Rachel woke with what could only be described as a people hangover. The night before had been exhausting—not from battle, but from the endless cycle of questions and explanations.

After the fight, she and her team had barely managed to stuff their faces before being pulled into conversations with the rest of the camp. Some of them had grasped the mechanics quickly, but others—people from all walks of life—struggled to wrap their heads around things like experience points, skills, and leveling. Most had never played games before, and it showed in their questions.

By the time Rachel had escaped the last of them, she collapsed into the mossy cubby that served as her bed, falling into a sleep so deep it might as well have been unconsciousness.

Which made waking up even worse.

A sharp nudge rocked her cubby.

"Come on, you slugs," Virial's voice cut through the haze of sleep, her boot prodding at Rachel's side. "You had a big day, but you can't sleep forever. Almost everyone else has eaten and left. Just your party is still here."

Rachel groaned, blinking against the dim morning light filtering through the trees. Confusion warred with irritation as her brain struggled to process the words.

"Grrr. I'm up."

She rolled to her feet, rubbing the sleep from her eyes before reaching over and shoving Paul.

He grunted, shifting slightly. "Huh? Who goes there?"

Rachel snorted, shaking her head, leaving him to wake up properly.

Breakfast was nearly gone by the time she reached the long wooden table. Plates were scraped nearly clean, and only scraps of fruit, stale bread, and a few chunks of dried meat remained. Grimacing, she picked through what was left and started eating, watching as the others trickled in, looking just as groggy as she felt.

As her mind finally shook off the last of the fog, Rachel turned her attention to Virial, who still lingered nearby.

"Virial," she called between bites. "Got some questions for you."

Virial leaned against a tree, arms crossed. "I'll answer what I'm allowed."

Rachel frowned. "That's actually my first question. Who or what sets the rules on what you can and can't tell us?"

Virial tapped her fingers against her arm, considering. "Mostly the System. But some things? I choose to only give to those who earn it. Not everything should be handed out freely."

Rachel nodded, which made some sense at least. "Alright. We've noticed that a lot of what we're dealing with—stats, skills, experience points—looks a lot like stuff from our world. What about Classes? And we found a menu for Paths. What are those?"

Virial's expression shifted slightly, an amused glint in her eyes. "Now that," she said, "is a good question."

Virial stood for a moment, arms crossed, her gaze assessing how much to say. Finally, she exhaled. "Normally, these conversations come later, but nothing stops me from talking about them now.

"Classes," she continued, "are structured roles—things like warrior, archer, mage—broad classifications based on skill sets. They come in rarity groups and have their own experience progressions and skill trees. The rarer a class, the harder it is to level up, since advancement isn't just tied to killing monsters but to a wider range of achievements and challenges."

Rachel nodded along. That made sense. It fit the kind of game mechanics they were familiar with. "Alright, but what about Paths? You said they don't provide consistent stats or skills. What do you mean?"

Virial's eyes narrowed slightly. "Your world had no magic, right? How do you even know about classes and stats?"

Rachel didn't hesitate. "We had games. You picked a character role in them and developed their abilities with classes, stats, and skills. Essentially the same thing, but played on paper or through screens like our System displays."

Virial's lips pursed in thought. "Strange."

She continued, "Paths work differently from classes. For example, my Path is Path of the Feathered Sentinel. It aligns with my love of guiding and teaching new people and my role as a warrior. Like the owl—a creature known for wisdom and predatory skill."

Rachel absorbed that, thinking it over. "So instead of just handing out stats, Paths reward people in less direct ways?"

Virial nodded. "Exactly. A Path strengthens you when you act in alignment with it. It's not always in the form of stats or skills but subtle improvements—like efficiency."

Rachel sighed, already feeling the weight of yet another new mechanic. "And now we're talking about stat efficiency. Define that one for me."

Virial shrugged. "Pretty straightforward. Say you have 100 Strength. But your efficiency would be low if you gained it all from elixirs and never trained. If you earned those stats slowly, forcing your body to adapt, you'll have higher efficiency. Meaning your strength is stronger than someone with the same number but no experience."

Rachel snorted. "Okay. That actually makes perfect sense."

