A bit of a long chapter, and it's only part one of Labyrinthine Passages. . . Anyway, hope you enjoy.

---------------------

A few minutes after Andaros's entered the game and began his adventures in a brave new world, everyone else had begun to log in to play the normal tutorial. Caera was quite jealous of the humanoid girls as there were no pods designed for animals in this room, and so she climbed into an empty pod she noticed after the humanoids of the mansion entered the game. Without warning, that pod closed and she was trapped inside. No matter how she tried she couldn't get out, but she didn't panic. Thinking about it, she considered this an opportunity to possibly experience the world of Trinity Online, and totally forgot there were pods specifically for the Mreow in the Mreow kennel main room. She was so excited she also didn't realize that it was a medical pod she got into.

Let's see, they laid down like this.

Having watched everyone get into their pods, Caera emulated the position they had laid in, and was surprised to find the straps that held the others down for safety's sake tighten down and hold her limbs in a similar position. Following her laying down, the pod immediately began to hum, for whatever reason.

"Startup initiated," a feminine voice sounded out, and the next thing she knew she blacked out.

----------

Caera's POV:

"Imperfect genetic splicing detected, Human and Sabertooth Tiger replicate DNA and RNA detected," I heard a voice state as I awoke in a strange, purely white room. "Analyzing DNA and RNA strands. . . Initiating genetic resequencing. . . Combining DNA and RNA, altering subject's genetics and body to best combine the subject's separate genetics. . . Genetic restructuring underway, altering subject's bodily structure and functions, placing subject's body into stasis and continuing procedures. Choose Player race, and determine looks, subject's DNA will be modified to match in game avatar."

"What. . .? . . .Eh?! I spoke?! I'm speaking just like Master Andaros?!"

"Subject is indeed speaking, please choose character race. Due to genetics, only humanoid races that combine Tiger features will be made available. . . Congratulations, you have gained the right to use the Duos race due to random roll, please choose your player race."

I was totally shocked by the fact that I could speak like master and the others, but what I saw next shocked me greatly, in front of my eyes appeared seven different races that shared both humanoid and animal features. Each race had Tiger features, and most looked mainly Tiger with a humanoid shape a number had backswept legs while some had humanoid legs, albeit thick looking ones, but one was decidedly different.

This race looked mostly the same as the others and had a mix of humanoid and Tiger features, but it was the only race with a mostly human face while adding a few tigerish features such as tigerish nose. This race was also the only race with two tails, and horizontally slitted eyes. The typical Tiger race had eyes that were slit vertically, but this race had that horizontal slit instead. Personally, I considered this quite interesting, but what caught my attention most was that it had elongated upper canines like my own, although they were shorter. This was the Duos race, a unique race among the tiger humanoids.

The only other race that caught my eye initially was a white striped Tiger humanoid race called the Corros. They looked like a sabertooth tiger than had a humanoid body, but was mainly tiger despite that, of the other races this was the only other race that interested me. The Corros race avatar was quite buff, while the Duos avatar was quite feminine by comparison. It was still quite a buff race, but was more like comparing a panther to a lion when it came to the difference in build. Both were quite buff, but the duos was more of a compact kind of buff in comparison to the Corros.

I remembered from Siri and Teraise's classes that every race had their own advantages and disadvantages, just like how I learned about the avatars. Anyway, I decided to ask about that.

"Can you show me the racial characteristics of the Corros and Duos races?"

"Certainly," the voice responded to my query, and two windows appeared before me. It was a good thing I had sat in on the classes, or I would have been scared out of my skin by something like this appearing.

*Ding*

Corros Racial Trait

The genetic traits of the Corros rase provide a number of benefits, and deficiencies.

Racial bonuses:

Body focus = strength

x2.6 Body growth per level

x3 inventory weight capacity

Martial Reservoir x2 capacity (Farside only)

+15 luck/blessing stat

Racial Deficiencies:

x.6 Mind growth per level

x.4 Psion growth per level

x1.7 experience required per level

x.8 fertility (Human fertility used as base)

This race was certainly made for physical might, rather than being designed to be a mage or psionicist. It did certainly look powerful, but I wasn't sure I'd like that setup so much. That experience deficiency was a big hit from what I remembered from the classes. It would be difficult to level, especially in the later levels. On the other hand the strength growth bonus would be a huge bonus for the warrior type class titles.

Duos Racial Trait

The Duos race are rather unique among the therianthropic races. Endowed with special bonuses and abilities even among similar races, this race is rarely seen amongst civilization. It has the most bonuses of any therianthropic races with the least deficiencies. While having a human-like base, the race is able to turn into a more animalistic form and gain additional bonuses.

Racial Bonuses:

X1.7 Strength growth per level

x1.6 Mind growth per level

x1.4 psion growth per level

x2 inventory weight capacity

x3 Martial reservoir capacity (Farside only)

+25 Luck/blessing

Can reproduce with any race

Bonus Abilities:

Bestial Form:

The Duos race has the ability to take on the form of one of the more animalistic therianthropic races, gaining their bonuses without the deficiencies. The player can choose between two races which are chosen during character creation. The Duos race have trouble reproducing, but can reproduce with other races.

Bestial forms:

Undecided

Undecided

Duration: 5 minutes per 10 levels

Deficiencies:

x1.2 experience required per level

x0.2 fertility (Human fertility as base)

The fertility was a problem, but the racial ability bonus was quite useful, but in real life I didn't really want that fertility issue. I suppose it wouldn't be a problem for Andaros, but I certainly would rather be able to have a child with him without all the trouble of having a low fertility rate.

