Chapter 22:

Level: 1

Status: Tier 4: Valhalla Proper

Weapon proficiencies

Sword: F-4

Spear: F-2

Striking: F-7

Halberd: D-3

Dagger: F-9

Grappling: F-7

Stats

Strength: 23

Speed: 31

Constitution: 12

Focus: 2

Free Points: 3

Blessing: Loki's Eye

Class: N/A

Strength: +0

Speed: +0

Constitution: +0

Question Everything

Focus: +2

Jester Shop Access

Additional effects: ???

There was so much more new information. The status ritual results spilled across the floor. The very end was just under the bed, forcing me to lift the blanket off the floor to get a full look at it.

It was going to start getting difficult to use this anywhere with the new space requirements. I made a note to myself to look into finding a way to customize the results. But first, I needed to consider the changes.

I had levels now.

Sure, I was only level 1, but that was answering many questions I originally had about why it had seemed so bare bones when I first found out about it. The levels field helped explain the free points I had in my Stats section. It was a fairly simple idea to gain points through levels. I was surprised that points could be earned this way rather than only trained for. Though thinking back, Loki did hint at that. It's probably what he meant when he told me I didn't want to get permanent stat point boosts yet.

Also, since I had gotten so many stats before I got to level 1, presumably, getting to level 2 would be much easier to reach. Then, I would get more stats. My advantage would shrink as we got to higher levels compared to someone with average stats. Still, I supposed it was up to me to take advantage and turn it into something more tangible. Clearly, just going for levels would be squandering it.

The next largest question I had was the Focus attribute. That I could get new types of stats was game-changing. It seemed to come from my blessing. Or did I get the stat some other way, and my blessing just revealed the bonus now? I had no way to tell.

Also, what did the attribute do? It wasn't as obvious as the base ones. I would need to ask around about this without tipping my hand too much.

If I got other attributes, it was a fair assumption that others would as well. What attribute would a follower of Thor get?

I narrowed my eyes at the runes in front of me, trying to see if I could notice a difference in my ability to focus.

After a few moments, I relaxed. There might have been something there, but I couldn't tell if it was just my emotions playing tricks on me or something real. If I could get some training in it, I might be able to tell the difference. Or maybe it did something else entirely.

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I noted a couple of proficiency improvements and was satisfied with my progress. Only the shop access remained, and I felt that was rather self-explanatory. I would have to drop in and talk to Loki soon.

Now, I was left with just one question. Looking down at the bloody runes carved into my floorboards, I asked no one. "How the fuck do I assign free points?"

***

After giving up on going to sleep, I left my room to see if I could find Bjorn and Jonas. There were just too many questions floating around in my head. About the stats, the challenge, how this place really worked, and just how were they doing?

Heading down to the common room, I found that I wasn't the only one unable to go to sleep. Whether it was just a habit or just no one could sleep, I wasn't sure. I found everyone who had followed me to the rooms drinking below. Even some who hadn't gone with my group had found their way there as well, but I didn't see my friends among them.

Looking at the building, I saw that there was no way it could hold a month of people coming from the Lesser Hall if the class size was near the same size.

As one of the servers handed me a drink, I grabbed his wrist and held him in place. I gave him a smile to reassure him that I didn't mean him any harm. I leaned in and nearly had to shout over the noise of the boisterous party. The man leaned his ear closer to my mouth to hear. "Are all the newcomers here? I'm looking for some friends."

The server shook his head and this time it was my turn to lean in for the in ear shouting. "No, there are a few around the city. We get a new batch each week."

I thanked the man and let him go. I would have given him a tip, but I didn't have any coin. That was going to be a problem. In the future, it was obvious that I would need resources now that everything wasn't provided for me by default. Who would have thought I would miss the Lesser Hall?

That was a bit of an exaggeration. But it was unavoidable to recognize that my life, or afterlife, had become a lot more complicated. Each day wasn't going to be the same. The same repeat of violence and feasting. This was what I had wanted, right? It was, but now the choices seemed overwhelming. I took a deep breath and reminded myself that it was only overwhelming because I didn't really know my options.

My first priority was to learn the new rules. I was not nearly naive enough to assume that the orientation was enough to convey enough information.

My second priority was to make more friends. The five-person group requirement made it painfully obvious that teamwork would be critical here. A balanced party seemed like it would be necessary to do well in the challenge. I didn't want to find out what doing poorly would get me.

The third priority was to learn how to assign stats.

I had several others, but they were all more minor. Find out more about women's situations. Learn more about the gods. What was next in the halls above us? Find and talk to Loki.

Moving toward the door, I stopped in my tracks. In the entryway, a familiar face appeared.

Bjorn shoved people out of his way, and Jonas's face appeared over his shoulder. Now fully inside the building, Bjorn towered over most of the people. His head swiveled as he scanned the crowd. When his eyes met mine, a wide smile broke out on his face.

"Miles!" He roared over the noise, and we both started pushing our way toward each other. To my surprise, we met about halfway, but I was still getting used to my increased strength.

Still, my newfound strength did little to protect me from the rib-cracking embrace Bjorn swept me up in. Jonas grabbed me next, and we yelled at each other over the noise.

"I can't believe you made it so fast!" He said. "Well, I can, but still!"

I just laughed. "I was just about to go find the two of you. Someone said there are other newbie houses."

As we talked, I pushed them to the door so we could hear each other think about the party going on around us. Besides, I had things we needed to do.

The cool air hit us outside, and I could see that the light was fading into twilight.

"We saw your fight," Bjorn repeated in a softer voice now that we were outside.

"Fucking Brilliant!" Jonas shouted as he also stepped out behind us. "Bjorn was telling me about what an ass Saladin is, and I'm glad you beat him that way."

Bjorn smiled and nodded along. He pointed us down the street, and we began to walk at a leisurely pace.

"Just imagine his face when he learns that everyone could see him lose like that," Jonas said with a laugh.

I just shook my head. "Yeah, it certainly felt good. But enough about me. What have y'all been up to?"

"Not much," Jonas said.

"Yeah, we got here yesterday and then crashed. Spent most of the day watching the bouts." Bjorn explained.

"Were people coming all day?" I asked, surprised. It might have been possible, as time seemed nothing more than a minor impediment to the gods running this place.

"No, no. You were the only group. But there are a lot of duels running constantly throughout the day. And Miles." Jonas paused for a second. "Miles, you need to see the magic."

"The whole place around us is magic," I said, playing dumbly. "What new thing do they have to spring on us?"

Bjorn and Jonas exchanged a quick glance. "No, the magic the women use."

This caught me off guard. It was not as much as they had expected, but still. I figured that the women were being tested in something different than the men were. After all, if we were doing the same thing, then why would they separate us only to put us both in Valhalla Proper? But that they were learning honest to gods magic? Well, Loki had said I could learn magic. Or at least had implied it.

I just stared at them until they explained further.

"They didn't fight duels like us to get in," Jonas said. "They fought wizard duels for the most part."

Bjorn chucked at that. I raised my eyebrow at him, and he elaborated with a full belly laugh. "Apparently, a wizard duel just means that magic is within the rules. That doesn't mean all the witches are cowards. Many won by punching their opponents into submission."

"So they learned both magical and physical combat?" I would need to make sure we got women in our group. Not just for their power and versatility, but I wanted magic as well.