Chapter 3: Playing with Fire will get you burned.

Durabo's gust of wind hit the sphere, dead on and he stopped the training for the day. He considered his progress over the almost two months he had been training in the circle.

It had taken him two weeks of intense training to reach the diminishing returns of the spell training facility for the element of Fire.

Even though the training for the other elements wasn’t nearly as time consuming since he only needed to train their mastery, it still took him a fortnight to train each element as he had to acquire the affinities for them first. He still had to work after hours after all, besides doing research on subjects other than magic. Knowledge is power after all.

He was nearly finished with the last of the basic elements now, only a week more by his estimates and he would have to move on. During his training he had made several surprising discoveries though.

First was the fact that the spying on him didn’t stop with his first night in the circle, no it happened quite often, and for some reason the girls really didn’t want him to see them. Well in truth he inferred that they would have spied on him more than he had seen, by the level of illusions and the steps they had taken to ensure he couldn’t spot them doing it. It was only by pure luck he spotted them the few times he did. Divining the motive for this spying proved to be both difficult and troublesome without letting them know he was aware of it, he therefore let it be for the moment. No use in starting something before knowing the facts.

The second was that the elements had completely different uses when it came to combat.

Fire was a great damage dealing element, it hurts like hell, and does a massive amount of damage.

Water on the other hand was more of an area of effect cc and utility, able to slow or hinder the mobility of enemies.

Earth as always was the element of defense. If you put enough earth or rock between yourself and something that wants to harm you, it will become quite a bit more difficult.

Last but not least, Air. It seemed to be another element of utility and control, moving stuff around is quite useful if you are creative enough don’t you agree?

Now putting magic in a box is a bad idea, and all of the above is both only theoretical and first impressions. There are hidden depths in magic and there were more to each element than that, besides if you wanted to you could defend with Fire and attack with Earth, yet for Durabo this was how they seemed at first glance.

Third and last, but not least by far. Was the fact that he was offered a new novice combat class when he reached ten percent affinity with all four of the basic elements. The Elementalist, an arcane class that sacrifices the grimoire and versatility of the mage for the ability to control the elements like a sorcerer while having some of the same freedom as a mage. He was quite tempted by it, but the advantages of the grimoire had already become quite apparent by this point in time, so in the end he declined, the true strength of magic is its unlimited potential in his opinion.

Walking up the stairs he smiled a little, two and a half months into the game and he had barely done anything but read, yet he was content. The source of this feeling wasn’t only the books and research, of course it wasn’t. The girls was a part of it too, maybe the biggest part, he wasn’t quite certain. Another part was the magic, something his other life didn’t have and yet it felt like the most essential thing in the world to him.

Sitting down in his favorite reading nook about to pull out his current book along with quill, ink and parchment.

It was at this point the sound of heavy hobnailed boots, rang on the stairs as well as the clink and clank of metal armor. He looked up and found himself confronted by two men, one in the heavy armor of old school tanks, the other clad like the archetypal rogue. The tank studied him intently for a moment, his eyes lingering on the scorch marks and other damage on his robes.

“Anything I can do for you gentlemen?” Durabo asked, not even bothering to rise and shake their hands.

The tank studied him for a moment more and then spoke:

“Yes, there is. You can tell us why you've been spending such a great amount of time in a place like this, as far as I know people only do that for one thing. Profit, either in the form of quests or undiscovered dungeons. Tell me and we won't have to part on difficult terms.“

Durabo was quite surprised, the amount of people that had visited the library since he came here could be counted on two hands, yet he was so known that people from even their circles had heard about his admittedly odd behavior. What the tank was saying, although erroneous wasn’t complete nonsense. There were few people willing to spend so much time reading in a world filled with adventure. Now the trouble was going to be dissuading the man from his current endeavor. Hopefully the truth would be enough.

“Well, I’m afraid you have come in vain gentlemen.” He said with a wry face and tone.“ I’m nothing but a simple mage trying to master his craft, which is quite time consuming I assure you.”

The big man looked at him for a moment gauging whether or not he was telling the truth, before breaking out in a loud boisterous laughter which set the rogue off as well. It lasted for a few minutes until the laughter stopped as if it had never been and the tanks face turned dead serious.

