[transmission break]

"Balmung. We've just got two more on the game," a short man said. A large figure turned and looked down on him.

"Good. The total count now is one thousand. Who is the one thousandth?" he asked.

"Um. This file says her true name is Faye, but her name in here is Fall. She's a heavy blade, she's in Mac Anu right now," he said.

"I'll go pay her a visit, give her a prize," he said.

[recovered]

She looked down at my hand as it inched towards her.

"Excuse me?" she said quietly, obviously confused as to what was going on.

"Oh! Sorry! It was," I smiled a bit, "enticing?" Surprisingly enough she didn't slap me, only laughed.

"Yeah, I guess it is a bit revealing. It's too small for em!" She laughed and I blushed again. "Go ahead, pull the string. Untie it!"

"What?" Now I was confused. She wants me to do what?

"You heard me. Go ahead!"

"I don't think I should," I said sheepishly.

"Don't think you should what?" a deep brave voice sounded.

"Nothing, I," I froze. This man behind me looked like a warrior, and him hanging out with us was, well, unexpected?

"Your name is Fall, is it not?" he asked, walking over to her, wrapping his arm around her waist.

She giggled and nodded her head, her eyes gleaming.

"You are the one thousandth person to join The World. I have a present for you," he said. He smiled gently and stood back, pointed to her with his sword, and a magnificent pair of wings sprouted from her back. A halo shone above her head, making her golden hair even more beautiful.

"You've gotten the gift of the angel. You have new skills, and you will be the only one ever to have this gift. Use it well," he said. He kissed her forehead and disappeared.

"Wow," she said, confused at what had just happened. "I think I'm special."

I laughed. "Hey, do you wanna go talk?" I said hopefully.

"Why not? The plains?" she asked.

"I thought you didn't know anything about this game!"

"I read the back of the box! Come on!"

We entered the new world of Dun Lorieag. We ran to the plains and lay in the sun, enveloping every minute of it's warmth.

"How old are you?" I asked.

"Well, in here I'm 15, but outside I'm 21! I'm pretty dorky, huh?" she said.

"No. I'm 16 here but 22 out there. Do you look anything like," I didn't know how to phrase it.

"Well, the boobs are right. And the hair. And the height. But the rest isn't! I can't find any clothes like this in the store! What about you?"

Oh no. The question she just asked was the one I was dreading. "Not exactly. I was going for a new look. I'm different on the outside," I said swiftly.

"Hey. That's cool. So," she stretched and yawned, "where you from?" She covered her eyes with her back arm. She peeked out with a look of question on her face.

"Tokyo. I went to school at Tokyo University Tech Department," I replied.

"Seriously? Oh my god! I'm live right near there! Two blocks away in that huge apartment! Do you know where Night Life is?"

"Yeah. But I've never been there. So, those wings, they must be pretty special,"

"I guess. It's pretty neat!" She got up and started to stretch the wings in the sun. She just stood there, absorbed in thought, and my thoughts went elsewhere. Her skirt, fluttering in the breeze, was so inviting. I wanted to reach out and just take a peek at what was underneath it. My hand reached up, almost on its own, and slowly lifted the skirt upwards.

"I'll allow you to continue if you justify why you're doing it," she said, not even looking at me. The fabric slipped from my hand, my head hung, and she sighed. She mumbled something quietly and turned to me. "I'll be right back, I have to drive my mom to the port." Her character froze, smiling brightly at me.

I got up and decided to follow through with her earlier instructions. My hands gingerly fingered the delicate ribbon that held everything from crashing down. I wanted to pull, I wanted to see it, but I didn't. I decided to leave that for later. Well, as long as it was before she came back.

At that moment I decided I should find somebody else for the party. The manual suggested three people, so I'm on the lookout for a third person. People sifted past me, not even giving me a passing glance. I gave up hope. I was a beginner, nothing more, and nobody would want to be in a party with me. I didn't stand out so much here. Nobody really did. Except for the fallen angel standing on the hill.

I looked back at her, and found that she was surrounded by strangers, gaping at her wings, halo, and other features. I rushed up the hill, desperate to make them leave her alone.

"Is this a new event?" one girl asked.

"Do we have to wake her up?" another pondered.

"Maybe it's a statue!" a man said.

"Fools. It's a player who's stepped away from the terminal. She's the thousandth player, so she got a prize from Sir Balmung himself," a tall tawny woman sneered. She shot a glance at me. "You're in her party?"

"Yes,"

"All of you leave at once!" she said, pushing them away with her rod. "My name is Yvonne. I'm always around if you need help or advice. She's going to be one you'll have to protect."

And with that she was gone.