31 Town in sight

, Congratulations, you are a first Druid to learn a transformation skill in the world. You became the first real druid player. Rewards are as followed. Gained 50 Fame, 10 Luck, and 10 Fate. The titles "Frist Druid" and "Veles's Servant" gained."

Wow, I couldn't even imagine that I would gain this much for being the first one to become a Druid. Fame, Luck, and Fate were raised like that time when I gained the First Believer title. And I also gained two new titles. I took a look and checked them and my new skill Great Stag Form.

Great Stag Form

Transformation skill

Level 0 1%

Transform into the great stag.

5-second cast

Duration unlimited. Bares the risk of losing oneself to the animal form if too long in it.

First Druid

All nature-related skills have 20% increase effect.

Veles's Servant

When praying to Veles effects are doubled.

Even though the explanation of the titles is short their effects are more than fantastic. 20% increase effect in all nature skills and double effects from praying to Veles would make any Druid player jealous. It is a good thing that there is no region or world announcement about that. I may be the first Druid in the game, but I am certain that somewhere in the world there are already players who managed to get another class.

But what made me curious the most was the transformation skill. Unlimited duration and the risk I could somehow get. But if there is no fixed duration for transformation what is the point of having a level for the skill. I should ask Veran when I go back.

During the way back I opened the chat option and called Marco and Wolf. I had to brag to them a little after all.

, What, you are already a Druid?" asked me, Wolf. I could hear the shock in his voice. Marco didn't say anything, he too couldn't believe it.

, Just now I became a real Druid. Who cares now if I arrived first into the town. We should have bet on who will get a class first."

, You would win that bet." said Marco, Who would have thought that you could find a Druid instructor in the forest even before reaching the town first."

, Well, if I have reached the town first I couldn't have. You should also try and get a class soon. Wolf are you near the town? Marco, are there other players there?"

, I wanted to surprise you later but you were the one who surprised us. I arrived this morning and I am trying to get my class now. Marco will tell you other things." Then Marco continued.

, I am also trying to get my class I should be able to do it by tomorrow if there are no big obstacles. So far Wolf and I are the only players in the town. Or we didn't see anyone yet. The town is six to seven times bigger then the beginner village, even I haven't seen everything in it yet. When will you arrive?"

, I will continue tomorrow my journey to the town. I think that two to three day should be enough for me to arrive."

, Excellent. I should get my class by then and Marco will look around the town for the quests. You hurry as fast as you can. Finally, we are going to be together in the game." said Wolf.

, Don't worry, I will travel as fast as I can. We will see each other in a couple more days."

We then closed the chat and I continued on my way to Veran's home. I was also anxious about the three of us finally getting to play together. For ten years that was our dream and now it will come to life. I wanted to hurry even a little bit and so I shapeshifted into the Great Stag form.

I couldn't see how I looked but in those 5 seconds, I felt my body structure changes. My face got longer, and my hands and legs now felt the same. My field of sight was even higher. Maybe around two meters in height. In this form, I was higher than in my human form. I can't say that I saw farther than usual but I could hear more and smell more. I looked down and saw two long firm legs in fur which ended with hoofs. My head felt heavy at first but after a few moments, I got used to the filling. I guess that the horns I had are very large. I made a small detour to the river to see my new form.

What I saw in the reflection of the water surface, could be described as Great Stags clone. I am a little smaller then he is in this form and my fur didn't change color that much and it was even darker a little. Otherwise, there were no visible differences.

I arrived at Veran's place faster then I would in my human form. I am four or five times faster in this form. My journey to the town should be short thanks to this form. I released transformation in the vicinity of Veran's house. Too much in animal form is a great risk according to skill explanation and Veran's words. Since I just acquired it I shouldn't use it for a long time.

, Come up." Veran's voice echoed through the forest. I listened to him and climbed up. He was waiting for me with ready chairs and a table with some sour fruits on it. I sat down and took some to sate my hunger. I was more tired than I thought. Maybe all that excitement masked my hunger. Veran waited for me to finish and then congratulated me.

, Your friends have a good naming sense. Wise Raven indeed. This name suits you now more than ever. I must say that you are one of the fastest who managed to become a Druid among our brothers. Now you are a real Druid and a servant of Veles. Your main task as such is to maintain balance in Nature. I know that you are going to leave soon but know that you can come back here anytime. There are some skills that you can learn by yourself but also some that you will need guidance. You will know yourself when is the time to learn new skills."

