You shall provide hospitality to new arrivals. You shall not discourage a new arrival's progress in any way, except where such discouragement is part of a thoughtful, well-organized, and properly managed initiation. Such initiations may be determined by the regional authority.

–Greater Archscholar Mellior Cruskin, The Verses II.5.i

"He's waking up, now," Andy heard Kermit hoarsely whisper.

Andy opened his eyes. He was back in his room at Tobo's Tavern. Arlene and Kermit were by his side.

Arlene smiled gently at him.

"You passed," she said.

Andy felt sluggish, perhaps, but overall, he was well rested. The weightless, guiltless peace that had enveloped him during the initiation was still present, soothing him. It was softer, quieter, less intense, but it was there nonetheless, buzzing in the background.

"Oh thank goodness," Tobo said, sighing loudly. "Welcome back, Andy. How are you feeling?"

"I am… surprisingly good actually. How long was I out?" Andy asked.

"A few hours," said Arlene. "All three of us were, apparently."

"Who was that horrible guy?" Andy asked.

Tobo's face grew more serious.

"The experience you had at the temple, that was an encounter with a demon," Tobo said in a hushed whisper.

Arlene nodded knowingly.

Andy guessed she and Kermit had already gotten the scoop.

"It was a what now?" Andy asked.

"A demon," said Tobo.

"And you didn't think to inform us?" Andy said with a hint of indignation.

Tobo looked down at the floor.

"I hate it, I absolutely do, and I understand if you're angry with me. I wish I could have told you. The only defense I can offer is that all Cresthaveners are bound by a special oath to keep the initiation secret from new arrivals. It has been the edict of the nobility since recorded history. If I had warned you, I'd have risked my life and possibly the lives of many of my colleagues."

"Your life?" Andy said. "That seems a bit harsh."

"To disobey a noble edict is considered treason in Cresthaven…" Tobo trailed off.

Andy was surprised. Since they had arrived, they had been treated so kindly. They had received great hospitality both from Rowan and Lilly as well as Tobo. Even at Grubb's, the reprimand they had gotten from the stranger, it seemed to come from a place of kindness.

Andy had thought that cruelty and brutality, as in the case of Gar, was the exception. Could it be, in fact, the rule?

"The truth is," Tobo continued, "if I were in charge, I would do things very differently. But what do I know, I'm neither a wizard nor a scholar… I'm only a tavern owner."

Tobo stared off, his face blank for an awkwardly long time.

"I still don't understand how the magic worked," Arlene said, breaking the tension and snapping Tobo back to the present moment.

"It was the work of a demon," said Tobo. "Demons operate by tempting you to despair."

Andy hadn't thought about it in those terms, but it made complete sense. The hairless man, the demon, had tried to get Andy to abandon himself, which was tantamount to giving up hope… hope that the past could be redeemed, that he was a person worth struggling for. The demon had tried to turn him against himself.

"Is that the same test everyone gets?" Andy asked.

"Everyone who comes through Cresthaven, yes."

"But it was so painful," said Andy. "I know we're immune at level 0 and all that… but it felt like he could've killed us."

"Well… about that… he could have," Tobo said.

Andy's draw dropped, as well as Arlene's and Kermit's. Apparently they were all hearing this part for the first time.

"What!?" Arlene said. "Why wouldn't you inform us that we could die?"

"Edict," Tobo said.

Arlene let out a scoff.

"Look," said Tobo. "Ever since Cresthaven's founding, millenia ago, the nobility have required otherworlders to be tested for their courage and moral bravery."

"I can think of other ways to test that," Andy said.

"Well," Tobo looked conflicted, "in reality, many believe that the nobility felt threatened by otherworlders, so they devised a set of initiations that were designed to be tests of character in name only… In reality, their purpose may have been to diminish the numbers of otherworlders who progressed to level 1."

"Wait, really?" Arlene scoffed. "That's so cynical!"

"Admittedly, I find such reasoning disturbing," said Tobo, "But as it stands, that is the way things are run. The nobility found that the most effective way to System-legally discourage an otherworlder is to make them an enemy of themselves in the context of a difficult spiritual trial."

"Why a demon though?" Andy asked. "Why go through such an elaborate plan just to scare people away?"

"Well," Tobo began, then stopped.

He stood up and peeked his head out into the hallway, looking both ways for anyone who might be within earshot. Satisfied that no one was listening, he closed the door and sat back down.

