The tab showcased a list of grades, moving from Bronze to Platinum, then Diamond, Epic, and beyond. Each had a number next to them to say how many I had. Below that, there was a list of book recommendations. Each had the title, followed by a "Grade" and the request. For example, some books were worth a Platinum, and I had two. It read as follows:
Shelf (0)
Requests:
Bronze (0)
Silver (0)
Gold (1)
Platinum (2)
Diamond (2)
Epic (0)
Legendary (0)
Mythic (0)
Immortal (0)
Recommended Books:
Trap Plants and Fungi in Areswood Forest: A Guide to Avoiding Innocuous Plants | Grade: Platinum
The Convict's Guide to Foraging: Foragable Plants, Berries, Mushrooms, and Vegetables in Areswood Forest (Vol. 1-3) | Grade: Gold
The Ultimate Guide to Poisons in Areswood Forest (Rings 1-6) | Grade: Diamond
Killer Animals in Areswood Forest (Vol. 1-4) | Grade: Platinum
Alchemic Plants and Mushrooms in Areswood Forest (Vol. 1) | Grade: Diamond
Evolution 101 | Grade: Bronze
Alchemic Medicines 101 | Grade: Silver
Building a Core Foundation | Grade: Gold
The Big Book of Mushrooms: A Visual Guide to Documented Mushrooms in Areswood Forest | Grade: Platinum
Fundamentals of Magic | Grade: Silver
…
"Once you get a book, you can read it in convenient ebook format, or reference it," Lithco explained. "For example, if you had The Convict's Guide to Foraging, when you got the request to get the water sack plant, you would've been able to pull up the image, known locations, and anything else written in the book."
"No way…" I whispered.
"Yes way. You can also ask questions about anything in the book and I'll answer you."
My heart started fluttering. "The books have different… grades? How do I get different ones?"
"The grades are earned through distinction," Lithco explained. "If you do the bare minimum with your quests, you'll get weak rewards. But if, say, you injure a plant that's over 500 levels above you in the first five minutes of you waking up in your new world… yeah. You might get some big rewards."
I paused, mouth agape—and then freaked out. "Wait. What? 500? You put a level 1 person on top of a Level 500 monster?!"
"Level zero," he corrected. "And don't be dramatic. There was a barrier where you were until you woke up and the plants grow remarkably slowly. If you couldn't survive that, you would've died by any number of things by now."
I huffed and turned away.
"This's your life now, Mira. If it's in Areswood, it's over level 125. That's what you gotta accept. If you don't like it, use one of your fancy rewards for a pickup. That said, the Trial of Worth is in session. If you don't finish out the week, you'll be switched to Farmer. You probably won't get a pick up before then, anyway."
My stomach sank.
"Thankfully~," Lithco said. "I'm here to turn you into a living weapon that can decimate monsters far higher than five hundred. And the fact that you're here right now proves you have what it takes. So? You wanna hear these rewards, or what?"
I did want to hear them—but this was clearly abusive behavior! He stuck me on a Level 500 (or higher) human-eating plant and was now whispering sweet nothings to me. Come, Mira. Don't you want to live life how you want? Don't you wanna study botany? Yeah, I did! That's why I wanted to stay on Earth, where I could research botany without getting eaten by plants!
"Sure," I said as coldly as possible.
"Okay," Lithco said, rubbing his eyes. "Buy your book first. I know you want it."
I frowned at his "I know you" boyfriend routine. "Okay."
My heart rate elevated when I saw the book title and swallowed. It wasn't the foraging guide—though I'd be buying that instantly—and it wasn't the trap guide, which I also planned to buy. Hell, the Oracle provided a golden list of things we would probably buy. But there was one thing that was critical—and also made me feel like a kid on Christmas. So I bought it.
You are about to spend (1) Diamond Request for "The Ultimate Guide to Poisons in Areswood Forest (Rings 1-6)." Are you sure you want to buy this book?
"Yes."
Congratulations! You now own "The Ultimate Guide to Poisons in Areswood Forests (Rings 1-6)." You can read it in the library, reference it in your Identify skill, or ask Lithco questions regarding the content.
My lips curved into a grin. Half the plants I saw were poisonous, which just cranked my Identify skill. I also had a passion and a weapon.
"I'm not sure whether to be creeped out from your love of poison, or impressed you're meant for The Path," Lithco deadpanned.
