New player welcome package consumed [https://i.imgur.com/YxaII4q.png]
Welcome to the starting point [https://i.imgur.com/XSehIIn.png]
Screw you, you stupid screen. Get out of my face.
Disable screen? [https://i.imgur.com/4sToZcR.png]
HELL YES.
With that, the screen vanishes, and she can look properly around this large room decorated with aging furniture, antique paintings hanging from worn walls.
Lexi hadn’t been impressed with this supposed viscount’s castle, but at least it looked like solid enough shelter and there hadn’t been any rats or other pests running around.
Someone in a suit - probably the butler, though his clothes looked a little shabby and his shoulders stooped, big no-no’s for someone responsible for greeting visitors - had said something about notifying the master, and then she’d been carried to this room by one of the knights that the others called “Vice”.
Probably because the man is built like a brick shithouse, with arms the size of tree trunks, and therefore the only person who can pick her up princess-carry style and rush off without needing a chiropractor.
She can’t remember the last time someone managed to carry her like this, usually they needed to use the fireman carry and then too their steps and breathing were obviously labored.
Maids gently wash her injuries, and a healer has apparently been called as someone hands her warm tea to drink.
Lexi is too thirsty to inspect the contents or the cup carefully, since the knights had had barely any water left for her to drink seeing as they were so near home. Gulping it down greedily, the warmth spreads quickly from her chest and it helps her relax even as the gentlest touch to her mangled skin burns.
“My lady!”
A man who’s probably the viscount comes running in, clothes looking like they’d been put on in a hurry - what on earth was he doing at this hour? - and stops several feet away from her.
“My lady.” Seeming to remember himself, he places one weathered hand on his chest before clenching it into a fist and bowing. “Seffran of House Brego greets the player.”
Lexi has always been terrible with names, especially when she has more important things on her mind.
It seems the Viscount Breton is in charge of this distant corner of the empire, and responsible for ensuring player characters who appeared (you mean ‘spawned randomly’) in the nearby forest would safely make it to the capital.
Though from what the knights told her earlier, it’s been seven years since the last player had sought help from a member of the viscounty.
And it seems no one has a clue as to why.
They hadn’t been able to find the players no matter what, the knight captain had explained. Despite filling the forest with soldiers day and night for more than two years, not a single hint of a player had been found since the last one had run screaming like a banshee towards him with a horde of monsters hot on his All Star heels.
Eventually, a seasoned player with oracle powers had explained to the viscount - Lexi assumes it was at steep cost, judging by the slight shift in tone of voice and facial expression - that players are ‘cloaked’ by the ‘system’ until they complete the ‘welcome stage’, so no amount of searching or stakeouts will help.
Which means that for the past seven years, everyone else had either failed to activate the welcome package, or faced penalties from failure to adhere to the conditions.
Shuddering slightly at the thought, Lexi pulls the soft blanket a maid had wrapped her in tighter around herself.
“My lady, please do not fear.” This man’s brown eyes hold a light that makes them look younger than his face indicates he should be. “House Brego will guarantee your safety while you recover, and while we journey towards the capital for your initiation to the Guild.”
Guild?
Seeing her confusion, the viscount clears his throat slightly before straightening and speaking. The man she assumes is the butler is trying to subtly adjust his master’s clothes, and the sight of that distracts her a little before she forcefully tunes in on the droning coming from Viscount Begone.
I suppose he’s the ‘starting guide’.
The arrival of the healer midway, and her magic, distract Lexi a little more but eventually she pieces the guide’s words together and starts to grasp what’s going on.
Of course there’s crystals and gods and demon armies.
It’s cliché as hell, but what’s interesting are the differences between players' backgrounds pre-spawning.
From the sounds of it, some of the others had died or were dying, while others are like her - randomly spawning at different designated zones while going about their lives as usual. But it seems not all of them come from the same ‘real world’, which had led several of the sage players to hypothesize about parallel universes and timelines.
What amuses her most is the fact that apparently some unfortunate souls had been ‘summoned’ while in the shower, on the toilet, or doing the horizontal tango.
Thank God I stopped to read that email.
If she hadn’t, she would’ve been caught in quite the situation by that monster - the knight captain said she’d been describing a forest hare, and she’d looked at him like he’d gone mad as a hatter at the incongruous name - and probably not have made it out.
The maids are quiet as they bathe her, and she takes a moment from her musing to play with long strands of white hair.
Her natural hair and eye color are dark brown.
Earlier, when she’d caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror she’d screamed and jerked, smacking an unfortunate servant on the shoulder, but then the viscount had explained a change in coloring is normal among players. Apparently it happened as soon as they completed the welcome stage, but Lexi had been too distracted by the knights and her own poor condition to notice.
