Fenixa looked down at herself. Man, this is such a cool get up! I love the accessories that come with it. She smiled, gathering her long, wavy purple hair into a ponytail and securing it with the scarlet Repth bandanna. I need to keep it out of the way for when I start fighting things - I don't want it hindering my movements.

She glanced about. Mac Anu, the root town of the Delta Server, was full of people. Canals separated various parts of Mac Anu, bridges of varying shapes, colours and sizes arching over crystal-clear water. People of different classes and occupations bustled over them, going about their daily routines. The sun shone warmly down on her in an endless expanse of sapphire-blue; she narrowed her ruby eyes against its harsh glare, not used to such brightness.

The air was filled with shouts, laughter and chatter; a cacophony of sounds, a fusion of smells. A whole variety of heady aromas struck her at once, rendering her light-headed and almost dizzy. She could not get over how real everything was. She could feel the wind caressing her face, the hardness of the cobblestone town square beneath her feet, see the intricate details of the sophisticated architecture and the dazzling colours of flags, people's attire and the lively awnings sheltering stalls and shops. The town seemed so sharply defined, so vivid it nearly hurt to look at it. It all never ceased to amaze her.

Rebecca was right; the World was in a league of its own compared to other online games and it took roleplaying to a whole new level. It was like the make believe games she had played in the playground as a little girl but with one major difference - she could see, hear and feel everything around her.

Rebecca had logged off after telling her what she needed to know about getting started in the World. She had told her that the best way of discovering its wonders was to explore and learn them for yourself. I guess she's right, Fenixa conceded. I can't wait! I'm so excited, I don't know where to start looking around first. Maybe I should just go for a walk and see what there is.

Fenixa strolled through the town, stopping now and then to look at things in shop windows or browse items displayed on various stalls. The one thousand gold pieces in her pocket jingled slightly as she did so and did not decrease; there were so many different things to choose from but until she had thought carefully on what to purchase, she would not spend any money.

Fenixa sat down on a bench in the town square to take a break after a while of wandering around. She had bought various items; some were going to prove useful on her journey and the adventures she would embark on whilst others were for pleasure rather than practicality. They were unique, beautiful items that were nearly never found in the real world; potions, magical charms and other weird and wonderful things.

She shifted her gaze to the monument standing in the centre of the square. It did not look like anything special; just a huge, circular mirror. How odd - putting something like that here, she thought. They could have at least built something a bit more exciting. The way people are staring at it in a mixture of awe and reverence is really weird...what's so interesting about a mirror? It might be a magical looking glass or something like that. Perhaps I should have a look.

Fenixa walked up to it, marvelling at how the gold rimming the glass caught the sun. It was beautiful, that much was undeniable but something about it was not quite right. The glass did not shine and she could not see her reflection like she could on the surface of the water the bridges arched over. A thought hit her. Maybe it wasn't glass at all!

She gingerly raised her hand and her fingers brushed the surface. It rippled like water. The tips of her fingers became partially submerged in the strange substance and she was surprised to find that she could feel wind on the other side. She withdrew her hand, flexing her fingers; they were not wet. Whatever the mirror's surface was, it certainly was not glass or water. One thing was for sure. It was a portal to someplace.

Hey! Maybe this is the Chaos Gate Rebecca told me about that transports players to different areas of the field depending on their level, Fenixa mused. It's definitely different from what I expected. Only one way to find out.

She tightened the knot in the red bandanna securing her purple ponytail, steeling herself. Her ruby eyes remained fixed on the great mirror before her. This was it; the portal that would take her to a different area of the field. The Chaos Gate. The only way to truly to test your worth as a player was to enter it and be prepared to take on whatever was on the other side.

Crystal tightened her grasp on the controller. She felt a slight pang at the thought of leaving Rebecca behind in Mac Anu; after all, her friend would worry about her upon finding herself alone in the town. But I've got to do this part alone. It's like she said - you have to discover the wonders and dangers of The World by yourself when starting out. You can't be taught something like that. By doing this, I'll have proved to myself and her that I have the courage to venture into unchartered territory.

Straightening and squaring her shoulders, Fenixa banished all thoughts of uncertainty from her mind and strode boldly through the portal. The sensation of the strange substance sliding over her skin made her shudder; it felt like she was diving headfirst into thick slime or goo. The unexpectedness of it was enough to make her pause halfway. She felt her stomach churn and what felt like bile rise to her throat, almost making her wretch. Clenching her teeth, she forced down the lump and stuff in her throat, fought down the urge to recoil in revulsion, clamped her eyes shut and pressed on, submerging the rest of her body.

A cool breeze carressed her face. Her heart leaped. It was the same wind she had felt upon pushing her hand through the portal. She inhaled deeply. It smelt and tasted fresh and sweet, reminding her of trips to the New Forest back home in the UK. She could no longer feel the gruesome touch of the stuff of which the Chaos Gate was comprised and she breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed like she had made it through okay. Her ruby pools flickered open.

Her vision shifted into focus.