"Okay, we got this," I say reassuringly to my reflection in the bathroom mirror.
"We're eighteen now. We can finally try making something of ourself."
I completed all the tests. I've got my license. No more fear, no more pain…Well…None that isn't self-inflicted, I guess.
I turn on the sink faucet to splash some water on my face before setting off.
Stepping out of my apartment, I head down to the ground floor and leave the building.
Stepping onto the streets, I turn back to look at the building - Sprout's House. Hopefully, with any luck, this won't be the last time I see it.
I shake off that feeling and quickly begin moving toward the center of town where a pillar of light can be seen.
Gradually, the buildings around me become nicer and more modernized. And, by the time I reach the middle of town, it almost feels like I entered a proper concrete jungle with all the tall buildings around me.
The Astral Gate Access Bureau isn't the tallest building here, but it's certainly the most impressive. It's an octagonal, three-stories high building built around the light pillar - the Astral Gate.
Taking a deep breath, I stride forward and enter the building.
Knowing what's ahead of me, I can't help but feel a little intimidated walking into the open lobby. My nerves and just how clean it is makes me all the more uncomfortable as my eyes dart around to the people milling about, going up or out of elevators, or walking around the balconies above. Seriously, what do they do to make everything so clean? Dump a truck load of bleach all over everything?
Distracting myself with ranting about the personally absurd level of cleanliness here, I stand in line to reach the front desk.
Once it's my turn, I pull out my license and place it on the counter. Clearing my throat, I say to the woman behind the counter, "Hello, my name's Layfon Mathews. I wanted to access the Gate."
The woman just gives a professional smile, takes my license, and asks me to wait a moment. I watch her put it into some sort of card reader before typing away at her computer. It isn't long before she takes out my card and turns back to me with the same smile. "Okay, Mr. Mathews, here is your license back. If you would, just head down the hall on my left. You'll be looking for room 115. Once you find it, please, take a seat inside. Someone will be with you shortly."
I take my license back, pocket it, and follow the woman's instructions - heading down the open hallway beside the reception desk.
Following the signs pointing the way to go, it doesn't take me long to reach room 115. I step inside to see a room with an ugly greenish-brown office rug that stands out against the oppressively white walls and ceiling, a desk with a pair of chairs facing it, a coffee table, and a couch…
I take a seat in one of the chairs facing the desk. I'm not waiting long (30 minutes, tops) before a large man in a white suit - seriously, why all the white!? - and purple tie come in. He has short, graying brown hair and goatee. He looks at me then moves over to take a seat at the desk.
Following behind the man is a slim woman in a matching pantsuit with her brown hair pulled into a bun. Are they related maybe? She stands behind him while holding a stack of papers.
The woman hands the man one of the papers. He glances at it before putting it down to focus on me. "Hello, Mr. Mathews. I am George Mallard. I'm one of the people responsible for new applicants like you when first trying to access the Gate."
"Nice to meet you," I say - unable to contain my nervousness.
George doesn't acknowledge my shaky voice before continuing. "You already passed the exam to get your license, so I won't waste time going over things that were included in it. That said, do you have any questions or anything you want clarified?"
I stop to think about it. "Not that I can think of. Astral Gate shows up. Bad things happen. We go in to get fame, money, and power to keep the bad things at bay. That about it?"
Apparently, my little rundown wasn't the thing to say. I can see the disapproving downturn of George's lips. The woman behind him is more obvious in her displeasure.
"In a nutshell, that is correct," George says. "However, before we go any further, I want to be clear. You are aware of the danger and risk the Astral Gate poses. Once you go in, there is no guarantee you'll come out. The bureau is not responsible for anything that happens to you. We're only a mediatory who manages and keeps track of who goes in and what comes out of the Gate."
I nod sheepishly, "Yes, sir. I'm aware of what I'm signing up for. I also know that the bureau also manages the various people and groups in relation to the Gate."
That little tidbit seems to have gotten me some credit back. George's expression goes back to full neutral and the woman isn't scowling at me. Though, she still doesn't seem to think much of me.
George leans back in his chair. "Officially, that's a different department. But, yes, due to the involvement those people have with the Gate, the department is considered a division of the bureau."
"You're the main body of the Astral Management Agency. The other departments are just branches who deal with specific parts of the Astral Gate. You're the ones who oversee the main stuff."
George shrugs unconcernedly. "Be that as it may or may not be, we're diverging from my original question. Are you sure there's nothing else you want or need to know?"
I shake my head. "Really, no. I've been looking forward to this for a few years now. I knew it'd be dangerous and did my research. I promise, I'm not some kid who think's I know everything and am just running in for fame and glory. I've checked AMA's public records more times than I can count, memorized the material I needed for the test, read through all the legal documents I had to sign that basically all just said 'you're going to die and it's not our fault', and everything I could find on the internet. This is my chance. I don't want to screw it up."
The man's eyes shift. Not disapprovingly this time. I think pity? The woman just seems uninterested now.
I know my situation isn't ideal. But it's what I've got. When you only have one option forward, you take it. I have nowhere to go, no one to depend on, and no one to turn to. I either stay where I am and hope my life goes smoothly, I try getting into someone's good graces and hope it doesn't get me killed or worse, or I pursue the Astral.
I know I can probably find a normal job. Live a normal life. There's nothing wrong with that. Living a simple life isn't necessarily a bad thing. But…that's just it.
