The image floated in my sight as I was standing in the doorway holding the door open; I could see the invitation floating in my sight. I stood there for a moment thinking; If this is like a video game mechanic, how do I accept? I stood there trying to accept the damn invite that I was given as it obstructed my view just like it would In the game World of Gepot. It seemed I was unable to at first which I found was odd, and as I begin to reach out, trying to click it, as if it were a real-life object in the world, I must have looked strange to the people passing by, but sadly that did not work either nothing I did seemed to work. What the hell!

Next, I thought I would try to focus mentally on the box; I started focusing on the acceptance window by sighting it in my eyes. Not before long finally, the message said ':Accepted:' and then the invite in my vision went away disappearing from thin air. I then stepped outside and exited the hospital thinking to myself, “Strange.”

Once outside, I turned to face the girls. I slowly began to notice there were now above them their full names, class and level. Everything appeared as a strange symbol, but I could translate each of them appearing over them, just like in the game I played. I found this very interesting. ‘Hmm.’

Whenever I looked away and in their direction, it would begin showing their health points class and level again; I next decided to block my view. It seemed wherever I was, I could see them. But, of course, this was not a game. ‘Or was it?’

There was the white-haired cat-girl. Her stat card showed me her full name. Jacosta Furili, a level 29 Slayer class, and her older sister. Reena Furili, a Battle Mage, who was level 31 ‘No guild.’ Caught up in the excitement, it was at this moment I started to take notice of some more similarities to the game I played and this strange place. But how did I get home? I could not sign out, and what was weirder this world only resembled the World of Gepots in-game. ‘Wherever I was, it was just like a game.’

Taking in my surrounding, I could see old medieval-style homes. Everything was built out of stone and wood, it seemed. I began to thinking, ‘This is not like Gepot. What's with this city I am in. Where are all the future technologies like hoverboards? Magical animals?’

It was like almost a carbon copy of some of the lower quality buildings in Gepots starter towns. Everything looked so similar, but not everything was not accurately correct. There were some subtle differences in colour and shape. The more I started to look around the district, the more I noticed these other kinds of Beast people walking around. Never have I heard of in any game I played anything about beast people or the Slayer class. The two ladies I was with also struck me as odd they had not said anything so far towards me, and why did they not kill me? ‘If this worked like the PVP in the game, they would have levelled.’

Now that I was done looking around, I slowly began turning towards where the ladies were standing. I could see the two looked nervous. The one with white hair stood there holding the hilt of her sword as her sister looked at me with her glossy pink eyes sparkling in the sunlight. I decided to then ask them, “So, can you show me around the city, say to a store? I am also kind of hungry, and if I am going to being honest, I haven’t eaten anything since yesterday. So do you guys have a place, or perhaps you know somewhere we could eat?”

The two I could tell were unable to decide to trust me. I was not sure why I mean I was offering them free food. So I stood there glancing towards the odd person who walked by and as they looked at each other. That was when the woman called Reena and her younger sister Jacosta together just looked at me and gave me a blank stare.

‘Was it something I said? I thought I was nice.’; I continued to think.

However, when I began to open my mouth, the two girls I was with must have seen all of the information that I displayed. If I remember correctly, I called this character Azurith Baldarren, a max-level Blade Master.

I watched as they continued to say nothing and stand in front of me; they did not say a word. The awkward silence I was all too familiar with crept in, and my anxiety kicked in. Still speechless, they began to slowly back away from me as if they were scared of me. Turning their backs to me, I could feel a sinking feeling in my stomach as they began to whisper to themselves, ignoring the questions I asked.

I could hear the faint words of Jacosta as she did a poor job at whispering and heard her say, "This information must be wrong there is no way he is a level 99? But did you see his health points, though, Reena? What would he be doing in a place like this? What is a Blade Master even?"

I noticed the young lady who called herself Reena told her sister as quietly as she could while looking back at me over her shoulder, “I don’t know Jacosta.” While they continued whispering to each other, the only time Jacosta would stop talking was to let her sister answer. As they whispered, I heard Reena say, “I told you we should have just left him alone, but you wanted to be a hero and save the poor person from bandits; he’s not poor or weak.”

