His weapon was a whip- Just what was he supposed to do with it. Feeling his mood dampen, he still decided to at least check the description.
[Quirkwood Whip]
Durability: 30/30
Rank: Common
Type: Whip
Damage: 5-8 (Slashing),
Critical Damage x2.0
Description: The Quirkwood Whip is an eccentric and unusual weapon, unlike any other found in the game. Its long, flexible whip-like body is made from the vines of the mystical Quirkwood forest. The vines seem to possess a life of their own, gently pulsating with a faint bioluminescent glow.
Well- At least he no longer needed to borrow a weapon from the association.
Saad gazed at the Quirkwood Whip in his inventory, uncertain about how he felt regarding his new weapon. Throughout his entire life, he had never held any kind of weapon, unless one counted a kitchen knife. Initially, he had thought that perhaps wielding a sword would be a more straightforward approach, but now that he had been given a whip, he had to work with it. While he hadn't checked the stores for weapons yet, he believed saving his money would be a wise choice.
Having played numerous games, he knew that better items would become available later, and besides, he couldn't afford to splurge on a weapon he might not use for long. He decided to wait until after his awakening to acquire a more suitable weapon. For now, he reluctantly chose to go with the whip. As he equipped it, the whip materialized out of thin air and settled on his waistband. Saad took it off and examined it with fascination, feeling the texture of the wood and the scent of polish. Despite its unorthodox nature, the whip possessed a certain elegance, enhanced by the faint bioluminescent glow of the vines.
He spun it around experimentally, trying to get a feel for its range and flexibility. The critical damage bonus intrigued him; perhaps the whip would prove to be more effective than he initially thought. However, Saad soon realized that using the whip was harder than he had imagined, and it didn't move as cool as he had seen in some movies. He was grateful that he decided to test it out in the privacy of his room.
The memory of the impressive training buildings he had seen while visiting Drusilla yesterday made him a little apprehensive about learning to use the whip when he wasn't even sure about its long-term viability. After all, it was just a weapon he had received as a level-up reward. Nevertheless, Saad resolved to check the training center and then seek out more quests. He needed to level up quickly and become more powerful to pass the upcoming test. There was no time to leisurely enjoy the game; he had to be proactive.
Feeling prepared, he made his way to the association to see if there were any new quests available. As he approached, he noticed a certain hustle and bustle among the players. Some were discussing their recent quests, while others seemed engrossed in trading and bartering.
Entering the association's main hall, Saad joined the line with fewer players. He scanned the area, hoping to spot Irene or Alf, but they were nowhere to be seen. He had no intention of talking to Alf, but seeing familiar faces brought a sense of comfort. The receptionist, an NPC named Ira, caught his attention.
The male NPC wore glasses and had a charming look. While Saad wondered if such a nerdy appearance would be popular in real life, he noticed many female players lining up and whispering about how cute the receptionist was. A twinge of jealousy crossed his mind, and he chuckled inwardly at the absurdity of feeling envious of an NPC.
"I'm looking for new quests," Saad replied, attempting to sound confident despite his lingering apprehension about dealing with Drusilla again. He placed his ID down for verification, and the receptionist seemed to recognize something.
After sifting through some individual quests set aside, the receptionist smiled at Saad. He now understood why Ira was so popular – the smile seemed to boost his overall appeal, making him look quite charming. "Ah, yes. We do have a special quest for you. You've been summoned by Drusilla, the novice herbalist. She was impressed with your performance during the last quest you completed with her. It seems she has a special request for you. Would you like to accept it?"
Saad hesitated for a moment. He really didn't want to deal with Drusilla and her brusque personality, but he also knew that completing link quests and building good relationships with NPCs could be beneficial in the long run.
[Drusilla's Encyclopedia- 2]
Drusilla, the novice herbalist, is on a journey to compile an encyclopedia of local herbs for her master. She has been impressed by your work last time and has decided to make you work for her again. Assist Drusilla in becoming a skilled herbalist.
- Quest Details -
[Empty Encyclopedia]: 0/1
[Common Herbs Collected]: 0/20
[Uncommon Herbs Collected]: 0/10
Difficulty: D
Rewards:
Healing Draught: x2
Quills: +40
Experience points: +40
The rewards were so much better even though the quest was harder. He couldn't just turn down the quest, considering the benefits. "Yes, I'll accept the quest," he finally replied.
"Very well. Drusilla is waiting for you in her shop. Remember, she can be a bit difficult, but she's a talented herbalist. Good luck!" The receptionist waved him off with a friendly smile.
Saad sighed inwardly, mentally preparing himself for the encounter with Drusilla. As he made his way to her shop, he decided to check out the training center. The tall building seemed to have numerous floors, appearing even more spacious and impressive from the inside. The refined interior, made mostly of wood, added to the city's overall prosperity. Seraphia was indeed a well-managed and organized city.
Inside the training center, Saad noticed the bustling activity of players honing their weapon mastery and embarking on skill quests. The place was abuzz with excitement and determination as gamers sought to improve their abilities in the virtual world. Standing near the map, Saad's attention was drawn to a tag beside the description of the third floor.
Though he had no intentions of becoming a guardian, he needed to acquire a defense skill to fulfill the requirements of Lavinia's quest.
Seeking information about the Defense Mastery, Saad approached the receptionist at the information desk. Unlike the charming receptionists at the association, the training center receptionists were more on the buff side and laid-back. Saad noticed that they were all NPCs.
"Hey there! What can I help you with?" the receptionist asked in a relaxed tone as he glanced up from his work.
"I'm interested in learning some defense skills. Could you tell me what I would need to get into the Defense Mastery?" Saad inquired, attempting to hide his nervousness.
"Sure thing! On the third floor, you'll find the Defense Mastery Training area. It's perfect for players who want to focus on tanking and protecting their team. We have various classes and skill trainers here who can teach you the ropes," the receptionist explained, leaning forward. "Also, just make sure you have a basic weapon equipped, like a shield or a defensive weapon. If you don't have one, you can borrow it from here for a charge during the training week. And don't forget to bring some quills for the training sessions. It's 100 Quills per week for Novice training, 200 for Intermediate level, and 300 for Master level. Since you are a beginner, you can only start from Novice."
"Got it," Saad replied, feeling a little overwhelmed. He realized he didn't have any points in the defense stat, and he wasn't sure how long it would take him to learn the basic Defense skill. However, he had no other choice. He needed to learn it to proceed with the quest. "I would like to sign up for Novice Defense Mastery training."
The receptionist handed him a paper, and Saad diligently filled in his personal information and training preferences. He ticked the box for borrowing a shield with a bleeding heart and received a round silver token as proof of his enrollment.
[Training Token]
A token given to those who have signed up for the training class.
Feeling a sense of accomplishment and trepidation, he handed over the paper and paid 250 Quills for the training. Despite the purpose, Saad felt a bit disheartened spending so much on only his second day in the game. Since it was still early, he decided to proceed with his plan to see Drusilla.