"Now, since we are done with the theatrics," the woman said, waving to the other two, her hands still clasped behind her. "I think we should begin by healing those who were hurt during the race for the title, don't you, Laran?"

"True," The man in the middle said, lifting his hand toward the crowd while speaking. The veil of shadows blocking away the light from the moon slipped off him and the man to his right. At the same time, a flash of HUD appeared, notifying them of what the man was doing.

[Restore] has been used to restore the wounded…

All status ailments have been nullified and removed!

Rachel turned to see Nathan as his wounds began to heal. It was a slow process, but she saw the bruises on his face clear away as his wounds healed, too. Someone stood up in the crowd, and people shifted away from him as his broken limbs set back into place. Rachel winced at the groan of bones as many others received the healing from Laran. She felt a small burn on her arm and back, briefly, like the flash of a memory.

"Christ!" Nathan whispered. "That hurt almost as badly as getting hurt."

He flexed his arms and strained his sides with a baffled look. He was still covered in blood, but the wounds were gone. Rachel turned to look at the others, seeing the same stunned look mirrored on the faces.

"Was that magic?" Someone asked within the crowd. Behind Rachel, Diana snorted. Rachel couldn't help the surge of annoyance that rushed through her, but she quickly quelled it. The three people on the raised platforms were uncovered now, and Rachel thought she could feel something radiating off them. Something way more than natural competence and skill.

There was something otherworldly about them.

"No," Laran said. And even Rachel was shocked. She'd assumed that was what it was. It made sense.

"That was a system alteration," the woman said smugly. She looked shorter now without the shadow. With all the mystery stripped away from her, she was entirely different. But still quietly terrifying.

Her hair was a curly mess falling past her shoulders. She was almost as broad across as Laran and the other man, but there was something different about her. An energy that seemed almost on the verge of lashing out, exploding.

Rachel stared at her as she spoke, lifting her left hand so she could demonstrate something. She blinked the thoughts away, trying to pay attention to what the woman was saying.

"Here, in Titan's Grave, the system can alter everything to serve your training best," The woman continued. "But it won't raise you from the dead. It will make the conditions tougher or simpler, but your challenges will be yours. The spell, Restore, is a core system function built for cases like this."

"If it can heal us now, why can't it do it again?" Another woman asked. "Why will it let us die from now on?"

"The world you will find after your tutorial will be different from the home you left," Laran said. "It will be harsher and full of trials and monsters. The darkness will follow you, hunt you, and try to husk you out so it can control you. Your world won't be the same. The Architect's system can't bring you back when you die. You have to be prepared for tha—"

Silence spread through the group. No murmur. She saw the bewilderment on their faces. The curve and change of emotions as they tried to understand what Laran had said.

The three in front watched as they came to terms with what was happening, their patience etched on their stone faces. They might as well have been carved from cold stones and decked in leather, breeches, and boots to play being human. Their eyes roamed, especially Laran's, as if searching for faults within the crowd.

"There is magic here," Laran began again. "You will learn how to harness that. When you return to your world, there will be magic there too. It will help you protect yourself, but it will also make those who mean you harm even more dangerous. The only way to keep you safe is to make you strong enough to survive what you will meet there."

The woman moved. It was a slight slip forward, but Rachel caught it, almost as if she'd been expecting the motion. She gasped when she felt hands on her shoulder, her skin prickling with gooseflesh from the coldness of Paul's reassuring touch. She took a calming breath, trying to focus on the three standing high above them. They were a good fifteen feet above the crowd, but Rachel thought she could see a scar—no, more than one scar—on the woman. And when she raised her hand, Rachel stepped back as she felt a shift in the air.

The temperature dropped quickly, sharply becoming colder. And then the sensation was gone again.

"You felt that?" Rachel whispered, but Paul's reply was cut off, and a large tongue of flickering flame flashed into form on the woman's hand. The crowd pushed away from the platforms, some murmuring thing Rachel couldn't hear. Paul's fingers were tight around Rachel's hand again, but she let him. She needed the pain to remind her that this was real. The fire dancing on the woman's palm wasn't some kind of illusion. It was magic, and that was real, too. She almost laughed at herself for being shocked, yet she couldn't shake off its grip on her.

