Opening my eyes, I find myself in a large plaza with a large fancy gray fountain in the center and gray trees lines its perimeter. Looking around, I see people standing in a variety of armor. Probably other players who have just logged in and those clearly lingering here. The majority of them are humanoids with other characteristics such as scales, tails, horns, wings and fur. Some are more… unique, although it looks like some of them are having a really hard time moving? Am I seeing this right? Sucks for them I guess.
As for what they are wearing, there are those with leather equipment while some have iron equipment. I think I can see a few with some unique cloth equipment too. Is that someone in a maid costume over there? …I can’t see them anymore.
Although, I’m not particularly tall myself, I feel tiny in this crowd… Am I perhaps the shortest one here?
Also, am I imagining things or are people staring at me? I-I must be imagining it.
Like in that mirror, I find that I’m wearing a white undershirt, a blue cardigan, a red ribbon, a red checkered skirt, black socks and brown boots each embroidered with an insignia of a moon being shattered by a shooting star with the name “Red Moon Academy” sewed with some kind of thread that changes between red and blue.
Um, what in the world is the Red Moon Academy? Or rather I don’t think this insignia was there when I looked at the mirror… Is it just my imagination?
My normal brown hair is now longer, fluffier and pink. Pink! My hands are smaller and I can kind of see through them.
Also, why does it feel like I’m smaller than I normally am? In my real body, I’m smaller than other boys my age but, these other players are about twice as big as me!!!
[…Hey, is that little girl part of some event?] Random Player 1
[Dunno. What kind of event would involve a little girl in a school uniform? She could be a player with unique equipment.] Random Player 2
[Why don’t you go talk to her?] Random Player 3
[Why don’t you?!] Random player 1
[I can’t afford to be reported again, so you have to do it!] Random player 3
[[…]] Random player 1&2
…Staying here is probably a bad idea. I walk as fast as my legs can take me. I’ll be alright, I hope…
From what I’ve heard of Fallen Online, it is a massive open world style game based in a world where what abilities or skills you have are very important especially the skills that you start out with. I have no idea why this is the case but, that’s what some people claiming to be beta players said.
They also gave info about the important facilities in each starting city. For example, there is a place in Null called the Noble Grey Library. It is a strange library where you can easily pick up a few skills on your first visit but, strangely you will never cross paths with anyone unless you planned to do so before hand.
It’s where I will be meeting up with my twin sister Shizuka Pierce. Shizuka and I don’t often separate from each other unless we have to because we both feel very… distraught if we are apart for too long. Neither of us know why we are like this but, it’s not really a problem so long as we stay together. Though we have improved to the point we can be apart from each other for a day.
By the way, this is one of the reasons I’m used to playing as a female character. You never know when there will be an event that will separate us for a few days. We could play as male characters but, we’ve been told by our friends that it is very unsettling to see us like that for some reason. I hope they haven’t forgotten I’m a boy…
After walking for a while, thankfully no one seems to be following me, I found myself in front of a large gray domed building. A sign near the entrance reads “Noble Grey Library”.
Walking into the building, I see a long grey hallway lined with sconces illuminating the hall with grey light.
Past the hallway, is a large circular room lined with large grey bookshelves filled with books reaching so far upwards that I can’t see the ceiling. The room itself is illuminated with small floating gray orbs. Several tables and chairs are neatly arranged around the room. They are also grey in color. In the center is a stone podium with a stupidly large grey book on it.
It’s admittedly kind of unnerving how grey everything is. The fact no one else is here doesn’t help either.
As I got near the podium, the book flips opens by itself.
At the same time, a transparent screen pops up in front of me that seems to be a list of things I could buy: Map of Elementia, Basic Magic for Beginners, Spirits Guide, Dungeons for Dummies. Each of them costs 100 gold.
Interesting, now where do I go to get some gold? As I thought that, I notice a star icon at the bottom left of my vision. What is this? How long has that been there? As I focus my attention on it, another transparent screen popped up.
Name: Rena
Race: Spirit, ???
Class: ???, ???
