Virtue

Chapter 2: Principuim

The walk to town was quiet, the only sounds heard were those of the animals going about their business in the forest. Jinn was watching the holo-map as they walked and watching as it slowly filled in the dark void with detailed markings and features of the land. Rem noticed the holo-map and grinned.

"Looks like you figured out how the DCT works, that's probably a good thing since it's the only thing that keeps you alive most of the time out here."

"DCT?"

"Yeah, its stands for Data and Communications Terminal."

"Do you have one too?"

"Sure do!" Rem lifted his arm above his head and showed the metallic object stuck to his arm.

"Is there any way to take it off?" Jinn said while trying to pry the device off his arm. He looked up to find an angry glare.

"If you try to take it off ... you'll die." Jinn could feel the seriousness in Rem's voice as he spoke the words of caution, immediately removing his prying hand from the device and placing it to his side. "I don't know how it works but I know it's not a good idea to try and take it. All the sorry suckers I've seen that managed to take it off died instantly." Jinn could see the seriousness in his eyes as he spoke, he turned around and continued walking towards town. Jinn stood in awe for a second realizing that he could've ended his life previously without even knowing it. He looked at his arm once again and then looked up to see Rem had left him and was a way's ahead of him. As he put his arm down he began to jog to catch up to Rem.

A tall arch spanned the entrance of the town and the word Principium read across it, the path underneath was made of several stone bricks and led straight ahead towards the tallest building in town. There were many people in town but one thing was bothering Jinn about the townsfolk. The all seemed to be around the same age as him and Rem.

"Rem how old are all these people?"

"Well what's your best bet?"

"They all seem to be young and around the same as us."

"Good observation but do you know how old you are?" The words that Rem had spoken hit Jinn hard. He hadn't even thought about that question; he couldn't remember how old he was just like he couldn't remember where he came from or of anyone else in his life.

"I don't actually know how old I am." Jinn said with a bit of regret in his voice.

"Don't sweat it. We all have that in common. No one really knows how old we are instead we go by the number of years we've been in Virtue."

"How many years have you been here?"

"Well I actually haven't been in Virtue all that long it's only been two months since I woke up in the middle of the woods."

"Wait you mean you woke up in the middle of the woods too?"

"Oh. Did I not mention that everyone who's new to Virtue wakes up in the middle of the woods?"

"No, you didn't" Jinn wore a face of annoyance as they kept walking through the town. The other residents of the town stared as they walked down the street. There were shops and stands on the way, some had bottles of all colors and others had armor and weapons, food was also being sold throughout the street. They lined the street that Jinn and Rem walked on, the other citizens dressed in an array of clothes. from robes to high tech armor in a rainbow of color. "Why is everyone staring at me?"

"Oh it's just because they can tell you're a newbie. The clothes you're wearing say it all." Jinn looked down at his seemingly simple outfit that stood out from everyone else's.