"Can I use the duos race, but replace the special ability for higher fertility in real life?"

"That is possible, but you will be unable to transform in real life, is this acceptable," the voice answered with a question.

"Yes, please."

"Understood, fertility rate will be 87% of the human mean in real life," the voice replied. "Initiating genetic adjustments to projected real life end form. Please choose two races for Duos racial ability within the game world."

"Then, I'll choose the Corros race," I told the voice. "Is it possible to choose another race besides these 6 for the second racial transformation?"

"I am sorry, but that is not possible."

"Then, I'll choose that one," I replied, randomly choosing one of the other races, this one had a blood red pelt, rather than the standard orange pelt a tiger typically would have.

"This racial choice will alter the coloration of the Duos race, displaying alterations now," the voice once again spoke.

What appeared in front of me was a Duos with black stripes, with red and white stripes alternating for the other striping. It had a somewhat small chest, and I remembered that Andaros seemed to like larger chests.

"Is this acceptable?"

"Can you increase the chest size and make it rather large for the human race? I think it was an H-cup?"

"H-cup is a rather large size when going by the ancient human measurement system. It will likely cause a balance issue in the early play period, and can cause back problems. Do you wish to strengthen the muscular systems of the back, and will the balance issues be a problem?"

"The balance issues I can adjust to, and I would like to strengthen the back's musculoskeletal structure. . . I think that was what they called it."

"Understood, strengthening back structure. This will result in a small deficiency in experience gain, modifying the experience required to level up by an additional 2% but will not affect real life. Is this acceptable?"

"It is, please proceed," I answered after seeing the changes.

"Please decide a starter planet. There are no restrictions on starter planets," The voice told me, "Duos are available on all planets, but are extremely rare on most planets."

"I believe they were going to Farside, so I'll start there."

"Farside locked in for character creation, your genetic resequencing and body modifications are underway, and will require 36 hours to complete. Please choose a character name for your avatar."

"I'll go with Caera."

"Understood. Please choose starting nation."

"Hmmmm, queendom? I think they said that was a nation that was ruled by females rather than the males having all the power. . . I'll start there," I told the voice.

"As you wish, setting the Queendom of Avelynn as your starting nation. Initiating procedures to set character options. . ."

*Ding*

A mutation has occured in your race due to the races chosen for racial ability. Duos Crevna now set as player race.

The Duos Crevna are an incredibly rare variant of the Duos race. Their tails are much thicker and can be used for attacking, even in duos form. The race is unable to mate with other duos, but has a higher fertility rate compared to the standard Duos race. Males of this sub-race have Hair the color of half-dried blood, while females have various shades of pink. Female hair color for this race is randomly determined by the system.

Modifications:

Bonuses:

Body focus = Strength/Agility

Mind focus = Mana regen

Psion focus = Psion regen

x1.9 Strength growth pr level

x1.8 Mind growth per level

x1.8 Psion growth per level

x5 Inventory weight capacity

x2 Mana reservoir capacity (Farside only)

x1.5 Psion reservoir capacity (Farside only)

+15 luck/blessing

Fertility x1.0 (based on human average)

can mate with any race (besides Duos and Duos Crevna)

Racial Ability:

Duration: 2.5 minutes per 10 levels

Deficiencies:

Cannot mate with Duos or Duos Crevna race in order to produce children

x1.4 experience required to level up

Due to circumstances racial modifications and ability apply to real life body.

"Applying modifications to real body."

I was shocked, there was no doubt about it, this was total overkill. I didn't even know how to explain the whole thing to Andaros. My body's pelt had turned a shade of pink, rather than either red or white, which completely confused me. The Duos Crevna seemed like a mix between the Duos and the two races used as the bestial form of the Duos, making them more animalistic. Still, rather than looking like musclebound hulks like the rest of the Tiger/humanoid hybrids, their looks leaned more toward the Duos side. They did have a wilder, more dangerous look than the regular Duos, but it was still more human than animal to my eyes. I did notice that I seemed taller, but my body was leaner than either the Corros or the randomly chosen Falshen races.

"A mutation, interesting," the voice said. "I can't do anything about the Duos Crevna looks as their hair color is a preset determination by the system itself. They're also more animalistic in the nature of their looks, but I hope you won't mind that. I simply do not have any control over it as the main system will over-write any changes I try to do in your race at this point, please understand. Do you wish to play the tutorial?"

I didn't understand, but there was apparently no use complaining. It's not like it was bad though, the Duos Crevna had absolutely no difference from human fertility. They were a bit more like my real form so the change was pleasant in a way, although that pink color sucked! I liked my original red pelt, or that alternating red and white pelt, I didn't want PINK!

"I'll play the tutorial," I replied flatly.

"Happy gaming," was the last thing I heard before my world went dark, and I began my first steps into the world my Master had begun to play in.

---------

Andaros/Zef's POV

"Ugh!"

I awoke to a great deal of pain, and a massive headache. At first I was confused about where I was, but eventually I realized that the green thing floating in front of my face was an information window.

Wasn't it blue before?

I looked at the screen after glancing to see that my health was now at 60%. Rather than dwelling on the window color, I decided to see what it said.

Congratulations! You have completed the challenge and earned the two rings! You should be careful whom you choose as the recipient of the second ring as you can only choose once!

