[To level :Voice of nothing: the user must: Die, or, accept.]

‘...’

[Any further information is unavailable. Please increase the level of :Voice of nothing: to be able to know any more.]

‘How the fuck am I supposed to level the skill if I don’t know how to and why is the only way to know how to level it?!’ Staring into nothing while replaying what the voice said over and over in my hand, I only started to calm down once I realised I had crushed the spoon in my hand so hard that I started to bleed.

‘Okay, breath. I can’t die without some god given power to resurrect, so my only option is the other option… But thats even more vague then it asking me to kill myself.’

Placing the spoon down and wiping my hand clean, I try to brainstorm what the voice could be talking about. Failing to figure it out as is, I put it on my to do list in the future.

“Heroes, now that you have had breakfast please follow me to the lecture hall.” Looking up I see yet another maid calling out.

Now in what I would refer to as a not great mood, I get up and follow the maid along with the rest of the summoned back to the lecture hall that we had been in yesterday. Picking a random spot, I sit down and wait for who I assume to be Lady Arwin to start the lesson.

“Y’know, even as someone who grew up fighting, I never figured out how to give off intent by myself like you just did.” Hearing a sly and almost mocking tone in my ear, I turn and see the man who had given me a weird look on the first day.

“I assume you are Norsin Gloommoor?” I say, looking at a clean yet casually dressed middle aged man wearing muted colours.

“Seems like you have quite the memory! I can only imagine what being on your hit list must be like. Just thinking of it gives me shivers!” He says, making exaggerated expressions.

Not being in the mood for games, I cut to the chase. “Is there something you want? I don’t know you well enough to do anything for you, so I don’t see any reason to warrant you talking to me.”

“I don’t want anything at the moment, but I do have some words that could interest you. As well as a cautionary tale.”

Looking him dead in the eye, having not yet turned to face him I ask, “Is that a threat?” Hoping to bluff my way out of harm's way. While I may be confident in myself, it has the bonus of letting me realise when I have no chance of winning in a situation face to face.

“It could be, I don’t think it is for you yet though. Things haven’t progressed enough for that yet.” He says, giving a slight smirk that seemed to read as ‘I am well aware that you can’t do anything to me, and I intend to keep it that way.’

Holding his gaze, a tense few moments pass with neither of us exchanging any verbal words.

“Good morning everyone, I hope you had a good sleep and breakfast.” Looking to the podium, I see Lady Arwin speaking to the summoned that were gathered.

Glancing back to Norsin, I can’t help but notice a lack of anyone there, including the aforementioned Norsin. Not having the patience to pursue it further, I turn my attention back to Lady Arwin who was explaining what we had for today.

Seeing an envelope on the small desk in front of me with my name that wasn’t there when I was looking before, I pick it up and slip it into my shirt to read later without much more thought.

“We shall have a brief history lesson before I explain how we will be conducting your education and how lessons will be distributed.

Starting with the history of our kingdom of Devorial. The royal familial name is Develiuse, with the middle name of Ar, Aray for female and male lineage respectively. With the branch family middle names being Areo, and Arok.

While the main family is the direct descendent to the throne, in the event that none of the direct lineage is fit to rule, weather that be due to inadequacy, injuries, or death, the branch family is able to take the place of the heir and inherit the middle name of the main family.

Though this has yet to happen in the brief time of the kingdom's history. The founder of the kingdom, Harik Aray Develiuse, was born in the northeastern part of the continent. Travelling to the land that is Devorial today to find land that he could claim for his people and comrades.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Having to cross the mountains of his homeland, deserts of the east, and plains of the west to settle in this land. Naming the kingdom after himself at the request of his people, he created the branch family to be on a similar level of hierarchy for those that had served him well, whether in combat or otherwise.”

Not caring for the history of the place, I slip in and out of listening while yet again trying to learn more about the voice.

Catching random bits of information such as general topography, hostile and peaceful areas to people of the kingdom, as well as a concerning amount of trivia that I had no care for, I for the most part tune it out.

