I'd recommend 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant. Although it's not a traditional high - fantasy story, it has elements of a character's daydreaming about a different life which can be seen as a form of fantasy. It's a great starting point as it's easy to understand and has a powerful message about the consequences of vanity.
You could start with 'The Little Match Girl' by Hans Christian Andersen. It has a bit of a dream - like quality as the little girl has visions while she is freezing in the cold. It's a short and poignant story that gives you a taste of how fantasy can be used to enhance a story's emotional impact. The story also has a sad but thought - provoking ending.
A good one to start with is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It's a short story that has a touch of the fantastical in the selfless love and sacrifice of the two main characters. The story is beautifully written and can introduce you to the idea of how fantasy elements can be intertwined with real - life emotions and situations. It also has a surprise ending that is quite characteristic of good short stories.
I would recommend starting with a story that features the main characters, like the Warriors of Light. Their introductory stories often set the tone for the whole world of Final Fantasy XIV. It gives you a good understanding of the basic lore, the kind of challenges they face, and the overall atmosphere of the game's universe.
A 'a fresh start short story' might be about a young woman who was in a bad academic slump. She failed several courses in college. But then she took a semester off, volunteered at an animal shelter, and during that time, she realized she wanted to study veterinary science. She went back to college, changed her major, and started working hard towards her new goal, which was her fresh start.
I think 'The Second Bakery Attack' is a great one to start with. It's short and has Murakami's typical off - beat humor. It gives you a quick taste of his unique style of storytelling, where the ordinary and the extraordinary blend together in a really interesting way.
I think 'Hills Like White Elephants' is a good start. It's a very short story but full of subtext. The conversation between the man and the girl at the train station is deceptively simple, yet it implies so much about their relationship and a difficult decision they might be facing, which is a great example of Hemingway's iceberg theory.
Beginning a short story with a vivid description of a unique setting can also be great. Picture a small, dilapidated house on the edge of a cliff. The wind howled around it, and the paint was peeling off the walls. This kind of description sets the mood and draws the reader in. Another approach could be starting with a character in a moment of crisis or decision. Say a young woman standing at the altar, not sure if she should say 'I do' or run away.
You can start a short story with a question. Such as 'What if the world as we knew it was about to end in just 24 hours?'. This makes the reader curious and they will keep reading to find out the answer. Another option is to start with a surprising fact or statement. For example, 'Most people don't know that the old library in town holds a portal to another dimension.' It piques the reader's interest.
One of the best ways to start a short story is with a strong and engaging hook. It could be a mysterious statement, an interesting dialogue, or a vivid description of a unique situation. For example, 'The door creaked open, and a cold wind swept in, carrying with it a sense of dread.' This immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to read further.
One short best story is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It's about a young couple, Jim and Della. Della sells her long beautiful hair to buy a chain for Jim's precious watch, while Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della's hair. It shows their selfless love for each other in a simple yet powerful way.
A great one to start with is 'Desertion'. It's a classic Simak short story. It involves a fascinating concept of humans adapting to an alien environment in a way that you wouldn't expect. The story builds tension and mystery really well.
I would recommend 'On Denoting'. It's a great starting point as it delves into Russell's thoughts on language and how we refer to things. It's not a traditional fictional short story but more of a philosophical exploration presented in a relatively concise way.