Before you look at professions, though I guess it doesn't matter now that you didn't select a class…
What's up?
I got an answer to curses.
Oh yeah, hit me.
I'm going to mostly tell you what I already knew since curses are essentially what I expected here, with some minor adjustments because of the system.
Does it just display them, or actually change their function?
Mostly display. Quick refresher, souls are made up of a bunch of anima that all sticks together and agrees with each-other. The more they agree on and the more anima, the stronger the soul. Anima stores experiences which also means emotions and feelings can start from the soul or be recorded as an experience. A curse, is essentially a feeling or experience that is so strong, it overtakes the soul. If the soul is weak, and not well aligned, the corruption is swift and the curse will consume the entire soul. The strongest curses are common feelings that are experienced by almost everything. Hunger is one of the strongest along with sloth, greed, lust, wrath and so on.
The seven deadly sins?
Uh… Yeah, hadn't encountered that memory yet. There are more than seven though, but those are a decent list. You can also split some of those up, gluttony isn't a curse, but hunger is and arguably hunger is a part of gluttony. Greed and lust are kind of a part of hunger as well, so it's not a perfect one to one. The big issue with the race evolution for Nova is that the curse could very well consume it's soul entirely.
So is there a benefit to curses or are they just evil?
Just think of them as evil. That doesn't mean there isn't any benefit to them though. One of the riskiest things people will commonly try, is to get cursed to try and align their soul. One of three things will happen in that situation, the vast majority of the time the curse will consume their soul and they will cease to be a individual. Rarely, the curse will be integrated into their soul and it will become a part of their soul, their personality, though that often will later result in being consumed by the curse at some point down the road. In the rarest of cases, souls have overcome curses, the soul bands together to fight a common enemy and comes out stronger on the other side. It's idiotic to try that though.
Gotcha, so there's no way it will work out?
Mathematically, it's not a 0 chance, but you should act as if it is. Hunger especially is an absurdly strong curse. If it was something lesser, like arrogance, it might be worth the risk.
Isn't that just pride?
No, pride is unwavering and ridiculous, arrogance is an overestimation.
Really? That seems like semantics.
Your words don't fit things perfectly so I'm trying to make do. Pride is kind of a greater version of arrogance and arrogance can evolve into pride. Just… they are separate though, kind of.
Alright, I'll talk to Nova then. Why would it be offered at all then?
For those idiots who want to try and use it to strengthen their souls. That and Nova probably resonates with it right now.
Feel like The System still should have omitted it, seems a little too dangerous to bother.
It doesn't seem like the system will make decisions for you, just help you down whatever path you want to take. If Nova wants to take that path, then it is what it is.
Anything else before I look at professions?
Nothing that should affect the decision, no.
Felix pulled up his profession options and saw five options displayed before him.
[D - Special] Arcane Enchanter
The Arcane Enchanter specializes in enchanting. The enchants can be used for combat purposes on armor or weapons or for mundane purposes to preserve food and aid in construction. This profession aids in detecting flaws and improving stability of enchantments.
+15 DEX per level
+15 INT per level
+6 FREE per level
This is already going far better than class selection did.
[D - Special] Arcane Spell Formationist
The Arcane Spell Formationist specializes in the research, design and creation of spells. The spells can be used for any purpose from combat to everyday tasks and the profession aids in the creation of scrolls and items for casting.
+5 DEX per level
+10 PER per level
+15 INT per level
+6 FREE per level
Both good options so far, I do wish I could do both though.
[D - Special] Arcane Tinkerer
The Arcane Tinkerer specializes in the creation of magical contraptions through the use of light enchanting, forging and engineering. This profession can be used to create weapons, tools or devices for almost any purpose.
+10 DEX per level
+5 PER per level
+15 INT per level
+6 FREE per level
Scratch that, I wish I could take all three.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
[D - Epic] Researcher
The Researcher utilizes their cunning and perception to gather knowledge. This knowledge is then parsed and filtered to discover something new or rediscover something lost.
+20 PER per level
+25 INT per level
+10 FREE per level
Huh, this one is kind of weird. I guess it fits the whole library in my head thing and it would kind of let me keep doing all three of the previous things, it isn't a perfect fit though.
[D - Arcane] Mana Engineer
The Mana Engineer focuses entirely on mana in all of it's uses. Most evolutions of Arcane Engineer focus on a specific field, you have shown interest and proficiency in them all. This profession continues in it's predecessor's footsteps and focuses on spell form construction, enchanting and the creation of magical contraptions. New to this profession is the area of mana research. Skills dedicated to all areas of focus will be available though few exist that will include all areas. Be careful not to focus on any area at the detriment of the others otherwise this profession's progress will suffer.
+20 DEX per level
+20 PER per level
+40 INT per level
+10 FREE per level
Well that seems like an obvious choice. This profession is just way better in every way. Plus I now get levels for mana research, something I was already doing anyways? Anything wrong with this one Grim?