Skills:
Racial 1: Energy Production I, Spirit Magic (None) I
Racial 2: Sealed
Class 1: Sealed
Class 2: Sealed
Acquired: N/A
Unlocked: N/A
Achievements: N/A
Stats:
Level: 1
Energy: 1000
SP: 10
Karma: 0
Equipment: School Uniform (F) (White Button Shirt, Blue Cardigan, Red Ribbon, Red Checkered Skirt, Black Socks, Brown Boots), Star-Shaped Wooden Wand, Leather Whip
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Currency:
Gold: 10,000
…Right, I forgot about that. Why is part of my status restricted again? I think the system mentioned something about unique results? Meh, probably not important…
As for my name, I guess it’s fine?
Anyways, I have enough gold to get everything. Sliding my finger down the list, the book on the podium shines a bit and four books fly down from above and floats in front of me.
…Um… Am I supposed to do something?
Slowly reaching out to one of the books, since nothing was happening, all of them suddenly rushed at me.
Surprised, I closed my eyes and raised arms in protection. I also may have screamed a bit… Good thing no one is here to see that.
[Conditions have been met. Skill Reading unlocked and obtained.] System
A synthetic voice echoed in my head telling me I unlocked and gained a skill along with knowledge of how to use it entered my head.
A system notification that echos in my head huh? I can see this getting annoying if this happens often.
Anyways, using the
Hm… I won’t be able to confirm this without someone else to help.
Since my sister has yet to show up, I may as well duo some reading while I wait for her. Which one should I start with…
Taking a seat in one of the nearby chairs, I take one of the books on my bookshelf.
The book titled: Spirits Guide seems to be a basic description of the spirit race and shows some obtainable skills. Energy is considered both HP and MP for spirits and other similar races. While level is not as important for spirits, it will act as a measurement of how strong I am. I’m level 1 right now, so does that mean I’m really weak?
The racial skill Energy Production I will give me 100 energy each hour and will automatically upgrade itself after reaching certain conditions but, it will reset to level 1 when my Energy reaches 0 or below if I don’t ‘cease to exist by some miracle.’I suppose it is a bad idea to have 0 energy? Well, warning received.
As I close the Spirits Guide, I look around to see no one had come in the time I was reading.
Shizuka sure is late… I wonder if she got lost? That being said I don’t want to miss her on the way out. …I suppose I’ll continue reading.
The Map of Elementia is simply a very basic map of the world. Null, where I am, is in the center. Candlement is to the North, Sturmill is to the East, Aquario is to the South, Quanzer is to the West, Churchell is North-West, Banenos is South-West, Litmos is North-East, and Frigeon is South-East. Only the rough positions of these beginner cities are shown. It will apparently update as I travel but, for now it is mostly greyed out.
The Dungeon Guide for Dummies is a thick book. Skimming it, gives me a basic rundown on how to start making a Dungeon, I can choose where to make a dungeon as long as it is at least 500 kilometers away from any major city and another dungeon. For monsters and decorations, I have to explore the world and register them through collecting and fighting. Apparently, I have to register materials fully before I can use it freely when creating my dungeon.
[Data of dungeons gained. Secondary race unsealing. Please hold while the requisite data is being obtained.] System
That just happened. It looks like the ‘unsealing’ is going to take a while. I guess I’ll read the remaining book for now.
The moment I opened Basic Magic for Beginners, it shined for a moment before another announcement echoed in my head.
[Conditions have been met. Skills unlocked: Enchant Magic, Magic Missile.
Secondary race: Dungeon has been partially unsealed.] System
Name: Rena
Race: Spirit/ Dungeon (50%)
Class: ???, ???
Skills:
Racial 1: Energy Production I, Spirit Magic (None) I
Racial 2: Dungeon Set Up, Dungeon Management (Material Registration)
Class 1: Sealed
Class 2: Sealed
Acquired: Reading
Unlocked: Enchant Magic, Magic Missile
Achievements:
Stats:
Level: 1
Energy: 1100
SP: 10
Karma: 0
Equipment: School Uniform (F) (White Button Shirt, Blue Cardigan, Red Ribbon, Red Checkered Skirt, Black Socks, Brown Boots), Star-Shaped Wooden Wand, Leather Whip
Currency:
Gold: 9,600
The Dungeon race has been unlocked but, from what I can tell, I will have to set up my dungeon to finish unsealing.
