Opening the door led me into a large hallway illuminated by small balls of light hanging off the ceiling with nary a rope to hang on.
To my right and left I could see more doors just like the one I came out of, but they remained closed. Before leaving my room I grabbed my wallet as well as the ring which was laying around, it looked pretty nondescript but I still felt the urge to keep it on me and so I placed it on my index finger and went on my way.
Holding in a breath I realised that I recognised my surroundings. How could I not?
Before the first act properly begins and the academy starts its first semester, all prospective students are held in dormitories like this one, cut off from the outside world; heavily monitored to ensure there was no outside interference in the trials to come.
Holy shit do I have to do the trials today?
No... the trials began by kidnapping students in the dead of night, judging by the fact that the curfew is supposed to be lifted at daybreak I still have at least this day to prepare.
Fuck, how do the transmigrators in those novels have a plan of action like 30 seconds after realising where they are? I feel like I'm floundering! Ignoring my festering worry I headed for the large door positioned at the end of the elongated hallway and once again, I was holding in my breath.
Oberon Academy.
I could see it.
The cobble paths twisted and leapt over the hills, spiraling towers that reached for the sky that were scattered along the ground as if a madman designed them, and to top it all off, a giant magnificent castle situated in the center of these towers and winding pathways; a central piece that turned what looked like a crazy mess of cobble, stone, and bricks into a tapestry that'd put any artist to shame.
"Amazing..." I couldn't help but sigh.
"Ha! It's really something huh?!" a voice sounded from behind me.
I almost jumped up in shock as I whipped my head back.
"Oh sorry! Didn't mean to spook ya!" said the mystery man with a giggle.
Behind me stood a boy with close-cropped green hair and large teal eyes, the biggest distinguishing factor being the fact that he basically towered over me. Yeah ok maybe I'm a bit short but this man was at least 6'5 or 6'6! Don't laugh at me when you'd have to look up at him as well!
"... Hey. I bit back the urge to glare at him and loosened up before responding.
"Hey! Name's Garth! I just stepped out of my dorm and found you appreciating the view, most people just took it for granted so I'm glad at least someone appreciates the majesty of this place."
"Yeah... it's nice." I tried to keep the conversation up but out of habit I was trying to look away to hide my face and nonexistent scars, I'll have to fix that quirk. I'm not used to interacting with others.
"How was your first night here? Man, my bed was awesome! So much better than the one back home!" said Garth, pumping his arms into his chest with an elated expression.
"It was... also nice."
Fuck, I can't communicate.
Previously, I only interacted with Mrs Winston because I needed to fuel my gaming addiction, everyone else from my co-workers to my landlord only got curt responses from me. It didn't help that most people felt uncomfortable talking to a kid looking like he had a pepperoni pizza for a face. I shouldn't forget that he said 'first night', meaning I have 6 more days to prepare for the trials as they happen one week after moving in according to the game.
"Yeah right! It was nice!" Garth ignored my weird wording and quirks which I was thankful for.
"Hey! I'm going to the banquet hall for breakfast! Wanna join? My older brother is a third year so I know a lot about the place!"
"Oh! Yes!" I immediately agreed and brought my eyes back up from the floor and looked at him. I have absolutely no idea what I'm supposed to be doing here yet, things were happening so quickly that just getting a plan/idea for what to do next would be amazing. I would be a fool to not let this overly excited puppy-dog of a boy guide me around.
"Haha! I'm glad you didn't say something like 'Sounds... nice'" he quips, the latter half of his sentence a lot quieter and gravelly than the rest.
Is that supposed to be me? He made me sound like Batman with a sore throat.
I didn't really know how to respond other than with a smile that lightly twitched against my will but Garth ignored my predicament and brushed past me, beckoning me along as he walked away from the building. Having nothing better to do, I followed him.
I followed Garth a few steps behind, I couldn't keep my eyes off the scenery as I saw areas and objects that I recognised in-game and that led me to flick my head in every which way to soak up as much of what I was seeing as possible. The more I saw, the more the reality of my situation sunk in.
Garth kept trying to make small talk but after noticing that I wasn't paying him much attention he quit after some time.
I was enraptured by the stunning fauna, the oddly coloured birds and critters that populated the thickets beyond the path, hell even the sun's rays felt more warm than usual.
I was too engrossed in studying my surroundings I didn't even realise Garth had stopped, just before bumping into him I twisted my body and spun around him in a feat of dexterity I wasn't capable of before.
"Woah you're pretty light on your feat! Add that to your obsession with nature and you must be a Ranger wannabe!" Garth said.
A ranger huh?
To play Vishwas' Last Stand you first pick from one of five classes which you can then gain proficiency and evolve into a variety of other choices. The main 5 classes you picked at the start were: Mage, Rogue, Swordsman, Cleric, and Ranger.
For example, you could choose Mage and then develop your class to its maximum earning you the ability to choose from Sorcerer/Sorceress or Battle Mage. Each of those also had class advancements that you could reach and secret advancements that you could unlock if you fulfilled certain criteria.
Once you picked the class, you could then customise your character according to your desire although they provided 2 presets for each class which I didn't bother using.
"Ranger doesn't suit me." I said, trying and failing to sound as friendly as possible.
Garth shrugged with a smile and pointed ahead. "Here's the banquet hall! I'm gonna meet up with my older brother but I'll see you around yeah? Ok bye!" and without waiting for a reply, he bounced away with a wave.
'Are all people here this strange?'
I wasn't used to having positive interactions with others but this felt pretty neutral, as long as I don't let any of my bad habits out, perhaps it's possible to actually have a proper life here! But I need to make sure I don't fuck up.
I found myself staring up at a tower with wide set doors that towered over me with intricately designed timber pillars to either side of my body, I was too focused on the fauna to appreciate this building on my way to it but it wasn't too late for it yet.
Stepping into the hall I felt my ears get slammed with noise, it went from being as quiet as a mouse to screeching squirrel real quick.
'Never thought I'd get to see runes in action before' I thought to myself.
Alongside the many magical properties of this world, one of my favourite types is the rune system, even from the beginning of Vishwas I was always extremely interested in them. The sound slamming my ears made me lose focus for a moment but I looked at the hall soon after.
There were lots of small tables spread out across a lavishly decorated room, it looked like a hybrid of a regular school cafeteria and a royal banquet, casual yet classy.
Most people were sitting in groups not quite yet friends but not strangers either, I felt myself more similar to those who were sitting on their lonesome keeping to themselves.
I wanted to go over there and sit on the tables and chairs I had only done so virtually, to feel the floor that I walked on, touch the curtains, the tablecloths... everything that I had ever seen in-game I wanted to interact with!
But, as it is for all men, something more important took priority.
The delectable aroma of a marvelous breakfast made its way into my nose, a pleased smile forming on my face as it did so.
Hungrily glaring at a huge table covered in fruits, meats, and baked goods of all types, I did all but run to it like a starved wolf. At most, it was a jog ok?!
'Hehe... food!'