The first seven notifications were a bunch of kill notifications. Each one took me from elation to somber rather quickly. Of course, these enemies had needed to go down but after learning one of the enemies was a puppetmaster, I wondered how many of them had been coerced into fighting or how many were there of their own volition. I knew it didn’t matter, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it as I gazed on the alerts.
You have slain Human Warrior LVL 112
You have slain Human Archer LVL 120
You have slain Human Mage LVL 108
You have slain Human Rogue LVL 111
You have slain Human Paladin LVL 124
You have slain human warrior LVL 120
You have slain Human Warrior LVL 117
I gulped as I read them, and glanced up at Perry, who was watching me intently. I shook my head slightly, ignoring the look of curiosity on his face for a moment. The next series of notifications were my class level ups and they made my eyes widen with surprise. I knew my foes were all higher level than me but it didn’t register that with each of them being nearly or above thirty levels my senior, that would grant me a great amount of experience.
Congratulations you have leveled up!
Congratulations you have...
...
Congratulations you have leveled up!
And level up I did. A lot. Next were skill levels. Of course, my secondary class had received no such love but I wasn’t too worried about it. Now that I’d be in Ironfell for the next few months I should have plenty of time to grow my smithing skills. Rather than look simply at my skill level ups individually, I pulled up my character sheet in its entirety.
[Class]
[Bladedancer] lvl 79-->101
[Class Skills]
[Bladed Weapon Mastery] LVL:79-->101
[Runedancing] LVL:79-->101
[Dodging] LVL:74-->101
[Intuition] LVL:77-->101
[Mana Sense] LVL:65-->89
[Mana Manipulation] LVL:79-->85
[Rune Compendium] LVL:63-->94
[He Who Wanders] LVL:4
[Runesight] LVL:49-->81
[Compendium Actualization] LVL:16-->38
[Secondary Class]
[Wayfaring Craftsman of the Tumultuous Maelstrom] LVL: 21
[Secondary Class Skills]
[Runesmithing] LVL:21
[Runeweaving] LVL:21
[Ephemeral Forge] LVL:21
[Runic Inscribing] LVL:21
[Maelstrom Modification] LVL:19
[Arcane Analysis] LVL:21
X4 Unavailable
[General Skills]
[Running] LVL:61-->90
[Meditation] LVL:55
[Twin Pact] LVL:71-->101
[Distant Recollections] LVL:31
[Cooking] LVL:24
[Pain Resistance] LVL:45-->89
[Training] LVL:92
[Portent of the Thaumaturge] LVL:63-->101
[Syncopate] LVL:71
X1 Unavailable
I stared at the status screen for several moments before remembering someone was waiting on me. I took one last long look, a small smile on my lips, before turning my attention to the next few notifications.
[As a Mouse to an Elephant]
You, who have stood their ground and eliminated foes of a far greater level than you, are to an elephant as a mouse. Somehow, you successfully slew six enemies who were thirty levels your senior, and shall now strike wariness on those who would otherwise think lesser of you. Strike fear in the hearts of the strong, but beware; a cornered animal is the most savage foe.
Grants an aura of strength that cannot be removed, presents the user as a higher level than they are. When facing higher level foes, strikes have a chance to deal additional damage cumulative to the difference in levels.
I expected some sort of an achievement but I didn’t know what to actually anticipate. Esoteric as some of the description was, it was clear that this aura I was given would effect how higher leveled enemies saw me, as well as my ability to deal damage to them. Now, it would still be unlikely to help with someone a hundred levels my senior but based on how I acquired it I would see bonuses up to level thirty. Probably some bonuses up to level fifty.
A second blinking screen hid behind this one, telling me of another achievement that I had somehow earned. I opened it warily, and excitedly. Part of me expected something akin to the [Merciless Executioner] achievement I had gained many moons ago, but it wasn’t quite so ominous.
[Giant Slayer]
Although you slew no literal giants, you did kill a few metaphorical ones. By killing an enemy twenty five levels higher than you you gain this achievement. Perhaps killing something with a greater difference will give more bonuses, or maybe I’m simply trying to get you killed. It probably doesn’t matter, you silly mortals love to test your own mortality. Anywho, good job or whatever for killing people stronger than you somehow.
+3 strength per level (not retroactive)
This one was more in line with my expectations. I looked at it briefly, considering the snark and the fact that the system seemed to be talking about itself and trying to converse a little bit. I wonder if the system is lonely. It can talk to us but does anyone talk to it? I asked myself before shaking my head and looking at the last notification. My mouth hung open as I read through it, causing my dwarven observers’ eyes to gleam with interest.
Congratulations you have earned your first title!
[Hero of Linden]
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Your actions were observed by those who you saved. After the heavy and dire conflict between you and your powerful enemy, rumors of you began to spread among the remaining citizens of Linden. Stories of a dancing swordsman who slung magic as easily as he breathed. Stories of his fox companions who ran interference and distracted the more powerful mage.
