29 Becoming a druid

I was surprised at first when I heard a notification in my ears but then I started jumping around the forest. I guess I was that happy. I looked at my skill page and another surprise welcomed me. I was so preoccupied with meditation that I didn't even see that I had one more skill. That skill, I got from the first part of my learning to become a druid. Two skills were as follows.

Nature's Call

Passive Skill

Level 0 15%

Bigger perception in the natural environment, very small chance to detect creatures under Stealth, a small chance that wild beasts won't attack you.

Nature's Blessing

Passive Skill

Allows the user to wield the power of Nature.

Intelligence +20

+5 Intelligence for every nature related skill learned

Are these skills OP or not. Well, I guess every druid will have the same skills. But these two skills are amazing nonetheless. Now I should go to Veran and begin my last task.

Veran was expecting me like last time. How did he know that I succeeded? To find that out I asked him.

, How did I knew you succeeded? Haha, easy. When you didn't return that night to sleep here I knew you had a breakthrough. This time, however, I can fell Nature's energy from your body. Even though it's still weak. But with time it will grow within you. The best way for that is using it over and over again. And that is also what you should do now. Utilizing that energy.\"

, How should I do that?\"

, By using skills, of course. There are some skills that I can show and then you can use them yourself. The first time you cast one skill, you will officially become Priest of Veles.\"

, What are you waiting then? Quick show me.\"

, Don't rush. There are a few things you need to know first. The skills you can use now are limited. You can cast only low-level spells now. But tell me this first. Have you thought about what kind of druid you wish to become?\"

, Not really. What kinds of druids are there at all?\"

, Listen carefully. There are three regular types of druids. Most of the druids are proficient in one of these types, but there are some who are proficient in two of them. Druids who are well versed in all three druidic disciplines are rare though. My teacher is one of those by the way.

These three disciplines are Nature Protectors druids, Shapeshifting druids and Rejuvenation druids. I belong to Nature protectors and we are the ones who mainly stay in the forests and protect them. We are skilled in all kinds of spells which are utilizing energy in forests. Me living together with a tree is a very advanced skill which Nature protectors can use. We can also control trees but you are far from that.

Shapeshifting druids can change their forms into those of animals. Some experienced shapeshifters can even change into mythical creatures. They don't stay in the same place, because their nature is one of the nomads. But shapeshifting is maybe the hardest and for sure the most dangerous of all druidic disciplines. Some of them are in animals skin for too long and can forget that they are humans or they can go rabid on some occasions.

Rejuvenation druids are most proficient in healing techniques. Their healing techniques can rival those of priestesses of Vesna. They are the ones who are most welcome to human settlements. And their skills are easiest and fastest to learn.

But there are no druids which know skills from only one discipline. I am Nature Protector but I still know several skills from other two disciplines. So what do you think? Which discipline is close to you?\"

, Do I have to choose now?\" I asked. I didn't think that I will already need to choose a specialization.

, You do not need to choose at all. If you want you can try and learn skills from all three disciplines, but that is very hard. That is why druids concentrate on one or two.

. What do you think I should do?\" Veran is an experienced druid. He should give me good advice.

, I don't know, this decision is on you. But you don't need to make it yet. Some skills are required for other druids to show you how is done. Shapeshifting must be learned alone. Not even best shapeshifter druids can help you with that. I as a Nature Protector would recommend you to choose that also. Other druids would recommend their disciplines. In our druidic circles, those who mainly practice one discipline think that their path is the best. That is why we are thinking of shapeshifters as wild and healers as prideful. On the other hand, they are calling us loners. It is on you to choose in the end. But let me teach you some skills first.\"

Putting all that in the back of my head I concentrated on learning skills which Veran showed me.

I could only learn two skills because my level was not high enough. Veran explained that as not being strong and learned enough for more skills. As soon as I learned first skill Veran tapped my shoulder in approval.

, Now you have become a beginner druid. To. become a full-fledged druid you must learn one skill from each of the disciplines. Young disciple, I welcome you into the ranks of Priests of the Velen.''

, Thank you, teacher.'' I said with great respect and notification appeared in front of me.

