Free End Online: Volume 1 by D. Wolfin

and a crafting item. Somehow I felt
ripped off.
    Exploring the cavern I
discovered the waterfall I heard when entering and a considerable sized pond at
the very back of the cavern. In the centre was a small hill clear of all trees,
the mid afternoon sun shone directly through a hole travelling from the ceiling through to side of the mountain, bathing the entire
clearing in warmth. A man could easily slide down it and into this area,
although I doubt he would survive.
    Retrieving the few apples
that had been knocked out of the trees from the attacks of the great white
wolf, I stowed most them all in my inventory as food and rested in the clearing
eating a few. I find that food in this game can be truly delicious, especially
these apples. Once I had finished naturally recovering I travelled the foliage
to collect even more apples and stockpile my inventory with them.
    My journal had updated to
describe my fight with the boss, although to recite it in the form that a bard
would use when singing heroic tales was something I would not do even if it
lead to my grave!
    Leaving the cave behind I started heading back to Iceridge, all the snow giving the
appearance of a glorious city of white, with the sun fall on it creating quite
the image. It was truly a sight to see, bringing out the beauty of this world.
    I arrived back at the
Iceridge Military Academy just before dusk, entering as all the players
from the days training were leaving in groups of two or three, chatting to each
other like school friends. Perhaps they were , I even
recognized a few who were doing the training while I was still there but didn’t
approach anyone. I did however overhear some people chatting that the
“Delinquent” was back, but I was already preoccupied and gave it no thought.
    I found Centurion Markus
about to leave the training field and stopped him before he was gone.
    “Centurion. It is done. I have slain the great white wolf for you.” I
didn’t see the point of bantering around the issue. This isn’t exactly the type
of person to enjoy small talk after.
    “QUIET! Do you want
everyone to know what I asked of you?” Well, I guess not, I certainly hope to
be the first person to have discovered and done that quest, but it’s hard to
determine with the large number of players out there. The centurion lead me to the room out of the training area where he gave
me the quest before continuing.
    “So, the great white wolf
is no more then? Show me some proof!”
    “Very well, hopefully this
shall suffice.” I remove from my inventory the great white wolf pelt I gained
from killing the boss and placed it on the table in front of me. It was a
massive pelt that matched the size of the beast easily.
    Your quest has been successfully completed
     
    “MY
LORD!” The centurion’s eyes popped out of
his head as the pelt, “This thing has easily doubled in size since I fought
it!” Now that he mentions it the scar running down his face doesn’t exactly
match the size of this wolf’s paw, I can’t believe I never picked up on that
originally!
    I fail as a detective.
    “Well, you need to be
rewarded of course, I honestly did not think you would be able to do it but
your efforts are highly commendable. Give me one moment.” He wasn’t yelling
which made me feel a little uneasy but he grabbed the wolf pelt and dragged it
into a room behind this one that I had not been in before.
    What came from that room
was an absolutely horrendous noise of tearing, thumping and cursing. It
belonged in a horror movie.
    Centurion Markus returned
holding onto a snowy white cloak long enough to cover up down to my ankles
and it also had an oversized hood with lots of extra room. The material was
covered in the wolf’s thick white fur coat all over the outside, although
trimmed to about half its original length. The fur didn’t exactly feel
thick when it was bashing me around, but the quality of the material was truly
marvellous.
    “This here will keep all
the