I lay on the floor by my victim, Fred hovering nervously nearby. Eventually I summoned the energy to begin dismissing the combat notifications until finally I reached the rewards for my gruesome deed.

Opponent Vanquished: 150,700 xp

Congratulations. You have reached level 8

You have 35 Class Points remaining.

Achievement Unlocked: Sagekiller

Sages are the pinnacle of their craft. Kingdoms tremble beneath the gaze of these walking legends. The balance of the world shifts with their death, and above their body stands you, glorious.

+2% to experience gain

+5% to all attributes

Title Unlocked: Sagekiller

 Class Unlocked: Sage of Knowledge

The Sage of Knowledge is devoted to study and learning. Class skills are focused on improving experience gain and the development of mental and theory based skills. Over time, by taking advantage of these bonuses, the Sage will truly become a magic user unlike any other.

5 Class points per level

Attribute modifiers:

Physical

0.75

Strength

0.5

Dexterity

1

Endurance

0.5

Constitution

0.5

Mental

1.5

Intelligence

2

Willpower

2

Charisma

1.5

Perception

1

Luck

0.1

Prerequisites:

25 Mental Skills and Subskills, Spell Theory Level 500, Mana Manipulation level 1000, Spell Crafting level 100, Two Casting Skills at level 100, Intelligence 100, Willpower 100 , No Current Sage of Knowledge

When I finally worked up the motivation to stand, I began to survey my surroundings. Where I’d been expecting a gruesome, bloody visage; I instead found myself in a modest bedroom. By the bed was my short guide, Fred, and on the bed was a glowing, golden orb. As I looked around for any sign of the body or blood, I asked ‘I unlocked a new Class, what does that mean?’

‘When you reach level 20 you gain the chance to adopt another Class or Subclass. Subclasses augment your original Class, giving you access to new Skills. When you choose a new Class, however, it starts at level one and grows independently of your other Class, albeit twice as slowly. Once both your classes reach at least level 30 you can once again choose a new Class or Subclass. More generally every time the levels of all your classes reach the next multiple of 10 you are offered the same chance. Each extra Class you take on grows twice as slowly as the previous, however.’

I nodded absently, already focused on the glowing orb in front of me. I reached out and touched it, immediately a message appeared asking if I would like to loot the body. I selected loot all, and it was quickly replaced by a new popup.

You are over-encumbered.

Suddenly I felt as if a huge weight was pulling me down, forcing me to my knees. Barely able to move, I stumbled over to the bed, collapsing onto it.

‘Fred, help. I can’t move. It says I’m over-encumbered.’

The little imp just sighed and shook is head. ‘Drop it all. We’ll take a look over it and see what’s worth carrying. With your abysmal strength you can’t manage much.’

After a little messing around I managed to open my inventory and dump its contents onto the floor. It was books, a huge pile of books. Plus a few more grey robes llke the one I was wearing, it seemed the old man didn’t have much variation in his wardrobe. I rolled my eyes, I had been hoping for more. As I looked over my haul, I spotted one book, poking out from under the heap, that seemed to glow. I pulled it from the pile and ran my hand over the cover. It seemed to pulse with power. I opened it.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Would you like to read: Unknown Skill Book?

Shrugging, I opted to read it.

Legendary Skill Unlocked: Skill Steal

Steal the skills of your vanquished foes. You’ve reached a level of understanding of experience gain beyond any other, it allows you to sometimes extract the knowledge of a previously unknown Skill from those you’ve slain.

0.25% chance to learn a Skill per level

Max Level 100

I reconsidered by previous evaluation of the loot, it seemed I’d struck gold here after all. Fred informed me I was indeed incredibly fortunate. Legendary skills were almost unheard of, and jealously guarded by those who possessed them. They were typically earnt as rewards for the most challenging of quests, or other outlandish feats. That I found one in a Skill Book spoke to the now ex-Sage's talents.

I considered the potential of my new skill as I continued to search the pile. It was full of suggestive titles like Dimensional Casting, Advanced Summoning and Arcane Channeling. Eventually I reached a book I couldn’t help but read immediately. It was simply titled Fireball.

Skill Unlocked: Fire Casting

Improve your understanding of, and affinity for, fire spells. One of the major elements, fire spells typically involve large areas of effect and overwhelming damage. The greatest of fire mages can rain death and destruction down upon their foes.

+2% Damage and Effect Radius of fire based spells per level

-0.75% Mana Usage for fire spells per level

Fire Casting Subskill Unlocked: Fireball

Throw great balls of fire at your enemies. No introduction necessary.

Allows casting of Fireball

Mana Cost: 100

Damage: 60

Effect Radius: 1m

+10% Damage per level

+10% Effect Radius per level

+5% Mana Usage per level

Max Level 50

Grinning I lifted my hands and, without a second thought, I yelled ‘Fireball’. There was a strange sensation, as if something were being drained from me, then suddenly a brilliant, red ball of fire struck the wooden wall in front of me. Within seconds the whole room was aflame, the pile of books burning fiercely in the center.

‘Sweet Lady, what have I done?’

I ran.

