Slowly coming back into consciousness, I could hear muffled voices. My head wasn’t hurting, which was good, but I was dizzy. Like I grabbed a pole and spun around it a couple dozen times. I put my hands against my head, like a vice, and waited for it to pass.

Sometime later I felt better enough to sit up. I was sitting in the middle of a dome, and behind me was a large, glowing, blue portal. Straight above, maybe a hundred feet, was a circular hole in the ceiling that let light in. The structure itself is very fancy. Marble statutes, murals, and designs engraved on every square inch of the place. The inside is nice so I can only guess the outside matches in opulence.

I hear footsteps and see a man in flowing robes walking towards me. Behind him is a group of regal individuals (the crowns gave it away) flanked by guards.

“Do you have any cake?” I ask. The man trips but stays standing. “Preferably chocolate with a glass of milk, please?” I take the moment he is confused to stand and walk up to him.

“Ah, um, ahem,” he coughs, “My name is Regulus Cordus, Pontiff and servant of his highness King Aurelius Maximus Ramses. Might I know your name, young one?” He bows a bit. I notice he’s wearing a toga underneath a long billowing robe like traditional china would wear. It’s kinda stupid.

“Julius Turner, nice to meet ya.” I extend a hand to shake. He looks between my face and my hand, thoroughly confused. He reaches out with his own hand and I quickly grab it and shake it then let go. “So, cake, yea or nay?”

“No, or yes, maybe.” He straightens out puts on a serious face. “Please follow me.”

I straighten like him and match a serious face. “Of course, after you.”

He turns, leading me to the royalty. That was fun, but I should probably dial it back in front of the King.

“My liege, may I present Julius Turner,” the pontiff says. I bow. “Julius, you have the honor of meeting King Aurelius Maximus Ramses, Queen Calvisia Gratian Ramses, Prince General Quintus Maximus Ramses, Pontiff Decius Vergilius, Pontiff Loreia Cosmas, Pontiff Nonus Sextilius, Pontiff Plautia Ulfia, Ponfiff Peniculus Epidius and Headmistress Licina Scipio.”

There’s no way I’m going to remember all of that.

The royal family were all human (and thankfully wore royal togas without the robe), but the others were of different races. Decius is a dwarf, Loreia is an elf, Nonus is a wolf-man, Plautia is a lizard-woman, Peniculus is a birdperson, and so is Licina. The headmistress wasn’t wearing a robe as her wings were quite large even tucked in behind her.

‘Birdkin’ and the rest sounds weird. I probably should have done more research so I could know more about the races.

“It is a please to meet all of you,” I say while bowing.

The king is about to speak when the queen interrupts, “Why isn’t the portal closing?”

We all turn to look at said portal and see the same.

*Ding* A chime sounds and a blue screen appears in front of me.

New Quest: A Message from the Gods

The Church of the Gods was told a portal would open in the Temple of the Gods. Someone would come out of said portal to help them fight against the Demons. A young man has come through at the expected hour, but the portal remains open.

Deliver the letter sent to your inventory.

Reward: A Rare attribute

Failure: None

To troll, or not to troll. A difficult question. Also, how do I open my inventory? Another screen appears. Just that easy, huh? The screen is headlined “Inventory” with a picture of a letter in the middle, and at the bottom it says “1/5 slots.” I mental focus on the letter and the words “Take Out?” appear. Yes. The image becomes 3-dimensional and I grab it. The letter becomes real in my hands. On the front it reads “King Aurelius Maximus Ramses.” I turn back towards the King.

“Here you go,” I say.

Although confused, he sees his name and takes the letter. He opens in and reads the letter while the queen and prince look over his shoulder.

*Ding*

Quest Complete: A Message from the Gods

Reward: Easy Learning attribute

New Attribute Learned: Easy Learning

Easy Learning (Rare)

“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” –Albert Einstein

Effect: 25% faster learning new skills.

Oh, that’s pretty cool.

*Ding*

New Message Available

Would you like to view?

Yes.

