Chapter 5

I found the minnow in my inventory.

[Baby Star Minnow (female)

Crafting Material

Can be processed

Can be domesticated]

A help panel appeared to explain animal domestication. It required special pet food and a pocket terrarium in my inventory. For fish, I needed a pocket aquarium. As long as I caught a breeding pair, I could multiply my stock without needing to hunt regularly. Higher tier terrariums and aquariums also raised the chance of breeding a creature I could tame into a pet or a mount.

From the sound of it, it was a mini-game designed for players who didn't like to explore and hunt for themselves. I made a mental note to buy one once I had money to spare. I felt like it'd regret it if I didn't, especially if I came across a particularly rare breed of fish.

I spent a few minutes catching a more star minnows until I heard someone swimming down the tunnel toward me. I decided it was time to go.

As I neared the end of the tunnel, my surroundings slowly illuminated and the minnows fled back into hiding. The end of the tunnel was covered in a fan-shaped, opaque material. Light made it through, but nothing else. I was fairly certain it was meant to be some kind of fin, but I couldn't imagine what kind of beast had such a large one.

The moment I touched the blockage, it pulled away to let me through, then snapped closed again once I was past. I assumed it was meant to keep players from reentering the training ground.

On the other side, I found myself on a balcony with no stairs. The balcony overlooked a large cavern overflowing with life. Mermaids and mermen of all three aquatic races swam back and forth between oval openings in the cavern walls—shops and homes.

Brightly colored coral plants overflowed from window boxes and larger coral stone formations dotted the cavern walls. However, the most amazing thing was the glowing crystal formations positioned like streetlamps on every flat resting place. They emitted so much light and warmth, it felt like it was the middle of summer.

I was eager to explore, but there was no sense in wasting my overhead view. I pulled out my compass to get my bearings. Now I was actually in the town, the compass showed me every corner and it even came with labels for key areas. It didn't take me long to note the location of the Town Hall, the marketplace, the crafting hall, and the exit tunnels leading to the Cerulean Plains, the Cerulean Forest, and the Cerulean Caves. The last thing I noted was the teleportation pad. I knew those were important for travel between cities.

Although the town seemed large, it truly wasn't. It was on par with what I'd read about starting villages on land. It took only a handful of seconds to swim from the balcony down to the marketplace. The marketplace consisted of only four grottos—a tavern, a general store, a magic shop, and an armory.

My liquid funds were small, so I didn't try to go inside them as I swam past. Instead, I focused on some of the player-run street stalls, listening to see what they were hawking.

"Buying and selling novice armors and weapons!"

"Upgrade your novice anchors here, only one ancient coin if you trade in your starter pair!"

"Golden angelfish and star minnows! Five ancient coins a piece or eight coins for a breeding pair!"

"Jellyfish lanterns, two ancient coin each!"

I made my way past, knowing it wasn't worth buying anything at this stage of the game. I might not have been an experienced gamer, but I wasn't an idiot. Anything a fellow novice could get, so could I.

Turning my anchors on, I dropped down to walk across the paved courtyard surrounding the Town Hall. There was a line of people waiting to get inside. A few wore novice clothing like me, but even more wore makeshift armor made from seashells, sea grass, and seaweed.

A rare few players wore regular clothing and costumes that must have been mailed to them from land-based friends. And one gamer even had a full set of knight's armor, but the slowly growing cloud of rust around him explained why so few people had asked for help from higher level friends. The salt water environment would eat away at any traditional metal.

In general, I had a feeling I wouldn't be getting a regular clothing anytime soon.

"First time?" a player at the back of the line asked. I cautiously nodded. "You can wait if you want, but you'll be wasting your time. The Mayor's quest chain is the same for everyone. The first one sends you to the Caverns to get ten prawn, ten cavefish, and ten eels. The second sends you to the Forest to get ten kelp vines, ten spiny lobster, and ten kelp crabs. The last one is for clams, sea urchin, and starfish from the plains. Ten of each, just like the other two quests. All three are repeatable, so it's a good idea to collect as many as you can."

"What's the reward?" I asked.

"Just some coin, regional fame, and town contribution points. You need at least a hundred contribution for NPCs in town to start giving out more complicated quests, which is why everyone is here."

"Thanks," I said.

"No problem. I was a noob once, too. Happy hunting."

Recognizing the brush-off for what it was, I said farewell and aimed for the teleportation pad next. My goal wasn't the teleportation pad itself, but the neighboring NPC stall where a young mermaid in a bikini top was selling return scrolls. I knew exactly how important these scrolls were from all my reading on the forums. They were instant-cast life-saving consumables made specifically to allow players to escape dangerous situations.

During my research, I'd read a forum thread full of people complaining the return scrolls were a cheat since they could be used in combat, allowing players to avoid being PK'ed or 'Player Killed' by criminal players, but the consensus was it evened the playing ground. The average player could choose whether they wanted to fight instead of being forced to stand their ground.

Another thread complained how there wasn't a freebie reusuable scroll like other games offered. They grumbled, accusing the game of stealing their money, until other players countered by pointing out how games with freebie scrolls didn't allow for players to bind to multiple locations. By making return scrolls a consumable, players could carry around as many as they wanted, giving them the ability to teleport to any town they'd previously encountered—assuming they were willing to pay the cost and give up the inventory space.

