What defines one's identity? Your soul? Your heart? Your memories? Co-founders Sebastian Sullivan and Taku Yamamoto used those burning questions to fuel the immensely popular and ever-evolving alternative reality MMORPG; Project Eternal Entities. Unfortunately, it was soon after completing their dream that Mr. Sullivan was apart of a terrible traffic accident that caused him to become hospitalized and remain isolated from prying eyes. Failing to comment on widespread rumors that he’d deteriorated to a vegetative state which compelled him to assume the mantle of a permanent administrator dwelling only inside his creation and forever abandoning the real world...

Making interviews with his equally brilliant and private colleague the 'Holy Grail' to The Press. That fateful day happened to simultaneously celebrate the anniversary of the game's launch and his 42nd birthday as Mr.Yamamoto graced the largest network with his presence for a live event to give out an important announcement. But it was clear that something was wrong from the way his glazed eyes stared up at nothing and his voice sounded borderline monotone, an antithesis of his previous exuberant nature. Nearly infamous from how dull the conversation was from this generation’s supposed second most sought after individual. But the last segment was one that everyone remembered...

Interviewer: "You’ve talked about your past and what brought you so close to a young man you happened to chat with in an online forum that you ended up moving in together. Which, for you, meant risking everything by leaving it behind. But what inspired you specifically to make this virtual world?"

Taku Yamamoto: “Since the beginning of existence, men have been fascinated with a higher power. Desperately clinging to their desires to find omnipotence; they dived down the darkest depths into the vastest oceans and soared far beyond the clouds. But humanity was daunted by the insurmountable task they set upon themselves. Outstretching their theories like reaching out for a specific star among a hundred billion that comprised the universe."

"Nowadays, playing God and creating our own universes proved to be more enticing endeavors. Our future flourished under the few that delivered us the greatest advancements in technology. So when the virtual headset market recently exploded into popularity and became a target for mass consumption due to our business. I’ll always feel humbled that I’m partially responsible for a hundred billion dollar industry. More importantly, a vital human experience galvanizing fans across the globe to participate in it together. I cannot thank you all enough, even if I had two lifetimes to do it in...”

Interviewer: "...Do you believe you’ve played god?"

Mr.Yamamoto shared his first genuine expression with a slight smile and a fit of laughter. He stood up from his interviewing chair and clenched his heart with both hands. “Undoubtedly, I’ve thwarted what should be anyone’s greatest fear. Death itself. I’ve discovered the path to immortality—” With those words he almost instantaneously collapsed forward and off camera as he plummeted to the ground. The broadcast shut off and he was pronounced dead the following morning. Nobody was certain what he’d planned on announcing, speculated to have gone crazy because of worsening early-onset Alzheimer's. But Project Eternal Entities only continued to thrive, especially for those also seeking the infinite. In this case; a happier life amidst a shelter of ones' most precious memories...

---

Our journey begins on an early afternoon, inside a suburban cul-de-sac within an upstairs bedroom in a sizable two story home. A bright pink convertible parked into their stone driveway, shaded underneath the big oak tree in their yard. Getting out of the driver’s side and carrying several plastic bags filled with groceries in both arms as she quickly approached the front door. She knocked with her foot, repeatedly kicking against the door before letting out a defeated sigh. Setting all the bags down on the “Welcome Home” mat, as she begrudgingly retrieved her keys still inserted in the ignition.

“My brother is still playing that VR game?” She grumbled to herself, pulling out her kitten keychain with haste and rushing up to unlock the front door. "What’s the odds he’ll come downstairs to help me get the heavier thing out of the backseat?”

The door swung open as she took off her shoes and placed them neatly on the designated floor mat. She called out by holding her hands up to her mouth like a megaphone. “Enzo! Come downstairs, please! Your sister needs you!” Casually turning her head back to notice a pair of chittering squirrels descending the tree and prancing toward her open car door. She squeed in abrupt panic and dashed off toward her car, leaving the front door ajar. “You little rat bastards better not swipe my honey cashews again!”

---

In the real world he would suffer from memory loss constantly, it was a living nightmare. It had been like that for his whole life as far as he knew, but his friends and family knew the truth. Enzo Kawasaki wasn't always a seemingly dim-witted figurative zombie. No, in the past he walked tall in knowing that if he had nothing else he had his friends, family and his good health... However, everything changed when he started to forget. He hardly noticed he was suffering however, the moment he would get depressed he would forget about it soon after. Even if he didn't he always had his virtual world to turn too, his sanctuary, Project Eternal Entities.

