So I was looking at my views and something suspicious showed up. Chapter 4 has 338 views. Chapter 2 and 3 have 325 and 304 respectively. Hmm, very suspicious.

Enjoy!

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The daylight and alarm woke Plat from his slumber. Checking the time, his eye widened as he jumper from bed and rushed to get himself ready for school. Once his hair was combed and his uniform was on, he rushed out the door and out to the dorm. There, he joined the flow of students heading off to their respective classes at the academy.

As usual, Plat walked by himself to school, his posture hunched slightly as well. He did his best to hide his wandering eyes that beheld the feast of beautiful girls and their parts as they walked to school.

"Thank you to the god who made summer." He prayed silently to himself, taking in the short skirts and visible bra straps. He quickly averted his eyes whenever the boy groups approached him, careful to avoid drawing their attention.

During his fourth dodge, he saw Sarah and her group of friends walking together. They were talking and laughing together, her hair wisping in the breeze and her eyes shining with happiness.

He sighed, and felt an arm reach around him.

"Well well, if it isn't my favorite geek Plat."

Plat rolled his eyes at the voice, "Come on Hank, you know I'm not high in the Mind faction- those words could get both of us in trouble."

Plat's best friend Hank Shad grinned widely at him. Hank specialized in the Body faction, but was low on the ranking score- though not as low as Plat. He stood at 5-10 and 190 pounds, a little chubby and a little muscle mixed together. His short black hair branched off his head in every direction like a black pom pom and his dark skin allowed him to blend in to the shadows whenever he wished. It wasn't a skin thing, Hank actually could make himself blend in to darkness. It was like Sarah's neon glowing eyes, one of the little quirks humans had picker up from the fallout. There were other abilities out there, but all of them were cosmetic. Any quirk that affected the body or mind actually resulted in the human dying during puberty due to the immense strain caused by the two mixing.

"Come on man, I know you have some intelligence in that little brain of yours. Cause I know you are smart enough to not stare at Sarah in broad daylight, that kind of crap will land you in a heap of trouble with her admirers."

"Eh? You noticed that?"

"Yeah, and if a bonehead like me noticed, you can bet your ass that someone else did too."

Plat groaned. He really did not feel like getting beat up today, though in all honesty he never felt like getting beaten on in the first place. Still, he expected that when school ended, someone would be waiting at the entrance to talk to him.

The academy building stood in the middle of the campus. It was divided equally into three sections for each age group, with facilities for each of them. The only thing connecting the sections was the large auditorium that could fit the entire student population. It was typically used only new year and end year speeches, though the drama and music departments sometimes used it for concerts. The only thing that dominated the academy in the campus was the large government building that stood behind the school and stretched a little over it. The idea was that the leadership of the cities would be able and see the new generation everytime they were deciding something.

Plat entered the oldest group section with Hank as they headed off to their homeroom class. He entered the room and sat in his normal seat in the back, Hank depositing himself beside him. Sarah was sitting in the front of the room with her friends, laughing at something one of them said. Plat just closed his eye and rested on his desk, eager for the day to be over.

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Lunch time came quickly as the bell rang, prompting a large exodus of students to the lunch room. Plat moved with them, eager to quell the hungering noises hie stomach was making. After getting his cafeteria food, he sat down at his usual table with Hank. Two other students sat down with them.

The first one was a short, but cute blond girl with glasses and a miniskirt. Her name was Reva and she had been one of Plat's friends since entering the older section. Similar to Hank, she wasn't the top of the mind faction but still had a better ranking then Plat. Her quirk was one of the rare physical quirks, her eyesight changed randomly. Her glasses were designed to automatically adjust to her changing vision- so she was one of the very few who actually needed glasses in the school.

The second was a tall boy who called himself Dia, short for Diamond. His real name was Coal, and he was a body and soul student. His arrogance and habit of questioning authority made him confrontational to the teachers, but he himself was a loyal friend who tried his hardest to help out. He didn't have a quirk, but his mind ran a little slow at times so the other three often tutored him.

"Yo Reva, Dia! How's it hanging?" Hank greeted.

"Quite wonderful, thank you for asking." Reva said with a smile.

"I am good!" Dia boomed, a grin on his face.

"First order of business, what'cha guys choose to be in Everlife?"-Hank

"I decided on being an elf, their forest cities are amazing and they have so many books on magic! I already accepted a mage apprentice postion, so I can't wait to reach level 5 to start learning more magic." Reva cooed excitedly.

"I became an ork!" Dia declared haughtily, "I get to smash stuff all day with my club."

"Cool, I became a human. I'm working in the capital as a squire, the training is realistic and harsh, but I expect to be a knight in at most a week." Hank boasted. "How about you Plat?"

"Human too, but I'm in Rostwood. I haven't decided yet on a class, but that should change later today once I get back in the game."

