I imagine from an objective viewpoint, it would look as though a famed hero had entered the city. Players of all flavors swarmed around me. I was a far-out villager, not a girl with some big city dreams. Frankly, people are okay, but right now I would kill for a nap. With the way things look, I might have to.

“How did you do it? Are you really a newbie?” A girl shoved some odd wand to my face, it had a fuzzy round top to it. She had pastel pink twin ringlets and professional attire fit for a butler.

“I- uh, easy enough I guess?” I scratched my head awkwardly, trying to think of a way to get out of here.

My legs felt heavy once more as I could feel my own weight. Whatever that battle was, made whatever I could do to the extremes by the feel of it. It very well could be what to work toward, as if a future was being teased at. For the immortal players, I could see the appeal of it. It would be nice to attain such heights, but I can’t say I want to do that again.

“Erin, do you have any advice for players who have yet to play? And did you collaborate with Nautilus?” They shook their wand a few inches from my face fervently. It made it impossible to ignore.

“Just, do your best? Try hard and you’ll overcome any obstacle.” I tried to speak with my most serious voice, “I’m not sure who or what this Nautilus is, but can I please just.. Go?”

No one seemed to be very impressed by any of my answers and I found myself backing up from the platform I teleported onto.

I elected to look behind me and…

I made a run for it.

The city of Fluss was unfamiliar to me, as it was in the southern lands and Larkspur was on the northern end of the continent. Luckily it didn’t look like anyone was trailing after me, probably stunned at the complete lack of tact. Though, not many other people gave me any looks as I darted by in the streets. A normal enough occurrence with players around.

Around a few corners I slammed through the entrance of the first building with a sign outside of it. I was immediately hit with a heavy smog in the air. It made my eyes water right away. I would have thought the building was on fire if it wasn’t for the apparent cause; cigarettes, something players created. Apparently you crave it after breathing just one in. I don’t get why anyone would do that. At least here, no self-respecting person will follow me.

I was afraid of getting even more odd looks and attention, but no one was focused on me. The commonplace of odd behaviors will never cease to amaze. I gathered myself and shut the establishment door behind me. There weren’t all that many people gathered in the small building, there being plenty of empty wooden tables and barstools. I’ve never been to a place like this, but I know people usually order drinks. Lord used to talk about getting drinks at bars after work with his friends. I shall follow suit.

I approached the counter with a straight posture and firm footing, trying to show confidence despite being significantly smaller in stature to anyone else. The player on the other side of it was a bald, rough looking muscle guy. He wasn’t old, but not young either.

“Whatcha wantin’’ He squinted his eyes and peered over my head, which was just straight forward to him, “...Miss Erin. Lucky name you got.”

“I’m fine for anything.” I said with a forced smile, sitting myself on the high stool next to me.

On closer inspection of his face, his right eye was clouded like an old dog’s. Naturally, I was a little curious.

“I’m sorry if it’s unwelcome, but what happened to it?” I asked as he turned to the side, running his finger over shelved spirits.

“What, my eye? Been a bit someone’s asked. Most people just think I chose it.” He sighed, “I’m blinded in life and elected to keep my sight how it is. Gets really depressing logging out.”

“Yeah, but how?” She prodded further.

He turned back towards me, a corked bottle in hand, “Need to see your age, then I’ll tell ya’.”

“My age? I’m not sure, not really something that matters. How do I show you?”

“C’mon dude. Didn’t sit through the tutorial did you? Bring out your skill crystal and let me see, just think about it I guess.” His eye twitched at how novice I was to this player system, “You aren’t even in any of the starting clothes… You’d have to manually put them on, you a RPer?”

Think about it? I’ll try. Just envision it in my palm, like how Lord showed his.

Sure enough, I felt the small stone in my close fist. I raised it up and opened it on my palm.

“...Are you shitting me? How did you even log in? Game’s eighteen plus.” He said, a floating holograph of my name, age, class, and level all appeared stacked on top of each other with an empty biography section. My age was… Seventeen.

It’s not like we keep track of that after we perform our rites at fourteen. At that point we are just expected to take care of ourselves in the village. I even have my own house the chief made me build alone, now that is a dumb tradition.

“Ah, cool I guess?” I just answered dumbfoundedly.

“Miss, I’ma have to call an administrator… Sorry kid.”

“Wait- wait wait no.” I waved my hands frantically, panicking, “I have my reasons!”

He was already opening a holographic panel with a wave of his hand, before letting an even deeper sigh, “I’ll have a conversation with you, but understand after that it’s just what I have to do.”

I twiddled my thumbs, racking my brain for any good excuse that doesn’t involve revealing my identity. I feel that would be taken as a joke. What about…

An idea came to mind from the class selection.

Stolen novel; please report.

“I’m not actually alive, I only live here.” I said with an uncontrolled, awkward expression. I don’t think any of that was a lie. I don’t particularly like to lie, it leaves an ick on me.

I can tell by the look on his face, he wasn’t very amused.

“During class selection I was offered a unique class, the Void Wielder. Is that proof enough?”

“Kid, I’ve got no clue what that is. I do know how you can prove it.” He had crossed his arms, “I’m going to assume you don’t know how to access your inventory because… yeah. Focus your attention onto your crystal and a menu will appear. There’s an inventory tab and in it you should have a Jewel of Rebirth. Use it and you’ll be able to change your name, class, and reset your stats. I’ll see what classes you’re offered.”

