Chapter 2: The Port Guardian Siho
Kal didn't know what this feeling was but he felt his body tingling when he looked towards the man in red armor. It felt as if it was almost survival instinct telling him that the large man in front of him was much stronger than himself.
"Knight Apprentice Coby salutes the General!"
Suddenly the young man who had run up to Kal earlier was in a salute stance facing towards the large man ahead of them. Looking closely at the one who called himself Coby, Kal realized he probably wasn't even over the age of 18. The young Knight Apprentice had sweat beading down his forehead as he looked towards the 2 meter tall figure slowly approaching the both of them.
Kal getting a better look now as he got closer realized the older man was missing an eye, still Kal did not even dream of trying anything against a man who could carry a sword as big as Kal was with ease. Even if it was just a game Kal had no reason to die so soon after starting. As Kal questioned what to do in the situation suddenly the large man spoke.
"Young one it seems you have an interest in Knighthood?"
A message popped in front of Kal's face that almost made him fall over.
*Occupation Knighthood has been triggered*
*A KNIGHTS SPIRIT is now in effect*
•10% increase in relations with npcs that have Knight in their title
'Hmmm is this because of the occupation I picked from Luce.'
As Kal pondered this new information the large man kept talking.
"Hello, young one? Knight Apprentice Coby can he not hear me?"
Being addressed by the intimidating old man in front of him the young Knight tensed up.
"Hahaha no General I'm sure he can hear you but is just nervous and in awe of your presence haha."
The young knight looked like at any moment he could faint constantly darting his eyes around everywhere but into the gaze of the General looking towards him. Kal seeing him nervously laugh while talking on his behalf made him finally speak up.
"I'm sorry um, General was it? I'm not nervous nor in awe, however I only wonder what Knighthood can offer me?"
To his words the young knight next to him became pale and even while appearing to act tough Kal slowly started to back up without even realizing. He was already prepared to run away if his words had agitated the large man, even wondering if he would have to jump into the sea to get away but instead the man simply started to laugh uncontrollably.
"Hahaha what Knighthood can do for you? Hahaha when did the the times change? Back in my day the pride of just being called a Knight was enough to make a man risk his life."
"Sorry sir but if the only reward I get is risking my own life then I think I should find a better profession."
As Kal was about to start walking away from the man who felt like a mountain towering over him the man stepped in front of him blocking his path.
"You young ones are too quick to make up your mind. Even if you have little interest in becoming a Knight, going through training and getting used to your surrounding's can do nothing but benefit you on your journey. Besides you seem to have just arrived to Tunus recently. I doubt you have any stable lodging, which will be provided for you as long as you complete your trials."
"How did you know I had just arrived in this city?"
"Young man I have been guarding this city for what seems to be a decade now. I have memorized every face in this city and yours is different then anyone I've ever seen. You and the rest of the spike in travelers coming as of recent."
'He must mean other players.'
"Many travelers seemed to have come to this city with nothing and were put off by the idea of having to buy their own weapons but, you and a few others are different, you've come prepared. That makes you lucky enough to be able to enroll in the Academy Hahaha!"
"Haha oh how lucky."
Kal's words and the expression his face were making didn't seem to match. This being said Kal had a new found interest in what the man was saying and let him continue.
"If you pass all 10 trials over a 2 week period you will gain access to a Junior Knight Apprentice badge which can help you move around the continent easier than most."
Suddenly another pop up appeared in Kal's face. This time it only slightly startled him.
*Acquirement of the title Junior Knight Apprentice*
Expected Reward:
• 10% Growth increase on Knight related skills
• 5% Growth rate increase in relations with military officials
• 5% Growth rate in all relations with NPC's
"Knight Apprentice Coby will give you directions. Enrollment starts in half an hour and will end an hour after that. I hope to see you there young one."
With that the General walked off and began to harass what looked to be other players asking if them if they had interest in joining. The players seemed alarmed by the large man over them and Kal felt even a little sorry for them but, thought he rather it be them then him and chose to ignore it.
Kal turned to look towards Coby but all he saw was what looked to be the shell of a human with an expression like he was about to fall over still saluting the now faraway General.
'Did he die standing up?'
