Chapter 1

A strange voice echoed in Oliver's head, "Do you want to connect to Royal Road, [yes] [no]"

Oliver selected yes, and the strange, robotic voice continued, "Iris and Blood vessel check complete, unregistered user, would you like to register a new account?"

After Oliver again selected that he want to register a new account, "Please, select you account name."

"Ser"

The voice announced, "Sorry, the name is taken, please choose another."

Oliver chuckled, of course the name would be taken, the game is already two days old, thought he wanted that name.

"Thomeric."

"Royal Road has 49 races, with 29 that are accessible to the players, please be careful with your choice, as every race has different weaknesses and strong points, though the exception is the human race, being the only without weaknesses or strong points…/"

After minutes of the voice rambling, explaining every race, and it's bonusses, Thomeric choose the half-elf, for the agility and wisdom bonus.

"There are multiple kingdoms on Versailles continent, choose your starting location, or if you don't know what location to choose, you can let the AI to select one at random."

The AI selected Aidern city, the capital of Aidern Kingdom, a blinding light embraced Thomeric, when he opened his eyes a different setting welcomed him, first, the city was loud, it was full of people, trading, haggling, or just simply talking, NPCs interacting with the players, appearing just as human as them.

The houses were different from what he expected, the roofs were made of thach, with the roof expanding a bit over the house, supported by wood pillars, the pillars were carved with flowers, leaves or geometric figures.

He observed a bulletin post, showing the Aidern Kingdom, the important cities, castles and the surrounding zone, he was staring dazed at the post, he can't believe his senses that this was a game, the post was so detailed, the wood was with imperfections, it's like the real world.

He shook his head in disbelief, exclaiming, "Amazing!"

Someone behind him said, "Yes, this game is amazing, you are a noob, right? Do you need any help?"

Thomeric jumped in fright, looking who talked, it was a girl in knight armor, laughing at him.

He said, "Hey, you scared me."

The girl, still laughing, said, "Sorry, so, I am right that you are a noob?"

Thomeric rolled his eyes, "Yes, I am a beginner, what has given me away, the clothes, the behaviour?"

She responded, "The dazed look, all noobs have it, I was the same when I started, this game is really mind-blowing."

He observed that the girl was named SwordOfJustice, well, weird name he thought, though it fitted her, maybe.

He asked, "So… How I can start to level up and kill monsters?"

She chuckled, "You didn't read the guide, right? Anyway, you can't leave the city for 4 weeks ingame, that will be 1 week in real world, and you can't level up in this time."

Thomeric looked at his feet, "Yeah, you're right, I didn't read the guide, then what should I do in this time?"

She twirled a strand of her hair, it looked awkward because she was in full armor and her arm was in a metal glove, "Well, depends on what you like to do, I guess, you can make connections with the public figures here, the guards, the soldiers, the merchants, or you can start making money, by applying for a job, the Library, the market, and I am not sure, but I think the apothecary is hiring too, or if you like reading, you can read books at the library, it raises your wisdom and intelligence, and you can find hidden quests, classes or important information—"

He said, "Really, how likely is to find quests the books?"

She responded, "Not likely, it was only person, though only them said that they have a hidden quest, now they are hunted and killed on sight by jealous people, anyway, the chance is really, really low."

He sighed, his dreams of finding a cool quest or class is broken.

She stopped twirling her strand, she continued talking, "Or you can go to the Training hall to acquire a mastery skill, on the available weapons that are there, or you can hit the scarecrow to gain points, the points will help you later In the game, but process is so tedious it's not really worth the effort."

He said, "Thanks for the information! Where I could find the Training Hall?"

She answered, "The training hall is in the West part of the city, it's the largest building, I think you will be able to find it, ah, before I forgot, accept the request."

SwordOfJustice sent a friend request [accept/deny]

He accepted the request, and said, "Good bye then, I am going to the Training Hall."

She said, "Sure, see ya later noob, don't call me for help with dungeons and bosses, I don't help with such things. I don't like to carry people."

Thomeric arrived at the Training hall, surprisingly it was somewhat full with people, they were attacking the scarecrows, a bit of extra-realism that was not needed, was the painful odor from the sweat, he wrinkled his nose.

A man in his middle ages walked towards him, he was blond with short, spiky hair, hhe had a curved sword at his belt.

