'Fwap!' "-OW!" 'Fwap!', 'Fwap!'

  Violet smacked him with the dull end of the blade.

  "Block." Shorty said complacently from the sidelines, polishing his many daggers with a cloth.

  As if it was so easy- Violet would just hit him from another angle.

  She was faster than he was.

  He took a hit for every one he blocked.

  ---

  In a large meeting room the Baba Yaga and other leaders of the guild sat or stood. They surrounded a war table, a map of the world carved into it.

  Mage lights hovered around the room, gently levitating around spreading a warm light around the room as they list about. This room was rather plain and empty apart from the tables and chairs.

  "Your grandson isn't much of a fighter then, Baba Yaga.", Rhasta said, he held a scrying spell in his hand- a ethereal holographic image of Theos and Violets duel had been playing. He was a bulky black man with dreadlocks and red eyes.

  "Psshaw! He survived an assassination attempt- and [Doppleganger]'s are weakest between forms!", Lady Yaga waved her staff at him. Rhasta laughed. "I know, I only tease. Do you have any idea how to provide him forms?"

  The old witch nodded eagerly. "I'm going to have him visit the gulag." the room quieted at that- then after a few silent looks the faces around the room nodded. "There are some strong forms down there for sure." a elven woman said. She was dressed in elegant white and red robes with golden embroidery that drifted just above the ground. She had a black pony-tail that reached to about her calves.

  "You have no idea Desi. Some of them are close to our level." the Baba Yaga had a far-away look in her eyes as she said so.

  The elves eyes widened; "No kidding? I guess that's not surprising. We've only been logged in a few weeks. But why the gulag- I'm sure some of us would volunteer our forms."

  "I think it'd be strange to ask. And in any case it'd be good for maintaining his cover. Those in the gulag aren't going anywhere anytime soon... And that way we can be assured the original won't turn up at an inopportune moment. You know how most natives feel about monster classes like his."

  Another person at the table spoke; a tiny person. A fairy with a mop of cyan blue hair. She had a yellow glow around her similar to the mage lights about the room.

  "So what about the Arkai? That's a toughie!"

  Rhasta clutched his hand and the duel that was playing evaporated into a blue mist. "We got intel that a few Arkai players have been moving towards the beastkin territories, we can check them out on the way. Maybe some of them can help- if they're high enough level."

  "The adventurers are still training in the mission room, I was thinking of sending Theo and his girlfriend with them." Lady Yaga placed a wooden totem of a man with a shield on a crescent shaped nation.

  "Seems dangerous even with the adventurers to protect them. Why?", Claire asked, sipping from a fairy-sized flagon.

  "Nothing beats real world experience. Their classes are achievement based, unlike combat classes they can't level up just by beating things. Plus, I'll be with them."

  "You will?" two of the leaders in the room said at once. "Jinx- you owe me a coke." Claire said. Lady Yaga walked over to a wall with a blackboard hanging on it. It had things written on it with chalk, but she tapped her staff against it. The blackened wood had a rose growing out of it now. The moment it touched the blackboard black smoke rolled across the surface encompassing it.

  An image swirled into being, rippling with the dark magics.

  A city emerged- not one in the verdant forests in Adun where Theo had come from- but a tropics. Half the forest floor was sand, and palm trees and other wide-palm ferns sprouted up in places. Crystalline blue waters streamed throughout the Caribbean landscape.

  A temple could be seen above the trees- the image was moving. A crows wings would often appear in the corners of the vision. It flew over the temple, and a city was visible. A ruins, more like. Collapsed stone buildings and cobblestone roads were overgrown with vines and sand.

  Vibrant colored birds flocked about in every variation of color.

  "Nice vacation spot." Claire said, she had her chin propped up in her hands as she laid on her belly across the war-table.

  "This is where the Arkai want us to go, apparently they're cursed from entering and need us to reclaim a lost artifact of theirs. Just one of the many [Quests] we're obliged to take now.", "I'll go." Claire said instantly. But the Baba Yaga shook their head. "You have to investigate that 'land of the dead' business, remember?" Claire pouted. "People can do two things..."

  "Not in two opposite directions. And in any case this is my vaca- quest- to go on with my grandson.", Rhasta smirked; "Take your break- we'll hold down the fort."

