[attr="class","itsover"]


What a bleak social life.
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Adelaide found himself huddled up in his apartment once more. Social anxieties were a burden he knew all too well but so often succumbed to still. The school was out in light of recent developments, and rather than using his time wisely. The young teacher found himself once again scrolling through social media aimlessly. With every post and video that captured his spazzy attention, an errant thought surfaced and faded. Emotions welled and faded without a change in expression.
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The algorithm had a hold on him.
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This was the excuse he would make when his focus broke off from the tiny screen and peered out into his unkempt room. Just a couple more and I’ll start cleaning up, he whispered as if his mother was still there hovering.
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A cramp crept up on his left leg and he kicked out instinctively without stopping to acknowledge the pain. The instant ramen cup beside him was an unfortunate victim of this loafer’s muscle spasm. Its contents spilled out onto the tatami floors and with a gruff sigh, Adelaide scrambled to his feet, while uprighting his dinner as he moved to start cleaning up. His phone remained behind. When Ade wasn’t out exploring his new home and failing to establish meaningful relationships; His trusty mobile device was surely there to comfort him and provide a new opportunity to feel connected to strangers via the web.
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The knock of the cheap wooden door of a multi-purpose cabinet preceded the clang of metal bottles filled with cleaning supplies and other miscellaneous items clattering about. “I’m out of paper towels. How?” he remarked in an incredulous tone tinged with guilt from knowing he’d opted to avoid a supermarket run just the day prior.
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The vibration of his phone separated him from the frustration as he scrambled back to the source. In place of a typical notification, an unfamiliar system message appeared:
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The System has offered you the choice of these three classes.
Please reply with the name of the class you wish to play as.
1. Tactician
2. Pugilist
3. Wind Reader

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Adelaide couldn’t peg what mobile game it was that he downloaded but it was unusual enough that he decided to simply play along. “I never was much of a DnDer” His response was quick and without much thought.
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You have chosen Wind Reader.
Please prepare yourself.
Player transfer and tutorial will take place shortly.

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An eyebrow raised. An awkward smile. This message was both amusing and unsettling because Adelaide still had no clue exactly what he was entertaining himself with by responding. Then it all turned to confusion when the phone started to vibrate uncontrollably. His vision broke into a double as his phone shifted between shades like blue and red. The room around him follows suit. As if he were experiencing a glitch in reality itself. As if he was wearing a shitty pair of 3D glasses and overdosing on a psychedelic. The phenomena persisted; The effect only grew stronger until his vision faded altogether into darkness.
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Then light and wind greeted him with an onslaught as his vision returned. A quick scan told him two things. He was not alone and somehow not at his apartment. While he struggled to make sense of the circumstances, Adelaide couldn’t help but feel whatever was happening might also involve this stranger. A few short steps later and he was at the individual's side.
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“Yo so um... Do you know what’s going on? I don’t usually do drugs with strangers - or drugs, in general, any- Ohhh, I am barefoot. Can this get much worse?”
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As he flailed his arms above his head in disbelief, Ade was greeted by an unearthly message before his would-be acquaintance could even respond. A floating ‘holograph’ right before his very eyes. The easily understood instructions were plainly stated and horrifyingly unsettling to Ade as the kid of a father diagnosed with multiple mental disorders.
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“You’re seeing this right? It’s not just me?”
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Mom said if I kept it up, my brain would turn to mush. Maybe I’m too late.

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