I bought a stack of twenty return scrolls for ten ancient coins, then headed out to start gathering the requested materials. Since the cave area was designed for newbies, there weren't many threats. Sharks and stingrays occasionally appeared as if they were patrolling, but they were no larger than a hound and easily dispatched by the numerous players farming the three areas. I didn't need to lift a finger.

The only real problem was there were too few spawn points for the amount of players competing for resources.

When I reached the forest area, it was more like a wasteland since the kelp vines had been picked clean. I had to wait almost an hour for the strands to regrow and I had several snatched away by players who aimed for quantity over quality.

Eventually, after nearly half my game time was over for the night, I managed to complete a full stack of each of the necessary materials. I would have gathered more, but my inventory space was limited and I wasn't willing to throw away my return scrolls, my compass, my journal, or the star minnows I'd caught.

By the time I returned to town, the bulk of the players had cleared out. I only had to wait for one other player before it was my turn to meet the Mayor.

The Mayor turned out to be a short, chubby merman wearing a skirt made to imitate a jellyfish. He was a rather jolly fellow who quickly explained how ocean towns were affected by four tides—warm, hot, cool, and cold. He was currently stocking up on materials that became scarcer during the cold tide and asked for my help.

[Quest: Preparing for the Cold Tide

Requirements: Gather ten prawn, ten cavefish, and ten eels from the Cerulean Caves

Reward: Ancient coins +10, Fame +1, Cerulean Novice Town Contribution +30]

"I happen to have those materials, but can you tell me what they're used for?"

"Of course. Prawns, cavefish, and eels are the main ingredients for our local specialty, Cerulean Skewers. The prawns can make you stronger, the nutrient-rich cavefish can improve your appearance, and the eel is a wonderful brain food. If you'll bring me two sets of each ingredient instead of one set, I'd be happy to give you a copy of the recipe."

The player who'd told me about the Mayor's quest hadn't mentioned anything about a recipe. Did he not know? Actually, that was very possible. The player had seemed experienced, so it was likely he hadn't questioned the Mayor's motives. This kind of beginner quest was typical very straight-forward and didn't offer any deviations. Only someone like me who was inexperienced in dealing with NPCs would take the time to ask questions.

"I happen to have two sets with me. I'd very much like a copy of your recipe."

I traded with the Mayor, giving him what he wanted. I kept the remainder for myself so I could practice the recipe.

[Quest Complete: Preparing for the Cold Tide

Reward: Ancient coins +10, Fame +1, Cerulean Novice Town Contribution +30]

[Hidden Quest Complete: Cerulean Skewers

Reward: Cerulean Skewers Recipe, Cerulean Novice Town Contribution +10]

"Is there anything else you need?" I asked. "I gathered a bunch of stuff while I was out exploring."

"As a matter of fact, there is."

[Quest: Preparing for the Cold Tide, Part 2

Requirements: Gather ten kelp vines, ten spiny lobster, and ten kelp crabs from the Cerulean Forest

Reward: Ancient coins +10, Fame +1, Cerulean Novice Town Contribution +30]

"And what are these used for?"

"Crafting! Kelp, lobsters, and crabs can be processed into materials to make items and armor. I'll give you the same offer as before. Provide double the standard amount and I'll share the method with you."

"Here you go."

[Quest Complete: Preparing for the Cold Tide, Part Two

Reward: Ancient coins +10, Fame +1, Cerulean Novice Town Contribution +30]

[Hidden Quest Complete: Cerulean Processing

Reward: Kelp Processing Method, Spiny Lobster Processing Method, Kelp Crab Processing Method, Cerulean Novice Town Contribution +10]

This time, the Mayor didn't make me ask for the next quest. "Good! Now all the town needs is a stock of clams, sea urchins, and starfish from the Cerulean Plains. Would you happen to have any to spare?"

[Quest: Preparing for the Cold Tide, Part Three

Requirements: Gather ten clams, ten sea urchins, and ten starfish from the Cerulean Plains

Reward: Ancient coins +10, Fame +1, Cerulean Novice Town Contribution +30]

"I do," I confirmed. "I know the starfish can be used as bandages, but what about the clams and sea urchins?"

"Erk!" the Mayor choked and turned sheepish. "I should have realized you'd ask."

His reaction confused me. "Is it something personal?"

"Not really. Clams can be cooked or processed into ornaments and sea urchins can be used to cultivate a common poison. Our little town has no need for such things, but there's a wandering Sage who often visits and requests these items in exchange for medicine. He left a book behind the last time he visited. I don't have much free time to read, but you seem like the curious type. If you're willing to double your contribution, I'd be happy to give a copy of the book in exchange."

I nodded in acceptance and completed the trade.

[Quest Complete: Preparing for the Cold Tide, Part Three

Reward: Ancient coins +10, Fame +1, Cerulean Novice Town Contribution +30]

[Hidden Quest Complete: Cerulean Secrets

Reward: Sage Karson's Journal: Volume 1, Cerulean Novice Town Contribution +10]

After confirming the Mayor didn't need anything else, I said my goodbyes and left. There was a line of players accumulating at the door, so I didn't dare check the journal yet. I didn't want to advertise the fact the Mayor had hidden quests. Even a gaming newbie like me knew not to give away the opportunity I might have gained.