From: ModeratorRyan

Hi, Julius, this is Ryan. I’m your moderator/liason/guardian. If you ever need help, whether in here or your Home, just send me a message. I just wanted to explain a few things before you got too into the game. First, sorry about the tutorial. We wanted you to feel like this was a new world and the tutorial asserts certain limitations that don’t apply to you. As an apology, we’ve given you 5 inventory slots, a quest, and an accomplishment that grants a rare attribute for each. Attributes are like skills but are passive effects that don’t level. Accomplishments are what they sound like. If you ever do something unique that someone else hasn’t done, or successfully complete a difficult challenge, you get these rewards. Secondly, the menu. You can say or think “menu” and it will pop up options for you. You can choose the options on the menu without going through the menu—i.e. thinking inventory—but to log out and go to home you have to go through the menu. Lastly, play the game like it is real. For you this means more than the average player, but we ask that players assume the role of someone summoned to a new world. You can talk about your (old) life but don’t let the NPCs know they are not real. We give out warnings for accidental insinuations, but blatant acknowledgement of the game is grounds for character deletion. Good luck, have fun.

Signed,

Ryan

I closed the message and another sound chimed in my ear.

Accomplishment Complete

For starting the game without the tutorial, you are given a reward of a rare attribute.

Reward: Easy Learning attribute

New Attribute Learn------

ERROR! ATTRIBUTE ALREADY AQUIRED! UPGRADING!

Attribute Upgraded: Easy Learning is now Easy Learning+

Attribute: Easy Learning + (Unique)

“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” –Albert Einstein

Effect: 25% faster learning new skills. All new skills start at Beginner III.

Without knowing what happened in the tutorial I don’t know if this is a good trade, but it’s definitely good.

After closing the screens I notice the group around me is discussing the letter. They’re saying more people are coming and the Demons have their own portal. Maybe that means you can select a race in the tutorial. That would have been nice.

Instead of interrupting them I choose to look through my menu and screens. Menu.

Menu

Character

Inventory

Messaging

Settings

Help

Log Out

The first thing I do is check the settings. The ding is annoying, so I mute it and just leave a glowing symbol in the corner of my fov. You can’t change the resolution, contrast, brightness or other screen-like qualities. There’s an fps counter, but I’m literally hooked into the main systems so I don’t need it. I leave the other settings be; if I need to change something I can do it later.

I open the message tab next. I was only expecting ModeratorRyan, but it looks like they added Mom and Dave. I send her a message saying everything’s going ok. She replies, “I’m glad you’re doing ok. Please call me before you go to bed. Love Mom.” I say, “Ok.”

The inventory was empty so I moved on to my character.

Character

Name: Julius Wilbur Turner Age: 17 Race: Human

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

Alignment: Neutral Affiliation: None

Buffs: None

Ailments: None

Resistances: None

Attributes:

  -Inventory

  -Easy Learning +

Skills: None

Inventory (Common)

"Possession is nine-tenths of the law." -William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield

Grants 5 slots of space available for storage. As long as it is one, solid item, it will fit in one slot. Bags filled with miscellaneous items will not fit in one slot. A bag with four other items can take up all slots. Items with an inventory enchantment will not fit in the Inventory. The only exception to this is a coin pouch item, which can fit in one slot.

Too bad they didn’t give me a coin pouch, but I can probably get one from one of these guys. I close my screens and look at the state of the group. I think they should be done soon, so I just wait patiently.

“I’ll send a missive to the other nations. Quintus, notify the guards that we will have more guests. Pontiffs, speak with the guilds. Headmistress, please see about getting more rooms for possible students,” the King said.

“I’ll show Julius around the castle,” the Queen said.

Everyone turned to look at me. Well, this is awkward.

“Thank you, your majesty, I would appreciate that,” I said while bowing.

Nobody moved or spoke, the King was staring at me. A few seconds went by.

“You all have your orders, carry on.” The King turned, looked at the Queen, and then walked off. The Prince quickly followed, the Pontiffs shuffled afterwards. I was left alone with the Queen.

“Would you like some tea?” the Queen asked, motioning towards the open door the others walked through.

[2]

The Queen led me to the castle. Everything I saw was immaculate. White stoned walkways, neatly trimmed bushes, alternating colored flowers, and marble statues of warriors conquering various monsters. All leading to a large and beautifully designed castle. The base is circular, arches and columns on the bottom half, intricate and varied designs in the middle, and walkways on top. We walk up the stairs of the wall. I first see the home of the royal family. It looks more modern. Not like the current era, just not ancient. It looks British to me. It’s like the large mansion the Queen of England lives in.

It kinda sucks my worldly knowledge only comes from movies and tv shows.