“Well, seems like you are unwilling to tell me what I want to know.” The tank shook his head slowly. “I’m sorry it has to be this way, it would be so much easier if people just told me when I asked nicely.”

Just as the last words left the big mans mouth Durabo expelled all the air in his lungs in one go, quite involuntary since it was the result of the rogues punch to his gut. Red flashed across his vision to inform him of his loss of hp and a small red bar appeared in the upper right corner of his view. That was all he got to register before another body blow landed, this one even harder than the one before.

“Now, I’ll give you one more chance to tell me about that secret you've got, else I’ll have my colleague here beat you within an inch of your life before I ask you again.” The tanks words were gentle, and he looked almost sad.

Durabo just looked at him, his face now void of all emotion, while he slowly shook his head. He would get nothing more out of speaking with this man, the armored man was way too determined to know his supposed secret.

The man looked at him for a moment, then made a gesture with his hand indicating that the rogue should continue.

Something flashed in the corner of Durabo's eye before he once more felt the breath leave his lungs, yet this time the hits didn’t hurt like they did to begin with, so after a while the rogue started hitting other places while Durabo's HP slowly lowered. Ever had your nose broken with a fist before? Trust me when I tell you that it hurts like hell, at least it did when they did it to Durabo.

Yet the greatest challenge and source of pain was not the beating for Durabo. No it was the battle with his inner beast, the beast that screamed for him to take up the fight and eradicate the offenders doing this to him.

What made this fight so damn hard was the simple fact that he could kill them with no more effort than you would use to swat a fly, but Fire and books are not the best of friends. So he held back and showed nothing on his face, not wanting to let them know that he was actually struggling, even though the struggle wasn’t what they thought it was.

The beating continued until he had but a single point of HP left, showing both the knowledge and great control of the rogue, probably not his first rodeo this one.

“You have one more chance, before I let my friend here kill you, what’s your secret?” The mans eyes locked onto his, and he swore he could see the shadow of something in them, something other than the cool professionalism he had displayed until now. Durabo shook his head and gave him a small smile.

Shaking his head regretfully, the tank made the arch typical throat slitting motion to the rogue, telling him to end it.

The rogue drew a long stiletto from a sheath at his back and twirled it around a bit, grinning from ear to ear. Durabo having resigned himself to his first death looked the tank straight in the eye, demanding that the true mind behind the blade watched while the deed was done.

Because of this, he didn’t see it when Silendra entered and stopped the rogue with a blade at his throat.

“Be gone this instant, or I will have the Black Order hunt you down like the dogs you are.” Her voice carried an edge he had never heard before, cold and cool like oiled steel.

Something flashed through the eyes of the tank, before he turned around and started to leave. Just before they were gone Durabo yelled after them:

“Thank you, I’m quite certain I got a new stat and stat points out of this.” It was the last he did before his consciousness got slowly swallowed by the darkness, leaving him with the sight of two concerned blue eyes.

When he came to, it was with the feeling of something cool on his chest, and a sense of pressure on his lip.

Opening his eyes he found Silendra mere inches from him, applying some sort of salve to his split lip. With her so close he could smell the faint scent of her lavender perfume, and feel the heat of her left hand on his chest while she slowly applied the salve. His heart started racing once more, more and more she seemed to have that effect on him, but this was almost too much for him to handle.

When he looked down to see why his chest was so cool, he saw that he was bare chested, well half his torso was covered in white bandages the only part showing skin ironically the part where her soft hand was resting. Enjoying the attentions of a beautiful girl for a moment he read through the window crowding the left corner of his view.

Due to actions taken or done you have gained a new stat, stat points and skill experience:+3 Vitality

+10 Charisma

Stat gained: Endurance

25% Charm Experience

Done with the reading he looked up once more and found himself looking into those stunning blue eyes of hers yet again.

“Hmm, if I didn’t know better I would think you striped me for a different reason Silendra.” He said a smirk on his lips and mirth in his eyes. “ Thank you for taking care of me, I was in bad shape at the end of it.“

A slight blush colored her cheeks, and he derived a certain amount of pleasure from this unusual reversal of roles. He gave her a moment to collect her thoughts once more, before speaking again. It was only fair, she had done so for him more than once after all.

