Rose and Rapier

Introduction to the House

Hold on a second!

If this is a typical RPG game, I might already reach Level 13 for my first day as I enjoy to defeat my enemies.

But to think a Medieval RPG's style game, which combined with life simulation?!

Of course, I am not okay with it!

"W-wait, Spencer! What kind of training that we're talking here?"

Spencer smirked. She opened her 'Profile' screen.

Name: Serene Dunfield

Role: Noble Lady

House: Zahradne

Reputation: 49

Skills: Persuasion:7

Traits: Elegance: 6

             Music :6

                    Courtesy : 5

             Dance:6 Etiquette : 5 

            Animal:6 Knowledge: 9

            Literacy:9 Leadership: 5

My eyes went wide when I saw her stats.

"How do you managed to get those?"

Spencer pointed the doors with her thumbs.

"With these."

Spencer then took out her g*n from her belt and pointed at me, with a smile.

"I know what you're thinking right now. You must think that no way behind these doors, there are regular training like RPG games used to have, right?"

Spencer then played with her g*n. I felt like she now looks like one of the instructors that will enjoy whenever you felt anxious.

"The thing is, behind these doors, you will be trained to be a noble lady."

I did not know how to react with Spencer's words. Right now, I gave her the sceptical looks. I think she might be forgetting something about me.

I am from a noble family!

Well, technically, not a real noble like the medieval era, but I was trained to act like a lady throughout my life!

Spencer then scanned my expression.

"And yes, I do notice about your life as one of the wealthiest daughter in the wealthiest family."

When I heard about wealth, suddenly I remembered about Father and Mother. I quickly changed the subject.

"So, which one is the easiest?"

Spencer noticed it, but she did not want to ask about it either. She then pointed to the room which it door has a book symbol carved on it.

"Maybe we should increase your Knowledge first. I think it is the best way."

I nodded and went to the door. I pushed it open slowly, and suddenly, a blinding light flashed before me. I covered my eyes.

Mmm~

Hearing the hum, I knew that I might be arrived at where I am supposed to be. Slowly, I opened my eyes, and it went wide!

I am at a massive library, with the books flew around!

Like a magical library!

No way!

Carefully, I took my step, one at the time, until I realized that I was not alone in the library.

"Hello."

I turned around to look for the voice, and again, I was surprised.

It was a beautiful lady, with porcelain white skin, with golden, wavy hair, braided neatly with fishnet.

She is even as tall as a model that I used to look at the weekly, Glamorous magazine!

She holds a large book, as almost as big as a turtle on her hand.

Oh, but then again, this may be an NPC.

Still, I was impressed with the design of the character. 

It was like almost they revived the people from the past, just to be placed in the game.

"May I help you?"

She asked me as she saw me froze in front of her. 

"I-i, well I-"

I stuttered, as I too did not know what to do.

She looked at me, and then she apologized.

"Sorry for my rudeness. My name is Lavenza. How can I assist you?"

I do not know why, but my first question in my head is, is she a player or NPC?

"Are you a playable character or-"

Lavenza chuckled.

"I'm an Artificial Intelligence that had been created specifically for this library purposes, so that's why I may sound like a human. As every time the new player entered the library, I had studied their behaviour."

Cool!

Never heard an AI in the game!

Usually, the NPC in the game will always have the same dialogues, over and over again. 

So, that is mean, Lavenza can reprogramming herself, to suit the player's question.

Interesting.

Lavenza continued.

"My sisters, which has the same feature like me, where already been placed in each House, as we serve the same purpose."

Each House?

Is that mean, there are more Houses exist in this game?

"By each House, did you mean that this House isn't the only noble house that exists in this game?"

Lavenza nodded. She opened the book in her hand, and then the images projected from the book, like slides on the thin air. I watched the screen and looked at it, one by one.

"In Thorn Legacy, we choose the concept that which is similar to the medieval era, which is the players are the representatives from each House in the game."

I nodded as Lavenza continued to explain while swiping the slides in front of us.

"There five Houses in total in this game. House of Lyttelton, the ruler of the sea. This guild mainly focuses on aquatic-based activities. Suited their animal's representative, a seahorse, the members of this House excel in everything that related to the water."

I looked at the image of Lyttelton's base. Their guild is located at the seashore, which looks similar to Venice.

Kind of cool, though.

I pointed at one of the images and enlarged it.

"Are they using boats to travel around through the water canal?"

Lavenza nodded.

"Yes, like Venice, we wanted to capture every single detail, so that it fits the history."

"The next House, House of Foix, with their animal, a Chianina. The house focus on the labour work, which suited their animal, the strongest cow."

House of Foix is located near the mountain's feet, with poultries and farms near them. They also have a spacious training centre which they used for combat training.

