[Everyone always imagined it, a game so realistic yet fantasy that you can't help but be hooked by it. We welcome you, Sorayas, to the world that you yourself rule over. Welcome to Arcemia!]

"Well… that was nice opening" 

Let's go back right before this

… 

Charles Alexander a child that was born into a wealthy family of a famous household in England. All his life he was taught the proper way of being a gentleman and have never been permitted to do childish activities around other people even with his biological parents. however his twin sister, Charlotte Alexander was treated differently. His sister received affection from both his parents unconditionly, receiving the permission to be childish even to the the workers in the house, and she doesn't need to learn the proper way of being a proper lady at a young age unlike Charles. Everyday he felt jealousy and anger wielding up inside because of the treatment he received compared to his twin. One day on their six teen birthday he received a gift from both of his parents, it was a VR pod. A VR pod is a device that lets you full-dive into the game, giving you the ability to experience the game with full immersion and with most of the five sense a human has. After the celebration of the birthday party was over he left to check the pod that was installed in his room.

He observed the device with admiaration while touching it. as he did that he could smell a scent a smell similar to that of a new device being opened out of its box. Even though Charles was trained from a young age on how to become a proper gentlemen, he still have a curiosity that of a child. He activated the device and watch as the LEDs slowly turns on at the pod's side, as all of the LEDs turned on the pod that was closed by the glass cover slowly opens revealing a bedding that was customized specifically for Charles comfort. He smiled thinking that his parents are actually paying attention to him and cared for him. He sits in the device and slowly begins to lie down. As he pressed a green button, the cover slowly closed and afterwards his consciousness began to drift away. Once he opened his eyes a blue world was in front of him, a sky so clear with clouds scattered about, a sea sparkling like crystals below his feet, the gentle wind of the ocean breeze through his hair brighten his mood and thus made him smile. A window with a fashionable look to it was displayed in front of him showing the hour in real time and all the available games he could play. He looked through all the games that was present but only one piqued his interested. A game that has simplistic look to it and has a simple title, "Arcemia". He pushed the game's icon and without a warning his vision turn dark as if showing the abyss. Once again he opened his eyes as he saw a meadow in front of his eyes, just like the current time in the real world the game imitates a beautiful sky of gold and orange. A maid like person was standing near him, smiling and chuckling at him.

"What seems to be the matter?"

"Ah, forgive me. It's just… you look very happy to be here"

"Isn't that normal for everyone?"

"Normal… I suppose it is"

The maid then continued to chuckle for a while before introducing herself to him. Kayla, an AI assistant helper that helps new player create their avatar and help players understand how the game works as well as some basic knowledge. While the explanation was simple the mechanics and the way the game works are complex. After explaining everything to Charles he asked her various questions like: Why is Arcemia named as such, What are the NPCs exactly, What's the story behind the players being called Sorayas etc. Kayla explained all of them with a bright and happy expressions each time and sometimes would tease and joke around with Charles. At the end, Charles asked his one final question to Kayla.

"Kayla, what are you? Are you an administrator? Or a staff?"

"Why do you say that, Charles?"

"You just act so… human. I can't make myself believe that you're a mere AI assistant helper"

"chuckles well… I'll tell you this because you are special, please don't tell anyone else, alright?"

"By my name Charles Alexander, I promise this to you"

"chuckles you're very serious, aren't you? Well… to tell you the truth I'm a *67~%3%?5€"

"Hmm? Can you repeat that?"

"To bad, you've already used all of your question privileges! But because I felt bad I'll give you a hint"

"Wait that isn't fair!"

"I'm sorry but that's the rule. Would you like to hear the hint?"

"Ngh… yes please"

"I'm one of the NPCs in this game, my race is that which could only be said and never be seen"

"What do you mean by that-"

Kayla forcefully send him off and once again as if experiencing déjà vu, Charles blacked out. In the darkness he saw a window panel that's emitting a soft light. In the window panel there's a rectangular section and a text above it saying, "Insert Username". while being annoyed after what just happend he thought for a while before deciding on a name. 

"Desmond Deimos" 

His appearance instantly changed, his hazelnut hair turned abyss black with a hue of red as well as being elongated, his blue sky eyes turned blood moon red, becoming taller, and his canniness becoming slightly longer and sharper as if imitating a vampire. His looks was sinister in every way possible yet it somehow look elegant and beautiful just like a villainous lord, however he's wearing a rag clothes that doesn't mach his elegance. Once he opened his eyes he was standing in a forest that was near a plains. He moved closer to the plains and in the process saw something that resembled a nomadic settlement. He moved closer and closer until suddenly a spear like projectile brush past his face. When he realized what happened Desmond looked back to see what that projectile was and then he looked back at where it came from. The one who fired the projectile was a wolf eared Demi-human, these types of race is called an Ims. Desmon put his hands up slowly as to not alarm the Wolf-Im while slowly coming closer.

"Do you understand me?"

"…what do you want Soraya"

"So you know my race? Anyway I just wanted to talk"

"Talk? With a Soraya? Why should I"

Desmond slowly kneeled down and once again asking the Wold-Im for a talk. Hesitant the WolfIm finally lowers his arm that was holding another projectile weapon. He urged Desmond to state his will in coming to this place with his chin.

