Dust felt the strange sensation of being pulled into the game world. His body was solidified, and the unfamiliar surroundings felt both real and surreal at the same time. His gaze scanned his surroundings—a bustling city square, full of players and NPCs. It was much different than the quiet solitude of his own life.
A soft voice broke the silence, familiar yet otherworldly. "Welcome, Player. I am Aurora, your guide in Faye Rift," she said, her figure materializing in front of him like a holographic projection. "Before you begin your journey, I need to ask: What is your name, Player?"
"Dust," he answered, still taking in the environment, unsure of what to make of it all.
"Thank you, Dust," Aurora smiled. "Your journey begins here. You will be asked to choose your background. This background determines your starting stats, skills, and initial equipment. It's essential for your early progress."
Dust nodded. "Background? What does that mean exactly?"
Aurora gestured broadly to the city, the towering buildings and distant streets filled with NPCs and players. "In Faye Rift, everyone begins as a commoner. You'll choose a background, a starting point that defines your initial role in the world. Some players choose to be warriors, others merchants, or healers. And..." She paused with a slight smile. "Some, like you, may choose to be thieves."
Dust raised an eyebrow. "Thief? Is that really a class?"
Aurora nodded. "Indeed. Thieves are skilled in stealth, agility, and cunning. They excel at moving undetected, avoiding detection, and taking what they need without others noticing. It's a valuable skill set for players who prefer to stay in the shadows, and the class offers many unique abilities—like the ability to sneak past enemies and steal valuable items."
Dust seemed hesitant. "I've heard from other players that being a thief isn't all that great. They said it's a 'boring' class, that thieves don't do much other than hide around in the shadows. They suggested I should play a tank instead."
Aurora's smile never faltered, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Tank? Well, tanks are important in their own right, but don't let anyone tell you that being a thief is 'boring.' The thief class offers agility, speed, and precision. You'll be able to avoid direct confrontations and focus on using your environment to your advantage. Thieves are all about control—control of the battlefield, of their enemies, and of their own destiny."
Dust wasn't convinced. "But... why do they say it's so bad? I overheard players talking about how thieves are useless in teams, and they wanted me to be a tank. I don't want to be forced into some team setup."
Aurora's expression shifted slightly, becoming more serious. "Ah, I see." She tilted her head slightly as she considered his words. "Some players believe in the 'strength in numbers' mentality—especially when it comes to combat. They believe that if you aren't a tank or a healer, you're useless. But that's not true. Not in Faye Rift."
Dust's frustration grew. "So, the thief class isn't just for solo play, then? Do I have to deal with people trying to drag me into a team?"
Aurora's gaze softened, and she leaned in slightly, as if sharing a secret. "No. In Faye Rift, the truth is that cooperative play, especially in the early game, is a trap. Many players get caught up in the idea of working together, thinking that their role isn't enough unless they have others by their side. But that is not the reality of the game. The world of Faye Rift is vast and unpredictable. Thieves, by nature, are lone wolves. They don't need anyone else. They rely on their wit, their skill, and their ability to stay hidden."
Dust nodded slowly, taking in her words. "So, you're saying thieves don't need to rely on others?"
"Exactly," Aurora said with a nod. "Thieves are independent. They have their own strengths, their own methods. You don't need to be part of a team to succeed. If you decide to cooperate with others, it's on your own terms. But it's not required. The thief class thrives on agility, stealth, and adaptability."
Dust wasn't sure. He had heard so much from the other players, and it was hard to shake off their influence. "But it still sounds like you're saying solo play is the way to go. I've heard a lot about cooperative play, though. Wouldn't it be easier to play as part of a team?"
Aurora's smile returned, though it seemed more knowing now. "Cooperative play is tempting, Dust. Many players think it's the only way to progress. They form teams, they team up for dungeons, they think it'll be easier that way. But it's not true. The game isn't about doing everything together. The game is about survival. The thief class will let you survive on your own terms. You'll be able to outsmart your enemies, sneak past them, and take what you need when you want it. You won't need anyone else, but you'll always have the option to choose your allies—when you want them."
Dust felt a bit better now, but the thought of cooperating with others still nagged at him. "I guess that's true. But I don't know. Everyone seems to want me to be a tank."
Aurora laughed softly, her voice light. "If you really want to be a tank, you could try that too. But the thief class will give you far more freedom than you think. The world is full of different paths, and the thief class allows you to carve your own. You'll find your way."
Dust mulled it over, his gaze drifting toward the horizon. "Alright... I'll go with the thief then. I don't want to be part of a team that doesn't want me. I'll make my own way."
Aurora's eyes sparkled with approval. "A wise choice, Dust. The thief class will be your path to freedom. The world will test you, and it will be difficult at times, but you'll have the tools to survive—more than others think."
Before Dust could respond, Aurora's smile grew a little more cryptic. "Remember, Dust, you'll meet many players along the way. But the thief never needs to follow anyone else's rules. You make your own."
