The door was nothing special, and Frederick entered to see the room was just as mundane as the entrance. Simple cobblestone floors upon dirt in a windowless room with one single burning torch hanging from a simple iron sconce bolted to the walls made of simple limestone bricks. It seems rough and simple, as if to send a message to those who come here. Frederick sat on the floor, crossing his legs in the tailor sitting position. Cris-cross applesauce, as they called it in my previous world. I wonder what kind of customary sitting positions people use here?
Frederick began to breathe deeply to relax his mind, attempting to clear it of thoughts. The process was much more difficult than he’d expected, as even his thoughts gave his mind some form of stimulation, and the acute silence as well as the dimly lit room made it difficult not to think about every sensation, including the discomfort he felt from sitting on the dirt and cobblestones. I can’t keep making excuses to not improve. It’s really a shame that I have focused mainly on intellect and physical fitness but neglected meditation and other methods to remain calm and present.
Frederick opened his eyes after these thoughts passed, realizing before he did that his mind would continue to race regardless of his will… for now. However, when he opened his eyes, there was no light… none at all. Is my vision gone? No… it must have to do with the trials. Frederick took a deep breath, then felt the ground around him. It was smooth and cold, the sensation feeling somewhat like glossy, hard plastic. I wonder if the sensations are based on my own perceptions and experience, Frederick theorized.
Frederick closed his eyes, since his vision was useless regardless. He focused on hearing first, but no noises could be heard, not even from his own breathing or heartbeat. He tried grunting, gasping, and shouting even, but no sound was produced. He was able to salivate, but it had no taste. He could feel it in his mouth, but that was the only sensation he could pinpoint. He couldn’t seem to smell anything, either. It seems the only major sensory function I have access to here is my sense of touch. Frederick thought about what this meant.
Besides the ‘major five senses’ that most people in his world were familiar with, during his time as a younger adult and well into his thirties, other theories pertaining to human senses were explored. Eventually, scientists seemed to agree by a large supermajority that any senses that could be trained consciously were considered distinct ‘senses’, and though there were well over a hundred senses ‘discovered’ by the time his life as ‘Matt’ ended, he was only familiar with a few more detailed models of the senses, such as the 20 sense and 33 sense models that were explored earlier on in scientific and medical fields. Also, he couldn’t remember all 33 senses related to the latter model as well as what they pertained to, so he decided to test the 20 senses model instead.
Once more, he breathed in through his nose, exhaling through his mouth as slowly as he could manage. His senses relating to external and internal pressures seemed to function normally, and he could feel his heartbeat and his blood vessels circulating, even if he couldn’t hear his lung or heart activity. I must continue to expand my awareness. Frederick now focused on any senses that extended from his ability to feel or gauge pressure. He noticed he had a sense of balance, and as he moved his body slowly, he could feel his center of balance shift. By that logic, he likely also could sense where his body was in relation to his surroundings.
He sat on what felt like a perfectly flat, solid plane of material in some amount of empty space, and although he couldn’t see, the air was thin here, indicating that it must either be a large space, or a space that was under very little pressure. Despite the air being thin, it didn’t seem to cause issues with his breathing, meaning that the oxygen content of his environment was well balanced for the amount of air pressure. He also could gauge the minute differences in temperature between the environment and even individual parts of his external and internal body. I can sense heat, pressure, relative position, my center of balance… It seems being deprived of most of my major senses allows me to learn about and hone ones I am usually unaware of.
Frederick stood slowly. He could feel the contractions and extensions of his muscles, the rotations of his joints, and the shifting of his bones. This is a lot of sensory information that I’m unfamiliar with. I should practice with what I’ve already learned a bit before I try expanding to any other senses. Frederick moved slowly but with deliberate intent, calculating each move not only intuitively but also mentally, measuring the space without visual data. He managed to take small steps forward at first, commanding his body carefully so as to cautiously advance.
He felt the vibrations that were created when his feet and toes made contact with the flat plane he stood upon, feeling them spread out through the plane and also reverberate slowly through his own body. This gave him a limited awareness of his surroundings, though he couldn’t feel the vibrations being obstructed and his awareness of them vanished after a certain amount of distance. He wasn’t able to tell how far the vibrations traveled, not even to a remotely close estimate, but it was enough for now that he could feel the directions that they traveled around him. I shouldn’t get excited about learning this as I’ll be likely to overestimate my abilities later if I do. Frederick continued his deep breathing to calm himself, then sat back down after clearing his mind somewhat. There is no need to rush yet. I can keep my relative time internally, based on my resting heart rate. I have no other way to measure it yet, but I won’t worry for now.
