(World of Valdira 01) The Way of the Clan (18 page)

I put the sword, the dagger, the round shield, the waist belt, the boots and a clock with a straw hat into my old rucksack. That’s for the she-gamer. That gear is more than required for the very beginning of the game. Especially if you remember the stick I swung during my first days… Thinking for a while I added one flask there and a bundle of dried meat with a deep sigh. Ready! Almost the same kit was left for me but I had an ash stuff instead of the sword and I didn’t need a shield. Plus, my old rags and some amount of money that easily fitted a more capacious new rucksack. I put my feet into high boots, put on a grey cloak and clapped a straw hat on my head. Very nice. Protection against physical hit jumped by three points. That counted. In terms of the Cradle I was dressed like a real lord. A dress can make a man indeed! If I added a long grey beard, I’d look like Gandalf…

And now the most important thing to do. I sat on the rucksacks, made the spellbook appear in front of my eyes and pierced into ‘To chase away Zar’graad’s veil forever’.

The spell ‘To chase away Zar’graad’s veil‘!

The spell effect: it destroys the veil of Zar’graad forever.

The required number of mana points: 10,000.

The five-digit number at the end of the text almost made me hiccup. Ten thousand mana points! Sure, there were numerous things, runes and even increasing buffs that can help raise mana points to decent level but ten thousand…that’s too many. Ok, at least I made sure that I hadn’t imagined such a giant number the day before.

Now I’ve got twenty miserable mana points available. Even less than one per cent of the required amount. To increase my mana points to the incredible value of ten thousand in such a short period of time is hellish toil and no warranty for a happy end.

So here comes a simple question: do I really want it? Would I like to set off to the continent Zar’graad and after casting a spell be among those who will be the first to step on the unexplored land?

The reply came immediately:

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Are you a fool?! – my alter ego cried out loud – Yes, I would! I definitely would!

Great.

And what should I do to make my dream come true? It’s also as simple as ABC.

I should level up as high as I could. Then find as much gear increasing mana as I could… and the most important – to forget about a warrior class. I have only one way out – to advance my character as a high-intelligent one collecting all the available goodies on my way and developing appropriate skills. I will be a mage. A combat mage. It’s not my thing to wander at the end of the group, to cast protective buffs on other warriors and to heal them in time. To play a part of a healer and buffer successfully, you need to have a special mind-set and be able to cope stoically with all the criticism of your party gamers who get into mess because of their own stupidity. No way, it’s not for me. Ok, so it’s decided. I’m a combat mage. Consequently it’s time to distribute my points available according to my development strategy. Just to match a new part a bit.

I opened the basic characteristics menu and contributed all fifteen points into intelligence without my hands shaking.

Your character’s basic attributes:

Strength – 13

Intelligence – 17

Agility – 11

Stamina – 11

Wisdom – 1

So what did I get?

Life: 170/170 Mana: 20/95

So almost a hundred of mana…

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Are you mediating?

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What’s the hell! – I jumped up due to that thunder-clap when I heard a friendly voice somewhere aside.

Grabbing my stuff from the grass I jumped on my feet and while jumping I managed to turn all my body to the sound source. I faced an angel smiling gently at me. He was sitting in the air laid-back as if he was in an arm-chair. He even crossed his legs and was lazily swinging his shoe made from golden stripes.

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You can’t kill an Amreeta. Good morning, Rosgard.

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Good morning – I nodded with amazement and put my stuff aside.

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I’m sorry to interfere into your game process – the angel said absolutely serious – But we should talk. Don’t you mind?

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Sure, we can do it. But to tell the truth I don’t have much time. I’m afraid I can be late for a meeting.

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I’ll try not to waste much of your time – the Amreeta gave me a thin smile – Do you know now what the Zar’graad’s spell that you’ve learnt is intended for?

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Yes, I do… but… are you sure that no one can hear us now? I wouldn’t like to make it a common knowledge…

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No one can hear us – the angel calmed me down – And no one can see us. I guarantee it. So?

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This spell chases the magic veil away from the lost continent Zar’graad. And it can be reached by sea only.

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Absolutely correct, Rosgard. I think you realize that the spell learnt means not only a great privilege, luck, unicity and a nice way to earn a fortune. First of all it means a huge responsibility. Yesterday you launched a giant mechanism and now we can’t stop its spinning flywheels. The shipyards used to be closed before that day are open now, drawings of ships are on sale – all that is quite expensive. Huge amounts of money are flowing into the game, all paid bonuses of shipyards have been activated. A trade war to gain resources required to build ships has already burst out. Gamers with advanced craft skills are in great demand. All clans’ efforts are focused on building and protecting ships at the shipyards against monsters and enemy clans. Everybody is trying to identify what gamer is Navigator to tempt him to join their party. It’s a rush. A hostile rush that involves everybody without an exception. There is the whole continent at stake. Those who reach it first will have an advantage of others. Let alone a huge bonus for a first clan or a separate ship that will reach Zar’graad! Although you can forget about single ships, it’s a mere venture. Only a well-protected and swift-sailing fleet will be able to get through. In general I can describe the current events by a few words: Valdira is in a mess. And nobody is aware of an evolving problem…

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Er… a problem?

