“The unknown is a vast realm that ignites wonder and curiosity, reminding us of the limits of our understanding while fostering humility and inspiring creativity. It is an essential aspect of human experience, driving our pursuit of knowledge and growth. – Excerpt from “Book of Elara”

  Maverick Garcia sat on the rooftop of his high-rise apartment, gazing up at the night sky. The events in Butchers Valley earlier that day had taken its toll on him, leaving his mind weary and his focus nearly spent. At 26 years of age, Maverick is a half-Latino college student, standing just over six feet tall. The folding recliner creaked under him as Maverick pushed back on it adjusting to a more comfortable position.

  Looking up at the twinkling stars, and the full moon, Maverick longed for something more… something to pull down the curtain on his stagnant day to day. Maverick wanted the world to be more like TVO, full of action and treasure to be found. Since he was a child Maverick had always wanted to see the stars unclose and discover something no one else ever had. But as he grew up, life had other plans.

  It’s not that his life was bad by any means, he lived comfortably with his mother and attended one of the best universities in the world. Sometimes the average day wasn’t enough. The boring lectures and predicable interactions with many of his friends and classmates just didn’t hit in the right ways sometimes.

  “There has to be more out there,” Maverick thought to himself.

  Polishing off his adult beverage, Maverick picked out the constellations in the shinning aura of the night sky, it was something his dad and him use to do as he grew up, and always brought his mind back down to earth. But as every night before, since he was a child, the sky remained the same, everything was exactly where it should be and its secrets remained hidden in the darkness between giants.

  Maverick took in a long deep breath and looked down at his phone, the clock had struck midnight. An early night for him to be packing it in, but hey the stars weren’t going anywhere, at least not for a few billion years and he’d be long gone by then.

  Standing from his comfortable nest, Maverick folded his chair and tossed the empty can into a nearby recycling bin. “I should probably head inside before mom realizes I’m up here again, and yells at me”

  Maverick stuffed his laptop scattered papers and miscellaneous belongings into his backpack, not really caring much for their wellbeing. Sitting for too long always made his joints feel achy so he stretched high into the air, as if trying to grab a star. Once feeling limber, Maverick slung his pack over his shoulder and walked over to the maintenance ladder, but before hitting the release lever to lower it down, he took one final glance at the night sky. The moon and its celestial siblings all hung eternally high above the world, their eternal gaze watching over all those who dare to venture out in the dark.

  Maverick climbed down the ladder, as he had thousands of times before, feeling the familiar rough and well-worn metal rungs griped in his hands. One step, one rung, one movement at a time, he descended.

  Maverick had been coming up to the rooftop patio since he and his family first moved to this high rise on Nocturna Isle when he was only six years old. Originally it was Mavericks father, who brought him up here to look at the night sky, and see all the shinning stars. However his current reclusive area was usually off limits as it was the area that housed the massive AC units and solar panels, but figured maintenance never minded as he always made “anonymous” reports of needed repairs.

  Nocturna Isle is a small island nation, that essentially had no political affiliation with the rest of the world. Those who resided on Nocturna Isle were primarily working class folk who sought after the island life, some elected officials to keep the island running, university professors, farmers and students with their families.

  The islands ability to stay independent resided in its origins, it housed one of the worlds oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, where royalty, acting world leaders, and the so called elite would send their children for a higher education. But the university did not discriminate against those without the material means to attend. Anyone meeting the requirements and passing the universities entrance exam would have a shot at attending, and no amount of money or influence could buy in a spot for a student undeserving.

  They moved from the now distant main land, the united states, when his dads job opened a research and development branch in collaboration with Atherton University. Living on the island was a dream come true for Maverick in his early childhood, going to the beach, having bonfires with his family and friends, when he turned 12 however his life was inexplicably changed. His father had been lost in a tropical storm, aboard the island ferry to the main land transport hub three miles off the coast.

  The memories of his father still stung, “Dad I wish you were still around..” Maverick silently whispered as he slowly finished his decent. The time spent up on the rooftop was not only for his own peace of mind , but it brought him comfort thinking that some where, in some alternate universe, his father was still sharing the night sky with him.

  Before Mavericks thoughts reoriented themselves back into reality, a soft voice whispered into his ear, “give me all your candy, and no one gets hurt.” With the words spoken, a pair of hands gently grasped at Maverick covering his eyes.

  Startled Maverick pulled away, a little too quickly and banged his forehead against the ladder. Rubbing his throbbing head, Maverick turned towards his would be assailant, and all too quickly realized who it was.

  “Emily, you can’t sneak up on me like that, you’re like a damn ninja.”

  Emily laughed “I’m the farthest thing from a “ninja” as you say, you’re just so damn oblivious to everything around you. I called your name before you suddenly stumbled down the ladder.”

