“Wait!” Jaime said suddenly. “We have one more problem.”

“What’s the matter, Jaime?” Will said, smirking. “Afraid you’ll break a nail?”

“This is a serious one, Will!” she told him. “Look, we’re all experienced gamers, sure. The characters we’ve taken on have been through dozens, if not hundreds, of battles. But we, the players, have any of us ever really been in a fight?”

“I’m a…”

“I know, Dave, you’re a black belt. But have you ever been in a fight that wasn’t in a ring with rules?” She had me there.

“A valid point, my dear,” Adrovan replied. “But you are not merely playing your characters. You are your characters. All their knowledge and skills are yours.”

“Meaning,” she asked, “I can cast any spell that Tanitha can, because I am Tanitha.”

“Exactly!” Adrovan answered.

“Okay, then” I said. “One more query. Everyone is one of their characters from this world. I’ve only ever played one wizard here. Who am I supposed to be?”

Adrovan laughed. “Why, that should be obvious, my boy. You’re me!”