The next morning when I woke up laid in bed for a while considering the things that I had learned yesterday. If the things that Liam had said were even partly true then not only did that change how people had to view Soul Core Online as players, having more advanced AIs would also influence other aspects of our lives as well both for better and worse as they became more and more common.

“Are you going to get up?” Katy asked through the speakers in my Rig causing me to jerk upright in surprise.

“Uh, yeah, sorry I was just thinking about the stuff Liam said last night,” I replied rolling out of bed and walking to the kitchen to make a quick breakfast.

“Well that’s to be expected,” Katy sighed as I stuck a couple of slices of bread in the toaster, this time her voice was coming from small speakers in the ceiling that had been installed so that Katy, my old AI could talk to me. “It was a lot to take in after all.”

“No kidding,” I groaned wishing once more that I had enough money to afford some coffee but had run out a couple of weeks ago. “I do have one more question that they didn’t answer although I think I already know the answer.

“What is it?”

“Well,” I replied pausing to remove the toast from the toaster. “The question was about how they were going to add content to the game, however now that I’ve had a chance to think about it I’m going to guess that the AI’s can add area content, new quests and stuff like that right?”

“Yeah, that’s correct,” Katy replied. “I actually got a new information package that included information about that sort of thing last night after you went to bed, it looks like Gransoft want to make sure that they’re as transparent as possible about how the game works which makes sense considering everything else.”

“That makes sense,” I said searching in the cupboard for something to put on my toast. “But what about things that require balancing like new skills, magic and monsters?”

“Ah, well the AIs can still communicate with the company so if they decide to add things like that, they can work things out that way,” Katy replied.

“Hmm, aha!” I cried pulling the remnants of a jar of peanut butter out of the cupboard. “Well that makes sense. By the way, how do you think the AIs are going to work out what to put in, in terms of extra content or expansions?”

“Oh, that’s actually a pretty easy one, you remember that the AIs all control a single NPC, a single powerful monster or groups of weaker monsters?”

“Sure,” I replied, scraping the inside of the peanut butter jar.

“Well the AIs actually remember everything that happened to them while they’re playing the parts that they choose, from snippets of conversation to the tactics and Skills that players used against the monsters under their control. Don’t worry they only have access to this information when the NPC or if they swap roles with another AI in the case of those in charge of a group of monsters.”

“Wait, how often do the AIs that control the monsters change?” I asked mildly interested by where this was going. I was actually a bit uncomfortable with the idea of an AI remembering how the monsters that they controlled died especially remembering the way the Terror Chicks had reacted when I had injured them.

“The plan seems for them to be swapped about once a month, every AI in the game will have to perform this at some point in time, sort of like a public service,” Katy replied. “It also keeps the strain of controlling monsters that die a lot from being too stressful for the AI controllers.

“Well that would stop any AIs from getting used to killing people I suppose,” I mumbled. “But what about bandits and enemy soldiers or even powerful monsters like bosses?”

“Ah, yes that’s a good question actually,” Katy replied sounding happy that I was taking such an interest in the subject. “When it comes to NPCs things are a bit different, when an AI first becomes a NPC they are assigned a random partial personality that overrides part of their own, sort of like a human actor except that they are unable to break out of the role they have been given. In fact, continuing the acting metaphor they don’t even know that they’re playing a role at all until the NPC they are playing dies, or at least in theory, the game hasn’t been running long enough to confirm this.”

“So, things like bandits are just acting according to their assigned personality, that’s interesting,” I remarked sitting down to eat my breakfast. The idea of the AI’s living out entire lives, dying and then being placed into a new body was a bit of a depressing one but then it wasn’t like I could do anything about it and besides from what had been suggested so far the AI’s had likely agreed that this was the way they would do things. “But what about bosses, if their personality suddenly changed like that wouldn’t that be odd?”

“Yes, all boss monsters are actually treated as NPCs but if they are something like a dungeon boss then an AI will only be assigned to control the Boss the first time someone enters the dungeon.”

