Rose and Rapier

My First Training!!

"Level 10, seriously? How do you manage to get that out from her?"

Spencer looked disbelief when I told her that my Knowledge is now at Level 10. She joined me with my first training for Animal's room. 

Well, actually, the room itself did not lead us to a room, but to a stable!

I looked around while trying to answer Spencer's question.

"Well, yeah, like I didn't it too, but somehow it happened."

We changed our clothes, (actually, it turned itself!) into casual looks. It was a bit lose then my current gown, but I guess it better. It did have traditional values as it was embroidered with gorgeous flowers. I think it was pretty nice, plus, we have to do something with animals! 

So, the gown is not an option around here.

Spencer then led us to NPC in charge of this training room, and it appeared to be a man, tan skin one, with muscular figure-like. He was brushing one of the horses there.

I pulled Spencer's arm to ask.

"In this training, what are we supposed to do then?"

Spencer smirked.

"You have to find it out yourself."

We both walked to the NPC and then asked him. I tried to find any button which can initiate a conversation, but I cannot find any. The guy then looked at me then chuckled.

"First, I'm not an NPC. I'm a player, just like you."

I was startled when he said that. 

Is everyone in here not NPC any more?

Is this some sick new revolution?

The guy extended his hand. I looked at his hand, and it has some dirt on it. The guy noticed that I stared at his hand, then he wiped it with some dirt cloth nearby. He then extended it back.

I flustered as I did not mean to be rude about it.

"Wait, no. I didn't mean it that way! I'm sorry." 

I apologized as I took his hand quickly. He laughed and shook our hand. 

"The name is Roy. Roy Burell."

My, my, the hand is quite rough, but it is tender at the same time. 

A bit strong, yet he held my hand gently.

Roy looked at me at the same time he tried to pull his hand back. I noticed it right away and told him my name.

"Claire. Nice to know you hot, I mean, meet you!"

I quickly pulled my hand and looked at the ground as I can feel my face burned.

Stop it, Claire!

I know this is your first-time touch a guy, but behave!

Spencer noticed it, and she walked beside me, trying to make it less awkward.

"Sorry, Roy. My friend is not used around guys, as she is the only daughter and child in her family."

"Spencer!"

I nudged Spencer with my elbow and looked at Roy with my face red. Roy chuckled.

"It's okay. Not many girls got flustered for me, so I take it as a compliment if any girl did embarrassed when she touched me."

I laughed awkwardly. Spencer sighed and then she turned to Roy again.

"So, Roy, Clara here is a new player, and she wants to increase her level in Animal. Care to help her?"

Roy scanned me, and then he nodded.

"Yeah, sure, besides, she looks like she was good in it though."

Roy then ushered me inside of this one particular door inside of the stable. Spencer stayed outside, playing with one of the artificial sheep, inside of this game.

"Not coming, Serene?"

She shook her head as she continued to stroke the sheep's fur.

"Nope. I want to enjoy the fluffiness that I can't enjoy in the real world."

Later on, the alpacas and lambs, and more farm animals with soft furs surrounded her. I watched her enjoying herself around those animals, so I let her be. I followed Roy into the room.

I thought it will be like another room in the stable, but guess what?

I am wrong again!

Right now, we are in the middle of the wood!

I looked around, unblinking. 

Yes, I knew we are in the game, but sometimes, this is too random!

Roy looked at me as I was still looking around at the wood. It seems like one of those forests where medieval people used to go during the hunting season. Roy threw a small pebble in front of my feet, to catch my attention back.

"Are you ready?"

Roy asked, out of nowhere. Looking confused, I questioned him back.

"Ready for what?"

Suddenly, I heard sounds of heavy footsteps approaching from my left. The trees then abruptly shook, as something bigs, or many, are coming on our way.

Roy hid behind a few boulders near the stream and pointed to sounds on my left.

"Those."

As I turned back to the sounds, a pack of wild animals rushed by to my direction.

"Wow!!"

I almost lost my balance, but I quickly jumped away from their path. Yet, my cloth is stuck on one of the dead branches there.