"Plausible deniability. It's something called the initiatory exception clause. The System prohibits any regional government to discourage the progress of otherworlders, except where such discouragement is part of a thoughtful, well-organized, and properly managed initiation. Each region is allowed to decide their own initiations as they see fit. Cresthaven took great liberties with their initiations. But…"

He trailed off for a moment, considering his words before he continued.

"I really shouldn't be speaking this way, ok?" Tobo said. "But I'm trusting you, and I think you have the right to know how things work here. This isn't technically forbidden by the edict… it's just history after all… but I could get in big trouble if anyone heard me speaking this way, so you'll keep this between us, right?"

"Of course," Andy said.

Tobo nodded, satisfied with his answer. He continued.

"A region could get in big trouble if they defy the laws of the System, and according to The Verses, every spawn city must offer exceptional hospitality to new arrivals, and must in no way discourage their progress. I, as a tavern owner, am intimately familiar with the hospitality requirements. They exist to help level 0's acclimate, to encourage their progress. But the nobility found that if they provided exceptional hospitality in food, lodging, and entertainment, they could also ramp up the intensity of their initiation tests… almost to the point of System-illegality."

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"How so?" Andy asked.

"Well, if their initiation methods were questioned, they could point to their incredible hospitality to demonstrate their pro-otherworlder sentiment. Worst case scenario, they'd get a slap on the wrist."

"I see," Arlene said, "So you believe that Cresthaven authorities treat level 0's exceptionally well so that they can also employ exceptionally harsh initiations?"

"Precisely," he said. "And the fact of the matter is, the contrast between a warm welcome and a demonic initiation often only made the latter more unbearable than it would have been on its own. In short, the Cresthaven nobility succeeded in creating a completely System-legal initiation process that causes over 75% of new arrivals either to die or to quit before hitting level 1."

The room fell silent.

Andy suddenly felt sick. All of that great food, the friendliness, the warmth… Rowan and Lilly… it had all been founded on a cruel, cynical lie millenia ago?

"But look, the three of you overcame the trial. We're on the other side of it now. Until the arena, at least."

Tobo winced at his own words like an oaf who had just knocked over a shelf of china at an antique shop.

"What is going to happen at the arena?" Arlene asked. "Yesterday, you said it was a test of combat and problem-solving, but then again, I didn't know that this city was run like an evil empire yesterday. Now I don't know what to think. I want more details. Now."

"The arena can be a dangerous ordeal," Tobo said. "But death rates are extremely low for those who decide to continue after their initiation."

"Sounds like level 0 protections don't apply to the arena, either?" Andy asked.

"Correct."

"So, you mean they're going to try to kill us?" Arlene asked.

"The truth is, it depends on who plans your initiation," Tobo said. "Some will go very easy on you. In fact, I've seen some arena performances that involved almost no combat at all. But I've seen others that were… difficult to watch."

"Who's planning our initiation?" Andy asked.

"Usually a member of the Noble Court," Tobo said. "But it's impossible to know until after the fact."

Andy moved to sit up.

"Despite the difficult customs of our city, most people just want to get along, even most nobles. Nobody wants a bloodbath in there," Tobo said.

But Andy didn't know if he was convinced.

"Now, enough dreary talk," Tobo said. "Let's move downstairs!"

The group rose to their feet, but Tobo pulled Andy aside.

"I know what happened to you this morning was difficult. But the experience you had there," Tobo said, leaning in and whispering so that only Andy could hear him, "the trial that you overcame, it is a treasure. Hold it in your heart and it will light your path when things become dark. You cannot change what you have endured, but you can use it."

At first, Andy wanted to protest, but he decided to consider Tobo's words.

After a moment, Andy nodded. He understood. What Tobo was saying was true. Despite the difficult history behind the practice, it had done something to him. Something in him had clicked in his encounter with the demon. Something new.

He now saw himself, his previous life, not with the hatred and embarrassment that had weighed him down his entire life, but rather with compassion and love. He had to learn to accept his past. To embrace it.

It had taken a demon to make that happen.

The afterlife was not a renunciation of his earthly life, it was a continuation. He had valuable lessons to learn here, but he had to own his earthly life too. It all mattered.

He remembered the feeling of releasing his judgment, of looking on himself with love, and the peace flooded him once again. He felt lighter.

"Well now," Tobo continued as he headed into the hallway, now at full volume. "Let's have a post-lunch meal, shall we?"

"Post-lunch?" Andy asked. "Isn't that just dinner?"

"Oh come on now," Tobo said with a hearty laugh. "Dinner isn't for a few hours yet."

