NPC?

"Welcome to Nighting Gale Online, Lucas Young. Please enjoy your journey in this new life." The words, uttered in Gale's unmistakable voice—a tone I'd grown familiar with during the past fortnight at the Gale Co. facility—resonated through my consciousness as I materialized within the game.

"What the fuck…?" I murmured, the enormity of what I was witnessing just beginning to infiltrate my disoriented mind.

The scene before me bore no resemblance to the quaint starting town that the staff at the Gale Co. facility had assured would be our first encounter in the game. Instead, I was encased in an underwater kingdom, a sprawling aquatic landscape that stretched to infinity.

Around me, ethereal beings darted and swam with a grace that left me awestruck. At first glance, they bore an uncanny resemblance to the mermaids and mermen of human mythology. Some of them were armored in shell-like exoskeletons and pearlescent scale-mail that shimmered under the sea's azure light. They moved with the purpose and authority of soldiers, their every gesture revealing an undercurrent of power.

In stark contrast, others were reminiscent of everyday civilians back on Earth, save for their fantastical underwater features. They went about their lives, their movements fluid and rhythmic in harmony with the undercurrents. Yet, it was impossible to overlook their fish tails, which undulated elegantly in the water. Their hair, a lush blue, resembled delicate tendrils of seaweed that floated and danced in the water's gentle push and pull.

As I took in my surroundings, a sinking realization began to permeate my thoughts. While the exact description of the starting town had been left largely to our imagination, we had been unequivocally assured of one fundamental fact - all players would start as humans. Yet, as I breathed in the salty tang of the ocean without any difficulty, it was apparent that my circumstances were distinctly non-human.

A swift glance downwards sent waves of disbelief washing over me. In place of legs, a powerful tail tapered down, adorned with shimmering scales that glowed subtly under the aquatic luminescence. It matched the tails of the other beings around me, those beings that I had previously observed with a sense of detached fascination. Dressed in the same shell-armour as the soldiers I had spotted earlier, I was a picture-perfect replica of them.

While the prospect of adopting a different species' form in the game would usually fill me with exhilaration, the situation was wildly deviating from Gale's solemn assurances. Everyone was to be human, with no exceptions.

"Yeah, this is definitely wrong…" I sighed, my newly webbed hand involuntarily rising to scratch my head. Instead of the familiar contours of my skull, I was met with a rough, spiraled protrusion. Horns! My hand, with its transparent webbing and sinewy strength, was surprisingly comfortable as it traced the horn's spiraled shape.

"Gale, can you hear me?" I ventured, my voice echoing through the water. I hoped to see some form of acknowledgment, an assurance of Gale's omnipresent guidance. But nothing came...

The undercurrent of anxiety in my heart swelled into a tide of panic. "Gale? Hello? Gale, I require assistance? Anyone?"

As I anxiously tapped my right forearm - a command ingrained in us during the introduction to access our stat menu - a translucent screen materialized in front of me. It was a strange sensation. The screen seemed to exist within my field of vision, as opposed to floating in the water before me.

NPC Information:

Name: Luke Young

Species: Merrow

Level: 15

Rank: Soldier

Stats:

Strength 20 (25) Agility: 20 (25) Stamina: 20 (25) Intelligence: 20 (25) Luck: 10 Presence: 5

Assignable Stat Points: 45 Assignable Skill Points: 15

Skills:

Song (Level 3, Max level 20): You can entrance those weaker than you, and lure them towards you. [3 Skill Points to level up]

Transform (Level 2, Max level 5): You can transform your tail into legs upon meeting the conditions (Condition: Be on land). [2 Skill Points to level up]

Passive Skill (Merrow): All physical attributes in water increased by 25%

"Woah…" I muttered under my breath, my eyes riveted to the screen. Our introductory brief had promised that we would all start at level 0, with base stats set at a meager 5 across the board to ensure fairness. Yet, here I was at level 15 with stats exponentially exceeding the base value.

An insidious wave of panic began to creep back into my consciousness. I could feel the rapid, drumming beat of my heart - at least, I assumed it was a heart. Being a Merrow was an entirely new experience; a whole new physiology to adapt to. But, they appeared akin to mermaids and mermen in structure, so they should possess hearts, right?

My gaze darted anxiously across the translucent menu. A sense of desperation gnawed at my mind as I searched for any possible exit. A logout button, a support connection, anything that could provide a tether back to reality. But there was nothing.

During the briefing at Gale Co., we'd been informed that exiting the game was impossible for the year-long duration of the test. After all, we were to be compensated handsomely for surrendering a year of our lives. Besides, we wouldn't age in reality. What was a year sacrificed in exchange for a digital eternity and millions in my bank upon exiting the game?

"Y-yeah… the logout is simply not visible due to us not being allowed to leave the game for a year…" I murmured, my words teetering on the edge of conviction. I tried to convince myself that Gale, the world's most sophisticated AI, had deliberately assigned some testers as NPCs. It was all part of a grander scheme to test the interaction mechanics, the functionality of NPCs... right?

Despite the gnawing suspicion that I was deluding myself, I dismissed the menu. There was nothing more it could offer me. Looking around, I noticed that I was stationed in front of what appeared to be a city gate. Another guard, presumably of the same rank as me, stood about 15 feet away on the opposite side of the gate.

In stark contrast to most games, there were no level indicators or name tags floating above the characters' heads. Gale had made it clear: Nighting Gale Online was an attempt to emulate a real world. Apart from the menu, which even NPCs had access to, every aspect was reminiscent of our tangible reality.

No magical inventories to conveniently stash away objects. All items needed to be physically carried. But, considering magic was a part of this world, there was a possibility of a spell or an item capable of storing objects. As to how or where one would find such an object, I was clueless.

