Chapter 01 - Establishing a Start (I)
--- The scan on your iris and vein has determined that you are an unregistered user. Do you want to create a new account?
“Yes, please”
--- Select the name of your avatar.
Chris thought for a moment. He couldn’t remember what nickname he used to use in his younger days. Concluding that he wasn’t here to play, but to get inspiration for his books, he answered.
“Kris, with a K”
--- Royal Road has 49 races. You may select your race from primary 28.
“Human suits me just fine”
--- You may alter your appearance.
Chris saw a statue of himself, slowly rotating in front of him. He couldn’t believe how detailed it was. The statue of him was erected with dignity, despite the clothes on him was rough and tattered, probably starter equipments. The model had pride in his gaze, staring over the horizons in this formless world. Could he be this intimidating? Lost in thoughts, Chris asked the non-existent guide for a large mirror, which was provided. He tried to replicate the same posture as the statue, still looking far beyond Chris himself. He managed to copy the stance, however something was still lacking. He didn’t feel that he emitted this intimidating aura the model did. He gave up and went on.
“I’m fine with myself”
--- Your account has been activated. Your stats and class shall be determined while you are playing Royal Road, nothing is set in stone. Carve your own path to the fame among all players around the world.
--- Select a city and kingdom you want to start in.
“Can you show me the map?”
A globe spawned, showing up an incomplete map. Some areas were greyed out, indicating that the territory hasn’t been explored. Chris span the globe till the half colored continent was in his view. If the game was as real as the editor claimed as it was, Chris had to carefully pick a location where he could access many kind of landscapes without having to travel to other kingdoms. The kingdoms could be on bad terms with each other, blocking others citizens to their land. He wished he investigated the relations but it hadn’t occurred to him at the time.
Carefully examining the map, he set his eyes on this kingdom, Aidern. In its territory, it had plains to the east, a decent forest area to the west, not to mention the mountains erupting close to these two sections. Vegetated mountains and stepped ones, Aidern had it all for his future books. There was also a good sized river across the kingdom. Last, but not the least, it also had access to ocean even though it was small. Although Grapass dominated that area, Chris bet that they should be in alliance with Aidern, the way Grapass was surrounded. Aidern was probably independent with all these resources around.
“Fort Odin of the Aidern Kingdom!”
--- Welcome to Royal Road, please remember that four hours game time here equals to one hour in reality. Enjoy your adventure!
He was impressed. The advancement of gaming was very noticeable. Everything was executed by voice commands and it didn’t seemed to misinterpret. No longer did you need to use the ancient gaming device called keyboard and mouse, managing around interfaces. Chris suddenly felt old at this very thought, as his view turned brighter and brighter till there was nothingness of white.
***
If Kris had to describe this world he entered with one word, it would be… Fresh. The instant he came to his senses, everything he saw seemed clearer, more colorful and pure. The air he breathed in felt different. It felt smooth compared to what he breathed in a couple of minutes ago. The crowd sounded the same, but you could feel the presence and power of the others talking. He never expected that it would be this soothing to his ears. The lack of mechanical sounds, technological beeps and distant noise from engines, were they ever this distracting to human senses?
Kris looked around, uncomfortable in his new outfit provided by the system. Brown ragged clothes. The friction to his skin was so different to what he was used to. He couldn’t tell what kind of material it was made of, and it was driving him crazy. Medieval fantasy, that was what he wrote. Now he was in that world and he had no actual knowledge of medieval history. Kris just wrote whatever it suited him and how it made sense to him. Perhaps that’s one of the reason his fame as an author was on decline.
He had limited success with his books. With time, after his second book, the interest of his other works paled as they no longer provided excitement. He wrote the same generic stories, and his lack of improvement showed. Kris couldn’t really afford to visit places around the world, and if he did, the trip was too short to absorb what he felt and learned. He learned about the virtual reality game ‘Royal Road’ from his editor who seemed to pity him at the time. Apparently you would sense and experience everything the same as in the real world. Kris entered this virtual reality in order to expand his horizons.
There were so many players around him. If Kris recalled correctly, the game hasn’t even been out for a year yet, and it was already this popular. He wandered around, seeing people running their own established shops. Lively would be an understatement, their voices overpowered the streets, shouting their goods and price. One would think that passersby would cower before them but they didn’t phase out one bit, acting that they didn’t heard it at all unless they wanted to. Kris reached for his pen and notebook in his pockets, not realizing he didn’t have a single item on his new body except clothes.
“Eh? I’m empty-handed? Right, I’m in a game now, I should have known that.”
Kris pondered in his thoughts for a moment. He decided that he should acquire them from nearby shop. Looking around, he finally found a store meeting his demands. Upon entering, he saw a lone clerk. Scanning around the shop, there didn’t seemed to be other customers.