“Ah, and because that boss is treated as an NPC it doesn’t respawn, right?” I asked starting to see what she was getting at.

“Right!”

‘Cool, I’m going have my breakfast now, but if you have anything else you think I’ be interested in feel free to tell me,” I told Katy taking a bite of my toast.

“Well people are already starting to make a list of the different types of skills and spells available in the game if you would like to take a look at those,” Katy mentioned.

Quickly swallowing my mouthful, I nodded. “That would be great, could you bring the list of magics then?”

I had already learned a little about the magic system from Harmon and the captain, but it was always good to have as much information as possible with these things and it was about time, I started doing my research.

At the moment the wiki only had the most basic spells fully confirmed but apparently someone had gone to a store and talked to someone who sold them using what they learned to increase the information available. Of course this meant that the information had to be taken with a grain of salt until the spells mentioned here were actually unlocked by someone but it was still an interesting read and matched up with what I had already learned allowing me to narrow down the magic that I was going to pick to get a Soul Core for first down to three different types of magic; light magic, lightning magic and nature magic. Light magic would provide me with the ability to heal myself, use more defensive magics which wasn’t as important to me due to my Spellglove and deal damage at range. Lightning magic would give me a lot more offensive options and a couple of useful support spells. Finally, nature magic would eventually give me a broad selection of healing and damage over time spells as well as control spells. However, apparently Soul Cores that contained nature magic were hard to find and quite expensive so while to was certainly something to keep in mind, particularly if I found a better spellglove that would allow me to equip two magic Soul Cores.

“Katy, can you prepare the Rig?” I asked as I walked over to the sink to clean the dishes. “I’ll be through in a minute.”

“Sure!”

After I finished getting ready for spending the day in my sweltering Rig I clambered in and logged in, coming face to face with Katy who was looking at me worriedly.

“So, how are you doing?” she asked obviously referring to the announcement yesterday.

“Well, things make a lot more sense now that’s for sure,” I sighed, she had obviously waited to ask me this until I logged in so that she could ask me in person as it were. “Actually, if anything I’m more interested in the game than ever now that I know what’s going on.”

“And what about me?” she asked fidgeting nervously.

“What are you talking about?” I asked confused by her question.

“Well,” she said fidgeting slightly. “I was created with a partial personality and given access to the internet to learn about humans.”

“And?”

“Well I was only created after you pre-ordered your copy of the game and was told to use you for as much of my research as possible leading to the creation of this personality,” she explained. “We were only given permission to give out this level of information the other day. I didn’t tell you everything, but I did tell you a little about it before the announcement, right?”

“I see,” I relied nodding, it made sense that she would be worried about that. No-one liked being spied on, so it was likely that there were players that would try and complain about something like that but there was no way a big company like Gransoft would do something like that without taking some sort of precaution against legal action and I was pretty sure I knew how they had done that. “Well if I had read through the EULA, I’m guessing I would’ve found something about this hidden in the legalese so not knowing about this is my fault anyway, besides it would be pretty hypocritical of me to dislike you now that you’ve told me that your personality was developed by watching me online.”

Katy nodded when I mentioned the EULA as I had expected once again making me feel like slapping my own forehead, companies could put just about anything in those things and the vast majority of people just wouldn’t know because they didn’t read the bloody things!

“Thank you, Tyler,” she said giving me a slightly sad smile. “I wanted to tell you about this stuff right away but that was one of the few things that was truly programmed into us.”

“Well at least they have come out and told us,” I said. “I won’t pretend that I’m one hundred percent happy with their methods, but I do understand that there was no real way to convince people how this would help to develop an AI like you and the other companion AIs that understand their owner perhaps better than we understand ourselves, and I can’t argue with the results either, beside you would’ve gotten access to the same information when the game ca.”

“I should probably let you log in to the game,” Katy said. “I just wanted you to know that if I had had a choice, I wouldn’t have used these methods.”

