As we left the office, messy as it was, Peter scowled at me.

"What did you do to get First Class?

I haven't seen you around, are you nobility or something?"

'Man, these NPCs really act like living people.

I wish I'd just unlock magic and be off adventuring, really.'

"No, I just arrived here, met Master Prentigon at the gate and asked to learn magic."

'Eat that NPC!'

He swallowed, but resisted the obvious temptation.

'Looks like he did learn something here after all.

Yeah, the NPC … never mind.

Once I learned magic, I'll log out, eat something and take a break.

Screw the ratio and rushing, does not look like today is the day to exit the Newblands.'

"Sure, and I am a bonded of Phranesis the God of Wisdom."

'Oh! And here I was about to ignore him.'

"What was that about being bonded?"

"Are you daft? I do not believe you.

Nobody just walks in, we all had to pay a price to even see the old coot!"

"Be that as it may, what can you tell me about bonding?

Why is it such a big deal to be bonded?

I did get that you are in fact not bonded to that God.

But what would it mean if you actually were?"

'Had to make an effort here, or he'd go on and on about the admission.

I really don't care about his hurt ego.

Go on tell me something.'

Silence.

"You'll learn soon anyway, I guess.

No harm telling you.

But how ,..." he went on complaining for a while.

I looked at the maze they call the Observatories' inside.

"... If, and only IF I were to actually bond to a God, I'd have to first be a God myself.

You cannot bond some entity which is far above or below you.

You would tame or subjugate the entity in question, in the process wasting the Reagents worth a King's ransom, or his whole Kingdom, if he were from Mitara *snicker*. "

Getting Peter to talk about interesting subjects was doomed to fail.

He sensed what ever I cared for and determinedly focused on his preferred topics.

I didn't need to research everything about the Bond immediately that badly.

The initial message concerned me, but my new growth more than made up for it.

If there were strings attached they'd still be by the time I found out.

I'd enjoy what I could and worry later.

This was a game after all!

…

"Ah anyway we're at the dorms.

You can sleep here for free.

First class apprentices get their own rooms, meals, study materials... ," the envy was palpable, "and anything else they want.

Never seen or heard of anyone actually being one though."

We went on while he introduced me to many, many NPCs.

Teachers. Staff. Students.

After that was finally over, 13:14, half an hour later we reached the part of the Observatory leading into the mountainside.

The outside was looking like a small Town, mainly Dwarves and other fantasy species about.

Not a single player to be seen though.

Which was curious, there had to be some which made it here for the very same purpose as myself.

Guys which deleted their character progress for the chance to actually learn magic here early.

Some had projected that a few months down the line the player economy would likely have gotten to the point that learning magic were feasible.

But impatience rules man.

'Maybe I'll see them in the dorms later.

Not like I have met that many students.

Do wonder how they actually learned magic in a timely manner here.'

Not that all magic villages were exactly the same, but I had expected the same gamey process I went through upping my melee skills.

I had to stop taking the MOGs word for gospel.

Who picks a title like "Masters of the Game" and expects to not be ridiculed on end for it?

"Boy, what will it be?"

I was looking at a Dwarf which had shaken my inner monologue while largely ignoring Peter's tangential bemoaning of unfairness and the world at large.

"Excuse me, I was distracted, can I help you?" I asked the surly Dwarf.

"Boy, I am asking you if you have something to sell to me.

Hurry along, I don't have all day for cloud staring buffoons like you."

"What kind of goods do you buy?"

"Anything."

"Ah I have some Goblin gear scrap to sell.

Also need some ores identified as well as potions, neither of which I want to part with for now.

If I have to pay for identification then leave it.

I should learn how to myself soon.

Thank you!"

I proceeded to burden the surly Dwarf with 10 complete sets of smelly Goblin gear.

"Thats quite something young lad.

That your spoils eh?"

"You can say that.

Do I have to pay for identification services?"

"Afraid so.

Can't make exceptions or I'd be out of business.

Wait here while I get your money."

Peter was gaping at me.

'What gives, Goblins should be easy for anyone to kill.'

"Is something the matter?"

"You, you did not really KILL those beings wearing that, did you??"

He seemed quite shaken, afraid really.

Not that I'd expect an Ivory Tower apprentice to actually be anywhere near a pointy end of anything.

"Sure did, had planned to sell those for tuition.

Though the stuff I want identified would've certainly been worth more.

But I can't waste money on that."

"You ARE one of those cretins, the bloodthirsty kind butchering the innocent!"

"Man, that were some lousy smelly Goblins.

I am certain had they ever seen me they'd have done the same to me."

"You speak so casually about the taking of life, you monster!"

"They were the monsters, hunting around and doing evil things.

