I sighed internally to avoid rousing any further suspicion,
"Oh I see"
I placed my hand on the book and it began to glow a deep blue.
All the adventurers looked to see what this new guy was capable of.
To their amusement and my embarrassment,
"Looks like you're Tristain Eltharion, 29 years old and level one….."
The hall burst out in laughter, behind me I could hear,
"Level one?!? Even children are higher level than him!"
from another corner,
"This guy wants to be an adventurer? What a joke, hope the guild is ready to mark another tally on the sign."
I looked to the Elf,
"What do they mean? Is it not normal for people to start out at level 1 adventuring?"
The Elf looked puzzled,
"You're not from around here are you?"
I anxiously laughed,
"Not exactly…A bit far away"
The Elf began to question,
"What do you mean? Far away and you made it all the way here at lvl 1? Where are you from?"
Questions I couldn't give a good answer to…
"I… Er… Uh…"
The Elf interrupted,
"It's ok, we all have our secrets. I won't pry but you better be careful."
The elf said distastefully, "You're very weak"
She shook her head,
"Even if this is a town on the edge of a count's castle you will have a rough time."
The book began to glow as an ID badge of Iron, the lowest rank, manifested from the pages with my name written on it.
The elf continued,
"This is your ID badge, you can use it for free entry in and out of the town. You're also permitted one free night of lodging and grub a week."
I smiled,
"I can stay here for free?!"
The elf chuckled,
"For one night a week yes in our smallest room, then you better have coin to pay for anything more. You may be slightly handsome but that doesn't pay the bills. Nor do the girls work for free"
I was caught off guard by the last bit,
Man handsome people really get treated differently don't they. What does she mean though that the girls don't work for free..
The Elf continued,
"So you need a weapon, right? What's your poison, spears? A bow? Maybe a sword and a wooden shield?"
I hadn't considered what weapon I would use yet, this was all so surreal feeling. From my time back in the real world I trained with a quarter staff and sword but it was all for show. Never any real combat…
"I'll.. Hmm…"
I gripped my chin and thought before looking back at her,
"Let's do a sword and shield."
She smiled,
"Good choice, for someone new having something to defend yourself with is the right way to go. Though it is heavy, you should consider building a bit of muscle if you want to use these weapons effectively. One moment."
She walked to the back and I was suddenly alone again, surrounded by adventurers. As one of them walked up behind me lightly jabbing me in the back with his iron gauntlet.
In a disgruntled slightly intoxicated tone he said,
"Hey you!"
I turned around,
"Can I help you?"
His face turned sour,
"I don't like your attitude, and by the way, stay away from the Elf. She's mine."
I couldn't help but smile a bit.
I see what this is, someone's jealous.
I started to jest,
"I don't see a ring on her finger?"
I ran my hands through my long black flowing hair. If I had anything going for me it was that I was handsome even at level one.
"I mean she did say I was handsome, maybe there will be one on there in the future."
The man shook his head,
"is that so?"
Before I knew it I was on the ground and the adventurer was gone.
The Elf back at the counter was yelling,
"where did you go?!"
I touched my face and to my surprise it was sensitive to the touch with the imprint of a iron gauntlet clear across my cheek,
"Ouch! The pain here is just like…"
My heartbeat quickened.
Did I just get knocked out… He was so fast I didn't even see it coming. In all my time competing IRL I've never seen someone so quick. I forget this is not my home world, people will really just hit you and worse if you're not careful. Plus that speed was incredible.
It was setting in that this was something completely new and not the relatively safe home world I knew.
But damn.. My jaw is hurting.
I stumbled to my feet,
"I'm here I'm here.. "
The Elf sighed,
"Do you have a death wish? Don't go picking fights on your first day. That man, is known to have a temper"
I smiled through the receding pain,
"Well at least you said I was handsome, what's a right hook to the jaw for a compliment from a pretty lady."
The elf cringely smiled but shook her head,
"You're not going to last very long here, I recommend resting up and going to the nearby forest to the east. Take this sword and wooden shield."
She laid a patched linen shirt, a rusted looking short sword and battered wooden shield on the table.
"It's not much but it will get you started, don't forget to bring it back! Or we will charge you a silver each. There is a beginner portal that needs to have the skeletons cleared. They're still a few levels above you but it's all you can do to start unless you can track down some wolves. Good luck. Your room is up the stairs to the right, dinner will be brought to you at nightfall"
Before I could reply she yelled for the next in line.
I quickly grabbed my gear and the key she had laid on top of it. A large 1A was imprinted on the key, I walked up the stairs and to my room.
Unlocking the door and stepping inside there was a thatch bed, a candle on a bedside table with a wash bucket near the window. It wasn't much but it really made me feel like a new adventurer.
This game wasn't half bad, though that punch felt real enough…What would a blade feel like..
I laid back on the bed and I attempted to open my character menu again, while I had seen a glimpse of it at the counter of the guild I didn't get a chance to really explore.
"Uhh.. How do I do this.."
I began swiping with my fingers and trying all sorts of things that I recalled from other games and shows.
Other games I had controllers with buttons to bring up menus. In shows they used hand motions but none of that is working.
I blurted out all sorts of keywords,
"Menu, Inventory, Settings… err uhhh.. Character?… Status!"
Suddenly a blue menu appeared before me. Giving all my stats.
Tristain Eltharion
Race: (???) Demon
Evolution: Demon Spawn
Class: Martial Artist
Level: 1
Vitality(Health): 100
Vigor(Energy): 80
Mana: 100
Strength: 18
Agility: 10
Charisma: 12
Intelligence: 10
Below that was a section for skills but only two were listed, Blood Pact. That's kind of dark, but it lines up. I've read about demons making deals and offering pacts in many light novels, even in the history of my world. Going to the crossroads and offering your soul for something that really wasn't worth it.
I pressed the spell for more information;
"There are two types....."