《The Heavy Swordsman》 Stoneshire 1 The Heavy Swordsman Chapter 1: Stoneshire It was to the sound of birds that Grinston woke up to, same as the day prior and the one before that. However, Grinston quickly pushed himself off his straw bed, shoving the tattered woolen shirt around his waist as he rushed out the door. He returned only a moment after to grab the leather sack of coins he had forgotten as well as a burlap sack that held the rest of his worldly possessions. The walk from the inn to the town hall was not long, but to him it felt like an eternity. ¡®Today, my life will change¡¯, he told himself as he walked with all his speed. It was his eighteenth birthday, and he could finally realize the aspirations that had plagued him for so long; today, he could become an adventurer and finally make a name for himself. It didn''t take long for him to approach the run-down building that this town centered around. He couldn''t help but curse himself mentally when he saw that the doors were locked shut. The sun had just barely come up, and it wasn¡¯t likely that the guild officials were to be around soon. Grinston sighed and began to walk around the building as he waited. It was on his third lap that he happened upon a familiar face. ¡°Master Flynn,¡± Grinston called respectfully. The old man turned around to see him. Slowly, his eyes lit up. ¡°Aye, a blessed morning to you, Grinston. What happened to bring you out at such an early hour?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m waiting for the adventurers guild to open.¡± Grinston replied, cheerfully. ¡°It seems I could¡¯ve well waited in the comforts of my bed, though.¡± The old man¡¯s eyes looked as though whatever had joyed them died in front of him. After the briefest moment of silence, he finally began to speak again. ¡°Must you continue with this path, that you have decided?¡± he asked. ¡°If it is better work that you seek, I can find you an apprenticeship perhaps.¡± ¡°That is not necessary, Master Flynn. It is not the thrill of labor that I seek.¡± He sighed. ¡°You and your cursed youth. Would you be so kind as to walk with me?¡± He said as he turned around without waiting for an answer. Despite Flynn''s age, Grinston had to walk quickly to catch up. ¡°Over the years, I have tried to guide you to become a good man, and I have succeeded. If you wish to learn the faith, I can teach you to say the prayers, and show you how to perform the rituals. If you want to serve our town as a clerk, I can find a place for you. However, this path that you are taking is one that I cannot aid you. Except for one small council I can share with you: as an adventurer, there may come a time when you will have to strike down another man who means harm to you. The gods will not fault you for this, but when the man has fallen, do not take his weapon as your own. A fallen opponent¡¯s sword is a sacred object.¡± The old priest finally stopped walking and laid a hand on Grinston¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I know you have told me never to speak of him, but your father would be proud of the man you grew to be.¡± Master Flynn then turned once more. and went to perform his duties. Grinston stayed where he was. The feeling of his aged friend¡¯s hand still present on his shoulder. He had never known his parents as they had died in a war when he was a child. He had been told they were apparently good people. ¡®Too good for this world, perhaps.¡¯ Grinston thought solemnly. When he looked at the orange sky, Grinston saw that the sun had finally begun to peak above the horizon. ¡®The guild would be opening soon¡¯ he thought as he began to travel back to the ancient town hall. The town hall was by far the largest structure in Stoneshire. Its frame was built by large oak trees that had been cut into forming large pillars. Then, stone was dragged from the same mountains that had given the town its name and were used to build the floors. The rest was added over the next centuries, piece by piece. When staring at the building, it was easy to see what parts were original and which were not. There was a legend that the dwarves had built the settlement, and humans merely won it in war centuries later. The truth was lost to time, though. Upon arriving, Grinston shoved open the heavy metal doors. The adventurers guild was deep in the building next to the guard barracks. It wasn¡¯t a far walk and when he opened the door to the guild, he was greeted by a half asleep guild manager. She could¡¯ve been no older than twenty and had deep, sunken eyes. ¡°Welcome to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild.¡± she said with a slow drawl. ¡°How may I assist you?¡± The lack of enthusiasm didn¡¯t disturb Grinston, though. ¡°Today is the day I have grown to maturity, and I wish to become an adventurer.¡± Grinston replied proudly. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the guild manager roll her eyes. ¡°Very well,¡± she said, ¡°in order to join, there is a fee of eight silver. ¡± Grinston poured the contents of his pouch and began to count them. ¡®eight¡¯, he thought. That¡¯s half of my savings. He placed the eight coins into her hand and pocketed the rest. She inspected the coins and then handed him a bronze emblem. ¡°This is your adventurer rank. Try not to lose it because it¡¯s one of the most valuable objects we will give you.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Grinston asked. ¡°Hold the emblem out,¡± the lady commanded. When Grinston complied, she began to chant. The tiny symbol began to glow red and when she said his name, a message appeared.
Name: Grinston Race: Human Class: Unlocked at rank 5 Personality: Chivalrous Upstart Player Magic Tier: 1 Ascension: Locked at level 100
Level: 1 Strength Dexterity Intelligence Charisma Mana
HP: 100 8 13 10 9 0
Skills Combat Sight
Perks Unlocked at Level 15
¡®Combat sight?¡¯ he said to himself, in disbelief. He seemed to understand everything else but what was that? When he looked at the woman, he understood. Level 1 Civilian was written above her head. She sighed as he was looking around in amazement. ¡°The Stoneshire Guild is proud to have access to Player Magic,¡± she explained. ¡°Many other combat related professions such as militaries and mercenary guilds also possess the same enchantments. To activate the emblem, simply hold it and say ¡®Show Stats.¡¯ I highly recommend not doing so while in a fight. Now sign this and you will officially be an adventurer.¡± When he signed his name, he felt like a new man. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s everything,¡± the guild lady said. ¡°Is there anything else you need?¡± She looked as though she was ready to go back to sleep, but was only refraining due to his presence. ¡°Just one more question,¡± Grinston promised, ¡°where can I purchase some gear?¡± ¡°The town armory is on the upper level. Show the guards your adventurer pin and you can purchase gear there.¡± Grinston gave his thanks and went to finally purchase a weapon. He had tried once, three years ago, but they had told him that he had to have permission from the town. Today, he had finally been granted that privilege and he was not sure what he wanted to buy. A sword was a weapon for heroes, but did he want one large enough to cut a man in half, or did he want one thin and slender? He figured the choice would become clear when he got there. Just as the woman had said, when he showed the level 5 guards his emblem, they let him through into the armory. As he entered, he saw a man hunched over an anvil with a bald head and a thick beard. ¡°Good morning, blacksmith. I¡¯ve come to see your wares.¡± The man did not look up. ¡°They look something like that,¡± he said while gesturing at the surrounding room. Grinston¡¯s face showed his frustration. ¡°Yes, but I have also come to purchase some,¡± he said. Then, Grinston looked at a slender sword that was tucked into a sheath. ¡°How much for this one?¡± The armorer glanced up for barely a second. ¡°That sword will cost you 60 silver.¡± ¡°60?!¡± Grinston replied, shocked. ¡°I¡¯ve seen cheaper houses than that friend!¡± The blacksmith finally stopped pounding his hammer and looked up. ¡°Aye, you bastard, I bet you have. But the cost of iron has gone up in recent months. Had you had come here last summer, it would have only cost you half of that. Maybe next summer I will charge you its weight in gold.¡± He returned to his hammering. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Then please tell me, is there anything here that I could buy for eight silver?¡± Grinston asked, his hope quickly fading. The blacksmith looked around. ¡°I have a dagger set that I will give you for eight. There is also a wristguard that I¡¯d be willing to sell for 7.¡± Grinston was heartbroken. No worthwhile adventurer had walked into battle with just a pair of daggers. ¡°Is there truly nothing else?¡± The man began to say something but then stopped himself. He walked into the back of the room and a second later came holding two pieces of wood and iron. ¡°There¡¯s this old broken spear that just came in. I was going to use it for spare parts, but I¡¯d be willing to fix it and give it to you for eight silver.¡± Grinston jumped at the chance to take it. ¡°Well, alright then,¡± the blacksmith replied. ¡°Come first thing tomorrow and I will have it ready.¡± Grinston paid the man his fee and bid him farewell, and left to see what else the day would bring. The sun was high in the sky as Grinston marched around the field picking up berries. Although earlier that morning, he had become an adventurer, until he had a weapon, he had to continue to work the job he had always done. It was hours of back breaking work before he was finally able to go to the tavern to drink off the day''s events. He had only a handful of copper coins from the day''s earnings. Grinston did the mental math, it was three copper a night to stay in the inn, so he had only two copper for dinner and drinks. Chicken was three copper so he¡¯d just buy one piece of bread for one copper, and a mug of ale for another. He would have no money by morning. He was sitting at the table to eat his meager dinner when he spotted a group of adventurers barge through the door. Grinston saw as they went up to the tavern owner and laughed while handing him a few silver coins. They ordered a full bottle of wine, the contents of which Grinston had never tasted. He saw that the head adventurer was a handsome, young man. He wore an iron vest and his shield was engraved with some fanciful drawings. The sword he held in his right hand was made of steel and it was probably worth more than all of Grindstone possessions combined. He was level 10 which was the highest Grinston had ever seen. To his right, a colorful mage with purple hair wielded a wooden staff with a bright blue crystal at the center. Her robe was a light shade of red that matched her pretty eyes. Next to her was a behemoth of a man who stood a good two heads taller than Grinston. He was so tall that he had to crouch to keep his head from hitting the door, Grinston noted. His weapon was a great sword the size of the mage standing next to it. Its metal was rusted through, and not nearly as well maintained as the shieldman¡¯s. Surprisingly, he held the lowest level of 7 in the party. Lastly, next to the party leader, there was a thin woman with a dagger who¡¯s eyes looked hungry for trouble. The clothes she wore were plain and dark but not unfashionable. With a booming voice, the large adventurer began to laugh and pound the table with such force that the table nearly bent from the impact. Apparently, the rogue had a witty sense of humor to accompany her goth style. As he finished his cheap bread and beer, Grinston felt a tinge of envy for the lives that those adventurers had. However, he assured himself that he will live a life like that even if it took him decades of hard work. Finally, he went to the inn to check out a room for the night. After handing over the last of the three copper he had to his name, he stumbled on to the straw bed. Sleep soon came crashing down on him. As the sun replaced the moon in the sky, daylight crept into the inn to greet Grinston. He once again collected all his worldly possessions and walked out to face the coming day. The town armorer had promised him that his spear would be ready today, and this meant that Grinston was finally prepared to take his first adventuring contract. His mind began to wonder as he made his way to the town square. Adventurer contracts were handed out at the guild but were often heavily regulated by an adventurer¡¯s rank. As a beginner, it was unlikely Grinston could qualify to get a lucrative contract at the moment. But he was confident that he would be able to make a lot more through mercenary work than he could through working the land of one of the landed farmers. He had to stop his incessant thinking, though, because he finally walked into the blacksmith¡¯s cluttered workshop. Grinston looked around. Swords of every size and shape were laid out everywhere. A spiked mace was hung on the wall next to a battle ax that was as large as a small commoner. Shields that ranged from wooden to steel were also scattered throughout the room. Grinston heard the pounding of a hammer in the back of the room. ¡°Hello,¡± Grinston called. ¡°I¡¯m here to pick up my spear.