Prologue:

    Wake up, take a shower, brush my teeth and eat breakfast. These are the first things I do during the day, a boring day just like the rest of them. After that I would find some nice clothes to wear during classes, then talk to my roommate until classes start. Nothing changes in College, the same routine every morning, the same classes teaching me what I need to know for the "future" as if going to a College like this one was really note worthy for businesses.
    My roommate, Cody would say our see ya laters then walk off to his classes. Then I go off to learn more in computer science. I didn't mind learning more about computers and what goes into them, or what I can do with them. However I always had the same teacher, who had to scream our ears off to teach and made sure to make everything more difficult than it needed to be. His lectures lasting longer than they need to and the work afterwards taking a week to finish. To say I didn't like the guy would be an understatement.
    The rest of the day would move along normally. With the couple of odd occurrences that are never truly interesting, and end just as fast as they begin. By the end of the day I finish all the work I can and get ready to sleep. However Cody always seemed to appear then, and always had to say, "you putting that thing on again?" Which I would always say, "yep".
     After that he would go out to party with some Fraternity like usual, it makes you wonder if he ever sleeps. However I never cared enough about him enough to take too long thinking on it. So like usual I got ready to sleep.
     Going into my closet, I would grab a small white box and bring it out, taking the lid off showing large amounts of foam padding and bubble wrap. After moving all of the covering to the side showed a headpiece, large enough to cover the entire top of my head. On the side of the headpiece had a tag on it, "VR Life" it read. This high tech headset was a virtual reality headset, capable of much more than previous creations for virtual reality. The previous VR pieces ended up becoming old fast, and the advancement of the technology was trumped by the creators of VR Life, Alternate Reality studios. Only 15 VR Life headsets were made, and I have had one of them for almost six years now.
     Turning it on is as simple as turning on a gaming console, just push a button and it is on. Once it's on I place it on my head, using the straps to hold it in place and lay in bed. As soon as I do this I already start to get drowsy, and not moments later my eyes closed for the night. A shift in the headpiece bringing down a metal screen covering my face, and I am out.
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    Now, I wake up in a different place. Stone covering the walls and roof and a wooden floor covering the ground. The bed i'm in made of solid wood and covered in sheepskin blankets, sitting up and stretching. Small birds singing a tune outside as I stand. Walking to a small desk covered in clothing.
    I put on my underclothes, a wool shirt and pants. Then over that I grabbed my chainmail, covering my underclothing in ringed armor. Above that was my uniform, a green cloak cut shorter than most, coming closer to the abdomen. Black pants covering my legs with padded leather. Finally I put on my chest strap, commonly known as a Sam Browne belt back in the normal world. The strap holding the insignia of what I am. A dragon with it's wings spread high.
   Nomanis, a medieval land, was the VR Life for me. Where magic was strong and the people a little different. Where swords clashed and arrows flew high. The best part though..
    As soon as I finished dressing, a roar could be heard just outside. Making me put on my boots rather quickly and grab a sword inside a leather sheathe then hurry outside. Where you could see that my house was just disconnected from a large manor, with the servants moving out of the way of a special something in the sky...
    A huge, red, winged beast dived down to land in an open patch of grass. The human servants fleeing out of the way of the creature as it stared straight at me, it's face somehow smiling. I already was smiling myself.
    In my mind, I heard a deep growling voice, only asking one thing, "Ready to go, Gared?"

"Yes, yes I am."

Chapter One, Gared:

       July 15th, 2017. A child laid in a hospital bed, his father knelt down next to him, holding his hand. His mother sitting in a chair nearby, sobbing softly as a knock came on the hospital room door. "Doctor?" The father called out, turning around to see an older man in a white coat. The tag on his coat reading "Dr. Miles".
       This child has been undergoing chemotherapy for the last five months, a troubling time for the whole family. The beautiful brown hair on his head gone, instead skin showed where hair should be. Marks on his arms of where the needles injected the treatment into his veins. Even with all of this, the young boy still could smile when Dr. Miles came into the room.
       "Well, Mr and Miss. Welding, I have some news." Dr. Miles said, sitting on an empty seat as the mother and father turn to face him. "After looking over Gared, we have found no evidence of Lung cancer in his body. It's safe to assume the cancer is gone."
       It only took moments for Gared's mother and father to jump up in joy, hugging each other then moving to hug Gared. Who gave a weak hug in return. "Now, before you go celebrate. I am obliged to tell you." Miles continued, standing up. "That does not mean Gared's cancer is gone. I cannot promise that. It could return someday in the future, which is why I ask you make sure he is keeping up with exercise, eating well and has frequent check ups to make sure he is safe."
       "Thank you, doctor. We cannot appreciate this enough." Gared's mother said, which his father then continued, "We will make sure you are well compensated for this, any number you need-"
       "Actually, someone already took care of your payment. Including a letter they gave me to show to you." Miles cut in, going into his coat pocket and bringing out a small envelope. Addressed to Gared's father. Which he took and opened up right away.
"Hello Dan Welding. Through social media we learned of your family's troubles with Lung Cancer. We hope to see young Gared recover quickly, and because of this we have volunteered to donate $30,000 to the hospital to cover all expenses. In addition to this, we want your son to be able to enjoy himself as he begins his recovery. Given to the hospital was a white box, which should be given to you after reading this letter. Inside will be a limited edition VR Life headset. Tested extensively to make sure nothing about VR Life will affect Gared's mind in a negative way, and will only make for a positive and fun experience for him as he sleeps. We hope he can enjoy this gift and hope your family can live happily ever after.
                                                                                                      -Alternate Reality Studios"

