I didn’t enter the real game right after the account activation. I played through the tutorial got into the virtual reality feeling and felt great. Everything felt real. Even the graphics were like reality. Now I know why everyone plays RoyalRoad. It’s astronomical good.

I learned to move in my virtual body. I could feel the changes which were made to my body but I couldn’t see them personally because there was no mirror at hand inside the tutorial state.

After completing the tutorial state I got whizzed into the citadel of Serabourg. Wow. I could see hundreds of players. Some equipped with monstrous battle-axes longer than myself. Others just like me had the beginner equipment which I had seen inside the tutorial state.. It was unspectacular. I saw mages, knights, beginners, rangers and somehow every sort of people.

The tutorial and the magazines Mr. Humble gave me teached me much but I realized that I almost know nothing about the actual game. What kind of character do I want to make? What do I want to do? What are my aims? My first priority should be to get strong shouldn’t it? Maybe if I use my time here to learn strategies or get informations about the game I could get strong fast.

At the moment I just have a canteen of water and 10 barley breeds. I need a weapon.

“Hey you. Do you know where a beginner can get a weapon?” I asked a strong looking person. He grunted.

“Go to the training hall.”

Now I knew where I could get a weapon but where it actually was I didn’t know.

I walked down the street and saw different kinds of shops. Player shops and NPC shops. Hard to distinguish. I knew from NPC’s through the tutorial. Artificial Intelligence. Crazy shit.

I went to the fountain and filled my canteen of water. From here I had a good view over the plaza.

I could see the warrior guild and the mage guild here. Both really well decorated. Runes adored the mage guild whereas pictures of fights against giant and ferocious monsters were painted on the warrior guild. And some shabby house I couldn’t identify stood right next to them. On the other site of the plaza was the training hall. I could hear people scream out their agony over their as they smashed their weapons against the scarecrows.

After entering the training hall I could see quite a mob. They circled around 2 players. One looked really powerful with a gigantic sword swinging from left to right. The other one, well looked ordinary. But both had a fierce expression on their face. I talked to the trainer.

“Are you the trainer here?”

“That I am son.”

His entire figure reminded me of hulk. He was big and loaded with tons of muscle mass.

“I heard I could get a starter weapon here. Do you know something about that?”

“Ah, that’s why you are speaking to me.” His mood changed. I was just another of those guys who came to him for the wooden sword. I had to change the course of the dialogue.

“Not entirely. I also want to learn about different kinds of weapons. I don’t know which I should learn. I am a newbie in every area.” He grinned. It looked weird to see such a tremendous looking guy grinning.

“Oh. Well take this for now.” He gave me a wooden sword.

“And about the other thing you asked me I can’t help you. But I heard a famous blacksmith arrived this morning. He stationed himself in the warrior guild. You know where that is?”

I didn’t know where a blacksmith could help me in my current situation but I nodded.

“It’s this huge building covered with paintings of great warriors. One of them caught my eye. He wielded a fragile looking long sword. Sound stupid but the amazing thing about that was that he looked ordinary but fought against a 3-headed dragon. A 3-headed dragon. I mean 3-heads. That’s just abnormal.” The trainer examined me all over again. It seems like he got a new impression of me.

“So it was that japanese who caught your eye. Strange. Every normal person would look at the huge man with the greatsword who fights against the mysterious black wolf. Haha. It’s just a story but rumors say that that blackwolf is above level 400. Few have seen it and fewer got away. No one has defeated it. And you got the wrong idea. That 3-headed dragon ain’t that strong. Normally they are around level 300. Strong yes, but not undefeatable.”

“I didn’t like that painting. It gave off an evil aura.”

“Hmm. Maybe I can help you. But therefore you have visit the blacksmith first.”

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Quest: Blacksmith Arug

Description: Blacksmith Arug is in town. An old friend from the trainer. He wants you to speak with him. Arug can give much advice but that depends on you. Arug is a dwarf who seldom leaves his domain under the earth. He only makes short visits to towns to give quests for materials. Otherwise he looks for new ideas for weapon.