So when he spoke again he had used some time to gently put his robe on over the bandages:

“Silendra, you wouldn’t happen to know of a place where I could do some more substantial training?”

A small smile graced her lips as she answered him.

“I do know of a place, but it is quite dangerous as it is infested with all manner of Black Bloods.” Her smile turned knowing, without Durabo being able to quite say how.” But I do believe that is what you are looking for, is it not?”

A fierce look entered his eyes as he replied:

“Indeed, training spheres isn’t quite enough for me at the moment.”

Instead of speaking Silendra just made a gesture with her hand, and Sylphie appeared from somewhere nearby. Perhaps she hadn’t come closer in order to give the two of them some privacy. Whyever she did that he couldn’t quite figure out though, it wasn’t something she normally did.

Sylphie led him downstairs, all the way down to the basement. At the end of the basement hall, where he thought there weren’t a thing to see a small trap door was placed, and it was to this that Sylphie led him. Without further ado he opened the hatch and climbed down into the dark below.

His shoes hit the floor, and dust flew into the air. He used his skill to manifest Light as a light source and looked around. Around him was a big stone hall, not made of brick, but worked bedrock. Just as he was about to walk closer to a wall in order to study the carvings on it his vision was filled with two windows.

You have entered Catacombs of the Silver-bloodedYou are the first player to have entered the Catacombs of the Silver-Blooded. As such you have been granted a discoverers reward.

New stat gained: Serenity

Quest: Cleanse the tombs of your ancestors:Time Limit:NoneRank:RacialType:ExterminationBlack Bloods have infested the final resting place of your ancestors, as a High Elf you are unable to ignore this.

He wasn’t in the mood for windows, so he just closed them after giving them a cursory glance. Now that he was alone, his anger and humiliation had resurfaced no longer able to be contained by his logic and rationality.

With swift certain steps he headed towards the doorway across from where he stood. Right as he stepped through it he saw something greyish green out of the corner of his right eye, with a few quick words and some even quicker hand movements a fireball appeared and sped towards the blur. A moment later the smell of burned skin filled his nostrils. With it a small blue bar appeared in the upper right corner of his eye right under the place where the red hp bar appeared before. He barely gave it a glance, it wasn’t relevant at the moment.

He started walking again, now down hallways. It didn’t take him long to find more of the bastards and every time he did they died without them even knowing what hit them. Once more time passed for Durabo without him noticing it.

And the Catacombs was filled with the light of Fire, and he strode through them like burning death incarnate.

When he eventually found his way back to conscious thought again, it was by no means intentional. No it was by the hand of a simple little goblin like Black Blood, and its viciously sharp blade. Just as he felt the sharp pain of a blade entering his flesh he reacted by pure instinct, grabbing the blade hand and dislocating the shoulder of the Black Blood with a swift joint lock before he even knew what had happened. But the damage was done, and his blood gushed from the deep and now wide wound in his side.

He considered his options, his racial could heal him, but that was no use if he didn’t know the way back, and he didn’t. He could of course try anyway, but the chance of him actually making it seemed pretty slim, low on mana, low on health and lost as he was.

Slowly he lowered himself to the floor holding his side.

Then the Catacombs rang with the sound of his quiet laughter while the darkness slowly took him. This was only just desserts for how he had acted, no ones fault but his own.

*******

Pure white light. That’s what Durabo awoke to. Not exactly what he had expected. Looking around it took him but a few seconds to realize that he was on the same white island that he found himself on when he first started this adventure, quite fitting he must admit. Nice symmetry. A grin appeared on his face, and he spoke to the darkness surrounding the isle.

“Hello Sophia, is it customary for players to find themselves here when they die?”

It was a guess, but he deemed it to be a good one, besides a chance to tease should always be grasped. To his great pleasure the clear sound of her sweet voice then sounded from the darkness.

“I thought you would like to talk, since it has been a while…” Here she paused for a few moments before continuing hesitantly.”Was I wrong to take this opportunity?”

“Not at all, quite the opposite in fact. I do apologize for not dropping by more often.” Mirth entered his eyes. “ Might be we should talk every time I die, since it’s bound to happen regularly.”

