The Fourth Secret: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure (Divine Apostasy Book 4) by A. Kay (best fiction novels of all time .txt) 📗

“Yes!” Sift said. “I’m tired of eating Hamma’s blessed wafers.”

Ruwen smiled. “Of course. It might be a while before I make it back to Deepwell, so it’ll be good to have a place here.”

A minimized notification pulsed yellow in the lower right portion of Ruwen’s vision, and he opened it.

Ting!

You have completed the quest “A View to Die For.”

You have learned the passcode for free drinks at any of Bliz’s bars.

Ruwen closed the notification, pleased to have finished this one.

“You seem different,” Tremine said to Ruwen. “More mature and confident. Have you leveled?”

Ruwen nodded.

Bliz frowned. “I better give you the advanced Class quests before you reach level ten.”

Ruwen tried to speak, but a notification had already appeared.

Ting!

You have received the quest…

Prosperity smells like Sweat

Crew Chief Bliz is pleased with your progress and has offered you one of three Sub Class symbols, which will unlock new abilities and spells. Your choices are Laborer, Household, or Collector. Laborers are generalists and useful for any job. They can stack boxes, dig holes, or carry lumber. The Household Sub Class is most comfortable working for a family or business and generally works inside. Collectors tend to work outside and away from the city. They can plant and sow crops, harvest fruit, or collect resources not found in the city. Crew Chief Bliz believes you would be happiest as a Collector and provided you specialized equipment on your Ascension Day. Choosing your Sub Class will allow the Workers’ Lodge to focus your equipment, spells, and abilities.

Restriction: Worker Class level 10

Reward: Symbol to open your chosen Sub Class

Reward: Mentorship in your chosen Sub Class

Reward: Abilities and spells specific to your Sub Class

Reward: 10,000 experience

Laborer or Household or Collector or Decline

Ruwen already knew his path as a Worker, and he selected Collector.

Ting!

You have completed the Quest – Prosperity smells like Sweat.

You have received the Collector Sub Class symbol.

See your local Worker’s Lodge for mentorship.

See your local Worker’s Lodge for ability and spell options.

You have received 10,000 experience.

A bundle of wheat appeared in Ruwen’s mind. The Collector symbol was so vivid he could smell the vaguely sweet scent of the grain stalks. He concentrated on the symbol, and it slowly sank from view until it disappeared. Ruwen’s skin prickled, and the base of his neck grew ice-cold, which quickly spread over his body. Shivering, he rubbed his arms to warm them.

He dismissed the notification, and another one replaced it.

Ding!

Uru’s Blessings, Worker! You have reached level 20.

Specializations are now available to you.

You have gained +1 to Strength!

You have gained +1 to Stamina!

You have 2 unassigned points.

Uru’s Blessings, Root! You have reached level 20.

You have 2 unassigned points.

New Spells and Abilities are available to you. Choose wisely.

Yet another notification appeared.

Ting!

You have received the quest…

Making Your Own Luck

Crew Chief Bliz is pleased with your progress and has offered you one of two Specialization symbols, which will unlock new abilities and spells. Your choices are Producer or Gatherer. Producers are excellent farmers, fishermen, and ranchers, and their efforts will yield results even in the harshest environments. Producers usually settle by large cities and are critical to society’s success. Gatherers focus on the other resources required by society, and many Gatherers concentrate on careers in mining, herbalism, or treasure hunting. Crew Chief Bliz believes you would be happiest as a Gatherer and provided you specialized equipment on your Ascension Day. Choosing your Specialization will allow the Workers’ Lodge to focus your equipment, spells, and abilities.

Restriction: Worker Class level 20

Restriction: Worker Sub Class Collector

Reward: Symbol to open your chosen Specialization

Reward: Mentorship in your chosen Specialization

Reward: Abilities and spells specific to your Specialization

Reward: 50,000 experience

Producer or Gatherer or Decline

Again Ruwen already knew his choice, and he selected Gatherer.

Ting!

You have completed the Quest – Making Your Own Luck.

You have received the Gatherer Specialization symbol.

See your local Worker’s Lodge for mentorship.

See your local Worker’s Lodge for ability and spell options.

You have received 50,000 experience.

A bag, with gems spilling out of it, appeared in his mind. Like before, the symbol seemed real, and the jewels sparkled so brightly Ruwen tried to squint. The symbol slowly sank, and when it disappeared, his entire body grew frigid. He lost his balance and stumbled, but firm hands held him up.

Ruwen opened up his eyes and blinked at the bright light that the portal crystals surrounding him amplified. Sift held one arm and Bliz the other. Tremine leaned close and studied Ruwen’s face.

“Are you okay?” Tremine asked.

Ruwen nodded. “I just had a brief notification avalanche. I’m better now that Bliz’s quests are finished.”

“What do you mean, finished?” Bliz asked. “I just gave you the quests. It should take you at least a week of concentrated effort to absorb the Sub Class symbol.”

Ruwen sighed. “I know. But I just finished Specializing in Gatherer.”

Chapter 7

Bliz laughed. “You’d need to be level twenty for a Specialization.”

Ruwen rubbed his forehead. “I just dinged twenty.”

Bliz stared at Ruwen in disbelief. “You only Ascended two months ago.”

“True, but we ended up someplace we weren’t meant to go, and that power leveled us,” Ruwen said.

“Us?” Bliz asked.

Sift spoke up. “Ruwen’s girlfriend, two assassins, three—”

Ruwen interrupted Sift. “We can talk about the details later.”

Tremine and Bliz stared at Ruwen.

“A girlfriend?” Tremine asked.

“Assassins?” Bliz asked at the same time.

Ruwen glared at Sift, who seemed oblivious to the problems he’d caused.

Desperate to shift the attention some place else, Ruwen pointed at the crystals. “What do you think of the crystals?”

Tremine and Bliz both reluctantly looked away from Ruwen and glanced around.

“I was going to ask you about them,” Tremine said. “They seem out of place.”

Bliz touched the nearest crystal. “It looks like quartz to me, but I’ve never seen such large formations. And the smaller crystals on the ground are flawless.”

“What’s their purpose?” Tremine asked.

In his haste to avoid talking about the last two months, Ruwen had stepped right into another topic he’d hoped to avoid.

“Yeah, Ruwen, what’s their purpose,” Sift asked.

Ruwen had never answered Sift’s earlier question about Blapy’s presence. The truth was, Ruwen