Trigger-Happy Potioneer

Home in the Wilderness

"Is that it?" Loeta looked at me in disbelief.

"What? Is it too much?" I didn't want to demand too much; I feel that it would be rude and selfish to do something like that.

"W-well, it's not difficult; it's actually rather simple..." Her words tapered off. "Are you sure that all you want?"

"For now, yeah." If I think of something else later, then I might ask, but right at this moment I could only think of this.

"Okay, then. As a plus, I'll make you my partner guardian and keep a tab for you, since you seem like the kind of person to ask for little things later in time."

Whoa. Spot on. "What do you mean, 'partner guardian'?"

"Well, guardianship is supposed to be shared between two entities, but for some reason I've always been alone." She pouted. She looked cute when she pouted.

"Okay, then. I'll take that deal." I confirmed my choice.

"Cool. Then as the gift follows: I, Loeta, current guardian of Ilidas Forest, grant Nio the power to live in this forest as a player and guardian of the forest!" She spread her hands out and faced the sky, then threw a golden ball of light at me. The ball sank into my body.

I guess I forgot to mention my wish earlier, but there it is: I wanted to live in the forest. It was a nice place - a treasure trove of hidden secrets and things. It sounded like a much better situation when I compared to living in the first town with all those idiots who only think with their lower half and the gold in their pockets.

My body grew lighter, and I felt like I was floating off the ground. When I touched back, I received a notification. "You have received a Unique Title."

I checked my stats.

Nio (Potioneer/Alchemist/Ranger)

HP 94/142

MP 489/581

Stats

STR 31 VIT 21

DEX 92 EVA 119

INT 45 LUK 29

Titles

Guardian of Ilidas Forest (Unique): You have become the guardian of Ilidas Forest. All mobs in Ilidas Forest will be friendly towards you and those nearby. Your respawn point has been changed to [Loeta's Grove], and you will naturally regenerate mana and health while within the boundaries of the forest. You cannot receive the [Player Killer] title while within the boundaries of the forest, and will receive trait EXP proportional to the number of monsters that player has killed in Ilidas Forest. Unlike Loeta, you are able to leave the forest. Other bonuses from previous tiers still apply.

Current Traits (+7)

[Alchemy 16] [Throw 14] [Eagle Eye 22] [Enchant 1] [Archery 17] [Crafting 3] [Mixing 9] [Mana Control 21] [Discovery 22] [Combining 4] [Wood Element Inheritor 1]

That is a long description for an overpowered title. And I just noticed this, but my class build changed. Why is there a slash? Can't the game categorize me yet?

Loeta giggled. "This takes care of the formality thing, too. Since we're both guardians, you can't call me milady anymore!"

I was about to tell her thanks, but Loeta interrupted me.

"Oh, we should heal your arm. This won't hurt."

"What-" I was about to ask what she meant, but she stabbed me straight through the head with her staff. She was right, I didn't feel any pain. Probably since she blew out my pain sensor, too.

"See you soon."

I tried to answer, but that was really hard since I didn't have a mouth. I felt each part of my body slowly disappear, floating into the mass of data and pixels around me. I felt myself leave the game world plane. It was disorienting to swirl in the game data, until my body came back together.

Then, suddenly, I found myself standing over the pool, completely dry, completely whole.

"See? That wasn't that bad." Loeta called out.

"That was extremely uncomfortable, actually. That was the first time I died." I grumbled. I stepped down from the platform I was apparently standing upon.

A little pixie flitted between us excitedly. Which reminds me of something.

"Loeta, about that curse you put on Eoin..."

Eoin stops in midair and faces Loeta. "Yeah, take it off! I kept forgetting this guy's name every ten minutes or seconds or something!"

"'That guy' is called Nio, Eoin." I said, exasperated.

"Yeah, exactly!"

"I can, but first." Loeta turned to Eoin. "Eoin, who do you want to stay with: me or Nio? We're both guardians now, so you can choose."

"I thought Eoin was a part of you." I said dumbly.

"She's my familiar, but allegiances can change." she responded. "Her life is tied to the forest, not me."

"Oh."

"Hm... I choose Nio! He's more fun!" She darted towards me and nested herself in my hair. "Plus, his hair is comfy!"

Great reason, Eoin.

"Okay, then. Nio, do you accept the transfer of allegiance from Eoin?"

"Sure, I see no harm in it." A link icon appeared in my view the moment I finished the sentence. Next to it, "Eoin, Pixie Familiar".

"And there you go. The curse is broken, since you're no longer my familiar."

"Yay!" She nestled herself into my ponytail and cuddled with my head. Or something. It felt like cuddling.

I faced Loeta. "Thank you for your blessing and this opportunity. To a future of friendship." I held out a hand, and she took it eagerly.

"Full agreement. Welcome to Ilidas, Nio. I look forward to working with you."

And that's how I started my Third Life.