Twenty four hours later, Beast reappeared back in the library. Because the city itself is the respawn point, people who somehow manage to die within the walls of Rydelin emerge back in the exact location they died. Sighing, the penniless Beast was about to take his leave when the Librarian spotted him and called him over.

“There you are good adventurer!” Rio exclaimed. The quest completion seemed to have brought him over to Beast’s good side. “I thought you would never come back.”

“I would, but only for the books.” Beast muttered sadly under his breath. Damn this evil NPC for daring to exploit him.

“I thought that not rewarding you for your help would be preposterous. So I have decided that I shall allow you to take one book from within these walls for yourself. In addition, I would humbly request that an honest hardworking man like you join the ranks of us librarians so that we can take care of books better.”

Quest completion

Please choose your reward.

A second window popped up immediately after.

Hidden Job Change!

You have been offered to job change into: Librarian

Librarians are keepers of knowledge and books.

Do you wish to accept?

A secret job change? Here? At level 1?

Beast was taken aback by the appearance of a job change so soon. Profession Change usually occurs from around level ten, when the players are more familiarized with the game and surroundings to know what they truly want to become. If he accepted, he could become the only person to job change at such a low level, but a librarian?

Here in Ages Online, professions such as these are a very real thing. Because it is virtual reality, unorthodox professions such as Farmers and Sculptors do exist. These so called production classes operate very differently from a combat class like the Warrior, majorly plying their trade to gain levels instead of fighting monsters. Although very weak in combat capabilities, they make up for that by being very specialized in their proficiency and produces goods that are often in high demand with other players. Because of the very different playing style, most people term those who chooses these jobs as “Casuals”.

However, what benefit does a librarian even entail anyway? It might have been a hidden profession, but Beast has no intention to screw his character up with what appears to be a production class. Everyone is allowed only one character in Ages Online; any decisions he make, he will have to live with. Besides, there is his original plan to get a warrior profession like that of Yggdra online.

The warrior is not like a squishy mage or archer. Being able to take hits and deal out punishment on his own is something Beast preferred. Like the cleric, a good warrior is often in high demand and job changing to a warrior will bring about several new skills and stats increase that are essential for both team and solo play. Compared to this unknown ‘hidden’ job, being a warrior sounds infinitely better. Besides, he was sure that the job is only hidden because nobody else bothered to read for three days and help sort the library for the next seven.

“I decline.”

You have rejected the offer to become a Librarian.

The face of Rio fell. Beast, sensing that he had hurt an NPC’s feelings, no matter how that worked anyway, spoke up. “I am sorry sir, but I felt that changing too early is too hasty. I have not even explored Rydelin to my heart's content yet.”

“Yes… yes I was too hasty. If you ever change your mind, do come back.” The forlorn librarian replied. “Oh, remember to take your reward with you.”

The reward for doing those seven days of work: A book of his choice. Beast almost forgot about that in his surprise at the hidden job. What should he take with him? The information on Rydelin’s surroundings? The topology of the area? Or that book on magic he uncovered during the cleaning? Suddenly, his eyes rest on a title-less black book at the top of the pile he separated during the quest. Old and dusty, it looked as if it had not been read in years. Picking it up, Beast examined the tome.

Reward picked.

“That book?” Rio’s voice came. “Well I did promise after all…”

Wait, what? Before Beast could protest, the quest filed itself as complete. No amount of objection afterwards could change Rio’s mind. There was no choice but to glumly exit the library with that book in his hands. Once he was back out in Rydelin, the frustrated Beast opened his reward. This had better be worth it.

The Vanadic Tome of Artifacts

This tome was once a personal effect of the Lord Historian Vanandic of Alvastra before Alvastra fell into ruins by the Sundering. It held details on various relics and artifacts of each country and religion, and also elaborated on how one can recognize an artifact from worthless junk by sensing the innate magic within.

Type: Book, Artifact

Intelligence + 6

Wisdom + 2

You have gained the skill: Archaeology

You have gained the skill : Detect Mana

This was a surprising turn of events. Not only did he gain 8 stats from reading the book, he also acquired two new skills.

“Archaeology window”

Archaeology (Basic) 0% Mastery

Passive

Grants the user a basic knowledge of identifying artifacts and relics. The true history and origins of an artifact will be revealed to you. The powers of artifacts come to life in your hands. With this skill, you know exactly how to bring out the best in artifacts and ancient objects lost to time.