As he focused on clearing his mind, his eyes began to develop in another way. He still couldn’t see anything except the darkness around him, but he could detect his own body heat visually. Vision similar to a snake. This could be useful later if I can learn it. Still, it will be much harder to do so without this level of sensory deprivation. As he looked down at his sweaty hands, he felt a few ripples reach him, vibrations traveling from afar.
Are those vibrations ripples that rebounded from the nearest wall, if there are such things? Or perhaps… is something else here in the dark? “Follow my voice,” Frederick spoke, even though he himself couldn’t hear the words, hoping that they would echo through the empty space. He could detect the vibrations of the words he spoke traveling from him, but he couldn’t hear the words as he normally would.
Realizing that the vibrations traveled in specific patterns, he tested his voice a few more times. The words are distinct in what vibrations they create… If I could learn to measure the vibrations by the words spoken, I may eventually learn to hear even when deafened, by translating the vibrations into the words they came from in my mind.
However, before he could think about the possibilities that came with that further, his major senses began returning to him one by one. He was in the room, sitting criss-cross as he was before on the cold, hard cobblestone floor. It felt as if someone had stolen the very vigor of life itself from Frederick. Though my senses are back, I feel empty and hollow. I wonder if that means that having such heightened sensory awareness can be both a curse as well as a blessing?
The door opened on its own, with no one standing in the entryway. It seems this is another part of the trial, Frederick mused as he stood and wobbled his way to the doorway, slowly readjusting to his mundane, normal human senses. Even though his vision was clear, he felt dizzy and uncoordinated. Even though his sense of taste and smell had returned, he felt nauseated and all smells were repulsive. Even though his hearing had returned, the sound of his own movements boomed like a thunderclap, disorienting him and messing with not only his hearing but his balance. The only sense that seemed dull by comparison was his sense of touch, which he’d retained after his time in the darkness.
He stumbled sluggishly into the hallway, more enduring his senses rather than utilizing them. Looking slowly to the right, he noticed the hallway wasn’t a hallway at all. It was merely another empty, simple room outside the one he was standing in. I’m definitely still in the trial, as I wouldn’t forget an entire hallway being here, Frederick observed. He looked around the room, seeing if there was anything tangible to note within. I wish there were windows to the outside in this room. Frederick continued scanning the room, but as soon as this thought passed, a window seemed to materialize upon the wall he faced. It was small and had a minor, rounded arch, just as he’d imagined one in his mind.
“No way…” Frederick uttered as he approached the window to look through. The outside appeared much different than it should have, though, containing what appeared to be a flat meadow of reddish-orange clusters of grass growing from the dry bluish-gray ground.The sky was a vivid yet bright blue, and the pale blue sun was shining above with overbearing radiance during midday. In the distance there was a slow-moving river that appeared to be a shade of deep aquamarine in color.
Frederick was able to distinguish every color in the spectrum of light by even slight changes for a few moments of blinding clarity, but soon his vision soon adjusted and grouped the colors together naturally, and he was no longer able to observe the tiniest changes in hue or saturation. This isn’t possible. Or, perhaps in this trial, nothing is impossible… It seems my thoughts are not manifest directly, but only if I wish for something to be will it manifest. Frederick wondered about the limits of this trial’s manifestation abilities, deciding to test its limits with more specific ideas.
“I could use a strong, attractive body that will neither age nor die, and would love to see what that looks like based on a future version of myself,” Frederick requested, asking for the most ridiculous and greedy thing he could readily imagine. However, a mirror appeared near the window, revealing him as he was prior - an average child of moderate height and decent musculature due to his own training, with short, pale bluish-gray hair, deep violet eyes, and skin that was nearly as unsaturated as light gray ashes.
It seems I expected too much. However, it is good to take note of my own appearance and description factors, especially should such information ever be used against me in some way. Frederick put a bit more thought into his next idea. “Please manifest training equipment in this room and expand the room itself to allow more space. I require equipment that I am familiar with from my previous world and time living there, as I remember the equipment to be.”
