All my work on the second day earned me 1 silver coin and 27 bronze coins. I decided to save all the money left over to buy a level 05 staff, (except for the 40 bronze coins I spent on shelter and food).
I thought about what Roni had said about resetting my account, and in some research, I saw that he was right. The community wasn't too keen on dark affinity, at least not for the main element.
But in the end, I decided to keep Alnair alive.
It's not as if I had chosen this affinity at random or because I thought it was cool. The darkness was quite quiet and discreet compared to the others, and as I was planning to play alone, I think these are indispensable advantages.
Why did I decide to play alone in a game that's meant to be played in a group, you ask? Because of the money.
When you play in a group, you share the experience, the loot, and there's always someone who needs an item. On my own, everything is left for me to use or sell.
If I had friends in the real world... unfortunately, that option no longer exists.
I spent the next few days hunting, when I reached level 05 I bought a staff and at level 07 I managed to buy a better set of clothes.
The seventh day has arrived, and unfortunately I didn't manage to reach level 10, but I did get money to buy another skill.
As I make my way to the arcane tower, I can't help but notice how tense the people seem, and the very air feels strange.
"Good morning, who do I talk to about buying a dark affinity skill common?"
"Do you already know which one you want, or do you still have to choose?"
"Fascination of darkness"
"Five silver coins"
I handed over the coins with an ache in my heart, back to square one in terms of wealth.
The attendant, a young human woman with long black hair and vibrant lilac eyes, judges me with an arrogant air, she leads me into a room and after talking to someone else, she closes the door and looks at me.
"Fascination of darkness has two effects, the first decrease since the affected target's field of vision or makes them completely blind for a few seconds. The second effect has a chance of causing a mental attack that can force the target to attack anything nearby or flee... You can hit any target, as long as it's in your field of vision, and since it's a mind control spell, the hit is instantaneous."
The attendant began to move her hands in a pattern, her movements being followed by strange purple runes.
"I'll perform the magic a few times, and then I'll correct your execution. If you don't learn the magic in 1 hour, you'll be given a diagram to practice on your own, or you must pay a fee to continue being instructed. If you have any complaints about my method, you can speak directly to the wizard lord Valthir"
The experience of learning a new magic was... unique.
The magician seemed to be teaching a dog to paw, while I seemed to be trying to learn quantum physics.
After an hour I was sort of kicked out of the Tower, receiving only a parchment teaching me the correct movements...
I return to my rented room and disconnect from the game.
I still have plenty of time to play, but I have to leave it until the evening, when the mysterious event will begin. Luckily, today is Sunday and I don't have to work, so with nothing else to do, I decided to start my "special magic training" routine.
The movements of the 'ritual' to invoke the spells are nothing extraordinary, anyone could replicate them with enough training, and so I started using my free time outside the game to improve my in-game execution of spells... I'm not sure if it's working or not, but the impression I get is that I'm getting fewer wrong.
When I get tired of exercising, I browse the forums a bit and come across some bizarre news. From players sexually assaulting female players and npcs, to npcs attacking players for vile purposes... Players are demanding an answer from the developers, but so far they have remained silent.
Leaving aside this crazy news, back to the game.
[Starting connection]
I avoid practicing magic inside the village, for fear of the consequences, and especially today, I refuse to leave the village walls.
The air is filled with smoke and ash, the full moon shines red in the sky, covering the world in a hideous crimson hue.
The city's army was moving in large groups, positioning themselves on the walls and transporting weapons and ammunition to the towers. The castle on top of the hill emanated a cold, refreshing light, which extended to the edge of the walls.
[Monthly event started!]
[Defend Terhi until sunrise]
[Reward: 50 silver coins, improved relationship between players and residents of Terhi]
[Players who make a significant contribution during the battle will receive a special reward]
As expected, there are hundreds of players causing chaos all over the place, requiring the intervention of military officers to divide and organize the players.
And so I'm send outside the walls with other players and soldiers, with a mere wall of earth and a thorn fence to protect me from whatever lurks beyond the darkness. Luckily, I and the other conjurers are placed in the third defensive line, with the archers in the second line and the infantry in the vanguard.
I quickly look back, seeing the village gates open, and the bridge lowered, which calms me down a little.
Before the fight starts, I take one last look at my status to make sure I haven't forgotten anything.
Status
Name: Alnair
Race: Half-Blood dragon
Class: ???
Level: 07
HP: 7.5/7.5
Sp: 04/04
MP: 19/19
Attributes:
Strength: 0
Agility: 0 ⇾ 1
Vitality: 1.75 ⇾ 3.75
Vigor: 02
Magic: 5,5 ⇾ 9,5
Mind: 02
Will: 1.75 ⇾ 2.75
Abilities:
[Black Spark (2): fires a small spark from the tip of the finger, dealing 08-24 damage. Has a 10% chance of causing corrosive damage for three seconds. Cost 2pm].
[Fascination of darkness(/): causes total blindness for 5 seconds, if the target resists, reduces their field of vision for 5 seconds. Has a 25% chance of putting the target under an illusion that makes them hear strange voices that send them into a frenzy or terror. Cost 3pm]
Equipment:
Old staff: Increases spell damage by 0.15% and prevents mana loss on failed casting.
Traveler's clothing: Offers medium weather protection, high durability.
A slight tremor draws my attention to the battle line, I see some people lying on the ground... vomiting?
The wind blows towards me, carrying a putrid stench that hits me like a tsunami, invading my senses. I drop my staff and try to block my breath as the stench intensifies around me.
My eyes water, my lungs burn for air. I hear screams, lots of screams.
The hum of arrows being fired, the nauseating sound of flesh being pierced.
Voices shouting orders. Voices cry out in pain. Voices whisper calls for help.
A gentle wind blows under my back, carrying the stench away. I open my eyes and find myself lying on the ground, trembling. My body seems to be covered in a gooey sensation.
I try to get up and see the battle line in total ruin. Part of the infantry has been put to flight or simply killed, the hole created at this point has led the enemies straight to the second line, and now the archers are facing horrifying monstrosities in melee.
The conjurers managed to recover and began firing a shower of arcane fire at the enemies. A unit of infantry crosses the bridge, coming to assist the archers and reform the battle line.
I feel something forming behind me, and I turn my face towards the wall to see a wave incandescent expanding, plunging the battlefield into an ocean of fire, disintegrating the enemies within range.
I swore I was going to die, but the fire passed through me without causing any damage, leaving only a feeling of warmth and cleanliness.
"Don't lose heart, warriors! As long as there is a soldier of Teanor alive, evil will not touch our walls!"
"We are the shield of Teanor AND WE WILL NOT BE BROKEN!!!"
[You have received the blessing of Teanor. Attributes increased by 7%. General resistance increased by 20%]
I don't have time to see who is shouting over the wall, because the enemies have resumed their onslaught. The putrid stench returns, mitigated by the contrary wind.
The enemies that attack are the living dead. Rotting corpses of bears, wolves, wild boars... everything that has been killed in the forest seems to have come back to life in search of revenge.
I start shooting [black sparks], even though I know it won't be effective. The living dead have resistance to the element of darkness, depending on the level of resistance, they can reduce the damage by 10% or even 90%...
But the important thing is that I hit the enemy, as long as he is killed, I get a share of the experience anyway.