Slowly Coby regained his color and began to show Kal the way towards the academy passing through the Port City. Coby tried his best answering as many questions as he could for Kal but, he had started to realize Kal wasn't so normal either after answering his 100th question in what could of only been the span of 10 minutes. Kal learned a lot from Coby and almost felt like he should aspire to be a Guide rather than a Knight, but kept his mouth shut.
"So Coby who was that large man that approached exactly?"
"You don't know General Siho the hero of the Slaughter of Tunus incident."
"Like the General had said I'm new to Tunus. I don't know much about this place besides what you've already told me."
"It's not too surprising honestly. The General may have been a household name along the continent at one time but now it feels as he's been outcasted by the rest of the empire."
"How so?"
The Young Knights face grew wary of what he had said and started to speed up slightly.
"It is not my place to bring it up in the first place, besides we are approaching the entrance to the academy."
Kal hadn't even realized how far they had walked distracted by the conversation. They had gone a distance from the port city and had now started to go down a dirt path. Before Kal could ask anything else a large strone structure came into his view.
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There was a line of players waiting outside the building all seemingly trying to get in. The sunlight was bright and felt blinding to Kal, when suddenly everything went dark. The reason for this being General Siho standing over him with a large grin.
"So you decided that Knighthood had something to offer you huh my boy!"
"I jus came to check it out and learn more about my surroundings like you had said."
"Hoho, I hope to see good things from you."
With that he walked away and Kal could feel the eyes of the other players looking at him curious about his interaction with the npc. He could hear them begin to speak to each other.
"Who's that to be talking to the Port Guardian so nonchalant."
"Did you see the Port Guardian? He's really as big as the players in the chat hub said."
"Is that an NPC talking to the Guardian or do you think they're a dev?"
'Great I already have people staring at me. I guess keeping a low profile is a no go. I wanted to figure out if staying would be worth it or if this would be a waste of time but I've already been spotted by a number of eyes. Should I just sneak off now before anyone else gives me attention?"
As Kal thought more about his decision an image of General Siho dragging him back popped into his head and Kal decided to step into the line instead.
The sun felt hot on his skin. Some players already started to get bored and left the line to explore the new world around them. It felt as if more players were leaving than new players were joining. Kal decided that he'd already come this far and that he would wait it out a bit longer, but even he was starting to reach his limit. As Kal almost joined a group of players leaving their spot in line a lone Knight came out of the tall gate in front of them.
"The Training Camp will now begin please follow me in a straight line through the grounds. You will be directed shortly on what the first test will consist of."
"The first test already? We've just been standing all this time and we don't even get a place to rest for a while?
"I'm hungry, tired, and have work in the morning, I can't be doing all of this."
Kal could overhear players bickering, but he had no intention of quitting at this point. This is what he had been waiting on for the last 2 years of his life. It was truly now or never to him.
The Knight continued leading the group of what could of been no less than 400 players through a training grounds of sorts before he came to a halt in front of a large stage.
"You will each partake in a 1 on 1 duel with a fellow aspiring Knight here today."
Groans and contentment could be heard from many of the players.
"I've never picked up a weapon before how am I supposed to know what to do."
"Hey bro let me win if we face each other and I'll buy you a drink."
"This suck's not even teaching us anything cool beforehand, I'm heading back to the main city."
As Kal watched a few players leave he felt pretty calm about the situation and that was for one reason alone. He was rank #987 on the global leaderboard for the hit VR Samurai fighting game Bushi War and knew even if the sword attachment he used for the game wasn't real, it was more experience then most. Kal thought he could've in fact even been ranked higher had he not been banned numerous times for obscene language. He was confident that in a game like 2nd chance with easier mobility he would dominate with a sword as long as his opponent didn't have prior experience with their own weapon. He even felt a little excited. As players lined up and started to clash he watched.
"Kchh kchink tkink"
As sword's, spears, and other weapons players had chosen could be seen striking each other, people began to cheer on their fellow players and seemed to cheer even more when someone had died. As more players died more players decided not to partake seeing as death meant not being able to log on for 24 hours after the fact but, Kal didn't care. Many grinders would of thought the risk was too high and missing the opportunity to play the game on launch day would be suicide to their new found career, even Kal knew of this too however, he was confident, excited, and lucky. When Kal saw his opponent he immediately knew victory was his.
