Getting to the village was fun. In any reality or world, seeing kids with an older stranger was suspicious. Luckily the Raven-haired girl did something that made the adults stumble. Then the children told them what I did and soon enough I was surrounded by excited and curious folks.

An older lady approached me. She was so old her wrinkles had traced various etchings on her body. Her eyes shook and quivered as she fought to see me.

"I never thought I'd get to see such a time myself. A time of Alkis. Thank you my Lord, thank you".

"Mother". A middle-aged lady held the woman by the shoulder. I was still not sure of their race even with the close similarities they had with elves. "Forgive my mother My Lord. She was told a lot of tales of the old days. When the Alkis walked amongst us". She made a pleading bow.

I smiled as the old lady was a possible treasure tribe of knowledge for me.

"My lord we have refreshments please do come in". The lady began making various orders and hand gestures that sent various folks running around while the kids just stood there. The ones who had not been the five stared at me like I was an alien.

'To them, I might as well be one'.

"Forgive my manners. I am Hanna village leader. This is my nother Harata former village leader. Please, this way my lord". She led the way in a slow guide as she helped Harata along. All the while I could only help but think.

'She didn't ask for my name. A way to keep me from selecting a name for myself now or what. Also, how the hell am I going to carve out a piece of all this?'.

****

While the Alpha Testers braved their starter quests, the Creators were busy. None more than the two siblings Helen and Dester.

No one knew what was in the works but Destet had suspicions. As did Keller. It was clear that The Ancients Inc. was aiming high. The question remained how high?

"So. When you told me your Universe was a wheel I didn't think much of it. But now I'm just Wow". Helen really couldn't figure out how Dester had even gone about doing all this.

" Says the girl with an infinity loop that goes past infinity". He shot back without taking his eyes off the file. Both had created files of everything in their universe, from the simplest thing to the biggest issue. Now, Dester was trying to figure out how he could make his fate system. Apparently, he'd gotten a force of his own as well

"The Universal Records. Plagiarism". The sneer on her face didn't hide the amusement in her eyes.

"I didn't steal anything. I simply improved on an idea". He winked.

"Mine was much better" She poked out a tongue at him and made faces. He just chuckled and looked back to the file.

"Says here you're still skipping out on some ...wow. you got another thing and a million. Damn, that's a lot of MVC".

"You don't know what ORP is do you".

" Not there yet. After the tower?".

"Yup". She nodded. He groaned.

"So close ". She chuckled.

"Won't you watch your Alpha Testers?".

"Could say same for you". He shrugged focused back on the file. Looking up at her he leaned back right fingers tapping his thigh. There was silence for a few moments before she raised her eyes to look at his hand.

"Just spit it out". The hand stopped like it realized what it was doing.

"The game. Creation Online. Does it feel weird to you?". His voice sounded worried, unsure, perplexed. Helen frowned and instinctively made to shrug or nod when he raised a palm.

"Don't just answer. Think deeply about this. You're supposed to be good at that. Doesn't it all feel too realistic to be a game. The fights, the pain might be subdued but still". He had this frustrated look on his face. "Especially the skills and powers we use". She frowned at him in confusion.

"Each time I use a skill the feeling. It's like. .." he shook his head. " No. I'm just overthinking things". Dester leaned back on the couch.

Helen frowned. " You better tell me Dester. Or I'll tell Mum and Dad that game is messing with your head and we'll get suspended from it".

The look he gave was a scrutinized one. Accessing. Guagimg her bluff meter. Finally, he caved. Leaning forward he focused on her.

"Each time I use the skills or abilities it feels like something new and mental is in my head. Even now I can feel and sense the ideas and concepts of those skills. Before you say knowing those are normal I meant that I can feel something in my head that is just weird. It's ..it's really bothering me".

Helen frowned. Her eyes watched the boy for some time before she looked away. She tried hard to think about it. Any such strangeness. But she felt and sensed nothing. Still, it was Dester here. Rising Hildelith went around the table and sat on it.

