*BEEP *BEEP *BEEP

“The cycle continues”

Evan commented in his mind as he wearily open his eyes and grabbed the phone from his bedside table before turning off the alarms.

Waking up from his bed, he quickly made the bed & move towards his bathroom for a refresher by washing his face and brushed his teeth. 

Making a nice peanut butter and jelly sandwich, he tap on his phone scrolling to the ‘EidoNews’ and ‘Eidolon Official Website’ to see any changes or progress.

“Tomorrow… tomorrow is the day of the event”

He cannot help it; his heart starts to thump faster with his lips curving upward uncontrollably. Excited to try his arsenal in battle against other players. But he withheld the urge for now, since he has something to do for the day.

Cleaning up the dishes, Evan moves into the console and enters it. His surrounding is changed from his apartment condo into the familiar scent of salty sea and the dampness of the soil underneath his feet.

The day is bright morning as some sunlight pierces through the forest’s canopy. As usual, he took another harvest in his travelling garden and he opted to not summon Umbra for the time being since he’s going to do something.

“Today, I’m going to pour every materials I have in making potions for selling. I am sure it will sell incredibly fast knowing that tomorrow is the event.”

Knowing on what to do. *SNAP alchemical tools came out from his inventory and arranged themselves bearing resemblance to the old lady’s magic.

“Its convenient, Hehehe…”

He smiles as he brought out the ingredients. Creating water to fill up the beakers and light up the fire with a flick of his finger. Putting the materials in and taking some time for it since he needed to infuse it with mana while stirring them using magic. Evan spent around 2 hours in making potions earning him  x8 [(R) Mana Potion], x2 [Mana Potion], x10 [Health Potion].

“To be honest, I didn’t need them at all knowing I can heal myself and my MP regen is already sufficiently high especially with [Mana Gathering] skill”

He thought as he puts them all into the ‘player’s market’ for selling. Calculating the profits he gain, he would have around 2000 GC + 100 GC + 500 GC with a total of 2600 GC. Gaining that numbers give him a feeling of joy as he thought.

“Great! If I added them together with my current GC, I can pay my bounty even if I lost the battle royale event”

Evan is satisfied knowing that, as he can feel the pressure of winning is being alleviated from his shoulders. But of course, he wouldn’t lose or give up in the battle royale.

“Regardless, I’m going to fight! It’s going to be fun, hehehehe… but it’s quite reassuring knowing I didn’t need to be the winner”

He snickered before going to the depths of the forest towards the mountain path. Since he needed to restock the common herbs in his inventory, the viridian views of the forest turns into rocky pathway signifying that he arrived at the destined place.

Deploying [Invisibility] and [Muffle] spell resulting his movements are silenced making it incredibly difficult to figure out where he is. Although his figure temporarily revealed upon touching a patch of flowers containing the [Blue Flower] and [Red Flower]. He grasped the flowers and cut it efficiently using magic by making a blade made from wind.

While automatically harvesting, his mind begun to think about his progress.

“After the advancement of my skill to [Mana Mastery] I’m able to do little things with magic instead of manually now.”

He chuckles and smile as he harvests the flowers. Getting around 10 of each before moving on to another spot to get the [Leven Berry] and [Elves Ear]. Climbing up the mountain path, he can see on the edge of the cliffs are those herbs he’s looking for.

Evan curl his fingers making a gesture of inviting in as the berries and pointed leaves levitated and being pulled to his hand before vanishing into his inventory.

“So far so good”

Although each time he does that, his figure temporarily revealed as the spell wears off but after a while, he turns invisible again. With that, he gathered around 10 of each into his inventory.

Rather than just teleported himself to the safe glade, Evan chooses to walk back as his spells takes effect making his figure turn invisible. His mind begun to wander as he moves to the direction of the safe glade.

“What should I do for the rest of the day?”

While walking and thinking, Evan unconsciously nibble his lip as his mind continue to ponder.

“Ah… Illusion magic are used to fool someone right? Is it possible to alter my information then? That way I could enter the mage’s guild ‘legally’. Hold up, wait a minute let me check.”

Evan quickly open a panel to access the net as he type in the words ‘Average NPC levels in Novitas’ Mage’s Guild’. Tapping the ‘enter’ button, several threads appear before him as Evan look for the appropriate information.

Pressing the top-most search, Evan is invited to a website displaying the overall NPC levels and it is already been categorized to the Mage’s Guild in the city of Novitas.

The information contained within it shows that on average they are around level 10 to 20. Which means that their current ability will not be able to discern the illusion that Evan would weave.

Noticing that, his lips curved upward in a mischievous grin while mindlessly walk to his ‘safe glade’ as he knew what he’s going to do for the rest of the day in the game.