From having common coloring in her world, to hair and eyes like this...she’s not sure how to feel about it.
Why couldn’t the system have helped me lose the excess weight instead?
She’s not complaining about the eye color though. Or the fact that players' eyes have an element which differentiates them from NPCs: all those who come from other worlds have crystal eyes instead of 'normal' ones.
Though...why is the system making sure we'd never be mistaken for a local? Is there a reason for it?
The clothes they dress her in after drying her off are a little loose, and Lexi inwardly wonders how tall and well-built the previous players who’d worn these are, before she’s settled into a chair in front of a large table some poor souls had brought in grunting and panting earlier, and food is served on silver platters before her.
It’s common in webtoons for the food in such houses to look absolutely amazing, and for the first time since she’d stared death in the face she’s a little happy about being here because she’d always secretly wanted to enter a fantasy world and feast like this.
Even though the viscounty hasn’t earned a single coin from the crown in seven years, they seem to have pulled out all the stops for her meal. Lexi half hopes there isn’t a repeat of this, and wonders if the reason why the loaned clothes are a little loose is because all players that arrive in this castle are fattened up before being brought to the capital.
The capital.
It’s where the imperial family and many high ranking nobles reside, as well as a large commoner population, of course. More importantly, it’s where all players choose to make their homes, since they need to report to the Guild before and after each quest they undertake, and each dungeon they clear.
Later, when she’s stuffed so full she can barely breathe, Lexi calls up the screen once more.
“Show me my stats and skills.”
Command accepted [https://i.imgur.com/G4rRFNo.png]
The screen morphs to the familiar layout from video games, with her profile image in a round frame on the top left and her name under it, other bio data listed next to it, and sections for stats, skills, and the like below.
Fortunately, the viscount had prepared her for the name change.
All players who emerge from the forest near the Begonia viscounty receive the last name ‘Hargreaves’, a place-name that apparently meant ‘grove filled with rabbits’ or ‘grove on the border’ - both of which were apt, considering the ‘forest hare’ that had greeted her as soon as she’d crossed the border to this world.
So we retain our first names, but our last names change to reflect where we’ve spawned from.
Another interesting facet of this world that she’d paid attention to during the viscount’s monotonous introduction is the fact that players stop aging once they're summoned, so she'd remain forever 29 unless something major happens - like a software update, I suppose.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Level 1. Class ???. Attribute: Time [https://i.imgur.com/Ixz22uc.png]
Shouldn’t my class be mage or something similar? What’s with the question marks?
Poking at the symbols doesn't do anything, neither does swiping or pressing and holding, so Lexi rolls her eyes and moves on, glancing to the rightmost column on the top row.
HP 10/10. MP 10/10. EXP 0/1,000 [https://i.imgur.com/nMmAnxV.png]
This stingy system!
A low HP base stat Lexi understands, as well as low MP given her level. But zero EXP after all that running and clambering and scrambling was ridiculous - it should have at least given her a little something for getting through all that.
I can’t believe it really didn’t give a single EXP, not even as a token for completing the welcome stage. I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t try taking on that crazy monster - would’ve just been a waste of my time and energy for absolutely zero return.
Earlier this thing said ‘EXP acquisition to commence’ now that the welcome package has been consumed, but ‘no EXP granted during starting guide introduction’. How long is the ‘starting guide introduction’ phase? Is it already over? Can I start earning EXP now, or should I hold back on making an effort until later?
How do I even earn EXP? Do I need to grind the hard way, or are there other quests that don’t involve fighting?
There isn’t a little question mark icon that she can tap for explanations, no Settings button for access to Help or FAQs.
Glaring at the screen, she can’t resist slapping it though her hand simply passes right through.
Damn it!
Taking deep breaths to calm herself, Lexi glances down at the stats and just gets annoyed once more.
P-ATK: 1. M-ATK: 1. P-DEF: 1. M-DEF: 1 [https://i.imgur.com/Ms0dkMV.png]
Oh for heaven’s sake! Screw you! How the hell am I supposed to fight monsters to gain EXP with this shit?!
Do all players start at such weak levels or is it just her?
Though, a small part of Lexi feels a little proud that she’d survived the welcome stage with such pathetic stats.
Stop it. That’s a real jackass move when others have died.
The reminder that no other player had made it to the safety of the viscount’s castle in seven years is sobering, and she tamps down on the feelings she shouldn’t be having.
Lexi's Level 1 Base Stats [https://i.imgur.com/i0TEg94.png]
As expected: horrible physical related statistics, though the intelligence, charisma, and luck stats are somewhat within expectations given who she is.