‘Save me?‘ I would have killed a near-dead max-level player lying on the road...But I was pleasantly surprised by their actions; they were good people, apparently. When her older sister Reena went on to answer one of her many questions, I heard her say quietly, almost in a whisper, “Um, I don't know what kind of class blade-master is. I always assumed there were only five: the Ranger, Battle-mage, Mentalist, Slayer, and the Acrobat class. I have never heard of a Blade Master.” ‘Five classes just like the games all though they are different another similarity.’

Finally, when they finished whispering, they together turned towards me. The light shimmering off of their bodies, highlighting their cat-like features once again, the wind blowing through the streets as they again started to stare in silence towards me. The sounds of people talking and having fun with their family’s could be heard by me as they slowly started walking over. The sound of footsteps followed to where I stood. I looked down at the shorter white girl, unimpressed; she now started looking at my head. Then, pulling me down by my horn brushing aside my hair to see my crown, she said, “A crown, holy shit.” Before standing on her tippy toes while grabbing my arms and looking at my armour, and asking, “Are you a prince?” The girl who called herself Reena now began to grab on both of my hands. I felt my heart pick up and beat fast as her hands were soft. But to my surprise, Reena helped Jacosta lift my arms so she could start examining each piece more closely. ‘For fuck’s sake...’

It finally clicked in my head; ‘They must have been able to see what I was seeing when I looked at them but in reverse.’

I was clearly the main subject of their interest as their attitudes changed once they saw my abnormal clothing and crown. Finally, after a few more moments of them touching me, I could not stand it any longer. I've had enough of them looking at me, whispering to each other behind my back.

Finally, something inside me snapped; it was like a fit of uncontrollable anger took hold of me. Shattered glass formed in my mind. I felt my eyes burn.’Lighting up red.’ The class crashed. Lifting their hands of me, I had enough of the touching and grabbing and said to them both in a rage, “Is something the matter? Are we going to eat at a restaurant or somewhere? I don’t know where to go to lead the way anytime, please or ill figure it out myself.”

I could see from Reena’s eyes reflect the red glow I had forming around me. I snapped out of it, seeing her so scared, and the aura faded. I saw Reena jumped a bit back after I said that startled she must have now begun realizing how they were acting was kind of strange, and then Reena stepping forward again towards me quickly answered my question and said,

“Oh yes, I am sorry Azurith, forgive us for being rude, we can go to the pub and eat, the food there is excellent, and that was where we usually ate. Outside there were usually quests and other bounty's posted on the billboards looking for temporal work. It does not look like you are in a guild; however, you are out of luck if you wanted to join one like this city's guilds. They only allow Humans or Elves even though they allow other races inside their walls. They do not allow them to join their cities guild."

I took in the information I was told, standing there, not saying a word back. ‘Something was not right with this picture; I began to think.’ I even started to mention to the girls, “That sounded a little biased towards the Beast-people. Why was it that they were not allowed to join the cities guild? But we're allowed to be a part of its population. I mean, I could have understood the Undead and Demon races since the cities inhabitants were mainly Humans with Beast-people and Elves.” Since those were the beings that resided here, shouldn’t they be allowed to join?”

I did not expect what I said to spark such controversy. However, I noticed people stopped and stood by us, now listening. I could see Reena and Jacosta both looked at each other rather confused-like like that concept did not make any sense to them, and then Reena began to say back, urging me to walk as she said, “The real reason is Azurith. They look down on us.” As we began to walk, she continued, “Once upon a time, we had our own cities in this world, and due to our governments' greed, they collapsed, and the guilds fell apart. As a result, people died, poverty and disease struck the land we controlled. That is was why other races, when they took to power in our formal land, began denouncing our race, saying we were dirty in the process, only allowing us to serve on quests and not join their guilds.”

That did not sound right. This wasn't right. I thought everyone was equal; at least that was what I was always taught, but clearly, that was not the case here.

‘What kind of Dev’ does not fix this bug, or is it a god here in this world-like game? Whoever is in charge did a bad job.’ As we walked through the streets, I could see both the girls looked rather sad about who they were. I could understand being dealt a crummy hand at life, trust me. ‘Being judged every day was a bitch...But still, I did not entirely understand where I was or why I was even brought here, let alone how It was I could get home.’