---

Through his headset, Enzo could hear someone calling for him. It was a vaguely familiar voice that didn't sound like any of his friends that he could recall. It had to of been in the real world, the world he wished he never had to go back too. With a hefty sigh, the young man bid farewell to the handful of his online friends who were currently signed in and moved to remove the helmet-like headgear that enabled him to transport his consciousness into his character, Zee.

With several slow blinks of his pure green eyes, he felt that he was in the real world before he could even see anything again. Whenever he exited the game it was like he was a different person, with a brain that didn't function properly. His mind was nearly an empty slate with fuzzy memories scattered here and there. He leaned back in his gaming chair to stare at the ceiling. He heard someone repeat their call for him. That voice, he knew that voice, but when he tried to remote it was like, like he couldn't explain, there was no trace of that voice in his head, nothing to recollect. Sometimes it was so frustrating.

"I... I'll be right there..." He called out in return. Though he wasn't sure where there was. Enzo looked around what he could only assume was his bedroom. There were posters on the walls of things he didn't recognize, though he wish he had. On the night stand by his bed was a few figurines of what looked like characters from some kind of video game or maybe a cartoon...? The young man tried to re-familiarize himself with the space. Full-sized bed in one corner, night stand beside it. Dresser to his right, small trashcan by the door on the left. His room was a bit of a rectangle shape with boring white walls, no wonder he put the posters up. Where he was sitting there was a desk, with the VR system sitting on top of it. The rolling chair he was sitting in was a nice leather one, probably something someone had gotten him... he wasn't sure if he had a job to buy something so expensive. On his lap was the thing he cherished most, of that he was sure of. It was his headgear for the VR system. His prized possession and the only way into the game he loved so dearly. Most players preferred to be in game while lying down in bed, same with Enzo, but when he expected it to be a short session he would always sit at the desk since something told him that this furniture set was important to him.

Now that he was re-acquainted with the furniture, he had to find the digital clock that he was always moving around. Not only was his long-term memory affected by whatever disorder he had yet to be diagnosed with, but his short-term memory was not fairing so well either. At some point within the day, every day, he would move it believing that if he did he would remember where he put it if he found a better spot for it. The only thing this accomplished was confusing him ten times more. It didn't matter where he put it regardless of if it was in the same spot or not, he could hardly ever remember where it was. This particular day, his clock was sitting on the dresser beside him. Somehow four hours had passed. To him, that wasn't long, considering he had spent half a day in game on multiple occasions. However, he knew his family would be upset. His family... Family... That must have been who was calling him.

The gamer did not want to leave the oddly familiar comfort of this room. But somehow he recalled that whoever had been calling him had said his sister needed him. Unaware of where they had gone or that they had gone at all, Enzo assumed the worst as he often did and stood up quickly to go rescue the sister that he had no memory of. As fast as he stood up, he nearly threw his chair back into the wall, but fortunately remembered to hang on to his headgear and put in on the desk. He bolted out the door, throwing it open and running out into the hallway of the second story. Once anxiously looked around enough to locate the stairs, he ran down them, nearly running into a girl who could only assume was his sister. However, he could have been wrong. Whoever she was, she was really pretty with those stunning green eyes and dark hair. Oh god... she was related to him, she had to be.

"Enzo!" She gave an exasperated shout as she struggled with the groceries.

"Wh-what?" He wasn't sure what she wanted him to do. "I-I thought someone was in trouble."

It was the most pristine form of constructed chaos and the perfect symbolic representation for the fact that your own upstairs had irreparably changed. Leaving the bedroom was an assault on Enzo’s senses, instantly smelling the strong stink of drying paint and sawdust as it appeared that the entire second story seemed to undergoing renovations. Nearly everything was getting layers of polish that resembled a cover off a House&Gardens magazine, that it scrubbed off any familiarity he might have potentially possessed...

