Runeguard 003

There was no discernible difference between the vendors that sold weapons and the others, and it took me a few minutes to relocate one.

Once I did though, I wasted no time in making my purchases.

You have bought a steel longsword for 10 gold.

You have bought a large wooden shield for 10 gold.

You have 0 gold remaining.

The items were transferred directly from the vendor’s inventory to my own. I willed them out and they appeared at my feet. Leaning down, I picked up both.

Item: Steel Longsword

Base attack: 5, scales with the swords skill.

Parent Essence: strength. Parent skill: swords. Requirements: none.

Item: Large Wooden Shield

Base defense: 5, scales with the heavy armor skill.

Parent Essence: strength. Parent skill: heavy armor. Requirements: none.

I inspected the sword first. Just under three-foot in length, it was double-bladed and looked sharp enough to cut off a finger. I was no expert on medieval weapons though, and that was about the extent of what I could assess about my purchase. 

Nonetheless, I was satisfied. It’ll do, I thought, sheathing the blade in the scabbard that accompanied it before buckling the contraption around my waist.

I studied the shield next. It was a rectangular piece of wood, rounded at the corners and braced with steel bands along its length. Most noticeable, it was heavy. Large enough to cover my torso, the shield felt more than a little unwieldy in my hands, and for a second, I wondered if I had erred in buying it. 

It’ll just take some getting used too, I thought stubbornly, and slung the shield over my shoulder using the straps on its inside that seemed designed for just that purpose. I glanced down at the sword resting on my hip. Its weight felt strange too, but at the same time it was also comforting. 

I was armed now and no longer completely defenseless.

Right, time to see more of this world, I thought and headed for the amphitheater’s exit.

✵ ✵ ✵

As I moved through the crowd, people turned my way. No one else that I could see was armed like I was, and from the conversations I overheard it seemed most people were intent on learning one or the other of the magic Essences. 

Not a few people tittered behind their hands or laughed openly as I passed. I didn’t let it bother me. I was determined to play the long game, and as much as I had been tempted by the thought of acquiring magic, I wasn’t going to be rushed into a premature decision on my Essences.

After all, if the magics of air, earth, fire, and water were considered tier one Essences, perhaps there were better magics to be found elsewhere in the Creche. I only had to be patient.

Holding my head high, I ignored the laughing fools and stomped to the exit.

I drew to a halt as I reached the archway leading out of the amphitheater. It did not open immediately onto the outside world as I expected, and instead led into a tunnel that was at least two dozen feet in length. 

Just how thick are the amphitheater’s walls? I wondered. Glancing upwards, I saw a raised portcullis hanging above the archway, and on the wall to my right, the mechanism to open and close the gate.

Frowning at the defensive works, I stepped into the tunnel. On its other end, I found a similar gate, also raised. It led me to wonder anew at the dangers in the world outside that such elaborate defenses were required.

The first thing I noticed on clearing the exit tunnel was that I stood on a hill. The amphitheater, it seemed, had been built on a plateau. Directly below me was a huddle of buildings—a town of some sort. And all around it, in every direction was a dense, verdant forest with only a short width of open land separating forest from town.

A wide, paved cobbled road of startling-white led down from the amphitheater and into the town. Continuing unerringly straight, it cut north through the town and into the forest, where it was quickly obscured by the overarching trees.

“Where does the road go, Adi?”

“I can’t say for certain, Dace, but it likely leads to the Creche’s exit portal. They are normally placed in easy to find locations.”

With a thoughtful nod, I stepped onto the white cobbled road and followed it into town. Crowds of people already roamed its streets. The town buildings looked to be made from the same gray stone as the amphitheater and all the doors appeared unlocked. People freely wandered in and out.

Curiously, I walked into one of the buildings and studied its interior. It was a smithy. A forge was built into one of the far walls, six anvils rested in the room’s center, and on a table to the right were a blacksmith’s tools of trade.

Four men were busy on the anvils and another two at the forge. To say the least, I was surprised. Stepping closer, I observed them at work.

One of the men noticed me watching and looked up. “You planning on being a smith too?” he asked.

“Excuse me?” I asked, studying the ginger-haired giant. He was even larger than me and more heavily muscled. He was definitely not carrying any flab.

The big man took me in, his eyes lingering on my sword. “Suppose not,” he said with a shrug. “You a customer?”

I shook my head in bemusement. “No, just a tourist. What’s going on here?”

He put down his hammer and tongs and walked over to me. The other men in the room ignored us and kept working.

“I’m Gorman,” the red-haired man said. Pulling off one thick leather glove, he stuck out his hand.

I shook it. “I’m Dace.”

“This here is a smithy,” Gorman continued. “And we fellows are training to become smiths.”

I gave him a wry look. “I figured out as much already. What I don’t understand,” I said, gesturing to the room’s contents, “is where all this stuff came from?”

Gorman shrugged. “I don’t know, youngster. It was all here when I climbed down the hill a few hours ago. I’m not one to question good fortune, especially not after the day like we all had.”