“Hello sir, do you have a empty book for me to write in?”, Kris asked.
The clerk looked at him questionably, looking from head to toes.
“How much do you have on you?”
“I’m sorry, I’m a new player, I just logged in a moment ago. I was wondering if you could give a hand…”
“I do not tolerate beggars in my shop! Get out of here! I don’t do charity! Leave before I call the guards!”
“But as a fellow player, couldn’t you gift me a book? I’m sure you had your share of difficulty as a newbie in this game, please sympathize with me?”
“I don’t know what the heck you are talking about, but I ain’t no gullible man to be taken advantage of! Guards!”
At that point Kris ran from the shop. He understood what he did was wrong, but that clerk didn’t have to go nuts about it. He was once a newbie too right? Kris could have worded it better, like what steps to take, build up the relation and then ask for a freebie. In any case, he’d have to earn some money. He decided to go out leveling.
***
“What do you mean I have to stay here in this town for 4 weeks? Is it in-game time or the real time?”
“It’s a precaution measure to allow newborn adventurers such as yourself to familiarize with our town and prepare against the dangers outside these walls. For starters, why don’t you try going to the training hall, it’s never wrong to experience the adrenaline close combat gives”, the guard slowly answered, as if he tried to connect the meaning behind Kris words.
Not pressing the issue further, Kris went back into town. In an afterthought, games are no longer what he remembered, there is definite a change to the combat system. He’s glad he came to his senses after being stopped by the guards, he should atleast test the combat system before facing the real deal. He thanked a stranger after asking for direction to the training hall.
There were several pounding sounds on the training dolls in the distance. Kris was watching players exerting their strength, crying in the process. With every swing, he could see sweat flying from them, glimmering in sunshine’s gaze. He could never bring himself to work out like that, so he stood there among other spectators, admiring the players who went such length for a game. This class was not for Kris. What should he do if he refuses to engage in close combat? He was in deep thoughts, thus didn’t notice when the instructor of the training hall came to him.
“I see something is troubling you. Why don’t you grab this sword and hit the practice doll. Sometimes, letting everything flow into the doll could answer your questions.”
“Oh, uh, no thank you. Just seeing the others here made me realize I’m not fit for such workout. I wish to engage in distance”, was the Kris automatic answer.
The instructor’s smile dropped just for a moment at his answer, but regained his face quickly and answered him to go on to next spectator:
“In that case, archery is across the town towards that wall, and the mage guild is located near library, which is close to the church.”
Kris shone at the word library. Of course, if he entered the mage guild it would solve most of his problems, if not all. Becoming a mage who specializes in long range combat and has unlimited access to pens and papers, killing two birds with one stone! He set on course towards the tall church, stretching its tower towards the sky.
Upon arrival, he searched for the library which would lead him to the mage guild. He pictured himself that library would have to be rather large building, containing all kinds of books but such building was simply not in sight. He asked a bypasser where it was and got pointers.
It was… small. The size of what he expected was tremendously smaller, at the size of a small local bookstore. That was the library. On a second thought, books were probably not a necessity in the medieval. He wasn’t even sure there was one opened for public commoners, although there was one here right in front of him. Kris facepalmed, how could he keep comparing real life to this game? Everything seems so real, that he forgets that he’s in the virtual reality. He needs to remind himself more often.
The mage guild was a stone throw away from library, and it was significantly larger. Upon entering, he was greeted by an old man named Kauwl. He was not dressed as Kris imagined. He didn’t wear any cape, a common trait of mages. He wore a clean white tunic, accompanied by other fresh colors on its sides.
“Young lad, were you brought up in the wild? You don’t enter without knocking on the door. You better have a good excuse showing me this inappropriate behaviour.”
“I have to become a mage.”
“Well, perhaps if you showed some courtesy I’d give some thoughts about it. Come back another day or week.”
“Please sir, I have to become a mage now.”
“Hmm… Again, a direct approach but still lacking in manners. But I like that. It’s one other important feature that we mages need to have. When in front of hostile environment, one are not to waver. Once you do, there is a high risk that you will fail the spell and miscast. Not only would it injure yourself, but those around dear to you as well. Feelings aren’t easily controlled. Although you need to work on your manner of speech. That has to be fixed once you are a magician. Can’t have you ruin the image of the mages.”
*Ding!*
Quest Window[Completed] Magician Apprenticeship
You impressed Kauwl by showing one of your trait. You are now his apprentice towards the path of magic.
Difficulty level: F
Reward: You become a Mage Apprentice.
Quest Requirements:
Showing one of the various traits Mages needs to have to be successful.
Kris was completely misunderstood. He most certainly didn’t have those traits Kauwl was speaking of. When Kris was hearing he was being denied, a step away from obtain his necessary items towards information gathering for his future books, pen and paper, he lost his cool and demanded. Even though he unknowingly deceived the old man, he had no intention of clearing misunderstanding he caused. Still, he was surprised such an old man played this game and held such high position. The world was certainly surprising him.