"If it's weird. Then that means it's somehow real". She joked. "And if you're the first to sense something. Then maybe..."

"I'm going crazy, parallel or maybe..."

"... or maybe, you're just special. Like those chosen ones in the books".

"Yeah, you'd say that". He scoffed leaning back.

"Nope. I know that. Still if it's seriously bothering you, shouldn't you tell mum and dad?". She asked worriedly.

"And get stopped or banned from playing. Yeah right". He scoffed again.

"She Why'd I think you'd be worried for your health". She shook her head. "Fine. You know I won't snitch. But if something changes, I'm definitely..."

"Sure. Sure. Thanks. Hopefully you're right and it's nothing serious".

"If it was". She looked up thoughtfully. "My children become real, my creations all real. All those dangers they face and their lives real". She was stuck between a smile and a frown.

"How lovely eh". Dester chuckled.

Helen just smiled at him. " C'mon. Let's go act all high and powerful".

"We're not acting all High and powerful. We are High and powerful". He snorted and she grinned standing up.

"True. Can't wait to go all 'Bend the Knee".

"You know, being offline would have been harder without the forces". He eyed her. She smirked.

"And yet I have no payment for such a splendid template". Dester shook his head but kept his lips shut.

*

[Unknown Alpha Tester]

Frierwood was like no forest I'd seen. The trees were not excessively tall and the spacing between them was just right. The trees had an unnatural thickness and the canopy just like in any other forest allowed bits of rays to hit the forest floor making for a naturely feel to the forest. The path itself was spaced enough that light cut through

And the scent. I had not inhaled such pure and clean air before. I was certain not even the current elder generation had. Finding what looked to be a well-trodden path, mostly due to the trampled grass and footprints, I followed.

The first sight of it was a bloody one. Missing heads, cut open chests. I gaped in shock at the morbidly of such attacks. The eight creatures that I assumed to be some sort of canine creatures lay around the path soaked in their lifeblood.

**Organic Matter detected**

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

**Reanimate - Y/N**

The prompt came as a surprise to me. Still, it was one that I appreciated. "The first of my quests".

Quickly accepting the reanimation I felt an urge grip me. It was like I suddenly knew to pierce my left palm with my right index claw. Savagely I ripped the palm wider and black blood, frothing, boiling, and popping flowed out. The blood trickled and floated through the air and into the necks of the deceased beasts.

**Reanimation commenced**

The bodies jerked. Fur and flesh spasmed and writhed like maggots were beneath it. The fur darkened and grew spiky, claws became longer and darker. Shadows oozed from their corpses. Flesh and organic matter stretched from their necks and with creaking and snapping reformed heads with jagged horns on them.

**Bazkermolves formed**

**Frierwood Pathways claimed by ?*#?#&¢**

The beasts rising to their feet fixed red pulsing eyes on me. I felt an instant link between us, the same as I felt with the ground now.

**Frierwoods Path corrupted by ?#?*&?*#**

**Frierwoods Path claimed**

"So claiming is authentic but what are the requirements to claim an area?" I wasn't sure but it didn't matter. A part of my starter quest was cleared up and I had claimed a piece of the land. And yet it felt incomplete. A piece of what I could actually have. Looking over the whole forest I smiled.

I crouched and rubbed the first wolf close to me. For something that just rose from the dead, it looked bale and hearty. Evil probably, but past that nothing else. I could sense the bond with the wolf grow. "Not wolf. Bazkermolve".

I took turns scratching and rubbing the spiked furs of each one. Once I felt my bond with each of them had heightened more I stood up. The prompt had told me I had claimed the pathways, and while I didn't know if there were any rewards for it l, I would not shrug it off as something not useful. Plus I had completed part of my starter quest. 'Maybe getting more animals for myself will be good'. Eyeing the forest I made my decision and took a step. Like the Molves could read my mind half of them split and surged into the forest. A howl, cold and heart-chilling filled the air. The wolves next to me answered in turn.

A smile graced my cheeks and at that moment I activated my stream feature.

'Let's show good things. Hopefully, the boss would be pleased'.

