23 Tutorial pt. 4

Sara woke back up at the start of the tutorial. A notification popped up in front of her as she opened her eyes

Notice!

When you experience a death in the tutorial, it will not affect your character adversely in the same way it would when you are playing live. You will be brought back to the start of the tutorial, and have to start from the beginning all over again, losing any perks you have gathered in the process (items, learned spells, additional missions). If you wish to re-gather these perks, you will have to replay the tutorial the same way you had before.

Those that finish the tutorial will be allowed to join into live play; this means they will be the first in the game, giving quite an advantage over players. You must finish the mission the tutorial gives before being allowed into live play.

Sara read the message, and then scowled. Did that mean if someone found the tutorial mission to be too hard, they could never be allowed to play live? Then again, they were probably all roughly the same difficulty. Theoretically, Sara could sit in her room and wait for the graduation ceremony, then follow her other classmates and attend the ceremony without any effort. So…it really isn't something that could be considered overly harsh.

Sara dismissed the message and ran out of the room. She followed her previous footsteps and rushed to find the same boy that she had seen being beaten before. She wouldn't let that bitch off! No way!

She rushed out into the street, evoking many strange looks from those she passed.

Finally, she found the corner that she boy had been beaten on. Glancing around, she found the boy sitting down, dressed in rags. He seemed to be people watching as he waited for something.

Sara didn't see the woman from before, regretfully. She approached the boy, keeping a look out for the woman that she was sure was coming.

She stood in front of him, unsure of how to proceed.

"Uh…Hey! You, kid!"

The boy jumped as if she'd startled him. He looked up, frightened.

Sara gave what she thought was a reassuring smile and spoke in a gentle tone.

"You shouldn't be sitting here zoning out. Get out of here, go find something else to do."

The boy shivered at the toothy smile the man gave and felt his stomach drop at the unmentioned threat in the man's words. He quickly nodded and stood to run off, glancing back every once in a while to see if the man was following him.

Sara stood with a smile on her face, her hands on her hips. She felt good after doing a good deed. She laughed out loud.

Those around her watched with apprehension at the strange man laughing evilly at the young child he'd threatened.

Next, Sara needed to deal with the woman. She wasn't just going to let that bitch go after being whipped to death by her. Fuck that. This was a game, so there had to be a way to deal with the woman.

From her memories, Sara knew that men in their society were of a lower station than women. They were undervalued and when there was a dispute between a woman and a man, the man was always blamed, over the woman.

Disputes between those of the same sex were handled mostly based on class. So, if you were like Sara, a character with a lower class AND a male, then you were basically shit on just for being born.

If she was going to deal with the woman, she needed to make sure either the woman didn't know it was her, or she needed to find someone of the same sex, but higher class to deal with her. Sara didn't know the woman's class, but she knew it was probably above her own families, so going to her sisters for help was out of the question. And, from what she knew about those sisters, they were just as likely to beat the hell out of her for speaking to them, as they were to help her.

So, Sara needed a plan.

As she thought it over, she saw the woman making her way towards the corner. She was walking briskly with a scowl on her face, as if she were already in a bad mood.

Sara slipped into the shadows as she watched the woman approach.

The woman stopped at a store front a little ways down from Sara's location and entered without hesitation.

Sara stepped out from the shadows and followed the woman.

Inside of the store were various accessories and clothing meant for those of higher ranking. Many times, those in the upper echelons of their society would have people on hand to create such accessories and clothing, but there were still those that preferred to buy such items outside of the family. This was due to those wanting to give gifts to other families, or just wanting to spend money when they were idle, or even, there were those that couldn't afford fantastic quality on a regular basis, and saved up to buy something of higher quality.

Sara slipped off to the side, trying her best to remain un-noticed by the woman and those working in the shop. It wasn't that hard, she was able to slip behind some clothing racks as she watched and listened to the woman's conversation.

"I need it today! I told you three days ago to have it ready! What is taking so damn long!?" The woman seemed irritated at not having some of her items ready.

The shop keeper, a younger man with short hair that was slicked back out of his face and a smaller build than Sara smiled apologetically.

"I'm sorry miss Velaralas I will check in the back and see if it was done early." He bowed out, into the back of the store as he finished speaking.

Sara wondered if the guy had actually just left out of the back in order not to deal with the woman. That's what she would have done, anyways. The name Velaralas caught her off guard. In her memories, she knew that that house was actually in the top ten of clans in their society. No wonder the woman was so unreasonable. She had the family backing that would certainly allow her to be.