  "If there's anything you need from my [Class] better ask before I leave. I'll probably wait a few days, depends on how long it takes Theo to settle in.", Claire flew over and landed on her staff, folding one leg over the other. Her heterochrome eyes starred at her sternly. One green the other a magenta.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  "Don't tell me you had Rose show them the ropes.", the Baba Yaga smiled as a response. "Of course not.", "Good.", "Not at first anyways. First is Shorty, THEN they see Rose- PUH!" the Baba Yaga flinched as a spray of water hit her cheek. "S-stop- Claire calm down! Rose has learned some restraint since she's trained you!"

  "Kameha! Kameha!" Claire shouted spraying tiny spouts of water from her hands.

  ---

  "You know, you're supposed to stop when the other person taps out." Theo said irritated, rubbing his bruises. "What's a 'tap-out'? Is that an outside world thing?" Violet asked disinterested.

  Shorty stood in front of where they sat- on some benches near the training grounds.

  "You guys have a long way to go. We'll try again once Theo gets a form, I think that's what's causing this huge gap between you.", "You don't say..." Violet said, as always, disinterested.

  "Here." Shorty said, handing them each a book. It was thick- scrawled in with old english writing.

  'A wandering adventurers catalogue of worldly skills and their origins.'

  "Use this to multi-class. It'll tell you about classes and how to get them. But remember- the more classes you have- the more slowly they all level."

  Theo eagerly flipped through the book. It was an exact copy of Violets- but it seemed hand written! Perhaps they had magical printing presses in this world? There were even drawings of certain spell effects!

  '[Mage] - a generic class that can be specialized in countless ways from [Necromancer] to [Runeforger], it all starts with this class. It gives the user the ability to harness magics so they can cast spells learned through a variety of methods. Leveling up can often provide spells, but the academic [Mage] will obtain most spells through study and practice. Interviewed [Mage]'s say that they obtained the class under apprenticeship with a [Mage] while creating and using [Spell Scrolls].'

  'Fascinating' Theo though. This was the [class] he thought would work with his [Doppleganger] abilities. If he could replicate a persons strengths, could he replicate their use of magic?

  Violet was also browsing the book. She was reading about the [Ranger] class.

  "Ranger is a solid choice for a [Rogue]. It has a good combination of sneaky and offensive skills." Shorty was looking over her shoulder. She turned away and kind of covered the book.

  'The [Ranger] is a true survivalist- a boon to any adventuring group. They are not only adept at detecting traps but also creating them. As a [Rogue] specialization- it trades offensive capable for prepared defenses and archery abilities like [Rope Arrow].'

  The book had an image of a hooded figure crouched in a tree launching an arrow with a thick rope attached.

  "It says here that to become a [Mage] I have to make these [Spell Scroll] things?", "Ah, yeah, you need high quality paper and ink for that one. Some spells require specific ingredients too- it can be pricy. That's why it's always rich snobs who are [Mages]." Shorty said trying to sneak at what Violet was reading.

  "Great." Theo said bitterly. He'd have to make money to be a [Mage]. Was there anything cheap to be? [Druid] seemed easy, you just had to be friendly towards animals. It was like a [Paladin] but instead of a lawful oath you make a pact with nature. People could get the class right away, though a person could lose it if they break their pacts.

  "You can read through them tonight. For now, let me show you the chow-hall."

  "Food?" Theos head picked up and his eyes shined. Shorty smirked and waved for them to follow.

  ---

  The Chow-hall was really a tent. Like a circus tent, massive with a series of tables all around. Some people were gathering for lunch, these huge pots were stewing various ingredients.

  "Vegetarian is the last pot at the end there. Always is." Shorty said taking a healthy serving into one of the clay bowls.

  Theo and Violet helped themselves.

  "So, are you glad you tagged along?" Theo asked as he munched on a chunk of some stringy meat.

  Violet looked up from her bowl- she had been sipping the broth. "My lifes never been stranger than when I met you." she groaned.

  "Still, as far as communes go this is great.", "Commune?" She asked. "It's this place where people live together and look after each other without a ruling class."

  Her eyebrows raised at that. "Like a tribe?", "Exactly."

  They spoke for the next several minutes about the past days. How fast their lives had changed, their plans. Violet said that once she became strong enough, she'd return to her hometown. She didn't specify what she'd do- only that she'd return.

  Theo just wanted to find a way back to the real world, but not that this world was all that bad. Just that it was unhealthy for their bodies to sit idly out there.

  Shorty finished his second bowl, patted his non-existent belly and stood up. Theo started to follow but Shorty just put up a hand. "That's fine. I think Rose will take it from here. Rose?" he said, referencing to behind them.

