“Alright!” Gaia said happily, “Magic lesson time!”
“You seem overly happy about this,” Jake chuckled as he watched the goddess skip around the altar, “Is it really that important?”
“Of course!” Gaia huffed, “It’s been centuries since I last allowed someone to wield the power of the [Nature Magic] Skill, it is a Primal Magic after all.”
“Primal Magic?” Jake sighed, “What does that mean?”
“That it’s powerful,” Gaia answered, “Anyway, enough chatter, time for you to try it out!”
“Alright,” Jake nodded, pausing after a moment as he realised that he had no idea what to do, “Uhm…how?”
“It’s quite simple,” Gaia explained, holding up a finger as a ball of green energy formed above it, “All you need to do is will the Spell to occur. It’s somewhat like how you are able to summon and dismiss your Character Screen with a thought, except you’re powering the Spell with your Mana Points. It’s all about thought and imagination.”
“Just…will it to happen?” Jake groaned at the overly simple explanation, “But how do I do that?”
“You just do,” Gaia replied flatly, pointing at a tree at the edge of the clearing, “Try firing a Nature Bolt at that tree. Let’s see how well you do.”
“Okay,” Jake shrugged, lifting his hand towards the tree as he closed his eyes, trying to imagine the spell firing from his palm.
He gasped as he felt the well of energy inside him, resting in his stomach, drawing some of it off and sending it up his arm and into his palm. He opened his eyes to see the erratically pulsing ball of green light, before it suddenly extinguished, making him feel slightly drained. Unperturbed, Jake repeated the process, this time willing the ball of energy to fly forwards at the tree as it formed, watching in awe as it shot from his palm and slammed into the trunk of the tree. He stared as the ball dissipated, leaving no mark as he looked at his hand in confusion.
“Very good!” Gaia said happily as she clapped her stone hands together, “Most people require a Spell Focus to be able to cast spells at first, but you were able to do it without one.”
“Spell Focus?” Jake asked, “What’s that?”
“We’ll get onto that soon,” Gaia waved his question off, “Now, I’m sure you’re wondering why your attack spell had no effect on the tree you just hit.”
“Is it because it’s made of Nature Energy?” Jake asked, Gaia just nodding.
“Exactly!” she said, “Because Nature Bolt is made of Nature Energy, it cannot harm plants. In fact, it actually revitalises them to a small degree. In other words, don’t use it against Plant-based creatures, because it will only make them stronger.”
“Noted,” Jake nodded, “Now what?”
“Now we wait for your Mana Points to regenerate,” Gaia hummed, before lifting her stone hands to her mouth, letting out a piercing whistle, “And wait for an old friend to return.”
------
“You’re kidding me,” Howard said as he stared at the screen, Abrahms staring right back as she shook her head, “And you’re sure it’s him?”
“Gaia just awarded someone the Champion Class, and I get blocked by the Privacy Clause when I try to check who,” the woman replied, “And considering he’s the only player to have had contact with it, it only makes sense that he was the one to receive the Class.”
“The Champion Class,” Howard breathed, “I never thought it would happen so soon.”
“Why? Isn’t it just another Class?” Abrahms asked, turning away as she started to work again, “Any player should have access to it eventually, right?”
“That’s the thing,” Howard shook his head, “It’s meant to be extremely difficult to get, as only one of the Governors of Directions can award it, and each one can only give it to one person at a time.”
“So, it’s an exclusive Class?” Abrahms asked, Howard nodding, “And this player got it as his first. What are its parameters? Does it have any restrictions on Skills or Stats?”
“No,” Howard chuckled, “It’s the only Class in the entire game without a single restriction. It was made to be the ultimate freeform Class.”
“Oh,” Abrahms nodded, “I see. That is something.”
“It really is,” Howard nodded again, turning to look at the other open screen beside him, “I think I’m going to need legal to rework this contract again. There’s no way we can afford to have such a valuable asset free in the world, in game or otherwise.”
------
“Pardon?”
“Your Mana Points have almost fully regenerated, right?” Gaia repeated, pointing to the third figure now standing in the clearing, “Once they have, cast Nature’s Hand on this wolf.”
“That doesn’t seem like a good idea,” Jake muttered, “Won’t that use up all my Mana Points?”
“Yes,” Gaia hummed, “But it’s important that you do. So just do it.”
