Chapter 4: An Enlightening Conversation

Oliver leads Liam to a private room on the top floor of the bar, creating a more secluded and tranquil atmosphere. The panoramic view of the city stretches beyond the venue's windows, adding a special touch to the experience.

"Viper, my friend, make yourself at home!" says Oliver, gesturing towards a well-positioned table with an incredible city view. He signals the waitstaff for the menu and hands one to Liam. "This is a special place, reserved for moments of celebration. Order whatever you want; tonight's on me."

Equipped with holographic projection devices, the waitstaff quickly approaches. Liam, feeling hungry after his efforts to reach the city and the in-game battle, examines the menu with a mix of curiosity and gratitude. He generously orders some hearty dishes that reflect his need for a more substantial meal due to martial training.

With a smile, Oliver orders a selection of exotic and energizing dishes, maintaining a light and friendly atmosphere. While waiting for their orders, the private room offers a breathtaking view of the city illuminated at night.

Still adjusting to the technological atmosphere of the city, Liam looks around and comments, "This is surreal, man. I've never seen anything like this in my village. That up there?" Liam points to the illuminated skyscrapers. "That must be taller than the northern mountains in Avalon."

Oliver, sensing Liam's admiration, laughs and replies, "Welcome to the real world, my friend. Did you come out of some kind of cave? No, no, you mentioned something about a village in the mountains; tell me more about it, must be an interesting place, full of traditions and mysteries."

Liam, still looking at the hologram menu and examining the options, begins to share some information about his hometown. "Ah, you know how it is... small, isolated, filled with good people, but a bit out of touch with what's happening in the rest of the world. No shiny stuff and holograms there, I can guarantee that."

Oliver, with a curious gleam in his eyes, inquires, "So, how did you end up here? Seems like you stepped out of a cave straight into the future."

Liam, without losing his good humor, responds, "Well, I didn't exactly step out of a cave, but it's close enough. You see, I had some weird dreams, and I kind of felt like something was calling me here. And then, poof, here I am."

The waitstaff returns with the orders, placing the dishes on the table. Liam, now more focused on the food, says, "Well, let's see what this place has that's so special in their food." He lets out a relaxed laugh, indicating that despite all the novelty, his carefree attitude remains.

As the waitstaff serves the elaborate dishes, Oliver, with a keen look, continues his line of questioning. "So, those dreams that brought you here, do they have any specific meaning? It seems like quite an unusual journey, and I'm curious to know more."

Liam, chewing a juicy piece of meat, replies with a smile, "Ah, the dreams. They were full of strange symbols, things I had never seen before. It felt like something was trying to tell me something. You know that feeling when you know you're being watched but don't see the watcher?"

Oliver, leaning forward, intrigued, asks, "And these symbols, did you manage to decipher any of them? Or is it still a mystery?"

Liam scratches his head, thoughtful. "Well, some of them, I understood after seeing the Nexus Corp symbol. It was like everything suddenly clicked. But there's still a lot that doesn't make sense. Feels like I'm missing something."

Oliver, closely watching Liam's words, realizes there is more to the story than initially appeared. The context of intriguing dreams and mysterious symbols might hold the key to understanding Liam's journey to Brook City.

"So, are these dreams and symbols somehow connected to Nexus Corp?" Oliver inquires, maintaining his measured tone.

Liam nods, taking a sip of his drink. "Yes, after seeing the Nexus Corp symbol in an ad while I was in the mountains, many things started to make sense. It feels like I'm being guided by something greater."

Oliver, with an analytical gaze, continues with his questions. "And how did you make this connection? Nexus Corp isn't a company everyone in the mountains would be familiar with."

Liam, explaining concisely, responds, "Actually, some tourists were visiting the area, and one of them was holding something with the Nexus Corp symbol. When I saw their symbol, I immediately remembered my dreams. It was like a door opened for me."

"So, you decided to follow these dreams and come to the city in search of answers?" Oliver asks, focusing on the underlying motivation behind Liam's decision.

Liam nods again. "Yes, something inside me told me that this would be the place to find those answers. And it seems like I was right, in a strange way; entering that game revealed something strange about internal energy."

The atmosphere in Harmony Haven's private room is steeped in an intriguing atmosphere. The soft illumination of hanging lamps creates dancing shadows on the walls, contributing to the sense of privacy and comfort. The panoramic view of the illuminated city beyond the windows adds a layer of majesty to this peculiar encounter.