Pretty much confirms it: I’m a back row magic damage dealer. And my crappy HP, MP, and stats mean I’ll need to be carried until I level up.
While she’s not stupid enough to think she can solo fights as she is now, it still annoys her immensely because she hates relying on others when most people are selfish and fickle.
Hmm?
-- Stat points available: 0 --
Ugh. What was I expecting. I’ll probably get some when I level up. Stupid system.
Level 1 Active Skills: Foresight and 3 unknown skills [https://i.imgur.com/CK4qLBJ.png]
Level 1 Passive Skills: Guide & 3 unknown [https://i.imgur.com/QdAMEDF.png]
Ultimate skills: level up to unlock [https://i.imgur.com/4mOOIn1.png]
The vague level requirement is annoying as hell, but more importantly...
Foresight? And Guide?
This time poking at the skill works, a pop-up box appearing with a description.
Guide Indicates items and people important to player’s journey. Level up to unlock additional abilities. [https://i.imgur.com/OZqUmWv.png]
Well, thanks I guess? Isn’t this stuff supposed to be a given in games? What a waste of a skill slot.
Foresight Grants user ability to see the future. Length and duration at current level: up to 5 minutes in the future for 5 seconds. MP required: 5 [https://i.imgur.com/Z1bTKwH.png]
“HALF my MP for just 5 seconds of view 5 minutes in the future?!”
Furious, Lexi swats at the box which causes another window to appear.
System screen: use skill - Foresight? [https://i.imgur.com/VMbLxm8.png]
“What? No no no!” Jabbing furiously at the ‘no’ option, she heaves a frustrated sigh and facepalms.
“Did Dean make this system?”
It definitely raises her blood pressure as quickly and easily as her incompetent CEO does.
Huffing, Lexi throws herself back on the pillows and pulls the satin covers over her shoulders.
If this is like most games, my HP and MP will refill with a good rest.
The thought of using the only active skill she has available is tempting, but what’s the point when she’s in a comfortable bed in some viscount’s castle, and (according to Viscount Brittany) closely guarded by knights at all times?
Forget it. Let’s just go to sleep.
The light doesn’t fade, so she glares at the screen before disabling it.
As far as transmigration stories go, this is pretty crap.
----------------------------------------
She’s dressed in another loose gown and robe, and fed well again in the morning. By the time she’s done with her meal, Lexi’s seriously starting to wonder if players really go to the capital to register at the Guild or end up in a slaughterhouse instead.
It’s probably the same thing.
The capital is the center of commerce and society, which means it’s a place filled with monsters in human skin.
I’ve made enough mistakes to last a lifetime.
While Lexi had led quite a charmed life back home, that doesn’t mean it’d been without its share of issues and regrets.
Don’t dwell on it. As long as you don’t screw up the way you did before, it’s a good start.
It’d been luck that had carried her through in the past with minimal repercussions.
Luck and her father.
Stop it.
“My lady?”
A hushed, deferential whisper like that would have gone unnoticed by most.
“Come in.”
The mousy looking maid who shuffles in timidly is absolutely a stereotype of this genre, but Lexi is willing to overlook it out of gratitude for the servant snapping her out of her spiral.
“What is it?”
The maid - Anne? Anna? Ana? Ava? - peeks up at her before hurriedly averting her gaze downwards, bowing lower in the process as small hands tremble where they grip a worn apron.
Is it my eyes?
“M...my lady, the m..master has invited you to make full use of the library.” This maid needs to calm down. “Th..though the library p...p...pales in comparison to those in the c...c...c...capital, the master h...hopes it provides some assistance to you.”
Library, huh. I wonder if the books will glint or glimmer to indicate key titles.
Curiosity piqued, Lexi rises and has to order the maid to lead the way before the terrified servant moves.
What’s got her so scared?
Maybe this is normal in this world? Differences in status and all that?
But everyone else didn't act like this though.
It’s a few drafty corridors along before she picks up on whispers.
“...don’t you think so?”
There’s an edge to the voice that makes Lexi pay attention immediately.
“The first Hargreaves in seven years, it’s strange I’m telling you!”
Another voice this time, and Lexi clenches her teeth at that familiar mocking tone. “Maybe she ate the others?”
Muffled laughter grates, then a higher but equally wretched voice chimes in. “Looking at her size, it’s possible!”
The shuffling of the maid leading her to the library falters, and then thin shoulders tremble as slight sniffles fill the air.
Are you serious?
It hurts, and suddenly Lexi isn’t at all excited or curious anymore.
The maid in front of her fears the player’s wrath, while the maids around the corner somewhere continue their spiteful conversation.
Stop it.
