You have rested! Feeling completely refreshed you have completely recovered your stamina!
Weed looked around the barn, lots of hay….and nothing else of intrinsic value.
He quietly opened the barn door and snuck out. The rising morning sun, brightly shone over the entire ranch. The grass was still wet with morning dew, sparkling like millions of jewels in the sunlight. Weed made his way to leave the ranch. He sighed as he did so. He was feeling really low as the realization dawned upon him that he had wasted his time for the two weeks he played RREV. On top of that, he went on to get grounded and was behind by all other players by about two months. Both glory and money seemed to be out of his reach. Maybe, if it was 40 years ago, he could have waited as much as two years before joining a VR game and still hoping to beat it. He was confident enough that he could have beaten the original Weed even after starting an year after him. Now things were very different, solo players had to start in a VR game very early on if they had to have any hope of beating Pro-gaming companies or rich users.
“No. No. Take a deep breath. You need to steady your breathing or you’ll never learn.”
Weed looked up and saw the old woman standing next a girl (who appeared to be around his RL age) holding a bow and arrow.
“Now straighten your back. Hold your arm steady. Pull back…just breathe easy. Now release!”
The arrow slipped from the girl’s finger and zoomed towards a target board. Bulls eye!
He couldn’t see her face as her back was facing him, nonetheless with nothing better to do, he simply watched on.
“Wonderful Emily! You learn very quickly I must say! One of my best students!” remarked the old woman.
Weed let out a snort. “Please, even I could hit a bulls-eye with a target that close. How far are you? 10 feet away?”
The girl turned her head to see who was laughing behind her back (literally!). “A stupid young man, wearing a traveler’s outfit, speaking poorly of someone of higher caliber than him. You sure do carry an air of credibility around you.” While saying so she pulled another arrow and launched it while still looking at the elf who belittled her. It was a bulls-eye, the girl didn’t even bother looking at the target to confirm. She just wore a smug look on her face which said shut up you fool who knows nothing. Before Weed could say anything to counter the smug look. She loaded another arrow and launched it. As she did so, she screamed, “Release!”
The arrow left a vapor trail behind it and went through the target and the tree which the target was pinned against like a laser beam. Weed was left speechless. ‘Scary.’ Was all that he could think, he clearly barked up the wrong tree!
“Wonderful Emily!” exclaimed the old woman. “You even learnt how to use your affinity along with your profession!”
“Thank you Lisa. Without your training, this would have been an arduous task.” Flattering NPCs was so common. The girl there after simply bowed to Lisa and took her leave. As she passed Weed, who was somewhat stood motionless, she went out of her way to stomp at his feet. “For ruining my mood” she muttered.
“Owww!” he screamed.
You received 30 damage!
30 damage from a foot stomp? Weed lost all interest the girl and the idea of extracting revenge upon seeing the message. “How strong was she? Or how weak am I?”
He opened up his physical stats menu window (for the first time ever):
Physical Status WindowNameWeedClass / LevelFF/000Health70Mana Conversion/Sec0Health Regen/Sec0Stamina Regen/Sec0.01Strength5Agility5Wisdom0Intelligence0Stamina99Defense0Dexterity0
‘So WEAK!’ he groaned. ‘Ofcourse!! A foot stomp is going to wipe out 30% of my HP!’ Most games started with some base skill points which all players started with. This was the first game which Lee Jun came across that in fact did not provide base skill points to certain attributes on the starting level.
“That is terribly weak!” exclaimed a floating ball of light as it peered into Weeds window.
“Wow! Don’t creep up like that on me! You scared me to death.” Exclaimed Weed.
“With stats like those, I really wouldn’t be surprised if you did.” Came the retort. “I’d also advise you to make your stats only visible to yourself. You wouldn’t want to show stats like that to the public, then I’d have you dying of embarrassment too!”
Weed hurriedly closed his stats window and then unchecked ‘Public View’ from the options menu. After doing so, he paused. He was just conversing with a ball of light….
“Wait what are you?”
“Hmph! For a elf you sure aren’t polite are you? It’s not what it’s who.”
“….”
“I am the greatest and most all powerful, Alak Okaine!”
“…..” Weed gave a skeptical look, doubting the white glowing ball’s words.
“A fairy!”
Weed lunged himself at the fairy, trying to catch it but the fairy was too quick. It just laughed while whirling around Weed. “Weakling! Weakling!” It teased Weed. It was too much for Weed! He had just come to terms that he had wasted his time at RREV, made a fool of himself in front of a (pretty) girl and realized he was weak. Having an NPC fairy tease you didn’t help and Weeds eyes glistened.
