Death Cast

01.6 | Grecia Bella Theatre

"All of us here received a deal with the grim reapers. It is to take part in a study with the objective of trying to understand the nature of Autumns. In exchange, we are granted a new lease of life, more specifically, been pardoned off by grim reapers for a while."

Ken stated the basic premise of the deal they made with the grim reapers. He glanced at the faces of the people around him, giving each one of them a look, and nodded off his head.

"I guess everyone knows about it. Or at least had known this basic information before signing it."

The Autumns, either standing around, seated to the ground or chairs silently listened to his words. Some of them had been given enough time to discuss the contract with their respective grim reapers while there are also like Jaerim who was hurried out because of their nearing death.

"Unfortunately, due to the time constraints, we weren't given enough time to talk about the terms and conditions of the contract. We are only told that we only needed to finish the world or survive the world. But what does that mean?"

It might sound easy but the most confusing term in the contract. What does finishing a world means? What does surviving the world refers to?

There is no defined information about this concept.

"First, we have to understand where we are," Ken stated.

He fished out a piece of chalk from his pockets and started drawing an uneven circle on the wall. Ken wrote the words "WORLD" in the middle part.

"We are transported to a world - somewhere - where a certain set of rules existed. These rules define the storyline that we have to follow and also serves as the hint on how to finish or survive the world."

He made a number of small circles inside the large circle, encasing it like a balloon with pebbles within. The word "SAFE ZONE" was written after enough circles had been made.

"The rules of the world keep the balance and order of the storyline. It has the same function with the government's laws. It is important for us to follow these rules," Ken looked at crowd, beckoning them to participate.

"Anyone could give me any idea why?"

The crowd only made some blinking expression before someone raised their hand. Jaerim glanced at the person beside him. Noel had been one of the lucky Autumns who were given the chance to talk with the regulations written on the contract so there was no wonder he could understand most of the premise.

Noel didn't wait for Ken to call him and just directly answered, "If the rules are the law of the world, then, following it will more likely to determine the safety of an individual. Like, if one crosses the street properly, the possibility of dying due to a hit and run is slim."

The law simply keeps the people safe from danger and controls the crowd to maintain public security. Though, the rules in these world simulations have lesser sense of security due to its nature of increasing entropy, it still serves a good protection to keep one's life longer.

"And the way of its machinations, if ever someone desires to challenge the rules and violate it, a certain degree of punishment could be expected. Probably, in our case, that is equal to death," Noel concluded.

"Impressive," Ken gave Noel a full star. "Then, based on your thoughts, what could be this world's rules?"

Noel thought for a while. "Err... Does it have something to do with performance?"

"That's correct," Carl, from the corner, made his first statement. "This world follows a storyline of performers. We could then assume that finishing this world has something to do with performing some stunt or completing a set of performances.''

The concept is quite reasonable but there are some parts Jaerim could not understand. Things didn't just add up. Jaerim thought of the things that he had seen on the way. He subconsciously rubbed his right ear's lobule out of habit, loudly saying his thoughts.

"Through analogy, the world could be assumed as a story written in a book. The rules serves as the determinant of the limitations and progress on the outline. However, we didn't know about the story and have no idea to which part of the book we have been thrown."

Jaerim noticed the sudden silence around him and found people looking at him. He stopped fiddling his ears, lowered his head, and apologized for interrupting the discussion. However, Ken didn't mind and even told him to continue.

"That is a unique way of viewing it," Carl agreed. "What else do you want to say?"

Jaerim only hesitated for a while, and said, ''If a world follows a certain storyline, then, all things displayed on that world would have a certain use and importance. Looking at it through the fourth wall, these pieces of information could be considered as clues to the events that will unfold in the future.''

The things they had seen should not be taken for granted.

Ken nodded in satisfacion, giving Jaerim a profound look. He pretty much have a good impression from this guy. Of all the new Autumns he had encountered from the last two worlds he finished, this is the first time he had seen someone so calm.

Though there are people who also shows the same state, it is just a false bravado. They are just people who are rational enough to keep their fears on hold but totally useless when practical skills are needed. These people also often causes trouble since the state of danger narrows their judgement, focusing on protecting themselves than looking for ways to escape.

He glanced at the other new Autumns who are obviously been plaqued with paranioa and fear, biting their nails or fiddling their hands while looking around with wide eyes, then to Jaerim's figure that stood firm without any excessive actions. Coupled by the clothes he was obviously forced to wear, the youth gave off a feeling of stability and reassurance, as if everything would be possible under his presence.

Ken is pleased. Having someone with a good mental fortitude is always good.

''I'm assuming that you have reached a certain understanding in this world by looking round. What do you think the storyline could be?''

Jaerim collected the ideas running around in his head since his arrival in this world and gave it his best shot.

''This is a storyline where we are performers,'' he said, quoting Carl's words. Jaerim pointed to his clothes and the compared it to others. ''Different performing dance troupes meeting in a theatre, if not for a simple friendly meeting, could mean that a competition is expected. There are also posters outside the hall stating about the re-opening of a theatre with free admissions, etc.''