+2% effectiveness to artifact usage

Permanent stats gain from identifying artifacts based on rarity and difficulty of obtaining artifact

You can identify up to historical artifacts.

Not bad. More fluff for him to devour. “Detect Mana window”

Detect Mana (Basic)

Passive

A basic grasp of the arcane allows you to detect magic in objects and surroundings.

Beast closed the window, unsure of what to make of this windfall. While new skills are always good, there is no telling how useful the skills may be. Furthermore, to increase those skills would require the skill’s frequent usage, something he could not do unless he somehow manages to obtain an artifact first. The stats increase in intelligence and wisdom also seem obsolete given how he decided he would become a warrior.

There is no point thinking about it. He is better off finding another quest to fill his pockets and start leveling.

………

“Level six cleric looking for a party “

“Selling wolf hides and meat for a lower price than npc.”

The marketplace where Beast first emerged into was still bustling with trade and people. They, mostly humans, were heavily engaged with bargaining and dealing with each other. Though Rydelin is a human starting city, Beast swore he could find a few pointy ears and stout figures mingling through the crowd - Elves and Dwarfs belonging to lush forests of Elithinia and mountain ranges of Utegarde respectively. Using his trained perception from previous online games, Beast surveyed the stands of player stores until one caught his eyes.

[Selling affordable beginner items- Weapons and Armors for starting newbies alike!]

Taking on an inquisitive look, Beast approached the storekeeper to view his wares.

“Hey. Welcome.”

“Hi,” Beast greeted in return. Picking up what appears like a rusty long sword, he examined its stats first.

Rusty Long Sword

Durability: 10/10

Attack: 6-9

Level Restriction: 1

The damage is pathetic, but the reach of the blade is above average. Feeling that this should help him with his first steps, he turned to the user. “How much is this?”

“That will be five silvers.”

Five silvers? A hundred copper coins equates to a silver coin! For a newbie like him, the price is outrageous.

So much for being ‘affordable’.

Even though Beast wisely kept silent, the shopkeeper seemed to have sensed the outburst from within. “Hunting outside the town would not get you such an item, sir.” He hurriedly explained. “An equivalent from the smithy will be at a much higher level though.”

Newbies are usually given wooden swords or knifes. At least that was what the forums suggested.

“I…. know.” Beast said in defeat. In Ages Online, normal monsters such as wolves and dogs will only provide their meat and leather in order to promote realism. The only way one can legally obtain a weapon or armor is to either be given one or work their asses off until they have enough money for one. Though, this begged a question.

“How did you get this then?”

“Oh.” The shopkeeper replied sheepishly. “There was a raid on an abandoned fort near Rydelin a while back to clear it out of local monsters. What you see here is what I got from the armories inside.”

That would make sense then, Beast pursed his lips. Regardless, he had no way to afford anything for now and would be better off searching for jobs to do. Thanking the user, he was about to leave when a soft blue glow caught his eye. Searching under the pile of weapons, Beast pulled out another rusty sword.

Rusty Long Sword

Sword, Artifact

Durability: 3/10

Attack: 3-5

Level Restriction: 1

“That is the same with the first one you picked sir, although this one is in worse conditions. Nice of the game to give us varying aesthetics, huh?”

No… they are not the same. This one has a wider girth and a broader blade and it is not just for aesthetics either. The feel of a sword to a swordsman is very important and because this is a game that simulates reality to the tiniest degree, a sword with the same stats may underperform in the hands of a person not accustomed to it very much like the real world.

And that blue glow and artifact tag… can he not see it? Or did he not bother?

“This one is only a silver coin.”

The blue glow, he was guessing, should be due to the Detect Mana skill.

“Will you still be here in a while?” Beast asked.

“Well yea. I should be around until the week is up.” The player chirped, none the wiser. All he knew was that he had almost succeeded in selling some unwanted items to a newbie at an exorbitant price, not knowing that he is the one losing out.

“Keep this sword for me. I will bring the money back with me.” With that, Beast left.

…………

Finding work is not easy. With such a big place and no quest indicator, how is he supposed to know where he can offer his services? This is something that he too has to get used to. For the first time in his life, Beast realized how much the older games had been spoon-feeding their players. No longer would there be blinking exclamation marks floating above the quest-givers’ heads. If the Librarian quest was any indication, he will have to seek for quests by himself.

