A week had passed since the launch of New Road. In that time, more than six million people had already connected and  were waiting to get on.

Those, like me, with the gold pack, had an extra week before it was available to the general public. Through this first week, we would be at the top of the ranking for a while.

I was currently logging into the New Roads official website. The first ranking were just released and I wanted how far the betas had gone in comparison to me.

When the page loaded, the New Roads' Wall of Fame appeared. The page was simple, the words of "Wall of Fame" followed by a list of usernames with their amount of fame they had.

The highest ranked player had 236 fame. I quickly looked through the list and I found myself in the upper middle part of the list with 40 fame.

I clicked on my own name, curious to see what kind of intelligence was available on me. A small window popped out under my name.

Name: Ben Varrent
Race: Human

Profession: Unknown
Level: Unknown
Path Followed: Unknown

No pictures available.

No description available.

No comments posted.

It was pretty pathetic. I looked at other players, but they were all empty as well. Only a few top players had a few professions, levels or descriptions on their profiles.

Showoffs

I took time to change from my work outfit into a more comfortable baggy jeans and t-shirt. I prepared dinner for me and sister and then logged in.

Because I had to go to work for the past three days, I didn't spend as much time online than before and decided to focus on completing quests instead of the time consuming reading and exercising.

I had just completed a quest to rescue a cat from a tree when I got a notification saying I leveled up.

Congratulations. You are now level 8. You can now leave the city walls.

But I had yet to get equipment. That's when I remembered that gold pack also included a few items. In my inventory, I found a gold paper-wrapped present, which once opened, made several windows open.

The first one read:

You have opened your gold pack.

In it, you have found a letter from a family member which will start an exclusive quest, a high-quality Water Gourd, a Skill Book, 2 Gold Coins, and an extra backpack.

One bronze coin will buy you a fruit or a loaf of bread. 200 Bronze Coins are worth 1 Silver Coin and 500 Silver Coins are worth 1 Gold Coin.

The next window was interesting.

You have received a Strange Skill Book.
The book will automatically select a series of skills that suits your current build and transforms into an actual skill book with those skills.
Once the transformation is done, changing the skill will be impossible, so choose your timing well.
Would you like to activate the Strange Skill Book?

I chose no quickly. Such a book was too precious to use right away. I would do it when I knew for sure how I wanted to build my character.

Putting the book in my backpack, I looked at the extra backpack I had gotten. It is was in the form a satchel, made a high-quality leather. It had a lot more space slots than the starting backpack. Thinking of my increased looting, I knew this would prove to be useful.

As for the gourd, it was too flashy. Red players would be swarming me if I didn't act carefully.

I then opened the letter. As soon as the wax seal was broken, a window appeared.

You have opened the letter Uncle Philip's Last Wish:

Dear Ben,

It has been a long time since I last saw you. I hope your travels are going well. As you know, I was once an adventurer like yourself and visited many different places. One of those places was the Kingdom of Thyhan along the west coast of the continent. It is a beautiful land of gentle farmers and artisans.

If you ever go there, could you please pass by the town of Krint and inform the temple's priest of my passing. There are somethings I left unfinished back then that have weighed on me.

Before I say my final goodbye, let me remind you that the roads are not always safe. However, force is not always the solution to your troubles.

Forgive this old man of his last request,
Your Uncle Phillip.

A new window popped up. 

Your late Uncle Phillip has requested of you to bring the news of his passing away to a faraway friend. 
Will you travel to the town of Krint in the kingdom of Thyhan and tell the temple priest of your uncle's death?

I chose yes.

You have accepted the quest Uncle Phillip's Last Wish.
Travel to the town of Krint in the kingdom of Thyhan and tell the temple priest of Phillip's passing.

Requirements: Obtain and open Uncle Phillip's letter
Quest Failure Requirements: Loose the letter

Rewards
         150,000 Experience Points

         500 Familiarity Points with the Temple's Order

         100 familiarity with the town of Krint

Quest Difficulty: Rank C

Another window popped up.

You have learned the existence of the Kingdom of Thyhan, the Town of Krint, and the Temple's Order.

Your map and quest journal has been updated.

I was excited. Rank F quests were the only quests I have done up to now. Even more, the highest rank of a quest that the Betas had obtained was a C.

Checking my map, I saw that Krint was located on the far west coast of the continent. To access it, I would have to cross two more kingdoms to get to it. Going directly to Krint will take several months, I estimated. And several months more if I did take detours and stops.

I decided to finish all my current quests, including traveling to the old ruins and the Braeen Kingdom's capital city, including the Royal Castle of Fridrol. After that, I'll head west. I would also stop by any city on my way and do any quests they have. This would mean many detours and stops, but at least my avatar would grow and become stronger.

 My decision made, I went by the market and bought a few apples, loaves of bread, dried meat, lettuce, and a wheel of cheese. I had found out that my cooking skill allowed me to make an edible sandwich that would heal whoever ate it.