He displayed the status panel in front of him as he outstretch his hand and begun weaving the mana. Slowly & steadily, the words contain in that status panel begun to change. His smile grew wider as time goes on seeing how his illusion magic worked.

“Provided it’s still experimental, I don’t know how long it last though…”

Right in front of him is a brand-new status panel as he feels proud like a masterpiece. Although he can see very miniscule inconsistencies of the mana patterns about the words, but it is only noticeable when someone is higher level or around his level seeing it. Which reassured him that level 10 or 20 NPC wouldn’t be able to see it.

While waiting for the duration of the new illusion spell to end. Evan can faintly hear the ding sounds coming from his status panel indicating that his INT status has been increased knowing that he created a new spell.

“Ah… its been a while since I pay attention to that. Hmmm… I’ll call this spell [False Data]”

Then upon arriving to that conclusion another ping echo around his ears. This time it is louder but not to the ‘altered’ status panel rather it is in his inventory panel. Getting curious by it, he opens the panel only showing a drastic increase to his GC.

“EH? Its that fast?”

He began to ponder for how long, he had just brew the potions.

“Its probably around half an hour, right? Hmmm… Alchemy & Enchanting is big on the sale huh? I think I’m going to focus on them after the event.”

Reaching to that conclusion, Evan look to his status panel to see the illusion magic he enchanted on panel hasn’t wore off. Shrugging thinking that it might take longer, he opted to open the panel that shows his bounty.

Sighing upon seeing the large display of his name with 4000 GC cost on it. He decided to pay reducing his total GC to 1550 but his in-game name wiped out from the bounty board from the forum in the official website and in the NPC list as well.

“Its worth it at least. Shall we go?”

Evan stands up from his position as he summons Umbra, the wolf-dog appeared behind him before nudging his snout on the mage’s cheek earning a chuckle from Evan.

He stroke the cheek of the wolf-dog in earnest and playing with Umbra’s ears with the canine has a look of utter confusion.

“Woof?”

Umbra tilts his head, but his tail continues to wag energetically enjoying the affection that Evan is giving to him. That also includes him, squishing the cheeks of the wolf-dog.

“Hehehe…”

Evan’s feel calmer as he dismisses Umbra but before he did, he gave the canine a treat. Umbra noms it happily then jumped to his shadow merging with it.

Stepping outside from the safe glade, he moves to the beaten path and walk towards the direction of Novitas. Looking up to the sky, he can see the beautiful blue skies greeted him and the warm temperature.

To his right or left, he can see new players that just started. In various form of playstyle that suits them. It makes sense to encounter newbies since the path west from Novitas are the most common place to travel for beginners.

“If I remember it correctly, the capital city of ‘Eidolon’ is for veteran players as they hand out quests ranging from 80 to 100. But it is also suited for mid-level players since its close by to Clamshore or further to the north.”

He wanders while thinking about how the capital city will look like. The forum did say, the capital city is beautiful and ancient evoking the feeling of awe-inspiring. You can also have a chance encounter with the king.

Proven by the numerous screenshots of players trying to photo-bomb the king when he came out to give out speeches.

Enjoying his walk, Evan can see other NPCs or Players travelling to Novitas and Clamshore. Although most of the time are NPCs since players can just teleport from one place to another.

He opted to take the manual walk since he wanted to enjoy the scenery surrounding him. He can hear the sounds of wooden wheels and the trotting of horses since not too far from his is a wagon filled with loot crates.

“I think that’s a merchant. Hmm?”

There’s something odd about that wagon, there’s only a single NPC that act like a driver, but he wore fine clothing unlike the lower-class NPCs, Evan usually sees in Clamshore or Novitas.

“A single merchant here? That would attract bandits”

“STOP, give us your loots and you can go there safely”

“Aeeieee!”

“*NEIGH*”

The driver pulled the horse leash tightly as they can, making the creatures stopped abruptly leaving the wagon in place. Evan heard from afar a shout as numerous figures appeared before him & the merchant.

Multiple figures wearing fur armour barricading the path to Novitas. They demure and pose demand attention and fearsome built eludes intimidating aura around them. Their expression is mocking and simultaneously eager to gain something out of this especially towards the merchant.

Evan who looked from afar already begun to weave mana surrounding him, the tips of his finger begun to glow a faint mote but before he can finish though.

“HYAAAAAA”

“GET THEM!!!”

Loud shouts coming from beside him & behind him distracted his thinking, cancelling his weave as Evan sees multitude of players left their grinding spot and instead dashed towards the group of bandits.