  Emily Evans, is Mavericks best friend, she also happens to be 26, and is the epitome of a free-spirit. Standing at five feet, six inches, she has a lithe, slender frame that's always in motion. Her large, expressive eyes, the color of freshly polished emeralds, are framed by thick lashes and convey a myriad of emotions in a single glance. Emily's long, strawberry hair cascades down her back in wild, untamed waves, mirroring her vibrant and carefree personality. A smattering of freckles adorns her porcelain skin, which burns at the slightest touch of the sun’s rays.

  “What are you even doing out here? You’re always in bed before the streetlights even flicker on, grandma.” Maverick stated annoyedly, recovering his composure.

  “Oh yeah… Sorry, I forgot about the final Professor Rodriguez assigned to us, and I wanted to copy yours” Emily said, with no trace of shame or apology in her voice. Maverick just stared blankly at her. “When was the last time you actually did your homework or opened a book, Em? To this day I will never understand how you even got accepted to Atherton” Maverick grumbled under his voice.

  Maverick and Emily have been childhood friends, since Emily moved in next door to them in the 3rd grade. Emily lives with her mother, and father who are both bankers working for the largest bank on the island, Aurum first national.

  Maverick and Emily first met when Maverick had snuck out to the rooftop to test out the new telescope his father had brought from Australia on one of his work trips. Maverick had been so excited all day, thinking about all the new stars and hidden planets he could now see.

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  However, things did not go according to plan, as Maverick forgot to slide the brick over to hold the door open. After dark the rooftop patio locks unless you have a keycard, and safe to say as child Maverick did not have one of those keycards. The exit door leading to the roof was located only a few doors down from Emily’s front door, and as you can already imagine, Emily heard the loud pounding on the door, and a crying boy on the other side. Since that day, they have been inseparable, going everywhere together, joining all the same clubs, and even applying to the same university, even at the disapproval of Emily’s parents.

  With the awkward moment over with, Maverick pulled open the door leading back into the building. He held the door open for a laughing Emily. In his mind closing and holding the door on her, for some payback crossed Mavericks mind, but only for a split second. The large hallway, with its intricate carpet and fancy chandeliers was filled with dozens of doors all sitting silently with their owners off to the realm of the sand man.

  Still thinking it was a bit odd Emily was out this late, forgotten final assignment or not Maverick took a long look at her, and noticed her disheveled appearance. Her hair usually a controlled tangle, was bunched in a poor excuse for a bun. Her face was stained with a single poorly wiped away tear. Laughing or not Maverick knew something had happened at home.

  “Are you okay?” Maverick asked in a hesitant but caring voice. Emily showed her award winning smile, that would light up the very depths of space and said,

  “yeah I’ve just been thinking about finals and graduation.”

  But Maverick knew there was more to it than she let on. Emily was a bad lair, and Maverick could always tell when she was hiding something. It was obvious she had been crying, her body was still tense, she held her hands behind her back, grasping them as if to hold onto reality itself, and the corners of her eyes still shown a faint wet shine. Maverick always felt for Emily, her parents were temporarily separated until they could solve their dispute in court, and most nights she was all alone at home.

  Maverick knew that she had come out looking for him, since he was always up on the roof late into the night. He couldn’t blame her though, his own home never really felt the same since his dads funeral. He more than anyone could understand what it was like being all alone.

  Maverick gently reached out to Emily stopping their slow walk to her door. Maverick took her hands in his own. “I know it’s been rough lately and you may think how unfair life is, and trust me it is, but Emily, it will get better. This is our last semester at Atherton, and then we can go on to be whatever we want. You can follow your dreams of being the first person to take a selfie with Big Foot or start that Norwegian, GMO free, super beeswax or whatever candle business you’ve always talked about. No matter what, I’m always here for you and so is my mom, she loves you and you’re always welcome to stay with us when it gets too lonely, you know that.” Maverick said in a warm cheerful tone.

  Emily just stared back at Maverick and let out a prolific laugh, so loud it could have woken the dead. “Seriously Maverick? You’re so lame! What’s with all the feelings?! I’m doing just fine, I really just needed that assignment, my grades can’t afford failing the final or I might not even make it to graduation.” Emily chortled.

  But Maverick could tell in her own deflective way, she understood his sentiment and appreciated those comforting words. Since her parents separation Emily had stopped showing as much emotion, and acted like everything was fine. Maverick just smiled and opened the door to her home, saying their goodbyes and surprised as she pulled him in for a hug. Even with her walls up, and emotional deflection Emily sank into the hug, as if he was the only thing holding her up. A final smile was shared between the two and Emily softly closed the door.

  Mavericks phone began to buzz, breaking his focus. He knew what this call was and it was the end of the line for him. Slowly Maverick opened the door to his home, an apology primed and rehearsed. Before the first word was uttered a chancla, or a sandal as it is more commonly known, collided with his face. While the pain was nonexistent, his mothers accuracy with her dreaded weapon of choice was on par with Robin Hood himself, no matter where he was, or what defenses Maverick put up, the chancla would always find its mark.

