Volume 8 Chapter 1 (1/2)
Chapter 1 : Rhodium
Rhodiuars Masses of people asking for alates to the plaza
”Please, spare just one coin! Ah, have you chosen what paint color to use yet?”
”Well, I wanted to create a new shade of my own, but as you know, the price of paint isn't cheap”
”Right, it's hard to use as ht now”
”Ithe basic primary colors”
Iht anywhere in Rhodiuht now, these panhandlers were extrear who had recently appeared from a Teleport Gate At first, they had crowded hi him for money Noever, they were amazed by his skill in supplication
”Haaaa”
Weed gazed at the sky with an expression of utter devastationHe was still wearing Yeti fur clothes in this hot weather! Crowds of people passed by this part of the plaza
””
Weed just stared at the sky with a glooret! Showing all these e there Clink!
”Cheer up”
”Perhaps a better day will come”
”I don't knohat happened to you but life isn't as hopeless as you think”
”Please, buy some clothes with this that fur looks so unco adventurers siination
”He must have suffered a terrible fate”
”How can he stare at the sky sohim”
And so, they tossed their coins
His skill was enough to attract donations through sympathy alone! However, if they kneas actually on Weed's mind, they would have cried out in frustration instead
”How could I be accepted into a college?! Now I'll have to pay expensive tuition fees for classes! And, in addition, I'll have to buy all those pricey textbooks It can't be trueWhat must not have happened ”
He was devastated about so into college Even the other artists couldn't truly stay jealous of hi one like you shouldn't be so dejected”
Weed only sighed
Pavo clicked his tongue, saying, ”Cheer up, it's a big world out thereWere you duirl?”
Weed just shook his head He couldn't bear to say that he had passed an entrance exaedy, just the simple mention of it would make him burst into tears
Gaston and Pavo couldn't have iined that it was merely this that made him seem to be in such terrible despair
”You shouldn't be so discouraged No matter how dire the situation seems” Pavo said, as he took a step towards hih to reach for the stack of coins in front of Weed
Sweep!
Weed collected the coins in the blink of an eye as he maintained a pained expression The movement was so fast that it would have been missed by anyone, even if they had watched hiet his attach cash as I ae I can”
There was one gold coin, several silver ones, and old and forty silvers pretty nice for just being se
It wasn't that much to Weed, but it was a motherload to the artists in Rhodium Pavo came closer and patted Weed's shoulder
”Haha, were you that needy? But, say, are you planning to sit here without eating anything?”
Of course, Weed didn't want to do that It was just that he was stuck in the ry
”I know a good diner just around the corner Wanna join me?”
”How et a decent meal for around twenty coppers”
Twenty coppers would buy almost seven loaves of wheat bread, but a proper uess it would be okay”
As if he'd finished what he cao and have a look at that diner”
When he had first arrived through the Teleport Gate, loads of beggars had crowded hied to ward them off at the time Now those panhandlers didn't bat an eye as Weed left the plaza Actually, they were pretty happy to be rid of the competition, if only for a while
”I didn't lose any uys I even earned a little ed to protect his h he could have just tossed a few coins in the first place to do so But he was proud and satisfied! No artist should ever bother to beg froood, cheap diner this way Just follow et soh the convoluted alleys They had gone quite far froood”
Normally, stores in deep alleys sell cheaper and tastier meals than ones near main roads Only people in the know can find these places, hidden like treasure In layman's terms: Exclusive native diners!
Weed sat doith Gaston and Pavo to have a meal Cheap as it was, the menu only included a siood quality grain though, so it was soft and savory
”Delicious!”
Weed ate his food with satisfaction He could bake his own bread, of course, but it would require a lot of ood Pavo shtly
”Isn't it? Few places would sell this as cheaply”
It was a valid point; even Weed agreed That would explain why the diner was so crowded, even though it was hidden this deep inside the alleys The boas virtually clean once Weed was finished
”Thanks for showing me this, it was a very nice meal”
”What are your plans?” Pavo asked, interested
”I' to have a look around in the city”
”You don't exactly look like a tourist to me”
Many tourists come to Rhodium, since it had become a trend to tour the castles and cities of the continent Though, tourists usually didn't start begging as soon as they arrived
”I wished to inquire about skills relating to my job”
”Then your profession is?”
”A sculptor”
”Ah, you chose a tough one”
Gaston and Pavo looked at Weed with syed so fervently now If he came here not as a traveller, but as a sculptor, he surely had a hard ti art-based classes, the more basic types, like sculptors, tend to be the most difficult You need a skillful hand, and can't even make art as you wish Even in the city of Rhodium, few have chosen an artistic class; production classes are h I have heard rumours that there's actually a world-renowned sculptor somewhere in Royal Road”
”World-renowned sculptor?”
”Someone who has, with passion and persistence, overcome a class that everyone else dis that there's such a person Do you think I would be able to meet hido no ordinary sculptor would even have iined! They even say that some of his other works are hidden around the continent Soht to be his work are also found in the sky city, Lavias The ru skill is at least Interet enor at any of his works”
””
Weed was very surprised that stories about him were this widespread He knew that he ell-known as the adventurer Weed, but he hadn't thought that he was this fah, since it would be artists that like this side of oing now?”
”Yes”
”Then, we'll see you around Perhaps once you level up soht help you with a house”
Gaston and Pavo waved good-bye
Rhodium, the City of Artists
There was poverty everywhere, but the city itself was beautiful and romantic
It was filled ondrous architecture that cos, with streets that were littered with detailed art, and even the little things spread here and there were stupendous
The whole place was filled with fancy lights and colors
Each road had young aspiring artists, either painting or sculpting Others were playing instru on the spot
Crowds of travellers visited, and even more artists strove for their dreams in this city
Indeed, it was built majestically However, due to lack of funds the city wasn't properly maintained and therefore easily deteriorated Understandably, Rhodium was also known as the city without a lord -- since no one was interested in taking it over!