Are all players this knowledgeable? It just seems second nature to them, Lord didn’t even have to navigate a ‘menu’ to summon an item. Very well, I’ll try that if it means keeping myself secret.

“Alright… Will do.” I said, following his instructions.

When I focused on the crystal, the menu he spoke of appeared in front of me. I jumped from it appearing so suddenly. I raised my hand and looked over the menu. Social, Status, Inventory- I poked it. It opened a mostly empty grid besides a weapon, a katana, clothing items, a lantern, and the jewel. I poked the jewel and it appeared in my hand.

I proceeded to crush it, just as Lord did before. A new menu appeared, showing where I can edit my name, class, and press reset on my stats.

“Those are really impressive for a level one.” He said, watching me navigate the menu, “You must be really fit, higher than mine at the start and I’m ex-military.”

I poked where it said ‘Change class’. Afterwards, a list appeared, the same as before. I hovered my finger intuitively over ‘Void Wielder’ and it showed the text from before.

“Void wielder - Awarded to those who are not living. Reduce all to nothing.” He said in disbelief.

I pressed my hands together in a prayer clasp, “Is that enough? Please don’t tell anyone.”

He paused for an anxiously long time with his hand holding his chin as he looked me over.

“That’s a really… Sad reality. The system’s never wrong. Really eerie to face you, kind of like seeing a ghost. I’ve seen too many already.”

I smiled nearly maniacally and accidentally vocalized my happiness, “Awesome! Now can I have a drink?”

His renowned eye twitch happened again, him audibly setting the bottle on his counter, below mine on his side.

“You ain’t that lucky. You better wait until you’re legal in whatever country you’re from.” His voice changed back to normal from the forlorn tone he held when he read the text.

“At least tell me about your eye?” I asked a third time, attempting to steer the conversation from what gibberish he was spieling on about.

“Just got into a stupid fight. Not even a battle scar. Guess it’s my turn for a prying question. How’d you pass, do you even know? Not like I’ll get the chance to know again.” He asked.

Before I answered, someone from down the other opposite end of the bar yelled out, “ ‘Ey Vic, quit ya’ flirting and get me another round already!”

Without looking back, he swiftly yelled back in a scary tone, “Got an important guest, you’ve had enough any, you goddamn drunk. Log out and get real booze, dipshit.”

He calmly spoke to me again, as if he didn’t just show his rough side, “Sorry, go on. Impatient guy.”

I didn’t think to ask his name, but I guess I can just look above his head. I didn’t even see it, since I’m not used to looking even further above tall people… ‘RedPanda’

“I couldn’t say anything about that. This world is my home, I only became one of you today because of Lord.”

“Feel like you’ve been here your whole life? That’s a dream to a lotta folk. Anyway, what's a runt like you doing here?”

I felt comfortable enough to speak with him about what’s gone on and a bit of who I am. Red, or Vic, has the air of an older brother. At least, what I imagine one to be like.

“Apparently killing the dragon was something really special.” I crossed my arms on the table, sitting my head down atop them and grumbled.

“Miss… You’re a real monster. That is something special.” He emphasized the second sentence.

“Is it really that hard? I don’t think it took more than a few minutes…”

“Well you can’t go and fight it a second time, since you’re stuck with whatever character you start with. Other than the Rebirth item, you really can’t change anything.”

That kind of explains it. Within the systems, players can respawn and challenge enemies over and over again until they figure out how to beat it. With that dragon, they got one chance before they even got used to their bodies. Since I’ve lived here, I have plenty of experience I guess.

He added, “The only person to do it is a player named Nautilus. He’s the leader of the Steel Will raid guild, and that achievement was previously just his. He’s gotta be pissed.”

I struck his pride without even realizing it, but still… It isn’t fair to get mad at someone for doing it. Sounds like a kid getting mad over not having the biggest stick.

“I have a feeling he’ll end up being a thorn in my side…” I said, then raising my head back up, “You also wouldn’t happen to know of a player named SalmonLord, would you? I’m trying to find him.”

“The name sounds really familiar, but nothing’s coming to mind. I’ll ask around and send you a message if I find anything.”

Right, I need to actually have a direction. All that's happened was so overwhelming I haven’t even thought ahead. What do players even do except run around frantically, begging for quests? Vic is actually working a normal job here. I had no idea players other than Lord could be so normal.

“By the way, what should I do now? I don’t really know how a player should progress.”

“Well, most players advance either north or east. The further north you go, the tougher the enemies. East is an easy zone, but there isn’t much in the way of leveling up. I’d normally suggest for a greenhorn like you to head that way, but you’ve probably got the raw talent to head straight north.”

“Right, thank you Mister Panda. I’ll go ahead and head off, then.” I said, with a brighter face than when I walked in. The interaction had given me the energy I needed to move forward.

“You’ll do fine. Oh right before you go, take some items and go to your social settings and disable age sharing.” He said before a pop up menu for a friend request appeared, “You can call me Vic, and good luck out there.”

Another pop up appeared for a trade. The contents were a ‘camp kit’, basic rations, water, and lesser healing potions. I tapped accept and they were added to my inventory.

I stood up and went to leave, calling out to Vic before exiting the bar, “I’ll be back to properly thank you!”

With that began the real adventure of the Player Erin.