Prologue

Alexander was sitting quietly. Calming his breathing, he began to close his mind from the outer world and concentrate on his own body. One by one, he found each of his muscles and made them works a little, before turning his attention to the next one. With his training, he was now able to control his whole body in a few seconds, but he was in no hurry. The room he was in was white, and with no ornament to catch his attention. So he decided to take a deeper interest in his body. Truthfully, the way his body was restrained was quite uncomfortable, but nowhere nearly painful enough to stop his investigation.

He heard a sound; a metallic one. At first he thought the guards were checking once more for what he was doing, but this time, the shriek of steel was stronger. He opened one eye and saw two jailors coming in. He simply relaxed all of his muscles one last time before expiring and standing up.

- You have a new visitor, boy, said the older one.

This one was around fifty, with traces of grey appearing in his hairs and short beard. He was always calm and kind. Alexander didn’t mind being called a boy by this man. There were never any hostilities in his word. The other one, on the contrary, was throwing daggers with his eyes. Alexander knew he was a martial artist, and was quite arrogant with his ability. And each time Alexander received a bodyguard job offer, this guard was sulking a little more, and his jealousy was growing.

- I’m following you, answered Alexander sharply!

- Bet you are, roared the angry guard.

The kind one took Alexander by the shoulder to guide him towards the visiting room. The first corridors were really calm, but they soon arrived in the main hall, full of prisoners, and Alex could see the angry guard making a discreet sign towards some of them. Two began to fight just after, and others gladly joined the fray. The two guards acted quickly to stop it, letting their prisoner alone, his legs chained and his arms restricted because of his strait jacket.

But Alex didn’t stay alone for long though. A big bald mean-eyed guy with bulged muscles was coming to him.

- Hi, simply said Alex with a little head salute. Don’t mind if I don’t shake your hand?

- You won’t stay that arrogant for long, barked the other.

The big guy sent an enormous right fist towards Alex head, who just sighted before acting. With one step, he evaded the attack. With one spin, and using his right shoulder, he deflected it and threw him off balance. Finishing his turn, his forehead easily connected with his enemy’s nose.

The other prisoner fell on the floor, his hands hastily reaching for his bloody face. Doing so, he couldn’t see what was coming next, but he heard the following words.

- With such strength, you wouldn’t even survived in the eliminatory grounds of the Death Tournament, and you’re trying to fight against its 5 times champion, the Dark Lords, said Alex with a smile. Who’s the arrogant one?

Alex jumped with both legs and stomped with his heels in his adversary’s stomach who jerked in pain before losing consciousness. Looking around him, he saw the fray being dispelled by all the guards and the round eyes of the previously angry and now frightened guard. Alex simply smiled at him and waited for them to come. When they came at him, the kind guard glanced at the fallen prisoner and asked:

- Care to explain?

- A new challenger…

- You didn’t need to go that far!

- I was still restrained…

- That doesn’t mean anything. Even restrained, a shark doesn’t fear a carp…

- …

- Ok, ok! Come to the visiting room before going back to your cage, mister Shark.

- Your naming sense is quite mean.

- You deserved it, finished the man before asking two of his fellow guards to bring the defeated one to the infirmary.

The three continued in silence, calm for Alex, thoughtful for the kind one, and nervous for the other. Playfully, Alex whispered to the latter:

- Do not fear! I won’t harm you as long as you do not attack me!

The guard jumped in surprise and tried, with no success, to hide his emotions. But at that time, they were at the visitor room and Alex stopped teasing him to focus and the one waiting for him: a woman in the mid-twenties, quite beautiful but keeping stern attire and looks. She wore thin glasses hiding her deep blue eyes and a white coat. Probably some doctor or scientist! Alex was a little taken aback by that. A lot of secretaries, male or female, came to see him in the benefit of their employers. Always the same scheme: “Become our employer’s bodyguard, and in no time you’ll be free and rich!” He refused all of them.

- Hello. I’m Alexander, but you can call me Alex. No surname! And I’m 21; he began with a smile, the gear in his brain trying to judge his interlocutor. I’m also known as the Dark Lord of the Death Tournament or others less kind nicknames. I take you wanted to meet me.

- Hello Alex! I’m Nathalie Vercoss, or Doctor Vercoss. I’ve come to you with an offer.

- Bodyguards?

- No, she said surprised! I’m not hated to the point of needing a bodyguard. It’s for my research. A friend of mine works in a tribunal and advices me about asking your participation…

- You have all my attention…

- We, I mean me and my team, are doing research on the impact of VRMMO on people and society. We have already some…

- One question, asked rapidly Alex, what is a VRMMO?

Nathalie just looked at him, flabbergasted, her jaw dropping, before coming back to her senses.

- Do you know what virtual reality is?

- Yes, part of my training was done in. It’s kind of another world where your body can’t be broken. All injuries disappear after some time.

- A VRMMO is similar, but the created world is bigger, and people from all over the world connect to it to live adventures!

- Strange idea! But it might be fun…

- That why so much people play those games. We already have pro-gamers joining our tests, but we wanted to use the games to try some reinsertion programs.

- And that’s where my name came? Strange! I have no knowledge of such games!

- And apparently not much experience at what normal interactions with other people should be…

- I won’t deny this. So what’s your offer?

- You’ll participate in our research. You’ll be connected to one game nearly 24 hours a day. Each day you will have a talk with one of our expert to judge your progress, your change. If our specialists judge you ready, you could be released in less than two years.

- That’s your research, said Alex in a smile! What is there for me?

- I… You… You don’t want to go out?

Alex calmly looked at the researcher and smiled.

- Is that all?

- Yea… No… I mean… We’re ready to take care of your sister health check-up, and find her a good house to stay and a school to go at, said Nathalie, not really sure of herself anymore.

Alex took his time thinking, and judging the one facing him. After two minutes, she began to feel uncomfortable under his vigilant gaze. His past experiences had made Alex a good judge of character and he finally made his mind.

- If you’re ready to adopt my sister and take care of her personally, I will be yours to experiment on.

Her jaw just dropped at those words, and she blushed at the double meaning of his world. Still shocked, but curious, she asked:

- Why?

- What do you mean, Doc?

- You have refused so much more interesting offers. Why would you accept this one?

- I have my reasons! But do you accept my proposition, he continued with a smile?

One week later, Alexander was sent to the research facility and placed inside a Game Pod by a team of doctors and connected to a lot of devices which would constantly monitor his health and offer him the necessary nutrients. And there he would be thrown inside of the most popular game of this time, the VRMMORPG “Edge of Magic”.