01 03 - The Quest that Started it All

It was a long walk, even in game, if you were low level, you could feel the tiredness in your legs, I should have went and bought food or something to replenish my energy, it was draining fast.

Luckily, I began to see the plantation of the farm and god was I happy to see it. Soon the barn then the home of the farmer came into view. I started running shouting as well.

"Farmer Nel! Chief brought me here!"

I shouted panting the moment I reached the door as an angry old man opened the door and hit my head, making me let out a yelp.

"Don't you hear how quiet it is here! Why you shouting already? Kids these days. You came pretty late the night is already drawing, come back tomorrow."

The old man spoke, then I, walked here for nothing? I grabbed the man's hand and shook my head.

"No please! I don't wanna walk all the way back! In here already! I'll help you with the rest! I see some land that hasn't been plowed yet!"

I shouted as the old man seemed annoyed before pulling away and grabbing a hoe beside the door. Walking towards the field.

"You keep shouting and I'll throw you out the farm! You got some good energy kid, I'll be nice and show you. If you wanna work, I'll give ya something good once all of this is finished by morning."

Working till morning? Oh god it made me want to give up already, but there was a prize, a good one probably, I wasn't bout to let go of this chance. Whenever the prize was hidden or had question marks on the quest, it had to be good or at least important!

"All right! yes please!"

I was smiling ear to ear, and the grumpy old man seemed to smile to before walking to the field and beginning to show tricks on how to farm the land. I stared intensely to really understand and do a good job, copying his movements time to time. Soon getting the hang of the movement. Man this game was so realistic, I was feeling the strain and the tiredness in my body.

"Son look at you go, you're the first kid to be able to learn so fast. I'm surprised you haven't ran away yet."

The old man did a loud laugh before suddenly slapping my back, enough to make me cough, but I just laughed along.

"thanks, I'm not the type to run away from something I started, plus! You remind me of my grandfather."

I smiled at himself before old man Nel patted my back, this time a bit more gently. He had a softer smile, seems like I wasn't the only one that thought of the other person as someone else.

"alright boy, let's have a small break to get your energy back before I make you finish it."

I just nodded and followed along behind the NPC and went into his house.

He then made me sit down on the table as he began to make a drink, pretty sure it smelled like a type of tea, and I was right. He placed it down in front of me before taking a seat at the other side of the table.

"Drink it, it's good for you, it's a mix of mint, anadero, and wistin leafs. they're common plants but not many know that you can mix them to create a good stamina helping tea."

I watched the farmer drink up before following, taking a few sip. The taste was amazing, but what's more amazing was how fast his stamina bar was being replenished. The old man let out a chuckle when he saw my face.

"Finish up and go do your work! If a monster comes by, make sure to run back here, sometimes they pop out."

I nodded and finished up my drink before going back outside, the farmer turned of the lights except the light at the front door, seems like he was going to sleep. I held the hoe in my hand tightly before taking a deep breath.

"alright, time to get working!"

It's been 5 hours, I thought it was going to be easy but I've miscalculated just how big this field is. The sun has gone down and the stars are basically laughing at me, or maybe I'm just tired. I've barely done half of the field and I was exhausted. I decided to take a little break and fell back onto the ground. Panting gently as I stared at the beautiful sky.

Sure the modern buildings are beautiful, but we've been moving too fast, focused on what we can create, forgetting the beautiful things that were already there.

Seeing the stars and the bright moon seemed to brighten my mood up as I quickly sat up, feeling energized once more.

"Alright! Time to finish this bad boy!"

I shouted and began to continue hoeing the field and planting as well.

But then, I began to hear a growl behind me, and there was a wolf! I panicked for a moment before I realized, this was a chance to level up! Think how to properly analyze and think before attacking!.. was my initial plans, before I saw that it had destroyed some of the plants.

"Y-you..."

I was so tired and angry that this thing ruined my hard work. It seemed to realize the anger as I was about to rush at it with the hoe, but a window popped up with the fact that I couldn't use a farming tool to fight a mob.

"Ah whatever! Give me what I can use!"

I shouted as it then gave me the cane that the chief gave me from the start. I was so confused but I didn't have enough time to think as the wolf started to rush towards me.

I quickly got in a ready position before aggressively smacking the wolf. Dodging and running around to avoid being bitten while I kept hitting the dog right on the head.

