A real beginning

So.. bright. Was the sun always so blinding? Or was it the dryness? How did I forget the dryness? It makes my eyes want to retreat into my head to protect themselves.

"What the… A Otherworlder?! Just wait right here. I'll get the medic!"

That was… okay a fair reaction. Considering the second I appeared on the street I curled up and started throwing up on the ground. I'm not very good with sunlight okay? It was definitely way too hot here.

I could probably get up and walk by myself. But it was so hot and dry, I felt like I could at least celebrate my first quest completion by letting myself be carried a bit.

"-Are you sure? Its been over a fortnight.."

"Yes. He's even got the same beat up sword. But I've never seen that coat.. Is it a bonus reward?"

I was kinda zoning out, mainly focusing on summoning what little fluid remained in my mouth to spit out the lingering acidic taste of vomit. But they had a point. I was wearing a coat and I definitely wasn't when I left. Or when I was in the dungeon. Thankfully opening the inventory was a free action.

||Inventory: Tainted water skin. Ragged other world Clothing. Blunt sword. Rat knave's jacket. Rodent fangs||

Huh. that's kinda a specific name. I thought the inventory was more based on how I understood stuff.. Well at least I know I got rat fangs I DEFINITELY didn't pick up along with some weird coat… wait. Waaait. Yeah, I'm hurling again. Just thought about how rat tasted. My own fault really.

But at some point I was put on a bed! Or well. An elevated piece of rock with a blanket over it. And now someone was pushing some kind of thick curd filled green fluid into my mouth. Very bitter, tastes kinda rotten and poisonous. But compared to… previous experiences. It was downright palatable.

"At least he's swallowing the medicine. Its hard to tell exactly how bad it is.. I'm guessing some kind of gutrot, that long on a quest.. I don't want to think about what he's been eating…"

Trust me. You REALLY don't. But for now I'm gonna take a nap and pretend this is a victory.

---

"So what you did is INCREDIBLY dangerous."

"Yeah, I kinda figured that out.."

I don't think Id had a chewing out from a doctor like this since I started trying to poison myself to get strong-Lets just say a long time. But as annoying as it was. I couldn't really complain. When I got here. I tried to skip past all the boring parts. And I nearly died… No, I experienced something worse than dying. So this time, I'm gonna be more diligent. I promise.

"Are you even listening?"

"Yes. Sorry, I'm just a little… Disoriented."

"Haa. I guess you would be. How long did you spend preparing before starting the quest again?"

"It's hard for me to tell… But like. An hour at most."

The doctor sighed and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. I mean. I get how reckless that was now. What else could I say? But I didn't want to be rude or anything when he's just trying to help out.

"Is it really uncommon for people to act like that? Honestly I don't have much idea how we… ah I mean Other-worlders, act once they get over here."

"Well. no. I suppose there are countless reckless types, but usually they have a skill or ability to help them through a first quest. Or they just come back covered in wounds in a few minutes. Quests like this never take such a long time…"

Well. duh. Anyone else would have starved to death, or dehydrated to death if they didn't get creative.

"Thank you for the help. But I think I understand how important it is to prepare thoroughly now. So I'll just take my time before going on another quest. Unless you have some other advice for me."

The medic turned towards me with a complicated expression on his face. He was a kinda gaunt looking dude. Very spindly and pretty pale for the local weather. I guess he looked like he was thinking really hard about something. But wasn't satisfied with what came out.

"Are you sure you can't go back through the portal?"

"There's really no point, there's nothing for me over there."

I mean. I probably could walk back through. But I honestly had no idea how they'd treat me if I did. I stepped through the rift completely illegally, and that's kinda a really big deal. I was hoping I could gather up some valuable materials and pay for the government to look the other way. Or just get strong enough that normal dudes with guns weren't a threat.

"Well. You don't really have time to be careful then either… I hate to ask. But can you give some idea of how you survived? It's very important that you're prepared as quickly as possible."