Deciding not to venture into unknown waters just yet, I remained at my post, imitating the other soldier and guarding the city gates. As players, when we die, we were supposed to reset to level 0 and respawn at the starting town. But what about NPCs? Would the same rules apply?

The sheer complexity of my new reality had me grappling with the immediate, overwhelming feeling of uncertainty. My status as an NPC, while made evident, was still disconcerting in this unanticipated, watery world. As the soldiers made their routine rounds, the uncertainty and fear clawed at my chest, demanding answers to questions I didn't even know how to ask. I assumed Gale wouldn't have thrust me into this bewildering situation without a fail-safe; nonetheless, the fear of disregarding the pre-set orders and courting an early demise was a risk I wasn't ready to take. The ambiguity of my circumstances anchored me to my position, my eyes riveted to the imposing gates of the underwater city, my heart playing a frenzied symphony of anxiety and apprehension.

As I held my place, a bewildering tableau unfolded before my eyes. A stream of mermaids—or were they Merrows?—navigated their way in and out of the city gate. I did my best to mirror the actions of the other guard standing by me, adopting an imitation-as-survival strategy. If he stood unmoving, so did I.

Time seemed suspended, or at least, that's how it felt. The luminous glow of the aquatic environment offered no reference to the passage of time, the distant sun obscured by the aqueous shroud. Was this an ocean we were in, or a colossal, subaqueous lake? I couldn't tell.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, two unfamiliar faces not that any of them would be familiar, wearing the same armor as I swam over to us. "Lucas, Bill, your shifts are over. Captain said you guys are free for the rest of the day," one of them informed us, effectively dismissing us from our duties.

Bill, the soldier beside me, gave a curt nod and ventured away, following the path the others had taken. Following suit, I mimicked his nod and swam after him, surprised at the ease with which my new body adjusted to the underwater movements. Bill maintained a steady pace, allowing me to catch up.

As I swam alongside Bill, an internal debate commenced in my mind. The pressing need to understand my situation better warred with the fear of arousing suspicion. However, the realization of having no memories of the previous NPC inhabitant of my body left me with no choice but to take the leap.

"Hey Bill…" I stammered out, my anxiety palpable. If my new form was capable of perspiration, I'm certain a sheen of sweat would be coating my brow.

Bill's response was immediate and nonchalant, "What's up Lucas?"

A wave of relief washed over me as I heard my name. Gale had indeed manipulated their memories, creating a space for me in this world as an established NPC, thereby minimizing the risk of suspicion. This also implied my presence here was intentional.

"I'm in a bit of a dilemma," I confessed, looking over at Bill, who shot me back a look of surprise.

"And that would be?" He asked, his tone friendly yet filled with curiosity, suggesting a previous camaraderie between us.

Choosing honesty over fabrication, I decided to tell him a half-truth, "I can't remember anything."

Bill's confusion was evident in his reaction, "What?" He slowed down his swimming, eventually stopping altogether. "What do you mean?"

As I came to a halt next to him, I looked him squarely in the eyes, "I mean exactly what I said. I can't remember a single thing. I don't even know how I ended up at the gate. It's as if I just woke up there...my past is a blank slate… All I recall is my name…"

"You're kidding, right?" Bill's gaze on me was incredulous, as if my situation was an absurdly spun tale.

Shaking my head, I affirmed, "No, I seriously can't remember anything… I don't know where we are, how I got here, where I live, if I have a family… All I know is my name and that I am a soldier…"

Bill scrutinized me closely, his eyes flickering over my face in a quest for the merest hint of deceit. His stare lingered, and for a few moments, silence blanketed us. Eventually, his eyebrows knitted together, the creases forming a vivid testament of his concern.

"Follow me," he instructed, his voice heavy with worry, "We should consult the Captain. He might know what to do. But Lucas, if this is some kind of joke, I suggest you stop it now. The Captain won't be amused, and he'll likely punish us both for wasting his time with such nonsense." His warning was delivered as he resumed his aquatic journey, his tail cutting through the water with resolute strokes.

"I wish I were kidding, Bill... it would make all of this so much simpler for me," I murmured, my voice barely more than a whisper in the underwater world. I wasn't even sure if Bill heard me, but there was no time to linger on that as I pursued him.

Our path led us toward what appeared to be a bustling encampment. The architecture was reminiscent of an ancient Roman military settlement, filled with soldiers who bore a resemblance to Bill and me. As we ventured deeper, I took the opportunity to study the other faces around us. Back at the gate, my sole focus was on mirroring Bill's actions, now I was able to absorb the environment and its inhabitants more closely.

Gale's proficiency in creating this reality was nothing short of impressive, surpassing even the most praised speculations. Every NPC I saw was a unique entity - the faces, the height, the weight, the hair, and the eyes; each detail intricately designed and markedly distinct. This was an awe-inspiring level of detail, it breathed an uncanny realism into the characters that made it hard to remember this was a simulated world.

Witnessing the NPCs in action, interacting with each other, engaging in various activities, it was easy to forget that this was a game world. It felt more akin to having slipped through some cosmic rift and ending up in another dimension altogether. Gale's craftsmanship exceeded the mere bounds of an AI's capabilities, it was an artistry in itself.

This underwater world seemed to exist independently, functioning seamlessly like any other organic society. It made me question the extent of Gale's creation. If this underwater civilization was just a fragment of the world that Gale had fabricated, it implied that Gale had not just created a world, but had breathed life into millions, perhaps billions of entities.

This philosophical musing brought forth a rather unsettling question: Was Gale Co. essentially playing God? The simulation was so close to reality that it blurred the lines between creation and simulation. They'd designed a world that wasn't just inhabited by artificial life, but one where these artificial lives interacted and behaved just like any sentient beings would. It was a daunting thought, one that was as awe-inspiring as it was unsettling.