“Katy, I told you not to worry about it,” I told her reaching out to lay a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. “I know that it wasn’t your choice.”

“However, you are right about one thing,” I continued as she gave me a weak smile. “I should log in. I have to start making money so that you can join me in the game, that’s what it was made for after all!”

“Right!” she said her usual bright smile returning to her face.

“See? That’s much better, smiling suits you,” I said reassuringly as I walked past her towards the door that would lead me back to the virtual world of Soul Core Online. “I’ll see you later, wish me luck.”

“OK!” Katy replied giving me a thumbs up. “Good luck!”

Giving her a smile in return I stepped through the door and found myself in the same place that I had appeared the first time I had logged into the main game and after nodding at the guard on duty who as different from the one that had been present when I first arrived I made my way through to find Kimble sitting at his desk.

“Hey Kimble,” I said as I walked up to him. “How’re things going?”

“Well, well if it isn’t Zeke,” the old man replied his teeth flashing at me from underneath his bristling moustache as he grinned at me. “I heard that you helped us out a couple of days ago but didn’t make it. Good to see that you’re back.”

“Yeah, that wasn’t any fun,” I admitted with a wince. “It hadn’t exactly been an easy fight even before I got stabbed by the guy who killed me.”

I can’t imagine what that must have been like,” Kimble said giving me a sympathetic look.

“Hey better me than a local right?” I chuckled. “At least death in this world isn’t permanent for me.”

“Indeed,” Kimble nodded. “But unfortunately, that goes for other outsiders as well.

“Yes, there are those of us who see this world as a game,” I admitted.

Of course, it technically was a game, but I couldn’t tell him that and besides I personally felt that this was more than a game and more like a true virtual world that had game elements. But that wouldn’t stop some people from treating the locals badly.

“Heh,” I chuckled slightly realising that I had started to think of the AIs as ‘locals’ instead of NPCs.

“Is something funny about that?” Kimble asked giving me a slightly irritated look causing me to realise what my reaction to the realisation I had come to would seem to someone else.

“Only about how stupid that sort of thinking is,” I replied shaking my head.

“Indeed,” Kimble grunted. “Most of you outsiders seem to think you are superior to us for one reason or another so it’s nice to see that not all of you feel the same. Anyway, the captain wanted me to tell you to make your way to the barracks as soon as you reappeared.”

“Alright,” I nodded. “I’ll see you later.”

Kimble grunted his agreement as I turned and walked out not the main street. Blinking in the glare pf the midday sun I made my way through town towards the barracks noting as I went that there were less people running around like mad men making it much harder to identify other players which I was guessing was a result of the announcement yesterday. On occasion I did notice a few people looking around with awe on their faces, but I didn’t stop to ask them whether they were players.

Walking up to the barracks the two guards at the entrance saluted causing me to do a double take in surprise before nodding at them and continuing inside to find the courtyard was filled of people in various types of armour and robes. As I froze in surprise the captain and Harmon walked out in front, Harmon had a big grin on his face and even the formidable lookin captain had a small smile on his face. In the crowd I could also see Jameson who grinned at me over the heads of the other guards and gave me a nod and off to the side sat a battered looking Tylie, she wasn’t badly injured but she did have several bruises in plain view including one on her arm that looked suspiciously like the sole of one of my shoes that I was hoping she wouldn’t bring up.

“Welcome back Zeke!” the captain said as the guards came to attention. “As promised you will be allowed to join the guards in their training sessions whenever you wish. But first we would like to offer you a certain opportunity if you are willing.”

“That depends,” I replied cautiously. Due to my own plans I didn’t really want to become a guard I this little town, but I also knew that having the backing and goodwill of a guard captain would likely be useful wherever I went in this kingdom. “What opportunity are you referring to?”

“Well actually, it’s me making the offer so would you mind if I explained it?” Harmon asked turning towards the captain.

“Sure,” the captain replied, and Harmon stepped forward to regard me with a serious expression.

