“Uhh, Hi. I noticed you were still awake.” The other hatchling said. He paused awkwardly, staring up at Ander from the floor. After a moment he decided to scramble to the top of the bunk adjacent to the one Ander was in. “Wow. Everything is so old and new at the same time.” The hatchling wore a dazed look that made him faintly look like he was high.
“Hi, um, do you have a name?” Ander asked. He was trying to be polite, but he didn’t want to waste his time talking to this other hatchling when he could be inspecting this new sword and armor he had found in his inventory.
“No, I don’t think so.” The hatchling responded half distracted looking at the plain bunk room as though it contained the secrets of the universe. “Do you? Have a name I mean.”
“Ander.”
“Ahh, umm, nice to meet you I suppose? At least I think that is how you say it.” The other hatchling frowned as he got lost in his own head for a moment. “How did you get a name? I believe the attendants and the guards all had ones, and I would like to have one too.” Ander wasn’t about to reveal to some random person that he was from a different planet. Still, he had to come up with some sort of clever reason as to why he had a name.
“I liked Ander, so I chose it. I am Ander now.” Smooth as silk. Still, the other hatchling seemed to buy it, falling into a state of introspection again.
“Karsish.”
“What?” Ander asked, a little incredulous.
“Karsish. I like it. I am Karsish now.” Well that was quick.
“Nice to meet you Karsish. Now why don't we get some sleep huh? We want to be well rested for whatever they throw at us tomorrow.” If he could get the guy to go to sleep he could check on his new equipment.
“I couldn’t possibly go to sleep. I can’t see why anyone can go to sleep. Everything is so old and new and old and new.” The hatchling was still looking around with eyes held far too wide.
“Ok man, calm down for a moment. What’s going on, it is almost like you got drugged or something.” The insinuation of drugs didn’t seem to alarm the man at all.\
“No. It’s the skill. It changes everything, but it is always what it always was.”
“What skill?”
“Archive of the Ancestral Sage. My Ancestral Memory skill was automatically upgraded to it. There was this man, Salokish, who became a great sage. I have his memories, his knowledge, his perspectives. It is all so much. I can’t help but see the world both as a new hatchling as well as a man who lived to be five centuries old. Sorry if I babble. It is all so hard to take in.” That was a new one. It seemed to be an inferior version of Walker of Memories, offering just one perspective to look from. Still, it seemed to be far deeper and more integrated, as Karsish seemed to be experience the other man’s life and perspectives as he was doing something else. This was incredibly interesting to Ander, and he wondered if Walker of Memories could do the same thing, if he ever figured out how to level it up.
“Hey, Karsish.” Ander said. “You need to sleep. We are all exhausted, and it is likely doing you no favors in trying to understand your new skill.
“I suppose you are right. Though I did hear the attendant say something about you having a skill?”
“I suppose.” Ander worked to come up with a lie quickly. “I didn’t realize that the circle of women was supposed to give me a skill. I had it from the moment I hatched. It isn’t anything special though, just the simple Ancestral Memory.” Ander was pleased with his lie, though it wasn’t his best. It should be just the right amount of believable for this distractible hatchling. And as he suspected, Karsish bought it hook line and sinker. Karsish gave a disappointed look.
“It is a pity. From what you have said it seems my experience is somewhat unique. It would be nice to have someone to talk to about it who understands.
“Sorry Karsish. Can’t really help you there. I wish you luck though.” And he really couldn’t. He had no idea what it was like to be a true hatchling, knowing nothing until having unfamiliar memories shoved into his head. Even though he had part of this experience, his memories of his previous life changed his perspective entirely.
“No, do not be sorry. It is simply rare. For two people to be born with abilities is already far more rare, even if one was simply born with the normal Ancestral Memory.” Ander couldn’t help but think of his long list of skills and abilities when Karsish said this.
“I’m going to sleep. I am too tired to keep chatting.” Ander announced. Karsish simply nodded absentmindedly before resting his chin on his closed fist. Ander laid down, intending to pretend to go to sleep until Karsish fell asleep himself. But instead, he fell into dreamless slumber himself being far more tired than he had formerly realized.
The next few days were both hectic and laid back. There really was little for him to do. They were let into a courtyard with what looked to be modified children’s toys. It had weighted balls they could lift or play with, as well as a large jungle gym that they encouraged them to make use of. Ander tried it out of boredom, and found that there were a few different paths you could take through the construction. Each tested an individual's strength, speed, and dexterity and was surprisingly fun. Ander didn’t go for that kind of thing personally, but with nothing else to do it became his go to activity. It was even harder than it would be normally, given the state his stats were in.
Ander
Level 23
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Race: Exodari
Subrace: Oritol
HP: 1100
MP: 1120
SP: 1300
Strength 140
Dexterity 20
Agility 100
Toughness 60
Constitution 110
Perception 60
Intelligence 35
Memory 15
Conductivity 56
Wisdom 56
Regeneration 56
Beauty 33
Presence 56
All stats reduced due to effect [Young In Body]
[Young in Body]
Your physical body is too young to withstand your greater attributes As such, they have been temporarily reduced to limit damage to your body.
