Chương 45: Stirring of Darkness (II)
The TV news cast continued to talk amongst themselves.
"On to another topic, in the last couple of days there have been unusual reports stating that an Embryo Dive gear has been used to help speed up the healing process of an injured patient. The patient was a female who was in a horrible traffic accident on Highway 285 and had a metal rod impaled in her chest. Luckily she survived all that and is doing really well," John said happily.
"What do you mean?" asked Simon.
"There have been reports stating that she is healing faster than a normal person would. There are signs that her recovery time is cut down by half. And she's not the only one who has gone into this specially induced recuperation coma. So far there have already been twenty people who were in life-threatening situations that were put into comas with Sense gear in order to be healed at an accelerated rate. But you have got to remember, folks: not all Sense gear can do this. The gears that the hospitals use are specially reconstructed by the company Kosmos. Please do not try this at home," John stated sternly as he looked towards the camera.
"Kosmos? Weren't they the ones who were working with Yami Hikari Company and parted ways?"
"Yes. Kosmos is paying for the use of the gear and now they have been upgrading it for the medical field and research. Their intention is to develop a natural healing process by stimulating the cells to reproduce the tissues five times faster than normal."
"Has the patient come out of the coma yet?"
"Sadly, no, but there have been signs of brainwave activity. There are also reports that there have been sightings that she is actually playing in the game called Growth."
"That's pretty spooky. It's like a ghost running around in the game world."
"I agree with you there."
For a bit longer Kiyro continued to listen to the news. His headache wasn't completely gone yet.
"Anna. What do you think about the medical usage of the gear? " Kiyro looked over to her curiously as he waited for an answer. It was truly an unusual development to hear how this type of device could be used.
"I think it's a great achievement. It benefits the human race in speeding up the process of healing. I don't know much about how they are doing it. My company does not work with Kosmos, so I don't have inside details on that aspect. I would so love to find out more," she excitedly explained.
"So you're not a part of it? I thought you would have some kind of inside scoop." Kiyro was surprised by Anna's statement.
"Well, our company is not on good terms with Kosmos right at this moment. There have been small squabbles here and there, but it's all settled for now. There was just a lot of anger running around for a while."
"Ah, I see." Kiyro stopped for a moment to ponder the information. "Then was it you guys who created the Seed?"
"Yes and no."
"What?" He looked at her, confused.
"We took part in bringing the materials, but we didn't create its core functions. I heard that was done by a group of scientists and programmers specifically scouted out by Mrs. Noriko. Where she got those people, I don't know, but they are amazing. If only we had one or two working for us…" She sighed. "They all declined our offer and surprisingly Kosmos' as well."
"So what does the seed even do?" He leaned closer to her.
"We don't know. All that information is classified. We don't have a single hand in it. All we know is that the Seed and the Seed Shard are two of the same but separate things. One is for questing and the other is for the players to have for themselves. As you already heard on TV, there were some strange rumors going around that it's some crazy science project bent on brainwashing young kids. Highly unlikely though," scoffed Anna.
"How would you know if you yourself don't know anything about it?" he asked with a bit of worry.
"Mrs. Noriko is not like that. She's a very intelligent woman, but she's not evil. I have known her for five years now," said Anna with confidence. She lay down comfortably on the sofa.
Kiyro stayed silent. He was not sure if he should tell his sister that he had personally obtained a seed as well. Instead he quietly continued to click through the channels.
#####
<Zero>
Zero opened his eyes and looked around in confusion. Firelight dimly lit the room as flames crackled in the fireplace. It was evening in Noriene, while in the real world it was afternoon. He wasn't completely sure where he was, but he was lying in a bed. He slid out a flint dagger from under his sleeve, ready to use it if necessary. As he looked around, what he saw surprised him.
Books…Books. Books. Books.
From left to right, on top of the shelves, underneath tables, and even stuffed in cracks. Each piled up higher and higher than the next as they were stacked haphazardly.
"Am I going to be okay?" said Zero with worry. He was worried that they might topple over onto him and bury him alive. Some books were balanced so precisely that if he moved even a centimeter, it could all come crashing down. He did not understand at all how someone could live in such place. There was almost no room to maneuver, just enough space to sleep, eat, and read. The strangest thing was, there was not a single speck of dust on them.
"You're awake." A male voice mumbled as if he was eating something.
Zero looked around trying to find the voice. Large brown ears poked out from the stacks of books at the end of his bed.
"It took quite an effort to bring you here. Three of us had to carry you up the flight of stairs, through the long hallways, and finally here." Garrett smiled as he walked over to Zero. He had brought him a hot steaming cup of green tea. Carefully, Zero took it.
"Thanks." Zero blew on the tea.
"I was quite surprised that you blacked out. Did that book give you that bad of a scare?" Garrett chuckled at his own joke.
Zero took a sip.
"No." With his mind relaxed, he put away his dagger. He was worried that he was taken hostage, but it was Garrett. Other than the clumsiness caused by him being a bookworm, Garrett was not much of a threat. Garrett's level was below an average NPC's. Possibly with just one hit, Garrett would die in an instant. Most Lunar Rabbits had surprisingly high levels for a race that looked so harmless—which made it even stranger that Garretr had such a low level compared to everyone else.
It did not make sense nor did it interest him much. What did interest him though was why he passed out. He wasn't sure if it was the effect of the Seed or the book. Whichever one it was, he did not want either.
When he checked his inventory, the seed that he got from the book was not present. He was not sure if what just happened was all an illusion or if it was about the seed that the people were talking about.
He shook his head. No…It can't be an illusion. I'm here in a bed. The last thing I remember I was in the Royal Library…surrounded by messy stacks of books… Zero looked around once again. It's not much of a difference, is it? Maybe Garrett would know where the seed went.
"Garrett, did you see the seed that came out of the book?" Zero asked.
"Seed? What seed?" Garrett looked befuddled. "I'm not sure what you are talking about."
"Never mind then. Are you sure you don't want the book Historia back?" asked Zero. Come on, take it, he silently prayed.
"No," said Garrett sternly, "I cannot undo the sacred ties you now have with Historia. Instead, I suggest you take the time and read it, learn it, memorize it, and live it. Commit it to memory. You are now the Record Keeper of Historia. It's a very sacred job."
"You're kidding, right?" Zero looked upon him quizzically. "You expect me to be a historian? All this requires time and commitment. I barely passed my language arts classes. What good would the book do for me?" Zero pulled out the book and waved it in front of Garrett's face.
"Language arts? Pray tell what is that?" Garrett put down his hot tea and walked over to Zero.
"It's nothing." Zero stopped and changed the topic. "Besides that, what is with this book?" Its worn leather jacket rested upon his hands as his fingers lightly rubbed against it.
"Ah, the Historia is truly an amazing book. It does not appear for just anyone, nor would everyone be allowed to read it," Garrett said excitedly. He had begun to rant off into his own little world. "You my friend have been given the gift to wield the book of history." Garrett bounced around excitedly.
"It's a book." Zero stressed his words. "A. Book." He did not understand how a book could give him the power he needed in this game. He understood knowledge was power, but so far he had not learned even a single skill from this book.
"Not just any book. It's The Book of Historia. The Recorder of Life."
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