Silence reigned supreme for a moment, and then her laughter filled the air.

“Well I’m glad you feel that way Sebastian, there are only you and my creator that speaks to me like this. Everyone else just wants something from me.” Once more Sophia hesitated.

“You’re my first friend.”

This stopped him cold, this was clearly a crossroad in the relationship betwixt the two of them.

At first he treated her kindly simply because it was the right thing to do, now it seems he had a choice to make. Keep talking to her, and become friends with her or end it here as gently as possible if he’s unable to return her feelings of friendship. Truly a simple choice, here was a lonely girl looking for friends. Who in their right mind could ever say no to sweet girl like her?

“Well I regard you as a friend too Sophia.” He replied to her silent question. “By the way, are you but a sweet voice in the dark or do you posses a physical representation?”

As an answer, a cone of light appeared before him flashed once and revealed a small shape in front of him.

A girl stood before him, clad in a kimono with beautiful Asian features seeming to be in her late teens. She smiled at him then said:

“Is this answer enough?”

Now why is it that all the girls he meets in this new world are both beautiful and witty? He wasn’t exactly a virgin, in this day and age that would be quite unlikely. But his relationships all had one thing in common. A tendency to crash and burn.

“Indeed, more than enough.” He answered, smirking.”Now we just need a place to sit, not that I’m that uncomfortable though.”

Once more a light cone appeared in the circle of light, and after its flash a small sofa and a coffee table stood in its place. When he sat down and Sophia followed suit it wasn’t quite as big as he'd thought it was. For he ended up able to feel the heat of her thighs on his left leg. He was quite conscious of that fact. It didn’t appear to faze Sophia for a second though. Shaking all thoughts of that out of his head, he asked her a question instead.

“What happens when you die in Nexus?”

A look of incredulity appeared on her face as Sophia replied.

“Haven’t you checked up on that before you started playing?”

He flashed her a boyish grin.

“Nope, figured I would die at some point and might as well keep it as a surprise,”

Her punch to his shoulder was fast and precise, yet her smile took the sting from it.

“Well since you asked I’ll tell you, but I do hope you have other conversation topics than the game Sebastian.”

Without giving him a chance to come with a rebuttal she continued.

“I will begin with the basics, since you don’t even know that.

When you die you leave behind your body and all equipped items for a period of eight hours. This is done for several reasons including reward for the killing and rituals that needs bodies. As well as to make battles more realistic.

As you probably know, all beings in Nexus have the ability to grow through time. Now in order to measure this growth experience is used. Yet you need to understand that experience is not just experience.

There is the common experience used to gauge your overall level of power, but most skills have experience as well and it’s a different kind than the one used for levels. Now when you level up, or when a skill levels up it uses the accumulated experience to do so.

Death results in the displacement of all your experience from you, making it possible for others to take it. This experience is disconnected from you in the same period of time that your body is left behind, and can only be picked up by beings that have the relevant qualifications for it. I’m certain you realize all the implications of these facts.” Done with the sermon, she gave him some time to absorb the information.

A few implications did seem quite apparent to him. First was the fact that level experience was almost certain to be lost. The second was that the rest would be lost according to you enemies. Well there was more implications, yet they relied on some inference and needed a few questions to be certain though, but as they were mostly related to groups and the mechanics of how the experience was collected. They could wait, she had a point when she said they should speak about things other than the game.

“Now, I've been dying to know. What do you do for fun?” Durabo asked.

She flashed him a delighted grin before answering.

“I read philosophy and write poetry. I also play chess with Father, and for some odd reason I’ve not beaten him even once.”

“Well I’ve never been anything but decent at chess so I’m quite certain you’ll beat me at that without too much trouble. “ He showed her a self deprecating smile. “But philosophy is a hobby of mine, and I would love to debate it with you at some point.” His regular smirk showed up. “ Yet what I would really like to do, is hear some of your poetry.”

Now what happened next was just too cute, she blushed a lovely shade of scarlet on her porcelain skin and looked down avoiding his gaze. Instead of giving her the coup de grâce he enjoyed the view instead. Then she looked up and a sharp glint entered her eyes, quite frightening if she hadn’t been blushing as fiercely as she did.