  His mothers voice roared in her slight Mexican accent with the fury of a thousand pissed off hornets, on a late night caffeine binge. His mother’s voice cut through the night like a thunderclap, laced with her slight Mexican accent and the fury of a thousand hornets on a caffeine binge.

  “Maverick, where have you been? Are you crazy?” she snapped, speaking in rapid Spanish. “You know how dangerous the rooftop is after it rains. One day I’m going to find you lying on the ground from one of your rooftop adventures. Please think before you do something like that—you’re going to give your mother a heart attack!”

  Camila Garcia—a youthful 54-year-old former military professional—stood in the doorway, framed by the kitchen light. Her sun-kissed skin, silver-streaked dark waves, and piercing eyes gave her a presence that could either calm a storm or command a battlefield. She was warmth and fire, and Maverick had long ago learned not to test which one he’d get on any given day.

  He winced, but not from the volume. He appreciated his mother, even when she was royally pissed. He knew where the worry came from.

  “Yeah, mom… I’m sorry,” he said, voice quiet. “But you know how it is. Ever since Dad passed… and the rooftop, after the rain, the sky looks clearer. He used to say it was the best time to see the stars.”

  Camila’s voice softened. “I still worry about you. The rain could’ve picked up again. You’re lucky it didn’t—or we’d be having a very different conversation right now.”

  Anyways, was that Emily I heard outside with you? She hasn't stopped by for dinner in a few days, and I’m worried about her. How is she holding up?”

  Maverick took in his mothers statement careful on how to reply. He knew his mother cared about Emily like her own, but she had a tendency to go overboard sometimes… And likely would have Emily move in permanently with them if things got bad enough.

  Maverick just smiled at the thought and explained what had happened earlier and what he thought she was feeling.

  "Maverick, I'm just glad Emily can still find a reason to smile. With everything going on—her parents’ messy divorce, the embezzling, and her mom’s affair—it’s a lot for anyone to handle. But it’s late now, and I don’t care how old you are, it’s past your bedtime. Head off to bed before I get my shoe this time. Yours and Emily’s lunches will be on the table in the morning, no crust, and extra pickles.”

  With that Maverick made his way to bed, or so at least that’s what he told his mother. What Maverick actually did was crack open an energy drink and fire up his PC. Maverick began his search on the web for any new information he could about the Ember or sacred valleys.

  The Veil Online was a massive success, it initially released to the public ten years ago when he was only 16, and about to graduate high school. Maverick always was into games, table tops, cards, books you name it. His best friend Emily was most defiantly not into his types of games, but always joined in when they had game nights with others. She never got into TVO, like he had and was still only level seven.

  The very first Sacred Valley was cleared only two years ago, and the rest followed in quick succession. A world wide announcement was made about the achievement, as many players were unaware they even existed, as they were only accessible by those who reached level ten. Many players spent the following two years trying to clear one, but as it stood less than .01% of players had achieved it, let alone found one.

  This data was only available to Maverick as he had a connection at Prometheus games, that no matter how much he pleaded to them would only give him small tidbits of information.

  No matter how the TVO community tried to data mine information, access the servers, make bribes or various other not always legal methods, no more information was out there. Prometheus Games was designated by some as the virtual Fort Knox, a security so tight nothing slipped out.

  TVO was not the first game to successfully reach the world market and have a presence in every major country. TVO was however the first game to incorporate a full dive system that actually placed your conscience and full range of senses into the game. Its meteoric success opened up huge new ventures for many that capitalized on its success.

  While Prometheus Games offered free POD usages in their own buildings and at many game centers, one could rent a private POD placed directly in their home. Many people earned enough from the game to have a pod directly in their homes, but for those more casual players, going to these centers with your friends was the norm.

  Mavericks situation however was a little different. His late fathers time spent at Prometheus Games, allowed him to receive an updated pod, and maintenance whenever necessary. Yeah it was nice to get this free stuff, but every time he looked at the POD, or when someone in a white jump suit came to deliver a new model/updates, all he could remember was his fathers smile as he stepped into his POD for work.

  Maverick just chalked up his presence in TVO as a way to be closer to his father who was a major contributor from its inception to eventual creation, though the specifics were never really clear.

  Sitting back in his chair, Maverick clicked the PC off. “I wonder what this ember will do, no one in the forums, has any idea and even the “reliable” leaker says his lips are sealed until its full launch in two days.”

  Maverick yawned and realized how late it had gotten, the morning would be rough, unless… Shrugging his shoulders Maverick figured jumping into the POD for another few days would do him some good as it weirdly allowed your body to rest as if you had gotten a full night sleep. But first he grabbed a blue marker and crossed out another number on his calendar.