Chapter 4: Arcane bloodlines 

In the morning sun, colossal trees are illuminated in the forest, casting a golden glow. A pond with vibrant, glowing fish sits in their midst. Nico, Rico, and Banko, seated by the pond, face Elara, who stands tall with hands on hips. The boys, on the grassy floor, gaze up like attentive kindergarten kids captivated by their teacher.

Rico: *yawn*

Rico releases a hearty yawn, rubbing his eyes in a sleepy manner. Meanwhile, Nico and Banko, appearing as if roused like soldiers in a military fashion, battle to keep their eyes open. Nico, succumbing to drowsiness, starts leaning to his right, dangerously close to falling asleep. Elara intervenes by clapping her hands together, a signal for Nico to awaken. She raises her left hand, playfully waving her index finger in the air to ensure their alertness.

Elara: Before we begin training, I would like to first educate you boys.

Elara says with an air of authority demanding the boys to listen to her or else there will be consequences.

Elara: It has come to my attention that you boys appear to know nothing at all.

Elara:  How are you supposed to save this world if you boys don't have the basic knowledge that's needed to survive in this world.

With crossed arms and a tilt of her head to the right, Elara expresses clear disappointment at the boys' lack of common knowledge in Eldrystria. The boys nervously scan their surroundings, a bead of sweat trickling down their cheeks. The left side of their lips twitches, as if attempting to form a smirk under the weight of Elara's disapproval.

Elara: Our first lesson will be on the ranking system.

Elara raises her index finger.

Elara: the ranking system is in ascending order.

Elara: starting from novice which is from level 1-10, adept- level 11-25, ,master level 26-50,elderblood level 51-75 and finally bloodlord or Lady which is level 76-100.

Nico furrows his eyebrows, tilting his head slightly, uncertainty evident in his gaze as he looks at Elara. Mimicking a student in a classroom eager to ask a question, he raises his arm. In response, Elara directs her index finger towards Nico, signalling acknowledgment.

Elara: Yes Nico?

Nico: Why are the last two ranks called elderblood and bloodlord or Lady?

Elara: That's based on the magic system.

The boys collectively look at Elara with uncertainty.

Elara: In Eldrystria we use a magic system called bloodline Affinities.

Elara: Every race is associated with a specific magic Affinity like nature for elves and fire for orcs.

Elara: Everyone in this world inherits innate magical abilities based on their race's bloodline Affinity, as a person becomes stronger they unlock the full potential of their bloodline Affinity and evolve into a more advanced version of their race, this also applies to classes.

Nico raised his arm.

Elara: Yes?

With her right eyelids closed, Elara responded, adding a subtle layer of expression to her acknowledgment.

Rico: If each race is given a specific magical affinity then why are ours different even though all three of us are dragonkin?

Elara raises her middle finger with her index finger still raised, making it appear as if gesturing a peace sign.

Elara: Dragonkin are the exception to this rule, each dragonkin is born with their own unique magic Affinity which is what makes them so special.

Elara uncrosses her left arm, levitating it in the air while her left palm faces the sky.

Elara: Dragonkin just so happens to be one of the most powerful races in Eldrystria, they are also extremely rare to encounter due to historical events that lead to the near eradication of the dragon race many years ago but you don't need to know the details.

The boys furrow their brows and tighten their lips, worried that Elara's omission of historical details might impact their quest against the vampire queen.

Elara raises her arms to the air, clashing her hands together, creating a resonating cacophony that echoes through the forest of colossal trees.

Elara: Explanations are over. Now let's begin training.

Nico,Rico and Banko are seen facing the pond beneath the school of floating fish, brandishing their weapons for combat excluding Rico.

Elara: First step, you boys need to kill the glowfin glimmerlings in front of you!

With an authoritative tone, Elara yells and points her index finger at the floating fish, asserting her command.

Elara: When a monster dies their bodies turn into particles and drop blue balls known as level points.

Elara: These balls are used to help you level up so you can become stronger, some monsters may drop bags of money or tools if you're lucky.

Banko stares at the fish's transparent bars showcasing their power level. Banko turns his head to his side to face Elara and asks her a question.

Banko: Do monsters have a ranking system?

Elara nods, proceeding to respond to Banko's question.

Elara: Yes, they are ranked by the same levels as a person's ranking except they go by different names starting from common,uncommon,rare,legendary and finally eldritch.

Nico: ( How high is the power scaling in this game?)

Nico asked himself as he pressed his fingers against his chin and proceeded to rub it. 

