Okay, I know Wind said we should avoid this area for now. But I can't just wait for everyone to stop fighting! I already discover some spells during my training and I can't waste it for another day. Though I have a feeling Wind will give me a handful of lectures when we are reunited. But for now, it's time for me to test out my new spells!
Thankfully for my small size, I quickly passed through some of the chaos around me. As I did, I managed to see an empty plain that is teeming with some rabbit-like monsters and slimes around me. Wind did say to avoid some strong-looking monsters, so I think they should be great monsters to test some of my spells out with. Taking out my staff from my back holster, I slowly approached the slime. Since they are somehow made of liquid, I feel that my [Thunder] spells should do the trick. That and I have to remember that one 'monster-catching' anime I watched with Wind back then to guess its weaknesses.
Now here's the tricky part of spell-casting. As I learned from my training, I have to recite the incantation while focusing my mind on the target. Back then, the tutorial gave me a cheat sheet to help me memorize them. After I cast a few times though, I have to rely on my head as the window containing the incantation disappeared. And trust me, trying to recite them without it is more difficult than concentrating on the target. Besides, pronunciation and dictation are the main keys to casting a strong spell and my previous attempts weren't very strong as I'd hoped.
Still, I can't just give up because of this tiny problem. If Wind can able to learn [Archery] for a day, then so will I! With that thought out, I quickly focused on the slime as I raised my staff upward.
"I call the thunderous spirit of my aura. Let my small spirit dashed through my staff with this power!"
When I recited the incantation, I noticed I almost mispronounced 'thunderous' and 'aura'. Regardless, electricity began to gather through my staff's gem before I swing it like a bat.
"[Lightning Bolt]!"
Once I swung my staff, a blue bolt of electricity came out of it as it strikes the blue slime through its body. As expected, it was electrocuted as soon it came in contact with my [Thunder] spell. But I know it wasn't enough to kill it. From the tutorial I read through back in the training hall, I learned that all of us including the NPCs and monsters have Health Points, or [HP] for short. If our [HP] go down to 0, we will be in a [Dead] state which NPCs are unable to recover and lost forever. Since I'm a player, I can obviously be revived, but according to the tutorial, I have to receive a death penalty of EXP lock for an hour. So that means I can't just grow reckless with weak monsters even if I know how to cast my spells.
Back to the subject at hand, I saw that the [Degrading Slime] has only 65% of its HP left. Unfortunately, [Lightning Bolt] has a 5-second cooldown and just reciting its incantation again will take longer since I can't rush it. So I have to try another spell.
"Energy waving around the elements around me. Gather to me and create the force against my enemies!"
This time, purple energy began to gather right in front of me as it formed into a ball that is the same size as a basketball.
"[Mana Blast]!"
I quickly fired the sphere into the slime, which its HP has gone down to 30% once it came in contact and exploded. At this point, I quickly recast my [Lightning Bolt] spell once more to finish the slime off. As I did so, it's body suddenly explodes as it leaves behind some Lapi and some bottles of gel, I think. Still, I stood there for a few seconds, trying to process what happened. Eventually, I jumped in joy because I managed to kill my very first monster!
"Yes, yes, yes! I did it! I knew sneaking away is a good idea!"
Okay, sneaking away is against the rules, but at least I'm not far away from him so the game won't alarm me that I'm far away from my [Guardian Player]. Regardless, I decided to forge on as I face another slime. This time, it's coloration is almost like blood red. Still, it's perfect for me to try a new spell from the [Wind] category.
"Spirit of Slyph, I call the gale to my growing aura and allow me to manipulate the air all around me!"
My staff then gather the wind all around me as it formed itself into a sphere like with the energy beforehand. Once it was formed into the size of a baseball, I aimed my staff's tip to the red slime.
"[Wind Sickle]!"
The sphere then quickly morphed itself into a sickle-shaped blade as it fired from my staff and slicing through its liquid body, which it left with 80% of its [HP]. Guess that means this spell is somehow weaker than the other ones I previously cast. However, this was not the time for me to wonder as I have to cast another spell.
"I call the thunderous spirit of my aura. Let my small spirit dashed through my st-"
I would able to recite this without any problems. But before I can finish it, the slime quickly jumped on me with some crazy speed. Just feeling the hit reminds me a lot of a huge punch I took in third grade. In any case, I was shocked to see that it managed to chip off 13% of my [HP]. Guess I can't underestimate this kind of slime. Regardless, this wasn't the time for me to think as the slime continued to bounce around the trees and boulders like a pinball.