, Thank you, teacher." I said with respect.

, You are also one of my brothers now", he said with a chuckle, you can call me Treegrower like the others."

, Then Master Treegrower." I said and bowed slightly. After all, Veran is the one who taught me how to become a Druid. I should show him the respect he deserves.

, Haha, you may be my only disciple so far, but you are the best disciple a teacher can wish for. I can only hope that if some other traveler wonders into my part of the forest and wishes to learn our techniques they would be half as good as you are."

, Master Treegrower I have some questions that I wish to ask you?"

, Ask away my disciple."

, How come that even if I can transform for as long as I want I feel that I can improve my shapeshifting more in the future?"

, So you felt that. I am not well versed in shapeshifting but I can tell you what some of our wild brothers told me about animal forms. Some animal forms can't be improved while some can. To be specific you can't improve forms per se, but you can start and use some techniques or skills in those forms. You will feel yourself when one of your animal forms is suited to gain a skill. Those skills can be used for combat, scouting or some other things. That depends on the form. I gained one such skill in my bird form."

, Then master what is the easier way to observe an animal? You mentioned that later it can be dangerous."

, I did mention that." said Veran with a frown.

, I guess I should tell either way. The easier way is for you to have an animal by your side. An animal companion if you like."

Animal companion? I was a little confused.

, Like the ones hunters have?"

, Not exactly. Hunters are also attuned to nature a little so they have an easier time in taming beasts. But there is one crucial difference. When hunters pets come to harm, if they are injured or die, hunters, themselves won't come to harm. But in our case it is different. We druids make a bond with our companions. Some call it Soul Bond. Whenever your animal companion comes to harm so will you. The opposite is also true. In some way, you will share the same life force. There are few Druids who have an animal companion of their own, but they still exist."

Animal companion for druids, Soul Bond. I did not expect this. If my deductions are right since we players can't truly die in the game the same should apply to hunter pets or druids animal companions. The difference should be in losses one suffers when one dies. If hunters pet dies only the pet should lose some EXP and skill proficiencies. But for druids, if a companion dies, in the worst case druids also dies, in the best, he losses EXP and skill proficiency. The same applies to a companion if a druid dies. Having a companion is a double-edged sword. I should think very carefully if having an animal companion is a good thing.

Veran saw that I was lost in thought so he said one more thing.

, Having a Soul Bond with an animal is certainly dangerous, but I do know one benefit it brings."

, Really?" I lifted my head and asked him.

, When hunters give directions to their pets they must give verbal orders. But druids don't have to."

, What do you mean?" I asked and waited for the grand reveal.

, A druid and his companion can communicate with their minds. There is no need for words. That is very useful, especially in fights."

, Telepathy?" I asked with astonishment.

, You can call it like that. Soul Bond is more them sharing life force. Sharing thoughts is also possible."

At one moment Veran makes me give up on finding an animal companion and then at other he encourages me to do that. It's like he likes to see me in a dilemma.

, Don't think much about it. Rest now, you will need enough energy for tomorrow." With that, he went to his room. I lied down and logged out of the game.

At school, I told Maria, Anna and Nick who pestered Anna less than usual, that I got myself a class. They were all surprised. Maria smiled at me and said, " I knew you can do it". Anna just said "Wow" and clapped like a little girl. No wonder everyone likes her. She really looks like everyone's little sister. Even Nick said "Good job". I was surprised a little, but not that much. Nick may appear like a tough guy but overall he is a good person. I mean, he wouldn't be a teacher if he wasn't. To work with children you, yourself need to be a good human. That is how mom and dad raised me after all. It seems that Nick is also headed to the same town the girls are going to. I asked him to look after them and he pompously said that with him there will be no problems. Well, his pride is maybe bigger than of other people. What can you do?

In the game, I said goodbye to Veran and said that I will come back in the future. I traveled through the forest for the next few days. I also managed to reach level 10 because I hunted some undead animals when I passed Great Stags territory. Good thing that on this side of the river there were no forest demons. I knew that because undead animals were all bones. That means they were like that for a long time. I put 10 points in endurance because I wanted to raise my health a little. A notification also appeared about ten more class points after level 10. For druids, half of those points must go into intelligence and other five can be freely distributed between endurance and agility. After three days of traveling on two and sometimes four legs, I reached a stone bridge which brought two banks of the river together. I made my first step on it and in my sight appeared Little Fort town.

I finally made it.