《Little Red: A fairy tale RPG》 Little Red, Big Problems Little Red breathed in the scent of baking cookies, closed her eyes, and sighed wistfully. She could almost taste the chocolate melting on her tongue . . . ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± her mom chided, her tall, slender figure whisking into the room. ¡°Aw, please? Just one bite!¡± Her mother clapped flour-covered hands against each other, spreading a faint white cloud through the kitchen. She wiped her brow, looking pale. A debuff notification appeared above her head. Drained. ¡°You know these Lesser Cookies of Restoration are for Granny. I¡¯ve got one more batch to make. If I catch you in the cookie jar, I¡¯ll grind you up like that poor old Englishman, and you¡¯ll be part of the next batch.¡± She shook a finger at Little Red with an exaggerated wink, pulled out her Rolling Pin of Perseverance, and opened her baking grimoire to follow the recipe for her final cooking project of the day. Even though she¡¯d seen her mom¡¯s rare rolling pin in action, Little Red always enjoyed watching the magic flow into the baked goods as her mom rolled out the dough. She glanced at the cooking utensil. A text box hovered in the air above the item.
Rolling Pin of Perseverance: once per day, allows the bearer to ignore Mana costs for a single cast.
Her mother tucked a stray chestnut curl into her hair net and slipped a yellow-and-white striped apron over her head. Little Red had hired an Enchantress, Seamstress subclass, to make it for her mother¡¯s birthday last week. Today¡¯s pastries were the first test case. ¡°Red, go get the wicker picnic basket from the attic. By the time you find it, I¡¯ll be done with the Blueberry Spirit Pastries. You can deliver the cookies, pastries, and pie to Granny.¡±
Apron of Appreciation: Imbues all baked goods with buff A Mother¡¯s Love¡ªBaker subclass-only buff; 200% efficiency to one batch of baked goods stats.
Little Red stomped up the stairs, muttering to herself that Granny had an eighty-year head start on eating cookies. Being a kid was downright unfair! It was bad enough that she didn¡¯t have a subclass yet, but no cookies took the cake. She stopped for a moment on the third-story landing by her room and giggled at the silliness of all the desserts in common sayings. Just the way the cookie crumbles, eh? By the time she¡¯d reached the attic, Little Red had decided to run off with the cookies, or at least sneak two or three on the way. It was only fair; she was the one who had to haul them through the woods. Besides, Granny probably didn¡¯t have very many teeth left¡ªshouldn¡¯t she try to avoid sweets these days? Little Red whistled as she searched for the old picnic basket. The attic was smaller than she remembered, but a good deal more cluttered. A minor Quest popped up: Spring Cleaning. She swiped no without waiting to see the rewards for accepting. Not. A. Chance. Rummaging through piles of half-empty health vials, beat-up suitcases, and threadbare capes, Little Red finally spied a tan-colored handle. ¡°Gotcha!¡± Little Red hollered, dragging the basket into the center of the room. She blew off a layer of dust, sneezing as it billowed back at her. How long had it been since her last visit to see Granny? Guilt knocked at her heart, but she didn¡¯t answer the door. Go away. I¡¯m taking care of it right now! ¡°Fine,¡± she said aloud, pouting. ¡°I guess I won¡¯t eat the cookies all by myself.¡± Little Red skipped back downstairs, basket in tow. She bounded into the kitchen, twirling the empty basket by the handle. ¡°Ready, Mom!¡± A lopsided smirk played on her mom¡¯s lips. She held up an egg-timer hourglass with a few grains of sand still left in the top half. ¡°Record time, kiddo. You win. I¡¯ll let you eat one cookie before delivery. Maybe Granny will feel generous and give you a second cookie after you drop off her baked goods. That way you won¡¯t have to sneak a cookie in the forest.¡± ¡°I¡¯d never¡ª¡± Her mother put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes, clicking her tongue. ¡°You think I haven¡¯t delivered cookies to my Granny before? I may not be a Courier, but I¡¯ve stolen my share of cookies.¡± ¡°You mean, you¡¯ve put in your share of honest work?¡± They grinned at each other. Mom kissed her cheek and said, ¡°Exactly. Cookie thievery is a time-honored tradition in this household.¡± Little Red snatched up a Lesser Cookie of Restoration and started munching. She tried to talk around the mouthful of chocolate and oats and nuts, but it all came out in a jumbled, ¡°Mhmmm . . . hmmmph . . . yummmm!¡± Her mother laughed and finished packing the basket. She handed it to Red. ¡°Don¡¯t forget Granny moved into the Peaceful Glen Retirement Cottages last month. I¡¯ve updated your Map of Quests with a Waypoint.¡± Little Red tossed back a glass of milk to rinse her mouth and eagerly opened her Map. She squealed in delight. ¡°You granted me an official Courier-class Quest! This should be just enough XP for me to finally hit Level 5. Thankyouthankyouthankyou!¡± Her mom gently pushed her out the door. ¡°Go get that subclass, honey.¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

