The mirror was not what it had appeared to be. Theo looked at his altered reflection one final time before stepping through the portal. There was no fear as he did this; it was a natural choice, requiring as little thought as walking through a door.

Seamlessly, he moved from one scene to the next; the perfect transition of one dream merging into another. Theonix found himself standing before the opening to an abandoned mine at the base of Ponoisle Rise. His uncle, Rygnuhdruhr Madguard, beamed at him a few feet away.

"Can ya smell tha rock callin' ta ya, lad?" Rygn asked in his thick accent, his hands on his hips.

The family resemblance was barely noticeable. They shared the same darker skin tone, but Rygn's hair and beard had already begun to grow white with age. Slicked back away from his face, Rygn's long mane puffed out to the sides unrestrained by the plaits that most of his people wore. His beard was better kept, with two simple braids connecting it to his mustache. Kind blue eyes smiled excitedly at Theonix beneath a thick brow. The curve in his nose suggested that it had been broken at least once before, and it ended at a bulbous tip. He was only slightly thinner than Theonix and decked out in chainmail. A shortsword hung from his hip, and there was a shield strapped to his back.

"Why are we here, uncle?" Theonix asked, taking in his surroundings. Ponoisle Rise stood high and majestic before them, its rocky surface giving way to a snowcapped top that reached into the clouds beyond their view. Behind them was a boggy pond known to be the home of moldlings, small moss-like creatures that would attach themselves to their victims and quickly cover them with their tendrils, suffocating them to death right before consuming them with an acid they secreted that broke down skin and bones.

Behind the pond stood Willow Forest, aptly named for the species of tree that proliferated the area. It was said to be haunted, and thus no dwarf, man, or otherwise dared to travel through it. They had skirted around the mountain just to get here, always keeping an eye on the treeline. While Rygn was skilled in battle, Theonix had yet to wield an ax in melee. Without his uncle by his side, he would have been easy prey for monsters.

"Today, ya become a man!" Rygn announced proudly, stretching out his arms as if this area of Patheana held all the answers.

Excitement pumped through Theonix. This was a pleasant surprise, something he'd long awaited. Memories of his past were vague, yet Theonix had a sound knowledge that this was something he'd been meant to do for a while. He desperately desired to be a more productive and respected member of his clan. Proving himself in combat would earn him the ability to take quests from his village elders, which could eventually lead to him working for the mountain king if he was able to make a name for himself. There were many paths that his life could take once he mastered the basics.

Throwing his gaze towards Ponoisle Mine, Theonix had a good idea of what he'd be tasked with. There had been a lot of talk in his village about opening the mine back up, especially since his people had been considering increasing trade with the gnomes of Oxbell. It was rich in coal deposits, but the sheer lack of other valuable gems and minerals had made it less appealing than other mines in the area. Not to mention the dangerous location and seemingly bad luck associated with it just by being adjacent to Willow Forest. Moldlings often rolled in from the pond in search of a larger meal. Gremlins also seemed to flock to the area. Keeping them out of the mine had been a constant problem since it had first been dug. A collapse three years ago that had claimed the lives of several good dwarves had been the last straw. The mountain king declared Ponoisle Mine unsafe and ordered it closed.

"Are we going to venture into the mine, uncle?" Enthusiasm rang clear in Theonix's voice.

The older dwarf cocked his head to the side, scratching his chin through his beard. "Hmm, we might. But first ey have ta get ya ready fer it. If there be gremlins in there, they'd eat ya alive tha way ya are now."

"I can handle a few gremlins," Theonix insisted, staring into the dark mouth of the mine. A low-level monster, gremlins only posed a slightly greater nuisance than the moldlings.

"Oh can ya, lad?" Rygn chuckled, his chainmail clinking slightly as his belly moved. "Have ya ever faced a gremlin before?"

Theonix hesitated. "Well...no." But how difficult could it be? They only stood two-feet tall. He imagined it would be as challenging as fighting a child.

"Let's start with somethin' a bit easier first." Rygn stepped up to Theonix and placed his hand on his nephew's shoulder, turning him to face the pond. A few moldlings sat on the bank, looking unassuming. They were probably assessing whether the two dwarves were worth the effort. While Theonix might have been an easy meal, his uncle most certainly was not. "Ey have a quest fer ya," his tone piped up again. "Yer first combat quest. Gotta make sure ya can handle that ax yer father left ya before I send ya into the cold dark mines."

