“Okay, this group is... workable. Not exactly what I would put together, but it’s functional. Tell them not to make any choices yet.”

Oliver relayed the ring’s instructions to the group. Nada’s face immediately showed her displeasure. “Why?” she demanded.

“Tell her that you have an item that works as a guide for the tutorial, that’s true enough. Plus, they’ll figure out soon enough that being in a party means access to each other’s menus.”

Pointing at the ring on his finger, Oliver explained, “This ring was one of the first things I used Bind on. It acts as a guide through the tutorial.”

“That why you look so much more dressed than the rest of us?” Cora asked.

Oliver realized that he was wearing boots, pants, a tunic, and a satchel in addition to his weapon, while everyone else was wearing only one piece of clothing. The women all wore a simple dress, but after clearing the last Stage, they no longer looked like identical, simple, rough-spun dresses. Rose’s was now red, Nada’s blue, and Cora’s green. It proved that Bound items changed over time to match their owners. Silas, meanwhile, was wearing a pair of now black pants.

“Yeah, that’s about it,” Oliver answered. “Anyway, we can see each other’s stat sheets now that we’re in a party, and the ring has some suggestions about the reward from Stage 5.”

The girls looked at each other for agreement before Cora answered, “Well, we’ll hear it out, anyway. Can’t make promises, you know.” Silas just kept his head down the entire time, but Oliver got the feeling that he was listening closely.

In the end, the entire group wound up taking the ring’s advice. They all found that not only was the advice logical, it helped them develop in the direction they each wanted. Everyone’s clothing piece from the interview Stage took the same path as Oliver’s tunic, but that’s where the similarities ended.

For Cora, the ring recommended headgear which came in the form of a bandana tied over the top of her head, which gave the elderly lady a bit of a pirate look. The ring told them that some perks were locked behind what type of equipment was Bound. For example, movement perks were usually found on footwear, while perception perks were found on headgear. The ring told Cora about a perk that she would eventually be able to unlock that would allow her to actually be able to perceive the entire area around her. The perk synergized perfectly with her floating shields, allowing her to block from any direction.

The perk that the ring suggested for her shield was one that was usually used for throwing weapons like knives: Duplication. It would allow her to copy her shield so that she could block more at once.

For Rose, the ring suggested gloves. Since Rose was a pugilist, they would grow with her into something more offensive than defensive. The ring laid out a Perk path for Scooter that would allow the flying manta to become unparalleled aerial transport for the group. With all the perks the ring laid out, Scooter would be able to carry more weight, faster, and with his passengers protected from things like temperature, thin air, and wind when traveling. The first Perk on the path gave him a moderate increase in speed.

The ring recommended a simple healing effectiveness Perk for Nada’s staff, which she took without complaint. The free piece of gear it recommended, however, did get some pushback.

“Jewelry? Do you not see my bare feet!” she growled at Oliver.

“I know, I’m sorry. And you can pick shoes or boots if you want. The ring just wants you to know that the cuff can be developed soon to have a transparent shield that will protect you from a few hits from an enemy. It keeps yelling at me that we need to ‘protect the healer’.”

Nada’s face softened a bit at the explanation and she was thoughtful for a moment.

Instead of saying anything, she silently made her choice on her menus and a moment later, a simple metal band twisted twice around the bicep of her right arm.

Oliver kneeled in front of Silas and lowered his voice.

“Silas, you’ve chosen two types of magic in your book, do you want to stick with being a magic user?”

The boy gave a single nod.

“Then choose a simple robe for your reward and [Arcane Apprentice] for your book. It will make every spell you use more powerful.”

A linen robe appeared on the boy’s shoulders a moment later to confirm that he’d made his choices.

The ring had Oliver double-down on his gear paths. After choosing new Perks, he reread his screen.

Simple Spear

[Unerring Throw 2]

Thrown Entity is less impacted by external factors like wind, gravity, and aerodynamics until it travels [Strength] X 2 meters.

[Powerful Throw 1]

When this Entity is thrown, the throw is calculated using [Strength] X 120%.

[Sniper’s Throw 1]

When throwing this Entity, magnify your vision by up to 20%.

[Return to Sender]

Unlocked by having 3 Throwing Perks. Summon this entity back to your hand from up to [Strength] X 2 meters.

Linen Tunic

[Cut Resistance 2]

This entity is 40% more resistant to being cut.

[Crushing Resistance 1]

Entity transfers 20% less impact force.

[Thermal Resistance 1]

Entity transfers 20% less thermal energy because of external changes in temperature.

[Resist-All]

Unlocked by having 3 Resistance Perks. Wearing this Entity adds 20% to your [Constitution]

Satchel

[Weight Reduction 2]

Items carried in this entity have their weight reduced by 40%.

[Preservation 1]

Items carried in this entity degrade 20% slower.

[It’s Bigger on the Inside 1]

This entity has its internal dimensions doubled.

Boots

[Quick Step 2]

Maximum movement speed on land increased by 40%.

[Sure Footed 1]

You are less likely to lose your footing on surfaces.

Pants

[Cut Resistance 1]

This entity is 20% more resistant to being cut.

