Chapter 3
The ship swayed lightly as our voyage continued. The screams from earlier were now no more than an echo in the back of my mind as I leaned on the railing outside the cabin, watching the activities below.
The bodies were being carefully gathered and laid out in a cleared area of the deck, allowing them some dignity in death. I spotted Tsarina, Alura, Chris, and Rin assisting in the cleanup, but not without rummaging their hands through the pockets first.
As I watched a Leviathan Spawn corpse being thrown overboard, I noticed another person in peasant garb who hadn't joined us in the cabin. He was using his sword to sever the horns from their snouts. I tapped my crystal.
Name: Simon
Adventurer - level 8
HP: 685/685
It seemed he must have started like us but kept fighting and somehow managed to survive. Furthermore, he must have determined those horns had value. Tsarina noticed his actions, then gathered Rin, Chris and Alura into a huddle. They conversed for a moment, then began cutting off and collecting the horns as well.
“Think we should be doing the same?” Leah asked.
I jumped, as I had not noticed her come up behind me. “Maybe. I would feel better about looting monsters than people.”
“Looks like we missed our chance,” John added as he and Hope came out. “Most of the Leviathan Spawn have been cleaned up already. With the four of them now looting, I doubt there will be much left for us.”
My hands felt unsteady, anxiety churning within me. At least I was not alone.
“Well, since the four of us seem at least somewhat likeminded,” John continued. “What do you say we team up? Honestly, I’m worried about facing this world alone, so I could use some friends.”
Seeing such a big guy speak so honestly about his fears gave me a sense of relief. “Yeah, sounds good,” I said. “You in, Leah?”
“Definitely,” she said.
“Sounds like we’ve got a little party, then,” Hope chimed in. “I’m with you guys. Though, it depends on what we learn once making it to land. I wonder if we can get normal jobs and avoid fighting.”
John smiled sympathetically. “I fear Tsarina has one thing right about these crystals. The fact they are embedded in us must mean we are here for a purpose. However, if working a normal job is an option, then I’m with you.”
I felt the same way. If I had no more use for this sword, that would be fine by me.
―
As the ship docked, we made our way downstairs. The dead bodies were now resting beneath blankets, but the deck was coated in blood.
Tsarina's group found a pillowcase somewhere which they stuffed with the horns. Simon, standing by himself, kept his trophies in his pockets.
“So, what’s with the horns?” I asked in a friendly way as I approached.
Tsarina shrugged. “Who knows, could be nothing.”
“Are you serious?” Simon said, as he came over. His voice had a cutting pitch to it. “So you only started collecting them because you saw me doing it? Is that right?” Up close, I could see he had a pointed face, lips pierced tight together, beady eyes, and a crop of greasy black hair. The tension in his shoulders looked like he could uncoil like a snapped spring if rubbed the wrong way.
“More or less,” Tsarina said, taking no shame in the fact.
With a glare, Simon unsheathed his sword. “You took my trophies, not even knowing their value. What if I want them back?”
“I would say you are outnumbered,” Tsarina stated, calmly.
He grinned. “I only need to fight you. The others won't be a problem.”
Fear crept into Alura's eyes as she hid behind Tsarina. Rin and Chris exchanged an uneasy glance as they each reached for their swords.
“Adventurers,” the man in the white robe interveined as he came to the center of our group. “In Goliath, dueling outside of designated areas is unlawful. The killing of one citizen by another under any circumstance is a high crime which will result in immediate imprisonment or execution.”
Simon eyed the approaching armored guards, tapped his crystal, and nodded before sheathing his sword. He must have seen their HPs and knew he would be no match for them.
“Good. Now, adventurers, welcome to Goliath!” the man in white said, raising his arms. “I recommend visiting the guild hall at the city's center for further instructions on adapting and making this world your new home!”
“So you do talk,” Tsarina said to him. “Mind explaining why we are here and why we don’t have any memories?” She turned her wrist to show him her crystal. “And what the hell is with these things in our arms?”
Chris stepped forward. “Yeah, some answers would be nice here!”
The man in white flashed that same jovial smile. “If you are here, it is because you’ve desired it to be so.”
Rin’s eyes narrowed, fists clenched at her sides. “Bullshit! Then why can't we remember anything?”
“I recommend visiting the guild hall at the city’s center for further instructions on adapting and making this world your new home!”
