As Kit stepped into the stable, he saw Mars having a conversation with the drunken horse. "Pint, my dear friend, it's time for us to embark on an adventure." Mars was attempting to persuade Pint out of his stall. Kit didn't make his presence known; he was curious to see what Mars would do next to coax the massive animal out.
“Pint, my new friend. Once Kit learns how to make beer, I’ll give you all you like. Hmm, that sounds good, yeah.” Mars coaxed, Pint was having none of it. “Pint you’re the most handsome horse in all of CAL. When I get money, I’ll get you a mare, come on Pint.” Mars received a snort in reply.
“Pint if you come with me now, I’ll get you some new accessories so you can look as good as me.” After the last sentence Pint took a step backwards. Kit struggle to contain his laughter after hearing the last remark.
Kit's opinion of the horse had changed for the better; it seemed to have more common sense than his companion, Mars. As he continued to watch the spectacle unfold, Mars continued to talk excitedly about getting matching accessories for Pint.
Kit could tell that the horse would soon be adorned with new decorations, Pint gave a loud snort and shook its head in protest. The horse then took a step back into the stall, looking afraid. Kit couldn't help but snicker at its misfortune, he was eager to see what ridiculous outfit Mars had planned for the horse next.
Mars let out an exasperated sigh at Pint's reluctance to cooperate. "How are you even a horse? You won't even leave your stall! I wasn't planning on riding you anyway, I just wanted you to carry our supplies."
Curious about what bounty Mars was after, Kit interrupted him. "What exactly are you after?"
Startled by Kit's question, Mars turned around quickly to face him. "For god's sake, Kit, you scared me!"
"I was just listening to you trying to sweet talk Pint," Kit said with a grin. A blush spread across Mars' cheeks as he quickly turned away.
"Sweet talk? Ha! Nothing works on this stubborn horse except beer. If only we had saved at least one bottle, I bet I could get him out of this stall." Frustrated, Mars ran a hand through his hair.
Kit asked once again, “Where are you going?”
"Well, I was thinking that while you're busy learning how to make beer from Iris, I'd earn some money by exploring on my own. I was going to buy Pint a saddlebag so he could carry supplies while I explore," Mars mumbled.
"Don't worry, I learned how to make beer this morning. So, you won't have to go by yourself," Kit replied cheerfully.
Surprised by Kit's quick learning, Mars turned to him with an incredulous look. "Already? I thought it would take at least a couple of days. That's why I wanted to leave with Pint. This is great--if you're done, let's go explore outside the village today. I want to earn more money so we can buy supplies for our adventures."
Kit nodded in agreement; he knew they needed to leave Sweet Meadows soon if he wanted to build his dream restaurant, staying in the starter town would not earn them much money. "Sure, but I might need more inventory space, 10 slots won't be enough."
Mars nodded in agreement with Kit's thoughts. "We should head to the clothing store first, they have pouches and bags that will be useful." Mars also pointed out that Kit only had a knife as a weapon, so they would need to visit the smithy as well.
Remembering his embarrassment of not having a proper weapon, Kit was grateful for Mars' reminder to buy one today. They left through the stable doors and walked towards the centre of town.
After a short time, they arrived at the clothing store. However, Kit was disappointed to see that it was no different from the other shops in size and lacked a star under its sign. He asked Mars why this might be.
"It's rare for a small village like this to have a store with one star. Usually, the town needs to be twice this size before a one-star building appears. Two stars typically don't show up until the population reaches 100,000, and three stars require over 500,000 residents. Four-star buildings are even rarer and can only be found in capital cities. As for five-star stores, there are none yet and it's rumoured that the requirements for them may never be met. My dad told me all of this," Mars explained.
Kit thanked Mars for his knowledge about the game and was glad to have someone who could answer his questions. He was also happy that Mars had waited to start playing CAL or else he might never have met him.
They entered the clothing shop where there were various woollen clothes, hats, bags, and robes on display. The bags caught Kit's attention, and he asked Mars for his recommendation.
