Tutorial Island

People may wonder why their plan didn’t work even if given answers should guarantee the certain role they’ve wanted. The pseudo psychological test is not a case here. They forgot that they’re giving answers by talking, not typing. What is off about that?

System can notice any changes in voice and tell the cause. It takes into account everything what’s happening after posing the question.

No one was ever thinking something like that will be implemented, but it’s only used for assigning roles. Also no data is stored anywhere.

The actual game won’t start just yet. Creators made a beginner island, so players can learn how to walk, interact and fight. It’s very small and on separate server. Player is there with an NPC instructor and other NPC beginners. After this tutorial, player is transported to a real game server with other players.

‘Oh, the game just loaded. I’ll make a quick break when possible too.’

„Hey, you are finally awake.”

‘I think I know it from somewhere...’

„You’re new, right? No worries, everyone was. I’ll show you everything, now, get up and follow me.”

Hotaru wanted to use a keyboard to move, but she forgot she can’t... Habit from playing only on PC.

After silly mistake, she stood up as she normally would from her own bed.

‘...Weird feeling. Need to get used to it.’

Walking was a bit problematic for a second too due the body difference, but she caught it up quickly. It went much smoother than she thought it would.

Now with interactions... If she could get up as she normally would, so she would be able to interact with objects as usual too? She wanted to check it with the door. She grabbed the know and... just opened door.

It was so unusual for her, she was swinging these creaking door to left and right repeatedly until she stopped after few times. Then she looked at outside.

Everything looked stunning, at first you wouldn’t even think that is a game. Ocean at the horizon looked exactly like in real life, maybe water was more reflective. Wherever you will look at, it was done with special care, leaves on trees wasn’t just a pile of them, but you could notice every single one on it. Same with grass and anything else. You can feel the ocean breeze, even if it’s just a game. It’s like your experiencing it yourself, on your own skin.

Hotaru, first skeptical, now impressed by the work of people, who made it. She decided to give it a chance.

Instructor was already down on the small practice field. A bit further down on right she noticed a bigger field with several people on it, they were probably training.

Whole complex was on the hill, starting point, where Hotaru was, gave full view on it and whole landscape. She almost forgot about her break she wanted.

‘Can I log out now? Uh... Yeah, there is a button.’

...

She came back after several dozen minutes ready to play for next few hours.

The beautiful sight and gentle breeze greeted her again. Even after first impression, it still was leaving her speechless. She wouldn’t mind staring for some time like that, but she hasn’t even started tutorial.

She followed the rock path to the field, where Instructor was waiting for her.

„Hey, it took you some time. Did landscape charm you?”

‘He barely said a word and I’m already annoyed.’

„Haha, no need to get angry. You should feel more relaxed while being surrounded by nature. Man works and thinks better then. I forgot to introduce myself, I’m Shinji, as you could notice, I’m training newbie warriors, so they can actually become someone!”

‘*sigh* Please, stop... Wait, warriors? So there are different instructors for each class?’

„Jokes aside, I’m here to show you the basics, so you won’t start completely clueless. I’m sure you’re aware that you don’t have to stick to a sword, aren’t you? Warrior can use many types of weapons. I’ll show you.”

Man dragged his hand lengthwise. Between them chain of different types of weapons appeared.

„Oh, just so you know, you can’t do that. I’m special.”

‘...’

„As you can see, there are all weapons which warrior can use. Starting from sword, long sword, greatsword, dagger, spear, axe... ending on catalyst. It often has an orb shape, but anything can do.”

„Warrior can use daggers?”

„They can. They’re different from ones for rogues, but they’re still daggers. Catalysts for mages and warriors are no different, while anything can be one.”

„If a warrior can use catalyst... does it mean I can cast spells like mage?”

„Yes...”

Hotaru found a glimpse of hope and new goal.

„... but only close combat ones.”

Maybe not...

„You can still kick someone’s back by them, but they’re not that much effective comparing to mage class ones. Area of damage is much smaller, skills are mostly for one target and general damage is lower. I’m not recommending it, but it’s, obviously, people's choice.”

„So what would you recommend?”

„To be honest? Anything but that crap and daggers. If you have rogue in team, it’s 95% they will use dagger or sword, another 110% for mage with catalysts. For starters, I always recommend starting with a simple sword, if you have no clue which weapon will be the best. Otherwise, start with any.”

That wasn’t very helpful for her. She had no idea which will be better for her. She didn’t want sword, while everyone else may have it. Two-handed weapon may be a pain due to its height and weight. She used to see small characters wielding such weapons, but she couldn’t imagine herself in it.

„Having a trouble with choosing? Want me to show you specific one or whichever?”

If not a sword or two-handed one, maybe something in between?

„Maybe long sword?”

„Long sword? Interesting choice. You can handle it in one or two hands, which makes it pretty convenient. Not many people use it, which is a shame. This one is a bit heavier than normal, but you can get used to it.”