She had hoped this was a dream. That would have meant waking up to old problems, like the reason they were on a couples' retreat. She would welcome a life of small fights with her husband instead of the nightmare unfolding before her. That would be a splendid exchange. Yet, she knew that no matter how much she wanted it, it wouldn't come. Their old lives were gone, and this had replaced it—magic and whatever the display in front of her claimed to be.

"Did anyone feel that?" Evelyn asked, holding onto Charles. "Just before the flames burst out of her hand. Did you feel the slight chill?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," Nathan said, glancing at Diane. "But I would love to be able to do that."

He wasn't the only one. The initial fear from the crowd had given way to curiosity once they realized the woman was not trying to harm them with the magic she'd shown them. Rachel took one hungry step forward. She wanted it, too. If they were going to be beset by dangers, she wanted to be able to defend herself and protect the others.

"This is magic," the woman said. She made a fist over the flame, which vanished without any smoke. "Many of you will learn it before you are sent back to your world. You will need to. But first, you have to choose your trainer. You can only choose one of us. And there are no wrong choices. We are equal in strength and knowledge. We were groomed for this role, molded to guide people like you."

"Then it doesn't matter who we choose?" Larry asked, his voice traveling through the crowd, reminding Rachel she had to stay away from him. He had a face that told everyone else to stay away. But beyond that, his ability to rally others around him was even more terrifying. He had already amassed a small gathering of most likely similar temperaments and morality.

"It doesn't," Laran answered. "Like Virial said, you can pick any of us. Your proficiency and growth will depend on you. The stronger you are when you leave Titan's Grave, the safer you will be outside this realm, in your world. The danger grows every minute you are here."

"And how long will we be here?" Diana asked. A few faces turned to look at them, but it was Virial's eyes that Rachel caught. The woman's face was stony again, unfazed.

"Two Earth weeks," Virial said. "But here, you will have more time. Here, in the tutorial realm, time flows a bit differently. Ten days here will be a single day in your world. You will have enough time to learn what you must learn and survive."

"What of those who just want to leave?" Another man said, waving his hand so Virial could find him in the crowd. Rachel couldn't see his face, but she could hear the fear in his voice. She pushed her irritation down. It was normal to fear.

This was terrifying—or it was supposed to be. She felt Paul's fear in his trembling, sweating fingers knotted with hers. His face had been a fixed mask of concentration for a while now, and she imagined she knew why.

She leaned closer and whispered, "We should all stay together."

Paul gave her a stiff nod. Not turning to look at her.

"You can't," Virial said. "The tutorial is important and can't be skipped. Your fears are true, but you must know that the horror waiting for you will not feel sympathy. They will destroy and consume the weak. Only the strong will survive."

"Choose," Laran said. "Soon, it will dawn, and you will face the first of your fears. Titan's Grave will bare its fangs at you, and you will begin your training. Those who choose Virial will be taken to her dominion. Atlas and I, too."

Atlas gave them all a shallow and silent bow. He was the tallest of the three, a menacing figure. And his silence only added to the intensity of the man. His arms were folded in front of him, and his eyes coolly scanned the crowd below. Rachel couldn't count how many there were in total, but she guessed they were about a hundred or more.

She imagined more people would go for Atlas. Many would pick him because they thought mystery was equal to competence. She snorted at that. She knew who she wanted to go with, but wanted to know what others thought.

"We should all stay together," Nathan said without looking away from Virial. Rachel couldn't decipher what he was thinking, but she didn't think Diana would appreciate the stare. He was right though. She didn't know where they were going after this, but it would be wise to have allies around. She didn't want to be alone around strangers.

"So, who are we picking?" Diana asked. "I would go for Atlas, but he gives me the creeps."

"Laran looks like a good choice?" Paul asked. He hadn't let go of Rachel's hand, but his grip had loosened. He gave her a weird look before turning to the others. "I don't think it matters, though, in the long run. They said they are equal in knowledge and strength."

"Yes," Nathan said. "But who do you think will teach you what they know better? Atlas looks like the detached type, don't you think? I have seen some of those. They are not very efficient when it comes to imparting knowledge."

"School?" Charles asked, and Nathan glowered at him before nodding. "I get that, too."

"That leaves us with Laran and Virial," Rachel said. "I don't see any fault in Laran. Or Virial."