“As an outsider you won’t be aware of this but there is a group of people in this kingdom and several others who wander between the various towns and cities and are treated as respected guests in nearly all of these places,” Harmon began to explain before pausing so that I could absorb the information he had already told me even as some of the guards started muttering in the crowd but they were soon silenced by the captain who turned to look at them.

“These people are known as the Rangers and they can offer their services to the guards to help them in cases that are difficult for them to deal with by themselves,” Harmon continued as I nodded my understanding of what he was saying.

This was far more useful to me than being offered a guard position as it would allow me to travel around while still having contacts wherever I went that could provide me with work.

“Now there are various ranks in the rangers based around the number of guard captains and other important officials and members of the church of Malam, who is the goddess of justice in this world that trust you as shown by one of these bracelets,” he said holding out his left arm to show me a silver bracelet with a stylised R and what looked like a coat of arms on it. “As you can see, they normally don’t look like much but when someone examines the bracelets properties, they will be able to see all the different feats that you have accomplished in service to the kingdom. The bracelet also contains a Soul Core that will give you several rare skills, however this Soul Core is a bit different from the normal ones in that it only levels up when you complete enough of the special Quests given to you by qualified officials giving you several skills that would otherwise be difficult to come across.”

I nodded once more, this was indeed a good offer, but I was still wary of accepting it as so far, I had only really heard the things that would benefit me but with benefits like this there was certain to be responsibilities that I couldn’t refuse that went along with it.

“And what would be my responsibilities if I accepted your generous offer?” I asked giving Harmon a smile to show that I meant no disrespect with these words causing the old man to chuckle slightly.

“Indeed,” he replied. “I’m glad that you’re not rushing right into this, that tells me that I’m making the right choice here. A ranger must answer the call of any official that is of the rank of guard captain or higher, whether they want to or not as these people are the representatives of the king, naturally this also includes army recruiters in times of war but other than that rangers are pretty much free to do whatever they want so long as they don’t break any laws.”

I sighed, so that was it. At my level it was unlikely that people would try and force me to take part in anything to difficult and I expected that if someone ordered me to do something that was against the laws of the kingdom I could refuse. After considering the option I came to the decision that I would accept the offer.

“Very well,” I said. “I accept your offer.”

“Excellent,” replied Harmon taking out a plain silver bracelet and a small orb that I recognised as a Soul Core. “Then as a Ranger Lieutenant I hereby formally request that you join the rangers, please take the bracelet and Soul Core.”

I did as he said under the watchful gazes of the guards, it seemed that this was pretty big deal which made sense considering the level of responsibility that the rangers seemed to have but I was more interested in what the Soul Core would give me in terms of stats and skills.

“Place the bracelet on your wrist,” instructed Harmon who was apparently not going to give me the chance to examine the Soul Core, and I quickly followed his instructions instead of indulging my curiosity. The silver bracelet was cool to the touch as I slipped it over my wrist, and I noticed once more the lack of the markings compared to the one Harmon was wearing.

“Now hold the core up to it and repeat these words,” he said loudly before continuing in a quieter tone. “This is a special type of core similar to the ring I gave you earlier, it only activates when a ranger or a priest of Malam the goddess of justice of a sufficient rank is present and speaks their part of the oath that I’m about to lead you through willingly so make sure to repeat the words exactly.”

“Alright,” I replied, glancing at the core which didn’t really loom any different to the other cores that I had seen except that a silver glow could be seen coming from within.

“Repeat after me recruit; I solemnly swear to uphold the law of this realm by order of my king and the goddess of justice herself,” Harmon began and I quickly repeated his words, feeling the core in my hand slowly warm to the touch.

“As a lieutenant of the rangers I hereby attest to this recruit’s skill and sense of justice, are their any others who wish to do the same?” Harmon asked and three voices replied.

“Yes, as captain of the Polson guards I attest to the recruit’s skill and sense of justice!” the captain replied loudly from his spot next to Harmon.

