Elemental Warriors Online

Benjamin Asamoah Adams

As Benjamin looked at the curtains behind Austin he was reminded how much he hated that yellow print. It was striped with green lines and it gave Benjamin the impression of sickness. Of course that’s not too surprising considering this was a hospital.

It had everything any hospital could be expected to have, the thick scent of disinfectant, the nurses, doctors, white halls. But this hospital had whole wards with chipped and fading paint, the once white walls yellowed to such a sickly color it made Benjamin wonder whether the hospital itself was not in need of its own decorator.

The Kayode children’s hospital had been standing for almost a hundred and fifty years. It was one of the oldest buildings in new Abuja and it also doubled as an orphanage. Benjamin had been one of it’s residents ever since he was twelve. He felt like it was only yesterday that he was standing at the steps, right beside his ailing grandfather.

A lot had changed since then. Benjamin lost his parents when he was eight. Or at least the only parent he had ever known. His mother had left his father just after he was born. And if rumors were to be believed, she never had a choice. Benjamin was told his mother was the daughter of an ancient and influential family. Her life had already been decided for her, long before she was born.

Her relationship with his father had been due to her going through a rebellious phase. But eventually, she had to go back to her family. It was another thing Benjamin was left to wish for, to dream for.

He was raised by his father, grandfather and grandmother. But that day six years ago he was deprived of his father and his grandmother. His grandfather had to cash in on a favor, and now they lived in this orphanage/ hospital.

“ Ben are you listening to me?”

“ Ahhh, am sorry Uncle Austin. What did you say?”

“ damn it Ben, now I have to start explaining everything all over again. And drop the uncle nonsense its not funny. Its much too late to act like you have any single smidge of a respectful bone in your body.”

“ you do know there’s no such thing as a respectful bone. I mean you are the head of a hospital how could you make such a mistake. What a shame.”

“ don’t play smart with me Ben. Just pay attention would you.”

“ okay, okay. What’s so important that you stopped me from going to class. Its my first day in college and I don’t need any of your drama. Go bother aunty Kemi if that’s the case.

Austin looked so red with frustration Ben felt like he was going to explode. Austin has been like a big brother to him for the six years he has been here. He had taken care of both Benjamin and his grandfather, for all of the years they had been here. They were family, but no one could quite drive Austin crazy like Benjamin could.

“ Ben please I need you to be serious. This concerns your future, it concerns all of our futures.”

Ben nodded his head.

“ I know you just started college on a one year scholarship from the government but, eventually you would have to start paying once that year is over. So to avoid this, you would need to find another avenue of making money. Also the expenses of taking care of Nana has gone up.

Ben he needs surgery, or I can guarantee you, he wouldn’t live past the next six months.”

Austin took a break just to watch Ben's reaction. And just like he expected the young man looked so scared. There was not many things in this world that could dampen Ben's Natural cheerful disposition. The boy was born with sunshine in him, and regardless of how hard things had gotten. Ben has always tried to be there for everyone of his family and friends.

But his grandfather had always been a sore spot for him. Ben loved his old papa so much so that he had gone hungry for almost four days saving his feeding money and simultaneously working at a construction site just so he could get the pain meds his grandfather needed.

But this news, of how limited a time Ben had with his grandfather had sapped him of all his strength. He shuddered in fear as he could not imagine life without his grandfather. For as long as he could remember Nana had always been there to steady and carry his grandson through all sorts of adversity and troubles. Ben might be eighteen, but when it comes to his grandfather, he is just nothing but a little boy.

Austin got up from his chair and circled his desk to lay his callused palms on Ben’s shoulder. He leaned on his desk as it gave a little squeak, creaking and moaning of how old an antique it was. Much like a lot of things in this hospital.

“Ben there’s a way to raise the money that your grandfather needs. At least until you could raise enough for his surgery, and if my plan works out like I want it too. You would never lack for money again. The only problem is. It would take a lot of time from your schooling.

But it’s a necessary sacrifice you have to make. You need to be able to juggle this idea I have with your school life. Its imperative that you don’t waste this chance the government has given to you. Because if you can impress them during your time in college. Keep up your grades and even being in the top of your class. I guarantee you they will extend your scholarship.

But you would need to work harder than ever Ben. Due to your education you would be pressed for time. But don’t worry you will have help. So what do you think.”

Ben looked at Austin helplessly as he shook his head and tried to get his emotions in control. He was scared yes but this was not the time to be panicking. It did not matter how hard he had to work, Ben would do anything to save his grandfather.

