2 The Truth About Paladin

RPG and thievery has gotten along well since the very beginning of it's era. Before it was MMO, it was offline, of course. Early generation of RPG was created by Japanese game developer, one of them was Squaresoft (now they merge with Enix, another RPG creator too). I used to play classic Final Fantasy on emulator. I must telling you that commoners's house is short of giant treasure chest. If you check on the cauldron, book shelves, shelves, fire stove, even an innocent clock hanging on the wall, you might find something good. The precious Elixir is one of them.

Since I am a long timer RPG gamer, I have no doubt to sneak in to Hugo's barn and steal a black horse with white line strip on his nose. Hugo called this horse Dorsa, but since I steal him now, he will need a new name.

It was dark before dusk, the moon and the stars still align beautifully above the artificial sky. I ride the Freedom--the name I just give him--to leave this remote small village. At first I feared that the night watchers will arrest me for stealing someone's horse, but I do not see anyone guarding Snowhill from watch tower. When I pass the tower, I could hear something like an animal's growls. Few seconds later, I realize that it was actually loud snores.

They are sleeping on a night watch duty! What the hell? I could do better than them, how could Hugo not hire me for that job? And why do I still regret on an artificial drama about an artificial job that would not do anything much for the game's progress? Come on, Gail, this is Age of Clans, the game about clan wars, you're in the right place now, stop whining and let's move on to Burdio.

I reach the next mountain when the sun rises. I wish I could capture screenshot of the view I see right now. Tall waterfall with triple rainbow on it's foot. River with clear bluish water, the wild forest of Roska. They are the combination of perfection I could only witness in JRR Tolkien's movies, especially The Hobbits. Afar, I can see the rigged mountains, looks like sleeping giant dragon. They still covered in mists, makes them looks magenta than blue or green. Sun rises from my right, and by then I know that I'm actually heading north to take the sharp turn on the next mountain, then heading south where Burdio located.

How do I know the direction? Well, it was drawn nicely in this introduction letter. It was a letter, invitation from Paladin Association. They want me to take the path of protection and assistance in war. Though my brother Byrond want me to take Paladin's path, I still doubt it. I am basically a loner, and I do not really need companions to advances. To me, having companions means depends on others. And being dependent means I can not live without someone else. Remember how Byrond retire early in the game, I doubt that so many people will play this game for years. I judge that three months is the longest for normal people to play this game. It means, if I ever have companion later, they will only stick for three months. After they retire, I will have to find another companion and adapt to them from zero. See? Alone is better. I better chose class that can support me solo.

Something stops me from reading the letter, it was a scream and growls. Painful scream from a man, and evil growl from a beast. From where I stand, I do not see anything not even shadows. The voices comes from the forest, hidden by trees and bushes. I ready my bow and arrow, adds another arrow and begin to aim. The string is stretches wide, once I am sure where the source is, I will release them.

Then, I catch a gilmpse of movement. With no hestitation, I launch the arrows, they fly between the trees. When they disappear from view, I heard a loud and painful growl of death. Means I hit the beast. Good! In any RPGs I played, usually people that I saved are being grateful and will give me something that might be useful in the future. So I walk Freedom circling the woods looking for signs of life.

First, I hear someone sobs, along with painful moans, as if something unpleasant just happened and nothing he can do to change that. Then, I see a figure of a hunchback man, kneeling on the ground nearby the beast's corpse. The beast was actually a simple wild bear, and I hit it right in it's heart and lung. And the hunchback man weeps by it's side.

I know that hunchback man, I know him very well. "Ruben? What are you doing here? Night watch patrol, I guess? That's why you're attacked by that bear? And why are you crying? Don't tell me that you were ready to feed yourself to that script and graphic beast."

When he turn around, I can see why he cries. I was really shock too to see it. Very shock, I almost fall from Freedom.