"Me too," Nathan said. "But I would go for Virial if I had to. Not because I think she is beautiful, as the rest of you suspect, but because she looks more experienced of the three."

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"Scars?" Charles asked, and Nathan seemed genuinely surprised.

"Yes." He shrugged as if to say he might be wrong. "She might just be a careless fighter or a brash one. But the others look too clean for me."

"Or a bad one," Evelyn said, gaining the stares of everyone around. "It might be that she's just not as strong as she claims. Or that the others have scars in places we can't see."

Rachel didn't think the latter was right, but she didn't say so. All three of the trainers wore leather jerkins. They wore no extra armor, so they all had the same exposure. If they couldn't see the scars, then there is none most likely.

"I say we go with Virial," Nathan said.

"I do, too," Rachel added. The others took a moment to choose, but they all agreed.

You have chosen to follow Stormfiend of the Northern Lands: Virial Lorxam

Transporting you to the Wild Grove!

"I will see you soon," Virial said, leaping off the platform just as the message vanished.

Rachel knew what to expect, but it was still disorienting. There was no pain from the slow, spatial transportation. Her body simply broke down and was reconstructed in a different space. She staggered back but caught herself quickly. There were other people there with her. A hand touched her shoulder, and she wheeled around to find Diana with hands raised, backing away from her.

"Welcome to Wild Grove," Virial said. She stood at the front. There weren't as many people here, so it was easier to push past the crowd to see her standing in front. She grinned when she saw Rachel. "I am sure you have questions?" She stopped for a moment as she was interrupted by an older woman in the crowd.

"My boy," An older woman said. "I couldn't find him when we were transported to that cliff.

"And I quickly noticed there aren't any other children here. What happened to the children?"

"They are being protected," Virial said. "Those not old enough to take the prime core can't be allowed into this realm. What do you see around you?"

Rachel scanned the areas as best as she could. They stood in a clearing, but it was only a few meters across. There were no homes, only large trees. The grass bed they stood on was soft but thick. The darkness was thinning. Soon, it would be dawn.

"This is the northern woods of Titan's Grave. Wild Grove is not just wild because of the trees and plants, most of which will kill you. It is called that because of the monsters that dwell within. West of here is my domain."

Nathan joined them as Virial explained. He smiled at Rachel and pulled Diana in for a hug. He pointed to Charles and Evelyn, sliding through the crowd quietly, making their way to them. Rachel waved.

"So we will see them when we get back?" the woman asked. "Our kids, I mean. Or will they be hostages?"

"They will come to you after the tutorial. If you are strong enough to survive." Virial said, nodding.

"Where is Paul?" Rachel whispered when Charles and Evelyn joined them. Rachel blanched when they said they hadn't seen him. Her first thought was that he'd probably picked either Laran or Atlas to escape her. She tried to hold the tears in as her heart threatened to break.

"There," Nathan said, his voice low so he wouldn't interrupt Virial. Rachel followed his pointing finger to find Paul standing between two other men, his head moving around as if in search. He alternated between searching and looking at Virial.

Rachel couldn't see him clearly in the predawn light, but she could imagine his worried look as he searched for her. She half-walked and half-shoved her way to him. Murmurs of displeasure followed her until she clasped his hand. He turned sharply, ready to attack. The man to his right was momentarily alarmed, but Paul sighed and pulled Rachel to him in a tight, frightened hug.

"Where are the others?" Paul asked when he pulled away. Rachel took him to them.

"In a moment, the system will show you a list of weapons from which to choose. Pick a weapon," Virial said. "It doesn't have to be anything you have ever used before. You don't have to be good at it. You simply need to survive. It doesn't take skill to survive, my friends. That comes later. It takes courage. It takes staring at your enemy in the eye and knowing you won't run."

New Quest: Survive the Fellgrins! (Uncommon)

Description: Fellgrins are small but vicious creatures, roughly the size of young goblins. Alone, a Fellgrin is little more than a pest, but in packs, they become a relentless swarm. They wield crude spears and jagged spikes coated in paralytic poison, striking swiftly before their prey can react.

Goals: Reach the safety of Wild Grove's wall by defeating the packs of Fellgrins on the way.