Without warning the room began to stretch out. Even the material of the room seemed to change to a solid, dark gray concrete-like material, similar to gyms in his own world. Equipment that was easy to recognize from gyms in the post-digital era he lived in could be found everywhere, from analog gear such as dumbbells, barbells, and weighted training machines, to more complex equipment involving gears, pulleys, belts, bands, etc.
Frederick knew that based on the speed and ease from which his desires manifested from this command that the more specific he was about his wishes, the easier they would come to fruition here. In that case…
“I wish to alter the natural laws governing this universe so that they match those of the universe I lived in prior temporarily, for a period of one minute by my previous world’s measurement standards, and I wish for any changes to those physical laws, such as gravity, space, time, matter, structure, or even thermodynamics to be both sensed by my body if possible, but also explained in my mind by the architect of this trial, who is able to fully understand its functions.”
Suddenly, the entire space vanished into thin air, leaving only a vast, blank white space. In the distance on this flat plan, there was a simple round table with two chairs, jet-black in color. Sitting in a chair on the right hand side from Frederick's point of view, there sat a humanoid figure, perhaps merely a silhouette, composed of what appeared to be pale gray light, void of any saturated colors.
Frederick willed himself mentally to be seated in the chair across from the figure, and it became so. The figure himself was faceless and nearly formless aside from being somewhat humanlike in stature. More likely to be relatable to me. “This space, or perhaps dimension… I assume you are its creator?”
The figure of light opened a mouth that seemed to contain condensed, concentrated shadows. As it spoke, their ‘mouth’ moved in accordance with their words. “I have some theories as to how a child of this world has arrived here, since I am no longer able to hear the desires of any who enter the spaces I designed. Nor can I read your memories, as that function has long been disabled. However, unless you willed yourself here directly with the password, which would be most likely impossible for one your age in your current world, I assume you must have broken some fundamental laws of the universe that you currently live in, causing the balance of it and any connected universes to momentarily collapse. It likely has to restructure itself to return to its former state in your absence, having sent you here against your will. Do you understand what this means, child?”
Frederick considered the consequences of meddling with the basic laws of the universe he lived in. “I’m probably going to be designated as a potential threat to the universe, which will cause me to face more ‘misfortune’ than normal, likely placed as ‘obstacles’ that will prevent me from meddling further with physical laws. I would also wager that the trials will have concluded for me as soon as I leave this space, regardless of whether I’ve been considered successful or not.”
The figure’s shadow-mouth twisted into a wide, devious grin. “You are far too astute to be a mere child. What are you?”
“What do I gain from answering that question? Rather, what would you gain from knowing the answer?” Frederick responded.
The figure’s dark smile returned to a normal, thin line of shadow, indicating a closed mouth and a neutral expression. There was a palpable tension in the air before they opened their shadow-mouth to speak once more. “You gain nothing from answering this question, though one should never try to gain something in return for nothing.”
“The law of equivalent exchange, known by many other names as well,” Frederick responded. “Fair enough. I am known by two names—Frederick and Matthew. Though neither name is important intrinsically, what is valuable information is that more than one main universe, and perhaps timeline, exists within my mind. And that predates my knowledge and presence in this space. To my personal knowledge, there are at least two separate universes, and although I’m not sure if any physical laws are actually different between the two, I do know that the location I inhabit in this one is far different from where I lived in my previous life.”
The figure’s mouth turned up in a smirk. “Surely that isn’t all the information you can bargain with. I am an immortal metaphysical being, after all.”
Frederick grinned as well. So, they are immortal and metaphysical, but enjoy the process of negotiation it seems. “Moreover, I have a working theory that allows for the possibility of infinite universes to exist among various spaces and points in time, also operating under different realities and physical laws. This is a very surface level explanation of what I know or can theorize, but there is far more information to hear if you wish for me to convey it to you. However, I am also short on time, currently, as I am on a strict deadline to complete certain tasks.”
The being seemed interested throughout most of his explanation, but only barely. At least, until he closed his explanation with the statement of being short on time. “Unfortunately, I am not powerful enough to create a time dilation or freeze in this space. Hm… perhaps you would like to trade information with someone intellectually superior like myself at a later time?”