¡± The hammering stopped and silence filled the room. Grinston watched as the man came out holding several large weapons bundled in his arms. ¡°It appears you have,¡± he said, as he shoved them onto a nearby table. He then walked into the back of the room and went under a bench for a few seconds. When he emerged, he was brandishing a six-foot tall spear that was two inches taller than Grinston. When the blacksmith tossed the slender weapon, Grinston tried to catch it, but it hit the ground with a thunk. Grinston thought he could hear the man mutter about adventurers as he bent down to pick it up. None of that mattered though, Grinston finally was about to start a new chapter in his life. ¡°Good morning,¡± Grinston told the guild manager, hoping to alleviate the stress he felt before receiving his first quest.. ¡°Is it?¡± The sleep-deprived woman asked. ¡°I see you brought a weapon this time. Would you like to hear the quests for this week?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± Grinston replied enthusiastically, as he tightened his grip on the spear as if to test if it were still there. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± she said, as she looked through a bundle of papers. ¡°Well, there is a request for a merchant requesting an adventurer to accompany his wagon on a trip to a nearby city named Trianth. It will pay one silver per day¡± One silver a day was twice what Grinston made normally, but Grinston wondered what else there was. ¡°Is that all?¡± he said. ¡°Let me finish,¡± she said, though surprisingly not sounding truly annoyed. ¡°There is a goblin infestation about a day''s march from here and that pays 5 silver, though it is recommended that a party of at least three level 5 adventurers undertake the mission. Lastly, we have one other job, though I doubt you want it.¡± Grinston was to say something when she quickly cut him off. ¡° A few weeks ago the town''s sewage was backed up. We sent an adventurer in to find the source of the blockage. The blockage cleared but he never came back up. Investigate this and we will pay you three silver coins.¡± Grinston thought for a moment, he never imagined that searching the sewers would be something he would be doing as an adventurer. He could play it safe and get the cushy job just being a paid bodyguard but he didn¡¯t decide to become an adventurer to play it safe. ¡°When can I head down to the sewers?¡± he asked. ¡°Right away,¡± she replied. Three builders were gathered around him with a large rope to the side. They removed the metal block that was attached to one of the town roads and threw one of the ropes in. Grinston watched as it descended into the darkness. He fiddled with the torch that the guild manager had handed him when he signed the quest contract. All he had to do was find the man¡¯s body, and bring it back for a proper burial. He grabbed the rope and gave it a strong tug. When it was clearly secure, he began to slide down as he wondered what the man would look like. When his feet finally hit the floor, he lit a torch, illuminating the stone wall of the sewers as well as the foul liquid at his side. The smell was wretched, of course, but not as bad as Grinston had thought it would be. There was fortunately also a place to walk that was not directly in the sewers; Grinston was grateful for that small mercy. When Grinston walked away from the rope, one of the town¡¯s builders called out to him. ¡°Meet us in three hours!¡± Grinston gave them a thumbs up and began his search. The sewers were a labyrinth buried beneath the town. Multiple times Grinston realized that he had just been walking in circles and he wondered if the unfortunate man had just become impossibly lost. There was one easy thing to find though, rats. No matter where he went, he could see the outline of their tails or hear the scampering of their paws. After a while, Grinston began to get used to the sound. So much so that when Grinston stopped for a moment, he realized he couldn¡¯t hear a single rat. He looked around. The smell had seemed to have also gotten even worse. Grinston continued deeper through the tunnels. He spotted something floating in the wretched water blocking part of the flow. He wasn¡¯t sure what it was so he got closer, so close that part of his body was directly above the sewage. He used his spear to give a small push to the object and what he saw, he was sure he would never forget. A body infested with squirming maggots was what remained of the man that Grinston had traveled down for. Grinston retracted his spear and began to ferociously wipe it down against the wall. After Grinston managed to calm himself, he inspected the body closer. It was utterly destroyed, but the corpse''s head was clearly caved in. Grinston was wondering what could¡¯ve done that. He began to search the area. He walked until he felt something under his boot. He looked down and used the torch to reveal a half-eaten rat next to his feet. Grinston suddenly wanted to go back to his old life but he steeled his nerves and continued forward. Dead rats became more and more common the further he went, until they covered the floor in a state of decay. Underneath a pile of the deceased vermin, Grinston saw the unmistakable outline of a man¡¯s face. For the first time ever, the text above the man was red instead of blue; he was level 2. Grinston froze as did the man. Then the monster-like man pushed his way out of his bed of filth and began to run at him with a rock in his mangled hand raised high. Grinston took his spear and stabbed blindly in the man¡¯s direction. It struck the man in his right arm and he began screaming. Words appeared in Grinston''s vision: 30 damage dealt. ¡°What are you?!¡± Grinston demanded. The man began to snarl at him but whimpered when Grinston held the torch near him. Grinston had a million thoughts in his head, but he shoved them down to focus on the strange bearded man ahead of him. As quick as a snake, the man lunged at Grinston once more but was repelled by another poke with the spear. 40 damage dealt. He was bleeding now, and his attacks became more frantic. He threw the rock at Grinston and rushed forward to bite him with his rotted teeth. The rock struck Grinston in the chest, dealing 15 damage and no doubt leaving a nasty bruise. Grinston readied himself to feel the man''s teeth chomping down on his flesh but Grinston¡¯s spear saved him from the fate. When Grinston finally opened his eyes again , he saw that the man was dead on his spear. 80 damage dealt. Congratulations, you have slayed level 2 Human Maniac! Level up! Rank 2 reached! Achievement unlocked: First Kill First Kill - In combat, kill one sentient being intentionally. Grinston pulled his spear out of the lunatic¡¯s body and watched as the lifeless corpse fell to the ground. Grinston watched as rats began to climb down the walls of the cavern, undoubtedly smelling the fresh blood. Grinston knew he had to act fast. He looked through the man¡¯s remaining cloth and looked for any proof he could. The words appeared again: Item acquired! Common Adventurer insignia! His hands grazed something metal, and when he brought it close to his eyes, he realized it was a bronze medallion not too dissimilar to the one the guild manager had given him. With this evidence in hand, he rushed back to the exit, hoping to leave the hellhole that was the sewers of Stoneshire Note: Most gold, silver, and copper coins were minted by the magical races of dwarves, gnomes, and elves. Human kingdoms traded crafted goods and slaves in exchange for the precious metals and used the coins as a universal currency. The Duchy of the Ardent Chapter 2: The Duchy of the Ardent Wendell watched from the tower ramparts as knights trained in the yard. The sounds of wood striking metal was a satisfying music to his ears. Men in full steel armor wrestled and trained for upcoming battles that were unlikely to ever come. Wendell almost fell asleep from the boredom but he was interrupted from his yawn when he saw his older brother wave his wooden practice sword triumphantly. Apparently, he scored a well-placed strike on the old master-at-arms, Connor Bearthrop. Although he was a rank 40 Crusader Shieldsman, it appeared his age was getting to him. Wendell allowed himself a small smile when he saw his brother get quickly disarmed soon after. Tired of the performance, Wendell looked at the parchment that held the message which had been tormenting him for the past day. The paper was yellow from the elements but the writing was still clear and concise. Dear Wendell of the Luthen Clan, I have received your message regarding your potential involvement in the Trianthian military. Due to your military training, I am prepared to offer you a lieutenant¡¯s position in the Trianthian Legion. The pay will be commensurate with your effectiveness in combat. However, to start, you will receive 25 gold per month. The contract I am offering will be for three years with a minimum sum of 500 gold that will grow according to your achievements and will be paid out at the end of your service. I expect to see you in the coming weeks, my friend. Sincerely, Yamen Yosef, Level 64, Supreme Commander of Trianth The sound of footsteps made Wendell turn his head from the note. He smelled the heavy cologne of his father before he spotted the man himself. ¡°Father,¡± he greeted, though Wendell made no move from his observation post. He heard the retinue of rank 20 guards that always followed wherever the Duke of the castle went. ¡°Son,¡± the senior Luthen said grimly. ¡°Why must you watch the world from afar? You belong with the men-at-arms. It is our tradition to learn the ways of war.¡± ¡°Weird,¡± Wendell replied, his voice dripping with anger. ¡°I do not see a single warrior in our court.¡± His eyes were now watching his brother as he clumsily blocked a flurry of strikes. Although the Luthen family had a proud martial history, in recent years more and more of their treasury went to parties and fine goods instead of going to build weapons of war.. His father sighed. ¡°While it is important to prepare for war, Wendel, it''s also important to celebrate peace. I hope you one day understand that.¡± The Duke moved closer to his son, but he was still out of arm''s reach. ¡°Be that as it may, your other brothers look up to you, nevermind your sister who shall soon enter this world. You must stop this needless warring with my heir. I will not have any bad blood in my lands. ¡° Wendell finally turned to face his father and his hazel eyes flashed like fire. He stood a head taller and while his father was slender, Wendel¡¯s build was bulky. ¡°It is not I who makes japes of the other¡¯s station.¡± ¡°A senseless comment,¡± the Duke brushed off. ¡°I''ll find you a fine wife and give you lands to pass on to your own sons one day, but you mustn¡¯t envy your elder brothers.¡± Wendell sighed in defeat. ¡°You have been a fine father to me, perhaps better than the son that I have been.¡± He looked at the cloudy sky and the forests which shared the same name as the lands. ¡°I can¡¯t live under someone else''s shadow all my life. This castle will one day be given to Marq, the town''s folk will become his people. Perhaps, my brother, Emmik, will hold a seat on his council, but we both know there is no place in this world for the fourth son¡± Wendell shook his head as if agreeing with himself. ¡°I have found work befitting my station in the city of Trianth.¡± ¡°And what work would that be?¡± his father asked, his cape billowing in the wind. ¡°You¡¯re a Luthen; you belong here with me, protecting this castle.¡± Wendell uncrumpled the paper he had stored in his leather jacket. ¡°Trianth is building an army, Father. They¡¯ve been sending messages to all nearby nobility offering officer positions. I have been corresponding with one of their officials.¡± He handed the paper to his lordly parent. Wendell turned to walk away when he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. It was not like his father to show affection. ¡°I¡­ I can get you other gifts as well in order to make things more even. A sword of pure silver, perhaps. Or if it''s truly your desire to leave, I can even get you a spot in the Magic Academy in the capital. I hear that the royal children are joining this year, and they have an unwed daughter who is only a few years younger.¡± Wendell looked sadly at his father. He wished nothing more to stay in his life of comfort, but what kind of model would that be for his brothers? ¡°I want to prove myself, father. Surely, you must understand that there is a world of opportunity beyond our borders.¡± Wendell waited for a response but none came. His father sighed and looked at the forests longingly. ¡°I¡¯ve forgotten what it feels like to be young,¡± he said wistfully. Then, in a moment of surprising affection, he hugged his son. ¡°I wish to send you with a heavy escort. Ever since the civil war, bandits and slavers have been hunting on the roads in Hearth.¡± ¡°I will not start my military career by hiding behind my father¡¯s men. I shall go alone.¡± With all that said, Wendell left to go pack his things. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. It did not take long for Wendell to leave. He decided to travel lightly and he took a few gold coins, his trusted steel sword, and a horse that he had won in a duel from a foreign Prince. The horse was red and Wendell could never figure out what breed she was, try as he might. But, she was a fast creature and had served him well for over three years. Her speed would come in handy because he would need to make haste in order to arrive in the nearby village before the sun would go down. As Wendell led his horse down the road to his first destination, he began to think more on his journey forward. On the road to Trianth were several towns which he would need to pass through. These lands were not like the one he grew up in for the Kingdom which ruled them was collapsing day by day. While it was safe around his father¡¯s castle, the places Wendel was traveling to were full of bandits and slavers. It wasn¡¯t surprising to learn that few people dared to make the trek alone. This was entirely different from the nation that Wendel was born and raised in. That nation was the Kingdom of Orthan, a prosperous nation full of wealth and legends. Wendel¡¯s family owned a castle along the border to the Kingdom of Hearth which lay to its east. His family were tasked with the important mission of maintaining a castle to fight any occursion by their aggressive neighbors. The Luthen family were so successful that 800 years ago they were uplifted from a family of knights to a lordship, and only 200 years ago they were promoted again to a Duchy. Wendell worried that Marq would undo all their family''s accomplishments. The history of the Kingdom of Hearth was not as full of fortune as his own families¡¯ history. They once ruled some of the richest mines in the continent, but civil war and discontent weakened them over the span of centuries. Now it was a shadow of its former glory, and most of its lands were replaced by several City States, Trianth foremost among them. The further he journeyed the less he saw of wooden houses and farmers tending their crops and more of trees and cliffs. Suddenly, deep in a forest, Wendell¡¯s horse stopped. He urged the beast forward but it refused to move. With a sigh, he dismounted and began to search for what spooked the horse so much. It didn¡¯t take long for the forest to consume him. Even though the path was only a stone throw away, it seemed strangely difficult to spot. Regardless, Wendell pushed deeper and deeper into the forest. Wendell looked around. To his annoyance, as far as he could see, there were trees and nothing more. He wondered if his horse was defective, when finally he heard rustling in the bushes. He saw a young girl dressed in rags, still as a rock. She was well-hidden with leaves scattered around her. Wendell quickly realized that she meant to ambush something¨C or someone. Wendell quickly hid behind a tree and waited. Now safe in his own hiding spot, he looked closer at the girl. He was surprised to notice that she was not fully human. She had spotted cat ears and a tail that every now and then swayed along with the wind. While it was true that other races were common, seeing a free catfolk in the Human Kingdoms was shocking. She was a low rank as well, being only level 2. ¡®I could easily take her,¡¯ Wendel thought to himself. Last week when he had leveled up to a rank 15 and gained the strong perk. He was itching for a chance to use it. It felt like hours, but suddenly, there came another sound. It was travelers going down the same road that he had just disembarked from. Everything happened so quickly. Wendell heard a horn blow as arrows from afar rained down upon the unfortunate merchant caravan. He watched as the girl, along with others who Wendell hadn¡¯t even spotted, rushed out of their hiding spots with stone daggers and wooden spears. They charged at the level 5 adventurers and quickly overwhelmed them with their superior numbers. The most horrid thing of all was that Wendell heard the screams of the dying men as their blood spilled on the ground. Even the level 1 merchant who wielded no weapon was cut down as he tried to beg for his life. After the massacre was over, Wendell saw as they looted the bodies before tossing them in a pile. Next, they grabbed what they could from the captured wagon before they released the animals that were attached to them. It was here that Wendell noticed that they had a leader. One of the men had gray whiskers and all the rest seemed to show deference to him. Perhaps, these creatures have an elder, Wendell mused. It made sense as well given that he was a rank 20 Earth Mage while all the rest were below rank 10. With their ill gotten loot in hand, the catfolk began to leave even deeper into the forest. Wendell knew he had to follow if he was to learn more. He stayed as far back as he could and several times he thought that they had noticed him. He was confident that he could take a few of them in a fight, but in total, he saw twelve fighters. If they spotted him, he doubted he¡¯d be able to make it back to his red horse in time. After a few minutes, he saw the makeshift camp they had set up. There were even more of them. There must be at least thirty of them, Wendell thought. Why, though? As he went through the possible reasons, something hard struck the back of his head and the world swung around until it turned black. When he woke, it was night and the large moon filled the sky with a heavenly light. He felt the dried blood on the back of his head before he felt the many eyes on him. When he looked around, the whole tribe were staring at him with suspicion etched across their faces. As he tried to move, he felt heavy binds around his ankles and wrists. ¡°Fuck.¡± was all he could say. ¡°He¡¯s awake,¡± he heard them whisper amongst themselves. ¡°We should kill him now,¡± and ¡°How did they find us?¡± were some of the more commonly repeated phrases they seemed to whisper. The gray elder walked up to him, his voice old but still strong. ¡°Quiet. We shall talk to him before we commit to any course of action.¡± Wendell rolled his eyes. This guy reminded him of his father trying to calm the villagers whenever there was a disaster. Perhaps their position wasn¡¯t as secure as he had thought. The elder turned his attention to Wendell. ¡°How did you find us, stranger.¡± Wendell looked around at the crowd. It took a few moments to find the girl he had followed. Without all the dirt rubbed on her, she had pale skin like the moon and hair the color of rubies. She was young, Wendell noticed. He gestured at her and the crowd''s attention turned to her. This time he heard, ¡°I knew Zyla wasn¡¯t ready,¡± and ¡°foolish girl¡± emitting from the audience. He laughed when the girl began to shy away from the attention of the onlookers. He stopped laughing when he felt a heavy kick to his stomach. It left him reeling from the impact. A level 15 dark skinned male wielding a wooden spear stood over him. His long brown hair waved around as he spoke. ¡°This human speaks nothing but lies. Let me put an end to his dishonesty.¡± The elder put a gentle hand on his shoulder and began to calm him down. ¡°Perhaps he is speaking wrongly of your daughter, but sometimes even truth can come from falsities.¡± Wendell continued to gasp for air as he clutched his side. The elder at least waited until the pain went away from him before he continued his questioning. ¡°Does anyone know that you are here?¡± Wendell replied with a defiant look in eyes. ¡°My father is the Duke of the Ardent and you are all trespassers. Once he doesn¡¯t hear from me, he will send high ranking soldiers and knights down the road to find me. I don¡¯t know who I pity more: those of you who will be killed in the fighting or those who will be sold to the slavers.¡± The truth was that his father would never know what fate would befall his son this deep in the woods. Wendell hoped they wouldn¡¯t figure that out. His plan seemed to work well. The mob began to get closer as they screamed and pushed at each other. Wendell was almost sure that they would lynch him right then and there. Eventually though, they calmed down. ¡°How do we know you are telling the truth?¡± the elder asked, his gray whiskers hiding all emotion. ¡°Check the pommel of the sword that you stole. It bears the symbol of a wooden shield. That is the symbol of the Luthen clan. You can find that my leather tunic bears the symbol as well.¡± They quickly shoved him on the ground as they verified what he had said to be true. Finally, the elder sighed. He looked defeated and stressed from the new development. ¡°You may kill him now, Mason,¡± he said. Wendell watched as he turned away. The dark skinned man began to ready his spear. ¡°Wait!¡± Wendell roared. ¡°Release me, and I swear you shall never see me again.¡± The tribe leader made no indication of stopping the execution. Wendell was determined to survive at least one day on his own. ¡°I know why you are in these lands!¡± he declared in a last ditch attempt to live. With surprising speed, the tribe elder was suddenly right next to him, staring deeply into Wendell¡¯s brown eyes. ¡°And why is that?¡± he asked. At this proximity, Wendell for the first time saw that his ears were scarred and torn. ¡°We both desire for the lands of Hearth.¡± Note: Mages are known to be avid book collectors who walk from town to town searching for rare texts to purchase. Stoneshire 2 It didn¡¯t feel real when the town builders helped Grinston out of the sewers. Nor did it feel real when he handed the bronze pin to the guild master. ¡°Ah,¡± she said, without even turning to meet his eyes. ¡°The man you found was an adventurer from a few years ago. You can tell because the guild no longer uses this design,¡± she said while pointing at the marking of a mountain and a river that was on the stolen emblem. ¡°He must have gone insane and killed the adventurer we sent. It¡¯s a shame his body was not recoverable but you did your job diligently.¡± She handed him the three silver coins while she pocketed the bronze symbol. Undoubtedly, it would be given to another young adventurer. ¡°Come back tomorrow and we will give you another quest.¡± Grinston departed without another word. Really, he should be happy. In just a day''s work, he made a week''s worth of wages. But although the man he killed was a murderer, Grinston was not pleased to see his lifeless body and know that it was his spear who caused it. Grinston felt filthy in more ways than one, so he went to an inn and purchased a bath. He didn¡¯t have any copper to pay so he exchanged one of his silver for 10 copper. He then handed them the two copper for the price but then decided that he was finally able to afford to pay an extra copper for hot water, bringing his price up to three. They then asked if he would like his filthy clothes to be washed and so in the end, he spent four copper. He chuckled to himself, because only yesterday he made only five copper a day. Now, he was spending almost that much in a second. While the warm water washed away all the grime from the day¡¯s adventure, he felt himself begin to relax. He was feeling extremely well-rested when he heard the door open to the bath and a familiar voice. ¡°Grinston, my young friend. I was relieved to hear that you were successful in your quest.¡± came Master Flynn¡¯s voice. Grinston watched as the naked old priest walked in and sat down in the bath to his side. The water came crashing out of the bath with a slosh. He heard Flynn sigh as steam from the coals washed over the both of them. The two sat in silence until Grinston finally replied. He was rank 1, which was expected of the pacifistic wise man. ¡°The man was a fellow adventurer, they tell me.¡± Grinston replied blankly. Master Flynn nodded. ¡°Indeed. He was trapped there for gods know how many months. Feasting on whatever vermin that he could get his hands upon. I¡¯ve been told that there was nothing left of the man¡¯s mind. It¡¯s undeniable that he struck down another and threw him for the maggots to feast on. He would¡¯ve done the same to you.¡± Grinston continued to watch the steam waft from the fire. ¡°When I was down there, I was so scared of dying. But now that I am back, it is the fear of being left behind that continues to haunt me. Tell me, Master Flynn. If it were me that was stuck down there, would I become the same monster?¡± ¡°Every man has evil in him,¡± the old man replied, ¡°and every man has to fight the evil in him just as he must fight the evil in the world. You did a good deed today. You learned a lesson today that I wish I knew in my youth.¡± ¡°What lesson is that?¡± Grinston asked. ¡°To never forget that the world is full of horror.