Rewards:

Heart Ring of Everlasting Devotion(Male)(Soul-bound)(Mythical Artifact)

Heart Ring of Everlasting Devotion(Female)(Unbound)(Mythical Artifact)

I was rather confused by the fact that I managed to gain two Mythical tier artifacts from this quest, and had my suspicions that this was not something I could have done without being an extremely high level or having my current quest in effect. I almost died, but somehow managed to survive a quest that rewarded such good loot. This was most certainly not a result I would ever expect if the traps had been able to target me directly, or even able to hit close enough that the damage wasn't reduced so much.

I groaned at the aches and pains, and saw a bad status icon in the upper right corner of my screen. Highlighting it, countdown timer appeared with a remaining 15 minutes 38 seconds in Farside equivalents, Crons and Nits respectively. It seemed I would have to put up with these aches and pains until then. That was okay though, as I would just rest here until my health was fully restored anyway. Another thing I could do was to stretch, for some reason the countdown timer on aches and pains could be reduced by doing light stretches, similar to some ache and pains in real life. Just like in real life it wouldn't work for heavy injuries, or something fatal, but for this it was fine. I was surprised that I didn't suffer from burns, and I didn't feel any scarring, but I guessed that it was because my character hadn't actually been conceived or born yet, or had already healed from those while I was out cold, it was understandable that way.

After the timer had expired, I found that it was getting late. I didn't know what could happen in this abandoned city at night, so I decided to just find a safe enough place in the building, and rest. To this end, I found a high ledge that was broken off from the rest of the ledge, and jumped across before resting there. In the middle of the night, I awoke to find a giant ghostly eye staring at me, which was quite disconcerting.

"So you're the little rat who took my rings, eh?"

{. . . Sorry?}

I must have shown my fear, as he laughed and said, "Don't get me wrong little rat, I'm not mad. In fact, I've been debating on whether I should give you a gift for accomplishing that little stunt you pulled while at your current level," as he smiled brightly. "Hmmm, so you're on a quest to gather gifts of beings here in the Celestial Realm? Well, will you accept my gift?"

I thought about it for a moment, then nodded my head.

"Hahaha, you shouldn't trust beings here so easily, but I'll reward you for it in my case," the giant said in a jovial manner. "Here, the best ability I can gift you."

*Ding*

You have received a gift from the Giant Hapniere!

You have gained a gift from the spirit of the giant Hapniere, a hero of old. Having seen your heart, and being impressed by the task you accomplished, the giant has gifted you with a very special gift only the giants possess.

Current Gift Slots used: 1/32

I was surprised by this, and a bit confused by the change to what the slots were called, but I supposed it was because I had received one from a spirit rather than a celestial or daemonic beast.

"I see you've noticed the change I made to your quest," the giant stated. "I'll explain, as the gift I've given you won't show up until I do, and the details of your quest have changed. The gift I've given you is called "Giant's Gait," an active ability type gift. When you are using this gift, you will be able to walk as if you were a giant. This means that you will be able to cover the same amount of distance as a giant would in a single step for each of your steps. For a being like you this is like teleporting, though it's not exactly so, it's just that it appears so to others. It feeds off of your stamina, so you must be careful to watch it, but it shouldn't use a large amount of your stamina either."

"As for the change to your quest, you are no longer bound to only gathering celestial beast or daemon beast gifts, and can gather them from fell-beasts and spirits. I changed the wording to gifts as that is basically what you are receiving, whether they are useful gifts or not," he explained. "I would also admonish you to be more careful of whom you trust. Luckily I'm a trustworthy sort, but you must be careful, as some beings may appear trustworthy and are not, while the opposite may also prove true. In short, just be careful. It's good to see that a worthy being has earned my rings, but be careful whom you trust, and whom you gift the other ring to. Once again, be careful, got that? C-A-R-E-F-U-L!"

"I've got to go now, my family is waiting for me on the other side. Make sure you visit the other buildings in the city, you may find some other surprising items if you do. I can sense some other items still within the city, and you should still be able to fit some more things into the ring. Take care, and may the spirits bless you."

With that, the giant took a step, and seem to disappear into a far off place.

Gift - Racial Ability: Giant's Gait has been received as a gift.

Racial Ability: Giant's Gait - Mythical Rank (Max level)(Active Ability)

True giants are known for their massive size, strength, and their ability to step hundreds of mel or more in a single step. This ability is like a dream to lesser races, and the giant who gave you this gift has entrusted you with an ability now only heard of in legends, use it well.

Type: Active Spirit Ability

Effect: x100 stride length of character

Charge time: Instantaneous

Activation time: Instantaneous

Cost: x2 stamina usage for movement abilities such as run while active

basic steps cost 1 stamina every 10 seconds

Restrictions:

Can only be gifted by a true giant, cannot be gifted by other races

Cannot be stolen

Cannot be passed on through the blood

I was incredibly impressed by this ability. It couldn't be passed on, but that was not such a huge deal, as I probably wouldn't want to deal with the hassle if it could be. I could just see the people trying to force me to mate with their daughters if this ability would be passed on through the blood, not a good thought. Well, at least not for me, I already have enough female problems without adding more to the mix.

In Trinity, Gifts, Skills, Magic, and Psionics/Spirit Powers could sometimes be "stolen" by observation and practice. The fact that this gift would not be stolen, and could also only be gifted by a true giant, made Giant's Gait a very difficult Gift to acquire. Not passing through the blood would certainly keep the vultures from circling if they used an appraisal or observation skill to determine my Skills and abilities as well. I had no clue whether they could find out your gifts through such a method, but that was beside the point.