"It's not about the size of the bag, it's how much it can hold. Look at the tags for the capacity and price," Mars advised, proving once again to be a helpful companion thanks to what he had learned from his family.
Kit thought that their friendship was mutually beneficial, but he wanted to contribute something as well, Mars had knowledge so Kit decided he would be in charge of food! He promised himself that he would work hard to make delicious meals that they could enjoy together.
Kit carefully examined all the options for bags before making a decision. He didn't want a bulky backpack, so he opted for a sleek pouch instead. Now, all that was left was to decide how much money he was willing to spend. He debated between a 20-slot pouch for 1 silver crown or a 50-slot pouch for 2 silver and 500 bronze crowns.
In the end, he chose the 50-slot pouch - the more space, the better. He wouldn't have to make as many trips to town to sell his items. As he approached the register, he noticed a packet with a needle and thread inside. Just what he needed to fix his ripped pants from the encounter with the burly rabbit.
Kit placed both items on the counter and paid the clerk, wincing at the amount of money he had spent. "Alright Mars, let's head to the smithy now. Do you know where it is?"
"Yeah, just follow the smoke," Mars replied before exiting the shop.
Following Mars' directions, Kit looked up at the buildings until he spotted smoke rising from a building five doors down. He followed it until he reached the smithy, which looked different from the other shops with an open area attached to the front. A muscular man was vigorously hammering away at a red glowing sword atop an anvil. Behind him was a stone fireplace built into the wall.
Heat radiated from the forge and Kit could feel sweat dripping down his back. The smell of coal and molten iron filled the air, burning his nose. He knew he would be stuck with that scent for quite some time.
"He looks completely focused. How do we get his attention so we can buy a sword?" Kit whispered without taking his eyes off the blacksmith.
Mars shook his head in amusement. "Honestly, how would you have managed without me? We go inside," Mars pointed to a sign above the door that read "Disturb the blacksmith at your own risk" with the name of the store, Bonfire Forge, written below it. Kit thought to himself "I should just keep my mouth shut. Now I look stupid."
"Hey, how was I supposed to know we had to go inside? He's right there making a sword," Kit defended himself, pointing to the hardworking blacksmith.
Mars chuckled at Kit's expense, Kit left him outside and entered the shop alone. Inside, Kit saw a variety of weapons displayed. Knowing he had no experience with swords, he headed straight for the counter to ask for help.
Behind the counter stood another muscular man, but this one was much younger. He gave Kit a sharp gaze that made him feel slightly intimidated. "Hello, I'm Kit. This is my first time buying a sword. Can you help me?" Kit mumbled nervously.
A warm smile spread across the man's face at Kit's words. "Of course, I'm George by the way. Follow me to the sword section and I'll find you the perfect one." His soft voice surprised Kit; he had expected a booming voice from someone of his size. It somehow softened the sharpness in his eyes and Kit felt himself relax in his presence.
George brought Kit to a rack filled with various swords of different sizes, approximately ten on each side. "The first step is finding a sword with the right length," George explained, as he demonstrated by gripping the hilt and placing the sword at his side, ensuring there was about three inches between the tip and the ground.
"This ensures that the sword won't hit the ground when you attack." He pulled out a slender sword with a bright blue hilt and handed it to Kit. "I think this one should fit you perfectly." Kit followed George's instructions and the sword felt like it was made for him.
"Wow, that's a great fit," Kit exclaimed, feeling excited about finding the perfect weapon. He knew this sword could do much more damage than just a simple knife. It seemed like George had handed him the right sword on his first attempt.
"I told you I would find one for you," George said with a big smile on his face. He seemed genuinely happy about helping Kit find a suitable sword. "Now, let's talk about the stats of a good sword. Your fighting style will determine which stats you need, but ultimately, the price will determine how good those stats are. We mostly have beginner swords here, so while the stats may not be high, their prices are reasonable."
Kit appreciated George's honesty and didn't have a specific fighting style yet, so he wasn't too concerned about the stats. As long as they were good enough for effective attacks, he was satisfied.
