A New World, An Immersive Game Experience

Standing dumbly and simply watching the lava, with flames spurting from time to time; Eldrian felt that it was about time to log out. All the adrenaline and energy from fighting for his and others' lives, quickly disappearing in the wake of the lava crater.

Eldrian had gained another forty-four thousand XP during the last three hours, much less than previously due to him not using magic. He was quite still quite surprised as he glanced at his avatar statistics and grimaced at the level six fatigues. His body feeling like lead now that his energy had left, his mana and stamina capped at 14 and 8 respectively.

It should be fine if I log out, right? Eldrian mumbled as he did just that, struggling to keep himself awake after the grueling fight he had gone through. His body turning into particles surprised those nearby, catching them off guard and frightening them that another attack might come.

As soon as Eldrian woke in his bed he could feel the headache from magic fatigue following him into real life. Holding his head he took things slow, first disconnecting the headset and IV, and then slowly standing up to get some water.

As he walked Eldrian could also feel that his body ached slightly, not much, but it was clear. It was as if he had slept wrongly but across his entire body. Right, let's get some sleep so I don't have to trudge along with this annoying headache. Eldrian thought to himself, stopping himself as he realized he should probably go eat something first.

Reaching the cafeteria Eldrian was shocked by the smells and sights before him. This isn't right, where is all the cereal, bacon, eggs... Eldrian mumbled as he grabbed himself a plate and started helping himself. The food here was served as a buffet, where you had to serve yourself. So Eldrian made sure to fill his plate with what he enjoyed.

Only upon sitting down did he realized what was going on, finding himself quite amused as he did. Right, I fought through the night. It's five PM, not AM... Shit, guess I'll miss the day for once. Eldrian thought, not counting being unconscious as a 'miss'.

As Eldrian enjoyed himself a familiar voice suddenly asked, "Care if I join you?"

"Go ahead," Eldrian replied, not stopping for a second in enjoying the pumping flapjacks and risoni with mince.

Flavia didn't hesitate and quickly made herself comfortable, looking at Eldrian devouring his food strangely. Last time he had barely managed to eat anything, now he is wolfing down enough food for three. She thought, realizing that she was again being ignored similar to last time.

"Oh, right. Thanks for helping me last time, though what is your name again?" Eldrian suddenly said as he reached the midway point of his meal. Deciding to take it slow from here so as to not upset his stomach. He could still vaguely smell the rotting undead, which caused him to feel a little nauseous. Naturally, this did not help with the headache.

"Ah... It's no problem, I am glad to see your doing better."

"Thanks..." Eldrian said, finding himself unable to recall her name. It took a couple of seconds before she realized why Eldrian stopped talking.

"Oh yeah, I'm Flavia."

"Thanks, Flavia. What are you having?" Eldrian asked, trying to make small talk as there was no reason to alienate himself.

"Oh, a tuna salad. Do you want some?"

"No thanks," Eldrian replied, turning back to his food as he struggled to figure out what to say.

A few seconds later Flavia asked, "Do you mind if I ask why you weren't here during breakfast or lunch?"

"A crisis in-game," Eldrian replied, not sure why she was trying to befriend him. He could see that she was trying to keep the conversation going without coming over as too eager as last time. This caused him to feel quite strange as he was normally the one in that situation.

I really have changed, Eldrain thought as he realized this. What really changed was that he didn't care, didn't hope for something to happen/develop. Which removed all the pressure he had normally struggled under.

"Right, I might have come off too strong last time. Are..."

"Hey Flavia! Mind if we join you," A lady shouted, not waiting for a reply and just sitting down. Soon after a man sat next to her, the table now filled with four people.

"Meggan! Don't interrupt like that." Flavia replied upset, assuming that Eldrian would be annoyed by the disturbance.

"Oh, and who is this Flavia? Is this your new boyfriend?" Meggan teased.

"No, this is the mysterious newbie." The man next to Meggan said, "So what's your deal?" He asked lightheartedly.

"Not much, I just play ANW." Eldrian replied, slightly amused by the three and slightly irritated by their voices. Flavia alone had been fine, but the other two talked really loudly. Causing Eldrian's headache to pound all the harder and giving him a reason to not stay. He did not want to endure this pain for no reason other than small talk.

"Oh, are you a game tester?" The man pressed.

"Something like that, I have to go," Eldrian said, simply wishing to fall asleep as soon as possible. His abrupt departure caused the three to falter, Flavia soon taking it out on the man.

Just when I managed to get the guts to approach him again! She thought as she berated him, the man just laughing it off and saying that there was something else going on. Flavia naturally did not believe his claim. How could she have timed it so terribly twice in a row?

...

Eldrian woke six hours later feeling much better, stretching as he stood up, he looked around in his room and appreciated not having the headache hanging over him. He wanted to go down again to have another meal, but it was now almost midnight. A bit too late for that, though there were still things he could make his own food with. So he did just that before logging in.

Appearing in front of the massive crate Eldrian frightened quite a few of the NPCs again. Smiling apologetically he stared at the massive crater where the wall used to be. All the lava had long since cooled, leaving pore-filled rocks covering the entire area. Eldrian wondered if these rocks might be special due to how they had been made; but not for long.

Having no idea where to find anyone, Eldrian decided to head back to the inn he had been staying at before. Finding no one there, the entire area devoid of life, he headed to the keep next; shocked upon arriving at it.

The square was filled with NPCs, most coming and going, far too many for after such a fight. Reinforcements? Eldrian wondered as he looked at them, realizing that this group here seemed to be made out of humans only. Are they from Phallos, did the division move? Eldrian wondered next.

He failed to see anyone he knew and also failed to gain access to the keep. Being stopped at its main gate and told that there was a strategic meeting currently in progress and that no one was to disturb it.

"Alright, can you tell me what happened after the fight?" Eldrian asked the soldier in heavy plate instead, causing the NPC to look at him in disbelief.

"What do you mean, everyone knows." The man replied, his moving his hand to rub his stubble of a beard.

"Yeah, but I am a Chosen, and after fighting I couldn't stay any longer. Can you fill me in?" Eldrian replied, causing the NPC's look to change again. He understood what Eldrian meant with 'couldn't stay', most NPCs had heard the rumor of Chosen vanishing into particles and returning to their realm.

This was far more spread out in kingdoms where the Chosen had spawned than in others. The NPCs also didn't know how or where the Chosen went, only that it was their original realm. Most attributed it to the gods had brought the Chosen here in their time of peril. Most NPCs have come to grow a much better opinion of Chosen. Though many still resented them for their immortality and lack of worry.

"Of course. I wasn't here during the fight so I can't tell you anything of that..." The soldiers replied, wondering just why a Chosen would have to leave their world, Eldrian being the first he had met.

"That's fine, I left after the magic tower killed the higher undead. So if you can fill me in on what happened after, that would be much appreciated." Eldrian replied.

"Sure. We were on our way here to reinforce the fort, the report having arrived in Kynigo a few days ago. While most of us were setting up for the night at the cliff, Pelaros had suddenly just rushed out. Without a word."

"We later learned that he had sensed something wrong and rushed to help the fort. With his arrival, the keep had been quickly saved and those there could finally focus on their tasks. Bringing the magic tower to max power and adding the divine element to it. And so the fight ended."

"Wait, Pelaros? He's here, and he's so strong?" Eldrian asked, finding this bit of news not at all reflecting with the man/centaur he knew.

A man who did nothing day in and day out, only enjoying his life with minimal duties; was what Eldrian thought of Pelaros. He didn't dislike that, in fact, it was something he hoped to achieve when everything was not in peril.