Thank you, senior.

I couldn't help thanking him in my thoughts, as I thought of the amazing gift the giant had given me. He never gave his name, so I decided to thank him in Xianxia style, as it was fairly applicable to Farside's cultivation based society. After I calmed down from my excitement, I settled back down and fell asleep once more.

----------

The next day I began to explore the city once more. It took some time, but eventually I found one of those items he mentioned. It was hidden behind a painting pretty high up, and if I hadn't had giant's gait, I wouldn't have been able to reach it. It was a surprising find, as it was a human-sized workshop that had stations for any type of crafting, but could pack up into a small cube, the form I found it in initially. This was also a mythical tier artifact, and surprisingly became soul-bound once I used it to see how it worked, on level ground of course.

According to the information on the item, it could be used for up to Legendary Tier equipment and item creation. This included artifacts, but there were no hints on how to make those as a matter of course. This wasn't surprising, as such items would generally be a life's work of a master, and were absolutely not commonplace. If someone could produce many artifacts, it would cause a huge sensation.

There was not much to the workshop except for it's ability to store as a single item, and the maximum grade of items it could produce, but it did also have a 10% bonus to the success rate of item and equipment creation. This was actually a very big bonus if you considered the base success rates of things like artifacts, but it could also be considered a small bonus considering the help system stated that 25% was the highest bonus possible. Crafting artifacts were extremely rare, so 10% bonuses on such items were equally rare, even if it wasn't the best value of 25%. So, it was quite the awesome find if I learned to craft, but somewhat useless if I did not. The artifact was unique in that it could be used by others despite being soul-bound, but the bonus was supposedly reduced, though the item description did not say by how much.

After verifying what I currently could about the >, as it was called, and storing it within the ring, I began to search the city once again. There were so many buildings it was difficult to judge where I should go. As such, I went into each building one by one and marked them off as I went. Each building was carefully searched, as I had learned from the building with the workshop that things would likely be hidden and in places that could not normally be reached by humans, or races their size. I even went back over buildings I had already searched as a precaution against missing items.

After searching the whole day, I hadn't even covered 1/12th of the city due to going back over the territory I had already gone over. This city was literally gigantic, and so I began my days of searching the city for items that had been left behind. There were not many items left in this city, and I guessed that the good items had been almost picked clean, leaving behind only items that were in places humans usually couldn't reach. I had no idea if anyone had actually come here before, but based on the text from my main quest, I had a strong hunch that others had come here before.

On the fourth day of searching, I found another item. It was in an incredibly difficult place to reach, even with Giant's Gait. Up on a chandelier hanging from the ceiling of a giant dome sat a crystal that provided the light for the chandelier. This wasn't some huge treasure, but would certainly come in handy when searching dark places. It might even have some special ability that would allow it to be used for an attack, but I doubted it.

It took me a while to figure out a plan that might work, there were three points that could act as ledges for my ascent. These three points were approximately the same distant apart as the painting had been from where I started last time. The moment I stepped onto the first of the ledges, a window appeared.

A special quest has been received: Time Challenge - The Crystal of Light

Gather the crystal of light before the darkness invades, otherwise you will be unable to use the crystal's powers.

Time Limit: 30 seconds

Reward:

Radiant Orb

Victory Conditions:

Gather the crystal before the time limit runs out

Failure conditions:

Do not reach the crystal in time

Fall to the ground and die

Failure results:

Gathered item becomes a Shadow Orb

+5% experience required per level

This was going to be a hassle. I quickly activated Giant's Gait and stepped to the second ledge. Looking around, I saw dark shadows squirming out from the floors and walls, and extending toward the chandelier. It was like a horror movie was unfolding before my own eyes as I looked around. Seeing that sight I could do nothing else, and hurried onward. Everything was fine on the second ledge, but when I made my step to the third ledge I must have misjudged the distance to reach it. I began to fall, and if not for my quick reaction I would have fallen to the floor below. I had trouble getting up, and by the time I had done so time was running short.

Time remaining: 7 seconds

I hurriedly judged the distance, and made a leap of faith, managing to reach the chandelier a ways away from the crystal, the darkness was writhing around me as I hurriedly rushed forward. In response the darkness also began to attack me as I hastily moved onward.

Time remaining: 3 seconds

I hurriedly ran toward the crystal, putting forth my full efforts, constantly seeing damages flash before my eyes was quite disconcerting and I wondered if I'd even be able to make it. Just as the shadow was about to invade the objective, I reached for and grabbed the crystal!

*Ding*

You have succeeded in gathering the Crystal of Light before it could be invaded by the Darkness. Shadows are quaking in fear at the light shockwave the crystal released when you touched it, and have begun to recede. They will no longer attack you due to their intense fear of that light. The Spirit of the Crystal wishes to gift you with a special gift for your efforts to protect the Crystal!

Thanks to your valiant efforts the Spirit of the Crystal of Light was protected from the darkness. As a result it wishes to bless you with a gift.

Will you accept this gift? Yes/No

I thought for a moment, then pressed on Yes.

*Ding*

You have received a new Gift.

Gift - Class Title: Guardian of Light(Unique)

The Guardian of light is a unique magic class that focuses on defense. It is similar to a Paladin, but with no offensive bonuses against shadows. They wear light armor, and none wear heavier, but when set as a secondary or tertiary class-title the Guardian of Light will not restrict any armors or equipment usable by the main class-title.