“ You know something Austin, with all of the explanation you gave, you did not even tell me what this idea you have is.”

Austin gave a laugh as he ruffled Ben’s hair like he was a kid once again. Of course this drew no small amount of irritated and annoyed looks from Ben, but Austin ignored it. Ben was one of the strongest people he knew, he would always bounce back from all of his problems and try to find a solution to it.

“ Well the idea I have is for you to be a professional gamer. In fact I want you and the rest of the older kids here to open and operate a gaming studio under sponsorship from the hospital.”

Ben was shocked and alarmed. His tone of voice even carried it as he attempted to berate Austin for his incredibly bad idea.

“ Austin are you insane. The cost of opening and running a gaming studio will deliver a big hit to the hospital’s funds. And with so many games out there, and how far they have progressed I doubt we would be able to make anything substantial, unless we join an already established gaming studio and somehow miraculously become its best players in under six months.

This is a bad idea. And there’s too many games out there, for anyone to make a proper impact in the gaming community, because every gaming studio would need to depend on not just funds, but popularity and achievement. None of us are professional gamers in case you have forgotten. So how in Gods name would you come up with that sort of idea.”

The old office was silent as Ben stared at Austin in challenge. Of course the older guy did not back down. Ben was adamant in his stance of this being a bad idea, and he wanted to get that point across to Austin. The hospital and orphanage was always pressed for money, but Ben did not think things had gotten that desperate yet.

Their impromptu stare down was interrupted as Austin's seventy year old A.C kicked in, filling the office with a humming sound and a very pungent scent of mold and disinfectant.

“Ben, naturally I have taken all of what you have said into consideration. And I have a solution to that. In four days the hexagon would be launching a new state of the art virtual reality mind dive console. Or V.R.M.D.C and with it a brand new virtual reality massive multiplayer online role playing game.”

“Okay Austin first of all, I was not born a hundred years ago. You could have just said vrmmorpg and I would have understood, did you have to call out the entire name. Second I know what a V.R.M.D.C is, and third. The hexagon is a weapons manufacturing company from the united states, since when have they been in the gaming industry, and how come I didn’t know.”

“Well first of, you have been busy for the past year or so, due to your scholarship hunting and what not. So it’s not surprising you missed the thousands of advertisement hexagon had been putting up. Considering how air headed you are, it was actually expected.

Now this new game has already undergone its beta testing phase, and believe me when I tell you, its awesome. Not just information and reviews put up by the beta testers, hexagon had hired some players to play the game almost like a soap opera, using the experience of this players as the background for some of the game lore.

It turns out, elemental warriors online is more than just another vrmmorpg. But another new world entirely with everything that makes earth……… well earth. And more than you would expect from a fantasy world that is just entering its steam age.

It’s a combination of high fantasy and steam punk, and if rumors are to be believed, this game will run for at least ten years and during that period this game will constantly be going through a period of growth and degeneration based on the actions of both the players and the N.P.C.S.”

“ I don’t understand what you mean by the NPCs?”

“ read my lips while I am telling you this awesome tidbit of information. Fully. Functional. Self thinking, emotional artificial intelligence no different from a normal human being.”

“ you must be joking.”

“ No joke Benny boy, just facts.”

“ So it’s release is in four days. I want in. If its as you say, then there would really be gains gotten from starting early. And I know how VR games of this age works, if we can get our hands on some real estate or at least a stable source of income in the game, and establish a customer base. We would not have to worry about money for a long time.

But we will be competing with other bigger corporations. To truly survive we need backing, and we need a good mind. Or a lot of good minds.”

Austin kept on looking at Ben with a mischievous grin on his face, forcing Ben to ask.

“ What? If you grin any harder your cheek will fall off.”

“ your big brother Shedrach resigned from his job at the military base, he’s coming home to help us set up a guild and any other necessities in the game. And check this out he is coming with fiancée.”

“Really, that’s great and all but how the hell did Shedrach even get a woman to go out with him. That guy is so lazy and unmotivated that no woman can coax a single conversation out of him.”

“Well I heard that the girl is incredibly violent. And Shedrach got her pregnant, that’s why he is getting married to her. And you know how incredibly lazy he is. I doubt he could put up a fight or be motivated to even attempt to.”

“ That’s true.”

Of course both Austin and Ben had seemed to forget they were talking about a business venture but were now whispering and gossiping like two old ladies. Either way they both completely forgot about the whole plans of building a gaming empire and instead decided to nit pick about the intricacies of Shedrach's life. Either way a fire had been lit in Ben’s heart. And he was quite ready to do anything to help his family.”