That sounded… concerning. But I guess I could defer judgment to the person who knew what he was talking about here. It was still a starting town so I assumed there was infinite time. But maybe there's some kind of limit on how long new players-I mean. Other-worlders. Could spend time here. I mean, despite it seeming safe, if a bit arid. I hadn't seen a single other person from earth here besides Castel.

"Don't want the full story? Sorry yeah that would be bad.. I used magic."

I earned a bit of a bug eyed stare. Was magic rare here? Maybe I was some kind of prodigy?

"You mean casting. Probably… Well then you'd have to go to the cast tutor. She lives two streets down, on your left, theres a purple sign outside."

"Thank you… What's your name?"

"The milk kin-Don't worry about it. Just hurry."

The tone in the medics voice was kinda.. Firm. Is asking for a name rude here? And it sounded like he was saying 'milk king'. An unfortunately hilarious title if ever there was one. Well I'll leave it for later. First off. The person I wanted to talk too most before I messed everything up!

The Cast tutor's home was actually a lot nicer than I expected. I mean I saw it before. But after being inside what passed for a doctors office here I realized just how stellar this place was. It was cooler than the outside by a fair bit. And the weird.. Carpets? Rectangular fabrics hanging around where more than passed for a bed in this place. Though I couldn't help but note how a few were stained with blood.

The Cast Tutor herself was… fitting. A elderly woman, basically a bag of wrinkly skin wrapped around a skeleton. Sitting in a too big stone throne knitting colored thread onto a pale background. As she turned up to look at me I got an eyeful of her eyes.. Or should I say eye. One of the pair was replaced with a crude dark stone. Witch couldn't feel as bad as it looked.. I hope.

"What are you doing here Fledgling? You should hurry back to yer home. A storm is coming…"

A storm? In this dessert? Questions for later.

"Actually I'm here cause I can't go back. I ran into a tough spot in a dungeon and got out with magic. So the medic told me to come here.."

Her tone changed immediately. All but tossing aside her knitting project to rush up towards me. Grabbing one of my hands and staring down at it like it would tell her a story.

"Ah! A fledgling with a casting skill? I was starting to think I'd never see one. And after that last Fledgling insisted on learning without one too."

"Casting skill.. Yeah I earned a couple of those on the quest actually. If I remember right it was entropy casting and rot casting.."

Suddenly the old woman let go of my hand and stared up at me. I tried to meet her inquisitive gaze, but that literal rock hanging out in her skull was just too painful to look at, so I turned away.

"You say you gained them on the quest sonny? Not when you stepped through yer portal?"

"Y-yes ma'am. I got a skill when I went through the portal, but I don't think it's related to casting."

"What's its name?!"

"Potential! I swear!"

For some reason the elderly women's screeching voice made me respond without even thinking.

Are old people always so.. Pushy? Or is that something about this place? I just wanted the conversation to be over as quickly as possible… Wait. no. I'm here to ask for help. So I have to look at her face, no matter how half melted and full of rocks it is.

She was scratching at her wispy white locks of hair when I looked back. It didn't seem like I said anything wrong. But she was genuinely perplexed. Piecing things together, I guess it's more normal for people to have a skill and then learn to use magic afterwards? Maybe people get it through leveling up normally…

"Well. Can't say it's impossible. No.. anything is possible... And on top of that entropic casting…"

"I really don't know anything about casting.. Or well. Pretty much anything at all. So can you... Explain?"

I didn't think my request was unreasonable. But the fierce glare I got shot made me want to apologize all the same. Old people are scary!

"Well sonny… I'm no sage, but I'm guessing you managed to learn to cast without help. Barely any folk can manage that. And every time they turn out to be some kind of genius. So I gotta be careful with what I say. I'd roll over in my grave if I misguide you about something and squander yer talent."

"A-ah. That makes.. Sense. At least… But really, anything you can tell me would help a lot. I really only figured it out cause I was gonna die if I didn-"

"YOU THINK JUST ANY OTHERWORLDER CAN START CASTING SONNY?!"

I didn't even think she was still carrying her knitting needles, but I was staring one down before I even realized. I just held up my hands and shook my head no.