As a guardian of light, you gain special bonuses in defence against darkness based abilities and magic. The blessing of the Spirit of Light also gives bonuses to Healing and Light based magics. With this Unique magic class, you have a choice in whether to specialize in Healing or Light magics, or you can leave them equally strong.

Do you with to specialize in Healing, or Light Magic?

Healing/Light/Evenly strong

I looked at the window for a while before finally deciding. It was tempting to leave them equally strong, but in the end I decided to go with the Healing specialization.

*Ding*

You have chosen to specialize in healing magic. This will be reflected in your class title's bonuses.

You have gained a new class title, do you wish to make this your main class title, or remain with the Classless class as your main class title and set Guardian of Light as a secondary class title?

Keep classless as main class title/ Change main class title to Guardian of Light

I chose to set it as a tertiary class title.

This will affect the bonuses of the Guardian of Light class title, do you still wish to take this choice? You can rearrange class titles in the Character Screen if you decide you would like to choose another Main Class Title.

Yes/No

Once again I chose to set it as a tertiary class, as these classes could be hidden. I decided to look at the information for the Guardian of Light class title, and opened the window.

Class Title: Guardian of Light(Unique)(Healing Specialization)

The Guardian of Light is a mage specialized in defending against the darkness, and healing. It also has a special connection to the light, and can use magic of the light element.

Class Title Bonuses:

+50% Healing Magic Compatibility

+30% Light Magic Compatibility

Ability: Healing Magic accessible

Ability: Light Magic accessible

+10 Defense, +1 per level

+5 Defense vs. Shadow Magic, +2 per level

+5 Defense vs. Dark Magic, +2 per level

I was quite surprised by the bonuses of this class, and intrigued by the mention of compatibility in relation to a class title. I suppose it wouldn't do to not add that though, as not having the appropriate compatibility for the magics of the types related to the class title would make it essentially useless. It was essential to have the correct compatibilities in the case of a skill, magic, or ability. I supposed it was even more so in the case of Special or Unique classes, where there would be special skills, spells, or abilities only available to that specific class. These abilities and skills would likely only become available to learn at specific levels and when the proper levels of compatibility were present, making it important to have a bare minimum of compatibility for the class.

In the case of magic classes, I didn't think it would do to not have the proper magic types available. I had no clue how magic worked on Farside despite the classes I had taken, it was rather mysterious how no one had leaked any information on the magic of Farside. I hoped that magic could be done without incantation, but I had no clue how it worked. Little did I know that my hopes would be crushed, at least for a majority of my early life on the planet.

There was another thing that confused me, both in the previously trapped room and here I had managed to survive the challenges despite believing I should not have been able to do so. As I fiddled around with my logs, I found the cause. There were numerous instances of damages missing both in this last challenge, and in the trapped room. These missed damage counterparts were mostly shown in the timeframe where the icy winds were present in the trapped room, and when the shadows were doing their repeated damages, but also showed with quite a number of fireballs when I could only think I was running out of the pedestal room.

Anyhow, you may wonder what happened to the shadows and darkness that attacked me while I was scrambling to grab the crystal had gone, but they had disappeared the instance I grabbed the Crystal of Light earlier. I still wondered about what was causing the missed damages, so while I was setting there I decided to go through the help menus and see what I could find while I was still seated on the chandelier, forgive me for not mentioning that I had sat down please. I found a plausible explanation when I went through the in-game information on what each stat did.

It turned out that the stat that encompassed Luck and Blessing actually gave a bonus to the ability to resist elemental damage. This resistence chance was surprisingly high against DoT damages, but not as effective versus one time damages, so it showed up more while I was under the effects of the icy wind and the shadows' continuous attacks. I assumed that both were some form of DoT effect's damage, as this was the only working explanation I could come up with.

While waiting for my health to recover, I continued to look through the stats and what the game actually stated they did. In the end, I found some interesting things, but I'll leave explaining those things for when their explanation is actually needed.

I did learn that on Farside everyone had a Spirit Power Reservoir, but there was also the possibility of the characters who began their lives there starting with either a Martial Power Reservoir, Mana Reservoir, or both. These reservoirs had their own bonuses that were similar to the main stats, but there were more factors involved with them. One factor was the reservoir's initial capacity, as well as the level of the reservoir. Health and Stamina were the most affected by the Martial Power Reservoir, Psion count was the most affected by the Spirit Power reservoir, and Mana was of course most affected by the Mana Reservoir. This was not all these three affected, but they were the stats most affected by the reservoirs. It didn't state any ratios or anything like that, but I supposed I could learn more about that on Farside itself.

Once my health had recovered, I made my way to where I could jump back to the top ledge, then began my descent using Giant's Gait. It took me a bit longer this time, as I wasn't panicking to complete a quest. I therefore was not distracted from looking downward, especially when the ledges I was jumping to were at a decidedly downward angle, so it was a bit worrisome to make the jumps. It's not like I was particularly afraid of heights, but it wasn't like I had a sturdy cliff or hill that would be under me the entire time. Jumping off that chandelier was particularly stifling as there was only the arm of the apparatus below me, and nothing else, but even the jumps to the different ledges were a bit harrowing after misjudging the distance on the way up. Reaching the floor, I rested for a bit before beginning my search of the city once more.

