Chapter 2 A Father's Gift

Ferer Mansion

Daniel's Room, 5:00 pm

The soft chime of Daniel's alarm clock pulled him from his thrice-weekly slumber—Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays—a routine his body had grown accustomed to over the years.

Summoning his hovercraft with a gesture from his Holo-Watch, Daniel, capable of moving his legs but with limited endurance, transitioned onto the Hover Chair through deliberate movements, followed by measured breaths to recover.

Hovering towards the bathroom, he confronted his reflection in the mirror—hazel eyes, black obsidian hair streaked with unnatural white, a detail known to few, and one he wished to forget. After patting his face dry, the head butler's inquiry about dinner interrupted his solitude.

"Ready for dinner, Young Master?" Alfred asked.

"Yes, I'm coming out now," Daniel replied, opening the door, expressing gratitude, and proceeding to the Dining Area, Alfred in tow.

While walking, Alfred surprised Daniel with a comment about his increasing handsomeness, a trait inherited from both his mother and father.

Hazel golden eyes and tanned skin from his mother, Italian-American facial features from his father, and a toned upper body—the amalgamation creating a conventionally handsome visage.

"Thank you for the compliment, Alfred," Daniel said, smiling slightly.

"I only speak the truth, young master," Alfred replied. But he suddenly choked on an imaginary spit. "Although, you won't get any bonuses from Alfred; that compliment should be said to my father." Daniel teased.

The butler refused profusely, dictating things like saying the truth, being honored for the work, and maintaining professionalism. This made Daniel chuckle a bit, which didn't escape the ears of the butler. He smiled as well, knowing that their young master rarely showed moments of joy.

As they neared the dining hall, Daniel could hear laughter from a familiar voice. Daniel and the butler entered the dining hall, and there, a face rarely seen in the mansion.

"Uncle Timothee, it's surprising to see you," Daniel greeted as he looked at his dad and uncle back and forth. He could see his uncle smiling widely at him, even waving his hand like a child.

"Ahhh, my favorite nephew, how are you," his uncle said, with a jovial tone.

My father gave an audible sigh as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Come to the table, son, and eat; we also have something to tell you." At that, my uncle looked at me goofily and gave me a thumbs up.

After moving to my place at the table, I was served my food as I put a towel on my lap. My father then proceeded to wipe his mouth and drink water. I was curious as to what my father would say; he was never one to hesitate, which my mom would say is because of his 'hidden' hot-headedness.

"Oh, c'mon, brother, if you don't want to tell him then I'll be the o—" my father then glared at my uncle, which stopped him mid-sentence. My uncle then raised his hands up in surrender but still gave me a smile.

My father once again sighed. "Daniel, do you know the game ReWind OnLine?" Asked my father, shocking me with the question. Never would I have thought to be asked something like this. My father called my attention, which I didn't realize was that I took too long to answer. I told my father yes, as it was popular enough to be reported through various media outlets.

Was he about to be banned from consuming information about the game? My father never took interest in it, as it would just be a waste of time according to him.

"Well, me and Dr. Pertagon have decided to allow you to play the game."

As he said that, my heart almost burst out of my chest. "Why?" was my only question. We had a conversation about the game before, and the possibility of me playing it. He said no before, as it didn't and wouldn't help me in any way.

My Uncle was celebrating in the corner, somehow with confetti and party hats.

"Well, the doctor has convinced me that playing the game might help with your condition an—"

"And it would be funnnnnn!!!! Wouldn't you love that; you know I'm als—" my father glared again at my uncle this time, shutting him up.

"Well, yes," father continued, "you also need to have fun, to socialize, meet new people." My father then sighed and held my hand.

"You deserve to smile, my son."

I don't know when, but tears fell from my eyes at what my father said. I wiped my tears as my father stood and hugged me. I could hear sniffing all around me as all those present started tearing up at the sight of the father and son duo. There was also a faint sound of a digital camera, but that would only be my uncle.

After a few minutes of crying and wiping out tears, everybody went back to their seats, my father even ordering the head butler and many workers to eat with them, as the table had enough space for twenty more people.

Seeing everybody happy filled me with joy; the house never felt as much like a home as it does now. I looked at my father, and he was talking with my uncle. He noticed me staring and asked if something was wrong.

"Nothing. Dad, Thank you," I told him with a smile. And that night, Ferer Manor was the happiest it has ever been.

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Ferer Manor

Daniel's Room, 9:30 am

Morning came, and the manor was still in high spirits. Within Daniel's room, a purple-glazed pod stood in the corner, grandeur and a certain aesthetic to it. Lined with golden and obsidian black accents, fully accentuating the royal purple color.

"Isn't it beautiful, my dear nephew?" Uncle Timothee asked, guiding me as he already plays the game and owns the company that creates the Neuro Nesting pods. Timothee L. Ferer, the CEO of Argonaut, the highest-rated man in the world for surpassing the richest of the rich. Uncle and father actually made use of each other's company to grow together.

"This new model can Neuro-Sync a player up to 95% to the game; of course, that's the highest we're willing to heighten the Synchronization levels. It would be very bad for the user to be fully immersed; don't you think?" I nodded at my uncle's last statement.

There have been reports about certain individuals that felt so fully immersed that they treated themselves as their characters in-game..

"So, Uncle, what do you get out of this?" I looked at him, gazing at his face that suddenly looked as if he's appalled. "Of course, for your happiness, my dear nephew." I raised an eyebrow, not fully believing what he said. I mean, don't get me wrong, my uncle is a kind man, but he's also a businessman like my father.

"And to be always allowed in the mansion every time." He continued. Seeing that I was still not looking away, he sighed in defeat. "I also get equal shares with your father in the business." Seeing me look away from him, he immediately followed with, "but what I said were true, my dear nephew."

"Yeah yeah." He then proceeded to sulk, saying that I broke his heart or something. It might seem cruel, but knowing him all my life means that I know that they always have certain plans. It wouldn't be surprising if he said that they were planning to use this as an opportunity to test out a new mode or upgrade for the pods.

A few more minutes later, and with my uncle stopping that sulking of his, the operators and mechanics installing the pod said that everything was finished. We all took a step back, looking at the glorious pod in front of us.

"Well, Nephew, why not try the pod now," he said, looking at me expectantly.

"Why not stop acting like a child and actually work?" I replied. A few of the workers held their laughs, afraid that their boss's boss would get angry at them. My uncle then wanted to rebuke the statement, but I already went to the pod. The workers near the pod wanted to help me in, but I stopped them. Though it took a couple of minutes, somewhat excruciating to those watching, I finally settled into the pod.

After some brief instructions from my uncle on how to operate the new pod, I pushed the close button on the pod doors. And closed my eyes.

A few seconds after that, I heard a foreign static voice. 

[Greetings User]

 [Neuro Nest Synchronizing to User Information]

 [Synchronization Process Finished] 

[Welcome User Daniel U. Ferrer]