The door opened up and three people walked in. One was Colonel Franks. The second was a slightly fat man with a long beard wearing glasses. The last was a General with two stars on his shoulders.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of meeting the base commander in person, not even a week after I arrived?” Mathew stood to shake the man's hand. He did so and they all sat down.
“Before we begin, Mr. McGonald, this subject matter is sensitive information, and we would like if what we talk about in here today stays private until further notice.”
“I used to be a Lawyer, I know how to keep secrets. My client's private information remains private even today.” Mathew said with a smile.
He nodded and the large man opened a folder. “I will need you to sign these, simple NDA agreements, and paperwork to allow you Need to Know information.”
Mathew obviously read it all top to bottom before signing. It was very simple and he sadly didn’t know enough of the laws pertaining to the military to know any better. He knew enough that he wasn’t signing away his soul or anything important.
“Before we begin, I want to ask how your recovery is? I heard it was very swift.”
Mathew nodded. “Yes, your medics here are top notch. You should give Airman Brown a medal. I’m only alive because of him, and also Captain Henderson.”
He nodded. “Those two will receive their earned rewards. Same with you. According to Henderson, you selfishly went to save Airman Brown from the” He looked at a document in front of him. “Larger than the average wolf. I have to say, for a man with no combat experience, you sure did a hell of a job. So I thank you for saving my Airman, and possibly Captain Henderson as well. You can expect a Medal yourself when we hold a ceremony for them.”
Mathew noticed how he failed to mention that he almost ran away. Something he would have to thank Henderson for personally. “I couldn’t do that to them. But I doubt we are here to talk about who gets medals, why are we really here?”
The General nodded and the fat man started to speak. “Mr. McGonald, or would you prefer Mathew?”
“Mathew please, my father was Mr. McGonald.”
“Of course, you see Mathew, Captain Henderson said you received a message to go to a Hearth Crystal, can you please tell us the exact wording of that message?”
“Please go to your nearest Hearth Crystal to be assigned a Profession.” Mathew said. He didn’t tell them he could still pull the box up at will. “I have to say, I might want to change professions from Lawyer to Wolf Hunter if more wolves are in my future of being a scout.”
“Actually Mr. McGonald,” Colonel Franks spoke up. “We would like for you to pick a Profession that can increase your chances of acquiring magic. We understand you have a focus on Intelligence and Wisdom as your stats. Is that right?”
Mathew nodded reluctantly, “Yes, but I don’t see why a Profession will dictate that. I was under the assumption a class would give me magic, not a profession.”
He nodded. “Our team of experts said a Profession can heavily influence a class choice.”
Mathew knew these experts were the nerd teams that Zack was a part of according to Leo. “I see, how do they know that?”
“It’s highly theroized, but the majority agree with it.” The fat bearded man said. “Once we told them you get a profession first, and at Level 5, they started to narrow down the theory to what it is now. We do have to ask, you haven't picked up any special Titles, skills, or abilities outside of what you told us, correct?”
Mathew shook his head. “I only have my [Knives] skill, which is Novice 3 now, if that matters.” He kept his extra title a secret still.
“We will mark that down. Now, have you assigned your stat points yet?” He continued to ask while filling out a document.
“Why does that matter?” Mathew asked.
“Stat point allocation might also influence Profession choices. We are debating on whether you should apply any, and if so, where. So we will leave that choice up to you, however if you do apply any stat points, we ask you keep Intelligence equal to or higher than any other stat, with Wisdom being the second highest. As that is believed to influence strong chances for magic based spells, skills, or abilities.”
Mathew nodded. “And if I don’t do what you are asking me to?”
“We are willing to accommodate you for aiding in our experiments.” The General started to speak. “Everything we do is for not only the American people, but the world. You will be one of the first to help us explore new territory. I will be honest and admit we have no clue what will happen when you can choose a Profession. However, if you have pride in who you are, you will help your fellow men and women in these dark times.”
Mathew slowly thought over what he wanted. “Firstly, I want to be off the scouting teams. Personally, I would rather not fight any more wolves. And don’t assume to place me into some janitorial work either. I am perfectly fine helping with logistics, paperwork, or any office job that also allows me to be kept in the loop with what is happening around base.”
“Done.” He said.
“Secondly, I want Currency.”
“Currency?” Franks asked but then realized he meant money. “Universal Currency? How much?”
Mathew thought it over. “Five thousand.”
Franks blanched. “Five thousand? Nobody starts with even a single credit. How do you think we are going to get that much?”
“That’s for you to worry about. Obviously in the long stretch, that is a drop in the bucket. I imagine Captain Henderson and Airman Brown both earned Currency for defeating those wolves. I am sure you can scrounge up scraps of currency around the base.”
