A conversation between a Passivity Precept Counselor and Fred R., age 8. April 11th 20XX

“Mr. Fred. You can’t go around hitting people.”

“Why?”

“Because violence is never the answer.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re here now.”

“Why?”

“Are you just messing with us?”

“Hehehe.”

“Go back home. Stop trying to hit people. Life is not a cartoon now.”

I had a list... Actually I had several lists but the one I decided to use narrowed down the items needed to 13. They weren’t the best for the job but they were acceptable and what I estimated I could afford since I already had five of them. The other eight... I sighed. Here was hoping I could sell or trade enough of my hoarded assets to purchase the rest in time. It didn’t help that I needed to leave for Mia’s world first. Because I had to see for myself.

I finished sending a few chats out to my contacts asking about information on the items when Mia finally left my washroom. She dressed in her new armor. It looked fine but it was a little too... No. Not thinking about that.

I opened my mouth and intended to say something condescending. “You need new clothes.”

She nodded. “I agree. I currently have zero to wear to the party or for a casual setting.”

“We’ll have to go to the market then.” Did I just...

“Mmmm,” she agreed and stretched.

“We’ll go in a little while.”

“Why can’t we go now?”

“To start with, I’m waiting for my contacts to message me—”

“What? Contacts? Messaging?” She nearly vibrated with excitement.

Right. She was new. And Crimea was an awful teacher for everything but Arcane Assassin things.

“Yes, messaging. If you’re in a social area, like an inn, a city, or a clan holding you can send a message to people nearby or on your contacts list.”

“And how do I access that?”

“Think about sending me a message.”

She hopped in surprise then grinned.

Mia: Hi!

She figured that out surprisingly fast. Did they have something like this where she came from?

Lorevinel Silvercat: Excellent. Now that I‘ve taught you this, I’d like to beg a favor from you in return.

Mia: Sure. What do you need?

Lorevinel Silvercat: I need to visit your world, preferably with you, and I’d like for you to not ask questions.

“What do you mean, 'visit my world?!'”

I winced. This was going to be a rough lie. After staring directly into her eyes I reached out and gently and briefly squeezed her shoulder. Then I looked away and bit my lip. That would keep her off balance.

“We’re partners now. I can use our connection to leave the simulator and visit your world. There is a reason for it but it's very private. Please give me a modicum of trust and not ask questions.”

She stared at me as if calculating my worth. I didn’t blame her. To her, I must be so alien. Still, she closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath, when she had finished she merely stared. “Swear that you will not hurt any of my world’s people. And that you’re not coming to my world for a nefarious purpose.”

I snorted. “You do realize that the Passivity Precept—”

“Swear it, Lore.”

“You know, I could just visit on my own.”

“And I could just end our partnership.”

“You would end it over this?”

She sighed. “Look. I trust you, but I’ve also only known you for a few days. And despite my trust in you, and my willingness to not ask questions, I can’t pretend to be okay inviting a visitor to my country and world illegally. I… I think I might actually get arrested for that — especially during this president’s administration.”

“They’d arrest you for that?”

She nodded with certainty. “Of course they would.”

Right. Her people may not even have the concept of soul bonds. And I was not about to tell her about it. I sighed.

“Also,” she said while looking into the distance, “Wouldn’t there be, like, viruses and bacteria that might harm either one of us? I think I read a SciFi story like that once.”

“Visitations like this have happened before and the PPVS ensures that every visitor is able to survive and not bring back harmful things. It’s fine, Mia.”

“Okay. That’s one worry down but it doesn’t resolve my—“

“Fine! I swear an oath, on my clan’s honor that I, Lorevinel Silvercat, will not visit Mia’s homeworld with a nefarious purpose. I will conduct myself appropriately by not causing the inhabitants of her world any malicious harm.”

[Take Heed! You have sworn an oath on your clan’s honor. If you break your word, your clan will suffer the consequences.]

Mia’s eyes grew wide as she read her own prompt that told her about my oath. I grinned like a gentleman but clenched my hand into a fist. Making an oath did not sit well with me, but I didn’t have much of a choice. Since I planned to visit her alien world she had to guide me. Frankly, I couldn’t trust anyone else.

“Can we log out now?”

She nodded. “Just… Please don’t leave my hotel room.” With a few brief hand movements, she vanished.

I opened my own menu to the log off option and bit my lip. This was it. The first time in years I would leave this false world. Blood pulsed like a drum in my head. My hand shook as I pressed the option to leave. Everything went black.

You are logging out and into a new world that is very different from your own. Please hold on while we adjust your actual body and environment so you will be able to survive in it...