“Enough!” Boomed the thunderous voice of the old man throughout the ranch. Weed wasn’t sure whether he imagined it but he could have sworn he felt a shock wave from the old man’s loud voice. The fairy instantly disappeared.
“Please forgive Alak. She tends to get carried away.”
“That voice!” exclaimed Weed. “I felt a shock wave! What was it?”
“The Lions Roar? It is a skill. Would you like to learn it?”
‘THE LIONS ROAR? It was a unique skill in Royal Road which was possessed by the original Weed! Finally, luck favors me!’
“Of course, I would love to learn it!”
You have acquired a new Skill: Lion’s Roar
It is a thunderous shout that will shake the heavens, and it is filled with the fighter’s Will.
Effect:
Allied army’s Fighting Spirit increases by 200%.
Enemy army’s confusion state increases.
Temporary increase of Leadership and Charisma Stat
“Awesome!” screamed Weed as loud as he could, hoping to activate the Lion’s Roar. Sadly, nothing happened, it was just normal screaming. He tried again and again but to no avail.
Lisa picked up her bow and aimed it at Weed (who wasn’t paying attention to her), ‘scream one more time and I’ll launch this.’ Luckily Lisa didn’t have to kill Weed to get him to shut up.
“Will you shut it!’ screamed the young girl, who seemed to be returning back to the ranch. She went out of her way and stomped on Weed’s foot again.
“OUCH!”
You received 30 damage!
Warning, your HP is critically low.
The young girl then turned towards Lisa and presented her with a new targeting board and apologized for damaging the old one. (Flattery was the best way to get on an NPCs good side, this girl was a pro at it – Weed’s mental note.)
The old man frowned. “Boy, what is your Class/ level?”
“….”After a long pause, “FF/Zero”
“That explains it! Of course you can’t learn any skill when your level zero! You must be level 1 at the very least to learn anything. It is possible to acquire skills at level 0 but none of them can be useable till level 1. Even base skill points won’t be applied till you complete the tutorial! Why haven’t you completed the tutorial?”
“I am neutral and I ignorantly (more like arrogantly) chose to start my conquest in Lavias.”
“How peculiar!” exclaimed the old man. “An elf yet neutral affinity diminishing all advantages an elf possess of elemental affinity. A neutral yet chose to begin in Lavias where there is no one to guide you. And so remarkable to embark on a journey to displease the Wind God as a beginner. You truly have chosen a difficult path to tread upon boy, truly a difficult path. Only one completely foolish yet frightfully aware of his own innate abilities would choose to embrace one difficult after another.”
Weed just smiled, he wasn’t sure whether that was a compliment or an insult. The young girl seemed to have overheard that and snorted, she clearly believed that the old man was insulting him.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Emily! Focus on your target!” Lisa exclaimed. “Honey! Could you boys please talk elsewhere, your disturbing my prodigal student.”
Emily had a smug look on her face, NPC’s were really so gullible and easy to flatter. She then paused to think, ‘No.’ she corrected herself, they weren’t easy to flatter. She was just so good. ‘sounds much better this way.’
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
“You truly are remarkable Weed. I have yet to come across someone who accepts challenges as willingly as you do.”
‘Technically, I accidently chose the Neutral Affinity, it was more like my absence of mind rather than my courage.’ Weed thought to himself, he didn’t bother correcting the NPC. It felt good to be praised after spending a morning being owned by a pretty young girl and being teased by a fairy.
“You have won my trust with your honesty too!”
After 10 minutes of more praises, Weed’s appetite for praise was satisfied. He just quietly walked along with the old man, he didn’t know where this was going but he really wanted to get back to the main city and figure out where to start all over from.
The old man and Weed, continued to walk around the ranch. “Beautiful isn’t she?”
“Yeah.” Replied Weed dreamily while thinking about Emily.
“I was thinking of asking her hand in marriage.”
Weed wore a horrified look! ‘You perverted old pedophile! You already have an old wife and you are now eyeing sweet Emily!’
“Weed will you do me a favor? Could you find me a ring most suitable for Lisa?”
‘Huh? Lisa? Not Emily?’ Weed was completely perplexed. “Lisa and you aren’t married?” Weed asked with a shock. He was imagining his perfect couple delusions tearing up from last night.
“Oh heavens no! We just happened to meet very recently. The kindness from soul touched my heart and I learned to love again. I never did think a man could love twice in his life, but with Lisa, I think can. So will you do me a favour and find a suitable ring for Lisa?”
