Dad
Eddie, are you there?
Dad
Then why haven’t you been answering??
Eddie
I didn’t hear you. I have the volume off.
Eddie
We’re near the castle. Norville says we have to be 100 percent silent.
Dad
Sorry, he’s right. Eddie, I need you to be extremely careful now. Especially in this part.
Eddie
What happens in this part? We already killed a bunch of trolls and orcs getting here.
Dad
It’s not just the trolls now.
Dad
Remember, I told you, the deeper you go in the game, the tougher your opponents will be.
Dad
You’re going to face the mercenaries now.
Eddie
I got it. Norville already went over it with me. Dad, can I be honest?
Dad
Of course. What’s wrong?
Eddie
I don’t know. I’m scared for some reason. I just have a really bad feeling.
Dad
I understand that. But you have to stay focused.
Dad
I’m sure I haven’t been helping. I’m just worried about you and need you to really concentrate.
Dad
If you do, you’re going to be okay. You’ll get through this part.
Eddie
Just this part? You just made me laugh. I’m scared about the whole thing.
Eddie
Getting through this alive. I’m scared I’ll be killed. I just want to get home again.
Eddie
You can’t know that. I’m not you. You played this game your whole life. You know all the ins and outs. I don’t. I’m scared.
Dad
Eddie, I promised you something. I don’t lie. You WILL make it out of this! I promise.
Dad
But that doesn’t mean you can just do whatever you want.
Dad
I told you, I need you to focus.
Dad
Pay attention to every detail. Every moment. Every second.
Dad
Pay attention to what’s going on. Expect the unexpected.
Eddie
What does that even mean?
Dad
It means that you have to think that anything might be an attack.
Dad
I don’t want to make you paranoid, but that’s the attitude you need to have.
Eddie
One second. We hear something.
Dad
Eddie. Please answer me when you can. I’m worried. Please answer.
Dad
Eddie! Are you okay? What’s going on??
Eddie
Norville. He’s dead.
Dad
I’m sorry. That was a difficult part.
Eddie
What do you mean? What are you talking about?
Dad
It’s a game, remember? Norville has to die.
Dad
The game is programmed for him to die in the same place and at the same time, every time it’s played.
Dad
He died saving you, right?
Eddie
Yes. Mankill surprised us. Him and the other mercenaries.
Eddie
They surrounded me, but Norville came charging in and fought them all and told me to run.
Dad
I’m sorry, Eddie. I know you liked him. I did too. He was my best friend there.
Dad
It hurt to watch him die over and over.
Dad
Yeah, and he died saving me too. Many times. It’s part of the game.
Eddie
That’s the problem here.
Eddie
We have to stop following what the game wants us to do.
Dad
There’s no way around it.
Dad
It’s true that I thought outside the game. But not every character is like that or able to do that.
Eddie
Mankill is part of the game. And he got out.
Dad
He only got out to chase me. To get me back to the game.
Eddie
But he got out. He thought for himself and got out.
Dad
I don’t know if he thought for himself or if the Leader sent him.
Eddie
Either way, he got out. He left the video game and became a real live person, just like you.
Eddie
No, he wasn’t good, but he was still like you.
Eddie
He’s still a video game character who came to life. Made his own decisions.
Eddie
The same can happen with Norville.
Dad
It’s different with Norville. He HAS to die in order for you to finish the game.
Dad
It’s a big moment in the game. A sacrifice has to be made to give you the strength and courage to finish the fight.
Dad
It’s programmed that way. If Norville doesn’t die, you probably can’t finish it.
Eddie
But how do you know? Have you ever tried?
Dad
Have I ever tried what?
Dad
I just told you. You can’t save him. I know you hate to hear it, but it’s part of the game.
Dad
He’s programmed to die at the same time. It’s part of your emotional arc.
Eddie
That has to change.
Eddie
I’m right inside the castle. I’m hiding in a storage room of some sort.
Dad
Good. That’s exactly where you’re supposed to be. Where’s Mankill?
Eddie
I left him back at the outside of the castle. Dad, the things they did to Norville.
Dad
I know. But the important thing is, you’re safe right now. You know Mankill isn’t done with you yet. You’re going to have to defeat him to win the game.
Dad
Right now you can stay there for a little while. That’s one of your repowering stops.
Dad
I think twenty minutes should do it. I’ll watch the clock and tell you.
Dad
If you want, you can close your eyes for a little bit.
Eddie
How can I sleep when Norville just got killed?
Dad
You will. You need to. Close your eyes.
Eddie
You know what’s weird? Suddenly, I’m so tired.
Dad
Then rest. Because I’m sorry to tell you, but you still have the hardest part of the game left.
Dad
That’s the bad part, but the good part is it’s almost over. Then you can get back home.
Eddie
I can’t wait for that.
Dad
Go get some rest, kid. You earned it.
