By the end of the first week, Max's cart had evolved into a cart convoy. Three wooden platforms, precariously linked together by vines and hope, creaked their way across the Tutorial Zone's grassy plains. Each cart specialized in different categories: minerals and metals in the first, plant materials in the second, and "miscellaneous potentially useful things" in the third—which was really just Max's way of saying "stuff I grabbed before thinking about it."
"Your hoarding has reached concerning levels," Griffin, a self-proclaimed rogue with a penchant for lockpicking, commented as he watched Max attempt to secure a fourth cart to his convoy. "I mean, did you really need seventeen different types of dirt?"
"Eighteen," Max corrected, not looking up from his work. "Found a new variety near the combat training area. It's slightly more reddish than the others."
Griffin leaned against a tree, twirling a dagger he'd received from the combat tutorials. "You do realize none of this is coming with us when we leave, right? The instructors mentioned everything gets reset before we enter Eldoria."
Max's hands froze mid-knot. "What?"
"Oh right, you probably skipped that dialogue too." Griffin grinned. "Yeah, apparently when the tutorial ends, we all start fresh in Eldoria. Clean slate, no tutorial items."
The color drained from Max's face as he looked back at his precious convoy. Seven days of meticulous collecting. Categorizing. Organizing. All of it... gone?
"No," he said firmly, returning to his knot-tying with renewed vigor. "There's always a way to keep starter items. Maybe a special quest, or a hidden achievement, or—"
A familiar booming voice interrupted his denial:
"ATTENTION ALL TUTORIAL PARTICIPANTS. WEEK ONE ASSESSMENT BEGINS IN TEN MINUTES. PLEASE PROCEED TO YOUR DESIGNATED TESTING AREAS."
Max's status window flickered with an update:
```
Assessment Location: Northern Training Grounds
Current Quest: Complete Basic Skills Evaluation
Warning: Combat equipment required
Current Combat Equipment: None
```
He glanced at his convoy. Somewhere in cart three, buried under a pile of "potentially useful" pinecones, was the basic sword he'd received during his speed-run of the combat tutorial. He hadn't touched it since.
"I could help you find your sword," Griffin offered, watching Max's internal struggle with amusement. "For, say... three of those rare blue mushrooms you found yesterday?"
"Two mushrooms," Max countered automatically. "And I want detailed instructions on that lockpicking technique you learned."
"Deal."
As they dug through the cart, other tutorial participants walked past, properly equipped and heading to their assessments. Many paused to stare at Max's impressive collection of what most would consider junk. Some even pointed and whispered.
"Oh great," a familiar voice called out. "You've upgraded from one cart to a whole caravan of chaos."
Elara approached, wearing the standard healer's robes she'd earned from her medical knowledge. She carried a staff that actually looked useful, unlike Max's collection of "sticks that might be magical but probably aren't."
"It's not chaos," Max protested, finally locating his sword beneath a pile of suspicious-looking leaves. "It's a carefully organized system of potentially valuable resources."
"Right," Elara nodded sagely. "And I'm sure that dead beetle collection in cart two will come in very handy during the assessment."
"They're not dead," Max corrected. "They're dormant. And they might be useful for alchemy... if I ever get around to taking the alchemy tutorial."
"FIVE MINUTES TO ASSESSMENT START."
"We should head to the training grounds," Griffin suggested, pocketing his mushroom payment. "Unless you're planning to fight the assessment monsters with your impressive rock collection?"
Max reluctantly followed his companions, constantly looking back at his unguarded convoy. He'd spent hours arranging those carts. What if someone stole his premium dirt samples while he was gone?
The northern training grounds were packed with tutorial participants. Some showed off flashy combat moves they'd learned, while others practiced basic spells or reviewed healing techniques. Max stood awkwardly at the edge of the crowd, holding his sword like it might bite him.
"Don't worry," Elara said, noticing his discomfort. "The first assessment is usually pretty basic. Just try not to skip through all the instructions this time?"
Before Max could respond, the assessment began. A massive status window appeared in the sky:
```
WEEK ONE ASSESSMENT BEGINNING
Phase 1: Combat Basics
Phase 2: Survival Skills
Phase 3: Practical Application
Note: Participants may use any items or skills acquired during the tutorial period.
```
Max's eyes lit up at the last line. "Any items?" he whispered, a grin spreading across his face.
Griffin groaned. "Why do I get the feeling we're about to witness either something brilliant or something horrifically stupid?"
"Knowing Max," Elara sighed, "probably both."
Max was already running back to his convoy, sword completely forgotten. He had a plan—and it involved every single one of his eighteen types of dirt.
The assessment was about to get interesting.