There was a feeling of weightlessness, as if she was floating, and then before fear could take root, Izabel was back on solid ground.
All around her, there were platforms of differing heights, forming a circle that surrounded a much larger platform in the middle. Each platform has two people, one standing on the platform itself, the other floating near the former. Right next to them, there was a floating projection of a name, along with a numbered code. Other than the different codes and names, however, every single other person looked featureless, more like black shapes made to resemble humans. The platforms themselves stood on branching, metallic spires crackling with energy, sharp-edged veins decorating each of the metal. Izabel looked down, and she saw that the metal branches converged down, into an abyss covered in darkness, preventing her from seeing anything. Other than the abyss below and the platforms, the background were predominantly washed in blues, the shades fading into darkness as they got closer to the abyss.
Below her feet, Izabel saw that the platform was glowing in a mixture of orange and white, a circle of fire surrounding her feet. Despite the apparent blaze, she felt no heat at all.
Next to her, the projection said:
[ID: HUNTER#101]
“Hey, you, uh, Hunter? What is going on here?” a voice asked from Izabel’s right side.
As she expected, the owner of the voice was featureless, and next to the shape, there was a projection that said [CARCOSA#316]. The voice sounded distorted, each word echoing in different tones that renders any attempt at discerning their identity useless. Below them, the platform was shining with the brilliance of hardened, golden light, with shards of the same color fluttering down with the gentleness of dried leaves.
“I don’t know, to be honest,” Izabel admitted, then, she called for her companion in her mind. “Hunter? What is this all about?”
“I am unable to tell you anything, either. I have no information,” Hunter answered. “Right now, all we can do is wait, but considering our situation, it seems that the person who invited us here seem to think it was beneficial to hide everyone’s identity behind these featureless shapes and their Mirror Avatar names.”
“Obviously, this is the work of someone who gave us access to this app, what do you think? At least, that much is certain.” A slightly miffed voice chimed into the conversation. Next to them, the projection said [ADLER#007], and their platform was glowing in a light purple with streaks similar to the branches of a flowchart.
“Hey, now, there is no need for insults. This is not an everyday situation.” Another voice chimed in. The projection next to them said [AQUILA#749], and their platform was a brilliant, metallic silver that looked sturdy. However, there was nothing else notable.
“Still, this is practically something a kid could come up with. Are you telling me no one here is capable of drawing conclusions, of all things?” Adler replied. Not even the distortion from the voice filter was able to hide their sarcasm.
“Okay, that is enough bickering for the day. The answers will come soon, and whether you’re right or wrong, it doesn't even matter.” Someone else chimed in. Izabel looked at the projected ID, [PESTILENCE#147], and below them, the platform was made of tiny cubes, each one dotted with glowing white. Each cube looked like a miniature slice of the sky, and some of the individual cubes rotated around the large platform, like celestial objects bound by gravity.
No sooner than when the words left Pestilence’s mouth did the center platform start to shift. The middle part of it seemed to flicker and break into rainbow-colored blocks of light, and then, someone rose from the crack. Just like the others, they were featureless, but there was only one person, and the projected tag said [CORDIS#404]
[To all users of Heart Mirror residing in Dome-09, welcome to Cordis, a safe virtual space, free from the Primeras’ influence and eyes. To protect each user’s identity, each user will be referred under the names of their Mirror Avatars, unless the user has chosen to reveal themselves.]
The distorted voice was accompanied by subtitles projected into all the audience’s eyes. After a quick glance, Izabel used the time to look around, trying to discern how many people were invited here.
“65, it seems,” Hunter chimed in.
“That is such an arbitrary number… If it was up to me, 100 would be more practical.”
Before Hunter could say anything, Cordis once again spoke.
[Before we begin, let me inform you that this message is pre-recorded. You may call me Cordis, the very name of the virtual space we all currently stand on. We all are united in our dissatisfaction towards the Primeras, as tracked by your coefficient fluctuations on the pre-modified Mirror system linked to the Coronam Vitae.]
Cordis gestured to their surroundings, and with that, the scenery changed for a moment, an array consisting of hundreds of colors bleeding into the area. The blue shades returned before anyone could discern what happened.
[I have unlocked access to the Team Assignment Search Community board. There, you will find what you need to do to start breaking free from the Primeras’ control.]
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Wait, I have a question,” someone spoke up. Their projection said [LEGACY#450], while the platform they stood on seemed to be made of bones. If one takes a closer look, it would be clear that tiny creatures roam on the surface of the bones. “I know that you must be deeply involved in this Heart Mirror business considering you can call us all here, but that doesn't mean you are on our side. How can we be sure that you’re not on their side too?”
[Legacy, designation number 450. To answer your question…]
Cordis pointed their hand at Legacy, and then, they gripped the air with an overwhelming force.
There was the beginning of a scream, but they faded barely right after one syllable came out, the rest cut into silence as Legacy’s form from the waist down broke into thousands of glitched lights at Cordis’ command. In contrast, the floating figure on the same platform remained intact, and though their expressions were not visible, their body language seemed as if they were close to shaking their head from exasperation.
[if I were on their side, it would be easy to discard all the seeds of rebellion from this place right away. Please be mindful of your words.]
Everyone went silent, their pause thick and palpable in the air. After what felt like an eternity, someone spoke up.
“Now that is interesting. Cordis, answer me now, do you happen to be—” A playful voice spoke up. A look at the direction of the source revealed a pair of almost equally tall figures standing on a pink platform surrounded by criss-crossing strings and wires of similar color. On the projection, it said [EYE#819].
[Eye, designation number 819. I am happy to see that you both are already well-acquainted, and already found the integrity number system, however… please refrain from altering the integrity number distribution without any apparent need.]