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Sure, a problem – the Amreeta assured me and leaned forward – Rosgard, everybody is busy building ships now, but as soon as these ships are ready to set off, gamers will demand to show Navigator. Considering the amount of time, resources and money spent – they will be enable to do it. And where is our gamer-joker, our gamer-navigator? He has reached the eighth level of development only and is still sitting in the Cradle… that’s a problem. I’m sorry…

The angel narrowed his eyes for a moment staring at me and sat back in his imaginary arm-chair again opening his hands wide helplessly:

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…ninety-eight mana points.

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Wait – I woke from a stupor – I understand what you’re talking about but I can’t understand what you want me to do?

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An answer. Why are you still in the Cradle? There is one month left before ships have been built. That’s enough to level up. More over you can just choose a clan and inform them that you’re Navigator. The clan will do the rest for you – advance you in high-level locations, dress you and arm. But, Rosgard, you keep on hiding in bushes and obviously not going to the Cradle at all! Please, relieve me, say that I’m wrong.

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You’re wrong! – I blurted out fast – I gonna leave the Cradle soon and trust me – I want to get to Zar’graad very much.

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Ok – the Amreeta nodded slowly – It’s good news for me. We didn’t want to interfere directly but your… hmm… strange behavior forced us to take such a step. I must say something. Please, don’t consider it a threat. We’ll be watching you, Rosgard. The administration can’t afford to sabotage such a significant event. And if you realize once one month passes that you won’t be able to read the spell or you will give up the game or you won’t want to board a ship then we’ll have to take the spell from you and transfer it to another. The voyage to the lost continent will happen with you or without you.

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To another? Do you mean you’ll transfer the spell to another gamer?

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No, not a gamer. To a representative of the administration who pretending to be a gamer will board a ship and set off to Zar’graad as Navigator. But it will be a least-evil solution. In this case you’ll get rather valuable consolation prizes and a ticket to one of the ships. You’ll sail as an adventurer. And small advice. If you understand that Navigator’s burden is too heavy for you, you can do the following: join any clan and transfer Navigator’s ability to the clan’s head willingly but to the clan’s head only. There is a special ritual for this purpose. So it’s you who decides. We are not stalemating you. We just want everything to happen in a proper way. Did you understand me, Rosgard?

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Yes, I understood you very well… thank you for the honest and sincere answer.

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Nothing personal – the Amreeta smiled rising while hovering in the air – Considering your current level and gear quality at the initial location, you’re a very purposeful gamer. Assertive and logical in your strategy. I believe soon you’ll stand at the helm as Navigator and lead the head ship to the unknown land. Can I ask you to keep this conversation between you and me and the bedpost?

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I won’t tell anyone – I replied firmly.

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I’ so sorry I wasted your time. Good luck.

After those words the angle disappeared. He didn’t soar into the sky as the previous time but just vanished in the air instead. No choir singing. That’s for the better.

I was standing still for a few moments, thinking over everything I had heard, then shook my head and grabbed the rucksacks from the ground. I am late. I should hurry up.

I recognized the needed girl at once. Leaving the milky fog of the magic veil she walked straight without staring at the local sights. As a rule beginners don’t behave like that. However she could be an experienced gamer who decided to be born again. But when she approached me directly all my doubts disappeared. I stepped forward studying her appearance.

A human. A grey-eyed girl a bit shorter than me. Long black hair is pulled back into a bun at the back of her head. A beginner’s clothes look too loose for her. In general a usual girl that you can meet in the real world.

Coming close to me almost tight, the girl stopped and giving a slight smile said:

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Hi, Rosgard. Have you been waiting for a long time?

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A bit… er… Keireya the Protectress.

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Keira for short. Can I call you Ros?

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Certainly – I nodded – How are you?

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Not very well indeed – Keira chuckled casting down her eyes for a moment.

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I see.

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But let that pass. Are you ready for the tournament? Wow… you’re already level eight!

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Yup – chuckled I – I am the first to be shocked I’m ready for the tournament. But as for you…

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I should gain two levels at least – Keira nodded with agreement and burst out laughing clearly – But four is much better! You know… I’ve never thought that one day I’ll have to fight against ordinary rats again… are they still there? In the barn?

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Yup. They are waiting for you – I replied with a smile and took off my old rucksack from the shoulder to stretch to Keira. – Take it. That’s for you. The best I managed to get.

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Wow… - the girl got amazed looking into the sack. – Ah… there is ‘double-wow’! A sword, a shield, a cloak…

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…a hat, high boots, a dagger with a belt and some food – I finished instead of her.

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Do you have the same kit? – Keira drawled thoughtfully – Did you mug anyone?

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I just didn’t have nothing to do – I smiled humbly – Keira, I have been hanging about here for four days waiting for you, I have eliminated several rat packs. If you hadn’t come, I would have started building a house in the Cradle and looking at potential brides.

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But I came – Keira smiled again taking the stuff out of the sack professionally – Oh, you put some meat, didn’t you? What a provident dude you are, Ros! A breadwinner! Ooh, that’s a good job! What can you say?