with reports—reminders of a dream that had once felt invincible.

He thought about Issa. About the man who had built Arbitrators Inc. from nothing. About how he had inspired them to believe in something greater.

Fenris appeared at the door, his towering frame silhouetted by the dim hallway light. "You coming?"

Raji didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned the TV back on.

"Authorities continue to investigate the explosion that claimed the life of Issa Omari Adjei, though early reports suggest no signs of foul play…"

Raji turned it off again, his jaw tightening.

"Let's go," Fenris urged.

Together, they left the building, stepping into the cold night.

---

Elsewhere

In a dark apartment miles away, a man sat hunched over a desk, illuminated by the faint glow of a computer screen.

His lips curved into an eerie smile as a notification blinked across the screen.

Connection Established.

"Finally," he whispered.

---

In Another Plane

A blinding white expanse stretched endlessly in all directions.

A lone figure stood, their body shimmering faintly, more energy than matter.

"I did it!" they shouted, their voice echoing across the void.

A single point of light appeared, pulsing steadily like a heartbeat.

In that moment, they knew—they had changed everything.