“Heh, alright, I’ll save that for later,” Eye replied, “You can’t exactly fault us from being excited, though.”
“Okay, putting that aside, you’re the only one I saw so far who doesn’t like the Primeras, discounting Carcosa here. So, I guess we can trust you for now,” The person who stood on the golden platform said, “Let’s get to the things we can actually deal with. What is this board thing?”
“Ah yes, it’s not like they just told you what it is,” Adler piped up.
“Pipe down, smartass,” Carcosa fired back, irritated. “No one is asking you.”
“It is likely something similar to the notice or mission board you’d see on some of the Primeras’ provided entertainment media, particularly those that involved you stepping in a role of a benevolent force, or a part of an organization with similar motif. I can see the appeal, really, though to me it looked no different than completing the system instructions minus the whole, you know, actually accomplishing anything.” Adler said, “How close am I, Cordis?”
[You are correct. Though, Adler, designation number 007, I will have to warn you the same way I did with Eye, designation number 819. I am happy to see you both are already well-acquainted, and already found the integrity number system, however, please refrain from altering the integrity number without any apparent need. To note, however, your alteration was of a lesser degree, so I suppose there is less of a problem.]
Cordis looked around at all the gathered people, then they continued.
[To continue with Adler’s answer, you may access the board from your Heart Mirror app. Select the “TASC” menu and you will see a tutorial mission. It is nothing too grand, simply a little thing to get you all started]
Izabel, and everyone else looked at the device strapped to their wrist, and then, they did as Cordis instructed. After selecting the menu, a simple list was projected in front of their eyes, consisting of two items.
[1. Tutorial Mission: Team Formation]
[For now, I will announce the team distribution. All distributions have been calculated based on the projected efficiency of each member.]
Cordis waved their hand, and with that, the platforms started to shift and shuffle around. Caught off-guard, Izabel almost stumbled.
[Team formation:]
[Pestilence - #147]
[Barnett - #018]
[Hunter - #101]
Izabel looked at the two platforms closest to her. One was familiar, the figure who stood on a platform made of white-dotted black cubes, with smaller cubes orbiting around the big platform. However, the other one, Barnett, was new. They stood on a platform made of green, thorned vines, with buds on the cusp of blooming dotting the edges of the circle.
“So, we are a team, huh? Hello, I guess, Hunter and Barnett,” Pestilence started. “We’re together now, right? I’m Pestilence, as you can see, but honestly, this name is a mouthful, so…”
The black color surrounding the figure started to fall away, and with it, so did the voice filter, revealing a cheerful feminine voice.
“… Call me Valerie instead. I’m Valerie Corundum. Nice to meet you both! As you may have figured, the one next to me is the actual Pestilence.”
Valerie was smiling, her smile so sincere that it brightened her gray eyes. Her hair was pitch-black on the outside, while the inside was dyed blue, creating a beautiful contrast.
Next to her, a man wearing a long, white cloak was floating, possessing blue eyes and a messy, turquoise colored hair that went down to his upper back. His gaze radiates a sense of kindness that contrasts with his rather unsettling name. On top of his head, rests a white hood decorated with a pair of cute rabbit ears. Pestilence didn’t speak, but he gave a nod and a smile of acknowledgement at the other two.
“Hey, Hunter? Should we?” Izabel said in her mind. “What if Cordis misjudged someone? Won’t giving my identity be a risk?”
“Considering our situation, chances are we’ll be going with them for some time. No harm in fostering camaraderie,” Hunter replied. “I don’t sense anything dangerous for now, too. Do it, I’ll watch your back.”
“If you say so…”
“I— “Barnett started, sounding a little unsure, “I’m Claire, nice to meet you, Valerie, and… Hunter? As with Valerie, the one next to me is Barnett.”
Just like Valerie, the disguise was unraveled, revealing a short, green-eyed girl with brown hair dressed in a casual outfit. Her expression suggested that she rarely talked, her words coming out unsure.
Next to Claire, a woman at least a head taller than her was floating lazily, sitting on a spear the way a stereotypical witch would sit on her broom. No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the woman’s appearance evokes a stereotypical witch seen in some of the Primeras’ more fantastical entertainment options, who would grant wishes in exchange for a chance to cause chaos in the future. Everything she wore, from the black, pointed hat down to her dress and her sharp heels, evoke the stereotype, indirectly making her wavy blonde hair stand out more. Her emerald eyes twinkled with the sparkle of mischief as she gave both Izabel and Valerie a knowing smile.
“Alright, so you are Claire, and how about you, Hunter?” Valerie turned to look at Izabel.
“I’m Izabel, and yeah, this is Hunter,” Izabel introduced herself, feeling a weight has been lifted from her shoulders. She noted that she didn’t realize there was a weighing force until it was lifted. Hunter responded to the two with a quick nod.
“Nice to meet you, Izabel. Pestilence said hello to the both of you, too.” Valerie said, and her partner waved, his smile radiating an unwavering sincerity.
“Hey, Hunter, don’t you want to say something? You were the one who put me up to this, you know. The least you can do was participate in the conversation.”
“Unfortunately, I am unable to do so. As your Mirror Avatar, I am considered as an isolated presence that clings to your mind, both in the dome and in Cordis, so you must give me permission for that. I’ll teach you later,” Izabel said while shaking her head.
[Get to know your teammates and try to work together. I swear on my name, that as long as you work together, I will free your lands from the influence of the self-proclaimed stewards. Now! If there are no more questions, you can start with the tutorial mission. Check the details on your board, accessible both in here and in the dome.]
“Wait!” Someone exclaimed. Izabel was unable to discern the source, but it seems that everyone there shared a similar sentiment. Voices follow theirs at almost the same time.
However, there was no response from Cordis, and with a flash of light, Izabel felt herself becoming weightless once more.
