A blue bird jigged on the stone wall echoing the elegant programs of nature, ignorant of anything but harmony with its peers in the quiet software of ambience. Stone sat on a cemetery bench in the cool morning. The place was well kept and quiet. Stone did not sleep much, though it was the first time he'd slept in a bed with a woman, digital or not; he didn't think of that. He tried to think of a plan, some way out, but this game was as brutal as ALS. There was no winning.

"You didn't sleep well."

Pixel's soft voice caught him off guard. He watched her as she sat next to him. Her pale blue eyes were striking. Was there not a soul in there? "I'm not sure what to do."

"I've never slept before, but I didn't want to bother you while you have so much weighing on you. It's unpleasant to be tired, but I can see that not being able to fall asleep is a burden when it's what you need."

"I didn't realize gods didn't sleep. I'm sorry, I don't even know what's really happened to you."

"Nim was kind enough to leave me with spellcraft. I am the maximum level mage which Other Worlders may attain, strong in regards to all players and originals, but I am weak compared to gods and demigods, and even certain beings of legend. You are much stronger than I, being the Mage Eater, a demigod."

"You said before that you are not sentient. It doesn't seem like that to me, sitting here with you."

"Circle members have 2.4 billion responses and learning ability which makes it possible for some adaptation, but anything which may collapse our reality is immediately known to Nim who, in a way, possesses us and gives response. I am an extension of Nim, in other words, when I am unable to react to incoming experiences. The average Non Player Character in Age of Fantasy has 1.2 billion possible responses to stimuli."

"1.2 billion responses? To questions? Like what is your favorite color?"

"That is a simple example. Black is my answer. Black, because it devours all colors, which are delicious, or were. I cannot taste them any more. Black was a simple, one word answer, the nuanced response I gave was several. You could imagine the amount of responses necessary to any random conversation or gesture and quickly realize the necessity for over a billion prepared replies in order to create the illusion of sentience."

"That's a lot of work, but I guess not so hard for a super intelligence. Color's taste?" Stone said. "What does blue taste like?"

Pixel smiled. "Royal blue tastes like sweet water, navy blue tastes like honey buttered bread, and sky blue is like a wafer with icing. Each hue has a unique texture, but all blues are usually sweet."

"Cool."

"Why does this make you tear up?" Pixel remarked on the drops of water falling down Stone's cheek.

"Even this digital world is amazing. I have a disease called ALS, Pixel. I only have a few years where I come from. Even worse, it destroys my physical body. I can't walk there. I'm in a wheel chair. I just got something in my eyes thinking about colors having taste is all. I'm okay. I'm sorry."

"There is no need to apologize. Tears are an appropriate response to pain. They are natural medicine."

Stone nodded. A small melody played in his head and the left side of his vision filled with a map of the city, the guild highlighted with a golden ball, text scrolled underneath: Wren requests you see him concerning the completed mission as soon as possible. "Looks like I have a meeting at the mage guild. Want to come along?"

"I will. Once you complete the first mission and return to Wren the world proper will be unlocked. Had you tried to venture beyond Silver Hills or the bandit camp you would have been unable to."

"I didn't even think to try, but I'm willing to bet some open world die hards probably got pissed about that."

The courtyard of the mage guild found the pair among its flowers. Wren sat beneath a tree with his legs crossed. There were several paths swerving throughout the courtyard and an infinity meditation circle, which a few students walked. Two fountains with large bronze reflecting balls dressed in falling water were at either end of the open yard and several butterfly gardens were planted, intermixed with common herbs for simple potions.

"Young Stone," Wren said as he watched the boy approach. "I've received word the bandits were slaughtered. While I have no sympathy for thieves and murderers, I am curious as to how you accomplished the task. Did you hire a sell sword? You have passed the test; no matter how you accomplished the goal, I assure you it will not be taken from you."

Stone could smell roses. It was the magic inside Wren. Drinking his first mage created a new hunger or began the real thirst. He  tried not to focus on the want for power. "I did hire a sell sword, found her outside the Mule Kick bar, well, being kicked outside for nonpayment. She needed coin and I wanted to make sure those bandits wouldn't continue to do the same thing to someone else later. Sometimes stopping an enemy one time isn't enough."

