Chapter 1 – Research doesn't seem to be popular

With my eyes adjusting to the light, all my other senses appeared too.

The fresh breeze making the suns heat bearable, the salty smell of the ocean, it's gently rocking waves and the active chattering caused by most groups of human beings, and finally the vision of the lively harbor I'm standing in.

All of it overwhelms me for a moment, but after calming down I notice a person further away, seemingly waving at me.

After thinking about it for a short while, I decide to head over to the person. Maybe it's the tutorial mentioned in the second handbook or something.

While I make my way over to the person, dodging sailors and workers on the way, I start being able to make out the details of him.

It's a slim man with short, black hair and glasses, looking almost exactly like one would imagine a scholar, with his robe like clothes and the scroll he is writing on. And he, indeed, is waving at me, trying to get my attention.

After dodging a last group of workers, I reach the man. Curious about what exactly he wants from me, I immediatly ask him.

"So, how may I help you?"

"That's great, you're willing to help. First things first. You're Quaesitor, an explorer, right?"Leaving me no time to answer, he immediately continues. "Nice to meet you, I'm Louis. Before you start, you should take a look at the realism meter. In order to do that, please think or say menu, then options and then VR settings. There you should be able to see and adjust the realism meter."

Slightly intimidated from his speech rate, I follow his advice. Menu, was it?

CharacterInventoryCommunityOptions

Ah, a classical menu. Reminds me of my youth. Options.

CommunicationVR settingsSupport

And VR settings. Right beneath the pain meter at an ouch of 25% is the realism meter. Ranging from "lifelike except menu" to an impressive "click to move", there is a great amount of choices. I think I'll take the lifelike option. VR is for (virtual) reality after all.

After looking around the options for a bit more, I close the menu.

"Excellent." Louis immediatelay reacts. "Now, as I mentioned before, we're low on manpower in almost anything. Just enter a building that seems interesting and say someone inside that you want to help."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Grateful for the information and dizzy from the amount of words said in the short time, I immediately thank him.

"Thank you very much for the information. I believe it would be a waste of time if I were to stay around any longer, so if you would excuse me."

Not waiting for an answer I just turn around and swiftly create some distance. It's good to be efficient, but to almost drown the person you're talking with in words is impressive and scary.

After a crossing a short distance, I enter a passage that connects this part of the harbour with the rest of the city.

The passage leads to a wooden wall with a door in it and after opening the door, I can see the city square before me, and something catches my eye.

Smiling to myself I make my way to the building, the library. Most likely the building I'm the most comfortable in. Excluding pubs.

Due to it's location being on the squares opposite side, I squeeze my way through the crowd of bargaining and weirdly behaving people (most likely players). Easily, considering that I normally go to work per overcrowded train daily.

But after traversing the crowd and entering the supposed library I notice, that it's most likely a place im not so familiar with. Because the library, which is pretty obvious after thinking about it, also seems to be something like a mage guild.

I already arrived here though, so I'll just give it a try.

Making the seemingly smartest person my target, I dodge the not very observant people running around and, like I was told to, offer my help.

"I was told this place is short on manpower, so I decided to help."

Delighted, the extremely stereotypical wizard turns aroung.

Exclaiming: "Splendid!", he grabs me, like he is trying to prevent me from running away. "Finally, someone who understands the importance of research! I highly suggest you start by increasing your knowledge by rerading these books!" Almost shouting at me, he drags me to about a dozen books.

While research wasn't quite what I was expecting or looking for, I guess it works out fine, too.

"Of course." I answer, using my skill I'm most proud of. "I always was interested in research, so I took this almost godsent opportunity to fullify my dreams!" Acting like it was yout intention from the beginning.

Crying, the wizard almost hugs me due to my answer. "I'm sure you will achieve your dreams."

Research doesn't seem to be popular.

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First, thank you to everyone reading this! If there is anything you want to ask or tell me, write it in the comments. Also, I tried to improve the spacing.