Character Creation.

As I stood there, still marveling at the ethereal beauty before me, a faint sound of background music began to waft through the air. It was the unmistakable sound of adventure, the kind of music that transports you straight into the heart of classic RPG games – the very same tunes I always heard when my friends were engrossed in their virtual quests.

The nostalgic melody tickled my eardrums, sending a shiver of excitement down my spine. I felt like I was about to embark on an epic journey, just like those I had witnessed my friends undertake countless times before.

But the music was just the beginning. A sudden and brilliant glow appeared from above, forcing me to instinctively close my eyes against the blinding light. It was as if the very heavens themselves were opening up.

Slowly, I dared to reopen my eyes, and as I did, my breath caught in my throat. Before me, descending gracefully from the radiant source of light, was a vision of pure, otherworldly beauty. She was a girl with long, flowing blond hair that cascaded down to her shoulders. Her large, round eyes held a mysterious charm that seemed to pierce through my very soul.

She wore a pristine white dress that shimmered like freshly fallen snow, and on her back, she bore a pair of majestic wings, their feathers glistening in the ethereal light. With each gentle flap of her wings, she descended more elegantly, her movements reminiscent of an angelic being descending from the heavens.

The girl landed softly before me, her feet barely making a sound as they touched the ground. Her presence seemed to command the very essence of the fantastical world I had entered.

"Greetings, player," she began, her voice carrying a melodious timbre that echoed in the air. "My name is Rapha, and I'm here to assess you for your character creation."

I was utterly captivated, unable to tear my eyes away from her. It felt as if I had been transported into the pages of one of the novels I used to read, and Rapha was a character brought to life. The prospect of character creation in this new world held the promise of an extraordinary adventure, and my heart brimmed with anticipation for what lay ahead.

I found myself staring at the angelic woman before me, unable to tear my eyes away. Her beauty was out of this world, and it left me in awe. I couldn't just keep these thoughts to myself; they needed to be spoken. It was a form of respect to acknowledge such beauty.

"Woa, you look so beautiful. Ah, ma'am," I proudly exclaimed, my words tumbling out in admiration.

"Eh? Thank you for the compliment," she giggled in response. Her reaction wasn't quite what I had expected, but I couldn't have asked for a better response.

I also couldn't help but be entranced by the voice that greeted me. "What an angelic voice," is what immediately came to mind, but even so it was the words "character creation" that truly put a smile on my face. I was overjoyed that I was actually experiencing the things my gaming friends had always talked about. The anticipation of what lay ahead was electric in the air.

"Ahem! So anyway, player. What is your name?" Rapha gently asked me, her voice as melodious as the enchanting tunes of the adventure-themed music that still lingered in the air.

In front of me, a window popped up, featuring an empty text box and a grid of letters just below it. At the upper part of the window, a clear instruction read:

[Type your name]

"Classic," I chuckled, realizing that I was already facing one of the most time-consuming aspects of character creation that my friends had often complained about. Weren't name choices supposed to come later in the process?

But why not have a little fun with it? I thought. A name from legends or fantasy would be cool. With determination, I moved my virtual hands and began pressing the letters on the grid.

[Arthur]

I hit the enter key with a sense of accomplishment.

*iiinnck*

"I'm sorry, but the name is already taken," the message displayed, dashing my hopes.

"Freak!!" I muttered under my breath. Of course, a name as legendary as Arthur would already be claimed by another player.

I took a deep breath and decided to try something different. How about a name from one of the anime characters I watched?

[KIRITO] I typed confidently, thinking this name would surely get me some B#*&s.

*iiinnck*

"I'm sorry, but the name is already taken." The message mocked my optimism.

Why am I not surprised? I thought, feeling a twinge of frustration. But I wasn't about to give up just yet.

Maybe a clever tweak would do the trick. I considered using a zero instead of the letter 'O' in the name.

[KIRIT0]

*iiinnck*

Once again, the message appeared.

"I'm sorry, but the name is already taken."

I leaned back, sighing in exasperation. It seemed the path to finding the perfect character name was going to be a lot more challenging than I had anticipated. But I was determined to make my mark in this new world, starting with the right name.

I contemplated my options for a moment, feeling like adding numbers to my name might be the easiest way to secure it. But something about having digits in my name didn't sit right; it felt more like a robot's designation or a brand than a human name.

"Fine, I'll just use my real name," I decided, resolving to stick with the name my parents had given me. Surely, it had to be unique, right?

With a sense of determination, I typed [Kuonh].

"This will be my name," I affirmed, pressing the letters with purpose. When I finally hit the enter key, a new window immediately popped up on the screen.

[Are you really sure about this name?]

Yes  no

I couldn't help but think the "really" was a tad unnecessary, but I was undeterred. I confidently pressed "yes."

*ting*

The ensuing sound resembled the mechanical affirmation of my decision being processed. It reverberated in my ears, and I could sense the gravity of my choice sinking in.

As I confirmed my name, a faint twinge of regret tugged at the edges of my thoughts. I couldn't help but wonder if I could have come up with something better. Was this pang of uncertainty a typical experience for a new gamer?

Nonetheless, I shook my head. It was a done deal, and dwelling on it would be pointless!

[successful]

The beautiful woman before me broke into a warm smile and bowed ever so slightly. She placed her right hand over her big chest in a graceful gesture as she spoke.

"Welcome to NEUEARTH, Player Kuonh."

The words sent shivers down my spine. For the first time since I had entered this virtual world, it truly felt like I had crossed into a different realm, one filled with endless possibilities and adventures waiting to unfold.