Invincible

by Nyllone
 

The first time I’ve been to Avie Sacrifice, I was sure I would not jump.  It was in my first few weeks, and I know I just couldn’t and wouldn’t do it.  Phonk nearly mastered the art of motivation and encouragement to make me jump, but to no avail.  I was such (and still am) a scaredy cat.  I was not really adventurous enough to try out new things.  My There throat had gone dry and my There heart was jumping out of my There ribs.  I couldn’t do it.  So we just walked around the place instead and talked a while.  When Phonk finally seemed to have given up on making me jump,  he just asked me to look how far it is down there.  So I started walking near the edge to check it out for myself.  It was when I took another *unwanted* step that sent me reeling, and lurching, and rolling, and stumbling.  I couldn’t look at myself as I wobbled my way down.  Fortunately, after some time, I stopped falling half the mountain when I hit a ledge.  Phonk met me there and we couldn’t seem to stop laughing.  But oh!  How bad it felt falling unprepared!

After ten months in There, I still cannot bear to see myself get bashed by buggies, shot at, fall off Avie Sacrifice (I went back there to jump willfully after several months), thrown off the Avie Cannon, on a freefall after the hoverboat disappears upon entering a no flying zone or just the thought of accidentally falling off a cliff while questing.  It’s such an uncomfortable feeling to see my virtual self stumble over and over in what seemed to be no end.  Hitting ground in different poses, helplessly.  And just when I thought that the fall could actually maim me for the rest of my There life, I automatically get up from the ground, strike a pose and make a happy emote.  If I could even dust my clothes, I would.  Then again, it doesn’t matter.  I always look spic and span.

The different weather in world could have been bad, but I am always in the pink of health.  I can go from one place that’s having thunderstorms to another that’s totally humid in mid afternoon.  I’ve lapped a few while raining and snowing, and not get sick at all.  I’ve spent hours looking for a clue in the snowcapped mountains and the Aurora Icebergs, and no hypothermia nor frostbite whatsoever.  I’ve spent time exploring the deserts, but not a bit parched nor burnt at all.  

I fell, flipped and flew off tracks, but still managed to get back on.  I hit a tree head on in my Scion, but still good.  I spun in my buggy and turned turtle in it but quickly turned right up.  I got the whole house on me once, but jumped out of it.  I trampled bonfires and stayed for a while and not get scorched at all.  I ran through doors and walls unscathed, I breathed and talked under water, I even went to hell and back.  And I’m still in one piece.  Isn’t it amazing how I survived all those things, and still manage to roll on the floor laughing?

If only we are that invincible in real life as well.  No broken bones after falling off the stairs or chairs.  No broken budgets for repairs of vehicles that you smash.  No broken immune systems in slight or extreme change of weather.  No broken spirit after being bashed non-stop.  And most of all, no broken hearts after losing something truly special. 

Thing is, There is virtual.  Thank goodness, it is.  Thank goodness for the force field that protects.  Thank goodness for the ability to teleport if need be.  Thank goodness for the ignore feature.  Thank goodness for the semi-constant happy emote that registers.  Thank goodness, I am invincible even just in There.