¡± With that final thought, the aged priest stretched his arms as he exited the bath. Once more Grinston was alone with his thoughts. Though the interaction had served to tell him that he had been in the bath for a long time. With both his aching arms, he shoved himself out of the warm bath into the cold air. The sun was low in the sky while Grinston walked around town square. Normally, he¡¯d be in a tavern drinking his misery away, but something in him told him to walk around. The guild had agreed to clean his spear while he bathed and he felt as though the absence of blood had made it lighter. The street was filled with bright, colorful cloth banners hanging outside of each store and home, but Grinston¡¯s mind was still in the sewer. Young women walked with buckets of water under their arms as they completed their chores of their day while young children carried wooden swords as their mothers called them home for dinner. Men of all ages worked on their trades with a smile. Grinston was sure that this was a common sight, but he couldn¡¯t ever remember seeing it before. Grinston took a deep breath of the cold air as he walked along the stone path. He was not sure where the path was going to lead him, but still he marched on. Right before he was going to turn around, he saw the town bazaar. At this time of day, most traveling merchants had either left the town to continue down to the next village or had settled down for the night in a local inn. There was only one trader who remained; he was well dressed with several rings and necklaces sparkling from his body. Grinston wondered if they were gold or common brass. ¡°An adventurer, or a bandit, approaches me.¡± he called cheerfully. ¡°Care to see my wares?¡± ¡°It depends on what you are selling,¡± Grinston replied, worried that the man may be a swindler. ¡°Spices, cloths, and other miscellaneous items. Truth is it depends, what do you seek? I have a pretty green cloak to keep you warm on cold nights like these or food that can be taken anywhere without spoiling.¡± ¡°I enjoy the cold, and I¡¯m confident that I can hunt for food on the road.¡± Grinston said cynically. The man thought for a moment. ¡°A tricky customer¡± was all he replied. ¡°I have something that I believe you need.¡± He reached into his jacket and withdrew a crumpled paper. He quickly flattened it with his hands and presented it to Grinston. ¡°A map of the continent- from the smaller town of Stoneshire to the great city of Orapolis. I use it personally on my travels, but I can sell it to you for just a single silver.¡± Grinston was tempted. One silver was a lot though. It could buy him a goat or a pair of shoes. Weren¡¯t those things better than just a slip of paper? He was an adventurer though, and he could be in places other than Stoneshire someday. Pushing all his doubts aside, he handed the short man a single silver coin. The merchant flashed a smile filled with perfect teeth as he handed him the map. Item acquired: Map of Terroimpes As Grinston walked away, he heard the man still swearing its efficacy. But when Grinston turned around, the trader and his wares were gone. ¡®Weird,¡¯ Grinston thought. When he finally inspected the map, he saw there were places in the world that he had never heard of. He looked at where Stoneshire was and he saw that at the top of the map next to a large mountain range was the place he called home. He then looked into the sky and he saw the mountains strike out of the ground around the village like a wall. ¡®At least, it¡¯s somewhat accurate,¡¯ he thought. The sun had long since set, but Grinston still couldn¡¯t feel sleep¡¯s beckoning call. He walked every part of the town but all he found was a few guards¡¯ accusing stares. Grinston had always been told never to leave the safety of the village at night, but the alluring call of the forest was unmistakable. Someday, he thought, but not tonight. He returned to the inn, and when he fell asleep, he was back in the sewers. As Grinston walked into the adventurers guild the following day, he noticed that there was a different person at the counter. ¡°Who are you?¡± Grinston asked suspiciously. A tall thin man with a small mustache and top hat answered him. ¡°I¡¯m the other Guild Manager. Trista and I take turns on which responsibilities we have each day. Today, she is managing the guild¡¯s finances while I am in charge of quest giving. ¡° The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡®Trista,¡¯ Grinston thought. ¡®I guess she never told me her name.¡¯ Grinston merely nodded in response. ¡°Well, what do you have for me?¡± Grinston asked the man. ¡°Well, today is a slow day. Most quests have been completed by a traveling party of adventurers.¡± Grinston felt emboldened knowing that the shieldman was no resident. ¡°The only contracts we can give right now are fetch quests.¡± ¡°I can do that,¡± Grinston replied confidently. The short man then pulled a large parcel out his desk and began to wrap it. ¡°This mission will only take two days, if you are slow. Now do you have a map? Grinston thanked his fortune for the meeting with that merchant as he laid the map on the table. The man then continued his explanation, ¡°Now, there are several nearby villages that pay tithes to our town for protection from bandits and monsters.¡± Before Grinston could complain, the man had already circled the towns on his map. ¡°The names of the places you seek are Brickerton, Faston¡¯s Keep, and one too quaint to be named, but you will find that one if you go deep enough into the farm lands around Farston¡¯s Keep.¡± After his brief explanation, the man quickly shoved the map back into Grinston¡¯s hands and led him out the guildhall. Grinston sighed. Being an adventurer was a lot like being a laborer, Grinston thought as he went to buy supplies for his new mission. Although on the map every town and village was connected with a neat road, Grinston soon learned that the paths around Stoneshire had not been maintained for years. He felt a thorn puncture one of his thin sandals and released a yelp of pain. He decided that after this mission, his next purchase would be a reliable pair of boots. As he inspected his feet, he heard the sound of hoofbeats behind him. He turned and saw a run-down wagon being pulled behind him. An old man with dusty clothing stared at him as the cart passed. ¡°Fellow traveler!¡± Grinston called. The man kept riding with no hint of giving a response. ¡°Is this the way to Faston¡¯s Keep?¡± After an uncomfortable amount of time, the man answered though made no attempt at stopping his vehicle. ¡°You¡¯re a long ways off, fella.¡± His bony hands pointed to the side. ¡°Faston¡¯s Keep is about three hours that way.¡± Grinston watched as the man disappeared into the distance. With a sigh, Grinston began his trip once more. Faston¡¯s Keep was not nearly as big as Stoneshire, but its large windmill was a unique sight. Stacks of logs were laid out in front of the few cabins that made up the village. Grinston noted that he could see every villager had some sort of makeshift weapon. He approached the largest of the cabins which Grinston assumed to be the town¡¯s center. Though the only indication of its legitimacy was the green banner which was strung about the front door. Before he got the chance to knock, the door swung open and a tall woman with missing teeth pushed her way towards him. ¡°So,¡± she said, her voice rough, ¡°this is the big city adventurer that they send to collect their rent.¡± ¡®I wouldn¡¯t call Stoneshire a big city,¡¯ Grinston thought to himself, but he kept quiet as she continued on. ¡°How do I know you ain¡¯t some wannabe bandit, anyhow? You are the sorriest excuse for a guard I ever seen.¡± Grindstone retrieved the parcel from his sack. She snatched it out of his hands and squinted at it.¡± Grinston felt a tinge of sympathy for her; Grinston only knew how to read because of Master Flynn¡¯s charity.. She sighed in disappointment. ¡°Wait, here,¡± she said, as she closed the door on Grinston. A few moments later, she came out holding a large bag of silver coins. ¡°This should be enough for this season.¡± Just as the angry leader tried to close the door again, Grinston blocked it with his hand. ¡°Excuse me,¡± he said, trying to be as formal as possible, ¡°It¡¯s nighttime and I would like to seek accommodations until the morning.¡± She squinted at him. ¡°We have a place for you to stay, but it is four copper.¡± Grinston knew this was far too much for a room. ¡°I have to say that doesn¡¯t seem like a fair price. Though as a guest, I shall pay your fee. Where might I find these accommodations you speak of?¡± With a notable lack of grace, she shoved her finger towards the barn. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡± ¡°Do you want me to make it five copper?¡± Grinston knew from that moment that he should¡¯ve stayed the night first before he asked for their coin. After an overpriced breakfast, Grinston left Faston¡¯s Keep to tax the surrounding farmland. Most residents paid when he showed them the contract, but a few spat at his feet. Grinston had to coerce them to pay their dues. After he was confident he had checked every log cabin in the fields, he began his search for Brickerton. He was beginning to understand how to use the map and the opportunities excited him. For his whole life, he had stayed in the confines of Stoneshire and did all the odd jobs he could find. Now he was his own man and he was in control of his destiny. Walking all alone only served to remind himself of that fact. This time he found the settlement easily. Brickerton consisted of only a few towers along with a dozen houses. He saw that it was the red brick roads that gave the place its name. A mother and her children sitting on the porch of one of the homes was the first resident that he spotted. ¡°Pardon me, madam. Where might I find your people¡¯s town hall.¡± Although she was a mother, she seemed awfully young to Grinstion, looking around his age. ¡°No pardon required, stranger! We don¡¯t have a town hall but if you are looking for the mayor, Master Horton will be in that building there.¡± Grinston gave her a grin and his thanks as he looked for Master Horton. When he entered the building, he saw that they had a receptionist. ¡°Excuse me, young lady. I am looking for Master Horton. The Adventurer¡¯s Guild of Stoneshire sent me.¡± She nodded before she replied. ¡°Unfortunately, he will not be available today to meet with you.¡± ¡°Where is he?¡± Grinston asked. Something about this seemed suspicious, though he couldn¡¯t tell what exactly. ¡°A hunting trip.¡± she said too quickly. Grinston now knew she was lying. But he also knew he was an adventurer now, and he couldn¡¯t be thought of as weak. ¡°Well, since he is gone, I guess that makes you in charge. You need to pay the protection fee for the month.¡± She smiled nervously. ¡°I am just a receptionist sadly, and you will have to wait until Master Horton gets back within a few weeks. Wait, hold on ¨C¡± Grinston suddenly was right next to her, his spear held threateningly. ¡°If you aren¡¯t in charge, step aside.¡± He shoved her to his side as he continued to the door at the back of the room. He could hear her faintly shouting at him to stop. When Grinston kicked at the door, he saw a man passed out on a chair, the smell of alcohol on his breath. Grinston grabbed the collar of his shirt and shook to wake the man from his stupor. ¡°I am¡­ er¡­ Master Horton of Brickerton. How may¨C what brings you here?¡± The receptionist stood behind him, still shouting for him to leave. ¡°Disgusting,¡± Grinston said, upon smelling that the man had fallen asleep next to his vomit. ¡°Where is the money that you owe the Adventuring Guild, Master Horton? Did you drink it away?¡± He raised a finger. ¡°About the¡­ money. Bandits have come here because of a refugee crisis in nearby cities and, well, all our money was stolen. We asked for help but nobody ever came.¡± He looked like he was about to vomit again as he swayed from side to side. ¡°So you mean to tell me that you have not a single piece of value in this village?¡± He nodded lazily. ¡°What about the food, then? I can take a cartful of grain and call it even¡± His eyes looked alarmed. ¡°We need that food to survive. Please, show us mercy. It is hard living on the frontier like this. Just give us another month!¡± Grinston was committed to not being taken advantage again. ¡°I saw there was a wooden cart belonging to one of your villagers. I will be taking it as well as your grain. Feel fortunate that I am willing to call this a fair trade.¡± With a flurry, Grinston pushed his way out of the cramped building. When a large villager tried to stop him, Grinston struck him with the back of the spear, leaving him rolling on the ground. With most of the money collected and a large amount of grain seized, Grinston set back to the Guild to receive his reward. But deep inside, he felt as dirty as he felt in the sewers. Note: Most pirates have access to water magic so that they can be more aware of the flow of the current. The strongest pirates are so adept at water magic that they can summon storms or bring about tidal waves to drown coastal towns. Royal Institute of Magic The carriage rolled along the busy streets with only a few bumps from the occasionally uneven surface. Aerie watched lazily out the window at the wide variety of shops and buildings that led to her destination. She was interrupted from her stupor when heard her brother loudly moan in annoyance. ¡°My gods, if this isn¡¯t the most aggravating ride of my miserable life!¡± He gave a solid wack to let the driver know his anger. ¡°Orpheus, it hasn¡¯t even been half a day.