Frank was about to continue arguing, but the General put a hand up. “One thousand now, and Six thousand in a couple of weeks. As you said, it will be difficult, but plausible to scrounge up that much currency.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Mathew nodded, enjoying the extra amount he would get in the end. “Works for me, and one more thing. I want first dibs on any information related to magic. I want to be kept in the loop. I also want rights to any meetings involving Dungeons.”
“Dungeons?” The General asked surprised. “Why those?”
Mathew shrugged. “They seem important. I’ve seen two so far. I imagine they will be a great way to level up and gain more rewards.”
“Anything else?” Franks asked, slightly annoyed at all the demands Mathew was making.
“No, but I will do you gentlemen a favor as well. I will keep you up to date on my profession, even include the additional options I have, if any are listed. I am here to be of service to you all, but I won’t do it for free. I hope you will remember me in the future, when extra help is needed.”
The General smiled at Mathew. “But of course.”
Mathew nodded. “Alrighty, take me to the Hearth Crystal. I assume it’s somewhere in a vault deep underground to be kept safe, no?”
“Not Quite. We had to keep it somewhere on the surface.”
“Oh you can move it can you?” Mathew asked with a grin.
The Fat man and the General kept their faces neutral. However Colonel Franks lost it for a moment confirming that for Mathew.
“No worries gentlemen, I’m not a Chinese spy. Even if they have wonderful tea, I prefer the Korean or Japanese brands.” Mathew was escorted out of the building toward another one.
As he was following the group toward another building, Mathew noticed he had a notification. He subtly opened it up with a small hand gesture.
Skill Gained: Negotiation | Novice 1
Your ability to haggle out deals in your favor has improved through success. Future deals involving currency will give you a +5% bonus.
Mathew greatly enjoyed seeing a new skill. It had an increased specification versus his [Knives] skill. He wondered why it had the bonus toward currency. Was it because that was what was haggled? Did the General acquire the same skill afterwards?
He didn’t like not knowing, but there was nothing he could do about it right now. He closed the window and continued following the group toward a smaller building. Mathew could tell this one was newer and had several glass doors.
Once inside, Mathew saw guards everywhere. More than the secured building he was at before. “With this number of guards, one might think you have something that could be stolen very easily.”
Franks sneered, but the General kept a neutral face. “The Hearth Crystal is a valuable object. I don’t know where it came from, but as the Commander of this base, I am the one who has control of it. It has a few functions that make it nigh priceless.”
“Like?” Mathew asked.
“Nothing you need to worry about, just know that if you try to take it, you will be shot to death. Your body burned, and your names removed from any files we have.”
Mathew whistled. “Sounds serious. No worries, I don’t need any crystals. Funny enough, I had a client who was into those sorts of things. Magical rocks and the alignment of the planets. Said she didn’t need my assistance other than for signing paperwork. Claimed ‘the heavens will seek to right the wrongs done by her spouse’”
“Did they?” The fat man asked.
“Not at all. I don’t like to lose any sort of court case. She forced my hand, legally speaking. Didn’t mean I didn’t try. She really did piss me off, enough that I might have accidentally mentioned her secret boyfriend she had while still married.”
“Sounds like you should work on your anger skills.” The General commented.
Mathew was about to say he never got truly angry, but he found himself outside again. The building had a central patio area where a large crystalline object stood near the middle of.
It was the size of a car, if it stood up on it’s rear bumper. It hovered in place, while remaining motionless. Red lines of energy pulsed over it, as if it’s alive like a heart.
Mathew stood there trying to wrap his head around the object. “That there is incredible.”
“We’ve done plenty of tests, touching it won’t do anything but open a blue box for you. We assume it will start the Profession process once you touch it.” The fat man said.
Mathew nodded. He walked forward confidently toward the object and reached out a hand to touch it. It was warm, and solid. It felt more like a marbled countertop than a crystal, it’s sides sheer and perfectly cut.
Profesion Choices:
Scout [Common] - A profession for those who value information over combat. +2 Dexterity, +1 Wisdom, +1 Endurance per level. Skill Gain: Perception
Soldier [Common] - A profession for those who value combat and discipline. +3 Strength, +1 Vitality per level. Skill Gain: Random Melee Weapon Based Skill
Sage [Common] - A profession for those who value studying the arcane arts. +2 Intelligence, +1 Wisdom per level. Spell Gained: Mana Bolt
Scribe [Uncommon] - Dedicated to keeping records, a scribe is a useful profession sought out by many in mercantile businesses, ritualists, and quartermasters. +4 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, +1 Dexterity per level. Skill Gain: Writing
Contract Scribe [Rare] - Contracts, Legal paperwork, and Deals are all backed by the magical signature of this profession. Sought out by Summoners, Noble Men, and Lawyers to aid in their day to day work. +5 Intelligence, +4 Wisdom per level. Skill Gain: Writing, Spell Gain: Summon Wisp. Profession based actions are restricted and observed by the laws created by The Council of Order.