***
Kris was infuriated, this was no pen of his sort but some sort of a feather quill pen and an inkwell was required. He should have expected it, but he still deluded himself that this virtual reality was still similar to the world of his own. Not to mention he wasn’t allowed to use it. He had to get one of his own. The old man, again misinterpreted his feelings, handed an optional quest:
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
“This is a first! You are showing an interest in writing. I wished I could help you here, but since no one ever takes an attempt in writing, we have nothing of those in stock for you to use. If you really want to own one, I’m afraid you’ll have to make one yourself.”
*Ding!*
Quest WindowGetting a Feather Pen
Unfortunately there is no pen for you to use, however you could craft one of your own.
Difficulty level: F
Reward: The crafted pen you have made.
Quest Requirements:
Obtain a feather, carve and temper it.
Kris jumped back when the window appeared. He really didn’t pay attention to his first one when it came up. Wherever he turned his head to, the window followed, staying within his sight. Curious, attempting to touch it, screen was moved backwards when his fingertips broke through the surface by some centimeters, and hovered back to its original position when Kris took away his hands. Wondering how he would make the window disappear, he tried to answer Kauwl.
“I’ll do that, I’m quite surprised no one else showed any interest in it.”
You have accepted the quest.
Kauwl who paid no heed to his strange acts, was delighted hearing such an answer, gave him another advice.
“It’s been a while, but I’m sure they are still there. Try go to the archery range, they should have feathers since they should be teaching their pupils how to craft an arrow, if the need were to come.”
Kris thanked Kauwl and made his way to his destination. He didn’t know the exact location, but judging from the instructors help, it should be close to a wall. As long he was searching along the wall, he would eventually find it. Walking along the road was uncomfortable after some distance. He was still wearing his starter gear, and his shoes were in no shape to ease his feets on this slightly uneven stone path. He bore with it, the thought of getting his own feather pen overcame the small aching pains.
*Ding!*
Vitality has been permanently increased by 1
“Interesting, I haven’t killed a single monster and I got a stat increase. Is it a mistake by the system? Technically I could exploit it, but it is rather tiresome thing to do.”
Upon arrival, there was a cheer among the spectators. If Kris had to guess, there was some kind of tournament going on. He ignored them and continued further to the main building of the archery range. Passing through the door he was immediately greeted by someone as Kauwl did with Kris.
“Ay, what business does a mage have here?”
A few people in the room turned their heads to the entrance. One usually don’t see users of other class in their area, much less mages. It was subtle, but Kris could see the other pupils slowly continuing their tasks while pointing their ears to the conversation.
“Pardon my unannounced arrival, I’m in a hurry and haven’t had time to send a message. I’ve been told that you have feathers for arrow crafting, is that correct?”, answered Kris.
“Yea, you heard that right”
“In that case, do you mind giving me a feather? All I need is one. Please.”
The man looked at him closely, his expression hinting that he was searching for something within his memories. The face lightened, and the man began to show Kris in.
“Of course! However I can only handover a low quality one, the tip is all you need right? Reki! Head over to the storeroom and bring a feather to this guy! I believe you can see the differences between them, am I right? I trust your judgement!”
Kris walked towards the girl who walked to the other room, supposedly storeroom, without waiting for him. It was a small, petite girl who took liberty of changing her hair color, aquamarine. It suited her quite well was his thought. Kris has seen people using dye to create extreme colors such as purple and pink in real life. It seemed so out of place, like it was entirely different entity attached to their head.
As soon Kris entered the storage, Reki was already standing beside the doorway, with a feather in her hand. She was quick, because Kris abruptly scanned for feathers which were not visible. She handed it over to him and brushed him briefly aside, back to where she was and continued her work, arrow crafting. Kris paid no attention to her action, as he finally cleared the first step, acquiring a feather.
***
Everyone else would have presumably gone to the blacksmiths, Kris didn’t. In fact, that very thought didn’t occur to him. All he thought of was the need to rest his feets. After the small break at the archery range, he felt the pain intensify when he got going again. The shoes he has gotten from the game system, weren’t made for such long hour walks in the city. The general consensus among the players and developers was to learn skills or attain a class at a place for quite some time, for their upcoming adventure after their 4 weeks of preparation. Few players would experience what Kris was going through, because they either didn’t read the guide on the official site or were lacking in gaming sense.
*Ding!*
Endurance has been permanently increased by 1
“Such a hard start, how do new players get through this stage? Is it part of leveling system? Don’t tell me it is, I’m not a masochist! Everyone around me seems successful... Does this mean they all are...?”
