“Ellie, Ellie? Can you hear me?” I said. I followed what she said to be able to contact her if I was in the game. She gave me instructions on what to do and after some trouble, I was able to add her as a friend. I wasn’t really any good with these games.

“You don’t need to shout, Eclairs,” Ellie replied in my head. “Just relax. You’re shouting a bit. I’m glad that you’re in the game now. I was thinking that you gave up after making an account because you thought this was childish.”

“Sorry, I’m just a bit apprehensive because this is my first time in a VR game. I messed up a bit when searching for you in the player list.”

“Seriously? What have you been doing with your VR gear?”

“Virtual Learning. You know, responsible adult stuff. And I have played some games, I mean, those virtual farming and games like that just to pass time. This is my first time where everything is so real.” I looked at her own hands and then touched her face. I couldn’t believe that I was actually feeling the sensation of my own skin. In most virtual games, you could still obviously say that you were in a game.

But this? This felt like I was in a dream. Even the best environ-surround movies couldn’t compete with this. I inhaled deeply. The air went into my nose and filled my lungs. Other virtual games don’t give you that level of realism.

Some level of realism. Having a big blue and gold genie alien slash godlike being in front of me certainly wasn’t realistic. Dalkanus was it? I think that was its name.

“Virtual farming?” Ellie let out a snort. “Do you also have a virtual restaurant and a virtual zoo?”

“Just help me here already. Don’t mind my virtual farming skills.”

“I’ll make a true gamer out of you yet,” Ellie said. “So where are you now?”

“The Dalkanus has brought me to some floating island. Now I’m following it inside.”

“That’s good. You’re going to pick your character next.”

“Ellie, you’re sure this is the game Nornyr?” I gazed up the ceiling and saw pathways of light and pulses of energy passing through them. The walls were chrome accented by blue crystals jutting out here and there. Small electrical sparks traveled across the blue crystals. “This all looks like a science, technology game. Robots and stuff? Isn't Nornyr a fantasy game? I saw it on the posters.”

“Nah, you’re in the right place,” Ellie said. “Haven’t you been paying attention to what the Dalkanus said? You’re in their game world. So, you’re playing a game in game.”

I stopped walking because the giant blue person in front of me stopped. Its featureless face looked back at me. Behind this door, you will be given the opportunity which body you will assume during your second life that we will grant you.

The shiny door opened and I followed the Dalkanus inside.

Behold, our creations for your perusal.

I gasped as I entered a hollow lofty tower. “This is so amazing,” I whispered.

Apparently, Ellie could hear me because she said, “I know, right? I was so astonished when I entered that place."

All the tiers were filled with glass containers. Each container holds an oddity, each more interesting than the last. The lowest tier contained giants. Mysterious pillars that gazed down on her. Although there were three of them whose containers were frosted.

After you choose, you can still change your choice. But only once. We recognize that humans are a fickle race who have trouble making up their minds.

“You got that right, big blue golden guy,” I muttered. So how do I go up? I wanted to see more of the choices above. No way was I going to choose a giant. “What? Huh, I’m starting to float.” I flapped my hands, making me go higher. Or was this thought-controlled?

Fly over there. My body lazily floated over to the second tier. It worked!

“Mr. Dalkanus, where are the humans?”

The Dalkanus pointed and a glass container above glowed bright blue.

“No, no, no,” Ellie exclaimed in my head. “You’re not going to choose a human. There are so many people who choose humans.”

“Are humans weak?”

“Nope. They have the biggest kingdoms and they trade with all sorts of races. The problem I have with people choosing humans is that after leveling up, they go turn themselves into zombies, or get bitten by a werewolf, or a vampire.” Ellie sighed. “Why modify your race? I’m of the purist view. Choose one and stick with it till the end. Might as well have gone for a pureblood werewolf if that’s the case.”

“Well, people want familiarity,” I reasoned. “Like me. I have no idea what to do here so might as well go human.”

“That’s what most people think,” Ellie said. “But unless you start in a small village in the outskirts of a kingdom, you’ll find that gameplay is more complicated for a human than…I dunno, a golem in the middle of the forest.”

“So, what am I going to do here?”

“Choose what you want. You can also ask that blue guy for help,” Ellie said. “I’ll just be here. Keep the line open.”

I spent about twenty minutes floating from container to container, reading their descriptions. There were familiar creatures, like dwarves, and creatures that I haven’t heard anything about; perhaps they were created by the makers of the game.

Each of them had interesting stories. I actually forgot I was supposed to choose because I was carried away by all the interesting lore. You cannot simply choose a dwarf. Their kingdom, starting city, and all that would have to be chosen as well. There were only few creatures where you have only one choice as your starting point.

“Eclairs, you done yet?”