His voice carried that recorded tone again. Well, so much for getting answers.
―
Once off the ship, the docks buzzed with life as people bustled in every direction. Simon vanished into the crowd at his first chance while the eight of us remained together.
“Maybe we should have questioned that Simon guy more,” Rin said, eyebrows furrowing as she watched him go. “Seems he might know something.”
Chris shrugged. “Doubt he would be forthcoming with answers either way.”
As we walked, Tsarina suddenly spoke up, her voice firm. “I don't mind us sticking together, but don't expect to share in our spoils if you did not help to attain them.”
“Don’t worry,” I answered. “I figured as much. We are just taking our time to understand the situation. What if looting the pockets of the fallen turned out to be a crime?”
“Fair point,” she conceded.
“Or,” John chimed in, his voice thoughtful. “What if there is karma tied to our actions?”
“Karma?” Leah asked.
John nodded. “Sure. I’m working on my own theory about what this place is. That is, I’m wondering if this is a sort of test… you know, from God.”
Our group halted as Tsarina turned to face John, her expression a mixture of disbelief and amusement. “So you think we’re, what? At the pearly gates? Being judged on whether we get to go to heaven or hell?”
“Well… it would make sense, wouldn’t it?” John said. “Our memories were stripped from us, and we were brought here for some unknown purpose. If you have a more plausible explanation, I’m all ears.”
Tsarina sighed, rolling her eyes. “Great, you really are one of those religious wackos. I take it back; stay out of my group.”
“Well then, what’s your theory?” John challenged.
“I don't have one,” Tsarina retorted sharply. “But I do know I'm alive, so I don't want to hear about being dead.” She spun on her heel and resumed walking. Alura hesitated, casting a glance back at us, then scurried after her.
“Geeze, what’s her problem?” Hope said under her breath.
“Um… I don’t think it's a bad theory,” Leah said to John. “At least, I agree it’s as good as any other explanation right now.”
John’s expression softened. “It’s alright. I’m sure she has her reasons for reacting that way.”
As we turned a corner and caught up to Tsarina, I got my first glimpse of the castle that towered above the city. Its majestic spires rose high into the sky, and I could imagine it being visible from almost anywhere on the streets.
As I stared up at the massive structure, deja vu washed over me. For just a moment, I could imagine a similar experience, walking through crowded streets, people on all sides of me, except the buildings that lined the streets were different, made of brick instead of stone. As I looked up through the maze of architecture in my mind's eye, I could see one enormous building covered in glass that disappeared into a misty sky. My heart sank as the sheer size made me feel impossibly small.
The fleeting image disappeared from my mind as soon as I tried to grasp it, and I could again see only the spires of the castle towering above us.
Leah, who had been tinkering with her crystal, suddenly spoke up. “Oh, I just found something. I tried asking for karma, then luck, and it suggested attributes and... well, just check it out.”
I tapped my crystal and thought, ‘attributes.’
HP: 160
Strength: 05
Vitality: 05
Dexterity: 05
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Agility: 05
Magic: 00
Unused points: 12
I tried using it on Tsarina, and it gave me nothing. It seemed this was another feature that only worked on yourself.
“I’ve just got 5 in strength, vitality, dexterity, and agility,” I said. “I also have 12 unused skill points, apparently.”
Everyone checked theirs, discovering we all had the same 5 points in the same four attributes. The unused skill points seemed to be 10 plus our current level. Tsarina, at level 6 had 16.
“How do we spend those?” Hope wondered aloud, tapping her crystal. “And will they actually affect us?”
“Not sure,” I said, “But I think we should wait until we know more.”
As we meandered through the bustling streets, we passed an array of merchants peddling food, armor, and weapons. Some shops displayed exquisite jewelry and pottery, while performers captivated crowds with music and street magic. One performer breathed fire, eliciting cheers from his small audience.
I began to inspect the stats of random passersby. Most lacked crystals on their wrists, with their HP at a mere 100. The guards―or were they soldiers?―also had no levels, but their HP rivaled those on the ship.
Along the way, I noticed some people dressed more distinctly while also sporting phage crystals.
A woman caught my eye, her purple hair cascading down from under a blue witch's hat, adorned with golden thread in the seams that glinted in the sunlight. Her matching blue robe swayed gently with her movements, and she clutched a wooden staff in her hand, carved from a tree knot and stained a deep brown.
