The Sunset

The city was large, great. Bustling. Many people from different walks of life arrived here. As we entered, Vaniti and I stood close, to dodge the traffic of carriages. Even in here, feeling the presence of others was…great.

Something I haven't felt in some time.

I've already set out my goals, but I'm a little rusty on the entire map of this world. Heading to one already in the middle of bustling area, and where many stalls already were selling trinkets and other items.

My tail swept the ground as we got there, and I looked on. Of course, it's in a different language. One that I'm not used to.

I turn to Vaniti, and was about to ask her a question, before I snapped my head to the map again.

I noticed two things.

1, this isn't a world map.

2, Dragonia never had a collection of islands stringed together. It was just one large country.

So…if this city isn't Dragonia…then where am I?

As if the words had magically heard me, my eyes adjusted, being able to make out the words and letters completely. Almost magic. No kidding, I live in a world of magic.

But the greater part was the ability to being able to read the words and language of this world now. Technically, my character did. Technically, my character could. But now that I am him, I guess I can too. Best explanation I could come up with fortunately. I'm not a video game theorist or anything.

Focusing down below, in smaller print, were the words.

Aurea Islands.

Aurea? As in…the archipelago? That made sense for the forest…but that wasn't just an ordinary forest, that was a rainforest.

And now, I know my greater position.

I'm really, really far away from Dragonia.

Shit, I'm closer to the Sky Temples than I am to Dragonia. Which is a bit more annoying to be fair, but I technically don't have a choice. I have to make the most of it now.

I look around, yeah…this is Aurea.

But..isn't at the same time. I don't know. This isn't the Aurea I know. The Aurea I know was a little bit underwhelming. Less civilized, and more overan by monsters and mobs and whatnot.

It's like as if all of that was thrown away. Incredibly.

I turn to Vaniti, making asking a question will help me more.

"You're from here?" I begin.

She shakes her head, "Not at all. I was sent here to conduct a practice mission. My squad had…abandoned me." There's a brief pause.

But then she retrains her focus and attention back to me quickly. "I…don't know what happened to them."

I nod. Great. Now Vaniti is from the Ranger Corps, but not from the Aurea Islands. Maybe from Dragonia? No…but even the way she says…what was it again? Na'va? She says it as if it's a place, and not just a squadron name.

So, this gives me multiple things to confront.

That apparently being in the game…is no longer just the game. It's more than that apparently. It's like…everything is slightly changed. A bit different, too different.

She reties the blindfold, and I stand there trying to guess my next move. The next best thing would be to leave Aurea. Rune Portal, but even I don't know if they still have that. And even if they did…I can't go anywhere without a registration of my own.

Only reason why the guards let me past is that I'm assuming that Vaniti being part of the Ranger Corps gives her additional benefits and immunity. Usually anyone can't pivot or traverse without a registration…unless they were an outlaw or bandit. 

That's a whole different subject, however. 

Security might even be tighter over here now that Aurea is far more civilized. So now, with that question not even resolved, I'll have to put it on hold to deal with the next issue.

Progressing Vaniti properly.

She's a Spirit Elf, and the way I want her to train is high mobility, dodge and magic rate. She'll generate mana way faster than I do, (3.5x compared to 2.0x), and furthermore, have a large arsenal.

Especially if she excels well into the Nightstalker Subclass. And to think they wanted to make her a normal Ranger.

Well, some Rangers are elite, so let me not diss them out entirely.

But compared to a Spirit Elf-Nightstalker? Yikes, no.

"Follow me," I motion. Vaniti nods and we begin to walk across the plaza. We take a turn, right, and head to an area with a bustling market district. It was large, with less stalls, and more actual buildings, which, were stone.

We entered one building, an armory. First things first is to get Ranger Vaniti out of those clothes, and into proper Nightstalker ones. Yes, the actual clothes go a long way.

"Greetings!" The shopkeeper called out to us. Tall, buff, think heavy beard with oil smeared slightly on his face and his hands entirely. I waved back, then, turned to Vaniti.

"So, here's the thing. You need clothes, and these? Aren't going to work." The tip of my tail stabs into the fabric of her sleeve, cheap, torn easily. She doesn't flinch.

Vaniti only nods, "...then what should I replace it with?"

My eyes look around for the suitable ones. Heavy armor, she won't be proficient in it. It'll slow her down. Medium armor would be good, but this is implying she needs defense to stay alive. She won't need to even if she grabs onto the basics of Spirit Magic.

Light Armor would have to do. Not too heavy, but not focusing on defense as well. No matter. No problem. Preferably, magical attuned armor as well.

We look around more, Vaniti picks out a few that she thinks would work. I shake my head. It's not about the design or vanity…heh, of it. But the actual attributes. I'm pretty sure stat armor does not exist in this game…er, world.

But one thing I know does, is the magical attuned armor.

I keep bringing it up because with that, I could perform a lot of janky mechanics that would make her skill skyrocket in days, and she already seems like a fast learner. To think they told her to…learn fire magic and call it a day.

It's disrespectful.

Entirely.

We continued to search, until my tail pointed out of of them. I backed out, and there I saw. Glowing, pulsating with slight mana.

I sniffed once.

And disgust appeared over my face.

Ew, no. Disgusting. Magical Resillience? No, that's a waste. Good armor as well, properly suited for Vaniti's stature…but just not it.

Is there anything I can do…?

My horns pulsate, some tingling sensation up there. My head twists, and there, a rack of many, many potions. Ranging in a multitude of colors.

There.

I think.

Wait, not think.

I know.