For his new piece of simple gear, the ring had him choose a bracer for his left forearm. Then it was time for Oliver's two companions.

“For the dog... eh, just take [Deepened Bond 2], I guess. I’ll think on his build more later, but that can’t hurt. Now, it’s time for our little elemental to change back to a slime. Next Stage clear we go to its next form.”

“Will... will it still think like it has been? The slime wasn’t... too sharp.”

“That’s the beauty of it, they retain all previous gains. Since it was an earth elemental, that means it’s going to continue to make big Constitution gains, which should help us cheese some power out of this thing. Come on, it’s only going to be a booger for one stage. Suck it up.”

Oliver knelt down beside the little elemental and rested a hand on its stone head. “Sorry, Trinket. You’re going to have to go back to being a slime for a little while. Not forever, I promise.”

Trinket actually drooped its shoulders like it was disappointed, eliciting an ‘Awwww’ from Rose.

Oliver made the choices. The stone on Trinket’s body flaked off, revealing a slime again. This time, the slime’s body wasn’t a sickly green, but a greyish-blue. The slime was more animated than before, too, bobbing around to ‘look’ at everything. Oliver patted the jelly and it crawled over to lean against his leg.

After everyone had a chance to play with their new toys, Oliver relayed the ring’s new instructions.

“Okay, the ring says that this Stage is exploration themed. There are hidden temples scattered around a region, and to pass, you must find one. Each temple can only be used by a certain number of people before it’s destroyed. People who don’t find a temple after a two-month timer get kicked out.”

“I suppose your ring knows where one of these temples is?” Nada interjected.

“It claims to know all of them, though some give better rewards for finding them than others.”

Cora nodded. “Alright, which way do we go?”

“Well, we may not want to head straight to it. Apparently, there are several other goodies hidden around, so we can gear up even more before we move on.”

“Like shoes?” Nada asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I don’t mind going barefoot,” Rose announced, working her toes into the grass at their feet.

“Of course you don’t,” Nada grumbled under her breath.

Oliver was silent for a moment while he listened to the ring. “There are apparently multiple pairs of footwear.”

Rose pinched her dress and pulled the fabric away from her body. “Oliver, could you ask the ring about more appropriate fighting clothes? I usually box in shorts and a sports bra. I’m glad to have something to wear after the first few... awkward Stages, but can I do anything about this dress?”

“It already explained that to me, a little. Apparently, Bound gear grows with you, based on the Perks you choose and your personal feelings. So, things like the color and style come from us and the way we use our things. The dress is technically a torso covering, so if we add pants or shorts, they’ll eventually turn into exactly what you want them to be.”

Cora looked down at her own dress. “Ah’d take a pair of pants, myself.”

Oliver turned to Nada. “How about you, Nada?”

She swished her dress a couple of times before replying. “I’m good, I’ll stick with the dress.”

“All right, off we go,” Oliver announced.

The group looked at their surroundings for the first time. This Stage started them in what looked like a room in a medieval inn. There were three pairs of small, simple bunks with two beds each. A single window let in light onto a rough wooden floor and rough plastered walls. A single door led out of the room, and Cora stepped up to open it, her large tower shield, now edged with a band of iron, floated in the air behind her.

Cora assumed the role of the group’s tank like a pro. She moved with purpose but kept her eyes sweeping over everything as the group made their way down a hallway and staircase into the inn’s main room. The medieval inn theme continued with a large common room complete with a bar with a middle-aged innkeeper wiping down a stack of glasses.

The group moved in a line with Oliver in the rear and Rose and Nada flanking Silas in the middle. Oliver called out information from the ring in a controlled voice as they moved.

“Ring says we get one free meal and can use the room any time. More meals cost credits which we’ll apparently start earning in this stage.”

The girls all nodded as Cora changed direction to lead them to a table.

As they took a seat, a door opened behind the bar and a middle-aged woman came out, carrying a tray with seven bowls on it. She sat a bowl of stew in front of each of the humans and a bowl of bits of meat in front of Barton and Trinket. Seeing his dog and slime eat prompted Oliver to ask, “Wait, where is Scooter?”

Rose held up a finger as she finished slurping down a spoonful of the hearty stew. “He’s outside over the inn. I’ve got a feeling where he is and that he’s safe, don’t worry.”

The group ate their meal in silence while other humans emerged from the rooms of the inn and found their way to the common room. Oliver’s group took turns answering their questions as more people found seats at tables. The serving woman emerged from the door with the exact number of stew bowls every time new people sat down and never spoke a word.

Bellies full, the party exited the inn to find themselves on a bustling street full of other tutorial-takers and lined with stalls staffed by more of the tutorial-created people. Scooter swooped down from the sky over the inn and the street cleared, some people even running away screaming. Rose apologized profusely as the group hopped on the ray. Oliver had to pick Trinket up since the slime-form didn’t allow for much hopping. The slime snuggled into him as he hopped onto Scooter’s back. Oliver didn’t know what to expect from the slime, but it felt soft and warm in his arms, its skin making it feel like a balloon filled with warm gel.

Once they were all aboard, Scooter took off into the sky.