Just then a notification popped up in Theonix's field of vision. The words hung in the air, the backdrop just solid enough so that he could read easily.

Quest: Clear the Moldlings

Your clan has decided that it's finally time for you to become a man, and apparently that means starting by clearing the base of Ponoisle Rise of moldlings. While they don't prove much of a threat for seasoned warriors, you are not a seasoned warrior. It is crucial to get rid of them now so that they don't follow you into Ponoisle Mine and catch you unaware later.

Difficulty: Medium

Success: Kill 6 Moldlings

Reward: 7 silver, Moss Gauntlets

Will you accept this quest: Yes or No?

Accepting was a no-brainer. Theonix was itching to experience battle for the first time.

The second he thought yes, the notification disappeared. Immediately, Theonix redirected his attention to one of the moldlings.

Rygn patted his nephew's shoulder. "Now ey know yer itchin' ta get down ta business, but there are a few things ya should know about battle first.

"First things first. Ya need ta Analyze yer opponent so that ya don't rush headfirst inta a fight ya can't win."

"Analyze," Theonix repeated, watching the moldling's every move. It had no eyes to speak of, looking every bit as innocuous as a ball of moss that had just fallen near the shore, except that there were no trees on their side of the pond. The only sign of life it showed was that it rolled back and forth every few seconds, its small tendrils stretching out to the ground to help move it along.

Rygn followed Theonix's gaze to the moldling closest to them. "Analyzing takes no Mana. Until ya level tha skill, you'll only be able ta see tha monster's most basic information, and that is its color. The color of tha monster tells ya how dangerous it is in relation ta ya. Blue means it's an easy kill, typically a level or two below ya. Purple means it's an even match. Green is a slightly higher level. Yellow is a level or two above that. Orange foes, ya don't want ta mess with unless yer partied up. Red means run."

"Red means run," Theonix parroted, practically salivating at the thought of engaging the small creature in combat. It was taking everything in him to have enough patience to listen to his uncle's lecture.

"Now ya try." Rygn gestured to the moldling. "Concentrate on seeing tha monster's information."

Sure enough, as soon as Theonix thought about the moldling's level of threat, its entire body glowed a soft shade of purple.

As if to verify his success, a notification popped up.

Congratulations! New skill learned: Analyze Level 1. You will now be able to see how dangerous a foe is in relation to your own level. Use this skill frequently to avoid getting yourself killed.

"Good." Rygn nodded as if he telepathically knew that Theonix had performed the function correctly. "Now that ya know yer the same level, ya know that ya need ta be careful. Moldlings have two attacks, tentacle lash and cling. Tha best way ta fight them is ta keep a safe distance, attacking with yer ax. Now, draw yer weapon and prepare fer battle."

Theonix reached back for his ax, though the movement was a bit awkward. While he'd never used the ax in battle, he was suddenly aware that he'd had done some training with his uncle before, which had taught him the basics of wielding it.

"Attack when yer ready, lad. A good whack or two ought to do the little beastie in. They don't have much Health," Rygn informed him, making Theonix wonder how much health he had. Just the thought brought up a window with his character sheet.

Name: Theonix Madguard

Race: Dwarf

Level: 1, 0% of the way to next level

Health: 100 / 100

Mana: 100 / 100

Stamina: 100 / 100

Vitality: 10

Intelligence: 10

Strength: 10

Agility: 10

Dexterity: 10

Charisma: 10

Luck: 10

Skills: Analyze Lvl 1; 0% of the way to next level

Languages: Dwarvish

Well, that answered that. Brushing the notification away, Theonix gripped his ax and prepared to engage the moldling in combat.

Though it had no eyes, Theonix knew it could see him. As if taking a defensive stance, it rolled back slightly as he approached. Theonix half expected the other moldlings around the pond to join in and help their comrade, but they simply stayed where they were, watching from a distance.