"You should be impressed, thank you very much!" I snapped. Kline stirred, ears twitching. I petted his fur.
"Alright, alright," Lithco said. "Well, you picked a good book. Considering that more than half the plants in Areswood are poisonous, you've nearly upgraded your Identify skill to expert. Now that you know how it works, let's go onto other things. Go back to the requests tab."
I complied and returned to the requests tab, which listed out Free Requests, alongside options for books, spells, recipes, blueprints, tutorials, skills, and equipment.
"You know what books are. Recipes and Blueprints work the same way. Recipes are for poisons, potions, pills, and food stuff. Blueprints will be useful for building shelters here. It's pretty self explanatory, yes?"
"I'll explore it on my own," I said.
"Good. Let's talk about skills because it's the most important tab on the path to godhood. Pull it up."
I did, and my eyes widened from information overload. It started with showing that I had advanced Identify skills in the Plante and Fungi kingdoms, novice for Alchemy, and basic for Map and Arrays. Beyond that, there were dozens of options for Identify skills that I could ostensibly request to have upgraded. It was useful.
Below was a table that listed different skill areas that were broad compared to the areas of study in Colorado universities, but they were broken down further. The main screen showed a list of things I didn't need, likely because it was an introduction, but I could see a comprehensive list later. It read:
Plante and Fungi
Horticulture and Farming
Combat
Soulmancy
Alchemy
Arraycraft
Beast Taming
Healing
Magecraft
Cooking
Runecrafting
Merchant
Enchantment
Summoning
Smithing
Show More Skills >
"For the map and Identify skills," Lithco said, "you move from none to basic, followed by novice, advanced, expert, and visual, before you earn analysis skills and encyclopedic knowledge."
I took a deep breath and exhaled. "Okay. And the individual skills?"
"Choose one."
I chose "Plante and Fungi," and it listed out fields with an option to see more.
Plante and Fungi
Poison creation
Gene-splicing
Genetic modification
Mutation triggering
Grafting
Growth acceleration
Plant Healing
Plant enhancement
See More Subskills >
…
"If you can learn it in your world, you can learn it here—and far more," Lithco said. "Once you choose one of these, you will obtain books and tutorials and recipes for anything you want to learn. For that reason, people spend more Requests on skills than books, tutorials, or recipes. That said, it will not provide prerequisite spells or equipment necessary for the subject matter. So you have to be frugal with these requests because sometimes you'll need three requests to do one thing."
I swallowed. "What… are spells? Like… what Kline's doing?"
Lithco chuckled, rubbing his eyes. "Yes and no. Kline has a combat class, so his skills are geared toward fighting. Your skills will involve heat control, desiccation for drying out plants, and cooling skills. They're precise, meant for alchemy and science. Unless you get into soulmancy, you're not gonna do much damage without poisons, traps, or bows. You can still have incredible power, but your weapon is the environment itself—you're not going to just rush into battle unless you use that bow."
I looked at the bow and felt nervous. "But wait… Can't I choose any skill? Like the ones Kline has?"
"You can and you should choose combat skills. That said, you aren't just going to become a god with fighting. It takes practice and specialization. It also costs more outside your class. So what would cost a bronze in botany related class would require a silver. Despite the absurdity of your situation, leveling up is difficult and yields poor results, so this is crippling for other people. That's why the most common way to move up is just by completing more quests and improving through rewards."
"I see… So being Level 24—"
"Isn't normal," he confirmed.
"I see…" I had a lot of questions, but I'd wait.
"Last up is Equipment," he said. "Pull it up."
I did. Just as before, I had one gold, two platinum, and two diamond, showcasing that each five-level request likely applied uniformly to all of the tabs—spells, books, recipes, and the like. That gave me a heavy incentive to earn big.
Below that were recommended goods. Each had a description if I opened it up in my thoughts. The first was immediately enticing.
Recommended Equipment:
Advanced Alchemy Equipment | Grade: Platinum
Enchanted Tent | Grade: Platinum
Enchanted Gravity Pack | Grade: Platinum
Full Recovery Chest | Grade: Diamond
Quality Carpenter Tools | Grade: Gold
Quality Dagger | Grade: Gold
Portable Heating Array: Grade | Gold
…
"Just as you can ask for anything within reason for Information Requests, Equipment requests will also let you request just about anything," Lithco said. "Whether you want scientific lab equipment or a stuffed animal, you can request almost anything through requests. That's the power we're talking about here. That said..."