But, if they were to have judged me as those men did earlier, I would have been dead. By most accounts, I even knew Demons were vile and treacherous; that is why I picked one; the feeling of being detached was what I longed for, and inside the game, I could act role play.

‘Reena, Jacosta, I know how you feel.’ Now I started looking off in the distant streets as we continued moving on.

It was not long before I quickly understood where the girl's frustration stemmed from; however, when some random strangers walked by, going out of their way to mention to everyone who was standing around, “Those two girls look hideous, those ears and tails, look at the clothes they are wearing too, what utter trash can you imagine being seen in public with a Demon? How disgusting.”

Continuing to laugh now as they pointed to Jacosta and Reena, I watched angrily from the side, not saying anything. Not soon after they continued walking past us, I could hear them snickering in the process as they made lewd remarks; I could not help but feel bad for the two. I learned to put aside those feelings, but they still looked like they cared what others thought; ‘Perhaps that is why they wanted to rescue someone,’

I watched Reena slowly lifted her hands off of her sister Jacosta’s fluffy ears as the tears fell down their face like raindrops. Then with the saddest look in her eyes, she looked over to me with tears forming in the corner of both her eyes as she said to me, "Well, anyway, we should really show you where the pub is."

It was at that moment I swore, even if it were just for today, I would try and make them smile; looking over at the two, I started saying to them both, “Hey, you two, when we arrive at the pub, pick whatever it is you would like to eat. It is on me, okay? Then, after we are done, you could show me where some of the stores are; you ladies know what shopping is, right? I would be ever so grateful, and I promise I'll pay you for your service, of course.”

I could tell the girl called Jacosta was surprised at how nice I was towards them, and tilting her head, she asked me, “Are you sure you want to be seen with us?” Looking at her, I smiled and said, “You are my hero despite what others say.” Then, with her water teal eyes glowing, she wiped her face and turned to her sister and said, “Well, I am hungry sis, why don’t we show him already where the pub is?”

I heard Reena say, “I agree, let’s!” When we all began to walk, I noticed now they were following closely behind me. As we started walking down the path, I thought it polite to ask some questions, and once we started walking past some of the strange houses and other buildings in the city, I decided to ask the woman Reena a question, “Hey, Reena, can I ask you something?”

Reena stopped and looked back at me with a confused look on her face. Her eyes twitched before she replied with a smile on her face. It was the first time I saw her happy, and making her smile was easier than I thought. Only moments ago, she looked so sad; nevertheless, she then replied to me, saying, “Sure, Azurith, ask away?” Then facing the direction of her sister, she continued to walk up through the streets, following her and Jacosta again. I began to ask her a few questions. As I trailed them, I said, “So I have noticed you two like most of your race are rather, how should I put this broke...and low level, which had me curious.” I could see the two did not like what I was asking and started to pick up their speed.

I found when I used my Demon races 'eyes of detect,' While I was performing scans on the others, I noticed most of the beast-people were level 5 or 10. Catching up to them again, I said, “Do you two often find yourselves doing quests or something? I also noticed some beast people don’t even have classes under their names, unlike you two. The second question is, I thought everyone was given a class.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Reena, continuing walking towards the pub, started to look back and tell me a sad back story of her people, “Yes, most of our race is poor and low level due to, like we said, unable to find steady work or quest work, my sister and I serve a lot of parties on quests. That is where we get paid accordingly for what we do, it really isn’t that bad, and the exp is not too bad either. For classes, well, you need a teacher, and those cost a lot of money which we were lucky enough to stumble across.” ‘I always had assumed people would have been eager to teach others.’

But before I could respond, Reena looked away; her eyes caught something else as she then started to announce to her sister and me, “We are here at Shaunty’s brewpub.”

After Reena said that, I noticed Jacosta began to jump up and down a bit like a kid, and her tail began to wag as she leaned over and began to sniff the air. Even I truthfully could smell the food outside, and it smelt delicious. Together we now entered the large building that had various people going in and out of it.

[https://i.imgur.com/ymAnCtxh.jpg]

When the large door swung open, I could hear the various sounds of drunken banter, people laughing and having a good time, followed by the loud sound of music playing from some kind of instrument. It had a real RPG vibe to it. ‘Nice, this is wicked!’

