“I’m thinking about returning to the city.”

‘Why?’

‘We all have quest in the Seven tree forest, why would you leave now?’

‘You are wasting valuable time, me and Tréjörð will head towards the Seven tree forest tomorrow.’

“Ji Aleksy wasting valuable time is an understatement. One would not say that travelling towards a obscure forest, is a good way to spend his time.”

“I’m going to going to use my profession tokens. Once I’m back I’ll head towards the Seven tree forest.”

‘It’s not certain that you’ll find us.’

‘This Seven tree forest is not much compared to my home, it is still vast.’

“It's up to fate then. I should be able to see you on the map if we’re still in a party, right?”

‘Only if you are close enough.’

“Alright, It’s settled then. See you guys later.”

‘Farewell.’

‘See you.’

“If our hero ignores majority or all of the quests occuring in the Wild wildlands, he will still find other quests to do. Because he still has the favor of the world.”

“You think those two will be alright without me?

I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

“Reentering camp Sharpstone, our hero heads towards the portal area. Numerous portals ooze out an enigmatic aura.

While there is not a stream of people surging from the portals, it can be described as trickle. Noone is leaving, however.”

“I just press this, right?”

“Our hero’s dull expression shows disregard to the intricacies behind this portal infrastructure. The complexity alone should stagger people.

This is why people have sayings such as, ‘pearls before swine.’, It is a tragedy but noone will shed tears.”

“Calm down. I’ll put up a more reverent expression, How is this?”

“Finally the portals receive the respect they deserve, even we cannot fault our hero’s fearful expression.”

“Fearful? This is my respectful face. See the eyebrows.”

‘You okay buddy?’

“Having outed himself yet again, our hero quickly excuses his behaviour before entering his summoned portal.

In a mindless daze, our hero tries to decipher the profoundities found within the foundation of this portal’s tunnel.”

“I’m back!

Hello? No welcoming party?”

“The empty area applauds. The silence rings out in a glorious manner, fit for a boisterous man such as our hero.”

‘This way.’

‘I still can’t believe there are so many quests. Even the peasants are out and about.’

‘It’s hilarious, what do those peasants think they’ll accomplish? I’ll you this. Dad was breaking every furniture at home because of them.’

‘What’s peasants have anything to do with your dad?’

‘Majority of our workforce quit to chase the quests. Not even the older ones stayed.’

‘No wonder.’

‘Ji!’

“Hey Tio! I’m back.”

‘I can’t believe you’re back so quick. Did something happen?’

“Ye, you wouldn’t believe what I had to through.”

“A fateful reunion. It is only that the two privileged young men have been left to mind themselves that will find this reunion a distasteful affair.”

‘Who the hell is this?’

‘He’s got a weird style.’

“Excuse you. I heard that.”

‘Ji, These two are Pole Devak, and Duin Dera. They’ve come from a neighbouring city to complete a quest.’

“Devak, a clan of forest creatures, their hairy legs, arms, back and chest make them appear to be a step between a human and a ape.”

“I see the resemblance.”

“It is the Dera clan however that is of some interest. This is a primordial creature like miss Tio and Tréjörð.

Their alignment is toward the soil. But unlike most earthen creatures, they have flexible bodies, similar to the Oh clan.”

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‘This is Ji Aleksy. Of the Aleksy.’

‘Aleksy? Devak, why does that sound familiar?’

‘Aleksy is supposedly a human clan, one of them at least.’

‘That’s it! So he’s a human?’

“So why did these two have to come here from another city?”

‘Because of the portal room. Their city isn’t a beta site. So they have no quest related locations.’

“I see.”

‘I’ll see them off, can you wait for me outside the room?’

“Sure.”

“Majority of cities are spawns from outposts that developed over time, but there are quite a few with a extraordinary beginnings.

These cities were not large in their beginnings, a few degrees larger than Sharpstone. It is only after the new populations began expanding outwards that they reach the size they are today.

It was people like our hero that seeded these cities. And in them remain facilities whose purpose may have faded. These old machines are now slowly turning on.”

“How many cities?”

“Upon achieving some success in his crafting profession, our hero will see that the intended purpose.

Not only do they serve to support the individual, it also provides meaningful exercise. Exercise in finesse. Using small but concentrated mana.

Unlike our hero, whose mana purity can reach a novice’s crafters without effort, most would learn to purify or concentrated their internal mana.

This increases chances of success while crafting. Majority still relies on intentions, but who among us can say their intentions are clear?”

“I don’t see how this all matters. I created my sword pretty easily. Though the Sharpstone stone is more than twice as powerful.”

“With low expectations, a fool will celebrate a twig as a weapon. The Sharpstone stone, while not bad, is still lesser than what an average scion will possess.

This has to do with the centuries of practice, crafting clans and powerful organizations. It would a sad affair to see centuries of work, outdone by a single quest.”

“I’m not arguing with you. I was just thinking out loud.”

‘Ji.’

“Tio!”

“A heartwarming embrace. Our hero’s outer clothing quickly become soaked in water. The excited Oh clan member has lost some of her faculties.”

‘I’m so happy you are back! You wouldn’t believe how busy have been these past week.’

“Oh? Tell me about it.”

‘First of all. You remember the giant crowd outside?’

“Ye.”

‘It doubled in size! It was crazy. Over a dozen people got trampled to death. Many people nearly starved out there, unwilling to leave the line.’