He nodded, a sense of resolve building within him. "Thanks, Aurora. I think I'm ready to begin."
Aurora gave a small nod, her figure beginning to fade as she spoke one last time. "Good luck, Dust. The game has only just begun."
Dust blinked, adjusting to the new world around him. His senses were overwhelmed by the vividness—the stone walls, the crackling fire, the scent of something cooking. It was all so real. He looked around, taking in his surroundings. The room was furnished in a medieval style, and there was a girl humming softly in the corner, seemingly busy with something. The girl was stirring a pot over a fire, totally absorbed in her task.
"Who are you?" Dust asked, stepping closer.
She froze mid-motion, turning to face him with wide eyes. A blush instantly crept across her cheeks as she stammered, trying to gather her words. "I'm… I'm your sister," she said quietly, her voice almost a whisper. "I'm Zoe, your sister in this world."
Dust furrowed his brow. "What?"
Zoe's blush deepened, and she bit her lip, clearly uncomfortable. "I didn't expect this... I thought I'd have the chance to choose my co-op partner. I didn't know I'd be paired with you." She looked down at the ground, clearly flustered. "I was hoping to play with a friend, but... I didn't realize that I couldn't choose."
Dust was still processing what she had said, trying to piece it together. "Wait, so you're saying you didn't get to choose your role, or your co-op partner? You didn't pick me?"
Zoe nodded, her voice barely audible. "Yeah, I chose co-op mode because I wanted to play with a friend, someone I could trust. I didn't think the system would pair me with you like this." She hesitated, her fingers nervously playing with the hem of her sleeve. "I mean, I was hoping I could play with a female friend, someone I could relate to... But... I didn't think I'd end up here with you."
Dust tilted his head, processing her words. "So, you were just trying to play co-op, and the system threw us together as siblings? I thought we just had to get through the tutorial and then we'd be free, but it sounds like this is a bit more complicated."
Zoe nodded again, her shoulders slumping a bit as she spoke. "I thought that too. I really did. I just wanted to get through the tutorial, you know? I figured once we were done, we could do whatever we wanted. But now... I'm stuck in this, and I'm not sure what to do." She looked up at him, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "I didn't think I'd end up here with you. I wanted a partner who understood the game... someone who could guide me. But now... I guess I'm just trying to figure this out."
Dust paused for a moment, realizing she was just as new to all this as he was. She was trying to make the best of the situation, even if she didn't understand everything. He wasn't a saint, though. He wasn't helping her just out of some sense of duty. No, they were in this together.
"Look, Zoe," Dust said, his voice steady, "I'm not a Samaritan here to help you just because you're a girl. We're both stuck in this tutorial, and we've got to get through it together. Once we're free, we can do what we want. But for now, we need to get through this. And if you fall, I fall. That's how this quest works."
Zoe looked up at him, clearly surprised by his bluntness. "You mean... we both have the same quest?" she asked softly.
Dust nodded. "Yeah, it's a co-op quest. If one of us fails, we both fail. So we need to work together, and I'll help you as much as you help me." He gave her a steady, unflinching look. "It's not about being nice, it's about surviving this. We're in this together, whether you like it or not."
Zoe blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly, but she seemed to understand. She nodded slowly, her voice quieter now. "I get it... I guess we don't really have a choice."
Dust's eyes softened a little. "Exactly. And, by the way, you're not bad-looking, so don't stress too much about that. We'll get through this. Trust me."
Zoe blushed, her shyness becoming more apparent. "I—um, I wasn't worried about that."
Dust smirked, but before he could say anything else, a loud knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Zoe froze, her face turning pale. Her hands trembled as she looked at him, fear flashing in her eyes.
"They're here... aren't they?" she whispered, her voice quivering.
Dust looked at the door, instincts kicking in. He wasn't about to let anyone take her, especially not when they were tied to the same quest. He wasn't about to be a hero—he was just playing the game, surviving. And right now, that meant protecting her.
"We need to go. Now," Dust said, his voice low and urgent. He grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the back of the room. They had to move fast.
Zoe hesitated but then followed him, her heart pounding in her chest. She trusted him, even though everything about this situation was completely new and confusing. But Dust's confidence made her feel like they had a chance.
Dust pushed open the back door of their makeshift home with a quiet creak. The moment they stepped outside, the cold, night air hit them like a shock, pulling Zoe out of the haze of fear she'd been in since they arrived in the game. She stood there, still trying to process it all. The world around them was stunningly real—too real to feel like a game. Her heart pounded as she took in the view. Everything felt sharp, detailed, even the rustle of the trees in the wind seemed alive. But the air was thick with danger. She could feel it.
Dust, on the other hand, stood tall, scanning their surroundings with ease. To him, this was just another world to conquer, another challenge to face. He had done this before.
He turned to her, his face calm and focused, though he could see the uncertainty written across her features. "We need to find weapons," Dust said, his voice steady, already falling into the familiar rhythm of the game. "Stay close. I'll guide you."
