An Interesting Lecture

"Ah.."

I arrived.

Right at my lecture room. 

'I... made it?'

This easily?

I did my research on my University and it has over 3 huge campuses. 

"I guess the saying, 'There are no shortcuts to any place worth going' is false in this sense?"

"Well.."

I sighed then looked around the room with many students. 

At the front was a big smart board, a tall desk and a circular object completely covered by a big cloth the size of a blanket.

'08:55'

At least I made it on time. 

I looked around then saw a familiar face.

"Oh.."

I walked down the stairs till I shifted myself along the long seat. 

I tapped on a black-haired girls shoulder who was staring at the side. 

"Ah! Who is it- oh, Alex. It's you."

"Haha, yes it's me."

I smiled.

Realization suddenly sunk into her face. 

"Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that, I just-"

"It's okay. I know you didn't."

But then, everyone had their attention caught by the lecturer who stood at the front. 

"Hello, everyone."

We both turned to look at him. 

Everyone slowly quieted down and paid attention to his introduction. 

"My name is Mr. Kale. But you can just call me Frank if you like since I'm not too bothered about formalities and only come here to teach."

"I will be your lecturer for the year for your main major, Computer Science. Or so that was what was supposed to happen."

"?"

Everyone, including myself, looked at the lecturer in confusion. 

"For those who didn't understand, this course will still be taught."

"However, due to current AI's advancements, this course is rendered useless. Current technology has advanced so far that absolutely anyone can learn this course without even attending university."

Frank grabbed the remote. 

"And this is why.."

He clicked the button and the big smart board was turned on. 

But what was shown was astonishing. 

'AI Evolution: Aeconia Online'

"We will be learning about one of the most important games in the world, which you would've definitely heard of, called.."

Aeconia Online. 

A name that I didn't actually expect to be uttered in this very lecture hall. 

My eyes widened.

'Why is this game being taught in a computer science class instead of a computer engineering class?'

My thoughts were interrupted by the professor. 

"Yes, I know what you all thinking. You came here to learn coding which you will learn throughout the year."

—But...

"We have to adapt to the world! This is not just a game. AI has been coded in a way which blows our minds away!"

"This degree is useless in the real world when you can simply learn it online."

So...

"Why don't we implement and adapt to this change, and still be ahead?"

He finished speaking.

"We will from now on be learning half the regular course and the other half containing AI—mainly about Aeconia Online due to how revolutionary this is."

He transitioned to the next slide on the board. 

"Firstly, I want everyone who already plays Aeconia Online to raise their hands."

Then a number of students raised their hands. 

"Most of us play it, huh?"

Mr. Kale muttered to himself then raised his voice. 

"Keep your hand up and if you don't want to make it big, then lower your hand."

Although this time very few people lowered their hands. 

It was obvious what my professor was trying to prove to me and the rest.

"Most people who play Aeconia Online mainly play to make it big."

But of course, 

"There's nothing wrong with that. Even I want the same."

Precisely why. 

The man walked over to the circular object which was completely covered by a cloth. 

I almost fell of the edge of my seat after seeing his hand pull it off. 

Fwap—

"Woah..."

Many students examined the virtual reality pod. 

But. 

"This isn't exactly a virtual reality pod."

"?"

Young adults began murmuring amongst themselves until the professor specified. 

"This right here is a machine which tests a persons Synchronization Rate."

"I'm sure all of you would of heard about this term but haven't had the chance to see your own."

'I heard about this.'

I crossed my arms nonchalantly.

—Synchronization Rate. 

The percentage at which both the mind within the game and in real life are synced.

I already knew about this thanks to my extensive research. 

'But now that I think about it...'

"There are only one thousand of these brand new machines throughout the world. The fact that everyone has even managed to see one in person is a treasure."

"Now, let's begin the lecture."

.

.

.

Frank glanced at his watch for a millisecond then flinched. 

"Ah.. apologies everyone. It seems that we have ran out of time."

He grabbed the cloth. 

"Unfortunately, I will only be able to show you the rest of this lecture in three days because I am pretty busy."

"The next three days you can fill out the form that I will have sent you the link to and can stay home since I have not finished preparing the course material completely yet."

"Goodbye."

All of the students left the lecture hall in semi-satisfaction. 

I walked with Helen until she spoke to me. 

"Ah, Alex?"

She looked up at me. 

"Yes?"

I replied. 

"Do you want to play AO together?"

Oh wait. 

'What do I tell her?'

I remember telling her at work that I would play but... 

'I can't just tell her that I'm stuck in the middle of the Lost Lily Island with a crazy dark-elf, can I?'

What do I do?

'Hm..'

After two seconds worth of thinking I spoke. 

"Actually, I'm in a forest hunting area, but I forgot the name of it."

Please don't ask for the area. Please don't ask for the area...

"O-oh, that's fine. I'll just play by myself then."

Her ruby eyes looked down like a puppy's. 

I began to feel bad. 

"Helen."

She looked back up. 

"I'll play with you when I get the chance."

I smiled.

"Okay."

And she also returned the small gesture.

* * * 

In the hospital... 

Aisha sat on the bed resting her head in between her knees. 

Her silence was blown away when two other girls entered the hospital room. 

"Aisha! Are you okay?"

The brown-haired girl, Julia, shouted. 

"Yeah! I heard you fell unconscious!"

"What?"

My sister raised her head and looked at the two. 

Her face was still filled with tears and a runny nose. 

"Oh my gosh! Who did this to you!"

Annie planted both her hands over the lower-half of her face. 

"Tell me which bastard dared to make you cry! I'll beat him up and serve him to my thousands of younger brothers, hehe..."

Julia began sniggering maniacally. 

"No.. Sniff, sniff.. it's not like that."

She wiped her tears. 

"My brother and I spoke but he never listened. And.."

Ah. 

"Wait."

Aisha looked up at the two with an expression showing, 'Oh no'.

"I completely forgot to ask my brother about AO."

Her expression changed completely after mentioning that sentence related to me.

"AH! Dammit!"

She began punching the bed. 

"Aisha stop!"

"I said.."

The voices rang throughout the corridors, building then...

"STOOOOOOOPPP!"

The entire city itself.