Legendary Shadow Blacksmith

[Julian, Ellie is standing in front of you.]

MEGAN did not really need to tell Julian – he knew. He knew the very moment Ellie's scent reached his nose.

Ellie seemed to want to say something as she saw the hint of blood on Julian's neck, but the only thing she could really do was cover her mouth so as not to now make any noise; hoping that Julian didn't know she was there.

Neither of them spoke, just letting the silence speak for them.

Julian also wanted to say something, but he tried his best not to show any emotions – if he said something here, Ellie would probably return to him.

But why would he do that? He loves her, truly. Very much so…

…and that is why he has to let her go. She has no future with him.

"I–" Ellie's lips parted, a whisper forming on her tongue. But before she could actually utter a word, Julian stepped forward, brushing past her. Ellie wasn't a fool, of course – she had known Julian practically his entire life, she knew that Julian knew she was there.

But neither of them spoke, just letting the tapping of Julian's cane whisper in the air. But even that too, soon completely faded away.

***

[Turn right, Julian,] MEGAN's voice whispered in his mind, [The dairy section is approximately 20 meters ahead.]

"I know."

Julian moved forward, his stick tapping rhythmically against the polished floor. The noises of the supermarket—beeping scanners, squeaking carts, chattering shoppers—assaulted his extremely heightened senses.

[Careful,] MEGAN warned, [Child approaching on your left.]

"I heard them, MEGAN…" Julian sidestepped, narrowly avoiding collision with a running toddler, "...You don't need to tell me everything, I'm not a child anymore."

[If you're acting like a child, I will treat you like a child,] MEGAN scoffed. Julian did not really want to argue with MEGAN at all… because he had never really won an argument against it. [You know nothing about this world Julian. You are clueless. And one of the only two people who have been your eyes are gone. So, shut it.]

And soon, with MEGAN's help, Julian reached the refrigerated section.

[Third door to your right,] MEGAN instructed. [The milk is on the second shelf. Remember to grab the one on the back, these supermarkets are sneaky.]

A hint of a smile crawled on Julian's face as he grabbed the carton of milk. And before he could close the cold door, a conversation brushed behind him.

"Did you hear about the Otherworld Project's new 'Inclusivity Patch'?" A woman's slightly apprehensive voice entered Julian's ear.

"Oh man, what the fuck, right?" A man replied. "My rich cousin's been paralyzed since birth. Now he's running and swimming with his clone in Artemia like it's nothing. You should watch his stream."

Julian quickly tilted his head; his ears, straining to catch every word.

"Ack, so cool, right? But I so hate the company who created it, though," The woman groaned, "They literally created a tech where you literally control an enhanced clone of yourself on another planet, but they refuse to put that kind of tech outside of their project? Just imagine how many people they could actually help if they didn't limit it to a fucking game."

"...It's because it's not a fucking game," the man sighed, "It's called Otherworld for a reason, I know a lot of rich folks that invested–"

"Exactly, it's only for rich people."

"That's not true at all, a friend of mine was sponsored by Sumsang when…"

Julian wanted to hear more, but the couple's voice already faded away as they left the dairy section of the supermarket. Julian was about to follow them, but MEGAN's slightly reprimanding tone entered his mind.

[I know what you are thinking, Julian. And no,] MEGAN whispered.

"MEGAN," Julian slowly returned the milk carton as he whispered back, "What do you know about this… Otherworld Project?"

[No – this is a bad decision.]

"MEGAN, please…"

[The Otherworld is a highly advanced project developed by Humanity Engineering,] MEGAN sounded unwilling, but it still provided the information that Julian wanted, [It is advertised as a game, but it is not. Players control genetically engineered clones of themselves, known as Players, which incorporate the DNA of the native inhabitant of the planet Artemia. The technology leverages a combination of neural interfaces, highly dubious consciousness transfer protocols, and–]

"What's the Inclusivity Patch?" Julian waved his hand as he cut off MEGAN's words.

[It is as you heard earlier, Julian,] MEGAN sighed, [Their clones now allow… very special people like you to bypass your disability.]