Shinji summoned a training dummy and made few hits with long sword in one hand, then in two hands. Hotaru still wasn’t sure of the choice.

„So, what do you think? Want to give it a try?”

„Mhm.”

Instructor gave her the weapon. It was a bit more heavier than what she anticipated and almost dropped it.

„Are you okay?”

„Yeah, yeah, it’s just more heavier than I thought it would be.”

„Will you be able to hold it?”

„Yeah, I just... need to... train a bit.”

It was more challenging than she thought. She was barely keeping it straight.

„You sure you don’t want to try with a sword?”

„No, I’m fine.”

„Your choice.”

She threw herself into the deep end, she didn’t even know how to correctly hold it, but she’s a quick learner and will catch it up sooner or later. Shinji was closely observing her. Sword wasn’t sharp, but she could hurt herself.

Hotaru was thinking about her first attempt. How she should start? Sword was falling down by little, she could use that. She swung sword from bottom, then top, through whole dummy. You can say that first attempt was successful.

The weight of weapon was still a problem, if it could be a bit lighter, things would go much smoother.

„Shinji-san?”

„Hm?”

„Is there any spell that I can use to reduce weight of an item?”

„You mean, you want to make this long sword lighter?”

„Exactly.”

„Hmm... There is one, but I’m not sure if you can use it.”

„I want to try.”

„Fine. It’s an enhancement spell, you can reduce weight by up to 50%. To use it, you need to call name of this spell and thinking how much weight you want to reduce, minimum is 5%. You get it? Okay, let’s try. After me: Enhance: Lightweight.”

‘How much should I reduce? 10%? 20? Hmm... Let’s try with 15%.’

„Enhance: Lightweight.”

Sword lighted up for a second. Hotaru felt the difference straight away. It was much easier now to handle it. Keep it in one hand was out of question for now, but not handling it in two hands. She repeated moves from first attempt. It went much smoother and she had more control in what she was doing. She felt satisfied with results.

Shinji on other hand...

„It... worked?”

„As you can see. It’s soo much better now.”

In normal situation, she shouldn’t be able to use any enhance spell now. And she used enhance spell. What’s more, intermediate one. That’s not something unusual that some people have special abilities, from quickly mastering to spells, which they shouldn’t be able to use. Enhancing mostly, as name suggets, allows to boost stats, damage etc. Warriors can use them only on themselves, mages can cast them on allies. That’s the basic enhancement. At some point you cannot receive any more new spells or learn certain ones, while someone else can. There are no requirements to fulfill. Everything depends on person, similar to how it works on Earth.

„Alright... That’s good. Good for you, lass! Ha!”

Shinji and other instructors, besides teaching new players basics, collects informations about players – how many players are in each class, what weapon they choose, if they changed it, to which one, if they have any special abilities etc.

Why are they collecting such data? Pure statistics.

Everything is anonymous, for them Hotaru is one of hundreds of thousands players. They need to somehow know what kind of group of people is playing their game.

Despite being one of hundreds of thousands, she’s one of few people having abilities exceeding those of normal people.

„So, how you doing with it? Feeling confident or rather changing weapon?”

„Umm, it’s not bad, I think I’ll stick to it, but I don’t think I’m using it correctly.”

„Yeah, right, let’s start first with stance.”

Based on knowledge from movies, games and general observation, Hotaru took the most basic stance she could make.

„Stand up more straight. Hmm... that should do it, lass. Not bad, not bad. I saw as well how you’re doing with sword, you seem to know a thing or two. Just practice. First, with dummy, then with others. I’ll watch.”

Dummy wasn’t a very challenging opponent, but it helped with Hotaru's training. Her attacks were more accurate with hitting certain point and she could make more hits than before. She’s got more confident with using long sword.

„You’re quick learner, aren’t you? Want to try with series?”

„Series?”

„I mean attack series, when you’re attacking an opponent with rapid strikes. It will be useful in the future.”

„We can try.”

„Alright, I’ll first show you.”

He took a different long sword and performed his attack serie holding weapon in both hands. As a true professional, he did it without any gaps. What Hotaru didn’t know was that he could do that even more better.

„That’s pretty much it. You don’t have to use same number of hits, even a serie of three will be good, but it’s up to you. You got how you should do it?”

She can be a quick learner, but swordmanship is not something you can learn in few minutes. Shinji knew about that, but he wanted to check Hotaru's abilities.

„Uhh, I think it’s too much for now.”

„Right, right, no problem. With your current skills, you’ll be able to handle the monsters at the Port Town, so you’ll be good.”

„Are they strong?”

„Those around the town – not really, they’re small fries. You’ll have an opportunity to polish your skills there.”

„You sound like I’m going already.”

