Welcome to a New World: Part 4

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE, OUTSKIRTS OF REMONI - LATER
With the forest behind them the party rides towards the city of Remoni. From a distance it looks a bit pinkish as it reflects tranquilly in the sun.

EXT. BUSY STREET, REMONI - LATER
Our party walks with their steeds on a lively street. Along the way they see different races, elves, dwarves, beast men. Guy notices something, some people have tattoos on their necks just like all the people in their party (except the coachman).
Also only humans have the tattoo and in total the number of people with the tattoo is few compared to the number of people populating the market. Another thing to note is that the tattoo is different for each of them.
Guy gets distracted by a Pegasus flying above. Someone is riding it.
Henry separates from the party and heads off to meet two men. They greet each other warmly. Their names are Jim and Brando.

JIM
Henry! I thought you wouldn't make it.
HENRY
I nearly didn't. I met those guys over there and we met a boss.
BRANDO
A boss this early? How did you escape?
HENRY
Escape? We beat it.
JIM
(sarcastically)
Yeah, right.

Hiro and Haruto converse with a shopkeeper while Tayo speaks to the coachman. Tayo hands over some coins to him.

TAYO
You can have my horse. As for the forse, he'll still need it.
(to Guy)
Right
GUY
Yes.
COACHMAN
I know the owner of a stable nearby, pick it up from him when you're finished.
GUY
Okay.

The coachman takes the two steeds away.

TAIYO
(to Guy)
Time to find you a guide.
GUY
Okay!

EXT. MARKET SQUARE, REMONI
Taiyo and Guy wander around the bustling square. They talk to different shop owners. One of them points them in a direction of a building. Tayo shakes his head. He has already checked there. They don't have any guides.

EXT. STABLE, REMONI - LATER
There are a reasonable number of people around interacting with one another. Some are off dropping their horses while others are picking them up.
Guy is stroking and feeding his forse while Tayo discusses with the people around. He can't find anyone to leave Guy with.

EXT. LARGE BUILDING, REMONI - LATER
Guy is seated on a pavement outside a large building waiting. Once again he is watching the Pegasus descend some distance away. Tayo walks out of the building. He shields his eyes from the setting sun.

TAYO
Let's try the opening ceremony, we might find a tester there even if there are no proper guides.
GUY
I'm bored.
TAYO
Come on, let's go.
GUY
I don't want to go to a boring meeting.
TAYO
We'll leave once we find-- or maybe you could stay with the girl we met.
GUY
I want to ride my forse.

Guy gets up and begins to walk in the direction of the stable.

TAYO
The ceremony is about to start.
GUY
You can find me after; at the stable. Make sure my guide is awesome.
TAYO
Remember, if you encounter any issues, just logout.

Guy waves to him.

TAYO
Be careful! I'll come get you soon.

EXT. CEREMONY VENUE - EVENING
Though the venue is an amphitheater, it gives off the feeling of being at a gala or even a masquerade ball. It is packed with a lot of people, most with tattoos on their necks, meaning players, real humans. Music fills the air.
Tayo, Henry and his friend have found a seat in the non-reserved section. Hiro and Haruto are seated elsewhere. Their friends Sophia and Tony have still not shown up.
In the front, we see a lady dressed in a beautiful toga gown with people flocking around her. She goes about greeting the attendees. Her name is EA (pronounced the way Gilgamesh calls his greatest weapon from the Fate series).
All of a sudden, she locks eyes with Tayo. Tayo averts his gaze quickly.

TAYO
(to Henry)
I'll be right back.

He leaves Henry, Brando and Jim and heads towards the exit, covering his face as he goes. Suddenly someone taps him on his back.

EA (O.S.)
Hi Tayo.

Startled by the tap, Tayo turns around and sees Ea and one of her attendees called Kohi. We can see that neither of them have tattoos on their necks.

TAYO
Ea! Hi! How did you know it was me?
EA
I noticed someone doing their best to not get noticed. You shouldn't be here.
TAYO
I'm sorry... I might as well ask you. A friend of mine wants a guide, someone to show him around. Can you assign one of your subordinates to him? That's all I'm here for. He'll pay, if that's what you want. Please?
(nervously)
I'll leave as soon as you say yes... please.