On the other edge was a view of the city. I was astounded. The great blue expansive sky contrasted the bustling, large city beneath. Half of the buildings are of roman design: multiple large columns supporting the reddish-brown tiled roofs. The other half is varied color, shape, and size modern-like buildings.

Maybe the kingdom is so old it has learned new aesthetic and architectural designs. Either way, it’s still beautiful. I never would have seen something like this.

I spend some time looking at the view. I realize this is my new home. My new world. I should start learning more about it.

“Your majesty, might I request something from you?”

She looks confused at my phrasing, but luckily acquiesces, “You may.”

“Can you help me understand this new world I now inhabit?”

She looks relieved, like I didn’t ask something stupid from her.

“Very well. How about I start at the beginning?”

I nod.

“I’ll give you the condensed version, so we’ll have time to answer all of your questions.

“There were once seven incredibly powerful individuals of different races. They worked together to combat a vicious and apocalyptic monster. They were able to defeat it, but its body didn’t disappear. So they each took a piece and buried them at separate locations. However, one of the individuals sought more power. He absorbed his piece of the monster, fulfilling his quest for power, but became twisted and evil. He merged his race with other monsters and transformed his race to the now known Demons. The other six individuals were not able to defeat him completely, but they did create a pocket dimension and cast them away. The six then gained the power of gods and ascended. They are now called: the God of Humans, the God of Elves, the God of Dwarves, the God of Enarii, the God of Ro’kas, and the God of Scilins. They watch over us and sometimes speak through our Pontiffs. They told us a portal would open today and a hero would emerge. But now they say many will come. Quite a situation, yes?”

“Yes, quite. Could you tell me about the other races? My world only had humans.”

“Hmm. A world of only humans; you’ll have to tell me more about that later.” I nod. “Let’s see. An Elf is taller than humans and have pointed ears. A Dwarf is shorter than humans and more rotund. An Enarii has more hair and look similar to animals. A Ro’ka has feathers instead of hair and wings on their back. Lastly, a Scilin has scales and look like bi-pedal lizards. You’ve met all those already. Ah, also the merfolk, but we can’t speak their language and they seem to dislike anything that comes from land, so don’t worry about them.”

“Interesting. Are their monsters?”

“Oh, yes, I forgot that part in my history lesson. Ahem. After the monster was defeated, the blood it spilt changed the animals and created dungeons. Over there you can see the building housing our city’s dungeon.” She pointed toward a street of large buildings, but the one housing the dungeon was probably the tallest one that looked like a tower. “Short answer: yes, don’t go exploring alone. What else?”

Hopefully I’m not graded on all this. I already forgot everyone’s names.

“Can you also tell me about your naming conventions?”

“Oh, how does yours work?”

“Well, my first name is Julius, it’s what anyone calls me. If they are being polite, though, they call me Mr. Turner. Which is my family name, given from my father’s side. I have a middle name: Wilbur, but that’s usually only used by my mother when she’s mad at me.” She laughs at that.

“Well, then. For me, if I wasn’t queen, I would be referred to as ‘Madam’ in public, ‘Madam Ramses’ in private company, and then my first name is used by friends and family. My family name: ‘Gratian’ was given like yours. ‘Ramses’ is a clan name, which in this instance, is only used by the royal family. Clan names are given to boys who turn 18 and girls when they marry. For the Pontiffs, they have relinquished their clan in support of their faith. Of course, this only pertains to our culture, and the homelands of the other races are different. You can figure it out later. Does that answer your question?”

“Yes, thank you.” Despite the fact I knew I would need to re-learn this again later, I was excited. Places to go, adventures to be had, and hopefully epic spells to cast.

I look back to the Queen, and I feel a grin on my face. “Is there magic I can learn?”

“Yes. That was what you were supposed to be doing now, under Headmistress Licinia’s guidance but currently she’s most likely making more room for potential new students.”

“Could you help me?”

“Hmm.” She puts a finger to her chin, thinking. “I suppose I can give you a primer, but you need to promise not to experiment until the Headmistress teaches you more. We keep children from learning before twelve so there’s no fire-based temper tantrums. You may be older, but you can still hurt yourself if you’re not carefull.”

I nod enthusiastically. “Of course, I promise.”

