In the quiet torpor of the early afternoon, Maxym found himself seated next to his parents in their sun-dappled garden. Fall’s first flush was just beginning as the last of the Summer's bounty ripened; the garden was awash in flowers and burgeoning with fruit.
"Historically," Cloe began, "[Eladrin] children were raised privately in their home for the first year of their lives. It was a time for parents to bond with their child, and to prepare them with a foundation of knowledge. It was before the God's Reclamation and even now we are nowhere near as [Fertile] as many other fae, despite our capacity to directly work on the [Trait].”
She held up a delicate vine from a nearby squash, showing the plentiful flower buds compared to the [Pristine Cauliflower] that grew a solitary head, carefully protected by tightly wrapped and inedible outer leaves. “This tradition was necessary to provide a safe sanctuary for our young ones, allowing them to grow and flourish without fear or danger. Since the truce, it’s not quite as imperative to strictly conceal every babe, but we’ll be adhering to the heart of the custom.”
Maxym sat attentively while Cloe finished explaining the many, many reasons she and- though he rarely spoke up- Malkyn, felt it best to keep him in their home’s glen and the surrounding forest territory that Malkyn had claimed and protected. They would still honor the [Cyclical] holidays that were integral to her culture, but would remain away from the city until he was a year old and could join his peers at their schooling, or, more accurately their training program in Elaeden. Until that time, they planned to help him unlock the full potential of his [Changeling] nature. Maxym’s body had taken the appearance of an [Eladrin], however he'd yet to truly grow into any racial [Trait] of theirs.
The snowdrop flowers that now graced his temple were not mere decoration but an attempt at replicating a [Seasonal Persona], which would dramatically affect physical appearance based on overarching mood or personality. Cloe, like most [Adult][Eladrin], spent most of her mature life presenting as a single season, in her case Spring. Her rosy, golden tresses and crown of bluebells were proof of that, in the same way Tim’s maroon hair and barren branches indicated he fell under the sway of Fall. The further she got into her lecture, the harder it became to contain her concern that Maxym hadn't asked any questions or spoken up even once.
"Maxym, dear," Cloe delicately asked, “Are you sure there's nothing you're holding back? I’m sure this must all be very overwhelming, no one's expecting you to understand everything perfectly immediately.”
He glanced at her, then at Malkyn, who nodded reassuringly. There was so much about which he longed to inquire- their skills, status pages, and the many vague words ascribed to each [Trait] that had haunted him since his arrival in this mysterious world. The questions felt too complicated; his fear of stuttering or revealing his past life weighed heavily upon him, anchoring him in place. It was easier to stay silent.
System Log
Are you [Forgetful] or just [Reluctant]?
No? Huh, what did I forg-
Crap, what happened with the ones I had left pending?
Maxym finally recognized the lack of his improvised “minimized” system log windows and when he checked his status, he saw [Crybaby] listed but no [Curious].
Traits Body Mind Soul Mana Qi Juvenile V Common Language* Adaptable* Mana Signature- Hereditary* Linguist V Apellation* Resolute V Crybaby V Particular V
Wait wait wait, WHAT? I can pull up both of what I've been calling “status windows” but what about the system log? Does that just come up as notifications or can I…?
System Log
[CONGRATULATIONS Maximilian]
[Your request has been granted]
[This system will help you Adapt to Viore]
[Assessing - Please wait]
[Assessment complete]
Core Attributes-
[Vitality]-1
[Finesse]-1
[Endurance]-3
[Will]-2
[Anima]-1
Traits detected-
[Infantile]
[Adaptable]
[Adaptable] effect activated- due to mana toxicity
Race evolved from [Human] to [Changeling]
[Infantile] evolved into [Juvenile]- due to racial age classification
[Adaptable] effect activated- due to extreme emotional instability
Mind Trait [Linguist] accepted
Mind trait [Resolute] accepted
Blessing of Appellation- "Maximum Million"
Soul Trait [Appellation] acquired
[All attribute potential increased by 1,000,000]
Blessing of Appellation- "Maximum Million Laurelfete"
Mana Trait [Mana Signature- Laurelfete] acquired
[Resolute V] failed to resist [Redolent III], temporary status effect lasted 30s
Soul trait [Curious] declined
Mind trait [Particular] accepted
Maxiflax Gruel's [Nourishing] and [Fibrous] granted temporary status effect
[Nourished]
Soul trait [Crybaby] accepted
Through practice and perseverance [Resolute] has grown from Tier V to IV
Mind trait [Forgetful] denied
Mind trait [Reluctant] denied
Groaning, Maxym reflected on the previous night, vaguely recalling concurring- at least rhetorically- with being assessed a [Crybaby] as he drifted off to sleep.
I guess I hafta accept the blame for agreeing with the sentiment, but why did [Curious] get declined? Only thing I can assume is I can't keep the window open when I'm asleep, it did take a bit of awareness so that makes sense I guess but… lame.
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"Um... w-well," he stammered, anxiety rising the longer they stared expectantly as he struggled to find words. "How ddoes a [Trait] even h- h- h-help?"