Liam, despite being in an unfamiliar place, maintains his relaxed expression, while Oliver, with his sharp gaze, continues to probe the mysteries surrounding Liam's journey.

"Hold on, Viper. You mentioned something about internal energy. Is that related to your dreams or Nexus Corp?" Oliver questions, his sharp gaze evident as he savors an exotic dish.

"This is getting on my nerves; call me Liam, Viper is just a nickname my family gave me." Liam corrects Oliver, his casual tone revealing a playful irritation.

"Well, in a way, internal energy is related to both my dreams and Nexus Corp since my dreams led me to Nexus Corp, and Nexus Corp, through that game, revealed an entirely different way of using internal energy." Liam responds, diverting his gaze for a moment, as if trying to process the connections that unfolded in his journey.

Oliver, with an intrigued smile, notices the depth of Liam's words. His keen gaze attempts to unravel not only the spoken words but also the emotions and motivations driving Liam.

Oliver, maintaining his piercing gaze, gives a intrigued smile. "I see... Interesting. This thing about internal energy you're talking about, is it something like Qi or similar to the energy in martial arts movies and books?" Oliver asks, his curiosity evident in every word.

Liam, now more comfortable touching on the familiar topic, nods affirmatively. "Yes, it's more or less like that. In our village, we call it internal energy. It's a kind of force that can be cultivated and used by strong individuals."

Liam's expression reveals a mix of pride and nostalgia when mentioning his hometown, while the mention of "force" carries not only physical meaning but also the weight of the community's traditions and values.

Oliver, contemplating Liam's response, brings the wine glass to his lips before speaking again. "Well, Liam, I may consider myself quite experienced, but I've never heard of internal energy within Beyond Realms. How did you discover something new about internal energy in the game?"

Liam nods affirmatively. "Exactly. When I thought about using the so-called class abilities of the game, my internal energy moved automatically to regions I couldn't reach before."

Intrigued and quite surprised, Oliver interrogates, "Wait, wait, you're not talking about Mana, huh? Does that mean outside the game you can use mana?"

Liam, savoring the meal, smiles at Oliver's surprise with the connection between his internal energy and the game's mana.

"Well, it seems so, Oliver. Back in my village, we call it internal energy, but in the game... you guys call it mana, right?" Liam draws the correlation, realizing the similarities between the concepts. "The difference is that where I come from, our internal energy is something that can only be used within our own bodies. It's a force we cultivate to enhance our martial abilities. But when I used Beyond Realms' abilities, something strange happened."

Oliver's curious eyes gleam as Liam continues the narrative. "I was facing that guy's wolves, but when I used one of the game's abilities, my internal energy manifested in a way I had never experienced before. Instead of staying inside me, it expanded outward, creating a kind of protective shield."

Liam makes expansive hand gestures, trying to illustrate the scene. "It was as if internal energy, or mana as you call it, became an extension of me but ceased to be mine. It shielded me from a precise strike from the wolves. It was a completely new sensation."

Oliver's expression shows a mix of fascination and surprise with Liam's story. He lowers the wine glass, looking directly into Liam's eyes.

"So, you're saying you managed to apply something that normally stays within you, this internal energy, to the external world?" Oliver comments, visibly intrigued. "And the game's abilities may not be as simple... interesting."

Liam, with a smile, agrees. "Yes, it's like I unlocked a new facet of my own ability. A facet I didn't know existed until I entered Beyond Realms."

The atmosphere in the private room at Harmony Haven remains charged with curiosity when Oliver decides to explore more of Liam's current situation. He leans back in his chair and asks, "So, considering these recent events, how are you feeling now, Liam? What do you plan to do next?"

Liam, looking into the void for a moment, reveals the complexity of his emotions. "Well, looking at everything that happened, I'm excited but also a bit confused. I have no idea what this means for my future, but I'm willing to find out. I feel like there's more to explore, both inside the game and outside."

The sincerity in Liam's voice resonates in the room, and the atmosphere is filled with a mix of uncertainty and determination. Oliver, observing closely, nods, recognizing the depth of Liam's journey. "Well... If you're going to dive into the game, I have a suggestion..." Oliver pauses dramatically, creating tension in the air, "how about you play with me?"

Oliver's proposal is made with a light smile, revealing a hint of excitement at finding an experienced fighter who hadn't delved into the world of Beyond Realms until now. This suggestion transforms the private room into a field of possibilities, where Liam's choices can shape not only his destiny but also the dynamics of his friendship with Oliver.