"No one's coming here." I felt my stomach sink deeper now that I fully understood what I was losing.
"Yes, and no," Lithco said. "Once again, the Galfer's Gate opens up once a year for the Black Harvest, and you're not too far from the gate. More importantly, a platinum level request can grease some wheels. For you, that's a drop in the bucket, but out there? Ha. People will slaughter each other for that request. The only thing preventing every idiot with a sword from accepting jobs to bring you equipment is the big ass gate that prevents every idiot with a sword from getting in here."
"Why… would people want in here?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.
"'Cause it's full of alchemic ingredients. It's a gold mine, so every year there's a Black Harvest where a large group of adventurers and alchemists come in to gain resources. Half or more die—hence the hideously trite title."
"Oh…"
"So yeah. That gate prevents people from getting in. That said, if you use a diamond request, things will magically start happening. You're still not going to get it hand delivered, but someone will drop it in the forest. Though you'll have to get it—no matter where it ends up."
I shuddered at the thought that I might end up in a wandering reaper's nest to get it next time.
"Okay."
"Naturally, if you use your Epic request, people will pick you up before this shelter runs out. Still, it would be a damn shame for someone like you to give up and be a farmer."
I took a sharp breath. I was confused and I didn't know what to do.
"Until you make that decision, I suggest you explore your rewards on your own," Lithco said. Then we sat in silence for a while until he asked, "Do you have any questions?"
I bit my lip and took a deep breath. "No… I mean, yes. What's Market?"
Lithco's voice became rueful. "The market's where alchemists, merchants, and just about anyone can offer goods, services, and other items. Imagine Ebay, Amazon, and Craigslist had an orgy and took over the universe—that's the market place. And since you're… here… you can't sell your alchemic creations, poisons, and ingredients until you get stuff worth a high level adventurer's time—and there's not many 'round these parts."
"I see…" I whispered. I almost wished he didn't even mention the Market. "So I'm pretty much screwed."
"No," Lithco said. "The Black Harvest will come around next spring. Save up and make a killing."
I didn't like how he emphasized the word killing. Not one bit.
2.
The Black Harvest meant nothing to Aiden. He was in the same forest, but he was nowhere near the Fourth Ring. It was early morning, and he was worrying about his own trial as insignificant as it seemed on the surface.
He was lined up with the other beast-tamer neophytes long before the pink and purple moons crested and gave way to the sun. The air smelled fresh, and a cool breeze ruffled his shirt. He looked at the twins next to him distrustingly. He was having a difficult time separating life from a video game, and seeing twins around his age—21—made him suspicious that they'd be evil. The twins glanced at him. He turned away.
The other direction wasn't much better. There was a clean-cut man to his side. He was also his age, but he was wearing a button-up shirt and slacks, possibly because he was part of an internship or newly hired. The man eyed him discerningly and then turned back with the same smirk that he had since the group met up the day before. Absolute confidence. Maybe it was jealousy—perhaps it was something more. Either way, Aiden was immediately rubbed the wrong way.
Alitalia broke him out of his reverie. The conservatory guide scanned the five hundred-head group of beast-tamer neophytes and then looked to the forest and plains.
"Now that you're here, let's start the Trial of Worth," Alitalia said. Suddenly, a chime rang out in Aiden's head, and a pop-up followed.
Neophyte Aiden Roe has received a new mandatory quest, "Trial of Worth."
Quest Summary: Guess what, Aiden? You got your first quest! For the first time in your life, you're gonna get appreciated for your talents and get rewarded for being extra. This is your moment. Nothing makes a zookeeper stand above mortals like spending seven days with cute, lovable, furry, snappy, growly creatures that eat people without training. So get out there, tiger, and earn yourself some rewards!
Duration: 7 Days
Quest Value: Prepare for your new world.
Aiden kinda regretted asking the Oracle to be honest, social, and positive to balance his quiet pessimism. She alternated between being downright delightful and destructively annoying—and she used way too many goddamn exclamation marks. But Elle got to the heart of the matter, so he didn't change her personality out of fear he might get someone worse. He also feared her judgment for dismissing her.
Aiden was, without a doubt, a pushover.