Nico: what kind of feats would an eldritch ranked monster be able to achieve?

Nico asked Elara with a tone of curiosity in his voice.

Elara: They would be able to single handedly destroy the entire world or bend reality.

Nico, Rico and Banko: (WHAT!?)

The boys widened their eyes, mouths agape and eyebrows rose after hearing those words escape from Elara's lips. Banko slightly raises his arm as if he's contemplating whether or not it's necessary for him to ask his next question. Unfortunately, curiosity got the best of him.

Banko: H-How powerful is the vampire queen if i may ask?

Elara crosses her arms, slightly lowering her eyebrows creating a defined line across her forehead, her lips tighten as she looks at Banko with an intense gaze.

Elara: If you were to consider her a monster then she would be an eldritch ranked monster, possibly even higher during the night.

Banko: ( WHAT!!)

Nico: (ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?)

Rico: ( YOU MEAN TO TELL US THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GET STRONG ENOUGH TO DEFEAT A FREAK OF NATURE LIKE THAT!!?)

The boys' bodies stiffen, their hearts skipping a beat at Elara's revelation.

Banko: Wait, then what rank are you?

Elara lips curl into a slight smirk 

Elara: I'm an elderblood rank, you should be grateful that I'm the one who is training you boys.

Elara switches her gaze from the boys to the glowing fish's floating above the pond.

Elara: No more questions, let's begin.

…

The boys prepare to battle the glowfin glimmerlings. Nico brandished two daggers on his hands with the top half of their blades missing, Nico questions if he can even deal any decent damage. Nico sprints towards the pond, putting his speed stat to use. He lunges with all his might at the glowing fish, raising his arms over his neck as he closes the distance between him and the fish. Nico successfully slashes 3 fish. Blue particles spew from the fish's bodies and fly towards Nico. The transparent bar above his head displaying his name and power level changes from level 1-2. Nico falls into the pond, flailing his arms in an attempt to grab something. Banko uses his magic to pull Nico out of the pond with his wooden pillars.

Banko, using his new found abilities, he defeats 5 fish and levels up to level 2. Surprisingly, Rico levelled up to level 3 after defeating 9 glowfin glimmerlings with one punch each.

Elara, wide-eyed and astonished, raises her eyebrows and places her fingers against her chin in contemplation.

Elara: Wow, despite the fact that Nico has daggers and Banko can use magic.

Elara: Rico might be the strongest out of the three of you.

Rico chuckles as he wears a subtle, contented smile, slightly raising one corner of his mouth,eyebrows slightly lifted, conveying a sense of superiority or satisfaction.

Nico and Banko look at Rico with their eyes narrowed, eyebrows slightly lowered and straight mouths with judging atmosphere.

Nico and Banko: ( He's also the easiest to kill)

As time progresses from morning to evening, the group moves from one pond to another, tirelessly exterminating glowfin glimmerlings to level up and increase their stats. Their journey continues until they reach a particular pond that stands out amidst the forest of colossal trees, distinct from the others in some unexpected way.

Confidently positioned before the pond, the boys exude determination. Meanwhile, perched on a massive tree branch, Elara observes the scene from above. As the impending battle looms, Nico swiftly unsheathes his daggers, showcasing significant improvements in his speed. With heightened agility, he charges towards the pond. Banko readies his staff, poised to unleash a magical spell, while Rico, albeit slower than Nico, clenches his fists, leaps into the air, and directs a powerful strike towards one of the fishes. The synchronized actions of the three boys set the stage for a coordinated and dynamic assault.

However…

Thin orange pillars that appear to look like tree roots spring from the earth and charge towards the boys.

Nico: Gah!?

Banko: Ugh!?

Rico:  Wha-ugh!?

The roots tighten around the boys' torsos, prompting a startled reaction from Elara. Leaping to the group, she takes a moment to analyze the situation. The boys try to break free by attacking the roots – Nico's stabbing, Banko's magic, and Rico's punches prove futile, only causing the roots to tighten further, reaching a point where it feels like their bodies might split. As they flail their bodies, a transparent bar appears above the roots written.

Nico: Tanglewood sprig?

Elara: That's right!

Elara rushes to the centre between the boys and the roots. Placing her hands around her mouth in a manner to amplify her voice.

Elara: Banko, Nico put your weapons away!

Nico and Banko, initially confused by Elaras request considering that their weapons are their only tools to fight against the roots, they decide to listen to her and unequip their weapon in their inventory screen. 

The roots immediately loosen their grip, releasing the boys up in the air as they fall to the ground.