Gorman didn’t look a day older than forty, and certainly wasn’t old enough to be calling me ‘youngster,’ but I let it pass. “So you just walked in and started working?”

“Yep,” said Gorman, grinning. “My personal administrator said it was meant for us ‘new entrants,’ anyway.”

I pointed to the table littered with blacksmith tools. “I’m surprised all of that didn’t get stolen.”

Gorman snorted. “It’s not for lack of trying, let me tell you, but the System doesn’t let anyone remove the tools it left here. Plenty of young fools have tried and failed already.” The big man shrugged. “This here is a strange world, but whatever the System is, it ain’t dumb enough to trust in the goodness of human nature.”

I shared a chuckle with the red-haired man. “Well thanks for the information, Gorman. I hope to see you around.”

“Wait up one second, Dace,” Gorman said, stepping closer.

I paused and waited for him to go on.

“Where’d you get that sword?” he asked.

“Bought it from a vendor in the amphitheater,” I replied.

“Oh,” said Gorman, sounding disappointed. “So you haven’t ventured out there yet?” he asked, pointing to the forest surrounding the town.

“Not yet,” I answered. “But I am planning to.”

Gorman leaned in closer. “Well if you do,” he whispered, “will you bring me any smithing material you find?” I opened my mouth to respond, but Gorman kept speaking. “There was precious little material to begin with in the shop—enough to get some of us started—but it will be finished pretty soon.” He frowned worriedly. “Not sure what I’m going to do then.”

I clamped a hand to Gorman’s shoulder. I liked the red-haired smith already. He was smart and already working to stay ahead of the pack. “Sure Gorman. Anything I find, I’ll bring to you first.”

Gorman beamed. “Thanks, Dace.”

I waved farewell and left the workshop. I didn’t enter any of the other buildings, pretty sure now that they were all similar to the smithy—workshops created for use by the Proving Grounds’ new entrants.

Staying on the cobbled road that appeared to be the town’s main thoroughfare, I made my way to the settlement’s northern end. The town was unwalled and seemed to have no clearly defined boundary, but as I passed the last building, a System message greeted me.

Warning: You are now leaving a protected zone. Hostile entities roam the area outside Town 1050-A. You may be attacked at any time. Be wary, participant.

Frowning at the message, I drew to a halt, and armed myself with my sword and shield. Only then did I turn my attention to the grassy field in front me.

The area was filled with people—mostly younger ones—all running to and fro, and seemingly engaged in combat with… I blinked. That can’t be right. 

Narrowing my eyes, I squinted to better make out the scurrying shapes the human players chased after. 

They were… bunnies.

“You gotta be kidding me,” I muttered. Stabbing my sword in the ground, I leaned on it as I watched the spectacle.

The human players were hurling magic. From nearly every hand, quicksilver darts of flame, ice, charged bolts, or rock missiles were unleashed into the hapless bunnies. Invariably the small creatures were killed instantly.

When the wannabe mages managed to hit them, that is. 

Because more often than not the human players missed. Their aim was atrocious, really. The ‘mages’ made no effort to disguise their ire either and the air rang with the sounds of their frustrated cries.

“Goddamn.”

“Your aim sucks, man.”

“Get here you stupid bunny! I’m soooo gonna kill you!”

“Hey watch it, you nearly hit me!”

“Stand still, you miserable beast!”

“Hey, get away from him! That’s my bunny!”

“I’m gonna kill you!”

“Not if I kill you first!”

Lowering my head, I buried my face in my hands. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. As amusing as it was to watch the horde of teens desperately trying to zap a few harmless bunnies, I knew they were playing a dangerous game. 

The magic those youths were flinging around so casually looked deadly. Sooner or later someone was going to get hurt—or killed. Even worse, I knew the teens wouldn’t appreciate being told about their folly. 

There’s no way I’m entering that field, I thought. 

Lifting my head, I scanned the area. I could keep following the cobbled road passed the field and into the forest. But its dark and hidden depths appeared too daunting to attempt on my first outing. 

That only left walking around the rim of the town, left or right it didn’t matter, and seeing where that led. With a shrug I chose a direction at random, making sure to keep a safe distance between myself and the nearest players.

Though as I made my way away from the players, I was left wondering how they had managed to afford the two Gems and spellbook necessary to cast their spells. They would have needed at least thirty gold coins for all that. How had they gotten the money?

I walked a complete half-circle around the town before I left the crowd of teens behind. When I looked up, I realized I was nearly back at my starting position at the base of the hill leading to the amphitheater. Rounding the hill, I found it blessedly free of players battling bunnies.

Unfortunately, the southern side of the hill appeared barren, which likely explained the absence of players. The open field separating town from forest had thinned to a narrow strip that was almost wholly occupied by a slow-flowing river—more of a stream really—that was filled with long reeds.

Curiously, I strode to the water’s edge. Who knows, I thought with a grin, maybe I will find some river crabs to slay.

But as I gazed upon the river, I found its waters still and unmoving. I frowned in disappointment. Damn, I thought. I might have no choice but to join those idiots in—

You have been hit by a level 1 bloat fly for 1 damage. You have 9 HP remaining.