----------

Over the course of the next 8 days I gradually searched the rest of the city for any treasures. I had a strange feeling there was at least one more treasure here, and continued to search carefully. It wasn't until the third from the last building in my search that I found a clue. In one of the buildings was a wall that was someone off from the rest of the buildings walls. This wall had writing on it that was in the form of calligraphy. I carefully looked and tried to read it, and it gradually became clear.

Light will show the way.

*Ding*

You have received a mandatory sub-quest: Hidden Agenda

Within the giant's city once remained many treasures, but there remain only a few. Solve the ten riddles, and perhaps you will find one such treasure.

Solve the Riddles:

First Riddle

Second Riddle

Third Riddle

Fourth Riddle

Fifth Riddle

Sixth Riddle

Seventh Riddle

Eighth Riddle

Ninth Riddle

Tenth Riddle

Rewards:

Unknown.

Unknown

Unknown

Victory Condition(s):

Solve all riddles

Loss Condition(s):

Fail to discover the answer to even one riddle

Die before completion of sub-quest

A quest pop-up appeared, and I found myself staring incredulously. Weren't these loss conditions a bit harsh? I mean, it's 10 riddles, not 3 or 4, that's not so easy if they get difficult.

This first riddle was already a bit confusing, so I could only sit there thinking for a bit while I looked around. The room I was in had a rather dreary atmosphere, and there was a great deal of shadow surrounding the lighted area I was standing in. It was as a was looking around that it hit me, I had the Crystal of Light, the >. Couldn't that be the "light" to guide the way?

It was a bit suspicious that there was that correlation, but I didn't think too much about it and simply pulled out the orb from my inter-spacial storage. As soon as the light from the > reached the shadows surrounding the room, an arrow pathway, which was hiding in the shadows never reached by the outside sun, was revealed leading into an obscure corner of the room and through a previously hidden hallway.

Like I thought.

Thinking that it was understandable, I began to walk down into the hallway that ran down a slope and follow the arrowed path until I came to a semi-circular room with three entrances in the single straight wall. The arrows ended there, and I began to look around for a riddle. I didn't see it at first, but once I looked up I saw a riddle going over the 3 entrances on the ceiling.

What Age is a man in his fifth Prime?

Looking at the entrances, each had a number above them, from the left, the numbers were 3, 7, and 4. I thought about it for a while before I realized the answer.

Prime? Wasn't there an Old Earth term for that? Let's see, I think it was numbers that are only divisible by 1 and itself. The third prime number. . . 1, 2, 3, 5, 7. So the number should be 7.

I decided on the answer, and began following the middle path as it wound through the darkness. The path didn't only wind left and right, but up and down as well, seemingly at random. It was like it was designed to confuse the person following it so that they couldn't find the end point by other means besides the riddles. I continued following, not really being interested in going back down here if at all possible. I eventually came to another set of entrances with a riddle, only this time the room was round with an exit at each 90 degree angle. Finding this riddle once more took a while before I found it following the equivalent of a door trim that was around the path I just exited.

A boy and a Doctor went fishing. The boy was the doctor's son, but the doctor wasn't the boy's father. Who is the Doctor.

Step-father/Mother/Step-mother

The other three entrances once again had an answer, but they followed the same format as the riddle itself. The problem was these three answers were all proper answers for it as far as I was concerned.

Let's see, I they all seem right, as all of them aren't technically the boy's father. We can rule out the step-father because it has the word father in it, even if technically it could be considered not his father. The next one is more difficult. . . Waiting, I think I've seen this riddle before, but it didn't have multiple answers. Where was it? Home. . On an old earth style hard drive. . It was. . Oh! I remember, it was mother! Both fit, but as far as blood goes Mother is the answer, and that was the answer to the riddle back then!

I began to follow the next pathway, and eventually come to another room. This room was a bit different. . . WHO AM I KIDDING?! It was a lot different! The room was covered in huge webs with strands the size of twine, and made large enough for a gargantuan spider! The webs covered most of the room, and it was bad enough I couldn't even see a riddle, or the new entrances, let alone the answers to the riddle.

"Well, what have we here, a tasty little morsel. He'll make a good snack."

A chill ran up my spine as i hard an unhuman voice speak from behind me. Turning about mechanically, I found a giant, hairy arachnid, or spider if you will, moving toward me as if stalking prey. If I didn't have the protection toward attacks from the quest for the gift, I would certainly have stood stock still trembling in terror, or worse yet running it fear and getting stuck in the webs behind me.

"Rather brave for a mere morsel aren't we? Yes, I think you'll make a wonderful snack, just wonderful. . . Eh? I can't attack?"

The spider's attacks stopped approximately 3 feet from me, her webs were even worse as they stopped 6 feet away from me. The spider gave me a serious look, and I felt a strong sensation, like being scanned. It was a stimulation I had felt when talking to the giant before I gained Giant's Gait, so I supposed it was some kind of . The spider's eyes widened immediately after.

'How did a level 1 get into the Celestial Realms? Is that . . . a quest? Gather Gifts. . . Well, I suppose I could give you a gift if you'd like,' She said in a self-conceited tone.

I shook my head and replied, 'No thanks, I was told to be careful whom I trust to give me gifts.'

She quickly became angry. 'What, I'm not good enough for you,' She spoke in a huff, responding with telepathy. 'Wait, a human can use Telepathy?'

'I'm not a human, I'm, half Angaellis and Half Daemonis,' I told her. 'As for how I can use Telepathy, it is due to the quest that I am on and the fact that I am mute.'

'Could you please stop that stuttering? It's giving me a headache.'