"That's right. You're something special. By the foundation you might be the most talented caster of ANY Otherworlder! So don't think I'm some fussy old crone!"

"Okay.. If you say so…"

I was about to give up on getting anything here. But her expression seemed to soften with me relenting. Turning away to walk back to the stone throne and take a seat. Before gathering her breath.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to give you some.. General knowledge. Especially if its something you might already know. Let's get started with the lecture."

Gesturing to a spot in front of her with a bit of a strewn pile of cloth higher then the rest of the messy floor I took a seat. It really felt like I was a child here to learn. Did kids even have to sit on the floor like this actually?

"The foundation of casting… I'm no caster anymore. So I won't bore you with theology. What everyone agrees on is that you utilize anima to create a spell. Otherworlders like to call it 'magic'"

She paused. Looking down at me. Possibly for a response..?

"That sounds right.. I thought it was.. Well I guess I don't know. I just think about it like energy. Or mana…"

Satisfied with my response. She looked up and started stroking at the most prominent of her chin flaps.

"Mm Mana you say… Not quite wrong… But that's not important. Its basic knowledge that a caster must manage their anima carefully. Wearing light clothes and traveling with as little burden as possible is essential."

Again she paused. I guess she was probing for what I did and didn't know. Does that mean she wont explain if I have questions.. Well. I had to at least ask.

"Why? Couldn't you cast just as well wearing armor? Does metal get in the way of casting? And why would you travel lighter.. Is it weight that affects it?"

She balked at my questions, but it didn't seem like a refusal.. More like she was staring at an idiot.

"Weight.. Metal.. You have a lot of strange ideas about casting.. Ah maybe that's what allows you too.. But no. This is fundamental. Yer Anima suffers when you carry heavy loads, or move around a lot with heavy things. Haven't you ever ran around and found yerself feeling weak?"

"Like… Physical stamina..?"

"Stamina.. Anima.. They mean the same thing! What made you think it was anything else? No. that isn't important. Do you understand now?"

So. that energy I was spending in the cellar quest… Was like my physical. Literal. Chemical energy? Is it calories? No, maybe oxygen in the bloodstream.. Wait. Doesn't that mean me passing out after casting is like. A million times scarier then I thought? If I'm following. I was literally passing out from exhaustion over and over!

"Speak up sonny!"

"Ah! Yes sorry.. I just. I passed out a few times when casting on the quest.. And considering what you just said.."

"...You're lucky to be alive."

"Yeah.."

We shared a quiet moment. Her realizing just how reckless and stupid I actually was with Anima. And me realizing just how close I was brushing by death.

"Ahem. It's a good thing you have a tutor to educate you on the fundamentals."

Wasn't she talking about not wanting to reveal too much earlier?!

"Now where was I… Ah. As far as the skills you've gained. Entrophic casting.. Its hard to put into words. Entropic spells are almost a theory in modern magic, to actually gain the skill through proficiency… No even with talent it would be very rare. It is something like a primal.. Foundation of casting, skills, abilities, perhaps even more then that."

"Ah I think I get it. It must be a really strong form of magic to have then.."

The woman's cackling was definitely very witch adjacent.

"AHAHAhaaa.. No sonny.. Haaa… It's weak. Weaker than any other casting without a doubt. Most caster's wouldn't bother to learn a pure entropic spell even if they could."

Ahhh… dammit. I was getting my hopes up for some kind of cheat skill that could help carry me…

"Well, that just leaves Rot casting."

"Ah wait, I also got another skill, it seems related to Rot, it was called Venomancy I think."

"Mn.. Haven't heard of that specifically. But a Mancer skill ain't too rare for casters.. As far as Rot goes. It's one of the Dark elements, so I can't give too much guidance. But among the Dark castings, Rot is the most decent of them. Their spells can be pretty nasty, but they throw them at monsters more than people.. Usually. Sorry I can't tell you more about yer specialization"

That's a lot of information. Mostly just drawing up questions about not the actual topic. Dark elements? Isn't fighting monsters normal in a place like this? And lastly..

"..Specialization?"

