Luminary Lore, Chapter 3: The Yeye Trinket & Diverse Species

As Ethan and Aisling sped through neon-lit streets towards the far end of a city in their gas-less car, the Enterpise, Ethan couldn't shake the thought of the enigmatic coin they had liberated from the snare. Glancing at it briefly, he noticed cryptic symbols etched onto its surface. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, he turned to Aisling.

"That trinket, that coin we retrieved earlier," he began cautiously, "what's the deal with it? Is there some sort of story or secret behind it? I didn't want to pry earlier, but..."

Aisling's lips curled into a smile, as her augmented reality directional glasses she'd grabbed from the car’s glasses holder were casting a holographic glow in the dimly lit vehicle. "Ah, the Yeye," she replied, her voice tinged with an air of mystery. "It's not your everyday artifact and I didn’t really want to admit why I had it, but you asked, and I trust you. Legend has it that every Yeye stands as a tribute to an employee or intern from Earth who had poured their passion and dedication into the intricate world of Luminary Labyrinths. These artifacts represent the collaborative spirit that had brought this world to life. They hid them in the game without a guide, like what you'd call 'Software Easter eggs'. There are precisely a hundred scattered throughout our digital realm. Each one is intricately designed to resonate with the others, forging a unique connection when you manage to collect the full set."

Ethan's curiosity flared up like a local neon sign. "A hundred of them? Now, that's got me hooked. So, what's the grand prize when you gather all of these Yeye items?"

Aisling leaned closer, her virtual eyes shimmering with excitement. "When you amass all one hundred Yeye items," she whispered, "a Luminan or a Luminary can unlock a limited-time ticket outside of the digital world and onto Earth.

Ethan looked visibly disturbed at the rules of physics breaking, considering how someone from the game could just pop out of the computer, potentially into his very own house. Then of course, the chaotic implications in this world as well. He stammered, “That seems dangerous. What if... someone hurts you to get it?”

Aisling nodded solemnly, her virtual avatar displaying a hint of concern. "You're right; it's not without its risks," she admitted. "In the pursuit of such power, there are those who might resort to extreme measures. That's why I was so cautious about revealing the true nature of the Yeye. Not everyone in our world knows about it, but I feel like someone out there has been experimenting with temporary binds, likely aiming to make the collection task more feasible for them. That snare we encountered? It's probably part of their grand plan. A snare happened to my coin a couple times, yet not as complicated as this latest puzzle. I've been trying to understand the pattern of these attempts."

As they continued racing through the virtual cityscape, the neon lights casting dynamic reflections on the car's polished exterior, Aisling continued, "Anyway, you’re a Human, an Earthling, so, you’d understand the appeal about collecting 100 to get to Earth though. Having you involved might just tip the balance in our favor, if my trinket can eventually reveal the identity of the main collector... or group... and we could reason with him to turn over the rest in exchange for something they might like better," She offered him a reassuring smile, but Ethan seemed nervous that an opportunist was now using him in a daring side-quest for who knows why!

"So you don't even have more than 1 item?" he asked.

"I'm not telling you how many I have," she replied, concealing truth for the first time to him.

Ethan sat there stunned, imagining all the beings that could be released into Earth for a short time and the potential damage or improvements they could make with such Luminary technology. Could avatars be actually harmed in here too? He wasn't sure what to trust anymore and felt overwhelmed. Ethan wanted to change the subject, yet while gathering more information, so he inquired about Aisling's family. "So, tell me about your family," he began, "are they typical Luminans then?"

Aisling chuckled softly, "Oh, my family is quite the mix. My dad's avatar is like a classic Luminan, but he insists on wearing these outrageous virtual vintage hats. Says it makes him feel more 'distinguished.' And my mom, she's fascinated by the Luminaries. She has this avatar with subtle dragon features, like glowing eyes and a hint of a tail. She says it helps her feel more connected to them, but it’s kind of like cosplay then, yeah? Real Luminary dragon types aren't offended, with the way she is, she's not mocking them. It's reverence."

Ethan laughed. "That sounds like a fun household."

"Oh, it is." she agreed. "My little brother, he's the comedian. He once convinced a Luminary that humans hibernate in winter, and they believed him for a whole week! Tricking a young Luminary is a feat, I suppose. They still get on well though. Like my mom, he wasn't acting out of malice. Playful, you could say. We're taught to be generous to our neighbors."

Ethan chuckled. "Sounds like you have a great family."

"Yeah, they're something else," she said with a smile.

Ethan felt reassured that Aisling came from a family of good will, but he was still curious about the powers of this world... about how far someone with worse intent than her might go to get that Yeye item. He quickly came up with another question that may help to satisfy his curiosity. “What can you do in here that’s… different?”

Aisling paused for a moment, then answered, “Umm, everyone from Earth who comes here is really fascinated with our 'Luna Fabricators.' They're machines that can materialize objects from digital blueprints. They're similar to 3D printers on Earth, but more advanced. We can create almost anything, from daily necessities to complex gadgets, as long as we have the design and required raw materials. However, they’re kind of… quirky. You’d notice if it was a Luna.”

Ethan was amazed. "So, you can just... make things appear? That's like magic!"

She laughed again. "It does seem magical, but it's all science and technology, advancements we achieved through our unique partnership with the Luminaries. That's the essence of being a Luminan which is like a step between Humans and Luminaries – blending imagination, innovation, and wisdom to create a better world," she added, shrugging, "Or some ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ thing like that."

