You died. Deaths in tutorials have no negative effect. Reincarnation options not met. You may resurrect at your starting point.

“What the tits?! Am I dead? Oh yeah, looks like it.” It was a bit like floating in water, only with a dim view on my mutilated body.

“Resurrect me!”

Without further ado I was standing again at the small square. This time I directly moved a bit away from the center.

I was still in turmoil and emotionally exhausted. I felt like doing something against my frustration.

“Argh. This fucking bitch. FUUCK!” My therapist told me to not keep things for myself too long. Yelling seemed just mandatory and proper.

“Umph…” Someone shoved an apple right into my face.

“Language, boy!” It was that old woman again. “Ah, you again. You should really work on your manners. It’s good to let out penned up anger, but not when everyone else has to listen. Be more considerate!” She was now pulling my ear.

“Soo…wy…” It was not easy to answer with a jaw-breaking apple in my mouth.

“Hmph.” She was walking away after wiggling her index finger at me. Now I felt like 10 again. But at least I could enjoy a tasty and juicy apple for free.

I still was angry and thought about some kind of revenge on Jay. But I wasn’t sure how. Whatever. There would be a time and a place. Now that I knew how a few things worked in this world I had a rough idea where to start.

While I munched on my apple I saw another, much bigger tour group on the other side of the square. Maybe I could warn those new victims and make it harder for that scheming blonde.

But I didn’t saw her and instead there was just some bearded man with a “Tutorial” board in his hands.

“Hello, isn’t Jay with you and the tour?” I asked cautious.

“Jay? Who is that?” He squinted his eyes.

“Jay, Jaywina Silverstar?”

“Ah, Miss Silverstar. No, she isn’t with us. It is rare for her to do such fieldwork. She isn’t always in the mood.” He cleared his throat.

“Just between us: It is saver for all parties if she takes no interest in guiding beginners. She can be quite rough. But I didn’t say anything…” It was more of a whisper now.

“Rough? Yeah, something like this. Do you know where I can find her usually? I need to talk to her.”

“Well, you could look at the guildhall or with some luck at some food stalls. If someone sells Pantak, which is quite rare, that would be a guaranteed hit. But most of the time she is away on some missions. Before you ask, I have no details about such things.”

“What the heck is Pantak?”

“You must be a new traveller as well. At least your choice of clothes says so. Pantak are deep fried buttocks of the Mountain Silverboar and a famous delicacy of our region. Other parts of that monster are tasty as well, but it’s not the same. Silverboar buttocks can fetch a high price at the market.”

“Appetizing. Thank you for the information. I’m on my way.” Now I had a clue and some ideas but was even less motivated to exact revenge. I could wait.

“Take care.” Beardy was starting to move with his group.

***

I selected my map and was looking for my real goal, the blacksmith’s shop. Besides the adventure I really wanted to do one thing, swing a hammer at an anvil. This trade wasn’t hot during my youth and was even less today. But I felt a connection to metalwork. I had my own little forge at my parent’s house, which I almost burned down in my enthusiasm. I wasn’t chasing my dream and instead got my business major at a city college.

While I walked to the smithy I felt excited. What would I do first, how would it feel to create a weapon or a tool? I was ready to give my all. To hell with Jay, but I would keep the feeling of her chest in my heart.

I entered the store and was looking around. The interior was quite generous and many polished items like weapons and armor were on display. At lot of noise and hammering could be heard from the background. A young guy was standing behind the counter. With no other customers in sight, he greeted me.

“Good day sir, how can I help you?”

“Hi, my name is CrazyB. I’m looking for your master.”

“Interesting name. You must be a traveller. I am Lent. Was one of our merchandize not to your liking?”

“Oh no, there is nothing wrong. I am here to learn you trade. I’m looking for an apprenticeship.”

“You do? That could be… Oh wait I call the master.” He was turning around and yelling “BOOOSSSS!”

After a few seconds some of the hammering stopped and was replaced by some rumbling. A burly Dwarf opened the backdoor and walked to the counter.

“Was is it, Lent? Is there a complaint? And don’t call me Boss blockhead. I am the master! Remember? Master! Why are there not more young Dwarfs around…” He had some fast mood swings and was sighing at the end.

“Yes master. You are right master. This traveller over there wanted to talk to you.” He pointed at me.

“Ok, talk!” He was looking at me with piercing eyes.

“Good day, master. My name is CrazyB and I want to learn your trade and be a blacksmith one day.” I smiled and was fidgeting a bit.

“Go home.” He wasn’t even thinking about it and turned around.

“Please wait. Do you accept no apprentices? Can you at least tell me the reason?” I was begging now. It felt humiliating.