"’Elp?!" Malkyn balked, a playful smirk dancing across his lips. "Who said they all ‘elp? Fer sher, each of we fae has our own unique and often magnificent abilities that set us apart, and ya, nowadays, all of ‘em are at least strengthened- if not outright granted- by a [Trait], but there are plenty o’ nasty ones that do nothing but ‘urt. Bein’ [Grim] never ‘elped me a single time, in none of ma lives! ‘N don't even get me started on ‘ow much sufferin’ I endure at the ‘ands of yer [Judgemental] mother."
"Oh shush, you’ll give him all sorts of terrible preconceptions. Your father is quite gifted, despite all his bluster; he’s succeeded in earning [Illusory Double] and [Shapeshifter] which are among the most sought after of any [Major Trait]- both incredibly rarely achieved," Cloe clarified, her gaze fondly settling on her husband as she reached out and lovingly swept some of his unruly hair behind his ear. An entirely tender gesture concealing a devastatingly painful warning of an ear pinch. "And I, as you know, am a [Cloud Reader] as well as [Empathic Communicator]. I would not have been able to meet or adopt you were I not; don't let your dad frighten you, he's just running his mouth."
Cloe reassured Maxym that no [Trait] could actually be harmful or bad for its recipient, as far as they could tell. Precious few texts remained from the first children of the Gods, the ancient mankind from which all the sapient races of Viore evolved, but much of what did weather the millennia spoke of the fragment of divinity they had inherited which allowed them to craft their own destinies. The [Trait] system.
This fragile, helpless race, armed only with limitless potential, slowly conquered the entirety of the Chidi and even began to encroach on the Nenitri- the mortal and immortal realms the Gods had crafted for the survivors of the Creation War. Without warning or trace, the Gods vanished, leaving mankind languishing with nary a [Trait], their sole advantage; their civilization collapsed, leaving the few survivors to persevere, isolated and evolving, for nigh an eternity. The Gods’ Evanescence was the single most significant moment in history, right up until the Gods’ Reclamation woke something up, something inside the many varied descendants of their ancient children.
Suddenly empowered beyond their wildest dreams, many of the most [Militant] countries employed questionable tactics to capture prisoners of war and force them to train in pursuit of creating a [Trait]-enhanced, disposable army. Unilaterally these programs failed, despite more than a few with [Hypnotic] or [Brainwashing] tactics. Scholars across the realms have spent the last few centuries studying and spreading what knowledge they can but even the [Apostle] of Siassa, the Goddess of Knowledge and Wisdom, has admitted ignorance as to the intricacies of the process.
No one has ever received a [Trait] that impeded their personal growth and goals. No one has ever been able to tier up a [Trait] without finding a way to use it to their advantage. No one has ever had a [Trait] externally influence their innate self outside their own plans of growth.
In short, no [Trait] is bad; though plenty are better or worse than others depending on your perspective.
"Is th- there, um..." Maxym hesitated, his fingers nervously twisting a flowerless snowdrop stem into a lock of his hair. "A way to... see ‘em all?"
"See ‘em all?" Malkyn repeated, raising a curious brow. "Ye mean, like a list of each [Trait] ye've got?"
"Y-yes," Maxym confirmed, relief washing over him at his meaning being understood.
"Interesting question," Cloe mused, her eyes narrowed in thought. "Yes, there are ways to record a list of someone's traits; mostly offered by religious groups, they all require a [Diviner] as far as I'm aware. For most people, as one naturally acquires each [Trait] through actions and choices, they will become self-apparent. Even if someone doesn't always have a specific name to use, most know what they can do. There's also the option to pursue a [Trait] that allows you to inspect your status yourself, I myself have a [Mind Palace] that evolved from combining [Meditative], [Introspective], [Meticulous], and [Retentive] through the [Visual] method of loci. Personally, I see symbolic representations rather than a list with every [Trait] named on it, though I know of others, [Keepers] mostly, whose methods do. Do you have a concern about a [Trait] of yours?”
Thank goodness, if there are ways other people can see their own builds, the info my [Adaptable] system screen gives me isn't super secret. I just need to keep the specific [Trait] I got the knowledge from hidden but can afford to share the other ones I have to know what they mean prolly…
“[Crybaby], it aff- f- f- fects my… soul?”
System Log
Soul trait [Inquisitive] unlocked
Are you [Inquisitive]?
“Souls’re a delicate topic, I'm na surprised yer already so protective though- it's a common [Human] characteristic I s’pose. We were nearly hunted to extinction across the Chidi ‘cause of it. Ye see, souls are not a single, easily definable thing; very few are aware of the intricacies, and none understand all.” Malkyn slowly enunciated through his thick accent. He was bastardizing a speech his family had given him more times than he could count when he was just a kitten. “They are composed of many interwoven aspects- n’ I can't explain all of em- but if it ‘elps ease yer mind, I can tell you a bit of our ‘istory.”
