《From Beast to Man and Back Again》Ch.18 Registering
Advertisement
"Register at the guild?"
"Yup, you've already gotten a feel for which weapons you like right? Two lessons for each and you already understand the basics well enough. You were already a pretty good at fighting when we started. You're stronger than those idiots that pickup a weapon for the first time once they become an adventurer. It's not like they send newbies on hard missions. I think it's time to tell the old man you're ready to start 'adventuring'."
"If you think so Garet. I was always ready, I've just been waiting for you two to give the okay."
"I have to say I agree, but it's better to be safe than sorry right? On a side note, are you sure you want to keep learning about all the weapons. If you were to concentrate completely you would be able to master it."
"But I am focusing. I'm practicing with the daggers and hand to hand combat every day five days a week. The other ones I'm only going to practice one or two days a week. And they help me learn more about the two I chose."
"I know. It's actually pretty impressive what you're doing, but are you sure you can handle it? Going through such rigorous training isn't always good for the body. Besides isn't two of those days your off days? You're suppose to use those to rest your body and mind."
"You know my lineage. I can easily handle the training, my base is better than most because my mother has raised me to be stronger since I was born."
"That doesn't sound like a good thing. It can stunt a child's growth if they exercise too much you know."
"I'm different. Unlike bipedal children I first started walking when I was three months old. Human babies walk at the earliest of nine months right? I' mart of a race that has fairly limitless growth. Humans can to, but they don't live long enough. My mother is three hundred years old and she is still very young. She's going to live longer than elves do. I'll probably live longer than an elf does too. My race is based of of an animal that grows quickly at birth and lives a long time. My body's ability, not its age, is growing as fast as that type of animal does. I have the potential of humans, longevity better than an elf's, and the epidemic growth of a young animal.NThis is the best time for my training. My mother taught me all of that Garet."
Advertisement
"I know, but does that mean I can't worry about you. You're still a kid Chaise. It's my responsibility as an adult and as your friend to make sure you'll be okay. Hmpf hmpf, cheeky kid, don't question my methods."
"Both you and the old man has told me to question your methods."
"I regret nothing."
Garet starts laughing and breaks into a run. I chase after him. Finally, after a month, I've gotten approval to start as an adventurer. The kids at the orphanage told me more about adventurers and it's sounds like a lot of fun. We run into the house, the door is currently removed from its hinges so that Garet can't kick it in. We burst into the old man's study. Garet clicks his tongue in dissatisfaction when he sees the door is open. The old man looks down at Garet arrogantly and then changes back to his normal expression.
"I assume you've come to tell me that you think Chaise is ready to start adventuring?"
"Yup, so what do you say old man?"
"Chaise you've figured out how to use those basic spells I taught you right?"
"Yeah, I can use them, but I still don't understand how they work. Besides my style is much stronger and more efficient, why can't I just do it my way?"
"People would take too much notice of you if you did. It would end up attracting the wrong type of attention. That aside, if you can use the basic spells I taught you then that means you'll be able to heal yourself if you get injured... Okay I think it will be alright if you join the guild. I'd take you there myself, but that might cause too much of a ruckus. Garet, would you mind taking him to sign up?"
"Of course I'll take him. I was planning to go even if you didn't ask me to. We'll head off immediately. Let's go Chaise!"
"Yay!"
Me and Garet sprint out the door. We race to see who'll get to town first. Garet won, he taunts me about it as we walk. He likes to tease me while we're training too. I don't really mind though, mother's taunts were much more annoying than his are. When we step into the guild's building, it's not all that wide but it is three stories tall, the smell and sound forces me to fold my ears and hold my nose. The old man has told me that I'm not aloud to ever switch ears, because people would notice if they're different. I have to pretend to be a beastman. Half of the room on the first floor is being used as a restaurant. The rest of the first floor is for registering things, (new adventurers, job requests, accepting jobs, turning fulfilled jobs, etc.), at a counter. The second floor is where people go to look at the different tasks. The third floor is only for the people managing the guild. We walk up to one of the counters and talk to the...person sitting behind it. I can't tell what gender they are!
Advertisement
"Hey Jul, taking time off from working as an adventurer again?"