“I would also like to recommend this young man for the position both in my position as a guard and a friend of one of the victims of the people he helped defeat!” Tylie said rising to her feet with a grimace.

“And I would also like to lend my support to this young man’s case, he protected a guard under my command alone and outnumbered long enough for me to arrive and then even went as far as sacrificing himself to protect me, someone he barely knew and I am thankful that he is among us once again,” Jameson stated giving me a nod over the heads of the other guards from his place in the crowd.

“I request that the goddess of justice herself bless this decision!” Harmon said immediately following this raising the arm that his bracelet was on as the item began to glow and a beam of light shot from the heavens striking the bracelet before bouncing off and striking the core in my hand which shot towards the bracelet on my left arm and fused with it in an instant causing me to nearly leap out of my own skin in surprise.

Looking around quickly I noticed that no one had noticed my faux pas and were looking up at the sky and I too turned my gaze heavenwards and froze in shock as I saw the source of the beam of light; a single grey eye that seemed to be looking right at me, a chill ran down my back as I felt its calculating gaze judging me.

Then just as suddenly as the beam of light had appeared the eye shut and disappeared but the memory of the way that it seemed to look deep within my soul remained and a chill ran down the back of my neck as I wondered what would’ve happened if it hadn’t liked what it had seen.

Harmon relaxed instantly as the eye disappeared without doing anything, it would seem that this whole ritual was more dangerous than I had been led to believe. As I thought this a notification appeared in front of me.

Special Action Completed!

Due to your actions you your reputation with all factions aligned with the church of Malam the goddess of justice has increased, your reputation with all factions aligned against the church of Malam has decreased and you have earned the Title Ranger Initiate.

+200 to reputation with the Church of Malam.

+ 100 to reputation with the Ponson Guards.

+50 to reputation with the village of Ponson.

Title: Ranger Initiate.

Health and Spirit increased by 20.

Reputation Increased!

Congratulations your reputation with the Ponson guards has increased to Accepted (500 reputation required to reach the next level).

At Accepted reputation the Ponson guards are more likely to offer you aid.

Wow, that was an impressive set of bonuses, there was some bad stuff mixed in there as well, but I wasn’t planning on siding with criminals (who I was guessing were the main enemies of the church of Malam) anyway. It looked like the game only showed my standing with the groups I had already met with maybe the exception of the church of Malam, although for all I knew Harmon could count on that hand due to his status as a Lieutenant in the Rangers. The reputation bonus for the guards would also be quite useful.

Speaking of Harmon, he was gesturing to me to follow him as the guards slowly broke ranks and came to congratulate me on my new status and I made my way through the crowd as politely as possible shaking a few hands and receiving a few pats on the shoulder as I went.

“Wow, this was a much bigger deal than I had anticipated,” I said to Harmon as I reached him.

“Yes, rangers are responsible for a lot of things,’ Harmon replied. “Only the very best are asked to join their ranks.”

“Then why did you ask me?” I asked in confusion. I mean I was alright with a spear, or in this case a naginata but I didn’t think I was good enough to be considered ‘one of the best’.

“Well the king and the church decided that having an agent who can come back from the dead like you or the other outsiders might be a good idea,” Harmon chuckled.

“Ah,” I sighed starting to see what he was saying. “So, you’re saying that I’m some sort of test to see whether outsiders can be trusted with the sort of jobs that rangers do?”

“Well, it’s not just you but something like that yes,” Harmon answered. “Now let’s go somewhere a bit more private and we can discuss the subject.”

“Ok,” I replied following the old man inside and down a corridor to a room next to the captain’s office which I assumed from the fact that it had a similar setup was Harmon’s office.

“Now what else should I know?” I asked as Harmon sat down in the chair behind the large wooden desk in the middle of the office.

Without answering my question, he silently gestured for me to sit down at the chair opposite his own fixing me with a calculating gaze as I did so.