Reward:

Gold

Experience Points

"Great, more quests," Charles said, rubbing his forehead with his eyes closed. "I think this tutorial thing is trying to kill us."

"No." Rachel caught Virial watching them, but the other woman looked away so quickly she thought she imagined it. "It is trying to help us. This is to make us strong. If she wanted to kill us, she didn't have to waste all this time."

"Still, this will be difficu—" Evelyn flinched when the message window reappeared. "I guess we don't have many options?"

Using established information to compile a weapons list…

List collected and arranged in order of compatibility (Basic)

Short sword and shield

Bastard Sword

Daggers

Two-handed axe

Pike

Sabre

Bow and Arrow

"Not a long list," Rachel muttered to herself. Not that it mattered anyway. She couldn't use any of this to begin with. She knew how to fight with her fists and legs, but there were no options, which wasn't smart either. The monsters would be carrying spikes coated in poison. One touch and they'd eat through her.

"Sword," Rachel said, and a stretch of golden light tore the space above her.

Crafting a basic sword according to the fit of the prime core host…

Crafting completed…

Compatibility…. %92

She looked at the shimmering haze around the tear and instinctively reached for it. Paul caught her hand, shaking his head.

"She will be fine," Virial said. "She needs to reach in for it."

Paul let go slowly, his eyes not leaving her. Her hand disappeared into the tear, and her finger wrapped around the cold hilt of the sword. She pulled it out to find a stretch of steel as long as her arm. The hilt was wrapped in soft, comfortable leather. The blade itself curved like a fang, sharp on the inside. It was beautiful.

New Item: Basic Sword (Common)

Description: A simple but reliable blade forged for those beginning their journey. While unremarkable in craftsmanship, it serves its purpose in battle, easily cutting through lesser foes.

Effects:

Sharpened Edge

: Slightly increases damage against unarmored enemies.

Balanced Grip

: Improves handling, smoothing strikes, and reducing stamina consumption by 5%.

Quick Draw

: Slightly increases attack speed when combatting from a neutral stance.

Rachel frowned as she turned the sword over in her hands. "Beautiful and yet so ordinary," she murmured, feeling the weight of the blade settle in her grip.

Beside her, Paul's basic sword materialized. He stared at it with obvious reluctance, his fingers tightening around the hilt as if expecting it to turn on him. He held it away from his body, his discomfort plain. Violence had never suited him.

Rachel sighed inwardly, knowing they must address what had happened earlier. For now, she turned to see what the others had chosen.

Charles had picked up a short sword and shield, though it was clear he wasn't entirely comfortable with them. His grip on the sword was stiff, and his stance awkward as he adjusted the shield against his arm, testing its weight. His uncertainty showed in every movement, and each shift revealed his unfamiliarity with the weapons.

Evelyn stood nearby, gripping a bow and a quiver of arrows, her fingers tightening and loosening around the strap as if trying to convince herself she had made the right choice.

In stark contrast, Nathan had already become a hazard to those around him. His enthusiasm bordered on reckless as he hefted a massive two-handed axe, swinging it with dangerous excitement. Rachel took a deliberate step back, not wanting to be within reach of his poorly controlled swings.

Then there was Diana. The newest member of their group, she and Nathan had only been together for six months, and now she stood with a pair of daggers held close to her chest. Her grip was firm, but her posture uncertain, as if unsure whether she had made the right choice or if the blades had simply been the least intimidating option in a room suddenly filled with weapons and expectation.

Turning to the crowd, Virial raised her voice. "Next lesson—just like with weapon selection, you can interact with your screen. There are several options you should familiarize yourselves with. Try Inventory, Stats, and Quests first."

She gave them a few minutes to explore, watching as confusion turned to cautious experimentation. Some caught on quickly, while others hesitated and fumbled through the menus.

Once enough time had passed, Virial clapped her hands for attention. "Now, for your first skill. Everyone, pull out your weapon." She waited as the group obeyed, some drawing their blades smoothly while others hesitated, adjusting their grips. "I want you to focus on your weapon. Look at it. Try to understand it. Will it tell you more about itself? You should feel a pressure, and then a small information window will appear."

As she observed, Virial smirked at the familiar sight—half of them looked like they were straining hard enough to pass out. But there were always a few who got it right. The shift was unmistakable—initial surprise, followed by keen focus as they read through their weapon's details.

