“Name’s Captain Teila. Would you by any chance be Eric Silver?”

Eric slowly nodded, doing his best to hide the sudden tension he felt, gazing up at the cavalry woman wearing what he thought must be a pair of golden captain’s lapels at the throat of her silvered mail hauberk, presently leading the well-armed Sylvan escort intent upon accompanying the half dozen refugee-filled wagons making their way across the windswept plains all the way to Freetown after leaving the city of Gilton, former orc holding, now the property of the Sylvan faction.

Eric spared a quick look at the finely made spears, sabers, and bows all the silver-mailed cavalrymen had at the ready, held in experienced hands as the elves maneuvered themselves on the cantilevered saddles of their snow-white mounts with an ease that hinted at long years of dedicated practice.

He couldn’t help but wonder if there were already orders to secure his capture, even beyond Sylvan Territory, the agreement he had struck with Lord Drevyn be damned.

But all Captain Tiela did was nod her approval, when he nodded his head in the affirmative.

“Good fighting back there. We’d be happy to have you join us all the way to Freetown, if you’re heading that way.”

Eric dipped his head, trying not to show how relieved he was with her words. “That’s the plan, assuming nothing unexpected pops up,” he quickly qualified.

“Glad to hear it.” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “I don’t suppose you have anything like a healer’s knack?”

Eric slowly shook his head. “Sorry, just natural regeneration. I take it one of your men was hurt?”

Captain Tiela’s lips thinned, concern clearly written across her features. “I’m afraid he was. Which is a damned shame. He’s a newly forged Classer, but I doubt he’ll live to see either Freetown or Gilton, even were we to turn around this very minute.”

Eric frowned thoughtfully. Because if it had to do with adventurers, where just being able to stabilize a patient for a handful of hours might see them through any injury… maybe he wasn’t entirely helpless after all.

“Um… is it okay if I take a look?”

He winced at the look the captain gave him, the phrase ‘I thought you said you weren’t a healer?’ clearly on her lips. But all she did was flash a tight smile and nod. “Be my guest. Let me take you to him.”

Eric soon found himself staring into desperate green eyes of the young man gazing up at him, the pallor of his features as much due to near terminal bloodloss as the standard Sylvan skin tone. Certainly he was paler complected than the dark haired girl sobbing over his form, both of them wearing form-fitting chain mail shirts that looked as elegant and comfortable as the most exquisite dress and uniform. Unfortunately, however, grace didn’t always translate to strength, and the savage wound that would have killed an unarmored man had still been deep enough that the young soldier before him would likely perish in the hour.

Unless the wild idea now racing through his mind’s eye actually worked.

He took a deep breath, gazing into the stricken countenance of the young man whimpering with unfathomable pain. “I… I think I might be able to help. But, well, it’s unorthodox.” Eric swallowed, saying what he knew he must. “It’s blood magic. Alright?”

The girl gasped, her look one of horrified disbelief as Eric abruptly claimed a stack of cotton bandages an aid was carrying and proceeded to nick his own wrist, the snow-white cloth almost instantly turning a brilliant shade of crimson.

Eric took a deep breath, heart racing with what he was about to dare, but first, he needed to hear the words.

“Do I have your permission to bind my blood to your own?”

The wounded elf blanched.

“Lewellyn, please, you’ll die!” The girl sobbed, gazing into her obvious beau’s stricken face.

At last, after endless seconds they couldn’t afford to waste, he gave the tiniest of nods. “Please… the pain.”

And no sooner had he said the words then Eric was pressing the bandage against the young adventurer’s wound before closing his eyes. Feeling himself in some odd way become one with his patient.

Because Eric already knew that stabilizing this youth would require more than Blood Mastery and the Essence of Dominion instantly sealing the wound, denying the loss of a single extra drop of blood. Yet blood loss wasn’t the only thing that would doom this youth, with all perforated organs and internal injuries Eric immediately sensed within his unexpected patient. And it was only thanks to the odd magics of permissions granted and bargains made, paths of Blood, Necromancy, and Faerie Binding, that even allowed him to use his Find Weakness and Infravision skills along with his other arts in ways he never could have imagined before.

All of which allowed Eric to dare that which should have been totally beyond him, after long moments just trying to get his blood to cooperate and commune with its new host, daring a tight smile past panting lips as perforated bowels were patched, blood vessels sealed, and a sliced kidney crudely glued together, and Eric feeling so exhausted he could hardly move for long moments as even the young elf’s body was forced to adhere to the bargain struck, immune system now unable reject Eric’s gift.

Were it otherwise, the boy’s weakened body would have quickly succumbed to shock and death.