****

While most of the other players had it easy with their forms and starter quests. A certain cadre, the 8% of the Alpha Tester base had it worse. Of these certain few, about five of them found themselves without bodies. They of course could see themselves, and their surroundings and admire it. Yet their surroundings could not interact with them.

The Alpha player who was having, it the worst had landed like many others in the center of a thick forest. Fortunately for her, she had gotten her bearings faster than the others. Which was why she could note that something was wrong.

Creatures of the wild dashed past and through her like she was not present. Not even a flicker of her being was noticed by any of them. It was both aggravating and fun.

Fun as she could get as close to even the most magnificent beasts without getting lashed at. Aggravating as she couldn't comprehend how to take a piece of the cake as an unseen entity.

Her journeys took her south of the forest and over a cliff where she found a shallow stream that bisected a town from the cliff head and forest she just came from. Jumping down the cliff she felt her mouth in her mouth as she crossed the distance and sank into the water without splash.

Luckily she found she could move regardless of her lack of interaction with anything. Getting to the surface she stood in annoyance at the game as she looked herself over. The question remained. How was she meant to get involved when she was like this?

The town was a typical medieval place. The beings here were like humans but different. The tribal markings on them had a sense of self and not just some paintings. The guards at the gate were more tattooed and those who left the walls headed for the cliff she came from even more. It was strange.

Her head turned to the side her attention stolen by a child sneaking off into the forest from the west of the town. A chance that she took quickly. Or maybe it was more of her curiosity

*

Meire had made a friend. Something she should not have done. The creatures of the forest were against them and Meire as well as the other children had been taught how to kill them, run from them, evade them, or at worst fight to the death.

Meire had befriended one instead. A tiny little cub she'd found left abandoned by its ma. Its weak carried and smaller form had made it certain this was the runt of the litter. While she was unclear of what species it was she refused to risk it by asking the olders.

So she hid it in the forest wood close to the edge and worried about it all night.

She crossed the distance between her and the tree her cub was in skillfully and quite unconsciously sidestepping any dried twig and leaf.

The cub was fine waiting for her as it stuck its head out of the tiny hole it lived in. Meire knew the hole wouldn't habit it for long. It grew fast. It pawed at her black locks and it at her round ears.

She fed it slowly with the Thunderhoof cow milk. She knew soon it would be weaned off the milk and she'd have to begin hunting meat for it. A proposition Meirir was both excited and scared of. The thought of a partner beast with her as she hunted made her giggle and yet the dangers of the forest didn't elude her.

Verdani children were not stupid. They'd been raised amongst the horrors of their environment. Their society being less of farmers and more of hunters they'd developed to bite back at their predators. The olders had told her each tattoo on a Verdani was a significant hunt. Not just any hunt.

A hunt both impossible and improbable. One where life and death were as much fleeting for the prey as it was for the hunter. It was why Children rarely had it but were pushed to get one before their first Voxwei(The Hunt).

Meiri didn't know how hers would go. But she already figured she'd need to put in more training for the cub.

Her thoughts were disrupted as the cub twitched. Meiri quickly took back the little sack she usually used to drip milk into its mouth. The creature twitched again eyes opening.

Meirir stared into the bluest of eyes she'd ever seen. Her people had a few folks with blue eyes but none as deep as an blue as these. It didn't help that she knew the cub's eye color had never been blue.

'Child'

It took all her willpower to not drop the cub as a voice whispered at her. Her head darted to all sides as she sought the older who followed and found her. She had been careful to leave no tracks. Something she knew in hindsight would be useless against the expert trackers of her people.

'Hear me, child. You hear me. The cub'.

Meire looked down at the cub frowning. "You can talk?. How?".

A sense of frustration filled the area. 'Not the cub. I speak through the cub. You can't see me'.

Meire was growing increasingly disturbed.

'I am. Well, I don't have a name yet. But I would Uhm...like to be your friend. Yes. I would like to be your friend '.

Meire rose with the cub cradled in her arms, took a good look around, and bolted.