Why can't I be in that base?!

Lavenza then swiped to next slides, which the base is placed near to the city. This guild is crowded with expensive and most prosperous buildings, as the people there wore extravagant dresses.

"The next residence is the House of Wyatt, where it focuses on textiles and clothes. Similar to their animal, the peacock, this base is filled with colourful and bright costumes that you can ever imagine."

Lavenza switched to the next slide. This time, the residence is located near the forest as it used nature as their shield and defence forces.

"House of Prilience, which focused on hunting and horse-rides. Their animal, a wolf, similar to the members of the house, as they have a sharp hearing and sight."

Lavenza ended her slide with the last image.

The House of Zahradne.

"And the last base, House of Zahradne. This guild located at the centre of the massive, beautiful garden as we believe beauty is deadly. The deer, served as the guild's animal representatives shows agile and beauty itself together like a living creature. This house mainly focused on etiquette and manners, as those two are helpful in the time of needs."

Lavenza closed her books, which indicates it was the end of her talk. 

I blinked my eyes a few times, as my eyes were trying to focus back inside of the library's light.

Lavenza then offered me a seat, to rest my brain from processing all the information I just learned.

I took a seat and then tried to think of something.

"So, if there are five houses in this game, so what is actually the main purpose of the game? Do we have to make an alliance, or-" 

Lavenza shook her head.

"I can't tell you that. Even my sisters didn't know the true objective of this game."

I sighed as I cannot still connect the dots. 

There is so much thing to digest!

I tried to think of something, but sadly nothing had come in mind. Lavenza patiently stood beside me, waiting for me to ask anything from her. 

Though I have something in my mind, I bet that she would not know the answer either. 

Anyhow, I have to ask.

"Lavenza, this game is based on the Renaissance's era, right?"

Lavenza nodded.

"Yes, it is."

I tried to remember something in my history class. 

During that era, if someone wanted to be recognized by society, they have to own certain fame.

Though a lower class noble is still a noble, their fame is not acknowledged by those who have a higher status.

There are ways for them to be known by the elite, though it is quite challenging.

First, you need to be well-mannered and have well dress.

The clothes you wear must be the highest quality and fashionable enough to catch the noble's attention.

Though you might encounter with some fashion battle later.

But it actually a must! You have to win to get the attention of the higher people with status!

Second, spreading rumours.

I hate this method. It was similar to the mean girl's tactics in the school.

But it actually worked!

I tried to connect the dots between all the new information that I just thought about.

Reputation is similar to Scale Level.

So, to increase your Scale Level is by getting the experiences...

"And to increase your Reputation, then you have to receive all the acknowledgement from everyone in this game."

Lavenza clapped her hands.

"Yes, you're absolutely correct."

Suddenly, I heard a bell rang.

I felt something inside me is getting stronger.

What just happened?

I checked my 'Profile' to see if anything has changed.

Name: Clara Courteney

Role: Noble Lady

House: Zahradne

Reputation: 9

Skills: Persuasion:0   Traits: Elegance : 0

      Music     :0      

    Courtesy : 5

      Dance :0            

    Etiqutte : 0 

      Animal :0           

    Knowledge : 10 (+10)

      Literacy :0 Leadership : 0

My Knowledge!

It increased!

I turned to Lavenza, who is smiling as she watched me.

"That's correct. As this game is similar to the medieval era, we didn't use the Level system. Yet, we want to implement the Reputation system, where every action that players take will receive its consequences to their fame. Whether it big or small."

Whoa, that is a whole new perspective!

I wanted to confirm my assumption, so I asked Lavenza again.

"So, if I happened to cause a riot in the centre of the street, does it harm my reputation?"

Lavenza nodded.

This is insane!

In a regular RPG, causing a riot in the central park can only affect your status as you will be reported only. Yet, your level or skills did not affect at all.

Guess this game is pretty much like a life simulation then.

"We still have combat feature so that players can enjoy this game as a regular RPG game that they used to love."

I nodded, finally understood how this game worked. 

Maybe it can explain how the top players managed to be the top five that fast.

It appeared that I do not have anything question, plus my Knowledge is now at Level 10. So, I did not see why I should hang around in this room anymore.

I thanked Lavenza for her help.

"Thank you, Lavenza. It such nice of you to help me."

I bowed and gave her my courtesy. Lavenza smiled.

Clare Courteney's Reputation: 32 (+2)

Wow, with this small action can affect my Reputation too?

Guess I have to be careful in my every action.

I left the room and found out that Spencer is still there.

She noticed me.

"Have fun in there?"

I smiled.

"Yup, and now, let's level up!"

Thorn Legacy, here I come!