While the continent had plenty of lords engaging in brutal struggles over castles and territories, Rhodium seemed almost too peaceful
The lifeblood of any city is, of course, ate, research, and trade
However, weapons and armor didn't sell very well in Rhodium
The place was nearly deserted of adventurers, because the nearby hunting grounds were just ht mind would want to own such an unprofitable city
”Well, art won't bring in any profits”
Weed's convictions were strengthened in this moment
Blacksmiths, weavers, and enchanters usually coh their classes were, but to Weed they sounded a hundred times easier than any artisan class
Weed continued his slow tour of Rhodiu, my lover!
To be with you forever!”
He could hear so at a nearby theatre
There were many bards in Rhodiuth and , and could also earn extra cash by giving performances
In short, just the fact that they didn't have to beg was an advantage This was a class that could earn its keep wherever it went!
Because of these traits, the Bard was the most respected class in Rhodium
The second place would be Jewelers Jewelers are able to manufacture various precious metals into beautiful accessories
Sculptors could also refine gemstones once they reached a certain skill level, but they couldn't compare to the real specialists
Jewelers could refine gold, silver, pearls, jade, emeralds, sapphires, and more to raise their worth
The Jeweler class could be considered a more specialized type of sculptor
”This is truly the City of Artists”
Weed appreciated many artworks as he walked around in Rhodiuuilds, ere very rare in other cities
Of course, there were also a few basic couilds here and there
In Rhodiuuilds! This was only possible, since there was of all kinds of couilds
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that nearly all existing classes could be found here
Weed stopped at a street lined with guilds
”This would be a good time to look for more clues”
He had been told that there would beto be found in the artist guilds
Thus, it was necessary to becouild et's heart and relentless criticis friend!
This task wasn't all that difficult for Weed who possessed these s else I need to do first It would be good to learn a few skills now that I'uilds, Weed entered the nearby warriors' guild
Even though Rhodium was an artistic city, it didn't mean that there were no users with combat-related classes
Brah had chosen to start in Rhodiu someone who loved to travel, he was attracted to the history and culture of Rhodium
At first, that choice had been fine, as there was plenty of prey in the surroundings!
While the artists were busy trying to raise their skill levels, Braht outside the walls
Nor cities, there would be an extreme lack of rabbits and foxes which created fierce co hunters
However, since there was an abundant wildlife to hunt around Rhodium, Bramas had quickly leveled up
He even developed a strong companionshi+p with the few other co each other
”There are no warriors in Rhodiuer than I!”
Bra the best warrior in Rhodiuuild, someone approached hi Rhodiureat compatibility with each other Since they could cover each other in tough battles, it was a good idea to have more than one in a party
Weed, who had just entered the guild, shook his head
”Sorry, but I auild for?”
”I'm here to learn a skill If you have no business with me, please excuse uild's training center
”What is he trying to do here?”
Curious, Bramas followed him Weed had stopped in front of the center's instructor
Curtly, the instructor asked, ”What business have brought you here?”
Sienerally tended to dislike artists
The instructor treated Weed with disdain, because he saw that Weed possessed the ”displeasing” temperament of an artist
Weed silently unequipped his Yeti clothes and put them away With the continent as hot as it was, he didn't require any leather clothing He even unequipped the ar his torso
”Please, strike me”
”What?”
”To protect le-eyed Aren't those the pro new skills?!
”It's definitely in order to gain a warriors' skill -- what is going on?”
The instructor brandished his club
”A feeble artist dares to ret those words!”
The instructor forcefully swung his club towards Weed's torso
WHAM
A terrifyingly powerful blow!
However, Weed didn't h Then I shall strike again”
WHAAM!
But Weed's expression still didn't change at all
”Perhaps I have seriously underestimated you ”
The instructor showed a little hter The veins popping out froets too painful, let me know You could die, even if you force yourself to endure it”
”I am fine”
”Then I shall continue”
POW BAMM BAMM BAMM
The instructor struck, each blow more powerful than the last But Weed still cal became more and more labored, and in the end the club snapped in two
”HaaaaaaHaaaaaaaYouare incredible!”
The instructor was out of breath
”Have you ever tried closing your eyes when you took a hit? This a whispered secret, but they say that the pain dulls when your eyes are closed This s”
Ding!
<tbody>
New Stat: You have gained the Toughness stat!
</tbody><tbody>
TOUGHNESS:
The ability to endure blows The er the hits it can resist becorows as you repeat a task, this stat is only increased by being hit, and contributes to increasing your ht
EYES CLOSED TIGHT LVL 1 (0): Closing your eyes as you are attacked e taken For each level in this skill an additional 3 of Dae and Pain is decreased However, caution with this skill is advised, as unwise usage of this skill in coer
</tbody>
A new stat and skill!
But closing your eyes was a very dangerous action
To close your eyes as an opponent's weapon closes in it's a newbie's e, and in order to do this better, it is necessary to shut your eyes at the right ht actually end up exposing a player to following attacks, and cause an inability to counterattack, or leave the player's weak points vulnerable
Weed re-equipped his ar me I truly respect the warrior class since a warrior is able to protect their friends and fight their enemies at the frontline I will do ht return once the chance coreat ain anyti towards the instructor, Weed stepped towards the exit