***

The post-lunch meal was modest by Cresthaven standards. Chicken salad finger-sandwiches, a small bowl of fruit, some kind of hearty soup, and piping hot tea. Delicious as usual.

"Now," Tobo said in between bites, "you do need to review your feats today. You're scheduled for your slot in the arena tomorrow."

"Oh yes," Andy said. "I've thought about it."

"Me too," said Arlene.

The air was a bit heavier since their previous conversation, but that didn't prevent the group from getting excited about their builds.

"I know what I want to take," said Kermit. "spells, animals, healing, and recipes!"

"Well, you are opting for a very interesting configuration indeed!" Tobo said. "And I, as a culinary professional, admire your dedication to foodcraft."

Arlene looked nervous.

"Kermit," she said, "are you sure you want to take a crafting class's feat? I'm not going to tell you what to do, and you can make your own choice, but don't you want something that will help you a bit more if you get into a dangerous situation?"

Kermit shrugged.

"I want to be a cook when I grow up," said Kermit. "I just decided that today."

Arlene smiled.

"Now," Tobo said, "in the boy's defense, the crafting classes are often underrated. Although they may be less directly useful in combat, they are still quite advantageous. You can make a long, storied, and successful career as a builder, farmer, smith, or enchanter. That's for sure."

"I'm just worried," said Arlene. "I am concerned about an optimal distribution of the party's resou–"

"Oh come now," Tobo cut in. "What really matters is your heart, your will, your resolve. What matters is what you believe in. It's not so much how you fight, it's what you fight for. And I believe after today, the three of you have all proven yourselves quite full of heart."

Arlene nodded and took a bite of her sandwich.

"There's something to be said for approaching combat with an optimal strategy, though. Right? "

"Of course there's something to be said for that," Tobo said, "but ultimately if the boy wants to learn how to cook, then allow him to learn how to cook!"

"I do want to learn how to cook," said Kermit. "And make friends with animals and cast spells and heal people. Those all seem like nice things."

"Now," Tobo said. "Which spells were you considering? Wizard or sorcerer?"

Kermit looked puzzled.

"I can't remember," he said.

"That's no problem at all," said Tobo. "Here's the difference: the wizard spells use a word to create a push in the air, to slow down projectiles, and to levitate small objects. The sorcerer spells use a gesture to summon elementals or cause a blinding light."

"What is an elemental?" asked Kermit.

"An elemental is a spirit associated with nature, whether that's earth, water, fire, or air. The minor elementals, the ones you could summon with that spell, are little creatures not unlike fairies or sprites. They won't deal much damage, but they can certainly come in handy during both combat and non-combat situations."

"I like fairies," said Kermit. "That's what I want."

"Very good!" Tobo exclaimed. "Ah, are we wrapping up here? Allow me."

Tobo gathered up the plates as the group finished eating and headed toward the kitchen. As he approached the door, the faun came from the kitchen and took the plates from Tobo.

"Oh, thank you so much," said Tobo, returning to the table.

"I'm curious, what were the feats that the other two of you had in mind?" Tobo asked.

"I'm considering something like a sniper," Arlene said. "I want to be able to use a longbow at a long distance, hidden in the dark."

"Ah, so you'll be using Favored Weapon no doubt," Tobo said.

"Correct," Arlene said.

"Along with, what, Blend into Shadow, and… what else?"

"Righteous Wrath, and Alchemy Bomb," said Arlene.

"Oh ho ho whoaaa," Tobo said with a deep belly laugh. "I like the way you think. And you're planning on affixing the alchemical explosives to your arrows, eh?"

"That's the idea," said Arlene.

Tobo thought it over for a moment. His expression went from impressed to puzzled to impressed again.

"I like it!" he said. "And what about you, Andy?"

"More of a classic fighter I think," Andy said. "With a greatsword."

"I love that for you," Tobo said. "It seems fitting. So you'll take Favored Weapon for your greatsword, right? What about the other three slots?"

"Fluid Strike, Wallop, and Drain."

"My my," said Tobo. "That is quite a fearsome combination. Well, I couldn't have picked a loadout better myself."

"So when do we actually, you know, get our feats?" Andy asked.

"Tomorrow as you enter the arena," Tobo said. "There will be representatives from each class guild there to explain and confer their level 0 feats. Your group is at an advantage with the papers we've provided, but book study is no replacement for practical experience. You'll still want some basic instruction and tips from the guild representatives before the real arena challenge begins."

"That makes sense," said Arlene. "So we get another afternoon off?"

"Correct!" said Tobo, "And I do suggest you take plenty of time to recover. You'll have a very long day tomorrow."