I knew I can't just recite the spell again while standing around. So I have to move left as it charges me again. Thankfully, it worked as I ended up smacking the slime's back with my own staff in the process. It might chip off little of its [HP], but it's enough for me to try reciting the incantation once more.
"I call the thunderous spirit of my aura. Let my small spirit dashed through my staff with this power! [Lightning Bolt]!"
With a swing of my staff, I fired another bolt to the slime, shocking it to 47% [HP]. And my shot was luckier this time as it ends up in a [Paralysis] state. At this point, I can able to try another spell.
"Energy waving around the elements around me. Gather to me and create the force against my enemies! [Mana Blast]!"
I quickly fired another energy ball into the slime before I cast another [Wind Sickle] to finish it off. That attack was completely painful with the special features they have on ADVR, but at least it was worth it as the slime exploded like before, leaving some more Lapi and gel for me to gather.
"Wow, I only lost 13% of my [HP] and yet, I managed to kill two monsters in one day. If Wind is still with me, he might go crazy with me being hurt by a weak slime like that."
It might be true since he tends to grow overprotective of me whenever I go alone. At least this will help me prove that I can fight with my spells very well. In any case, he is going to be jealous when he hears about this! Well, that was a plan until...
"Nice job on the monster takedown, Kaz."
My eyes widened when I heard that familiar voice as I turned around. Much to my dismay, Wind is already waiting for me.
"Too bad that I already saw everything."
Just when I think I managed to leave him just for a few minutes, he ends up finding me as always. I just frowned as I turned around to see Wind in silence for a few seconds.
"I thought we would be logging out already?! You know that sooner or later, more players are going to swarm around this area! What would happen if you're stuck in the crowd without my presence?!"
I would try to protest, but he has a point. Most of the players here are adults so far (thanks to this game being for 13 years old and above) and I would be in a sticky situation if he didn't come here on time. I then slumped my arms down while just thinking about the consequences of a worst-case scenario.
"I-I'm sorry... I really want to try out my new spells so very bad, that I thought that I can pass through the people right in front of me and get through empty space."
"I understand your frustrations, Kazu. But there is a time and place for battle. It's just that this isn't the right time for it."
I was still frustrated, but I felt much better after he pats my shoulder with a smile on his face.
"Right now, we should try to wait until the first-day chaos back there blows over, okay?"
Easy for him to say. I'm still desperate to test out some of my spells. Yet from what can I see so far, there is no signs of a player coming to this area. So does that counts as nobody at this time? Though now that I think about it, I do want to try another Mastery.
"A-Alright. But only if you let me gather some herbs around here. I also picked [Alchemy] as my mastery and I can mix herbs and brew a potion for us to use. Plus, it's a little cheap than buying some more potions from the store."
I'm a little worried that he wouldn't agree to this again. But to my relief, he just scratched his chin once I mentioned it while looking at me in curiosity.
"Really? Other than the prices, what are the differences between them?"
"Well, if I make them by hand, their effects would be higher than the NPC healing potions."
That's what the forums say, I think. If you have a higher level, your potions can able to have strong healing effects. Plus, I also heard that you can add flavors to it as well!
"Good enough. But try not to wander off again. The least you don't want me to do is to follow you around like a stalker."
Just hearing those words makes me shiver for a bit. I really don't want to repeat that same incident during Family Day back in my school.
"Don't worry, I won't. Besides, you might able to try out your [Hunting] skills to gather some herbs as well. You do have your [Cooking] mastery after all.
"Alright. Let's do that."
With that, both of us began to search for some herbs around the area as fast as we could. As for how we searched for them, both of us have different skills for us to use with our respective masteries.
Since I have the [Alchemy] and [Magical Affinity] masteries, I can use the [Aura Sight] skill. With it, I can able to see any herbs and items I can gather from here. However, because of my current level, I'm only limited to lower-leveled items and herbs, so gathering higher level ones is very rare for me to get. Also, I was unable to identify them the moment I picked them up, so I have to try another skill to help me appraise them.