“Shall we find a seat?” The ladies could not hear me, though over the sound of people laughing together while they ate together over the casually playing music in the background. The two looked at me and smiled; I instantly became a fan of this place right then.

Although I did notice the various shady characters hanging out by the billboards overlooking the jobs looked at us rather suspiciously, I could see them casually talk among themselves after I spotted them. Reena, accompanied by her younger sister, took me by the hand as they together led the way to an open table.

As we approached it, many people of various races were eating around the tables, mainly elves and humans with the odd beast-person. Reena and Jacosta leading a little ahead of me, continued to search, running in and out of the crowd, trying to find us an open table to sit down at. We tried our best not to bump into people as we all made our way through the large group. Unfortunately, when we passed them, I saw they were in the process of casually eyeing up the young ladies I was with.

I almost had to fend off their glares as I started to look at them with my skill ‘Demonic stare.’ Decreases the morale of the enemy, causing them to lose the nerve to fight.

When I used it, my eyes momentarily began glowing red and black, as I then ran my hands over my head, pulling back my multi-colour hair behind my ears, exposing the horns I had. Then, one by one, each one of them looked away, ignoring us altogether, which was my intention.

[https://i.imgur.com/73tGFRFh.jpg]

Reena looked up at me, not seeing what I did. But before she could say anything, I then pulled her in a little closer; I felt the warmth of her body as I started wrapping my arms around her waist, running them behind her back. I watched as her face went beat red. However, I could tell she did not mind it as she did not push away from me. ‘I mean, who wouldn't feel safe in my arms, for I was the highest level in the room.’

But for some strange reason, I noticed a man at the bar looking at us, not taking his eyes of the two young ladies, still talking to a masked man who then noticed me looking at the two of them left the room. Reena’s cheery mood quickly faded when I told her that, “There was a man over there looking at you two. I saw him then leave the building after talking to a few guys, so heads up.”

I could see she clearly looked a little worried from the scared expressions present on her face now, as I noticed her ears twitched when I looked down at her. Reena then tried to look around for the man jolting her head right, left, but he had already left; as I told her, “He’s already left, Reena.” Her tail wagging before it stopped. I could tell she was worried, I did not understand what was going on in her mind, but I told her, “Do not worry while I am here. I promise not to allow anyone to lay a finger on you or your sister. After all, I owed you both my life.”

Reena’s face went flush red as she scrambled to sit down at the table she found tripping over her feet several times. She then scanned the room once she was seated looking for a waiter before seeing her friend, I imagine working and called her over, “Hey Maria.” I could tell the woman she was referring to as Maria was also a Beast-girl but was more wolf-like. However, she was very slender and was a very well-built woman who had everything going for her, standing roughly 5Ft’5 which, in my humble opinion, was always a nice height for a woman. I could quickly see she had wolf-like features from the way her face, chin and eyes looked. Her jaw was narrow, and her nose was short. I could also see her eyes were of two different colours: one blue and the other green. As I continued to look at her, I noticed she also had a long silver tail and had long straight silver hair that went down to her hips. I was mesmerized as she came walking over in a barmaid outfit; I was left speechless as she was too adorable for words. I kind of always wanted a dog, but a dog girl? ‘It will do!’

I never could afford one, comparing her mentally to a husky. Maria walked up smiling, but after she saw who her friend was with, it seemed like she was shocked as she looked over at me, giving me a subtle look. Then she let her friend Reena know. With a squint in her eyes and a cheeky tone in her voice, he said, "You are with a man?! That's a first, Reena, and he's actually kind of cute good job!"

Maria, after saying that, now started to brush up against my body suggestively while asking me a question. I felt it hard to keep my composure as she said, “Hey you, I’ve never seen you around here. So you and Reena aren’t an item, are you? So what's your name, stranger?”

I could not contain myself, for I was doing somersaults in my head. Maria's skin and hair were so soft, not to mention she smelt so good like vanilla or cookies. ‘Mmm, Cookies.’