Difficulty: E

Time limit: Only today

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A quest? Sounds easy. Maybe I can receive good advice from him.

“I accept gladly. I have nothing to do so a quest fits perfectly into my schedule.”

“Great. Remember that he’s only today in town.”

“I will meet him. Don’t worry.”

The ordinary scarecrow smasher came over and asked the trainer if they could make a break together. He gladly accepted and took out his lunch box. Being a man of speed, I went over to the warriors guild. On the way there I picked some rumors up. I heard that a new library ghost roams around. That some high guy is looking for people for his quest and some orcs were seen near the main road to the british empire.

“Looking for a party”

“Mage level 44 needs a tank”

“Looking for an apprentice”

Many guys shouted out offers or needs. Most were normal looking guys with some leather armor or chain mail.

The level 44 mage had an extraordinary looking hat but I really didn’t care at that moment.

“Hey you, interested in a little game? You could win some special prices.” A strange looking gnome asked. He was behind a table on which some kind of setup was placed.

I walked past him.

“It seems like you aren’t interested. Maybe I could offer you something different?”

Annoying little brat.

“I am on a quest. Maybe later.”

The entrance to the warrior guild was like before still extremely crowded. old and young. Strong and weak. People of different cultures and races. A place where you could meet almost everything and everyone. I tried to shove my way through but ran into another person.

We both fell to the ground. It was a girl. Around my age. An elf. Light green skin and blonde long hair falling down on her shoulders. Her eyes were gold. Beautiful.

“Sorry. I was pushed by the crowd.” I said, trying not to blush.

“No problem. Happens all the time here.” She checked her equipment and mustered me from head to toe.

“Looks like you are a beginner. Do you look for something special? Or do you want to sign in?

I may not look like it but I am a veteran.”

“Well... you see... I am looking for a dwarf. His name is Arun.”

“That will be difficult in your outfit. He only gives quests to responsible looking people. And on top of that are you an elf. Dwarves hate elves. At least the NPC ones. What do you want from him?”

I felt stupid. I forgot that I am a half elf and didn’t realize the fact that dwarves hate elves. I blushed even more.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed. You still didn’t answer my question.” She giggled.

“I don’t want a quest from him. Not exactly. I already have a quest. And that’s why I have to talk to him.” I stuttered.

She looked at me again just like the trainer.

“Maybe I have the wrong idea of you. Come follow me. I lead you to him.”

She shoved past the crowd with ease. I wondered how she could do that with her figure.

“By the way, what is your name?”

“I am called Jaso- ehm... Jawal.”

She laughed.

“Still not entirely into the virtual reality? You will adjust to it. My name is Failariél. It’s elvish.”

Whoa. I didn’t even think about changing my name into another language.

“I really like that name. Ehm... This building is really big. Enormous wouldn’t even describe it.”

“What did you except with that facade? You know nothing Jawal. You truly are a beginner. The warrior guild is the biggest guild apart from the mage guild. There are hundreds of different guilds but you won’t find something like this again in the entire kingdom. How come you wanted to start here? I mean as an elf.”

“Why shouldn’t I start here? And I am half elf.”

“A peredhel? Cool. I didn’t know that you could mix races.” I wanted to say something but after a short break she added:

”Rosenheim kingdom is a newly discovered kingdom and hasn’t much influence in the world. On top of that are their many difficult hunting grounds around here which is why many stronger adventurers come here. The beginning will be difficult here.”

“What’s a peredhel? Rosenheim kingdom sounded interesting. I didn’t really give much thought to my starting point. Really.”

“You are a half elf and you don’t know that they are called peredhel?” She made a statement with that. “The name really has a sweet tone to it. One point why I came over here. The other point is that most elves are really egoistic. You wouldn’t think so but rumors are true.”

They came around a corner. I didn’t realize that we were inside a big blacksmith until I heard a high sound. It must have been a hammer forming a weapon.

Clang, Clang, Clang

The person hammered fast but precise. You could already see the form of the object. The heated metal shined bright. It was an axehead.

“Here he is. That is Arug. He’s really renown. I wonder why no one is here.”

