The air is cool outside as I walk back to Mary and Charles. Mary said she’d keep supper warm for me but I’ve seen that woman eat and suspect my simple potatoes aren’t long for this world.

Then I see a flash of blue light. Just out of the corner of my eye. It’s nothing grand or ostentatious, but enough to pull me out of my potato musings.

I swivel to my left and see a young woman standing at the edge of the forest. She’s beckoning to me.

Ok. What should I do about that?

I look about but nobody else notices the girl. They’re all just talking or eating or whatever. I look at her again and the girl is still waving to me. I consider ignoring her, or even raising a general alarm, but as I open my mouth she shushes me. She puts her fingers to her mouth and SHHHHHH.

Alright sweetheart, this better be important.

Her image becomes more lovely as I draw closer and she seems to be…shimmering? As soon as I’m close enough to speak though she seeps back into the forest. I quicken my pace and then she fades completely, evaporating like mist in the wind. I follow and am quickly enveloped in a darkness of my own as the tree cover is thick and the sun is setting. I search and search but the girl is gone.

Perhaps this wasn’t the best idea.

I see a flicker to my left: a sort of unreal, blue aura that’s breaking into the air around it. Thrilled, I rush forward again. This time the girl waits for me.

“Finally,” I manage, and bend over to make sure I didn’t reinjure my legs.

She just stares at me quietly.

Her hair is golden blond and laced with light blue streaks that completely fascinate me. They also match her eyes which exude a peaceful, yet powerful presence in her perfect complexion. Her figure is feminine, gentle, and thin. She is enclosed in a lovely blue dress that matches those strands in her hair as well as the two magical eyes.

In short, she’s gorgeous.

“Your hair,” I mumble. ”It’s got blue in it.”

Smooth move dude.

“In this appearance,” she responds.

I squint at her. “What do you mean, like you dye it?”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

Ok then. This is going well. Let’s try something else.

“My name‘s Ethan.”

“I’m Angel.”

Huzzah!

“That’s great! I’ve been looking for you. I even asked the king about you."

“Yes, I know.”

I scratch my head. “Ugh, how could you know that?”

“Because I’m an angel.”

“I know. You just told me.”

She shakes her head. “You do not understand. I am an angel, sent by the Maker, to help you in your quest.”

I gawk at the statement, wondering what this girl’s game is, and again thinking I should have stayed at camp.

“I’m pretty sure angels have male names: Michael, Gabriel, Fred. That sort of thing. Maybe if you came dressed as a dude you’d have had a better chance of fooling me.”

“I am not trying to fool,” the girl replies calmly. “My name is Angel, but I am also an angel. It is the same word and I cannot control my name.”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

I roll my eyes and waive the words away. “Alright, well you can tell that to the next sucker you find I guess. Cause this one has other things to do.”

I turn to leave and there is another blue flash. Before me is a six-winged, shimmering creature of splendid energy. It carries a sword and shield and for a moment her brightness is so great I can hardly see. I scramble back to a tree and shield my eyes lest the pupils be burned out.

“Do not be afraid,” she says and is a young woman again. “I only did that to show you the truth. So that you would believe me. And believe what I’m going to tell you.”

“Tell me what?” I sputter.

“That you have been called here for a reason, Ethan. That Astria needs you, that all the realms need you.”

I stagger to my feet again. “To defeat the sorceress?”

“Yes, you see, you already know. You’ve played the game. That’s why the game exists in your world. It prepares you for what awaits in this one.”

“Wait,” I lick my lips. “But this isn’t a game. How can I become a hero in this world?”

“You already know what to do, Ethan. You must build your skills. You must train and practice with the blade. And most importantly you must gather accomplishments so your system will advance.”

“My system?” I ask. “You mean Tinny?”

I swear the angel smiles just a touch. “The system is at the inn you visited. The one you ‘wound’ into existence.”

“But it’s so far away.”

“It is and it isn’t.”

I throw up my hands in frustration. “What does that mean?”

“The system stands outside Astria so it cannot be destroyed. That is how the Maker designed it. To protect it and to protect you. But it can still communicate with you even if it is not here with you.”

“So it’ll tell me when my skills improve or when I learn new abilities.”

Angel nods. “I should warn you though. It can get a little grumpy from time to time.”

I pause. “Grumpy?”

“Well perhaps that’s not the right word. I’m sure you’ll find out for yourself.”

I’m sure I will.

I sigh. “This all sounds like a lot. Is there any way I can just sit on the couch and order pizza instead?”

“There is no pizza here, Ethan.”

“What? I want a refund.”

Angel comes a step closer, her aura calming my tense nerves. “Don’t be afraid.”

I cross my arms defensively. “Yes, you mentioned that already.”

“Look, you are already a knight. It is a brave thing to become a knight, and it means your journey has begun. Try not to worry about the future. Instead be the best you can right now and let the future take care of itself.”

I scoff. “Did you get that from a fortune cookie?”

Angel slides backward, her brightness dimming just a smidge and I wonder if I offended her.

Damn it.

I step forward. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. It’s just a lot you know? I was only playing the game like a week ago and now I have to live it?”

“Yes, you were just playing before, Ethan. Now you have a chance to make a difference, to make an impact on a real world. In fact you have a chance to save Astria itself. Would you really want to go back after seeing all this? To abandon these people and return to the rut that you came from?”

It’s a fair point.

“No,” I say slowly. “No, I guess not.”

Angel smiles. “I didn’t think so.”

“So what’s next then?” I ask. “King Leo is taking us to the elves.”

Angel nods. “And he is wise to do so. The sorceress is weakened without the stone but she is not defeated. She is still a mage just as you absorbed some of the onyx shards so did she. She will recover from her trauma, and you will need allies to defeat her.”

I nod grimly, trying to gird myself for the task ahead.

“At the elves you will meet an old friend. She will be different, yet the same, and you will need her support. You will receive a new quest as well.”

“I thought my quest was to defeat the sorceress.”

“It is, but there will be many steps along the way. Each must be completed if you are to succeed.”

I look down at the ground. “This really is like the game then.”

“That’s why you trained for so long, Ethan.”

“But why me?” I ask. “That game sold like a million copies. I’m sure there were plenty of players better than me.”

Angel’s blue eyes twinkle. “Because it’s not just about skill, Ethan, it’s about how you play the game. It’s about who you are as a person. Without a good soul it doesn't matter how skilled you are with a sword or shield. You must have a noble heart and a strong will if you are to defeat the strongest enemy in the realms. An enemy even stronger than the sorceress herself.”

“Which is?” I ask, wondering if I really want to know the answer.

The girl looks away from me, like she's shy or embarrassed. “That is not for me to say.”

“What? Why can’t you tell me?”

“Because this is not the time.”

I scowl grumpily. “Is there another angel I could talk to? Like a regional manager or something?”

Angel turns back to me and smiles. Despite her youthful appearance she looks almost motherly at me. “Go now, Ethan, and may the Maker mark your map.”