"That's what I said ain't it? It's just what a caster is best at. It's not uncommon to pick up a few spells here and there from other schools and elements, but yer not much of a caster without an area of expertise."

"Right. Yeah I guess that's pretty self explanatory."

"Well, I can't say I've got much more to say to you sonny. With the danger afoot, you'd best be off. Do you know the weapon dealer?"

I nodded my head yes. That's where I picked up the sword I was carrying after all. Though I kinda just rushed through talking to the guy once.

"You should focus on learning what you can from him. Care for yer Anima though! You'll need every breath of it."

So.. Weapon dealer. I kinda just walked around until I found him. Its not like there was many streets here. But something was definitely going down. This place usually looked like a ghost town, but now it almost passed for a place where people lived. A hushed bustle around every corner. But the big fuckoff cart full of old weapons was a notable landmark, though the stock seemed pretty diminished from the last time I looked.

"Ah, I heard there was a fledgie stuck on this side. You might be a poor bastard but you're still my precious customer, so what can I do for you?"

He was a pretty well built man, with a cocky grin even though there was tension in his eyes. I think I got the same vibe the first time I met him, but he kinda seems like a car salesman, with that sort of fast talking cadence to his voice.

"Just here to get some practice in, I guess. Didn't get any before.."

"Oh! I remember you! You were that boy in a rush! Wouldn't take a word sideways. Tragedy that you changed your tune oh so late. But don't worry, I'll get you caught up!"

Training was too harsh a word for what we actually did. I kinda just slowly waved around my sword and he slowly guided me into the right movements in turn. Apparently preserving our anima was pretty important, so it was more talking then anything else. Learning to put my whole body behind a thrust. And swing with my hips. I was starting to regret that I didn't do this before even more. It all SOUNDED really basic. But somehow when the chips where down I didn't consider doing any of this stuff. Maybe I'm just kinda dumb..?

"I understand what your saying and everything.. Maybe a sword isn't the right thing for me, this is a lot to remember, and I can cast too. So something easier to use might be better."

"Woah there lad, gonna bring a tear to my eye talking like that. Do you know how many Otherworlders decide to use a sword when they come here for the first time?"

"...a lot?"

"Full marks, can't say I've seen anyone go for an axe or a club in my time here, a few asked for bows, but no accounting for taste. Now, how many you think decided to switch to something else after getting a taste of how hard a sword is to use?"

"All of them?"

"OOoh and you were on a roll lad. Nadah. Ain't ever seen someone think again after picking up a sword. Even though most were more lousy at it then you. So when I say your a discerning customer, you gotta know that I mean it."

I couldn't help but let out a chuckle. Yeah no that made perfect sense. I could see people thinking "I'll just get good with swords!" and getting their asses handed to them.

"Glad to hear it. So what do you think is best for a discerning customer?"

"Well, push comes to shove, nothing bites as hard as an axe. But considering upcoming events, I couldn't recommend anything over a good old bludgeon, I think there's a half decent one still hanging around here.. Ah there you go!"

Glancing through the weapon pile It was in fact mostly devoid of blunt instruments. I know I saw a good bit of war hammers and quarterstaffs and clubs when I first came through. But now it was mostly spears, axes, halberds, and rusty swords. But on the topic at hand I was handed a mace. Well. it was definitely a mace by literal interpretation. It was closer to a club then anything. Just a stick with a worn scratched metal head that barely stuck out from the shaft, it was a diamond sorta shape. But every tip was bent or completely blunted. Whatever supplier the weapon dealer had was certainly taking some liberties…

"That's right, get a feel for it. Maces are as simple as they come, just smack em with the heavy bit. The better ones will have you trying to strike on the point. But as you can see. This is a… Beginner friendly model."

"Thanks for being so considerate, well if that's all here. Any idea of who I should go to next? I'm not sure what kind of schedule I'm working with, but if there's time.."

A high pitched, almost electronic screech flooded the air, the setting sun casting the sky in magenta spite, shifting sandy figures dancing in strange motions down the roads I could see out of the village through.

"Well, it seems like we're fresh out of time fledgie. Do us all a favor and try to survive the night."