Jake let out a sigh as he turned to the Shadow Wolf standing at the edge of the clearing, her large belly swaying below her as she watched Jake carefully. She had appeared shortly after Gaia had whistled, coming running out of the woods and freezing the moment she saw Jake. Shaking his head, Jake waited a few more moments for his Mana Points to reach full, before holding out his hand to the wolf, clearing his mind and willing the Spell to activate.
Both him and the wolf began to glow green, surprising Jake for a moment, before pain lanced through his head, a wave of nausea following close behind as he collapsed to his knees retching. He heaved as the sensation made his vision darken around the edges, the world swirling around him as he fought to stay conscious. After what felt like an age, the feeling began to abate, finally letting his see the screen that had appeared in front of him.
You have used all of your Mana Points.
You have been afflicted with [Mild Mana Sickness].
The effect will wear off once you have regained half of your Mana Points.
“Gaia,” he groaned, “What the hell?”
“And that is why you don’t use all of your Mana Points in one go,” the goddess hummed.
“Why would you make me do that?” Jake heaved again, his stomach cramping as he fell back onto his ass, glaring at the statue in betrayal.
“To teach you,” Gaia shrugged, “If I had just told you, you may not have believed that it was as bad as I claimed, so having you experience it was necessary.”
“Fine, okay,” Jake groaned as his stomach cramped again, “I get it. Don’t use up all my Mana Points. Especially in one go. Now what?”
“Now we wait for your Mana Points to regenerate again, and you get to name your new Pet.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“My what?” Jake blinked, noticing the new screen that had appeared in front of him.
Accept Shadow Wolf (Female) as pet?
Y/N?
“Oh, yes?” he said, the screen vanishing and being replaced by another.
Name your new pet:
___________________
“Ah,” Jake said as he looked up, noticing for the first time that it was already late into the evening, the moon just starting to crest the tops of the trees, “How about…Luna?”
The wolf gave a bark as Jake watched her glow again, a collar of vines and leaves appearing around her neck as a small wooden tag with the name on it hung from the front.
“A good name,” Gaia nodded, “I think she likes it. Now, call up her Status Page.”
Jake just nodded as he did so, blinking as the large screen appeared in front of him.
Pet Status Page
Name
Luna
Species
Shadow Wolf
Level
28
Loyalty
Jake Grey
Hit Points
350
Magic Points
-
Stamina
500
Training Points
0
Skills (3/5)
Traits
Bite [6]
Hunt [5]
Track [4]
Mother-to-be
“It’s like my Character Screen,” he muttered, “Just smaller.”
“It is,” Gaia nodded.
“But what does ‘Mother-to-be’ mean?” Jake asked, looking at the Trait as it quickly expanded into a new screen.
Mother-to-be
Your pet is pregnant.
She will give birth in:
12 hours 36 minutes
“What?” Jake gasped, looking at the wolf in surprise, “I knew you would be close to giving birth, but not that close!”
“It is a good thing, though,” Gaia hummed, “With this new generation, there will be those able to continue protecting the Cave.”
“The Cave?” Jake asked, looking back at Gaia, “You mentioned something about a Devil being inside it before, but why is it so important?”
“Oh, the Cave is the entrance to a Dungeon,” Gaia explained, only getting a blank look from Jake, “You know? An astral space? Possibly leading to the Grande Labyrinth?”
“I…no?” Jake shook his head, “Andy just told me that Dungeons were places to fight and get powerful items.”
“That is one of their functions, yes,” Gaia nodded, “But they are far more. However, now is not the time to talk about that. Why don’t you try checking all of the rewards you received for defeating the Alpha and completing your Quest.”
“Oh, good idea,” Jake nodded, opening his inventory again.
He looked at the collection of items, reading over each description in turn as he went down the list. As before, he now had a short sword and hunting bow, as well as a full set of armour. He also had three accessories in the cloak, belt and ring, but the one that caught his eye was a ring.
Gaia’s Grace
A ring made of ancient wood. It exudes powerful natural energies.
Accessory, Spell Focus
Effects:
+2 Intellect
Ability: [Natural Magics]
Soulbound
Quality: Epic
“What’s this?” Jake hummed, selecting the ring’s ability, eyes going wide as he read it.
Natural Magics:
Reduces the cost of [Nature Magic] Spells by 10%.
“Gaia,” Jake growled, “Why didn’t you tell me you gave me an item that reduces the cost of my magic?”