Still shoveling food into his mouth, Nathan spoke through a bite of dried meat. "What about class rarities? Any limitations on what we can get here? This is a tutorial, so I'm guessing Common or Uncommon is the best we can hope for?"

Virial's gaze flicked to him. "Yes and no. If you took the easy quests and coasted through, you'd only qualify for Common or Uncommon classes. But taking the hardest quests available—like your team did—raises your odds of getting something better.

"You all performed well, which speaks to your potential, but your class will depend on how you handle the next few months. Don't expect to get one for at least two months, and then you'll spend the last month acclimating before being pulled from the tutorial."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Rachel considered that. "Are Common or Uncommon classes weak? Or just low-tier in general?"

Virial smirked. "That's subjective. A Common class isn't weak if someone knows how to use it well. If you push yourself hard enough, you can reach a Race Evolution, which unlocks the ability to upgrade your class—but only if the System thinks you deserve it."

Rachel leaned back slightly. "So, no clear roadmap. Just work your ass off and hope for the best?"

Virial grinned. "Now you're catching on."

Rachel crossed her arms, stretching out the tension from the previous night. "What comes next?" she asked, glancing at Virial, who was still watching them with that ever-measuring gaze.

Virial tilted her head slightly. "Well, you all should have received a token for a piece of gear. You can redeem it at the Market Crystal I told you about. You also have some gold to grab potions, food, maybe even a cheap piece of armor. You get the drift. Once you're done with that, come see me, and I'll show you what quests are left."

Rachel opened her mouth to thank her, but George and Nathan bolted from their seats before she could get a word in, nearly tripping over themselves as they raced toward the crystal. Diana and Evelyn weren't far behind, their eyes alight with excitement.

Rachel shook her head, muttering under her breath, "Nerds." Then, louder, she added, "Thanks, Virial. Looks like we'll be done with that real quick."

Virial chuckled as she watched them scamper off. "Good group of people," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. Her eyes lingered on Rachel's retreating form. "What quests should I make available?" she mused, tapping a finger against her arm. "They're strong. Are they strong enough for that new quest that popped up? We'll see if they ask for something tougher."

Rachel and the others caught up at the crystal, where Nathan was already pulling on a leather chest piece. The armor was studded with small riveted plates, giving him some much-needed protection without sacrificing movement. He flexed in it, grinning like a kid with a new toy.

At least he made a good purchase.

Rachel clapped her hands once, grabbing everyone's attention. "Remember, folks, we only have so much money. Don't go crazy. We get one more day of free food—after that, we're on our own. Plan accordingly."

Diana rolled her eyes as she slipped a dark cloak over her shoulders. The fabric shifted subtly, blurring at the edges as if it were absorbing the surrounding light. "Yes, Mom," she drawled, smirking. "Gaaawd, get off my back."

Rachel ignored the jab and eyed the rest of the group, watching as they inspected their newly acquired gear.

George stood holding a book, his fingers tracing the cover as if it might burn him.

Rachel raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"It's a grimoire," George said, his voice a mix of excitement and nerves. "It unlocks one random spell based on the user's affinity."

Rachel's eyes narrowed with curiosity. "What'd you get?"

George hesitated. "I… haven't opened it yet. I wanted to wait for everyone to get their stuff first. It's kinda nerve-wracking."

Nathan clapped a hand on his shoulder, grinning. "Come on, man. It's magic. You've been dying for this moment."

Nathan then turned back to his own armor, thumping his chest plate proudly. "This thing is awesome. Gives me extra defense, which I needed—plus three Strength and four Endurance."

Evelyn crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Oh, thank you for finally getting something that might protect your ass." She pulled a sleek staff from her inventory, its metallic inlays glimmering in the dim light. She gave it a testing swing. "Increases my mana regeneration and boosts Intelligence by four."

Felicity secured a pair of bracers over her forearms, flexing her wrists to test their fit. "+3 to Agility, and a 2% increased crit chance."

Paul snorted as he strapped on a chest plate identical to Nathan's. "Being upfront and getting stabbed doesn't feel great," he chuckled. "Figured I'd fix that."

Rachel exhaled, realizing it was finally her turn.