Running Subskill Unlocked: Sprinting

Move at massively increased speed for a short time. As you race to improve your skills you will reach the pinnacle of land basesd speed.

Stamina Cost: 10% per second

Percentage Speed Increase: 2*Stamina Cost

I made it outside, fortunately the fire was slow to spread to the rest of the house. I sat in the clearing watching the house, and the huge wealth of knowledge it contained, go up in smoke while lamenting my poor decision making. I’d joined this game to prove that I could stand on my own to feet, that I could be worth something my own right, not just by association with Derik. As the house burned, I pledged to myself to be better, to do better. To be more careful, and not be sidetracked from my true goal. I would be unyielding, ruthless even as I pursued my aims.

As I lay on the forest floor, dreaming of my success, I heard a soft growl from outside the clearing. I stood quickly, looking around worriedly. I soon saw a pair of gleaming red eyes looking out into the night. I’d been in this kind of situation before many times, so I did what I always do. Once again, I ran.

I made it three steps, perhaps four, before I felt a sharp, burning pain in my back. For a few seconds I was in total agony before the world faded away, replaced by a single message.

You have died.

I awoke on a cold stone slab, the light streaming in above me through resplendent stained-glass windows. I groaned softly and pulled myself into a sitting position. Looking around I recognised the tell-tale signs of a place of worship. Statues and religious iconography where placed tastefully around the other-wise bare interior of the room. The only exceptions were 10 great stone slabs in the center, my own included. The walls were similarly furnished, mostly white stone with sparsely placed paintings. The entire domed ceiling, however, was a single great piece of art. Entirely made of colored glass, it seemed to depict a sacrifice of some kind. Throughout it ran shiny black streaks of an obisidian like substance, no doubt meant to signify the Darkness or some such.

As I ran my eyes over the scene, I eventually turned around, finding myself face to face with a man in gleaming white armor. It was unlike the heavy plate I was used to seeing, instead it was tight and form fitting, without a single break. I traced the outline of his figure, finding not a single imperfection, until my eyes reached his face. Unthinkingly I blurted out, ‘Are you an angel?’

‘Hahahahaha,’ his deep laugh reverberated across the room. ‘I’m nothing of the sort lad. I’m Xeres, I run the White Knights guild. You’ve respawned in the Temple of Light.’

He paused for a moment, looking me up and down. ‘You know, kid, it’s traditional to put some clothes on, even if you lost your main equipment when you died.’

I blushed furiously. I was naked again. I must have lost my clothes when I died and been so caught up in my surroundings since then that I hadn’t realised. ‘I, err. I don’t have any?’.

He frowned. ‘None at all? What happened to your starting equipment? It should be Soulbound.’

‘I, I’m not sure. I was wearing a robe when I died, it’s all I had. I’m not even sure how I did, maybe it was destroyed when I did’ I replied. Still embarrassed by my nakedness I didn’t want to admit I’d decided it would be a good idea to go without a Class, I hoped your equipment being destroyed was a possibility.

‘Hmmm. You must have been PK’d, tough luck kid.’

Seeing my puzzlement he sighed, producing a simple grey robe, much like the one I’d been wearing previously and passing it to me.

‘Here take this, I’ve been practicing my enchanting and this was going to be used for materials. It looks like you need it more than I do.’

I hurriedly equipped it as he continued talking.

‘PK’d means player killed. Normally when you die you lose most of your items but keep a portion of your gold and any items which have been Soulbound to you, like your starting equipment and some quest items. If a player kills you, you lose only what they loot from your body. Unfortunately some spellcasters can gain access to a soul trap spell, which among other things allows them to loot even Soulbound items. It was in poor taste really, you’re clearly a noob and anyone with the ability to use that kind of spell wouldn’t have found anything on you worth taking.’

I was greatly relieved to be clothed again, and glad I wouldn’t have to explain myself. It seemed this man, Xeres, had come up with an excuse for me. ‘Thank you very much for the robe, and for explaining what happened. Sorry you had to see that.’

‘Nonsense kid, it was entirely my pleasure,’ he responded with a wink and somewhat predatory grin. ‘You should go see the guards. They won’t be able to help much with your killer, but they might have some old equipment you can borrow and maybe some work for you to do. If you can make a little money you should be back up and running again in no time.’

‘Great, thanks so much for all your help.’ I paused. ‘What are you actually doing here?’

‘Guild raid. We just took down a dragon. No big deal.’ He boasted. ‘Some of my guildmembers didn’t make it. I’m here waiting to welcome them back to the land of the living when they respawn. And give them their share of the sweet, sweet gold. One sixtieth share of a dragon’s hoard is no laughing matter, kiddo.’

A dragon, I thought to myself. That sounded pretty awesome.

‘Hey, how does a person go about joining a guild?’

‘Hahahahaha,’ he bellowed again. ‘Depends on the guild, kid. They all have their own requirements. I think you’re a little off joining mine but come find me again when you’ve picked up a few extra classes.’

A little disheartened, I thanked him again and decided now was a good time to log off. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been in game, but it must be lunchtime at least. I’d get some food, maybe read a bit of the Instruction Manual and then come back in and go find the guards as suggested.