I had just started a novice which I planned to turn into a shield crusader
when she showed up. Her player character was Prism Afterglow. I remember her
asking me what level I was. I really had just started the character so I was
only level one. When she told me that she was looking for someone to party
with, I said that I couldn’t help her with the one I was using but that I
wouldn’t mind coming on and tanking for her as my Grand Cross Crusader,
Ziegmihn.

After meeting, we spent a lot of time together. She created a swordie named
Freya Night just so that we could level with each other. (Well, I’d mainly
tank while she leveled but it was still fun =3 ) We’d talk a lot about
ourselves, leveled together and pretty much enjoy the game. It wasn’t long
before I realized that I had feelings for her. It wasn’t just a normal crush
or anything like that either. I truly loved her. I’d get butterflies in my
stomach whenever she was around and cherished every minute I spent with her.
One day, after we were done leveling for the day, I mustered enough courage
to tell her I loved her. It was such an awkward moment… She mentioned that
she’d like to get to know me better before deciding whether or not she felt
the same way. I respected that and waited. Now that I think about it, she
must have thought that I was insane.

Well, things just continued that way until about Christmas time. I remember
doing my best to try to make enough for her present. I wanted to get her a
red ribbon but just didn’t have enough money to do it. I spent so many hours
trying to gather items to sell and vend. Luckily, I had gathered just enough
to buy the ingredients to make one right before Christmas. We did our gift
exchange as Zieg and Freya in Lutie on the benches right next to Snowy Snow.
After talking a bit, we decided that we wanted and in game marriage. Even
though I was overjoyed at this, I was still waiting for the three words that
would make happy. They didn’t come.

It wasn’t until a little later that I heard her say them. We were training
in Payon dungeon level 3, right before the entrance to level four. She told
me that she loved me then. I remember feeling my hear skip a beat. I really
couldn’t believe how happy I felt. I didn’t sleep a wink that night either.
Since then, we’ve always been together.

I’m planning on going out to meet her in April after I finish my degree. The
tickets are bought and we’re both really excited about meeting each other.
I’m pretty confident that things will work out between us. I honestly
believe that she’s “the one” and hope to one day even ask her to marry me
(in real life I mean).

I’d like to thank everyone at Gravity Interactive for making it possible for
me to meet her. I’m truly grateful.

- Ziegmihn

I remember that I didn`t know things much in those days ... and I had only
played for a few. Someone had actually helped me, though I haven`t seen him
since, and got me through my first levels. I hadn`t been playing very long,
and so, after he starting signing on less and less, I had to play by myself.
I remember asking a Novice (who I thought was a swordsman,) if we could be
in a party together. He said he was a Novice ... but then signed onto
another character of his... named Ziegmihn.

At first, the chat was friendly and fun. We became very good friends with
each other. When my usual kind heart came online, Ziegmihn chose a lower
level character and still came with me to party. Soon, we were in parties
together all the time. I asked him for a pet Savage Babe, and I worked long
and hard for it, as did he ... though, in the end, he gave it to me as a
present. I didn`t have the funds to keep it, though, so I asked him to have
it ... and he agreed.

Time went by fast. Each night, we would spend hours leveling together ...
sometimes as similar characters; sometimes with his Crusader watching me
carefully as I leveled up to make sure I didn`t run out of HP.

And then, one day, in Payon, he told me he loved me.

Not the in-game love. The out of game love.

At first, I was a little shaken by this ... it took me some time to get
used to it. Things continued; we started exchanging gifts regularly; he
would buy me good equipment, I would give him the cards and rare items that
I found. We spent Christmas together, and exchanged gifts in Lutie.

A little while later, while we were talking in the Payon Caves and there
were ghosts and zombies about, I suddenly realized just how much he meant to
me. I really did love him. And what was amusing was that if his friend had
not introduced him to Ragnarok (he was skeptic at first) ... if I had not
asked him if he wanted to party ... then perhaps we might have never met
each other.

This is not a story of love between two characters. This is a story of love
that was born in Ragnarok, and grew into something beautiful.

Already he has plane tickets to come see me, as we live far away ... if
things go well, I will visit him; and perhaps, if things are still going
good, then who knows what will happen ... maybe we will move in together.
We`ve discussed things like that, living conditions, houses, marriage.

Thank you Ragnarok, for starting something that went beyond gaming.