After being invited by the red haired human mage, Artanis was led by him to a cozy looking restaurant located a few blocks away from the city plaza. A metal plate hung outside showed its slightly odd name, although Artanis was familiar with the story behind it; at least for its real world equivalent.
“Welcome to Rock Soup¹, what can I get you today?” Said a slightly chubby waitress after both the mage and Artanis entered the restaurant and sat in next to one of the few unoccupied tables, on top of it was a small parchment in which all the products sold by the restaurant were depicted.
“I want a spicy steak, fried rice and a black beer.” The mage said before handed the menu to the elven maiden he had invited to dinner.
How they met was odd, to say the least, normally no one would accept the dinner invitation of a person who nearly killed them, although not on purpose. To heal the wound he had inflicted at her, he had given one of the weakest herbal potions he had made for practice almost a year ago.
And while at first he planned to end their meeting by simply apologizing and letting her keep the rest of the potion. He could not shake the feeling he had seen the elf before, but try as he might he could not remember where and the fact the waitress and the elf were discussing the menu as he did so; hardly helped him.
“Sybilla, is the fried orc dish really made from…” Asked Artanis that had come into friendly terms with the waitress Sybilla, surprisingly fast. Contrary to what most clients thought, she was actually a player, which like Amanda; had the hobby of eating exotic foods found during her travels.
“No, it’s not made of orc meat. You see, the head chef swears that orc and boar meat taste the same.” Sybilla said smiling.
“They do?” Artanis asked, slightly disappointed.
“No idea, I never found anyone selling their meat.” Said Sybilla, since she had, in fact, tried to procure their meat.
“Okay, please bring me a portion of fried orc, a seven herbs salad, a Rockheim risotto and a beer.” Said Artanis, who forgotten she was not the one paying, the mage which had invited her had not spoken a single word during Artanis and Sybilla’s conversation.
However, his existence had not been forgotten by Sybilla who after hearing Artanis request, asked him if he did not add anything else to the order. He did not want to add anything to the order, or even felt troubled with Artanis somewhat large request. He did, whoever seem happy when the waitress left.
“I am sorry, I made such a large order and I don’t even know your name.” Said Artanis, remembering they never had introduced themselves properly.
“It’s okay Artanis, the food here is not that expensive. Answering your question, I am Edward, level hundred-sixty-four wizard and vice leader of the Gold Tree guild.” Said the mage sitting in front of her.
“My name is Artanis, level one and classless.” She said introducing herself. Although her name had already come up during her conversation with the waitress.
“Nice meet you Artanis, are you enjoying the game so far?” He asked while looking her in the eyes.
To answer his question, Artanis give him a summarized version of the events so far, but once again, leaving certain parts of the story outside of her narrative. The story whoever was interrupted by the arrival of Sybilla pushing a cart filled with food, who smiled, as she put various plates from the cart into the table. Done so, she went back to the kitchen.
“We can continue later. Let's eat now before it gets cold.” Edward said before he took the knife and fork laid before him.
Hearing his words, Artanis nodded, took her own knife and fork into her hands and started cutting the meat on her plate. For a while, both ate in silence, since the food demanded their full attention.
Artanis’s share of the food was twice as his, which led Edward to finish his meal long before her. Excusing himself, he rose from the table walking a few meters away, apparently to speak with an invisible friend.
When he returned to his seat, Artanis had already finished her meal, which was good since he wanted to speak with her.
“It's not too common to invite someone who has yet to get a class, but I wish to invite you to our guild.” Said Edward, as a familiar sound rang and a transparent window appeared before Artanis.
You have been invited to the Gold Tree guild, do you accept the invitation?
“Why are you inviting me?” She asked, unsure of the reason this man were inviting a level one player to his guild.
“We recently decided to invite newbies into the guild, to help them learn how to play, so they can enjoy this great game.” Answered Edward, giving an answer you would expect to hear from a public relations manager.
“If that’s the case, I will join it.” She said, imagining how he would look like as a middle-aged man in a suit. Which he could be since the game gave the chance of modifying one’s appearance during the character creation process.
You have joined the Gold Tree guild.
"You can enter the guild chat channel by focusing at that flashing golden tree icon at the corner of your eye." Said Edward before he noticed she had already done so.
“Welcome to the guild Artanis, my name is Edmund. Edward's older and more handsome brother and the leader of this guild.” And other similar introductions were given in the guild's exclusive chat channel. The Gold Tree guild having over forty members, of which only twenty-two were online.
