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I awoke in a dim room, the only sources of light coming from mysterious pods. There was no color. Then I was placed in a gray room, with nothing inside except a mat with a blanket and pillow. That's where I lived. [[And whenever someone came...]]They would leave me with food and scraps of paper. Sometimes they would teach me how to read and write. [[And when they left...]]I would write and draw on the scraps of paper, trying to make sense of what they read to me. [["The cat leapt for the star."]]I am still living in the same gray room. My only visitors are still just people in lab coats. In one corner of the room are piles upon piles of worn-out books that I've accumulated over the years. [[I envy anyone who has experienced what's in those books firsthand.]]Once I finished writing the words, I would take a deep breath, trying to imagine the creature I saw in an old picture book jumping at a bright ball of light. When I opened my eyes, a blurry feline would jump up at a glowing blob right above the page in front of me. Then they would disappear just as quickly as they appeared.The day I first woke up, I was in a colorless room. And day in and day out, I only saw people in white coats come in and out of this same room. They left me with food and paper. A few of them taught me how to read and write. Some of them even left worn-out picture books. [[For a long time, this was my only joy.]]I copied this sentence over and over, every day, while looking at the cat and star in a faded picture book. I longed to be this cat and see the bright lights in the sky. [[On a day I wished harder for this than any other...]] Each time I wrote and the cat and the star reappeared, I hoped I could draw closer and closer to realizing this wish. But no matter how much clearer the image became, the cat never caught the star. [[An unknown time later...->Act I Start]]The sensation of placing my hand against a river’s current, running across a field, petting a griffin’s fur. I’ve only truly experienced breathing, the touch of a cold wall, the brush of paper, and the thin solid form of a pencil in my hand. The food I get has no taste and the mat I sleep on becomes harder day by day. [[Did they give me these books to mock me for what I can’t have?]]When will I ever experience anything for myself? Anytime I asked the people in lab coats, I later learned were called "scientists," about when I could go outside, they would always say "maybe someday." [[I simplified my requests to try to compromise.]] “Hello?” I search for the source of the voice, turning every which way, but I don’t see another human nearby. “Silly, I’m all around you. I’ve been around you and this lab before.” [[“Then why can’t I see you?”]] [[“... How long have you been here?”]]“I only exist in fragments now. I’m closer to a ghost? Wraith?” “Spirit?” "Yes, spirit! I can't believe I nearly referred to myself as dead or cursed." [["So, who are you exactly?"]]“Oh my, maybe decades." The voice pauses and hums. "Or centuries?” My jaw practically drops to the floor. [["So, who are you exactly?"]][[Maybe the problem was my greediness.]]And yet, they never humor my requests whenever I ask for something from outside the lab to be brought to me. [[And so I just exist in this gray room.]]"I've lost my form so long ago, but if you squint you can see traces of me floating around you." [[I squint my eyes.]] [[I nod slowly without squinting.]]When my eyes narrow, I can see a very thin sheet of green and teal mist. And every so often, tiny sparks blink to life before dissipating. The mist flows around behind me and I turn to follow it. "You're so cute. Following me so innocently." I immediately stop and turn back around in a huff. No need to tease me. [["... Tell me more."]]“More importantly, I was trapped here, just like you.” “Trapped?” That word fills my heart with dread and clarity. Perhaps this is the closest to how I've been feeling. But it isn't as if I really know anything else to compare it with. "Oh, so you don't know..." [["Is there something you know about me?"]]"Ah, so you believe me?" "I suppose so?" I don't believe them entirely, but at the same time, I don't disbelieve them. As though in response to my inaction, small sparks flit across my vision. And once I blink, faint streaks of green and teal mist become visible, standing out from the gray room. [["... Tell me more."]]"Some things just from sneaking around the lab as a formless being." Just as I try to ask the voice more questions, the room brightens around me. The dull gray almost seems to finally shine. "Oh, I see morning has come. However, this is not farewell. We will meet again." "Wait!" [[I awaken with a start.]]"A dream?" I lay back down, facing the ceiling and sighing. The longer I stare, the longer the ceiling seems to be moving in faint green and teal waves. [["Waves of color?"]]"Hello, my dear... friend? It's so unseemly to call to you a 'test subject.'" That voice! It's the same one from my dream! [["Are you... real?"]]A blurry cat emerged from the paper I wrote those words on. And they chased after a small glowing orb. They jumped, their front paw barely grazing the star. [[Then they vanished almost immediately.]]Every day, I fall asleep hoping I can at least dream of a life elsewhere. But even in my dreams, I'm greeted with oblivion. [[How can I hope for tonight to be any different?