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Chapter 2: Tutorial

The rabbit tensed up, its haunches coiling like fuzzy little springs. Its black eyes locked onto me with the focused intensity of a predator sizing up its next meal.

"This is not how tutorial zones are supposed to work!" I yelped, still scrambling backward. "Where's my starter weapon? My basic gear? My helpful companion who explains the controls?"

"You're looking at your helpful companion, bone boy. And your starter weapon is whatever you can grab before Fang-bunny there decides you look tasty."

The rabbit charged.

For something so small and fluffy, it moved like a furry missile. I had maybe half a second to react before it would be gnawing on my shin bones. In pure panic, I threw myself sideways, grabbing the first thing my claws could reach—a thick branch that had fallen from one of the ominous trees.

I hit the ground hard, my new skeleton body clattering against the forest floor like a bag of angry wind chimes. The rabbit sailed past me, landing with a soft thump and immediately spinning around for another attack.

"Okay, okay," I gasped, rolling over and holding the branch up like the world's most pathetic shield. "Stick versus murder rabbit. I've got this. Totally got this. This is fine."

The rabbit crouched again, its little death-fangs glinting in the filtered sunlight.

"Any helpful combat tips?" I asked desperately.

"Don't die," Zevrik suggested. "Also, maybe try using that brain you min-maxed for something?"

The rabbit launched itself at my face.

I swung the branch wildly, more out of terror than any kind of strategy. But as the rough wood connected with my bone fingers, something weird happened. There was this... sensation. Like electricity, but warm and tingly, flowing from somewhere deep in my hollow chest cavity through my arms and into the wood.

The branch started to change.

It wasn't dramatic—no flashy light show or dramatic music. Instead, it was like watching time-lapse footage of careful craftsmanship. The bark peeled away in thin curls, revealing smooth wood underneath. Knots and imperfections smoothed out as the branch straightened and lengthened slightly. One end thickened into a proper grip while the other tapered to a point. Thin lines of dark energy traced themselves along the grain, creating intricate patterns that looked almost like tiny runes.

"What the hell?" I breathed, watching the transformation complete itself in seconds. What had been a random fallen branch was now a proper wooden staff—simple, but undeniably crafted. It felt perfectly balanced in my hands, like it had been made specifically for my grip.

The rabbit, which had been circling warily, suddenly charged again. But this time, when I held up my transformed staff to block, it wasn't just dead wood anymore. The whole thing radiated a subtle aura of menace that made the rabbit's charge falter slightly. It still hit the staff, but bounced off with a surprised and somewhat nervous squeak.

"Holy shit, did I just—"

SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Spell Discovered: [ARCANE FOCUS] - Rank: Novice
Convert mundane object into basic magical focus
One-time conversion per object
Cost: 5 MP
Note: Crafted or enchanted items provide superior bonuses

"I learned a spell!" I shouted, staring at the notification floating in my vision. "I actually learned a fucking spell!"

"Oh, neat," Zevrik said, actually sounding impressed for once. "Your first focus transformation. Not bad for a rookie."