Satisfied, she called for attention again. "Alright, now for a volunteer. And who is better than the winner of the previous stage? Rachel, step forward."

Rachel blinked, startled, but obeyed without hesitation, stepping forward as the eyes of the crowd turned to her.

Rachel stepped forward, her grip tightening around the sword's hilt. The weapon felt awkward in her hands, the unfamiliar weight throwing off her stance.

Virial pulled something from thin air, her movements effortless. A moment later, the creature from the quest description appeared in her grasp—small, twisted, and ugly. The Fellgrin thrashed, its sharp teeth gnashing as it fought against her grip.

Jumping down to Rachel's level, Virial positioned herself about ten feet away. "Go ahead and get that sword out, girl. Prepare yourself. You're going to engage in some combat."

Rachel unsheathed the blade in one stiff motion, holding it up in a basic stance.

Virial gave a sharp nod before tossing the creature forward. It hit the ground a few feet away, rolling to a stop before scrambling upright. Beady eyes locked onto Rachel, its lips peeling back in a vicious snarl. No hesitation. No strategy. It lunged.

Rachel swung too early, the blade cutting through empty air as the Fellgrin darted low beneath the strike. Its speed caught her off guard, and she barely managed to sidestep as it swiped at her legs. Adjusting her footing, she brought the sword up again, gripping it tighter.

The creature pivoted, its small, clawed hands scrabbling against the dirt as it launched itself forward again. Rachel swung down in a clumsy arc, but the awkward motion lacked control. The edge of her blade nicked the Fellgrin's shoulder, but it barely slowed. The creature lunged through the opening, its jagged weapon slicing across her forearm.

Pain flared instantly, but something worse followed—a creeping numbness spreading from the wound. The paralytic.

Rachel's breath hitched as her muscles began to lock, her movements turning sluggish. The Fellgrin hissed triumphantly and prepared to strike again.

She had no time left.

Forcing her body forward, she lashed out with everything she had, putting her full weight into the next attack. The sword met resistance before biting deep, cutting clean through the Fellgrin's neck. The creature gave a final, gurgled screech before collapsing to the ground.

Rachel staggered back, her grip slackening as her limbs grew heavy. The fight was over, but the effects of the poison were setting in fast.

Rachel gritted her teeth, her fingers barely responding as she struggled against the creeping paralysis. Her muscles felt sluggish, her limbs heavy, but she forced herself to stay upright.

Virial remained where she stood, arms crossed, watching with a critical eye. "That, girl, is why you don't get hit." She motioned toward Rachel's arm. "Fellgrin weapons are coated in a crude paralytic. It won't kill you, but it'll ensure you can't fight back if there's more than one. Their packs don't need overwhelming strength—they just need one good cut to make you easy prey."

Rachel's breathing was labored, her legs trembling as she fought against the numbness creeping up her arm. Virial gave her a moment to struggle before continuing.

"The substance they use is drawn from their bodies. Nasty little things secrete it naturally and coat their weapons with it. If you ever see a Fellgrin sharpening its blade, it's not just keeping it keen—it's making sure the next thing it cuts won't be able to run."

Rachel clenched her jaw, shifting her weight slightly, willing her legs to hold. The effort was agonizingly slow.

Virial smirked. "Good. You're fighting it. That's what I want to see. Paralytics work best on people who panic. If you keep moving, even if it's just a little, you'll recover faster. That said…"

She finally stepped forward, pulling a small glass vial from her belt. Uncorking it with her thumb, she crouched and poured the shimmering liquid into Rachel's mouth. The effects were immediate. The warmth of the potion spread through her body, clearing the numbness from her limbs. Within seconds, the sensation returned, and Rachel exhaled in relief, rolling her shoulder and flexing her fingers.

Virial straightened. "Potions can counteract the poison, but you don't always have time to drink one in the middle of a fight. So don't get hit." She turned back to the group. "Now, tell them what they want to hear."

Rachel blinked before realizing what she meant. She focused for a second, checking her status before nodding. "I got experience," she confirmed. "I'm 10% of the way to my first level."

Virial grinned. "There you have it. You fight, you grow. Simple as that." She gestured toward the rest of the group. "Who's next?"

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