“I have failed you.” A feminine voice said the world came back into focus.
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“I knew something was up but this…Is this the abyss? It’s warmer than I thought.”
“Foolish mortal. To think you would die in a place where it isn’t possible. Yet it is the second time today this has happened. Two people with a rather loose connection aside from friendship. Both were killed by poison during the final stage. A stage with no danger, and no ways to subtly kill targets within the confines of this test’s rules.”
Tearis looked at a golden orb with a black slit in the middle. The orb was larger than he was, and as he backed away, he noticed it was an eye belonging to a strange creature.
“Who are you?”
“Someone with many names. But they no longer matter. I am a fragment of power that works with your goddess. My power over life and death here is omnipotent. How does being poisoned make you feel?”
“Like I’m bloody dying. What kind of question is that?” Tearis said with a straight face.
“An entertaining one. Do you desire vengeance?”
“No. I’d rather avoid the source, accidents happen.” Tearis stated.
“Human. Have you not figured it out?”
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“Figured what out?”
“Someone purposely poisoned you and someone else before the trial. I have seen it through the eyes of others. Do you desire recompense for losing your life?”
“No. Could you tell me who and why? I’ve pissed off alot of people, but not to a point in which my life would be at risk.”
“Wouldn’t you rather be alive?”
“Who was the other one poisoned?” Tearis did not answer the question as he wasn’t answered. Petty? Yes, but there are rules to conversations like this.
“Fine. The one you call Backster is the other one that died. Lost an arm an eye fighting a lizard knight. He won and made it to the white room but the poison took the last of his health.”
Tearis growled. “Then I know who poisoned me. I can also guess why. This is some bull. What do I need to do for Backster to come back alive? He was always the better man. Just too trusting of anyone with a sob story.”
“Funny. He just said something about a certain cynic gloating about being right.”
“What? My heartfelt sacrifice was genuine. Wait, are you talking to him right now? Can I talk to him right now?”
“I am an entity beyond time and space so things can happen out of order. Backster made the same offer when I mentioned you so I’ll say this. Both of you will be revived here but you will be forced to walk through the purple door. I require a servant and you fit my requirements.”
“So… You’re going to make me a cleric?”
“No. A cleric borrows power. This will however alter your Job, not your Class. Aside from that your Class will be chosen in the purple doorway. Doesn’t matter what you pick so long as its of a similar shade.”
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“A Job mutation will occur. Do you accept? Yes or Yes?”
“Great…”
“New Job, set, (Public) Lawyer, (Private): Dark contractor “Previous Job levels have been allocated to this new Job. In addition, Job stat bonuses have been altered due to advancing to an intermediate Job.
Tearis scowled. “You forced a Job evolution and chose one up from my own path….”
“Poisoned condition has faded. Vitality +2 Endurance +2. Minor Poison resistance has gained one rank.”
“Skill Gained: Read between the lines.”
“Great. What do you need me to do, oh great and powerful patron?”
“Get stronger.”
“That’s not a request, that’s a means to an end.”
“I require mana. An experience toll if you will. Once you hit level 10 your experience will be halved until you reach level 99. You will however get a little more out of leveling than most. Along with some decent items.”
“Decent?”
“Some stuff to train your mana pool along with some gear to alter what perception based abilities can gleam from you. Along with some tools for stat training outside of level ups. Because if you don’t find a way to get ahead then you will fall far behind.”
Tearis scowled. “So this is the price for my life?”
“Your life and your friend’s. They won’t work for me. This debt will fall entirely on you.”
Tearis sighed. “Great, just great. I’ll have to power level to get anywhere.”
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“Yes. Good luck.”
“Thank you for saving my life. You won’t regret it.”
“Can’t Say the same for you.” The eye disappeared, and the world was bright.
Moments later, the only door in front of Tearis was purple. Signifying that he could no longer make that choice. The purple door was for those who walked the path of seducers or illusionists. Not quite a bard, but it would be close enough.
“Status!”
Hp: 1/39
Mana: 1/6
Stamina: 31/31
“No longer poisoned. Looks like My bars went up a little. Wait! My mana!” Tearis moved to take a step forward and noticed that his tan tunic had been replaced by a purple dress shirt and his plain breeches by silken black pants. Around his right wrist was a wooden bracelet. Each finger on his left hand held a ring. His final piece of enchanted gear was a simple cross with a black gem in its center.
“Status Mana!”
Mana: 1/6
“Why do I feel like I’ve become the enemy of dads everywhere?” Tearis took another step with his now black boots.
“Still, I bet even a fly could kill me.” Tearis arrived at the door a few steps later, which seemed concerning.
With a deep breath, he hopped through the doorway and looked around.
Taris floated in the middle of a cube made of mirrors. Each reflection showed him a different path to power. One had him walking through a battlefield surrounded by mind-controlled allies. Another on the opposite side had a similar scene. Only everyone was fighting each other. The third had shown him killing his enemies with a glare. The fourth showed him telling a tale to a crowd and having them eat up every word. The fifth showed him extracting what he thought was information from his enemies. Finding the truth within the lies. Stealing spells and making them his own. The sixth and final one showed him surrounded by mindless followers doing his every bidding.
“I need a way to survive and stealing powers could make things simple. I won’t waste this second chance at life.” Taris selected the fifth path, and the glass cube shattered. The young man once again teleported.
The destination wasn’t strange, and within moments he recognized it as the entrance to the dungeon. Various tents had been set up as others who had taken the test seemed to be moving about purposefully.
“Class unlocked Violet Mage. This Class has reached level one. Congragulations for completing the Trial of Almira you have gained 5 additional stat points to allocate.”
