I was armed with a makeshift club in one hand, a small dagger tied to my pants with the drawstring, a desk lamp in the other hand, and my pockets filled with a turned off cell phone, inactive glow stone, a piece of stone, and a flask of sweet smelling alcohol. As I continued my path forward I continued to mark my direction of travel with my arrow and initials. After several minutes of this I was presented with a new notification that almost had me jump out of my skin… again.
Ding!
For doing a Special Action in line with your Class, you have unlocked the skill: Wondering Pather.
“Fuck me… I need to get used to that.” I cursed at myself. Then I concentrated on the new skill.
Wondering Pather
Rank F - 00%
The ability to create and recognize both mundane and unique forms of paths and markings.
Would you like to accept the new skill?
“Ok… not all that useful, I guess not all skills can be winners…” I mumbled to myself, I then accepted the skill.
I continued to travel looking down corridors and into more empty offices. I didn’t explore those yet as I didn't expect to find any water. It took me what felt like 10 or 15 minutes of slow wandering, while I could not do anything about my light source I was doing my best to avoid making sound.
I eventually found what appeared to be a restroom or wash closest. Finally something different besides corridors and small offices of course knowing my luck I passed three already without realizing it. The setup was just a single dusty wooden seat that was above a deep hole, and what appeared to be a sink.
“Well this seems mostly normal.” I said out loud.
I examined the sink and found it seemed to be a normal stone sink with a metal faucet and a twist knob. I didn't see any plumbing for the waste water other than a similar setup with what looked like another deep hole cut into the stone under the sink.
“Right… dont drop anything in the sink…” I muttered to myself then turned the faucet knob.
The water that initially came out seemed a bit stagnant but very quickly became clear. That was actually a good sign, I figured while the plumbing seemed a bit primitive, the water line must still be flowing out, so I didn’t think I would need to flush the entire pipe system. I had the water run for several minutes to make sure it didn't go stagnant again or anything. I dipped my left pinky instead of my entire hand into the stream of water, then quickly pulled it back… it was freezing. After tasting it from my wet finger I figured it should be safe enough to drink. I took several freezing cupped hand fulls and gave myself a brain freeze.
“Ok… that actually helps me in more than one way… this water might be ice or snow melt which could mean a mountain… If this place is carved into a mountain it is likely massive… Also why would they dig into a mountain then abandon the place… Or maybe… I'm in a disused part of this complex. Alright Nicole… stop talking to yourself, you're an Introvert you've handled much worse… when I had internet…” as I continued to mutter to myself.
I then emptied out the flask and rinsed it several times. I was willing to risk the strong alcohol as the likelihood of contamination was smaller but with the other being sweet I didn't want to get myself sick. Decided to leave the water running as a small trickle, if I found myself without any light then the sound might be my only indication of safety. With all of this I didnt think I would now die of dehydration, food would be another concern but I was also not the skinniest person in the world so I had time.
I ventured back the way I came this time checking the offices for anything of use. The first office on my way back was very similar to the first. I did find a few more bits and bobbles than the first but nothing jumped out as immediately useful. The second office on the other hand was way more of a mess, several of the desk spaces looked something like my office. Random papers scattered, little metal or wooden objects that were likely toyed with when thinking. I even found something like a small messenger back. It was more like a purse for my size but it seemed in good enough condition to use. I moved everything but my cell phone to my now purse. As I continued to look around I found some more random stuff I thought I could use. A small spool of wire (most likely copper), a tiny screwdriver set flathead only, a metal file, and some materials I could use as scrap.
As I was going through everything I was using my Eyedentify skill… It was such a dumb name. After exploring most of this office I received another notification.
Ding!
Congratulations! Through repeated actions your Eyedentify skill has improved and is now eligible for rank up!
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Rank D is a free rank!
This time I finally expected it and was not startled when it showed up.