'Believe me, if I could I would,' I responded, 'Unfortunately there's nothing I can do about it.'

'Ugh, well, if there's nothing you can do about it...' She didn't seem too happy with my response. 'So, about my offer. . . I'll even let you choose the bonus. I promise I won't include anything bad, I'd hate for my reputation to be tarnished. I may ambush and use poison, but that's just a matter of survival and my natural gifts. It would only serve to ruin my reputation if I were to trick and bully such a weakling. Some might not think twice about it, but I hate those who do that. . . So, will you accept a choice of one of three bonuses?'

The Spider Empress Allaenonocuothanu has offered you the choice of one of three gifts. Do you wish to see the possibly gifts?

Yes/No

'Fine, I'll take a look, but I can't promise I'll take anything,' I finally responded after debating with myself.

'Hehe, I like me a brave man,' she responded. 'If I wasn't a spider I'd definitely have my eyes on you. Anyway, here are your choices.'

Immediately, five windows appeared in front of me.

Choose your Gift. Remember, you can only choose one.

Gift - Spider Fangs - Cathuenon Magic Spider - Legendary tier skill - Level 1(0.00%)

The Cathuenon Magic Spiders secrete a deadly bacterial venom none can withstand for long. Their bacterial agent is so powerful their victims last no more than a few moments before they die. As it is a poison created within the host's body, it will not cause harm to it's user.

Effects:

+30 infection damage per second

Duration:

5 Nits(Seconds)

Cost: 25 Stamina

Gift - Thousand Immunity - Super Rare tier ranked trait - Upgradable - Rank 1/10(0.00%)

The legendary Thousand Immunity is a trait that protects the owner from all poisons up to a certain threshhold. This trait does not affect poisons above the Super Rare Tier without using a special process to upgrade the trait.

Bonuses:

Immunity to all poisons at or below the Super Rare Tier up to level 10.

20% chance to resist poisons above level 10 so long as they are at or below the Super Rare Tier

5% chance to resist poisons up to level 10 that are above the Super Rare Tier

Gift - Wisdom of Ananci - Rare Trait

Ananci the Trickster, one of the many spirits of Farside and Patron Saint of Spiders, is well known for his cunning and wisdom and is not quite the same as his counterpart from Old Earth, Anansi. This trait gives the owner a bonus to their Mind score as it represents Ananci's Wisdom.

Bonuses:

+10% Mind score

Additional Mind Focus - Wisdom

+2% Experience earned (experience points are rounded up to the next whole number)

Additional effects:

As Ananci loves riddles, sometimes answers to riddles will be lit up in the eyes of the owner of this gift.

None - Reject a gift.

I looked at the windows for a long while, debating with myself whether I should even take a Gift or not, before finally deciding to do so. The only problem was that I now needed to narrow down which to take. I didn't want the poison skill. That skill was just too dangerous for my future mother, and I didn't like the idea. So, there were only two choices left, the Thousand Immunity, or the Wisdom of Ananci. This was a much harder choice. So far, I had been quite lucky that the riddles fit my knowledge, but that was not a given. On the other hand, Thousand Immunity could certainly come in handy as there were a great many poisons in the world of Farside, if the name of the skill was any indicator.

'Hahaha, you look like you're having a hard time deciding,' Allea, as I decided to refer to her in shortening her name, told me, 'Have you narrowed it down at all?'

'I don't want the spider fangs, too dangerous for my future mother.'

'Ah, I had forgotten about that, but the fangs don't secrete the poison unless you wish them to so it's no danger for your mother to be,' she explained. I could almost see the sly grin on her face were she to be a human.

'Now you're just making it harder again. Forget it, I don't want the fangs, despite how nice the poison is.'

'Hehe! So it's one of the other two then? Does your conundrum have something to do with the ancient writings that were in this room,' she asked me.

I sat there for a moment, debating on if I should answer, but eventually nodded.

'Hmmm, then how about this, I can allow you to take two positive Gifts, but you will have to accept a trait with negative effects, but I'll make those small. Hrmmmmm . . . Here's the negative trait.'

The next moment a window showed up once again.

The Spider Empress Allaenonocuothanu has offered you three gifts, please confirm if you wish to take them.

Yes/No

Thousand Immunity

Wisdom of Ananci

Gift - Parallel Thought Processing - Inferior - Uncommon Trait - Rank 1/5(0.00%)(Upgradable)

This Trait gives the ability to use parallel thought processing, but as it is an inferior version of the trait it comes with some side effects. This trait can be upgraded, reducing negative effects and increasing positive effects. Superior and standard versions of this trait grant the same number of parallel thought processes per rank, but give additional bonuses. The Superior version can use parallel thoughts for much longer before migraines occur.

Bonuses:

Can use 1 addition parallel thought process per skill rank

Negatives:

Causes Migraine Headaches when processing multiple lines of thought for more than 30 Nits(seconds). Migraines will last for 5 hours once they take effect. Migraine duration reduces by 30 minutes per trait rank.

Can be upgraded or replaced by finding a more complete or better tier parallel thought trait.

'That, isn't that quite a useful trait, even if it gives migraines when you use the parallel thoughts for too long?'

'It depends on your viewpoint, migraines are no fun after all. This is however the best trait I have as far as not giving too many negatives,' she responded. 'Just be aware that the Migraine's strength will increase the longer you go past 30 nits, and I advise you absolutely don't go beyond 1 cron(Minute) unless your death is certain anyway. The migraines beyond 1 cron(minute) are absolutely excruciating and you may die from shock.'