“Oh, my gosh. I’m so sorry,” I said. “I really can’t make up my mind. Am I taking much of your time? You can go kill a monster for now.” I really planned to read all the lore. I was a fan of the fantasy genre but I was also behind in my fantasy reading list due to all the Virtual Learning courses I was taking. Thankfully, a couple of my courses ended and another one was about to end so instead of taking up more courses, I chose to play Nornyr, just to see what everyone was talking about.

Even my boss was playing it. If this game got that asshole to play, then it should be really interesting.

“I have time to spare. I’m leveling up my musical skills. I’m a bard you see.”

“Oh,” was all that I managed to say. “I’ll continue choosing then.” I said, eager to read more stories.

After another twenty minutes, Ellie said, “Eclairs, I’ve wanted to ask you yesterday, but then decided against it because it would seem like too much prying.” Ellie then paused. I could hear her take a deep breath. She continued, “But I’m your friend, so it’s my business to pry.”

I laughed. “Just ask away. It’s not like I have secrets to keep from you.”

“When we met for lunch yesterday, I couldn’t help but notice, because I’m a person who notices everything, that you have a stuffed toy sticking out of your handbag. Who gave you that adorable stuffed toy yesterday? What that a dolphin? A dolphin stuffed toy is so cute. You should tell me who gave you that.”

I rolled my eyes and willed myself to float higher, looking at more specimens. How should I answer this one? This was bound to get complicated. I sighed.

“No secrets, remember?” Ellie said.

“Could you just help me in picking my character?”

“Don’t change the topic.”

I groaned. “It was my boss, but—” Ellie was already squealing on the other end. “But, that wasn’t a gift or anything like you’re thinking.”

“Herald Stone, right? I think I saw him once on the news. He has a foundation that gives out scholarships, right? They said he’s a philanthropist and never refuses to help anyone. And he looks humble and nice, for a lawyer. Not that I have anything against lawyers. It’s just that most guys I know who are lawyers look cocky. Really annoying.”

If you’re annoyed with cockiness, then you’ll vomit if you know who my boss really is. I didn’t say that out loud, of course. Instead, I said, “Yes, he is a nice person.” Vomit. “But, as I’ve said, he didn’t give it to me as a gift.”

“Riiiight.”

“I’m serious. My boss can be pretty spontaneous. He was playing a claw machine yesterday because he said he had the urge to and then won the dolphin. He gave it to me because he likes to keep his apartment empty.” A clear sign of a sociopath.

“That’s just an excuse.”

“Ugh, that’s the truth.” Most people would also think that it was only an excuse. And wasn’t it cute for a guy to get you a stuffed toy from the claw machine? So romantic. Unfortunately, the more plausible case here was that Herald just played the claw machine on impulse and did not want the dolphin. “Anyway, I’m going to pick a character.” Hopefully, Ellie moved on. I would have to read all the other stories on the internet. I hope they have it on their game site.

“Fine, fine. You want the topic dropped? It’s dropped. What character are you looking for anyway?”

“I really don’t know. There are so many choices. What race are you?”

“I’m a Danube. A blue humanoid with very long limbs. We also have natural organic frills down our back. An exotic fantasy creature look. I really liked it. Plus, they had access to a musical class. You want this one as well?”

“Hmmm. I’m not sure. It is good to be a Danube like you so that you can help me. I doubt that Amanda would help me since she’s playing elf house with her boyfriend.”

“Amanda rarely plays,” Ellie said. “You can also pick something near to my location if you don’t want a Danube. I’m at the city near North Horn Coast.”

I turned to the Dalkanus. All this time, it just floated in the middle of the tower. “Excuse me, Mr. Dalkanus. Can you point me to the races who start somewhere near North Horn Coast?” With a wave of his hand, a few containers lit up. “Thank you very much.”

I floated to each vat and read about them.

My lips curled into a smile. “I made my choice,” I said to the Dalkanus, my voice slightly quivering with excitement. Perhaps it’s the inner mythology nerd in me that was awakened once again. When I was in high school, I would join book clubs, not just the one in my school. I would devour books about mythology and fantasy. Playing as one of the characters I read about was enthralling.

Would you like to overlay your facial features onto your character?

I stopped to think. Would Herald recognize me if he saw me? I think he would. I don’t want to change my face because I wanted to give my character a sense of ownership and individuality connected to me. “Ellie, we can wear helmets, right?”

“Uh, yes. Yup, we can.”

“I’ll keep my own face, Mr. Dalkanus. Uh...but can I change my hair color?” A palette opened up before me and I chose a sparkling blue to go with the creature I chose. I also made my hair grow very long. I just wanted to immerse in the experience of my choice.

Please type your desired name.

I crossed my fingers in one hand as I typed with the other. I hoped that no one has chosen this name yet. “Thessalonike…did I get the spelling right? The immortal sister of Alexander the Great.” I entered the name. “Yes, no one chose the name yet!” When I think about it, the possibility that someone else chose that name was low.

“You already chose your race?” Ellie said. “What did you choose?”

“You’ll see. I’ll meet you at North Horn Coast. If I figure out how to get there.”