=+= ¡°I¡¯ve got to get a faster bike,¡± Little Red grumbled to herself an hour later. This trip was taking forever. She skidded to a stop at a fork in the trail to check her Map. Only 23% of the way there. Suppressing the urge to kick a rock on the side of the road, she hopped back on the bike and veered right. As she pedaled, she toyed with the idea of adding extra points to physical skills with her Level Up and Subclass bonus, but she rejected the thought eventually. Too many other, more valuable perks would be available. Three turns later, a peal of unnaturally gleeful laughter caught her attention. Little Red craned her neck, looking for the sprite. They were supposed to be good luck. A side trail branched to her left and meandered over a quaint wooden bridge, leading to a playground she¡¯d never seen before. She unrolled her Map and groaned. Technically, the side trail took her off the Map-approved path, though not by much. If she lingered too long, it might count as a Deviation. A flash of silver from the playground made up her mind. She turned down the side trail, chasing the sprites. It was still morning. Plenty of time to finish up her Quest later, as long as the Map didn¡¯t count the Deviation against her. A small, green sprite buzzed up to her and tagged her arm. ¡°You can¡¯t catch me!¡± Little Red jumped off her bike, almost dropping the basket, and took off running. She set down the treats, untied her cape, and kicked off her shoes. A right proper game of playground chase required bare feet, as far as she was concerned. Moments later, she caught the green sprite, who giggled and misted out of her hands as soon as she trapped it. Two more sprites¡ªone small, lithe, and golden; the other big, banded, and blue¡ªzipped about her head, clamoring for their turn to play. They took turns distracting her from each other¡¯s course, flying toward her face with little bursts of light. She ran until her Stamina blinked, too low to continue sprinting. Try as she might, Little Red couldn¡¯t catch them both at once. Hands on her knees, panting to catch her breath, Little Red pulled up her abilities list and stared longingly at Charm Strangers. It would cost half her mana pool, but it just might be worth it to win. She hated losing. A low hum, like an a cappella chorus warming up, swelled through the playground. Again a flash of silver traced by, and Little Red gasped when she saw the crown on the sprite¡¯s head. A Sprite Queen!
Charm Strangers: Circumvents natural suspicions and temporarily changes Status to Friendly; superior effect on elderly and children, reduced effect against Enemies; AoE, not required to use against single-target (cost: 6 Mana. cooldown: 1 day)
Mother would not be happy if she found out about using a Daily on a game of tag, but if Little Red caught a Sprite Queen, she might have a chance to get a Boon. Surely that was worth the splurge if it worked. If. A soft chime reminded her that her Stamina had refilled. Grinning, Little Red tore across the playground after the Sprite Queen, who laughed and soared through the wooden towers just ahead of Little Red. Every time the Sprite Queen drifted within range, she¡¯d wink at Little Red and poof! off again, just beyond reach. They darted and spun in circles for hours, until a rumble in Little Red¡¯s tummy reminded her that she¡¯d missed lunch. She squinted up at the sun¡ªalready early afternoon¡ªand huffed, activating Charm Strangers. She¡¯d committed too much time now to walk away empty-handed. The silvery Sprite Queen flew closer as Little Red felt the cold shock of losing half her mana at once. It was all worth it once the Sprite Queen landed on her arm, perched like a falcon ready to hunt. ¡°Tag,¡± Little Red whispered, winking. With a little gasp, the Sprite Queen crossed her arms and beat her wings at Little Red. ¡°You tricked me!¡± Little Red shrugged. ¡°Game was rigged.¡± ¡°Game was rigged,¡± the Sprite Queen agreed, giggling. ¡°You¡¯ve earned your Boon, but choose wisely.¡± Little Red leaned closer in anticipation. ¡°Oh, I know!¡± The Sprite Queen brightened. ¡°Do you want to turn purple for the day?¡± At Little Red¡¯s scowl, the Sprite Queen doubled over in laughter, falling off her perch. She caught herself with one finger on the ground and pushed herself back up to hover in the air in front of Little Red. ¡°Nah, I¡¯m only fooling. You can have that if you really want, but I¡¯ll offer you something more boring. You humans never understand the value of a good joke.¡± Little Red poked the Sprite Queen. ¡°I can dump paint on my head any old time if I really want to change colors. Got anything to make me faster? I¡¯m late getting to Granny¡¯s house.¡± The Sprite Queen tapped pursed lips with a long, slender finger. She shrugged, then disappeared without warning. Little Red growled and stalked back over to her bike. She balanced the picnic basket on the handlebars, unrolled the Map to check her bearings, and laughed when she noticed a new Quest update.