Using all of his might, Theonix swung his ax down at the small creature, but it rolled out of the way. Perhaps he had put too much weight behind his attack, because his ax blade sunk into the mud, sticking there. The moldling took advantage of the situation, lashing out with one of its mossy tentacles. At first, Theonix thought it was performing the tentacle lash attack that his uncle had told him about, but instead of quickly pulling back, its body flew up to attach itself to him. Panic raced through Theonix as more tentacles began growing from the moldling's body to wrap around his thigh. He cried out, immediately releasing his ax grip to try to pry the monster off. The second his hands made contact with the moldling's body, it began wrapping around them as well. Pain seared through Theonix wherever the tentacles touched, the digestive acid already going to work.

Level 1 Moldling delivers 7 initial damage and inflicts Sting. You will lose 1 HP per second until the Moldling detaches.

A red circle with a yellow starburst now blinked in the right bottom corner of Theonix's peripheral vision. He knew it meant that the Sting status was in effect.

"Get off!" he shouted, trying with all his might to remove the moldling to no avail.

Rygn was all guffaws until he saw that his nephew was in real trouble. No matter how hard Theonix fault, the moldling just wrapped more tentacles around him. When it bound his arms together to the point that he could no longer struggle, Rygn rushed in, making short work of the creature with a dagger.

The moldling squealed pitifully from the quick strike delt to its mossy body. Then it slumped and began to disintegrate, the tendrils breaking apart like dried leaves. Theonix quickly brushed the remains of the monster off of him, panting from exertion. He backtracked closer to the mine, falling heavily onto his ass as he stared at the pond with a newfound respect for his equally matched foes. That had not been as easy as he had expected. Not easy at all.

"Ya got ta be careful, lad!" Rygn growled at him. "What did I tell ya?"

"You told me to attack from a distance. I attacked from a distance." Theonix gestured at his ax, which was still stuck in the mud. His own frustrations at the situation were flaring. He most certainly hadn't expected that his overpowered swing would have such a dire consequence.

Rygn dug into the bag at his hip and pulled out a small vial filled with red liquid before offering it to Theonix. "Here," he grumbled.

You have received the following item:

Potion of Minor Healing

Item Class: Common

Quality: Average

Uses: Heals 30 HP

Sell Price: 8 Copper

Theonix uncorked the vial and quickly drank its contents, noticing that it tasted like cherries paired with medicine. The potion instantly restored his Health, making the lingering burning sensation go away. Prior to drinking it, his hands had been covered in a rash where the moldling's tendrils had curled around him. Now, his tough skin had returned to normal.

The vial that had contained the concoction disintegrated in his hand, but this seemed perfectly natural, the potion having served its purpose.

"Thank you, uncle," he mumbled, a bit embarrassed by his failure now that the ordeal was over.

Rygn wouldn't even look at him, his face set in a stern expression. "Try again. If ya can't handle it yerself this time, I'll be forced ta report that yer no good fer anything but tha mines."

Ouch. That stung. Worse than the moldling's tentacles had. Theonix definitely didn't want to get stuck working in the mines his entire life.

Knowing that his uncle's patience was waning, Theonix forced himself to his feet and went to retrieve his ax. It took a good tug to get it dislodged from the mud, sending chunks of wet gloopiness splattering onto his shoes. For as exciting as discovering that he would finally see combat had been, this was not turning into a good day at all.

Theonix scowled at the mud clumps on his feet, kicking the largest one off before turning his attention to the next closest moldling. Quickly using his Analyze skill, he found that this one was purple as well, though it was a bit braver than its predecessor, cautiously creeping towards him. Perhaps seeing Theonix in peril had given the rest of the moldlings confidence, because they all seemed to have moved a little closer.

"Any other tips before I try this again?" Theonix cast back to his uncle, feeling the weight of his ax in his palms and trying to find balance.

"Use only enough force that ya need ta get tha job done," came the steely reply.

Theonix couldn't help but wonder if his uncle expected him to fuck up again.

I've got this, he told himself, feeling more nervous this time than with his first approach. Caution hadn't even existed with his initial attack. Slaying the moldling should have been easy. They were known as a pest, not a significant threat. Yet one had bested him on the first go round. He wouldn't underestimate his foe again.

Theonix stood there watching the moldling's movements for a few seconds. If he took too long to swing, it would dodge, the same as the last one had. The stab that his uncle had used hadn't seemed to require much strength. If he didn't come down on it so hard, then perhaps it wouldn't have time to dodge, and even if it did, he could land a second strike quickly.

