Time Left for Tier 1: 6 Days,15 Hours.

  “Is that everything? cause that was a LOT.” I said overwhelmed at the sheer amount of information dumped on me by Gary. He told me Everything I needed to know about this place. I mean everything he could think of.

  “Yea, I think that will do you for awhile. I’m sure I will run into you again from time to time. I run the fighters Convergence Hall. I teach combat skills there so come see me if you find one. It’s one of the more common Halls in the Trials so I’m sure you will. actually here I can give you this to get you started too. It’s not much but every bit helps.” He reached out a hand to shake mine and a notification popped up on my screen.

  “Gary the Lion man has just gifted you a new trait. *Beginner’s Luck* This new trait allows you to gain the first new skill, recipe, or blueprint at a convergence hall 25% faster your first time visiting there. It really does pay to know people in high places”

  “Oh, wow . Thanks Gary that’s an awesome Trait.” I appreciated the gesture and continued to shake his hand.

  “No problem mate, you deserve it plus it also works as a tutorial on Traits and skills acquisitions. See how it popped up in your HUD like that. Any time you learn or level a Skill or Trait, it will do that. Unless your in serious combat, those cases it will become a little beacon on the side of your vision till you either get out of the fight or die.” He released my hand and took a step back.

  “Can Traits level up also? I know you were talking about skills earlier but I didn’t realize you were referring to Traits also. I thought those were stagnant.” I asked the large Lion man.

  “Yea, traits don’t really level like skills do. Skills it’s like you went from jumping level 3 to jumping level 4 and now you can jump a foot higher. Traits Evolve, for example the trait I just gave you Beginner’s luck. It can and hopefully will evolve into Apprentice’s Aptitude. Which will give you both a ten percent increase to all skill progression in a Hall, plus change that 25% to a 40% increase. Using your traits as often as possible is just as big of a payoff as your skills. If not more. The Attributes tied to those skills and traits increase that growth rate even more. If you build yourself correctly you will snowball certain traits and skills. So make sure they are the right ones, and that they complement each other.” He started wiping the writing off the chalk boards at the front of the classroom and was clearly preparing to leave.

  I knew I should get back but it felt so dumb to just walk away from such a wealth of information. Gary could tell me something that would save my life someday, but I didn’t know what that could be and what to ask him now to get it.

  “What’s the most important thing to know about the Trials?” I asked trying not to show too much desperation in my voice.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  “That there is always a way out, The game is actually more fair than most people realize. There is always clues and hints. Also sometimes hitting something isn’t always how you beat it. Other than that, focus on making yourself versatile and strong. More you grow the more you survive and the better you get at winning. Tier one is easy. Just find the gates and head to Tier two. Good Luck Voyager”

  He faded away and I was left in the room with TAI. She was not paying attention to me at the moment and it was very disconcerting.

  “TAI are you there?” I tried to catch the attention of the small sprite.

  She continued to stare off into the distance and I could see her eyes were glossed over like she was focusing on something that I couldn’t see. Then her eyes slid completely shut and she slowly landed on the ground and laid down. I started to panic a little bit. I couldn’t get myself out of this room. It had no doors or windows, it was just four walls.

  “TAI, I need you to wake up now. I need to get out of here. How am I suppose to finish Tier one if I’m stuck in the Tutorial room. TAI,TAI,TAI!!!!!!”

  I sat there for what felt like forever, just staring at the tiny Sprite to finally wake up. terrified I was stuck there forever. After about an hour her eyes finally reopened and she sat up. She sat, not flew. She looked at me for a second and refocused on the world.

  “Hello, Voyager Nathan Stryder. I am TAI your personal helper sprite. Welcome to the Trials of Tarturis. I am here to help guide and inform you on matters concerning the Trials to best help you navigate the system the best I can. How can I help you.” She said this in a fairly generic and robotic voice.

  “TAI what happened to you, are you okay?” I said with worry in my voice. She was not acting at all like she had been.

  “I’m…. Fine?” She shook her head and looked at me again. I saw recognition begin to grow in her eyes. “Hello Stryder, are you and Gary done with your lessons on Attributes finally? I thought he was never going to stop talking” As she said this she began to float back up to just above my head height, brushing her nondescript cheerleader outfit off. She was acting what seemed to be completely normal again.

  “Are you okay? You literally blacked out for like an hour and I was getting worried, both for you and me. I can’t get out of here.” I told her

  “Oh, yes that was hopefully a one time event. I’m sorry it happened while you were trapped in this room. I can teleport you out of here now if you wish. Just say the word.” She was as chipper as always. I had changed her preferences back to what I wanted earlier while I was listening to Gary ramble on about basically everything.

  “What just happened to you TAI?”

  “I can’t tell you that Voyager. It was a inner system matter that you don’t have clearance for. Sorry” She smiled as she shot down my enquiry.

  “Do you think that will be happening again? like often? Because I don’t want to be teleported into anymore doorless rooms if that’s the case.” I was not feeling very confident in my guides ability to keep me out of danger at this point.

  “I’m not exactly sure. I don’t believe so it was a very anomalous incident but it’s not the first one recently so anything is possible.” She wasn’t looking directly as she was talking. Almost mumbling to herself in thought.

  “Soooooo are you going to get me out of here?” I asked

  “Oh, right yes Voyager let’s get out of here. The good news is your timer doesn’t count down while in the Tutorial Hall. It will count down in all other convergence halls. So keep that in mind” She started coming back to reality as she talked to me. Then she snapped her fingers.