Quest: Find a suitable ring for Lisa
You have been requested to find a suitable ring for the old man’s second love.
Rank: E
Reward: Unknown
Quest limit: You need to finish quest within three months.
Quest Requirement: Must have one melee profession [not fulfilled]. Must share a strong bond of trust [fulfilled].
Weed’s eyes twinkled with happiness. His first quest! All he needed was a melee profession to fulfill the quest. He decided to accept and store the quest. He didn’t mind if it took up one of the slots even though he could store a maximum of three quests as this quest looked like he could finish over night.
“Old man! I gladly accept this request. It would be my honor to unite to lovers!”
You have accepted the Quest.
“Wonderful! Here are 1000 gold coins for the purchase of the ring.” The old man handed Weed a huge pouch. Weed’s eyes popped out ‘1000 gold coins! The blokes seriously nutters isn’t he!’ As he gripped the bag, Weed found himself struggling to hold the bag of coins. It was so heavy and Weed was so weak that he could not left a bag of coins even! Weed also cursed for picking the elven race which had an additional penalty of maximum weight they could carry. Finally after much struggling, Weed put down the bag of coins. He had nearly depleted all his stamina trying to hold it up.
“Old man….” Weed was trying to catch his breath. “I think it’s best you kept the money for now till I go find the ring. I’ll come back and take the money.”
“Oh Weed that is not necessary, I completely trust you. Truly answered like a gentleman.”
Weed wasn’t sure which bit was the gentleman bit but he really couldn’t do the quest while struggling to carry the bag. His plan was to level up, gain a profession and come back and collect the bag. He wasn’t trying to be a gentleman…. ‘stupid NPCs they always mistake selfishness for chivalry!’
“No old man! It’s just that, my level is too low and I am yet to acquire a profession. I will be unable to carry and protect this bag if I left the ranch with it. I wouldn’t want to lose your hard earned money so clumsily.”
The old man nodded. He could clearly see the struggle. “You are right indeed, however I have a suggestion; one mutually beneficial to the both of us.” He moved closer to Weed and whispered afraid they might be overheard.
“You see Snappy isn’t really my dog. He belongs to my friend who lives somewhere near the Northern Mountain pass range, across the forest located by the Eastern Gate of the city. He is said to be a swordsman of great caliber. So versed in the ways of the sword is he that even those with wind affinity seek him out to learn the way of a sword. It would be of no surprise if he had been a wind user himself but he in fact is a neutral! Imagine a neutral so great to be teaching the way of the sword to elemental users. And you are much in luck, for he favors teaching the elvish race!”
Weed had a wide grin on his face, he thanked his stars that he picked the elven race.
“You could request him to teach you the melee profession to aid you in your quest to find Lisa a suitable ring.”
Quest: Return Snappy back to its original master
You have been requested to return Snappy back to its master.
Rank: E
Reward: Unknown
Quest limit: You need to finish quest within one week.
Quest Requirement: Snappy must like you. [?????]
Weed wasn’t too excited. Difficulty level E quests were one level above the easiest level quests (F) and in his opinion he was too weak to venture outside the city walls. There was a reason why players were locked in a newbie city for the initial two weeks. It was to give them time and prepare them for the dangers that existed outside. Weed felt accepting this quest would be too reckless.
“Sorry, I must decline, I fear I am too weak to even step out of the city. I will most likely get myself killed by doing so. ”
The old man frowned. “But my son! Are you not the adventurer who took on challenges after challenges? Embraced difficulty with smile? And laughed in the face of death when teasing the Wind God?”
“ It is true old man, I am that very adventurer. But I know my innate abilities well just as you claimed earlier this morning. I do not think I can take care of the dog and gold coins at the same time! Not the way I am now at the very least.”
“I think you misunderstand greatly my boy. You are not taking care of the dog. The dog is taking care of you and the coins. We mortals far too weak to look after a legendary beast such as Snappy.”
“WOOF!” came a thunderous bark from behind Weed.
You have been confused by the Lions Roar.
Snappy likes you! You are now eligible to complete the quest offered by the old man.
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Authors Note:
1. Ok, I just had to post this. The story flowed and I had to write. I did say 22nd and I shall stick to it starting from now! (back to my books!)
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Authors Note:
1. Editing Credits: Knaivvs
2. In case you skipped the prologue, I strongly recommend reading it. Otherwise the starting of this chapter would come across disconnected.
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Connect to Royal Road – Elementarem Vim next Chapter?YesNo
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