Leaving The Village

The guards looked at Arthur with a friendly look before going through their regular routine.

"So where are you going, new adventurer Arzhur?" one of the guards asked.

'They're certainly better behaved. If it was any other village guard and the players tried to go into the high leveled forest they would be scolded and turned away.' Arthur thought.

Each newbie villages had three areas that the players could hunt mobs in. The first area was the basic starter area with weak monsters similar to the rabbits that Arthur fought. The second area was a hidden area like the sewers that Arthur explored.

Then finally there was the more difficult area that as intended for players who were nearing the level cap for the village which was level 10.

This was the place that Arthur was heading to and was also the area that he had a previous quest in.

"I've been asked by the resident Mage to head to the northern forest." Arthur replied.

Hearing that, the expressions of the guards visibly changed.

"That old man actually talks to others?" The two guards looked at each other with bewildered expression.

"Didn't he hex Boyd last year when he went to check up on him?"

"Yeah, the old Mage hadn't gone out in six months so village head sent us to see him."

"Then he turned the kids bald when they kicked their toy balls into his yard."

"Oh yeah that too… poor kids. Two of them are still bald."

The more Arthur listened to the guards the more he realized how lucky he was.

'So these players just got the usual treatment… Even the forums didn't have this lore about the Mage. Seems like it is only revealed if you have the title Dedicated Kestrel village adventuress and get his quest too.' Arthur reckoned.

There were many bits and pieces of interesting lore that one might just take as flavor text. But in Morpheus Online, nothing was just 'flavor' everything had a reason behind it along with a meaning.

If one could pick out the clues and hints in them, they could do really well.

There was even a special guild of players that got famous after the first year of the game's launch.

It was called as Lore Gluttons and they were among the top ten guilds of the game. The strangest thing was that they weren't even that strong skill wise. But they all had equipment and special alliances that could allow them to tower others with ease.

They would hunt for interesting bits of information to uncover grand quests.

It was from these hidden quests, that they would gain priceless equipment and more.

Even Arthur had desired to join them once upon a time, but was rejected after failing their test.

'If I had managed to finish that final quest, I might actually have been able to get into them.' Arthur recalled his 'death inducing' quest.

Shaking his head to drive away bad thoughts, Arthur focused on the present.

"Ahem!" he coughed loudly to interrupt the guards who were animatedly talking about the resident Mage.

"AH! Arzhur!" The guards turned to him again.

"Can I go? If there are no issues." Arthur inquired.

"Of course! Just watch out for beasts that are wandering in the inner area of the forest. Even for your skills they would be too much." One of the guard's said.

"Also be careful of bandits." The second one added.

"Bandits?" Arthur furrowed his brows.

As far as he could recall, there were no bandits around the newbie village. They were one of the first humanoid mobs that the players would encounter. Their levels were usually level ten or above, thus they wouldn't appear at a newbie village.

"Yes, there have been a few sightings of them. We already warned others so no one goes there." The first guard said in a relieved tone.

"At least our work hasn't been increased because of them. Though there is no telling when the Village head will ask us to hunt them down." The second guards replied.

"Hah! I wouldn't be surprised if Arzhur here can do it after some time too." The other guard joked not knowing that it would come true not long after.

To Arthur though, the guards' conversation had just given another hint.

>Quest updated!<

——

Quest: 1. Deliver The Village Head's letter. [Completed]

2. Listen to the Resident Mage's orders. [Completed]

3. Explore the ruins in the northern forest and uncover any secrets within.

4. You've learned that there are bandits in the Northern forest. Eliminate them or gather more information about them.

Grade: Uncommon

Difficulty: Intermediate

Reward:???

——

'Of course, it would add more…' Arthur internally chuckled.

Though he was still a bit surprised that there was a quest like this.

'Looks like my early attempt at quest has given a different scenario. It does make sense that the forum had no information about this. After all, the quest was issued nearly three years after the launch.; Arthur reckoned.

"I'll keep that in mind. I'll come running back, if I see some I can't fight." Arthur replied. "I'm sure our strong and brave guards can take care of them with ease." He praised.

"Hah! Of course! If you find any one suspicious come back and report to us." The guards said with a smile.

>Reputation with Kestrel Village Guards has risen!<

Feeling pleased at the notification, Arthur gave a polite nod before leaving the village. He headed straight into the forest, while following the map given by the Resident Mage.

"Hmm…. I first need to find the ruins, then I can do the second step." Arthur muttered while his eyes scanned around.

~Rustle~

It was at this time that he felt a few bushes shake!

Arthur immediately pulled out the Black Tear Sword and was ready.

The bushes shook once more before a brown blur jumped out of it.

Clang!

Arthur held up the short sword in front of him, blocking four sharp claws with it!

"First mob of the Northern Forest. Here we go,"