Chapter 28: Trust

Cass is standing somewhere, in a relentless darkness that reflects nothing.

A wide and imposing staircase made of weathered stone, covered in curling mist, appears. When she steps on the first stair, a voice resounds:

A NEW CONTENDER FOR THE THRONE OF THE GODS APPROACHES

She speaks up:

— “I want to speak to Julia Prahi.”

No response. The twisted wisps cling to her ankles.

She continues climbing, reaching a cobblestone road, seemingly floating in the dark. The voice continues:

CONTENDER FOR THE THRONEBUILD YOUR EMPIRE, EXPAND IT FURTHERAND THE PLACE SHALL BE YOURS

I didn’t come here to play a video game! she thought imperiously. The darkness was swept away by an imperceptible wind, and Cass found herself in a marvelous landscape flooded with light. Her eyes quickly adjusted, and for a moment she glimpsed the program drawing lines of horizon in the distance.

Around her: a clean, orderly countryside, deceptively wild, plump little hills and trees dancing in the wind, singing rivers, and curious animals. One such animal—a gray rabbit with four long ears—looked at her peacefully.

Beneath her feet, the cobblestone road of old stones was being devoured by grass. She picked a yellow flower: it seemed unfamiliar, half-Xeno, and shimmered with tiny solar beads.

A dove landed at her feet. It had a message tied to its leg. She unrolled it:

YOU HAVE JUST DISCOVERED A NEW FLOWER. THE EXPLORERS’ GUILD ASKS YOU TO GIVE IT A NAME. YOU WILL RECEIVE 2 GOLD COINS.

THE GUILD CAN NAME IT FOR YOU, BUT YOU WILL ONLYRECEIVE ONE GOLD COIN.

THE NAME WE SUGGEST: BLACK STAR FLOWER.

Alright, she thought. A leather pouch appeared on her belt. Opening it, she found a gold coin bearing the image of the Tower of Babel. AIs can read our thoughts, but not judge us for them. Alright.

She stroked the engraved Tower of Babel with her thumb. Julia...

So, first rule, I can name the objects around me and earn gold. She dipped her hands into the river. Another dove. Just looking at the dove was enough to read the message. Same thing. This time, she proposed the name “First River” and received two gold coins. Understood.

A yellow sun was high in the sky, and she decided to head due south. Everything had a familiar strangeness to it. A tree with foliage like a trembling glass of Bordeaux swayed in the breeze, but bore large fruits resembling eggplants.

A few thatched roofs appeared beyond a grove: a small, impoverished village, with a dirt road and medieval peasants whose sad features contrasted with the vivid nature. One of them approached:

— “Lady Stella, you are without doubt a contender for the throne of the gods, are you not?”

He was uncannily lifelike. Cass squinted: it was an AI.

— “Who knows?”

— “Lady Stella, would you accept to lead our humble hamlet? Perhaps one day you will make it the capital of your glorious empire?”

— “Let’s suppose I say yes, what happens then?”

The peasants exchanged fearful glances.

— “You would need to give our hamlet a name.”

— “Very well, I accept this duty and name you Hamlet-1.”

Cass’s pouch vibrated. Four new gold coins.

— “What a wonderful name!” cried the peasant with a suspiciously sincere joy.

— “Long live Hamlet-1!” exclaimed his wife, emerging from one of the four houses. “May I craft you a banner? It will accompany you in your quest for the throne. What do you think of this one?”

She unfolded a white rectangle of fabric bearing a black five-pointed star. Stella Nori, Cass thought. The game is building something around my name.

— “It’ll do just fine,” she said, not really caring.

— “I’m so happy!” exclaimed the peasant woman, and a young man erected a pole to fly the flag. The village grew slightly brighter, and the peasants’ faces now wore cheerful expressions.

The pouch vibrated again.

— “Lady Stella...” began the peasant.

— “Excuse me, what’s your name?”

— “Abanon,” he said. “But you can give me another if you wish.”

— “I’d like to call you H1H1, for Hamlet-1 Inhabitant 1.”

— “It’s a wonderful name, Lady Stella.”

The pouch vibrated again. Alright. I can name anything and everything, and I earn gold coins that will be useful sooner or later. Damn it, I do NOT want to play a game!

— “Lady Stella, we have an abandoned farm here. We would like you to tell us what to do. We’re hungry. We could cultivate a PLANT you found, or raise an ANIMAL you found.”

— “I see what you mean. I’ve come across them, but I haven’t named them.”

— “What a tragedy, my Lady, we’re going to starve. Every TWO days, one of us will DIE of hunger.”

— “Can we buy food? I have gold,” said Cass, showing her pouch.

— “Yes, but you must CREATE A ROAD between Hamlet-1 and another place that has livestock or agriculture.”

H1H1 enunciated certain words carefully, to help Cass understand these were core mechanics of the game. She took note.

— “Where is this place?”

— “I don’t know, my Lady. I’m afraid you’ll have to explore.”

— “And how do we create a road?”

— “Just look at the ground and I’ll take care of the rest! I work fast!”

— “Uh, excuse me, but ... I’m looking for someone ... a player ... a contender for the throne of the gods.”

— “My Lady, we are very isolated here, but if you possess a CITY or a higher territory, you can establish a CENSUS GUILD that can list the contenders for the throne of the gods who are still active.”

— “How do I get a city?”

— “Oh, a peasant like me wouldn’t know, but they say the contender must uncover the strange rules of this world. But I do know that if you take good care of Hamlet-1, one day we may become a CITY or even a BARONY, maybe even the CAPITAL OF AN EMPIRE.”

I don’t want to play! Cass’s mind screamed. A voice appeared in her head, asking if she wanted to return to her Sanctuary Island. No, she replied, irritated. Alright, we’ll find another player eventually. Someone who can speak clearly.

She continued her path southward, cheered on by her peasants. She stepped over large black snails, passed turkeys with crystalline songs, and even walked along a stream where peaceful rainbow jellyfish drifted.

And there, cutting through the vivid green grass, a wide dirt road with deep ruts stretched from northwest to southeast. She thought, trace a road from Hamlet-1 to here, and was asked to name the road. She shrugged, and magically, “The Road of Crystal Song” appeared beneath her feet.

At once, a dove arrived. Cass stared at it, and received this message:

STELLA NORI, YOUR HAMLET HAMLET-1 HAS BEEN CONNECTED VIA THE ROAD OF CRYSTAL SONG TO THE NORTHERN INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CLUSTER OF ANCIENT REALMS.

WE HAVE CONTACTED COMPATIBLE HAMLETS. PLEASE WAIT A FEW SECONDS FOR THE RELEVANT CONTENDERS TO REACH OUT.

Two stone arches rose from the ground at the crossroads, rustling grass and earth. From one emerged a woman with hair so long and blonde it fell to the stirrups of her golden horse. She wore a shining steel armor, her mail hood thrown back. The Arch rang out: Baroness Adelgundis, contender for the throne of the gods.