Vin awoke the following day comfortably wrapped on the floor. He regained consciousness gradually, batting his eyes and seeing traces of sunlight bled into the elegant elven room. He didn't fall asleep with any covering, so Maeve had placed it over him. He briefly wondered if she had managed to overcome her despair but soon closed his eyes again and breathed, wanting to delay his concerns.
He felt spiritually heavy. Something he had never imagined was possible until recently. He could sense that his soul, something that should have been intangible, had recovered some of its essence after rest. As strange as the whole thing sounded. But something was still offputting.
Even after respite, there was still a gap in his memory. None of the Ravenours said anything unusual when he'd awoken the night before, so it was safe to assume nothing happened- still, he couldn't shake the feeling he was forgetting something important.
'Hopefully I remember soon.'
"For now, let's get up," he told himself. He did just that, then stretched his body out. While standing, he noticed a mirror near the wardrobe. He had no reason behind it, but he wandered over to the reflective surface and took a peek at himself. Vin looked for one, two, three minutes, maybe longer. After a careful analysis, he squinted at himself and raised his eyebrow in question. "Who is this?"
His mind was his own, steady and clear, but his appearance seemed so unfamiliar. His sharp violet eyes and deep scowl were definitely on-brand, and he definitely wasn't complaining about his improved physique. The issue wasn't that. It was that his spirit and his physical body felt misplaced- like fitting a puzzle piece in the wrong spot. The question was, which part had been defective.
Did his soul not recognize his body because of how many times it was destroyed and reconstructed? Or did his flesh no longer acknowledge his spirit because it diminished to detrimental extents and then mended into something foreign?
Vin contemplated it for a while, pacing back and forth around the tasteful chamber. He'd given it an honest shot but soon threw his shoulders up in defeat, losing interest in the answer. He was more anxious about what blight another day in the Archival would bring.
"In the Archival?" he questioned, looking at the ceiling in reflection.
"I'm here, so where's the bird," he said, consulting a mostly unused feature of his Journal called the [Quest] tab.
The Story Quest he was stuck in recently reminded him that this section even existed. It wasn't that he'd neglected it on purpose; it was just that he was learning magic and improving his odds of survival on his own.
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[Quest:]
[World Quest:]
1) Learn the updated laws of the Archival Dimension
2) Learn to be kind
[Human Quest:]
1) Build up the human civilization
2) Select an occupation > Learning to fight
3) Learn magic
[Personal Quest:]
1) Find a way to Earthia
2) Locate missing loved ones
3) Enter the Archival Dimension
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The page displayed the original list of quests he'd first seen, giving him time to reflect on all he'd done. He knew when most of them were accomplished, but the one titled "Learn to be kind" didn't make sense right away. However, after some thought, he could understand why it was indicated as cleared. He, a human, had become friendly with Ravenours, a race that slaughtered many of his people. That had to count for something.
Second, there was the quest titled "Learning to fight." He recalled this indicating he needed to learn weapon arts, yet he advanced through the task without taking a lesson on swordplay. Instead of pondering, he raised the question to his Journal, and it responded, arranging dark ink on the page.
[The user's rank has surpassed this quest's benchmark]
"Then becoming expert rank automatically clears some intro quest. Not that I've paid any attention to them lately."
"I don't think I will in the future either."
"It's probably stupid, but I don't want to look back and think that a book and its quest were responsible for my growth."
The Journal in his hands suddenly vibrated, and then the ink on the page quickly splashed in various arrangements, displaying line after line of text.
----------------------------------------
[Now hiding quest tab]
[First Distributing rewards from completed quest.]
[Human Quest Chain]
1) Learn magic
2) Master a single spell
3) Learn advanced magic
[Adventurer Quest Chain]
1) Select an occupation
2) Learning to fight
3) First kill
4) Defeat a notable enemy
5) Rank up
[Person Quest Chain]
1) Enter the Archival Dimension
[Hidden Quest]
1) Strengthen your Journal
2) Enchant an item
3) Create an original spell: Flame Conversion
4) Defeat an enemy two or more ranks higher
[Exceptional Human Feats]
1) First to invent a spell
2) First to advance to expert rank
3) First to enter the Archival Dimension
[Distributing Awards]
1) 210 Gold Coins
2) Advenruerers Attire
3) Tool Kit(5)
4) Novice Spell Scroll(2)
5) Novice Mage Wand
6) Expert Mage Wand
7) Title: The Strongest Human
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
[Updating Status]
[Name:] Vin Dance, The Strongest Human
[Race:] Human
[Age:] 17
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
[Occupation:] Adventurer
[Rank:] Expert Mage
[Survivability Rating:] 154/300
----------------------------------------
His head began to spin as he processed the chain of words. Soon after it stopped, a miniature lesser bride tore across the space before him. The Journal was about to spit out the list of rewards, but Vin scowled and told it, "Stop."