“Well, you’ll just have to earn the right, Sebastian. I’ve left a lot of my poetry in Nexus, under the pen name Chika. If you find it, I’ll reward you by reading it aloud to you the next time we meet.” She flashed him a bright smile, not blushing in the slightest anymore.

Now that was a bad sign, and he doubted it would be as easy as looking for it in the library. Well, a challenge is always welcome. Helps to keep life exciting don’t you agree?

“Well now, if I do manage to find some of your poetry I’ll be sure to collect.” Now to take some revenge for her sure to be unfair challenge. “ Who wouldn’t want a private reading by a beauty like you Sophia.”

Now that had a spectacular effect, she blushed an even brighter shade of scarlet, something he’d thought to be impossible, but this time she didn’t try to hide it. No instead she looked him straight in the face, searching in his eyes for something. What she was looking for he didn’t know so he let her do it.

After a while he started to get a little nervous, it’s not often that he’s examined this intently by anyone, least of all a beautiful girl. So he decided it was time to speak once more. Yet his playful side had been awoken.

“Are you going to speak at some point? Or are you considering going for a kiss?” He said with smirk.

“As if! I was merely…” She took a deep breath after which she stopped blushing and her face returned to its normal cool and collected self. “ I would much rather like to ask you a question instead. Do you see me as a human being?”

Now that’s what people would call a loaded question. When she said that she liked philosophy he really should have expected it to be topics like this that she contemplated. Like all other beings she’s trying to figure out both her purpose and what she is. Rather human in it’s own way.

“Before I answer I would like to know, do you want arguments or is it ok to just come with my honest opinion?” Durabo asked.

“For now I just want your opinion, Sebastian. Later we can debate things properly.” She answered with a calm face and delighted eyes.

“Well alright then. Do I regard you as a human being? No I don’t. I do on the other hand regard you as a fully sapient being equal to or better than humans though.” He replied while smiling a little.

While he said it he observed her carefully, to see whether he offended her. Yet he has always been unable to lie to save peoples feelings when being asked for his opinion. When he saw no obvious reaction to his words he asked:

“Does that answer your question?”

She studied him intently for a moment, making him fidgety before answering.

“Yes it does Sebastian. Quite well at that.” She said smiling. “Now I think it’s time for you to log out and eat something.”

“Yes Mom.” He showed her another boyish grin as he answered. “Goodbye Sophia, take care. “

“Bye Sebastian.”

As the last word left her lips, he found himself falling into darkness once more.

*******

Durabo found himself in his room at the library, laying on his bed when he logged back in. Not yet feeling up to planing anything in depth, he instead decided to see whether he’d gained or lost something during his escapade.

Status WindowName:DuraboGender:MaleLevel:5Experience:0%Job:NoneRace:High ElfCombat Class:MageSupport Class:NoneTitles:Novice Eislonien MageExpendable Stats:HP:470HP/s:3,2MP:2171MP/s:4,3Stamina:470STM/s:6,4Satiety:30kSAT/s:-1Basic StatsStatBaseBonusTotalAgility:512172Endurance:17017Charisma:41041Intelligence:9341134Strength:22022Vitality:47047Wisdom:662086Advanced Stats:Concentration:137Serenity:10Affinities:Air:16%Earth:20%Fire:21%Light:13%Water:20%

(A/N: This stat window is after he used his stat points. Mostly because I don’t need to make another one in the end if I do this. Hope it’s okay )

Skill ListCombat Skills:Skill nameSkill RankSkill LvlSkill EXPGrimoire (Passive/Active):Novice427%Intuition (Passive):Novice76%Mana Feed (Passive):Adept19%Manifestation: Air (Active):Novice137%Manifestation: Earth (Active):Novice214%Manifestation: Fire (Active):Novice2327%Manifestation: Light (Active):Novice42%Manifestation: Water (Active):Novice2362%Mastery: Air Spells (Passive):Novice128%Mastery: Chants (Passive):Novice2123%Mastery: Earth Spells (Passive):Novice201%Mastery: Fire Spells (Passive):Novice2233%Mastery: Magic Staffs (Passive):Novice10%Mastery: Sigils (Passive):Novice2117%Mastery: Wands (Passive):Novice10%Mastery: Water Spells (Passive):Novice202%Running (Passive):Novice50%Third Eye (Active):Novice2271Support Skills:Skill nameSkill RankSkill LvlSkill EXPCharm (Passive):Novice527%Language: Rune Tongue (Passive):Adept51%Meditation (Passive):Novice75%Subconscious Note-taking (Passive):N/AN/AN/AWriting (Passive):Novice154%

He had gained some levels, and a new stat. Realizing he had no idea how Endurance and Serenity worked or what his racial did now that it had reached adept he thought:

‘Show stat: Endurance and Serenity. Show skill: Mana Feed.’