'CAL sword menu,' Kit thought to himself, pleased that he remembered to keep his thoughts inside his head instead of voicing them out loud. He didn't want to have to explain talking to an invisible person again or bring up his imaginary friend.
[Weapon: Beginner Sword, common]
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Level 12
Attack + 30
Agility + 5
Speed + 5
The statistics pleased him, but he hoped the sword wouldn't be too expensive. "How much for the sword, George?"
"5 silver and 500 bronze crowns. Since you sought help in choosing the right sword instead of just picking one at random, I'll throw in the sheath for free. In my experience, those who value a well-fitted sword also take care of it better," George said proudly as he handed over a bright blue sheath to match the hilt of the sword.
"These sheaths are enchanted to fit any sword, and this blue one complements your hilt perfectly." George seemed pleased with his colour-matching skills. Kit was hesitant about standing out with such a bright sheath, but he couldn't argue with a free item.
He thanked George and left with his new sword strapped to his side, feeling more like a swordsman now that he had a proper weapon. However, he knew he would need someone to teach him how to use it effectively.
As he walked outside, he found Mars watching the blacksmith working while he waited. Kit tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. "I'm ready now, Mars. Let's go!"
Mars glanced down at Kit's new sword and exclaimed, "Wow, that sheath looks amazing! I wish I had one." He gave Kit a pouting look as Kit eyed his plain brown sheath enviously. "Do you want to trade?"
"Yes...wait, no, I shouldn't. It won’t match your outfit," Kit replied wryly. He didn't want to offend Mars by refusing his offer, but he also wasn't eager to add to Mars' unique fashion sense.
Now armed with a new sword, they left the village together and soon arrived at the south meadow on the opposite side from where Kit first arrived in the stone arch. Mars pointed towards a forest at the edge of the meadow.
Ding!
[CAL]
[Map Found: Sweet Meadow Forest.]
Rewards: 50 experience, 1 Sweet Meadow reputation point.
“We should focus on finding valuable plants and flowers in the forest, compared to the meadow. There are more dangers here, so we have a chance at earning greater rewards. But we must stay vigilant and be prepared to defend ourselves,” Mars suggested, taking a step towards the trees.
As Kit entered the forest, he immediately noticed the difference in lighting. The tall trees provided a thick canopy of green leaves that filtered out most of the sunlight. As they ventured deeper into the forest, it became darker and more ominous. Kit couldn't help but feel uneasy.
He tried to focus on their surroundings as they walked on a carpet of thick grass, moss, and fallen leaves. The crunching sound under his feet made him worried about attracting predators. The dense foliage also made it difficult to see far ahead, increasing his anxiety.
Kit couldn't shake off the feeling that this was like one of his sister's horror movies - where unsuspecting people were attacked by malevolent spirits haunting the forest. He gripped his new sword tightly, ready to defend himself if necessary. "Mars, do you think we can handle any creatures we encounter in here?"
"We should be able to. This is just a starter village after all," Mars reassured him. "I spoke to Iris last night during dinner service and she told me there are only three types of creatures in this forest: the low-level blue fairy bird which is easy to defeat with one hit; the sneaky checked snake that we need to watch out for; and the aggressive wild Fornax boar."
Kit gulped at the thought of running into an angry boar, but Mars quickly added that they would most likely not come across it as it tends to stay in deeper parts of the forest. Feeling a little reassured, Kit pumped himself up and started searching for items to collect.
After a few minutes of scanning the forest floor, he spotted a small purple flower with a yellow centre, resembling a pansy. It was tucked away at the base of a tree and he almost missed it while focusing on the ground. He used his knife to carefully cut off the stem and add it to their collection.
[petite purple]
The flower was aptly named, as it was no bigger than Kit's thumbnail. He looked around at the other tree trunks and easily spotted the small purple bloom. Despite its petite size, the vibrant purple and yellow stood out against the dull brown of the surroundings. Kit showed Mars the flower and they began collecting more petite purples.
