Each ring of the bell was a sharp strike to Riku's already messed up nerves. He could swear he was going to lose it any minute now.
There were more shacks like Borin's, all scattered across the area. The earth was damp and the air carried the smell of something rotting. The people all wore different clothes, but they all looked similar to him: boring pieces of fabric.
They all walked towards the bell tower where the ring was coming from. Some had nervous looks on their faces, while others looked like they would pass out.
Riku's game designer mind automatically started analyzing the scene. Low-poly environment. Textures are low resolution. NPC pathfinding seems basic, driven by a single stimulus - the bell. Ambient fear level also seems to be high.
"It's not a game." Riku muttered to himself, hitting his head. He spotted Borin walking at the front and ran up to him, falling into step behind the old man.
"Ah, there you are." Borin smiled.
They stopped, forming a semicircle around the tower's frontage where a cold-looking woman with her hair tied in a severe bun stood with a broad-shouldered man, who seemed irritated by her side. They wore well-kept, grey uniforms with badges. On the left side of their shoulders was a silver insignia - a mighty tower reaching for the skies. The Ascendancy.
Behind them were other patrol members, but they were probably of low ranks as none of them had even half the badges the front two wore.
The lady stood in a way that demanded attention. Her cold and calculating eyes scanning through the number of people gathered there. "Greetings," she finally spoke, her voice calm, yet silenced ever whisper Riku had been hearing.
"There will not be any haunts around this area for quite a while, so it is safe for now." She continued. Riku noticed a collective number of people breathing out in relief. "Our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the last haunt at the eastern grove. We will make sure this does not repeat itself. However," she said, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the faces of everyone. "we have a survivor amongst us today?"
As if on cue, the crowd moved back leaving Borin and Riku in front. Borin nudged Riku to move forward.
The lady stared him down with her cold eyes, making him feel like he should dissolve. Vanish to place other than here.
"What is your name?" She asked demandingly.
"Riku," he replied, sweat beading on his forehead.
"You were involved in the haunt yesterday. Why are you still alive?" She pressed.
"Uhh… I do not remember a thing. At all." Riku raised his hands.
"Strange story, or a convenient one." The man besides the cold-eyed lady finally spoke, looking unimpressed.
The lady walked closer to Riku, making his heart thump faster than it already was. "Give me your hand." She ordered, stopping in front of him, her hand stretched out to him.
Riku did as she said, placing his hand in hers.
"Stone." She raised her voice. One of the patrol members from the back, hurriedly rushed to her with a small box and opened it. A black stone lay inside. One Riku had never seen in his life.
The lady picked it up and placed it on Riku's palm, tracing a circle and then extended the movement up to his elbow then back down to the center of his palm where the stone started to glow an unnatural yellow. Riku's eyes widened. What was that?
"As expected." The lady muttered, returning the stone and released his hand. "Come for the evaluation at the Lowtown garrison. You can all go," she finalized, walking back to her team.
The crowd started to disperse, most casting glances Riku's way, making him feel uneasy.
Borin nudged him from behind, making him stumble. "See that, boy? I told you, didn't I? Spirit Hunter material."
"It's Riku, not 'boy'," Riku corrected, rubbing his shoulder.
"Alright, boy. Alright," Borin shrugged. "You have a home?" The old man asked.
Riku's blinked, his eyes going wide for a second. Now that the old man said it… he didn't actually know where he was going to stay. It was only logical that Borin let him in his place because he saved his life. But the shack was obviously built for one person.
"Well, if you don't remember if you have one too, you can stay with me. You would be of use too." Borin yawned, already leaving.
"Th-thank you?" Riku muttered, but the man was already at a distance where he couldn't hear it.
Riku stood in the empty space, his head aching due to overthinking. 'Aaahh! You're fine Riku. You're fine. You're gonna be fine.' He tried calming his mind. Then he thought of it again.
Maybe he should just try one last time to see if it really wasn't a game. He willed to look at his status screen. Nothing happened. Inventory? Nothing. Map? Nothing. Objectives or quests? Still nothing. He let out a long, weary breath.
This wasn't a game, was it? "Well, there's only one option then." He muttered to himself, looking up at the night sky. "Try to get as much information as I can… and play the world."
If it wasn't a game, then he was going to make it one.
He was going to play the new life, not live it. There were evil beings lurking in corners and he was just identified as someone with the potential to face them head-on.
In such a world, the best he could do to boost his status was to gather all the knowledge he could get his hands on. The world rules, government, spirits, maps. He needed every piece of information he could possibly find here.
A determined grin touched Riku's lips. "Time to game." Then he turned back. He was literally the only person around here. "Shit, I hope I remember where that old geezer's shack is." He started walking slowly. "Man I'm tired without even doing anything. I can't even run from a ghost at this point."
A noise in the bushes started to grow louder. Riku's heart leapt. Seconds later, a squirrel came out of the bushes, making him exhale deeply, holding his chest. "Alright. I'm not ready whatever the fuck this world has in the shadows." He muttered, trying to catch his breath.
He quickly walked back to Borin's shack before the next thing coming out of the bushes wouldn't be a squirrel.
Opening the door, he found Borin by the corner of the room, supposedly sleeping on another straw pallet. The old man had arranged the room, shifting most of his things to one side of the shack, leaving the other side free for Riku.
Riku smiled a little. "Tch. He really is this kind." He whispered to himself.
He walked to his spot and sat on his pallet, then he noticed a few, big books stacked by the side of it. Also Borin's work.
Riku picked up the books and found out out they were all about Spirits, The Ascendancy and Nega energy. The man was really helping him with all he possibly could. Riku couldn't help but feel indebted to Borin for his kindness.
But for now, he needed to prioritize one thing. Information. He took one of the seven books stacked. He needed to start as soon as possible and now was the right time.
In no time, three days came by faster than he'd anticipated. He spent most of his time reading the books and assisting Borin with fishing and selling in the Lowtown market. They had a lot of conversations where Borin would misinterpret Riku's words and Riku would throw a fuss and get pissed. Their bond grew stronger during the shortest time.
Riku was now on the last book. The book about abilities. He understood that people were classified into five tiers from the lowly 5 to the elite 1, with each having its own subdivisions: Tier-5 upper, mid and lesser. And so went on for the other tiers. Then there was the legendary S-Tier that was said to be wielded by the founder of the Ascendancy, although his sudden disappearance from the world was a mystery yet to be solved.
He read on the different ability types, from the offensive ones to defensive ones. He was about to read on how to use and understand what one's ability was when Borin told him he should get ready for the evaluation.
They both left the shack and made for the Lowtown garrison.
Riku and Borin stood in front of the building where the evaluation was being carried out. Those who were accepted here got a chance to take on the acceptance trials for the Ascendancy. There were lots of people there, lined up. Kids, teenagers mostly and a handful around his age.
Borin slapped his back, sending Riku stumbling forward. "Alright, boy, good luck. And try not to like a drowned rat in front of them. Get a hold of yourself." He said, already shuffling back to return to the market.
Riku exhaled as he joined the line. This was it. He was done with reading the manuals. Time to get a class and start playing his way through.