New Game

Chapter 5: The PvP Zone

Aquila woke up feeling fresh and well rested the next day. He spent quite a lot of that day grinding, as well as looking for easy quests around the city. Levelling up was slow work – after three days in Novus Town, he'd only managed get his light weapon skill to 3, and his archery to 2. His overall combat level was 2. The quests around the city only provided him with minimal rewards as well, and killing rabbits in the fields was proving to be less and less effective at level progression.

Novus Town had come to thin out quite a lot by the third day. Many players had moved on; there was really only so much one could do here, after they'd learnt the basics. Most of the people who had stayed were only interested in levelling up other skills, like herblore, fishing and enchanting.

The main square had changed a little too – although still quite chaotic, it had now become a hub for traders and beggars alike. Aquila couldn't really walk through the square without someone either asking him for money, or asking if he wanted to buy something from them – and he'd get a trade request from a player at least every three or four minutes.

During the afternoon on the third day, Aquila found himself sitting down on a bench not far from the main square in Novus City, eating a cheese and bacon wrap he'd bought from the tavern where he'd completed the cooking quest. He wasn't low on HP, but he really enjoyed the taste; and although his stamina bar was full, he still felt a little tired, and kind of just wanted to relax. He couldn't help wondering if he'd missed Alister and Sophia, if maybe they'd gone off without him. What if they were together, and they'd left him on his own? No, they wouldn't leave him. Surely not.

All of this was passing through Aquila's head as a pale skinned snow elf wandered past. Aquila was in the quieter parts of the town, but it was still quite common for players to be passing by. The snow elf approached him and sat on the bench beside him. Aquila moved to the side to make room. At this point, he wasn't surprised by players by players randomly approaching him. In fact he was almost a little shocked when the player didn't immediately ask him for money.

'Things are starting to calm down now, don't you think? I mean, players are beginning to focus more on the game.'

The last thing Aquila had expected was for the player to begin making small-talk. Aquila looked to the side. The player was Level 1, and his tag read Spaghetti_man.

'Yeah, I suppose you're right.'

'Do you think it's really true – that if you die in the game, you like, really die?'

'I don't know. But one thing's for sure. I don't want to take the risk of dying. Why are you talking to me anyway, you don't want money do you?'

Spaghetti shrugged.

'I'm just trying to make new friends. I don't see any other way of doing that, except by talking to people.'

'That's true I guess,' Aquila felt slightly embarrassed that he'd assumed to worst of the elf straight off the bat.

'You know, I want to leave this town. See what's out there. But there's only so far you can go without hitting a PVP zone – and it's quite a dangerous place to be if you're alone.'

'I know exactly what you mean.'

'What do you say then?'

'What?'

'Want to adventure with me?'

Aquila took another bite of his wrap, chewed and swallowed. Then he looked Spaghetti up and down shrewdly before answering. The player had a genuine pleading look on his face.

'You didn't sign up to the beta with anyone?'

'Nope. I joined the game all on my own. All by my lonesome self. Or you could say by my lonesome elf. Pardon the pun.'