Not that I can see, seems like the perfect profession for you.
Mana Engineer.
D Grade Profession Evolution.
Your profession selection has been finalized. This option is locked in and cannot be changed. To facilitate the process, you may also select your class upgrades now so that all evolutions happen at once. You may also choose to evolve your race and profession now.
Would you like to evolve your race and profession now?
Yes.
No.
No. Back to classes?
Maybe lock in Nova's just in case it stops giving you the option to delay the evolution. Once you choose class, you won't have any more to choose so you might not have the option to delay it any longer.
I thought you said you wanted me to go through the evolution first?
I did, but I got an answer back from the guild and turns out, it doesn't matter. Your familiar won't evolve before you unless they remove the bond, system won't let them.
Shouldn't it work the other way too?
Apparently it doesn't, I could not tell you why though.
That's dumb.
Felix looked down at Nova and told them that it was time to choose their evolution. He did his best to convey the level of danger for the cursed race and it seemed like Nova was scared by the idea so he was pretty sure he got it through.
D Grade Familiar Evolution.
Your familiar's race selection has been finalized. This option is locked in and cannot be changed. To facilitate the process, you may also select your class upgrades now so that all evolutions happen at once. You may also choose to evolve your race and profession now.
Would you like to evolve your race and profession now?
Yes.
No.
No. Doesn't tell me what it chose? Familiar Race Evolution Selection Screen.
[Bond Familiar (Uncommon)]
Familiar Evolution
Your familiar has locked in it's evolution option. This cannot be changed and will happen in tandem with your evolution.
Selected Race:
[D - Cursed] Ravenous Matter Spirit
Uh Grim, what do we do now?
Remove the bond and either kill it or banish it far away.
Really? Isn't that a little drastic?
Remember the whole soul consuming thing?
Yeah but sti-
What I didn't mention before is that because your souls are bonded and grow inside of each-other…
Oh… it could infect my soul… consume my soul as well.
Oh yeah, it could very easily transfer to and infect you as well.
Is it really that big a risk? Would The System really put us both in danger like that?
It's possible you could overcome it, it's not like it's trying to give you a terminal illness or anything. Do you think the system wouldn't put you in danger like that?
What are the actual odds? If you had to bet on it?
I think you have a 50/50 chance of beating it but only because your soul is abnormally strong for your age and level. Plus a curse from a familiar bond is not the best way to infect someone, so it shouldn't be too hard to crush it if you manage to catch it early on. It also helps tremendously that you already have a conviction, they are one of the best ways of aligning your soul. If it was your race or it would infect you more directly, I would say 0.
That's not too bad then, we can monitor it and deal with it as early as possible if it comes to that.
Those are your odds though. Nova's odds, if I have to bet, are 0 or so close to 0 it's not even worth mentioning.
Really? Will it happen right away or gradually?
Gradually. At first it will just be hungry, eating a lot. Then slowly it won't be possible to satiate it's hunger and that unending feeling of emptiness will consume all other emotions and experiences bubbling up and overriding all rational thought.
How long?
A decade at most, more likely a handful of years. Worst case a year to a couple years.
So I can stay bonded to Nova, but it's guaranteed to die soon with a decent chance of infecting me as well?
Almost guaranteed. Yeah, pretty much.
Ugh… Why'd you have to pick that evolution? Felix looked down at Nova sitting at his feet and looking up at him. He looked into their eyes that were slightly too large giving them an animated quality and making them ridiculously adorable. Nova simply meowed in response with no attached thoughts or intentions over their bond. He could have probed his familiar for an explanation but ultimately, it was their choice. He didn't have any right to choose their evolution for them, all he could do was advise them on what he thought.
All he could do now was decide whether or not he wanted to stick by them and deal with the consequences of their decisions. Ultimately, for Felix, the answer was simple, he was willing to give it a shot and he didn't have any intention of losing to a curse. So what if it infected him, he had full confidence he could crush the curse and move on. Worst case scenario it would be a good training opportunity for him. So he decided that, though he didn't trust Nova, not yet, he would stick by them and deal with whatever came, when it came.
Want me to monitor the bond then?
Yeah, that would be great. Thanks.
Sure.
Wait, is there a risk it infects you through me?
Not really. Normally yes, for me specifically no, I can't exactly mention why.
I see. I was worried I was deciding for you too there.
Nah, I would just leave if it was too risky for me personally. Although, I might stay even then, guess it depends on what the decision is at the time.
We can cross that bridge when we get to it.
That's a rather obvious idiom, barely even an idiom.
Effective though.
It's like lazy wordplay though, it's gross.
You just like the double meanings and hidden messages.
Yeah I do, that one isn't hidden at all. I feel like I was slapped in the face with the secondary meaning.
Did it hurt?
Yes.
Uh huh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .