Her yawn killed him. She said that. She really did! How can you yawning, kill anyone?

She does seem unsure of it herself, maybe she’s daydreaming right now?

In this current conversation, I don’t have many dialogue options to choose from, so I guess I’ve reached a very narrow part of this very large dialogue tree, or however this game was made.

MC: “Are you sure?”

Eseli: “Nnnn…not sure”

MC: “…did you really say your yawn might’ve killed him? Aren’t you exaggerating, or can you really kill someone with your yawn?”

Eseli: “…nnn…yeah pretty much.”

MC: “Please be more specific!”

Eseli: “nnn…I’m not exaggerating. It’s possible for me to kill someone with my yawn…nnn…the problem is that I don’t really remember because I was waking up…”

MC: “I saw burn marks on the Marauder, parts of his clothing and skin looked like there was a circular black shady thing on him. Was that your doing?”

Eseli: “…nnn…sounds like it”

So…I guess it’s confirmed? It was Eseli who killed the fleeing Marauder. I guess that time it wasn’t because of my lucky amulet which helped me catch up to the (dead) Marauder. But it was because Eseli yawned at the same time when the Marauder dropped down into the ditch, and coincidentally her magic fireball(?) shot at killed him?

Hold on, that’s right. It was magic! The burn marks were probably because Eseli yawned a fireball out…that means she can use magic!

Yup, this response option proves it.

MC: “Eseli, can you use magic?”

Eseli: “nnn…yup!”

MC: “Are good at using magic?”

Eseli: “…Nnhhnnn…” (yes)

Looks like I can end this conversation for now. I’ve pretty much got all my questions answered.

Why was it so easy for the fleeing Marauder to pull and drag Eseli, when she was a prisoner, while he was running away? It’s probably because Eseli knows some magic spells and made herself light weight for some reason.

Why was the fleeing Marauder dead when I had found him laying face down on the ground at the bottom of a ditch? It was because Eseli accidentally yawned a fireball out or some sort of spell at the Marauder, which killed him.

Why did all the villagers have such a strange reaction whenever they were in Eseli’s presence? Probably because they are racist or at least warry of Snowmel like herself, I don’t fully blame them, I’d be a bit frightened or weirded out if I saw a humanoid cat person around. But according to the Marauder I spoke to, I didn't know that they really dislike cat people.

There have been plenty of other mysteries that have troubled me for the past several hours which I've now pretty much solved. Some of them were related directly to Eseli and others were not. But now my question for Eseli is, who exactly is she? She’s apparently someone valuable according to the Marauders. And she is certainly strange. She probably is some type of magic user according to all the signs I’ve seen. And-

Woah, my camera is shaking slightly side-to-side. This hasn’t happened before. What’s going on?

*Amulet Pond turns his head to the side*

Oh, it was Eseli tugging my character. I didn’t know that NPCs, or anyone else in fact, is able to cause so much collision between our two character models. Also, this is actually the first time Eseli has been the one to start our interaction! She’s somewhat taller than me so she needs to slightly reach down to tug my clothes, so I feel like I'm being lifted up as well.

Alright, I’m looking at you. You can stop tugging me. Why are you still tugging! Do I need to be the one to start this conversation? Fine…o, nope it finally started. Was it delayed because of the game slowing down for a moment ,or was it because this lady-cat wanted to continuously tug my robe off?

Eseli: “…”

MC: “yes?”

Eseli: “nnn…I remember…you offered me earlier some food…I’m still hungry…”

Right, I did choose to ask her if she was hungry, and she said she was. I thought I could just find some food later on in my game time, but it seems like this certain individual NPC really is hungry and wants to eat something. Still, how come she’s so reliant on a stranger? You are definitely not like one of those cutesy cat-girl drawings I’ve spotted on the internet, I’m pretty sure you’re a full-grown adult lady-cat. I’ve never owned a cat before in real life. I am definitely a dog person. Dogs are better, they’re friends. But this, this is what I think of when my friends talk about their pet cats at home. Just because you’re quiet and meow doesn’t mean you can laze around like this! Aren’t you a Snowmel, Eseli? Supposedly wilder and more energetic than the Sunmel?