One could imagine this was the feeling of a target in a firing squad as she stood there and shot him an irked glare the moment he descended downstairs. The plastic bags gathered en masse on the opposite side of the opened front door. His youngest sister brushed her long hair back and straightened her uniform after shooing away her snack thieves, but still unable to get rid of the chip on her shoulder. By far the least sympathetic to her sibling’s circumstances and seeing how the rest of the family babied her brother’s state of mind bothered her. To garner the attention she craved required a sturdy brain and work ethic, yet she observed a contradictory path in Enzo's permanent leisure being lavished with affection.

She hung her keys up and glanced into the living room to her left, relieved to notice the vacuum was sitting there with the cord wrapped up properly. Her tired sigh matched the tone and brevity of her words giving Enzo instructions while pointing outside toward her car.

“Brother. Please just grab the two cardboard boxes in my backseat and don’t forget to close the door.”

With that said she'd already carried some of the groceries and passed him by going into the kitchen around the corner of their stairs. Her hopes shattered as she carefully set down jars of spaghetti sauce onto the island to make sure their food wouldn’t follow suit. Gasping aghast a dirty display as she realized the sink of yesterday's dishes sat there unwashed. She quickly rushed over to read what had been stuck on the fridge with a cartoon smiley face magnet.

Your mother and father have gone out of state again to seek assistance with Enzo’s psychiatric treatment. We’ll be back in a few days! Our uncle Stefano, who’s helping us remodel our upstairs, should be there all afternoon in case of any emergencies. His number is 407-202-4343. We love all of you! Keep an eye out for one another and remember to feed the goldfish! - ♡ Mom

She peered up at the calendar with pictures of cats hanging from trees accurate to the season, finger touching the date. “I knew it. It was Nick’s turn to wash the dishes and throw away the trash. He’ll be getting an earful from me when he gets back home from practice.” She thought with a pout before approaching the kitchen sink, grabbing and soaping up the sponge, turning on the faucet as hot water filled the sink.

---

What awaited for him if he were to dwell outdoors was sounds of neighbors lawn mowers, mild weather and partially cloudy skies. Plus a pair of miffed squirrels tossing empty acorn shells from atop the branches on the hood of his sister’s convertible. Her backseat consisting of two large boxes; one that held multiple encyclopedias, and quite literally, a heavy amount of other reading material. The other seemed to be filled with an assortment of crafting materials. Paper, paint, strings, wire, brushes, beads. It would be a difficult process to hold a box of budding imagination and stop seeing an inescapable mundanity that this life offered that utterly failed to captivate like the virtual world could...

Things were always changing, such was the way of life, but how could he know that? Things were always changing because he couldn't remember the way they were before...

Staring after his sister as she walked into the other room, he crinkled his eyebrows in confusion. She had called him brother. So she must have been his sister... At this realization, he grimaced, the thought that he had considered his sister attractive was disturbing. "I'm sorry..." He whispered, feeling bad that he hadn't remembered her. However, soon after walking outside to the her pink car, he had already forgotten about it. In fact, he had nearly forgotten what he had walked outside of the house for. The sun glared down at him, causing him to wince because he hadn't been outside in quite a while. The brightness was different than what he experienced in game. It was... real? His mind wandered into the concept of what was the real world and what wasn't. Shaking his head in dismay, Enzo reached out to grab the boxes he was supposed to be carrying inside.

"What was I doing...?" The young man with a strong curious streak, lightly rummaged through the boxes. Books and some weird combination of things that he didn't understand. It was quite a while that he spent staring at those boxes, his brows knitted together trying so hard to remember what he was out there for. Enzo sat down, on the concrete driveway of their house and pushed his hair back with one hand, gripping his hair, trying to force the memories back into his head. Come on... come ON. He tightened his hand around a section of his hair so much that it brought tears to his eyes. Frustrate beyond belief, the gamer released his hair and stared down at the ground in defeat. He hated not being able to remember things. Sometimes he even forgot who he was. He'd walk around like an empty shell of a human being, nothing but a mass of bones, muscles, and organs. His brain was just a pile of mush in his skull, at least that's what it felt like most of the time.

When he closed his eyes, all he could think of was Zee, his character in his favorite MMORPG. When a light breeze brushed the skin on his face and it felt as if he was in the game. The vision was blurred in his mind, but he could feel the virtual sun on his face, the wind through his hair, he could smell the grass as if he was there. But he was in the 'real world', supposedly, and all that he was feeling was real. With his knees pulled up to his chest and his arms wrapped around his legs, the eighteen year old opened his eyes to stare up at the sky. All of the thoughts of the game dissipated as if they were blown away.