“I kicked them out. Personally. And like insects new ones swarm in.”

I didn’t look at the person before but now I could see that it was a dwarf. He said it with a dark voice. You could see sweat running down his neck. He didn’t look at us and fully concentrated on the axe. Amazing how someone can have such a high concentration while speaking and working.

“So, what do you want? Or are you guys just like everyone else? If you want to have a weapon buy them at my shops. And no I make no special orders at the moment. Regardless the price.”

“My friend here wants to talk with you.”, said Failariél.

“Can’t he speak for himself?” He quenched the axe inside the water tube. He put down his tools on the huge oak table beside him and looked up at us. The situation got worse.

“Elves?!?” He roared.

“I am an elf but he’s a peredhel.” He calmed down a bit and analyzed the situation. You could see that he didn’t like elves.

“Yeah, I am a half-elf. Ni --”

“Do you think I am dumb? I know what a peredhel is. So, what do you want?”

“The trainer from the training center sent me here. He said you would know what kind of fighting style would fit to me. Or at least give me some help with it.”

As soon as I mentioned the trainer his face lightened up. Just who is the trainer to him?

“That brute sent you? Ha, I still remember him as a small child. When was that? Some decades have it been at least. A fine man he is. He always passed the hard work over to me.” Grumbled the dwarf inside his beard.

“Come here so that I can estimate your stats.”

I looked over to Failariél but she just shrugged with her shoulders and gave me thumbs up. Really encouraging.

I walked over to the dwarf. He looked at me and began to look at me. His eyes were that of a scholar. That of a master in his art. You could see it. He didn’t let out one point and after some time he was finished. During the process he mumbled sometimes. He was in thoughts.

“Show me your stats.”

“Open stat window”

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Avatar: Jawal Type: Neutral

Level: 1 Class: None

Title: None Fame: 0

Life: 100 Mana:100

Str: 9 Dex: 12 Vit: 9

Wis:11 Int: 11

Leadership: 0 Luck: 0

Offense: 2 Defense: 0

Resistance to magic: None

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He fumbled something out of his vest. It was a book. Not entirely a book, more like a private notebook. He skipped through it and stopped at some point. He glanced over the page and looked at me and over the page again.

“I think i know what fits you best. A katana. You know what that is or?”

“Yeah, it’s a long sword out of japan. I saw it on one of the illustrations outside. Some guy fought with it against a 3-headed dragon.”

“Japan? Where’s that? Never mind. That picture would show “The silencer”. I knew him personally. He was an magnificent man but he went missing sometime ago. I dunno what happened to him. Maybe some monster ate him or he went on a journey. But what I know is that he wielded a special sword or better said katana. It was the first katana made by my hand.Soulbearer. It had incredible features.” Arug’s voice was sad. That swordsman was definitely a friend for him.

“I am sorry. I didn’t know that he meant so much for you.” The dwarf zoomed out of his vision.

“No problem child. Well, like I said a katana would fit you good. You remind me of him. And you young lady keep a good eye on him. Ah, before I forget it take this. With that you can enter the my realm. Most dwarves follow my words. And the other one are my accumulated information about the silencer.”

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Obtained: Arug’s recommendation

Description: A piece of paper from Arug. With this you can pass the dwarven guards at Mountain Vahil. The dwarven realm where Arug lives. Most dwarves respect him.

On use: Quest: Arug’s Word

Obtained: Notes about the Silencer

Description: A sheet of paper containing information about the Silencer. Where he went missing. When he went missing. Details about his character.

On use: Quest: Find the Silencer

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On the notes about the silencer stood that he went missing over 200 years ago. Just how old is this guy?

“I have to go back to work. See ya younglings.”

He waved us out and went to work again.

Failariél went outside with me.

“Wow. That really was interesting. Arug really likes you.” She said with astonishment.

“I didn’t think that you could get this kind of quest in your first week. When did you begin to play?”

I didn’t know how to react to that. A veteran was speechless because of me?

“Hmm, I began to play some hours ago.”

“Truly amazing.”

“Hey Failariél, do you want to be my friend?”

“Yeah, why not?” She answered amused.