I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to sleep, but once I lay down, it took only minutes before I was out. It was a fitful sleep. Dreams of monsters shifting into a hideous, massive version of Elaine plagued my night and woke me while it was still dark outside.

  I stared at the wooden beams above my bed for a long time, trying to decide what I was going to do. The thought of interacting with Elaine every day filled me with such dread that I started to shake. This wouldn’t be like work, where I would only have to endure a thirty-second interaction. We were in this together. Even if I tried to stay away from her, we’d be forced into proximity by the village’s small size. I couldn’t do that. My only two options were to hole up in my room or spend as little time in the village as possible.

  The decision was clear.

  I would put as much distance between myself and Elaine as possible for as long as possible. I got up, looked around the room, realized all my belongings were in my inventory, and quietly made my way downstairs. The inn was silent—the fire that had been roaring in the hearth was now only a small glow. I bumped into a chair. I winced as wood scraped against wood.

  “Hello,” Jeff said, standing from his chair set before the fire. Even in the dim light, I could see that he was exhausted. Had he slept down here?

  “Uh… hi.”

  “Henry, what are you doing?”

  “I’m… what are you doing?”

  Jeff sighed. “I’m waiting for the last two people. The other three are asleep in their rooms. I thought it would be nice if everyone had a familiar face to greet them.”

  “Yeah, that makes sense.”

  Jeff was a good guy. He would do a good job leading the people here.

  “So, what are doing?” he asked.

  I decided it wouldn’t be worth trying to explain my motivation for leaving so early. “I woke up and didn’t want to just sit around. Figured I might as well go out and explore.”

  Jeff eyed me for a long time before shrugging. “Smart. If you die, you’ll only end up back here, so there’s really no reason to be too careful. Try to keep track of where you go, though. It would be helpful if we could pool our knowledge. I imagine some of us won’t be so willing to explore the unknown.”

  I nodded and started heading toward the exit.

  “And Henry.”

  I turned back to Jeff.

  “If you find anything really good, maybe keep it to yourself for now. ,” he raised his eyebrows so it was clear who he was talking about, “might not be happy if you get something they want. The consequences of… let’s call it ‘bad behavior’ in this place aren’t going to be the same as in the real world.”

  “I will.” I reached the door and was just about to exit when Jeff’s voice stopped me once more.

  “You should get as much food and water as you can before you go.”

  I hesitated, uncomfortable with the idea of waking Clark so early, but my already gnawing hunger and thirst pulled me back into the inn. I rang the bell by the bar, and thirty seconds later, Clark was there, eyes a bit droopy, but the same, eager-to-please smile greeting me.

  “Yes, Player, what can I do for you?”

  “You can call me Henry.”

  “Henry it is. What do you need?”

  “Uh, I’m heading out. Do you have some food and water I can take?”

  Clark nodded. “Of course, of course.” He hesitated before continuing. “I going to need to charge you.”

  “That’s fine,” I said. I opened my inventory and withdrew fifteen copper coins. My palm, though large, didn’t catch them all, three falling to the floor. “Sorry.” I bent to pick them up.

  Clark, surprisingly adroit for his age and pudginess, snatched the coins from the floor before I had a chance. “No apologies needed.” He plucked the remaining coins from my hands, stowing them behind his apron. “I’ll get you two water skins, some dried meat, cheese, some fruit and vegetables, and some tallow cakes.” He leaned in and spoke quietly, nudging me with his elbow. “I would save those for a last resort, though.” He winked and disappeared into the back.

  “Did you talk to Delilah?” Jeff asked, coming to sit next to where I anxiously stood next to the bar. I kept glancing at the stairs, certain Elaine would sense me and come attack. I knew it made no sense, but my plan of slipping from the Inn without anyone seeing had failed so completely that I was sure the part of the plan that mattered most would also fail.

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  “Who’s Delilah?” I asked after a long pause.

  “The Fire Keeper.”

  Despite the growing dread, I chuckled and looked at Jeff. “She’s actually called ?”

  “Yep.”

  Dev really had simply stolen ideas from the games I’d brought.

  “I only talked to her for a second,” I answered.

  “Did she tell you about leveling?”

  “We didn’t get that far.”

  “Talk to her before you leave. She’s still out by the fire.”

  Clark emerged from the back with a bag of food and two nearly bursting waterskins. He also carried a mug of water and a plate with some bread and eggs on it.

  “Here you are, Henry.”

  I took the food bag and waterskins, placing them in my inventory.

