"Bolt." Nathan's wand shoots forth another ray. He eliminates the hog.

I'm shaking, as if I could've been severely injured by a monster in a game. "Oh my gosh," I say. "I'm so sorry. I was about to use play but I froze up all of a sudden."

Nathan's all smiles. "No worries. You're still getting used to your abilities."

"Right," I say. I'm so immensely grateful that he's here to protect me. "I have other abilities too. I should use them."

"Good idea." Nathan taps the ground with his staff, and I'm still bewitched by the jewel on top. "You'll get three more skills with your second advancement. And then two more when you reach level fifty. Once you reach level seventy, you'll get your ultimate skill. They're the strongest in the game."

I turn to him with wide eyes. "You mean you already have your ultimate skill? You should show me!"

Nathan's eyes dance. "Really? It would take all my mana to use, but impressing you sounds like a good tradeoff."

I feel like my head is spinning. Why does it seem like he's flirting? I shake my head and remind myself that he's probably this charming to everyone he meets. I'm nothing special to him. It was probably Aileen who sparked his interest at first....

"I'd love to see it," I say.

Nathan nods, his lips upturning to a dangerous grin. "Let's go to a place where there are more hogs."

I follow him, hiking through the rocks, mud, and clay to reach a clearing where more than ten hogs gather in a pack. They sniff each other, lounging about, totally unaware of the destruction that's about to come. Nathan doesn't give them a chance to move. Once the hogs take notice of him, he already declares his ultimate ability.

"Erupt."

The whole world seems to change when he says the word. The sky swirls above us, the clouds gathering above Nathan's upright staff. The air feels heavier somehow, and heat emits from Nathan's body. It feels like direct sunlight but multiplied by two. When Nathan points his weapon toward the hogs, I prepare myself for a blinding display.

It's more spectacular than I could've ever imagined. Suddenly, the ground beneath the hogs shakes as a dome of blue energy explodes where Nathan points. The range of energy must encompass the size of a basketball court. The sound, like a blast of thunder, commands me in place. Nathan immediately destroys the hogs. They're overcome by the blue light without any time to react. They squeal and fall over, succumbing to the mage's most fearsome ability.

20 exp gained from your ally!

"Oh my goodness." I can't even move. What if it was me who was caught in the explosion? I can't imagine dueling against a mage of Nathan's caliber. "That was like the climatic scene of a movie."

Nathan chuckles. He leans back and uses his staff to remain standing. "That took like, all of my energy. I feel drained now."

"That's funny," I say, still in awe of what I just witnessed. "It's kind of crazy how a game can take away your energy."

"That's the VRS for you," Nathan says. "Tricking our brain since the twenty-second century."

I breathe through gritted teeth. "I would hate to duel a player like you. I'd be completely obliterated."

Nathan shakes his head. "You know, there aren't that many high-level bards. I bet if you caught up to me, you could be a challenge. Bards have the element of surprise right now. They're kind of a wildcard. I'm actually glad to have you in the guild. I don't think any guild is complete without having all the classes."

Nathan has a way of making me feel flattered without trying. I admire his toothy grin, how he tilts his jaw slightly upward when he feels pleased with himself. I look into his brown eyes and am about to thank him for appreciating me. I open my mouth to speak.

A wild force slams into my back. I gasp and go flying. I hit the ground hard, all the air knocked out of my lungs.

"Bolt!"

The hog which slammed into me gets what it deserves, turning to dust in the air.

"Are you okay, Josiah?"

Nathan's words sound like they're coming from a world away. I struggle to catch my breath. It feels like I just got knocked with a plank of wood. It's not exactly real pain, more like discomfort like Aileen described. Still, it's shocking to experience for the first time.

I stand up, my vision spinning. "I'm okay... I think."

"Sorry," Nathan says, looking sheepish. "I told you I'd protect you. I didn't see that hog coming."

I shake my head. "No worries. I should've known and been more aware."

Nathan smiles. "That's enough training for today. Let's go back to town and get a drink?"

"Sure."

Nathan and I opt for walking this time, since Star Town is pretty closeby. On the way there, I play my harp several more times as hogs cross our paths. Nathan helps me finish them off, and I gain more experience.

Level 8 reached!

I'm beginning to feel a bit more accomplished. Level 8—pretty good for my second day of playing. I'm hanging out with a handsome and kind guy, and I'm in one of the most powerful guilds in the game. This is a sort of winning streak I'm not used to. Usually, I'm average in class and mostly forgettable. The only person who cares to talk to me in school is Aileen, and I'm used to sitting on the sidelines. This time, I feel like I can make an actual impact in this world.

Maybe Aileen was onto something. Starlia can really change things for us.

