Chapter 4 - Tempest Knife 

The logo of the company happened to be a familiar TK symbol and its name just happened to be Tempest Knife.

Aarick could still vividly remember that alluring poster he had seen on his way to his college and the willpower it took to not just run up and buy the game. He looked back at Si Ren and replied, "Of Course i've heard of Tempest Knife. They just released a new game called Dynasties of Avalore a month ago right?

I ran across an advertisement for the game on my way to receive my results, it looked very eye-catching. Why did you bring me to their headquarters? Certainly not to ask me about the company right? I am no better than someone who has never played games."

Si Ren looked at him and started laughing, "I knew you would have at least heard about them even though they are so obscure. You just have such luck in getting information about the things people look down on, like gaming, to think you just realized they exist an hour before we met, but it's ok. I didn't bring you here to check out this company.

I brought you here because I got into the beta version of the game you saw, which was advertised some time before it was launched. I didn't tell you under the rules of the non-disclosure contract they made me sign. Believe me, I wanted to tell you everything so badly. I was also employed here afterwards.

After the game was released, I was given an allowance to bring one friend to play with me in the headquarters every month, which offered extra luxuries that even the best branded versions didn't have. I chose you for my second month because I wanted you to try out the game with me, not that I chose anyone before you, I was just too busy involved with the game.

I just hope that you'll like the game and end up addicted to it. Just so we can play together."

Aarick looked at him as he felt enough shock that even his grief was slightly overcome for just enough time for him to snap out of his trance. It was a big deal to get into the beta program of a game with the popularity that Dynasties of Avalor enjoys and said, "Well you've always been the lucky one according to me.

This surprise did exceed all my expectations and everything I thought this trip could be about. I will not be accepting your offer just yet. I would like to check this place out first."

Aarick wanted to let himself forget all of his sorrow, because he couldn't deal with the pain but it was too overwhelming for him and he couldn't just ignore it. He just wanted to try to distract himself from everything and just focus on one thing and gaming just might be the thing he needed, but he couldn't so he made up an excuse to let Si Ren down in a more proper manner.

Aarick hated lying, that's why the excuse was just plain loopholes. Si Ren smiled and replied, "I understand. You can take all the time you need." The two of them walked towards the building, Aarick saw a blonde and a brunette security guard, both of whom donned a muscle-toned body and dark skin.

The two guards looked at the two boys and sternly asked for their identification. The security was very strict. Aarick wondered if they had something they wanted to hide. He looked at Si Ren, since he was an employee and could therefore get the two of them in. He saw him remove a black-gold card from his pocket and showed it to the guards.

The guards took one glance and immediately changed their attitudes. They said, "Ah, so it's Mr. Si Ren. We are sorry for not recognizing you!" Si Ren laughed it off saying that they were just doing their jobs but Aarick was confused as to why a beta tester would have such a high status in the company.

They entered the building and Aarick was just in awe with everything around him. The inside of the building felt as if he was inside a gaming computer with how everything was futuristic and had the classic black and red tones of a gaming setup. Si Ren turned around and told Aarick,"Go over there.

You'll meet a woman called Maria. Go ask her to give you a tour of the building. I'll go and set up my gaming area to give you a tour of the game, since you probably haven't even seen the game. Otherwise you would definitely be obsessed.

You always want someone to be with you when you are trying something new. And at the moment you haven't asked me to play with you. Here take this, It's my guest card, show it to anyone who dares to bully you."

Aarick looked at him as if he was looking at some celebrity by how he was behaving. Aarick was glad that Si Ren remembered the small details about him, even though he was also a little annoyed because of the bitter truth.

Aarick felt that the Si Ren he has been with today was different than the one he knew because he just seemed to be so indifferent and used to the surroundings they were in. Even Aarick who was the son of an upper middle class family felt out of place.

Aarick was nothing more than a homeless person now. Most surprising of all was that the people that worked here actually looked like they respected Si Ren. Aarick turned and started walking over to the place where Si Ren told him to go talk to Maria.

While walking over he couldn't help stare at every piece of equipment he saw. After a few minutes of searching unsuccessfully for Maria, he asked someone who said she was right around a corner I had missed. Sitting around the corner was the one thing completely out of place in the futuristic building.

It was just a regular desk. The same design that has been in use for more than 300 years. It had already been replaced by a much better and efficient model.

Aarick was somewhat disappointed. He thought he would meet someone with more authority but it seemed Si Ren wanted the janitor to service him.

Well since he was homeless and beggars can't be choosers, he walked up to the desk and called out to Maria but there was no response. He looked behind this desk but he saw that there was no one there. He was confused as to why Si Ren would send him to a janitor's desk and that too when nobody was even here.

He was looking around when he saw a small bell on the wall which the desk was attached to. He assumed that it was meant to be rung to call Maria and rang it. Instantly a hologram of an eighteen years old girl popped up, scaring Aarick a little.

She had an inquisitive look on her face as if looking down on people. She looked at Aarick and said, "The counter for part-time jobs for people like you is all the way over there, why are you here? Stop bothering me with your concerns about life."

Aarick looked confused and looked back at where Si Ren had been standing and said in a low voice, "But my friend told me to come here. Also why is there a part-time job counter if no one is let into the building?"

Maria looked at him and said, "Oh? Your friend told you to disturb me? Does he think he is the child of the boss or something? And you get lost after I answer your question. Don't even think of bothering me again. The part-time desk is set for everyone with a guest card. Basically through connections and you definitely have a connection from the janitor, right?"

Aarick looked at her then he suddenly remembered the card that Si Ren gave him and he showed it to Maria and said, "Will this make a difference? My friend told me to show this guest card if someone was looking down on me"

Maria replied without even looking at it, "Who cares what your friend thinks, over here only my command is effective. GET L-" her voice trailed away as she was about to shout. She finally took a look at the card and her eyes widened and her whole eye could be seen.

She pointed at the card and said in a shaky voice, "Thi..this..ho...how did someone like you get it? I don't believe it... I can't. It must be a fake or maybe stolen, no I can't believe it. Russof, come here and inspect this card for me."

Now it was Aarick who was wide eyed as he saw Maria's breakdown and then looked at the man named Russof, he looked like an average bulky guy who would be normally mistaken to be a typical gangster but strangely Aarick felt there was a hint of intelligence in the man's eyes, an intelligence that far surpassed most men that he'd met.

Russof came over and took the card from Aaricks hands, surprisingly Aarick didn't feel any hostility or disdain from the man towards him, making him feel that the man was a pure man and worth trusting.

Russof casually looked over the card and suddenly he seemed to have seen something shocking that made him widen his eyes too and he gasped and said, "This is Guest Card 03. This young man is an esteemed guest of the Tempest Knife. Please forgive this old man for offending mister."

The man seemed to be kind and understanding but what he said still shocked Maria while confusing Aarick, "Esteemed Guest? Guest Card 03?"

Russof explained, "The Guest Cards from 01 to 015 are given to Esteemed Guests of our Tempest Knife. 01 was held by the founder, 02 was held by his wife, 03 and beyond were held by close friends, other family, etc. The less the intimacy shared between them and the founder, the higher the number on the Guest Card"

Aarick asked "I was given this card by Heartbreaker Ren, I mean Si Ren." Russof looked even more shocked than before and said, "You are so close to him that you call him by a nickname?"

Aarick looked at him and asked, "Is he really someone that important?"