Agh, whatever. So, what option should I choose. Fine, let’s get this over with! Let’s find some salmon or some cake. Maybe she isn’t actually a follower, and this is instead an escort-like quest I should complete.

MC: “How did you eat before getting captured?”

Eseli: “…nnn…with my mouth?”

MC: “I mean, where did you acquire your food from before getting captured?”

Eseli: “…nnnn…some shops and some stalls…”

MC: “Is that where I can buy fish or sweet food for you?”

Eseli: “…yes”

MC: “Where are these shops and food stalls?”

Eseli: “…nnn…every place I’ve been?”

MC: “No, the place where you last got food from.”

Eseli: “…nnnn… nnmmhmmm… Susana…”

MC: “The town northwest of here?”

Eseli: “nnn…maybe…yes”

Okay great! Good, we’re going! Perfect coincidence, both quest locations lead me to Susana…so it’s Susana we’re going! Let’s end this conversation.

MC: “How long is it to Susana from here?”

Eseli: “nnn…I don’t know…not long…?”

MC: “Can you wait until we reach Susana to eat?”

Eseli: “nnnnnnnnnnn… yes.”

MC: “Very well then, we shall head off to Susana.”

Awesome! My adventure continues.

I felt like I’ve accomplished a lot so far, but I’ve barely scratched the surface of this game. I’m still only level 3, I don’t have any skills or abilities, nor have I learned any magic. But now that I have Eseli with me…then she might help me learn magic or somehow lead me into becoming a wizard. So, she’s looking up to be a very useful AI companion for me!

I’ve decided. I’m going to Susana right away. It’s a bigger settlement too, and not some obscure village. So, I’ll meet some more players there as well.

I talked to some of the elders I talked to before and Allee before leaving, just to make sure everything is alright. I suggested to the elders, if possible, find a way to lessen their sentence or whatever punishment they will receive. The elders told me that they’ve already sent one young woman to go to the starter town (they call it “Soule Town”) and inform the monks of what happened here. Even though they do not necessarily think the monks will be able to do much, they could at least take the 3 Marauder prisoners off the village’s hands and perhaps this young village woman could meet up with Renes along the way. Sounds like a good idea to me, if it were possible, I’d put these 3 Marauders to work in the fields, but I guess you can’t trust them to not ever do something hostile again.

It looks my time and adventure in this village is done.

I’ve been standing in real life this whole time since I fought the Marauder Boss because controlling my character’s body while standing is easier to do, but most of the time you can just sit down. And so, that’s what I’m going to do. Finally sitting down on my seat and relaxing while my character will begin walking with Eseli to the large town called Susana, apparently governed by a very eccentric person.

*Eseli starts tugging Amulet Pond again*

Eseli: “…nnn…what’s your name?”

MC: “Amulet Pond!”

Eseli: “…okay…”

Ok

So, we’re now off to-

“EVERYONE!”

Of course, I get interrupted! Just when I was going to start making progress…

Let’s see who screamed that…Ah it’s Renes! He’s returned and is running into the village.

His character is speeding up for the last mile until he instantly drops down to his knees before he starts to breath a lot after exhaustion. I quickly notice that behind him is an elf whose jogged into the village right behind him. Hey, wait a minute, that person doesn’t look like an NPC. It’s another player! I can tell by his strange swagging movements.

Unlike Renes, he definitely doesn’t look like he’s rushing anywhere. A sight for sore eyes! The several other previous players I’ve seen in this area have all basically ran past this village while I was earlier busy cutting wood, looking like just another NPC in the background.

Even though this is a Massively Online game, I’ve basically been playing what feels like a singleplayer action-rpg. Which isn’t or wasn’t a bad experience at all. But as all things should be balanced in the world… so should games like this be balance as well! MMORPGs with too little multiplayer content are usually failing at what they’re supposed to be delivering to the player.