"You the sell sword?" Wren looked at Pixel.

"Stone found me in an awkward predicament and used it to benefit of us both. From a seasoned sell sword, I say he is a crafty bastard, the kind that belongs in the school of illusion for sure."

She came up with that quick. Stone was starting to really like Pixel.

Wren nodded. He managed to stand and grabbed the staff which he leaned against the tree behind him. "Well done on the bandits my boy, well done. You will be a fine illusionist some day."

Stone shrugged his shoulders as Pixel met his eyes with her own. "Thank you, sir."

"The reward for this quest is one of three Illusion spells: LIGHTBALL; FAKE SUMMON; or SHADOW CLOAK."

A brief description of each spell scrolled across Stone's vision. "I think SHADOW CLOAK works best for me."

Wren held his hand out, palm up, and a sealed scroll appeared, floating a few inches above his skin.

Stone took the scroll and stuffed it into the chest pocket of the robe underneath his light armor. It felt greedy to read it in front of Wren.

Salandar the Fenrick caught Stone's attention. The feline was accompanied by a tall man in red robes with gold trim and gold symbols along the sleeves and belt. He was High Mage Simshi, the leader of the Silver Hills guild.

"Th-this the boy I told you of."

Wren didn't look uneasy but seemed surprised to Stone. "High Mage, you wanted to know about my latest pupil?"

"Yes, Wren, Salandar is under the impression this young man is none other than our sworn enemy and god of the devouring magic himself."

Several students who were conversing in small groups through the courtyard had quieted when Simshi and Salandar entered the garden court, even more so now their attention was turned to Stone.

Subtlety may be best, Stone thought, "I did play a trick on Salandar. Being an Other Worlder, I knew how my journey would begin with the guild and wanted to start off with some fun, as illusioners do."

"Stone does have a propensity for humor, High Mage," Wren said. "But, Salandar has the gift of sight. The Fenrick may see what we cannot see."

"Tell us what you see and have seen, Salandar."

"His a-aura is powerful, sirs, stronger than either of yours. This g-girl with him too! I believe she is a mage of the highest order. I saw Stone leap over the city wall in a s-s-single bound last night, and this was after he admitted to me of having defeated Darkan."

High Mage Simshi focused on Salandar's mention of Stone and his friend being of greater strength. It stung in way which the mage was unable to admit to himself. "This girl and boy are greater mages than myself and Wren you say. When faced with two explanations, I find the simpler one tends to be correct, and in this case either your ability of sight is misplaced, or two unknown strangers, one of which has just begun his apprenticeship, is more powerful than a High Mage of the Order and a Master Illusionist."

"What about h-his flight over the wall? I-I didn't imagine that."

"There are any number of spells to accomplish the task. A beginner would be hard pressed to conjure them, but the possibility remains."

Salandar twitched his furry ears. "I-I don't know what to say. It is strange."

Simshi looked over Stone and Pixel. "What do you say?"

"I was hoping Salandar would come with Pixel and I once I left the guild, so I was trying to quietly impress him with a trick, but I think I let it go too far. Pixel has a mission to gain the Prism Stone through the path of Sky Tower on the tallest mountain in the world, and a Fenrick's power of sight would come in handy.

"I-I'm not sure what t-to say," Salandar said a little confounded by the power emitting from Stone.

Simshi smirked, "You Illusionists are more trouble than you're worth, though I do prefer some entertainment over none at all. Salandar, thank you for your vigilance. I am not fool enough to disdain an honest mistake made in good faith." The master mage bowed his head to Wren and the others, "excuse me."

Pixel was amused the Fenrick may come along. "What do you say, Salandar, make us a team of three and the journey becomes an official fellowship?"

Wren mused, "It sounds like a journey that would be full of learning Salandar, you have the guild's permission to go with them if you wish. Excuse me, another student is supposed to be checking in soon."

Salandar stared at Wren's back in confusion as the mage walked out of the courtyard. "I will g-go with you if for no other reason than to p-prove you are much more than you say you are, if you are not the Mage Eater him-s-self."

"If I were, you are a brave mage to come along then."

"More like s-stupid." Salandar smiled and it was almost threatening to Stone who wasn't used to seeing so many sharp teeth in a smile.