Check stats.
Name: Seras
Blue Mage - Level 29
HP: 7150/7150
“Excuse me,” Leah said, stopping her.
Seras turned to our group. “Yes, can I help you?”
“We were just wondering if you could point out the guild hall.”
“Ah, so you're new wielders,” Seras said, a knowing smile on her lips. She pointed her staff further down the road. “You're almost there. Just go three streets down and take a right. You'll see a sign, but it's a massive stone building with torches. You honestly can't miss it.”
“Thank you,” Leah said, bowing her head. “Um… out of curiosity, how long have you lived here?”
“Me? About two years.”
“Um… I don’t know if this will sound strange, but do you remember a life before arriving here?”
We all looked intently at Seras, whose lips formed a diagonal line across her face. “Right, newbies always want to know that.”
“So the answer is no, then?” Chris asked.
“I know it feels disorienting initially, but you’ll get used to it.”
“Damn it…” I heard Hope mutter under her breath. I felt the same way.
“What is this place exactly?” I asked.
She shrugged. “This city is called Goliath. The world as a whole is called Arevon.”
“Are there many people like us in this world?” John asked.
She chuckled. “You mean wielders? Yep, there’s a lot of us. Millions, probably. Hey, I’m sorry, but I don’t have much time to chat right now. My party is waiting for me. I’ll give you a free piece of advice, though. Take it easy until you get used to things around here. The guild will help you understand what kind of role suits you. You can’t pick a class until you are level 5, though.”
“Pick a class?” I asked.
She bowed. “I’m sorry, I really must be going. The guild will help you. Good luck, new wielders!”
“Just a moment,” Tsarina interjected. “One more question.”
Seras turned back, her expression becoming slightly annoyed.
Tsarina reached into her bag and pulled out one of the horns. “Do these have value?”
Seras’s eyes widened. “Ah, lucky you. Yes, anyone will buy those from you, but jewelers will give the best price. They are worth about 10 silvers each.” She winked. “Don’t accept less than that price, or you’ll be getting ripped off!”
Tsarina nodded. “Thank you.”
With that, Seras continued on her way.
Following Seras' directions, we turned onto the third street to find a formidable building. Constructed from dark gray stone, it stood out among the lighter-hued structures nearby. The dark windows and elevated wooden gate with spikes above the entrance exuded an air of unwavering strength. Directly above the threshold was an emblem of a sword and a staff crossed over a shield and a sign that read: “Guild Hall.”
As we prepared to enter, a man stepped out. He wore a black leather vest that left much of his toned physique uncovered. He had spiky white hair and carried a spear at his side. His baggy pants featured intricate grey designs on black fabric. “So, you must be the newbies,” he leaned against the wall, casually tapping his crystal while studying us. “Huh, interesting.”
“You were expecting us?” Tsarina asked.
“Not until a few minutes ago. Another newbie from your ship just got here and mentioned a Leviathan attack. That’s some seriously bad luck. Can’t believe nine of you made it out alive.”
I tapped my crystal.
Name: Leon
Black Lancer - level 63
Assassin - level 63
HP: 27,735/27,735
He had two classes listed. I wondered why.
Leon caught Leah's eye and winked. “Once you get the analyze skill, check me out again if you really want to be impressed.”
Leah blushed and jumped back. Something about the grin on his face made me want to walk over and punch him. Not that I imagined a fight with this guy would go very well for me.
“Are Leviathan attacks uncommon?” Tsarina asked, staying true to her stoic nature and ignoring the exchange between him and Leah.
“The city gets raided from time to time,” Leon explained. “Luckily, mama’ can’t come out of the water, so we just have to protect the city from her spawns. As far as a ship of newbies getting attacked? Na, that’s only happened once before. Last time nobody survived. That's why the guild's buzzing about you right now.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
He chuckled. “No one thought newbies could survive something like that. You guys must be something else.”
Aside from Tsarina, and that Simon guy, I don’t think we did anything all that impressive. Hell, I doubt I would have made it to the cabin without Leah’s help, but if we’re getting kudos, I guess I’ll take it.
“Excuse me,” Rin interjected. “Why is it that you have two classes listed?”
“It’s my blessing,” Leon said simply. “It allows me to dual class. Everyone starts with a perk we call a blessing. You get what you get though, and you can’t change it.”
“I see,” Rin said. “So, how do you check your blessing?”