Eyedentify
Rank E - 100%
The ability to identify. Your proficiency and instincts for identification has improved. Eyedentify multiple objects in sight.
This ability is ready to rank up. Do you wish to increase Eyedentify to Rank D?
That was an interesting concept, I accepted, then I took a moment to try it out. Looking at a desk I concentrated and then received a mental picture of all the objects in sight. I then took a moment to examine all of my skills.
Skills Rank
Class Skills
Eyedentify D - 03%
Wondering Pather F - 78%General Skills
Mana Manipulation F - 84%
While wandering through the offices I did push some mana into some of the lamps. I was guessing that it was a taxing operation which gave lots of experience. Seeing as how close I was to leveling up both sets of skills I spent the next few minutes pushing more mana into some lights and was greeted by a new notification.
Congratulations! Through repeated actions your Mana Manipulation skill has improved and is now eligible for rank up!
Rank E is a free rank!
Mana Manipulation
Rank F - 100%
The ability to manipulate mana. Your proficiency and instincts for manipulating man has improved. Less effort and finer control of mana.
This ability is ready to rank up. Do you wish to increase Mana Manipulation to Rank E?
I accepted this new rank greedily, anything that would allow me to do more with mana I had no doubt was valuable. After accepting I found that it was a bit easier to move my mana around my body and to create that hovering mote of energy. I even attempted to use my identity skill while focusing on the mote.
Mana Motive Essence, contains 3 points
I was a bit surprised by the description, I was expecting mana to be well mana. If different types of mana existed that could mean any number of things.
I then focused on the light I was using and specifically the small gem.
Unstable Light Gem, contains 12 points of motive mana essence.
I then quickly looked at another light that was off.
Inactive Light Gem, contains 0 points of light mana essence.
“O shit… Unstable?! What the hell does that mean, can you explode?” I asked the light gem, it stubbornly did not reply. Infact now that I was paying attention I noticed that the gem was shaking in its housing like it was trying to move.
I needed to experiment with this, so I took out one of the several light gems I had salvaged and added a small amount of energy to it, it then gave off a soft glow. I then placed it on the stone floor and kept an eye on it. While it was cut into a rough sphere not all were polished to a smooth finish. The one I just placed down still had several facets and in fact started to slowly tumble around.
“So I wonder… can I infuse other objects with mana?” I asked myself. Then attempted to push a small bit of mana into my makeshift club. I then used my skill to identify the makeshift club.
Slightly unstable broken chair leg, mediocre quality
I looked at my mana after a moment and it registered as about 90 points. It seemed I was a bit more efficient as well now. I then dumped a good bit more mana into the chair leg, maybe 30 points worth, then identified as the thing was definitely starting to shake.
Very unstable broken chair leg, mediocre quality
I very carefully got up, leaned out into the hallway and gently tossed the leg and ducking back behind the wall. I heard the chair leg hit the ground then I heard a very loud pop. Looking after a few seconds I checked and found the chair leg had exploded into splinters.
“Ok… so I can apparently make homemade grenades…” I muttered to myself.
I looked at my skills again.
Skills Rank
Class Skills
Eyedentify D - 14%
Wondering Pather F - 78%General Skills
Mana Manipulation E - 23%
Based on the percentage I figured that experimentation was definitely a good way to grow a skill. I then focused on my Wondering Pather skill and took a moment to think of possible ways to level it. I then took several minutes and started drawing a map of what I knew around me. I was then greeted by yet another notification.
Congratulations! Through repeated actions your Wondering Pather skill has improved and is now eligible for rank up!
Rank E is a free rank!
Wondering Pather
Rank F - 100%
The ability to mark and find paths both mundane and unusual. Your awareness of possible paths expands.
This ability is ready to rank up. Do you wish to increase Wondering Pather to Rank E?
Seeing as it was a free rank I accepted it. With that I figured I should do more exploring, I packed up several objects, managed to get another chair leg, and ensured my cell phone was still in my pocket.