Time had escaped him. It felt as if a life time had passed. He had completely blanked on what he was doing, even the thought of who he was and where he was had disappeared. Like a child, he simply stared up at the sky as if the answers were up in the clouds somewhere. This was him now. A mindless, pitiful creature with nothing left to live for but his game and online friends. He didn't want this to be his fate, but he knew nothing else, he had no control over his own mind.

The condition was like a natural disaster. It merely shook everyone’s stability at first, but even as they attempted to stumble back up and recover, it continued growing out of control, leaving the foundation of their family in disrepair. It admittedly wasn’t a pleasant thought for his sister to have, setting the last dish into the drying rack with a sigh of relief. Having the responsibility to complete undone chores rewarded her with hands that stinked like citrus. Exiting the kitchen to check on her brother’s progress and grab the remainder of the groceries. Soon made clear that her downtime to study was put between a rock and hard place with her brother staring off into space. Pondering if she should abstain from her usual hand-holding with her joints already sore from scrubbing stains, and just go up into her room and casually practice with her flashcards until Enzo’s brain-train back to Earth arrived. She could almost see the steam coming from both their ears, if only for different reasons. She was interrupted by following a ringtone melody blaring from the living room, retrieving Enzo’s phone from in-between couch cushions. “This explains why he never answered my call…”

She quickly approached Enzo with his phone in hand and snapped her fingers to grab his attention while speaking in a dry tone. “Transmission from Audrey Kawasaki, get boxes out of backseat and into the house.” As she swiftly slapped his phone into his palm once she’d gotten his attention. “And keep that on you, so our parents can actually get in touch-”

Enzo suddenly heard the familiar melody he’d received in-game for messages coming from his smartphone; the outside case had the logo and the wallpaper was its title screen. Receiving messages from his online friend and frequent party member, 'Lycaon, “The Dispossessed”'. Displaying a chibi version of his in-game avatar in the corner of the screen along with each sent message. The color deliberately added to add a sense of urgency.

Blood brother! Have you returned to cosmos of the preordained?

I’ll be patiently awaiting your accession into ‘Krist’. I’ll be just across the ‘Gateway Of Beginnings’.

Don’t keep me waiting...

Several short texts that would have appeared to be inane gibberish to anyone else. The cosmos of the preordained referred to and was infamously stated by the creator’s founder who firmly disbelieved in the concept of free will, at least in this universe, clarifying that alternative universes weren’t held by the same metaphysical constrictions. Thusly, creating that title. Krist, being the name of one of the designated starting areas and the ‘Gateway’ was just a bridge that crossed the nearby river getting them out of the town's 'Safe Zone' that prevented PVP (Player versus Player) dueling and monster battles.

In reality these texts belonged to Lorenzo Kawasaki, the middle child of the family of five. He was living in a college dorm on the other side of the world. Always considered to be the most introverted, even after these distressing circumstances, also having the reputation of being the bad apple of their family tree. His approach to connecting with Enzo was the diametric opposite of his families endeavors to refamiliarize him to the physical realm and went against many of his therapists’ suggestions. Simply engulfing himself in the destructive fires of the facade, not minding if his fuel burned every bridge on the way. His most recent present delivered was a smartphone that had been altered significantly. The software and nearly everything else was designed to imitate the options menu and optional HUD displayed in Project Eternal Entities, with practically identical sound effects, graphics and soundtrack replacing the original features. Playing the same game and roleplaying as that virtual character in all his conversations with his ‘blood brother’. Calling his human appearance a stealthy deception commonly practiced by members of the Werewolven race.

Still waiting for her brother to help, Audrey grumbled as she brushed the mass of acorn shells off the hood of her car. “Damn squirrels.”

This is how it often was, losing time like this. Getting lost in the emptiness in his own head, what did it matter anymore? Enzo was gazing off into nothingness for an undetermined amount of time. He hadn't really even realized he was doing it, until his sister came out and got his attention. The sound coming from his phone was a familiar one. Probably the only sound he knew well. When Audrey spoke and slapped his phone into his hand he glanced at the phone before casting his eyes up at her. "I-I'm sorry... What was I doing? You said getting boxes?" He sniffled a little and unconsciously wiped tears from his face with the sleeve of his sweatshirt. Once again he looked down at his phone in his hand and a small smile came onto his face at the red text that appeared there.

