Through eavesdropping, conversations, and discussions in the lessons, Ted had been surprised to find that it was actually the majority of the group that weren’t soldiers expected on active duty, and the Classes varied between combat focused classes, like his and Jerah’s, and support and utility roles; there were smiths, logisticians, engineers and architects. All of them used some form of magic as a support, and each came with a variety of skill affinities and attribute effects. Of the thirty or so recruits, only nine would be going to ‘the Front’.

All recruits had been granted a few additional Skills and abilities, including an Identify Technique that had been the end of his hopes for going by Theo in this new world, though Jerah still acquiesced to his request. It had been an exciting few minutes of Identifying everything they all saw, but it had quickly become dull as they realised there wasn’t much beyond what you could see for most items; apparently this would change at higher levels, but for now Identifying a leaf would just get you ‘Leaf’. You could get someone’s name, though it was still polite to introduce yourselves.

All recruits had managed to level up the Light spell to Level 3, and their Basic Magic to Level 2, though they were all smugly informed that the Levels were not known to have an upper limit, and that they shouldn’t think themselves professionals because of the improvement.

Ted had become a proficient spearman, or at least, he thought he had, running through basic katas and training routines with a real spear expert. The man had informed him that his Spear Mastery Level was 33, which meant very little to Ted until he saw the man in action. It took him less than two seconds to disarm Ted, even when his only focus was on holding on to the weapon. He had appeared slightly impressed by Ted having access to the Stand Your Ground Technique already, but had been quick to ensure that Ted’s ego did not get out of check.

‘It’s a good skill, and it’s not a novice one either. However it can be difficult to master, and really only gets useful at higher levels. I’ve seen someone with a high level Stand Your Ground clear a twenty metre wide circle with the shockwave, and rebound two dozen arrows with the resulting shield. Right now, I suspect you’d barely push me, never mind block me with the shield.’

Ted had tested it right there, for the first time, slamming his practice spear into the ground. There was an instinctual aspect to these Techniques, especially now that he could more easily access the magic in his body; it was all about channelling it into where it needed or ought to be.

The resulting dust cloud from the dry ground around them was enough to make Ted and his instructor cough, but little else; he suspected the instructor had experienced a slight pressure similar to a light wind. Ted was a little embarrassed to find himself almost kneeling in a brace position, spear pointing forward with the butt buried in the ground, as if to defend from an oncoming charge. The instructor threw a small rock at him, which just perceptibly slowed before it hit him in the face.

Ted was noticeably disappointed by the weakness of the skill, something which made the instructor laugh.

‘Don’t worry, all Techniques start like that. Look at your Light spell - even at Level 2 it’s not much more than a reading light - try using it to navigate at night and you’re in trouble! Just keep practising it and it’ll get better. If you can use it in real combat it’ll improve even faster; it’s still a good defensive stance and manoeuvre!’

Ted had done a lot of stamping that day, causing many miniscule shockwaves to roll along the dust of the training field. The Technique had ticked up to Level 2, but the increase in strength had not been obviously noticeable.

The ways to learn new Techniques had not been obvious to Ted either, but he’d been reassured to some extent over the week that they could be learnt both naturally, and by bestowment, either through awards, Skill level increases, Authority blessing, or study. His Stand Your Ground Technique had been given via the award method, an event that occurred through related actions that the CPS deemed noteworthy. Ted had questioned this, but the answer from the instructors had been a shrug.

‘The Authority gave us the CPS, and the CPS gives us Skills and Techniques from time to time. It’s just another gift from the Lord.’

More questions about the supposed Enemy had led to just as few answers, with the only focus being on tactics, historic troop movements, and the current state of the war. Ted had been correct in thinking that the continents were split between the Enemy and the Authority, with the central island being the battleground; however the instructors informed them that recently the Authority had succeeded in pushing the Enemy off the central spit, and had started pushing into the Enemy’s central continent. This had led to an increase in artificer recruitment, as boats and other craft were now required in order to start a true offensive.

‘But where is the technology?’ someone had finally asked; someone from Jerah’s world, a tall woman called Eva, head shorn and gaunt. ‘In my world we had craft that could circle the world in a few hours, boats that allowed one to traverse the ocean depths and battle the monsters underneath. There were even those who created Artificial Intelligence and had started integrating the technology with the body, though this was rightfully struck down as blasphemy. But I see no evidence of any advanced technology here at all!’

Her shout had been backed by approving murmuring from most of the congregation, barring one or two that Ted figured must be even more on the Luddite path than even Jerah’s people. She was right though, and it was something that had been weighing on Ted a little; even on Earth, a significant part of warfare was now undertaken using drones and missiles piloted from the other side of the world. Here, in the Second World, there was nothing more advanced than crossbows. He’d been trying to understand how the lights in each room had worked, before understanding from his Basic Magic Skill had helped him realise that there were areas simply infused with the Light spell. There were signs of industrialisation everywhere - paper, sheet metal, even the chairs were all identical and seemingly made of plastic. The instructor had told them that this was not the case though.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

‘Electricity and magic conflict when placed next to each other or combined. Early in the war there were attempts to integrate the two, utilising magic infused bullets to spread elemental damage, or add direction to missiles. All attempts failed however, and not only that; when we tried to use technology based weapons alone, they failed or were rejected when coming into contact with magical shielding or fields. Bombs would not go off, even guns that ran on simple gunpowder and mechanical instruments, because they were created in technologically advanced factories, would jam.