Of course I had to rid the world of them.

Chill man, not like I killed your Grandparents or something."

"YOU!!"

"…"

"Yes?"

"Nothing, I believe a Barbarian like yourself will not need my protection."

"Wait What?! Protection? You ARE protecting ME, as in right now? HERE?

On a marketplace full of Dwarves and other nice people?"

"Ridicule me all you want monster.

If that was all you had to say I'll be going now.

Please excuse me."

"Hey wait a second, how do I get back to the Dorms?

The Observatory has too many layers and ..."

He smirked, "I believe you will find your way, just use your class card."

"How?"

"Simple, just hold it and think of where you want to go to, the magic will do the rest.

Even for an uneducated slaughterer such as you.

Good Day."

I didn't keep the queasy prick.

'Really, protecting me..., bah, barely Level 8 and probably still below 10 Strength.

And dangit, forgot to ask him for free identifies.'

These NPCs really had a personality of their own.

I wish they hadn't.

"Lad, your money.

It's the most I can give you for this scrub.

Doubt anyone here will do better.

Keep it for surprising an old Dwarf."

He handed me an amount which was well beyond what I had expected.

This was actually enough to pay the tuition fees of one or two tutors here!

Barring mistakes made by certain peeps of course.

"Wow, thank you Sir!

Did not expect that much really.

I mean, It was just some below average gear after all."

"Aye, but good material, and lots of it.

And I like young mages with gumption!"

"Thanks again!

I'd like to learn crafting, smithing and any other trade not directly combat related, can you point me towards some willing tutors?"

"That I can do."

He proceeded and offered me directions towards the craftsmen willing to help fledgling adventurers.

A Map he had shown me updated my own and marked the locations.

I left directly for the Blacksmith.

It is invaluable to repair gear anywhere.

I doubt I get a magic forge anywhere in 『Final Immersion Origin』 early on, but repairs on the go is fine.

Can always find some smithy to use if I really want to Forge something.

"Hellooo~, anyone here?" The forge was empty and no one in sight.

Waiting a minute or two listening intently I heard someone approaching.

Turns out to be the "friendly" dwarf from before.

"Hello Sir, may you be the Smith I can learn forging from?"

'Hope he holds no grudges.'

He looked at me with a not quite friendly disposition.

"Aye, that I can be, for compensation."

I didn't like the gleam in his eyes.

He was going to make me pay.

"I was told you charge a fee of a thousands to induct the basics of your trade?"

'Hopeful, friendly, I am the nicest person in the world, I never humiliated him with a offhand remark. Never happened.' Smiling amiably.

"Aye, that be true, but me has a problem.

If you help, I will waive the fee.

What do you say?"

'Ah shit.'

"I want to help if I can. If I can't help you, will you take the usual fee instead?"

'Please buy that.'

The gleam in his eyes intensified.

"Ah, of course laddie!

See, I need this particular ore for me trade.

You get that, and we're best of friends, no questions asked."

"What ore might that be?"

"Infernium. Me ran out of it, and without it my forge is cold."

"I do have quite a bit of ore collected, though unidentified, maybe I carry Infernium?"

"Lesee..." His smile told me he knew I didn't have it.

Which was proven a short while later.

Some of the ores I displayed impressed him though.

"Lad, you do have a good bit of nice wares here. Care to sell them?"

"I'd prefer to know what I have first, any chance you can teach me Mineralogy?"

"(Sigh) I guess I got to, no way for you to bring me Infernium otherwise. Easy to mistake with Andronite and some others."

Thus I accepted the quest, knowing full well I was punished for my quip.

The trade of two skills for one task was a good one. I thought.

A few minutes later, gamey speedlearning be thanked, I had Mineralogy unlocked.

As my Lore level was high already it jumped straight to Level 7.

I still lacked a means to mine ore though.

Mentioning that netted me the mine skill, at Level 1.

Make that three skills for one task! How hard could it be?

As it turned out, very.

It took me the better part of a few hours to traverse the innards of the Mountain deep below.

Coming across lava fields and powerful creeps.

I was able to avoid and shake those I did not.

Learned Stealth and raised various other skills, albeit no stat bonuses.

I also noticed a peculiar announcement.

Likely received it after passing out staring at that picture.

Due to you being accepted as a First Class apprentice you now enjoy the privilege of Variable Time Dilation!

During this time your interactions with other players will be limited to those qualified.

Display of certain UI Elements like Real Time Clock will be disabled.

This remains effective in Dargoth's Observatory and attached locales until you Log Out.

If you do decide to Log Out, reinstation of this effect depends on circumstances.

Please Enjoy Your Stay!>

Sure enough, all Real World timestamps after as well as its UI were gone.