Sprite Queen¡¯s Blessings. Reward: ¡°Tag! You¡¯re it! Tailwind¡± ¡ª a permanent 25% buff to movement speed.
Little Red took off down the path, ignoring the standard warning text about a possible Deviation detected. She still had time to complete the quest within the time limits, especially with her new Tag! You¡¯re it! buff. According to the Map, she was going over 30 feet per second now. Definitely worth the mana cost. She pushed faster, chasing 40 feet per second, but almost crashed into a tree when she missed a sudden turn in the trail. She wobbled, fought for control as she charged through the underbrush, and regained her balance long enough to slam on the brakes. No more peeking at her speeds while riding a twisty dirt path in the forest, she vowed. A steady, annoying beep warned her that she¡¯d Deviated from Quest parameters. Ugh. I¡¯ll never get that subclass! For sure now she¡¯d miss the deadline. She pulled up the map, searching for a shortcut. There. She stabbed her finger at the Map accusingly. A narrow road she¡¯d missed earlier showed a straight line between her house and Granny¡¯s place that would get her there in half the time. She¡¯d looped around to the side, but a five-minute jaunt should get her back on track. When she punched in the new Waypoint, the Map let out an alarm.
WARNING! PVP ZONE! SEVERE QUEST DEVIATION DETECTED. GUARDIAN-LEVEL APPROVAL REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL QUEST ALTERATION.
Little Red swallowed. PVP zones were restricted until she was level 10, according to her mom, but maybe she could sneak through . . . She couldn¡¯t risk taking the time to return home to ask for approval. Besides, she knew deep down in her bones that her mother would never go for the idea. A glance up at the sun in its course confirmed her fears: she was running out of time. If she didn¡¯t complete the Quest, even outside of parameters, then her gamble was for naught. Only one thing left to do. Little Red grinned and disabled the Map. It would invalidate the automated Quest, but maybe she could complain that it malfunctioned and apply for a credit to her XP upon Quest completion. Guild approval would take a few extra days, but she¡¯d waited her whole life to gain a subclass, so what was a few extra days? Crisis settled, Little Red swung into her seat, pushed off from a dead tree on the ground, and pedaled toward her new route, straight toward a restricted PVP zone. Sure, she was only Level 4, but how bad could it be? Whos Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Little Red grinned. According to her map, she was halfway through the PVP zone. This was a piece of cake¡ªshe made a mental note to ask her mom to expand her grimoire repertoire to include cake. She was back on track to reach Granny¡¯s by late afternoon. So far, she hadn¡¯t even seen any signs of another person, let alone encountered anyone dangerous. What was the big deal, anyway? Underneath her, the ground suddenly sprang up. Black metal spikes clawed at her bike, catching the wheels and holding them tight. The sudden lurch threw her head first over the handlebars with a whoosh of air. She slammed into the hard-packed dirt and slid to a stop against an old oak tree. The good news: her picnic basket didn¡¯t spill. The bad news: her bike was held fast in a high-level trap.
Greater Bear Trap: Immobilize. 10 piercing damage.
