Veronica POV:

The mountains really were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, nothing on earth could have rivalled the sheer size and majesty of the peaks capped by snow. The plant life was thriving despite the cold and dreary weather, All Seeing Eye telling me all about the different plants inhabiting the region. Everything was different to earth, not too much, but enough to make me feel refreshed, like I had been born anew. And, well, I had.

Along the way I talked with the goblins, learning that the average intelligence of the goblins varied from a dog’s iq to a 3 year old child. At least, that was the variety in my little legion of green babies, maybe in the goblin society they have prodigies and the like. Chad was the dumbest, but because he was the strongest he earned the respect of the legion.

I think when we named Chad something happened though. I saw as the hours progressed how he started growing ice blue vein like tattoos all over his body, in direct contrast to my tattoos. None of the other goblins had any kinds of markings, so the only rational deduction I could make was that it happened because we named him. Maybe it’s because he is my direct subordinate, and since I have a blessing it has a carry over affect? Can Blessings be passed on like diseases in this world?

As I was thinking this, after about half a days travel uphill in the freezing cold, it started getting dark. I was glad that the days tracked similarly to earth, it would have been hard to adjust to days longer or shorter than 24 hours. I looked around, noting a small indent in the side of the mountain, a cave. The goblins at the far back of the group looked blue in the face, shivering, so I hastily told them to go look for firewood in pairs and then gather in the cave.

The setting up of camp was relatively quick under my guidance, we started a fire easily, and although there was no covering to warm up with, the insulated heat of the fire in the cave provided sufficient warmth. I was quite physically tired after trekking up that terrain non-stop, and mentally I was also unused to the burden of being in control.

I groggily whispered to Felix if he wanted to take over, which he responded to with a typical squeal of excitement. So, everything faded to black and then I was in my room back inside. Flopping onto the luxurious, if imaginary, bedding and went to sleep swaddled like a baby.

Felix POV:

All Veronica did all day was boring stuff like walking and talking to the stupid goblins! If it was me, I totally would have looked for some naive travellers to pounce on. Then the hero would have come in and... beat me to a bloody pulp? Hmm, I guess not all genre tropes are good for me.

What I wanted to really do now that we were in a comfortable spot was mess around with the different skills I have. I know Anthony used the Mind Magic skill and I saw how All Seeing Eye worked, but what about Doppelganger? Can we already just make a clone?

Getting up and walking towards the group of goblins huddled around the fire, I asked a question.

“Hi guys, uh, who out of you wants to die? I mean, don’t get me wrong, you guys are great, but I need to sacrifice one of you if I’m going to make a clone. So, yeah. Sorry.”

They all stared blankly at my very well thought out speech, until Chad cleared his throat, hesitation all over his features.

“MASTER, CHAD ASK STUPID QUESTION. HAS MASTER CHECKED THE REQUIR- AH REQUIRRR- NEEDS?”

With obvious fear and worry Chad kneeled in front of me, head bowed. Who knew goblins actually cared about others? I certainly didn’t, I mean it goes against everything I know. To make sure, I checked the skill description.

[Doppelganger: Because of the condition of the user this skill has been made. They can create a copy of themselves, imparting a split consciousness inside the body while being mentally still connected to the original mind. The Doppelganger starts with half of all the user’s stats, but can gain more themselves.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Needed materials to create Doppelganger are any fully functioning body that was killed by the host within 6 hours of using this skill. Can only be used once a year.

Disclaimer: If used without having evolved may cause irreparable soul damage.]

Frankly, I was shocked. Not only was Chad right but the skill had a disclaimer. I could think of a few reasons why though, and some of them actually made sense.

Unique skills are made specifically for the person receiving them, so my assumption is that cos of that I have an ultra game-breaking skill, never seen before! I feel like we may have more overpowered skills than I originally thought.

Since I can’t use the skill, I guess there’s no point in killing a goblin, is there? I told Chad to not worry, I won’t kill anyone yet, and walked back to my side of the cave.

“Felix, I know you’re excited and young, but that is no excuse to treat your subordinated like expendable goods. These goblins are your family, if you look after them they’ll reward you with saving your life on the battlefield. You here me?”

Anthony got all mean and started wringing me out, in the background I could faintly hear a distinct chortle from AJ. Man, Anthony is always so serious, it really ruins the vibes. I heard what he meant though, I guess. It’s not a game. This is real life Felix, stop treating it like one.

Anyway, now that I know I can’t use Doppelganger I guess it’s time to explore the Mind Magic skill. As I was about to start though, I hear a kerfuffle in the background, then a sound like something heavy falling over, then chains clinking.

“Felix dear, may I pretty please play now? It is oh so boring in here, I have nothing to do at all. If you were to be so kind as to give me control, I will reward you greatly.”

I could almost hear the twinkle in his eyes, the moustache being vigorously twirled. A grunt of anger sounded and then I heard another bump. I think AJ used the ball bearings again. It never does get old, does it?

“What’s in it for me AJ?”

A loud silence ensued, no doubt for dramatic effect. Nevertheless I was amused. AJ then whispered.

“My dear boy, you shall gain the greatest privilege of them all.

The key to The Vault.”

The sombre tone of AJ’s voice said it all. Dumbfounded, I numbly nodded. I had never been in The Vault before, it had always just been there ever since I was around.

Whenever I asked Thomas, he would just go all quiet with a haunted look in his eyes. Only AJ was old enough to know what happened, but when asked, he told me he was sworn to secrecy with an unusually serious demeanour.

“Does Thomas know?” a tremor escaped my mouth, the sheer gravity of the situation making me nervous. I could hear Anthony had stopped struggling with the ball bearings also.

“No, he does not. How about it? You, Anthony here and I all go for a little escapade once we’re all settled in to our new life. You in?”

I just nodded, wide eyed and gulping. This was too much of a shock to process, especially since AJ almost sounded serious. I heard Anthony take a shaky breath.

“You know this could ruin everything right? We have a system, a system that actually works, and you want to just go and upend it all?”

A grim silence, only broken by the gentle tick of AJ’s pocket watch, followed those words. Half a minute passed, my curiosity subdued by the anticipation of how Anthony will respond.

“I will go, but only to ensure both of you don’t mess anything up, you here me? When we are there, you do what I say. That includes you AJ.”

Anthony, sounding heavy hearted, responded in his rough voice, a sigh of relief escaping my lips.

“Why of course Anthony, I would never want to cause trouble. That would be preposterous. Anyway Felix, a deal is a deal. Hand it over.”

With those dubious words I relinquished control, arriving in my bedroom with posters of anime women all around. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I thought about what could be behind The Vault. Eagerness was stirring in me, with a healthy dose of trepidation.

What could be inside The Vault?