The man said, "Hello newcomer, it seems you this is the first time you visit Versailles continent, do you need my help?"

Thomeric said, "Yes, what I should do here?"

The trainer answered, "First you choose a weapon that you want to use and to gain mastery over it, there are four basic weapons, there is the sword, the spear, the bow and the mace, there are of course different weapons, but we don't have them here, and after that I will help you with the basic stances."

Thomeric stood deep in thought for some minutes, the trainer waited him to think, not disturbing or saying to be faster, finally, Thomeric said, "I don't know, what do you recommend?"

The trainer smiled, "I am glad that you asked, all weapons have their strong points, the bow is a great choice for a person who likes to have a distance from the combat, but you need a team to cover you, or need to be skilled at hiding, the mace is slow, but the power to crush heavy armor, or strong scales is desirable, though you need to be powerful, and as you are a half-elf, you do not have the necessary strength. The sword is for people who are prepared to take head-on the enemy. The spear is sometimes known as the queen of battlefield, easier to learn than the sword, cheaper and can be effective close and at medium distance, it has a simple elegance, it's simply the perfect weapon."

Thomeric was awkwardly smiling, he had the sensation of watching an ad for the spear, but he did felt inclined to choose the spear after this.

He said, "Okay, I have decided, I will choose the spear."

The trainer gave him a wooden spear, he then says, "take the spear in both hands, depart your feet a bit, to have a better balance, now pierce with the spear."

Thomeric did strike with the spear, but it didn't go in a straight line, it didn't hit the scarecrow. The trainer said again, and again, and again, till Thomeric will be able to strike the scarecrow.

Skill gained : Spear Mastery [Beginner] (1)

Increase attack power with a spear (+10% ATK)

Increase attack speed with a spear (+5% ATK SPD)

He gripped the shaft, and attacked, this time the trajectory was straight, the spear pierced the straw and passed through.

The trainer clapped, smiling, "Congratulations, you are now able to use a spear and not die to a wild bunny, and because you have chosen my favourite weapon, I will teach you a skill, a skill passed through my family line."

Thomeric then saw the name of the trainer, it was Koten, Koten took the spear from Thomeric and pierced the scarecrow, the scarecrow exploded in a flurry of straws, gently falling on earth.

Thomeric said, "Amazing."

Koten chuckled, giving the spear back and said, "Now we began the training again, take the same position."

Thomeric departed his legs, to have a better balance, gripped the spear in both hands and has readied to strike.

Koten nodded, "now pull the back the spear, and strike with it power."

Thomeric fumbled over the instructions and while heto was able to hit the scarecrow it didn't dealt that much damage.

The instructor laughed, and took a waterskin and started drinking from it, after that he asked, "Want a sip?"

Thomeric realized that his throat is parched, he took the waterskin and took a sip, it was sweet and refreshing, though it had a creamy taste, he asked, "What is this?"

Koten answered, "It's mare milk."

Thomeric didn't know how to react, he disked milk, but this milk was, eh, tasty.

The trainer put the waterskin back, then he said, "Now lets start again the training."

Strength increased by +1. (+1 STR)

After some two, three hours, some notifications appeared.

Level up : Spear Mastery [Beginner] (2)

Increase attack power with a spear (+15% ATK)

Increase attack speed with a spear (+10% ATK SPD)

Skill gained : Piercing attack [Beginner] (1)

Increase critical hit chance by 50%

20% to nullify the defense

Mana consumption: 5 per second

Koten smiled, and said, "Now you completed my training, if you want to increase your dexterity, strength, agility and constitution, then continue training on scarecrows."

Then he had gone and sat on the bench, able to see the entire Training Ground from there.

Thomeric opened the inventory, there he had 10 bread and a flask of water, he took a bread and started to eat it, after he finished it, still being pumped up by the training he started to hit the scarecrow.

Strength increased by +1. (+1 STR)

Agility increased by +1. (+1 AGT)

After some hours later, Thomeric was full of sweat, decided to go elsewhere, as this was completely, paint-watching boring, but not before he opened the stats window.

Level : 1 Profession/class : None

Title : None

Reputation : 0

Mana : 120 Health: 100

Strength : 9 Agility : 12

Constitution : 8 Dexterity : 12

Wisdom : 11 Intelligence : 12