At the very least, Eric thought his patchwork healing should last at least a good eight hours, until the young elf naturally purged all toxins and poisons and healed up to full on his own, the System itself resetting the fellow pod survivor back to full health after the equivalent of a single night’s rest, depending on just how high the youth’s Vitality was.

You have successfully fused Crimson Bandage to Abdominal Wound.

Blood loss has ceased!

Blood Mastery Skill check made!

You have successfully synergized Infravision, Find Weakness and an advance application of Blood Mastery to temporarily seal hemorrhaging internal organs!

Blood Mastery is now Rank 19!

Blood Mastery has evolved a novel Perk: Lesser Healing! For the modest cost of several temporary hit points and a bit of your own Potency, you may use your blood to patch any wound, immediately clamping shut any hemorrhaging injury!

If permission is specifically granted, you may additionally use your blood to infiltrate your target and fuse together organs that were either perforated or sliced open with a successful skill check. (This healing path has no effect on blunt trauma.) Note! This skill works best on fellow Classers. You have not yet studied how best to heal perforated organs in mortals who heal at pre-apocalypse rates!

Warning! Temporary fatigue and exhaustion may ensue as you deplete your Stamina for the sake of another!

You now have an intuitive sense of the innerworkings of all humanoid races!

Congratulations! You have learned the skill: Healer’s Aid at Rank 1! - Though you lack any formal medical degree, your intuitive understanding of the humanoid form and ability to sense the flow of blood, magic, and life force in your patients will aid all future attempts to use magic (via improvised spells or formalized healing rituals) or mundane means to heal those in peril!

Of course, your growing insights into the inner-workings of the mortal form can be used to harm your foes just as much as it can help your friends!

Find Weakness is now Rank 12!

You have successfully saved the life of one Level 5 Elf Light Cavalryman! A portion of his infinite potential is now your own.

The critically injured youth flashed a wan smile, his look one of genuine relief, freed at last from the shoals of agony. “Thank you, hero. I… I already feel somewhat better.” He winced, biting his lip. “It still hurts like the frozen pits of Tartarus, but so much less than it did, just minutes ago.”

“Thank you, champion! For saving my Lewellyn, I will forever be in your debt!” Said the sobbing young woman before him, protectively holding her beau close, the matching rings they wore making it clear they were love-bonded in one way or another, which made Eric feel even better at the risk he had taken, revealing so much of himself in what was, after all, a company of strangers, at least a few of whom might be gunning for him in the very near future.

But not these two, Eric thought as he nodded at the girl’s thanks, doing his best just to catch his breath, so exhausted he thought he would drop, a state that thankfully began to ease within seconds, thanks to his superhuman Vitality.

“Hey, no problem. I’m just glad I was around to help. Best thing you can do now is to let your beau fall asleep. It’s the best way classers have to heal, and his body should fully reset by the time he wakes up. The trick is, of course, keeping an injured Classer stable for at least the duration of a good night’s sleep. And I highly recommend boosting Vitality ASAP, because a score of 20 or better lets you benefit from actual regeneration. Then, potentially fatal blood-loss stops within minutes or seconds, and no matter what, all injuries will be healed after a single hour.”

The girl gave a rapid nod, swearing they would both take his advice, Eric soon exchanging a warm smile with the captain and a whispered “Thank you,” as he made his way to the girl he most wanted to see.

In seconds he was before her wagon, feeling a flush creep up his cheeks as he gazed at the strikingly beautiful girl riding along with her daughter and grandmother, the latter offering Eric a warm smile he quickly returned. Of course, the accommodations were a bit on the crowded side, with almost a dozen other refugees who had, for whatever reason, decided Freetown’s prospects were still better than even an improved Gilton’s.

There was so much he wanted to say, and Rica’s twinkling eyes made it clear that she felt the same. They both seemed to delight in these sweet early days of a softly blossoming relationship and its endless possibilities, savoring both each other’s company, and the wide, wild, and strikingly beautiful world all around them.

He took a deep breath of fresh air smelling of grass and countless windflowers, feeling a sense of awe and wonder as they made their way past forests and fields already claiming what had once been suburbs. With stores and houses already out of sight, thanks to the thickly growing copses of trees on all side of this stretch of grasslands, the only odd incongruity to the bucolic landscape were the frequent remains of cars they past by. Some were grass-covered derelicts looking like they had been decomposing for decades, others looked to be in perfect condition, for all that they were barely visible over the waist high grass, as if just a simple turn of the ignition away from working once more.

Eric smiled and took it all in as they made their way across the unusually flat stretch of plains with grass that was only ankle high, covering what Eric was pretty sure had been a highway, not that long ago.