As they worked, Mars filled the silence with idle chatter. "Kit, what do you want to do in CAL? I want to be an adventurer, seeking out hidden treasures or rare herbs. I crave excitement; maybe even battling some rare beasts or exploring uncharted territories of CAL. I've heard of adventurers getting towns named after them. That would be awesome." Mars had a distant look in his eyes, imagining his future adventures.
"That sounds great, Mars. While I also want some adventure, I also desire stability. Having a place to call my own is my dream," Kit replied with a wistful gaze. "After my dad passed away, my home and sense of stability were taken away from me. Having something that can't be taken away is important to me." Kit continued harvesting petite purples as he spoke.
"Kat and I went through a tumultuous time when we first moved out on our own. We had to change homes several times and money was always tight. We even went hungry often at first. Those were tough times," Kit reminisced with a flash of pain in his mind.
"But we adapted to our new situation and slowly things improved," Kit said with a glance at Mars before continuing. "Food became a big part of our lives during this time - either due to lack of it or cooking meals for just the two of us." A faint smile appeared on Kit's face as he spoke. "I want to open a restaurant and create new dishes for people to enjoy. When I cook, I can forget about all the hardships in my life and instead, look forward to bringing a moment of joy to someone else's day."
Kit's smile grew bigger. "Through my experiences, I've learned that those little moments of happiness add up. And for someone going through a dark time, those small moments can lead them out into the light." Kit had a melancholic look in his eyes as he spoke; he knew firsthand the power of a small spark of joy.
"I can't wait to spread those moments of happiness through my restaurant. Whether it's elevating someone's joy or introducing them to a new delight, that's what I'm excited about. Does that sound silly?" Kit looked at Mars, waiting for his reaction.
"Not at all. It actually makes me want something similar," Mars replied thoughtfully. "I love your plan, Kit. It sounds wonderful. I'll be the official adventurer of the restaurant and gather the best ingredients from all over CAL for your dishes." Mars gave Kit a huge grin.
"Deal!" Kit and Mars shook hands.
Kit felt his heart fill with warmth. Though they had only known each other for a short time, Kit already thought of Mars as family. It was like experiencing a cheesy movie moment, he thought, except without a pretty heroine present.
Kit stood up from the ground, holding a purple petite that he had just harvested. Suddenly, he heard a hiss above him and instinctively scrambled backwards. Hanging from the tree branch where he was standing just seconds ago was a huge green snake with white checks covering its body.
Its size was comparable to Kit's arm, with a head as big as a clenched fist. The snake's lower body was coiled around the branch and it never took its eyes off of Kit, constantly hissing at him and showing off its large fangs glistening with venom.
Kit's heart raced in his chest from the close encounter and he let out a shaky laugh to calm his nerves. As he stared at the snake, he realised how fitting its name was. Then, he couldn't help but burst out laughing when he thought about how whoever created this forest must have been running out of name ideas and just went for the obvious choice.
Before Kit could ponder any further, the snake suddenly struck towards his face with lightning speed. He froze, watching in horror as the fangs neared his face. But before the snake could attack, a silver blur flashed above Kit and swiftly sliced through the snake's neck, decapitating it.
Relieved and shaking, Kit patted his chest and looked at the sword that had saved him. It was still hovering above his face until its owner sheathed it and grinned down at Kit. “how the hell did you do that?”
Mars chuckled at Kit's shock, “I learnt sword skills and mixed martial arts in real life along with my brothers since I was about four. Remember I told you my family was into sports.”
“How the hell does anyone connect knowing how to use a sword to someone who says they are into sports.”
Mars gave a shrug. “It’s common in my family. I forget everyone else’s families are a little different.”
After him casually talk about having fighting skills, Kit realised how much of a bad ass Mars truly was. He couldn't help but imagine himself learning some basic sword skills from Mars and becoming a bad ass too, though he knew deep down that he would still be like a wet paper towel.
But the thought of improving his skills with the help of Mars made him excited. “Mars could you teach me some basics in swords and mixed martial arts each night?”
“Sure, but don’t expect to be an expert overnight, it takes a long time to learn. Don’t try to rush things either or you will hurt yourself.” Mars cautioned.