That wasn’t a question, but a request. However, this being also retains some sort of ego, and it seems they consider themselves very special. Therefore, I should try to haggle for something in return. “The sheer volume of Information that exists in my mind makes it quite valuable. While it cannot be compared to the volume you’ve no doubt amassed, my limited lifespan also limits what knowledge I can gain, and so I would prefer not to part with everything in one session. Especially since I have much to do in my own world, currently.”
The figure’s smile grew, almost to the extent that it was the craven grin of someone of an unstable mind. “You have intrigued me. Very well, you are free to return here whenever you wish, simply will yourself into this dimension when you feel you have time to do so. I’ll accommodate you. Also, as a token of my generosity, I will grant you one wish within my power upon your return to your world, as well as give you one valuable piece of information you desire prior to that.”
Frederick smiled. “Let us begin with the information first. I wish to pass my trials with my current abilities. How do I accomplish that?”
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
The figure seemed a bit confused. “You mean you don’t already know? Coming to this space means you not only passed the trials… you essentially overcame the concept of a ‘trial’ itself, even if by accident. Any rewards or aftereffects associated with your trials will be granted to you by the powers that be in your own world.”
Good to know. However… “For my wish, I desire to be able to negotiate for more wishes of the same nature with information I possess… later. A single wish can be a curse over time, even if granted. But if I was able to earn multiple wishes, I could negate the disadvantages that came with my previous wish requests.”
The figure laughed. “Instead of using your information to trade for information I possess, you wish to trade for wishes I can grant you? That is an odd choice considering how much more valuable information is across all dimensions…”
Frederick nodded in agreement. “That is true, however, I needed time in order to amass this amount of knowledge… I believe time is the most valuable resource, even beyond information itself, and something that currently I am in short supply of. Therefore, I will find a way not only to expand my knowledge base, but to also extend my time if possible so that I can accumulate more information. In order to secure that possibility, however, I need to obtain the power to safeguard both myself and all that I care for, minimizing distracting circumstances.”
The figure seemed contemplative for a bit, mouthing words silently to itself with its mouth-shadows. I think I would like to see its real form at some point. As soon as Frederick thought this, though, the figure dispersed altogether and reappeared as a simple ball of pale gray light. Frederick’s eyes widened. “The functions of your space are granted to me even in this location?”
The ball of light recreated its mouth of shadows, albeit smaller. “You are very astute, and this is an unexpected but welcome surprise, I suppose. Are you perhaps a person of extraordinary intellect from your original universe?”
Frederick pondered this for a moment. “I wouldn’t say my intellect is insignificant, but it’s not far beyond what is considered normal, either. Those who manage to retain their cognitive abilities by the age I reached previously are quite rare, however, and so most people can’t absorb as much knowledge as I did by merely living as long as I had. I wasn’t particularly productive among my own people, either. I was considered quite lazy, in fact.”
The figure seemed fascinated by these bits of information. “That is astounding. Perhaps it’s not right of me to tell you this, but morality was always for mortals. In your current universe, if you were much older yet possessed the same base of knowledge you have revealed to me here, much less the amount actually retained in your memories, you would be considered a ‘Sage’. Someone of great wisdom and experience. The average person is fortunate if they live into late adulthood in your world, and so knowledge is at a premium here.”
Frederick sighed. That’s both good and bad I guess, considering others from my world also exist here. Of course, revealing that would reduce my ability to negotiate here, so no need to reveal that. Instead, I’ll humor this being a bit more. “I’d wager that is something I’d have learned in short order regardless, considering my current location in the world I live in now, also including my observation abilities as a factor. Regardless, you have my thanks for expediting my process of learning. If there is a way for me to speak to you from my own dimension, even if limited, I could always make these conversations more frequent. Otherwise, it may be a fair amount of time before we meet again.”
The ball of light seemed a bit excited after hearing this, its shadowy grin contorting into odd shapes and its light becoming a somewhat solid gray rather than the previously pale hue it had retained thus far. “Very well. I am able to bring you here in person, so I can effortlessly connect your mind to this place should you want to communicate with me. All you need to do is exert your will to speak with me. Once connected, we can communicate within your thoughts, though my own responses will be somewhat delayed so that they can stand out in your mind. Can I assume this means you’re willing to negotiate trading your information for having some wishes granted here and there?”
