《Elementia Online: Way of Aer》 1: Wheezer ¡°Garrett. Garrett, wake up, quick.¡± He didn''t want to wake. He rarely did. Yet at his sister''s voice, he opened his eyes. For Nelly, he¡¯d labor through his breathing. She looked down at him, the usual concern in her eyes. Even though it was in the middle of the night, he could see her perfectly. In a hospital, the lights never went out. She licked her lips nervously. ¡°How''s it feeling today.¡± ¡°Like one of my lungs has collapsed.¡± He tempered his words with a wry grin. For her sake, he tried not to let the bitterness that had been brewing inside him for all the years of his condition show. He could be strong. He only had to hold out a little longer now. Nelly grinned back, but he could tell he hadn''t fooled her. ¡°Yeah. I bet.¡± Only then did Garrett notice she was hold two boxes under the crooks of her arms. His eyes widened as he realized what they were, and despite himself, he felt a rush of excitement. He wished he wouldn''t. It would only make the disappointment that much greater. ¡°What did you bring those for?¡± he whispered carefully. ¡°Oh, these old things?¡± She casually lifted them up, like they weren''t worth the thousands of dollars that they were. ¡°No reason. Just like getting in my exercise. I''m in high school now, remember? I have to keep slim for boys or something like that.¡± He couldn''t help the smile returning. Nelly had always been different than other kids, never seeming to want the same things they did. Boys, he knew, were the last thing on her mind. Their relative isolation were another thing that brought them close together. But things like what she held in her hands were the first thing: Elementia Online visors, needed to access the latest and greatest in ASRs, or alternate simulated reality, gaming. From his bedside, Garrett had seen ASR invaded every corner of life. Businesses met in projected chatrooms, like their dad did for his work as a lawyer, making interaction that much more personable without the hassle of travel. People did their shopping in simulated environments, getting the benefits of feeling out the product along with reviews and ratings floating next to everything, and being able to price compare on the fly. People often went on ASR vacations, spending hundreds rather than thousands to visit far off exotic places. Most people spent most of their time in one ASR or another. But all of that had been out of Garrett''s experience. Beyond a few simple calming simulations deemed mild enough for him to endure and that helped him through operations more than any anesthetic, wheezers ¡ª as he and the other kids with cystic fibrosis on his wing liked to call themselves, so they could laugh instead of cry about it ¡ª weren''t allowed into ASR. It was too intense, they were told. They could have an attack while they were under, and then what would they do? Garrett, already detached from everyone else, was even more excluded when he was at school for never having been in ASR. Even more of a weirdo than being a wheezer made him. It was all he wanted. To be able to escape into another life, another world. Even just to be able to get out of bed with his chest aching and his heart pounding and every breath a battle would be nice. But even more, he craved being something more than who he was. Being more than the illness he''d fought his whole life. Their mom and dad had bought the Elementia Online visors a month before after the doctors gave the tentative go ahead. But while they were still shipping, Garrett suffered his worst attack yet. And this time, draining the fluid wasn''t going to do it. He had to get a lung transplant. They''d found a donor quickly, and the operation was in a week. But Garrett knew it wasn''t a silver bullet, not by a long shot. Though his parents tried to keep the gory details from him, he had the Internet at his fingertips and an incessant need to know. So he¡¯d learned the odds of survival weren''t good even in the short-term, and long-term, a new pair of airbags might buy him just a few more years.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. His outlook on life only stayed afloat for Nelly''s sake. Because he knew it would tear her apart if he let go. So he fought on. But now, she was teasing him cruelly with those visors. ¡°Take them away. You know I can''t use them.¡± ¡°Oh no? Then why do I have two?¡± Garrett started shaking his head, then stopped. Why was he fighting this? If Nelly was offering he should jump on this. Entering Elementia in particular had been his dream. He''d studied all the aspects of the game he could without actually playing. He''d drawn up what kind of character he would make, what path he''d advance along. He''d dreamed so many times he had made the jump. But¡­ Mom and Dad had told him it might kill him. Kill him? Garrett shook his head and smiled. He was nearly dead anyway. And if Nelly was offering this, she knew it too. Nelly took her visor out of the box. All Elementia Online visors were tailored to look like the different elemental paths that players selected when creating their avatar. Nelly''s way had been fire, and her visor reflected it. Red and orange and yellow, it glowed and almost seemed to burn as she switched it on. She set her visor on the bed and lifted the second box. ¡°Want me to open yours?¡± she asked. Garrett shook his head. Rallying his fragile strength, he accepted the visor from her and moved his clumsy fingers over the box. She''d already cut the tape, so it was just a after of lifting up the cardboard flaps and pulling the visor out of the box. His glowed white, softer and gentler than Nelly''s. The movements along the side were calm and in swirling patterns, shapeless and ever-changing. Maybe it was inevitable, considering the disease he''d fought his life, that robbed his very breath from him. He didn''t care. He''d opted for the way of wind all the same. ¡°It''s really simple to use,¡± Nelly said softly. She hadn''t entered Elementia until a week ago, when he finally convinced her to go in without him. She''d only agreed because he insisted it''d be easier if she knew a bit of her way around for him to jump in later when he could. ¡°Just slip it over your head, and the visor does the rest of the work,¡± she continued. ¡°The neural network connecting and all that.¡± Garrett tried sitting up so he could get the visor on, but it hurt too badly. He hated asking for help, but long years of lying in a bed had forced him to do so all the time. ¡°Could you¡­?¡± he muttered. She instantly knew what he wanted and helped prop him up so he could put on the visor. But before it fell all the way over his face, Nelly stopped it and held it up. ¡°You''re positive you want to do this, right?¡± she whispered. Garrett nodded. ¡°I am now.¡± ¡°Okay. You''ll have to get through your opening sequence before we can meet up, but then I''ll find you, okay?