"Damn! What happened to your face? Where is your nose and your upper lip?" Ruben is practically looks like a zombie right now. I can see his front teeth, covered in his own blood. Not only that, some part of skin under his eyes is also ripped apart. I can see more of his eyeball.

"It's because of you, stupid bastard!" Ruben scolds, for some reason his voice sounds funny since his nose is gone now. He walk closer and hit me repeatedly with the spear in his hand. "Why did you kill the bear? It's better for me to got eaten and die, so I can respawn at the nearrest check point than to live without nose!"

"Wait, what did you just said? Respawn? Don't tell me that you are ..."

"I am a gamer, you dummy! We've been along for quite long and you still think I'm one of those NPCs? How fool!"

Okay, that's explain all the complaints, the mumble, those rages, and negativities.

"Huh?" He check me out while walk in circle around me. "Why did you wearing Byrond's armors? And this horse, is this Hugo's?"

"Well," I smiled. "Byrond is dead for good, so I am here to make use of his precious license and become a knight myself. Then I will live a glorious and fortunate life which I can't ever find in peacefull and snowless Snowhill."

"What do you mean by 'dead for good'? Did you killed him?" he accused.

"I thought we can't kill anyone in this game, everyone will just respawn," I reply.

"Yes you can. If you want to kill someone in this game, you do something to get them retire the game," Ruben told me.

"He retire last night because he hates the game," I said.

"So you hurt him to made him hate the game, so he can retire and you can steal his license? Hah! What a sly thief you are. Knighthood doesn't suits you at all. You just proved that you are much better thief than us all," he laughs at me. "Besides, what path will you take?"

After what he just said, I really want to make him jealous so bad. I told him the better choice based on what Byrond had adviced me last night, "Paladin, of course."

His laughs bursts uncontrollably. I count almost thirty seconds he just stand there and laughs.

"What an idiot. Are you not suspicious why Clans would pay Paladins with high salary but still no one interested to take that class?" his question is kinda right. It got me thinking too. When I recall that Byrond avoided the question, I could tell that there's something fishy about this class. Probably something nasty.

"Paladins has strong defense, but small attacks, means they only good for support. What they do in battlefield is strike into the enemy's formation and crush them, but not to kill them. They will lure the enemies to attack them while their friends support him from behind, unharmed. You will kill less when you are Paladin, and died a lot. Even healers will kill more and die less than you. And you know who got the most bounty as MVP aftermath?"

No way!

"Yes!! Archers and warriors! They always got all the glory and easier to gain high ranks because of the kill count in battle field. They will gain more loots because of their contribution to give damages is bigger than any other class. That's why Paladins are sucks! You choose the path of a decoy, and no one will put you as hero for that. Good luck, Jesus!"

I knew it. I knew that I could never like this guy. At this point I begin to wonder how terrible Ruben's real life is so all he know is suffering, being victimized, and complaints. But who cares! I will still use Byrond's heritage and become a knight. When I got rich, I will shower Ruben's hut with golden coins. You just see, Ruben!

I dig one of my ear with pinkie and said, "I really need translator to understand what you were trying to say. Seriously, being noseless made you talk like babies."

Ruben laughs, "lies! I know you can hear me clear!"

"You know what? I think you better rip open the bear's belly and find your nose down there. Who knows you can just sew it back on your face so that you can speak clearly like you used to be. Adios!" I bid him farewell and laughs when he swears on me.

Damn that guy, no wonder no one would want to marry him, not even an NPC. But, it got me thinking now. Thanks to him, I made up my mind now. If no one want to become a Paladin, means I am rare. Rare stuffs worth expensive. Big clans will fight over my service. Then, I can raise my payment and gain more fortune. Who cares with the strongest title? I want money, lots money! And when I get famous, I will surround myself with pretty girls, and delicious food. Ruben can clean my boots for nickel, and I will hire Hugo to clean up my toilets.

I hasten my horse in excitements, "go, Freedom! Let's rush to Burdio and be rich!"