"Sweet, with both of us being human we'll be able to see each other soon! Too bad you too, we can't leave our race controlled areas, plus if war breaks out we'll have to fight you."

Dia grinned, "I smash you good." he said in his best ork accent, which sounded natural coming from him.

The next 5 minutes of lunch was spent having at Dia, who had to take a minute to realize they were laughing at him.

"Not cool guys, not cool." He said with an annoyed tone.

Recovering slowly, Reva spoke up, "Heh, cough, did you guys here about Mr. Sullivan?"

Plat looked over his drinking straw from his milk, "No, what happened?"

Reva glowed with excitment, "He proposed to his girlfriend and she said yes!"

Hank spat out his soda in shock, "Cough, cough, but isn't she an android? How does that work?"

Reva glowered at him, "Trust Hank Shad to not have a romantic bone in his body. You think with your little head more than the idiot one on your neck."

Hank shrugged, "It leads me to interesting places. Anyway, are you sure about that information? Not just a rumor is it?"

She shook her head, "Nope, the picture of him holding the ring is posted all over the intranet. Lots of girls are commenting on how romantic it is."

Plat raised an eyebrow, "But she's an android right? Can they get married?" Seeing Reva turn an angry look toward him, he quickly continues, "I mean, it's great that they love each other but hes a "fleshy" and she's a "comp", do the two groups have any legal precedent for this."

Softening, slightly, Reva lectures, "There have been a few cases like this over the years since the A.I. council came into agreement with the human council. Android bodies are a limited resource, an as you know an android can leave his/her body and become an A.I., but an A.I. can never be an android, just housed in an android body. If the couple involves an android, then they can marry under the human control, but if it's an A.I., they marry under the A.I. control. Which basically means that's who they answer to legally. Also, if a human marries an A.I., they are obligated to spend as much time on the cybernet as possible. Some humans have just uploaded their minds and buried their bodies to be with their spouses."

Dia spoke up, "Do they last, the marriages?"

Reva shrugged, "Most do, A.I.'s don't have a setting for divorce, so if the human marries it's for life, same with androids. There are rumors that the A.I.'s take "til death do us part" pretty seriously."

All four shuddered. As close as A.I.'s were to humans, everyone knew that they were not, and should never be expected to act like humans.

The bell rang, signalling the end of lunch. The four said their goodbyes, promising to friend each other in the game, before returning to class.

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Sure as Hank had warned, a few body boys were waiting for Plat at the end of school. They didn't beat him up too bad, in fact their leader was somewhat cordial as ha apologized while kicking Plat's ass. He said that it was standard to beat up a weaker man vying for the target of affection of a man's love. When Plat asked him why he was being so nice (yet mean), he said that he was trying to raise his soul rank.

"Stereo types really are worthless in this world." Plat muttered as he moved into his dorm, "At least he didn't leave as many bruises as he could have."

He checked his messages on his transphone. Hank, Reva, and Dia had sent him their player names: SirHero, SilviaHeart, and EyeCU. Chuckling at the names, Plat sent his to them. Two messages left, one from Keith and one from Sarah.

Keith's read: "Heyy boyyo, come in as soon as possible, I need some lazing time and I can't without you here." Plat deleted the message immediately.

Seeing a message from Sarah excited Plat, even if it was probably another maintenance run. When he opened it, he found a nice message from her thanking him for his help and giving her player name to him. She was "GildraFrost" and she was a frost elf. She also asked who he was in the game. Feeling cautious, Plat responded that he was a human and, feeling a bit silly, said that he had no name worthy of her yet. Feeling stupid, he hit send instead of delete.

The blood draining out of his face, he hurriedly sent another message that told her auto correct had activated, and threw himself into the game so he would forget the entire situation.

-{Enter the Game}-

Steel opened his eyes in the game. He was back in the church, where he had left before. Gazing around, he looked up at the statues that dominated the central room, taking the time to admire each one. Thinking about his earlier foolish mistake, he knelt down and offered up a quick prayer to the gods.

"Please watch over me as I make a fool of myself in front of the one I love." he muttered.

Skill activated: InstinctYou feel eyes on you. Be careful what you do next.

Suddenly nervous, Steel looked around the room. His eye didn't reveal anyone, but the notice box wasn't leaving and he didn't see a button to close it. Swallowing, he continued his prayer.

"Ahem, I don't know if it's love or a mere crush, but have feelings for one who is considered above my station. I wish to become worthy of her affections someday, so please, help me fight for her." He paused, waiting for something to happen. When nothing did, he muttered to himself, "This feels silly, no one cares what I think anyway."

As he got up to leave, the notice was replaced with a new blue box:

Status updateYou have offered a honest prayer to the gods that has touched a heart. You have gained +10 faith and the blessing of an unknown god.

