The last fleeting images I had as my eyes slowly opened and closed were Elzear throwing his dagger into the air, kicking it right towards me, impaling the spear goblin right in the head. He flashed closer to me with each blink, I felt my wounds being stitched up at break neck speed. Such extreme dexterity and agility.

My health is currently at 2.. 1.. and.. it stopped. My god I bet death is croaking over right now! Ha, fuck you Garry. Out the corner of my eye I could see the bone white middle finger of death glaring at me.

"Yeah, fuck you too bitch, see you.. well fuck knows when, hell I bet I'll be back in less than an hour. Ya know, I don't actually hate you, I feel it would be boring day when I have to collect. Maybe your zombie could kick some ass too though" He smirked and vanished in thin air.

My eyes finally fell with a heavy thud, not to be open again for a little while.

After dreams of more devils and goblins intertwined my mind, I woke up again gasping for air, cold sweats running down my brow. Looking around I instantly knew I was in the bed I shared my boogers and tears with on that horrible day, sitting in a chair near to me, with a little table that had candles on it, sat Elzare, reading a book!

Since when could you read books in this game? Like yea, a skill book.. but like.. You always activate them, my god do I have to read now!? How many more changes have occurred over these past damned years. Glancing over the title it read "Secret Encounters of Marry Sue" oh my god, is he reading some pathetic romance shit? He finally noticed my eyes, and within a flash the book changed "Medical Guide 101, The Basics". You fucking trixie prick you.

"Thank you.. umm was the girl alright? Maybe not even just physically.. you saw what I did out there."

"Ahahahah! You trying to gloat? Too bad you didn't see what I did after, I get the point of death across.. just as effectively, but without the mess of whatever it is you do."

"She's fine though as far as I could tell, took her to her mother back in the village which by the way, is looking for you."

"I.. I"

"Ahh shut your face, I already know. You got some freaky shit class and powers and lost it on those guards, I tried to clear your name, I hope it had some effect."

"Uhh what did you tell them?"

"That you had a twin, one that is brutal and merciless, a berserker class that loses control, told em maybe one of the guards pissed her off. It's simple, but the best lies often are."

"Elzare.. could I ask what you are doing here? Do you remember anything about an orc clan called the Unorthodox?"

I could see a slight flinch in his eye, I might've just struck a nerve.

"Rosie, what do you know of player characters after they leave for an extended period of time, or maybe delete their character?"

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Having played the game for so long, I thought I would know something like this. I had an obvious guess though.

Elzare took the silence to continue his what seemed to be lecture.

"When a Player character deletes their account, or is gone for longer than a year. They become an NPC. The NPC that is created retains most personality that was created when the player, well.. Played as them, some exceptions though."

"For example, I don't know the name of the person who played me. I don't know the thoughts that they had when they controlled me. While the player plays their avatar, their avatars are aware. I was aware the entire time I was controlled, conscious, alive, but separate."

"Whoever controlled me, was hardworking, silent, lonely, and brutal. I remember killing that clan, and I didn't want to do it entirely, but I can't stop the player. I also can't lie that afterward we got an awesome weapon, and a lot of experience. I was forged by my Player, but not shaped completely. I'm not sure if this knowledge was fully available to players or not. A big update came out shortly after and it seems all the rules have changed in this world I call home. My player, deleted me, giving me full control. The update was 10 years of living for me, but happend in a flash for all Players, for 10 years I explored my new control and body"

"Me and many other NPCs have been like conscious children, viewing the world through the player's eyes, and then being born with that knowledge when they leave."

"What I'd like to ask.. is how you knew about that incident of the orc clan from so long ago?"

"What.. umm. would you say if I told you I was the player who created you?"

"I'd call you as crazy as you are brutal, there's an NPC tag right in front of you when inspected. You were either created by the game, or the leftovers of another player."

Hmm. I figured as much, I somehow become a full blown bonafide NPC after whatever happened to me.

"I'm sorry, I.. maybe I'm losing it."

Another familiar red potion was tossed my way, and of course I drank it hastily.

"If you go out in the middle of the forest next time, try to bring those with you, ya dunce."

"I. uhh.. slept walk out there during that."

"Ahahahahah! My god, I'm fucked aren't I? I'm harboring a brutal potential maniac that sleep walks. If I wasn't such a higher level than you I'd have second thoughts about going this far. Luckily, I saw what you did for that girl though, My guess is you are struggling at your own pace."

"Thank you, Elzare" I bowed again, and to my surprise he still sat there, looking intently at his book.

"You are welcome" was muttered silently behind the book.

"Hey wait! The fuck? When you said you saw what I did for that girl, how long were you watching!?"

He was gone now, his book fell onto the chair he once was sitting in, I really need to understand our difference. I've grinded for years as that character, my god, very very few people could get to 99, it was like a treadmill that was getting longer instead of shorter. A never ending uphill battle. His stats are insane, his armor tailored by the best craftsman I could buy from, then enchanted by the second most renowned enchanter.

No one really knew who the best was, his work left no marks or signature, but you could tell when his enchantment was on an item just by the quality. To my surprise, it looked like he got a new dagger. I wonder how much better that even was, to be fair I skimped out on a weapon near the end, maybe he realized that and took note. I wonder if he still had that one chieftains Axe too, that weapon was fucking insane.

It looked like even after 10 years, he still wore mostly what I last had.

For some reason, after such a long delay a window popped up.

Level Up x4

You are now a level 10 Crimson Paladin! Fair word of advice for the ermm.. slow.. You have 2 skill points unallocated, as well as 20 stat points. I'm surprised you lived this long. Again not trying to to intervene but for fucks sake when you see a retarded cat, don't you just wanna help it?