He eyed the list again with a stern glare and scoffed before stating, "Coins, tool kits, attire? You see my situation, none of this is useful."
"I doubt half of these things are even allowed in the Archival Dimension; it'll just disintegrate, won't it?"
His Journal didn't immediately address his complaints but lulled. It seemed to be thinking or perhaps scanning some database to see if he was correct about the items that could potentially be destroyed.
[Your Journal Grows Stronger]
[Novice Spell Scroll is permitted. Would you like to receive it now?]
Vin clenched the Journal so tightly his hands began to shake. His eyes hardened, fury lacing his voice as he warned, "Don't fuck with me."
The book clearly intended to hold the rest of the rewards until he escaped the Archival, but that wouldn't do. Vin didn't want the haul of crap it was saving; he needed something that would be useful now. He didn't expect a super weapon into his hands; no, he would prevail on his own strength; he just needed a slight edge.
The Journal's sentiency took another leave of absence and returned with bad news. It shared that it attempted to but failed to exchange the current rewards for ones permitted in the Archival. Evidently, the astral treasure cove of loot couldn't be sorted through. He was stuck with the same basic prizes everyone else received. It pissed him off, but he understood it was to be impartial; it was reassuring to know that system wouldn't play favorites for any of his enemies either.
He loosened his hostility, willing to take the Novice Spells; perhaps there would be another interesting magic like Shape. So he had prepared. However, suddenly, a new line of text was arranged before him. It was lax and inconclusive, far from its usual procedural style- so much so that it made him uneasy.
[Give me one moment]
Vin tilted his head at the page, wondering what it was cooking up in its parchment brain. The fact that it asked him for a moment was unsettling, but he was curious to see what would happen. Meanwhile, he inferred why it'd suddenly changed its style. Either an admin had taken control of the Journal after it was caught poking around where it shouldn't, and now some higher-up was in control. Or, he was finding out what those messages meant by "growing stronger." Perhaps the book's awareness was growing, allowing it to behave more... informally.
Anyhow. The Journal finally returned, and this time, with an offer.
[Exchange rewards for upgrades?]
[ Y / N ]
Vin got tired of standing, so he sat at the edge of the sizeable elven bed, leaned back, and exhaled, "Sure. Not like there's much to lose."
[Your Journal Grows Stronger]
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[Optional Upgrades]
1) [Link Page:] Link the pages of additional journals so the users can communicate from a distance.
2) [Inventory Page:] Store items such as clothing within the Journal's personal dimensional space.
3) [Companion Form:] Transforms the Journal into a companion that communicates with and aids the user.
----------------------------------------
Vin's posture immediately straightened, and his eyes widened as he became awestruck. He wasn't expecting much from said upgrades, but the options presented to him were more than exceptional. He could tell they were specifically chosen to cater to him and what would benefit his circumstances.
With the Link Page, he could go anywhere while keeping track of Maeve's party. In the future, he could include all of his family members so they could converse in a group chat.
The Inventory Page spoke for itself. He could stuff as many pairs of pants as he could fit and never have to worry about running around naked again.
As for Companion Form, he assumed the Journal would simply develop a voice. It'd definitely be convenient to receive information auditorily rather than constantly looking at a page. He envisioned something similar to the AI integration that smartphones had.
All three upgrades would be highly resourceful, but one stood out more than the others. He got the notion this option would never reappear again, so he made his decision, and the lesser bridge disappeared, no longer needing to dispense any rewards. Instead, the Journal inherited the spotlight, shuddering and levitating from his hand before shrouding in a thin, mysterious, colorless light. The air in the room changed as though vibrant, instilling life. Vin began to get the feeling that it was no longer just him and a simple, leather-cover book; he was joined by another creature.
With a low, unnatural crack, the book's spine buckled and warped, bending backward as it expanded. Thousands of pages burst from their set place, converging into the unmistakable outline of a face. The texture of parchment solidified, magically shifting into a coarse bone.
Vin watched sharply as his old Journal shifted and formed a soft-featured skull. His apparent companion was suspended in the air, facing him with hallow yet somehow mannerly eyes.
The skull's mouth parted slightly, and a faint, cordial whisper escaped, the words brushing against Vin's mind like a caress. "The transformation is complete."
This thing's voice was ambiguous- neither male nor female, good nor evil. It did, however, adopt a peculiar talking cadence, like a young steward who lived to serve a regal household.
Vin studied the skull with indifference. It stared back. A moment later, he grabbed it out of the air with a hostile grip covering almost its entire face. He frowned and asked, with a wicked scowl, "Tell me, what influenced you to choose this form?"
The bonehead shivered under the weight of his question, fidgeting to escape his hold and not be crushed. "I believed it was appropriate..."
"Why?" Vin furthered, knowing the answer but sampling the skull's new mentality. It no longer responded systematically; it could have opinions and, evidently, feel apprehensive.