¡± she said. When she learned that it was time for her to attend school, she was excited at the prospect of escaping her familial obligations. She was less enthusiastic when she learned her older brother would be going with her. Although he was a year older than her at the age of fourteen, his lack of focus in his studies caused him to be sent to the same year as her which only added to her grievances. ¡°Princess Aerie is right, Orpheus.¡± came a voice from outside. Mounted alongside them was their royal escort, the famous knight, Nilo Triss. His shining armor casted a magnificent shadow. At least it did in Aerie¡¯s opinion. ¡°Besides, you should be riding with me as part of your training.¡± Orpheus merely stuck his tongue out at the warrior as he went back sulking in his corner. ¡°Lord Nilo, when do we arrive at our oh, so glorious, destination?¡± Aerie asked, her tone reflecting her irritation with the trip as well. The journey to the school would have been much faster without the carriage. She said as much to her father, but he wouldn¡¯t hear of sending anything less. It was endearing to know how much he cared for their safety, though. ¡°Not so long now; we shall arrive by sundown. I must say you lot are as impatient as a pack of mules.¡± In almost perfect unison, Aerie and her brother stuck their tongues out in defiance. The knight merely grinned as he urged his horse forward to check on the driver. Aerie had expected a large gathering for their arrival, but it paled in comparison to what stood before her. All the students were standing in formation in their bright red uniforms with their teachers holding flags in front of them. The purple heart banner of their family was hung from almost every wall. Most shocking of all was the huge portrait of their elder brother that the chancellor held with a smile on his face. Although she could admit that her brother was a handsome man, the portrait exaggerated his features to an insane degree; ¡®nobody has eyes that blue,¡¯ she thought. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud trumpet which started the official ceremony. Her brother leaped out of the carriage and waved to all the students as he proudly marched to the school principal. After a few moments of controlling her panic, Aerie timidly climbed down after him. She felt her foot slip on the wooden step, but her protector, Nilo, caught her with his strong arms as she regained her balance. As she walked to the center of the courtyard, the principal cleared his throat. ¡°Prince Orpheus, Princess Aerie. It is once again an honor for our school to host a member of the Canter Family. I still remember your brother from last year well. Tell me, what happened to my former pupil?¡± Aerie opened her mouth, but Orpheus responded quicker than her. ¡°Oh, Francis has a wife now. She isn¡¯t bad to look at, but by god does she know how to yell.¡± He made a mocking voice ¡®Orpheus, do this, don¡¯t do that¡­ bah!¡¯ The chancellor¡¯s eyes narrowed. Aerie took this opportunity to finally add her thoughts to the matter. ¡°He has grown so much from when we had last seen him three years ago. Father thought so too, and decided to make him a High Captain in the Army. I¡¯ve heard Francis has taken to the role quite well.¡± The gray-haired man seemed pleased by the news. ¡°He will do gloriously in battle, as he has done gloriously here. You will be pleased to know that he set several records in this academy that I thought impossible. Your brother will change the world, I swear.¡± He looked at the two of them. ¡°Where are my manners? As principal at this esteemed school, it is my joy to educate today¡¯s youth on the ways of magic to the mundane. I have many names but here I am called chancellor¡­ ¡°Chancellor Immanuel, formally the Duke of Nivel. Of the old family of Vindersons.¡± Aerie interrupted. ¡°Francis talked about you a lot.¡± she explained. The man¡¯s smile widened even further. ¡°Well, since you apparently don¡¯t need my introduction, I shall let you two make yourselves at home. Prince Orpheus, to show you to your quarters is our top student, Nafesh Kurstic.¡± An elfish student, who stood taller than the principal, rushed to shake her brother''s hands as they exchanged their formalities. Orpheus, and his new friend soon walked together as they exited the stage to head to Orpheus¡¯s new room. ¡±As for you, Princess Aerie.¡± as he spoke, a girl the same age as her teleported with a golden flash right in front of her. Her hair was short and brown while her uniform was messy. ¡°The promising mage, who does not yet know patience, Jessica Philips. She will help with your transition to student life.¡± Aerie gave an awkward nod as the girl led her away from the prying eyes of the crowd. When the pair were out of earshot, the young mage finally began to talk. ¡°If it isn¡¯t my new rival. I¡¯ll have you know, I never met a student I couldn¡¯t beat!¡± Aerie backed away nervously. ¡°Hey, I just got here and besides, aren''t you supposed to be my friend? I would love to work with you.¡± She said sweetly. The princess wanted nothing more to defuse the situation, but this only made the Water Mage angrier. ¡°I will not let you beat me!¡± She stepped even closer to Aerie so much so that their noses were almost touching. From this proximity, Aerie noted that the girl stood at least a few inches taller than her. ¡°Besides,¡± she continued. ¡°I doubt you are anything like your brother.¡± Upon saying that she finally backed away. Her eyes looked dreamy as she clutched her staff to her chest. ¡°Ewww,¡± Aerie replied. ¡°You like Orpheus?¡± The thought of her brother laughing as he once threw bread at the castle servants materialized in her head. ¡°What? No! I am talking about Francis,¡± she looked blissful as closed her eyes and smiled at the sound of his name. ¡°Now, it is true that I have only ever seen him once, but I will never, and I mean never, forget that memory.¡± Aerie tried to escape the conversation, but the passionate girl blocked her exit with one of her bony arms. ¡°Picture this! There was a tournament at our school and heroes and adventurers from across the lands had journeyed to prove their metal.¡± Jessica waved her staff dramatically. ¡°It was the final match: Your brother against an elite swordmage from across the Bristic Sea.¡± Blue bubbles began to sparkle from the girl''s hands as she continued her story. ¡°I was only a little girl when I saw this fight, but I still remember the sparks as their blades struck each other again and again. When Francis brought the swordmage to his knees, I was in love. From that day on, I knew I had to go to this school with him. It is just my luck that by the time I was old enough to enter, he had already graduated and left me all alone.¡± She finished her story by closing her hand and the bubbles faded away. ¡°But nevertheless, it is certain that I shall one day marry him.¡± Aerie couldn¡¯t stop herself from laughing. ¡°He is already married, I am saddened to tell you. His wife is from the Hailfire family. You would find a challenge in replacing her.¡± Jessica looked like she was going to explode. ¡°And you will find that I have never shied away from a challenge. Do you have Player Magic, yet?¡± ¡°No, it is forbidden for any person under 13.¡± The water mage smiled wickedly. ¡°Come with me.¡± she said as she grabbed Aerie¡¯s hand. By the time Aerie began to protest, a light light enveloped the duo. When the brightness subsided, they were in a room filled with students in lines. Jessica pushed her way in front of the other students and dragged the unwilling princess behind her. At the front, a teacher stopped her. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°What did I tell you about cutting lines, Jessica?¡± He said. He was clearly in his thirties, but his hair was graying and his hairline receding. ¡°Sorry, Master Aldrich. I was helping my friend get her Player Amulet.¡± The young mage pushed Aerie as proof. The teacher sighed. ¡°Seeing that you have today¡¯s guest of honor, I will let it go. But you should be more mindful of the other student¡¯s opinion of you.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, can we have the amulet now?¡± In response, the teacher tossed a silver amulet which Jessica caught easily. ¡°Thank you!¡± Jessica said as she grabbed Aerie and ran to the door. The two now stood in the courtyard once more. The silver amulet felt cold in Aerie¡¯s hand. With a deep breath, she slipped the chain over her neck. The words appeared in her vision:
Name: Aerie Canter Race: Human Class: Scholar Personality: Timid Newcomer Player Magic Tier: 2 Ascension: Locked at level 100
Level: 5 Strength Dexterity Intelligence Charisma Mana
HP: 100 8 12 18 7 10
Skills Combat Sight
Perks Genius
Jessica was grinning ear to ear. ¡°Fun, isn¡¯t it? You know you are in a pretty good spot, being level 5 right off the bat. With tier 2 Player Magic, you get bonuses to learning new skills and a better chance at earning perks and levels.¡± It was at this time that Aerie finally took a close look at Jessica. Level 25 was written above her head in blue. Suddenly the white light returned, and Aerie heard Jessica speak. "Now, as to your quarters¡­¡± Princess Aeries¡¯ room in her family¡¯s castle had a ceiling taller than a giant. Her room at the academy was miniscule in comparison. However, she couldn¡¯t complain too much when it turned out her room was made for two students to live together. Her loyal protector, Nilo, aided her with bringing her possessions up the dozen staircases. ¡°Tell me, my precious charge, why exactly do you need this many beakers and vials?¡± He finally asked on his third trip. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s not that many.¡± She grinned as he sighed in exasperation. ¡°Lord Nilo, when do you have to return to Orapolis?¡± she asked, her mood slightly dampened. ¡°Your father wants me back by midday tomorrow so I will have to leave tomorrow morning before the sun rises.¡± She gave him her best puppy expression. ¡°Must you have to go? I am sure there are things here even for you to learn. There¡¯s armor crafting, animal training, sword throwing, and a thousand more.¡± It looked like he had to force a smile upon his face. ¡°I would love nothing more. But duty compels me back to the King. I¡¯ll tell you what. When the King eventually visits you and your brother, I will be there guarding him; I promise you that. Aerie was quiet for a moment. She then hugged him and thanked him for being her most loyal friend. When he left the room, she was alone with her thoughts once more. After a moment, she summoned up the courage to go and find her brother. Multiple boys were lounging in the common area when she entered. Aerie felt their eyes on her but she pressed on. Her brother¡¯s room was on the top floor so the journey there took longer than she would¡¯ve hoped for. She felt eyes upon her as she ascended the multiple staircases. Upon arriving, she knocked on the door. No response came. She thought he must have left, when she started to hear muffled voices inside the room. She knocked even harder. Finally, the door swung open. Dozens of empty bottles of wine and beer were on the ground. The room had multiple boys in it, but what shocked Aerie was the number of girls who were passed out on the couch and bed. Orpheus stood at the door, his expression of annoyance. ¡°What are you doing here, sister? Is the library not open at this time?¡± Aerie could smell the alcohol on his breath. Next to her brother, though, was the less inebriated elf from before who held his hand out for her to shake. ¡°I never got the chance to formally meet you, but I¡¯m Nafesh. All my friends call me Kurst, though.¡± Aerie apprehensively shook it. ¡°Orpheus, what are you doing? Mom and dad said not to drink.¡± ¡°They aren¡¯t here, if you haven¡¯t noticed. And besides, the women love their wine¡± He held his hand for a fistbump from one of his other friends which was quickly reciprocated. Aerie could not believe that her parents had forced her to go to school with him. ¡°This is why you are in the same year as me, you oaf.¡± If her insult had affected him, he didn¡¯t show it. ¡°And this is why you don¡¯t have any friends, you twerp.¡± He slammed the door shut and the music inside intensified. Although he was an ass, he did have one good idea. Where was that library? The smell of books had always soothed Aeries¡¯ anxieties. Her mother had once offered to have a bed built in the Royal Library for her. Although it was a jest, the idea had been appealing for her. Now that she was in the library, she felt like she was back in her castle. It was a good feeling, but fleeting. The book she had grabbed was one of her favorites, The Alchemist¡¯s Guide. She had probably already read it a few times, but each time she had discovered something new. She only looked up from her book, when she heard a small voice from behind her. ¡°Excuse me, I couldn¡¯t help but notice the book you were reading.¡± She turned around and there was a small boy with curly red hair and a low voice. ¡°I love Alchemy,¡± he said, his cheeks the same color as his hair. ¡°I am taking an Alchemy class as my science.¡± Aerie smiled. ¡°Me too,¡± she whispered back. She beckoned him to sit next to her. Nervously, the boy complied. ¡°I¡¯m Erik,¡± he said. ¡°Have you got to the part about entropy?