Those who bore witness of the battle relayed every moment as best they could, and when some few found your name they began to praise you for arriving on time to prevent more of their ilk from being led to slaughter as cattle for a ritual. Even those uninvolved with Linden have begun to hear of the dancing swordsman, and whispers have begun to be carried into the taverns and inns nearby.
Beware, for legends are fleeting, but you shall forevermore be known as a Hero of Linden, a savior of thousands. The dancing swordsman who folk whisper about and thank for their very survival. Carry the burden of their expectations, and exceed them. Falter not, young hero, for your legend has just begun
+2 to all stats per level up. Unlocked luck stat.
I stared silently after reading the notification until Perry cleared his throat. “Hate ta interrupt but I am a busy man. Are yer notifications all cleared up?”
“Ah. Yessir. Sorry. It was a lot to process. I’m now level one hundred one.” I mindlessly started petting Sky who was in my lap, Luka had made his way to my left side and was curled up near my lost hand.
“Tis quite alright. Okay, next I needya to place your hand on this crystal, and push a touch of mana into it. It will read your stats and copy em to this tablet here. After that I’ll be able to make you a guild card, you can use it to enter any adventurer’s guild run by any faction within Jorial, and it will help get you admittance to other nations halls as well.”
Wordlessly, I placed my hand over the crystal and sent in a twinge of mana. That reminded me that I needed to delve into my soulspace and see about using elemental mana once more, using the lightning mana had only reiterated that before I had been doing something wrong. As I thought about it it made sense, I had been ordering the mana to obey me not work with me. Even if it didn’t have thoughts, the mana within me wished to be free just as much as I did. I’d have to figure out a way to use it that worked for both myself and the mana itself.
The dwarf tapped on his tablet and his eyes lit up as the numbers came through. He eyed it for several seconds before looking up at me. “Kid, do ya know the differences between classes of different rank?”
That brought me out of my thoughts quickly. “Erm, to an extent The rarity of a class can determine how much it helps an individual grow, but it can also be detrimental as one needs a body capable of withstanding the power of their class from the get go. Right? I know that the higher the rarity of the class the more powerful its thought to be, and the more it impacts the users body and mind.”
“Thats to put it simply. In our mindscapes when we select classes, there isn't a great way to tell the rarity, although it is possible to do so if one is practiced enough. Anyway, that part is irrelevant. Somehow, it seems like you found yourself with a rare and an epic class. Doing the math in my head, that seems the most logical explanation.” He stroked his beard for a few moments while looking over the values on his tablet. After a few seconds of silence he flipped the stone tablet over so I could see what he’s talking about.
STR 607
Con 586
DEX 1070
Wis 481
INT 722
CHA 355
Luck 230
“I take it that most people at my level have lower stats overall?” I tilted my head as I read through the numbers. “Whats the stat distribution like per level based on rarity of the class?”
“Hmm. Well, a common class would give a simple five points per. Uncommon is ten, rare is twenty five, and epic is fifty.” The mans eyes flashed with some level of excitement as he starts talking numbers and classes. “Of course, the next couple levels are, in themselves, a realm of their own, with legendary classes granting an even hundred stat points per level, and the mythical classes giving two hundred. I’d say its pretty safe to say your first class was rare and your second class is epic, unless you have a shitton of titles. Even then, it is clear you have a few of those cuz the numbers don't quite add up.”
I nodded along as he grew in intensity. I stared at the numbers, the representation of the battles I had fought, of my strength and of my weaknesses. I wondered about where I stood compared to the average person. I supposed I was quite a bit more powerful than most at my level, given that the number of people who started with a rare class must be fairly low.
“Say, Perry, how do you think I stack up compared to others my level? And how many people start with a rare or better class?” I lifted the tankard of mead to my lips once again. Before, I hadn’t really processed the flavor but now that I took the time to do so I found it was incredibly sweet. It was honeyed mead with a hint of what tasted like raspberry when it reached the back of my throat. Overall, a very subtle and delightful flavor. I hadn’t processed it before, but the stew had been well seasoned as well.
“Well, Alexilios, you are within the top percentage of adventurers at your level thats for sure. Its not often I meet someone who has a rare class from the get go. Don’t let that get you yer head though. It’ll take you longer to level up than your peers, and your skills will be harder to upgrade. Basically, rare classes make everything more difficult but with a higher reward rate than common classes.”
“That makes sense,” I nodded along. This tracked with what some of the books I read when I was younger said as well. “Okay, so whats next. I assume theres more otherwise you wouldn't be waiting for me to figure things out.”
“Good! A sharp young lad! Yes there is more. Next comes the payment you are owed for your work in Linden. The townsfolk pooled together some coin to gift you a reward after witnessing you fighting for them. Yer friends have already taken their cut.” The dwarf lifted up the pouch that had clanged with coins earlier and gave it a wiggle. “The guild has taken an amount out already at yer friends insistence. You have a room here, this room in fact, paid for till the end of the Crucible. Also, they insisted you would want to rent forge space until then as well, and the guild refused to charge you for dungeon time so you have access to that as well. With the room you have two meals a day along with a mug of ale or mead per day.”