Kris was also beginning to get hungry. He didn’t start with any money, atleast of his knowledge. He has been thinking of logging out to start his dinner, however he was just another step away from completing his quest of making his own feather pen. He should atleast finish it, that was his thought.
As his hunger grew larger, he smelled food. How would the food taste in virtual reality? Curious, he followed the smell. As he got closer, he saw a neat small building. Even though pubs were generally perceived as a meeting place, not much activity were going on. Kris looked up at the sky to try determine the time. He couldn’t see the position of the sun, but it hasn’t set yet as he saw no signs of a orange sky. Closing in, he just saw a girl setting up a sign that they were looking for extra hands. Kris sped up awkwardly, and when opening the door a bell rang above him.
“Hey dear customer, what would you like?”
“Hello! Actually, I just saw you put up the board so I hurried myself here. I am looking for work.”
“You came at a perfect time! Aileen! We got one already! What did I say? If we did this earlier we wouldn’t have come into this situation! I’m Cecil, sorry about this but we need you to work as soon as possible. Go over there beyond the counter, through the door and you’ll reach the kitchen. I’ll pull back the sign for the time being.”
Lost in the moment, Kris followed Cecil’s orders. A quick introduction with the cook Aileen, Kris was immediately set to work and monotonously prepared ingredients. Kris didn’t mind though, as he was allowed to sit and peel the potatoes at the tiny backyard. While recovering he managed to collect his thoughts. He never knew that he would depart from his current quest like this. Upon hearing Cecil’s question, he felt that his brain had shut down and his tongue had automatically formed the words. Unfortunately Kris’s rest on the small kitchen chair, a small paradise, didn’t last long.
“Kris, as soon you finish that one, come with the peeled potatoes and chop them in small pieces together with the herbs here. With each of them done, put them in the big pot here I’ve prepared for you. Remember to stir them while you are doing this…”
Aileen continued to ramble and Kris took it all in. Normally Kris wouldn’t act like this, however there was this beautiful feeling that he got, doing what he was told while experiencing each of the new smell of the ingredients he applied to the pot and the large pan. His inexperience showed as he cut many of them in wrong sizes, however Aileen did not criticize his mistakes. Once in a long while, she took the knife and showed him the proper way to cut and cook, and resumed her own business in kitchen. Kris attempted to memorize her way and posture and tried his best of his ability to imitate her actions.
This continued throughout the afternoon into evening. Guests came, Kris had his food during breaks, and voices soared in the main room. Lanterns were lit, streets livelier than ever than what Kris saw when he logged in. It was as if there was a festival everytime the sun set, freeing people from their chains to each of their workplaces. It would have been a fine sight to Kris if he ever saw the joyous smiles of the customers. He never left the kitchen though.
On his breaks, he took the kitchen knife and carefully carved the tip of the only feather he has gotten from the archery range. The memory of Kauwl’s quill pen is still vivid in his mind. Obviously he was still lacking in some materials so he tried to carve the very same tip of Kauwl’s. After his successful carving, he then proceeded to slowly heat the tip of the feather at the stove, to strengthen it. Evening became uneventful after that.
***
“We can’t pay for your work right now, as we have been in deficit for some weeks. All we can offer you right now is some bread.”
“That is fine, I’d be really glad to continue to work here if you don’t mind. I enjoyed my stay here.”
Cecil grinned at his answer and he received breads.
“Aileen struck your chord eh? Sorry, but she is off-limits. As for tomorrow, come back around the same time you came here today.”
Kris ignored her banter and excused himself. The pen he finished occupied his thoughts more and more. He hurried to the mage guild, following the lighted bell tower of the church. Along the way, even though there were lanterns on the buildings, the streets were wide enough that one couldn’t clearly see the faces of others in the middle of the street, unless you really focused on it. Unconsciously, Kris kept himself close to the walls.
Entering the mage guild, Kris saw Kauwl at the same spot just as he first encountered him.
“You kept me waiting, young lad. It’s been a long while I was this excited for a student’s arrival. Let me have a look on your pen. Yes… Despite the lack of proper materials and tools, you have put tremendous effort in making this. It’s not too far-fetched to say it is identical to my own. Kris, I’ve changed my plans about you. You went this far for a pen, I doubt being a simple mage would suit you. I’m making a change to your training.”
*Di-di-ding!*
Getting a Feather Pen is completed
You are now known as Scribe’s Apprentice instead of a Mage.
You have learned Pen Mastery.
“… I’m logging off.”
Notebook's DoodlesNEXT CHAPTER
Thanks to FireAsh and Motenue for proofreading.
Ahhh, I'm probably being too self-critic, but after re-reading it, it felt abit too shallow! Then again, it's just the start but it's supposed to be the most important one! I should be catching reader's attention already! [th_0tive.gif]
Thanks for reading!