Current reduction: 50%
Ander’s stats were effectively half of what they should be at the moment. That was a rough realization to make. It meant that there was a cost to reincarnation he hadn’t understood. Last time, his stats as a human were low enough that it didn’t matter. But now he would have to wait weeks as his Quickened Growth status effect ran its course yet again.
Quickened Growth.
This status effect was applied by the Reincarnation Totem.
While this status effect is applied, you grow at a greatly increased rate. This will increase your hunger substantially, using food to fuel the process. Beneficial nutrients will be used to build the body while other matter is converted directly to energy to fuel the process. Hair growth will cease, nail growth will cease, bodily excretions will cease except where necessary for normal function. This effect will end when you reach full growth.
Ander had already gotten weird looks from the cooks when he asked for enough food to supply a five man eating contest, but they had given it to him without complaint, and continued to do so as he cleared every plate. This last meal, a cook had simply brought out a single plate with a giant pot of a pasta dish not unlike spaghetti. And giant it was. The top came level with the table Ander was sitting at, and it was so heavy they had not been willing to even try setting it on top of the table. But that did not bother Ander in the least. Ander worked on that pot for several hours before he was finally stopped from licking it clean. They were baffled when he asked for seconds. Still this eating phase would not last forever, and Ander would be glad when it stopped.
Ander would certainly be glad, as he was sure that this was why he was standing before the door to High Lord Torden’s personal study. It felt like he was being taken to the principal's office. After a knock on the door, and a muffled “Enter,” the castle servant opened the door and almost shoved him inside. There, sitting at his desk, was High Lord Torden. Ander had forgotten since the last time he had seen the High Lord how truly regal the man was in both pride and bearing. There was not a detail off about the man, and he radiated both serenity and command simultaneously.
“Sit, Ander. May I call you Ander? I have heard that is the name you have taken to calling yourself.” Ander nodded vigorously as he sat down. It was an honor to have his name spoken by such a man. The thought that High Lord Torden was Ander’s father filled him with a pride and joy he had rarely felt in his entire life.
“So, Ander, how have you found the playground? Is it to your liking?” A small smile graced the handsome features of High Lord Torden.
“Yes, of course! The dexterity courses are quite fun. I end up doing them a lot.”
“So I have heard. I was quite surprised to hear of your proficiency in them. Very few hatchlings are able to perform at that level.” Ander wiggled in pleasure at the compliment.
“Ander, may I see your status sheet?” High Lord Torden asked with an intent stare toward Ander. Well, what was the harm in that? Ander willed his screen to pop up before High Lord Torden. The High Lord started to read, and with every line his eyes got wider and wider. Eventually he stopped and looked at Ander consideringly.
“You are quite exceptional. Can you tell me why you are so exceptional?” Ander froze. He wanted to tell High Lord Torden everything. All about Earth, the mineral, and everything he had helped to do to free people from the horrors of mineral contamination. But Something told him to keep quiet. He fought a little war inside himself. After all, if he could not trust the High Lord, who could he trust? Still, a part of him told him to keep quiet, to lie, to do something to get them off this subject. Eventually he listened.
“I don’t know High Lord Torden. My only real memories started a few days ago.” High Lord Torden stared at Ander over his steepled fingers. From that look Ander knew. High Lord Torden knew he was lying.
“Very well. It is truly a shame.” Still, High Lord Torden didn’t look displeased however. He seemed to be holding back true jubilation. “You are free to go back to your clutchmates. I will not keep you from their company for much longer.” Ander bowed and started to leave. Ander was stopped by one final set of words from High Lord Torden.
“Work hard, Ander. I expect some truly great things from you.” And then the door closed, cutting Ander off from High Lord Torden’s presence. Immediately he realized he had been under a prolonged mental attack, making him feel admiration and respect for the figure of High Lord Torden. He had Wiggled when complemented by the High Lord. It was truly disgusting. Yet he had next to no control. He had not even had the presence of mind to identify the man. And he had shown his status sheet? The shame.
Ander decided that he had to avoid High Lord Torden until he had acquired some sort of mental defense. However, this was not as easy as it may have seemed, as Ander was pretty sure this was a passive psionic effect. Which meant that every noble was likely to have an effect like this. Ander shuddered at the thought. He couldn’t stomach the idea of Sir Mattheos getting a peek at his status sheet. He would be drafted again in a heartbeat, and then sent out to fight impossible odds until he died. Sure he could come back, but death wasn’t the best experience either of the last two times he had tried it, and he didn’t want to try it again. That meant that he had only one option.
Walker of Memories was an incredible skill, especially given that most hatchlings got only the basic Ancestral Memories to work with. But Ander had been leary of using it since that tentacled monster attacked his soul in the void. He figured that being dead had made him especially vulnerable the last time, but who knows. Maybe now that it had found Ander it would hunt him to the ends of their lives. But that was no reason to put it off. When Ander returned to the ‘playground’ he immediately sat down in a corner to meditate. He reached out to the skill, ready to activate it only to stop in shock. Before his soul had been both firm and malleable in equal quantities. It felt like a really good stress ball. Now it was like if someone had hit that stress ball with a hammer. His soul was badly deformed along with several of his skills, including Walker ofMemories. He watched it for a time before he finally realized that his soul was trying to heal. It was happening slowly, but Ander got the distinct impression he would not be able to use Walker of memories until it healed, unless he wanted to endure excruciating pain.