When Fantasy Glitches

Looking into Magnus's room, one could see that the drapery had been pulled back. Close by, Magnus could be seen sitting at a desk with a cube of soap in front of him, rubbing his chin as the starlight illuminated the room along with the nearby candles.

It took a couple of hours of experimenting, but I think I’ve finally managed to narrow down the requirements for activating the Command Console.

After his success in the bath, Magnus rushed back to his room and threw on some random clothes he found in a dresser, probably left there for guests. As such, the experiments he's been doing for the past few hours have mostly been him replicating his earlier success in the bathroom and making clarifications of what he could and couldn't do.

For example, he simplified the cube's movement in his mind by visualizing its x, y, and z axes, and then attempted to adjust its coordinates over some random period of time. Just like the first attempt, it required him to enter a state of focus he didn't fully comprehend, but reaching it got slightly easier with repetition.

In fact, by his twelfth attempt, he had even managed to move the soap along two axes simultaneously instead of just one, moving it diagonally. However, by far the most useful thing he had learned was that the soap cube represented his current limit, at least mentally.

Visualizing the movements of just this one cube of soap consumed all his mental focus. It seemed simple, yet the complexity required to imagine it moving exactly as he wished was strenuous. And that accuracy is exactly what the Command Console relied on for it to find its path, or at least that was Magnus’s theory.

If you think about this whole world as one big game engine, then the Command Console makes a lot more sense, though it’s a bit of a reach considering how limited my knowledge is.

He was still debating whether this world was based on the game he was trying to play or if it was some other world entirely. The latter seemed less likely, but so far he hadn't really seen any typical game elements like name tags or levels, the Command Console being the exception.

Until he knew which one was the truth, his theory would remain exactly that: a theory.

But considering it was the only one he felt made sense right now, he decided to stick with it. As for the pathing he mentioned, he was referring to a parent-child hierarchy.

In some engines, everything from climbable trees to rocks on the ground was considered to be part of the game's workspace. If there was a rock in this workspace, it's seen as a 'child' of the workspace. Thus, to interact with it via a script, you'd specify its path, like 'Workspace.Rock', followed by the action you want to perform.

It was pretty similar to navigating your way to a game folder on a computer by entering ‘C:\Games’ into your file explorer. However, in this scenario, 'C' didn’t stand for your hard drive; it represented the world itself.

Of course, it’s a lot harder for me since I can't just input the path of this cube of soap into the Command Console, mainly because I don’t know it. Plus, I don't even understand the language the Command Console uses, even if I did have it's path. That’s why it’s possible that the Command Console is using my visualizations as a kind of sifter to sort through the world.

An easier analogy might be picturing Magnus’s visualizations as a jigsaw puzzle forming in his own mind—one that's missing multiple pieces. When the puzzle is incomplete, the image on it could be anything, leaving the Command Console at a loss for what Magnus is aiming to manipulate.

However, as the jigsaw becomes more complete, the image also becomes more clear, and the Command Console can start to filter out the things the image definitely isn’t. It was a simple process, and one that worked when there was only one possible thing in the world that matched the image on the jigsaw puzzle.

But what if multiple things that looked similar to the image on the puzzle existed, for example, a cube of soap? In that kind of situation, the puzzle would need to be filled in further for the Command Console to identify its target amongst a bunch of duplicates.

And all of this was just when Magnus was focusing on something small. The bigger or more intricate the object he was targeting, the greater the demand would be to put together that mental jigsaw puzzle.

That meant, as things were now, something on the level of a cube of soap is quite literally the limit of what Magnus’s mind is capable of visualizing. Overall, as a requirement, it was pretty strict, but he could still do it.

After all, pixel-perfect precision wasn't anything new to him; he’d played a bunch of annoying games that required that kind of stuff. Yet, the added fact that he needed to account for how many duplicates of certain things may exist in the world was the real kicker.

Besides all of that, Magnus did end up stumbling across one more fascinating aspect of the Command Console: its sheer, unstoppable force once executed.

During one of his experiments, he decided to move the soap cube on his desk a little to the left and then to the right, spanning ten seconds. It required a few tries, but once his visualization was accepted and the Command Console began its task, Magnus tried to stop the cube of soap from moving by grabbing and holding it in place.

To his surprise, it was as if he wasn’t there at all.

No amount of force he used, whether it be through his arms or even when he leaned all his weight against the cube to slow it down, made any difference. The soap moved left, then right, precisely as he had told it to, without missing the ten-second timeframe by even a fraction.

This experience in particular led to him coming up with a bunch of other theories, though he chose to set them aside for the time being, at least until he had more information.

Well, I guess that’s enough for tonight.

Yawning, Magnus rose from his desk and stretched before making his way towards his bed, only to flop down on it face-first. If he hadn’t been tired before, then using his brain as much as he did had definitely worn him out.

Moving a cube of soap might be pretty useless in the grand scheme of things, but I’m sure there’s a bunch of other ways I can use the Command Console with a bit more trial and error. Still, all of this is pretty much useless unless I can figure out how to enhance my focus and visualization skills.

