“Gold? That stuff is worth a decent amount of money in real world currency right now. I may have to play this game full time to pay the bills if things pan out just right. I’ve always joked about playing games for a living, but with this game it may truly be possible.”
“I could see myself doing it as well. I actually have work for the next two days so I won’t be logging in until later. I’m headed to bed since I have to get up early. Hit me up when you get out of the game and let me know how things went. If I’m logged in, just leave me a message so I’ll know.” Keenan said.
“Sounds good. Talk to ya later.” Atlas told him and hung up.
A look at the clock told him it was only 8:00PM, and he stretched out on the couch. Hunger hit him as he remembered he skipped dinner. He struggled to finish waking up as he stared at his phone screen.
“You win this time, stomach,” he grumbled as he tapped on the contact and placed his call.
Thirty minutes later a knock sounded on his door and he pulled himself from the couch. The smell of melted cheese assaulted him as he opened the door and saw a pizza box thrust in his face. He paid the delivery guy and scarfed down a few pieces before wandering off to the bathroom and cleaning up. Hair still partially damp, he fell to the bed and closed his eyes.
***
The morning dawned earlier than Atlas normally cared for but, since it meant he was heading back to Gaia to jump into the game, he grudgingly got out of bed. Scarfing down a few pieces of cold pizza was the only task he accomplished before dashing out of the door and straight for his car.
Traffic was light, making the trip fly by, and before he knew it, he was walking back through the glass doors into the gaming auditorium at Gaia. A quick check-in at the desk near the elevators and they ushered him down to the pods.
“Hi Jean,” he called as he walked to his assigned pod and saw the technician waiting for him.
“Oh, Atlas. I guess it really is Thursday already.” she said as she tapped the button on the side of her watch for the display to light up, “Time really flies sometimes.”
“How’ve you been?” Atlas asked while she checked over the pod and inspected the cable harness near the top.
“Busy as usual but as you can tell, it sure makes the day go by quick. How was work for you? You still going to be logging off early Saturday?”
“Work was the same old boring stuff. A stuffy nose here, a cut there, nothing too wild this time. I still plan on logging off on Saturday unless something comes up.”
“Well, that’s a bummer. Guess I really won’t see you when you log off. Maybe I’ll catch you when you come back in. Let’s get you hooked up and back in the game. You have some catching up to do if I remember correctly. I believe some losers ganged up and killed you. Time to get you back on your feet.”
She ushered him into the pod and settled the helmet on his head. A few button presses on the control panel and Atlas watched the lid close and seal the pod. A few more taps on the pad before she looked to Atlas, and a muffled “Good luck” echoed through the pod before his vision faded to blackness.
***
Atlas opened his eyes to the room at the inn. A quick glance around showed everything in the place it had been when he logged off. The door was still firmly locked and his tool bags were still nearby. Sitting up, he grabbed the bags and tied them to his waist.
With a heft, he stood up and walked downstairs. The innkeeper sent an appraising look his way before shrugging and returning to his work. Atlas wasn’t sure if the look was because of his clothing change or confusion on how he ended up back upstairs without ever passing by the innkeeper himself.
When he exited the inn and entered the streets, his mind started turning over his problems. He needed to decide on where to go, so he ran the list through his head.
I need to get a weapon.
I need to make more armor.
Those were his two primary goals to get back on his feet. Gaining levels and things would happen naturally if he could make those two happen. Since he had Woodworking now, all he needed to find was some usable wood. That should be easy. There is a forest nearby, after all. Finding something he could use before a monster found him might not be possible.
Armor might be a problem. Assuming he could find a weapon or kill animals with his bare hands, he didn’t have any salt to cure the hides. He had all the tools he needed for everything else.
I guess I have to do it the hard way and grind a few mobs without armor to sell their meat. That should give me enough to buy some salt. That’ll definitely depend on me making a weapon before finding hostile animals.
An inspection of his status showed him something he’d forgotten. Before they betrayed him, he completed a quest for the guard at the gate. Checking the quest, he saw it offered 60 copper as a reward. Not a lot, but definitely enough to buy a surplus of salt.
Atlas followed the roads on his map to the gate he’d exited on his ill-fated journey. It took him a few minutes, but he found the guard that gave him the quest and turned it in.
Quest - Cock Thieves
Requirements
• Level 5
Quest Rarity: Common
Quest Reward: 80 experience, 60 copper coins.
Description: You killed 8 foxes, as requested. Turn it in to the guards.
A quick trip to the leatherworking shop showed him Master