Of course, his exquisite hearing immediately picked up the soft murmurs of a pair talking about his new and improved status, and what that might entail for their own fortunes, making it clear that even here, he’d have to watch his back.

And probably would in Freetown as well.

Then he chuckled, pushing such worries aside.

Because who the hell cared that the cards were being stacked against him?

He’d happily smash through every barrier potential enemies would put in his way, and would do so for as long as it took, using the conflicts he was forced to endure to help himself advance and evolve just as fast and as far as he could.

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He took a quick look at his Interface Sheet, taking sweet satisfaction in just how far he had come from the scarred broken pod survivor that could barely even walk, just a handful of weeks ago.

_____________________________________

Eric Silver Level 9 Conscript (You are 100% of the way to level 10!)

NOTE! - You have successfully infused your core! You are currently at 90.1% of maximum core density!)

Physical Characteristics

Strength – 48 (91%) You’re now many times stronger than any Olympian ever to walk the face of Earth!

Vitality – 36 You can now regenerate at a visible pace, and have (limited) natural damage resistance!

Finesse – 59 Yours is an exquisite grace that any professional dancer, fencer, or marksman would envy.

Quickness – 38 You strike between the beats, cutting down your foes in the blink of an eye.

Appearance – 17! Thanks in part to your massive spike in Vitality, your Essence scars are now no more than vibrant tattoo-like markings that only a few will find off-putting, and most will find absolutely fascinating! Combined with your cat-like grace and magnificent physique, your exquisitely handsome hybrid features now exceed everything your mother had once hoped to achieve with steroids, foundations, and primers.

Congratulations! You now glow with health that many will find absolutely irresistible! Best keep a tight lid on your Sylvan System Interface connections, lest you find yourself with an offer you (literally) can’t refuse!

Mental Characteristics

Scholarship – 13

Perception – 51 Perhaps the greatest attribute of all. This (along with infravision) means you can spot most enemies long before they spot you.

Willpower – 28 You have already survived trials that few others could endure. And it shows.

Charisma – 13

Potency Pools

Arcane Potential – 17

(Mana Pool = 204)

Spiritual Energy – 16

Soul Reserves – 49 (5.9 Points reserved = 43.1)

Stamina – 400 Points

Health – 493 Points.

Resistances & Recovery

Physical Resistance – 4

Physical Regeneration – At 36 Vitality, you recover 3.6 Health Points every second!

Elemental Resistance – 0

Qi Resistance – 0

Mental Resistance – 8

Physical Age = 17 Years (+22 years, 228 Days & 14 hours that Arcane Magics cannot restore! Superhuman Vitality allows you to keep your youth, even if you're now burning your candle at both ends!)

Interface Recognized Skills

Acting – Rank 5

Bardiche (Unified) – Rank 18 (Cleaving Blow)

Blade and Shield – Rank 11

Bow (All Types) – Rank 19 (True Strike)

Crossbows – Rank 16 (True Strike)

Dagger – Rank 3

Demolitions – Rank 12 (Path of Mastery)

ESS Manipulation – Rank 10 (Arcane Resonance Mastery)

Find Weakness (Spell Cleave) – Rank 12

Gunnery – Rank 2

Healer’s Aid – Rank 1

Iado (Fast-Draw) – Rank 8

Negotiation – Rank 7

Repair – Rank 1

Saber – Rank 14 (Doom Slice)

Spear – Rank 14 (Piercing Strike)

Stealth – Rank 12 (Hunter’s Grace)

Swimming – Rank 2

Unarmed Combat – Rank 4

Necromancer Affinities & Skills

Blood Mastery – Rank 19 (Blood Claimance, Lesser Healing)

Spirit Mastery – Rank 15 (Path of Dominion)

Rituals of Summoning and Binding – Rank 15 (Path of Dominion)

Flesh Sculptor – Rank 20 (Path of Dominion)

You are now a Journeyman of the Path of Blood!

You are now an Adept of the Path of Dominion!

You are now an Apprentice Necromancer!

Necromancer Spells

Unorthodox Abjuration – Rank 3 20! Adept Rank Achieved!

Damage inflicted upon undead: EXTREME. Cost: 300 ex, 50 temporary health, 100 Mana ½ of Soul Reserves. 60 Ex, 10 temporary health, 20 mana, 10% of temporary Soul Reserves. NOTE! This attack WILL affect Bronze tier revenants and cause CATASTROPHIC damage to all White Tier Undead!