->The Dream]]"I can see clearly! I can touch my paws on the stone floor! Oh, this is so wonderful!!!" The spirit-turned-cat flops on the ground and rolls over, showing their belly to me. My lips turn up into a smile at seeing the cat happily turning themselves back and forth. I reach forward and pet their belly. I gasp at how soft they feel. I just want to be enveloped in the cat's fur. "Thank you! Now, I can most assuredly call you my friend!" "You're welcome, umm... cat?" "Oh come on, I'm not just any cat now!" [["Then what should I call you?"]]"You can hear me, can't you?" After blinking and then tapping my hands over my ears a few times, I nod. I can't believe it! My dream manifested into reality! "Sorry to break it to you, but I existed long before I met you in your dream." [["I didn't say that out loud, did I?"]]"You didn't." I'm about to sigh in relief until the mist blows right in front of me. "But it's written all over your face." I look down in embarrassment. "But now that I've found you, I can make your dreams come true." Huh? Last night was the first dream I ever had. "Okay, I'll be blunt. I've never seen anyone so sad and hopeless when reading a book." [["Hey!"]]I bat at the mist, my hand just phasing right through. "Hey, I'm sorry!" The voice sighs sadly. "I'll get straight to the point: I want to help you. Save you." [["From what?"]]"Oh! You can call me..." The cat turns their head to and fro, traces of the mist and sparks they used to be fluttering off of them with each motion. "Oh... I've forgotten my original name." "Oh." "Please don't pity me, having a physical form is more than enough." "But perhaps if you really want something to call me... a name befitting the stars or the vast universe would do. And you've given me such a wonderful form, so would you like to choose my new name as well?" [["Aster"]] [["Nova"]] [["Celeste"]]"This... life you've led! You're not- I mean... You don't have to rot in this cage." That gives me pause. Even if I just realized that I felt "trapped" for most of my life here, I also never really thought of this room as a cage. Just where I lived. [[It's all I knew...]]“The scenes in your precious books? You can be part of them yourself. I can help you see all the pictures they painted.” “Really?!” “But I would like you to help me first, so I can better help you. We can help each other.” [[The spirit's words give me pause.]]I’ve only just met this spirit and I’m wary of what they may ask of me. Some of my books detailed contracts or deals with malevolent beings that have gone awry. However, they are also the first… being to ever talk directly with me and acknowledge that I want more than this gray room. It could be too good to be true, but a part of me fills with dread at having to remain locked up here for the rest of my days, never having the chance to see something as vast as the sky. [[“What do you need me to do?”]]“I understand this will be a large demand for you, but I want you to try to give me a corporeal form.” A corporeal form??? Does this spirit want me to steal a body??? And why do they think I can do that when I’ve never left this room? “Hey, calm down. I’m not going to ask you to do something as horrific as whatever you’re probably imagining.” I breathe out a sigh of relief. “I was thinking you could use your current power.” [[“My power?”]]//And then, the mist came together, sparkling brighter than ever before. And within the combined form of vapor and stars...// //[[A cat emerged!]]//<<set $cat_name to "Aster">>"Hmmm... $cat_name?" "It's related to the stars as well as the name of a flower." "That is quite a nice name then. Uniting the heavens and the earth." [[I smile.->Escape Proposal]]<<set $cat_name to "Nova">>"My my, $cat_name makes me feel more powerful already." $cat_name crouches down and then leaps forward, landing perfectly at the end. [[I smile.->Escape Proposal]]<<set $cat_name to "Celeste">>"$cat_name... What an elegant name!" $cat_name stretches their back and leans their head back regally. [[I smile.->Escape Proposal]]I would write by copying what I saw in the books. On some days I got particularly bored, I would start folding the paper. At first I folded simple shapes. But then I started trying to make them into the shapes of animals I saw in some books. But none of them could ever compare to the real thing. And so, I just mostly kept writing. [[“The cat leapt for the star.”]]“Whatever power you use to make the cat and star appear from your writing every night.” Oh. Is it really that great a power? I suppose that conjuring the cat and the star from my writing is a type of physical manifestation. And I haven’t done much else besides that. Though maybe, that wasn’t meant to be the end of my abilities. Only the beginning. [[“What kind of form do you want?”]]“Any form will do. I just don’t want to remain as an ineffective wisp who can’t touch or feel anything. It's awful.” I nod and then grab a piece of paper and my pencil. Even though I know the cat and the star appeared from my writing, I am not too sure on the true cause. However, I begin writing. //[[On the night I truly dreamed for the first time...]]//I recalled the spirit's first arrival vividly in my mind as I placed my pencil to paper. //A spirit came into my room in a flurry of mist the color of ==leaves== ==grass== the forest and ==a river== the sea.// "I'm very flattered that you would compare my colors to such. But you've never seen these before, have you?" "I'm just going off of what I've read before." //[[The next morning, we met again.]]////The spirit offered to help me escape and find out about the world I'd only seen in books. Though they asked for something in exchange: their own physical form.// At this point, I paused. The mist of the spirit was floating around me, their movement growing faster in excitement. I closed my eyes to think about what form I wanted the spirit to take on. My mind wanders back to the cat eternally trying to reach the star. As much as the cat struggled, they never stopped trying to reach the star. It gave me hope, much like how this spirit has done now. //[["And so, may you keep granting hope!"->The cat's manifestation]]//"The building has four rooms, and I'm willing to believe that the hints for the keys are in these rooms." "... Why didn't you search for the hints then?" "In my ethereal spirit form, I didn't have limbs, remember?" I nod quickly. $cat_name had a point. “One more thing, escaping won’t be easy and there is information these so-called scientists have been hiding from you that will be difficult to process. However, I think it is better for you to know.” [["Why?"]] [["I understand."]]