Oh, and I need to remember to check out that library Mia mentioned tomorrow.

A few more stray thoughts passed through Magnus’s mind over the course of the night, but eventually, the room's soft, dim lighting caused him to fall into a deep sleep.

•

"Hey, did you hear the news?"

"What, you mean the news about our new guest?"

"Yeah, it's been ages since we've had someone stay here. They must be pretty important, right?" In a quiet corner of the Major General’s Villa, three maids chatted away as they cleaned.

Despite years of service, they rarely saw anyone besides one another or a couple of guards. No guests meant they had an easy job, but it was undeniably boring as well. Because of that, the moment a guest arrived, it was pretty much guaranteed to start a buzz.

As the three continued to gossip, another maid, determined yet anxious, was making her way down the hall. Spotting her, one of the maids in the trio called out.

"Hey, Cia, where are you off to in such a hurry?" Celia paused, offering a forced smile as she joined them.

"Hey, Tola. I’m on my way to greet our guest. Head Maid Misran was just contacted by the Major General, and I’ve been assigned to attend to them." Tola and the others gasped in surprise at Celia’s news.

"Really? She chose you to look after them? Did she mention anything else?"

"Like who they are?"

"Or why they're here?"

Questions flew at Celia from all sides, but all she could do was shake her head as she responded.

"I'm not sure. The Head Maid told me to just follow the Major General's orders, be polite to the guests, and see to their needs. But she also mentioned we shouldn't interact with them unless called upon or doing our duties." Tola, the most nosy of the trio, paused to think before chiming in.

"If the Major General is insisting on that, maybe there's some truth to the rumors."

Celia cocked her head, curious, and asked, "Which rumors?"

"Supposedly, a maid caught a glimpse of the new arrival. I was a bit skeptical, especially after hearing her describe him. She said he had skin fairer than any noble she had ever seen, and they even had blonde hair." Celia looked puzzled at that detail, prompting the others to speak.

"Blonde hair?"

"I thought only elves had blonde hair. Could it be..." Tola quickly dismissed the idea the maid was about to bring up.

"No way. If any elves or even half-elves were still alive, the Major General wouldn't have them sent here or let anyone see them. It's probably just some noble from a far-off region or something." Tola's words were immediately met with protests from the other maids.

"Huh, but that would be so boring!"

"Yeah, why can’t they be some knight from a fallen kingdom or something? It fits right into a fairy tale, doesn't it?"

"What? Why the hell would they be a knight? That doesn’t even make any sense," Tola replied. As they bantered, Celia's gaze drifted back down the hall. Her earlier nervousness had softened slightly, giving way to curiosity.

After parting ways with Tola and the others, Celia headed down the corridor and made a right turn. The plush, bright red carpet beneath her feet muffled her steps as she neared Magnus's room.

Remember what Head Maid Misran said—be polite and keep chit-chat to a minimum.

Repeating the instructions given to her in her mind, Celia soon arrived at her destination. With a moment's hesitation, Celia knocked gently on the door, waiting nearly two minutes with no answer. She knocked again, but silence was the only reply.

Could they still be asleep? If no one answers, we're supposed to check on them, right?

Celia thought back to her training before taking a deep breath and entering the room while announcing herself.

"Excuse me." The morning sun was pouring through the windows, bathing the room in a warm, golden light; however, to Celia's surprise, the bed had been neatly made and was empty, as was the rest of the room.

"Did I get the room wrong?" She looked around, puzzled, before stepping back into the hallway, double-checking where she was. But after a moment, she confirmed she had entered the right room.

"Could they have left already? But then, why would Head Maid Misran assign me here?" Celia started to wander while talking to herself, trying to figure out what exactly she should do. As she rounded a corner, she noticed a nearby open door.

Huh, why is the library door open? Did one of the maids forget to close it after dusting off the books?

Curious, Celia approached and peeked inside.

The library was a tranquil haven, spanning multiple floors of the Major General's Villa, with its shelves reaching far above and extending beyond the first floor's ceiling. The mezzanine levels for the second and third floors of the library mirrored the same design, giving the entire space an open feeling.

Oh, I'm not the only one here.

Celia’s gaze had swept over the ground floor of the library before it landed on someone. Parked on a window seat, buried in a book, was a person whose light blonde hair almost seemed to shimmer in the sunlight streaming through the window.

They were so engrossed in their book that they didn't notice Celia enter.

Wow, their hair really is blonde; it's beautiful.

Celia found herself staring at the person for a moment, captivated by their appearance. It was an odd thing to do, especially after she realized that the person she was staring at, who had an even better complexion than she did, was actually a boy.

The one she was looking at was, of course, Magnus, who had made his way to the library as soon as he woke up, still in the pajamas he found in his room.

Celia hesitated to interrupt his reading, but eventually felt she should make her presence known instead of just staring at him in silence. So, she cleared her throat softly. Magnus’s head shot up, his eyes wide with surprise at finding someone else there.

