# The First Four weeks
(note that from here on, lines that are in-between "*" marks are the main char's thoughts"
With a flash of light, I appeared in the Citadel of Serabourg, Rosenheim.
"This..."
Looking around, it looked exactly the way I imagined a medieval city would look like. A mish mash of stone buildings in neat rows. Houses, inns, shops. Crowded as hell and twice as noisy.
Having a virtual body, on the other hand, didn't feel like I expected it to.
I had expected my senses to feel slightly dulled, especially the senses of taste, smell, and touch. But instead, I felt exactly the same as I would in my actual body.
For example, if I rolled my tongue around my mouth, I could definately taste my salive. Not too far away from me, I could definately smell some sort of cooking going on. An experimental stretch verified that I could feel the strain of my muscles.
Krlack!
Cracking my knucles and neck joints definately seemed to give me that short burst of endorphins I liked.
I took off my glasses, and put them back on again. Indeed, as the welcome AI said, my vision was unaffected either way.
"You new around here?"
I turned around to see a player that just exited the inn that was right behind me (we're never gonna see this dude again so I'm not gonna bother describing him.)(for that matter I just realized I never described the protagonist either. Clever me.)
"It's just that you have that newbie look."
"Ah.. yes I just created an account and am playing for the first time. But I understand that the Training Hall is a good place to get started?"
The stranger pointed me in the direction of the training hall.
"Just keep following this road, you can't miss it."
Shortly after we parted, I found myself in the training hall.
" Young adventurer, I presume you have arrived at the Versailles continent very recently,” the instructor said.
"Aye sir."
"You shall find sword training absolutely necessary when you come to confront monsters. Do you need my guidance? I tell you, take any unattended scarecrow and strike him in any way you want. A wooden sword is placed in front of a scarecrow, and it is all yours.”
"I thank you for your kindness, but in truth I am less interested in the way of the sword than I am in the way of the bow. Are there any training bows that I could use?"
The instructor seemed to heave a great sigh.
"Indeed there are. Follow me to the back to get one."
The instructor led me further into the training hall, where are two piles of weapons. While the pile that he was approaching contained nice, clean weapons, the other pile contained weapons that were dirty, scratched, or otherwise damaged.
"Here you go, a training bow and some arrows. I would remind you that you have to return these before leaving."
"Many thanks sir. Might I ask, what's the story behind that pile of broken weapons?"
"Oh, that." He looked towards the offending pile, "Trainees come and go. Since the weapons don't belong to them they use them with little care and often break them. As such there are always damaged weapons lying around. I've been meaning to repair them but could never find enough time to do it."
*Chance!*
"If you teach me how, I could help you repair them."
The instructor looked at me in suprise.
"Really? You wouldn't mind?"
Ting!
*New Quest:
Repair Training Weapons
The Training Hall always has damaged equipment lying around. Do the instructor a favor and repair as many as you want.
You may turn this quest in whenever you want.
Quest Difficulty: F
Quest Objective:
Repair the damaged equipment
Quest Failure:
Do not repair anything
Quest Requirement:
None
Quest Reward:
Money based on the amount of equipment repaired.
"Certainty."
Ting!
Quest Accepted
"Great, come, let me show you how to repair them."
Ting!
Skill Learned!
? Repair:
Enables you to repair weapons and armors.
Beyond Beginner Lv. 5, you can forge new weapons and gears.
Beyond Intermediate Lv. 1, you can fully repair equipment.
(Did I get this right? Or was it advanced?)
*Sweet! I got a new skill already!*
Not long after I started reapiring, a young swordsman entered the Training Hall. From his appearance, he seemed to be a Korean, or at least of Asian descent, like me. Although he wasn't bulky, a trained eye could tell that he had martial arts experience.
The moment the instructor saw him walk in the entrance, his eyes glared fiercely.“Young adventurer, I presume you have arrived at the Versailles continent very recently,” the instructor said.
“Yes, Sir” the swordsman said shortly. He looked a little upset.
“You shall find sword training absolutely necessary when you come to confront monsters. Do you need my guidance? I tell you, take any unattended scarecrow and strike him in any way you want. A wooden sword is placed in front of a scarecrow, and it is all yours.”
“Thank you, sir. That’s enough. I don’t need any more guidance.”