¡± She squeezed his wrists and grinned. ¡°It''s everything you''ve dreamed, Garre. I can''t wait for you to see it.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± He gave her one last smile. Then, eager not to see the hospital room any longer, he slipped on the helmet. The constant hum of nurses walking the halls and other patients turning in their beds gave way to complete silence as the visor sealed around his head. Oxygen was filtered in so that sound didn''t come with it, to help complete the immersion experience. With the silence came complete blackness. The inside of the visor was complete sensory wipe-out. Garrett felt the top of the visor fold in and meld to the shape of his head. The neural network, people called it, which read the brain''s electrical impulses and fed them back. The early days of ASR had featured full body haptic suits, but developers had improved to the point now that only a visor was required. The brain was where everything was processed anyway; it made sense it would be all you needed. A moment later, a message flashed in front of his eyes. At the same time it played in his ears. But Garrett had the eerie suspicion both of them were coming purely through the impulses and that his eyes weren''t actually seeing the words, for his ears hearing them. He realized he''d missed the message. ¡°Can you repeat that?¡± he whispered, his voice flat inside the helmet. It was a woman''s voice that spoke. ¡°The neural network has been established. All systems are functioning normally. Would you now like to enter the world of Elementia Online?¡± Garrett licked my lips, barely able catch his breath. Well, even more than usual. ¡°Yes,¡± he whispered. 2: Protector Helen watched her brother slowly and carefully slip on the visor. As it sealed around his neck, she watched his oxygen tubes carefully for any signs of pinching. She didn¡¯t think they would pinch, but she couldn¡¯t help but worry anyway. She¡¯d always worried about him. She¡¯d always been Garrett¡¯s protector. And now what had she done? She¡¯d given him the thing that their parents had said to keep away from him. Something that could very well kill him. She stared at her own visor and spun it around and around in her hands. The red lights flickered like hungry tongues across the hospital room. Garrett¡¯s visor, meanwhile, had faded to a faint white glow, signaling he¡¯d entered the beginning stages of Elementia Online. She forced herself to breathe slowly.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Helen knew why she¡¯d given her little brother his visor. She was still protecting him, protecting him the only way she could now. She knew what it was like to escape into Elementia, to leave behind all her problems and take on a new identity and life. She¡¯d only played for a week, but already she breathed and dreamed of the game. Sometimes, she wished she could stay there forever. She forced the thought out of her mind. Right now, this wasn¡¯t about her. Helen watched her brother¡¯s chest slowly rise and fall for a minute, then raised her own visor. He was in, and he hadn¡¯t had an attack yet. He wouldn¡¯t be anymore at risk now than he usually was. Probably. And she was itching to get in herself. ¡°Good luck, Garre,¡± she whispered to him. Then, lying down next to him on the narrow hospital bed, she slipped on the visor. 3: First Breath ¡°It looks like this is your first time in Elementia,¡± the AI said. ¡°You will now be taken through the character creation process. To navigate the menus or make modifications, all you need to do is think about what you''d like to do. However, if it makes you more comfortable, you can speak your commands out loud. Is that okay with you?¡± He could barely keep the warble from his voice. ¡°Yes.¡± The visor suddenly exploded with light, slowly resolving into six distinct colors: blue, red, green, black, violet, and white. These colors streamed into a table that spun into existence, becoming round and pearly. Garrett understood immediately what they indicated, even without the words and images that hovered over whichever color was on top of the table. These indicated the six Ways of Elementia, and the main determiner for how his character would develop. Turning the table with a thought, images popped up above each gem as they reached the top, illustrating some of the benefits of its Way. Garrett''s eyes strayed over the possibilities as he turned it. As the green gem reached the top, he imagined choosing Terra, or Earth, and becoming strong and thick with muscles as Rumblers ¡ª those of the Way of Terra ¡ª were often called. But he knew better than to be drawn in by that. Rumblers were called that for a reason. They were slow, loud, and their magic straightforward. The boredom that would inevitably take hold of him wasn¡¯t worth the fleeting thrill of strength. He turned the table, and the red gem of Ignis, Fire, reached the top. The Way of his sister. Everything he read online pointed to Ignis hosting the most powerful magic, at least upfront, as well as its Forgers making for deadly warriors. He liked the thought of having all that power at his fingers tips, not to mention he could share it in common with Nelly. But he¡¯d never followed in her footsteps before. In this, his new life secret from everyone but her, he''d find his own Way. He considered in turn Shui, Water, which was largely agreed to be the overall best Way in terms of power, versatility, and job paths. He thought about Akasha, Spirit, the subtlest of the Ways, and in general not considered powerful until you reached the upper levels. And he thought about Vyuom, Void, the strangest of the Ways, and which often attracted people who preferred garnering evil reputations. But as he turned the table to the last one, he knew he''d always, inevitably end up here. Aer was considered underpowered at every level. Its magic wasn''t outright strong, nor did it scale as well as Akasha. Its physical bonuses and available weapons didn''t allow for the best fighters, despite an affinity for Drifters, as those of Aer were called, to jump much higher than those of other Ways. Their job paths were strange and scattered, with little internal coherence. And its factions were consistently on the losing side of worldwide conflicts. The Way of Aer was considered weak. A losing path. But Garrett knew a thing or two about being underestimated. At first, he''d thought the same as everyone else and thought Aer wasn''t worth it. But the more he looked, the more he realized it was just the Way for him. It was stronger than anyone knew. And Garrett meant to be the one to show them. ¡°I choose the Way of Aer,¡± he said aloud. The table spun, a white light emerging from the Aer gem and covering everything. ¡°Welcome to Elementia, Drifter. Are you aware of your Way¡¯s attributes?¡± He was, but it was best to confirm from the source. ¡°I''d like to hear them, please.