Pulling up her menu, she stared at the many options before her. The screen prompted her:

Use Token?

She selected yes without hesitation.

Filters appeared across the top of the screen. She scrolled through armor, weapons, and accessories, carefully considering her next move.

Her mind drifted back to the style she had enjoyed in the past—something fast, aggressive, and mobile—a swashbuckler-like approach built for constant movement, light-footed combat, and precise strikes.

A sabre and small shield combination called to her, but if she leaned into evasion, tankiness wasn't the goal. She needed something light—a shield with a balance of protection and maneuverability.

She applied the filters, narrowing down the search.

Three results.

Two Common, one Uncommon.

Her eyes locked onto the Uncommon one.

It had three more total stat points than the others, and a third effect.

Perfect.

She tapped the selection, confirming her choice before turning to the others.

"Alright," she said, "here's what I got…"

New Item: Small Shield of the Iron Vale (Uncommon)

Description: Forged in the heart of the Iron Vale, this compact shield is crafted from reinforced steel and layered with protective enchantments. Though small in size, it provides formidable defense, allowing its wielder to deflect strikes with precision and maneuver quickly in combat. Designed for those who value both protection and mobility, the shield is an excellent companion for warriors who refuse to be weighed down.

Effects:

Steadfast Guard

– Reduces incoming physical damage by 10%.

Deflecting Edge

– Has a 15% chance to deflect non-magical projectiles.

Balanced Grip

– Increases reaction speed by 5% when blocking or counterattacking.

Rachel scanned her team, noting their eager expressions mingled with exhaustion. "Alright, everyone, did you all get something useful?"

Felicity raised her hand sheepishly, still scrolling through her options. "Still looking. I'll be done soon—sorry!"

"No worries," Rachel assured her with a gentle smile. "I'm going to speak with Virial. Catch up when you're ready."

Paul fell into step beside her as they made their way toward Virial, shoulder-to-shoulder, comforted by each other's presence amidst the lingering tension from their earlier battles. Approaching Virial, Rachel steadied herself, feeling a surge of determination.

"So, Virial," Rachel began, catching the trainer's attention. "What do you have for us next? You mentioned earlier that we might be judged based on the difficulty of the quests we choose. Can you show us something you didn't offer the others?" She hoped her earlier comment had been the invitation she intended.

Virial's lips curled into an approving smile, eyes sparkling knowingly. "If you're looking for a challenge," she said, her voice carrying an amused edge, "then I have just the thing." She gestured in the air, pulling up a quest notification that shimmered into view, its glowing letters vibrant and distinct. "Nobody else has qualified for this one yet."

Rachel leaned closer, her eyes widening slightly as she read the quest:

New Quest: Dominion of the Vale Eaters (Rare)

Description: A creeping blight threatens a nearby vale frequently used by Virial for training purposes. Investigate, eliminate the source of corruption, and return with your findings.

Rewards:

Experience

Gold

Unknown

Rachel tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "Why does that last reward say 'unknown'?"

Virial's expression shifted subtly, growing more serious. "That's the System's way of indicating there's a special reward possible if you excel beyond expectations. You'll get the standard experience and gold either way, but perform exceptionally, and the System may grant you something more, though the exact criteria are a mystery even to me."

Rachel nodded thoughtfully, recognizing the familiar ambiguity. "That aligns with what we've experienced so far. We'll accept the quest. Can you tell us anything else about what we'll be facing?"

Virial's eyes grew distant for a moment, contemplating the question. "The Vale Eaters aren't creatures to take lightly. They're manifestations of corruption, devouring the life of the land itself. They drain the vitality from the earth and the strength from those who oppose them. This blight… It's aggressive and insidious. Prepare yourselves thoroughly, because you'll need more than just physical strength to prevail."

Rachel met Virial's gaze steadily, determination hardening her resolve. "Understood. We'll be ready."

As she and Paul stepped away, Rachel felt the weight of responsibility pressing on her shoulders. Yet, mixed with the apprehension was a rising excitement—a new challenge awaited, and her team was growing stronger with every trial. She looked back to see Felicity finally selecting her reward, the group gathering around, and knew they were ready to face whatever darkness awaited them next.

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