This is Tutorial
1603 Words
Nael panicked. He had no weapon! He jumped back, avoiding the rat's bite.
The Gutter Rat roared, and three more emerged from the darkness, surrounding Nael.
This wasn't like a game tutorial! This was far more dangerous!
Nael staggered back, his heart pounding in his chest. The first Gutter Rat's sharp bite had nearly cut his leg. This wasn't in the guide.
This tutorial should have given him a quest to gather some materials, not fight a vicious monster like this unarmed!
Three Gutter Rats surrounded him, their yellow teeth bared. Nael searched for something, anything, he could use to defend himself.
His eyes caught a broomstick lying in the corner. Without thinking, he lunged, grabbed the broom, and swung it like a baseball bat.
The broomstick hit one of the rats in the head, but only knocked it back slightly. The Gutter Rat roared angrily, and the other two leaped at him.
With reflexes honed from thousands of hours of gaming, Nael swung his broom sideways, successfully knocking one Gutter Rat back, but another clawed at his arm.
It stung, and blood began to flow.
Nael panted, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He had to do something.
He couldn't hold on any longer. He stared at the transparent interface before him, recalling his only active ability.
[ Arcana Skill: The Fool ]
[ Passive Skill: Beginner's Luck (LUK +F) ]
[ Active Skill: Arcana Shift -
Activates one of The Fool's random effects. Cooldown: 6 hours ]
He had no choice. He had to try his luck. Luckily, half a day had already passed by the time he walked out of the forest.
"Arcana Shift!"
He cried out in his mind.
A strange sensation spread through his head, like a wheel spinning rapidly and suddenly stopping. His heart pounded, waiting for the effect to appear.
[ Arcana Shift activated! Effect:
"A Light in the Dark"
A small ball of light appears and illuminates the surrounding area, while enemies caught in the light are disoriented and momentarily stunned ]
Instantly, a small ball of light emerged from Nael's palm. The light wasn't very bright, but it was enough to make the dark warehouse slightly clearer. The light spread, touching the surrounding Gutter Rats.
The rats suddenly stopped. They looked up, their ferocious red eyes flashing. They looked confused, as if they had forgotten what they had just done. This was Nael's chance!
He used the broom to hit the nearest Gutter Rat as hard as he could on the head. This time, he could feel a significant impact. The rat fell, writhed for a moment, and then fell silent.
Nael wasted no time. With two more rats still dazed, he attacked them with the broom, one by one.
In a matter of seconds, all three monsters lay helpless on the warehouse floor.
Nael fell to his knees, gasping for breath. His clawed arm stung, but he managed. He had survived his first encounter with a monster in this world, thanks to the unfathomable power of "The Fool."
As time passed, the effects of A Light in the Dark faded and disappeared. The warehouse was once again shrouded in darkness, and the eerie silence returned.
Nael knew he had to get out of here and get his wounds treated.
He glanced at the interface and saw new information.
[ Nael Hawthorne ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ Class: None ]
[ Active Skill: Arcana Shift -
Activates one of The Fool's random effects. Cooldown: 5:57:21 ]
Nael sighed, looking at the long remaining time. He couldn't rely on this ability every time he was in danger. He needed to become stronger.
With renewed determination, he got up, carrying the three Gutter Rat carcasses out of the warehouse. He walked to Mrs. Elora, the innkeeper, with a bolder look in his eyes.
Mrs. Elora looked at Nael, then at the gutter rat carcass in her hand. Her smile widened.
"I knew you had potential, son," she said.
"Take this coin. You deserve it."
She handed Nael a small pouch filled with copper coins. Nael took it, feeling the weight of the coins in his hand.
"And for your wound," Mrs. Elora continued,
"Go to Doctor Claudia's house down the street. She will treat you."
Nael thanked her and hurried off. He couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. His adventure had just begun.
# # #
A clean bandage wrapped around the scratch on Nael's arm, soothing the sharp pain that had previously been sharp.
Doctor Claudia, a middle-aged woman with gentle eyes and deft hands, smiled warmly.
"You're lucky, son. Those rats sometimes carry diseases," she said, as she packed up her medical supplies.
