I must have really meant it, or the Guildmaster’s truth-sensing ability was imperfect, because he simply looked me up and down and handed the badge to me with a comradely smile. Still, he decided to slap my shoulder, as he did with Elwin, in an unconscious show of dominance. I was ready and expecting it, however, and with a thin and annoyed smile, I absorbed the shock of the blow through my knees and a shifting of my own weight. As a student in my old world, I had dealt with his type many times before.

Kidu, following my example, was next to step up to the desk. Taking off his gauntlet, he grasped the crystal with his giant hand almost as if to crush it, and drew a chuckle from the Guildmaster. As he did with me, he tapped a copper badge to the crystal before asking Kidu to repeat the oath about not tarnishing the reputation of the Guild. Kidu’s name magically appeared on his badge in the same manner as it had on mine. Darcen looked at Kidu’s badge and read out aloud Kidu’s name.

“Kidu Kreshin. Kreshin, now that is an impressively fierce creature for one’s first kill. Gilgamesh here must be something special to be in the company of a Hunter so gifted,” the Guildmaster said thoughtfully, a new respect in his eyes.

I barely registered the Guildmaster’s comment, my own mind already analyzing the oath that I had taken. Was it a simple honor system or was it magically enforced? At first, the oath seemed pretty vague, but after analyzing it a bit further, I realized it actually encompassed a rather wide range of things from my interactions with other NPCs… people. I had to remind myself that I was probably dealing with real people, to the manner in which I completed requests. On the other hand, as long as I was never found out, I could do, for the most part, whatever I wanted. This was probably why the Guildmaster had some sort of truth-sensing ability. My enhanced Intelligence helped me to realize that it could be a loophole that could be potentially exploited in the future.

It was Elwin Tucker the Rogue’s turn next. If anyone had secrets to hide, next to me, it would be my companion Elwin. With great hesitancy, he made to touch the crystal, stopping just a hairsbreadth before touching it.

“This doesn’t hurt, right? Had enough pain to last three lifetimes. Not enough drink in all the Grieving Lands to numb what I’ve been through,” he mumbled with a slight quiver.

The Guildmaster simply smiled and grabbed his hand and forced it to the crystal with such speed I was barely able to track it with my eyes. Elwin’s mouth opened in stunned silence, forming a big ‘O’ in surprise. Again, Darcen made Elwin repeat the Guild’s oath before finally handing over his copper badge.

“I welcome you all to the brotherhood that is the Adventurer’s Guild. May you always find that which you seek,” Darcen intoned formally in a voice that weighed heavy with the authority of the Guild.

Not knowing how to respond, we all just quickly looked at each other and nodded.

“Alright then, that’s out of the way! You best make your way back down to Taciano, good lad but a little weedy. Also, could do with a bit of toughening up. Spends far too much time indoors. Nonetheless, he’s a reliable sort and you could have done a lot worse. One of the lads from the last batch we hired was a right sod. Now be off with you!” he commanded, the smile on his face making a lie of his stern tone.

Hurriedly, like schoolboys being dismissed, we exited Darcen’s office. The whole encounter gnawed a little at me, but I was grateful for the protection that the Guild offered. My companions and I all took a deep breath before going down the stairs to find Taciano, who had, as of now, been assigned to us.

The clerk had been dutifully waiting for us, holding a thin sheet of rectangular wood to serve as a board for him to write on. On the bottom of the board was a small pot of ink in which he dipped his fine feathered quill.

“Interesting,” I said, pointing at his board. “But what would truly add to its usefulness would be, perhaps, a clip at the top to stop the parchment from moving.”

His brow furrowed in thought as he considered my suggestion before his eyes lit up. “Yes! What a brilliant idea! How could I have not thought about it before? Why, thank you, Gilgamesh… now to ask the smith if he could fashion a spring of some sort…” he said as he shook my hand vigorously, his actual duties temporarily forgotten as he pondered on my idea.

It seemed that my words must have been of some significance, as I received a notification.

You have gained 1 Intelligence.

Checking over my character sheet while the clerk was still distracted, trying to keep at least half a mind in the present, I noticed that my maximum Mana had risen to a respectable fifteen points. I didn’t have enough time to look over the full extent of my current status but I was pleased to learn that, thanks to my general activities, I had gained a lot of experience points and was very close to level eleven. I hadn’t quite locked down how the system worked, but outside gaining levels, gaining attribute points was definitely linked to activities, skill use, and meaningful practice.

STATUS

Calling: Gilgamesh Level 10 Paladin of Avaria / Reaver

Strength: 24

Dexterity: 19

Constitution: 34

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Intelligence: 21

Wisdom: 18

Charisma: 12

Luck: 17

SKILLS & PROFICIENCIES

Pain Nullification (lvl.2)

Power Strike (lvl.2) 10

Endure (lvl.3)

Stealth (lvl.1)

Rest (lvl.3)

Backstab (lvl.2)

Dodge (lvl.3)

Polearms (lvl.2)

Dual Wield (lvl.2)

Critical Hit Mastery (lvl.2)

Mining (lvl.2)

Unarmed Combat (lvl.3)

Hammers (lvl.2)

Flails (lvl.2)

Maces (lvl.1)

Shields (lvl.1)

Medium Armor (lvl.1)

Heavy Armor (lvl.2)

Axes (lvl.1)

Daggers (lvl.2)

Throwing Weapons (lvl.2)

SPELLS & MAGIC

Heal (lvl.5) 5

Rust (lvl.3) 2

Identify (lvl.2) 1

Silent Casting (lvl.1)

Mana Regeneration (lvl.2)

Purify (lvl.2) 3

Greater Heal (lvl.1) 10

Holy Aura (lvl.1) 2

Decay (lvl.1) 1

Drain (lvl.2) 2

Entropic Aura (lvl.2) 2

GIFTS

Curse of Entropy: -20% to all starting attributes.

Mark of the Paladin: 10% resistance to Dark/Holy magic. 5% resistance to Physical.

Touch of the Void: 10% reduced resistance to Holy/Fire magic, 20% resistance to Mental Effects, 15% immunity to Mental Effects.

Experience to next level 2572/2583

My mind was quickly drawn back to the present as Taciano finally remembered his primary duties.

“... Can find jobs and on the board over there,” he said, pointing to the large board pinned with many job requests. “You can take jobs at your rank and one rank above and all ranks below. However, should you perish whilst attempting to do a job or request one rank higher than your own then the death payment will not be given to your next of kin or chosen recipient,” Taciano continued to instruct in a slightly clipped voice.

I selected my mother and father as my next of kin, sure in the knowledge that the potential windfall of my death would never reach them anyways, and I would, of course, do my utmost to keep myself alive. Elwin wrote another Tucker’s name down and gave the city name of Brownwood. Kidu surprisingly wrote the Three Bears Clan and ‘The North’ for the address. I was genuinely surprised, as I had thought the large man to be illiterate. It seemed that I had kept a few of the prejudices of my old world with me.