Choosing his class

"I'll go ahead and pick first," Jake said, as he reached to the ground and grabbed the sword that had just dropped from the monster. Floki didn't mind this at all, as he knew that he had been carried by Jake throughout the battle.

"You can take all that's left for yourself, I don't need it," Jake said as he put his newly acquired sword on his back.

On the ground lay some other pieces of grey equipment, some coins and a few potions. They were clearly not worth as much as the shining sword Jake had picked.

"Are you sure?" Floki said out of courtesy.

Jake nodded confidently. "I'm sure. This sword is all I need," he said, patting the hilt of the newly acquired weapon on his back. "Besides, I can see that you're just starting out and you'll need all the help you can get," he added, with a hint of a smirk on his face.

Floki looked at Jake with confusion etched on his face. "What do you mean by that? Isn't this everyone's first time playing this game?" he asked, hoping for some clarification.

Jake's expression grew more serious. "Yes, this may be everyone's first day in Swardo, but that doesn't mean we all have the same starting point," he explained, a hint of condescension creeping into his tone. "There are players out there who have been preparing for this for months, even years. They knew about Swardo's coming through all the other games. Only the veteran gamers could see these hints."

Floki's eyes widened in surprise. He had no idea that there were players who had advanced knowledge of the game before its official release. It made him feel even more inexperienced and unsure of himself.

Jake's grin widened. "Let me put it this way. When I first started playing, I was just like you. A low-level nobody. But I was determined to make something of myself. I put in the work, grinded away day and night, and now look at me. Before Swardo even got released, I already knew bits and pieces of how it would be and what I should do to gain strength quickly."

Floki felt a sense of admiration and envy towards Jake. He wanted to be like him, to have that level of skill and determination. But he also felt a twinge of resentment at the implication that he was somehow inferior to Jake.

Just before he was about to disappear into the dense forest, Jake turned back to Floki and said, "Unlike you and many other players, I don't see this world as a mere game. You will understand it later," he said with a grin, before disappearing into the trees.

Floki stood there, still processing what had just happened. He knew that he had a lot to learn about Swardo and the gaming world in general, but he was determined to work hard and prove himself.

He would become a strong player and show everyone that he was not to be underestimated.

"I'll put in the work." His eyes were alight with a fierce determination as he spoke to the spot Jake had just stood.

He was slightly disappointed that Jake had a low opinion of him, but he was also determined to prove him wrong. He knew that he had a lot to learn, and now he was willing to put even more in the work to become a great player.

He carefully collected the remaining loot and made the decision to continue his journey alone in the forest. His goal was to level up to level 5, and with his newfound strength as a level 4 player, he felt confident in his abilities.

The newly acquired grey chestpiece he found added an extra 3 points to his defense, further boosting his confidence in his abilities. He set out on his path with renewed determination and a clear objective in mind.

He ventured around the forest, his sword at the ready as he searched for creatures to hunt.

He encountered many small creatures along the way, such as rabbits, squirrels, and even a few wild boars.

He fought them with precision and skill, his agility allowing him to dodge their attacks and strike at just the right moment. He was pleased to see that he had leveled up a few times in such a short amount.

Even though he had leveled up three times, he had not yet used up his 15 free attribute points. He wanted to wait, he first had to be sure of the path he was going to take before using up all of his points.

As he hunted, he also searched for the green-sprout herbs that he needed for his quest. It was a tedious task, but he knew that it would be worth it in the end. He spent hours searching for the herbs, and finally, he had collected the 10 that he needed.

With his quest complete, Floki felt a sense of accomplishment. He had not only leveled up several times, but he had also completed his first quest in the game. While he has not reached level 5 yet, he believed that the XP he would get from finishing the quest would be enough for him to level up.

He returned to the beginner's town and turned in the quest to the NPC, he was awarded a total of 10 coppers coins and just enough XP for him to reach level 5.

<LEVELED UP!>

'Nice, now I can finally leave this godforsaken place.' He said to himself.

Without waiting any longer he made his way to the class change building. Since this was only a small town he reached there within minutes.

When he entered the building he was surprised by how packed it was. All the NPC's were busy with the players while there slowly formed a row. Floki quickly went and joined the row, waiting for his turn.

Out of curiosity he struck a conversation with a person standing in front of him. "Why is it so busy in here?" He asked the chubby looking guy.

"Why do you think, we're all here for our class change. Can't you use your common sense?" The guy replied, clearly being annoyed for being bothered with such a question.

Seeing that the guy wasn't nice speaking with, Floki redirected his gaze to the person standing behind him. It was a girl, who, unlike the person in front of him, exuded a friendly and approachable demeanor. He hoped that she would be more pleasant to speak with.

So Floki asked the girl: "Hey, my name is Floki, are you here for your class change aswell?"

The girl smiled back, "Yes, my name is Lila, nice meeting you. I'm here to change my class to a priest."

Floki was impressed, "A priest, that's an important class. I'm here to change my class too, but I haven't decided what to choose yet. Can you tell me more about the available classes?"

Lila thought for a moment before responding, "Well, it depends on what you're looking for. If you want to be a tank, go for the Warrior class. If you want to be swift on your feet go for the Asssasin class. Should you desire to be an allround warrior go for the Swordsman class.

If you want to be a support player, like me, go for the Priest class. But if you want to deal a lot of damage from a distance, go for the Mage class."

Floki considered Lila's words carefully. He had always been drawn to the idea of being a powerful tank, but he found the idea of being a swift and elusive assassin even more appealing. The allround warrior class had never crossed his mind, he never enjoyed fighting with a long sword.

Floki couldn't shake the desire to unleash powerful magic from afar.

"Thank you for the advice, Lila. I'll definitely have to think about it," Floki said, his mind whirring with possibilities. On one hand he wanted to become an Assassin while on the other hand he wanted to be a mage.

As they continued to wait in line, they chatted more and Floki found that he had a lot in common with Lila. She was friendly and more knowledgeable than him about the game, and he felt that she could be a valuable ally in his journey through Swardo.

Eventually, it was Floki's turn to change his class, and he thanked Lila for her help before making his way to the NPC. He still had to decide which class to choose, but he felt more confident with Lila's advice in mind.

"Next in line please." The NPC spoke.

As Floki stood before the NPC, he couldn't help but feel a sense of uncertainty. He had been contemplating between the Assassin class and the Mage class for quite some time now.

He knew that the Assassin class would allow him to be quick and agile, but he also knew that the Mage class would give him the power to deal devastating damage from a distance.

Finally, he made up his mind. "I would like to choose the Assassin class," he said to the NPC.

He needed strength, and he needed to always be able to protect himself. The assassin class suited Floki the best.

"Very well, but be warned, the path of an Assassin is not for the faint of heart," the NPC warned him.

"In order to officially become an Assassin, you must complete a special mission that I will give you through this scroll. Only when you have successfully completed the mission will you officially become an Assassin. Visit an adventurers building once you have finished your mission. There is no need to return here."

Floki took the scroll and thanked the NPC before making his way out of the building. As he left, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with a hint of trepidation. He knew that the mission would be challenging, but he was determined to see it through.