Cyber Magic: Chapter 1

Artemvian wiggled his tiny hands.

“Who’s a good boy? Who’s a good boy!”

“Dah.  Dah, dah, dah!”

“Honey, did you hear that?”  The brown-haired man asked excitedly to the woman next to him.

She gave him a doubtful look, peering out the side of her eyes.  It gave way to a smile soon enough, as she picked up Artemvian.  “Robert, dear, he would surely not dare to say dada before saying mama.”  His mother’s voice gave way to baby talk, smothering him in tiny little kisses.  “Oh no, you wouldn’t! Oh no you wouldn’t!”

Artemvian giggled and laughed as his mother and father laughed and smiled, giving each other kisses and more often, covering him with them.

“Oh, that’s cheating, Maria.”

The last thing he remembered was looking into his apprentice’s eyes as he was stabbed in the chest.  Not the most pleasant experience, but it wasn’t the worst, especially considering the outcome.

Through some twist of fate, or magical countenance, or some benevolent god’s whims, Artemvian had been reborn, or more correctly, transmigrated.

Or as his new world would call it: Isekai’d.

Oh, if only the King knew.  The King had spent his whole life searching for immortality, or a way to trade his aging, diseased body for a new one.  One of the reasons why he had Artemvian killed was out of spite: the old Mage had declined his offer to research homunculi, Sorceror’s Stones, and various other facets of pseudo-immortality and decided to go out on a journey to find love.  All at the ripe old age of ninety–

Well, none of that mattered now.

Here, Artemvian was warm.

He had parents, who definitely weren’t going to leave him at the doorsteps of some orphanage, to be sold to the King’s Agents later on and trained to be one of the most lethal wetboys the kingdom had ever seen.

Here, in this world… Artemvian wasn’t alone.

He had a family.

Strangely enough, his first name had remained the same.  Artemvian. 

Now his full name was Artemvian Silver, rather than Artemvian Delacreau Moneti.  A little less dramatic, but he was coming around to it.

Among other things.

This new world was different.

The horse-led-carriages he was used to had been replaced by what his parents called ‘Cars’.  Water wasn’t scarce, it was everywhere.  No longer did you need to be a Mage to have a familiar as an assistant, people had ‘AI’s built directly into their brains.  

Whereas his previous world had been dominated by the use the magic, it was the opposite.  Magic was considered obsolete –too hard to use, too hard to master.  Instead, it was the age of technology.

Technology the likes of which Artemvian could never have imagined.

“Honey, I’m getting a call.” 

Immediately, his father’s eyes turned translucent and faint blue lights shone in the center.  His father went still, his mouth moving subtly as if he were talking.  Artemvian recognized the signs of a business call as the man walked out of the nursery.

Most of the people in this world had tiny computer chips in their brain that allowed them to do a variety of daily tasks.  Apparently, telepathic sendings and receivings across the globe was possible with these devices.

“Someone’s stinky.”  His mother said, holding a finger to her nose.

In his musings, Artemvian had shat himself.

While he allowed his mother to change him, out of the goodness of his heart of course, Artemvian thought more about the things he had to find out more of.

For example, there were no ‘gold coins’ here.  All currency was digital.  Digital, which meant it didn’t exist, but not really, it exist somewhere.  Blockchain, Databases, the Internet, Online Banking, they were all new to him.  But being the next heir to wealthy Financiers in the world, Artemvian knew it wouldn’t be long until he began to learn more about them naturally.

He giggled as fresh diapers lined his bottoms.

“There we go.”

So much to learn.  So much to do.

And he just felt so happy.

Born into a wealthy family, Artemvian promised himself not to waste this new chance at life.  Here, he’d become the person he always wanted to be.  Outgoing, Smart, Kind, Gentle… he’d be a good son that his parents wouldn’t be ashamed of.  He’d be a good man, that everyone could look at smile.

Above all…

He’d find love.  He’d lived as a loner, and worse, a Virgin, till he died. 

In this life… he’d find love.  It wouldn’t be hard.  With his natural charisma and his parent’s wealth, Maidens would be lining up around the courtyard –er, the city block– to court him.  Then he could finally–

Robert Silver walked in.

Instantly, Artemvian knew something was wrong.

“Dear?”  Maria knew too.

Robert’s next words changed Artemvian’s life –second life– forever.

“...We’re being sued.”

“...Dear?”  Maria said hesitantly.  “What are you talking about?”

“I think they encroached on some knowledge base license.  They must have utilized some tech that belongs to them.”  Robert’s eyes were unfocused, staring at the ceiling.  He was speaking to himself.

Artemvian didn’t resist as Maria set him down on the crib.  He watched with calm silver eyes, as his plans of a comfortable future came tumbling down around him.

“Surely, there’s been some kind of mistake.  Or it’s not as bad as you think.  We’ve been in court before.  It’s not–”

“They’re one of the Zaibatsu.”

Maria froze.  

In this world, there were no Kings and Queens.

Zaibatsus.  Conglomerates.  Corporations.  Geniuses.

They ruled the world with an iron fist.  They were ruthless, true successors to the machiavellian philosophy, they’d leave nothing left.

