After stepping through the library doors Zane saw Frank and the others standing at the side. Everyone moved toward each other and Frank began talking. He said they didn’t see the group when they walked through the door. He only saw a room similar to the room Zane and the others recently came from. Brad and Sam explained what they experienced when they separated.

“I’m surprised Brad didn’t loose all his pints,” Frank said in a deep voice.

“It was close but he managed to hang on by pure luck,” Sam said.

“That’s not how it happened,” Brad argued. “I only made one slip up but I was quiet for the rest of the time.”

“Sure, and what would have happened if the Messenger was allowed to take points from answering your question during her explanation about the library.

Brad only managed to mutter a few words in a failed attempt to defend himself. Zane, Sophie and the others laughed while they watch from the side. They were willing to wait as Brad and Sam talked to their friends.

“I’m glad you didn’t lose any points Brad.” Brittney said while stroking her long brown hair. There was a playful light in her eyes when she looked at Brad. “It was annoying to listen to you bitch and moan about losing your points.”

“Do you have to curse all the time?” Whitney asked her sister that shared the same face as her.

“Calm down. I barely ever fucking curse.”

Whitney rolled her eyes before whispering to her friends “Anyway, is it true that they’re willing to teach us skills?”

“That’s what they said and they don’t have a reason to lie,” Brad said. “If you don’t believe me then you can ask them yourself.”

“We are willing,” Sophie said. “And unless you have a skill to protect your voice from being heard then you should be prepared for others to hear your conversations.”

Zane saw Whitney blush as she nodded her head. There were was a short discussion where they talked about which training grounds everyone would be going to. Britney would be going to the same training ground as Luna and Lana. Whitney and Frank would be going to the same training ground as Jason. The group decided to split up after that and head to their different training grounds.

“Thanks again for teaching me a few skills,” Brad said.

“There’s no need to thank me,” Zane replied. “I’m not a skilled master so I won’t actually be able to teach you any skills. I can only demonstrate to you what I’ve learned. Whether you’re able to learn a new skill or not will be based on your own talent and effort.”

“Even if you only give me a few pointers it could make a huge difference. I know that teaching me will take time away from your own training and that’s enough for me to be thankful.”

“Teaching someone a skill can help you improve your own skill. It might not be the same as training on my own but it’s not a big difference.”

Brad thanked him again and Zane shook his head. He decided to accept the thanks as he continued walking. The trip to the training ground wasn’t long but, on the way there, Zane, Shane and Brad heard shouting from a lot of people in the distance. Eventually, they saw a group of people standing in front of one of the inns. Hundreds of people had gathered around the inn and were screaming at the top of their lungs.”

“This is unfair!”

“Lower the price you greedy bastards!”

“Your greed will kill us all!”

“Are theses village points more important than our lives?!”

“Hello,” Zane said to a dark-skinned woman at the edge of the crowd. “Can you tell me what’s going on?”

“Those bastards increased the price of the inn.” She said with a voice full of anger. “A lot of people will die if they don’t have a place to stay in the village. Those greedy bastards are taking advantage of us.”

“Everyone please calm down!”

Zane turned his head to look at a man with fair skin and short blond hair. He was the same man Zane saw when he entered the inn the first time. He was standing at a window and raising his hand to calm everyone down. As the crowd began to quiet down the man spoke.

“The reason for the changes in prices was because of excessive complaints about the basement. Since most people were unhappy with the basement, we were left with no other choice but to close it.”

The crowed immediately began to shout at the man. Zane wasn’t interested in staying at the inn but he could see how the inn was being greedy. The blond man raised his hands and waited for people to stop shouting. It took a while but eventually people calmed down.

“In order to make up for the loss of money from closing the basement the inn was forced to raise the prices for the rooms on the other floors. The cheapest room is now 50,000 village points. Those that want to purchase a room and stay at the inn will be welcomed. Those that do not will be asked to leave.”

The man said goodbye and closed the window. The crowd began shouting again. Some screamed about how much they hated the inn while others demanded he return and change the prices. Zane watched the crowd for a while before telling Shane and Brad it was time to go.

“Go,” Brad said. “How can we leave just like that?”

“Were supposed to go train,” Zane said while looking at Brad in confusion.

“How can we train when the inn is treating people like this? If we don’t do something people could die! We need to stop the inn and we have to punish the people inside for this evil act!”

“Brad!” Zane shouted. He made sure that Brad was looking in his eyes before he spoke. “You need. To calm. Down”

Zane watched Brad close his eyes and take a few breaths. Zane started speaking once he saw that Zane had calmed down. “Although the inn’s actions are cruel, their actions are allowed by the system. What you’re attempting to fight against is the system and you are destined to lose if you try.”

“There has to be something we can do. A lot of those people don’t have the craftsman class or the laborer class.”

“Zane’s right,” Shane said. “The system allows their actions and we can’t use force to change their minds because of the system preventing violence. Also, if you think the system allowing violence would help us then you’re wrong. I’m sure that the people in the inn are at a much higher level than us. One punch would knock us out if were lucky. If were unlucky, one punch could kill us.”

Zane could see that Brad wasn’t happy with their words but he still nodded his head in acceptance. Zane looked at the crowd that continued to shout words of anger and hate at the inn. He also saw people in the crowd crying on the ground. They looked like they were hopeless and filled with despair. He saw fellow humans suffering and in need of help. With a small sigh Zane made the decision to try and help.

“I can’t change the system but I can say a few words that can show these people a different path.”