A low growl raised the hair on her neck. She spun around just in time to avoid a snap from a hulking wolf.¡°My mom is going to kill me,¡± she groaned, touching the cuts and scratches on the bike frame. ¡°Late to Granny¡¯s, no bicycle, and definitely in the wrong part of town.¡± He reared back, snarling, and shook his head. Flecks of foam formed on his lips, which parted to reveal long, yellowed teeth. A dim, blood-red light swirled around him, and he transformed into a Wolfman. ¡°Need help, little girl?¡± ¡°Nope! I¡¯m just disabling the traps so no one gets hurt around here. Know where I can find some more?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got spunk, I¡¯ll give you that,¡± the Wolfman chuckled. ¡°I can¡¯t seem to recall any other traps. This one I know pretty well, though, since it¡¯s mine.¡± Little Red backed up a step. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°¡®Oh,¡¯¡± the Wolfman repeated in a mocking falsetto . ¡°Lucky for you, I gorged myself just yesterday, although I could always do with a snack. I¡¯ll give you thirty seconds to convince me why I shouldn¡¯t eat you right now.¡± ¡°You like snacks? I¡¯ve got cookies and pastries with me. How often do you get a chance to enjoy exquisite baked goods out here in the forest? You could eat them and let me go.¡± The Wolfman threw back his head and howled in laughter. ¡°You think I¡¯m going to let you go? The choice is eat you now, or eat you later. And I prefer the taste of meat instead of sugar, so no more cookie suggestions.¡± Little Red clutched her basket close, mind racing. She squeezed her fingers tighter on the handle to stop the trembling. ¡°How about a race? I¡¯ll trade you a mincemeat pie if you free my bicycle. If you can finish the pie and catch me before I leave this zone, I¡¯m all yours. But if I get out of the zone, you¡¯ll let me go. Wolves enjoy a good chase, don¡¯t they?¡± The Wolfman sniffed twice. ¡°You¡¯re telling the truth. I do like a good mincemeat pie.¡± He released the bear trap, but held the bicycle in a clawed hand. ¡°Why are you in a PVP zone this high-level, anyway?¡± ¡°I need to take treats to my Granny¡¯s house.¡± ¡°Ah. What a sweet little girl, risking your life for your Granny. I accept your gamble,¡± the Wolfman said, licking his chops. Little Red dug the Mincemeat Pie of Mindfulness from her basket and shoved it toward the foul-smelling beast.
Mincemeat Pie of Mindfulness: Remember something you¡¯ve forgotten, learn where to find things¡ªno more losing reading glasses or tea cozies.
He tossed the bicycle to Little Red, knocking her over with the force of his throw, and ripped into the crust, saliva dripping from his jagged teeth. ¡°Better ride, little girl!¡± Little Red scrambled to her feet, jumped on her bike, and spun the pedals as fast as she could. I''m never getting a subclass at this rate! She leaned over the handlebars, digging in with her feet as hard as she could. Tag! You¡¯re it! kicked in, pushing her along, but behind her, she heard a bone-chilling howl from the Wolfman. He¡¯d outpace her nearly two-to-one. As soon as he finished the pie, she had no chance to survive. He¡¯d pounce on her with bared teeth¡ª Little Red shut down that line of thinking. Double-checking her remaining mana pool, she cast Mischievous Machinations (2). Her mana dropped from 7.5¡ªshe had gained one and a half with an hour of regen since Charm Strangers¡ªbut she slipped into Stealth for 30 seconds, allowing her enough time to pull off her plan. She hoped.
Mischievous Machinations (1&2)
1) Ground-targeted, channeled for 30 seconds: weak localized effect, Chaos/Order (class: Phenomenon. cost 6 Mana. cooldown: 1 day. range: 30 feet)
2) Self-cast, instant: Step into Stealth for 30 seconds (cost: 6 Mana. cooldown: 1 hour)
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. She dropped the second Mincemeat Pie of Mindfulness on the ground, breaking it open to release the juices and smells within, then doubled back as quietly as she could, hiding behind a tree. The Wolfman roared past her, tongue lolling between its teeth. Not daring to even breathe, Little Red held still until the Wolfman swooped down on the pie and continued onward, now on the false trail. It wouldn¡¯t fool him for long. She¡¯d intentionally gone at an angle to Granny¡¯s house, but now she struck out in the right direction, praying that he wouldn¡¯t know where she was going. There were probably other retirement communities nearby, right? Right.

=+= Little Red slipped out a Blueberry Spirit Pastry as she approached Granny¡¯s community. Free of the PVP zone at last, she started to plan. She was up to almost 3 mana through her passive regeneration, but if anything went wrong, she¡¯d only be able to conjure a weak Soap Bubble to soak a tiny bit of damage. The Blueberry Spirit Pastry was a higher-tier magical creation than she should probably mess with, under ordinary circumstances, but she couldn¡¯t afford to be without her other abilities if something went wrong. Granny would understand. Better alive to ask for forgiveness, than dead and asking for permission . . . at least, that¡¯s what Little Red thought her mother said sometimes. Grownups had funny ways of putting things.
Blueberry Spirit Pastry: Gain 2 HP and 12 mana instantly.