¡± ¡°Aerie,¡± she replied. ¡°I¡¯ve also read it before. I¡¯ve actually done that one experiment that accelerates entropy but I was never able to reverse it.¡± He nodded. ¡°That one¡¯s tricky because the serum is so reactive.¡± He looked nervous again but not so much as before. ¡°Is it true that you are a noble?¡± he asked politely. Princess Aerie sighed. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you saw me during the ceremony.¡± Erik nodded in response. ¡°I was hoping to keep that a secret.¡± ¡°Why, though? I hear that your brother of yours is using his Princely status for all sorts of reasons.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Aerie inquired. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Uhh,¡± the red haired boy stepped away from her. He hit his back hard on the table behind him. ¡°It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve heard from some friends that he uses his royal status to pick up girls. Aerie¡¯s face wrinkled with distaste. ¡°That does sound like Orpheus. Why don¡¯t you hang out with him? I have no doubt that he isn¡¯t good at entertaining his entourage. Erik stopped his retreat. ¡°You know, I actually did go to his building for a short while; he has almost the whole school crowded in his building. But in truth, I much prefer it here.¡± He sat down next to her and revealed the book that he had brought to the table. ¡°Magical Engineering by the archmage Gunther Moust¡± Aerie read aloud. ¡°I really think you should read it,¡± he said, his voice bolder than ever. ¡°It is the reason I traveled half a world to come here.¡± He flipped open the book. ¡°Military Engineers built these huge armored balloons and flying ships to fight dragons in the east. The dungeon-city of Hyperia has built unbreakable swords for the finest warriors in the world. I want to be a part of that.¡± His brown eyes were sparkling with imagination. ¡°Oh, I just came here because my parents forced me.¡± she said, laughing at her own joke. She immediately regretted it, though, when she saw the light begin to fade from the boy¡¯s eyes. ¡°Truthfully, I really only care for alchemy and healing magic. All that battle stuff is my oldest brother¡¯s interest.¡± ¡°Francis?¡± he asked to which she nodded. ¡°I have heard many things about him. Is it true he has two magic swords?¡± She nodded again. ¡°That he also mastered both fire and ice magic.¡± Aerie nodded once more. ¡°He¡¯s very talented. Father says that he will be one of the greatest kings to ever rule the Orthan Kingdom. He is already level 80. ¡± ¡°I guess if that¡¯s the case, you have a lot to live up to.¡± Aerie nodded and realized just how true that is. Note: Only around 20% of the population has any magical aptitude. Those who have the highest potential are able to go to schools across the continent to enhance their powers. RMI is a combat based school on training officers, war mages, and magical engineers. Stoneshire 3 After Grinston got home from his second adventure, he was paid half a dozen silver coins for his work. Sure, he had received some side eyes when he told the guild that he took the village¡¯s grain in lieu of Brickerton¡¯s taxes, but they paid him all the same. With his new wealth, Grinston replaced his aged clothing and purchased some new gear: boots, a full set of leather armor, and some gloves to protect his hands. He looked like a real adventurer now, at least in his opinion. The price was affordable, but by the time he finished purchasing the last of his new equipment, he was right back to being broke with only enough copper for room and board. For the next three weeks, Grinston took on more and more quests. Among other tasks, he cleared rats from a barber¡¯s shop, and he fetched medicinal herbs from the forest. The days were turning monotonous when Grinston woke up one early afternoon. The night prior, he had spent drinking and celebrating after successfully herding a few dozen goats to the other side of town. But now that he was awake, he went to the town square. As he walked through the town, he could sense a heavy tension in the air. When he walked into the guild, he saw Trista frantically searching a stack of papers as a crowd formed around her. Grinston watched from the back of the room, his curiosity flaring. He tapped on the person in front of him and the tan face of a farmer turned and greeted him. ¡°What¡¯s all this commotion?¡± Grinston asked. The man looked stressed. ¡°Goblins raided the outskirts of town. They lit my farm on fire. Other nearby villages got struck too, I reckon.¡± The farmer wasted no time and immediately went back to heckling with the rest of the crowd. ¡°Enough!¡± The guild manager finally screamed. ¡°If you are here for insurance, it will be paid next month as per our policies. We are currently sending adventurers to look for any missing persons, but our progress is being slowed by your commotion. Please come back at another time so we can properly assess the claim.¡± Slowly, at first, the raunchy crowd began to disperse, but soon it was just Grinston standing with the guild lady. Shockingly, she looked relieved to see him. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you with the other adventurers?¡± she asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know where the other adventurers are, truthfully,¡± Grinston replied. ¡°This was not a good day to sleep in.¡± She nodded in agreement as she pulled out a map. ¡°Last night, a tribe of goblins struck about an hours march from here,¡± she said as she gestured to a spot on the map. ¡°The guild will be paying three silver for every goblin head you can pick up. We will pay five gold coins, if you can kill their tribe leader.¡± ¡°How will I know who the chief is?¡± Grinston asked. She looked at him funnily. ¡°I sometimes forget that you¡¯ve only been an adventurer for a month. Goblin leaders will be much larger and typically wear a decorative headpiece to show their station.¡± Grinston nodded in understanding. As he walked through the door, he heard her for the first time ever wish him luck. After an hour of walking with his map as a guide, Grinston saw the husks of burnt buildings in the distance. As he got closer, he began to see the bodies. The first corpses he saw were the men who worked the fields. They were lying naked in pools of their own blood with their clothes already looted. However, they weren¡¯t the only ones dead on the ground. Adventurers, soldiers, and headless goblins also joined the dead. Grinston thought about looting the bodies but decided that there was no time. As he continued walk, he felt a sharp pain on his shoulder. Damage received: 20 When he looked down, he saw an arrow protruding from his body. When he looked back up, he saw a goblin hiding high in a tree, near the forest. Grinston began to run towards the goblin, as it began to knock another arrow. As it pulled the arrow back, Grinston threw himself to the side as the arrow went whizzing past. The goblin tried to grab a stone dagger from one of its pockets, but Grinston¡¯s spear was faster than his hand. The goblin shouted in pain while Grinston pushed his spear deeper into its body. When Grinston pulled his spear back to make another attack, the goblin fell out of the tree and helplessly grabbed the hole in its body. Critical hit! Damage dealt: 90 Congratulations, you have slayed a level 3 Goblin Archer! Level Up! Rank 3 reached! Grinston grabbed its knife and began to sever its head for his reward. He then tossed it into a burlap sack that in a previous life had served to carry his clothes. With a scream of pain, he pulled the poorly made arrow out of his body Damage received: 2. This time, he did not rush forward so heedlessly. Grinston looked at the footsteps in the mud. He saw that there were three goblin¡¯s tracks in the area. The one Grinston had slayed seemed to have separated from the others, but the other two looked to be still together. Grinston followed their path keeping his eyes ready for another ambush. He had only walked thirty or so footsteps, when they were upon him. These two goblins each had a crudely stone made dagger drawn. One of them rushed towards Grinston while the other slinked away into the trees to Grinston¡¯s side. Grinston thrusted his spear at the charging goblin, but it narrowly dodged out of the way. It was right next to him and his spear was still extended. The goblin quickly slashed the underside of Grinston¡¯s scarcely protected arm. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Damage received: 25 Pain flared out and Grinston blindly shoved the goblin aside with his other uninjured arm. It fell on the ground and as Grinston moved to impale it, he felt something cold and sharp on his back. He realized with horror that the other goblin had snuck up on him. Damage received: 50 He turned to retaliate, but he watched helplessly as it sprinted back into the trees safely. When he turned back around, the other goblin had picked himself back up and begun to snicker wildly. Grinston began to fear for his life. Whenever he turned to face one, the other would just stab him in the back. He had to try and do something to stop it and soon. He could feel as blood began to pour out of the wound on his back. He pointed his spear menacingly towards the laughing goblin. This time, it was he who rushed forward. The goblin got poised once more to dodge, but Grinston had a different plan. Using his spear like a club, he swung his spear in an arc with all his might. As the goblin moved to the side, he got struck right in the head. Grinston continued the swing and he felt another satisfying smack from behind him. Both goblins were on the ground now, and Grinston made quick work of the one who had dodged his first attack. Execution! Damage dealt: 120! Congratulations! You have slain level 3 Goblin Raider! Just as the other one began to regain focus, it felt as Grinston gently placed his spear on its exposed stomach. ¡°Tell me where the Goblin Leader is,¡± Grinston demanded. The treacherous goblin only spat in defiance. Grinston pushed the spear down slightly, and red blood leaked from its green skin. ¡°He¡­ he¡­. isn¡¯t here, you moron,¡± the goblin began to say frantically. His voice reminded Grinston of a dehydrated hiss. ¡®Liar¡¯, Grinston thought. He pushed the spear down even more. The goblin began to squirm even harder. ¡°Stop, please. No more, I beg you!¡± the goblin pleaded. His eyes filled with tears. ¡°I will take you to him, I swear!¡± Grinston finally removed his spear. He kicked the goblins dagger away from him. ¡°Any betrayal, and you are dead as your friend.¡± Grinston ripped a piece of his shirt into a bandage to stop the bleeding that the goblin had inflicted on him. He then ripped another and gave it to the goblin to bandage his own. ¡°Weakling,¡± he heard the goblin whisper under his breath as he used Grinston¡¯s gift. Grinston took some perverse pleasure as he removed the dead goblin¡¯s head and stuffed it into a sack. ¡°Hold this for me,¡± he demanded. The goblin reluctantly took the bag and Grinston could hear him gulp. ¡°Now, lead the way, my friend. The goblin meekly began to lead Grinston through the forest. Grinston looked around, fearing that he could be walking into a trap. However, the goblin kept leading him and no ambush had come. It was after fifteen minutes of walking that the pair approached a cave. The goblin stopped on the outside but Grinston pushed him forward with the butt of his spear. Grinston knew that at any moment, the creature could scamper away into a dark corner to never be seen again so he kept his spear ready to prevent that. ¡°Keep walking, or you will end up like your buddy!¡± he whispered loudly. The pair entered the dark cave. After about a minute of walking and the cave became dark. Grinston could see the end of the cave and there was no goblin chief in sight. He was about to slay his goblin hostage when he heard a faint whine. As Grinston looked closer, he could see dozens of goblin children were crawling across the ground. Almost twenty goblin children and a single goblin guard. The guard had rusted metal scraps for armor which was much more well-armored than the foes that Grinston had ever fought before. Grinston looked away from his prisoner for just a second when he felt something heavy thrown into his face. He turned and saw that his captive had thrown the sack of goblin heads at him and ran for the exit. Grinston wanted to stop him and make good on his threats but knew he had to focus on the guard who was quickly approaching him with a metal short sword raised high. Grinston thrust his spear at the upcoming goblin, but it was parried with a well struck hit from the sword. At least, he stopped the goblins'' charge, Grinston thought. He kept his spear pointed at the guard, but the goblin continued to use his sword to keep the spear at bay as he attempted to walk forward. The two were in a stalemate until the goblin smacked the spear away and lunged to get a stab in. Grinston just barely moved out of the way, but the goblin continued to swing at him as Grinston backed up each swing. Grinston managed to bring his spear close and blocked right as the goblin thrusted at his head. Their weapons clashed, but Grinston easily won the contest of strength and he shoved the goblin away from him. The goblin managed to stay on its feet, but Grinston successfully poked it in the leg with his spear. Damage dealt: 20. The two continued their dance but this time the goblin was careless with rage. Grinston was rewarded with another swift poke to his leg. Damage dealt: 20 The goblin was limping now and each strike the goblin threw was less quick; Grinston easily managed to keep him away. It was a poke to the arm that was the next hit to go through, and then a poke to the goblin¡¯s shoulder each dealing 20 damage. By the end of the fight, the goblin could barely keep his sword raised up. A swift strike to the head is what brought its doom. Congratulations, you¡¯ve slain Level 5 Goblin Captain! Level Up! Rank 5 reached! It was now that Grinston had to confront the scene before him. Multiple goblin youths were crawling on their fallen guardian as if they could wake him from the dead. Some looked at Grinston with curiosity, but most began to cry not understanding what this stranger was doing in their home. He heard a few words being called out to him, but he couldn¡¯t understand them. Was that because they weren¡¯t human, or because they were just babies? Grinston wondered if he would ever know. Grinston dragged the lifeless goblin¡¯s body outside of the cave so that he could clear his head for just a moment. Could he live with himself if he murdered these innocent children, though? Would the guilt destroy him as easily as a blade? Deep in Grinston¡¯s mind, another voice whispered to him. ¡®Another adventurer will find this place, and will do the vicious deed themselves. You would let that man steal your treasure?