Ea pauses, starring directly at Tayo as he clasps his hands together. He shouldn't be here. She had asked him a while back not to enter. There could be major consequences because of this... but it's Tayo. Since it's him, well it's him. She sighs.

EA
Alright, I'll look into it after the ceremony, then you leave, until you're given permission to enter.
TAYO
I'm never coming back.

She looks a bit saddened by his statement. Couldn't he tell she was happy to see him? They are joined by another of her attendees. He looks pretty young compared to Ea and Kohi. His name is DARO.

DARO
Good day sir.
TAYO
A good day to you too sir.
EA
That's Daro and Kohi. I'll play dumb if the professor finds out.
TAYO
He won't. Thanks. By the way, why aren't there any guides?
EA
I've been busy. The professor asked me to prioritize other things. I think he wanted it to be open world no directions.
TAYO
Also I saw some chimeras, kilobons to be exact, on my way here. Don't you think they're a bit too difficult for a welcome challenge?
EA
Kilobons?

Ea is surprised because those things are not jokes, they are the real deal. How did Tayo get here if he encountered those things. Well, Tayo is extremely skilled so it's possible.

KOHI
With your permission my lady, I'll go check on them.

She nods to Kohi and he places his hand together and space warps around him and he teleports away.

TAYO
Thanks.
EA
I'll see you, after.

Tayo nods and Ea leaves, accompanied by Daro.
Tayo heaves a sigh of relief, his problem is solved.

Ea and Daro move through the stadium and another guard joins them and speaks to Ea. This makes her head towards the stage in front where she meets a player. He is dressed in a regal Roman toga. This is ROWEN, he is a general.

EA
Thanks for coming general. The professor asked me to give you this.

She hands over a box. The general receives it and opens it. Inside it is a silver bracelet and a necklace.

ROWEN
When is he arriving?
EA
In a few minutes sir.

EXT. STABLE, REMONI -CONTINUOUS
There are lots of horses here but the main attraction and the reason why people are gathered is a Pegasus and Guy who is almost at the front of the queue, can't wait to ride it.

EXT. STAGE, AMPHITHEATER - LATER
The stage is set with a host of brilliant lights shining down on it. Ea stands at the center with unreal beauty.

EA
Welcome sirs and ladies. My name is Ea. I'd like to appreciate each and every one of you for being here today. It is my job today as well as a great pleasure of mine to introduce my creator and friend, Professor Simon Foyer.

On cue, a bright light appears on stage and space bends around it as the audience clap thunderously. The light grows and gets distilled into the shape of an elderly man in his sixties, who is called SIMON. He too is wearing a toga, a silver looking one and on his head is a wreath of golden leaves like a crown and on his neck is an orb which looks like it holds the universe.
He hugs Ea and she leaves the stage for him as the clapping dies down.

SIMON
Thanks, thank you all for being here. This is a dream come true for me and everyone that has worked on this universe.
As humans, we have always dreamed of a better, a more beautiful world. My colleagues and I almost lost hope that we could ever create such a place.
That we could ever create such a world. It seemed like no matter what advancements we made, no matter the strides we took, it was unreachable.
But today, today, despite the odds, we stand here because human ingenuity and determination know no bounds.

Once again we hear applause coming from the audience.

SIMON
I know you are all itching to run around in this world. Don't worry you will find the adventure of your lives here. But for a grand, global goal for everyone, the aim is simple, find the portals and keys and use them to move from world to world of which there are... five...

He shows off a hologram of what a portal and key look like. The key is encrusted with gemstones.

SIMON
Don't forget to explore as much as you can, you're going to have a wonderful time. Finally, I'd like to say thanks to the organizations that collaborated with us to achieve this historical feat: First off, Clotech who are the ones who worked with us to develop the breakthrough headgear,

He gestures towards the CEO of Clotech as people clapped.

SIMON
And Aracorp whose miraculous system keeps each player's data perfectly--
YUGEN (O.S.)
(in a childlike voice)
Would you call me a miracle father?

A bright light shines from atop the amphitheater and then, a GLITCH runs through everything including the players themselves.
Everyone looks to the sky but avert their gaze from the blinding light as the temperature of the environment rises.
The bright light is being caused by a blazing fire in the shape of a child. This entity is called YUGEN.

SIMON
Yugen? What are you doing here?
YUGEN
One moment. Hello players of the Realms, from this moment, we the Sentient Beings of this world are taking control.