"Yeah, fighting so much gets stressful you know. Although I'm not sure this desk job is any better. So what are you here for Garet? You haven't taken any jobs and I don't see any request forms in you hands."
"I'm here to help this little guy register."
Garet pushes me forward. I'm still trying to figure out if they are a boy or a girl.
"Hello, I'm Jul. What's your name?"
"I'm Chaise. Umm... I'm sorry but are you a girl or a boy? I can't tell."
Jul's expression freezes and Garet looks at me with a mixture of horror and pity.
"I am a guy."
Jul speaks through his teeth with a forced smile. I can tell he's very upset, but I don't know why. Will it help if I explain why I couldn't tell?
"Oh, okay. I can usually tell by scent, but you don't really smell like either. You actually smell a bit like water, and that barely has any scent either."
Jul seems taken aback. He also looked shocked when I said he smells like water. Garet is confused by something, and didn't notice Jul's expression.
"Wait, so you tell gender by scent? Do you not tell people apart by sight?"
"Yup. Bipedals a look to similar, I can't tell them apart by just sight yet. I remember people based of of their scent, coloring, and voice."
" *pfft* That's pretty funny Chaise. Sorry Jul, but at least he wasn't confused based on your appearance right?"
"Yeah, sorry I got mad at you Chaise. I'm just tired of people thinking I'm a girl based off of my face. So you're signing up as an adventurer right? You just need to fill this sheet out."
Garet grabs the paper and pencil Jul was holding out to me. I'm still not able to read and write very well. But I can recognize most of the letter now. Garet talks to Jul as he writes.
"Jul would you mind helping him out whenever he selects a quest? He can't read yet so he need someone to help him. He is strong enough for hunting and fighting quests, but he needs to stay around the city. He's learned the basics for some weapons and he is an experienced hunter. He can also use the most basic spells for fire, water, earth, wind, and healing."
"Okay, in that case his first quest can be to hunt some slimes and maybe a mini boar."
"He's stronger than that Jul, you could start him off with goblins and I think he'd manage."
"What are goblins?"
"They're ugly green monsters that look like child size humanoids."
"Those things? They're gross, but the slightly bigger things they stay with are more annoying. The giant green ones were the grossest. They are also the hardest to defeat. I barely beat them by together with the wolves, and we could only do that because they're so stupid."
Garet and Jul look at each other shocked.
"Ogres?"
"Those would be ogres right?"
"He's not bragging is he?"
"No he has no idea what would be considered impressive."
". . ."
". . ."
"Let's just send him to hunt the slimes and boar okay?"
"Yeah, anything else would attention grabbing."
". . ."
"Okay Chaise the only thing left to do is make you your card. Do you know how to do this?"
"Yup"
"Good"
Jul reaches under the counter and grabs a rectangular piece of metal and a purple, slightly transparent, rock. He puts the card in an indentation in the rock. The old man told me about these cards. They give a value to your basic qualities like strength, health, and mana. It can also show race, but you kind hide any information on it with a thought if you don't want it seen. Most people only leave their name and adventurer rank showing. Apparently summoned beings can see a transparent blue square that shows even their abilities, but no one knows how. Everyone else just has to settle with the cards. Instead of using the needle Jul tries to hand me, I use my fingernail to cut my hand enough for a drop of blood to escape. It lands on the card. The rock and card start to glow bright white.