Still trying to at least find something about how to level the system while completely sidelining the rest of the levelling information.

Not getting anything out of it but more of the same repeated sentences, I get brought back to reality by Lady Arwin moving onto a different subject.

“... While that is the general history of the kingdom, it is not the main focus of today's lecture. I will now discuss the schedules that will be created based on what you choose. While all of you have been given four mandatory classes, there are a number of other lessons that you may take. While you can still learn plenty with just the main three, it is recommended to pick more classes to attend.”

She then moves a stack of paper onto the table she was standing by. Waving her hand, the papers burst out across the room, with two papers landing on each person's desk.

Picking mine up, I flip through them.

‘Mandatory classes: Magic Affinity and the difference between skills, Martial Prowess and how to move, History of all, Basic Etiquette.

Optional classes:

Advanced: Direct combat and how to fool an enemy.

Advanced: Magic and all its differences.

Advanced: Languages from across the realms.

Normal: Etiquette and common courtesy.

Normal: Maps and all their uses.

Advanced: Multi-race tracking and how to travel conspicuously.

Normal: Innate skills, bloodlines, and the power of inheritance.’

Looking over the list of what we can choose, I easily decide on what to pick, though with some hesitation.

“Any lessons that you do not pick to do for now you will do once you complete the ones you choose today.” Learning that, I switch my final answer slightly.

Taking one last look, I confirm that I want to go with: Magic and all its differences, Maps and all their uses, Multi-race tracking and how to travel conspicuously, along with, Innate skills, bloodlines, and the power of inheritance.

Wanting to have picked Languages from across the realms for the overall usefulness, I decide against it as if I decide to stay long enough to get to the second lessons, I’d just learn it then instead.

“To decide what classes you want to take, simply cross them off your list and then bring them to me after we are done.

We will go over a brief portion of what you will be learning in etiquette so you can move around with more ease during your stay. Once we are done with that you will have the rest of the day free to get accustomed to living here. Tomorrow we will go over more etiquette so you may be presented to the king the day after that.

Now, when speaking to nobles of…” Paying close attention to the rest of the lesson, as it will be my lifeline while still in the ‘castle’, the rest of the time left learning breezed by before I even realised.

“...I hope that you will be able to remember what I have taught you here today. Please bring the papers you crossed off what lesson you want to take on to the desk in front of me after signing it. You are dismissed.”

Walking out of the room, I find a place to sit down and read the note I got at the start of the class.

Finding a stone railing to perch on by a back door leading to a garden, I open the letter with curiosity.

‘Hello Erja,

Guess who.

As you already know, there is going to be a field exam a few days after you and the rest of the heroes meet with the king. I know you already have that kid around your finger so I wont bother with that, but I want you to come find me during the exam.

I’ll tell you about what I mentioned before, this time it's not a threat I promise.

P.S

Please burn the note after you read it, thanks!’

Being oh so puzzled as to who on Reldrav could have possibly given me the letter, I wonder what Norsin had in mind. Also realising that what he said before was a threat, I vow to get back at him in the future, no matter how petty it may be!

Wondering where I was going to find fire, I decide to check the canteen as that was the most likely place to have some sort of way to burn paper.

Walking back into the castle, passing a few summoned on the way, I make it to the canteen with no one around. Double checking to make sure that there was no one there, I stroll into the cooking area where to my luck, I find a few match like things that burned the paper with ease.

Hurrying out of the kitchen, I come to a casual pace while not knowing what to do. Meandering around the castle, I come to find a quiet area. Walking a bit further, I find myself in a library.

Getting hit by that nostalgic scent of books, I enter. Wandering the isles with no real idea on what to look for, I pick up random books to peruse their covers and synopsys to see if I should give them a try.

Coming to a section seemingly all about monsters, and specifically humanoid creatures, I continue to pick up random books before I come across one that interests me.

Labelled ‘Humanoid Creatures & Beings That Act and Deceive Humans’, sporting a dark woody green with melding colours that almost look like rust, as well as bronze trimming and embezzlements.