A/N Sorry for the delay. I couldn’t figure out how to start this chapter. Nor could I figure out what I wanted to do with it. I seriously need to figure out what to do with Adam… Whatever. What happens will happen and I’ll stick to it and run. At least it’s better than fumbling about and not writing anything at all.

Enjoy the chapter.

/Drake POV/

“Come on Will. We can’t wait around for you all day to learn how to walk. If we wait too long, all the guys from the Alpha test will be miles ahead of us!”

Grasping the edge of the central fountain, my friend Will can be seen making a fool of himself.

“Oh relax Drake. Not everybody has had two weeks to adapt to a virtual body. And don’t call me Will in here. It’s bad manners. My name is Shredder. Now unless you’re going to help me, shut up and wait patiently.”

“Dude, how do you not know how to use your body yet? Did you even bother to look at the tutorial? As for you name, the only thing you’re shredding right now is people’s sides as they laugh at you.”

“You just said to hurry up and log into the game! How was I supposed to know that there’s a tutorial… Wait, it’s that easy? Why didn’t you say that sooner! I’ll be back as soon as I complete it.”

A puff of smoke and my friend is now gone.

It’s the first day of Eden’s official release and I just wanted to play with my friend, Will. He’s my best friend since third grade but we haven’t been able to hang out lately because he moved to the next town over during the summer.

In an attempt to spend more time with him, I convinced him to play Eden with me and even pitched in some of my allowance to help pay for the game subscription. Because of my participation in the test, I was given a one year subscription for free so I was already set. To be honest, the hardest part was convincing his parents to let him play it.

Well, even if I truly want to play with Will, there is another reason for me to come back. I’m hoping that I can party up with Lexy again and spend some more time with her. She’s smart, funny, knows how to watch your back, and it doesn’t hurt that she’s super cute… Oh, and her big brother is Adam, that one odd fellow who was the GM during the test. You can imagine my surprise when she introduced me to him. After getting to know him, he’s actually kinda cool. He even wrestled with a bear on the fourth day and won because he forgot his sword in his shop.

Sigh, how much longer is Will going to take? The tutorial isn’t that long or difficult. Might as well watch the fountain as I wait.

Breaking me from my staring contest with my reflection in the water, a figure in green shouts out and begins walking towards me.

“Drake! Just the guy I wanted to see!”

Green tunic, green felt cap, green tights held with a brown leather belt and finished with leather traveling boots, Adam looks as charming as always with his dirty blond hair and chiseled features. I’m rather jealous of his figure. I wish I could be as fit as him one day.

“Hey Adam. Havn’t seen you since the middle of the test. What have you been up to lately?”

“Oh, nothing much. Just fixing some glitches, playing receptionist for a couple of VIPs from the news, and spreading the word of the new basic skill available to all players. That’s actually what I need your help with right now.”

“Sure thing, I’m just waiting for my friend Will to return from the tutorial.”

“In that case, I’ll wait for him too before getting your help. So, I noticed that you have a crush on my sister, Lexy.”

His abrupt change of subject caused me to choke on my water and I had to wait a minute for it to subside.

“Erm, was it that obvious and am I going to be in trouble?”

“Were you even trying to hide it? And no, you aren’t in trouble. On the contrary, if you’re her friend, it would be a load off my mind knowing a reliable guy is her friend. Just don’t hurt her if at all possible, but if you do, you’d better have a good reason for it.”

“Sir! Yes Sir!” God Adam gets scary when it comes to family, but I guess he has his reasons. I can’t blame him because if I had a little sister like Lexy, I’d do everything in my power to make sure she’s safe too.

Cough, cough Turning to my left, I find that Will has returned and now has a new robe and staff.

“Sorry, am I interrupting something?”

Before the awkward silence can grow, Adam interrupts with his usual carefree smile.

“Oh, not at all. Will, I presume? My name is Adam. I was just finishing up with Drake here and require both of your assistances.”

“Call me Shredder please. I prefer to keep my name out of games as much as possible.”

“I apologise for that, Shredder. Now for what you can do for me. I need you to test out a new basic skill for me, please. It’s a basic form of identification and commonly referred to as “tapping” by the locals. Could I ask you to close your eyes for a moment?”

Complying, both Will and I close our eyes and wait for something to happen.

“Abra cadabra. Hocus pocus. Bippity boppity boo!”

At the “boo!” I feel a hard poke to my chest and judging from the loud ouch coming from my right, I assume the same happened to my friend. Opening my eyes, the sight of him on the ground greets me.

“Adam, was that really necessary?”

“Nope, but you gotta admit that it’s amusing. Okay, enough of that now, onto business.

To use the identification skill, just go up to any object and tap it with the intention of gaining information. Though, because it is the most basic form of identification, many things are left out. If you’re having trouble activating it, try thinking or saying “identify” along with the action. The more you know, the more information the skill provides.”

