Azhini couldn’t help but smile mischievously. Sam looked more confused than ever, his brow furrowed and his hand on his aching head. “What is it?” he asked, completely unaware that he was about to regret his curiosity.
“Considering the gravity of the secret,” Azhini said, her lips curling into a playful smirk, “it’s important to prepare first, right?”
“What?” Sam echoed, still not getting it.
Azhini leaned in, her tone suddenly serious as she fired a barrage of questions. “What were you doing before my arrival? How long have you been here? How did you get here in the first place? You know magic, don’t you? From whom did you learn? Your suit, is this the only one you’ve got? Do you have parents? Do you eat? How did you survive without an energy source for this long? You know a lot about the nine kingdoms—have you really seen the kings?”
Sam froze, staring at her wide-eyed. He slumped back onto his throne, clutching his head as if it might explode. “Stop, stop, stop! Enough! I don’t know the answers to any of your questions! Just tell me... who am I?”
Azhini paused, letting the silence linger for a moment, before she spoke softly, yet with certainty, “This is a world of a game. You’re a guiding NPC, and I... I’m a player.”
Sam blinked in disbelief. “What? What are you saying? It’s just a game world, how can you say that?”
Azhini’s gaze grew distant as memories of her friend Kavin surfaced. “A friend of mine is a game developer. I lost consciousness at his place... and ended up here.” She looked at Sam, the suspicion lingering in her mind. “While you were explaining, I started to think this might all be a bit commercial. Let me put it in game terms, like you would explain to a player.”
Azhini, deep in thought, began recounting the rules of the nine kingdoms:
---
9 Rules of the 9 Kingdoms
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
1. Wheel of Fate: The first kingdom a player enters is chosen by a spinning wheel, ensuring an unpredictable start. The system assigns subsequent kingdoms based on undisclosed criteria.
2. Predetermined Path: The system dictates the order of the kingdoms after the first one. Players cannot choose where they go next, adding an element of fate.
3. Time-Limited Stay: Each kingdom has a set time limit. Once the limit expires, the player experiences a natural death (specific to that world's lore). This forces strategic decision-making and prevents indefinite stays.
4. Cycle of Lives: Players have nine lives, and upon death, their consciousness transfers to a new kingdom. No kingdom can be revisited, making every decision in each world permanent.
5. Power of Gems: Each kingdom holds a unique sacred gem. Acquiring a gem grants the player a specific power that can be used in later challenges, shaping their journey.
6. Karma Meter & Pandora’s Box: A karma meter records all actions—good and bad. At a critical moment, a Pandora’s Box appears. If the player dares to open it, they must face the consequences of their accumulated karma, which could be either a blessing or a catastrophe.
7. Hidden Tasks & Rewards: Scattered across all kingdoms are secret tasks triggered under specific conditions. Completing them yields unique rewards, while ignoring them means missing out on potential advantages.
8. Interwoven Realms: The nine kingdoms are interconnected in mysterious ways. Actions in one kingdom may have repercussions in another, making careful decision-making crucial.
9. Law of Karma: The fundamental rule—what you sow, you shall reap. Every decision, big or small, comes back around in some form, ensuring players experience the full weight of their choices.
---
Sam’s face fell as he sat there, completely broken. His hands gripped his throbbing head. “So I’m just a puppet... of some commercial entertainment?” His voice was barely a whisper.
Azhini’s heart softened at his defeated tone. She wanted to tell him, “This is what happens when you break someone down and force them to face the harsh reality.” But looking at him, sulking and full of self-doubt, she couldn’t bring herself to say it. Instead, she reached out, her voice gentle, “Hey, don’t think like that. My friend gave you consciousness. You’re more like a human than you realize. You’re more powerful than humans with your magic. You can live your own life, if you want to.”
Azhini took his hands in hers, looking him in the eyes. “Hey, look at me. Just think of it like you’ve been born today, alright?”
Sam gave a heavy sigh, running his hands through his damp hair. Slowly, a smile spread across his face. “Then... shall we get to work now?”
Azhini blinked, confused. “What?”
“I already told you,” Sam said, raising an eyebrow, “we can’t end this without ‘the cosmic conqueror.’ So, let’s go harvest some power.”
Azhini’s eyes widened. “That’s not it... are you going to come with me?”
Sam snapped his fingers, and a giant board appeared in front of them, outlining the rules and ending with a button to ‘spin the wheel and begin your journey.’ He gave her a wry smile. “I’m not going to be some puppet who waits around forever, repeating the same lines.” He gave the board a dismissive flick.
Azhini glanced at the board and then back at Sam, her lips curling into a smile. Together, they clasped hands and spun the Wheel of Fate. With a final press of the button, the world around them began to blur, their vision growing dim. But even as the edges of reality dissolved, their smiles never faded.
What do you think about our Sam so far...?
