(listen to the proj music when reading) Chapter 2: Discovering New Strength. I set out east, knowing that the village of Rethmaur had plenty of weaponry I could use to make my fighting far more effective. However, something inside me felt just weapons would not be enough. I knew I would find my true strength in battle, but just what that strength was remained a mystery to me. As the village gates of Rethmaur started to come into focus over the horizon, a strange, snarling dark green beast scrambled to stop me. It had jet black spikes on its back, 3 bulging eyes and a snarling mouth filled with sharp teeth. “Looks like my first test of strength has finally arrived. Time to see just what I’m made of” I muttered, brandishing my blade. The creature lunged at me with surprising speed, and I stumbled back, barely dodging its “bite” attack. “Crap, this thing isn’t playing around.” I mumbled, getting up and doing a carefully timed double slash sword attack, but my sword broke when I hit it, his body armor was heavily reinforced, so I had no choice but to retreat to the gates of Rethmaur. I entered and upon thinking of my utter trouncing against that creature, something very odd happened. My body started to internally spark and my body was bathed in a faint dark orange aura. I had no idea what this meant, but I felt I something had changed within me. However, the aura was quick, there and gone. So, I really had no clue what it was. I did, however, notice a strange old man examining me with an intent look on his face, almost as if he was trying to recall something. I dismissed it, and went to the weapons store ran by Grugg the warthog man. I used to know Grugg because he commonly visited our village for the steel we sold. We hung out now and again. I went into the store and Grugg was working on sharpening a broadsword and wiping sweat off his brow with a brown, dirty hand towel. “Hey, Aritho. Long time no see, bud. What can I do for you, bro?” Grugg asked, putting the sword down on a barrel, and walking over to me. “I need a magma encrusted steel greatsword so that it won’t break on me.” I replied, sitting down in front of the counter on a wooden stool. “I got one for ya, dude, but it won’t come cheap. I need 1,000 rollins.” I cringed at the price tag. I only had 1,100 rollins, and didn’t want to waste all my money on one item. Grugg saw the look on my face and decided to give me a suggestion, “Y’know, you could probably take up a dungeon quest. I hear they pay pretty well. In fact, there was an old man who posted a quest for 10,000 rollins that if someone could defeat the beast of the south Rethmaur dungeon, they would be awarded said money.” I nodded, and asked where could I find this man. Grugg pointed out the window to a small house down the street. “He lives over there, knock on the door and say you’re here for the quest.” So, I thanked Grugg, left the shop, and made my way to this old man’s house. (continued in notes and credits)
When I knocked on his door, he quickly answered the door and I told him I was here for the quest. He studied me for a bit, and asked, “Have you experienced anything strange lately? Like, a surge of energy in your body, shocking power, perhaps?” I nodded, slowly, and came to the realization this was the same old man observing me earlier. “Look, I’m not going to give you the runaround. I had been studying the tomes from 5 generations ago, where the elders spoke of a man with an orange light enveloping him in a time of crisis, and he would be the man to overcome an evil force that the people of his time had never witnessed before. I saw the man come down onto your village, and I was hoping to find the man enveloped in orange, and here he is. I have researched this for many years, and for you to understand your power in time to defeat this dark figure, you need me to teach you. Allow me to be your teacher, and educate you on how to best use your newfound abilities, and protect this world, one step at a time.” The old man explained. “Prove it. Prove I should listen to you.” I retorted. The man gave a sly smirk, and in his right hand appeared a ball of flame, he stepped outside, and shot it into the sky, creating a pillar of flame. “You wanna learn how to do that? Stick with me kid.” He said with a knowing look on his face. “Where do I sign, dude?” I said jokingly. So, the old man handed me the 10,000 rollins, told me to purchase the greatsword, black, steel enforced boots, and an iron helmet with an orange flame painted on it. So I nodded, and headed back to Grugg’s shop, and asked for the items the old man wanted me to get. After giving him the 1,000 rollins for the sword, and 2,000 rollins for the other items, I told him the information the old man had given me, and Grugg, nodded slowly. “I recall my grandpa telling me the same tale once.” Grugg muttered. Grugg swiftly suited up in a menacing suit of titanium armor, got a double-sided elemental gold axe and filled up a bag with stuff he said he’d need. “I’m gonna be closed for a little while. I saw that mysterious red thunder come down too, if he really wants to threaten your village, there’s nothing stopping him from conquering my town, either. I want to join you and the old man.” Grugg said, with a sense of honor in his tone. I nodded, “Heck yeah, dude. I could totally use the assist.” I replied. We fist bumped, turned around and walked out the door, after Grugg closed shop. The old man was there to greet us. “Now, there’s somewhere we need to go before we can begin our training, there is an element in a town 50 miles south of here, by the name of Tarathia. It will enhance all our weapons, armors, and body’s durability tenfold.” The old man said, handing us 2 maps. “I’ll lead the way, but you guys need this so you can keep track of where we’re going.” The old man remarked, putting a bag over his back. “Alright, sounds good to me.” I said. “Lead the way, gramps.” Grugg agreed. So we set out for Tarathia, in hopes of boosting our chances of victory against our strange, common foe.