$cat_name swishes their tail with a solemn expression and answers, "It is important to understand the truth of your circumstances and where you come from. And knowing your past, no matter how unpleasant, can give you the resolve to continue into the future more resolutely." [["I understand."]]“And what you may discover will irreversibly overturn your understanding of yourself and the shade of a life you’ve led up till now.” [[“... I will escape.”]]"All we have here is paper." As I say that, $cat_name trots over to my stack of books and grabs an old folded length of paper with zig-zag creases. My first paper snake! "Think you can do something with this so it can unlock the door to this room?" $cat_name trots back over to the door and stands up under the keyhole again. "The keyhole's right here. It looks like we just need to press upon each of the knobs inside." "Oh!" [[I write.]] Though I hesitate. Writing will slow down our escape. [[I picture the snake slithering up to the door.]]“Okay. The scientists are out on fieldwork today, but I don’t know when they’ll be back, so we need to move quickly.” “... Is that why you waited until today to approach me?” “You’re quick on the uptake.” $cat_name makes their way over to the door and stands up on their hind legs towards what looks like a keyhole. “First things first, we need to unlock this door.” [[I look around the room.->Unlocking the Door]]I place the snake in front of me and pull out a spare sheet of paper. //The snake wakes up and rights itself. It ==slides== slithers along the ground and speeds towards and up the door. It goes inside the keyhole and then presses itself down on the knobs. POWERFULLY.// [[Once I finish writing...]]I hold the paper snake gently in my palms and close my eyes. In my mind, I imagine the snake slithering its lengthy body across the ground and then climbing up to the keyhole. Around that same time, I feel the paper snake leave my palms and hear the crinkles of its paper body. Then in my mind, I see it squeezing itself inside the hole, pressing its body down onto all of the knobs sticking out on all sides and unlocking the door. "You have the strength to free us," I call out. [[When I open my eyes...]]''What must we sever from the subject?'' <<textbox "$north_verbal_answer" "" "Northern Door Results">> [[I leave this door in search of answers.->North Hall Hub]]''What is the greatest vice?'' <<textbox "$west_answer" "" "Western Door Results">> [[I leave this door in search of answers.->West Hall Hub]]''What is the name of the specimen we keep in this facility?'' <<textbox "$east_answer" "" "Eastern Door Results" autofocus>> [[I leave this door in search of answers.->East Hall Hub]]''What shall the subject become?'' <<textbox "$south_answer" "" "Southern Door Results">> [[I leave this door in search of answers.->South Hall Hub]]We easily slide open the door by the handle and enter inside, moving towards the center of the room to get our bearings. The room brightens with light immediately. Each of the two flat walls of the room have a door. One is marked North and the other is marked West. I see that the wall is curved on the third side and lined with a bookshelf spanning the whole length of the wall. All of the books on the shelf are locked behind glass barriers. Other than the books, there is a lone desk in front of me. And on top of that, there is a single folder. [[I open it.]] [[I leave the room through the door marked West.->West Hall Hub]] [[I leave the room through the door marked North.->North Hall Hub]] On the cover page, I am greeted with the title: //Data on the Dragon of Origins.// I notice $cat_name's fur bristling beside me on the desk. "What's wrong?" I ask. $cat_name cuddles up to my hand and rubs their head against it. [[I gently pet the area under their chin.]]<<if $east_answer is "Subject 0013">><<set $east_door_solved to true>><<set $door_score += 1>>The lock turns and deactivates. The pipes loosen from the center mechanism, however the door remains closed. <<if $door_score is 4>>Then I hear a hollow sound from the door. It opens little by little and when we peek inside the room that is slowly being revealed to us, I see the three other doors opening as well. [[We enter inside.->Center Room]] <<else>>"We should go find and unlock the other doors," $cat_name says. [[I turn around to go elsewhere.->East Hall Hub]]<</if>> <<else>>The door remains locked. Suddenly, a loud alarm blares, hurting my ears. The alarm is followed by footsteps. "They're back already?!" $cat_name shouts in confusion. However, we barely have time to register what is happening before we're both caught and dragged back to [[my old gray room->Restart at Room]]. <</if>> Just outside the room is a narrow and dark strip of short hallway. There are no openings except for a hole in the floor with a... ladder going down into the depths. I let $cat_name wrap themselves around and ride on my shoulders. I begin to carefully climb down the ladder. The ladder creaks with high pitched squeaks with each step I take down, causing me to wince. I never expected creaking metal to sound so unpleasant. After what feels like forever... [[we reach the bottom unscathed.]] <<set $door_score to 0>> <<set $north_door_solved to false>> <<set $east_door_solved to false>> <<set $west_door_solved to false>> <<set $south_door_solved to false>> <<set $northwest_visited to false>> <<set $northeast_visited to false>> <<set $southwest_visited to false>> <<set $southeast_visited to false>> <<set $north_riddle_counter to 0>> <<set $west_riddle_counter to 0>> <<set $east_riddle_counter to 0>> <<set $south_riddle_counter to 0>> <<set $restart_once to false>>$cat_name rolls on the ground again, pleased with their new name it seems. Then they stand up and face me head-on. "Now it's time for the actual escape. The one exit leading directly outside of the building can only be accessed by the scientists. I'm not even sure where this entrance is." I inhale sharply and glare at $cat_name. [[Did this cat just con me?]]The paper snake's tail is sticking out of the keyhole. It quickly disappears inside. [[We hear a few clicks.]]