After formulating his plan of attack, Theonix approached the moldling. Instead of preparing for an overhead swing, he held his ax in front of him. The moldling moved back and forth, seemingly ready to dodge. Doing his best to time it just right, Theonix chopped down with the moldling's movements. As expected, it dodged, but not quickly enough to avoid being hit. Theonix managed to sever a good quarter of it off, the tendrils falling to the side and drying up the same as they had when his uncle had killed the last one.

Congratulations! New skill learned: Two-Handed Weapons Level 1. From spears to claymores, two-handed weapons deal great damage if you have the strength to wield them. Used as both a weapon and a shield, fight strategically to smite down your enemies!

The moldling squeaked as it tried to roll away, but Theonix gave chase. Too focused on escaping to pay attention to his next swing, the moldling didn't bother dodging again when Theonix sent his ax chopping down for the killing blow.

Defeated Level 1 Moldling. 14XP rewarded.

Quest Update: Clear the Moldlings – 1 of 6 Moldlings slain.

"You did it, lad!" Rygn walked over to clap him on the shoulder.

Theonix's chest swelled with pride from his first kill. He watched the moldling wither away until only a small round seed the size and shape of a walnut was left behind. Instinctively, Theonix bent to pick it up and was rewarded with a notification.

You have received the following item:

Moldling Heart

Uses: Seed. Water it daily and it will grow into a Moldling within two weeks.

Sell Price: 4 copper

Theonix placed the Moldling Heart into the bag at his hip and turned his attention to the next nearest moldling sitting by the shore about three yards away. Having seen Theonix vanquish one of its brethren, the moldling was no longer drawing closer. Luckily, it wasn't receding either.

"The work's not done yet, lad," Rygn urged Theonix to complete his quest.

"I won't let you down again, uncle," Theonix reassured him.

Dispatching of the next moldling took two attacks as well. It frustrated Theonix that he couldn't kill it in one swing. Their dodge seemed to be pretty good. Either that or he was just too slow. The moment he killed it, similar text flashed before his eyes to confirm his success.

Defeated Level 1 Moldling. 14XP rewarded.

Quest Update: Clear the Moldlings – 2 of 6 Moldlings slain.

He was also rewarded with another Moldling Heart, the only loot the creatures dropped.

His confidence renewed, Theonix continued hunting moldlings around the pond. The very next downward swing of his ax brought with it a new notification.

Congratulations! The skill: Two-Handed Weapons has reached Level 2. This skill enables you to use all manner of two-handed weapons to defeat enemies. Increasing your Strength will make them easier to wield.

Theonix quickly pushed the notification away to finish the job. A second chop of his ax finished his foe, and Theonix was ready to move on to the forth moldling.

Defeated Level 1 Moldling. 14XP rewarded.

Quest Update: Clear the Moldlings – 3 of 6 Moldlings slain.

Analyzing his next foe gave him another level up notification.

Congratulations! The skill: Analyze has reached Level 2. This skill allows you to see how dangerous a foe is in relation to your own level. Use this skill frequently to avoid getting yourself killed.

While there seemed to be no apparent reward for leveling up Analyze, when Theonix faced the forth moldling, he was able to kill it with one strike of his ax instead of two. Though it had dodged, it wasn't fast enough.

Critical hit! Defeated Level 1 Moldling. 14XP rewarded.

Quest Update: Clear the Moldlings – 4 of 6 Moldlings slain.

Perhaps that was just a fluke though, because it took two more swings to kill the fifth moldling.

Defeated Level 1 Moldling. 14XP rewarded.

Quest Update: Clear the Moldlings – 5 of 6 Moldlings slain.

There had only been five moldlings hanging out on the shore, but as soon as he killed the fifth one, another emerged from the pond. When the deed of dispatching of the moldlings was finally done, Theonix returned to his uncle a bit tired but proud.

"Good job, lad!" Rygn beamed at him. "I bet ya be wantin' yer reward now."

Theonix nodded, still catching his breath. For only spending thirty minutes in melee with the moldlings, his Stamina had drained down to 40 points. Swinging the ax over and over again was a lot more laborious than he had anticipated.

Congratulations! Quest: Clear the Moldlings has been completed.