"Sir Kal Vs Sir Purple Monkey's battle will commence shortly!"
The knight who had led them to the grounds now stood as a ref of the match. Kal looked to his left and could see Siho looking down at them from one of the castle like walls of the building they were surrounded by. The Knight acting as a referee looked at Kal for confirmation and in return Kal nodded his head. When the referee looked at Kal's opponent however, he did not get a nod back. If anything it looked like his opponent was going to quit on the spot.
Kal looked at the man looking to be in his mid 30s who wore a more than slightly nervous expression about the sword fight he was about to partake in. Now that Kal thought about it if he were to die in a game like this he wondered to himself how it would feel. It probably would be just as realistic as everything else was around him. This made him grip the sword the Captain gave him a little tighter. Kal felt confident in this battle however he didn't know what lie ahead.
"Sir Purple Monkey are you ready?"
The referee once again looked towards Kal's opponent for confirmation. As his opponent was gathering his breath players could be heard heckling in the distance.
"What type of name is Purple Monkey ahaha!"
Kal's opponent nerves seemingly got worse. Kal didn't mind this as it would only be an easier fight for him this way. As his opponent finally gave the nod of approval the battle was ready to commence.
The two players met in the middle exchanged greetings and went back to their own sides of the large stone platform beneath them waiting for the match to officially start.
"Begin!"
In what seemed to be only be a few milliseconds after the referee had spoken Kal ran towards his opponent only frightening him more. The cutlass the Captain had given him was a light sword slightly different then what he was used too but he adjusted to its weight and raised his arms attempting a forward slash directly onto his opponent's head.
"Clinchk"
His opponent had barely reacted fast enough by putting his sword up with both hands causing one of them to bleed from holding the blade directly. The pain receptors in a players capsule could only mimick the pain to a certain extent before it would genuinely hurt the real life body of the user but Kal's opponent still seemed to feel enough to flinch and trip backwards from the power of the swing.
Kal again slashed at his opponent with both hands on the hilt of his sword, however instead of an aerial assault this time came low striking his opponents thighs. Blood started to flow and his opponent looked like he was about to pass out. Suddenly his opponent dropped his sword and surrendered and the fight was over.
'I get why he surrendered, he was probably overwhelmed, but I was just starting to feel like I was getting the hang of things too damnit'
As Kal thought about his fight the referee came over and raised his hand up declaring him the winner. Players cheered and some even bickered at the forfeit and soon after all of the 1 on 1 duels had been completed.
All the wounded were healed by npc healers on the premises and the losers who had surrendered with their lives made their way off the grounds. Kal could see General Siho talking with the Knight who had acted as a referee. Kal already felt tired and almost debated logging off to drink his second energy drink of the night, but chose to wait as it seemed the Knight who was talking to the general began to walk towards the remaining players.
"With many participants losing as well as forfeiting their matches the remaining test applicants amount to 129."
Kal thought this number was still large but didn't mind it being after only the first test. Kal was ready to log out there and log in sometime later when suddenly the Knight continued.
"The second test will now begin. Please follow me to the next test sight."
Kal's face sunk and could only look at the Knight with hope he had misheard him. Players all around could be heard groaning but reluctantly followed the Knight to their next testing area.
They were presented in front of them a large cliff that looked so steep if you stood still you may fall off.
"The first 100 applicants to reach the top of the cliff will pass."
Kal didn't enjoy running in fact, he hated it. As he looked at the cliff all he felt was hatred for the creator and developers of the game.
Before even having time to process if he would continue with the trials the Knight ahead grabbed a whistle and blew it to signify the beginning of the race.
"I would also like the add any participant who does not complete the trial before sunset will also be disqualified."
Kal looked at the sun as he started to run up the large cliff ahead. He estimated assuming time here was based on real life the sun would be down in around 2 hours, yet the cliff ahead of him looked like it would take the whole day to conquer. Kal reluctantly started to pick up his pace and only 20 minutes in had only enough energy to produce one thought.
'This game is trying to kill me'
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