Aisling's eyes starting darting left and right for what seemed like parking. She expertly guided the sleek Enterprise car to the side of the bustling city street. With a deft touch, she activated the vehicle's autonomous parking mode, causing it to glide gracefully into a parallel parking spot with impeccable precision. As the car came to a stop, Aisling turned off the engine with a voice command in a strange dialect. She removed her augmented reality glasses and placed them into the holder, where they clicked securely into place. With a satisfied nod, she turned her attention to Ethan and the city street before them.

As soon as they got out of the car and saw many buildings along the street, there was a small clearing, like how you'd usually see a small city park back on Earth. Ethan's gaze fell upon a magnificent statue there of a deer-like Luminary, its antlers spreading wide like the branches of an ancient tree.

Aisling noticed his interest and paused to explain its significance. "The deer has always been a revered symbol in many Earth cultures, and it holds a special place in our world too," she began. "Long ago, humans who played Luminary Labyrinths introduced the image of the deer to the Luminaries. In Japan, there's a god depicted as a deer, and in Taoist tradition, hermits are often shown riding white deer. In America, the ones who were first there would rely on the antlers for arrowheads, the hides for clothing, and the meat for food. They were resourceful and respectful of where it came from. The Luminaries were fascinated by this utility and symbiosis so much that they actually started being born with deer traits. I know that may seem impossible to you, but here, thought-forms have a much stronger significance.”

Ethan nodded, intrigued. "It's amazing how these connections form and how fast your world evolves. But why don't many humans visit here anymore?"

She looked thoughtful. "Yes, it's been quieter. We used to have more visitors from Earth."

He sighed. "Well the game is old, on a console from my dad's era. It's not widely played anymore. Could that be why?"

Her eyes widened slightly. "Your dad? Did he play this game too?"

"Yeah, Mr. Takahashi, he loved it. He was often talking about the adventures he had here, the things he learned..." He trailed off, a fond memory crossing his mind.

She tilted her head, a faint recognition in her eyes. "I remember a boy from many of our moons ago, about your age now. He helped us understand so much about Earth... My parents knew him much better. I was a little girl then, but we do age much slower than you."

Ethan's eyes lit up with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "That could have been my dad!"

"Maybe. Do you know if he was on the council?" Aisling asked.

"What’s the council?" Ethan naturally asked.

"We… I mean they - advise on matters between our worlds, ensuring harmony and progress. One boss I had was actually a Luminary on the council – a deer type. And my dad, Faelan of Aer, a Luminan, he's high up in the council too. That’s why I said ‘we’ at first," Aisling clarified.

"Your dad Faelan of Aer... is on the council? Wow. And you said that your former boss was a deer type, like this sculpture? Like from that mind-melding you told me about. Are there other kinds of Luminaries?" Ethan wondered.

Aisling nodded, her digital eyes full of enthusiasm. "Oh, yes. There are several types, each with unique traits and roles. For example, the dragon types are revered as the oldest and most spiritual among us. They embody the spirit of our world, and it's said that their lives are intertwined with its existence. When the world ends, so do they. They're very rare and are considered wise guardians of our history and knowledge. Remember I said that my mom dressed up like the dragons?”

Ethan rubbed his head, as if trying to keep all the information in there. “Sooo are there any other rare beings I should look out for here, or to cosplay as?” he tried to joke, failing miserably, but Aisling was in a more literal mood and didn't seem to notice.

"Shapeshifters,” she replied, “Shapeshifters are some of the oldest types of Luminaries. They don't possess a dense avatar form like we do; instead, they're entities of pure energy. But just like the dragons, shapeshifters are such a rarity in our world. But with my friendship, you’ll have nothing to worry about when running into them,” she said with a confident smile. "I know some important people."

She then quickly changed her focus away from the bragging, "Oh, and there are also these Luminaries with feline traits. I think on Earth, the closest animal you would compare them to is a lynx? They tend to be more of the working-class Luminaries..."

Her voice grew much quieter noticing that a lynx Luminary had walked right past them, maybe coming off a restaurant shift with a name-tag that read "Luvlee" poking out from beneath a pink sweater. Her fur was speckled purple with galaxy formations and a silver moon earring dangled from her left year. Her eyes were a brilliant firey tone, yet she seemed placid and undisturbed.

Ethan glanced over at Aisling, as if to say, "Oh good – she hadn't heard us!"

As Luvlee, the lynx Luminary, gracefully strolled by, a faint melody seemed to linger in her wake, a soft and haunting tune that resonated with this part of the map's more vibrant city energy, rather than the open landscapes and town they saw before.

Aisling's eyes followed the Luminary with a wistful expression. She leaned in closer to Ethan, her voice barely above a whisper, "You see, each being here carries such a unique essence. Luvlee is actually well-known for her soothing songs that calm restaurant goers. It's as if every Luminary adds a note to the symphony of our Labyrinths, creating a blend of diversity."

Ethan watched Luvlee's retreating figure, his fascination growing with every passing moment. This place was like a real-time, yet slower-time tapestry of different experiences woven together, with each Human, Luminan, and Luminary contributing their own thread. The usual concept of NPCs or "non-player characters" seemed like a thing of the past. The possibilities in this game were as limitless as the imagination that brought it to life.

Ethan was so amazed at the types so far that Aisling told him about, wondering how many more there were. “These species are quite different from on Earth,” he said, “It's like something out of a fantasy story."

"A fantasy story?" Aisling asked rather loudly, both confused, and as she was trying to hide the sounds of her stomach rumbling from hunger...