Three choices. Left. Right. Forward.
Three significant options that I found conflict in resolving. Before I was able to make my decision, I then noticed what my confused mind was unable to perceive. A nice fellow stood a few meters away.
Nearing the place where that fellow stood, he greeted me. He said he was my guide and that I needed to talk to some people who will be able to tell me more about the world of Rune Midgard. He also added that each one had their own specialty and missing one could become a big loss.
This fellow never moved, he only told me where to proceed to from afar. He had a welcoming air around him, although from time to time I couldn't help but doubt his intentions.
It occurred to me, just for a few times, that he might be a robot much like the two guards I met earlier. However, I always did dismiss that thought saying, "He's just too kind to be like them."
I realized later on, though, that these people were part of what they called NPCs. Non-player characters, or predestined robots programmed to facilitate certain things inside that world. These things were needed, I suppose, to maintain peace and prosperity.
After learning so much from that place, I finally understood how everything worked. I was even tested with how well I fight, but I was never suited for combats from the very beginning.
The qualities, I had, normally lacked a sense of power in strength. Patience, intelligence and speed were my major points, you see; and I had a hard time swinging my knife at those monsters. Most of the time I missed, and sometimes when I hit it right, it's as weak as a slap on the face.
The NPCs already informed me of different creatures lurking about the forests, as well as actual people, just like me, so I didn't scream as much when I saw the monsters in the testing field. In all actuality, I thought those pink blobs and furry balls were cute. I didn't think the small caterpillar was as appealing as those two, but they weren't at all creepy or scary. They didn't even attack me, or at least they didn't hurt me when I don't hurt them.
Moving on, I was able to leave that training ground in one piece. Or maybe, I wasn't supposed to be alive when I left that place. I died around five times, and still I am here. What is death anyway? Why didn't it exist there? I wondered for a long time.
A portal was located a hundred steps away from where they originally warped you, and the point of the test is, to reach that place. I learned a few things on the way, as I dedicated my time and experience to learning and improving my intelligence.
When I reached that portal, it took me to a place, a room perhaps. All I saw was a dimly lighted area with a man standing on an elevated part. Some people—real people—were already there and thinking it was safer, I approached the man. The man was an NPC, just as I guessed.
He asked me a ton of questions and I answered as truthfully and as nobly as I could. I knew helping others was a big dream, but I kept that in mind as the guy asked what I would do during different situations.
A result came out—acolyte. 'What?' I asked myself, 'ACOLYTE?' I was really wondering why this man would refer me to becoming a man of God. Well, I had a different knowledge of a God, then, but after hearing what acolytes do, I understood fairly well. My dream was going to come true.
After telling me of the result of his test, he asked me to choose from a set of options. It included following the result of the test, choosing another job, simply heading straight to the real world, or cancelling. Thinking it was such a good opportunity, I followed his recommendation and he wished me good luck.
That was probably the very last test of the introductory lesson because as I reopened my eyes, I found myself in a small graveyard. Noticing the names on the tombs, they were priests, bishops, archbishops, and much more. What could that place have been? What was the purpose of bringing me to such a place? Was it another test? Or maybe they simply wanted me to see the beauty of the path of God. That no matter whether you are alive or dead, your soul is cleansed and your name will be cherished forever.