“Souls are inviolable. Well, true souls are inviolable, but when most people speak of the soul, they unknowingly refer to the ethereal body, which is composed of mortal, immortal, and divine aspects, as well as your mana body and qi pathways. A soul [Trait] affects only the mortal aspect of your soul, where your consciousness and memory are ‘oused. The divine aspect is the conduit through which the power in’erited from the Gods flow, and your immortal soul is the innermost core of your existence. My people, the [Cait Sidhe], are innately skilled in manipulating our ethereal bodies and to an extent, some of us can even affect or steal some parts of the ethereal bodies of others. The density of mana and qi on the mortal plane are far below our natural habitat, so the [Cait Sidhe] that ventured to the other side of the Kvorism had to find other ways to sustain themselves. None we have records of were [Awakened], and the instincts of these spirit beasts led them to find refuge amongst graveyards, where they… they fed on the remnants of the ethereal body left behind after death. The true soul returns to purgatory or ascends to paradise, the immortal and divine aspects are bound together so powerfully with karma, no power on Viore could violate their purity or overwhelm their unity and tear them asunder. Even if we could, such an act would be amongst the most vile imaginable, so despicable an act would offend even fiends who bargain and ply souls as their fuel and currency. And yet, my clan believes we are amongst the last of our kind, slaughtered because we were monstrosities labeled a [Soul Eater].”
Maxym luckily didn't take much convincing and accepted [Inquisitive] early on in Malkyn’s explanation. Beneath the comforting embrace of his new family, there was still a lingering fear that sprung from the depths of his past life, gnawing at him like a ravenous beast. While Malkyn pontificated on the moral untouchableness of a true soul, the inferiority complex that had followed him from Earth preyed upon his doubts.
He looked down at his small hands, tightly clenched and trembling ever so slightly. If they knew about his former life, would they still accept him? Would they deem him a mistake and liability, just as his old family had done? The thought chilled him to the bone.
"Ssu- s- s- suppos-" Maxym stammered, his throat tight with anxiety. Then, struck by a sudden realization, he closed his mouth abruptly, swallowing back the words that threatened to spill forth.
Cloe's gaze softened with concern as she watched her son struggle. "What's wrong, my dear?"
System Log
Mind trait [Intuitive] unlocked
Are you [Intuitive]?
If consciousness and memory are inextricably linked to the mortal soul, and their divine soul is how they process getting a [Trait], my system is proof that there's a barrier between the divine soul of this host and my mortal soul that reincarnated here from Earth. I can't be sure Earth works the same way, but if I brought the immortal aspects of my soul… I'm still not even sure that I didn't destroy the consciousness of the human whose body I stole, but now I’m pretty sure I also hijacked the divine aspects of his soul… ugh and unlocking [Intuitive] makes it hard to second-guess myself here.
In that moment, Maxym made a decision. He would become all but mute- a silent shadow that would not draw ridicule for his blunders or attention to his sins. It was, he believed, the only way to protect his newfound hope for happiness with his new, eclectic family. To hide the scars of his past and the stutter that marked him as different.
"Nothing," he slowly whispered, barely audible. "I'm fine."
"Ah, I see," Cloe replied gently, though her eyes betrayed a hint of her sadness, sensing something amiss. She reached out and placed a comforting hand on Maxym's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You can always rely on us as your parents. No matter what."
And with those words, Maxym felt an invisible barrier rise between them- one born of fear and self-preservation. He knew that one day, he would need to confront the ghosts of his past. Until then, he'd retreat into his system, keeping to himself as much as possible.
His parents finished the tales of their people and heritage while Maxym stared at his system log screen; he'd discovered something he hadn't noticed before- a manual entry option akin to a journal, or perhaps an admin log. Rather than expressing his thoughts and concerns to the ones he should have trusted, he took solace in an outlet familiar to him, knowing this diary was entirely private and could not be used against him as his old ones on Earth had been.
System Log
Manual entry- September 13th, 337RE - 7/13/337/19:47
I've got a year. I'm not really sure what to do with it, but I have a whole year to settle into this new family. They each want to help me get a [Trait] or two of theirs, so that's a start at least. I need to prioritize learning as much as I can, until I understand what I need to even make goals.
I feel bad turning down Malkyn, exploring the woods with him did sound nice. Maybe once I know more about what I've done to the soul of this body. If he can manipulate ethereal bodies and he gets too curious there's no guarantee he won't be able to perceive the trauma to this body and soul caused by my origins on Earth. I can’t risk him finding out I actually am the [Soul Eater] his race was wrongly persecuted as. I just need to make myself worth something to them, once I am a son they can be proud of maybe I can risk digging deeper into my reincarnation.
"Maxym?" Cloe's gentle voice called out to him. "I’m glad you feel at home in the garden, but it's getting late. Are you ready for bed?"
"Mhmm," he replied, closing the log window with his journal entry with a soft sigh. As he got up to return to their cozy home, nestled among the trees, he knew that while the road ahead might be filled with challenges and uncertainties, he would no longer walk it alone. Maxym felt if he earned his place in the arms of his newfound family, he could have not only the love and support for which he'd longed but also the chance to search for his own path- and with it, the boundless possibilities that awaited him.