He could see a big clearing which was beneath the mountain that turned out to be part of a mountain chain. The clearing was surrounded from nearly all sides and a few small streams flowed from the mountain to its bottom where it formed a small lake. He looked at everything with awe and an absent minded smile formed on his lips.

"Beautiful..."

A stream came down from a location that should be close so he decided to head to it. He just started walking but then something black flashed in the corner of his eye. Blake immediately jumped away and carefully watched what it was.

It turned out to be Rose who just appeared next to him. Blake breathed out in relief.

"Ah good it's just you. I got too jumpy, even your hair scared me..."

Rose titled her head quizzically and responded.

"My hair? Well it doesn't matter, I just blinked after checking something so it is only natural for you to be stratled."

She noticed in surprise that he was planning to head somewhere.

"Huh, already found something interesting that you wanna see? I thought you'd be in awe for a bit longer."

He smiled slightly and scratched the back of his head, glancing at the clearing.

"Well it's true that everything is very beautiful, but the first bombastic cutscene prepared me well. This time I came in expecting something damn close to reality, not just a game."

Rose beckoned him to continue.

"I see, but where are you heading?"

He pointed to the general direction of his goal.

"I think a stream is passing somewhere close to here. I want to see it and experience how drinking feels like. I'll see after that where to go next."

Rose shook her head displeasedly.

"Experience drinking water? You can do that later on when I leave you alone. Now we'll continue with the running start that I mentioned earlier."

Blake tilted his head.

"And just what would that exactly be?"

Rose looked around herself while replying.

"Hmm, well you will see. Just keep in mind that for the guest edition everything should be more or less intuitive. Do what feels right and do it quickly."

She stopped looking around and stared in one direction for a second after which she excitedly spoke up.

"Ah! There it is, I started wondering already if the net info was false."

Blake turned to the direction she faced, seeing nothing but pines.

"What do you..?"

He froze after noticing a huge shadow among the trees, swiftly approaching them. Cold sweat started appearing on his back while Rose was very chipper and talked to him.

"They really are trying to show the most exciting sides to make players buy the game. Just don't forget the two things I told you Blake!”

He looked at her with some confusion.

"That everything is intuitive..?"

She smiled at him wolfishly.

"And that you need to be fast, that part is quite important."

And with that Rose vanished in front of Blake's eyes. He continued watching the spot she disappeared from with a blank look.

(...I'll get her for this...)

GROOOOAAAAAAAAA

A deep, loud roar came from the direction where he previously saw the huge shadow. He turned again towards it only to see a humongous bear appear which was at least twice or trice the size of normal bears. Its fur was orange and brown with a kind of light armor protecting it on some spots. The armor seemed to be made from cloth and wood. Blake had little time to notice anything else because it was approaching him quite fast and the roars shook him up badly.

He then forced himself to calm down.

(This is nothing in comparison to the dragon! Uh... intuitive and fast, right? )

He swung his arms desperately and made a sweeping motion with his hand towards to bear as if to smack it away from a distance. Suddenly white light enveloped his hand and the earth he passed in that swift motion turned into solid ice. He just missed the bear despite them being just a few meters apart but the bear's charge was still interrupted and it crashed into a nearby pine tree.

Blake's heart was beating wildly and he examined his hand which now looked perfectly normal again.

GOOOOO

The bear recovered meanwhile and charged again towards Blake. It was quite close so it needed just a second or two to get into swiping range.

"NO!"

Blake panicked and threw his hands tensely up into the air out of reflex.

KSHHH

Thick pillars of earth appeared in front of the bear and it crashed into them with full force. The pillars immediately crumbled and covered the bear with earth and rocks.

Blake watched the pile of earth with big eyes and muttered.

"Isn't this a bit broken?"

"Not really."

Blake jumped away only to find Rose next to him who warped in again apparently. He looked at her with a puzzled look.

"I didn't do anything yet I have these amazing spells. How do you mean the game isn't broken?"

Rose smiled and replied immediately.

"This isn't the actual game, it's the guest edition. Its purpose is to make people see the best sides of the game and make them want it."

"Ahhh..."

Blake seemed to realise, but Rose just continued.

"And therefore you get some advanced spells with a more simplified casting way so you can do it intuitively. Also, this area is full of really tough monsters. That way you get to see what you can look forward to in a few weeks, if you buy the game. Strong spells and stronger enemies is a good recipe for exhilaration, don't you think?"

Blake nodded but didn't look convinced.

"Um, I agree, but you said tough enemies, right? This one went down after two spells."

Rose looked at him with a deadpan look.

"Did it?"

A mischievous smile bloomed on her face.

"Because from where I am standing it only seems like you immobilized it."

Blakes turned with eyes wide open and saw the rubble moving beneath which the bear was buried. It emerged from underneath it in seconds.