This kept on for over an hour before the wolf had finally taken enough damage, and died. A notification then popped up.

.

L e v e l u p

Current level: 2

Gained 1 status level

Status level unused: 2

Successful killed a grey wolf

Level: 2

Drop: wolf fang, wolf ear, wolf fur, wolf meat

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"Ooo~ nice! All my stats gained one level and my stamina and health is full again."

I was so happy before looking at the cane that the old man gave me.

"Gosh, if only it was a sword instead of a cane, that took too long, and I messed up most of the crops now too.."

I signed in defeat, rubbing the back of my neck. Shaking the cane a little bit in frustration before suddenly, a part of the cane fell and it revealed a secret sword in it. You had to pull the cover off to use it properly.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS!?"

I fell down in shock and feeling betrayed whining from the fact I didn't have to work that hard if only I knew it was a sword. I got back up quick though since this wasn't the time to be sulking, I had to hurry up and finish this farming quest!

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Dawn was here, I was, basically half dead. I barely made it to the door as I just slammed my body against it. I heard the old man open the door and scream in shock as I just tiredly giggled at his reaction.

"HeH.. you look funny old man."

I mumbled as the farmer sighed, but was then shocked by the finished field, seems like he'll go easy on me. He picked me up with ease, guess this is the farmer body.

He laid me on the couch as he began to speak.

"I'm surprised you manage to do it all night, like I promised, I'll give you your prize."

Farmer Nel then stood up and went to grab something, before coming back to give a sword and a necklace, it looked plain with metal chains, but it had a red shard attached to it as it's centrepiece. I sat up quickly, excited over the gift as I quickly took the sword first to unsheathe it, eyes gleaming from the sight. Of course it wasn't his first to see a sword in a game, but to feel the weight and see it in his view, it was amazing!

"Seems like you like it, it was from my prime days, I think it'd be real helpful for ya kid."

I got teary eyed, the grumpy man I first met was so nice now. I tried to hug him but was harshly rejected, but it was expected.

"This is great! But, I don't even have any sword skills, and I lack the attributes."

Nel seemed to be confused for a moment before laughing.

"Well obviously, you're just new. You need to train, and I'll help you with that."

His words really caught me off guard, it felt so sudden.

"Wait really? You're just gonna let me learn skills just like that?"

The other nodded as I just sat there with a wide mouth.

"You have the determination kid, I haven't taught anyone in a while but I'll tell you, I was hard in my old days."

The man began to laugh while I was thinking if that's a good or bad thing, either way I was going to do it, because it was an opportunity to get a good starter before I started actually going to other places!

"Alright can't wait! Oh but wait, what's the necklace?"

I asked putting the sword back into its casing and placed it beside me. Before Nel gave me the necklace, and I put it on immediately.

"That's a mana stone, it helps with increasing your mana capability, and lessens the usage of your stamina when you use skills."

Holy, that's kind of op for a newbie like me, but this was great. But then it got me thinking, what exactly was farmer Nel before he became a farmer?

"You're probably questioning it huh?"

Woah- did he just read my mind?

"I was a knight for this country, I'm just a retire now."

I nodded on this fact.

"A knight huh? That's pretty cool, must be a strong one to have a fancy sword."

I spoke checking out the sword once again, before I noticed the clock, it had 7am on it. I had work at 10am.

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I HAD WORK AT 10AM THE GAME FLOWS THE SAME TIME AS THE REAL WORLD

"I'M GONNA BE LATE."

I shouted and surprised the old man. I put the sword away and began to go into the settings.

"Sorry old man! I'll see you later on I got work!"

I shouted and with the click from the window, I went back into reality. Opening my eyes in surprise as the machine began to open the door. I got out and closed it, then rushed to get ready.

God I was tired, but there was no way I would be skipping my work, I can't lose any more money since I skipped yesterday.

After the rush, and getting on the bus, I safely reached the convenient store and began my work. I let out a relieved sigh. It was a quiet morning and I began to think about the game once again, it was pretty addictive and fun. I was getting lucky, but the main thing was to earn money, I remember receiving those drops from the wolves, when I play I might as well sell em to see how much I get.

This was a good start, and I'll get stronger and get bigger and more expensive drops!

Just watch me mom, I'll pay off our debts and you won't have to worry anymore.

I promise, I'll give you a happy life, your son will work hard!

To be continued...