Everything down to her demeanour was cute. Closing my eyes now, I was trying my best to remain calm. I then would be informed apparently, while I responded to her question, I began to grab her ear with one of my hands, and with the other hand, I groped her tail. In a subtle wash-on wash of motion, I continued to play with them as I then apparently introduced myself to Maria and said, “My name is Azurith. Very nice to meet you.”

When I came to it again, I could hear both Reena and Jacosta yell at me, “Stop that,” I could not understand why they were so angry at the time as I did not do anything, or so I thought, but whatever was in my hands was super soft. Reena then went on to say next in an angry tone of voice towards causing me to look around, “What are you doing? Stop grabbing her this instant. Just when we thought you were semi-normal.”

I could see when I glanced over to Maria. I could see she was blushing now. When I noticed where my hands were, I saw she looked back down, and then next Maria asked me,

“Hey, Azurith, would you please stop. The other customers would get the wrong idea about the two of us.”

Suddenly, we could hear her boss yelling for her to get back to the kitchen and work from behind the bar. Then, I noticed the older man started glaring at me and spit onto the floor. I could not help but make a weird face. ‘Would he not have to clean that up?’

I could hardly think straight though the only thing going through my mind at the moment was how soft her ears and tail were. When I faced the ladies again, I suddenly had Reena and Jacosta looking at me quite strangely before they both grabbed a menu each and stared at them silently.

Reena then asked me the funniest question, “Why did you grab Maria’s ears? Also, her tail? Are tail's your thing?” I could not answer why I did it and for it to be my thing? Confused, I said, “I don’t know.”

I could not begin to give them a clear answer, as I did not remember even doing that; I mean, even if I did, it was sort of a normal response for a guy, perhaps? Probably not...

But I was a man who never had seen dog ears on a cute girl like that before up close. Plus, when someone as adorable as that came over and brushed up against you being all flirtatious; ‘it was a trap. What was I supposed to do?’

Ashamed of my actions, I just sat there. I said nothing back except for, “I had never felt anything like that before. It was so soft. I am sorry if that was strange. I could not help myself. I really tried to resist grabbing them. I tried to picture it mentally as not to do it, but we all know how that worked out... It won't happen again now. I got to grab it at least once.”

Casually laughing a bit after I said that. Clearly, I tried to brush off this embarrassment feeling I was feeling from my actions earlier; I mean, when I grabbed her ears and tail, that was embarrassing...Now taking up the menu left for me, I looked through it. Surprisingly everything was in my language. As I began to read some of the names out loud, the two girls I was with, Reena and Jacosta, began to look over at me strangely before asking, “Have you ever pronounced any of these words before? You're completely butchering the pronunciation of them.”

I began to question them and said, "I mean, I thought I was doing good?" That chick, how rude! I thought I was doing a good job personally, and I began saying in an even louder voice now towards them, “Galamangus soup side of bread and malt liquor or Siliosis strings...”After I heard it, I started admitting, “Okay, I cant pronounce a single thing."

Reena holding her hand over her mouth, began to chuckle as Jacosta, I could hear, even laughed a little aloud. Reena then asked me while still covering her mouth, “What are you in the mood for? I will order it for you.”

I started to feel like a kid again at a restaurant. When I picked out the things I wanted to try, I answered her, saying that, “I wouldn’t mind something with meat in it, and if you could order it for me. Then, adding that I would also like something to drink.”

Reena then called over a new waitress. This time she was a frail human woman. The human woman stared at the cat-girls I was with, and then with a weirder look on her face, she looked over at me and raised her eyebrows. The look she gave me was slightly better than what she gave the girls. However, her treatment towards the two girls I was with was appalling. I could see Reena was also not impressed by her tone, and she began to speak to the waitress in a rude tone of voice, “Excuse me, hello, we would like to order three orders of your Siliosis strings with pork and if you could add an apple cider rum bottle.” What on god's green earth?

I began to question her choice of liquor, thinking to myself, “Apple cider rum that sounds like crap.” I watched as the human waitress began to write down the orders Reena told her; she did not say a word before she began to walk away, leaving us now heading towards the back kitchen.

I made sure she was far enough away before I shook my head in disgust. I found the whole encounter funny between the two of them, and I even began to laugh a little, turning and grabbing my side while I said to the girls,” What a bitch. Did you see the way she looked at us?”