“Skill unlocked, Mana bullet(Mind), Lesser Psychic resistance, and Memory Theft.”
“Higher status function unlocked.”
“You have completed the trial young one. What color doorway did you take?”
“I originally took blue but it didn’t accept me and I found my way on the purple track.”
“You’re barely hanging on. May I see your hand to heal you?”
“No! I mean…I want to heal naturally. I was poisoned by something that reversed healing effects. Almost died near the end.”
“I see. So that’s what happened. You are not the first and it seems there is already a suspect in that regard but…”
“But what?”
“Passing through the doorway cures all ailments and diseases as your body goes through a change when you get your Class. Try saying status.”
“Status!”
Name: Tearis Mavaris
Total Level: 6
Job: Lawyer (Hidden: Dark Contractor),
Job Level: 5
Class: Violet Mage
Class Level: 1
Hp: 11/52
Mana: 1/6
Stamina: 42/42
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 16
Vitality: 25
Endurance: 16
Mind: 19
Charisma: 19
Wisdom: 17
Intelligence: 14
Luck: 20
Unassigned stat points: 5
“My mana is still quite low.”
“Must have unlocked a mana training skill during your trial. It’s more common than you think.”
“Assign all stat points to intelligence.”
Intelligence: +6 “You have made a rather dumb choice at a rather important time. And have been rewarded for doing so.”
“Wait, no you should save those!”
“I see. Oh well. My friend. Did he come out already?”
“The blue haired brute? That one is currently being seen by various clerics. An inquisitor will be here shortly to question you about your experience along with a toxicologist.”
“I see. I got a skill like that during the trial. How do I check my skills?”
“Skill list or Skill details for skill specifics.”
“Skill list.”
Lie rank 3
Perform rank 4
Song of Energy rank 2
Song of Dreams rank 2
Song of Haste rank 2
Toxicology rank 1
Lesser Poison resistance rank 2
Lesser Psychic resistance rank 1
Self Resurrection rank (Locked due to not meeting its requirements)
Devil’s Bargain rank 1
Devil’s Cunning rank 1
Read between the lines, rank 1
Mana Bullet (Mind) rank 1
Mind Thief rank 1
Self-resurrection had been grayed out, which was concerning. Although it was quite odd that the skill was there, to begin with. Tearis would not speak of that skill in public, and he hadn’t recalled hearing of that skill before.
“Skill details, Toxicology.”
Toxicology: You know your poisons and venoms better than some. You can detect poisonous or venomous plants, creatures, or toxins within 5 feet of you. Range increases with skill rank. Rank is increased by coming into contact with more poisons.
The inquisitor arrived along with the toxicologist.
Tearis should have known who would be called for the latter position. There tend to be few public toxicologists in the city. So, of course, it would be the man most trained in doing so.
Inspector Daruius Wolfsbane was a man who had despised Tearis for as long as he could remember. The inspector looked down at Tearis with a smirk.
“So. What have you done this time? Have we been called to take this troublemaker in?”
“You wish. This time I’m the victim.” Tearis shrieked and took a step back.
“Of what. Did one of you fans go rabbid and bite you?”
“Not this time. I believe my breakfast at the inn was poisoned by you know who. A poison that reverses healing, limits mana regeneration, and periodically deals damage to my mana pool before taking health. The effect was also delayed.” Tearis stated.
“That’s a concoction and a powerful one. To not have a taste. Did you get a buff?”
“Yes the well fed buff. Only it faded early and that was when the poison kicked in.”
“Greater detect lies.” The inquisitor said more as a warning than being rude. Hiding this spell’s use did more harm than good. If this inquisitor was called, then things were serious.
“What rank is your lie skill? What is your Class? How old are you? Give me two truths and a lie.” The inquisitor stated.
“My lie skill is now rank three. I am twenty years old. Finally my Class is a Violet mage.”
“It works as intended. Which means everything prior was also the truth. To think someone would try to poison a noble?”
“What? I’m not….”
“Of course not. Your best friend Backster is the noble. Albeit his family had him in hiding to keep him safe. That’s the story we have at least.”
“You believe it to be your stepmother? The inquisitor eyed Tearis as though he could see into his very soul.
“Yes. Backster is usually too honest for his own good. He believed my stepmother’s sob stories and led us to the inn where she made us breakfast. That was the only thing we ate together and I’m sure he was poisoned because I let him eat off my plate.”
“This… Well… If you aren’t lying, did you ever think about joining the guard? Since you clearly aren’t becoming a bard.” Inspector Wolfsbane had long sensed potential in Tearis. Something that the young man didn’t understand previously. Now he could see it in the way Darius questioned him. They were similar, and yet they were different.
“Why are you trying to recruit me? I thought you hated me?”
“Oh I hate what you could become if you don’t become one of us. Purples with no ties to an organization tend to become the most dangerous type of criminals. You always seemed like a purple. Your eye color is the most obvious sign of it. It’s why I keep an eye on you and now I assume you will be training to become a dungeon diver.”
“Yes. Although I may settle down and become a lawyer afterward.”
“A Job evolution or….”
“Yes. Now what’s wrong with my friend?”
“When the poison hit he was in a fight. His defenses shattered suddenly and his block was useless. Goes to show how much he trained to have finished that fight with a win.”
“I see. I assume one wouldn’t normally survive a fight while poisoned. I was lucky that I didn’t have to do any fighting in the physical sense.” Tearis reached for his flute only to realize it had vanished.
“We’ll go cross examine your step mother. I assume that should cheer you up. Go see Backster.”
“Right. Now I’ll go talk to that meat head.”