"Lycaon." The memory impaired teen whispered to himself. He hadn't even noticed his sister was fuming mad, once upon a time Enzo was incredibly perceptive to the emotions of others, but now, he seemed as dim-witted as a rock. Blinking slowly at the phone for a moment, he finally stood, silencing the noise and stuffing the phone in the pocket of his sweatpants. "Audrey." He somehow knew the name, she must of said it at some point since coming outside to see what he was doing. Without really saying anything else, Enzo moved to grab the boxes out of the car, stacking one on top of the other and heading toward the house. As weak as he appeared to be, from not getting much physical activity, he was able to carry the boxes with ease. Not knowing where she wanted them he wandered around until he found the kitchen and set the boxes down on the nearest empty counter.

Once again he said nothing to Audrey as she came into the house, he wasn't really sure what to say, real life social interaction wasn't really his forte. Sighing, he exited the kitchen, ignoring the displeased expression on his sibling's face. Somehow, he managed to find his way upstairs to his room, his body must have found its way there on its own because he couldn't remember how to get up there. At last he was able to get back to the game. With the door shut behind him, he hurried over to his game helmet and brought it over to the bed. He sat for a moment on the side of the bed, staring down at the helmet in his hands. Another small smile garnished his face and he laid in the bed, placing the helmet on his head as he did so.

In just moments he was transported into the game and it was like life was breathed into him. As soon as he entered the game, he, as his avatar Zee, reached out and pulled up the menu to check the message again that Lycaon had left for him. It seemed the friends he had been playing with before were no longer in the area, which was a given, he didn't ask them to wait up.

The avatar Enzo had created, Zee, was that of the Elven race, standing at 6'3" with a hairstyle similar to Enzo's but with white as the base and a blue streak. Zee's eyes were pools of pure blue, with a slightly pointed nose and average sized Elf ears to boot. His casual outfit consisted of little to no armor but had high stats due to him being such a high level in the game it gave him the ability to wear nothing but regular clothes and still have high defense, dexterity and agility. Normally, a smirk adorned the cocky Elf man's face, him being of Rogue class, his lightweight boots gave him the sneak advantage, allowing him to attack quietly with his throwing knives. His character excelled not only with knives but his archery skill was also incredibly high, even for an Elf.

Responding to the message, Zee spoke out loud to the chat menu in front of him. "Back in game. OMW."

It would seem that Zee had left himself out in the open in the desert region of Dutumia, a place that many players had not made it to, or would not go due to the ridiculously high level monsters that spawned in that area. Luckily, the nearest spawns were not within triggering distance of him but were within eyesight. "Oi, teleporting out of here is going to be a pain in the ass if one spawns right here while I'm teleporting..."

---

The grass blades danced to the delicate breeze brushing through his thick fur as the big black beast basked in the comforting light. Sunshine shimmering against his silver shoulder plates and drawn crimson blade that his blackened tongue caressed clean. The sensory pleasures of claws squishing as they dug deeper into a deer’s carcass with the enamoring scent that made everything come to life. Another pelt had been left for any random player to pick it up, as the reward was the hunt itself. Lycaon had stood up from his resting position and casually sauntered onto the dirt road, plodding along while waiting on several players. Soon receiving Zee’s message and reading it brought a toothy grin across his face as he quickly sent a reply...

Excellent. I’m roaming the trail and enjoying the sunshine. I’ll be smelling your arrival.”

Lycaon checked his other message again, staring at it intently for a few moments before his sigh showed off an inhumanly deep voice, unconsciously scratching his belly to settle himself down.

Understood. So has it been solved yet?

We only just discovered its location last week. We’ve spent half of our resources just keeping other players away from it…

I’ll keep you posted. We need to find those artifacts!

Well I already have a plan for one of them. Where do you want to meet us?

His last message was sent an hour ago and he still hadn’t received word back. “Talk about being inconsiderate of one’s precious time.” His many tails swayed in rhythm with his wavering constraint to not follow up, but he swallowed his pride whole like his food. In reality he used his spare time to devour several 'low-fat' ramen cups that stacked tall with the rest of the trash in his dorm room, serving as a monument to his excess that was as equally ravenous in the virtual world. But Lycaon wasn't salivating to sink his fangs into noodles, and fat wasn't the thing that he so desperately desired to cut.

