One of the nearby guards directed him down the street to a building with a sign outside showing a rolled up scroll over a generic-looking crown. Inside was nothing more than a few desks scattered around and a large map on the back wall.
Atlas walked over and studied the map. The detail on this is rather well done. It clearly marked the forests and highlands. Each city was meticulously labeled, and Atlas could trace the path he’d come since entering the game. On the grand scale of things, he’d seen little of this world.
He walked over to the nearest desk and waited for the clerk to look up.
“Can I help you?” The man asked as he stared down his long nose.
“I’d like to send a message.”
“Standard mail, or Reborn mail?”
“Uh, Reborn mail I guess.”
“Reborn mail costs 1 silver per letter. Who is it going to?” The clerk asked as he pulled out a sheet of paper and dipped a quill pen into a bottle of ink.
“It needs to go to FaceStomper55.”
The clerk nodded before looking back up, “Please compose your message and I’ll have it sent.”
A window popped up in front of him and a floating keyboard came with it. Atlas was happy he didn’t have to write this message out, especially since he was sure he’d mess it up with a quill pen. He was lucky if he could read his own handwriting half the time, much less someone else.
He typed a quick message and reviewed what he wrote.
FaceStomper55,
I’m Atlas, a level 18 druid, responding to your request for a healer on the Divine Genesis Fanatics forum. I’ve got a pretty firm grip on the mechanics in this world so far, including counters, and am good with my spell casting under pressure. I was on the winning team for The Great Hunt in my region. Let me know if you want to meet up so we can discuss the mission.
After looking it over for a few seconds to ensure it was good, he hit a green Submit button in the lower right corner. The message box closed, and he looked down to see words rapidly fill the paper in front of the clerk. The man nodded in satisfactions and looked up.
“If you’ll give me the silver, I’ll have this sent immediately.”
Atlas fished through his bag and grabbed a silver and placed it on the desk, “How long does it usually take these messages to be delivered?”
“That depends on where the recipient is. If you’re in the same city, it’s typically there in a matter of a couple of hours. If not, it could take days.”
Atlas sulked at that news but figured it was to be expected. Instead, he left the building and walked back into the street. There were plenty of things he needed to take care of and leveling was always on that list, but his focus drifted to his crafting. He’d come here and hadn’t checked in with his druid trainer or his profession masters. It was time to do some exploring.
Figuring the druid training should take precedence, he found another guard and got directions to Master Harrama’s place. The building stood out just like every other one of his trainers as he neared it. This one was even more austere than the others and looked like someone hollowed out a giant tree and lived in it. A door was carved into the front in a gentle arch, and if not for the decorative vines around the border, he’d have missed it with how well it blended in.
Inside he found a short woman with dark brown hair and a bit of a scowl. Lines furrowed her brow as she watched him enter the building.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m here for druid training. Are you Master Harrama?”
“I am. What’s your name, young one?”
“Atlas.”
“Well, come here with you and let me see the extent of your training,” she told him as she waved him forward.
Atlas moved to walk past her toward the back of the house, and she held out a hand and stopped him.
“That’s far enough,” and shed placed her palm on his chest.
A warmth blossomed through him and radiated all the way to his toes.
“So, you’re completely trained up to level 15 and even got your animal form. I also notice it shows you unlocked another form but it won’t tell me what it is so it must be a rare one. Haven’t seen one of those in a long while.”
“I have the Dire Bear Transformation,” Atlas confirmed with a nod.
“Ooh, the Dire Bear is a formidable form. I guess I can let you move forward with your training without restrictions,” she told him with a sniff.
“Excuse me, but can all the trainers do that where you can sense my skills?” Atlas asked.
“All of them should be able to, why?”
“They had me demonstrate my abilities for them instead of just seeing them.” Atlas grumbled.
Master Harrama let out a throaty chuckle, “Doesn’t surprise me. Some of them probably wanted to see how you handled spells.”
Atlas could only nod at her explanation.
“Speaking of spells, can you show me what I can learn?”
The druid master waved her hand toward him and the menu appeared. He checked the Buy tab to see what was available to him. Two upgraded ranks to existing spells and a new spell greeted him. Each cost him 15 silver.
Druid Spell - Barkskin (Rank 2)
Requirements
• Druid Class
• Level 16
Description: The target’s skin takes on the toughness of bark.
• Increases target’s Defense rating by 17.
Mana Cost: 15 MP
Druid Spell - Harmony (Rank 2)
Requirements
• Druid Class
• Level 17
Description: Draw on the power of nature to heal your target. This ability restores health over time.
• Restores 8 HP every 5 seconds for 55 seconds.
Mana Cost: 10 MP
Druid Spell - Tranquil