Continuing laughing out loud before I started commenting, “Reena, you looked a lot better than she did even in those clothes you were wearing, don’t let her ruin your mood. I bet your meal is going to be great. I am kind of excited myself to try this.”

I could tell my comment cheered Reena up; as we waited, she started to make small chats with me, asking all sorts of questions, like where I was and how old I was. I could tell something was off with my answer when I said 21; Reena looked extremely surprised when I said this and answered, “21? You’re referring to how old you look, right? You must be like what 60? or maybe you are in your early 100s?”

Interrupting her, I answered her and said, “Did you say 100? No, I am 21.”

Laughing, she smiled and replied, “ Azurith are you like those near death old lady who tries and makes them self seem younger? Well, if we are going by human years, I would be only twenty, and in a few months, I would be twenty-one, but I am actually 33 in my own race's age.” Now looking at the two girls seated at the table.

It slipped my mind; ‘I completely forgot human years are different than demons and other demi races.’

Now scratching my head, I decided to return the question thinking, 'it would be polite,' as the music continued to play and the people danced and sang in the brief window I could, I asked them, “So, how old are you Jacosta?”

As the drunken banter continued and the music played, she answered with a grin on her face while giving me a lewd look, “29, but since you like to use human years, I would be 17,”

As we all continued talking and laughing amongst ourselves about my strange use of the human's age cycle, it was not before too long the waiter came back out, returning with our order In her hand. In her hand, she had what looked like two dog bowls and a plate to which she then proceeded to place the two bowls on the ground and the plate in front of me before asking for the payment, saying, “The cats can eat on the floor and are not allowed at the table, and it would be 100 gold.”

[https://i.imgur.com/BPh3UuSh.jpg]

When I realized she was overcharging us and never brought out our wine. That same sudden urge overcame me again as if my body was being controlled by the sudden compulsive urge to be evil. I responded in a sinister voice.:' “So you're not only rude, you are a crook stealing my wine. One thing I hate is when people pick on others in front of me. Apologize to the ladies now, or we will have a problem.”

Standing up, the light shined down on me and created a dark shadow behind me; I glanced over and saw Reena and Jacosta sat there in awe.

‘This was probably the first time someone other than a fellow Beast-person was defending them for once.’

Now the woman back-peddled, I saw a few men from around the billboard come over to start a fight with me, seeing this was their chance. Unlike last time when I was unprepared or angry. When one of the men now started putting his right hand on my shoulder to spin me around. ‘But to no avail.’

I was not having any of this. I was upset even when we paid; we were treated so poorly. Now, as I grabbed the man with my left hand in one swift motion, I could feel the strength flow through my body. I twisted and used the momentum to throw him over me with lightning speed, flipping him hard onto the floor and slamming him onto the ground; he laid there unconscious. I then next put my boot down under his throat. Before turning back to the woman, I was enraged and demanded that she “Apologize!”

[https://i.imgur.com/WlkrSB8h.jpg]

Reena thought while looking at Azurith thought to herself. "Demons were mean and cruel, and never had I met one before today, but I was told by the adults they were mean, but this seemed wrong. Why was Azurith pleasantly kind towards my sister and me when he was not sure who we were? We may have helped him, but it was an accident; He was unusual in every way. If all the stories The other beast people told me were true and they weren't nice, I should feel scared but looking at Azurith, I could not sense any form of danger coming from him. Still, Demons were cruel individuals in this world and not to be trusted. I need to keep my guard up until I figure him out."

After she ran off and I calmed down, I could only begin to see I overreacted. 'Maybe I was taking things a little far.' But when I saw the look Reena was giving me, I knew I was not. Her eyes, I could see, were filled with admiration; I could see she was still trying to figure me out. I could tell that was bothering her; I was trying to be compassionate towards them, imaging all their life up to this point had been rough and full of heartache and struggle. Picking up my spoon, I looked at the food in front of me. It looked fantastic but, It looked like ramen noodles with pork cutlets.

I started subconsciously thinking at the time, ‘Why not just call it noodles with pig or pork? Why the weird name, for fuck’s sake. Burning my lips on the boiling hot soup, I let out a yelp as the two ladies laughed as the music continued to play in the background.’