*WHACK*

*BOOM*

Skill & Spells sound effects intermingle to one another making it hard for him to hear anything since the sounds of the bandits begin defeated are drowned in it.

Evan just stare at the chaos in front of him. The merchant just hide inside his wagon as the players completely overpower the bandits. Although their eyes doesn’t exude justice rather something else.

This is what they call to be ‘Random Events’ that provide EXPs & GC to players who manage to complete it. In this case, they needed to defend the merchant from being harassed and robbed by the bandits.

The quick and ridiculous numbers of players made the random event pass by quickly as Evan just slip through by going around the main road.

After a while, he arrived right in front of the Novitas’ west gate. The familiar grey bricks and several watchtowers can be seen with guards roaming about scouting from any suspicious activities. Since Evan already cleared out his bounty, his face doesn’t get recognize by the guards.

He then move to the alleyways seeing the NPCs laundries as a familiar scene. He chuckled a bit as he find a quiet space. Opening the status panel in front of him, Evan begun to weave mana into it making sure to create a cover on top of the panel.

Casting the spell [False Data], Evan created a modified status panel. Giving him a different name, different status, and skills. But it is merely an illusion, so it doesn’t affect his character. He also change his robe to look different, giving him a regal look as it forms an elegant dark brown cloak.

The embroidery is amazing but not too eye-catching only accentuating the robe looks. Moving onward, he arrived at the mage’s guild Novitas’ branch.

Upon arrival though, he’s noticed by a figure wearing blue robe that have a symbol of a magical circle with an eye at the centre in its embroidery. A familiar figure that rejected his application to enter the mage’s guild.

The eyes of that figure looked at Evan from top to bottom. His posture in walking and standing seems to exude a person of excellence resembling nobility. Although all of this are merely stem from illusion magic. In truth, his original figure is smaller and slumping his shoulder forward.

“Oho? Look at this, a potential figure and probably have a lot of wealth”  

The blue robed mage smirked, as he can see the potential of this applicant and of course the hefty pocket that this person have.

“Welcome!”

The mage emits a brilliant smile with welcoming open arms as Evan put his hand in front to maintain distance before long, he write something in his notepad. It reminds the mage of someone at the back of his mind, but it is too long ago.

The words on that notepad leak out and seemingly come alive as it displays in front of the blue robe mage. It said.

“Good afternoon, I am here for my application to the mage’s guild as an apprentice mage. I believe my status panel is sufficient enough to enter is it not?”

Evan displayed his ‘modified’ status panel as the blue robe mage eagerly look at it.

“Whoa already able to use [Skywrite]!! 75 INT at Level 10? And his name, ‘Evanisca Von Vuldenberg’ I was right! He’s a noble”

Long name in the world of ‘Eidolon’ signify noble descendant for the NPCs and it can be given to players that manage to earn a big enough achievement for a country by their leaders.

Neither did the blue robed mage knew, that all of this is just an altered status panel. In addition, Evan’s back is drenched in sweat as he look up and maintain eye contact. He kept imagining that the person in front of him is Umbra looking directly at him.

“It helps a lot to calm my nerve”

The smirk on the blue robe mage widens upon learning that this player in front of him is a noble. Before long, he open a scroll as he write something to that parchment then gave it to Evan.

To add flair to his impression, Evan pick up the scroll using magic as it hover towards him. Using a flick to his finger, the scroll opens revealing his name and legitimacy to enter the area of the mage’s guild including access to its archive as an apprentice mage.

Upon accepting it to his inventory, Evan pull out a sack of GC containing 550 of them as it float towards the blue mage. Accompanied by it, are words floating from his notepad saying.

“This is for the service you have given me, take care”

Evan steps into the door hastily ignoring the flabbergasted blue mage robe in front of the gate but he still maintain an even pace in his walk to exude the air of elegance.

Although his heart beats faster than he had ever been before including his back is resembling a waterfall of sweat. More so than when he got discovered illegally enter the mage’s archive.

The blue robed mage give a slight curt to Evan as he enters the gate using magic to manipulate it to opens and close. Upon entering the mage’s guild area, Evan is greeted with a large well-maintained garden.

Two elegant sculpted fountain is on his left & right, there are also several benches where apprentice mages sat with their colleagues to learn or just hanging out in the daylight.

Evan field of view widened as he found a nice place hidden from sight, behind the white plastered walls. In quick succession he created an [Invisibility Zone] as he settles inside.

“BWAHHH!!!”

He releases his imaginary breath that he held accompanied by numerous pants. But another feeling bubble up inside his chest. A feeling of joy, sense of accomplishment, and excitement as he managed to enter the mage’s guild ‘Legally’