But that could wait until his 'Blood Brother' arrived...

The sun beat down on the already hot sand, mixed with the dry, warm wind it was like being baked alive in a giant oven.
Zee loved it. This, and his friends, was one of the things he absolutely lived for, the realism in the game. The young man could really feel the heat from the desert he was in. It tickled all of his senses, not just his sense of feeling/touch. He could smell the sand, see all around for miles, hear the wind whistling in his elongated Elf ears. Randomly scattered around him he could see the over-sized scorpions him and his friends had been fighting earlier. They were strong, but not enough to take him down unless they were in great numbers.

Zee was grateful that he hadn't loaded into a battle. With a few quick hand motions in front of him, he opened his inventory to withdraw a teleportation crystal. They were uncommon items that took either a high enough level to craft or enough coin to buy them. Newbies were always gifted three of them when they first started the game, but without any discovered locations they were unable to use them. However, in the case of most first timers, once more places on the map were located, the newbies were pretty wasteful with their crystals because they did not know the value of them. At the high level he was at now, Enzo was able to craft them when he had the proper materials, and whenever he was able to find them for sale he could afford them.

The Elf glanced around once more before crushing the shimmering blue crystal in his hand. The crystal shattered, dispersing into magic dust that sparkled in the beating sunlight. The magic was activated and Zee disappeared in a poof of similar sparkles. Teleportation crystals could take you to any location, so long as it was a safe zone and it had been previously discovered by the player using the crystal. Since it wasn't possible to teleport directly to his brother, he had to settle for teleporting to the safe zone he was just outside of.

Somewhere along the way, he had received a message from Lycaon. It brought a smile to his face followed by a small chuckle to know that Lycaon would be 'smelling his arrival'. The wolf-man race had an exquisite sense of smell and since his brother knew his scent he would not have to worry about Lycaon sensing him as a threat. He had to make sure he was full-up on health potions, only because he liked to be prepared, not that he would need an extensive amount of them at any given time, but one never knew.

At last, after stopping at a vendor to buy potions, Zee was ready to be off into the wilderness. With a deep inhale of the fresh air in Krist, he took off running toward the bridge that his brother had spoken of. Feeling his boots hit the ground hard and the burning in his lungs from running so fast, he couldn't help but grin, he loved it, all of it. It did not take long for him to book it across the bridge and exit the safe zone. It was to be assumed that Lycaon would find him first, so he slowed a bit and followed the road.

Lycaon’s claws boredly picked between his sharp fangs forming an amused grin. Watching a few new players cautiously sneaking across the fields like he was another monster way above their level, not that he could blame them. Catching a glimpse of a pack of Anterlings frolicing through the clouds, creating streaks of blue as they passed in-between the low clouds before his nostrils flared up the moment Zee crossed ‘The Gateway Of Beginnings’. Sheathing his blade and quickly assessing his inventory to check on if his crafting recipes had finished brewing. Neither had to travel much further to end up seeing each others avatar. Taking the time to sense nobody else nearby, he called out with bombastic enthusiasm. He casually approached as his party request had been sent to Zee to accept.

“Blood Brother! Welcome back.” Lycaon hardly paused after his greeting to get straight to business, which was fairly typical behavior for him. Though his lack of stillness showed some form of excitement; fidgeting paws and claws frequently scratching through his fur, his many tails swaying in constant motion. “We’re waiting on some more members to arrive. Will you be ready to venture into unexplored territory? This might be one of the most important discoveries our server has made in its history.” A statement certainly not to be taken lightly, especially coming from Lycaon. It was true that several locations had yet to be discovered or at least entered even by the upper echelon of players and rumors of various degrees of supplementary evidence expressing ideas of places and even other dimensions not even showing on the map. But finding such a thing sounded too good to be true, and the idea it was anywhere near Veros Plains was an utterly preposterous idea at best. So the question of why had the met there would likely cross one’s mind...

And before that could even be responded to, Lycaon received and checked on his new messages. His confident grin briefly turned into a glaring frown before immediately dismissing it, even if his expression couldn't hide his apparent displeasure.