“I am sorry madam, do you require any help in anything?”

“I don’t, young man. Thank you for asking.”

“Sir, do you need me to help you with anything?”

“Nah. I am alright.”

As he went down the streets asking random NPCs, a pop-up window interrupted Beast.

Public Relations with Caerheim +1

Well, that is all fine and dandy, but he really needed to find work soon. Beast dismissed the window and continued his search. After much asking, he finally found what he was looking for at the corner of the market street.

“Yes… yes. I am actually looking for a helper to take care of my sickly child while I am going away on a trip to Loyderidge.”

Dring!

Babysitting

The merchant Talos is going away on a business trip to Loyderidge over the week, but could not while his daughter Risette is sick on the bed in Rydelin. Take care of his concern and let him conduct his travel in peace.

Difficulty: F+

Warning: There will be penalties if the quest fails.

Do you accept the quest?

Beast hesitated. The warning is getting to him. If he screws up very badly, not only would he be wasting his own time, he would also potentially become a murderer. They might be digital NPCs and Artificial Intelligence, but Beast is not so sure if he could deal with an angry wailing parent out for his blood even in the virtual world of Ages Online. Furthermore, the penalties the quest stated could be a decrease in public relations or even being labelled as a chaotic player.

“Please help me. I really need to be at Loyderidge or my shipment would be lost to me along with my investments. I promise that when I am back I will reward you greatly.”

In the end, he could not turn away from the pleading eyes of the merchant.

“Very well then…”

You have accepted the quest.

Time remaining: 143 hrs 59 mins

“My child is upstairs,”Talos said, indicating a doorway that leads into the building. He then fished out two silver coins from his pocket to pass to Beast. “This will be the allowance for taking care of Risette. Now I really have to go or the caravan to Loyderidge will be gone. I am sorry Risette.”

Two silvers. Technically he could use that money to purchase the sword right away, but he has to take care of the daughter for six days straight. What if he did not have enough for the kid? That would fail the quest right away. No, the sword can wait; The shopkeeper himself said that he will be around until the end of the week. There is no need to risk failing this quest for some instant gratification. Entering the house, Beast headed for the daughter’s room.

The first impression of the room was very… cute. Wallpapers of cuddly Slimes and adorable puppies laced the walls, cumulating with an entire shelf of stuff toys of various local fauna. Right at the corner of the bedroom, a sickly child laid on her bed, quivering and trembling even under her flowery blanket.

“Hello, Risette. I am Beast.” Beast gently said, sitting himself down at the bedside. A small cough answered him, its owner not even having the strength to reply.

“I will be taking care of you for the next six-” What is this? Did he just detect fear in her eyes? “-days.”

Thinking that it might just be a trick of the light, Beast excused himself. From what he had seen, the girl seemed to be having a bad case of influenza. Food should not be a problem. A piece of bread for his own satiety is only a copper each and the rest of the money can go into healthy nutritional meals for the girl for the next six days. However, there is but one small problem. Beast has no idea how he should go about with regards to the girl’s sanitary. Does helping a little girl change into cleaner clothing in a virtual reality commit him as a pedophile? Is it considered a crime in the real world as well if he commits a crime here? He will not be committing any crimes of course but it is better for him to absolve himself of all trouble lest trouble finds him when he least expects it.

Luckily for Beast, his answer came in the form of a middle age woman who just entered the door.

“Is this another adventurer again, thinking they have the capability to take care of young children?” the woman harrumphed at Beast. “That Talos really have a poor judge of character.”

“You are?”

“Iruna Clearwise, the lady next door who comes here to clean every day. I am telling you young man, if you let Risette starve and almost die like numerous adventurers before you, I will hunt you down with my broom and whack your little ass with it, mark my words.”

“Almost die?” Beast blankly repeated.

“Yes, almost dead.” She spat that last word out. ”Each and every time this happens I have to get a cleric over to save her from the brink of death. And her father would come rushing home like a madman and incur heavy losses from whatever he do. Poor things, the both of them.”