The mana spread through her in a comforting wave as soon as she finished the last crumb of the pastry. She wiped blueberry juice off her mouth and rounded the final bend to her Granny¡¯s private cottage at Peaceful Glen. A brand-new tin roof gleamed in the early evening sunlight. She blinked against the glare and stepped off the bike, studying the house. It wasn¡¯t all that big, but the red wooden shakes and cheery, yellow trim on windows and eaves reminded her of Granny. Little Red started. The front door was slightly ajar. She prepped Soap Bubble, just in case, wishing Mischievous Machinations (2) were already off cooldown. Ten more minutes and then she could sneak away, if needed. Maybe she should just wait. C¡¯mon, Red. Granny needs my help. Little Red drew in a deep breath. She rode up to the front of the cottage, leaned her bike against the wall, and pushed open the door. Inside, the entryway opened to a living room to the left and a sparkling clean kitchen on the right, but no one was around. She peered into the corners to make sure Granny wasn¡¯t just playing a trick on her, but the cottage was empty. Straight ahead, a sliding door led to the back of the little house. Little Red assumed it was the bedroom. She tiptoed up to the door and slid it aside. ¡°Come in, come in, my dear!¡± Little Red jumped at the sound. ¡°Granny, you must be really sick. Your voice is so deep and scratchy tonight.¡± From the big, frilly bed came the gravelly voice again. ¡°I¡¯m just sick with worry. You are quite late, young lady.¡± Little Red squinted in the dim light. She groped through the room until she found a lamp in the corner and turned it on. ¡°What happened! Your eyes are all swollen and yellow.¡± ¡°All the better to see you with.¡± Little Red stared at the claws sticking out of her Granny¡¯s flannel pajama sleeves. ¡°And your hands. You¡¯ve been skipping pedicures again, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Now that¡¯s a ghastly accusation! Nothing to worry about, child. Sometimes my arthritis acts up.¡± Little Red inched toward the door, gather her mana for Soap Bubble, just in case. ¡°Mom said you¡¯ve been having dental problems, but I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d grown new canine teeth. That seems like a very rare condition.¡± ¡°All the better to eat you with!¡± the Wolfman growled, tossing aside the covers and the pink bonnet on his head. Crimson light flashed around him for a split second as he channeled an ability. He pounced with a ferocious leap and slashed at her with his claws. Little Red put every ounce of strength into her Soap Bubble.
Soap Bubble: Chromatic barrier, absorbs 10 damage; self-cast. Cost: 4 mana. Additional 1 Mana per 5 Overkill damage. No cooldown; successive casts use double mana.
The rainbow-whorled bubble burst, and half of her mana flowed out to power the ability as well the overflow shield. She jumped away from the Wolfman, who staggered back, eyes blinking. Little Red turned and fled outside, screaming for help, but the forest was strangely quiet. No one could hear her cries. And Granny¡ªshe didn¡¯t want to think about what had happened to Granny.

=+= Rolling clouds of darkness washed over Little Red. The outside world faded into shades of gray. A deep, rumbling growl shook the ground under her feet. She stumbled, falling to her knees as the horrifying sound grew louder and louder, drawing ever closer. Little Red huddled on the ground, scrabbling at the dirt with her hands. Visions of death at the Wolfman¡¯s snapping jaws filled her mind. She squeezed her eyes against a sudden rush of tears. Strength ran out of her like water poured onto the ground. The scratch and click of claws on rocks announced the Wolfman¡¯s approach. She turned to look over her shoulder, trembling. The Wolfman¡¯s claws glowed blood red. His lips peeled back in a malicious grin. ¡°Game¡¯s up, little snack!¡± The Huntsman The Huntsman pushed both fists into his lower back and stretched, savoring the little pops along his spine. One more varmint trap to check before quitting time and a hot meal at the Peaceful Glen mess hall. Cushy side job so far, exterminating rats for the old folks. A shriek split the tranquil air. The Huntsman groaned. So much for a quiet evening. He grabbed his Endless Edge Axe and sprinted toward the commotion.
Endless Edge Axe (always sharp, never grows dull; 20 slashing damage).
As he burst into a clearing by one of the cottages, a miasma of terror almost made him lose his footing. Fighting through the fear, he called on his Resolve to steady himself. He sniffed and his keen sense immediately identified the cloud as Terror of the Night. A child curled up in a ball on the ground ahead of him, hands over her head.
Terror of the Night: Overwhelms target with Dread, immobilizing and reducing target¡¯s resistances and Resolve.
A massive Wolfman lunged at the girl. The Huntsman held out his hand and summoned Protection of the Forest. Brown saplings and green shoots pushed up from the ground in front of the vulnerable child, twisting and twining together. He urged the trees to grow as fast as they could, hoping it would be enough to save her life. What was that Wolfman thinking, attacking in a non-PVP zone? He pushed the question from his mind, trying to formulate a plan. The Guild would authorize lethal force in response, but he had to protect the child first.