“Hey, wake up!” I sit up and see $cat_name with their paws on my stomach. And I feel my hands touching a surface that feels smooth and yet grainy and prickly when I push down hard enough. Once my eyes adjust, I realize that I am on top of a shimmering sea of rainbow… [[Sand!]]“What is this place?” “This endless expanse of sand... is a desert!” I sift the rainbow sand between my fingers, mesmerized by how the grains smoothly fall back down and change in color. “Look above you!” $cat_name is already craning their head up. [[I look up.]]<<if $south_answer is "God">><<set $south_door_solved to true>><<set $door_score += 1>>The lock turns and deactivates. The pipes loosen from the center mechanism, however the door remains closed. <<if $door_score is 4>>Then I hear a hollow sound from the door. It opens little by little and when we peek inside the room that is slowly being revealed to us, I see the three other doors opening as well. [[We enter inside.->Center Room]] <<else>>"We should go find and unlock the other doors," $cat_name says. [[I turn around to go elsewhere.->South Hall Hub]]<</if>> <<else>>The door remains locked. Suddenly, a loud alarm blares, hurting my ears. The alarm is followed by footsteps. "They're back already?!" $cat_name shouts in confusion. However, we barely have time to register what is happening before we're both caught and dragged back to [[my old gray room->Restart at Room]]. <</if>> They relax and purr contentedly before snapping back to attention almost immediately. "The Dragon of Origins is my... creator? From a certain point of view." "Did you not get along with them?" "No no, quite the opposite. I'm just horrified thinking about what may have been done to them... but let's read on, shall we?" I note the apprehension in $cat_name's voice and they lower themselves until their belly and paws are flat on the desk, with their ears flattening in fright. [[I turn the page.]]The first thing we see in this room is a large glass horizontal cylindrical device on the ground. It is resting on top of a large stand and on the stand, there is a plaque. I also note the two doors marked North and East on either side of the room. [[I inspect the plaque.]] [[I leave the room through the North door.->North Hall Hub]] [[I leave the room through the East door.->East Hall Hub]]On every wall, there are diagrams and blueprints, some even covering parts of the two doors on opposite walls leading out, which are marked East and South. I lift the flaps of a few of them to find even more layers of documents underneath. Some of the text is crossed out and scribbled over. [[I walk closer to inspect them.]] [[I leave through the door marked East.->East Hall Hub]] [[I leave through the door marked South.->South Hall Hub]]Within this room, I see two doors, each one on opposite walls, marked West and South. Along the curved wall is a huge diagram of a human that looks like me and a strange contraption with four appendages. In large text next to the human figure, there was text scrawled that said, //Our knowledge of the world is all it needs.// I'm stunned into silence. $cat_name rubs themselves against my legs to bring me back to reality before walking closer to the wall. "What the...? There's a timeline of documents under the diagram!" [[I read the documents.]] [[I leave through the door marked West.->West Hall Hub]] [[I leave through the door marked South.->South Hall Hub]]//As the source of all magic in this world, the Dragon of Origins is omnipresent in different forms. However, it has a core form, within the depths of this world. If we can draw out the core and then implant it into Subject 0013, then it can become our personal reserve of magic.// I wonder why the scientists never taught me about the Dragon of Origins. Maybe they were saving it for once I advanced further in my reading and writing? A gnawing feeling at the back of my mind makes me doubt that thought. [[I keep reading.]]"Yes. I was here a little before you and saw you briefly when you were asleep but I was- never mind." I walk around the device, noting how its length matched my height. $cat_name called it a "container," huh. I feel as though I should remember being kept in a container like this, but no matter how hard I try to remember, the first thing that comes to mind is my waking up and seeing the lights on the ceiling- Hold on. [["How long was I kept here?"]] [["Why was I kept in a container?"]]"If it's anything like my imprisonment, I would pray it's only a couple years. I might be able to see how long you've been asleep." $cat_name sniffs around the container some more and then recoils. Then they scramble back to the plaque, tapping it with their paw until a loose screen just underneath it lights up. Some glowing text shows up on the screen. <<set $east_screen_read to false>>[[I read the text.]]"Simply put. You're a test subject. Though for what kind of experiment, I don't know." My hands are shaking. While I never held much affection for the scientists who came in to look after my needs, I was secretly hoping that their intentions were more... righteous? My heart is heavy. I want to leave. I look at the doors on either side of the room.<<set $northeast_visited to true>> [[I leave through the door marked East.->East Hall Hub]] [[I leave through the door marked North.->North Hall Hub]]Suddenly, we hear footsteps just outside. $cat_name and I hide behind the container device, lowering ourselves to the ground as much as we can. The footsteps slow down as they approach the door to this room. Then they stop. When they start up again, the pace is more languid, but they remain near the door.The door's lock doesn't budge. [[I try again.