Nael paid the medical expenses With the few copper coins he had just obtained, he felt a little better as he walked out of the healer's house. He had overcome his first hurdle.
However, he knew this was only the beginning.
Nael walked down the village path, observing his surroundings. Although he knew every corner and every building from his games, everything now felt real and alive.
Children ran about, the aroma of fresh bread wafted from a bakery, and the sounds of villagers chatting could be heard clearly. This was no longer a virtual world, but a reality he had to face.
His thoughts returned to the message on the bottle he had found. "Light in the darkness, and truth behind the illusion."
The words kept ringing in his ears. Nael knew there was more to it than what met his eyes. The Fool.
This Arcana was the key, a card unknown even to the Demon King Lucifer and with an unknown purpose.
According to the clues he had received, Nael needed to go to the Arcana Academy. But he didn't know where the academy was or how he would get there.
"Maybe I can find out more at the inn," Nael thought.
"Miss Elora must know."
He returned to the inn, and this time he ordered lunch, savoring a bowl of warm soup that was incredibly delicious on his tongue. The taste of the food was real, warm and satisfying.
As he ate, Nael stared at the transparent interface before him, contemplating his status.
[ Nael Hawthorne ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ Class: None ]
[ STR: F ]
[ DEX: F ]
[ INT: F]
[ WILL: F ]
[ LUK: E (+F) ]
[ Arcana Skill: The Fool ]
[ Passive Skill: Beginner's Luck (LUK +F) ]
[ Active Skill: Arcana Shift -
Activates one of The Fool's random effects. Cooldown: 5:20:12 ]
There were many things Nael didn't understand about The Fool, but he knew he couldn't rely solely on luck. He had to understand this power.
After finishing his meal, Nael approached Miss Elora again.
"Miss Elora," he called,
"I want to go to Arcana Academy. Do you know where it is?"
Miss Elora's eyes widened.
"Arcana Academy?" she asked, her voice filled with surprise.
"It's rare for anyone to ask about that."
She looked around, making sure no one was listening, then leaned toward Nael.
"The Academy isn't in an easily accessible location," she whispered.
"You have to cross the Silverpeak Mountains and head northeast, toward the capital, Aetheria."
Nael was stunned. The Silverpeak Mountains were dangerous territory, even for veteran adventurers. He had no equipment, no skills, and no money.
"Special signs?" Nael asked.
"Yes," Miss Elora replied, standing upright again.
"Only those with Arcana potential can enter. They are usually chosen by the Arcana itself. But rumor has it, there's another way to enter."
"Another way?" Nael was curious.
"Yes," Miss Elora nodded.
"You could seek out a legendary adventurer named Elias the Wandering Sage. He has connections with the Academy, and he often visits major cities. He could help you."
Nael had never heard of Elias in the game. The NPC must be a new NPC appearing in the main story.
"How do I find him?" Nael asked.
"I don't know," Miss Elora shrugged.
"He's always on the move. But usually, he's in a place where adventurers gather. Probably the next town, Arcanum, a bustling trading city."
A new goal emerged. Nael had to find Elias in Arcanum. But he had to cross the Silverpeak Mountains first, or find another way.
He sighed, realizing that the journey would be much longer than he had anticipated.
Nael decided not to waste any time. He needed to get more money and equipment for the difficult journey ahead.
With renewed determination, he stepped out of the inn and back onto the sunny village streets.
Outside the inn, he saw a notice board. It was filled with flyers offering various jobs, from gathering herbs to slaying monsters. Nael knew he had to start with the basics.
# # #
After spending several days in Axell village and saving up money, Nael was finally ready to set off for the next town.
He wasted no time. He went to Gunber's blacksmith shop and bought a sword and shield, then to the general store for a backpack, clothes, and food.
With the 1 gold coin and 4 silver coins he had earned over the past few days, he bought the best equipment he could find in the village.
Nael is now ready. He was no longer an ordinary person who had lost his way. He is an adventurer.
With a sword at his waist, a shield on his back, and the power of "The Fool" at his side,
Nael Hawthorne, an accidental hero or a future doom, embarks on an unexpected journey.l
- Writer
