Proofread by: Daylius and Vikingstad

Shiv had been walking for a few minutes when he looked at the time. He had been in the game for just half an hour (real life) and already two hours had passed in his new world. Shiv decided to log out for now. Since he was sure that things would get interesting later, he knew that now was the only time he could rest. Moreover, he understood that this place would be perfect as no monsters would attack his sleeping body due to the tall black tower’s effect.

‘I should get back as soon as I can in the morning. No time to waste’

“Log out”.

In a blink of an eye, Ryu was back in his capsule. He felt oddly tired. He got out of the capsule and the looked at the clock.

‘Half past 12 huh. Let’s see! 4 hours? No, too short. 5, yes 5 hours will do. Setting alarm at 5:30am, now off to sleep’.

---***---

Ryu woke up to the sound of the alarm. He wanted to throw away the alarm and sleep again but his gaming instincts would not let him sleep. He then switched on his computer to browse the official site of the game. He just wanted to check the leader’s board to know the current level of the players.

‘Let’s see, mmmm ah there, leaderboard. First rank Adrian. Let’s check his level. What the???? Level 16???’ Ryu was dumbfounded, it had just been 5 hours since the game’s release and there was already a level 16 player. But what shocked him more was that this rank 1 player had already got a class. ‘Apostle of Light? What kind of shitty class is that?’

Even if Ryu called it shitty, he knew that the class was something major. From the name itself he could understand that it had something to do with the God of Light. Ryu was dejected. ‘Here I was sleeping like a log when others climbed up, shame on you!’

With his anger as fuel, Ryu jumped into the capsule. “dive in”.

---***---

Shiv opened his eyes. He was back at the place where he had left yesterday. He woke up and stretched his hands. He then looked at the tower which was rather close now and started walking. Not too long after he started walking a huge wall came to Shiv’s vision. He understood that the wall was surrounding the tower.

He kept walking. He could now see some more buildings and also a gate. On both sides of the gate he saw the silhouette of humans. ‘A village!’ thought an overjoyed Shiv. He now started walking faster. He was truly happy. He knew that in a village he could find NPCs. And he knew that where there were NPCs, there were quests too.

Shiv’s lips stretched, a truly sinister smile appeared. ‘just you wait Adrian, I’m gonna whoop yo ass big time’. Shiv could now be called a demon, a truly wicked demon.

---***---

Barin was yawning. He was tired of this gate watch keeping. He had been doing this for almost 10 years. No one had ever come to their home town, not even a guest let alone monsters to attack. He had no idea why he was even guarding the gate. ‘an order Is an order, I guess. Ah I want to go back to Serin, yesterday night was hot’ Barin was in his wet dreams about the passionate night he had with his lover.

“Hey Barin, something is coming this way” said the fellow guard.

“Don’t joke around brat, I have been here for 10 years and not even an insect has dared to come to the sacred village of the Dragon!”

“But look at that thing in front” said the brat named Lupon.

Barin was now pissed. “there is nothing th…..”, before he could finish, Barin’s eyes caught up to what Lupon had mentioned. He could see something approaching, really fast too. “” By the dragon god, is that a human? “

---***---

Shiv was now in front of the gate. He looked at the guards. ‘Why do they seem different?’

The guards were indeed different. Even though they had the appearance of a human, something seemed amiss. ‘Why do they have a bluish tint to their skin? Is it some kind of body art? And what the hell are those tattoos on their hands.’ The guards’ left hand had a tattoo. Shiv looked at the tattoos on the left hand of both the guards. He understood that they were not the same.

The guard who looked much older had two tattoos on his hand, while the much younger one had just one. He understood that those tattoos may be the hierarchical. Shiv then talked to the older guard, thinking he was the superior and he was right on that.

“Greetings Commander” Shiv spoke, ‘adding commander will make the NPC’s mood a little easy to approach’. Again he was on the mark.

“Commander? Me? ”, the guard was so happy that it was visible on his face.

“Of course sir, you look so dignified that I believe you are indeed a commander and the young guard there is your capable aid”. This much was enough to sweep the guards from their feet.

Both started snickering, their face showing how much those words affected them.

“I am afraid we are no such things, just two lowly guards” replied the guard; a little sadness in his voice could be felt.