¡± ¡°Thank you for being polite,¡± the woman''s voice said pleasantly. That startled Garrett a bit. He''d just said it out of habit. He''d always tried to be polite with the hospital staff, so it just came second nature even with an AI assistant. AI was as ubiquitous as ASR now, but rarely had it seemed so¡­ interactive. But the AI was listing off Aer attributes now, so he focused back in. ¡°Drifters have some distinct physical bonuses. At the beginning of the game, they receive a 50% starting bonus to their jump height. I would also remind you that in Elementia, characters by default already jump 50% higher than in real life.¡± Garrett did some quick math. ¡°So Drifters jump 225% of what the average human does.¡± ¡°Very well done, Drifter. Your statistics will clearly not be lost on you.¡± There was a smile in the AI¡¯s voice. ¡°Aer also comes with a speed bonus, the second fastest of the Ways after Ignis. You move 25% faster as your base stat. You also have Orb paths for increasing both of these stats.¡± Orbs were the currency of leveling in Elementia, Garrett knew. But that would come into play later. ¡°But you also have some penalties. Apprentices of Aer tend to be slightly weaker than others in Elementia; you have a 25% starting penalty to physical damage and fewer paths for increasing it. You are also limited to light and medium weapons as well as light and medium armor.¡± Garrett had never seen himself going the route of a tank anyway. Who wanted to just stand there and take hits? ¡°That''s it for physical characteristics, right?¡± ¡°Correct, Drifter. Would you like to hear your magical attributes.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Please.¡± ¡°Keep saying please, and I think we¡¯ll get along well. As with any Way, you only have access to the magic of your Way. Aer does manifest in many forms, however. Are you interested in hearing about those?¡± Garrett was very familiar with those many manifestations. And even though there were always improvements and changes happening, he didn¡¯t need to get bogged down with that at the moment. ¡°Not now. There''s a wiki I can read up on in-game, right?¡± ¡°Correct once again, Drifter. In that case, I''ll proceed to the bonuses for magic. Starting off, you have an additional 25% magic points and have many opportunities for scaling it. Apprentices of Aer have the third greatest capacity for mana, after Akasha and Shui. ¡°While you don''t have any bonuses for magical damage, you do have many paths for scaling it. Maxed out, Drifters can achieve the third-highest magical damage, after Vyuon and Ignis.¡± Garrett smiled. It was one of the little-known facts about the Way, probably because few people chose it and fewer still got good enough to make use of it. ¡°And lastly,¡± the AI continued, ¡°as with all Ways, you receive bonuses for using your magic in certain weather conditions. During storms and windy conditions, you receive an additional 50% to your magical effectiveness.¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± Garrett said. ¡°Then, Apprentice, do you still wish to proceed with the Way of Aer?¡± He only considered for a moment. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then welcome¡­¡± The table with six gems faded to white then burst into a vibrant image. A triumphant symphony struck up in his ears as the world of Elementia came clear below him. Garrett grinned as the video flew him high above the series of islands, which were shrouded by clouds and embraced by crystalline waters. There, jungles swallowed the ground. Rubbing up next to it were rolling hills covered with fields of golden grass. And every other kind of landscape seemed to exist there as well. But not all was beautiful in Elementia. On the far side of the mainland, a series of strange blue crystals with barren, carved land between. And on the other side, the land was scarred with cracked, black stone amidst smoking volcanoes. And dotting the landscape, he saw the ruined castles. The gleaming cities. All those places promising adventure. He knew he probably looked ridiculous smiling so wide in his helmet, but he couldn''t help but feel the stir of excitement in his belly. But the rush was making it a little hard to breathe. Especially with his hurt lung. He started to panic a bit. The images faded at once to black. ¡°It looks like you''re having some trouble adjusting to Elementia. Would you like me to stop gameplay?¡± Not able to catch his breath enough for words, Garrett still shook his head no. Using techniques he''d practiced his whole life, he slowly got his breath back under control. ¡°Understood. In that case, we¡¯ll move to your next choice: the selection of your faction.¡± The screen filled with five banners that rippled as if in a breeze. Each of them had the same white background, indicating they were all of the Way of Aer, but they had different symbols, all associated with the sky in some manner: a hawk, a bolt of lightning, a gust of wind. Before them stood examples of the people of the factions, showing how his character features would be adjusted. That didn''t matter to him. He knew the main thing faction determined was the starting storyline, including starting location, though it also had some small influence on his access in different cities. Having determined beforehand his path, Garrett didn''t take long before choosing. ¡°Hawk,¡± he whispered, not having breath for anything else. ¡°The Hawk faction it is.¡± The image wiped away again. ¡°Now we''re moving to the last step, Drifter: character customization. Due to the need to synchronize as closely as possible with your real body, you can''t change your height and weight too far off what they are in reality. You can, however, adjust a variety of features like hair style, eye color, and skin hues.¡± Garrett''s vision filled with a light blue background. An eerily similar version of himself appeared, with small tweaks from his chosen faction in play. Hawks were tanner and had narrower eyes than him, which suited Garrett fine. His hair was similar to how he wore it, which was a bit long and shaggy, except swept to the side in such a way that it looked good rather than ratty. He grinned to think that, if only he could stay in Elementia forever, he''d never have to wrestle down his cowlick again. He didn''t change much, but a few adjustments were in order. He''d always hated how short and skinny being a wheezer made him, so he increased his weight and height to the max it could go. Not exactly tall or buff, but he actually looked¡­ normal. That was more than he ever thought he''d get, so he''d take it. One last adjustment: he didn''t mind his brown eyes, but he wanted to try something a little different. Maybe a bright green ¡ª that looked good. ¡°Done,¡± he whispered. ¡°Understood. Finally, the last step: what will you be called?