I had initially intended to wander through the forest on the way back, but I’d had enough of adventuring for now. Instead, I plotted the fastest route the hell out of there which took me back to the main path, and soon I found myself blinking in the sunlight at the forest’s edge. On the way back to the city, I passed a few Players heading in the opposite direction. I was right; I wasn’t the only one who’d thought of trying to get some experience beyond the walls. Quick evaluations on the first few revealed nothing extraordinary, but then I encountered an older couple, maybe in their 30s.

I know it sounds strange to call them older, but considering the median age of the Players, even someone in their 30s counted as old. Fun fact from a history nerd: the average lifespan during medieval times was around 25 years, but only because so many people died very young. If you were lucky to survive past your mid-20s, your life expectancy would double to around 50 years. Why do I know this? During one of my substitute teaching gigs I had a grade 11 history class kill some time researching the middle ages and present their findings. Ah, group work. The bane of most students but the savior of many a teacher.

It was easy to tell this couple had not just met by the way they spoke to one another. Plus, I recognized them from the convention and remembered how they’d worked together to trounce all challengers at a few of the more intense strategy board games. That kind of teamwork and non-verbal communication is only possible in intimate relationships or very close friendships.

Byron Masters Affinity: Void - Novice Gifts: Hands Off My Stash - Extra-dimensional storage space

Powers: Artifice - Novice: Create items and imbue them with special properties; Artifice Forge Required; Affinity with Void required

I Want To Go To There - Novice: Create dimensional doors; Affinity with Void required

Skills:

Coding - Novice

Puzzles - Novice

Throwing - Novice

Nina Masters Affinity: Life - Novice Gifts: Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life - Resistance to debuffs

Powers: A Spoonful Of Sugar - Novice: Cure wounds and ailments; Affinity with Life required

Bless You - Novice: Boost the vitality of nearby allies

You Shall Not Pass - Novice: Create a force field Skills:

Eidetic Memory - Novice

Medicine - Novice

Holy smokers! I had to have these two on my team. They both had rare affinities, and their powers: an enchanter and a healer. Too good.

I had to do it. It’s easy, I told myself, just open your mouth and say something.

“Good morrow,” I said when they were a few paces ahead of me.

What the hell? Good morrow? What an idiot.

Fortunately, they did not take me for a total dweeb. Instead, Byron smiled and doffed an imaginary hat and twirled it in front of him in a flourish as he bowed. “And a very good morrow to you, my fine sir,” he said in what was clearly a very fake British accent.

Nina laughed and said, “Hi there.”

“Sorry about that,” I said, feeling my face burn with embarrassment. “I’m not really that good at, well, you know.” I gestured back and forth between me and them. “This.”

Nina laughed again, a kind laugh without a trace of mockery. “Don’t worry about it, it was funny.”

“So are you guys headed to the forest?”

“Yeah,” Byron said, and I noticed him blushing a bit too. “We were kinda hoping there’d be some, um...”

“Monsters to hunt?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Judging by the mobile armory you’ve got hanging off your belt there, you had the same idea.”

I glanced down at the swords and daggers I carried. “Well, you know. Can’t be too careful,” I said sheepishly.

“So, any monsters in there?”

“Depending on how you look at it either you’re in luck or you’re in trouble because I can vouch for the fact that there indeed be monsters in them thar trees.”

Seriously, what the bloody hell? Why was I talking like a pirate now?

Byron’s face lit up. “Really? Did you see one? What was it? Did you kill it?”

“Yes, a vicious little horned bunny, and yes, but only barely. In that order.”

Nina made a face that was halfway between a frown and a grin. “A killer bunny?”

“With horns,” I said. “Well, antlers to be precise.”

“A Jackalope!” they said in unison.

“I have also heard that there are things called war pigs in the woods, but I haven’t seen one. I trust my source, though. I’m sure they exist.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“They’re delicious,” I said. When they looked confused, I said, “Food vendor. About three buildings down Dagger Street outside the store with the princess dresses in the window.”