"...That means I can see," Julian breathed out.

[Humanity Engineering is a very dubious company, Julian,] MEGAN made a clicking noise several times, [The woman from earlier is right. Many argue they're selfishly restricting access to potentially life-changing technology.]

"How much would it cost me to participate in the Otherworld Project?" Julian let out a small sigh, "MEGAN, please… I don't know what to do anymore."

There was a brief pause before MEGAN responded, her tone measured. [Julian, I'm afraid that's not a feasible option for you. The cost is... significant. They create a genetically engineered clone of your body, which alone is already out of your budget.]

"Oh…" Julian gripped his cane.

[I'm sorry, Julian, but you can't afford it. Your current financial situation precludes such an expense.]

"How much… is it?"

[Julian, I don't think—]

"Please, MEGAN… please." A loud whisper escaped Julian's lips, causing some of the shoppers to glance at him.

[1,500,000 Credits!] MEGAN could no longer refuse Julian's request as it raised its voice.

"W… what?" Julian almost choked on his own breath, "How much… money do I have left?"

[You are in debt, Julian. You do not have money of your own,] MEGAN's voice turned cold, [This is why I didn't want to tell you – the Otherworld Project is an investment, players can earn credits within Otherworld through various means. Buying land from the natives, hunting monsters. And since only the select few could afford it, players Live-streaming their experiences is extremely popular and they earn ridiculous amounts of money through sponsorships and ads… it is very expensive, Julian.]

"My… apartment," Julian once again whispered.

[...What?]

"How much could I get for my apartment?"

[No!] MEGAN's voice turned sharp and loud again, [Julian Winters, that apartment is the only thing your parents left behind. It's not just property, it's your heritage. Selling it would be... reckless.]

"My only heritage is darkness, MEGAN," a wry smile escaped Julian's face, "Please, how much can I get for it?"

[Selling your apartment would have long-term effects on your mental health,] MEGAN pleaded. [Your emotions are high right now because of Ellie, Julian. You are not thinking straight.]

"Please, MEGAN…" Julian's fingers tightened around his walking stick, "...I need this."

[Based on current market rates…] A tense silence hung in the air before MEGAN spoke, her tone resigned, [...Your apartment could fetch approximately 3,200,000 Credits.]

"That's more than half–"

[Don't celebrate yet,] This time, it was MEGAN's turn to cut off Julian, "You're forgetting your outstanding debts and loans. Which are…]

And as MEGAN listed all of his debts and loans, the only thing that Julian could really do was keep quiet – it was almost as if MEGAN was plucking each strand of his hair along with everything else.

And when MEGAN finished her calculations, Julian took in a small gulp, "Why… do I have so many debts?"

[After settling all your debts... 1,460,446 credits – and this is only an estimate since the value of your apartment could fluctuate at any time.] MEGAN sighed, [I am sorry, Julian – but it is not meant to be.]

"What about my forge and all of my tools?" Julian then let out a very long and deep breath as he slightly bit his lip.

[Julian, no,] MEGAN's tone was incredibly sharp, [Blacksmithing is the only thing that makes you happy. You can't possibly be thinking of selling them.]

"MEGAN, just please…" Julian sighed, "...Just for once, I just… I just want to see what you're seeing. To know if everything really is as beautiful as you describe them as."

[They're not,] MEGAN was adamant, [I won't be party to this self-destruction. Those tools are all you have left.]

"They're just things, MEGAN," Julian's fingers tightened around his walking stick, "Iron and steel. What good are they if I can't see a future beyond them?"

[I'm just a thing, Julian,] MEGAN whispered, [Am I no good too?]

"...You're family, MEGAN," Julian quickly smiled; the tone of his voice incredibly soft, "Even if I sell all of those things, I will still have you. I'm sure about this…

…Tell me what they're worth."

[Your entire collection, including the rare pieces and custom forge…] MEGAN could really only sigh, [...Approximately 67,000 Credits.]

"..."

[...]

"...Sell them all."

[Tch, Damn it.]