  “This is for you as well. It will be good to start your first true day as a Player with your thirst quenched and your hunger satisfied.”

  I looked at the food and water. “I don’t think I can spend any more money right now.” While I wanted the food and I was almost certain I could make enough coin throughout the day, I had no idea if today would be the same as yesterday. I didn’t want to take any chances.

  Clark shrugged, then smiled. “It’s on the house.”

  “Oh, thanks,” I said, taking the food.

  “Is there anything else I can get you?”

  “No, that’s all.”

  “Anything for you, Jeff?”

  Apparently, Clark and Jeff were already on a first-name basis.

  “I’m good.”

  Clark nodded and left us alone in the dim great room.

  I wolfed down my food and water in seconds and nodded to Jeff, who patted my shoulder as I walked by. “Good luck,” he said.

  “Thanks.” And after swallowing the last of the eggs, I was out the door and into the very early morning.

  Things looked almost exactly the same as when I was out here last. The night might have been a bit darker and the air cooler, but the fire still roared in the center of the village circle, and the , Delilah, still stood stoically beside the flame.

  “Jeff told me I should come talk to you,” I said, feeling awkward about our first interaction. I had been rather rude.

  Delilah turned to me and looked me up and down. “Yes, I have some things to tell you. Will you run off this time?”

  “No.”

  “Very well.” Her voice changed, adopting a sense of grandeur. “I am the Fire Keeper. My purpose is to guide you through this Tutorial. Your purpose is to grow stronger, to prepare for the world beyond these walls. It is through fragments that you will fulfill that purpose. Fragments are the power residing in all living beings. Quantified power. When you have acquired enough, I will consolidate that power, expanding your capacity, and from this, you may grow.”

  She paused to let me ask any questions.

  “How many fragments do I need to level up?”

  Delilah smirked. It was strange given her momentous tone of voice. “That is for you to find out.”

  “Do I have enough fragments now?” I doubted my paltry twenty-two fragments would be, but it was worth asking.

  “You do not.”

  “Are fragments used for anything else?” In other games that used similar mechanics, their versions of fragments were the main currency, used to purchase almost everything.

  “There are multiple other uses for fragments. Outside of the Tutorial, they will be required for respawning, but they are also used for the creation of magical items, and, most pertinent to you now, fragments are the fuel for spells.”

  It seemed that leveling might be a slow process if fragments were required for spells. “How do I gain fragments?”

  “There are three methods, but for now, your only method for gaining fragments is through killing.”

  I gritted my teeth, annoyed. If there was another way to gain fragments other than fighting, I would gladly take it. I wasn’t enamored with the idea of constant battle, but there was nothing I could do. Maybe later I could become a peaceful artisan and still gain power. I loved combat in normal video games, but when it was indistinguishable from reality, it lost some of its allure.

  “Do you have any more questions regarding fragments?”

  I tried to think of anything that might be pertinent, but nothing came to mind. Fragments seemed pretty straightforward, and for now, all I could do was fight to gain them. I shook my head.

  “As you explore the fortress, you die. When you do, you will lose half of your fragments and revive here. This is your respawn point and will be for the duration of the Tutorial. By returning to the place of your death, you will be able to reclaim your lost fragments.”

  I nodded. That mechanic was nothing new, but I did not like how sure she was that I would die. Jeff had said it wasn’t that bad, but he had died from a single, overwhelming hit. What if some psycho monster decided to torture me first? By how the had gone so far, I doubted it would feel any less painful than actual torture. Could I kill myself in that situation? I shook my head of the dour thoughts. If I ruminated on all of the frightening possibilities much more, I’d run back to my room and wait until Dev finally let us out.

  “For now, that should be enough for you to begin your adventure,” Delilah continued. “If at any time, you need to speak, simply come to the fire and speak my name, Delilah, or my title, Fire Keeper, and I will come.”

  “Thank you.” I turned to walk away, but turned back after taking only a step. “And sorry.”

  Delilah looked at me. “For what?” Her voice was back to normal. The switching back and forth between speaking with resonance and weight to speaking normally made both comical. It was like she was fulfilling a basic NPC role but was only acting, like I was getting a peek at the voice actor behind the character… except the character and the voice actor were the same.

  “For being so… dismissive of you last night. I was having a rough day.”

  The firelight danced across her face as she gave a small smile. “I forgive you, Henry. I get it.”

  “Thanks.” I stood there for an awkward moment. “Alright, bye.” I turned and headed out toward the fortress and my second day of exploration.

  “Good luck,” Delilah called after me.

  I was certain I would need it.