“I hold you to that. Now, first, a lesson on different kinds of magic. There are external and internal classifications. Those that use external magic can shoot fireballs, command nature, or anything that doesn’t involve an individual casting magic on themselves. Internal magic is only used inside the body. There are exceptions, like buffs and curses, but we have these distinctions because they are cast differently. External and internal both start in the mind with a solid grasp on the spell’s outcome, but internal spells are quicker and sometimes instinctual. There are other differences too, but this is the major one. Let me show you an example.”

She held out her hand away from me and focused on it. “A small, but bright flame to see in the dark: Torch.” A bright yellow-white flame appeared in her hand. Then it disappeared. She kept her eyes on her hand and quickly clenched it. A flame encompassed her fist, roiling faster than the previous spell. It disappeared as well. “A chant, like what I used for the Torch spell, is required for all spells that you first learn. As you master them, the external spells can be cut short to the spell name, and internal spells no longer require speaking. Chant-less spells are possible at very high ranks, but this is important for you to know in the beginning. With me so far?”

I nod, unsure.

“That’s ok, you’ll learn,” she says.

“Now, I’ll teach you Mana Manipulation. It’s a common attribute needed for casting spells. First, close your eyes and hold out your hand.” I do so. “Now take a deep breath, and feel the rhythm of your heart.” I follow along. It takes a few seconds, but I slowly feel the expanding and contracting of my heart.

*Ba-Dum* *Ba-Dum* * Ba-Dum* *Ba-Dum*

“Now that you feel it, make sure to breathe out and in very slowly. Then follow the path of your blood. From your head to your toes.”

It’s faint, but I can feel a pulse every time my heart beats. A quick flow that reaches to my ligaments and organs.

“Last step. Will a part of yourself to concentrate on the feeling, and grow over time. Start with your finger.” I feel her touch my index finger. It’s different from the pulse. External verses internal. Maybe that’s a clue for practicing spells. I focus on my index finger, willing the pulse to travel quickly there and stay. I feel a warmth, and concentrate on it. It builds, and builds, and builds. My finger starts feel hot. I notice I’m holding my breath and expel my lungs. The warmth fades and I open my eyes. In the corner of my vision is a blinking exclamation mark.

“Well?” the queen asks.

I focus on the blinking light and think, open notification.

New Attribute Learned: Mana Manipulation

Mana Manipulation (Common)

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” ― Marie Curie

Effect: Able to manipulate mana internally

“’Able to manipulate mana internally.’ What about externally?”

“Once you are capable enough to move the mana through your body fluidly and quickly, you can begin to push the mana outside your body. Then the attribute will upgrade.”

“Can all attributes upgrade?”

“Most likely no, but it’s possible we just don’t know the requirements for some. For my Royal Aura attribute, I had to accomplish the feat of accepting my royal status. But the only upgrade I could think of would be to have an empires worth of citizens accept me. It hasn’t been done before, but it’s possible.”

"I see."

I go back to my mana, focusing on filling enough in my finger so it's warm but not hot. It comes faster than when I started, but it's still slow for my liking. I doubt I could cast a usable spell with this speed.

"Why isn't this a skill?" I say to myself.

The Queen thankfully answers, "A question many scholors ask. It might be helpful to think of attributes as passive skills. They provide a static benefit, but must be understood and cultivated. Just because you have an attribute, doesn't mean you know how to use it. Nothing you learn here will grant you all the knowlege of a subject. Life demands growth. Knowledge is never perfected.

"But even then it could still be called a skill, yes? However, there are no skills that are granted. The can be taught, yes, but they always start at the beginning. Attributes can be granted through a quest, accomplishment, or knowlege books. Additionally, some attributes do not upgrade, and even when they do they are only improved once or twice."

I guess it makes sense. Although, some players will complain.

I went back to practicing. I don't know if it was rude, but the Queens didn't seem to care.

[3]

After suffusing both of my arms with mana, I decided to come out of my stupor. It was a good thing I did, because it looked like I was alone. Except the guard by the stairs. And the sun was setting. I walk towards the guard, feeling void in my stomach.

"Excuse me, sir?" I call a few feet away.

"Ah, you're awake, that's good. I was going to have to pull you out soon."

"How long have I been up here?"

"About four hours, I'd say."

I must have been transported here after noon.

"Well, come on then," the guard says while walking down the stairs.

"Where are we going?" I follow him.

"I'm to take you to the mess hall, then take you to a cot for bed." He stops and half turns to look at me. He's about to say something, but decides not to and continues forward.

Am I in the wrong? No it's society's fault. I continue as well.