¡± Garrett stared at the face of his character, called avatars in Elementia. He¡¯d never been good at naming. ¡°I''ll just be Garrett,¡± he said softly. His avatar disappeared, replaced by a cloudy sky parting. ¡°Then let me be the first to welcome you to Elementia, Garrett,¡± the AI said. ¡°Your avatar synchronization will begin momentarily. You may lose consciousness for a moment while you switch into the game world, but don''t worry, that''s totally normal.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Garrett whispered. Then, just as the sky parted to reveal the island again, his vision slipped to black. *** He awoke. For a moment, nothing seemed to have changed. Then he took a breath and realized everything had. Garrett took another breath, gulping air down as he lay on the ground. It was simple, easy, ridiculously so. Like taking the first real breath of his life. Garrett smiled, closed his eyes, and tilted his head back, and let the breeze wash over him. Just then, he was content to simply breathe. Which is why it was all the more jarring when someone yelled, ¡°Watch out!¡± 4: Plight of the Hawks Garrett whipped his head up at the shout. A shadow swept down towards him, but it wasn''t just a bird passing overhead; its wings extended easily as long as a truck. As it swooped closer, he threw himself to the side. Not a moment too soon. As he hit the ground, he looked back to see the bird ¡ª or whatever the creature was ¡ª scrape its talons in the spot where he''d just been. It screeched in what sounded like frustration, then flew up and away. Apparently, it wasn''t one to wait around for escaped prey. Garrett''s heart was hammering, his palms were sweaty, and his breath was coming fast. But he was grinning. He''d never felt danger like that before, and he found he liked it. Besides, even though he''d scraped his hands and knees falling to the stone, they''d barely hurt. And a look at his hands showed his wounds were already healing. And he could breathe. God, could he breathe! ¡°That was a close one, eh?¡± Garrett looked around and saw the man who had warned him. He was clearly a Hawk as well, with the same tan skin, narrow eyes, and pointy ears poking out from underneath a wide-brimmed, straw hat. Lines of worried were carved into his sun-beaten, but he wore a small smile now. ¡°Would have been a shame to lose another,¡± he said quietly. Garrett found his voice. ¡°Another?¡± He startled hearing it. It was lower than he was used to, and stronger, and didn''t crack from puberty. The fellow Hawk didn''t notice anything amok though. ¡°You must be one of those who have been sleeping,¡± he noted. ¡°Suppose that also make you one of them Drifters.¡± ¡°Drifters? Aren''t you one?¡± The man shook his head with a smile. ¡°You never seem to remember that. No, I''m one of the normal ones. Sure, I follow the Way of Aer. But ask me to whip up a wind and I''m helpless!¡± Garrett thought it over. ¡°So only Drifters can use magic?¡± The man nodded. It was only then that Garrett realized as much as he''d looked into the game and dreamed of how he''d play it, he''d never immersed himself into the world''s lore. It has always been window dressing, looking in from the outside. But now that he was here, he found himself being swept up into it. He gestured to the sky where the giant bird had ascended. ¡°What was that thing?¡± ¡°A Rocwing.¡± He shook his head. ¡°You may as well call it Death That Flies. They''re hunting us to extinction, they are.¡± The old man sighed. ¡°I never expected to see so many younger folk going before me. We''re all of us breathing our last breaths.¡± The words nearly took away Garrett''s own breath. He knew a thing or two about last breaths. Living in a hospital wing with other kids with cystic fibrosis, he''d seen a lot of his friends not able to go on any longer. ¡°I''ll stop them.¡± He said the words before he really thought about what they meant. Stop those giant beasts? He''d only just arrived and didn''t know the first thing about fighting. But the game didn''t seem to care. A window appeared on the left-hand side of his vision: You have agreed to save the settlement of Nan''xin of the Hawk faction from extinction by the Rocwings. If you succeed: +1000 Reputation Access to Hawk faction storylines and resources If you fail: -1000 Reputation Limited access to Hawk faction storylines and resources <<>> Garrett realized belatedly that what he''d read online was absolutely true: that every action you committed in Elementia had consequences. Here, he''d stumbled into a quest that could greatly help him, but also hurt him a lot if he failed. This wasn''t a game without stakes. Screw things up too much, and he¡¯d basically have to start over to do anything. But right then, Garrett didn''t so much care about that. He''d never expected it, but he really felt for the people of Nan''xin¡¯s predicament. He''d chosen the Hawk faction, and now he felt obligated to make sure this segment of it remained intact. The consequences of failure when beyond what the quest said, at least for him. He had to do this. But how? The man''s face crinkled into a wide smile. ¡°Thank you, Drifter. Wind¡¯s blessings on you.¡± He pointed up, where a series of rock pillars rose high above. ¡°You''ll time the Rocwings¡¯ nests on top of the Fingers. Destroy their nests and they''ll find another place to roost.¡± Garrett stared at the pillars. He knew he could jump higher here, but he couldn''t jump that high. He needed some serious training, and fast if he was going to save his people.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Where¡¯s the village?¡± he asked the man. He pointed up the path leading away from the stone pillars. ¡°Not far that way, can''t miss it. You just tell them you''re working on the Rocwing problem and people will be happy to help you.¡± He grasped Garrett''s hand in both of his and bowed so low his forehead touched his hand. ¡°Thank you.¡± Garrett smiled, embarrassed but pleased, and watched the man pick up a basket by the side of the road and walk off the path and down to the beach he could hear nearby, always keeping one eye to the sky. High time that he was off himself. Garrett started off in the direction that the man had said the village was located. As he walked, he decided it was time to figure out just what he was starting with here. As soon as he thought about accessing the menu, a transparent screen popped up on his right side, with a variety of options. He started with what was most immediately applicable and opened the first option, Actions. An explanation window immediately popped up: While much of the movement is intuitive within Elementia, there are many actions that are partially assisted, while others can be automated. Enabled actions include many combat actions and magic spells. Enabled actions improve with increased use, training, certain enchantments, and certain items. Actions that can be automated include movement and crafting. Automated actions also improve with use, training, certain enchantments, and certain items. Select each type of action for a complete list. <<>> Garrett closed the window. He''d find out the specifics when