“Godspeed”
This young swordsman stayed here for a very long time... ...
**********************************
Many hours later...
That young swordsman was still there hacking away at the training dummy.
*Persistent little bastard isn't he?*
But then again, I've been repairing the gear ever since even before he came in. So I could be said to be an even bigger persistent bastard than him. Although truth be told, I was seriously getting bored.
When I heard that I had to repair the items, I was expecting to do thing like restringing bows, glueing broken pieces together, polishing, etc. But really, all I had to do was lightly tap the items and say "Repair". My mana and stamina would be drained slightly and the equipment would look (almost) as good as new.
I stood up from my little corner to stretch and checked my skills. My Repair skill had increased to Beginner Lv 3 over the past few hours of grinding.
*I'll take a little break. Maybe try shooting that bow I just got.*
I picked up my bow and walked towards one of the training dummies.
On the spur of the moment I decided to use the dummy right next to the one the swordsman was using.
I studied the bow closely. It was embarrassing to admit, but while I had always chosen ranged classes, this was the first time I actually held a "real" bow. Arcade guns, yes. Even real rifles.
But never a bow.
I fumbled around trying to find an arrow. The instructor had given me several, but I had promptly placed them into my inventory for the sake of convenience. Would I have to retrive them from my inventory every time I fired my bow? That would be a pain in the ass.
*First thing I'm gonna buy whem I'm done is a quiver*
I opened the interface to retrieve an arrow from my inventory. I nocked the arrow to the bowstring and tried to draw it like I've seen in so many games and shows. It placed a surprising amount of strain on my arms considering it was supposed to be a DEX-based weapon.
*I should probably have expected this. After all, the force that will propel the arrow forward is the same force that I'd have to use to pull the bowstring. Seems like I made the right choice being a Human rather than an Elf.*
I took aim as best as I could and fired two practice arrows at the dummy. They didn't land exactly where I wanted them to, but it still hit the target. I was trying to hit dead center if the chest but the arrows landed on the arm and on the head respectively. The head shot was a consequence of trying to compensate for the offset in the first shot by aiming higher and further to the side. A third shot after that hit more or less where I wanted it to.
Satisfied, I went to the dummy to retrieve my arrows and took a closer look at them.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Practice Arrows:
Durability: 10/10
An arrow designed for the young archer to practise with. Unlike other arrows, Practice Arrows can be retrieved after firing and reused.
This item cannot be repaired
Stats:
None
Requirement:
Must have a bow or equiped
*Note to self, second thing I need to buy: more arrows.*
"Oh well back to work," I said, as I slung my bow over my shoulder and walked back to my little corner.
The little bastard swordman didn't even notice me.
*************************************************************
It's been three in-game weeks since I started playing Royal Road.
That swordsman is still attacking the dummy.
He's always on whenever I log on.
He's always on when I log off.
In fact I've never seen him offline.
Ever.
And he's never left the Training Hall either.
It even seems that he's managed to draw a small crowd. The players seem to believe that he's some kind of newly introduced NPC and have been trying to bribe him with gifts in attempt to open up a quest.
But that's enough about him. This story isn't about him.
It's about me.
ME.
I've spent most of my time in the Training Hall repairing equipment, only leaving to buy food. Occasionally I'd stop to practise my shooting skills, and as a result, I've managed to gain a new skill.
Ting!
Skill Learned!
? Archery:
Increases Attack Power with a bow/crossbow (+10% ATK)
Increases Attack Speed with a bow/crossbow (+3% ATK SPD)
Improving this skill will grant increasing bonus to Attack Power and Attack Speed with bows and crossbows.
As you are Classless, this skill can only be improved to Beginner Lv 9.
If your future class is incompatible with this skill, it will be deactivated until you become a class that can use this skill.
(Yes, it seems that there are crossbows in Royal Road. Although so far I've only been able to find one mention in all the translated volumes)
In addition, I've managed to learn a few things about the firing mechanism in Royal Road:
1) Shots fired at point blank most likely have increased power. "Most likely" because I simply observed that the arrows I fired penetrated deeper into the dummy when fired from close range.
2) There is actual gravity acting on the arrows. This means that an arrow fired straight up will come straight down (as long as there isn't any wind). This might sound obvious, but in older games, the firing arc was an actual arc drawn from the tip of the arrow rather than a force acting on it. Which is why arrows in older games never come down when you fire up.