Your uncle tasked you with killing the moldlings around the pond to test if you were man enough for bigger tasks. Though the start was rocky, you managed to meet his expectations. You have earned 7 silver, 50XP. You have also received the following item:

Moss Gauntlets

Defense: +5

Type: Light Armor

Durability: 18/18

Item Class: Common

Quality: Average

Sell Price: 2 copper

TRING!

Congratulations! You are now Level 2! Your base stats have been boosted. You have earned 3 points to assign to your characteristics. Please note that adding points to some characteristics(Vitality, Intelligence, and Strength) will further boost your base stats. You may also advance any 1 skill of your choosing by 1 level.

Congratulations! You have learned the ability Rupture. Mana Cost: 5

Cool Down: 1 minute

Rupture adds 10% of your Stamina to your weapon's attack power for one hit.

Studendous! Energy and excitement zinged through Theonix despite his loss of Stamina.

"Congratulations, lad. It looks like ya reached level 2." Rygn smiled at him. "I bet yer itchin' to customize yer stats. First, ya might want ta bring up yer character sheet ta see where yer at. Right now, everything's basic, but as ya continue ta grow, ya can flesh yerself out in a unique manner."

Theonix did as his uncle had suggested and brought up his character sheet, quickly taking note of the new improvements.

Name: Theonix Madguard

Race: Dwarf

Level: 2, 17% of the way to next level

Health: 110 / 110

Mana: 110 / 110

Stamina: 40 / 110

Vitality: 10

Intelligence: 10

Strength: 10

Agility: 10

Dexterity: 10

Charisma: 10

Luck: 10

Skills: Analyze Lvl 2; 20% of the way to next level

Two-Handed Weapons Lvl 2; 55% of the way to next level

Languages: Dwarvish

Theonix's Dwarvish nature told him that he didn't need no stinkin' Charisma or Luck. He didn't give two shits if people liked him, and dwarves were naturally lucky in terms of coin and ore. That was the only luck he needed. Agility and Dexterity were important, but not so much when he first started out. Increasing his base stats seemed like the smartest move this early in his adventuring, so he placed one point into Vitality, another into Intelligence, and his third into Strength. Unfortunately, neither leveling nor putting a point into Strength seemed to add to his remaining Stamina.

Seeming to read his mind, Rygn said, "There not be no merchants around here, so ey brought what ya need. Up ta now, ey know that everything's been handed ta ya. But from here on out, you'll have ta buy what ya need like a proper Dwarf. And right now, ya need a Stamina potion. When yer ready, ya can trade yer loot ta me, and I'll sell ya one."

Theonix wasn't quite ready yet. First, he wanted to see exactly what allocating his characteristic points had done for his stats, so he brought up his character sheet again.

Name: Theonix Madguard

Race: Dwarf

Level: 2, 17% of the way to next level

Health: 120 / 120

Mana: 120 / 120

Stamina: 40 / 120

Vitality: 11

Intelligence: 11

Strength: 11

Agility: 10

Dexterity: 10

Charisma: 10

Luck: 10

Skills: Analyze Lvl 2; 20% of the way to next level

Two-Handed Weapons Lvl 2; 55% of the way to next level

Languages: Dwarvish

Seeing his updated stats pleased him. Next was the question of which skill to level up. He currently only had two, and they seemed to be leveling pretty quickly. Ingrained knowledge of how the leveling system worked made Theonix wonder if leveling one of his skills now would be a waste.

"Can I wait and level one of my skills later?" he asked. Being able to Analyze his enemies beyond their basic information didn't seem particularly important right now. What Theonix wanted was more power with his ax. But his two-handed weapons skill was over halfway to the next level. Waiting to use his skill leveling ability until it naturally hit level three seemed smarter.

"Ey, lad. Yew can hold on ta yer level fer however long ya wish. It doesn't have ta be done right now." Rygn shook his head.

"Excellent." Theonix put the choice from his mind for now. Besides, who knew what other skills he would acquire that he might prefer to use the perk on.

Next, Theonix took off the Starter Bracers he was wearing and replaced them with the Moss Gauntlets. All of his starter armor offered no defense bonus and only had a durability of 10, so it made sense to replace the pieces as he found better equipment. His only complaint was that the Moss Gauntlets looked kind of weird. Instead of being made of conventional materials, they were comprised of woven together moldling tentacles. They looked cheap and flimsy but somehow were firm enough to offer better protection than the thin leather bracers he had been wearing.