Interface Enhancements

Full Neuro-Linguistic capabilities

Extradimensional Storage Space

Essences Claimed:

Fire – Saturated - (Rank 2, White Tier)

Wrath (Rank 1, White Tier)

Dominion (Rank 1, White Tier)

Essence Related Skills:

Burst of Strength: Rank 13 (Path of Mastery)

Dominion’s Resilience: Rank 3 (Make your toys harder to break, especially the soul-bound ones!)

Heat Surge: Rank 10 (Path of Mastery)

Infravision: Rank 13 (Magesight +4 to spot mind & soul magic.)

Contender Skills (Path of Consumption)

These skills fuse Necromancy, Essences, and a Contender’s potential! You have dared to fuse your gifts along a Forbidden Path!

Necromantic Consumption (Path of Endless Bounty): Rank 5 - You may feast on the potency potential of Territories you have conquered, boosting your Strength and Vitality permanently, so long as you claim no territory under your banner! (The Path of Rulers and the Path of Consumption are diametrically opposed!). This form of consumption has the highest likelihood of success, and mimics natural cycles of predation so well that not even System Sentinels can detect your actions!

You may also feast upon the potency of Dungeons you have achieved a First Completion on. Note: Likelihood of success, penalty cost (in terms of life force) for anything less than a 100% clear, and degree of potency absorbed all benefit from increasing Rank!

You have chosen to walk the Path of Endless Bounty! Now, the territories you carefully prune actually blossom under your touch, able to evolve with 1 Lesser Bounty of your choice!

Essence Consumption: Rank 3 - You may feast on the Essence potential of Territories you have conquered, so long as you claim none! (The Path of Rulers and the Path of Consumption are diametrically opposed!). You may also feast upon the Essence potential of Dungeons you have achieved a First Completion on! Note: Not all territories or dungeons have any potential Essence to claim. Additionally, said essences might NOT be compatible with those you already have. Likelihood of success is lower than with basic Necromantic Consumption, unless territory or dungeon is naturally attuned to a particular Essence!

Unformed (Trash Tier) Cultivation Technique (Flame Origin) – Novice – 20%

Titles Earned

Necromantic Prodigy

HERO

Lightning Marksman

Realm Breaker

Headhunter

Mad Bomber

Master Negotiator

Battlefield Champion

Battlefield Archer

Orc Slayer

Master Criminal

Basher

Title Boons:

- Increased spacial perception and sense of timing means you’re 35% more likely to hit all future targets with all ranged weapons!

- You now learn all ranged weapon skills 60% faster.

+4 to reaction rolls from all humans who know of your hero status.

- So long as you forsake the Path of Rulers, you may consume the essence and potency of any territory you claim!

- All skills involving explosives or gunnery improve 10% Quicker.

+2 to all skill checks to impress or intimidate non-native humanoids.

- You have (an additional) +4 to all skill checks to impress or intimidate non-native humanoids, should you reveal your Orc Slayer title.

- +1 to all intimidation skillchecks.

- Unless you deliberately hide Orc Slayer title, orcs will either flee, or attack you on sight!

- You enjoy a bonus to all Find Weakness skill checks against Orcs.

- Orcs now have a penalty at resisting your Spells or Essence based attacks.

- All explosives you yourself design and implement, including artillery rounds, will earn you an additional 10% of base experience.

- Tier 1 Structural Integrity Sense mean that your own weapons will hardly ever blow up in your face, and you now get a gut feeling whenever weapons (or shoddily made buildings) look ready to erupt, topple, or otherwise explode in your face.

- Social Perception - You may now use Perception in addition to Charisma to sense meaning behind action like never before!

- What The Other Party Wants - Above all else, you’re able to sense what others truly want in any negotiation!

- All blows with melee weapons are now 15% more powerful!

- You learn all melee weapon skills 15% faster!

- All melee weapons under 2 feet in length or specifically used to assassinate are learned 40% faster.

- All thief and assassin skills are learned 25% faster than they otherwise would be.

- 25% increased chance of finding the weakness in any object through the application of carefully applied brute force.

- Tier 1 Danger Sense. You will automatically spot hostile intentions from sentients with a successful Perception Check! If you ever feel a cold shiver racing down your spine, you know to DUCK AND COVER, even if you fail to spot the would-be executioner!

Nose for trouble. - You can spot a raw deal like overripe fish, and can sense a setup a mile away.

Smooth Criminal – The law doesn’t take kindly to known criminals, but somehow you always come out smelling like roses!

Know the Score – You’re far more likely to hear rumors or be led by the strings of fate to uniquely profitable opportunities of all types and stripes! Rewards from all Elicit activities will be anywhere from 100% to a full magnitude beyond what they would otherwise be!

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