“Oh I remember that shop,” Nina said.

“Course you do,” Byron said.

“It’s a wagon with an old woman selling skewers. You’ll smell it before you see it. Just be sure to count your change, she’s not so good with numbers.”

“Thanks for the tip,” Nina said. Then she extended her hand. “Oh I’m sorry, I’m Nina.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Daniel.”

“Byron.”

“Nice to meet you,” we all said, then laughed.

Oh hell yes, I had to have these two on my team.

“So about that Jackalope?” Byron said.

“If you see little red eyes peering at you through the trees, watch out. If they turn black, run. Whatever you do, don’t get bitten. That’s all I’m gonna say.”

“Duly noted,” Byron said. “Any other advice?”

“Yeah. Have you used your map yet?”

“My what?”

I explained to them how to use the Status map screen and they were extremely thankful.

“Don’t be afraid to venture off the path, I feel like you’re more likely to encounter something in the trees.”

“And with the map, we don’t have to worry about getting lost,” Nina said.

“Exactly.”

“This is really valuable information. Are you sure you don’t mind sharing it?”

“Well,” I said, “you seem like good people and I don’t mind helping if I can.”

“That’s really nice of you. Thank you.”

“No worries. It’s not anything you wouldn’t have discovered soon on your own eventually. And besides, we were told this is a team game, right? So maybe we’ll end up on the same team so it’ll help me to help you.”

“I hope so,” Byron said, and Nina nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

“I wish we had something to offer you in return,” she said.

“Like I said, no worries. I don’t mind paying it forward, you know?”

“It really was nice to meet you, Daniel,” Byron said.

“You too,” I said. “Happy hunting!”

We started off in our opposite directions, then I had a thought and turned back to shout to them.

“Byron! Nina! One more thing.”

They stopped and looked back at me.

“I’d be careful about sharing what your powers and affinities are. Everyone’s got a map, but your personal abilities are personal, which makes that information a lot more valuable.”

“Good advice,” Nina said.

“Yeah, thanks,” Byron said. Then they both waved and started off toward the forest again.

Look at me, makin’ friends already. What was with the ‘I hope we’re on the same team’ crap, though? Why didn’t I just straight out ask them to be on my team? I was such a wimp. Apart from Byron's questionable Throw skill they didn't have any direct combat abilities, so I had a moment's doubt about whether or not it was a good idea to let them go alone into the forest, but it's not like I had much to offer along those lines either. I decided to trust the game and their abilities as gamers and hope that they'd be okay. They should be able to find ways to use their other very impressive abilities to overcome.

A little further along, I met another group heading toward the forest, this time is was two men and a woman. One of them was a fellow team builder I’d seen before, Troy Hobbes. The man with him was a grim-looking customer with Ice affinity and a katana, who’d been killer at fighting video games. That seemed to have carried over here with his abilities making him a hand-to-hand powerhouse.

Lucas Grimes Affinity: Ice - Novice Gifts: Yeah, I’m Fast - Improved agility Powers: Cool Customer - Novice: Resistance to debuffs and mental effects

Runnin Circles Round Yo Sorry Ass - Competent: Super speed

Bleed Them Out - Novice: Inflicted wounds heal slower Skills:

Hunting - Novice

Sword - Competent

The woman had been a pretty sharp gamer, too; she pretty much owned the Pokemon card game table, and had no qualms about telling everyone who lost to her how pathetic they were...and everyone lost to her. Her abilities here turn her into a porcupine.

Sonja Kovacs Affinity: Earth - Novice Gifts: I Don’t Like Getting Hurt - Exceptional toughness Powers: Prickly Pear- Novice: Cover body with protective quills

This Rose Has Thorns - Novice: Shoot quills like darts Skills:

Fishing - Novice

Kickboxing - Competent

When they got close, I saw Troy stare at me for a moment, then sneer and saunter past, reeking of superiority. This time I didn’t even merit a nod. I knew he had just evaluated me, by myself, and found me lacking as a team builder.