“Hoh.”

‘Alright, not starve, but they were dying of thirst. And I don’t have to tell you that there are no bathroom facilities out there. You wouldn’t believe the stench of some of those people.’

“It would appear that the young miss, Tio, has lost herself in her tellings. She is going so far as talking more than our restless hero.”

‘And what was I supposed to do? We eventually created a line straight into the portal room and practically shoved them out.’

“...”

‘It’s fortunate that I can filter the air, otherwise the smell of them would have killed me. Animals.’

“Sounds terrifying. Did you get rewarded for all this work?”

‘Of course. I’m about to be relieved of duty as well.’

“Really?”

‘Initially I didn’t think it would be this great a change. But as it turns out, anyone can receives quests now. Even me.’

“Who's going to take over for you?”

‘My niece. Her constitution is frail and can’t cultivate herself properly.’

“Ah.”

‘Why are you back? You didn’t tell me,’

“I’m here to get my two crafting professions. I got a quest to reach novice in two of them.”

‘Two? Ah, right you received two tokens. Want me to accompany you?’

“Aren’t you busy?”

‘This is as good a time as any to hand over the reigns. My niece has a good head on her shoulders, she’ll be fine.’

“Where is this niece of yours? Is she as pretty as you?”

‘Don’t you worry about how she pretty she is.’

“Who is worried?”

‘Wait for me here, i’ll go finish a few things up and be right out.’

“Alright.”

“Our hero stands in blank daze. His eyes dull and expression could induce sleep.”

“I’m checking my stats.”

| Founder Ji Aleksy. Elementalist. Mana fiend: Level six-hundred-sixty-six |

Stamina

782

Increases number of physical actions that can be performed without rest.

Strength

854

Increase the physical power of an action.

Agility

823

Increases speed of physical movements.

Dexterity

782

Increases handling of items with hands or feet.

Concentration

782

Increases number of mental actions that can be performed without rest.

Intelligence

970

Increases the speed of a mental action.

Willpower

782

Increases mental defenses

Awareness

782

Increases quantity of objects discernable at one time.

Reflexes

782

Increases speed of unconscious actions performed.

Vision

782

Increases quality of detailed gathered with eyesight.

Digestion

782

Increases the amount of nutrients processed.

Courage

782

Increases the threshold for fear.

Focus

970

Increases the mental power of an action.

Inventive

782

Increases the chances of creating new items through crafting.

Knowledge

782

Increases the quantity of information stored.

Fortitude

782

Increases physical defenses.

“This looks a bit off. Some of the clothes I’m wearing have defenses, why aren’t they showing up.”

“The attributes look plentiful but it is experience, it is wisdom that decides the strength of an individual.”

“Is it because they only defence certain parts of my body? Also it just says defense. Not Fortitude.

At least the Sharpstone stone is applied. Looks like it’s the only thing that gives me a permanent boost.”

“An artifact gifted by the system allows even our hero to better himself. And what dire need there was for it.

Lavished for a millennia in the abundant, albeit subterranean, mana. Only to be enthroned as a princeling of the world. Absolute travesty.”

“Okay, Narry.”

‘Alright Ji, we can go.’

“I don’t get to meet your niece?”

‘No need, no need.’

“There are no longer hordes outside the quest headquarters. The ground is still riddled with filth. It’ll take quite the rain to wash this away.”

‘What professions are you going to take then. You did finish exploring all the options, right?’

“I did.”

‘And?’

“Woodworking and Rune engraving.”

‘Huh.’

“What?”

‘Nothing. Thought you would take up tailoring.’

“Almost did. The clothes around here are not up to par.”

“After a leisurely walk, our hero and companion, Tio, enter a familiar building.”

‘Madam. Sir. Can I be of service?’

“I’m here to meet Asteri.”

‘Sir.’

“Oh. A, s, t, e, r, i. Asteri.”

‘No, I mean. Wait a moment I’ll go see.’

“Hold on, I almost forgot. I got his frequency.”

“A small device, held in the hand reappears.”

“Hello?”

‘Mister Ji!’

“Ah good, is this Asteri, then?”

‘It is indeed. Have you decided to come under my tutelage?’

“That’s right. I’m in the lobby.”

‘I’ll have someone send you right in.’

“The overwhelmed apprentice of an apprentice cannot help but stand wide eyed. Unmoving.”

“That Asteri guy is alright.”

‘Oh? How rare for you to say something nice.’

“What does that mean? Anyway, those other people are weirdos through and through.”

‘Everyone?’

“Maybe not that tailoring lady. Or the leatherworker, but she was definitely suspicious.”

‘This way mister Ji. Is this lady with you?’

“This is Tio Oh.”

‘Oh miss Tio! It’s an honor.’

“Under the lead of this new arrival, Tio and Ji are guided to the upper levels and into Asteri’s private workshop.”

‘Mister Ji! And lady Tio, how nice of you to join us.’

“Asteri’s clothing is a lacking in decorum, for one of his status.”

‘Excuse my state. I’ve been working.’

“Don’t worry about it. I understand completely, you have to dress for every occasion.”

‘Of course you would understand. It has to be said you dress sharper than a Diego sword.’

“Glad I’m finally in the companion of someone who appreciates the finer things.”

‘Come, come. Have a seat you two. I have to have you wait a moment. I’m still unable to step away from work.’

“Take your time. Mind if we spectate?”

‘Fill your eyes.’