  Theo turned- he was starring into the bosom of a scantily dressed catwoman. Her tail flicked about listlessly behind her.

  "My eyes are up here." she said. "Erm- sorry- just my eye level and everything you know-", 'Thwap!' she smacked him on the shoulder; "I'm just messing with you!" she laughed.

  She looked back towards Shorty and nodded; "Yeah I got 'em from here. Time for Rose toughness 101 class." she said. Shorty sighed. "If you guys want more combat training you can find me at the training ground most times..." he said as he ducked out of the tent, not giving them the chance to respond.

  "So uh... You're Rose? What are you going to be teaching us?" Theo asked.

  "I'm going to power level you! Aren't you wondering how there's so many high-level people here even though they've only been playing for weeks?" she leaned uncomfortably close and wrapped a arm around his neck.

  "Y-yeah- power level?" he asked hesitantly. "Power level! Intense training! To the edge of death and back again! To stare into the abyss and say; 'wut're you look'n at punk?'"

  She held a open hand out infront of them as if Theo could imagine the same thing as her. She make a nostalgic sigh, smiling softly.

  "Is it dangerous?"

  Rose spun him around and measured him with her eyes. "Only the good kind of danger." she threw him over her shoulder and snatched Violet up by the wrist and led them outside. "Get your paws off me you brute!" Rose ignored Violets protests, and Theo was just along for the ride. Too confused to say anything.

  ---

  'SPLASH!' Theo felt himself sink into the bog, the water was easily four or five feet deep. He felt the soft squishy mud at the bottom and kicked himself up. He had to swim a little- the water was too deep!

  "BLEH! What the hell Rose! You want me to be eaten by crocodiles!?" he shouted towards the pontoon. She had taken them on the flat boat deep into the bog, far away from the guild headquarters.

  He looked to see her raise Violet far above her head with two hands- and tossed her as well. "AAH!" Violet cried out before splashing into the water next to Theo.

  "Violet! I'm getting tired! Let me hold your shoulders!" he doggy paddled towards her. "Get away from me!" she splashed at him and wadded away. She was tall enough to walk in the water.

  "Something brushed my leg! Something touch me!" Theo wrapped his arms around her shoulders frightfully as Violet attempted to pry him off her.

  Rose was laughing from the pontoon. "I'll see you back at base! This place is perfect for training! Don't worry, you shouldn't die. Just work together and you should be back by sunset!" she pointed towards the midday sun.

  She grabbed the long stick off the floor of the pontoon and stabbed it into the water, pushing the platform along the water away from them. "Good luck!"

  "You can't just leave us out here!" Violet shouted after her. "Don't be a baby! You got this!" Rose's voice was fading now.

  They stood there. The chirping of grasshoppers and the buzzing of dragonfly wings around them.

  "Are you going to start walking after her?" Theo asked after a moment. "Let go of me." Violet said plainly. "If you find me a couple of sticks I can use them as stilts. Or something that can float. Plus, this water is kinda cold.", "Your hands are clammy.", "I can't help my physiology!"

  Violet groaned and began to make her way through the water. "We should find dry ground first. And the tree branches are too thin to climb."

  "Violet... What's that?" Theo asked, his voice shaking. "What?" she said as she saw it. Something was floating lazily across the water towards them. A massive spider the size of a horse with thin legs stood on the water. The bottoms of its' feet were wide and sprawled out across the water, with two legs paddling softly in the center. Its' many black eyes shined like pearls.

  "AAAH!" Violet screamed frantically and started splashing at it. The tan-colored spider chirped a bird-like chirp and doubled it's efforts- speeding after them along the water.

  "Throw a dagger!", "I don't have them!", "Throw your shoes!", "You throw your shoes!"

  The worst part was that the spider was only slightly gaining on them- it wasn't so fast on the water either.

  Rose tied the pontoon to a nearby tree and leaned against it. "[Eagle-Eye]" she said softly, her eyes glowed and the trees whirled by her until she could see the two plainly- miles away. "This is my favorite part." she giggled, grabbing some trail mix from a bag at her side and munching on it.

  "They have weird classes, hopefully this works on 'em." she leaned back in a chair. Predators wouldn't approach if she was too close, she had to make sure to stay far enough away while being close enough to save them at the same time. She loaded up a rock into her slingshot and took aim at the spider. Just in case.

  bit more.