“You just have to figure it out. The weird thing about the blessings is they are not listed anywhere in our phage crystals. Sometimes it's obscure or useless; other times, it’s something completely overpowered. ” He pointed at John. “Big guy over there; I’m guessing his blessing has to do with that bit of extra HP he’s got.”
“I was wondering why that was,” John said.
“Anyway, come on in. Tsarina, you could choose a class now, but I suggest exploring your options first. Once you're familiar with the guild, we'll head out for your first monster run!” He grinned. “Well, it’ll be the second monster run for you guys after the ship.”
He said it so casually that I initially did not think much of it. Then, as I had flashbacks to the Leviathan Spawns ripping apart those other adventurers, my heart sank. A monster run? I would have to fight more of those things? I couldn’t voice my fears, though. Luckily, Hope said what I was thinking.
“Do we have to fight monsters?” she asked. “What about just becoming a waitress or something like that?”
Leon stopped in the doorway and turned with a serious expression. “Since you’re new and don’t know any better, I’ll just give you a straight answer. If that’s what you want to do, then you’re best off serving in the castle. During raids, no one will protect a wielder who doesn’t pull their own weight.”
“How often do these raids happen?” Tsarina asked.
“Usually once every few months. We’ll either get raided by great beasts, demons, undead, or goblins. Us wielders are targets because they want our crystals, so if you are hanging around at a low level, you’ll either want to be in the castle or here at the guild hall. But let me be clear; we don't like the castle or its nobles. We are basically their meat shield while they sit safely up top and treat us like garbage. So don’t be hanging around the guild contemplating a castle life, or you’ll make enemies.”
After that stern warning, he led us into the guild hall, where we were greeted with cheers.
The far end of the spacious room featured a bar surrounded by wooden tables. Patrons in steel armor, magical robes, or leather raised their drinks, cheering at Leon's announcement. “Here they are! The last eight survivors of the Leviathan attack!”
I felt what I guess you could call imposter syndrome. All I had really done on that boat was swing my sword clumsily and somehow make it to a safe area. I wasn’t any kind of hero. The only one who should have gotten any credit was Tsarina, but considering she pick-pocketed a bunch of dead people certainly lost her points in that light.
Tsarina’s eyes set on the other end of the room with a long counter with weapons and armor on display. “Are those shops?” she asked.
Leon waved his hand to calm the cheers and answered her. “Rewards for completing quests. You can check available quests on the board next to it, but don’t worry about that until you’re a higher level.”
“Understood.”
“Anyway,” Leon turned and faced us. “Go ahead and make yourselves at home. If you want to grab a class guide from the bartender and study beforehand, it’ll save a lot of time explaining things. You especially, Tsarina. I’ll go see if I can wrangle up another veteran to help show you the ropes outside the city walls.”
“No need.” Someone spoke up behind us. “I’ll join you.”
I turned to see a beautiful woman with long blonde hair spilling around her from under a white witch’s hat. Her robes were similar to Seras the blue mage, aside from that they were white.
Name: Victoria
White Mage - Level 56
HP: 13,845/13,845
“Victoria!” Leon’s grin spread across his face. “Coming out of retirement, huh?”
Victoria raised a pipe to her lips. She had a tired look in her eyes, and looking closely I noticed a touch of red creeping from under her eyelids. As she blew out a puff of smoke, I had a suspicion it was something a little stronger than tobacco. “This group interests me,” she said, her voice carrying an air of formality, yet, there was an unmistakable weariness woven through her speech, as though each syllable carried the weight of her experiences. “Allow me a moment to gather my gear, then we will depart.” The authority in her words left no room for argument.
With that, she glided past us, her robes whispering against the floor as she disappeared through the back door.
“Well, you guys are in luck. Victoria rarely leaves the city anymore,” Leon explained.
“You seem to hold her in high regard,” Tsarina commented.
“I used to party with her. Our old crew conquered some of the darkest corners of this world! But…” his gaze became uncharacteristically somber.
“What did you mean about retirement?” Leah asked carefully.
“She went through something that she hasn’t been able to get over. That’s all I can say. She mostly just hangs around the city now and hasn’t been on a proper quest in years. She only jumps into the action during raids these days.” His murred demeanor was then replaced by his usual happy grin. “Anyway, you guys are getting a rare opportunity to learn from the best. So make sure you pay attention!”