"Now that you have your quest, you will get missions," Alitalia continued. "Some are mandatory to fulfill the trial—others are voluntary. Some aren't even given to you—they're hidden missions that reward you for individual growth. The keyword here is growth. Hidden missions are tailored to each person. If someone's afraid of big cats and confronts their fear to work with one, they might complete a hidden mission with a generic sounding name like, 'Work With a Big Cat.' Then, the other thousand people who worked with big cats and didn't get that mission feel cheated and beat the shit out of the person who did. That's why you should never tell people if you get a hidden quest."
Aiden wouldn't. He was a wallflower, someone who liked to blend into the crowd because he hated conflict and people talking trash. He'd avoid telling people anything unless forced.
"You also have to be wary of asking," Alitalia warned. "You can't confirm anything people say and if you ask the wrong person, they'll beat you senseless. So be careful."
Aiden swallowed.
"Let's talk about your first trial," she continued. "In just a few minutes, you'll be free to roam the conservatory from gate to gate. Your goal is to bring back an animal with you. How, is up to you. Some may be rewarded with magic and bring back an animal through a social contract. Others might lure them in with food—or ensnare them in a trap. There are infinite ways to bring an animal back with you. The only requirement is that it must be voluntarily or forcefully subjugated. Anyone who pisses off an angry animal and leads them back to us will be disqualified from the trial and forced to forge their own path."
Negative emotions spread through the crowd in waves of synesthesia, making people lock up, whisper, and shuffle their feet.
"The more impressive the animal is, the better the rewards. So don't settle unless you have to. Let's get started."
Aiden got a notification.
Neophyte Aiden Roe has received a new mandatory mission.
Quest Mission: Trial of Trust
Mission Summary: Hiya, long time no see! Elle here, back to give you the spicy deets on a new mission. Starting now, you've got 72 hours to whisper sweet nothings to animals and get one to follow you back to the Restam Conservatory Visitor's Center. If they do, you'll both get tasty delights and sweet, sweet rewards! The more impressive the animal, the more I'll reward you. But be warned, my little universe hopper, you can only bring one animal back, and your burly animal-bribing brethren are known for betraying better beast tamers. So watch out~. Anyway, I gotta go. Make sure to get some books or tutorials so we can talk later, kay? Muah!
Duration: 72 hours.
Value: Learn to build trust with animals on Dranami.
Requirement(s):
Convince an animal to return with you.
Only one animal can come back.
Warning: Failure to bring back an animal will not result in a penalty. However, refusal to participate or make an effort will result in being moved to a Peaceful Class of my choice.
Note: Mission is still in effect. Rewards will be calculated at the end of your trial.
Aiden looked up at the screen and at the creature on Alitalia's shoulder. There was nothing but love and trust in its eyes—with no sign of breaking. It was also intelligent. It was staring at him curiously, studying him, and he could feel its piercing gaze as if it were searching his soul. That wasn't a normal animal, and from that moment, he was determined to find one.
"You have three days—I suggest you use all the time necessary to get an animal." Alitalia clapped her hands, and workers brought out a hundred animals that looked like goats. They were as tall as horses but very thin, almost skeletal in comparison. Yet they were just built that way, sporting long pointed horns on each side like an oryx, green fur that looked like moss, and bodies that were saddled up for riding. "These liscans are available to you—if you can ride one. The conservatory barracks are open around the clock. Your trial has begun."
"Wait, there's not enough," someone commented about the liscans.
Aiden already knew why. Alitalia confirmed it. "Most of you won't be able to ride one. A hundred is liberal."
"So this's a test?" Everen said beside him.
"Not officially, but it can trigger hidden quests for some."
"Can I?" he asked.
"Sure."
Everen walked to the front of the liscans under everyone's silent, penetrating gazes. Then, he walked past the liscans in a line like a general until he stopped in front of one. He glowered at it in an alpha stance, making Aiden hold his breath. The liscan bowed its head, and the man put his toe in the stirrup and pulled himself onto it. Then Everen smirked at the group. "See ya later."
There's no way he's not an animal person, Aiden thought as he watched him ride away. Everen just demonstrated dominance-based training with an alpha stance, and he was riding effortlessly. He lied.
Any trust Aiden had with others was gone. Game or no game, in this world, people fought for power, and everyone was out to win—even in the beast tamers class.
Elle's words flashed across his mind: Your burly animal-bribing brethren are known for betraying better beast tamers. He wasn't going to forget that.