they came necessary. More and more, though, he was finding out how all his reading had just scratched the surface of Elementia Online. There was so much he''d never thought to read up on. Never had he been so thrilled to find out about his ignorance. Figuring he''d try and automated action, he simply thought the command Auto-run. But instead of his avatar following the command, a message came up: To enable an automated action, your avatar must first perform it manually. <<>> Duh. He''d only walked so far. Garrett kicked his body into gear and started jogging. Running had never felt better. Back in real life, any running he''d done had been slow and incredibly difficult. Here, it was effortless, and it felt great to be moving along at a clip. He continued manually doing it for a bit before thinking the Auto-run command again. This time, his avatar took right to it. It was strange to have his body moving without his explicit direction, almost a little creepy, but he figured he''d get used to it soon enough. It was sure useful at least. Before jumping back into the menus, Garrett noticed something else: a series of three circles running along the bottom of his vision, one red, one green, and the last blue. He already thought he knew what they indicated, especially as the green circle was only a quarter full, but he checked to confirm. Yes ¡ª red was for health points, or HP, green for energy points, or EP, and blue for magic points, or MP. As expected, running constantly was draining his EP. He felt the strain of his low energy, though not half as much as what he''d experienced even walking in real life. Considering it wasn''t paining him much, Garrett decided to push it all the way. His breathing came quicker as his EP fell to 10%. At 5%, his legs started getting leaden. He pushed on, all the way until he couldn''t go any further, just shy of empty. No matter how he pushed after that, his body would only let him go walk and move slowly until it crept back up above 5%. Good to know if he ever got into a bad situation. Like with those huge birds above, say. As he walked and recovered EP, Garrett craned his head back and scanned the sky. The sun was up and bright, but not a single animal stirred that he could hear. The island ¡ª from the smell of sea, the Hawk fisherman, and the sound of the tide faintly on either side, it seemed he was on an island ¡ª was eerily deserted. It contrasted with the natural beach he''d seen one of the few times he''d been stable enough to go on vacation with his family. Then, he and Nelly had been younger, and his sister had gone chasing after seagulls and crabs, while Garrett had watched and laughed. He''d had to sit back and watch a lot of his life. He set his jaw. No more. But that was putting the driver in front of the car, as his dad always said. He had to figure out the game mechanics first before he took out the threat to this island. His island. His EP recovered, he tested out jumping next. This was even more thrilling. Jumping here felt almost like flying. It might be 225% of the height of a normal person, but it was way more than what he''d been able to do. He tested out hopping on nearby rocks, jumping higher and higher. It ate up a good chunk of EP each jump, nearly 10% of the circle, so it was something he¡¯d have to watch in a fight. A scream pierced the sky, and Garrett whipped his head around. Another huge Rocwing was descending from a high rock pillar, and it looked to be heading for him. He started hopping down, berating himself for not being more careful and getting carried away jumping. His EP was down to 40%, and he was only halfway down the rocks. He heard the beat of wings as the Rocwing positioned itself to grab him, so he dove off the stones even though he was still high enough up that it made his heart pound. The ground rushed towards him, but he wasn''t so lucky in his dodge as last time. The corners of his vision flashed red as he felt a talon cut along his leg. A moment later, the ground found him as well. It didn''t hurt as badly as he expected, but it still set fire going along his body. Nothing like the pain he''d felt in his life, but definitely something he wanted to avoid. A glance at the red circle showed his HP was down below 40%. For a fall of 20 feet as well as the bird¡¯s slash, that was reasonable, but it showed he definitely wasn''t invincible here. The Rocwing was swooping back around towards him, so Garrett limped his way into a crevice under the pile of rocks he''d been jumping on. Maybe it would give up quickly like the first. Or maybe now that it had drawn blood, it would keep at him until it had him. He knew so little here, not even how to fight or use magic. Why had he drawn its attention? The Rocwing landed heavily before him and began walked on its thick legs toward his hiding spot. It had a wicked, long orange beak, with the cruel yellow eyes of a raptor that watched him carefully. Blue feathers ran over his head, melding into the blue and brown of the rest of its body. It might have been beautiful in a wild sort of way if it hadn''t been trying to kill him. Garrett backed way from that long beak, but his crevice wasn''t deep enough. He''d have to make a run for it, and sooner rather than later. He tensed and made ready, but with the Rocwing watching so carefully, he knew he wouldn''t make it. He''d barely even started and he was already going to die. 5: Bartholomew Suddenly, there was a whistle, and the Rocwing jerked its head around. A moment later, a small bird flitted by its head and up into the air, drawing the big bird¡¯s attention. It didn''t hesitate before lifting off after the small bird, cawing eagerly as it gave chase. A minute later, all sounds of it had disappeared. Garrett cautiously came out, and startled when someone called out, ¡°Ho! That was a close one, wasn''t it?¡± A stocky man in a feathered vest came around the rock. His features weren''t the same as the Hawk man Garrett had seen earlier, and he wondered if he was an outsider. Was there a way to examine non-player characters? As soon as he thought it, a window appeared above the stranger¡¯s head that said Bartholomew (O. 82). His name and Orb level, it must be. Garrett still didn''t have a good sense for how Orb levels were perceived yet, but 82 seemed decently high, especially for the beginning. ¡°Yeah, it was.¡± As Garrett approached him, he noticed there was a faint blue light surrounding Bartholomew. If he remembered correctly, that meant he''d be a friendly NPC. ¡°Good thing I happened to be passing when I was.¡± Bartholomew wiped his forehead and whipped the sweat off his head onto the ground. ¡°Elsewise we would have had another casualty here in Han''xin.¡± ¡°Are you from there then?¡± Garrett asked curiously. ¡°No, no. A traveler passing through who couldn''t help but be fascinated by their bird problem.¡± Bartholomew craned his head back to stare at the rock pillars far above. ¡°Strange, isn''t it? The birds set up residence here, then just started attacking the villagers.