       As soon as Dan finished reading, he handed it to his wife. Left speechless as Miles came in with a white box. Resting it on the table next to Gared. "I-I can't believe this! Is this all true?!" The mother said, Dr. Miles nodding his head. "A representative of Alternate Reality studios came personally, handing over the letter, box and $30,000 in cash." As soon as he finished speaking, both Dan and his wife burst into tears of joy. Leaning onto each other as Miles moved over to Gared. "Hey buddy, when's your birthday?" He asks.
      "July 20th" Gared replies. Most of Gared's mind was too tired to recognize all that was going on around him. Trying to understand everything that was happening. As far as he knew he was cured. Which made him happy enough. "Oh really?" Miles said "How old will you be then?"
      "I'll be 15 years old, dad says i'll be a true man then." Gared says happily, even though he was a teenager. He still had the personality of a ten year old. It didn't hinder him from learning in school or making friends though. He was just known as the jester.
      "Oh? Well, we all got you a gift. It's a little early but we thought it would be nice as a...get well soon present" He says, grabbing the box off the table. Placing it on his lap. "Go ahead, open it."
      So Gared did, sitting up and grabbing the lid. Opening it up to a large amount of bubble wrap and foam padding, with a small sticky note on top of it all. "We hope you enjoy!" It read. Once Gared got through the padding it showed a shiny piece of headwear, most of it's machinery hidden inside as it looked like a simple helmet. Covering most of the head except for the face. Every part of the helmet adjustable to fit any size head. On the side of it saying "VR Life".
      "What is it?" He asked, looking over it. "Just put it on and it will do the rest. Just lay down" Miles replies, making Gared give him an odd look before placing it on his head. Laying back down. As soon as he laid down Dr. Miles reaches and hits a button on the side of the helmet, as soon as he hits the button soft vibrations barely audible to anyone but Gared could be heard. Going straight into his ears and somehow, someway hitting the right spots to make his eyes start to close, and not moments later it was lights out. As soon as Gared went into slumber, a metal screen came down in front of his face. Making his whole head covered in metal, and his parents turning around to look. Confused, they were too focused on their tears of joy to notice what Dr. Miles and Gared have been doing.
      "What did you do?" Dan asked him, Miles standing up and facing them. "Don't worry, that's the VR Life helmet. My own son keeps me informed on every little detail of it. I feel bad that I am not able to get him one of the fifteen currently existing. Anyways, I hope you two have a good night. You'll see your son's face again in eight hours." He said, walking past Dan and his wife. The two looking at each other in surprise. What was Gared seeing in there?
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VR Life initializing, loading alternate reality.....


Welcome, Gared Welding to VR life. We will be putting you into universe #227089. Treat this as if it's reality. As it truly is an alternate reality...


Sending user to: #227089. Good luck Gared.