Frederick nodded. “I do not wish to abuse the privilege, and so I’d prefer the wishes not be anything too unrealistic in my current situation and environment at the time. Instead, I’d prefer to trade small amounts of valuable information for having minor wishes granted. Things that I could accomplish or abilities I could acquire on my own granted I put in the time and effort, but that your power could grant instantly and save me time to do other things. I will trust your fair judgment on whether the trade is equivalent or not, by your own standards.”
The being’s mouth disappeared and their form became pale gray once more. “Then we have a deal. I eagerly await our next conversation.”
With these worlds, Frederick’s vision disappeared completely momentarily and all sensory information was cut off. Just as suddenly, he regained consciousness in his own world, still seated in the exact position he remembered being in prior to the first part of his trials. He stood and left the room to no fanfare, entering the stony hallways. There were no others around, but Frederick remembered the direction from which he came and followed the hallway in order to return to the main chapel within the cathedral. The Bishop sat in a chair, calmly reading what appeared to be a form of holy text from a leather bound book. Frederick’s presence wasn’t noticed for a few moments.
“Did you learn or gain anything valuable, child?” the Bishop asked with a knowing smile.
By his reaction, he assumes or perhaps even knows I passed without any explanation. Frederick gathered his thoughts for a moment more. “More than I’d ever bargained for, and perhaps more than I deserve.”
The Bishop paused, looking up from his book. He seemed a bit befuddled by Frederick’s reply. “More than you deserve? How would a child know their own worth as an individual? Unless… you gained something more valuable than merely insight?”
That answers one question I had, but I still wonder what would have happened if I had not passed the trial. “Does failure lead to demise in these trials?”
The Bishop nodded without skipping a beat. “Unfortunately. Which is why although I am not allowed to stop you, I did at least caution you. It appears my concern was unnecessary in your case though, thank the light.”
Frederick sighed in relief. “I met a being during the trials.”
The Bishop chuckled. “That’s normal. What did they appear as?”
So it’s normal to meet the architect of the space… I wonder if others who reincarnated here after adulthood are able to retrace memories their mind had prior to being here like I can. The first one I met, named Eric, seems to be able to. However, he also doesn’t seem to have memories of the life lived by the previous inhabitant of his body. I’ll have to discreetly look into information about reincarnation and possibly find others in similar situations… though hopefully without revealing my own circumstances next time.
Frederick recalled his interactions with the being from another dimension. “They were… composed of gray light, I suppose.”
The Bishop gasped. “You saw their true form?” He questioned with a serious expression.
Frederick shrugged. “Whether or not that was their ‘true’ form is beyond me, but that is the form they appeared to me as.”
The Bishop paused for a bit. “If you’d agree to it, I would like to perform some tests to see if you have certain… aptitudes and skills. After we divine your life’s mission, of course”
So they have a way of measuring potential in this world? That is a very interesting revelation. “How much time do these tests require, including the divination?”
The Bishop went silent for about five seconds as he seemed to be searching for a way to explain the time that would pass. “About as long as it takes to eat a full dinner.”
So, not overly long. I can lose that much time in order to learn some things. “Alright, that’s fine. I agree to be tested for my aptitudes as soon as we finish the divination. I’ll follow your lead, sir.”
The Bishop nodded, setting his book on the table softly and standing from his chair. He pushed the chair in while stretching a bit, then turned to walk away, signaling Frederick with a hand gesture to follow along. Frederick observed a few people as they passed by the Bishop and himself, noting their reactions along the way. Some were curious, some seemed friendly and gave both the Bishop and himself smiles while remaining silent, but most of the people moving about the halls would pass by without even acknowledging his presence, merely giving a simple nod in the Bishop’s general direction while passing by.
Eventually, they came to a rounded alcove where there was a large bowl of crystal-clear water placed atop a small stone podium. However, when Frederick came nearer to it, the surface of the water began to shine like a silvery mirror, albeit one that reflected nothing at the moment. The Bishop gestured for Frederick to move close to the bowl, and as he did, images began to flash rapidly along the surface. As if he was watching a motion picture from his previous world, although no such technology seemed to exist here.
This is some sort of magical artifact, most likely, Frederick guessed. “How do I find my life mission here? How do I divine it?”
The Bishop shook his head. “I cannot tell you that, only that you will know when you see it for yourself. How you search for the answer is up to you. I will say this, however—everyone who completes their divination receives some sort of ability, which acts as both a blessing in life, and a curse that kills should one reveal their life mission to another person.”