If Robert was being sued by one of them… all his enterprises, all his portfolios, all his assets…

Artemvian chose that moment to release his first words into the world.  “Oh shit.”

—Thirteen Years Later—

“Arty, would you mind–”

“I got it mom.”

“Big bro, where’s my–”

Artemvian juggled the laundry in one hand, using the momentary second to slide a brown paper bag over to his younger brother across the kitchen table.  “Here.”

Calling it a ‘Kitchen Table’ was an exaggeration.

Many things had changed over the last thirteen years. 

For one, the  lawsuit cost the silvers everything.  Their manor, their servants; they were forced to sell off the servants as well.  Both Human and Synthetic.

But not everything was a loss.

“I’m home.”  Robert’s voice accompanied the opening and closing of the door.

“Dad!”

“Daddy!”

“Dear? How was work?”

Artemvian had feared the worst when it happened.  Money was what made the world go around, especially in a place like New City.  He predicted many things.  His father, drowning himself in drink and gambling; his mother, being forced to sell her dignity for a pittance of coin…

But nothing of the sort had happened.

Robert and Maria were a rarity.

Even through hardship, their love shined through.  

The first thing they did was move to a small studio apartment, which the Silver family had stayed in until now.  Robert got a job at the nearby fish market.  His mother, Maria, took up folding take-out boxes, putting eyes on roboting teddy bears, and more odd jobs to make ends meet.

They were… kind of happy.

It was new for Artemvian.  That people could be happy without coin.

The happiness only grew as his little siblings arrived.

All six of them.

Mark, who was twelve now.  Astor, the first daughter of the family at ten.  The twins, Logan and Lilia, at seven years old.  Gregory, named after their grandfather, at three.  And the new baby who wasn’t even a year old yet, Porcia.

And…Artemvian couldn’t be happier.

He threw his laundry into the portable washing machine that was connected to their sink.  “Wash Cycle, baby clothes.”

Confirmed

Artemvian bounced up and down, adding a little rocking and Porcia let out a delighted giggle from his back.

“Arty! Arty! Upsies!”  Gregory came running into the kitchen, holding his arms up.  Which in reality, was the living room.  And sleeping quarters.

“Greg, stop bothering big bro.”  Astor came following, picking up the toys.

“It’s no problem.  I’ll be gone for a bit, let me give him a lift.”  Artemvian bent over, lifting up his little brother.  “Greg, you gotta take care of the house while I’m gone ok?”

“Big bro, I’m heading out.”  Mark called out.

“Wait, take Logan and Lillia–”  Artemvian replied but it was too late, the door shut behind him.

“Don’t worry, I’ll walk with them.”  Astor slung her backpack over one shoulder.  Following her, the two quiet twins followed her with a silent wave towards Artemvian.

Artemvian watched them walk out with a pang of pain in his chest.

Most kids took their classes through their NNI (Neutral Network Interface) pronounced NANNY.  Unfortunately, his family couldn’t afford it.  So they sent them to a public school situated nearby in the slums, which Artemvian himself had attended.

And Artemvian had already graduated.

“Mom, I put lunch in the fridge.  It’s my first day, so I might be a little late.  For dinner, you can–”

“Artemvian,”  Maria received Porcia while Robert grabbed Gregory.  “Are you sure about this?” 

Artemvian made an effort to look his mother and father in the eye.  It was hard.  They had so much more wrinkles than before.  So many gray hairs and…

It was the eyes.  Not just tired.  But sad… and…

Guilt.  Their eyes held unmeasurable guilt.

Towards him.

Please, please, don’t be guilty.  Please.  You’ve given me more than I could’ve ever wanted. 

Artemvian smiled.  “It’s what I want, Mom.”

“There are other schools you could go to Artemvian…”  His father said, but there was no strength in it.

“Nah, it’s fine.”  Artemvian grabbed a worn bag, slinging it over his shoulder.  “Besides, it’s one of the best schools in the area.”

“Honey–” 

Robert put a hand on Maria’s shoulder before she could continue.  He nodded at his son.

“Take care, Ok?”

With that as greeting, Artemvian left the small apartment.

Cars blared their horns.  Passerbys whose eyes were clouded over, either high from the latest drug, or zoning out while watching a video through their NNI, no one bothered to look at him.

Artemvian walked quickly past the flashing neon lights that shined thanks to the permanent gray smoke that covered the sky.  He waited for his bus, and when it arrived, tapped his hand against the bus stile.

Welcome.  The automated bus’ AI greeted him.  

New City was his home.

And he was on his way to high school: Raython Academy, sponsored by the Military Corp: Raython.

A highschool famous for it’s bottom-of-the-barrel academics… that wasn’t even good at the one thing they were known for: raising future soldiers.  Most of them ended up as third-rate mercenaries.

But Artemvian knew.

He didn’t need to spend money on education.

He already knew how to be a mercenary…

Soldier with a steady salary?  Why would he do that?

Artemvian knew his worth.

With a slick smile, Artemvian watched the passing skyscrapers and virtual screens that made up the thousands of billboards through the cityscape.

Finally, he could repay his family for everything that they'd given him.