That fear was not a trick of the light after all. She HAD been mistreated by previous players who thought that the quest would be a piece of cake, so much that she now fears anyone who showed up to take care of her. All of a sudden, Beast was filled with rage at those players. How could they treat something such as this so lightly? It might be an NPC, but a life entrusted to one’s care is still a life. It had been their responsibility and they threw it down the gutter. It was at that point of time he decided that he will complete this quest to the best of his ability.

“I won’t be the same as them.”

The woman’s tirade stopped, stunned by Beast’s firm declaration. “Oh.”

“If you are the cleaning lady here, you should know what Risette likes right?”

“Well… yes.” There was a small pause. “Do you know how to cook?”

“No.”

“I can teach you but you will have to provide the ingredients.”

What a surprise. He would never expect to be able to learn the cooking skill in such a place. Skills such as Cooking and Repairing are usually learnt from trainers in the city for a nominal fee.

“Deal.”

You have gained the skill: Cooking

Cooking (Basic 1) 0% Mastery

The skill of life. Combine ingredients to create tasty meals that satiate the hungry stomach and provide additional benefits.

……….

Iruna and Beast came to an agreement. In the morning, Beast will go into the market to buy ingredients and in the afternoon, she would then come over to change Risette’s clothing and show Beast how to cook what he bought. In a flash, a total of three days passed like that.

Beast sat at the bed, slowly spooning the sick girl with the fish porridge that he had made. There is no longer a distinct fear in her eyes, only appreciation. She even has the strength to speak now.

“Uncle… thank you.” An imaginary lightning bolt struck Beast. He is not that old yet! He is only a college student for goodness sake!

“It was … tasty.”

Whatever indignation he felt melted away. Of course, it would be tasty; he used the freshest and best ingredients when it came to cooking. His first few attempts are fiascos, but it soon got better with Iruna’s guidance. Beast winced – he could still distinctively remember her screeching when he added sugar instead of salt. However, all that was worth it when the food he cooked was praised.

“Well then, have a good night sleep.”

Turning off the lights, Beast exited to the living room. Three days are a day in real life, so he could not just log out for the night as well.

Time remaining: 70 hrs 34 mins

The clock on his quest tracker ticked down silently. With nothing left to do, he sat himself down and brought up his character window to think.

Status WindowName:BeastLevel:1Profession:NoneRace:HumanGender:MaleTitles:NoneFame:1-Health:110Mana:130Strength:11Intelligence:18Dexterity:11Wisdom:13Stamina:11Luck:11-Equipment EffectsN/aRelationsCaerheim: 6

Beast sighed. It had been two weeks now and he is still at level one. In any other game, this kind of pacing would be called bad and discouraged. He, who has played many games before this, should have fared a lot better. The silver lining though, is that he did obtain around nine extra stats which would have put him above a new player. Because player stats are inherent and categorized differently from item stats, they are much more valuable than items themselves. Items can be changed, modifying the stats differently but inherent stats will always be there, making them the best investments to have.

When he finished this quest, there will be much to do. The first thing of course is to purchase that sword and see what in the world it really is. Then he shall train and level up so that he can be eligible for job change. So many things to do, and so little time…

It was not known how long he had drifted into sleep, but what woke Beast up was a faint groan.

“Un..cle. He…lp.”

Time remaining: 65 hrs 22 mins

Beast blinked. He had slept for five hours somehow. It was then the call came again, reminding Beast what he was doing.

“RISETTE!” He yelled, jumping up and rushing into the room where the girl lay.

The child was totally flush and breathing heavily. A palm on the girl’s forehead was withdrawn as quickly as it was put. This heat… it is a fever. But the time is currently midnight. Even if he were to get Iruna, there is no guarantee that there will be a doctor operating at this time. At once, Beast knew. This was the point of time most people in the past failed this quest.

Yet, there was nothing he could do. A cold cloth was applied on the girl’s head and that seemed to be the extent of what he is able to help. Even if he knew how to produce paracetemol, there are no ways he could make them in this medieval world.

Is this how the quest would end for him?

No, he will get a doctor one way or another.

However, as he turned to leave, a small hand grabbed his.

“Don’t… go.” It was her. “Please…”

She is in so much pain and agony that despite Beast telling himself that they are just electricity and circuitry underneath, he relented. Grasping her hand tightly in his, Beast sat himself down at the side of Risette’s bed. Throughout the rest of the night, he softly cooed and reassured the girl while he changed the wet cloth, never once leaving her side.