~~~(POV: Justin Xander)~~~
~~~(Location: Unknown, Unknown, Aeternitatem Genesis)~~~
~~~(Day, Date, Time: Friday, April 12th, 11:41 AM PST)~~~
~~~(Age: 19 Years)~~~
The two guards step aside and allow me through. It doesn't take me long to find the door leading to the place where all the guards are training. As I open it, I'm met with a large open area with four separate fields.
In each field, different activities are occurring. One is exercise, another is defensive techniques, another is sword training, and the last is group coordination.
"Argh, damn it!"
"That's what you get, dumbass."
The guards seem to have a sort of rivalry amongst each other. It's effective in certain workplaces, but it's hard to imagine it's effective when fighting with weapons. But what do I know? I've never worked a regular job.
*Clank*
*Clang*
"Woah!"
"It's impossible!! It's like fighting a brick wall with 100 eyes!!!"
The fight of someone completely dominating his competition grabs my attention from the many sounds surrounding me. I go to the area the commotion originates from, and a small dust cloud has formed.
As it settles, I'm met with the sight of a lightly armored man. Just by looking at him, you can tell he's a far more powerful fighter than anyone else here.
Wild red hair and bronze-colored eyes make him stick out in a group of people. I'm betting that guy is Sir Rehan. No way for me to find out for sure unless I ask him.
On my approach, there are some guards who watch me. Their eyes are sharp and calculating. However, none of them move or try to stop me. The man, who I believe to be Sir Rehan, lifts his head from the dirt and looks at me as I stand before him.
He's sitting on a wooden crate and drinking some cold water. Relaxing from the workout, he just had sparring with some of the guards.
"I'd ask how you got in here, but I doubt you're skilled enough to break in. Which means you've got permission. You're the first of the new arrivals to find a way inside, congrats."
The man's voice is steady and has a heavy tone attached to it. One built on years of experience and combat. He folds his arms as he leans back, waiting for a response. I'm betting how I answer determines what happens next.
"Yeah, I've got a quest to find Sir Rehan. Do you know where I can find him?"
Again, I don't know if this guy is specifically Sir Rehan. All I know is he's really strong and better than the guards training here.
He doesn't react at first but cracks a half smile after a second.
"You're speaking to him; now, what is it you want?"
It's time to focus on the conversation at hand. Sir Rehan seems like a guy who cuts to the chase. Doesn't like any distractions or detours. It's best to avoid those pitfalls with this guy.
"I've been told you're searching for people to clear out a nearby Goblin nest. Think I could get in on that?"
If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
I don't know how many people will be involved in the Goblin nest. I'm the first player here, he said so himself. But that doesn't mean NPCs aren't going to try to clear the Goblin's nest. Some of the guards here might be preparing for it.
His eyes scan me up and down. Taking me in. I feel he can see almost everything about me for some reason. After a second, a small sigh escapes his lips.
"Yeah, I'm searching for people to rid the area of those Goblins. A squad of guards is about to be deployed to deal with them. You want in on it?"
As the offer to join the expedition arrives, a challenging voice is followed with it. It's like he's daring me to accept the quest. Something else is happening here, but I won't know until I keep going.
"Yeah, I want in on it."
I keep my voice level and disarming, trying to make the man think of me as weak. I prefer to be in fights where I'm underestimated. I doubt it'll work against the guy, but you never know.
"Okay, you've got the job."
[The quest (Find Sir Rehan) is completed!]
[The quest has been removed from your quest tab.]
[+15 to your Player Level for completing (Quest: Find Sir Rehan)]
[Sir Rehan respects your unwillingness to back down.]
[+25 Rep with Sir Rehan]
[You've Received A New Quest!]
"Just like that? No extra qualifications or tests?"
I'm a little surprised. I was expecting some hoops to jump through. I find fault for holding AG to the same expectations I've kept in other games. It's obviously not working, and I need to curb that line of thought.
A cocky and brandishing smile appears on his lips.
"Sure."
There is an eager energy in the man's voice. Since I've got an NPC willing to talk to me, this is a golden opportunity to learn more about where I am.
"Mind me asking where we're at currently?"
He looks at me, a bit surprised, and then he breaks out in laughter. All the guards around us do the same at my clueless question. He mockingly wipes the tears away from his eyes and looks at me.
"You new arrivals are all the same. I'm not your Mommy, kid. Stumble and figure shit out. You're lucky I'm letting you go on the quest to kill the Goblins. If you come back alive and stronger, I'll answer any questions you've got."
[A Quest Has Been Updated!]
"The guards are leaving in a couple of hours; you can stick around and watch my troops train. Since you're not a guard or someone I know to be strong, you're not welcome to train here. Got that?"
I simply nod my head as I watch him hop off the crate and make his way to a door. Exiting the training fields as he does. He's a man who looks like he's in his late 30s to early 40s, but he's got the temperament of a teenager.
I guess when you're the strongest guy around, you can act however you want. Personally, that's a dangerous line of thinking.
Now that he's gone, I open my player interface and click on my quests tab. Seeing the new quest I've got.
---[Quest: Goblin Nest]---
[Difficulty: Normal] [Grade: Uncommon]
[Recommended Level: 1-5]
[Player Level EXP Reward: 1500]
[Rewards: Reputation rise with Sir Rehan]
[Step 1: Travel to Aria's Mine.]
[Step 2: Enter the dungeon: Aria's Tragedy.]
[Step 3: Clear the dungeon and return to Sir Rehan.]
[Completion of the bonus step will result in better rewards.]
[Bonus Step: If you leave now, clear the dungeon alone. You'll receive different rewards and a new skill.]
My eyes zoom in and focus solely on the bonus step. The gamer in me wants to try. However, I have no clue where Aria's Mine is. Again, the game's difficulty at the beginning is forcing me to think outside the box.
I look around and see the guard NPCs talking or training like regular people would. They know I'm going on the quest with the squad of guards being sent out in a couple of hours. Instead of wasting time, I walk up to one of the guards.
He turns to look at me, and I can see he's not welcoming to us players. Not that I blame him. So far, my fellow gamers have been assholes to these guys.
"Excuse me, I was hoping you could tell me how to reach Aria's Mine. It'd make traveling with the guard squad easier if I don't slow them down."
Applying the fact I'm trying to make his fellow guard's life easier, I might get something from him. He stays silent for a second and releases a sigh.
"Yeah, just leave through the main gate and follow the road for around an hour. You'll be in the forest by then. On the road, you'll see a heavily traveled dirt path leading deeper into the forest that takes you to Aria's Mine."
This is great!
Getting information like this sets my goals to complete the bonus step in play. I give my thanks and turn around. Heading for the exit of the walled-off training fields. Now that I'm back on the streets, the presence of more players has increased.
I've gotten a healthy start so far. Still, a lot to do, but based on what I saw in the quest. I'll be getting enough EXP for a player level. What I find strange is that compared to the Last Descendant quest, it gives more EXP.
Although Last Descendant gives less EXP, it's a higher grade. That tells me something. It's not guaranteed, but I think it's a hint.
I'm supposed to start Last Descendant sooner rather than later. I'll ask Sir Rehan what 'find the waters that stand still' means. I might be able to get a clue to the first step from him.
Until then, my main focus will be the current quest I've just got.