Zoe nodded, though her expression was still unsure. She had no idea what to expect, and she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The ground beneath their feet was soft with grass, and the distant sounds of creatures—some real, others artificial—drifted in from the shadows of the forest beyond.
"You ready?" Dust asked, glancing over at her.
Zoe swallowed hard. "I guess so."
With a deep breath, they started walking through the clearing. Zoe stayed close, her eyes darting back and forth, unsure of where to look, what to focus on. The sounds of the wilderness felt too real, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was lurking just out of sight.
They moved quickly, their footsteps muffled on the earth beneath them. Dust led the way, his senses alert, as he knew they didn't have much time. They needed to find weapons—and fast. He had no idea what kind of enemies they might encounter, but instinct told him that being unarmed in this game was asking for trouble.
After a few minutes of brisk walking, they reached the edge of a small village. It wasn't much—a handful of houses clustered around a main square, with a single weapon shop tucked away behind a corner. Dust's sharp eyes caught sight of the shop, and he nodded toward it. "There. Let's check that out."
Zoe's eyes followed his gaze, but her nerves were still rattling. "I... I don't know if I'm ready for this. What if we get caught by demons or something?"
Dust offered a reassuring smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "We'll be fine. Just stay close to me."
As they made their way to the weapon shop, Zoe's fingers twitched at her sides, almost as if expecting to find a weapon there. She had no experience with combat in this world, but she knew that she needed something to defend herself.
When they reached the back of the weapon shop, Dust tried the door. Locked.
"Guess we'll have to find another way in," he muttered under his breath. He quickly looked around, his eyes catching the small, almost imperceptible gap between the wall and the doorframe. Without a word, he slipped into shadow, vanishing for a brief moment, only to appear next to the door on the other side. The door creaked open.
Zoe stared at him, wide-eyed, impressed but also a little startled. She was still adjusting to the sheer flexibility of the game, the idea that things like this were even possible. She'd seen thieves in movies, sure, but this... this was real, in a sense.
"You're a thief?" she asked, unable to hide the curiosity from her voice.
Dust shrugged, a smirk on his face. "In this world, sure. The class comes with a few perks."
"That's... really cool," Zoe said, more to herself than to Dust, feeling a little more at ease.
They slipped inside the shop, the faint smell of wood and iron filling the air. Dust immediately moved toward the weapon racks, his fingers brushing over the various blades and tools on display. It didn't take long for him to find a pair of sleek, well-balanced daggers. He picked them up, testing their weight, feeling the familiar sense of comfort and control that came with choosing a weapon he was experienced with.
"You good?" Dust asked, glancing over his shoulder at Zoe.
Zoe hesitated, then walked up to the bow section, her fingers brushing the smooth wood of a longbow. She had always thought archers were cool, the way they could attack from a distance, silent and deadly. But she wasn't sure if she could handle the weight, the aim, the pressure. She had never used a bow before.
"I think... I think I want to try the bow," Zoe said softly, the uncertainty still lingering in her voice.
Dust gave her a nod of approval. "You'll do fine. Archery's all about precision. You've got the focus, I can tell."
Zoe bit her lip, looking down at the bow in her hands. It felt heavier than she expected, but it also felt powerful. She could already picture herself using it, firing arrows from a distance, keeping herself safe without having to get too close to the dangers lurking in the shadows. She was starting to feel a sense of purpose, even if it was still buried under layers of uncertainty.
Just as she was about to test the bow, a loud crash echoed from outside. Both Dust and Zoe froze, their hearts skipping a beat. Something—or someone—was coming.
"We've got company," Dust said, his voice low and serious. "Grab your gear, Zoe. We need to move."
Zoe's eyes widened as she fumbled with the bow, slipping it over her shoulder and following Dust's lead. They moved quickly, out the back door and into the shadows, just as the distant sounds of shouts and growls filled the air.
Dust scanned the surroundings. "We need to get to the Rift, now. People are going to be trying to run for their lives, and we need to help them."
Zoe nodded, determination flickering in her eyes. She had no choice but to follow, to step into this world and do what she could. The fear still clung to her, but she wasn't going to back down now.
"Right behind you," Zoe said, her voice steadier than before.
Together, they ran through the streets, dodging players and NPCs who were already in a panic. The sound of demons closing in on the town only fueled the urgency of their mission.
As they neared the main square, Zoe's heart pounded in her chest. Dust was leading the way, his every movement precise, like he had done this a thousand times before. She was just trying to keep up, but she couldn't deny the sense of growing confidence. Maybe she wasn't as helpless as she thought. Maybe this game was more than just a terrifying new reality.
"Let's go," Dust said, pulling her toward a group of NPCs who were desperately trying to find safety. "We help them, then get to the Rift. We're not leaving anyone behind."
Zoe nodded, gripping her bow tightly, the weight of it now familiar in her hands. The game was no longer just something she had to survive. It was something she could be part of, something she could control, if only a little bit.
And maybe, just maybe, with Dust by her side, they could make it through this world together.