"Oh, Lord! Not now!"

As I tried to pull my cloth out from the branch, I noticed one or two animals from the pack watched me, and trust me, their eyes are not friendly.

I slowly lowered my hands. The wolf and the deer are watching me, observantly.

Wait, wolf and deer?

Are they like the representatives of each House?

"Psst!"

I heard someone hissing, so I looked for the sound and turned out it was Roy, who was still hiding behind the rock.

"Over here!"

He called me over to go with him, hiding together. I showed him my dress, which is stuck in the branch.

"I'm stuck! A little help would be appreciated!"

Roy nodded, but as soon as he moved, he stepped on the dead twigs, which made a slight c***k sound and attracted the animals' attention. I took the chance quickly by ripping off the cloth, leaving only a half dress just below my knee. 

The animals now turned back to me, but it was too late for them, as I already hide behind one of the trees. Roy noticed it, and he silently tried to move away from the boulder and came to me. 

Unlike me, Roy climbed the tree and jumped on the branches, like a monkey, but a muscular monkey, towards me. Finally, when he arrived at the fork of the tree that I hid, he came down and hid with me. We practically had to hide like in a one-line, as the tree is not big enough for both of us. So, I had to face Roy's chest while he faced the space above my head.

And for the first time, I was this close with a guy!

I had to hide my face, as it was burning red right now!

"That was an impressive skill you got there."

Roy tried to initiate a talk, while his chest is still in front of my face. His hands were put to my left and right, as he wanted to stabilize himself. 

I swear I can felt his breath on my hair!

"Well, if you always some VR games online, it was nothing actually."

I tried to look cool, although I was screaming inside. I took a peek behind the tree to see if the animals were still there or not. 

Turned out, it was only a deer there, as the wolf was walking away from that place.

"So, what is this animal, and why they suddenly bolted to my direction?"

Roy, still huff and puff, is trying to explain.

Is he that tired, though?

Well, then again, I am not the one who jumped from the tree to another tree.

"Well, basically, every player in this game needs to tame their representative animal, as it will become their companion in this game."

I waited for Roy to continue, but he did not, so I decided to look up.

Shockingly, he is facing down as I faced up!

And now, my face is even redder!

"It kinda weird when the wolf and the deer are coming at you."

I could not concentrate on him, as my eyes were locked on his lips. Roy continued, as he did not notice my behaviour.

"Usually, the one that responds to your call is only the representative of the House, but now you had two responses. Are you like having some kind of mix traits?"

Roy then realized that I did not listen. When he raised his eyebrow, then I noticed that I was not listening to him entirely.

"Wh-what? No, I don't know. Why?"

Roy then looked up again, and his eyes went wide. 

"Clara, I think that you might have something special in your character's ability. Look."

I looked behind the tree to look at what Roy is talking about, and I was shocked.

The deer and the wolf are resting their head on one and another!

You say why I should be shocked?

Well...

Because the wolf is a predator and the deer is a prey, duh!

I know, I know, this is a game, but still, it kind of defies the logic of nature.

"What happened?"

I asked Roy.

Roy then did not look at me, but he explained.

"That's what I want to ask you."

I kept my eyes on the duo.

"Usually, each player has to tame the animals that belong to their House. So, for Zahradne, it is a deer, and it will be a companion later."

Roy continued.

"But, this is my first time to see both House's animals come together, as they answer your call, which is your arrival to this room."

I looked at both of the animals.

They are so adorable!

"Can I tame both? They are cute!"

I asked Roy, to his reply, which he shrugged.

"I don't know. This is my first time seeing this."

I started to walk toward them, leaving the tree. Roy grabbed my hand.

"Where are you going?!"

"You say I have to tame them!"

Roy held me firmly, but not too tight.

"I forgot one thing, they can actually kill you if you didn't make it. Though, you're not dead, just been teleported to the House back."

My eyes went wide.

Suddenly, I heard a growl behind me.

I turned around, just to realize that the deer and the wolf are looking directly at me!

"Good luck!"

Roy then sneaked behind the tree back.

I gulped.

Best of luck, I guess?