“Because the lesson wouldn’t have been as effective,” the goddess hummed, “Now, stop stalling and put it all on.”
“All of it?” Jake asked, Gaia just nodding as he looked down at his worn-out armour, “But I like my armour?”
“And it’ll do you no good as it stands,” Gaia sighed, “The armour you currently have is weak, especially compared to what you got from the Alpha. Just put it one and you’ll see what I mean.”
“Fine,” Jake sighed, stripping off his Leatherwood Bark of the Wilds Set, leaving him standing in his starter clothes once again.
Jake shivered slightly as he felt almost naked, despite still being dressed, and quickly pulled the new armour pieces from his inventory, putting them on hurriedly. Once he’d donned the last of the pieces, a familiar screen appeared.
Full Equipment Set Detected.
Combine Equipment into Single Set?
Y/N?
Jake quickly selected ‘yes’, a new window popping open to reveal the stats of his new armour set.
Shadow Wolf Set
A full set of armour earned by slaying the Alpha of the Shadow Wolves. It exudes a powerful menacing aura.
Medium Armour
Effects:
+5 Power
+3 Agility
+2 Vitality
Ability: [Menacing Aura]
Soulbound
Quality: Epic
Black leather dominated the armour, which was trimmed with the familiar obsidian black fur of the Shadow Wolves, several metal plates also worked into the design to add extra protection while not hampering movement. The set also came with a hood that covered most of Jakes face with the head of a wolf, claws and fangs hanging aesthetically from various points of the armour.
“What?” Jake blinked, looking over to Gaia, who seemed to be smiling despite her lack of lips, “How? It gives so many Stat Points! And it even has an Ability!”
“That is because it is Epic Quality,” the goddess explained, “As well as being gained through a difficult trial. Combined, those provide you with a large boost to your Stats. Even for an Epic Set, it is powerful, and I doubt many would be able to get a similar result except from repeating your achievement.”
“Wait,” Jake asked, “So if someone else got this set, the Stats would be lower?”
“Most probably,” Gaia nodded, “Not all pieces of equipment are made the same. A skilled enough Master would be able to make a common armour Set that far outshines that of an apprentice.”
“I see,” Jake nodded back, “So this set is strong?”
“Very,” Gaia nodded, “Now, equip the rest of your rewards, then look at your Character Screen.”
Jake just nodded as he slipped the ring and belt on, drawing the cloak over his shoulders. He felt a slight tingle as he donned each piece, like they were enhancing him. Looking at the belt and cloak, he quickly read over their descriptions.
Shadow Wolf Cloak
A cloak made of Shadow Wolf leather. It moves like the shadows.
Accessory
Effects:
+1 Agility
+1 Vitality
Ability: [Shadow Merge]
Soulbound
Quality: Epic
Alpha’s Will
A belt made of twisted Alpha Wolf leather. Empower the Pack.
Accessory
Effects:
+1 Agility
+1 Vitality
Ability: [Pack Hunter]
Soulbound
Quality: Epic
Taking out the short sword and bow, he quickly equipped them as well, also reading over their descriptions.
Alpha’s Fang
A short sword made of the jawbone of an Alpha Wolf. Its bite will bleed.
Weapon
Ability: [Biting Fangs]
Soulbound
Quality: Epic
Hunting Bow of the Wilds
A wooden hunting bow crafted through unknown means. Strike your foes with the power of nature.
Weapon
Ability: [Nature’s Wrath]
Soulbound
Quality: Epic
The blade came with its own sheath, appearing much like the Ritual Dagger’s had when Jake equipped it, the Dagger itself now moved to his other hip. The bow also came with a quiver of its own, which Jake quickly filled with his remaining arrows, even having a place to store his bow so he wouldn’t need to keep pulling it from his inventory. Satisfied, Jake checked each of their Abilities, marvelling at what they could do.
Menacing Aura:
Inflicts [Fear] Status on those within 5 metres.
Shadow Merge:
Increases stealth while in shadows.
Pack Hunter:
Increases damage of party by 1% for each member.
Biting Fangs:
Inflicts [Bleed] Status on a successful strike.
Nature’s Wrath:
Inflicts a random Status effect on successful strike.
“Wow,” Jake breathed, “This is…a lot to take in.”
“I’m sure,” Gaia nodded, “Now, look at your Character Screen to see the difference real equipment can make.”