->Western Door Riddle]]The door's lock doesn't budge. However, I notice a small green light just under it turn on. Then it moves and stares right at me. "Maybe saying the answer is not enough." $cat_name eyes the light warily and I follow their gaze. I walk a bit from side to side and the light moves in the direction I walk. It's as though the light is following me and looking directly at me. Does it want me to do something it can see? [[Imitate gestures of searching.]] [[Manifest the cat and the star.]]The snake pulls itself upright and then slithers desperately across the ground. I watch as it slows to slither up the door. I grimace a little when I notice it about to fall. "You can do it," I whisper. The snake stops for a moment before pulling itself up much faster than before. Then it disappears inside the keyhole. [[We hear a few clicks.]]//Once we fully transfer the core of the Dragon of Origins into Subject 0013, we must make sure any connection between the two is severed through artificial means. Our new world deserves a god in the image of man after all.// As I turn the next page, I see that the text has changed into numbers and symbols I don't recognize. I turn to $cat_name for some help. $cat_name looks down at the page and shakes their head sadly. I close the folder and decide to move on.<<set $northwest_visited to true>> [[I leave the room through the door marked West.->West Hall Hub]] [[I leave the room through the door marked North.->North Hall Hub]]<<if $north_door_solved is true>> <<goto "North Door Unlocked State">> <<else>>We walk until we are in front of the center door. It has a circular lock mechanism with big pipes protruding out in an X-shape from the center. As we walk closer, I notice glowing text on a clean rectangular box on the circular lock. There is a smaller screen with a keyboard right below it. [[I take a closer look.->Northern Door Riddle]]<</if>>We come back to the end of the original corridor we first arrived in. Looking at the three doors again from the ladder, I think about where to go next. [[I go to the center door.->Northern Door Intro]] <<if $northwest_visited is false>>[[I go through the door marked NW.->Northwest Room]]<<else>>[[I go through the door marked NW.->Northwest Room (Already Visited)]]<</if>> <<if $northeast_visited is false>>[[I go through the door marked NE.->Northeast Room]]<<else>>[[I go through the door marked NE.->Northeast Room (Already Visited)]]<</if>>And see the sky for the very first time. It's a dark blue sky dotted by flickering stars. "... I can't believe it." I reach out my hand as though trying to grab a star. I curl my hand closed and look through the hole formed by my fingers at a star shining with a bright blue light. [[I finally have what I've longed for.]]$cat_name kneads my stomach with their paws to grab my attention. "Welcome to the outside world um... Oh dear, I never actually learned your name." My eyes widen in realization. [[That's right, I don't have a name.]]<<if $north_verbal_answer is "Dragon of Origins">><<set $north_door_solved to true>><<set $door_score += 1>>The lock turns and deactivates. The center piece on the door turns and the X-crossed pipes loosen from the center. But the door is still shut. <<if $door_score is 4>> Then I hear a hollow sound from the door. It opens little by little and when we peek inside the room that is slowly being revealed to us, I see the three other doors opening as well. [[We enter inside.->Center Room]] <<else>> [[I need to figure out where to go next.->North Hall Hub]]<</if>> <<else>>The door remains locked. Suddenly, a loud alarm blares, hurting my ears. The alarm is followed by footsteps. "They're back already?!" $cat_name shouts in confusion. However, we barely have time to register what is happening before we're both caught and dragged back to [[my old gray room->Restart at Room]]. <</if>>Inside the center room, the first thing that catches my eye is a giant machine that looks like an empty coffin frame in the center. The frame is made of shining metal and connected to countless wires snaking all over the room, across the floor and the walls. It all makes the room look like a tomb overgrown with vines. I see $cat_name tentatively reaching a paw out towards a bundle of wires. Once their paw makes contact, they preemptively hiss at the wires. However, nothing happens. [[I walk closer to the machine.]]As I try to find out how to make it run, I hear someone clearing their throat behind me. "Oh my, seems our little lab rat has escaped from its cage." [[I slowly turn around...]]And find myself face to face with a small group of scientists in lab coats and a person wearing an all-black suit in their lead. $cat_name leaps in front of me, their fur bristling with fury. I freeze. I try to will my hands or my mouth to move to do SOMETHING, but it's futile. The mysterious person and the scientists step closer. [[I grab onto the metal frame.]]It's the most I can will myself to move in my current state. I try to urge my free hand to grab my paper but my body remains paralyzed with fear. [["Grab my paper."]]$cat_name dashes over to my side and jumps up to grab the paper sticking out of my pocket. Just as $cat_name passes the paper from their mouth to my free hand, something flits between us, tearing the paper to shreds. "I don't think so," the mysterious black suit utters and in their hand I see... a gun. "I suggest you come with us quietly. These bullets are very precise." [[What do I do?!]]I cling desperately onto the metal frame of the huge device. I'm not sure what I'm hoping will happen. Then $cat_name quickly weaves their way up to my shoulders, appearing just as frightened and helpless as I feel. At least that's what I think until they whisper in my ear, "You have the power of words to grant new forms and bring objects to life. I don't think the words have to be strictly confined to writing." [["Can I do something with this machine?"]]"This metal frame can fit us through, right? It's kind of like a doorframe." "A doorframe?" "Right, and doors lead somewhere so where do you want this one to lead?" $cat_name looks at me very pointedly. [["A place filled with stars."->Entering the Portal]] [["A endless expanse of shimmering land."