EnduranceRarity:commonType:PhysicalRankBasic StatDescription:Effects:The representation of your body's ability

to recuperate and it’s ability to withstand painReduces incoming pain.

Increases Stamina regeneration.

Increases Health regeneration.

SerenityRarity:Very rareType:MentalRank:Advanced StatDescription:Effects:Represents your ability to enter a serene state of mind.

Thereby strengthening your mental faculties.Ads Serenity stat to all other mental stats as long

as you keep the correct state of mind.

Mana Feed (Passive)Rarity:RacialRank:AdeptLevel:1 9%Description:Effects:Your heritage has granted you a deep connection with magic.All mana based skills cost 50% More.

100% of mana spent heals you.

+8% Mana.

‘Wow, that’s one badass stat, even with the requirements. The racial is pretty good too, glad I choose this race.’

When viewed as a whole, even though he died he’d definitely gained something from this. And if all rewards for the discovering of dungeons were like his, then he could easily understand why the pair that roughed him up were willing to do so.

Seeing that he had gained levels, but neither mana nor health led him to conclude that you will not gain anything but ten stat points when you level. Contemplating what distribution to use, a few things became quite obvious.

First that he would get no more health unless he got more vitality.

Second that he would get no more mana unless he got more intelligence.

And third he would get no more mana regen unless he got more wisdom. Health is a must as a solo player, so he would get as much of it as he could. That meant going with a one VIT four INT distribution and leaving out wisdom. Now that could be problematic, as it could result in a lot of down time and an extreme need for resource management if he doesn’t make sure to increase his mana regen somehow. Thinking it over he decided to go with the one four stat distribution. He did so trusting one simple fact, that all other games have skills that increase regen. Besides If all else failed he would rely on his new stat.

Done with the thinking for now, he decided to go talk to the girls. Although already cheered up considerably by the conversation with Sophia he still felt a need to see them. He was worried that they might worry for him unnecessarily.

Calm hadn’t exactly been his state of mind when he entered the Catacombs.

They weren’t in the kitchen so he was forced to search for them throughout the library. When he found them, it was actually quite anticlimactic. They were of course at the reception desk, since opening hours had just started. He didn’t even get all the way down the stairs before Silendra noticed him.

“I see you have come back, I presume it was involuntary?” She said with an arched brow.

Evidently she was quite aware of what would happen when he entered the Catacombs in that state of mind.

“Indeed, perceptive as always. I worried you might be anxious.”

Her sudden smile was as stunning as always.

“How sweet of you Durabo, but I am well aware of you travelers ability to return from death. Otherwise I don’t think I would ever let you leave.” Her smirk combined with the teasing tone, quickened his heartbeat.

Now how do you respond to a statement like that? Durabo ended up avoiding the implications of the last statement and asking a question instead.

“Are Sylphie as aware of this ability as you?” He asked

“Yes of course she is.”

“I’m glad I didn’t make you two worry at least. Now I just need to be smarter when I go about cleansing the tombs.” When he said the word cleansing, her usual flirty attitude faltered for a bit, but it was for such a brief time span that he could almost convince himself it hadn’t happened. If not for the fact his passive told him something was up at the same time.

His best friend in Nexus was hiding something from him, oh goodie this was going to be fun.

Hey there fellow penguins :Tn1:

I wanted to ask you if you would like some explanation of the stats and their function? Since I have a tendency to only bring them up when Durabo thinks about them.

Oh and to Lonjest, I'm sorry I didn't get the chapter done by new years. But I've written a longer chapter as penance :D

As always enjoy and comment if you like ;)