¡¯ Grinston screamed in anguish. He rushed back into the cave, his mind made up. His spear moved quickly and he tried to prevent their suffering from lasting. Congratulations, you''ve vanquished Goblin Cave! When the crying had stopped, Grinston used the sword of their protector to separate their heads from the bodies. Against the advice of his oldest friend, he took the metal blade of his enemy as his loot as well. When the deed was done, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he had made the right choice. Hesitantly, Grinston looked at the notifications. Status update! Personality change! Note: Stoneshire is the only known town to have once belonged to Dwarves, Elves, and Humans at different points in time. This is believed to be due to its physical location at the center of Terroimpes. Royal Institute of Magic 2 After brushing her teeth, Aerie spat in the stone sink. She touched the mana crystal and water quickly washed away all the mess. While the accommodations were not nearly as good as her home, she was glad that they still had mana crystal amenities. After getting dressed, Aerie made her way out of the dormitory. Since school had officially begun, Aerie had to be at class before the sun had even risen past the horizon. When she exited her building, she found that the outside was dark and cold. She walked quickly through the campus, her path illuminated by floating lanterns. The red uniform she wore was spotless, as were all of her clothing possessions, and the silver amulet hung loosely around her neck in a display of grandeur. She had never been one to be late or unfashionable. At last, she rounded a corner and came upon the large building that hosted her first class. The doors swung open as she stepped toward it, obviously a simple detection enchantment. Inside, there were only around ten students who had arrived earlier than her. Their ranks varied widely. The lowest was a gnome at rank 1, while the highest was a skinny human male at rank 18. Aerie felt inadequate as she noted that most of the students were higher ranked than her. ¡®I¡¯ll simply have to work extra hard,¡¯ she told herself. Soon enough, more students arrived and everyone gathered around the central podium at the center of the stage. All the seats were full, except for the one by Aerie. Students talked amongst themselves as they waited for class to begin; Aerie just waited patiently. She was used to being alone and she passed the time by fiddling with her blonde hair. Typically, she wore it in a pony tail and today was no different It wasn¡¯t too long later when the professor walked in. She was dwarfish and her rank was 65. Aerie almost mistook her for a male due to her brawny build, but she remembered that male dwarves were bearded and this one was cleanshaven. Her voice was rough and grainy and she cleared her throat before she began. "Good morning, class. I am Professor Arsha, your enchantment instructor. Today, you will learn how to repair damaged weapons. Get into pairs, please.¡± Just as she finished the door opened once more, and a recognizable face walked in. Jessica looked half-asleep and Aerie couldn¡¯t tell if her clothes or hair were more disheveled. ¡®Definitely the hair,¡¯ Aerie decided. The whole class watched as she searched for an empty seat. Inevitably, this led Jessica to the last seat in the classroom. Jessica fumed as she sat down right beside the princess. ¡®At least she didn¡¯t have to be alone during the project,¡¯ Aerie thought to herself. Professor Arsha looked at Jessica disapprovingly. ¡°Did you get lost?¡± the professor asked, disdain evident in her voice. ¡°Only in my studies. I didn¡¯t sleep yesterday and I lost track of time.¡± Jessica replied as though it was the most simple thing in the world. Perhaps it was, to someone like her. ¡°But I¡¯m here now, so please, continue.¡± Aerie could see the professor turn red but she continued the lecture. The day¡¯s project was to sharpen a dull sword. The teacher grabbed a large sack and began passing out the dull blades. When Aerie grabbed onto it and could now see that the weapon was all but useless in its current condition. Jessica immediately began to summon mana even before the teacher gave the directions. Aerie watched as blue energy wrapped around her hands. They looked like monstrous tentacles as they tightened around the weapon. For a moment, the blade became razor sharp, but seconds later, it cracked into shards that fell upon the floor. The professor handed the pair another sword along with a warning. Aerie now held the sword so that Jessica couldn¡¯t try her disastrous method again. ¡°Now class, there is a minor weapon enchantment that repairs all gear. Go to your Player Interface.¡± Aerie thumbed the amulet.
Name: Aerie Canter Race: Human Class: Scholar Personality: Timid Newcomer Player Magic Tier: 2 Ascension: Locked at level 100
Level: 5 Strength Dexterity Intelligence Charisma Mana
HP: 100 8 12 18 7 10
Skills Combat Sight
Perks Genius
¡°Now mentally click on skills,¡± the teacher commanded.
Skill Description
Combat Sight(unlocked) Unlocks ability to see enemy rank, class, and species. Will update Player on damage dealt and received. Will turn enemy color red upon sign of hostility.
Advanced Combat Sight (locked) Allows Player to see enemy stats. Increases perception and enables dark vision.
Sword Proficiency 1 (locked) Unlocks Swordsman class. Requires Strength of 13. Dexterity of 12. Increases damage done with swords.
Spear Proficiency 1 (locked) Unlocks Spearmen class. Requires Strength of 10. Dexterity of 10. Increases damage done with spears.
Shield Proficiency 1 (locked) Unlocks Shieldman class. Requires Strength of 12. Dexterity of 10. Increases damage blocked by a shield.
Armor Proficiency 1 (locked) Gets rid of dexterity debuff from wearing armor.
Lockpicking (locked) Enables opening locked chests and doors through the use of lockpicks. Requires dexterity of 15.
Stealth (locked) Unlocks "sneak attack" which deals critical damage if enemy is unaware. Requires dexterity of 18.
Deception (locked) Increases chances of successfully lying. Requires charisma of 15.
Mana Manipulation 1 (locked) Unlocks Mage class. Requires intelligence of 15. Mana of 12
Mana Charge (locked) Basic attack spell. Deals 10-20 damage. Requires intelligence of 10. Mana of 10.
Minor Weapon Repair (locked) Fixes basic weapons and restores them to initial conditions. Requires intelligence of 13. Mana of 10.
Greater Weapon Improvement (locked) Upgrades equipped weapons and imbues them with mana. Requires intelligence of 18. Mana of 10.
Self Regeneration (locked) Regenerates 10-15 hp. Requires intelligence of 14. Mana of 11.
Tracking (locked) Enables Player to see enemy tracks from 1 hour prior.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°The skill required for this project is called: Minor Weapon Repair.¡° Professor Arsha stuck her hand out and white light came over the weapon until it was shining like a brand new sword. ¡°In order to unlock this skill, you will need to focus your mana. Don¡¯t worry if it takes awhile, we will be revisiting this spell again.¡± All around the classroom, students held out there hand in an effort to cast the spell. Those who were closest to reaching success managed to get a few dim sparks before the light sputtered out, while most simply held out out their hands in vain. Jessica tried first and it seemed like she almost succeeded. That was until the light died and she struck the sword in frustration. Aerie calmed her breath. She knew some basic mana manipulation, and the most important thing was to remain focused. She closed her eyes, and held her hand just as the Professor did. She felt her hand getting colder as the mana escaped her body. She could feel each imperfection in the sword''s body and her mana quickly went to work fixing them. She lost track of time as her mana systematically improved the sword. When she opened her eyes again, the whole class was staring at her in awe. The sword in her hand now pulsed with a feint blue light. Even that was not the most unusual thing because at the top of her vision, white words were written. Skill Unlocked: Greater Weapon Improvement Jessica was the first to interrupt Aerie¡¯s thoughts. ¡°How did you do that?¡± she asked. ¡°Do what?¡± Aerie asked curiously. ¡°The golden light¡± Jessica clarified. The whole class stared at her with questioning eyes. Aerie shrugged. ¡°I just did what the teacher said to do.¡± It was at this moment that the Professor spoke. ¡°And you did a mighty fine job, Princess Aerie. I would love for you to stay after class for a few minutes¡± the teacher politely commanded. ¡°But the rest of you get back to practicing; you may stop after you¡¯ve repaired your arms.¡± She then handed Jessica another dull sword and left to help other students. Aerie sat down as Jessica continued to try and enchant the sword. Several times the white light came and went but Jessica never ceased in her effort. It was truly impressive, Aerie thought. ¡°Let me help you,¡± Aerie said. Jessica looked red but she didn¡¯t say no. Aerie pushed forward. ¡°Just take a deep breath and close your eyes,¡± Aerie advised. ¡°Focus on the mana in your hand.¡± Jessica complied. This time Aerie could feel how close Jessica was, but just before the spell was complete, Jessica opened her eyes and the light faded uselessly. Jessica sighed in disappointment, but Aerie was not deterred. She stood behind Jessica and placed her hands on Jessica¡¯s eyes. Embarrassingly, Aerie had to be on her tiptoes to reach. ¡°Do it again, and no peeking!¡± The light from her hand surrounded the dull sword. It swirled around it, faster and faster. When it finally dissipated, the sword looked brand new. Aerie let go of the tall mage¡¯s eyes. Jessica hmphed in victory as she waved her staff proudly. Aerie relished in the shared victory, but the school bell announced the end of the class and Jessica was quick to start leaving. ¡°Let¡¯s partner again sometime,¡± she said. Then with a smirk she added, ¡°Next time though, I¡¯m in charge.¡± Pretty soon the whole class was gone and Aerie was left alone with the professor. The dwarf was sitting at her desk as she beckoned the princess to come forward. ¡°I read about you before you came to my class.¡± Arsha began. ¡°Your record states that you want to take the [healer] class. A fine choice, to be sure, but what I witnessed today tells me that you were born to be a [weapon enchanter]. The skill you learned was [greater weapon improvement], an intermediate skill that typically takes weeks to learn.¡± Aerie shook her head in understanding, but inside she was a mess. Her dreams of learning alchemy and becoming a healer existed for as long as she could remember. ¡°I will think about it,¡± was all she replied. The professor nodded and the exchange was over. The rest of the day was mostly uneventful. After Enchantment class, she learned mathematics, combat training, and finally alchemy. Combat training was an interesting class as every single student had to take it. For the first day, everyone picked their weapon and learned the basics. Aerie, Jessica, and Eric all took staffs as their arms, whereas Orpheus and his group of friends decided to grab a sword as theirs. As the day continued, Aerie learned that she shared an alchemy class with Eric. The pair decided to be partners and work together. Word had also spread that she learned intermediate level skills and she made new friends. When her classes were done, there was only an hour left of sunlight. Aerie could think of no other way to spend it then getting her outfit ready for the next day.