As for the magic skills, I’ve only unlocked them but did not acquired them unlike the
Does that mean I have to do something to acquire them? I poke the screen to see if I can get a reaction.
Poking
I guess it’s that easy. Naturally I obtained both skills for 2 SP. I wonder if I should be using my SP so haphazardly like this when I don’t even know how to get more of them?
Suddenly, I started feeling dizzy as a lot of information start flooding my mind.
Ugh… I hate this feeling. Seriously, why are they using memory imprinting in a game?! It’s only normally used in schools and no one enjoys the feeling minus the addicts.
—————————
Taking a few minutes to recover from the flood of information, I hear heavy footsteps from the hallway. A girl about my current height came in. Her yellow hair is tied up in a ponytail, with familiar looking droopy red eyes and her skin seems somewhat earthy. Her clothes is comprised of googles on top of her head, a white T-shirt, blue shorts, brown overalls, white socks and brown shoes.
Despite her different appearance, I’m pretty sure she is Shizuka, my twin sister. I think I look very different from my real life appearance. I wonder if she can recognize me?
[Oh? Hello~! How are you Ren?] Shizuka
…I’m not sure how I feel about being recognized so easily.
[…I was just doing some reading. What about you? It took you a while to get here.] Rena
[I had a hard time figuring out how to move. Getting here was really annoying. Anyways, the name I got is Lemon. How about you?] Lemon
[Rena.] Rena
[Hmmm~ It’s kind of unfair you got such a cute set up, Rena~.] Lemon
Saying that, Lemon approaches me and squishes my cheeks. With her so close, I can tell that she seems to be just a bit taller than me… Dammit, so it wasn’t my imagination that I’m smaller now…
[U-um, Lemon can you not do this?] Rena
[Nope~, it’s not like anyone else is here anyways~.] Lemon
[That may be the case but, it’s still a bit embarrassing…] Rena
[Fine, it’s not like I can do this for long anyways. Moving is still a bit hard for me. I hope I can get some better materials soon…] Lemon
Moving away from me, Lemon went up to the large book and bought the books like I did, only that she didn’t react much when the books rushed her. The books shattered on impact and the particles were absorbed into her body.
Turning towards me, Lemon looked at me accusingly.
[That was surprising… You could have warned me that was going to happen!] Lemon
[It’s would not be fair that I should be the only one to get surprised!] Rena
[Why you…] Lemon
Turning around, I started to run away.
After a few minutes of being chased, Lemon caught me when I tripped.
Despite having a hard time moving, she seems to be faster than me. The only reason it took her a few minutes to catch me is because I am much more nimble; easily maneuvering past her despite being within arms reach.
[Ehehehe! Finally caught you! As punishment, you will be my hug pillow while I try out this
[Ehehe, fine. That being said would you even be able to read while hugging me like this?] Rena
[No worries. I can just make another arm to hold the book.] Lemon
[Heh~ …Wait, you can do what?] Rena
[I can make another hand, like this…] Lemon
While hugging me with both arms, a new arm forms from Lemon’s right shoulder.
[Neat, right? Perks of being a Golem. The only problem with this ability is that I have to consciously maintain it otherwise it will fall apart. It would be easier to use if I had better materials though.] Lemon
A Golem? Must be one of the races she obtained. That explains why her skin looks so earthy despite it feeling like actual skin…
Raising the new hand she made, a four foot tall yellow bookshelf appeared. Six books, a gun and a toolkit were placed on it.
[…Why is my bookshelf pink when your’s is yellow?] Rena
[Heh. Get used to it. Knowing you, I bet you’re going to get cuter things later.] Lemon
[…I am still a boy irl, you know?] Rena
[So? It’s not like that matters much now. Especially not after everything you’ve done so far.] Lemon
[Yeah but… It still feels weird…] Rena
[Hm~ Anyways, which one do you think I should I start with?] Lemon
A bit annoyed about my feelings being brushed off so easily, I point at one of the six books on her bookshelf.
[How about this one?] Rena