3) How far you draw the bow affects the projectile speed as well as the projectile power. This one really is obvious, but it's always better to be sure.
4) Which part of the bowstring you place your arrow on affects where your arrow will go.
5) And finally, as mentioned before, wind affects your arrow.
By now, my Repair skill has risen to Beginner Lv 8, and I've even managed to gain 3 points in Dexterity and 1 in Wisdom for my hard work. At first, the skill level was rising fairly quickly, but it started to slow down as all I've been repairing are level 1 training gear.
Looking at the pile of damaged equipment, you wouldn't think it could last his long. But it seems that whenever I take an item from the top of the pile, another item would magically materialize at the bottom of the pile.
I swear, it never shrinks.
On the bright side, in addition to the experience and the skills, I managed to find some armor discarded long ago by some trainee. I asked the instructor about it and he said I was free to keep it.
Leather Armor:
Durability: 8/50
Defense: 5
Basic body armor made from leather. It was owned by a player and discarded when it got damaged.
Equip:
None
Limits:
Level 2
It wasn't much, but it was something to start with. If repaired it'll likely last me a few levels before I'd need to get a new one.
Sadly enough I couldn't wear it because I was still level 1. :( (where is the "cry" emoticon when you need it)
***************************************************
When I logged on the very next day, the swordman was gone!
It really shouldn't bother me, but despite him never noticing my existance, I somehow considered him a silent companion in this Hall. Admirably trying our best to make the most of the 4 mandatory weeks of confinement in town.
"Greetings sir!" I approached the instructor.
"Ah! Yes, hello," he said as he turned away from whatever he was doing (really, what does he do all day? He says he's too busy to repair the equipment, but I've hardly ever seen him do anything.) "Have you come to collect your payment for the repairs?"
"Oh no, good sir. I still plan to (suck all your money dry!) help you with the repairs. It's just that I can't help but notice that the swordsman is missing today?"
"Weed-nim?" He gave me a quizzical look, "Indeed, I sent him on an errand to discover the truth about a matter that has been bothering me."
*Ahh... So that's his name.*
"Which reminds me," the instructor continued, "Your 4 weeks is almost up, and it is in my understanding that you wish to take up the way of the Bow?"
"Yes. Although in truth I cannot say why. But it simply feels like it is my calling to wield the Bow. I am not saying that it's the better weapon, it's just the weapon I prefer."
"I know what you mean," the instructor nods sagely, "I myself am partial to the Sword, but I still see that the Bow plays an important part of warfare. If you wish, I could send a letter of recomendation to the Archer's Guild to ease your way."
Normally, for one to become an archer, he would need to visit the Archer's Guild and spend at least a day training. After which, you'd have to pass an exam. This who fail will have to repeat the training regime until they pass the exam. Since time in Royal Road is accelerated 4 times, it actually only takes less than a day in real time, but it's still a pain in the ass and every little bit helps.
"That would be amazing, instructor. I will be in your debt," I bowed towards him.
"Oh, it is no problem. It's the least I could do for all your help."
Ting!
*New Quest:
The Recommendation
The instructor at the Training Hall has sent a letter of recomendation to the Archer's Guild for you.
You may turn this quest in whenever you want.
Quest Difficulty: F
Quest Objective:
Visit the Archer's Guild to change your class
Quest Failure:
Refuse to change your class
Quest Requirement:
Familarity with the Instructor
Must have the "Archery" skill
Quest Reward:
Class Change chance
I went back to my corner to finish my four weeks.
*****************************************
Author's note:
Hello people. This is my first time writing a fanfic. (or writing any kind of story for that matter). As such, I lack the ability to write descriptively or express emotions well. while some writers can write paragraphs simply on the color of the sky, I would simply say: "the sky is blue."
But I am still trying my best :D
I released both the Prologue and chapter 1 on the same day because I felt that the prologue was too damn short :p
I write this mostly in my free time and without the benefit of a spellcheck, so you'll have to excuse any errors that you might find.
Please enjoy my work. And if you don't, write a comment to tell me how I could improve my work.
Any kind of constructive criticism will be welcome.
Thank you!
Next chapter: Finally some action.
And yes, I know I mentioned "inventions" in the description, but please wait a few more chapters for that.