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I know a thing or two about birds, but I can''t puzzle this one out.¡± ¡°Is there something I could do to help? I''m trying to stop the Rocwing attacks if I can.¡± It was a bit awkward conversing with the NPC so organically. Garrett was used to having prompts for his character to say in RPGs like this. Sure enough, as soon as he thought about it, some options hovered in the corner of his vision. He wasn''t sure he''d ever use them, but it was good to know he had things to fall back on if he got stuck. Bartholomew eyed him curiously. ¡°Are you now? Then that''s another thing we have in common!¡± Just to try it out, Garrett opted for one of the speech options. As soon as he thought it, his avatar took over speaking in another weird experience. ¡°Another? I only counted one.¡± ¡°Ah, but there you''re wrong,¡± the traveler said with a wink. ¡°We''re both out-of-towners, aren''t we?¡± He came closer and clapped Garrett on the shoulder. ¡°I''ll tell you what. If you happen to get up in a Rocwing nest and can tell me all about it ¡ª maybe even bring back a feather or an egg ¡ª then I''ll make it worth your while. Deal?¡± Garrett knew exactly where this was leading now, and eagerly said, ¡°Sure thing!¡± Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. You have agreed to help Bartholomew investigate Han¡¯xin¡¯s Rocwing problem by bringing him back an item from a Rocwing nest. If you succeed: +100 Reputation Access to future quests with Bartholomew Potential future access to Bartholomew as a companion If you fail: No future quests with Bartholomew No access to Bartholomew as a companion <<>> Not only was it another reward he could reap, but it also might provide a stepping stone to figuring out the Rocwing problem. He didn''t know how to get up the pillars still, but first things first: he had to get to the village and figure out combat and magic. ¡°Bartholomew,¡± he said, ¡°do you know if there''s someone that teaches magic in Han¡¯xin?¡± The feather-vested traveler gave him a knowing smile. ¡°Ah, you''re one of those. A Drifter. Well, you''re in luck, friend¡­¡± He raised his eyebrows. ¡°Garrett.¡± ¡°Garrett. Since you know my name with that strange magic of yours, I figure it''s only right to know yours. There is a Drifter in town, an old man. If he were any younger, I''m sure he would have taken care of those Rocwings himself by now. From what I''ve heard, though, he hasn''t been too well recently. Still might be able to show you a thing or two.¡± A Drifter in Han¡¯xin may teach you your first lessons in the use of Aer, if you approach him in the right manner. If you succeed: +500 Reputation Access to Aer magic Unlock further Way of Aer quests If you fail: You must learn Aer magic from another tutor <<>> Garrett grinned. He''d been here less than an hour and had already accrued three quests. And maybe they were starting quests, and most RPGs started you off this way, but somehow, he was already way more invested in these than he''d ever felt in any other game. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said genuinely. ¡°I''ll be able to find you around here, once I get into that Rocwing next?¡± ¡°I like your confidence! And yeah, I like to wander the island, finding out what I can, and letting Gabe fly around. And speaking of the little devil, here he is again!¡± A little bird appeared from above and landed on Bartholomew''s shoulder. The traveler grinned at him. ¡°This is the real guy to thank for back there, Garrett. He''s saved my life a time or two on this island.¡± It felt a bit ridiculous, but Garrett nodded at the bird. ¡°Thank you, Gabe.¡± The bird, a little yellow and white one, chirped a cheerful song. ¡°He likes you! He has always been drawn to Drifters. Makes me a little jealous at times, it does.¡± The man winked at me. ¡°But you''d better be along to the village. Rocwings wait for no man, especially when the bird they were chasing suddenly disappears!¡± Garrett thanked him once again and continued on his way to the village. 6: Pupil and Master It wasn''t much further to Han¡¯Xin, though even the amount of walking Garrett had done on just this island was cluing him into just how big the world of Elementia was. From what he''d heard, there were also expansions on the horizon, so it would only continue to grow. But that would come much later. For now, he was content to explore this village at the edge of the world and save it if he could. Han¡¯Xin was more picturesque than he could have imagined. A red wooden archway marked the beginning of it, the name inscribed in lettering he couldn''t read. Then the rows upon rows of thatched roof houses began, with round, mud-made walls. Villagers¡¯ huts, he''d bet. With the attacks, many of them would probably be empty. Indeed the main road through town only had a few other people walking it. Though they had blue outlines, they still cast wary looks at Garret as he passed. The attacks had everyone on edge. A few houses stood out from the rest. With signs hanging off of their doorways and bigger colored houses, Garrett understood these were shops. Some were probably vacated as well, but once he''d earned some Crys, he could visit one of two that were still open and see what Elementia had to offer equipment-wise. For now, he''d have to find the old Drifter who was supposed to teach him. But how was he going to do that? It came to him a moment later: there was probably an option for looking at quest objectives. Bringing up his menu, he focused on the Quests option. It brought up the short list of his three quests and a short description of each. It didn''t take Garrett long to locate the feature he''d been searching for: Next Quest Location. Making sure his [Training] quest was selected, he turned the feature on, then dismissed the menu. Now when he scanned the village, there was a faint gold glow in the distance outlining a house that showed through the other houses in the way. A quick check of his mostly dark map also showed a marker depicting where the old Drifter¡¯s house was. That''d make things easier, though he wasn''t sure he''d also opt to use it. After a certain point, it might make things too easy. Then again, some quests probably wouldn''t have it show up, if Elementia Online was like other RPGs he''d played. Making his way through the village, Garrett soon stood before the Drifter''s house. It was slightly larger than the others, and had more windows. Everything was shuttered up, though, and it looked rundown. Yellow paint peeled from the walls, and a wind vane hung crookedly on top of the roof. The house was a mess. But Garrett knew a thing or two about judging appearances. And from what Bartholomew had said, it seemed the old man might be sick. He certainly couldn''t be blamed for the condition of his house. Garrett walked up to the door and, after hesitating a moment, knocked. Whether it was polite or not to walk up to a stranger''s door and knock didn''t matter. He had to take care of the Rocwings, and this drifter was the only one who could help him. The door creaked open a moment later, and Garrett blinked. Standing there wasn''t an old man, but a pretty girl about his age. She wore one of the loose, simple robes the people in Han¡¯xin wore, olive green and fastened with a linen tie about the waist. Her dark hair, tinged with silver threads, was pinned up with sticks that stuck out if the bun. But it was her face that truly captured his attention. Her eyes were warm and honey brown, and her mouth, a bit large on her face, wore a welcoming smile. Her chin was tilted down a bit shyly, but she looked him steadily in the eyes. ¡°Hello,¡± she said softly. ¡°Can I help you?