In simple world, it will gonna be a dance competition.

Someone from the crowd raised their hand. ''Does it mean that in order to finish this world, we have to win the competition?''

It's quite an expected ending and pretty much the usual. However, it only took Jaerim five seconds to disagree.

''I don't think this world works that way,'' he said.

Noel looked at him with questionable eyes. ''How could you say that?''

''Well, if things could be done so obviously, how could it be a role suited for a Death Cast?''

If things work in that way, then the world and the grim reapers are really giving them an easy job. Though competing with each other means a bloody war, it was still way more easy for a resolution. He thought that there should be something more, a stimulation or trigger, to activate the Autumn's abnormal behavior. It cannot be done by simply showin off some basic skills.

''He's correct,'' Ken supported Jaerim's claim. ''Aside from the rules that makes up the storyline, there is also the concept of role-playing.''

''Role-playing, as the name suggests refers to the roles we play to the certain world. You can consider it as a persona given to you by the world.''

The worlds are big and there are plenty of characters. The roles the Autumns play are different from each other. The classification of roles are dependent to its involvement to the story line. Characters that greatly affects the progress of the story are considered as special characters while those roles that only awaits for the door to open and escape are identified as mob characters.

It means that the world wasn't a total collaborative activity.

"So that's what it is," Jaerim said, clearing an area of his brain that had been mulling over the answer. "That satisfied the premise."

He had been thinking how the rules could keep the Autumns under control. It seems that the roles were used as a tipping balance to keep everything in line.

"How do we determine our role in the world?" Someone asked from the crowd.

Ken answered, "The roles will be given after the neutral period ended."

"Neutral period?"

"It is the period before the real storyline starts."

The simulations wasn't inhumane to throw new players to a board without preparations. Of course, this setting changes the moment they crossed the fifth stage of the simulation.

"Now, any clarifications before we could start planning for our next move?"

"Hold up," Jaerim called out."

"Yes?"

"You said that we will possess roles somewhere at the start of the simulation, right? Then, it means that it wasn't a group activity. There is no need for a collaboration."

One person might get a different role, maybe an enemy role or something. Collaborating will only put the innocent roles into danger. Ken, however, eased up his worries.

"New players attending their first world will not be given any roles," Ken said. "You guys are exempted."

"Really?" Jaerim, and most of the players, made a shocked expression. "Then, isn't this world just a walk in the park?"

"So that's why grim reapers are sure that new Autumns could pass the First World," Noel said. "Since, we don't really have to do anything than to wait for the story to unfold."

"But that is very unrealistic," Jaerim commented.

He could not believe that such a leeway would exist. He looked at Ken who seems are looking at him with an amused expression. Jaerim immediately raised his defenses up, returning the expression with a wary look. Ken only chuckled lightly, exposing an undeniable truth.

"Of course, that's unrealistic. Everyone needs to contribute to complete the world. You still have to participate. Please be reminded by the premise of the contract. We are here to serve as test subjects, not an idler. We have to at least hand out some data or else we will be breaching the contract."

Then, breaching the contract means termination of their life.

"We still don't have the idea about the storyline of this world, but one things is for sure, we have to participate in a dance contest. Which means, despite not having a role, you still have dance on the stage."

The main idea of the discussion had been disclosed. A few more questions were entertained, most of them are just clarifications of the terms. After two hours, Ken adjourned the meeting. They ended the discussion by introducing themselves one by one.

There are five Autumns to the crew Jaerim and Noel belonged. They didn't have the chance to meet them earlier since the other two members are no longer new players and had been added directly to the crew from the start, while the other one stayed beside their grim reaper. It is only the two of them who had the courage to roam around without any sense of danger.

"The story line will be revealed tomorrow so I suggest you guys prepare yourselves and have a good rest today. Don't roam around to search early clues. Stay in your room and don't go out."

Ken seriously said the words. He placed emphasis to the last phrase.

"What will happen if we go out?" Someone asked.

"Nobody knows," Ken shrugged. "But unknown creatures tend to show up dead in the night."

Everyone suddenly felt the air become cold. Jaerim scratched the his nape, feeling the hairs raise from goosebumps. Noel shuddered, hugging himself for self comfort. Ken did not hide any pretense since he knows there are some people who are stupid enough to violate the rules without minding the consequences. It would be their loss if ever these people would trigger something bad.

"Don't worry, aside from grouping together, your rooms are one of the safest place. Just lock the door properly so no one would enter the room without your permission."

The group finally dispersed after Ken told the group to have a daily meeting every night over the dinner table. They will discuss the clues they found during the day. He suggested the people to only talk within the group and avoid interacting with each other so nobody will notice their peculiarity.

Jaerim bid his farewell and walked over to the rooms assigned under his troupe. After walking out from the circle, the noise of the people around them become evident. The crew that treated them air began to notice their existence. Jaerim and Noel ignored the curious eyes of the crowd and went straight inside their rooms, following Ken's suggestion by locking it tightly and went to sleep once it's done.