“Ok I’ll listen to you Captain.” Kit saluted Mars.
“Why am I Captain, and not sensi, master, or even teacher?” queried Mars.
“You look like a pirate with that hat, I was even thinking about getting you an eye patch.” Chuckled Kit.
“…..” Mars had an incredulous look on his face.
Knowing he would get a lecture on proper attire if he stood still, Kit quickly gathered the meat from the slain snake and hurried off to search for more resources.
As he searched, Kit came across two types of mushrooms: one called the brown small mushroom and the other called the brown medium mushroom. He also found a flower similar to the petite purple but with a blue hue and a red centre, aptly named petite blue.
After hours of collecting, they decided to take a break. Kit sat down on a soft patch of grass while Mars finished gathering the last of the petite blue flowers in the area. As Kit glanced around, he spotted a small bright blue bird.
"That must be the blue fairy bird you told me about earlier," Kit said to Mars. The bird was adorable with its fluffy coat that looked more like down than feathers. It was about the size of a sparrow and hopped around looking for food in the foliage. Its neon blue colour was a stark contrast to the dull forest surroundings.
Mars joined Kit in watching the cute bird. "It's really cute," Mars said with a smile.
"Yeah, finally something that's not giant or dangerous," Kit replied. But just as he spoke, the blue fairy bird suddenly let out an ear-piercing screech, causing damage to both Kit and Mars.
"Are you kidding me?!" Kit exclaimed, quickly covering his ears to block out the sound. Next to him, Mars pulled out a knife and threw it accurately at the bird, killing it instantly.
"Wow, are you secretly a ninja?" Kit exclaimed in amazement. "That was so cool! If you keep this up, I might have to become your biggest fan instead of your friend."
Mars shook his head and retrieved his knife before returning to Kit's side. "Kit, you saw me throw knives at the Spectral Nile Reptile yesterday," he reminded him with a chuckle.
"Oh, right. Sorry, I was too focused on trying not to die during that fight I forgot all about it," Kit said sheepishly. But as they continued talking, more neon blue shapes started appearing around them. Kit soon realised that they were being surrounded by the cute birds, but with over 30 of them, they were starting to look less cute and more ominous.
"These birds aren't so cute anymore," Kit remarked nervously as the blue fairies fixed their unblinking eyes on them and let out a deafening shriek in unison.
Kit's eyes widened in terror, but he couldn't move quickly enough to shield his ears.
Ding!
[Player Kit has died]
Respawn in 30 seconds.
The words hung in front of Kit, and everything around him faded into a pale blur. He was frozen, unable to move from the spot where he stood. Underneath the ominous phrase "Kit has died" was a timer ticking down from thirty seconds.
Despite the chaos happening around him - Mars moving through a swarm of glowing blue feathers, Mars blocking out the noise with material stuffed in his ears, and effortlessly taking down the blue fairies - all he could focus on were those words “Kit has died”.
He couldn't believe how quickly he had met his demise. He had survived encounters with a giant rabbit and monstrous Spectral Nile reptiles, only to be defeated by a seemingly harmless flock of birds. And not just any birds, but cute neon blue ones at that. It was almost comical.
But what really bothered Kit was that it wasn't even a heroic death. No saving the day or sacrificing himself for others. Just a plain and embarrassing defeat. How was he supposed to live this down?
"This is my first death in the game," Kit thought to himself. "I can't let Kat find out about this." He knew she would never let him hear the end of it if she ever joined him in the game and discovered what happened.
Lost in thought, Kit wondered what would happen when the timer reached zero. He didn't have to wait long for an answer as a bright white light flashed and he closed his eyes instinctively.
Ding!
[Player Kit revived at Spring Meadow]
Player under level 10 no penalties.
Kit's eyes fluttered open and took in his surroundings. He found himself back where he had started, beneath the stone arch on the northern edge of the village. Well, at least it wouldn't take long for him to make his way back into the forest.
As he made his way towards the trees, he racked his brain for ways to persuade Mars to keep their adventure a secret. Hopefully, Kit could convince him not to tell anyone about their little excursion.