For Wind's, he has a special [Hunting] skill called [Eagle Eye]. Like its namesake, he can use his enhanced eyesight to search for any kind of items, which is sort of his variation to my [Aura Sight]. Though the main difference is obviously the lack of ability to find any magical materials. Still, Kazu's skill is enough to help me out with the herbs. Though like me, he has to appraise most of the materials first.
----
After a few minutes have passed, we managed to gather most of the herbs and some fruits around this area. Though, we quickly left the area as not only most of the players have begun to gather to that spot, but it was almost nighttime, which we were warned not to stay at that time. At this point, all we have to do is to go back to the city.
Once we went back, we sat on the same bench at the town center as we checked at what we have gathered so far with the skills we have from our masteries. So far, I managed to identify 15 of the materials I've gathered.
"Wow, I never knew how many healing herbs I've got. What about you, Wind?"
When I looked at my brother, he seemed to be a little disturbed at the herb he has in his hands. "Looks like I'm on par with you, Kaz. But..."
He then showed me a strange purple lily with a grim expression on his face. I was confused at why he looked like that. That is until I saw the description through my [Herb Appraise] skill.
[Shrouded Lily]
[A herb that has beautiful petals shaped like a cross. Smelling or tasting would result in a slow and painful death similar to strangulation.]
"Who in the right mind planted this dangerous herb in a beginner's area in the first place?!"
Who indeed. To be honest, if I hadn't known the skills, I would have to go reckless and try the herb to see if its safe. Though I am also confused why is it in that area.
"No clue. But I better keep it in my bag just in case. Besides, I still need to do one more thing before we log off."
I grabbed the lily from Wind's hand and put it in my inventory. Once I did, I left Wind's side for a moment to find a general store. In order for me to do [Alchemy], I need the necessary tools to help me out. In this case, I purchased a [Beginner Medicinal Kit] from the store. It's basically a set consist of a mortar and pestle, a cheap gas burner, a beaker, and a mixing stick. But it's enough for me to start on brewing potions.
Once I came back to Wind, I didn't waste any time to prepare the kit on the ground as I laid a handkerchief below before I put in the tools. While I prepared them, he approached me with his eyebrow raised.
"Are you sure you can brew some potions with those tools right in front of you?"
"Yeah. Don't worry, an in-game guide will help me out along the way. Just watch."
Just like I predicted, the in-game guide window appeared right in front of me as I started on the brew. To be honest, unlike real life, making a potion is somehow easy comparing to some researchers who are making modern medicine. The first thing I did is to grab some healing herbs from my inventory and started crushing them into my mortar with my pestle. After I managed to turn them into something that akin to a powder, I fired up my gas burner and heat up my beaker full of water. It only took a few minutes to get to the right temperature before I added the herbs to it.
And to be honest, that was it. I do have to mix them up while the mixture is heated. After that, I transferred it to a potion bottle as a description window popped out in front of me, signifying its completion.
[Healing Potion]
[A basic potion for healing. Recommended for any adventurers.
Effect: Restores 10% of the user's HP.]
"Huh... Looks like I don't need to step in to help you out then."
Wind said as he approached me while he stared at my first creation. At least brewing potions are much easier than what I thought it would.
"Yeah. I would probably make a batch of this for both of us with [Bulk Production] skill. It's not much efficient as making one-by-one, but at least it would be a less hassle for me."
With that, I used the skill to make some more healing potions. I didn't count how many I made and how many herbs I used up, but most of them have higher effects than my last one while some are lower. Regardless, I gave 10 of the higher quality potions to Wind and another 10 to myself.
"There you go. I might try to sell the other ones tomorrow. Besides, we do need the Lapi for some future purchases."
"Good call, Kazu. But for now, let's log out for the night. Mom might catch us playing over our time limit very soon."
With that, both of us tapped the [LOG OUT] button after that. While it was a very eventful first day for us, I am still happy that I managed to experience the whole fantasy world in <Isekai>! I just hope tomorrow might be more awesome than today.
----
Wind's Masteries
[Archery] Level 5
[Woodcrafting] Level 1
[Swordsmanship] Level 5
[Cooking] Level 1
[Wind] Level 5
[Physical Enhancement] Level 1
[Hunting] Level 3
----
Kazu's Masteries
[Arcana] Level 5
[Thunder] Level 6
[Wind] Level 5
[Alchemy] Level 4
[Magecrafting] Level 1
[Magical Affinity] Level 3
[Scribe] Level 1