->Entering the Portal]]"Hold on, I wasn't finished! There is a different way we could escape. When I was a formless being, I saw a strange machine that looked like a doorway in the sealed center chamber of the building." I nod along, finally letting out my breath. "But it's locked behind four doors that need four keys of some kind." "Keys?" "I say keys, but they're more akin to secret words or answers. It'll make more sense when you see it." [["Anything else I need to know about?"]]<<if $west_answer is "Curiosity">><<set $west_door_solved to true>><<set $door_score += 1>>The lock turns and deactivates. The pipes loosen from the center mechanism, however the door remains closed. <<if $door_score is 4>>Then I hear a hollow sound from the door. It opens little by little and when we peek inside the room that is slowly being revealed to us, I see the three other doors opening as well. [[We enter inside.->Center Room]] <<else>>"We should go find and unlock the other doors," $cat_name says. [[I turn around to go elsewhere.->West Hall Hub]]<</if>> <<else>>The door remains locked. Suddenly, a loud alarm blares, hurting my ears. The alarm is followed by footsteps. "They're back already?!" $cat_name shouts in confusion. However, we barely have time to register what is happening before we're both caught and dragged back to [[my old gray room->Restart at Room]]. <</if>> I crouch down and turn my head and upper body every which way. I pretend there is something flying around the hallway and follow the direction of the nonexistent entity. $cat_name tilts their head, perplexed at my motion. They sigh and turn back around towards the door, which remains locked. "... Your efforts are admirable, but maybe we should try a different approach? You could try writing and conjuring an image like you did before." [[Manifest the cat and the star.]]I take out some paper from my pocket and write "The cat leapt for the star." However, I also try to visualize and invoke the cat's wonderment with the star, hoping I can convey all the curiosity in the world with this one image. The cat and the star manifest as they had done before. Though this time, the cat chases the star around as it flies around."You were quite amazing," $cat_name replies. I get back up. Then I grab my old pencil, fold up some paper, and stuff them down my pants pockets. "I'll have some paper with me. But I'll keep things short if I need to write again." $cat_name nods in understanding. I take one last solemn look at the pile of old books in the corner of my room. It's time to move on. [[We exit the room.->Start of Lab Exploration]]Then the door makes a sound. After a tense moment of silence, the door swings open slightly with a small creak. I break out into a smile and let out an amazed gasp. Who knew I had the power to let myself out of here all along? I crouch down and rub $cat_name's cheeks and $cat_name closes their eyes in contentment. [["Thank you."]]In front of us is a dimly lit corridor and at the end appears to be a door with a heavy lock. On each side of the corridor, there is a door on my right marked with the letters NW and a door on my left marked with the letters NE. These doors are simpler in appearance compared to the door at the end of the corridor. "Wherever you go, I will follow," $cat_name reassures me as they jump down to my legs. [[We go to the door in the center.->Northern Door Intro]] [[We go through the door marked NW.->Northwest Room]] [[We go through the door marked NE.->Northeast Room]] <<set $came_from_north to true>>When I look closer, I see chronological instructions for extensive plans for me, with the first block of instructions circled in red: //1) Provide select books for education about the world. Books with visuals are preferred. We must not let its innate curiosity grow. 2) Once the subject shows at least 3 days of restlessness that don’t abate with reading or writing, bring it to the Northwest Office for its education on its objective to face the Dragon of Origins. 3) Once it understands its objective and our creed, begin light field training in the Southeast Room. 4) As its techniques develop, take it outside but only in designated areas.// [[And the conclusion...]]//Final step: Once the subject knows how to control its power and its strength we can create a new world in our image. And Subject 0013 can be our very own puppet god.// Why do they need me to be so powerful? Any revelation this place gives me fills me with dismay. But it's all the more reason I should leave.<<set $southwest_visited to true>> [[I leave through the South door.->South Hall Hub]] [[I leave through the West door.->West Hall Hub]]The door is now unlocked. It looks like we don't have to solve the riddle again. [[We go elsewhere.->North Hall Hub]]We arrive in another hall that looks similar to the first hallway we came from, except for the absence of any ladder. There are three doors to choose from again and I think about where to go next. One door is marked NE and another marked SE and they are on either side of the hallway. [[I go to the center door.->Eastern Door Intro]] <<if $northeast_visited is false>>[[I go through the door marked NE.->Northeast Room]]<<else>>[[I go through the door marked NE.->Northeast Room (Already Visited)]]<</if>> <<if $southeast_visited is false>>[[I go through the door marked SE.->Southeast Room]]<<else>>[[I go through the door marked SE.->Southeast Room (Already Visited)]]<</if>><<if $east_door_solved is true>> <<goto "East Door Unlocked State">> <<else>>We walk until we are in front of the center door. It has a circular lock mechanism with big pipes protruding out in an X-shape from the center. As we walk closer, I notice glowing text on a clean rectangular box on the circular lock. I notice a small blank screen with a keyboard underneath it. [[I take a closer look.