, Congratulations for a class change. You have become beginner druid. You are third beginner druid in the world. Rewards await the one who first becomes a druid. Druids walk the path of Nature. They are knowledgeable and determined.''

Wow, I became third beginner druid in the world. There is even a chance for me to become the first full-fledged druid in the world, among the players. I think that only Europa region has druids, but still, first in the world is a thing to strive for.

I looked at my stat page and saw that Beginner Druid was there in big letters. There was also a short description of the class, which I skipped over. The thing I wanted to see the most was my first class skill. Since Veran was Nature Protector the first skill he teched me was a skill from that discipline. That skill is Ensnaring Roots. Ensnaring Roots is a skill for traping your opponent into a place with the tree roots from the ground. Its duration is not that long, only 2.5 seconds. But Veran told me that if I use the skill a lot in the future the duration will get longer, and even trap more enemies at the same time.

This fact made me realize the potential of this skill. If I level it up in the future this low-level skill will be great control AOE skill. The next skill I learned was the Healing Touch. This is a very simple instant cast healing spell that can heal the target for a fixed amount of health. Over time it can also grow and heal for more.

These two skills made me a lot stronger. One can control my enemies and with the other, I can heal myself or my allies. If I had one attacking skill I would be even stronger. But for now, these two skills are good enough. The only thing I needed to do and become full-fledged druid is to learn a shapeshifting skill. But that is a lot harder than learning the other two skills together. According to Veran the only way to learn shapeshifting is to observe animals. There is no shortcut in this. He said that Druid can shapeshift in all animals possible if he had observed all of them. There is no limit which form can shapeshift Druid take. The only limit is the ability to observe animals and time which would take.

I need to find an animal to observe if I want to take its form.

, If you want to take a shape of an animal you have to understand it 100%. Some are easier to observe and understand while others are hard to find and figure out. There is a way for a Druid to be sure to observe an animal but it could be dangerous later. Let me show you how shapeshifting looks.\"

Before I could ask him what that way is, Veran started changing right in front of me. He gradually became smaller and furrier. I looked in shock as he got smaller and smaller and in but a moment a squirrel appeared in front of me. If I didn't know that this was a game I would think I was seeing things.

, So what do you think?\" Veran in the form of a squirrel talked. Even though I understood him, his voice did change a little.

, This is my third animal form. I learned it while I was fused into a tree early on. I didn't have much chance to use it so I used it now.\"

He said that and started climbing the tree. He climbed so fast I almost couldn't see him. He then started going from tree to tree. He was no different from a regular squirrel. He then came back down and turned back.

, When you learn an animal form you can stay in it as long as you want. There are no restrictions if you managed to understand said animal 100%. But remember, if you stay in one animal form for too long you may start and lose yourself over to the spirit of the animal. Nature is calm and peaceful, but it can also be rough and vengeful, especially to those who harm it. But even we druids must know when to stop using her gifts or else we feel her wrath.\"

, I will remember that teacher.\" I said with great respect and a little fear.

, You won't need to call me teacher when you become a real druid. You can call me Treegrower, as that is the name my brothers gave me. Rest now and tomorrow try and find an animal to observe.\"

, Ok, teacher.\" I wanted to ask him about that sure way but decided against it. If he thought I could do it he would have told me how.

Next day I shared my success in obtaining a class with Hope at home, and with Maria and Anna at work. They congratulated me and asked about details. I told them and then asked them how is the trip to the town going.

They said that they can hunt during the trip when carriage stops for a break or if it gets attacked. Until they arrive in the town they should reach level 10. But it seems that the town they are going to is different from the one Wolf, Marco and I are going. Good thing is that these two towns are relatively close to each other, so sooner or later we will find each other in the game. I told them to be careful.

I arranged another date with Maria on Sunday and left work with a smile. When I returned home I talked with Wolf and Marco a little. I told them that I obtained the class and that I will be on my way soon. That bet is lost for sure. Now I just wanted to see who will be first to arrive in the town, Marco or Wolf. If we didn't take time for other things we may have already arrived. I was busy getting a class, while Wolf was busy hunting. I am not sure what was Marco doing, but if he arrived he would already say. And he did say indeed. While I was observing an animal in the forest the next day, by the end of it Marco sent us a message that we owe him 10 silvers each.