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      The sounds of flapping wings and chirping birds brought Gared to a place he doesn't recognize. His bare skin laying in a patch of green grass. Following the cool breeze as it made the short brown hair on Gared's head shuffle. Slowly getting up as he looks around. He was in a forest, but not the ones back home. The trees around him so large he could never climb to the top. A roof of leaves letting little sunlight in, and the birds maneuvering through the branches as if they have done it a hundred times before.
       It worked, it truly worked! This is an alternate reality. Just like it said! This was like nothing Gared has ever seen before, no video game he has played ever was capable of this! For the next few minutes all Gared did was test everything. Touching the tree trunks, sniffing flowers, tasting a berry off a nearby bush. No matter what he did he couldn't find any reason to show this was fake. It was all so real. They even added bladder to the mix!...
       Bladder, Gared has to go. As soon as he came to that realization he also realized something else.
       He is bare naked, everything showing, no layer of clothing to hide his skin. This sudden realization also brought another troubling thought. What if someone were to appear? As soon as he thought that the sound of clopping hooves could be heard not too far away, probably a group of horses, with a group of people riding them...
       Gared couldn't be seen like this! He had to hide! Looking around frantically for somewhere to stay hidden, and ultimately went and dove into the berry bush he recently plucked a berry from. To say that was the greatest move Gared has made would be wrong. As there were a lot of branches and twigs in the bush, poking at Gared from all directions. Probably scratching and cutting into his skin as well.
       It did seem to work though, as when the horses came to a halt by the bush. Three sets of boots dropping down into Gared's view. "I swore I smelled something around here." A deeper voice called out. "I don't see anything Baldwin, you might wanna clean out your sniffer." A more feminine voice replied, causing snickers from her and another voice. "Oh shut it you two, just look around and call out if you find anything"
      Gared didn't want to be found, but whoever these people are may just be able to do so anyway. As one was able to sniff him out..who are they?
      As soon as that question arose, Gared could do nothing but try and take a peak, and what he saw made his mouth go agape. He didn't see a group of humans, with light or dark skin, he saw fur and scales. The first voice was a taller man, but older. A long snout with large ears drooping on the sides, and wrinkles all over. That isn't a man, that's a bloodhound. The next one Gared saw was the woman, a shorter girl who's back was to him. Her long and thin tail swaying behind her, a round face with two big ears pointing out. Even from the back Gared could recognize what she is, she is a cat. Both of them were wearing studded leather armor, with simple pants and boots. A scabbard at their waists and a sword inside each of them.
      No matter where Gared peeked out from though, there was no signs of the third person. He tried again and again, but nothing. Every ounce in him was afraid now, where was the third voice? Those fears were answered, not by seeing him, but by a clawed hand grabbing the back of his neck, pulling him up. "Found him" said the voice behind him. Digging his claws into Gared's bare skin. All Gared could do was squirm in his grip, giving out small cries for help.
       Instead of help, the bloodhound and cat turned around and looked straight at him. "Oh lord, he is naked!" The cat said, going over to the man holding onto Gared. "Addanc! Lower him back down, nobody wants to see that!" The cat cried out, Addanc huffing and letting Gared go. Dropping him back into the bush, which let him see who Addanc was.
       Unlike the cat or bloodhound, Addanc didn't have fur. Instead he had bright green scales covering his whole body. Clawed hands and bare feet, which were also clawed. His head had no hair either, only two horns protruding out the back of his head. "Humph" was all that came out of the lizard's mouth. Walking back over to the horses as the bloodhound, Baldwin, came with some rags. "Here boy, cover that up and then get out of that bush. You have some explaining to do." Baldwin said, throwing him the rags. The clothing wasn't exactly comfortable, more meant for a slave on the farm than the average commoner, but as far as Gared was concerned it kept from anymore embarrassment happening today. Putting them on and stepping out.
      Thanks to bushes and claws, Gared was a mess. With cuts and marks all over his body and small amounts of red coming from his neck. Baldwin grabbing the boy straight away and looking over his neck. "You gripped him too hard Addanc, look at this mess." Baldwin says with a huff. Then looking at Gared directly. "What's your name boy?"
      "G-Gared sir.."
      "What were you doing out here Gared?"
      Now that was a trick question, how are you to explain this? For quite awhile Gared stood there stumped. If he told the truth it may break the simulation, or if he told a lie he could be found out. So the easiest thing to say was, "I-I don't remember.."
      "Liar.." Addanc said, giving a glare from afar. Which prompted the cat to whack him over the head. "Are you saying you have amnesia? If you fess up now it could save a lot of trouble."
      "I don't know! I'm being honest, I don't know where I am, how I got here. Who any of you are and why I was naked." Gared pleaded, trying his best to sound convincing. He did know some of the answers, but overall this whole thing was a mystery to him. For awhile Baldwin kept quiet, looking over every detail of Gared's face. Before standing up and saying, "I can't say for sure if I believe him. However I do know he got banged up a bit. His whole body is cut and bruised and our friend here gave him some claw markings too. We'll bring him back with us and fix him up, Lord Drake will also want to know that a human boy was found in the hunting grounds." Once Baldwin finishes, both the cat and Addanc get their horses ready. "Catelyn, can you let the boy ride with you?" Baldwin asks, the cat Catelyn smiling with a nod. "Gared come here, i'll give you a ride."
       Thanks to some riding lessons when Gared was younger, he was able to get on the back of the horse with relative ease. Catelyn sitting in front of them as Baldwin on his horse takes the lead. "Let's get back to Evarton." Baldwin calls, and with a kick and a whip of the reign the horses were off.