The Core: The First Guest

41. Learning to wield power

I glanced around my yacht. It looked like Tutor and George hadn't fancied the idea of living on a ship in space as much as I had because nothing had changed. Well, there was a stack of mail for me on a little table near the travel disk. The physical representation of paper envelopes was a nice addition to detail by Tutor. Next to the envelopes, there was a sheet of paper that I picked up. It had a list of past-due notifications that I had forgotten to attend to.

"Oh right! I was supposed to name that creature!" I said aloud as I thought back to the creature that had tried to eat the pod. I had two words that I liked that seemed to match the monster so I decided to mash them together. "Wräth" was my end result. I had mixed "Wraith" and "Wrath" together, just using a special character to denote the "i". It seemed to fit.

One was a ghost or ghostlike image of someone and the other was extreme anger. I smiled as I wrote a little description as to why I had picked the name before sending it off to the two foundations waiting on it.

Next on my list was to go through several letters from my friends. I picked up Xa's letter first and opened it to find a small photo along with a letter.

Dear Kevin,

It has been a year since you joined us and we all wanted to wish you a happy birthday! Here is a replica of the photo and one of the reasons why you are here with us. We three were planning on throwing you a birthday party but you still seem to be inaccessible in real-time for some reason. Everyone says hi and we will have to get together when you get back.

P.s. If it was for a courier job, next time talk to me first, I have plenty of clients that pay well.

Sincerely,

Xa the 3rd.

The photo was the same photo that I had taken of Xa back as a child. On the back, written in flowing handwriting, was a little note that said "Here is to not forgetting me. Xa."

I smiled so big at the inscription and laid the little photo down reverently. It was an amazingly thought-out gift. "Hmm... I guess you kind of have to be creative in VR when anyone can have anything that they can think of." I mused as I picked up Hxerdinand's letters and read through them. The first one was a birthday wish very similar to Xa's and the second and third were just short notes about my plans once I reached a new Core. The fourth and last letter was a collection of the times that he had tried to get ahold of me. It seemed that Tutor had started to add them all to the same envelope.

Kevin,

I have been in touch with Xa and Elaya and both of them say that they haven't been able to reach you. Something must have happened to you right after you left us. Don't worry! We are looking for you!

Kevin,

I feel like I have exhausted all options trying to find you. I hope you can forgive me. It has been years since we last heard from you in VR. We all have set our AI to search for any mention of you. Please forgive this old man for failing you.

Kevin,

I don't know if you will get this but Elaya's dad has gone missing as well. Xa and I have narrowed it down to Magus the 2nds Core. The lead culprit seems to be Magus the 2nd. Xa is trying to use the news to have the people help in searching for you but the Core has been under a news blockage for a long time. Ever since Magus the 2nd entered VR back when we last saw you.

Elaya's messages weren't letters in the traditional sense. They all seemed to be past due invitations to certain events and outings. It made me wonder if they taught younglings how to write letters in VR.