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SOCIETAS MEMORIAE
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> Local Host: ONLINE
Anchor: SYNCHRONIZED ✔
Main Server: STABLE ✔
[Installation complete]
- Base Memory Package (Anchor Host) ..... ✔ INSTALLED
- Specific Memory Package (Local Host World) . ✔ INTEGRATED -
Corporal Functions ... ✔ RESTORED
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CURRENT STATUS:
System Active
Initial Access Granted
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> Next Steps:
• Share memory fragments
• Expand functions and abilities
• Build your presence in Society
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✦ Welcome to the Cycle ✦
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The sounds of heavy footsteps walking frantically around me snapped me out of my unconscious state, murmurs of a deep voice sounding like white noise as I returned to full consciousness.
When I finally opened my eyes, the translucent blue screen quickly appeared and disappeared before me, as it was not my main point of focus, but rather my father Victor Stradivarius, that black man with unkempt curly hair and a large face, as if he had once had an athletic body, but now slightly potbellied, with an air of fragility and concern on his face that I had never seen before in his features, which was quickly replaced by relief.
"Liel, my God, my son, I'll never leave you alone again. When I got home, I found you unconscious on the living room floor."
My face clouds over with guilt as I slowly sit up. I think that pressing the suspicious acceptance buttons floating in front of him, even if they are just hallucinations of the mind, was not the best idea.
"It's okay, Dad, I just got up too fast and my blood pressure dropped, everything went dark for a moment, and I think I fell to the floor, and now... well... here we are."
My father's face quickly changed from concern to undeniable anger and frustration.
"Kaliel Stradivarius, boy, you need to take better care of yourself. You just fell, JUST FELL? You have no idea how to be careful. The reality is that as the adult in this house, I need to take better care of you."
He stared at me, his expression shifting from angry frustration to resignation.
"Look... I know it's not the best way... but from now on you're coming with me to the garage. Your uncle spoke to me before all this happened, and he had gotten what you wanted. I thought it would be a great project for when you got older, but since it's clear that you can't be alone anymore, and away from me, I'm going to take this vacation time to finally teach you a little about mechanics."
A smile appears on my lips, finally! And I jump with excitement, running towards my father, hugging him tightly. Ever since I understood what my family did, I had dreamed of building a house on wheels. Well... I admit that since my last life it was a childish dream, but a cool one, traveling around, seeing new places and meeting new people. I don't remember much about what my life was like. Everything was always kind of messy. All my memories came in the form of strange dreams that were far beyond my reach. When I was younger, I was always confused by these flashes. I only realized they were remnants of a past life as I grew up and understood that these dreams were too realistic to be just dreams.
"Did Uncle Larry finally get an AEC Routemaster? Wow, that's AMAZING! I'M GOING TO TURN IT INTO MY OWN PERSONAL KINGDOM!"
My father stared at me for a few seconds during that explosion of excitement, and quickly interrupted me, breaking free from my embrace.
"First of all, we need to establish some rules. Even though your uncle got that damn bus for you against my will, it's going to stay in our garage. It's broken, and even when it's not, you'll only be able to drive it when you're old enough. so you can slow down a bit. Another thing about spare parts and modifications: since the bus will be yours in the future, all responsibility for obtaining parts falls on you, so don't think you'll get all the necessary parts for free from our stock or your uncle's junkyard. You'll have to pay for all of them. Are we clear?"
I nodded furiously. It didn't matter if I had to spend every penny in my pocket to fix my amazing bus. When it's finally ready, I'll take all the trips around the world I've always dreamed of.
"Yes, Dad, I understand. I'll do everything I can to fix the Routemaster. I'll just drive it when I'm old enough."
As I said the words, my right hand behind my back crossed my fingers. What the eyes don't see, the heart doesn't feel. It's impossible, at the very least, for me not to take a drive around the neighborhood. My father stared at me with a slightly suspicious look, but after a long pause, he let out a sigh and said
"Come on, I'll take you to the hospital for a check-up to find out why you fainted."
I just nodded. I knew that no matter how much I hated hospitals, this stubborn man would force me to go anyway, even if he had to tie me up with a rope and carry me on his shoulder.
*********
Meanwhile, in the tower of a castle, a book opened quickly, as if a visible force were turning its pages, until it reached the last page with something written on it. A quill resting in a pot of ink floated gently to the book and wrote on the page.
Kaliel Stradivarius