*

"Well, at least she knows not to trust or believe strangers". The player muttered. She'd been surprised to find she could actually will herself to speak through the cub. It had been something she didn't even think much of. She was just interested in finally talking to a humanoid entity.

" First I'll practice this then I'll go find that child".

****

Dark clouds stretched across the night. There was no storm but the air was cold and damp. Nature exacerbated the feeling as the leaves shook and blew around. Lightning flashed a few times in the distance but nothing to be worried about.

Meire slept soundly. Hidden in a box beneath her wooden bed frame was the cub. Sneaking it into the village had been harder than sneaking out but luckily she'd made it work. The kids had almost outted her but fortunately, she got past.

The box below her tilted to the side disposing the cub on the ground. It rose padding across the floor as its blue eyes sought its charge. Its little but slightly more powerful limbs helped it up the bed as best it could and snagged the fabrics of the girl's clothing. Teeth and claws went to work to tug it up.

'Meire. Meire'. The words echoed in her head.

The girl's eyes shot open. Two blue orbs stared at her with curiosity.

'Don't be afraid. I am a friend'. The echo didn't get worse but it definitely didn't reduce even after she got up and held the cub. Her lips parted to speak but she forced it shut to avoid summoning her parents.

'I know you don't understand. But I wish to help'.

This time she spoke. A whisper. 'What, who are you?".

'I, do not know. But I am here. Unseen. Let me help'.

"You could start with a name". Meire was getting spooked but considering she was still unharmed both in the forest and here, her slightly mature mind was tampered by her childishness.

'A name. A name. I have none. Was given none. Hmmh'.

"Who doesn't name their child?". The girl sounded less spooked and more confused. A laugh filled her head. It was soft, like melodies from the flute that the woodworker had. Only more. That was the only thing she could think of. Just more.

'Indeed. Can I help?'.

Meire looked down at the cub and back around the room. " With the cub?. How?".

'I saw your plight in the forest. So after I realized I could speak through minds and animals. Sorry for that by the way, I decided to practice a bit more. The results were desirable. Can I show you?'.

'Will you hurt me?".

'I can't interact with anything. That is why you can't see me. I couldn't hurt you if it was my desire. And I do not desire to hurt you. I want a friend. Being unseen is lonely. Like how the cub was abandoned'.

Meire looked at the Cub. Back around. "Sorry if it hurt".

'Thank you, child. May I ask? What's is she called?'.

"She. So it's a she. Didn't know how to check. I've not given her a name".

'Very well. May I help you both?'.

"Uhm...okay".

There was silence. Then a faint sensation of something nudging at her head. No, not yet head, Meire could feel it inside her head. Like someone tapping on the door. Hesitantly she prodded at the feeling and felt something give.

Meire felt her body seize. Her limbs and eyes jittered. She felt a new presence press to her mind and then with a clamp, she felt something settle in.

**Welcome to the Akashic Records Mortal 11234938**

She could detect another row of words beneath but was halted by it as she noticed something standing before her.

"You. You're so pretty". She muttered.

"Eh". The player looked herself over and then back to the girl. "You...you can see me". She waved a palm in the girl's face.

"And hear you" she grunted before moving the arm to the side. "You're so pretty. You don't have tattoos though".

The player was too busy feeling giddy as a quest option filled up. Looking back at the girl she smirked.

"It's time to name her". She pointed to the cub. Meire gave her a long look before focusing on the Cub.

"Inon. Because I can feel her". There was a crack of thunder outside. Meire looked up at the player. Her next curiosities halted as a stampede of figures rushed into her space.

Meire's eyes widened as did the player who turned with her arms up to placate the parents. She could see how this could look bad. A stranger in your child's room. Game or not she already felt how weirdly real all this was. And while she was not liking the unseen things she enjoyed the realism.

"I can ex...". The parents rushed right through her. She stood frozen and blinking in shock. Slowly she turned to see the two checking the girl over. Meire herself was watching her with a frown.

'They can't see me'.

'They don't see her'.

The thought rang in both minds.