Road to the Crown

Given how everything that Bart said to this point rested on the border of fairy tale and ridiculous novel, I had no mental capacity to judge how logic his words appeared to be. But without any attempts to place his story in the frames of my own common sense, it appeared as if what he said actually was right on the point!

"That leads us to the question you asked me before, where I couldn't reveal who I am in order to keep this world running in the way it should. The world that you descended to thanks to the technology… Wasn't virtual at all. Or rather, while parts of it were created thanks to the technology… Did you really believe that human technology is capable of transferring one's consciousness into a virtual system? Into a machine?"

Looking at me with a ridiculing smile, Bart suddenly switched our position. Right now, he appeared as if he was the rational one between the two of us, dropping hits of reality right against me!

"Did you know why big companies of this world dropped the ideas of creating a proper virtual reality and switched to its shadow in form of VR lenses or actually doable augmented reality? It's because no matter how developed the technology is, some things are just impossible."

Once again throwing a huge bomb on me, Bart actually clearly indicated that this wasn't his first attempt at conquering his problem with technology! Otherwise, how could he say with such confidence that future technology would be incapable of doing what he just described as impossible?

"The world that your consciousness was transported into, is as real as the one that we are in right now. While I had to allow the existence of those rotten systems…"

Despite not stopping mid-sentence, the expression that appeared on Bart's face was so incredibly full of different emotions that I felt as if the entire cave suddenly shook!

"... to satisfy the institute that still thinks we are creating a proper virtual reality, once… or rather, if you were to return there, I will influence that world to make sure no system would remain in it."

Over and over again, the limits that I had to constantly create to stop Bart's words from literally exploding my mind… were broken. Every time when I thought that it would be already the end of the insane news, this fucking man would bring something else that would once again prove how unexpected and complex his plans were!

"I understand that you are confused right now, but it's actually the best way for you to make a decision that will truly reflect what your heart actually desires. Tell me, do you want to go back to that world? Do you want to go back to your Elia?"

This question had an obvious answer. If the world where I met Elia was real, then I wouldn't need even a single moment to consider my options. But the question whether that world was real still stood!

"I will ask once again and please, explain it to me in a way that won't break my mind apart. Is that world where I spent the last year of my life… real?"

Seeing my hesitant response, Bart at first smiled, only to let out a deep sigh before raising his head and looking at me sharply.

"If I were to attempt explaining what exactly is that world that you spoke about, then I would have to take about thirty years to explain just the basics of the mechanics behind it. That's why, in order for you to understand, I will have to make my answer so wrong, that it won't be any different from a lie because you lack the terminology, knowledge, perspective and even the proper senses to learn the full truth. But in your terms, yes. That world is real."

This answer, as convoluted as it was, settled the deal. With all the wonders that this man shown me in the last few moments, with everything that I heard from him in the last few moments, I didn't dare to doubt his words. That was how a human like me could respond to a being that exceeded the limits of what I could understand. 

With faith.

"Yes, I want to go back." 

That was what I truly wanted. After saying goodbyes to my parents that I never was too close with, a thing that would hold me back from returning to Elia simply didn't exist in this world. Even without her in the picture, living the life of a respected, powerful and famed noble seemed to be way better than being just a simple nobody in the current world that I knew!

"Good. Lie down on this bed then. Given how that world of yours was constructed with partial help of technology, I can't move you there with magic alone."

Yet another wink.

"After all, magic has rules just as strict as the technology, just in a different sense."

Ignoring the last bit that Bart said about magic as this topic was completely out of my scope of understanding, I obediently laid down on the bed that this strange being just moved away from.

"Listen. Right now, I'm doing you a huge favour. If not for how I grew to like you while watching your exploits back in that world of yours, you would never get the chance to go back there. You could say, that I'm solving a similar problem that you have to what I'm struggling to solve myself. That's why there might or might not be a time when I will appear before you to ask for your turn to help me. Do you agree?"

This question was as startling as much as it was calming. For the first time today, I managed to hear something that I could understand.

Something for something. I help you, but you will have to help me in exchange. A simple exchange of favours. Even if I had no idea how someone as powerless as me could help a godly being like him, as long as I was capable of paying the price of going back to Elia and living my life properly with her, I didn't mind the cost no matter what it was!

"Yes."

Looking around as I gave my reply, I saw Bart smile a bit, before moving on to dabble in various cables that busied the area around my bed… Or should I call it a final resting place?

"Didn't you say that you need to use the technology to bring me back there? How are you going to do so without electricity?"

No lights in the cave turned on after that strange current that killed everything current-based in the cave. Yet, it didn't seem as if Bart was bothered by it in the slightest! At this point, with my decision set in stone, it was just the last sign of curiosity that I could display before cutting the wire and jumping on the grenade by thrusting that this man's words were actually true.

"Producing electricity from magic is one of the easiest things that I ever learned. It's a pity you don't have the ability to learn magic. I would love to see how you would react to how interconnected the thing that we call magic for the simplicity sake is with all the other aspects of the true physics of the world."

Still smiling with a small hint of longing for something visible in his eyes, Bart looked at me for the last time, not even attempting to hide the jealousy seeping out of his eyes.

"May your life be fulfilling and peaceful, brother."

Hearing his wishes, I finally understood all the hints that he was dropping about his situation through the course of our discussion. I understood why I could see the jealousy in his eyes. It was all because he was in a relatively similar situation to me, just that he didn't have a friendly god-like presence that could solve the problem for him!

"May you find a way to get back to your loved ones."

Whispering lightly to him as the light of the cave started to fade away when the familiar feeling of my consciousness shifting hit me with all its might, I could barely see a small smile appearing on his face. 

"Thanks."

Just like Elia's shouts from before, this was the last word that I heard in my world of birth before a sudden plethora of lights nearly caused me to vomit from the senses oversaturation.

"BART! ARE YOU OKAY?"

Hearing the soft, familiar voice, now filled with the tones of utmost desperation and terror, I realised that everything was now back in the place where it belonged. 

No.

I was back in the place where my soul and heart truly belong.

I opened my eyes only to see Elia's face, tearing up in exactly the same way as in the picture that Bart has shown to me just a moment ago. Raising my hand, I caressed her cheek.

"I'm back."

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The end?