GROOOOAAAAA

"Have fun."

Having said these words Rose disappeared again.

Blake immediately started running away from the bear which nearly recovered. His face was pale and fear clouded his mind.

(I need to calm down! So, intuitive movements.)

He took a breath and turned towards the bear with his hands stretched out. His hands were open but the muscles were all cramped up as if he was trying to crush something invisible in his palms. Blood vessels momentarily started popping up and his face went red from strain.

The bear's charge slowed down parallel to that as if it was being progressively tied to the ground.

He then started moving his arms with all the strength he could muster and threw them to his side without relaxing them.

The bear's charge immediately continued but the trajectory changed ever so slightly.

Because of Blake's magic it dashed even faster but it headed straight towards a tree that was next to him. The beast noticed that its legs were no longer responding correctly but it was already too late and it only slowed down slightly because of its struggling.

Blake smiled with confidence as he saw his plan succeed and swung with his flat hand in the direction of the tree. White light flashed and a part of the tree trunk was left frozen.

KRHHHH

The bear flew head on into the frozen tree trunk which shattered from the force and the tree fell on it.

Blake rubbed his fingers and breathed out in relief. His facial expression immediately froze as he noticed that the tree that fell on the bear was shaking.

(This might take some time...)

****

Rose and Blake were back into the void-like space from before the game. This time it wasn't darkness that surrounded them, but a calming green endless expanse.

The two of them were the only ones there and Rose had some sort of big window open next to her and used it as a sort of black board while Blake listened carefully and occasionally nodded.

"... and those would be the basics of actual abilities and leveling. Did you understand everything? Want me to go more in depth about some topic?"

Blake stood silently for a few seconds and thought about the offer when he finally shook his head.

"I do understand everything but I think we shouldn't go more in depth for now."

Rose also nodded but Blake noticed a glimmer of disappointment in her eyes for a second.

"I see. Well I agree that we covered all the basics so you can jump in and play immediately without bothering to learn the commands and systems."

His expression suddenly changed and pure impatience welled up.

"Thanks for everything Rose. So, can I finally play now?"

"Time!"

A window appeared in front of Rose which she closed after a second.

"Yeah, sure. I need to go now either way, I'm going out with friends."

Blake's brow rose slightly.

"You are? I missed that, with whom?

Rose just casually waved her hand.

"Just with the usual girls."

He nodded.

"Ahh I see. So the ones I saw when we met in the shopping centre last time?"

Rose nodded but rolled her eyes at his statement.

"Yes, those ones minus Emily's older sister. She was the one you nearly ate up with your eyes, by the way."

Blake put a gravely insulted expression on.

"Gentlemen do not 'eat with their eyes'! They merely enjoy the beauty that presents itself in front of them."

She sighed.

"Nobody else noticed, thankfully... I know you and I know what your intentions are..."

Blake tiled his head and asked in the most innocent voice he could muster.

"Pure and honorable?"

Rose snorted lightly after hearing that.

"I can believe you the latter one. And even that one seems iffy..."

He smiled wolfishly and ruffled her hair lightly.

"Relax, there is more to my taste than just looks. Though it does help a lot to pique my interest... But that's only useful for as far as the first conversation goes."

Rose had a complicated expression on her face, but didn't get to say anything because Blake seemed to have remembered something.

"Ah! Speaking of first conversations, you did mention that Emily and her sister Tori play Alteration too, right?"

Rose's face darkened again.

"No, I will not set you up."

Blake's smile wasn't affected one bit.

"Good thing that I didn't want to ask you that. I just wanted to ask you one little question."

Rose's expression still looked sceptical but she seemed to be interested.

"And what would that be?"

He continued nonchalantly.

"Is your friendlist connected directly to your account or to the game itself?"

She rolled with her eyes but a similar smile to Blake's appeared on her lips after some initial reluctance.

"It's connected to the client so do refrain from contacting her. And another thing."

Blake beckoned her to continue which she did with a mischievous tone.

"I haven't put my status to Away so change that later. We sometimes play together so she might contact you, we wouldn't want that, right?"

His smiled widened and he ruffled her hair again.

"Of course, I will make sure to do that when I find some time. Now hurry, you'll be late!"

"Sure, sure. Then see you later and have fun!"

He smirked back.

"Sure will, thanks."

And with that Rose disappeared from the endless green expanse.

Blake stood still for a moment with a wide smile and took a breath to calm himself.

(Finally game time!)

"New game!"

As soon as he said that another explosion of colors enveloped the whole endless expanse. It was the same as the last time, the colors soon found their right places after a few seconds and Blake found himself in the middle of a rocky mountain clearing.

*******

For info about the releases check out the author's note in the first chapter. In case you want to ask questions first check the tags and the synopsis. I'm just mentioning this due to past experiences.