‘Once both sides of the war realised this they expanded basic magical fields out into space to block even mid orbit satellites. Since then we’re limited to what can be generated via artificers and magic. It led to a change in warfare, but most considered it a positive change; it took us away from the evils that easy killing can bring.’

That answer satisfied Eva, and Ted saw that Jerah was nodding too; it confirmed the evils of technology that they had believed in, even taking it a step further. Their commitment to one on one combat to the death met the same criteria, in a way. Ted wondered idly whether Eva had undertaken the same death-challenge as Jorah, and whether she’d won many bouts. She didn’t have the same Class as Jorah, but it was still a combat one; Weaponmaster. She’d been in classes for every weapon type, including Spear lessons with Ted. She’d picked up the Skill later than he had, but he already felt outclassed.

They’d had tactics and strategy lessons, some with the group at large, some just with the combat focused Classes, explaining seniority, tactical manoeuvres, and common missions that the class might be involved in.

Which led him to today. Two days before graduation, Ted found himself in his standard issue boots, t-shirt, and trousers, training spear strapped to his back, its point covered in rags and daubed with red paint. He wore a small bracer strapped to his left arm, stood behind a wall with a group of four others. Today was their first test of their Skills, Classes, and everything else that they’d learnt so far.

Ted had been quick to point out that none of them really had any Skills, and their Classes were next to useless without the Techniques and abilities that they would eventually provide. He’d been told to be quiet. He had not been made Mission Leader.

His team of five was made up of Eva, a Sassar named Elssar, and two non-descript humans that Ted suspected were from Earth; a woman called Toya and Red, who he’d spoken to briefly upon discovery of his tattoo. Eva and Elssar were conventional weapon users, whilst Toya and Red were magic focused, having learnt some offensive skills in their time in training. Their mission, which they’d had to accept whether they liked it or not, was to infiltrate the small fort in front of them, drop a ‘bomb’ in the centre of the building, and then escape before it went off. Ted was currently holding the bomb, a small wooden cube with the word ‘BOMB’ painted on it in messy black letters. There was also a shoddy looking button with ‘PRESS ME’ daubed over it in the same black ink. Despite the amateurness of the production, the mission had actually registered on the CPS, with the win and failure criteria provided. Plant the bomb, and escape. Two instructors stood watching them from a distance.

The group defending the fort included Jerah, Kara, and the two remaining Sassar. Ted only really knew Jerah’s capabilities well, Kara having become a friendly presence but not yet a true friend, as she was prone to more introspection and silence than conversation or discussion. Ted knew that she was a melee type fighter, utilising the benefits of her size and natural weapons. The two Sassar were mages, just like the humans on Ted’s side, though again, their capabilities were an unknown.

Frankly, it felt like they were being set up to fail, and probably get mauled in the process.

‘What a fun way to spend the afternoon.’ Ted muttered under his breath. ‘Getting beaten by a monk and eaten by a bear.’

No one heard him. Eva had already started giving out orders.

‘Okay, Ted. You’re a GateKeeper; that means you move fast and quick, so you’re our bomb carrier. The fort has four entrances; that means that they can only have one person guarding each door. The rest of us will draw the attention of the others by attacking at the front.’ she said.

‘I don’t actually have any GateKeeper powers yet.’ Ted pointed out.

‘You have the innate skills of a GateKeeper.’ Eva insisted. ‘I barely have the skills of my Weaponmaster either. We must do what we can.’

‘You have Spear Mastery, Sword Mastery, Axe Mastery, and Bow Mastery.’ Ted argued. ‘That’s a lot of Skills.’

Eva glared at him.

‘With God’s support we will find a way.’ she countered, with a tone of finality. Ted managed to stop himself from pointing out that the other side almost certainly thought that they too had God on their side, and that they were overall on the same side, so it all came out even in the wash. Well, he tried to.

‘I mean, they also…’ he started saying, but Eva’s glare intensified and her hand moved to her sword. She was a walking wooden blacksmith, carrying a training axe, sword, and bow, all with rags soaked in red paint, barring the bow, which just used red painted arrows. The rules were that if you took a red paint hit to a vital area, you were out. Limbs were not considered vital - apparently healers could regenerate them with time, as could some potions - but a painted limb meant a time out. Considering the weapons were still pretty weighty, there was probably some real damage likely to be done as well, but they had been reassured that potions were the answer to all their problems.

‘So, you will carry the bomb, and you will circumnavigate the fort using the walls, rocks, and flora for cover. You must not be seen. When we attack the front gate, you must look for movement by the doors; you must find an unguarded door and move towards it. If you can breach it, do so.

‘Intelligence states that the fort is empty inside; it is a single room, with a ladder leading to the top. The bomb drop off point is at the top of the ladder. You must make it there and then leave by any route necessary. I note that the first floor of the fort is not that high; barely three metres. I believe that is jumpable, without major damage being taken.’

Ted scoffed at that, as Eva continued with the rest of the plan. A three metre jump? Good thing he’d wanted broken ankles. When Eva looked at him asking if he was ready, he nodded. Worst outcome? He got hit by a splodge of paint and the game ended early. He could cope with that.

Eva drew her shortbow and an arrow and started calculating distances to the fort, about 45 metres away. Red and Toya drew basic staves, apparently useful for focusing magic energies, while Elssar had a different type of bow, designed for his smaller-statured race; smaller, and harder to draw, but with a high range. Two arrows flew at the same time as a crackle of red energy flew from Toya’s staff, and a beam of white flew from Red’s. The game had started.

Ted began to run.