“Humans… Do I deserve this?” He was mumbling to himself.

“Come with me, I’ll show you.” He waved his arm and I followed him. Lent just shrugged and said nothing.

We arrived in his workshop. There were about 10 other men and women at work. It was really hot inside and I started to sweat.

“With just one look at your hands I saw that you never worked in your life. Am I wrong? You feel no purpose, no tenacity to reach a goal.” He wasn’t even looking at me while saying these annoying things.

“You may be right. But that’s the past. I am here, because I want to change. All I need is a chance.” I felt a kind of stubborn hope.

“Haha, big words without deeds are worth nothing and I give a shit!” He was looking at me now and examined me.

“Just look at you. You are weak. You couldn’t even lift the big hammer for a proper swing. Watch theses guys. They sweat for years now to reach their level. But the will still need years to become experts.” He scratched his beard.

“Could you do that? No, I don’t think so.”

“I can and I will. I just need a chance. Do you have something to lose?”

“Hmh, maybe I am too soft hearted.” Someone snickered in the back.

“Keep working nogoodnik!” He yelled at no one in particular.

“So, you are a polite one. That helps. There is a chance, not with us yet. You would brake tools and equipment and injure someone.”, he said with another round of scratching.

“And there is no way I’ll teach a weakling. But, I’ll give you a recommendation for Christa. That old hag needs every worker she can get. She’ll train even you if you don’t run your mouth.” He seemed pleased with his idea, which I did not understand.

“What has she to do with blacksmithing? I’m not sure I can follow.”

“Tch, Christa is a miner and sells raw materials not only to our smithy. If you can hang on with this job, you are ready to learn my trade as well. Got it?” Impatience was easy to hear from his tone.

“Yes!” I smiled and felt like an opportunity was right around the corner.

“Wait a minute.” He took a hammer and placed some scrap metal below a template. He was finished with one ridiculous fast swing.

“Here, take this. That’s my seal. She will recognize this. You will find Christa and her camp outside the eastern gate.” He handed me the finished metal piece.

“Now go and stop stealing my time. Shoo, shoo…”

I left the shop and waved Lent goodbye. I looked at my map and saw that I had a new entry just outside of Kalesh, Christa’s camp behind the eastern gate, how convenient. It took me only 10 minutes to reach my destination. I was still very careful when I left the city. Thoughts of dears and bunnies chewing on my entrails were still fresh.

***

“Hello? Somebody there?” I was right in front of the camp, but could not see someone.

“Coming!” A quite deep and somehow raspy voice of a woman answered. There was movement in one of the bigger tents.

“How are you? What can I do for such a good looking young man?” She was huge. I guess she was human. She still looked close to 2 meters, with broad shoulders. I wasn’t sure about her age though. But old wasn’t the right description, more like worked and chiseled came to mind.

“Hello, nice to meet you. I’m looking for Christa. The master smith… oh damn, I didn’t ask his name. Ah yeah, the master from Kaleshs blacksmith store sent me?” What a blunder. I showed her the seal.

“Hahaha. Yes I am Christa. Don’t worry about that midget’s name. I’m pretty sure he forget it himself at times.” Was that their usual banter or did they hate each other?

“So, you found me. Are you just here to flirt with me? Fire away if you want to ask something. I was in for a nap.” I had to be careful if she confused a normal conversation with flirting.

“Ahem. I am not here exactly to just socialize. I’m looking for a job.” I hoped I was subtle enough.

“Work is it? Good enough for me. You don’t look like an idiot. I accept.”

Ding

I guess I had to adjust the message system. Sometimes I got full text information and sometimes only a muted acoustic signal.

“You have to work for at least on week, on probation. If you are doing a good job I promote you to novice miner, raise your salary and you can choose to extend our arrangement. I’ll show you the ropes on the first two days and than it’s up to you.” She cracked every single finger while talking to me.

“That sounds good to me Mrs. Christa.”

“It’s Miss and just call me Christa. When can you start? Today would be great.”

“Today is fine. I’m CrazyB by the way.”

“Pfft. What a name. Your parents must really hate you. I guess I’ll call you CB” She was grinning. “Anyway, come back in the afternoon, in about two hours. I can take a nap and prepare for our short trip to the mountains.

She started walking back to her tent.

“Ok boss, see you later.”

Christa raised her right arm shortly and disappeared in her tent.

That was better than expected. Crap, I forgot to ask about my salary. I was such an airhead sometimes. She was not running away. There shouldn’t be a problem.

I felt it was time to log out for a bit. Maybe there were some new information from other players and more hints how to survive and earn a living.

‘Log Out.’