Welcome to Cefiro Online

Do you wish to start the game?

I was finally logged in for the first time!

This  heart of mine was racing with so much excitement.

All I heard were the thumping of my chest to the point that I was going deaf.

I surveyed the area with frenzied eyes. 

The virtual environment did not disappoint.

"So... this is how a virtual reality game actually  looks like from the inside huh?"

Amazing was an understatement.

This place was infact truly fantastic!

Just basing on initial reaction, after so many years of not being able to play, and this being the first for me with virtual reality , all I can say was 'wow'!.

I was blown away to say the least.

Words could not possibly describe the things that I would like to articulate about this new experience.

Ding!

"Welcome!"

"In a few minutes, I will be providing you with the opportunity to choose your character race."

"In the mean time, please turn your attention to the roulette on your left."

I think I have heard of that voice before. 

The voice of the A.I. was clean, concise and pleasant. 

It was far from the usual slutty voice from the previous games he had experience with. 

This A.I. sounded very intelligent without even trying. 

Suddenly a scene popped into his head.

He remembered a scene from that one comedic movie. It was where this 'voice' played the role as God. 

Ah, so that was why the 'voice' was so familiar. 

He remembered the name now---

It was the voice of the one and the only Morgan fuckin' Freeman. 

Top notch!

He was the only actor that could give the voice of God justice. Him and that other actor Anthony Hopkins.

This A.I. was making a huge difference already for the game.

I am pretty positive that I am not the only one who appreciated this fact. 

"As a way of saying thank you for patronizing Cefiro Online, our company is spreading its generosity, to each and every patron of the game."

"We are providing each and every one of you the opportunity to choose a gift ."

"It is but a small token."

Mr.Freeman added ( yes, i am calling him that from now on) that the gift that can be acquired, may range from normal items like a pack of health potions, to something rare like armors and weapons, or maybe some additional character stat points.

If you happen to get fantastically lucky, you might end up getting legendary items, titles and even hidden jobs.

Thats some really good cosmic karma happening your way.

It was a big 'if' though.

"Please spin the wheel when you're ready".

Mr. Freeman again  sounding very formal.

It was clean, commanding, authoritative voice. It really cuts through.

'Like a shymphony'

I was now looking at the giant roulette.

There was a lot of really fun things that I might end up having after the spin.

Each tiny pie in the roulette represented a certain item and there was a lot of them in there.

But of course, knowing that this was only a game of chance, the possibiblity of getting those legendary items would be very slim to none at all.

I  played some mobile phone games before.

Most of the time, the free spin gimmickery only gives you mainly useless and mostly trash items.

Items that you will never even use at all inside the game.

I grasp the wheel with both hands and readied my back for some major pull action.

"Free cookies!" I yelled while dragging the giant wheel for a spin from top 'til down. 

Letting out a short laugh,  I huffed a bit after that great big pull with the Wheel of Fortune.

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I didnt expect anything fantastic to comeout from the free spin.

After all, it was just free.

I will, however, keep anything that is useful.

The spinning went on for a good 2 to 3 minutes before finally stopping.

Afterwhich, a gigantic banner got suddenly conjured out of nowhere.

The banner sported  big letters flapping in the imaginary wind along with some mini fireworks around it.

"Congratulations!!!"

It wrote.

"Step forward and claim your prize" said Mr. Freeman.

It didnt bother me to say the least that suddenly a table of pure white appeared next to my right side.

On top of it, at the dead center, was a giant red box.

It was rather neat and cute with its big white bow fastening it.

I hurriedly tore down the bow and the wrapping.

Tradition right?

The messiest way you open a gift, the better gift you will get. Or so they say. 

Not sure about that but I did it anyway.

Inside the giant red box was a smaller green box.

I read the description on the little box.

"Gaia Pack". I said it outloud.

"What is this for Mr.Freeman?".

I tilted my head while looking upwards. I was waiting for the A.I. to respond. 

There was a long pause.

Probably the A.I. was not smart enough to catch who I am pointing the question at and that I was referring to "it' as Mr.Freeman.

However ---

" The content of the Gaia Pack will be revealed to you once inside the game".

I was shaking the green box near my ear to get an idea as to whats inside.

Nothing.

Not even a jiggle.

I dont know what happened but while I was shaking it enthusiastically, something fell off from the Gaia box.

T'was a tiny clover leaf.

I picked it up from the white pavement.

As I was coming up from the bend, I was already playing with the tiny clover leaf.

I was twirling it around my two fingers.

"Mr. Freeman you dropped something. Is this part of the freebie?".

I raised the tiny clover up in the air.

The A.I. ignored me. 

"The World of Cefiro has many races. Diversity is one of its focal points." 

Mr. Freeman explained the intricacy of each races.

What I gathered was that you will have 3 chances of choosing your race thru the Selector Orb.

You dont choose your race directly like pointing and shooting. The Selector Orb will present a line up of options for you.

Each roll would give you 3 race to choose from.

It could be a mix of humans, dwarves, ogres etc.