Protection of the Forest: Saplings spring up and grow rapidly to form a tree barrier; absorbs 80 damage (cost: 10 Mana. cooldown: 1 hour).
The Wolfman slammed into the trees, snapping branches and bending the slender trunks. They swayed but didn¡¯t break. His eyes lit up red, matching the eerie glow in his claws. He slashed at the barrier in a triple-strike, shredding a poplar. The dark mist fell away as the Wolfman focused his rage on a new target, biting and hacking at the newly-formed trees. A few seconds later, his paws blurred red as he repeated the three quick swipes with huge, sharp claws, tearing away half the barrier between him and his prey. The Huntsman switched up his grip on his favorite axe and charged. The Wolfman ignored him, caught in the grips of primal bloodlust, and broke through the final tree, ripping apart a sturdy little oak in half with snapping, crushing jaws. The little girl staggered to her feet and jumped back from the wolf. No longer under the immobilizing compulsion of Terror of the Night, he expected her to run, but instead she balled up her fists and she glared at the monster. ¡°What have you done with Granny?¡± she demanded. Roaring in rage, the Wolfman lunged at her, teeth gnashing. Lashing Vines! the Huntsman commanded silently, directing a swarm of creeping plants to wrap up the creature. They jerked the wolf backward, dragging him away from the girl. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Lashing Vines: Snare target for 10 seconds (cost: 5 Mana. cooldown: 1 minute).
A soft chime reminded him that he¡¯d already used up half his mana. He ran closer while the beast was still snared and swung his axe, catching the Wolfman across the chest. The blade split the skin but wedged in a rib. The Wolfman whirled away, almost tugging the axe from his hands, and cut him across the face with the triple-strike. The Huntsman jumped back, ripping the axe free. He grabbed a salve from his pouch and smeared it on his face, hoping the Wolfman hadn¡¯t caught the scent of blood. That frenzy would be too much to handle. The Wolfman drew back on his haunches, then hurled himself forward faster than the Huntsman could follow. Before he could dodge, the Wolfman slammed into him, knocking him to the ground with a murderous snarl. He shoved the Wolfman to the side and rolled to his feet, swinging his axe overhead in a two-handed attack that hacked off the Wolfman¡¯s left arm just below the elbow. As the Huntsman brandished the axe for another swing, the Wolfman leaped at his face, trying to strike with his slashing triple-claw attack, but the glow around his claws faltered, and he only managed two hits, but one of them tore open the Huntsman¡¯s shoulder, spraying blood on the ground. The Wolfman¡¯s eyes lit up, frenzy triggered by the smell. He head-butted the Huntsman, knocking him down, and followed up with a savage kick that sent the axe tumbling end over end out of his grasp. A wicker basket bounced off his snout. ¡°Leave him alone!¡± the girl shouted. The Wolfman howled and spun to face his original victim. He bared his fangs and leaped forward, but a sudden flurry of vines snatched him from the air and hammered him back into the dirt before he could reach her. The Huntsman panted with the exertion. He was down to a third of his mana left, and the Wolfman showed no signs of stopping. The girl sprinted for his axe, picking it up and heaving it back to him before the Wolfman fought free. In a few seconds the vines would run out, unless he could pour more mana into them to hold the beast twice as long. He gritted his teeth and willed the ability to last longer, to hold on just enough¡ªto his shock, the mana flowed out of him even though the cooldown wasn¡¯t up yet, but it cost twice as much as usual. Drained! a warning flashed. Out of mana. But the thick vines lashed the monster in place. It would have to be enough. He chopped at the Wolfman, striking the creature on the leg. The knee popped, crippling the Wolfman, but the vines withered and died, decaying rapidly and dusting away on the breeze. His adversary spun around and clawed him with his remaining paw, hobbling toward him with a look of triumph in his scarred face. His jaws hinged open wider than should be physically possible. The telltale crimson light of his class surrounded the Wolfman as he prepared to finish the fight. The girl rode between them on a bicycle, bumping into the Wolfman and knocking him off balance, interrupting his channel. ¡°Eat this!¡± she yelled, circling away from a claw-strike and throwing two pastries at the Huntsman, who recognized the magic pastries. She must be the baker¡¯s daughter. He followed her, running out of the Wolfman¡¯s range. Shaking with exhaustion and pain, the Huntsman devoured the Blueberry Spirit Pastries and felt a rush of mana restoration as he finished each one. The beast followed more slowly than before, his wounded knee hampering his predatory pursuit, attention split between the two as the girl taunted the Wolfman: ¡°You can¡¯t catch me, you can¡¯t catch me!¡± She called out her mocking singsong over her shoulder, not watching where she was going. Her bicycle hit a root and she sprawled to the ground, screaming. The Wolfman loped forward, his blood rage overcoming the pain. Again the blood red light enveloped him, and he reared back, Jaws of Death ready to devour the girl. The Huntsman snared him with Lashing Vines, stopping him in his tracks. He gripped his axe and called forth his most powerful class ability, Defender of the Weak, once again Draining himself of mana. He launched into the air and soared toward the Wolfman, his axe alight with holy flame. The buff text Blessings of the Forest flashed in front of his eyes. With a mighty shout, he cleaved the Wolfman in two, splitting him from crown to foot.