The majority of the guild’s population were warriors, monks, mages, rogues, archers, and clerics with only a small amount of players which had other classes such as merchants and crafters. After introducing herself, Artanis received started to receive advice from its members. Including each personal opinion of what class were the best.
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“If you have the time and patience, by hitting the scarecrows at the training hall, you can get stats and a sword.” Said Edmund who had completed such training and because of his high affinity to the hall's instructor, got recommend by him to a young noble becoming his squire and recently, a knight.
“There's something similar at the archer's guild, but of course, the training involves the use of a bow.” Said Cheonjiwang, a player that recently had completed his job advancement quest, becoming a ranger an advanced archer class.
“After you can leave the city you can farm the nearby rabbits for leather, players undergoing the merchant test and newbie tailors need them. Before that became a well-known fact, they used to sell it for five or ten coppers.” Said Dario, one of the guild’s few merchants. Artanis wondered if he did not feel bad from giving such advice, which would make the life of future merchants harder, but she did not bother asking.
“So, do you have anything to do now?” Edward asked having just finished paying for their meals. She nodded in response.
“Yes, I have an errand to do.” Said Artanis not going into further details, Edward also did not inquire further as he had done his share of simple errands during his newbie days.
“Good luck with it, I will be at the city's library. In case you need me just send a PM. Oh and at the library, you can also get some stats and skills from reading books.” He said, moving his finger through the air, before her a transparent window appeared in front of her.
Edward has requested to add you as a friend, do you accept his invitation?
“Ok.” She said in response.
You have accepted his invitation; Edward is now your friend.
After that, Artanis thanked him for the food leaving the restaurant as he paid the waitress for the food they had consumed. After leaving the restaurant, she returned to the city’s plaza to look for the general’s store location.
Which was located inside the city plaza, beside a large inn; there she was rudely received by the shopkeeper after seeing her cheap and bloodstained clothes. His demeanor, whoever changed as the letter was shown.
Her errand completed, she returned to Wystan’s workshop, which luckily for her had reopened the store.
“Welcome!” Wystan said as he always did when the bell attached behind his store’s door ringed. He whoever, soon recognized the person who pushed the door open, “Hello Artanis, back so soon?” Asked Wystan smiling.
“I already completed the errand, would you mind teaching me now?” Artanis said eager to learn her first skill.
“I wouldn’t mind… But what happen to you?” He asked, seeing the bloodied shirt with a hole in it.
“Oh, you mean my shirt. It was just a little accident, nothing to worry about.” Artanis answered smiling.
“If you say so… Follow me and pay attention to what I say and do.” She nodded, following the old man to the back of the workshop. There he used a few tools to dismantled a simple knife from a large pile of damaged products, its blade now separated from the hilt, was held firmly by a sturdy looking tong.
"While heating the metal it's important to pay attention to its color. It serves as an indicator of how hot it is." Said Wystan, as he with one hand, used the tong to put the blade inside the furnace. While with his foot he pumped air into it, using a pair of bellows built into the the side of the furnace, inside bright red flames danced around the blade, which slowly changed from a metallic grey color to a glowing cherry red.
"The proper temperature to work is when the metal glows orange-yellow, that’s known as the forging heat." He said while, inside the furnace, the flames changed the blade's color from the glowing red to a bright almost orange yellow. Then he took the blade out of the furnace and placed it over a nearby anvil, before grabbing a hammer and striking the blade in a rhythmic fashion.
"The last step is to cool it; doing so will harden the metal." Said Wystan while he took the still hot blade and immersed it into a bucket full of water, causing steam to rise from within it, while the blade having cooled down returned to its metallic grey color.
“The finishing touch is to sharpen it.” Said Wystan holding the blade's flat part, while walking towards a stone wheel. By using a pedal near the contraption’s base, he made the wheel spin ad he held the knife's edge against the stone producing bright sparks, he continued to so through the entire edge. When he finished sharpening the blade, he had a satisfied look on his face.
"Now it’s your turn, nothing beats hand on practice after all." He said, reassembling the guard's sword soon after. Having done so, he took a rather old and rusty blade from on a workshop's corner, handing it over to Artanis.
‘I hope everything goes well.’ She thought, slowly walking towards to furnace, while grabbing a tong on her way. That marked the beginning of her life as a blacksmith and while she now lacked confidence in her capability, by completing the task before her she would start to forge herself into one of this world's most renowned smiths. She, of course, did not know that, her body trembling thanks to her anxiety as the furnace's flame danced beautifully, as if inviting her to come closer.
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