A Handler

"I have to be a Handler? Should that mean anything to me?". I was still a bit shook from the suddenness of it all but I tried voicing out my thoughts nonetheless: "If you had been a Willing, you'd know that.". The middle-aged woman from before, named Julia, had frowned for the past 30 minutes as she had listened to Esteban detail the plan they had set up for me. Most of the people present had been shocked when they heard that I would become a Handler.

Julia Velini was in charge of helping me with my preparations for my first challenge: "There's an old motto amongst Limit Sky challengers 'The first three, you're nobody', that means to be officially part of our team, you'll have to survive the next three challenges on your own.". Esteban had nonchalantly said those words and tapped me on the shoulder, gently flinging me backwards towards Julia.

I was only able to eke out this question after a barrage of sharp looks from her which physically prickled me. Julia seemed truly reluctant to help me: "I don't want to help you because of what you are and what you may become.". I edged away from her: "You can read my thoughts?!". Maybe it was the way my voice cracked during my outburst or the way my face looked, but not far away, Pandore and a young man with tattoos were laughing their ass off while pointing at me. "Pipe down you two!". Julia's shout made them disappear, right in front of my eyes, their bodies had vanished into thin air.

"I can't read your thoughts, and these two didn't die or anything if you're wondering, they simply left for their quarters.". She had apparently calmed down, then began clarifying what I would do in the next few days: "First on the agenda, you'll be stuffed with pills and augmentation injections. Once that's done, I'll train you for the next 9 days on how to be a Handler.". She paused to seemingly gather her thoughts: "Honestly, I don't see you being fit for the job...". Her words trailed off, I could see the conflict in her eyes though I did not understand the intricacies of it.

"Is there anything I should know about Limit Sky that might be of relevance?". I did my best to stay cool-headed, to not just lash out in confusion and anger, to not break down when I saw the heavy faces these inhuman people had once they heard I'd become a Handler: "Well, I think I could briefly talk about this space as there's always something the Willing forget about it.".

"This is the Community Room, a sub-space dedicated to social interactions and relaxation. Every challenger is given a personal room that only they can access, you can expand it, decorate it, make it a museum dedicated to old airplanes as long as you have enough points. Points are a sort of currency that Limit Sky uses to entice people to work harder, after all, you can get anything you want with enough points. Right now you have 5000 points because you're a newcomer, and you get a bonus 5000 thanks to being an Unwilling.".

I raised my hand to signal that I had a question: "What's the difference between an Unwilling and a Willing?". She smirked: "Do you feel like you ascended to heaven or descended to hell when you realized where you were?". I briefly froze, I didn't know what to answer. It was obvious I hated being here, I resented these people for not giving me a choice, I just accepted everything because the alternatives weren't viable, but I couldn't say it. I couldn't say that all of them were part of the reason I felt trapped in a nightmare.

"I haven't been here long enough, I don't think my emotions are clear as of now.". My vague answer was met with a cold stare from Julia: "A Willing is someone who has trained their whole life for the sole purpose of coming here, they always have better stats than the average person and are already prepared for what may happen, thus Limit Sky treats them commonly. Your type, on the other hand, you're the type of guy who luckily arrived here because the mean of your stats was equal or higher than 11.".

"Limit Sky treats you like a VIP customer and gives you a huge headstart with a Unique Skill and double the number of points at the start. You'll never be able to fathom how deeply envious millions of people are of your position.". She sneered at me, she didn't care how I felt. Nevertheless, she continued her explanation: "Every person on the team is assigned a role depending on their beginning stats, and once Limit Sky thinks you're proficient enough in the role you got, they'll grant you a corresponding Class. A Class has amazing perks and is similar to what you'd see in modern video games.".

"A Handler is such a role that may lead into obtaining a Class. A Handler is considered a Support role, though contrary to Healers, you'll be in the middle of the fight. Your high Luck means you'll surely be proficient in casting curses and debilitating enemies, and because apparently your mindset is fit for the job, your attacks will be even more damaging.". She took a bit more time towards the end as if she wasn't sure of her words: "Is that all I'll get?". It was vague, much too vague to be even considered satisfying.

Her cheeks flushed: "I'm sorry but nobody really knows how being a Handler works, we only know the basics thanks to other people having given us explanations.". I truly was on the brink of exploding: 'Then how the fuck are you supposed to train me?!'. I forced myself to laugh quietly: "Then can you give me instructions for...Today?". I momentarily pondered on how I was supposed to know what time it was: "Ah right, you have a clock you can redeem once you enter your quarters for the first time.".