Frederick looked at the Bishop for a moment. “Are these abilities abnormal or beyond what we’re normally capable of?”
The Bishop seemed taken aback by the question, but chuckled after regaining his composure. “It does happen from time to time, though it’s fairly uncommon. Don’t get your hopes up, though—most of those who possess special abilities tend to find that those abilities lose their usefulness fairly soon, as they tend not to exist beyond the scope of one’s own potential.
Frederick turned his attention back to the bowl. The mirror-like surface came to life again, but the same images he’d seen before flashed before his eyes again. He closed his eyes for a few moments, and then opened them once more. The same images occurred a third time. This must mean I am supposed to learn something from seeing these images. He watched the images replay many times, seeing bloody and brutal fields of battle, massive gatherings of people, the organized march of various other creatures wearing armor and wielding weapons, as well as mundane scenes such as bustling marketplaces, calm but windy grasslands, serene forests and rapid streams, as well as fields of flowers.
However, something stood out in stark contrast to all of these common scenes that could be seen in one’s life — a desolate wasteland of charcoal-colored sand was among the final images shown, one that seemed to have no wind, no life at all. Not even the skeletons of dead creatures or people could be spotted. Only blackened dunes of coarse sand.
This image also seemed to remain visible noticeably longer than the others. This could be related to the shortage of resources in this world… Perhaps my mission is something related to solving that issue to prevent such a future? As if responding to Frederick’s thoughts, all images vanished and would no longer appear, granting him something similar to an answer for his thoughts. After watching to confirm no more images would appear for a few moments, Frederick took a few steps away from the bowl and the water returned to its normal, crystal-clear appearance.
The Bishop stood resolutely. “Well?”
Frederick shook his head. “You already know I cannot speak of it.”
The Bishop smiled. “Good. While you cannot speak of your mission, you should be able to realize a new ability in a few short moments. Worry not—you are free to share it, as it is not forbidden to speak of… well, if you want to. Speaking of your newfound abilities is also not required by law or anything.”
Frederick closed his eyes, waiting as patiently as he could for his new ability to manifest or otherwise become known to him. Nothing happened for several moments, but just before Frederick would have opened his eyes, blue letters began to appear in his mind. He waited a few moments for the text to completely appear. “It seems text appeared in my mind… it reads ‘Unknown Potential Ability’, though I am unsure if that means that it’s related to my unknown potential or if it means the ability is not even certain to exist.”
The Bishop’s expression darkened. “That’s very strange… I’ve never even heard of such a vague ability appearing. Abilities gained through personal trials have always been known to be very specific and clear in their usage.”
Frederick shrugged. “Perhaps the aptitude tests might be helpful?”
The Bishop sighed, turning to lead Frederick once more. “I pray that is the case. It would be very disadvantageous for someone as young as you to leave here without an ability after passing your trials. There are people who prey on those who recently passed, and they are skilled enough at learning new information that they likely already know about your presence and reasons for coming to this Cathedral.”
Frederick followed the Bishop in silence until they reached a room with a simple, glassy orb attached to a short metal post. “That orb is called an “Orb of Limitations”. Although the name was given to it with the knowledge that it shows your current limits, do not allow that to discourage you, as it also shows what talents and aptitudes you have. How many stardays have you lived through thus far?”
“Five,” Frederick replied.
The Bishop stared for a few moments. “That is very young indeed. I say you look about the age of a boy who has lived through seven stardays. Your fitness level is fairly high even for that age group, though. You must be fairly diligent in your training to achieve such results.”
Frederick knew this wasn’t meant as a compliment but a mere statement of fact, and so chose not to focus on that. “How do I perform the test?”
The Bishop placed his own hand on the orb. Light began to shine in the center of the clear orb, and it soon projected a circular area against the back wall that displayed various information as words and numbers. The Bishop was much more skilled and powerful than he seemed at first glance.
The Bishop pointed to a section labeled ‘skills’. “You can read my information in this circle. As you can see, I have a high aptitude for faith magic, and despite my already high skills in both, have much room to grow in both the divination and the restoration subcategories of faith magic. My physical strength and agility are comparable to a young adult’s, despite my advanced age. The way the information is displayed here is based on the most efficient form that you know how to gauge information about yourself, and so it will appear differently depending on how you view information as a whole.”