My eyes widened as he casually mentioned that even after renting a room and forge space for half a year I still had coin left over. He handed over the pouch which I reluctantly took, curious how much was left. I was sure the dwarf would soon tell me.
“After all yer expenses ye have fifty two gold left and some silver.” He chuckled as my eyes bulged at the number. That was more than my father earned in... well, a long long time. I nearly dropped the bag of coins at the realization. My father made just under two gold a year. Two gold a year allowed us to live comfortably in Arborton. The amount I was holding now was the equivalent of... my mind blanked as I thought of the number. Of course, the exchange rate was not exact but, based on mental math, a gold piece was close to twelve thousand USD...
“This... this is for me? This is too much. Wait... This is after expenses for what six months?” I stared at the dwarf my eyes wide and mouth hanging open.
“Aye lad, tis all for you for your part in the conflict. Now, moving on from that, what do you know about the ranks at the adventurers guild?” His fingers tapped at his knees as he leaned back in the chair.
“Wait... why is the guild leader the one onboarding me, isn’t this... below your station?” I narrowed my eyes at the realization, trying to deviate my mind from the gold as I set it back on the nightstand.
“Well, tis because a daughter of mine was in that longhouse. Her and her kiddos. They're alive because of what you and your group did, but from what I heard from her... well you went above and beyond. I couldn’t exactly let one of the staffers take care of THE Hero of Linden, now could I?” His eyes glittered as I blushed at the title. I gulped slightly and nodded in affirmation. “Now, what do ye know?”
“Next to nothing to be honest. Just that the guild is a way to prevent adventurers from getting scammed by clients and that the guild offers protections against overzealous nobles among other things.”
“Right, well, there are also seven ranks based on ones levels. Bronze, Iron, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Mythril and Astrum. You would be classified as bronze. Thats anyone before their first class evolution. Each rank has five tiers, based on ones capabilities. From levels 1-25, you'd be tier one. Levels 25 to fifty, tier two. Fifty to seventy five is three, seventy five to one hundred is tier four, and when you are capped, you will be at bronze tier five. Once you exceed level one twenty five you'll be given the rank of iron. In Ironfell, most adventurers fall under this parasol. A person can take a quest of up to two tiers above their own, or if they are able to pass a test through the guild they can take certain quests at higher tiers to themselves.
“As a bronze rank you will have access to all bronze rank dungeons controlled by the guild, of course there are private dungeons that you'll have to meet the owners expectations for. The guild also provides some discounts to individuals based on rank. For example, if you were to buy a sword from the guild blacksmiths you could expect to pay five percent less than an unaffiliated smith. Most merchants in town have discounts for adventurers, so keep that in mind.”
“I see. Thank you. Is there anything else you have for me at this time? I’d hate to keep you away from your duties Perry.” This was a lot of information to take in, and I was struggling to get past the idea that I was, by Arbortons standards, rich. Like, rich rich. More money was beside me than I had seen in both of my lives combined.
“Aye, twas all I had for ye. At least fer now.” He stood and gave me a hesitant smile. “Thank ye again, you played a big part in my families survival, from what me daughter says. If yer feeling up for it, the city of Linden is having a memorial service in a few days. Youre welcome to join me in my carriage, and I know the townsfolk would be glad ta put a face ta tha name. Ye should be able to be up and movin on the morrow, if ye decide ye wish ta join me I plan ta leave the following mornin”
“Thank you. I think I’ll likely go.” I gave him a wan smile, one that didn't reach anywhere near my eyes, as he took his leave. Amelia and the others filtered in immediately after, making me suspect that they had stood just outside of the door.
Before they could say anything I asked, “Could I borrow some paper and ink from one of yas? I think I should probably write to my parents and let them know I made it here safely.”
Adrien's eyes flickered guiltily toward my missing hand before he slowly nodded. “Aye, I’ve got some paper for you. By the way, we all are leaving to see if we can find those bastards. Probably wont be back for a few weeks at least. You can trust Perry, if you need anything he’s the one you should ask.”
“I see. Be safe please. Next time you see me I’ll be twice as strong.” I boasted halfheartedly. I moved to get up so I could hug them, but my legs were yet too weak, too sore.
“Easy now, you got another day or two before Amelia's magic finishes fixing you. You did a serious number to your body with your magic, Lios.” Liana chastised before leaning in to hug me. “We will be safe, worry not.”
Elric and Adrien simply shook my hand, but Amelia hugged me as well. After they left, I set to writing a letter to my parents. Of course, in an effort to not have them worry, I left out some minor details. In the end I let them know I’d be in Ironfell for the foreseeable future in preparation for the tournaments.