The first time I had eaten the sandwich and learned of its effects, it had surprised me. I then decided to go buy a recipe book. On my arrival to the bookstore, the librarian, thanks to my high familiarity with the townspeople, had instead insisted that I buy a cooking journal. Puzzled, I had asked her what a cooking journal was.

The difference, she had explained, between journals and skill-related books was that a book had a limited amount of knowledge store inside of it. On the other hand, a journal added knowledge to it as you discovered things. She also gave me an example. Recipe books usually had ten recipes in them, where one or two were actually useful on the road. Journals would copy the recipes as you read them in recipe books or as you say it being made in front of you.

When I understood what this was implying, I went out and bought the biggest journal I could afford. Looking at it, it already contained a lot of history about Braeen and the different branches of magic and had a section with information about cooking and brewing as well a list of different types of items and their descriptions. All of this was what I had heard through talking with people and through my readings.

As I was about to leave for the city's gates when I remembered I had to pass by the training hall to inform my self-appointed teacher that I wouldn't be there tonight. I was so impatient that I practically ran to the guild training hall.

Since many players were already there, I had to wait my turn to talk to him.

"Ben, my boy! You're back! Would you like to spar?"

"It would be a pleasure, but I must decline."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Since I started training under you, I have grown stronger and I am now able to leave the city. I wish to test my newly gained strength by going to the forest tonight."

"The forest... Do you plan to fight the bandits?"

"The bandits, sir?"

"I see, you have not heard about it. Well, a few days ago, a merchant caravan was attacked by a group of bandits. They took everything. It would not have gathered so much attention if this city's lord, Sir Malak, didn't have one of his most treasured sculptures on it. He is even preparing to send an expedition to retrieve it."

"I see."

"If I remember correctly, you can cook. Right?'

"Yes, I can."

"Hm. Say, wouldn't you be interested in becoming the expedition's cook, wouldn't you?"

"Me?" I was dumbfounded. I could hardly believed I had received such an opportunity.

"Yes. If I recommend you, the captain will certainly accept. Miller's been always complaining that the food is bad and that he has to protect the supplies and non-combat members. With you, he wouldn't have to. So, will you accept?"

You have received a quest proposition.
Join the Bandit Camp Expedition as the cook. You must keep the troops well fed without being a hindrance to the captain during battles.

Requirements: You must not die.

Will you accept the quest?

"You can count on me, teacher."

"Great, I knew you would be the man for the job. Meet with the expedition at the North Gate at dawn in two days. Look for Captain Miller, he will be explaining the job to you in more detail."

You have accepted to be the Bandit Camp Expedition Force's cook.
Description:
         Cooking and Brewing skills growth rates increase by 3%

         You will be paid 100 Bronze Coins a day
         Food rations will be provided by the expedition, but cooking is your responsibility
        You are expected to defend yourself in the case of danger

        A bonus will be added to your pay depending on your contribution

The Expedition will leave in a week at dawn. Don't be late or you will be left behind

Another window popped up.

You have accepted your first position.

Certain positions are accepted through quests while others are given as a reward  or given to you by having a certain amount of fame or skill expertise

After closing the windows, I noticed the training hall master was looking at me with pride.

"Boy, I am impressed at your dedication to your dreams. The day you decide on what kind of traveler you want to become, come to me. I would be honored to be of council."

"Teacher, it would be my honor."

I couldn't believe it. Not only was I able to raise my stats by exercising, learn a rare combat skill, and obtain my first position, I was being proposed to be recommended for a job. I had read a comment online that said that mentors were difficult to find and would only allow you to propose jobs that would suit you. The game would, according to the poster of the comment, analyze your actions and propose a job that would suit your gaming style. Now, I didn't know exactly what that meant, but I was not about to refuse an opportunity like this.

"If you keep calling me teacher, I will end up seriously thinking of you as my apprentice." The instructor chuckled.

"That would make me very happy, sir."

"Hm. It sure would be sad to see you die after grooming you so much." The instructor started rummaging around in one of the many weapon chests. He pulled out a longsword wrapped in cloth and handed it to me.

 "Here, take this. It was my very first weapon. Take care of your blade and it will take care of you in return."

You have obtained Kaden's First Sword

Kaden's First Sword
Durability: 50/50
Attack: 13
Paring: 3
Blocking:3
Weapon Type: Iron Longsword
Description:
        This was given to you by Kaden, the training hall master of Djaden City. It was his first sword, he kept in the intention to pass onto someone worthy of it.

"Thank you teacher, I will make sure to cherish it."

"Good. Now go, you must have many things to do."

I bowed to him before turning and leaving the training hall. I stopped by the fountain to examine the sword. I unwrapped the cloth to see a simple black iron pommel with a leather grip sticking out a black sheath. I pulled out the blade and examined it. It was black like the pommel and was sharp.

I noticed I had attracted the attention of a few other players and quickly sheathed the sword and attached it to my belt. I filled up my gourd with the water from the fountain and headed to the nearest gate.

It was time to leave the city for the first time.