From the options, you may select what you favor the most.

If on the first roll you dont get to have the race that you like, then a second and  up to a third opportunity would still be available.

This was the reason why the 3 chances were very crucial.

The moment you chose a race was the moment you begin your hard work. 

The game sort of stir its way out of the usual "Pick your starting race" predisposed option.

Right off the bat, it gave you that sense of gamble.

A sense of adventure.

A surprise. 

'Fair enough.'

The races that were mentiod among others were Humans, Elves, Beastlings, Dwarves, Demons and Seraphs.

There were also Dark Elves, Ogres and Goblins.

Humans had a 30 percent chance of being drawn. Elves and Beastlings has a 20 percent chance of appearing. Dwarves and Ogres about 10 percent. The Dark Elves has 5 percent. While Draconians are at 3 percent chance. 

The rarest in the line up were the Demons and the Seraphs.

A very ridiculous 1 percent respectively.

Thats how slim the chances would be in landing any of the two.

They're the elite few in the game and those two races were also the hardest to level up 

"Please touch the Selector Orb whenever you are ready"

Mr. Freeman ushering me to the right side corner of the white room.

It was where the Selector Orb was hovering.

Hesitant at first, I finally touched the orb.

It was a little squishy.

Like a mallow. 

The orb turned from white to black as I pressed my hand against it.

Truthfully, I was aiming for something like an Ogre.  

I like how the Ogre race's spawn time from an egg to adulthood was relatively fast compared to the other races.

Plus, I want to look a bit menacing versus pretty for easthetics.

It will help me with my goal in the long run. 

The uglier you are, the less attention you will get.

'Flying low on the radar.'

Of course, starting as a human was not bad either.

Yes it will be the most common race in the game.

However, humans hold one significant advantage in the game---

Strength in numbers.

Humans had the upperhand in terms of opening up areas and territories in the game faster.

Their subjugation speed was not to be under estimated.

It was a shame though, my aim was not to be like a power hungry, level craving online game player.

My goal was simple.

I simply wanted to earn a living here in this virtual world that would cover enough for my living and food expenses. 

I dont plan on being a millionaire here.

The only target was to only eat 3 meals a day in the real world.

"Do you wish to use the Clover Leaf?"

A surprise prompt from the A.I.

'Oh. So that was where the clover leaf was meant for? Morgan sir, you sure are full of surprises!'

The leaf doesnt have any description on it when I examined the thing earlier on.

So i guess this was standard?

Or maybe this was sort of a good luck boost while doing the race selection?

'I dunno? I guess?'

To be honest, I was not quiet sure at all as to what it would do.

I presented the clover leaf in front of the orb.

Little by little, the leaf vanished like dusts being carried away by the slow gentle wind. 

From the tips of my fingers where it once was, to the nothingness, where it resides now .

I pressed the orb once more to initiate the selection process.

The orb was emitting a single line of light circumventing the diameter of the black globe.

It was going round and round like a halo.

The orb stopped and I checked the result thereafter.

Human. Human. Human.

All three results on the first spin. All humans. 

Tsk. Why was I not surprised?

That 30 percent chance was really something.

If I had to guess, majority of the players would be humans if this would go on.

Cefiro will be infested with humans.

I guess thats okay?

Not much difference with the real world I guess.

The AI was about to confirm if 'Human' was what wanted.

Two spins more for free so I am using that opportunity..

I chosed to roll again and I was starting to wonder what that clover leaf is really for then?

I just really want an Ogre to be honest.

Tough wish though since my luck has always been rotten. Even my mom knows this.

Few seconds later, the result of my second draw was revealed.

Beastling. Human. Human. 

Looks like that clover was doing its magic from the way things are going.

'Hmnn'

I paused to ponder if I can make use of the Beastling as opposed to Ogres.

The problem was, I really cant remember anything noteable about the Beastlings, even during the infommercial releases.

I was really torn.

'Goodness I really want an Ogre!'

My desire finally won me over.

Without any regret, I firmly willed my resolve and pressed that Selector Orb one last time.

Cheuk!

That was the sound of the Selector rolling for the final time. 

Please be an Ogre.

Please be an Ogre.

Please be an Ogre.

I kept repeating it like a spell.

I covered my eyes using both hands as I chant away.

A good full two minutes after the Selector sound died down. I slowly slid my hands down from may face to see the outcome of my gamble.

I opened my left eye slowly like I was peeking into some really tight key hole.

I wanted to check the letters slowly.

My plan was to look from the left side to the right side of the orb.

I was doing the squinty ugly face while I was enacting this.

After that slow and careful peek, it was finally revealed to me.

I was about ready to accept Human as a race a few minutes back.

Throwing the towel down even.

But the universe has another plan for me.

"GET THE HELL OUT!".

I covered my mouth in disbelief.

My eyes can be deceiving me?

My choices on my third roll were as follows:

.....

Human

.....

Elf

.....

.....

.....

DEMON! ! !

☆☆☆☆☆