¡± Garrett took a second to find his voice. Chat options popped up for him, but he dismissed them. He wanted to have this conversation on his own. ¡°Hi,¡± he started, then faltered and cleared his throat. ¡°I, uh, I''m looking for an old Drifter. Does he live here?¡± One of her eyebrows raised slightly. ¡°Old Drifter?¡± she mocked gently. ¡°That''s not a very polite way to ask after him.¡± ¡°Oh, er¡­¡± She smiled. ¡°I''m teasing you. We call him Old Vin, so you''re in good company.¡± Her smile faded as quick as it had come. ¡°But why do you want to see him?¡± He was finding his confidence now. He''d never had much confidence speaking with girls, if only because he''d seen pity in their eyes first. But this girl didn''t look at him with pity. She didn''t see the Garrett lay in a hospital bed, not able even to properly breathe on his own. He shook his head and banished the thought. This was his time to escape that. No more thoughts of real life. For now, this was the only life that mattered. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. He straightened himself. ¡°I need to learn the Way of Aer, and how to fight if he can.¡± The girl sighed. ¡°I was afraid you''d say that. You see, Old Vin has taken apprentices for a long time now.¡± She looked up at him with ¡ª was it shame? Garrett''s confidence dipped. ¡°But I need to drive away the Rocwings.¡± Her eyebrows shot up in surprise before she could contain it. ¡°That''s very... noble of you,¡± she said carefully. She didn''t believe he could do it. Well, he didn''t know himself yet. But that wasn''t going to stop him from trying. ¡°It''s really important,¡± he urged. ¡°The whole village will be wiped out if we don''t do something about it.¡± Her drawn eyebrows told him that was true. But she hung her head. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, he''s not taking apprentices,¡± she said softly. ¡°You see, I''ve tried for three months to have him take me on.¡± He stared at her. ¡°You''re a Drifter?¡± She nodded. ¡°Or I will be, as soon as I can convince Old Vin to teach me.¡± An idea came upon him. ¡°Let''s ask him together. He''s got to know how important it is to have Drifters in Han¡¯xin, especially right now. What do you say, er¡­¡± Only then did he realize he didn''t know her name. Without really intending to, he brought it up over her head: Jinna (O. 14). ¡°My name is Jina,¡± she said softly just after it appeared. Garrett flushed, feeling embarrassed in a way he hadn''t when learning Bartholomew''s name. ¡°Garrett,¡± he said, then held out his hand. He regretted instantly and withdrew it. She giggled and stuck her hand out in return. ¡°Nice to meet you, Garrett.¡± Chagrined but grinning, he took hers, and they shook. Her hand was cool but not as smooth as he''d expected. Jina didn''t live a soft life. She withdrew her hand and stepped aside from the door. ¡°Come in. We¡¯ll go see the master together.¡± Garrett stepped inside and glanced around. The house was in about as good of shape as he¡¯d expected, though it felt cozier inside than he''d expected. There was a bed in one corner and a table and simple kitchen in the other. Another door led out back, which was where Jina led him. Garrett had expected the old Drifter to be in bed, but apparently, he wasn''t so sick as that. Stepping through the door, Jina explained softly, ¡°Sometimes he likes to meditate by the sea. The wind blows in strong over the cliff there.¡± He saw their destination at the end of a short path through golden grass. The path was of sand. For some reason, the feel of the sand giving way beneath his feet, as well as the crunch of the golden grass beneath his shoes, struck him differently than the other sensations he''d experience before. This felt subtler, and he marveled at the detail of the game. Like real life, but more real. No, it wasn''t the sensations ¡ª it was HIMSELF that had changed. Here, he was a new person, living and feeling as if for the first time. They reached the small gazebo at the end of the path. In the middle of it, sitting cross-legged on a reed mat, was the oldest man Garrett had ever seen. His skin was leathery and lined, and seemed so stiff he was surprised the man might be able to shift expressions are all. His hair was long and hung loose, thin over the top of his head and a faint, wispy gray. Old Vin didn''t look up or even shift as they stopped at the edge of the gazebo. Jina got down on her knees, and at a look, Garrett followed suit. Curious, he concentrated on the old Drifter, and the words appeared above his head: Vin, Last Drifter of the Frigates (O. 125). The highest Orb level he''d seen yet, and the first character with a title. Garrett wondered what backstory was behind that. ¡°You''ve brought another to be my pupil, Jina,¡± the old man observed without looking around. His voice grated from his throat like dry stones rubbing together. ¡°Hoping another will succeed where you have failed?¡± Jina flushed, and Garrett felt a spike of anger go through him. He rose to his feet, ignoring Jina''s scandalized look. ¡°You shouldn''t treat her like that,¡± he said. The old man didn''t even open his eyes. ¡°Oh no? And who are you, to tell me the ways of the world?¡± Garrett swallowed but pressed on. ¡°Someone who''s going to save Han¡¯xin if I can. But I need your help. We need your guidance.¡± He glanced at Jina, but she looked more uncertain than grateful for his intervention. Old Vin finally looked around, his head the only thing shifting. As one eye peered open, Garrett saw it had gone nearly completely milky white. The old Drifter was blind. ¡°Time was when I would have walloped you for speaking to me like that, boy,¡± he said calmly. ¡°And I would have considered it for your own good.¡± Vin sighed. ¡°But now, I am.the one who deserves the whipping.¡± Garrett''s hopes surged. ¡°You''ll teach us then?¡± A pause, then Vin nodded. Jina was so excited she leaped to her feet, fists clenched at her sides, and grinned at Garrett. He returned it wholeheartedly. ¡°Too much respect,¡± the old Drifter muttered as he groaned and rose to his feet. Jina rushed over to help, but he waved her away. ¡°Too much, I say! Nearly drowned me. A little bit of impudence was just the right medicine, I think.