“Oh, are you one of the maids?” He sized her up, noting that her attire looked exactly how he always imagined a maid would dress. Celia nodded, giving a polite bow before introducing herself.

“Yes, sir, I'm Celia. The Head Maid assigned me to assist you during your stay here. Please feel free to call on me if you need anything.”

Wow, Mia wasn't joking. A personal maid definitely wasn't on my bucket list, but I'll take the win all the same. Though her calling me sir is going to take a while to get used to.

Shaking off that thought, he responded to her greeting with a casual air.

“Nice to meet you too, and feel free to just call me Magnus. Oh, and I am allowed to be in the library, right?” Celia lowered her head and responded.

“Regrettably, I cannot address you by name, but yes, you're welcome to explore any area of the villa as our guest, except for the maid’s quarters, of course.” Magnus found her insistence on formality a bit strange, but he was happy to know what Mia said about him having the freedom to roam as he pleased was true.

“Great, then I'll be in here for a bit,” he said, turning back to his book. Celia, meanwhile, focused on reorganizing a table in the library, which was cluttered with stacks of books divided into two piles.

Many were historical, but a few talked about the concept of magic and a few other supernatural things. Surprisingly enough, those few books were all Magnus could find about those topics, even in a library as big as this. But perhaps what was even more surprising than that was the fact that he could actually read them.

He hadn’t thought about it until last night, but he should have technically been illiterate in this world, unable to read at all, but that wasn’t the case.

It was already odd enough that I could understand the language of the people here without ever having heard it before, but being able to read it as well? I mean, I appreciate the convenience, but it's still really weird.

Leaving aside the nonexistent language barriers he had to deal with, Magnus had spent his entire morning digging through the library's collection, reading and then revisiting its texts. The one that had been the most helpful so far was the book in his hands now that talked about some of humanity's history in this world.

So we're really up against the wall, huh? Aside from this place, the Great Batis Kingdom, there are only two other kingdoms left: the Valots Empire and the Golden Curena Kingdom.

Unfortunately, the historical accounts he had available to him were pretty outdated, leaving him with a patchy understanding of the current state of the world. Yet, it was clear to Magnus that humans were on the verge of extinction, a stark contrast to a lot of other stories where they dominated.

Whether it be in terms of numbers or land, humanity was teetering on the edge.

It seems our downfall was largely self-inflicted, driven by prejudice and the enslavement of other races. The tipping point came when they attacked the elves, destroying their ancestral lands in a brutal assault. That single act of violence erupted into a full-scale war, pitting every human kingdom against the myriad non-human races.

Shaking his head in dismay, Magnus couldn't help but find it amazing how humans made the same mistakes no matter what world they were in.

After reading for a bit longer, Magnus let out a yawn while stretching, which caught Celia's attention. She had been quietly watching from a nearby chair, amidst the towers of books he had already read through.

“Are you feeling tired, sir?” she inquired. Despite the hours she spent sitting in the library, she had remained fully awake. Magnus had even suggested she pick up a book to pass the time, but she politely declined.

Realizing how much time had flown, as evidenced by the sun's journey across the sky, Magnus dismissed his weariness with a light wave.

“Just a bit drained; nothing major,” he reassured. At that, Celia offered something.

“Would you like some tea with your meal later? We have a variety, including some brewed with magical herbs.” The mention of 'magical herbs' immediately piqued Magnus's interest.

Magical herbs, huh? From what I remember reading, those are plants that possess extraordinary properties due to being bathed in high quantities of mana.

Details on magic or mana were frustratingly scant in the books he had found, leaving much to his imagination about their true nature.

But the fact that the Major General’s Villa can stock tea made with magical herbs is definitely a serious luxury.

“Hmm, I've never tried it before. But I need you to help me find something,” Magnus said as he got to his feet and stretched.

“Oh? Is there a particular book you’re after?” To which Magnus nodded.

“Yeah, I'm looking for a book about biology,” Magnus said, causing Celia to ponder his request for a moment. She didn’t know every single book in the library. But, since she and the other maids cleaned this place on a regular basis, she had a pretty good idea of where certain books might be based on memory alone.

“I think I remember seeing a few books like that on the second floor. I’ll go check,” Celia said, standing up to go search the upper level of the library. As she did that, Magnus thought to himself. Obviously, he wasn’t suddenly interested in biology just for the heck of it.

He realized that even with the ability to use the Command Console now, it would be too unreliable to use in dangerous situations. His last brush with death was a close call; he only survived because the bandits decided they wanted to capture him.

If they had been more ruthless, he was sure he would be dead right now.

The Command Console has a lot of potential, but it’s useless if I can’t use it while under pressure. It’s like a spell with a long cast time, but the results aren’t worth the wait, at least not with how I'm using it now.

If he had a typical cheat ability, like in a normal system, or something, he could easily gain skills or boost his strength through repetitive tasks. But that wasn't how the Command Console worked.

But even if I don't have that luxury of doing things easily, that doesn’t mean I have to play exactly by the rules either.

The Command Console, in theory, could manipulate anything he could visualize. That included his own body.