"Okay, shall we?" Tristan asked.
"Which direction do we need to go?" Yugi asked as he peered over Joey's hands to look at the map.
"Uhhh…. Well if we're facing this way…" He said as he turned around on the spot until he was facing towards where they had first appeared. "That way should take us closer to the mountain."
"Where is Water Haven?" Mai asked as she peeked over his shoulder.
"Uhh… there."
"It took us about an hour to get from the forest to here, which means judging by the distance it might take us about 2 hours to get to Water Haven." Atem said as he looked at his own map.
"If it takes us 2 hours to get there by foot, then it should take us 2...3 days to get to the Mountain." Duke said as he looked at Atem's too.
"Thats not too bad. We can stay out of danger for 3 days…" Yugi said quietly.
"Yeah, and maybe there's a carriage or something we can take that'd make that time quicker." Joey suggested.
"Alright, well first things first, we gotta find Water Haven. Let's go, we can learn more about this game on the way." Duke said happily.
They followed a dirt road that should have been going in the direction of water haven. The map uncovered more of their surroundings as they cleared the fog of war and along the way Atem practiced making fire balls float on his palm for fun while Joey talked enthusiastically about taming a dragon.
The world they were in was beautiful. The luscious green fields were vast and dotted with coloured flowers, berry bushes and wild animals grazing happily. The lamp posts along the road were old fashioned. The forest to the northwest of them was the same forest Yugi had appeared in. He knew what dangers lurked in there and wondered if they would need to venture into that forest for anything. He hoped not for a while though he felt more confident with proper clothing and his friends with him now.
In the distance ahead of them he could see a village. It was no larger than the one they had come from only this one had a wooden wall around it and guard towers erected outside the perimeter. He saw only one tall building however.
"At least we know we're headed in the right direction." Yugi said. Atem followed his gaze and put away his fire ball but cocked an eyebrow.
"Are you seeing the village?" He asked.
"Yeah, are you not?"
"Nope. Nothing but the horizon line and faint mountains… I think they're mountains." Atem said.
"Yeah they're mountains. Theres snow on them too." Yugi said as he peered over at the mountains even farther from the village. "I wonder why I can see so far but you cant."
"You can see all that?" Tea asked him.
"Guess you cant either." Yugi blinked.
"I can. I cant see snow but I can see the village." Joey said.
"So can I." Mai said.
"Not me." Tristan said.
"I can see the village… not the mountain. Maybe it's got something to do with our classes." Duke supposed.
"That must be it!" Tea agreed.
"I wonder if theres a way to check our stats and info." Joey said as he flipped his coin into the air and caught it. As he did a holographic screen showed up before him, coming from the coin. The screen showed his name, his class and level, basic stats and class abilities.
"Wow!"
"That's so cool, how did you do that?" Yugi asked in excitement as they looked at the screen around him.
"I dunno. I just caught my coin." Joey said. "Hey cool look. According to dis I've got heightened sense of sight and hearing. I think your right about those class abilities Duke."
Everyone got their coins out except for Yugi and momentarily they all had their own screens.
"Yep it doesnt have anything about increased sight on mine. But I do have the ability to sense magic though." Atem said pleasantly.
"I wonder what that does." Yugi wondered.
"I dont know but if I were to guess I would think it might allow me to sense magical items, users maybe, spells and illusions perhaps." Atem suggested.
"That's so cool. Your class sounds like so much fun!" Yugi said excitedly.
"I'd like to know more about your class Yugi. But I suppose its safer to keep it hidden for now." Atem told him.
"We are alone at the moment, I'm sure its safe enough to bring up your stats screen Yug." Joey said.
"Yeah?" Yugi asked excitedly. They moved to surround him so if anything his screen would be hidden and he brought up his own screen with his pheonix coin.
"Yugi Moto. Pheonix. Hero class, that's so cool!" Tea read.
"Extreme sense of sight. That explains a lot." Joey said happily.
"Self healing and mana regeneration. That's useful." Duke noted.
"Tea in that case it might be worth focusing on everyone else seeing as I can heal myself." Yugi suggested.
"Right. I'll still help if I can though." Tea said smiling.
"Pheonix Burst unknown. I wonder what that is." Atem said curiously.
"I dont know but it sounds powerful. It's in it's own space too, maybe it's an ability. Like a Hero power?" Duke suggested.
Yugi touched the name of the ability and details of it came up before him.
"Of all the spells in a Pheonixs arsenal none is more powerful or volatile than Pheonix Burst. Pheonix Burst is a unique Hero ability allowing 100% mana regeneration and spell power at the cost of 100% defence. During this mode the Pheonix becomes an almost unstoppable force of nature with the ability to mass resurrect their allies while bringing total destruction on their enemies. This ability is channelled for 1 minute during which time the Pheonix loses all movement and defence abilities and becomes very vulnerable to damage. If damage is sustained during this channel the Pheonix will sustain critical damage however if the channel is successful the full fury of the Pheonix will be devastating." Yugi read aloud for them.
"Wow… it says unknown though, suppose you need a certain level to learn it?" Atem asked.
"Maybe. Guess we'll find out soon enough." Yugi said as he pocketed his coin and his screens went away.
"Well I'm just happy weve got you on our side. I'd hate to fight a Pheonix in Pheonix Burst mode." Tristan said happily.
They kept walking then, still looking at one anothers abilities and trying out ones they didnt know they had. Atem found out he could summon a familiar and while they walked he tried to summon one but his spell kept shortening out until he felt his magic ability was low.
Mai learned the type of Druid she was was akin to an animal whisperer. She could call and control beasts and empower herself with various animal aspects to aid her in her own fighting. She was versatile and ever changing with the ability to heal using the spirits of the forests, fight with the ferocity of the wild or take a few hits with the strength of the earth. For now she enjoyed the twin daggers she was given so could fight with the wild. They made her a close range fighter with high maneuverability.
After just over an hour of relaxed walking they reached Water Haven. Behind it were farms and rivers and through it were yet smaller streams and ponds. Water Haven was an apt name for it it seems.
The guards allowed them entry and much like the previous town many people went about their business.
They walked to a stone building that looked similar to the barracks and inside they found Captain Whitemane, a young woman with white long hair and buff armour.
She looked at them with an unimpressed expressed and waited to hear their reason to interrupt her.
Duke pulled out the letter from Graywolf and handed it to her.
"We have a letter to Captain Whitemane from Captain Graywolf." He said politely. She snatched it from him, read it and crumpled it up before tossing it in the fire.
"You may tell the good Captain that I would sooner be interested in Arachnid soldiers than him." She said. "I suppose you were promised a reward though. Take these and be sure to deliver that message for me." She said gruffly as she handed them each a pouch of coins. She left then out of sight and they were free to leave.
"Nice, that was easy." Joey cheered.
"Yeah and we got some more money! I wonder what there is to spend this on." Tea wondered.
"Let's have a look around. We can probably wait here for a while before we set off again, right Yug?" Joey asked him to which Yugi blinked.
"Yeah, but why are you asking me?"
"Cause it's your training-" he went to say when Duke smacked the back of his head. "Ow!"
"Be careful!" Duke scolded him.
"Yeah that's fine. I dont mind. Actually… is there another town between here and there?" Yugi wondered as he pulled out his map. "I cant see one but it's hard to tell with so much of it unexplored."
"Well let's ask someone while we look around. Meet back here soon?" Tea suggested.
"Yeah!"