"Well, I got lost"

"Lost? A Soraya is lost? Are you sick?"

The Wolf-Im was so perplexed that he blurted out those words. after one conversation ends another was created and after exchange words for a couple of minutes finally the Wolf-Im is convinced that Desmond is a good person and let him in into the settlement. Right after he came in, he could see the people of the settlement started being wary of him or outright showing hostility but fortunately none of them are attacking him. 

"Hey, why is everyone here so on edge?"

"Don't call me hey, my name is Galm. Everyone's on edge because the Belms are in matting season"

"I see… the Belms huh…" 

Belms are an imp like creature that lives in any area that has water and plantation, basically a pest. Alone Belms are nothing but in a group, bells could become a huge threat. Galm explained that they only recently noticed a Belm nest near the settlement. Galm also explained that unlike other monsters Belms has the tendency of overhunting hunting prey as a mating ritual making the situation dire.

"You should probably leave unless you want to be food" 

"Then how about you?"

"I can't leave, because everyone else is here. I can't abandon them because I'm the strongest warrior in this settlement"

"Then how about this? I'll eliminate the Belms and afterwards you'll be my personal body guard, how about it?"

"Body… guard?"

"A person that protects another person"

"Sure, but if you can't then I'll have you help us reinforce the settlement"

"Deal"

Desmond pulled out his hand towards Galm hopping to shake hands but instead got a confused look out of him. Desmond realized what happened and chuckled, he changed his arm posture making a v shape. He encouraged Galm to grab his hand with his other hand, confused and hesitant Galm finally grabbed his hand and grips it. Afterwards Desmond began his plan on trapping the Belms, he asked Galm to dig with him, asked Galm to collect logs with him and to turn them into something similar to projectile he shot at him. Fortunatly Desmon was inside a game so doing all those manual labor wasn't as hard as it is in the real world.

'Why only at this times like this does this game feel like a game?' 

Desmond continues to do what he wants and by the time everything was completed it was already evening. The cold breeze flew through from his cheeks to his hair and at the same time made him shivers. At that moment a loud sound could be heard as evening turned dark, a hoard of Belms could be seen rushing to the settlement in a frenzy, and the other warriors of the settlement readied their weapons. The tension was so great that it could be felt in the air, in that atmosphere Desmond crossed his arms and hope his plan succeeds. Moments later a third of the Belms's hoard falls into a ditch full of stakes, a third of the hoard was ambushed and another barged through the traps and got inside of the settlement. Fortunately Desmond anticipated this and was prepared, he ordered Galm and the other warriors that was on standby to attack the remaining enemy forces. In the end there were minor casualties such as the crude gate of the settlement that was damaged and some people were hurt, however there was none that was killed.

"How is it?"

"…"

Galm bowed his head to show his utmost gratitude. Desmond could only stare at him in amazement, how could an AI be so realistic? How could an AI who isn't even human make him feel so emotional? Desmond put his hand on Galm's shoulder and urge him to cease bowing his head. The NPCs of Arcemi doesn't understand certain concepts that make a modern people's norm, this was one of the setting in this world. This setting was implemented to make players actively create their own traditions and customs so at the end the NPC's could grow from those customs and traditions and becoming more human. 

"Galm, at times like this you should say thank you"

"Thank you…?"

"It's used to express gratitude"

"I see… thank you, Soraya"

"My name is Desmond, Desmond Deimos"

"Desmond… thank you once again, Dez!"

"Dez? Well, whatever"

They chatted for a while right before midnight strikes. Desmond asked Galm to show him a comfortable place to sleep for the night, he ended up showing him to his own tent where there's two pelts of fur laid under the floor. Desmond didn't questioned Galm's intensions and simply slept on one of them, for some reason Galm looked happy as he smiled like an idiot. Desmond access the menu and as he slowly closed his eyes, he logged out.

…

Morning arrived at the Alexander family's mansion. The birds chirps as if to celebrate the arrival of the sun. Charles originally isn't required to wake up early but he always does at exactly six in the morning. He puts a schedule for himself and each morning he does light jogging, some exercise, and finally yoga to start the day. The air was cold but refreshing and the quietness made the mood tranquil which affected the stability of the mind. After everything is done, breakfast with the family at seven, at eight he attend class in the comfort of his house, have lunch at twelve, etiquette lessons and the likes until three and finally free time until early midnight of course excluding dinner at six. after he's done with lessons he goes back to his room, on his way to his room he saw Charlotte playing with one of the maids in the back garden, but because of the thought of playing the game again excites him so much he didn't mind it too much as he goes back to his room.

"…"

"Young Master Charles seems happy today"

"Brother is?"

"Yes young miss, he seems exicited"

"I see… I wonder why" 

A seemingly unpleasant expression could be seen from Charlotte's face but her expression immediately changed back to that of a lovely smile when her maid looked at her. She glance back at the silhouette of her brother before returning back to her activities. 

To be continued…