Disclaimer: 1/2 Prince and all its characters belong to Yu Wo.

Chapter 3 Start of A Journey

"Ack!"

I found myself sprawled in unseemly fashion on the ground. 'Is this somehow the way for them to introduce new players to the game?' I thought, dismayed at the discomfort I feel. My limbs are stiff as I tried flexing them.

'Hmm...' I checked my new body. "Heh heh. Check this out. Muscle man, Prince!"

I spied a small river near where I'm standing. Hurriedly, I walked towards it. Reaching the riverbank, I immediately kneeled down and looked at my reflection in the water. Even with the moving water, I can stii see my princely visage staring back at me. It has me mesmerized. It took a lot of effort to pull myself away. Because unless I do so, I would end end up like Narciso and wither away.

"This place looks and feels so real. Ah, the wonders of technology." I looked around with wonder. Not knowing where else to go, I started following the river, hoping to find civilization soon. 'Would it be safe? I wonder.'

After walking for sometime, and not finding another soul, I scouted a pinkish rock in the shade of a nearby tree. "Phew! This "almost real" feature of Second Life sure is tiring! I'm of the mind to rest a bit."

"YOUCH!"

Man-eating slime, attack successful!

I definitely felt an absurdly large set of teeth biting my rump. "Get away from me! Get off! Get off! Argh! The pain!" I see a pink creature determinedly hanging onto my behind.

I tried punching the thing at my back but it was hard to get at it at such an ackward angle. Seeing no other recourse, I jumped as high as I can, raised my knees and wrapped my arms around them. I felt myself falling back to earth. My eyes closed in anticipation of another pain.

SPLAT!

The fall jarred the bones in my body. The remains the wicked creature who dared take a bite out of me are all over my rump. If Yang Ming could see me now, he would surely die from laughing. That thought brought an evil gleam to my eyes. With narrowed eyes, I walked towards another pinkish rock just a few feet from me. With all the power I can muster, I lifted my leg and decisively struck it with my heel!

"Take that, you lowly animal! Vile scum of the Earth! Filthy, disgusting thing!"

Spotting my pouch on the ground, I rummaged throuh it and found a simple short sword. Still smiling coldly, I searched my surrounding for other pink creatures. It took some time before my anger dissipated. Next thing I knew, pink carcasses littered the ground. Then, I heard an embodied voice.

Prince has successfully reached level 10!

The voice went on to announce the various techniques I've learned in the fight. Techniques similar to the moves I have learned by heart from playing all those 'versus' games with my brother. And though I often lose to him, the experience still amounts to something.

I picked up my pouch and rummaged through it again, hoping to find a scabbard. I found one, and also a belt attached to it. I put on the belt, then slipped my sword into the scabbard carefully. I slung the pouch over my shoulder and started walking towards where I can hear the din of a bustling village. I had unknowingly stumbled on the path to it while under the haze of fighting.

"Still no sign of him?" somebody shrieked on the phone. "Just one man and you can't locate him? What am I paying you for?"

"E-excu-cuse m...me," stammered one technician, who was afraid to interrupt his boss' phone conversation.

"What!"

"Ah...eh...we have found a...a...a bug in the s..system."

"Trouble never ceases to pester me. Come on, show it to me."

"And you," talking on the phone again, "make sure you do your job. Or else, it's going to be your head I hunt."

I should have posted these 2 weeks ago, but I was distracted by this mmorpg for ipad/iphone/ipod called Celtic Heroes.
If you play it, look for me at the world of Gwydion.