Name: Aerie Canter Race: Human Class: Scholar Personality: Timid Newcomer Player Magic Tier: 2 Ascension: Locked at level 100
Level: 5 Strength Dexterity Intelligence Charisma Mana
HP: 100 8 12 18 7 10
Skills Combat Sight Greater Weapon Improvement
Perks Genius
Note: The average height of a high ranking knights and martial fighters is six foot five or 195.5 cm Stoneshire 4 Adventurers were gathered all around the town hall, all with weapons stained by blood. Many were wounded from the goblin raid, but they all waited patiently for the victory ceremony to begin. Grinston tried to see the mayor but a tall Shieldman stood in front of him, blocking his vision. Grinston elected to simply check his stats as he waited.
Name: Grinston Race: Human Class: Raider Personality: Merciless Contender Player Magic Tier: 1 Ascension: Locked at level 100
Level: 5 Strength Dexterity Intelligence Charisma Mana
HP: 100 10 15 10 10 0
Skills Combat Sight
Perks Unlocked at Level 15
Interestingly, he had unlocked a class during one of his fights. He clicked on it mentally.
Tier Class name Description
Basic Raider(unlocked) Applies +15% modifier to all physical actions
Basic Scholar Applies +15% buff to learning new skills
Basic Looter Applies +15% bonus to finding treasure
Advanced Spearmen Applies +30% modifier to all physical actions Unlocks special attack: Normal Poke, Heavy Poke, Precision Strike Adds Perk: Dexterous
Advanced Swordsman Applies +30% modifier to all physical actions Unlocks special attack: Normal Slash, Heavy Slash, Parry Adds Perk: Strong
Advanced Shieldman Applies +30% modifier to all physical actions Unlocks special attack: Block, Shield Bash Adds Perk: Enduring
Advanced Mage Applies +30% modifier to all mental actions Unlocks special attack: Mana Charge, Counterspell, Mana Manipulation Adds Perk: Intelligent
Advanced Thief Applies +30% modifier to all stealth actions Unlocks special attack: Normal Stab, Heavy Stab, Back Stab Adds Perk: Perceptive
He realized that if he wanted to unlock more advanced classes, he would need to level up more. Nonetheless, he moved back on to the scene at hand. Trisha, the Guild Manager, was handing out awards. Apparently, a young female swordsman had slayed the Goblin Chief in single combat. She was Rank 15 and the whole audience applauded as she was given the gold reward. Grinston was barely paying attention when he heard his name being called. He looked up and saw Trisha gesturing for him to approach. "Young Grinston had the most kills of anyone here." She announced. "They were mostly goblin children, but the achievement remains." She handed him a sack filled to the brim with silver. "He killed 3 goblin fighters and 13 goblin children bringing his reward to 48 silver coins. This was more than Grinston had made in a month of adventuring, but the moment didn''t feel right. For one, unlike for the rank 15, the town hall was dead silent. After a few awkward moments, Grinston wondered if he should just take the coins and go. His fears were not well-founded because all of a sudden, the crowd began to cheer. Grinston had never been the center of attention before. He held his hand up as he walked back to his seat. When he finally sat down, he was grinning ear to ear. He could get used to this, he thought as the ceremony continued. Name after name was called and smiling adventurers accepted praise and coin. Some old adventure had saved a life, while a different one managed to protect someone''s home from being destroyed. By the time they stopped calling names, the sun had set and stars took its place. Trisha cleared her throat loudly. "Due to the outstanding success against the Goblin raid, the tavern owner has generously donated to us three barrels of beer and the mayor has given us permission to use the town hall for the rest of the night. Please drink responsibly. Grinston was six cups of beer in when a party of adventurers approached him. It was a group of three and all of them were the same rank as Grinston. "Hey... you are the one to kill those babies right?" the inebriated scholar asked. "I defeated them, yes. What of it?" Grinston replied as he continued to grab another cup full of alcohol. This time their response came from a man holding a large wooden shield. He did not seem to have been drinking during the party. "What my friend is trying to say is you killed more goblins than anyone here, yet we have never seen you before. Why is that?" "I''m new to adventuring." Grinston answered as he took another sip. "Besides, I''ve never seen almost all of the people here. It''s not like there is some adventurer hangout I''m unaware of, is there?" This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. "No, but it''s just strange is all." the sober man replied. "I try to keep track of new adventurers and find out if they are any good. Good enough to join our group." Grinston waited for him to continue, but he never did. Grinston was drunk, but not so much so that he would miss this obvious clue. "Thanks friend, but I work solo. I''m not planning on sharing my loot." The fellow adventurer scratched his beard, or at least the makings of one. "I was like you before. Chasing glory, I mean. But let me tell you this: no man can do everything alone. You see we already got the beginnings of a mage here." he said as he patted the first drunk on the back. "And we got a tank in myself as well as a good economy guy in my other friend. Add you into the mix and we add some good DPS to all that. Ain''t that sound good?" Grinston noticed that the third member of the group was a [looter] who only carried a cloak and dagger. Grinston wiped his brown hair as he thought about it. Truthfully, he wasn''t entirely opposed to the idea of teaming, but this was far too quick for his liking. "Yeah, but what''s in it for me?" The man sighed in exasperation. "Not only do you get 15% of the parties'' loot, you also get to do harder quests that require more adventurers." "Wait, a second, why 15? There would only be four of us." "Well, you would be the last one to join and seniors always get privileges." "Yeah, then I''ll just make my own party then." The man laughed at that. "I knew these guys since before we were adventurers. It''s not that easy making a group." "Just wait and see, then." Grinston promised. He then walked away to see what else was happening during the celebration. As he searched around, he spotted a pair of adventurers arm wrestling. The two men''s arms were locked together until eventually one of them managed to overwhelm the other. The stronger man roughly smacked his opponent''s arm onto the wooden table leaving a sickening crunch sound. The loser of the match screamed in pain, but the winner took another drink and laughed. "Anyone else care to try me? I''m not even tired." he boasted. His hair was long and braided and his arms were muscled like oxen; Grinston knew he had no chance against him. Grinston continued searching for other activities that wouldn''t result in broken bones. Eventually, he found a less rowdy group of adventurers playing dice. Grinston sat down to join them. "Deal me in." Grinston said, pushing five silver coins into the center of the table. For the rest of the night, Grinston sat at the table rolling. He won some, and he lost some, but by the end of it, he was down all five silver. He took another gulp of his beer and left with a new goal- spend his loot. Grinston counted all the silver to his name: 52. The scrap metal sword he collected also sold for an additional 1 silver meaning he now had 53 silver coins to spend. His current gear was leather, and his spear was wooden with an iron tip. Grinston was ready to begin shopping for improvements. Chainmail costed 30 silver and an iron helmet was 15. Metal boots were priced at 10. A better spear would cost him a whopping 40 silver coins. At first, Grinston was going to purchase a superior spear, but the more he thought about it, he realized he could potentially loot one during a quest. The same could not be said for armor which would be unlikely to fit him. In the end, he sold his leather armor for half of what it had costed him which gave him 3 silver. In turn, he bought metal boots, an iron helm and chainmail. This left him with only a single silver coin in his pocket. As he finished paying, he caught the back of the head of his old friend. He was in his typical old robe "Master Flynn!" Grinston called, as he jogged up to him. "It''s been a while." "That it has," he said with a sad smile. "It''s been difficult since the raid. Almost all of the outskirt homes were burned, but that''s not the most troubling development. I''ve heard some things about you, Grinston. Terrible things." "Oh, yes. A dramatized account, nothing more." Grinston replied. "You should know I killed more goblins than any adventurer here. All those people who died were avenged. I guess divine justice really does happen sometimes." "There was nothing godly about that slaughter." Flynn said. "This is why I advised you not to become an adventure; it''s corrupting you." "You''d prefer me to be some farmhand? Breaking my body for copper and saying ''yes, sir'' to any jackass with a parcel of land?" "It is honest work being a laborer. I cannot say the same for being the paid murderer of babes" "Babes grow." Grinston replied, anger now evident in his voice. "Ask any villager who had their families destroyed. I''m sure you will find them thankful for my act. I must say I forgot how judgmental you are." "And I forgot how naive, you could be." Flynn responded with a scowl. "Then, I guess you shouldn''t waste your time on me. Go and lecture some other farmboy, see if he is up to your high standards." Grinston turned his back to leave and Master Flynn went back to his journey. An unsatisfying conversation, Grinston thought. He would have to make Master Flynn understand some other time. Through, the word ''flexible'' was not in the old man''s vocabulary. Regardless, Grinston headed to the Adventurer''s Guild looking for more work. Trisha looked hungover as she manned the table. "Have fun last night?" Grinston asked. "Too much fun, unfortunately. I take it you are here for some quests?" Grinston nodded. "I actually forgot to mention it during the ceremony but you got a promotion when you reached level 5. Bronze plus. This opens up new opportunities for you such as Tier 2 quests." "Very good!" Grinston exclaimed. He felt as though his hard work was paying off. "What do you have for me? I''d like to try my luck at one of these Tier 2 quests." "Well, we only have one of those quests remaining. It''s a scouting mission for the east side of the mountain. The reason that it is rated as a Tier 2 quest is that the region you will be scouting is located next to an Elvish settlement. Now, don''t get it twisted. We are not trying to start a border skirmish, but if you have to kill a few Elves to get away, I doubt anything will come of it." "What exactly do you want me to investigate?" Trisha held the pencil up to her lip. "All kind of things, really. Special landmarks are very useful because they can be used to figure out if there are valuable resources in the area. Any magical creatures are also important to note. Really, just anything out of the ordinary. One time, an adventurer found a whole dungeon on a scouting mission. As a reward, he got his pay and partial ownership rights. For you, the pay will be around 15 silver if you can find something of interest. 3 if you can''t find anything" Grinston nodded in understanding as he pulled out his map. "Show me where you want me to go." Iron boots crunched down on the soft ground. Grinston pushed the foliage away with his spear as he made his way along the mountain. Stoneshire was on the northern side of the mountain and he need to go southeast to find the region of interest. His map was a godsend in this mission. Grinston was at the eastern cliff right before the sun dipped below the horizon. He had to march in darkness. ''I should''ve bought a torch,'' he thought to himself bitterly, as a branch struck him in the head. The moon shone down on him and guided his path. All he could see were trees, tall and majestic, and grass that swayed with the wind. Pretty yes, but nothing truly of value. The stars were beautiful, too. Grinston took a deep breath of the mountain air. He continued forward. He heard the crunch of leaves to his side. With his spear at the ready, he turned to confront the threat. A rank 15 Bear stood on its rear paws near him. When it finally realized that it had been noticed, it let out a terrifying roar. Grinston ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He didn''t mind the branches smacking at his head anymore. They would be nothing compared to the bear''s class across his back. Suddenly, his foot caught upon a rock and he came crashing down on to the ground with a thud. Damage received: 10 He saw the monster''s shadow behind him so he ignored the pain and pushed on. He could hear the bear right behind him and Grinston thought his life was soon to be over, cut short by an animal''s hunger. He didn''t notice that once he passed the final tree in the forest the bear gave up its chase. Grinston was bleeding from his fall and out of his breath, but he was alive. ''Why didn''t the bear follow?'' he wondered. It seemed like just an ordinary clearing. /However inside the clearing, there was a small stream of water which Grinston walked towards. He put his hand in the running water and drank a small amount. It seemed clear enough so he refilled his flask. As he continued to search around he saw a cave. Well, perhaps too small to be considered a cave. It looked more like a hole in the side of a mountain. Grinston shoved himself through the crack and was plunged into complete darkness.