Zane stepped forward and use the skill War Cry. He was careful and made sure he aimed his skill at the air above the crowd. He didn’t want the system to think he was using his skill to attack several people. The crowd quieted down and turned to look in his direction.

Shane called out to Zane, crouched down and raised his shield for Zane to stand on. Zane jumped onto Shane’s shield and felt Shane raise him up. Almost every person in the crowd had their eyes on Zane. He wasn’t nervous though. He was used to being stared at in the Stadium and there were much more people focusing on him then.

“My name is Zane and I’m a human born on this world. I can see that everyone is facing a difficult situation right now and I would like to help.”

“How are you going to help?”

“Are you going to give us some points?”

“Are you going to get rid of that greedy fucking manager?”

Zane raised his hand to calmed the crowd down. Zane knew that the village points he received from the bear den quest and the mana creatures he killed wasn’t enough to get a room for everyone in the crowd.

“I don’t have enough points to give to everyone here and I can’t change the rules of the inn because it is operating within the rules of the system. What I can do is offer you some advice that might help.”

“And why should we listen to you? You look younger than my son.”

“You should listen because I grew up with the system and I know more than all of you.” Zane paused for a few seconds and nodded when he saw there were no more interruptions. “What I do know is that the system wants everyone to grow and develop in the class that they chose. Your current situation is difficult but the system will never force you into a situation where the only possible outcome is suffering and death.”

“So, you think we should stop complaining? That we should just shut up and do whatever the system tells us to do?”

“I think you should stop complaining because I don’t think it will change anything. But I could be wrong. I don’t know everything but I do know that there are skills and classes that involve speaking. If you want to change the mind of the people running the inn with your words then you should work on learning a skill that will let you do so. If you don’t think that’s possible then you should focus on doing something else.”

“Yeah, and what exactly should we do? Should we head into the forest and risk our lives to kill those beasts?”

Zane looked at the man who spoke. He had grey-white hair, a stooped posture and wrinkled skin. Zane knew that most people were able to control their appearance and would not show their old age unless they close to death. Zane gave the old man a slight bow out of respect for his old age. It was tricky for a normal person to bow on a shield but Zane easily pulled it off.

“Senior, may I ask what class you chose?”

“I chose the mage class” the old man said.

Zane nodded and asked another question. “What did you do before coming here?”

“I was an architect. I designed buildings.”

Zane started shaking his head when he heard this. “Why didn’t you pick a laborer or craftsman class? Those classes are a much better option considering your experience.”

“Well, I thought that being a mage would be fun so I chose it.”

Zane stared at the old man in wonder. He immediately thought that there were a lot more foolish humans on Brad’s world than he originally guessed. Zane took a deep breath before slowly speaking to the old man.

“You came to a new world filled with unknown dangers and instead of picking a class that would allow you to use some of the skills you spent decades learning, you chose to pick a class that was fun. Am I correct?”

The old man’s face turned a bit red as he nodded. Zane shook his head at the foolish decision the old man made. The system speaks to each person during the class selection process. The old man would have to ignore all sensible advice at that time to choose a mage class.

“Each class selection is important. It is best to think over you decision carefully before making it. The choice you made wasn’t the best but the system will still give you a path for growth with your class.”

“Really? Then what should I do? What path should I take?”

“Focus on being an architect.”

“The old man was surprised by Zane’s words. “But, but I’m a mage. I didn’t choose the other two classes you mentioned.”

“That’s true but you still have the experience of an architect. Now you have to figure out how to combine that experience with your mage class. Focus on creating designs for magic buildings. Either that or creating magic designs for ordinary buildings.”

“How would I do that? I don’t know how to create magic blueprints. Also, I don’t have any tools or money to buy tools.”

Zane shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know how to create them but if you want tools you should go to the market. If you don’t have village points then sell your mage equipment or one of your stamina potions. After that you can by the tools you need, make some blueprints and sell them to the market.”

“Will that really work?”

“It should. To build houses and other buildings people need a design first. Laborers and craftsmen using a proper design can create buildings that are recognized by the system. The system didn’t say you have to stay at an inn for the night. It’s possible to create a building and stay there instead.”

The old man’s mouth widened in surprise. After a few moments he closed it and immediately started pushing his way through the crowd. Once he passed the edge, he paused and thanked Zane before continuing to move toward the market.

“I need help to. My class is-”

“Please give me advice. I chose the-”

Zane silently stood on the shield Shane was holding and watched as the crowd shout for help. When the crowd saw he wasn’t speaking they slowly calmed down and became silent. Zane continued speaking once they were quiet.

“All of you don’t need me to tell you what to do. I’ve met humans from your world and they told me that they learned about magic from stories. You might not have experience with mana or the system but I’m sure that you can figure out how to interact with both of them. Work together, talk to each other and come up with a plan.”

“He’s right,” a woman said. “Also, I know how we can stay at the inn. We can share the rooms with each other. Ten people to a room is only 5,000 village points. We can get that by selling our potions.” The crowd became excited after hearing the woman speak.

“Wait!” Zane shouted. “I know that all of you are focused on your survival but I want you to remember that the purpose of the system is to help you grow. I hope that all of you will continue to improve your skills and level up. That’s all I have to say for now. I wish you all the best.”

Zane hopped of Shane’s shield and landed on the ground. The crowd thanked him for his help and began discussing topics about their classes. Zane nodded to Shane and Brad before they started walking away. While they walked Brad had an excited expression and praised Zane for what he did for the crowd. Shane said Zane had the aura of a hero when he spoke to them. Zane didn’t think what he did was amazing but it did make him feel good. As they walked away Zane looked back and saw a crowd of people full of energy and hope.