Where do people like this get their confidence from?

One thing that had bothered me since I first started using Evaluate was how terse people’s Statuses were. Attributes like strength, agility, vitality, and speed were mentioned, but that’s it. Typically, a character sheet would list attributes like this and give some sort of indication of rank or strength, like a number or letter rating. Our Statuses had no such thing.

As well, there was no such thing as a class or profession listed, unless Team Builder counted, but that’s not what I had in mind. I expected to see something like a Warrior, Wizard, Rogue, or Healer class. But after scanning dozens and dozens of Player Statuses, I came to realize that although not overtly shown, everybody did have a class that was implied through the abilities that were listed. Or at the very least, there was a clear role they were fit to fill. It wasn’t always easy to parse out, but it was there. Some people were clearly parked in one profession, whereas others blurred the lines a bit. An obvious example was that woman I’d just met, Nina. She was clearly a healer and support character, a Cleric in RPG terms. Someone like Sigrid was a warrior with support abilities, kind of like a Paladin. This guy Lucas was a pure melee fighter, as was his companion Sonja, although she was a bit tankier.

Where did I land? With no combat skills or abilities, and a nebulous set of abilities, what was I? I had no idea. I didn’t seem to have any clear role to play.

After the tutorial was over and I’d assembled a team, what value would I have to that team?

That was a tomorrow problem. I just needed to focus on assembling a good team, one that covered all the bases. If possible, I wanted to find people who weren’t totally pidgeon-holed into a single role and could be flexible.

I didn’t know what abilities this Troy bully has, but both his recruits were the same: frontline damage dealers. That would be great if all you had to worry about is one-on-one fights, but I didn’t think the game would be limited to just those kinds of challenges. I wanted a bit of everything in my team so that we had a chance to overcome any obstacle we might face. Versatility for the win.

Once I got back to the city I went straight to the Dragon Clan dojo and returned the swords, but they said I could keep a couple of the knives. I went looking for Sifu and found him with Chow Li in her office.

“I look forward to seeing you at training again this afternoon,” Sifu said to me. I could tell that skipping it was not an option I ought to consider. Not that I had any intention to, I was eager to see how quickly I could raise my mastery in kung fu and looked forward to being able to train.

“Absolutely,” I said. “By the way, Sifu, I brought you something.” I brought out the bento box.

“I have had lunch,” he said.

I opened it and showed him the venom sac and rabbit feet. I’m pretty sure I saw his composure crack, but it was just for a split second before the stoic look was back.

“Jackalope,” he said.

“Yep,” I said, although he wasn’t asking a question, he was stating a fact.

He eyed me with that appraising look that made me so uncomfortable.

“I met one in the forest,” I said by way of explanation.

“Really?” Chow Li said. I nodded. “And you killed it?”

I nodded. “Uh huh.”

“By yourself?”

“Um...yes?”

Chow Li whistled between her teeth. “And you got its venom sac, too. You are either very lucky, or...no, that’s it. You’re very lucky.”

“May I?” Sifu said.

I extended the box to him. “Please.”

The old man took the box from my hands gently, almost tenderly, and cradled it close to his chest. “Antlers?”

I produced the antlers from my backpack and he took those too. Without another word, Sifu Chow Bo glided away to his den with his treasures.

“That was weird,” I said after he’d gone.

“Sifu likes his rare materials,” Chow Li said, reaching into a desk drawer. “You just made his day.”

“Are Jackalopes that rare?”

“Mmmm,” she grunted. “Quite. And it is even more rare to be able to get their venom sac.” When she brought her hand out it was holding a little bag. I heard metal clinking inside it as she handed it to me.

“What’s this for?”

“Those materials are not only rare, they are quite valuable. You deserve compensation.”

I peeked inside and saw the glitter of a lot of gold.

Score!