Galet looked at Milo, puzzled. "This is too far above my level to deal with. I'm just a humble advisor who helps neophytes enter the game. I'm not high enough level to deal with huge quests. It's bad enough that you triggered something like this before. How did you do it again?"

  Milo looked at the smooth metal ball, glowing with internal magical energy. "I don't know. It was just a metal ball with no enchantments before." He looked at it suspiciously. "And it wasn't in my chest."

  "Hmmm, I suspect the Engine may have something to do with this. That would mean that the quest is now system-approved, so we can just let the System deal with it."

  Galet raised a finger, wagging it back and forth. "Oh no, you don't! You aren't sticking me with some odd quest just because the Engine dumped it on you. I heard the gears grinding and know what that means. It's interested in something, and things are changing. Find someone else to do your dirty work. I barely know what's going on."

  Milo was unapologetic. "Not my fault. He picked on me first, and I was only trying to free myself and the other people he had in cages."

  Galet laughed hard at this. "You're upset at not being told all the details and the Engine re-instating the quest."

  The old man sighed, then winked at Milo. "Alright, I'll help you. In a way, I'm still doing my appointed task as a guide, just at another level. As soon as I've taken care of these beginners properly, we'll sit down together and discuss my role."

  Galet looked over at Milo, who seemed to be staring into space. "Odd, he's usually quite attentive."

  Milo suddenly ran toward Belinda, shouting. "I have to go. Rusty just sent a million emails trying to get my attention, and all they say is HELP!"

  Before Belinda could say anything, Milo disappeared. The Eye of Truth dropped to the ground. Galet picked it up and put it in his pocket, then walked over to Belinda. "Is something wrong? What can I help with."

  "I wish you could. Our friend Rusty has a big problem and needs Milo to help him. Hopefully, it's just about anime or a new type of chess game he wants to play and not something important."

  The old man nodded. He'd never been part of the 'real world' and, like most inhabitants of Genesis, ignored it. "Then let us assist your friends in choosing their special classes and races, a reward for the hard work they put into solving the quest for the Eye of Truth.

  Unseen and unheard by anyone, a voice quietly said, 'Rusty?!'

  So, what are you thinking about, 'Big Brother', see anything you like?" Min was following Butch around, casually spinning her spear through different positions and stances and watching as he looked at one statue after another. "I mean, your first pick is awfully short; just saying."

  Butch looked up at her smirking face. "Oh, I hear you. And nearly anything I pick is going to be shorter than you. You're a damned giantess now."

  Min pointed to a tall statue in the outer ring. "That one is cute, and you'd be taller than me."

  "A giraffe centaur? No thanks."

  "You sure? Four legs means we could use you as a pack animal, and they have a long reach with their polearms. That neck would be a little tough to armor, but I'm sure you figure it out."

  "No!"

  "Okeydokey. Just being helpful. Hey, there's one shorter than you over there! You wouldn't even come up to my waist."

  Butch looked at the statue out of curiosity.

  Butch smiled up at his sister. "Great advice." He touched the statue, and his dwarfish form shimmered and grew even smaller. His skin was a dark grey with hard, defined muscles and no fat. He only wore simple leather armor but held a large, two-handed Warhammer. The head of the weapon was a dark stone that shone like obsidian. The weapon looked too big for his small frame, but he swung it around with ease.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "Ok, I'm ready for round two."

  Min was happy to oblige. "Bring it on."

  Galet pulled out his healing potions and bandages. Kenji walked up to watch, looking different. He looked mostly human if you ignored the slightly pointed ears and long, sharp fingernails. His hair was thick and wild, tied into a ponytail. Bushy sideburns and a small beard added to his wild look. His only weapon was a thick oak branch that still had a few green leaves at one end.

  The guide looked at his profile. "Ah, a Wolf Blooded Tree-Shaper? An excellent combination of forest and animal-based spells. That will work well with your two melee fighters."

  Kenji looked over to where Min was keeping Butch at bay with her long spear, stabbing at him. He, in turn, took every opportunity he could to move in close and swing at her, following up as she tried to get distance from him. Already, he was bleeding from two small punctures, and she had heavy bruises on her legs.

  "Can we hurt or kill each other here? What happens."

  "A good question. The answer is yes, but I have adjusted the tutorial so that while the pain is full, the damage is at a minimum. Pain is a good teacher."

  "Cool, let me give them a playmate." He tossed his staff to the ground. The branch shot out roots and drew in sustenance, growing and changing into a creature shaped like a wolf but made of vines and bark. When it stepped free of the ground, Kenji yelled, "Go get them." The wolf loped up behind Butch and bit him on the butt, then chased him around as Min watched. The fight turned into a three-way battle until Min pinned the wolf in place, and Butch smashed it flat. With the wolf turned into wood splinters, they got back to pummeling each other.

  A gust of wind announced Yumi as she landed beside Kenji. The wings on her back folded down and became a golden, feather-trimmed cloak. "Wow, flying is awesome. But I need more stamina. I got tired too quickly. STR gives you more, right?"

  "At Tier 1, you will see an increase in 20 stamina for each point of STR and 10 for each point of CON, but don't neglect your other stats, as a Wind Sister you will need mana for your spells, and AGI to help with aerial maneuvers, plus DEX to make your arrows and javelins fly true."

  Yumi was now six feet tall, and her normally dark hair was midnight-black and lustrous. Her skin was tanned and slightly weathered, as was the light leather armor she was wearing. She strung her short bow and looked at the people fighting. "Who do you want to team up with, Kenji? I'll take the other side to keep it even."

  The Druid considered. "Give me Min, you take Butch." The two of them ran to join the melee, shouting at the two already fighting.

  Galet turned to Brad, hiding in some thick bushes. "And are you joining in?"

  He stepped forth, dressed in soft grey trousers and a long-sleeved grey hood, and low boots. "I'm content to get the hang of moving silently. I'll see if I can sneak up on anyone."

  Galet shook his head. "It is notoriously hard to 'sneak' around people intent on doing damage to each other, but I suppose you'll have to learn that."

  "Sure will." Brad dropped to the ground and his form changed color, matching his background. He slowly started moving forward toward the battle. Galet stared at his gloved hands. He recognized the boy's race. The nomads of the Ilhardine Desert were known for their nimble hands that help them craft brilliantly colored pottery and weave complex designs in their rugs, among other things. He cast his spell of Identification at the boy, and to his astonishment, it disappeared. Nor could he cast it again. He sat down on a rock to observe the fight. "Of course, he'd take that class."