What I’m basically saying to myself…is that I miss talking to real people, even in a video game! It has felt like a long time, but it’s technically been just several hours so it shouldn’t feel so bad. The last time I communicated with a player was when I messaged WiseMaster667 while chopping wood.

So, I’m going to be the first one to talk with him, before some stupid NPC character is going to get in my way! Sorry Renes, go talk to Allee first or whatever, the job here is already done.

He’s slightly tall even for an Elf. He’s got a fairly large light-colored shirt on. Makes sense for his height. He’s wearing dark pants which look surprisingly flexible, maybe he is a type of warrior? No, his character style must be more like a support-oriented role. Since while his character is tall, the model is also thin. So, I don’t he’d realistically be good at close combat fighting. Maybe he’s more like a good agile runner sort of fighter, but otherwise they couldn’t be anything like tanky warrior. Especially since he doesn’t have any armor on. The only other noticeable and interesting feature about this Elf is that they don’t have any long hairstyle. If his character does have short hair, then it’s covered by a medieval looking pointy cap which he’s wearing on his head.

I call out to him in voice chat.

MC: “Hey there dude!”

The Elf player turns around to see me.

MC: “What’s your name?”

(You can skip till the very end at this point)

Oh look! He’s stretching his arms out! He must be using his VR controllers like I am. Wait, what’s he doing? He raises both of his arms straight above his head, then slightly moves his arms forwards, and then bends his wrists so that his hand’s face horizontally. What’s this funny movement he’s now doing in a repeated motion? Oh, I hear his microphone turning on now.

Some type of sounds are now mildly blasting out from that player’s microphone…and it sounds like there’s some sort of tempo to me…

(Rapidly read these “beats”)

Boom Booom

TSSSCH-too

Boom Booom

TSSSCH-too

Boom Booom

TSSSCH-too

Is that a hip-hop beat I hear?!

Boom Booom

TSSSCH-too

Boom Booom

TSSSCH-too

Boom Booom

TSSSCH-too

Boom Booom

TSSSCH-too…

(Slightly sing this part)

FeeNix:

“Fe-Feeee…AaAaaand…NeeEEee-neeNIX

Fe-Feeee…AaAaand…NeeEEee-neeNIX

Fe-Feeee…AaAaand…NeeEEee-neeNIX…

Whoa oh, that’s me!

Yo, call me FeeNix…!

Whatsup Digs’n’Elf, listen to this mix!

I see you callin out for me, If’sss ye listen to me,

Then thee can get so many red hot chicks all for free,

They got big hips and cost no fee, un-wed, if ye know what I mean!

FeeNix comin over here straight from the highground,

Dropped flowin down in water, fast’er than rushin here with my pals’named Renes,

Who’s now breathless, was lookin for any tough-sheeet man-hound to come here in supersonic,

(Honest logic points to a fierce fire-fried chicken, called a Pheonix!)

Erotic! Speed chasin here to save some village babes…ah- I see their spades already stickin out,

Oh well, “Bat-bat” strike a homerun, guess it’s already done,

Quest failed – better if this message already emailed to me,

Cause I don’t work for free!”

*The beat stops*

Okay then…

Well, I guess there really are all sorts of different people who play online games.

WiseMaster667 could actually be one of the least weird people around, out of all the weird who play this game. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.

I also now know why he was waving his arms and hands around, because he was feeling the beat which was playing in the background while he rapped. A bit loudly into the microphone. I mean. I don’t dislike hip-hop or rap. But I don't often listen to it, I wouldn't know if that was a good rap or not. There was a good enough flow to it, so I guess that was maybe a good rap song?

FeeNix: “Yo, so what’dya think my main man…?”

MC: “Amulet Pond”

FeeNix: “Eyyy! Nice-nice-nice, you just gave me some advice. My main man, lil god I just met, called Amulet Pond!”