Advertisement
Fantasia
Arwyn has just bought Fantasia, the first fantasy-based VRMMORPG, with 99% realism that you can play while you sleep. In the game, she becomes Fey, a moon elf starting in the magical Elvenwood. Join her (and her snarky narrator who likes to interject sarcastic comments in parentheses) on her exciting, often hilarious adventures inside this magical world full of every fantasy creature you've ever encountered in books, games, and movies, and a few that you haven't. Oh, and there's something strange about the NPCs in this game... See if you can figure it out before Fey does. (No, they are not self-aware AIs.) -Cover art credit goes to A. Noviant
8 151The Eternal Seeker Saga
In a universe where Earth is nothing but a distant memory, and humanity is clawing its way back from a million years long interstellar dark age, Sarah Ciel-étoilé is but a humble mercenary. For 60 years, her crew of exiles has followed her onboard their stolen military gunship, the Eternal Seeker. But now, a threat like they have never seen before is rising. The Dominion, an intergalactic empire over a millenia old, is dying. Its catastrophic civil war almost brought it to total collapse, and it endures only through the strength of its navy. But that strength is waning. Throughout the Dominion's Protectorate, whispers of a revolution are spreading, and insurrections are flaring up, as a conspiracy set on casting down the Dominion and burning it to the ground set its plan into motion. Yet, behind all the chaos and the destruction, something far more sinister brews in the shadows, and it could change the face of the universe forever. This is the story of Sarah, and her mercenaries, during these troubled and dark times, as empires fall...and others rise. ----- Chapters will be posted every sunday, mostly at 23h30 CET (22h30 UTC), although I will probably experiment with different release times. Illustration © Tom Edwards TomEdwardsDesign.com
8 336The Monster Inside: The First Vampire
Despite appearances, there was once a time where monsters did not exist. Where peace and prosperity reigned over all life. But those sinful and demonic forces that had hidden themselves in the shadows just couldn't help themselves could they? They wanted a piece of that prosperity too. They wanted to taint it, corrupt it, revel in its dark side.This is the story of a boy who was tainted. Of a boy who unintentionally bore a seed of sin and who in his naivety let it out. This is the story of how that boy was shamed and disgraced. Of how he was outcast for simply being. This is the story of how that boy learned to embrace the darkness that made him different. A darkness that would later make him known as the Lord of Night. Note to Reader: I understand this book is not for everyone, if there is a writer that can write to please everyone, I have never heard of them. The MC can be frustrating in his decisions as he learns to grow and accept what and who he is. I believe this reality is unavoidable. That being said, if you feel the need to give a review, please do so, just know that I will report you if all that review seems to do is blab toxic language and insult my literary choices without giving constructive advice or alternatives. That's not just a me policy, that's a policy of this website. I'm not writing this note because I'm a writer who does not acknowledge that there are faults in my work. I know there are. That's what happens when it hasn't been professionally edited by someone other than the author. I'm saying this because I'm sick of reading 1 star or 0.5 star rated reviews that seem to do nothing but hate on the book because they don't like the story. No comments on grammar, ways to improve or suggestions for better story arcs. Just plain hate. It's not on, and I frankly shouldn't have to write this note, but needed to get it off my chest. In saying all that, thank you to those who do leave reviews that don't fall into the above category. Your appreciation of my work, or alternatively, your willingness to give advice for improvement, is appreciated.
8 1696Mana System - Hello, World! [Complete]
What would you do if your world collapsed and you had less than an hour to choose a suitable role that would allow you to survive? Would you give in to despair? Paul choose to fight for survival, now he has to face off against predatory animals, monsters, and even the land itself all modified by the Mana System. Eventually, he will have to face off against a foe even deadlier than the rest. Humans! I feel I need to add this disclaimer because some people really get their panties in a twist when they reach the second arc. This is not a grimdark story. Yes, there are portions that are dark and grim, including slavery which is why I have the traumatizing content box checked. If you can't stomach a little slavery and torture, probably best to find a different story to read. Complaining that you felt lied to isn't going to make me change my story. If this offends you, leave a review.
8 214A noble blood sacrifice
A confident young man with a well paying job, worries about his mother and two sisters when he's away at work. They are constantly harassed and bullied by the community who accuse them of practicing witchcraft. His father was a known witch, but he made money for a lot people. Since his death the family business has dwindled. And so have the friendships. The family has had to adapt in some conventional ways, along with some questionable ones too. Leaving us to question if wrong can be right and if some wrongs are really wrong at all.
8 92Coffee & Slime
In a continent plagued with humans, monsters, and unspeakable evils, our Hero is reborn as a child in the Kingdom of Slime. As he learns how to survive, will he choose to save the world, or destroy it? What can a mere slime do? Current release schedule: One chapter every 1-2 days. Bonus chapters will be awarded at the end of each arc (max 2 per arc), for the following goals, mainly to motivate me to write better: - Every 100 followers - Every 10 ratings Goal met this arc! Please expect the bonus chapters around chapter 30ish.
8 134