¡± And though Garrett hadn''t thought it was possible, his leathery face broke into a smile. ¡°Now come.¡± The Drifter started hobbling down the path without assistance, though Jina lingered anxiously at his elbow. Instead of heading to the house, though, Vin turned down a branching, mostly overgrown path. ¡°It''s time to begin your training.¡± 7: The Forms of Aer Old Vin led them down the path a little ways until they ended on a sandy beach. Though pitted with footprints, it was mostly flat for a mile until it reached the ocean. Here, Garrett¡¯s soon-to-be mentor stopped and held up a hand. ¡°Your first lesson is in breathing,¡± he instructed. ¡°You think you know how to breathe, but you do not, not as a Drifter should.¡± ¡°How do we breathe then?¡± Garrett asked. ¡°Impudence will only get you so far.¡± Vin glared at him, his blindness not impeding the intensity of the stare. ¡°What was your name?¡± ¡°Garrett.¡± ¡°It''s ''Apprentice¡¯ now. Or don''t you wish to follow the Way of Aer?¡± He swallowed. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Garrett grit his teeth. He''d never been big on authority. Maybe it was having one too many doctors dictating his life. Still, he said, ¡°Yes, Master.¡± ¡°Good. Now, as for breathing. When you inhale, don''t just suck in breath without feeling it. To use Aer, you must feel the magic that is everywhere around us. Try it now.¡± Garrett closed his eyes and breathed in, concentrating on the air as Vin instructed. Though he''d treasured every easy breath he''d taken in Elementia, suddenly it was if he were breathing anew. Now he felt not only the sensations of cool, life-giving air; he felt the latent POWER in it. How had he missed it there before? A gasp from next to him let him know Jina had felt the same. Garrett grinned and held the breath, feeling the power roiling around inside him. ¡°Air is not meant to be trapped,¡± Vin chastised. ¡°Release it, slowly.¡± Garrett did as instructed, but a bit faster than he intended. He noticed a distinctive pressure in the air around his mouth. ¡°Slowly, I said,¡± their master snapped irritably. ¡°You must be careful with power. Well, you both have the Drifter''s touch. At least I''m not wasting my time.¡± ¡°What do we do to use it?¡± Garrett asked eagerly. ¡°To, I don''t know, cast spells.¡± Old Vin¡¯s eyebrows raised. ¡°Are we hedge witches? I think not, Apprentice. Drifters do not cast SPELLS. We bend the wind to our will, influence it to move as we would.¡± It seemed like he was splitting hairs, but Garrett let it go. ¡°How do we do that, then?¡± Jina shot him a look, but Garrett ignored it. He was enjoying himself, but he was itching to get to the magic. Besides, the village didn''t have time for them to waste with mumbo jumbo. ¡°Rushing along,¡± Vin muttered. ¡°But your heart is true, Apprentice. Fine. It is far earlier than I prefer ¡ª I made my apprentices of old just breathe for a week before any further instruction ¡ª but I suppose time is short. I will teach you two Forms now, and test your mastery of them.¡± Forms ¡ª that was the preferred way of referring to what were essentially spells in Elementia. Garrett dug his feet into the sand impatiently, but held his tongue. ¡°So he does have some patience after all. Good. You may need it to learn the Forms.¡± Vin pressed his hands together in front of him and nodded his head, then parted them in a martial stance. Garrett mirrored him, and Jina, realizing the lesson had begun, followed after.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°The first,¡± the old Drifter said. ¡°A simple punch of air, used in combat situations. You just breathe in as I taught you, then punch your hand forward, like so.¡± Vin sucked in a breath and exhaled it in a burst as he thrust his hand forward. A sharp burst of wind rushed between Garrett and Jina with such force he was afraid it might cut him. He grinned and tried it himself. Holding his hands flat and with one forward, one back, as Vin had, he sucked in a power-filled breath and exhaled as he thrust his hand forward. The air that rushed from his hand wasn''t nearly as powerful as Vin¡¯s but it was strong enough that Garrett saw it whip up sand where it passed. Type: Offensive, Single-target Level: Apprentice Cost: 10 mana Range: 3 meters Channel Time: 0.1 seconds Cooldown: 0 seconds Effect: Inflict 20 wind damage. <<>> ¡°Good, Apprentice,¡± Vin said grudgingly. ¡°And you?¡± Jina flushed and did the same as me. It took her two tries, but finally she managed a small puff of air. The old Drifter shrugged. ¡°It comes more quickly to some than others. But do not fear; it does not mean it will be any less strongly with you later.¡± Jina bowed gratefully and shared a smile with Garrett. He was just glad she was getting the hang of it as well. ¡°Now, we should practice this, but we must move on for now. The second Form is defensive, and best used with some sort of staff or poles.¡± He positioned his hands so they crossed in front of each other. ¡°Spin out your hands with a longer exhale like so.¡± He demonstrated. As he spun his hands around each other, a swirl of wind cascaded out before him, tossing into his pupils. Garrett had to take a step back to recover his balance, and he saw Jina stumble out of the corner of his eye as well. Vin smiled in satisfaction. ¡°This might deflect projectiles if you''re quick, or knock opponents backwards if you''re strong. Now, try it.¡± Taking the same stance as their master, Garrett breathed out and spun his hands. A small swirl of air formed, not powerful enough to knock even a pebble out of the way, but it whipped up sand into his eyes. Type: Defensive Level: Apprentice Cost: 20 mana Range: In front of caster Channel Time: 1 second Cooldown: 10 seconds Effect: Block weak projectile damage for 5 seconds. <<>> He scrubbed at them as Vin laughed. ¡°Both of you, well done! Ah, I remember what it was to first learn the Way.¡± His head tilted back and he smiled to himself. ¡°Capable pupils put me in a mind of it once more.¡± He shook his head. ¡°But we have other things we must do, do we not?¡± Once again, Vin pressed his hands together and bowed, then began walking back up the path. Or he meant to, but the sand had sent him off track, and Jina went running to catch his arm and lead him straight. Garrett didn''t follow for a moment but stared at his hands. He''d just done magic, real magic. Or as real as it would ever feel. He didn''t know how he could ever give this up. The way he worked the Forms, even if he wasn''t strong now, felt so natural to him it seemed wrong that in real life he couldn''t do the same. Or even breathe normally, much less of Aer. He shook his head and followed after the pair. He couldn''t think of real life, not when he was really just delving into what Elementia was all about. Besides, he had a village to save.