Defender of the Weak: Imbues next physical attack with the buff Blessings of the Forest, dealing double damage against evil; additional execute damage if target is debuffed by Lashing Vines (cost: 15 Mana. cooldown: 1 day).
He sagged to the ground, wiped the blood, sweat, and tears from his eyes, and checked on the girl. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to see that. You okay?¡± ¡°Are you kidding?¡± she shrieked. ¡°That was awesome!¡± He shook his head and laughed. Kids these days. Little Red: The Finale Little Red stared up at the big man clad in forest green and slate gray. He had a wide, brown leather belt with a pouch, tall boots, and an insignia on his chest that marked him as a Ranger. They were so cool. ¡°You saved my life!¡± ¡°Quick thinking with the bike and the pastries. You saved me, too.¡± Little Red waved her hand. ¡°It was nothing.¡± A trumpet sounded, interrupting his response. She jumped up and started dancing. ¡°Yes! Level 5 at last!¡± ¡°Congratulations!¡± he boomed, high-fiving her. ¡°Got a subclass picked out?¡± ¡°Can you teach me how to become a Ranger? I want to be just like you when I grow up.¡± He scanned her vitals and shook his head sadly. ¡°Sorry, no can do. You¡¯re too young to multiclass, although I¡¯d be happy to show you around the forest.¡± She frowned, then noticed a notification. She read it aloud:
Subclass unlocked! Monster Hunter: Hunt the hunters! You¡¯ve learned how to turn the tables on predators. Collect 10 more monster kills to earn a subclass specialty.
¡°Nice,¡± the big man said. ¡°That¡¯s cooler than being a Ranger, if you ask me.¡± ¡°I am not complaining,¡± she said, starting to grin, but she stopped when the Huntsman tilted sideways, falling over. His eyes fluttered once, then shut. Little Red propped him up into a seated position, patting his ashen cheeks to wake him up. ¡°Here, have a few cookies. They¡¯ll help with those nasty cuts.¡±
Lesser Cookie of Restoration: Gain 3 HP instantly and 3 more over the next hour.
He thanked her weakly and took a bite. Instantly, he brightened, cracking open his eyes to stare at the delicious cookies. He ate half a dozen of them before declaring that he felt much better. His injuries closed over without leaving any scars, and he soon had enough strength to stand and walk with her to Granny¡¯s little cottage. ¡°You sure you want to go in?¡± he asked. ¡°Might not want to see what¡¯s inside.¡± Little Red pushed open the door and marched past him, hiding her fear. ¡°Family should find her if something happened. She¡¯d want it that way.¡± ¡°Want it what way?¡± a muffled voice said from inside the bedroom. Little Red sprinted into the room and slid open the closet door. ¡°Granny!¡± ¡°Untie my hands, will ya?¡± Granny said, spitting out a sock. The Wolfman must have stuffed it in her mouth to gag her. ¡°Whew! That tasted terrible. I need to wash my laundry more often.¡± The Huntsman snicked the ropes with the edge of his axe, slicing Granny¡¯s bonds. She patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Took care of the Wolf for me, eh? And here I thought you could only handle the Giant Rats that have been after my pantry. Guess it¡¯s nice to have an exterminator around!¡± The Huntsman scratched his beard awkwardly. ¡°Actually, your granddaughter did all the hard work. I just swung the axe at the end. That¡¯s why she earned the subclass.¡± Little Red shot him a look. She¡¯d wanted to tell Granny herself. ¡°Ooh! Let me see!¡± Granny said, clapping her hands together. She scanned Little Red and let out a surprised squeak. She sat down in her overstuffed chair, shaking her head. ¡°Wait until your mother finds out about this.¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Yes, well, about mother . . . she sent me with your treats.¡± ¡°Goody!¡± Granny said. Then she narrowed her eyes at Little Red and sniffed the air suspiciously. ¡°Where are they?¡± Little Red and the Huntsman exchanged glances. Granny clucked her tongue. ¡°Never trust an exterminator.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± the Huntsman said, ducking his head. ¡°If it makes you feel any better, I couldn¡¯t have finished off the Wolfman without the mana regen from the Blueberry Spirit Pastries.