'Understood. . . Then, I will accept these gifts,' I told her, and pressed the yes button.

Total Gifts acquired:5/32

'Now, you were looking for those writings in the room?'

Yes, they're part of a riddle,' I explained.

'I was wondering why you would come to my lair, but I can see why you had trouble choosing when the Gifts were presented to you,' she replied, suddenly understanding my trouble. 'I can't read the languages of the races that are born sentient, but I vaguely understood they might be a riddle.'

'I'm surprised you gave me a choice, or even offered a Gift in the first place,' I told her.

'Well, you didn't show a disgusted look when you first saw me, although you did seem a bit worried,' she explained, 'That gave me a very good impression of you, as it's the first time anyone, or any beast, has ever reacted like that upon seeing my appearance. So, I decided to give you a Gift or two.'

'To be honest, part of that was the fact that you couldn't actually attack me,' I said ashamedly.

'Naturally, if I could have attacked, you wouldn't still be around and I would have had a snack by now. I'm seriously starving,' she told me with a wry thought.

'Can't you just go grab a bite to eat outside the city?'

'Naturally, I am the Empress of Spiders after all. . . If I could get out that is,' she replied. 'I can't go out through the city, and I can't remember the path I took to get in here. Maybe if you could help me find the way out I could, but it would be more dangerous than a walk in the forest. It wasn't on the main path, and all the side paths have large numbers of booby-traps.'

A sense of responsibility arose within me, despite the fact that I hadn't been the cause of her troubles.

'You've already helped me. Once I complete this sub-quest I will come back here and start looking for the way out for you.'

'Is that really alright?'

'Yes, I'm a sojourner, so I won't truly die here, though I will experience a "Death" and be out cold for a while, but that's acceptable if it will help you,' I assured her.

'Then I will have to take you up on your offer. If you can manage to help me, I may even give you another Gift,' she told me in a seriously teasing tone.

You have received a Sub-quest: Labyrinthine Passages - Common

The Queen of Spiders, Allaenonocuothanu, has been trapped within the passages under the giant's city for a long time. Help her leave the passages so she can hunt for food. Allaenonocuothanu has agreed to let you complete your current sub-quest before beginning this sub-quest.

Rewards:

Unknown

Time Limit:

none

Failure Conditions:

Refusal to help Allaenonocuothanu leave the tunnels, and the city they are below.

Death of Allaenonocuothanu

'I think I can last a week before I am too weak to hunt,' Allea informed me. 'By that time I need you to have finished the current quest and help me find the way out of here or I'm a goner. I'll remove my webbing in preparation for the move, and so you can move on with your riddles.'

'Thanks Allea,' I stuttered out as per usual.

'Allea?'

'Um, yeah, it's a nickname for you,' I explained. 'I just shortened your name to a form I could remember easily. I hope you don't mind.'

'Well, it's not like I don't, but . . . It's acceptable,' she replied in a bashful tone.

It was certainly interesting seeing how her body acted while she was thinking these things, and I began to understand her gestures as we conversed. Each type of movement of her limbs, fangs, and eyes meant something different. Things like certain groups of hairs moving seemed to have specified meanings, even to my untrained eyes. Of course, I'm not saying I could understand her without the telepathy at this point, but at least I could start on my path to understanding.

Just now, her fangs moved in a way that totally said bashful to me, it made me want to get to know her more. I was quite interested in coming to understand how her race thinks, and how that translates into their body language. I certainly didn't understand the Celestial Realms, and having a being who lived there around would certainly help me in avoiding potential dangers.

Hmmm. . . 'Allea, once I manage to complete this quest and get you out of here, do you want to travel with me? I mean, at least while I'm in the Celestial Realms?'

'Ugh, traveling with a human? Well, since it's you, I'll think about it,' she said, sounding quite unlikely to do so. 'If anyone else among the alliance races asked me that I'd absolutely refuse, you know.'

'Why's that?'

I was a bit surprised, but I thought back to the wording of the main quest, and wanted to know more.

'It's a long story,' she replied seriously. 'Once you finish your riddles I'll tell you the reasons most of the beasts in the Celestial Realms won't be happy, or willing, to help a member of your alliance races. I need some time to think and organize everything, so get on with your quest, and I'll tell you afterward.'

Allea swiftly moved webbing to allow me to see the riddle, answers, and the associated passages into the next area. Strangely enough, even before I read the riddle, an answer lit up with a green light surrounding the panel above a door. I was quite taken aback, and Allea must have seen the look on my face, as she spoke to me.

'I'm guessing you're seeing a green light surrounding one of the answers.'

'Um, yeah, how'd you know,' I couldn't help asking.

'It's written all over your face,' she replied in an exasperated tone, and surprisingly showing a similarly exasperated look. 'That's the Wisdom of Ananci taking effect. It will lead you to the correct answer. Usually it will only respond once you understand the riddle and it's possible answers, but sometimes it answers before even reading the riddle. That is, of course, only in the case of written, multiple choice riddles. For riddles with no listed answers, you will either feel, or hear, the answer instead.'

'Ah, I understand now,' I answered back. 'Well, I'll be going.'

'Hurry back,' Allea replied, almost like a wife seeing her husband off, but her next words totally threw that vibe out the window. 'I'm soooo hungry, I could eat a dragon.'

With that as a sort of send off, I followed the correct path, and headed toward the next room.