She’s not sure who she’s saying that to, who she wishes she could say it to, and other castle staff jerk back and bow low when they see her before more whispers fill Lexi’s ears during the long walk to the library.
When at last they arrive, she closes the door in the maid’s face and tries to calm down, tries not to lash out, tries not to repeat the same mistake of giving them what they want to see, doing what they want you to do...
It takes awhile, but she refuses to give in to the provocation. Especially when she hasn't done anything wrong in this world, which means they're trying to make her screw up so they can then tear her character apart with her reaction as 'proof' she deserves it.
They were all fine yesterday, even up until breakfast. So why...?
Blinking, Lexi stares at the windows letting in weak sunlight.
That’s right, something must have happened just now.
Hurriedly moving away from the door, she murmurs under her breath for the skill window.
Should I?
With the Foresight skill, it’s all about timing. If she had more MP she would have used it freely, but with effectively only two uses per day, she’d need to get it absolutely right.
But how will I know when is the right time? I don’t even know what’s going on!
Looking wildly around as though hoping an answer would pop out and announce itself with full fanfare, a faint glimmer catches her eye.
Is that...?
Moving closer, the glimmer seems to fade in and out, and it’s a few rows of hide and seek before Lexi finally spots the tome on the second highest shelf of a book case.
This close, the book is practically sparkling.
So this is the Guide passive skill.
Stepping closer, she squints at faded words on a weathered spine.
”Crystal Tower: A History”?
The title reminds Lexi of a fictional book in another fictional book, but she pushes the thought aside, pulling it off the shelf and watching as the sparkles move from the spine to the corners of the cover, as though urging her to open the leather-bound tome.
Flipping it to the first page, blinking at the dust that emerges from the hasty action, she starts to understand what’s going on.
> "It began in the year 2,945C, when a woman pale of hair and cold of eyes emerged from the forest near present-day Brego, wielding a strange power over time."
Oh no...
Things start to make sense, the more she reads and her mind whirls.
The knights who’d found her yesterday must have initially thought the word she’d yelled to attract their attention had been “hey” or something of the like, given the direction the wind had been blowing.
One or more knights on duty last night must have heard her outburst about the Foresight skill, though maybe they’d waited to check with the captain since she assumes the knights worked in shifts.
That must be why everything had been fine until after breakfast, when the knights on duty last night reported what they’d overheard to the captain and their colleagues who’d found her.
It’s not like I asked to be here, or asked for this stupid magic!
When her ears pick up the sound of heavy footsteps and metallic thuds approaching along stone corridors, Lexi shoves the pity party out the proverbial window and speed reads like never before.
> "Though the great mage contributed immensely to the prosperity of the Lunar kingdom, by the year 3,000C the truth became clear about the reason behind her generous assistance."
The footsteps are passing the section of library wall closest to her.
> "On the first twin moon of the year, during the feasts of the Goddesses Verita and Spesa, the ageless saint brought the sparkling eldest daughter of the Great Moon Goddess crashing down into the ground, destroying the holy mountain range that guards the continent from demonic beasts, the force of impact creating powerful waves that leveled towns and villages, the rumble of displaced boulders seeking new homes unceasing as a great dust cloud blanketed the world."
There are voices now, angry and fearful beyond the library door.
> "When at last the sun shone once more upon the survivors of the calamity and the year of darkness that followed it, the bravest among us dared venture towards where the holy mountains once stood. And it is there that the founder of the current Empire of the Sun beheld the true terror that lay in wait for this forsaken land."
The voices are getting louder and more agitated.
> "A corrupt tower had formed from the fallen moon of Truth, and all around it assembled an army of demons the likes of which the world had never seen. And lo, when Emperor Luxendia lifted his gaze towards the heavens, upon the highest peak of the seething tower did he see her - she who had come in peace and offered kindness, she who knew of all things to come and all things that passed, she who commanded the flow of time and remained ageless alone, the..."
“DEMON!”
Startled, Lexi almost drops the book, barely catching it in time and spinning around to stare in the direction of the heavy wooden door that’s probably shaking dangerously thanks to heavy thumps against it by fists of metal.
WHAT?!
Hurriedly finding the page, she tries to pick up where she left off.
It sounds like a particularly heavy strike has the doors splintering and swinging open viciously, and then she hears a suit of armor slamming hard into the ground as a pained and muffled cry indicates some sort of face covering.
“Vice! What are you DOING?!”
The cacophony of chaos is too loud for her to make out a response, to understand anything except hate-filled voices tinged with fear and desperation, and Lexi hurriedly summons the skill menu.
System screen: use skill - Foresight? [https://i.imgur.com/VMbLxm8.png]
“Kill the demon!”
No time like the present.
----------------------------------------
CHAPTER 2 END