“I thought that only certain classes had an identification skill?”

“Many players were complaining about not being able to identify any of their loot without prior knowledge or going to an appraiser so Eve and I came up with this skill. You’ll still need to get some things appraised or go to somebody else for more detailed information on your items though.

So instead of standing around here, why don’t you give it a try? Here, try tapping this apple.”

Catching the apple, I stare at it and poke its shiny red skin.

Identify

A regular apple. Partially fills satiety when eaten.

Cooking ingredient.

Now that I’ve gotten the skill to activate, I toss the apple to Will so that he can do it too.

“Well? What do you think?”

“It’s a little plain, and straight forwards. Is that because I don’t have a more specified class right now?”

“Yeah, if you were a cook, the info box may reveal a simple recipe or added health benefits. Better information isn’t just limited to a class though. If you have prior knowledge, that will also appear. For example, a botanist may get something saying “An apple. The fruit of a seasonal tree whose bearing cycles mature during autumn.”

If there’s no issues, I’ll go post the notification up now. Oh, and before I forget, if you’re trying to party with Lexy again, I suggest going down that street. See ya around Drake and Shredder.”

With an arm around my shoulder, Adam points off towards the commercial section before disappearing into the crowd.

“Huh, nice guy, that Adam fellow. How’d you meet him?”

Will’s sudden question startled me for a moment. I kinda forgot he was there, oops.

“Adam? You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Anyways, he’s the guy I was talking about before and Lexy’s brother. The first time we met was when he…

/Elsewhere, Leslie the reporter POV/

Leslie, could you be a dear and fetch me a cup of coffee?

Leslie dear, could you perhaps finish off that report and have it on my desk by 8:00 pm tonight?

Oh, Leslie, Great news, you’ll be filling in that position on Eden. You’ll find your partner in game and a guy named Adam should help you out a bit. You’ll know who it is when you see them. They’re impossible to miss.

Who does that guy think he is?!? I swear, I’ll file a lawsuit against my boss one of these days and get either a more respectable position or get a better job elsewhere.

Well, here I am in that game now and I met with Adam. Despite his charming looks, all he did was walk me through the tutorial, give me some supplies and a pack donkey, then sent me on my way. What sort of man does that? He even left me on the outskirts of the city when he ran off for some sort of “official business.” The nerve of that man whose chiseled features just so captivate the eye…

No! Think straight Leslie! You are a reporter. Just find your partner, get a scoop, and do your job. Ignore the pungent aroma wafting from the pack animal next to you.

As I approach the city gates, there are some people coming and going while the entrance is flanked by two guards. Too soon, a familiar figure notices me and starts shouting towards me. Please tell me that isn’t who I think it is. Please lord, no.

“Leslie! Leslie! Over here!”

Sigh, I can already feel a migraine coming on. Curse you boss! I had better be getting a larger salary because of this!

“Ugh. Hello Bob.”

“Come on Leslie, hurry up and get over here so that I can tap your ass!”

Everybody immediately stops and turns towards us. In the absolute silence, I can feel my left eye twitching.

“What. Did. You. Just. Say?”

Stalking towards my prey, a few bystanders visibly pale and back away while some gather, attracted by the commotion. I pay them no heed. I have some stress to relieve and found the perfect punching bag.

“What’s wrong? I just said that I wanted to tap your ass?”

*Crack-Crack*

“It looks like somebody needs some common sense pounded into him again.

Bob, I know that you’re an idiot, but I didn’t take you for a brazen pervert. I. Will. Never. NEVER. Be. In. A. Relationship. ~Ever~” A punch punctuating each of my words leaves me breathless. Right as I prepare another hit, a hand falls onto my shoulder from behind.

“Excuse me miss?”

“What! Oh, Adam was it? As you can see I am pounding some common sense into this idiot. Now if you don’t mind, I would like to resume.”

“Err, how do I explain this, while he may be an idiot, I think that he’s just using the wrong choice of words. You see, there’s this new common skill referred to as “tapping” now. He likely just wanted to examine your donkey over there.”

“Oh. That’s embarrassing. Do you have anywhere private where we could talk? It feels a little awkward with a crowd gathered like this.”

“Sure thing Leslie. Sorry about leaving you before. I had some business to take care of. To make up for it, why don’t I make you a meal? As you eat, I can answer any questions you may have.”

A man that is both courteous and can cook? I’ll need to reevaluate my previous opinion of Adam. I guess a nice meal wouldn’t hurt, especially if it’s cooked by those muscles… I mean that man.

A/N Is this a prelude to the harem route? I dunno. Maybe? I’m still writing on a whim here so thanks for sticking around and reading. See you next weekend with a new chapter… probably.