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let you off the hook¡ªthis time,¡± Granny cackled. ¡°But I expect a double-batch next week. And Red? Stick to the path. Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t notice your Deviation when I checked in on you just a moment ago.¡± Little Red felt her cheeks burn, but she crossed her arms defiantly. Granny hoisted herself out of the overstuffed chair and motioned for Little Red to follow. ¡°Cheer up. Perhaps I can help you, if you insist on hunting monsters.¡± Granny ambled into the main living area, motioning for Little Red to follow. They stopped in front of a locked hope chest. Granny creaked down to kneel in front of the chest, pulling a key pendant on a chain out from under her dress and unlocking the chest. She rummaged inside for a moment before withdrawing a white rock that pulsed with inner fire. ¡°I¡¯d been saving a Mountain River Purestone for your sixteenth birthday, but what¡¯s a few years between family?¡± ¡°What does it do?¡± Little Red asked, taking the smooth stone in both hands. She almost dropped it, not expecting the strange weight for its size. ¡°Scan it!¡± Granny said, chuckling. ¡°Your Perception should be much improved now that you have a subclass.¡± Little Red focused her attention on the rock.
Mountain River Purestone: one time use; transforms an object into an invested item.
¡°How will this help me hunt monsters?¡± Granny huffed. ¡°And here I thought I¡¯d raised your mother better than this. She hasn¡¯t taught you much imagination, huh? Well, let¡¯s go take a look at that Wolfman.¡± The three marched outside, swept along by Granny¡¯s force of will. She let out a long, satisfied sigh when she sat down next to the dead Wolfman. Humming, she pried open its jaws and fished around in its mouth. She clamped her fingers on a tooth and pulled until it popped out with a soft squelch. ¡°Hold this,¡± she commanded, thrusting the tooth toward Little Red, who struggled not to drop the Purestone as she took the tooth in her left hand. ¡°Now push them together, focusing on growing a weapon in your mind.¡± ¡°What kind of weapon?¡± Little Red asked, raising an eyebrow. Granny snorted. ¡°Well, you can¡¯t lift an axe. A knife will do.¡± Little Red closed her eyes and concentrated. She pressed the tooth to the Purestone, expecting them to fuse, but nothing happened. She couldn¡¯t even picture them in her mind. With a sigh, she opened her eyes to find Granny grinning at her from a foot away. ¡°It¡¯s not working,¡± Little Red complained. ¡°You¡¯re not working! Stop mashing them together with your hands. Your inner focus must power the transformation.¡± Little Red sat down and steadied her breathing. Instead of moving, she reached out with her mind, focusing on seeing each object. Nothing happened for so long that she almost gave up, but she pushed through, not wanting to embarrass herself further in front of Granny. The wolf¡¯s tooth took shape in her imagination.
Transmutation: transform the very fabric of reality¡ªchange one object into another!
Little Red dismissed the notification. This new skill would come in handy, even if it required rare, one-time-use magical items to power the change. She tried melding them in her mind, feeding the Purestone to the tooth, which devoured the energy with terrifying hunger. This time, the tooth swelled, taking on new dimensions as it grew and flattened, absorbing the Purestone until nothing remained in her right hand. Little Red opened her eyes. A karambit glittered in the waning sunlight, balanced on her left palm. She examined the item. Text floated above it. She read the description eagerly.
Wolf¡¯s Bane: 10 piercing damage; 150% damage against wolves and monsters; damage is tripled on sneak attack/backstab.
Little Red hugged Granny, careful not to nick her with the new knife. ¡°It worked!¡± ¡°Course it worked,¡± Granny said, rolling her eyes. ¡°Now check your Map; a new subclass means you¡¯ve probably unlocked new Quests.¡± Sure enough, three new Waypoint indicators glimmered on the Map, promising bounties in return for kicking monster booty. Little Red tucked the dagger into her belt. The Huntsman tapped the Map, eyes lighting up. ¡°Good rewards for some light work. What do you say? Ready to hunt?¡± Little Red grinned sheepishly. ¡°Sorry! It¡¯s my bedtime.¡±