„I see no point of keeping you here. You’re an adventurer, you’ll get experience from going around, chopping things and from other people. You’re smart lass, you’re catching things quickly, you’ll be good.”

It didn’t even took half an hour and Shinji was already sure of sending off her. Girl has never handle a sword in her life before, but she managed to give somehow accurate hits, which is the minimum for passing. There is actually one more thing.

„But, before you’ll head to the shore, one more thing. Try to hit me.”

‘Huh?’

She didn’t get why should she hit him, when she’s still a newbie, but it has a purpose.

„Why would I?”

„As an adventurer you’ll be fighting against different opponents, including people. I want to make sure, you’ll be able to do it.”

Vision of fighting with other people for Hotaru was still something distant. What if there will be a situation where she would have to kill someone, because there will be no other choice? That’s the purpose. Mostly for defending herself.

„I understand.”

„Whenever you’re ready.”

He was standing still, not moving at all. Just watching her. It was making her unsure. Why was he standing with folded hands and not tried to defend himself? Was he that confident or sure that she wouldn’t be able to do anything to him? What if she would hit him? He’s got an armor on himself, so nothing should happen. Hotaru knew she thinks too much about it and she had to get a grid of it.

It was a test. And she had to pass it.

She took a stance and made a hit.

But Shinji blocked it with his hand.

She was surprised, while she didn’t think that he would block it this way. This strike wasn’t that powerful as others she has made, but she expected different response. Anyway, Shinjk at this point gained more respect from her.

„Huh?”

„That’s all I wanted to know. You’ve got some strength in those arms, but still not enough to beat me! Ha!” he started laughing.

‘So what did he want exactly? This man...’

„As I mentioned, at some point you’ll need it. To either defend yourself or others. That’s the only reason for it, but some people have forgotten about that and making harm while being self-focused on themselves.”

„Are they... killing?”

„They are. I guess you might have heard about some nasty thieves, who are robbing people and doing other stuff. They’re like plague, you think you got a rid of them and another one appears from nowhere.”

‘Seems like things are the same as there.’

People won’t change, the only thing that will change is their modus operandi.

„They won’t hesitate to hurt you. That’s why you can’t hesitate as well. It’s for your own good.”

„I understand.”

„Oh, come on!” Shinji pat her shoulder. „You haven’t even started yet! A lot of nasty things are happening in the world, but instead of getting emotional about that, it’s better to actually do something with it, isn’t it?”

„First of all, you have to be able to actually do something than just talking.”

„True. That’s why I’m merely an instructor.”

„Not a hero material at all?”

„Not at all. I have my own things to do, I’ll let someone else play a hero.”

Hotaru wasn’t sure if those words are result from knowing own capabilities or something else, but she knew she wasn’t capable of it as well. If you can do something, you’re doing it. If not, then you’re not doing it, but some are actually trying.

„I won’t be keeping you here longer. Let’s go to the shore, ship should be here any minute.”

It didn’t took them long to get there. At the shore there was a single pier to which they went. Ship was still not there.

„How big is that ship?”

„If I’m correct, it can carry around 50 people plus crew.”

It means it’s not small, but the pier...

„Don’t you think this pier is too small for it?”

„It is, so what?”

Hotaru got confused. How will it be able to get here?

„Oh, you thought it will come here? Nah, a boat will come for you and take to the main ship. It wouldn’t be able to even fit in here.”

‘That makes sense now.’

„From which side it will come?”

„Probably from right. Sometimes they’re coming from the horizon, but you could see them now. Oh, I think they’re there!”

As Shinji said, the ship appeared from right side. It was huge, like a one for sea transport. For Hotaru, who had never seen a ship like that with her own eyes, it was impressive.

„So, how do you like it?”

„It’s huge...”

„Haha! Told you! And you thought it would fit here!”

‘This guy...’ it was very annoying for her.

„I’ll wait for a boat to come and I’m going.”

„Sure. Shinji-san, thank you for everything.”

„Oh, come on, it’s my job after all!”

„I think I may enjoy my time here...”

Even if she didn’t get the class she wanted.

„Look, lass, warrior is not a bad class, you just need to know what you want and go for it. You can’t get everything what you want, but, try to deal with stuff you have. I’m sure it will be fine, just, give it a try. If not, some guys will be very happy to help you! Haha!”

Hotaru started understanding why he’s there on small island with almost no people around. Even if he’s a good guy, he can be very annoying for her.

„I’m joking, of course. Take care of yourself, lass.”

„And you too.”

At the same time boat swim up to the pier.

„I’ll help you, miss.”

A man in boat stood up.

„Thank you.” she said to man. „See you later, Shinji-san.”

„See you.” and he went.

As soon as Hotaru got in, she felt a bit weak. Her vision got darker until it was completely black. She wasn’t sure what’s going on until at the bottom right the loading icon appeared. It was more clear what has happened.