->Eastern Door Riddle]]<</if>><<if $south_door_solved is true>> <<goto "South Door Unlocked State">> <<else>>We walk until we are in front of the center door. It has a circular lock mechanism with big pipes protruding out in an X-shape from the center. As we walk closer, I notice glowing text on a clean rectangular box on the circular lock. Underneath it is a small rectangular screen and a keyboard. [[I take a closer look.->Southern Door Riddle]]<</if>><<if $west_door_solved is true>> <<goto "West Door Unlocked State">> <<else>>We walk until we are in front of the center door. It has a circular lock mechanism with big pipes protruding out in an X-shape from the center. As we walk closer, I notice glowing text on a clean rectangular box on the circular lock. Underneath is a smaller blank screen and a keyboard. [[I take a closer look.->Western Door Riddle]]<</if>><<set $east_screen_read to true>>//Subject 0013 first woke up confused. However, that was resolved quickly as it didn't appear to recall any prior memories when asked. Whether this is due to the length of time spent asleep bordering on at least several centuries or other causes is unknown. Either way, it is much more convenient for us.// The screen goes dark again. "Centuries??" $cat_name only hangs their head down and that is all the confirmation I need. I want to ask $cat_name more, but they probably only know just a little more than I do. And the ones with the full answers will probably never tell me.<<set $northeast_visited to true>> [[I leave through the door marked East.->East Hall Hub]] [[I leave through the door marked North.->North Hall Hub]]We arrive in another hall that looks similar to the first hallway we came from, except for the absence of any ladder. There are three doors to choose from in the same configuration as the first hallway's doors and I think about where to go next. One door is marked NW and another marked SW and they are on either side of the hallway. [[I go to the center door.->Western Door Intro]] <<if $northwest_visited is false>>[[I go through the door marked NW.->Northwest Room]]<<else>>[[I go through the door marked NW.->Northwest Room (Already Visited)]]<</if>> <<if $southwest_visited is false>>[[I go through the door marked SW.->Southwest Room]]<<else>>[[I go through the door marked SW.->Southwest Room (Already Visited)]]<</if>>We arrive in another hall that looks similar to the first hallway we came from, except for the absence of any ladder. There are three doors to choose from again and I think about where to go next. One door is marked SW and another marked SE and they are on either side of the center door. [[I go to the center door.->Southern Door Intro]] <<if $southwest_visited is false>>[[I go through the door marked SW.->Southwest Room]]<<else>>[[I go through the door marked SW.->Southwest Room (Already Visited)]]<</if>> <<if $southeast_visited is false>>[[I go through the door marked SE.->Southeast Room]]<<else>>[[I go through the door marked SE.->Southeast Room (Already Visited)]]<</if>>As soon as I say the words out loud, I feel the machine hum to life under my hand. Within the frame, an orb of ice blue light shines. "How? How is this possible?!" I hear one of the scientists shout. The group is barely a few steps away from $cat_name and me. "That doesn't matter! Secure the subjects!" "Come on, we need to go now!" I press $cat_name's body close around my neck... [[And jump through the doorway!]]<<set $southeast_visited to true>>In the darkness, giant glowing letters become clearly visible on the wall of papers. //Raise and control the subject as our new god. Harness its power as it becomes our own new reserve of magic. A living reservoir.// Chills ran down my spine upon reading these words. And so many questions raced through my mind. It's too much. [[I want to leave.]]I force myself to move and $cat_name follows closely behind as always. [[I run through the door marked South.->South Hall Hub]] [[I run through the door marked East.->East Hall Hub]]The door is now unlocked. It looks like we don't have to solve the riddle again. [[We go elsewhere.->East Hall Hub]]The door is now unlocked. It looks like we don't have to solve the riddle again. [[We go elsewhere.->South Hall Hub]]The door is now unlocked. It looks like we don't have to solve the riddle again. [[We go elsewhere.->West Hall Hub]]Suddenly, we're freefalling through space. Everything in my vision goes white. And then my mind goes blank. [[Then only darkness remains.]][[...]][[......]]"... Hey!" [[... Huh?->The First Night Sky I Saw]]$cat_name leaps into my lap and looks up at me with eyes full of mischief. "Shall I go catch a star for you?" I look up at the tiny dots in the sky. I thought they would be a little bigger, but that only speaks to their magnificence and mysteriousness. "It's okay. I'd rather enjoy this right now with you right here, $cat_name." We just sit and stare up at the stars for a while, enraptured with the wonder of a night sky over this glittering desert. [[For the first time, I feel free and light.->What Is My Name]]"Would you have ideas for names, $cat_name?" "I'm flattered you would ask. But I think this is something you should choose for yourself. Though if you really want a suggestion, you could name yourself after this very scene. After the things you wanted to reach. Or absolutely anything you want." "In that case..." I pause to think for a while. "I am <<textbox "$my_name" "" "My New Name">>."Thank you for playing! This game was created by myself, Soojung Choi. I created and wrote the story and text, and illustrated the art for the game (cover image and desert background). Special Thanks to my Playtesters: Mai Koythong Claudius Lynn [[Return to Title->Title Passage]]$cat_name sniffs the walls and stands up on their hind legs as though chasing something just out of reach above them. "Did you find something?" I tentatively reach behind $cat_name and pick them up so they can search higher up the wall. They let out a startled mewl. "A little warning next time! But yes, there seems to be a barely visible substance writing out a message on top of these documents. But maybe it's too bright to see?" I put $cat_name down and [[turn off the lights.]]The plaque reads Subject 0013. $cat_name walks up and sniffs the stand while looking quizzically at the plaque. Then they jump up into the glass cylinder. "You were kept in a much bigger container than I was," $cat_name chimes in. Don't tell me... [["I'M Subject 0013?"]]We come back to the room with the bookshelves and the single desk. The folder is still where we first found it on top of the desk. [[I open the folder again.]] [[I leave the room through the door marked West.