Frederick nodded in understanding as the Bishop removed his hand from the orb, causing the projection to disappear after a moment. Frederick then placed his own hand on the orb. It projected a tall rectangle instead this time, and it seemed to display his aptitudes, skills, and abilities in a layout similar to a character in a role-playing game.
He noticed that there were many values displayed numerically as well, such as his physical and mental abilities and certain skills, and all of those values had what appeared to be a current and maximum value divided into two brackets. Almost as if I was a character in a video game. It had been many long years since he’d touched a game console, even a handheld one, and so it was odd to him that he wanted to write down the information. “I am sorry to bother you with this, but can I ask you a favor, Bishop, sir?”
The Bishop nodded. “As long as I am allowed and capable, I can assist you.”
Frederick kept his hand on the orb but used his other to pull out a blank sheet of parchment from a side pocket in his backpack and handed it to the Bishop. He then dug into the pocket to pull out a small stick of charcoal. “Could I ask you to record the information as displayed here to the best of your abilities? I may need to know it later.”
The bishop accepted the parchment and charcoal stick and wrote down the information right away. He handed it back to Frederick, who then checked it for accuracy. Once he was satisfied that they read essentially the same, he removed his hand from the orb, ending the projection. Although my information appears like a character profile from an RPG, that doesn’t mean that this is a game. After all, the Bishop did say that information appears to the tester in the way most convenient for them to understand. “Thank you for your help, Bishop, sir. I don’t seem to have much room to grow physically at the moment, but I noticed there was a lot of room to grow where things called “energy” and “arcana” were concerned. Who would I visit to explore that?”
The Bishop turned away before giving an explanation. “There is a magecraft guild somewhat near the south gate. People close to it can give you specific directions. They can help you learn about your arcana. As for energy… it’s a vague term, but I imagine it’s likely something similar to a warrior’s spirit. Possibly a way of measuring or enhancing your potential to exceed your normal physical limits. High-ranking soldiers and mercenaries have achieved such results on rare occasions, but it’s normally limited only to the most talented and skilled of knights. You probably won’t be able to reach that level for many years even with focused daily training.”
Frederick smiled in gratitude. “Thank you. I won’t forget your guidance as well as your kindness.”
The Bishop waved a hand dismissively. “Think nothing of it. However, I have to return to my duties now, so I will escort you back to the front entrance.”
I wish he could give me concrete information about ‘energy’, but it seems that it being an unknown term makes it a bit difficult. I couldn’t fathom what it represents currently, either. Regardless, it has a lot of growth potential, since I have only reached about three percent of my current limits in that area. Frederick exited the Cathedral to notice that the sun was not yet setting, but was much lower in the sky than when he’d entered the Cathedral. “I’m a bit late it seems.”
The woman who guarded the entrance during the service was nowhere to be seen, nor was the stool she sat on. Frederick wanted to ask her for directions on his way out, but it seems that wasn’t in the cards for him. He felt quite worn out, having slept very seldom and for short periods in the past two days. He decided to stay the night and leave first thing in the morning. He returned to the stables to collect his horse. The plain girl with the cheerful attitude who worked there greeted him with a wide grin. “You’re back! You must be pretty special to have passed the trials. Maybe I’ll give it a shot myself later.”
Frederick smiled back, but his eyes told a different story. “I wouldn’t risk it unless you have to. Life is best when enjoyed at one’s own pace… I only tried because I was forced to.”
“What do you mean? Who forced you?” the girl inquired.
Frederick shook his head. “Sorry. Everyone needs some secrets. Honestly, though, my passing was mostly due to blind luck.”
The girl frowned. “You're no fun. Well, I’ll untie your horse for you. Any plans on where to stay? It will be getting dark in a while.”
Frederick took out his map in response, looking at the four inns he’d marked earlier with help from the meat merchant. The nearest one to him also happened to be the one the merchant said was least expensive, albeit with terrible food. “Yeah. I’ll probably go somewhere nearby,” he replied as he returned his map to his backpack.
The girl handed the reins of Frederick’s horse to him after she untied it from a post in the stable’s stall. “Okay. Safe travels,” she responded curtly as the woman who had previously guarded the front entrance during the earlier service entered the stables. Frederick left in silence as the woman observed him, but she didn’t seem interested in stopping him or speaking to him this time. As he walked his horse down the center of the streets, he checked his map occasionally to make sure he was going the right way. He would reach his destination shortly…