My fingers were starting to cramp.
I'd been trying to pull the string for what felt like forever. The bow refused to yield. It groaned with tension but stayed firm, like it knew I didn't belong. Every time I shifted my grip or leaned back for more leverage, the stupid thing twisted in my hands like it was mocking me. Nothing about this felt welcoming. Not the weapon, not the players, and definitely not the way my arms were screaming.
My muscles burned, my back ached, and I was actually sweating... Sweating in a game. The realism setting was doing its job. Too well.
A low chuckle came from behind me. I didn't turn around.
I bit my lip, tried again. The string shifted a fraction, just enough to raise my hopes before snapping back like it was disgusted with me. My arrow dropped straight down and landed in the dirt with a pitiful flop, like it was embarrassed to be associated with me.
Caelorn, the instructor elf, said nothing. Not a word. Not even a glance of encouragement. Just stood there like a statue with arms folded and eyes like stone.
Good. I didn't need pity.
Another player beside me drew and loosed in one fluid motion. The arrow struck the bullseye with a satisfying thwick. His bow gleamed like it was freshly crafted by elven royalty. Mine looked like it had been pried out of a forgotten shed.
I wiped my forehead, the sweat cold against my skin. "Come on," I muttered. "Just once. One pull. One shot."
My arms didn't care. They trembled like overcooked noodles. Weak. Pathetic.
I took a deep breath. Planted my feet, tried to focus. Locked my shoulder, kept my elbow high, and pulled.
The bow creaked and the string moved...
Barely.
"Why is this so damn hard..." I hissed, voice low and strained. My entire upper body was shaking now. My hand felt like it was tearing apart.
[Warning: Stamina Depleted. Regenerating...]
The message blinked faintly in the corner of my vision. I blinked at it, heart thudding. Wait, I had a stamina bar?
I let the string go. My hand throbbed in time with my pulse. My shoulder screamed. I took a step back, dizzy.
This was a game?
My god, it was hell.
I crouched a little, hunched over with my palms on my knees. Trying to catch my breath. Then I looked up.
Caelorn was still watching. Like he was waiting for something. Or judging me.
Behind me, one player muttered, "That NPC's really dragging this tutorial, huh?"
Another snickered. "Kinda cool they added a clumsy NPC to show how hard archery can be. Makes the tutorial feel more alive."
Someone waved a hand in front of me. When I didn't react, they must've decided I was scripted.
[Stamina Restored.]
The message pinged and I instinctively reached for the bow again. Pulled. Failed.
Another breath. Another heartbeat. My hand still hurt, but I wasn't done yet.
[Stamina Restored.]
Try again. Almost. The string flexed.
[Stamina Restored.]
My fingers locked. I pulled with everything I had left.
The bow groaned louder than before. Something shifted.
Progress, maybe. Pain, definitely.
I glanced down at my palm and froze.
Blood.
A thin red line cut across my skin where the string had caught wrong. It stung in the cold air. This wasn't special effects. This wasn't just pain feedback.
This was real.
"God," I whispered. "How is this even possible?"
My hand was still bleeding. Not a lot, but enough to make it sting every time the cold air hit the cut. I turned it over slowly, as if it might look different from another angle, like maybe the pain would stop making sense. But no. It was there. Real. My skin was torn, my stamina bar flickering, my muscles trembling. I wasn't playing a game. I was surviving it.
[Warning: Health Critically Low. Seek rest or healing.]
The message blinked once. No urgency, no kindness. Just cold, neutral text.
I backed away and dropped to the edge of the range like my legs had just given up on me. The bow slipped from my grip and landed in the dirt with a soft thud. I didn't even try to catch it.
I sat there, breathing heavy, heart thudding like I'd run a mile uphill. Everything hurt. Not in a metaphorical way, in the way that makes you question your choices.
I watched the others. Players laughing with their friends, lining up smooth shots, breezing through the tutorial like it was a carnival game. Skill popups. Level chimes. Buffs. Rewards.
Why couldn't I do that?
What was wrong with me?
I came here to prove something, to belong, maybe...but right now, I felt like a total joke.
The thought of logging out crossed my mind for the first time.
I almost did it but the system chimed again:
[Logging out now will incur a reactivation delay: 2 weeks (real time). Confirm exit? Y/N.]
I stared at it.
Seriously?
My jaw clenched. Anger lit like a fuse in my chest. Not fair. Not now. I swiped the message away with a snap of my wrist. "No," I spat. My health bar was slowly recovering. That soft warmth again, like dappled sunlight on my skin.
When it reached a safe level, I got back up. Picked up the bow.
Tried again.
[Skill Increased: Strength +1 | Dexterity +1 | Bow Handling +1 | Pain Tolerance +1 | Focus +1]
A popup blinked to life in front of me, obnoxiously cheerful. I glared at it. "Just stop. Stop with the popups. Please. Just stop, arrrrgh!"
[All notifications disabled. Only essential alerts (Health, Mana, Stamina) will be shown.]
I could feel eyes on me again. Players, probably wondering if the clumsy NPC was finally broken.
My grip tightened around the bow. I wanted to snap it in half. I wanted to throw it into the trees and walk away. I wanted them to stop looking at me.
But I didn't give them the satisfaction.
I didn't even look at it.
"Dismiss," I said flatly.
The window vanished.
I raised the bow one more time.