->West Hall Hub]] [[I leave the room through the door marked North.->North Hall Hub]]//As the source of all magic in this world, the Dragon of Origins is omnipresent in different forms. However, it has a core form, within the depths of this world. If we can draw out the core and then implant it into Subject 0013, then it can become our personal reserve of magic.// //Once we fully transfer the core of the Dragon of Origins into Subject 0013, we must make sure any connection between the two is severed through artificial means. Our new world deserves a god in the image of man after all.// [[I leave the room through the door marked West.->West Hall Hub]] [[I leave the room through the door marked North.->North Hall Hub]]We're back at square one. I sigh despondently. "It's okay. If we keep at it, we'll find a way out," $cat_name reassures me and crawls in my lap. I pet them gratefully. <<if $restart_once is false>>"Let's hope they don't change the locks or anything." "Actually, could you conjure up a key to fit any lock?" [[Without hesitation, I try to manifest a key.]] <<else>>[[We leave the room again.->North Hall Hub]] <</if>> <<set $door_score to 0>> <<set $north_door_solved to false>> <<set $east_door_solved to false>> <<set $west_door_solved to false>> <<set $south_door_solved to false>> <<set $north_riddle_counter to 0>> <<set $west_riddle_counter to 0>> <<set $east_riddle_counter to 0>> <<set $south_riddle_counter to 0>>We come back to the room with the glass cylindrical container. [[I inspect the plaque again.]] [[I leave the room through the North door.->North Hall Hub]] [[I leave the room through the East door.->East Hall Hub]]//Subject 0013// <<if$east_screen_read is true>>The screen underneath the plaque is still dark. I tap it again, but it doesn't turn back on. [[I leave through the door marked East.->East Hall Hub]] [[I leave through the door marked North.->North Hall Hub]] <<else>>$cat_name crouches down and sniffs a dark screen just underneath the plaque. I crouch down with them but then stumble forward as I try to get a closer look at the screen. Only $cat_name sliding in front of my face saves me from directly hitting the screen. The screen suddenly flashes on and bright, glowing text starts scrolling down. [[I read it.]] <</if>><<set $east_screen_read to true>>//Subject 0013 first woke up confused. However, that was resolved quickly as it didn't appear to recall any prior memories when asked. Whether this is due to the length of time spent asleep bordering on at least several centuries or other causes is unknown. Either way, it is much more convenient for us.// The screen goes dark again. [[I leave through the door marked East.->East Hall Hub]] [[I leave through the door marked North.->North Hall Hub]]The diagram on the wall of this room looks more uncanny the more I look at it. The image of me on the diagram seems less like me and more like a specimen under a microscope. If they even wanted me to see myself in that detached and subhuman light... I shudder to think about what else they would want from me. [[I read the documents again.]] [[I leave through the door marked West.->West Hall Hub]] [[I leave through the door marked South.->South Hall Hub]]The room's lights are somehow turned back on. Out of morbid curiosity, I turn the lights back off, only to find the same large text from before glowing on the walls. //Raise and control the subject as our new god. Harness its power as it becomes our own new reserve of magic. A living reservoir.// [[I leave through the door marked South.->South Hall Hub]] [[I leave through the door marked East.->East Hall Hub]]//1) Provide select books for education about the world. Books with visuals are preferred. We must not let its innate curiosity grow. 2) Once the subject shows at least 3 days of restlessness that doesn’t abate with reading or writing, bring it to the Northwest Office for its education on its objective to face the Dragon of Origins. 3) Once it understands its objective and our creed, begin light field training in the Southeast Room. 4) As its techniques develop, take it outside but only in designated areas. Final step: Once the subject knows how to control its power and its strength we can create a new world in our image. And Subject 0013 can be our figurehead god.// [[I leave through the South door.->South Hall Hub]] [[I leave through the West door.->West Hall Hub]]I close my eyes and hold out my hand, imagining a golden key that can change shape to fit any lock. But when I open my eyes, there is nothing but air. "Oh. Hmmm, how about writing?" //Inside this locked room, a key that fits perfectly within the lock// //[[appears before us.]]//$cat_name and I hold our breaths in anticipation. But after a tense moment, nothing happens. "I guess... I can't just make anything from thin air? Anything more physical than dreamlike images at least." Admittedly, as wonderful as my abilities with paper and words have been, I am a little disappointed that there is such a limit. "That may seem underwhelming, but there is still so much you can do. Don't disregard that. For what it's worth, I think you are great, powers or no powers." $cat_name leans up and nuzzles my cheeks with their nose. I smile and hug $cat_name close.<<set $restart_once to true>> [["Okay, I'm ready to try again."->North Hall Hub]]"$my_name, yes?" I nod confidently. "Nice to meet you, $my_name." [["Nice to meet you too."->The End.]]The Paper Magician [[Play->Prologue Start]] [[Credits->The End.]]