Caleb couldn’t tell how long he was unconscious. He awoke as the blackness gradually gave way to a beautiful landscape of lush, green fields and enormous snow-capped mountains moving underneath him. He instinctively tried moving his extremities but was unable to. Even though his mind was telling him this was wrong, a sense of calm came over him. After a few moments, a deep, majestic voice began to talk. It had no source but seemed like it manifested within Caleb’s mind.
“Greetings, brave traveler! You are now stepping into a realm of enchantment and mystery, a place of boundless opportunities and hidden treasures. Will you ascend to the pinnacle as a formidable champion, a wily trickster, or a potent mage? The decision is yours, but heed this warning: peril lies in wait at every turn, and only the quick-witted and the resolute endure. Traverse the expansive territories, forge new alliances, and undertake grand quests to gain renown and riches. Are you ready to begin your journey?”
Caleb instinctively knew that he could will his response to the system. It was an odd feeling at first but gave him a sense of power and control. He gave an affirmative to the system and watched as the beautiful landscapes disappeared.
A burst of activity erupted from around him as he found himself in a busy town square, bathed in warm sunlight. He inhaled deeply, feeling a sense of exhilaration and excitement that he had never experienced before. Though he had tried VR immersion before, this felt vastly different—this was his new reality and not just a rented avatar in a VR café.
A great many people crowded the area; they were shouting, laughing, and talking with each other. Caleb had arrived in front of a ten-meter-tall statue made of gleaming white marble, depicting a warrior striking a heroic pose. He looked at the statue and smirked. While the idea of becoming a formidable warrior appealed to a lot of players, that wasn’t what drove Caleb. He would build empires, not just fight for them.
“Let’s see what I’ve got to deal with,” Caleb said to himself. He willed the system to bring up his character sheet. Instead of the usual character information that Caleb had grown accustomed to seeing during his gaming café sessions, a new window appeared in his vision:
[Quest Name] "You're an adventurer now" [Objective] Find a Skill Vendor and Receive Your First Skill. [Hint] Your first Skill is free, but subsequent skills will cost exponentially more. Choose wisely. [Reward] 1 Silver Coin
Caleb rubbed his chin and looked around the square. A bustling array of vendors were present, offering an assortment of wares. He wondered what a skill vendor’s stall would look like. Some shops displayed rows of vividly-hued vials containing mysterious liquids, while others were street-side food carts selling skewered rat-like creatures, filling the air with rich smells.
He scanned the bustling square, searching for someone who could help him find a skill vendor. Among the crowds of non-player characters and players, it was easy to differentiate between the two groups. Newcomers were noticeable in their mismatched armor, pieced together from whatever they could find. In stark contrast, veteran players were adorned in resplendent suits of armor, boasting a dazzling array of colors and powerful enchantments. Meanwhile, the NPCs blended in with their unremarkable attire and behavior, standing out in contrast to the players who hurriedly jogged and sprinted between locations.
Approaching a bored-looking NPC guard who was leaning against his spear and gazing into the distant mountains, the guard promptly straightened up as he drew near.
“Hi there,” Caleb greeted the guard, who nodded in response. “I was wondering if you could direct me to the nearest skill vendor?”
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The guard nodded and then pointed at an elaborate, stone-clad building, which had a big inviting archway. “You can find the skill vendor inside there,” the guard said.
Caleb frowned and looked at the stalls around him. “Can I ask you something?”
The guard looked irritated but nodded.
“Why does the skill vendor get to set up shop inside that building but everyone else has to use these stalls?” he asked.
“The skill vendor is a system merchant,” the guard said. “All system merchants reside in the administration building. Only the system can sell you important things like skills.”
Caleb nodded and thanked the guard. He made his way into the administration building. The building towered over the other buildings, its grandeur, and scale designed to impress visitors and intimidate any wrongdoers. Guards, who were wearing gleaming silver armor, were flanking the entrance which was wide and high, with a deep, ornate archway leading into the bustling interior. Once inside, Caleb noticed huge chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling providing a warm, inviting glow to the space. The area was dotted with tinkling water fountains and elegantly crafted stone benches, carefully positioned to provide a serene and tranquil atmosphere. The walls were lined with more elegant arches, each leading to a different shop. Above each arch, a dark wooden sign identified it with gold lettering.
Caleb searched the signs until he found one that read Skill Vendor. The inside of the shop was spartan. Neat rows of books lined the shelves on the wall and an older woman sat in a chair, reading a book and resting her feet on the empty counter. Caleb was about to say something when she stuck her finger up, hushing him while she finished reading something in her book. After a moment she snapped the book shut and looked at Caleb for the first time, examining the simple white clothes that denoted him as a new player.
“Newbie, ay?” she said. Caleb nodded. The woman seemed to stare into his soul before she smiled. “As you probably already know, your first skill is free. Each skill beyond that becomes prohibitively more expensive, so make sure to choose your skill wisely. Do you want me to recommend something for you?” she asked.
Caleb shook his head. “No, thank you. I already know what I’m going to choose.” Caleb has spent years researching and figuring out what kind of player he would be.
The woman lifted an eyebrow and shrugged. “Have it your way. ”
The woman retrieved a book from the end of the shelf and dropped it heavily on the table. Caleb picked it up and opened it, a window suddenly filling his vision. A list of skills filled the window and he sat down on the bench at the side of the shop to study it.
He filtered the list mentally, only showing skills that were related to business or social interaction. He looked at the Appraisal skill, willing his desire for the system to show more information about the skill.
> [Skill]
> Appraisal (Level 1)
>
> [Description]
> The Appraisal skill enables you to instinctively evaluate an item's average price within your current region. Its accuracy improves as your skill level surpasses the item's level.
>
> [Price] Free
Caleb selected the skill and smiled at the notifications that showed up next.
> > New Skill Learned! Appraisal.
>
> > Congratulations! You've been assigned the class "Trader". Evolve your class by acquiring a second skill.
>
> > Your Trader class grants you +1 Charisma
>
> > Quest Complete: "You're an adventurer now"
>
> > You've gained 1 Silver Coin
As Caleb entered the busy square, he paused to think about what he needed to do next. His goal was to play Frontier Realms as a full-time job, but in order to do so, he needed to earn enough to cover his subscription fees and the expensive medication required for prolonged immersion.
He knew that gold coins earned in the game could be exchanged for real-world dollars, with a 10-to-1 rate. That meant he needed to earn 5500 gold coins within 30 days to meet his financial obligations. He willed the silver coin he just earned to appear in his hand. He stared at it. The task seemed daunting, and Caleb felt a twinge of worry, but he quickly shook it off and refocused on his plan of action.
Caleb once again tried to bring up his character sheet, this time successfully.
> [Player]
> Caleb Davis - Trader
>
> [Statistics]
> Health: 10/10
> Mana: 0/0
> Stamina: 10/10
>
> [Wealth]
> Silver: 1
>
> [Skills]
> Appraisal (Level 1)
>
> [Attributes]
> Strength: 1
> Dexterity: 1
> Intelligence: 1
> Wisdom: 1
> Charisma: 2