[hr][hr]
[center][h1][color=8493ca][i]Stone[/i][/color][/h1][/center]
[hr][hr]
[center][i][color=8493ca][h3]Town of Beginnings[/h3][/color][/i][/center]
Alek had become a part of this fantastic virtual reality to avoid tragedy, suffering, and death.  Now it seemed to be the name of the game.  He stood beside the other players, a face in the crowd, as the gigantic game master explained his clever ploy.  The only thing Alek could wonder was [i]why.[/i]  A terrible fear gripped him.  Localized panic quickly turned to mass hysteria all around.  Screams could be heard, though so numerous that detecting a source was impossible.  Though, for Alek, the more the realization sank in, the more his fear slipped away.  What started as immobilizing dismay turned quickly into... bliss.  For, as of now, he was free.

As if in answer to a prayer, the game master had given Alek a new life.  He reveled in this second chance, the chance to forget his previous life entirely.  As far as he was concerned, the risk of death was no greater than his life outside the game; a combat zone for a battlefield seemed a fair trade.  Alek breathed lightly, smiling in a sea of grimaces.  At that moment, his and everyone else's attention turned to a group of beta testers calling for support in the coming task of taking on the game.  They wished to end the [i]predicament[/i] as quickly as possible.  As the Betas ended their speech, Alek saw a few players exiting the city, presumably going to bolster their strength.  

For the first time in quite a while Alek could make his own decision, decide his own destiny.  Help the scared and weak majority and leave this perfect world, or set out on his own and enjoy a revitalized life while it lasted.  Alek felt not even slightly selfish as he turned his back to the crowd and followed those few first adventurers out of the town.  As he confidently -happily- strode out of the gates, he noticed a small group congregating nearby.  He was sure that almost everyone would be dead-set on ending the game as soon as possible.  Despite that, it just wouldn't do to spend the entirety of his new life alone.  In fact, the thought horrified him.  Besides, for all Alek knew, these few could be the one percent who saw the situation as he did.  [i]A girl with white hair, a kid, and a woman with...cat ears,[/i] he thought, [i]A strange group, but perhaps better friends than none.[/i]  

He approached them with caution, careful to make sure they wouldn't bite.  As he neared he moved his hands upward -beginning to wave- before remembering his own voice.  [color=8493ca]"Farming is best done in group,"[/color] Alek said in a low voice with a thick Russian accent.  [color=8493ca]"Perhaps we should team up, for safety."[/color]