"Eh? A blessing?" he wondered. He brought up the blessing description:

Blessing of (?????)

An unknown god or goddess has blessed you for a reason known only to him or her. The effects of this blessing are unknown at this time. Be sure to pray once a day to keep this blessing, otherwise risk losing it and being afflicted by a curse.

"So Petty!" Steel cried out in his mind. A blessing that didn't do anything and required everyday prayers otherwise he'd get a curse? It was already an ill omen!

Steel left the temple on swift legs, least he be afflicted by another unwanted status condition.

He made his way back the streets crowded with players. Excited players moved in and out of stalls and buildings, eagerly performing simple quests for money and buying items from beginner stores. Steel's stomach growled

Status updateYou are hungry. -50% regen to all stats unless you eat. Will worsen over time.

Steel pulled out a piece of bread and munched on it. Taste existed in VR, but bread was bread no matter what world a person was in. Resolving to earn money for better food soon, Steel asked a paroling guard where the adventurer's guild was. The guard happily pointed the directions out to Steel, thanks to the higher relation he enjoyed with the guard.

The Adventurer's Guild sat on one of the main streets in the city, looking like a mix of a tavern and inn. When Steel went in, he was greeted with a cacophony of noise. Tables lined the floor filed with laughing, talking, and drinking men and women. An entire side of the guild seemed to be a bar and kitchen, with flogs of ale and plates of food coming too and from. Serving wenches and wretches moved gracefully through the tables, gliding with their charges as they dodged groping hands. One particularly saucy looking girl was in the process of breaking a man's arm, his companions laughing as he cried out for mercy. Spying Steel, she released the man and strutted over to him, her impressive bosom attracting his immediate gaze.

"Welcome stranger to the Adventurer Guild." She said, a friendly smile on her face, "You call me Mema, and run this here tavern."

"Is the tavern not part of the guild?" Steel asked, a little confused.

She shook her head, "No, I own the building and let them rent out part of it for their purposes. The inn and food are all my responsibility, and all they have to do is pay the rent on time."

She looked him up and down, "I see your a new traveler, come back once you a class and they will set you up with some jobs."

As she turned to walk away, Steel hurriedly said, "Wait, I was instructed to visit here once I traveled to places to learn about professions, this is the only way they will let me leave the city to test my strength."

Mema turned back, raising an eyebrow, "Huh, so you actually went to the gate first." She muttered to herself, her eyes drifting to an unseen thing behind Steel.

"Eh, how did you know?" he asked in surprise.

Mema snorted, "Fools who travel to the gate before the're ready are always given the same directions as you have. You're the first traveler I've seen to have done this though."

She straightened up and looked him square in the eye. "Okay, I'll give you a recommendation, just head up the stairs and head into the first room." She jerked her finger behind her, pointing out stairs to the second floor. "I'll meet you in there in a little while."

He nodded, and she left in a whirl of her skirt. He heeded her order and walked up the stairs, dodging a drunk who was promising one of the wenches his eternal love for another round.

The first room had a sign on it that read "Owner use only". He opened the door and found a small room with two chairs and a small table in the middle. A few portraits lined the wall across from a window, and a night table held a vase of flowers. He sat himself down in one of the chairs.

A few minutes later, Mema entered the room. Steel got a better look at her. While is initial impression of her was one of youth, he could see in the better light a scar that ran from her forehead over her right eye and down to her mouth. Small, imperceptible wrinkles lined her eyes and smile, giving off an aura of experience. She frowned at him.

"Wrong seat boy, switch." She barked, her voice very different from the one downstairs. He jumped at her command, sitting himself in the other seat. Taking her form in, he felt like there was something fundamentally different about her.

She noticed his staring, "What is it boy, speak!" She barked at him.

He jumped. "Uhh, ma'am, forgive me, but are you the same person I spoke to downstairs?"

She stared at him, then laughed, "Ha ha ha, good boy, it's good to ask when something seems off. That will keep you alive in the world." She sat down in front of him, "No, who you met was my twin sister Mema, she runs the tavern. I am Madam Mistress, the leader of the Adventurer's Guild in Rostwood."

"That name.." Steel muttered. A hand whacked him over the head.

"That's not my real name boy, but best take care to call me that now." She said matter of factly as he rubbed his head, "Now, lets get a good look at you."

Her scarred eye began to give off a soft glow as she carefully studied Plat's form. She took his handshake, asked his measurements (provided thankfully by the system), and analyzed his siting posture.

"Do I need to let you see my status screen?" he asked conservatively.

"No need, I can see it myself with this eye of mine." She stated as she looked him up and down. He wisely didn't say anything.

She finished up quickly, "Well boy, do you wish to hear my recommendation?" He nodded eagerly.

She paused a moment, frowned, and spoke again, "I'm not sure."

"Eh?"