She was already halfway transparent as she rapidly shouted out those words: 'Wait, is she leaving?'. I was unable to move a muscle as I saw Julia disappear into thin air like the previous two, it was too shocking for me that someone would be that irresponsible as to leave me to fare by myself after a 5-minute explanation that vague. My fists were clenched so hard I felt the burning pain of my nails embedding themselves into my flesh, I wanted to bash my head against the ground and destroy this place until all that was left of me were pieces of mangled flesh.

'Calm down, there's something on the ground near where she vanished.'. I walked up to the folded piece of paper on the ground, it was a list of the things I should do for the next 10 days. It detailed how much time each activity took and what I should prioritize if I felt too tired: 'You see, she left a note. I think it's considerate enough.'. My chest heaved up and down, they didn't consider me important enough to even tell me all of that. Am I just a servant that they can use and discard whenever they want?

'Wait, calm down. Maybe she had her reasons, you know these people are famous challengers, they must have tons of things to do.'. I couldn't bring myself to respect these people, I didn't know how I could have even admired some of them at one point in my life. It all depended on what they would do once they saw me again, what their faces would express, what their movements would tell me, what their eyes spoke of their state of mind once they gazed at me: 'Just go do what you were told to do, there's no other option.'. I was wrong, I could lay down and never move again, but I decided against it.

.

.

.

Simply thinking about going to my quarters made me appear in a room with 6 grey walls, about 12 square meters wide and with no furniture: 'Why a hexagon?'. I went towards the wall in front of me, on which I could see a bright yellow monitor saying SHOP in neon purple: 'Kind of reminds me of your horrible color palette back home.'. The image of a greenish red room with blue lining flashed through my mind before I tapped on the monitor with my finger.

The walls started moving, expanding and shrinking the room while spinning around. Nausea took over my body and I fell down onto the ground, losing consciousness: "Are you okay?". A monotone voice with a sort of reverb behind it made me open my eyes, only to see two huge grey eyes gazing at me worriedly. The eyes were affixed to the wall, seemingly carved or drawn, I couldn't really tell: "I'm the spirit assigned to your room, Sir.". It spoke in a dignified voice yet was extremely polite in its tone.

I blinked my eyes a few times: 'What should I do?'. 'Just talk to him, you can already guess what its purpose is.'. I got up, patted my clothes but realized I wasn't dusty: "Buy the items I need for today.". I talked to it in a commanding voice, feeling like it was the best way to speak to it, and showed him the list Julia had given me: "Very well Sir, points have been deducted accordingly, the clock has been given on a basis of past challengers' demands.". I understood what it said yet still yelped when glass bottles and pills fell on the ground in front of me: 'How am I so calm?'.

'Isn't it because you already saw some weird shit?'. 'Yeah, most likely.'. I picked up a half-yellow half-white pill, a screen appeared in my mind as I did: [Starting Pill: this medicine can only be consumed on the first day of arrival, it will boost your highest stat. Effect: +3 Luck]. 'I have to consume all of this today?'. A digital clock appeared in my mind, telling me it was just past 6 pm.

"How do I know how many points I have left?". The room's spirit responded almost immediately: "The [Sky's Knowledge] injection you have bought will grant you the ability to know so, Sir.". I couldn't help but wince at the sight of the dozens of needles that I would use to inject colorful fluids into my body: 'Aren't you afraid of needles?'. 'That was a long time ago, I overcame it.'. 'Well, I wouldn't know.'.

"Hey, can you stop calling me Sir and take on another appearance that I'd be more comfortable with, like mine for example.". I guessed that the room's spirit could do so, and it did: "Is this to your liking?". An exact copy of me stood there, a sharp nose and small eyes that radiated kindness, a constant grin even in the worst situations, and a hairstyle that left much to be desired as it was just the remnant of an old bowl cut.

"Why is your hair red?". That was the only thing that differentiated the room's spirit from myself, as I had dark hair: "That is my natural hair color.". The voice wasn't mine, and the reverb was still there, I knew it'd take quite some time to get used to. I held my breath and popped the pill I had in my hand, it immediately dissolved and entered my esophagus: 'Lime, my favorite.'. 'It's cherry now, lime has become too acidic for me.'.

"Excuse me, I couldn't help but notice as it is something most challengers do not do but, who are you talking to?". I turned my head towards the room's spirit and tilted it: 'Hey, he's talking about me.'. 'I know, but isn't that the problem?'. The room's spirit opened his mouth seemingly in mild shock: "I'm simply listening in to your Mental Space.". I didn't understand a single thing of what it was saying: 'Maybe he can read your thoughts? Isn't that scary?'. 'He's similar to an automaton, I have no reason to be scared of it knowing what I think.'.

"I'm talking to myself.". 'It's a coping mechanism he has'.