Once he had finished all other pressing business, Theonix reached into his bag for the Moldling Hearts. Rygn held out his hand, exchanging them for 2 silver and 4 copper, bringing Theonix's total to 9 silver and 4 copper. As soon as that was done, a screen popped up, displaying everything that Rygn had for sale.

Worn Battle Hammer

Attack: +1-2

Type: Two-Handed Weapon

Durability: 25/25

Item Class: Common

Quality: Average

Buy Price: 8 copper

Wolf Skin Cloak

Defense: +1

Type: Light Armor

Item Class: Common

Quality: Average

Buy Price: 2 Copper

Potion of Minor Stamina

Quantity: 10

Item Class: Common

Quality: Average

Uses: Restores 30 Stamina.

Buy Price: 1 Silver, 2 Copper each

Potion of Minor Healing

Quantity: 10

Item Class: Common

Quality: Average

Uses: Heals 30 HP

Sell Price: 1 Silver, 1 Copper each

Coin Pouch

Inventory Slots: 1

Item Class: Common

Quality: Average

Buy Price: 2 Copper

Looking at the items and comparing them to his own, it made sense to buy the Worn Battle Hammer and Wolf Skin Cloak. The cloak filled an equipment slot that was not yet occupied, and the Worn Battle Hammer offered one more Attack point than the ax he currently had equipped. Theonix wasn't so sure about buying the Coin Pouch. He already had a dozen inventory slots. The Moldling Hearts had stacked, so they had only taken up one slot. Adding one more didn't seem like it would make that much of a difference. What he did need though, were potions.

Theonix required at least two Stamina potions to recover the Stamina he'd lost while fighting the moldlings, and even that wouldn't put him at 100%. It didn't make sense to waste a third just to get there, though. Trying to make the best decision with the money he had, Theonix bought 4 Potions of Minor Stamina and 2 Potions of Minor Health, dropping his remaining coin down to 1 silver and 4 copper. Selling his old ax to his uncle only earned him back 1 copper. With that business concluded, the window closed.

“Ya will pick up many items along yer way,” Rygn began a subtle lecture while Theonix equipped his new items. “Sometimes, tha best items can be found out in tha field. But it's always good ta make sure ya go inta battle well prepared.”

Theonix nodded in agreement.

“Speaking of which, it's time fer yer next task. Ponoisle Mine is infested with gremlins and it ain't gonna clear itself. That job falls ta the two of us," Rygn informed him with a twinkle in his eyes.

While Theonix had honestly expected this, he still felt excitement. Gremlins weren't just balls of mossy tendrils. They had sharp claws, even sharper teeth, and knew how to wield basic tools. This would definitely present more of a challenge.

"Now these little buggars be vicious, and ey don't know how many of em' be inside, so ya better stay close ta me." When Rygn finished speaking, a notification popped up in front of Theonix.

Rygnuhdruhr Madguard is requesting to join your party. Will you accept?

He immediately thought yes, and the notification disappeared. In the left bottom of his peripheral vision, a new set of stat bars displayed with Rygn's name above them. Curiosity caused Theonix to focus on them, which brought up another window.

Name: Rygnuhdruhr Madguard

Race: Dwarf

Level: 5

Health: 190

Mana: 160

Stamina: 200

“Why can't I see the rest of your stats?” he asked.

“Seein' more requires ya ta level yer Analyze skill. Unless yer partied with someone, ya can only get tha same info that ya would if they were a monster. When yer partied, ya get a bit more info, but not much. As ya raise yer skill level, you'll be able ta see more.”

Theonix nodded in understanding. Knowing that they'd be entering the mine soon, he uncorked one of his Potions of Minor Stamina. It was the same size as the Potion of Minor Healing that Rygn had initially given him, but this one was filled with a yellow liquid instead of red. Sniffing it filled his nostrils with the sweetness of sugar, and it hit his tongue like watered-down honey with a twinge of eucalyptus. Immediately, he felt stronger.

Just as with the Potion of Minor Healing, the vial disintegrated into nothing once it was empty. Theonix followed up the first Potion of Minor Stamina with a second, restoring his Stamina to 100 points.

When he was done drinking, Rygn turned to him with a grin. “Now, lad, let's go kill some gremlins.”