Epitaph

Prologue [NINE YEARS AGO]

Laughter bounced off the walls of the white room occupied by two children. A little boy and a girl kneeling in front of an array of crayons and paper. Their drawings of people clad in colorful clothing with jewel embedded crowns on their heads and swords raised high. Dragons, prepared to breathe their mighty flames and fairies fluttering into the breeze. Childish drawings that were crude but the imagination was there. The doors to the room slid open and the girl glanced up.

"Father," she cried. Pushing up from the floor and rushing to greet him as he stepped into the room. The boy noticed and moved to catch up to her. Despite the circles under his eyes and the weariness in his smile, he greeted the children with a comforting pat to the head. They drew him towards their artwork and he knelt down to observe the drawings with curiosity. As the children explained their drawings to him, his smile grew warmer.

"A water fairy, hm?" He inquired before ruffling the boy's hair. "Thats an interesting concept, Keisuke, did you read it somewhere?" Keisuke nodded quickly before going on to praise a book that his mother had just read to him a few nights ago. "I see, that is amazing. I'm proud of you both. However, could I ask your help on a project of my own?"

The children agreed before he could finish his sentence and their eagerness was noted. Taking their hands and leading them from the room, they traveled through long windowless corridors before coming to another open space. However instead of being filled with nothing, there was lab equipment along with several tables and desks that were occupied by people. The attendants noticed the children and gave them curt nods at their greetings or small smiles before continuing with their work.

The man led the two children to a small table. On the table were two devices, similar in size and color, that seemed like headsets with a visor. "This is the Nirvana Omniverse, after years of testing and innovation, we may have finally created a finished product." He glanced down to the children who seemed more captivated with their reflections in the visor than his explanation. Sighing with a slight smile, he tapped their shoulders to gain their attention. "This is a very important job, so I need the two of you to listen to me. Understand?" After receiving confirmation through nods, he continued.

"Anna, Keisuke. I want the two of you to try the Nirvana Omniverse with me. If you do, we can go to a new world. A wonderful place with water fairies and dragons, where the fun never has to end and anyone can be a hero." Keisuke's eyes lit up and he turned to look towards Anna whose expression mirrored his own. Several of the attendants who overheard the conversation looked worriedly at one another. Only one came forward and caught the attention of the man who stood to talk with them as the children animatedly talked to one another.

"Roland, are you sure that this is appropriate? They are only children and if the prototype proves to be dysfunctional then they could -"

Roland's eyes narrowed causing the discussion to come to an end. He glanced towards the children, more pointedly to Anna, her face was lit with excitement although her words were falling on deaf ears. He would show it to her. He would give her the opportunity to see that world.

"If anything goes wrong, I will take full responsibility. Prepare for transmission." The other attendants shared a gaze before continuing with the orders. Roland guided the children to the table urging them both to sit upon one of chairs. After being seated and guided on the proper mechanics to secure the headset, the visor slipped over their eyes. Roland stood to his feet and went to one of the attendants who was busily checking te data and coding. He glanced back towards the unsuspecting children before placing a hand on the attendant's shoulder.

"Send them in."

Keisuke's eyes slipped shut as he felt a warm embrace. It wasn't surrounding him exactly, but he could feel it on the inside. As if someone was hugging him from the inside. It was the same feeling that caused him to grow sleepy like eating warm cookies and milk before bed. Darkness was all that he could see and then an explosion of color surrounded him. His eyes widened as he held out his hands to catch onto something only to find that he couldn't see his hands at all. Where was Anna? Where was anything?