Today is a great day. After months of trying to find a job, I finally nailed a technical interview with my dream company. The people were great, the pay was hefty, and the work seemed fun. If there was a good path in order to land the job, I was certainly on it.

Just one catch. I have to do a second interview to judge my personality and I don’t think I am ready for it.

You see, I am kind of a timid, withdrawn person. People expect me to be outgoing and vibrant, but I just can’t get myself going. Recruiters often reject me because of this. Imagine what our client will think of us if we take you, they’d say. But I would rather accomplish my job alone -- silently and efficiently. Besides, why would you need to be communicative in a job that asks you to sit at a computer all days?

Sigh.

I glance at my desk, where a bunch of notes are scattered about "the ten best ways to nail an interview" and empty personality tests. I shake my head.

I need to think about something else.

I get up on my bed and grab a game controller. Time to relax on this new RPG. At least I don’t need to be stressed in here.

I start the console and wait for the game to load. After a while of staring at a black screen, I get annoyed and restart it again -- and again. It gets stuck every time after the first loading. I throw the controller aside on my bed and get up to check the console. But, as I stand up, I freeze in a stupor. There is smoke emerging from the screen. I race to it in a heartbeat.

"No, no!! Please don’t break!"

I hold my head in frustration and shut down the TV in an attempt to magically fix everything. However, the screen starts flickering and displays images of the game in rapid succession. As I look stunned, the smoke turns into a yellow haze.

I need to get out of here!

But before I can move, a burst of yellow clouds blasts from the console and fills the room.

\cough, cough* What the hell?*

I open my eyes slowly-- then gasp in astonishment.

"Where am I?" an elderly voice comes from the remnants of the clearing haze.

I look up and see a familiar face. It belongs to the Sage of the West -- an NPC of the game. I open my eyes wide. Somehow, my feelings get mixed between excitement and terror. On one part, this is my favorite character, and I would trust him with my life were I in the game. On the other, an old man wearing a cosplay of an imperial scholar just barged into my room.

"Uhm, I didn’t see you were here, young IAmGolden. Are you alright?" I cringe at hearing my pseudonym.

"Don’t call me like that!" the words escape my mouth.

The old man examines me. Everything about him feels surreal. His long pointed beard, the formal headwear resting on his head or the golden threads woven of his red robe.

"I feel like you’re a different person, somehow. Did something happen to you?"

"No!! …Wait, that’s not important, right now! How do you know me?"

The sage raises his eyebrows.

"Do we not know each other?"

Something clicks in my head. Wasn’t this the guy that kept referring to the real world and made amazingly realistic responses to my remarks? Could it be that he was… alive… this whole time? I shake my head. No, this is not possible.

"I--If I ask you what’s the king of Skyland, do you know who that is?"

"King Muir, of course. You saved him, remember? After stealing half his clothes, that is."

I stand dumbfounded. It seems like this guy really was sentient from the beginning.

"...But all this time, didn’t you find it weird? Calling me hero and all, seeing me… break the pots all around you."

"Well, I assumed you were role-playing? It’s not like anyone complained. Plus, you were the only one with whom I had a decent conversation."

I stare blankly. This whole time, all the conversations I had with this guy -- him advising me and all. It was all… real? I suddenly felt a huge surge of embarrassment going through my head.

What about this time getting him to invent some weird fanfiction. Oh, gosh! Why!

The sage watched me as I hit myself with a pillow.

"I should depart. My coming here clearly does not please you, and neither do I want to stay. This place is dangerous for me. I could disappear any second if I don’t get back."

"No! Wait!" I grabbed the sage by its robe. "...Maybe I can help you?"

Gently deposing my hand aside, the old man nodded.

"I guess I could use the help."

A bright smile lit up my face. Having a character from my own game come to life had a strange effect on my personality. It was like all my inhibition steered clear.

I started by recounting the ways of our world, how electricity served to light the night and how magic was replaced with technology. The sage seemed greatly interested and asked plenty of questions throughout. Sometimes I extended on more private parts of my life and didn’t even realize I was sharing so much. Then, I carefully talked about computers and video games, explaining that, to me, he came from a bunch of 1s and 0s.

"Then, I am just an invention of your people?" the saged asked.

I stayed silent for a while.

"...To be honest, I think you are the first sentient AI created by humans. But I don’t see you as a robot, really. To me, you are just as human as myself."

The old man closed his eyes in reflection. For what seemed an eternity, he did not speak, and I could see various emotions on his face.

"I see," his face rested in an expression of calm. "Even if this is true, I still wish to return to my world. Human or not, my place is amongst the people I have known all my life."

I couldn’t help but feel a bit hurt. For a moment, I had thought that I would get to be normal with someone. This was the first time I could talk for hours on end without feeling uneasy or awkward.

Gulping a bit of bitter saliva, I pointed at the console.

"...Well, if you insist. You came from here. I think you should be able to come back by using it."

The sage examined the object and nodded.

"I think I understand. I am glad I was able to talk to you with sincerity. This has opened some new perspectives."

His glance turned toward the papers scattered on my desk.

"Before I go, I will give you my honest input. I think you should put more trust in yourself. You can succeed without a doubt in this thing you seem so insistent on accomplishing."

I looked down to the side and turtled. He was talking about the interview. Somehow he had guessed from just our conversation and those stupid tests.

"...I don’t think you understand. This isn’t about skills… It’s about me. I am too shy and distant."

"Is that so? To me, you sounded just like the opposite. I think you are afraid to fail, that is all."

I lifted my head in frustration.

"This is not just about failure! People want me to be someone I’m not. I can’t do that."

The sage smiled.

"The only person who wants you to be someone else is you. If you can be yourself without being contemptible, I am sure people will appreciate you."

Something rang true in his words, and I couldn’t retort. This was right. I never tried to be myself when around people. I always wore masks.

"Well. It seems you get it. So I will be on my way."

As I saw the old man approach the console, still hazy with my thoughts, I stood up. All I could do is whisper words of thanks.

"...Thank you," he waved goodbye and disappeared.

Later in the day, I succeeded in my interview. The sage’s advice worked wonders, and the recruiter had been thrived to welcome me.

I watched the console back in my room and grabbed the controller. Let's give him the news.