For a while, it seemed that Sara might have been right in her assumption of the man leaving out the back, as there was no sound coming from where the man has disappeared to for quite a long time.

The woman stood with her arms over her chest and a frown on her face. She tapped her foot impatiently, as her already thin patience began to run out.

Finally, when it seemed as if the woman was about to explode, the man returned, carrying with him a single garment.

"Miss, I'm sorry, I was only able to complete part of your order. This is the first item-" The man's voice was cut off as a resounding SLAP was heard. The woman stood with her hand still in the air, after striking the man. She sneered.

"You dare to make me wait only to tell me you were unable to fulfill your end of the deal!?"

The man's lip bled, the deep red color dripping down his chin. He moved the garment just in time so as not to drip blood onto it.

He gave a bow and didn't say anything as she continued her shrill screaming. Finally, as she ended her verbal attack, she stood there, panting.

The man looked up, but didn't meet the woman's eyes as he spoke.

"I'm terribly sorry miss, I will finish the order today and personally deliver it to you this evening."

The woman scoffed.

"Is that a joke? I need it for this evening! It won't do me any good to have it after the event is already over!"

The man lowered his head further, but replied again. "I meant to say that I would bring it to you before the event, miss."

The woman gave a humorless laugh.

"Well, I guess I don't have much of a choice, do I?" She grabbed the garment from the counter and brushed it down over her arm.

She stared at the man with irritation, before adding, "I swear, if that second part of my order is not finished before that event tonight, you can kiss this little store goodbye."

With that, she stormed out.

Sara watched her go, then hurried to follow.

She followed the woman out into the streets and kept her distance.

As she followed, sticking to the shadows, another notification popped up in front of her.

New skill unlocked!

By watching someone without their awareness for a prolonged time, you have been able to unlock the skill, "Stalk".

This skill, unlike the skills utilized by those in the thief and assassin skill paths, is almost entirely for the purpose of watching and learning from those you follow.

*Ad. Skills tab unlocked in menu bar*

*This notification will be unavailable after the tutorial is over*

Sara was surprised by the new skill and stood up from her hiding place. She closed out of the alert and opened her menu.

There, at the bottom was another tab that was highlighted called Ad. Skills. Sara opened it to find another notice.

Ad. Skill tab unlocked!

Many people will find that their character will accumulate many skills throughout game play. Some are Primary Skills, while others are Ad. Skills.

Ad. Skills, or additional skills, are different from Primary skills and can vary from one person to the next. Many can end up with a vastly different Ad. Skill list than others at the same level, or even of the same class and level. Some skills will repeat in different Ad. Skill lists and some skills will be easier to increase in level than others. There are some Ad. Skills that are completely unique, this will be mentioned in their descriptions. Just because a skill is unique, however, does not mean it is more valuable or useful than other more common skills.

*This notification will be deleted after the tutorial is completed.*

Closing out of the notice, Sara saw that the "stalk" skill was listed in her Ad. Skill list.

Stalk- This skill is different than the similar "stealth" skill in that once leveled up, it can allow the user to listen and follow a target easier.

It looked like the stalk skill wasn't unique, which made sense, considering how easily she had unlocked it.

After reading the information displayed in front of her, Sara saw at the bottom of her menu another tab that was made available called Primary Skills.

She clicked on it and a new notice popped up in front of her.

Primary Skill tab unlocked!

Primary skills are skills that are given to any that unlock them.

*Some skills will make the use of other skills impossible.*

*This notice will be deleted after completing the tutorial*

Sara saw two skills listed in her primary skills list, one that was in white text and one that seemed to be grayed out.

Spell casting- Skill needed in order to cast spells, this skill allows for more mana to flow through the casters body than others that have not unlocked the skill.

Swordsmanship- Those without this skill find wielding a sword awkward. Though anyone can lift a blade, only those proficient in it can truly utilize it to its greatest potential.

The skill with the white text gave a description of the skill, while the other seemed to give the drawbacks of not having it unlocked.

Sara wondered once again who was writing these frustratingly vague descriptions….How did her stalk skill help her follow someone? How bad would she be with a sword? Did it mean that if she picked one up, she would miss with it every time?

Sara mentally filed away the information and returned her attention to her target.

Not surprisingly, she found that the woman from before was gone.

'Damn it!'

Just as Sara felt herself despairing, another notice popped up in front of her.

Target outside of eyesight.

Sara closed the notice as she gritted her teeth in frustration.

"I already know that, asshole!"