It's been over two decades since blinding pillars of light appeared around the world. The gods behind it made it immediately clear we were playing by their rules now. The world doesn't even look like it did back then, and those who pursue the Astral decide how this world runs.
Living a normal life is contingent on adhering to those above you. Civility and law only protects people as long as others are willing to follow the same principles. But what happens when it's just a formality? What happens when the world is swarming with wolves and sharks who don't care about anything but what they want?
The only people who can actually enjoy an easy life are those who have some sort of backing to protect them. People like me don't have that. If the sharks and wolves come, I can't count on law and order to protect me. It only will if it's convenient. If stopping them proves too troublesome. I'm on my own.
It's not all bad. People can work for good companies. Fall under their umbrella. Have some sort of protection that way. There's nothing wrong with trying to have a simple life. It's just that…That's ALL you have. I…I want more than just that.
I know how cruel this world can be, and I want to be able to make my own choices. To have control over my own life. I want to be able to hold my head up. I want pride.
The Astral is the only hope a person like me has to get that.
George nods.
"Very well, then. Let's move on. Before you can access the Gate, you're going to need to choose your starting point. There are eight accesses that lead to five different areas on the other side."
"It's highly recommended - but not required - that you do so and form a team of three-to-eight people when going through. If you don't want to wait or don't think you'll be able to form a team, then there are some options.
"You can wait for others to arrive at the same access point and try forming a team with whoever shows up. However, do remember that there can be some…unsavory individuals among those who enter the Gate. Our authority only extends to their actions within the bureau. Unless they've done something to issue a warrant for their arrest, there isn't anything we can do and you'll be on your own on the other side.
"There are also groups who form teams to help newcomers like yourself that I could recommend. What do you say?"
I lean back in my chair as I think about it.
The Astral Gate leads to a place called the Astral Plane. There are five gods who oversee this place. The 'five areas' George mentioned is overseen by one of them. The whole thing is morbidly compared to a game and each god runs theirs differently. This means each area has its own advantages and disadvantages.
However, one of the key factors of being successful in the Astral is trying to earn the favor of these gods. If you do, then you can obtain power unlike any other - an Astral of your own. For this reason, people typically devote themselves to one god, one area of the Astral Plane in the hope of getting their attention.
So, it's important that I think about this. Do I try to earn their favor or not? What's more, each god tends to attract a different type of person. Where I begin will likely rope me into whatever group that is.
There's W1K3D - known as the 'evil god'. They're definitely the worst in terms of…Well, everything. Their area - Ultimate Nightmare - is known for being the nastiest in terms of trickery and has the highest death rate. But, honestly, everything about the god themself just sounds like a kid who wants to role-play being the bad guy to me. The people who follow them range from the wildly eccentric to dangerously insane, and the worst of them are honestly worse than the supposed evil god themself.
If I choose that route, I'll definitely end up in some not so good places. On the other hand, W1K3D is the most 'freeform' of the gods - following a tag line of 'where's the fun of a game with restrictions!' Where other gods limit the rewards people can gain, W1K3D doesn't. As you progress, you can obtain virtually anything the others might offer without restriction.
L0V3 is publicly seen as the polar opposite. They're popular for how 'nice' and 'safe' their area - Heartfelt Embrace - is. It's why they have the largest influence today. Personally, though, I find the whole thing creepy. Something about it just rubs me the wrong way. Like a cult or shady business man or something. All sweet and laced with honey on the surface but probably poison underneath. I find it suspicious that there's almost nothing objectively 'bad' about them like other gods.
The people who follow L0V3 can all be labeled as 'good-looking and famous' - becoming models, idols, etc. Naturally it attracts the vain, pretty, and those who want to be. They're viewed as the 'weakest' but like they say, quantity is a quality all its own'. Due to overwhelming numbers, L0V3 and those affiliated with them have the most resources and for the lowest cost. So, while they might be 'weaker' than those of the same level, they advance far more easily - two-to-three times faster - and receive ample support.
Another side of the spectrum is BR4V3. They and those under them are the definition of 'strength, power, and might makes right'. Dragonic Keep is said to have the highest difficulty but offer the greatest rewards. Unlike W1K3D, BR4V3 is the most restrictive in terms of how one can progress, but the tradeoff is - opposite to L0V3 - people are often one or two levels stronger than someone of the same level.
Where BR4VE offers power, W1$3 offers intelligence. 'Knowledge is power', right? Rather than brute force, versatility, or numbers, W1$3 presents power through 'control'. They and those under them display high levels of intelligence, strategy, cunning, and trickery. Mechanical Workshop is basically a 'logical' counterpart to W1K3D's child-like cruelty. Their ilk stay off the frontlines - opposite to BR4V3 - and use alternative or indirect means to victory.
Then, finally, there's L1GH7 - the wannabe hero to W1K3D's roleplaying as villain. They have the second greatest influence after L0V3 and are responsible for society existing as it does. The AMA itself is basically under their influence. 'Knights in shining armor'-types really. A balance of everything - strength, intelligence, versatility, and resources. Arguably the strongest of the gods given how they basically run the world.
However, L1GH7 is by far the most restrictive of the gods. Holy Sanctuary is the second most versatile in terms of granting power - only excluding rewards that are characteristically 'evil' - but the god themself is a pretty harsh form of black and white. The people under them might be better, but I have to ask if it's worth it?
So, what do I choose…