Shiv felt guilty but still kept performing his drama. “Guards? Such fine people just guards. It’s hard to believe. You look nothing less than a great commander, Sir”.

The two guards were now truly delighted, they now saw Shiv as a brother, a blood brother.

“Trrrng”

Your sweet talk has made the two guards consider you as their friend.

-intimacy increased with Barin and Lupon, the gate keepers. They now think off you as a friend

Reward:

you will now receive better quests (much harder to turn down quests)

gained access to the village of Draklake

+5 relations with Draklake Guards

‘Awesome!’ Shiv was beaming inside.

“I am called Barin, and this here is my junior, Lupon. What may your name be, my friend?”

‘My friend! So far so good’.

“My name is Shiv, I am a traveller. it is privilege to be considered as a friend of such fine people”

“Traveller? I have heard rumors about of them. Well, let us not fret on minor things. Now tell me Shiv, why have you come to the great lands of the dragon.”

“As I have mentioned, I am a traveller. I travel to places in seek of an adventure, in seek of honor. Will you let me enter your great village”?

“Adventure eh. Ah that brings back memories when I was young. I shall not bore you with my stories. And of course, a friend of mine is always welcome. Welcome to the Draklake village, the home of the Dragon riders. We, the Draken race welcome you”

“It pains me greatly my friend, even though it is our first meeting; I have to ask you to aid me in a small matter? I am ashamed of myself, but I have no other option but to rely on my new friend”

“You don’t need to be so formal with me, Barin, my friend. We are friend after all. Tell me what is troubling you.” Shiv replied instantly, he could smell a quest.

“In the plains of Draklake, north of this village, lies a small pond. The pond used to be the home of the water spirits, called Naiad. Naiads are completely harmless and have no fighting prowess”

Barin continued, “The pond has always been protected by our village. But a week from today marks the start of a special ritual in our village, so the guards appointed to protect the village were called back to prepare for it. The ritual takes place only once every 10 years and lasts for 2 days. During the time of preparations and the ritual, the pond is left unguarded. Ever since the guards have left, the pond has been subjected to the attack by black rabbits. These rabbits have been trying to snatch the pond for themselves. For now the pond is safe. But the naiads have requested our help. We were told that the rabbits plan to attack the pond on the day of the festival to ensure that the naiads would not receive any help. So I beg you my friend to help those poor creatures”

“Trrrng”

QUEST: THE NAIADS SAVIOURNaiads, the water spirits of the plains are under the attack of the black rabbits. The black rabbits plan to rob the naiads off their home. You have been requested to stop this attack and protect the naiads.

Days left till attack: 7days

Difficulty : +F

Requirements: Barin and Lupon’s trust

Rewards

Unknown?????

100xp

1 silver

+10 intimacy with Naiads

+10 intimacy with guards

Failure

The quest will fail

1. if you die

2. All naiads die. (60 alive)

Failure will reset all intimacy with the guards to zero. Will be banned from entering the village

‘+F difficulty? Can I do it? I don’t even have a weapon. And I can’t go out of the village yet.’ Shiv had read that the players had to remain inside the village for two weeks to ensure their safety.

“But Barin, my friend. I can’t leave this village yet, I am shackled by the great gods. I am afraid I must turn down the quest”.

“Oh! It seems you got it wrong, Shiv. This here is the internal wall. There is an outer wall a little further. That is the village boundary. The pond is within the outer wall and thus is a part of the village. The outer wall was built to protect powerless creatures as Naiads. The black rabbits too have their home within the outer walls.”

‘So that explains why I had spawned outside the village. And the monsters not attacking me was not due to the tower but me being inside the village. Maybe the tattoo in my hand prevented monsters within the wall to attack me. Now everything makes sense’.

Barin continued, “You have got 7 days to prepare for the attack. I suggest you get stronger. The way you are, a single bite from the rabbits can kill you. Here take this parchment and give it to the battle guide inside the village. Tell him that I sent you. Look for the second tallest building, and it is red in color.”

“Very well Barin. I shall get stronger and complete your request. How can I call myself a friend if I can’t even fulfill one of your small wishes?”

“Trrrng”

You have accepted the quest

Days left till the attack: 7days

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