(-10 health)

All three: OW!!

The boys feel a sharp pain on their bodies as they collide with the ground

Nico rubs the cone shaped metal helmet on his head while wearing an expression full of relief.

Nico: ( I hate to admit it but I'm glad I'm still wearing this ridiculous helmet)

Banko: What the hell just happened?

Banko asks as he watches the roots return back into the ground. Elara answers Bankos question as she approaches the boys.

Elara: We are being watched by the nature elemental guardian.

The boys turn their heads to Elara with their eyebrows furrowed and mouths wide open expressing their confusion to Elara's statement.

Elara: there are 9 nations in Eldrystria and each one is protected by their own elemental guardian.

Elara: the sylvanire Woodlands is protected by the nature elemental guardian, it normally sends Tanglewood sprig monsters to capture any unwanted guests in the Woodlands.

Nico chimes in mentioning an important detail that is left unanswered by her explanation.

Nico: If that's the case then why didn't it attack us when we first stepped into the  Woodlands?

Elara: That's because you are wanted guests, the only reason it's attacking  now is likely because we are in an area it doesn't want us to be in.

Elara stretches out her hands to the boys to help them stand up.

Elara: That'll be enough training for today let's go home.

…

A couple of minutes later the group are seen walking past the many colossal trees surrounding them on the same sandy path they used to get to the sylvanire canopy as before. The boys are seen interacting with their stat screen while walking behind Elara. Nico puts most of his points on speed but a little extra on durability due to the Tanglewood sprigs dealing 10 damage to them after they released them. Banko does the same with magic and durability mostly because using his magic spells uses a lot of his mp(magic power). Yet again, Rico wasted all of his points on strength. After their training the boys have risen from level 1 to level 4.

Elara looks over her shoulder as she sees the boy's interacting with their stat screens.

Elara: Why are you waving your fingers in the air?

The boys look at Elara, eyebrows slightly risen and eyes widen showing their surprise to Elara's question,

Rico: You mean you don't see them?

Elara tilts her head in response.

The boys look at each other and nod in unison.

Nico: We are just practising our secret handshake.

Elara: Oh…ok( I forgot these boys are oddballs)

Elara turns her head forward on the path after letting out a soft sigh seemingly regretting asking them her question.

Nico rubs his head, where the metal cone helmet protected him when he fell after the Tanglewood sprigs released him.

Nico: You know as time passes by and the more fights we get in, I'm starting to believe we really are in a death game.

Banko: See, I wasn't just making a random mediocre anime reference.

Nico chimes in

Nico: Oh no, I'm agreeing with you when you say we're in a death game but I still think SAO is a mediocre anime.

Banko: Come on it's not mediocre, it gets better after a while trust me.

Nico: No.

Nico and Banko enter banter over whether or not SAO is a bad story despite the irrelevance of the topic. Rico looks at his hands and remembers when he snapped at Nico before they entered the sylvanire Woodlands. A furrow forms on Rico's brow. Amidst the ongoing banter, Rico interjects, redirecting the conversation to a different topic, introducing a shift in the atmosphere.

Rico: Hey Nico?

Nico turns his head to Rico

Nico: Yeah?

Rico: I'm sorry about before, for getting mad at you when we found out we were trapped in the game. I was just a bit emotional.

Nico looks at Rico for a silent moment and proceeds to chuckle.

Nico: Don't worry about it man, it's all water under the bridge.

Nico said as he pats Rico on the shoulder.

Banko: I guess being trapped in a video game made us more mature.

Elara looks over her shoulder.

Elara:( Maybe they're not oddballs after all)

Between the towering trees in the distant landscape, Rico discerns a brilliant, multicolored light piercing through the forest. Intrigued, he halts his steps, captivated by the vibrant illumination. Pausing momentarily, he fixates his gaze on the enchanting glow, drawn in by the mysterious radiance.

Nico: Nah, I think that's just Nico trying to get rid of the guilt he must have felt ever since then.

Nico: I forgave him anyway so it's not a problem, so don't worry about Rico

Nico:  Rico?

Rico dashes through the forest, weaving between colossal trees, determined to reach the mesmerizing multicolored light. In pursuit, Elara, Nico, and Banko follow, hurling aggressive remarks at Rico as they strive to keep pace. 

Banko: DAMN IT RICO NOT AGAIN!!

Nico: I TAKE IT BACK, I DON'T FORGIVE YOU!!

Elara:( Nevermind these boys are oddballs)

Chapter 4 end.