4 Chapter 4 (1/2)

As soon as Jake Smithson, shopping addict extraordinaire and Shopping Addict in this brave new world clicked on the button to officially sign up for the Awakening Store, another dialog box appeared with a question.

[Do you want to receive push notifications for new offers and events?]

'Now this is interesting,' Jake thought, nodding in approval. 'Push notifications? It's like a mobile phone app. They even give you notifications.'

'Do I want to receive notifications? OF COURSE! Getting news about events and new products is essential for someone who lives to buy stuff, like me!'

Without a moment's hesitation, he clicked his assent to receive push notifications, speed-read through the Awakening Store's Terms of Service, filled in the requisite information, and finished up his membership in the Awakening Store.

That was when he received a very pleasant surprise.

[Welcome to the Awakening Store, Jake Smithson! For being our very first member, please receive this bonus of 1000 points as a gesture of our thanks.]

'What a nice present. Let's go look around the Shop for a way to spend it!'

As soon as he received his gift and finished up his membership, Jake jumped right into his shopping cart and made to pay for the package he bought, and saw that there was only one payment method.

[You currently have 3100 points in stock.]

[Would you like to pay 1900 points for this item?]

'Yes… YES!'

The moment he paid 1900 points, something appeared in the corner of his eye.

[Package purchased successfully. Please check your inventory.]

A smile graced his face when he saw the item sitting in his formerly blank inventory.

***

While the group of Awakeners summoned in Brino were no different from the average person you'd meet on the street, it was evident that shortly after their first battle that they were under some sort of mental effect.

The Awakeners seemed to acclimate themselves to this setting sooner than they would have – the shock of being transplanted to a new world wore off quicker than they first expected.

Right after the battle, the Awakeners were weaning off their adrenaline high by looking into whatever information they gained – first and foremost among them was the fact that when they slew a certain number of enemies, they clearly felt an increase of strength.

Even those with cursory experience with role-playing games and were relegated to defending themselves against a five-hundred strong goblin scouting party had their share of strength increases as well.

All in all, nearly all of the Awakeners in Brino experienced what the role-playing game savvy called a level up. They could finally realize the true meaning behind their title ”Awakener”.

Many Awakeners come to realize the nature of their new circumstances, and the feeling of power upon gaining a level cast aside the despair wrought by their situation.

It was their way to cope with this gigantic and sudden change in their lives: if they realized that neither escape nor struggle was pointless, they decided to either fight their way out for survival or fight their way into power.

One of the warriors stood alone and took glances at the female Awakeners with covetous eyes.

'I now clearly see. Power is everything here. If I become the strongest among them, I can rule over this place, also those pretty ladies,' the pervert guy thought as he was smacking his lips.

Another warrior was smiling as he gazed at his reflection off his blade, as if he was looking forward to the next battle.

Other Awakeners also started to adjust their mindset – placed in a different world with a different society and different rules, they quickly learned the way of this world.

The chains that restrained their inner desire were long gone, and the Awakeners began to look after stronger power to achieve their primitive desire.

Protecting the city from a monster horde was pretty close to the mark on that, and the result of that was fairly predictable, too.

They wanted power.

Combat.

Ambition.

Now that they were in another world, they – either consciously or unconsciously – decided to make the best of their situation here.

It was at this point where three people emerged from the town's main hall and made their way towards the Awakeners.

***

”My name is Sir Johann, and I have come to assist those who wield arms in the defense of this town,” the one in resplendent silver armor announced, taking a step forward as the whole group of Awakeners eyed the new trio warily.

”I am the sorcerer Raudonas the Red, and those who would use the arcane arts would do well with my counsel,” the one in a purple robe and carrying an elaborate staff then said in a voice disguised by what looked like a facial covering or mask.

”If you're looking for the one to help you get better at helping out others in many different ways,” the one with a satchel and hammer said, ”fall in line. Call me Jack.”

Three people with unusual outfits appeared in Brino just as the first attack was repelled – the gathered Awakeners could hear the strangers using a very old dialect, but they understood the words and sentences clearly.

Someone had to spare a thought towards how strange this phenomenon was, but given the trio's rather… flamboyant entrance, the Awakeners had gained a quick immunity to surprises like this, and just waited for them to speak further.

”We have come to help develop skills and show how to spend stats for each class,” Sir Johann continued, ”has everyone here done so already?”

As a few hands were raised and the three new arrivals went towards them, Awakeners began grouping themselves around these people as they heard what each of them were saying.

It took all of ten minutes for Brino to figure out why they were there: to guide new Awakeners into playing the game as best as possible.

The contingent of active video gamers among the Awakeners thus explained to those who had yet to understand how distributing stats were the key to maximize one's competence in his or her class, and should be done carefully, lest one fail to live up to their class' potential due to carelessness.

”Sir Johann, my name is Lady Aera, and I am a Knight. Which stats should I raise?” the former psychologist asked as she stepped forward, first unto the breach.

Once her questions were answered, everyone else followed suit.

”Good morning, Raudonas –”

”It's Miss Raudonas,” the purple-robed magic user said, pulling down the hood to reveal the face of a young woman with flowing red hair.

”Miss Raudonas, I am a wizard, and my status screen says I'm a 'fire class' wizard. What do I do? from here?”

It took minutes before people gathered around these and asked questions about their classes, and everyone who had their questions answered regrouped and began talking to their respective group leaders.

A lot of similar dialogue happened throughout the hour, as the Awakeners did not know very much about Nohas, and the three more experienced Awakeners appearing and sharing their knowledge seemed like an oasis in a barren desert.

Nearly everyone was drawn to the three characters assisting them… except one, who had already found his oasis early on, just before he started figuring out how to pound goblin heads with nearby rocks.

”Even the packaging is an art form,” Jake said, clutching the box in his hand and giving it a very appraising stare before he would open it.

Some things never change.

When Jake bought his first thing online, this was the exact same thing he did.

'So, what if there were characters helping them out? Let them get help. I have all the help I need at the touch of my fingertips – and I can have any kind of help I want, for the right price… but enough about that.'

Jake cut his soon-to-be rant short and made his move, scratching a corner off the tape on the package, and very carefully easing the tape off.

”Now this is what the feeling of a job well done is like,” he said as soon as the last line of tape on the package box was eased off, as if it hadn't been there. The package was opened with a deft touch of one who had opened many packages like it before.

Right now, he was near the outskirts of Brino, close to the city wall, holding onto the package he was about to open like a newborn baby, feeling a bit secretive, self-conscious, and paranoid about his purchase.

He was just about to open it when he noticed that the presentation of the package he was holding resembled that of the online shopping center he frequented the most.

Jake's moment of suspicion passed quickly, as there was a package to open and stuff to use!

He could almost hear the angelic chorus when he parted the cardboard panels… and finally, he opened the package to see a tome within.

It looked rather imposing, what with its sheer size taking up most of the box (after the bubble wrap, of course), its deep purple leather cover and symbols embossed on the front in a shiny bronze.