Star Town teems with more activity than ever. With the sun beginning to set, most players are lounging about in their cliques and heading to the bars and restaurants. I enter a cafe with Nathan, aware of how heads turn when he steps into the room. An NPC, a lady with curly brunette hair and a healthy tan, runs the cafe. She hands out drinks after making them with the espresso machine, looking determined to keep up with the demanding pace.

"Welcome!" she sings out.

I find a seat next to the window. All varieties of people pack the place, and the smell of coffee mixes with the unending conversation, making me feel more alive. This seems like a perfect hub for gossip and venting about one's day. The cafe's cozy, with tan paint along the walls and various paintings related to coffee—everything from espresso beans to vintage cups. Succulents rest in tiny pots on each table, and the atmosphere feels simultaneously antique yet clean.

Nathan tells me to sit. "I'll get our drinks. What do you want?"

"An iced Americano please." Then, I remember my commitment not to be a freeloader. "Wait. It must cost gold. How am I going to pay you back?"

"Don't worry about it," Nathan says. He goes to stand in line.

I sit, unable to hold back my smile. Who knew playing a game like this could be so fulfilling? Before, MMORPGs in the VRS felt stifling and made me dizzy with the unpolished graphics. Starlia makes me feel like anything is possible. I could forget about the terrors of the world for just a few precious hours.

"Who are you?"

I'm knocked out of my reverie.

A boy with dirty blonde hair, green eyes, and a scowl looks toward me like I'm in need of explaining myself. His name hovers above his head. Cody. I notice the M on top of his name, the same emblem as mine and Nathan's.

"My name's Josiah," I say, a bit stunned at being approached so suddenly.

The scowl doesn't move off his face. "I can see your name. What I'm asking is what you're doing in Mysteriously."

I notice his outfit, a white robe decorated with gold across its hem. His level hovers next to his name. Priest. Level 75. "Um...." I've never been so lost for words. I feel like I'm about to be punched. Or at least publicly humiliated. Already, heads turn in our direction. Cody looks like someone with a high status in the game, and people will be interested in the subject of his irritation.

"You're a level eight bard." He says my class name like it's bitter on his tongue. "For God's sake. When did Nathan become so soft?"

I feel like I'm dirty, like there's a spot on my forehead I'm unable to smudge off. Is something wrong with me? Bully. The word carries a lot of weight for me, for venomous attacks that left me empty. I don't want to be reminded of my bullies.

"I don't mean to offend you," I say, cringing at my own words. "But I won a duel against Olivia, and—"

"Oh my goodness," Cody smacks his forehead. "Don't make it seem like you won an actual fight with Olivia. You must've cheated or something."

My blood boils, with frustration and embarrassment. I want to defend myself. I want to say that my skin has grown thicker in the past few years. But I just sit without anything to say. It feels like I'm the kid being confronted by the king of the schoolyard. I feel helpless.

"What do you think you're doing?" Nathan's voice echoes out and saves me. He sets an iced latte and iced Americano on our table. "Cody?"

"Nathan," Cody says, with an inappropriate amount of vitriol. "What do you think you're doing inviting this newb into our guild?"

I straighten my back, wanting to gain the courage to defend myself. But I don't have to speak. Nathan comes to my rescue.

"He won a duel fair and square," Nathan says. "If you want to be the leader of this guild and make decisions about who to invite, then you can duel me in the city square."

The whole room seems to take a collective breath. Cody sighs. "Whatever. If you want our guild reputation to go down the drain, that's your choice."

An unnatural amount of courage surges through my brain. "I'll prove it to you."

Cody looks at me like I spat on his shoe. "Huh?"

"I'll defeat a boss of your choice by next Sunday." I don't know where I get this idea. It seems like I grabbed it out of thin air.

Cody laughs, clutching his stomach. "Okay. If you can defeat the hog king by next week, you'll get my full support. I highly doubt a bard like you can do it, though."

"Ooh," someone mumbles from the back of the cafe.

Nathan places a hand on Cody's chest, pushing him back slightly. "Josiah, don't feel like you need to prove yourself to this guy. He's just our general—he ranks lower than Mags."

"No." I stand up, trying my best not to tremble. "Deal. By next week, I'll defeat the hog king in front of you."

Cody grins, showing his sharp incisors. "It'll be my pleasure to see it." Then, he leaves the cafe in a rush. The door slams behind him. It takes a while, but the cafe slowly turns back to normal conversation. Attention shifts away from me. But Nathan still studies me with concern slashed across his brow.

Me. Against the hog king? What have I done?

Do you think Josiah has what it takes to defeat the hog king?

I was wondering if any of you are working on a novel or project? I'm having a lot of fun with a new idea. And I think I may actually be on track for finishing it by the end of the month!