"I thought a skeleton compaion would correspond well with the nature of your ability but It seems I was mistaken," it responded, now unmoving after realizing it couldn't escape.
He figured that would be the reason but corrected it, "Not a skeleton, just a skull."
The magic companion's surface cracked and crunched into itself, its bone fragments reshaping into two off-white hands that hovered in place. "My form will eventually grow into that of a complete skeleton. As for now, I can only shift into individual body parts."
Vin peered at it wordlessly, thinking, 'Not quite what I expected. It's more like talking to another person rather than a program. At any rate, if it has emotions, I'll have to take it easy before it runs away.'
He commanded it to return to skull form, which was easier to tolerate than talking hands. "Whatever. More importantly, why can you offer me upgrades all of a sudden? Does this work with everyone?"
The skull slipped into thought, rotating idly in place until it had drifted upside down. "Every Journal is capable of growing, thus, upgrading. However, the Companion Form advancement has yet to be presented to another users."
"And why is that," Vin questioned.
"Because the Companion Form advancement can only be assumed before the user and their Journal have spirit bonded. This usually occurs after one month of service."
"It is challenging for most to grow their Journal at the rate you have; thus, users are never presented with this upgrade."
Vin held his chin in reflection, recalling the events that led him there. He gave it plenty of unique commands in the past. However, what likely provided the most growth for his Journal was making it analyze the magic of the black Phoenix, which didn't exist in the mortal realm. Indeed, he was in a situation most people wouldn't find themself in.
'I have a million questions, yet nothing specific comes to mind right now. All I want to do now is focus on getting out of this hellish dimension.'
Vin grabbed the skull and turned it right-side-up again, telling it, "I want to keep this a secret for now, so turn back into a book."
The companion slowly and silently backed away from him as if its blatant attempt at stealth would make it invisible. Vin stuck his fingers into its eye sockets to anchor it, then angrily repeated, "I said, turn back into a Journal."
The skull's tone dampened, and it admitted, "I am unable to return to that form..."
Its hollow eyes met Vin's callousness, and it quickly concocted justifications to appease him: "I can't change back, but I can be subtle. I can remain hidden and continue to communicate with you telepathically so no one discovers me."
"I can even implant images into your mind, such as maps, drawings, and, other illustrations. Also I-"
"Alright," Vin interrupted. He freed the skull and breathed out. There was no point in fretting over it any longer. "Go ahead, conceal yourself."
The skull adapted the shape of a spine, slithered underneath the backside of Vin's shirt, and overlayed his own backbone. It flattened slightly so it didn't protrude too much and was primarily, as it said, subtle.
Still, the whole thing was jarring. He opened his Quest tab to see if the black Phoenix had communicated with him and ended up with a talking skeleton. Not that he was complaining. He wasn't prepared to embark on whatever dangerous mission the flaming bird had in store for him. Nonetheless, if it truly knew of a method to restore assimulated worlds, he would do whatever it took to save Earth. Not that he was complaining. He still wasn't prepared to embark on whatever dangerous mission the flaming bird had in store for him. Nonetheless, if it truly knew of a method to restore assimulated worlds, he would do whatever it took to save Earth.
"You do this often," his skeleton companion commented unprompted.
Vin rubbed his nape where the bone spine began and dully questioned, "Do what."
"You freeze and stare blankly while deep in thought. Your fist eventually clench, as if you've found resolution to cope with something consequential."
Vin loosened his tense fingers and pocketed them in his pants, asking why it bothered to point out a meaningless detail. The companion simply stated, "I want to understand you."
Feeling he'd wasted enough time, Vin headed for the room's exit, communicating, "What's there to understand? I'm forced to live on a lousy planet, with genocidal aliens and freak gods that send people into different dimensions to survive someone else's tragic love story."
"And yet, since I was summoned to your side, you have behaved... Unexpectedly," the skeletal spine stated.
"All Journals share the same network of information, so I am somewhat acquainted with your human counterparts. None of them are quite as abnormal.
"You don't fall into despair even though you've died several times; you don't weep at the memory of your absent kin, nor did you celebrate when you learned you were the strongest human in existence."
Vin grabbed the door handle, ready to depart, but this creature's words caused him to linger. He shut his eyes tightly and fought back a swell of cold, callous shame that threatened to batter the walls of his resolve. A slight tremble took to his hands, and he replied, "I want to be better. I do."
"I want to arrive at Earthia and live normally, laughing, crying, feeling love. It's just... Each time I-"
Vin twisted the knob and unhurriedly opened the door, "I don't know what kind of sick world you're used to, but death isn't something humans experience and simply walk away from unphased."
Before his token spine could further the conversation, he told it, "I picked this upgrade because I need you to assist me with getting home, not because I needed a therapist. Don't overstep your role."
"As you wish," it replied gently, and with that, they set off.