"So you have done your intial 25 years. Consider that your first year as it were. Now we begin to show you some things. For which the portal room will be used. As of now, you have access to a single location through that portal. It is known as the city of the demigods. Only demigods reside there, or of that power. Epics can visit there. However, as a student, you will have limited access to this city at first. You will start off in what is known as the public sector. Within this sector is the public portals, a market, a arena, some pubs and the like. There are other buildings that I will leave you to explore and try to access. Your eventual goal is to gain access to the Guildhall. It sounds simple, but that all the information I am giving you. You will be given a starting amount of capital. This is all we will give you." Tinkerson noticed the emphasis that was put on give. "Once you have gained access, come talk to me. The next 25 years are yours to spend as you wish."
"But, what is my eventual goal in this? What is the purpose?" Tinkerson asked. Kekemozz looked back at him neutrally.
"whatever you wish it to be. I have told you what is expected of you. The rest of it is up to you." Tinkerson thought about this. It was clear that there was something that was not being told to him. However he was told of the length of time he had to reach the end goal whatever that was. 25 years. Faith. He had a feeling that what part of this was about. The ability to follow orders and just do what he was told on faith. After all, it was what religion was based on back in his world. Do as you are told, follow the rules and you will be rewarded one day. Have faith. However he was sure there was more to it then that. He was lacking in information. Knowledge. The only way to get it, was to go out and work for it. What he did with that, well now. Maybe that what they wanted to find out. So he left and went to the portal room and teleported to the city of the demigods.
Tinkerson sat on the bench and stared up. He could see space. As in outer space. The part of the city he was in, as far as he could see was enclosed by walls, with the ceiling being a big clear glass ceiling. There were a couple of planets in view, and a far off sun that just illuminated where he was. "It a space station." he said out aloud. "The whole city is on a space station." He supposed it made sense. With the portals, the fact that nobody knew where the city was, and everything else that he had discovered over the course of the entire week. He had just walked around the whole place, saw all that he could saw and just generally observed the place. Then, he portalled back to the academy, ate and slept. Then in the morning, he had gotten dressed and came back to here. The portal area, which reminded him of a large central city train station. He sat on a bench, looked up and said the first thing that had come to mind. He then walked over to the entrance to the portal area and looked at a single demigod standing by the entrance. Dressed in a kind of uniform, he had seen them dragged people off. Many times he did not know what for. Many other people looked shocked, but the people who actually lived here didn't. The people who seemed to have been coming here some time didn't. So that meant there must be....... "Hello sir, I was wondering. Is there a book of rules and or a guide to the city of the gods that I could have please?" The guard looked at him sideways and swore. Quite fluently and in several languages.
"I had you down for at least a month. I thought you might be sharper then most of the students, but you are definitely sharper than I thought." The man reached out a hand and a book appeared in his hand. "Take this. This is the official rules and guide to this city. Also, take this." Tinkerson stared at the marble he held, and felt the power rolling off it.
"Why are you giving it to me?"
"Rules. I was the earliest to guess at a month. Since you guessed before then, it means that you win the pot. Nice for you that. This marble holds 50 demis." Tinkerson stared at the marble. He had been told that the divine dealt in three currencies. The one he was being offered was the first. simply put, rather then coinage, it dealt with power. A demi was the lowest amount. It was equal to the amount of power a demigod could put out in a year. So 50 demis was worth 50 years of power. Not a small measure. He took the marble and pulled the power into his own reserves, then gave the marble back.
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"I thank you for this. Unexpected but a pleasure. may I know your name?"
"Jesary. This is my main post, I seen you come back and forth quite a lot over this week. Exploring and watching. made me quite curious." Jesary looked at Tinkerson and said. "Would you be interested in some advice?" Tinkerson knew exactly how to answer this one.
"What will it cost me?" Jesary nodded approvingly.
"Definitely smarter then the average academy student. This one will be free. We are actually obligated to ask this of students. Those that reply no, are reported. Those that reply yes, are reported. Those who reply like you, have their picture stuck up in the main guard room with a keep an eye out. Not because we trying to police you or anything, but this job can get boring and people like you, are how we make our entertainment. So long you obey the rules of course. The advice is this. Sit back on the bench, and read the book. Thoroughly." So Tinkerson did. It took three days before he was confident he had taken all that he could from it. Stowing it away in his inventory space, he thought about what he read.
It was a big book. Lots of rules. Most of them commonsense. However there was four rules that were considered to be unbreakable. Most of the others, you might be able to wriggle out of or pay the dues needed. These four though, could be a death or exlie situation.
1. Don't make deals you can't complete.
2. The game of the gods can not be played here. Plans may be made, supplies gotten. But the game can not be played on this station.
3. While passive powers can be used, Active powers are only allowed in certain areas.
4. This is a neutral city. All enemities and such, are to be shelved while here, unless you use the arena.
These were known as the four pillars of the city of the demigods. Four rules that could not be broken in any way. Tinkerson looked through the guide and nothing stood out in regards to all the information he wanted to know. So he went over to Jesary. Who greeted him with a smile and a "I can not tell you how to get into the guildhall."
"Was I that obvious?" Tinkerson asked charigned.
"No." Said Jesary with a smile. But it a common enough question from the students. What I will say to you is this. Have a proper look around and see where people fit in." Tinkerson thought this a bit strange, but decided to do so. He knew the layout. He knew the rules. Now he needed to figure out how this place really worked. So he went and looked round again. The market was what was next to the portal area. Beyond that, the guildhall. To the left was the arena and west seemed to be rows of rooms, that offered various things. He decided to go to the arena first. There, it seemed, seemed to be a cacophony of cheers, screams and weapons clashing. He looked around and acknowledged that this was never going to be a place that he felt comfortable in. That he would suceed in. It seemed to be purely a place of pure war and power. A light went on in his head. He headed over to the place he dubbed the rows. There he took a look around and saw rooms developed to all kinds of things. Of crafts, of finished goods, of discreet little pubs and what looked like coffee shops? He suddenly realised it contained multitudes. He then went to the market and examined it with fresh eyes. Here were all sorts of goods being traded. Some common, some not. Conversations were happening as to plants and monsters and elements. an open auction sat in the middle of this market, where some people obviously not impressed with the prices being offered in the market, tried to sell what they had for a higher price. It was very fluid and situational. Then he went and stood in front of the guildhall. Watched people come in and out, while all the while trying to fit pieces to a puzzle in his head. Then he went back over to the rows, and sat in a coffee shop. Sitting there, with a drink, he thought and thought. Til suddenly, someone tapped him on the shoulder.