Sasha

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I blink, and the room changes again. A homely brick cottage’s interior with a warm, crackling fireplace replaces the previous sterile, white room. In the middle of the floor is an oak low table with one cushion next to it.

[Will aptitude test initiating]

[Quest (easy) - don’t eat the chocolate: take a seat at the table, and do not eat the chocolate]

[Rewards for completion - Will aptitude increased by 1]

Before my eyes, a platter of chocolates appears. A dozen delicious chocolates of varying kinds. I take a seat at the table and stare. The chocolate smells infuriatingly good.

What a test this is. Seriously? The system is having me stare at chocolate to demonstrate self control. Like the game parents play with their children to teach them self control? Exactly like that. What am I, a child? I guess, in the eyes of the millennia old spire, I kind of am. But still! I want to eat the chocolate so bad.

Despite the temptation, I keep from eating the chocolate for several minutes. To keep from devouring the scrumptious delicacies in front of me (seriously, chocolate is a rare commodity only for the highest powers in the meritocracy of Rinia), I do everything I can to distract myself.

One moment, I am staring at the dancing flames in the fireplace, pondering how good it would smell if I just tossed the chocolate in there and watched it melt. The next, I am sharpening my knife, humming a made-up tune.

After what feels like hours (but is likely no more than a few minutes), I find myself reaching for the bitter-sweet confections before me. I hesitate at the same speed as I reach for them, reaching 2 inches for every 1 inch I pull my hand back.

It takes me 3 minutes to even bring my hand within 2 inches of the platter. As I finally give into the temptation, I take a moment to decide just which one. Out of the collection, my eyes are drawn to a single one. A small, unassuming square sprinkled with a small amount of salt on top. Surely this is the coveted salt ‘n caramel chocolate!

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I snatch it up, raise it to my mouth, and… it disintegrates before I can take a bite. The rest of the chocolates vanish into thin air as a panel appears in front of me.

[Quest (easy) - don’t eat the chocolates completed]

[Will aptitude increased by 1]

Funny. Fucking funny, system. I finally make up my mind, and you end the test just before I can eat the chocolate.

[Quest (medium) - walk across hot coals: walk across the hot coals]

[Rewards for completion - Will aptitude increased by 2]

Before me, the table disperses, replaced by a bed of hot coals, and my shoes disappear. I stare at it for a moment, before taking a deep breath and psyching myself up. I take a step back, take in a deep breath, and rush forward.

As soon as I touch the coals, I instantly regret my choice to run across these. I start bouncing while making my way across the 5 meter path, trying to keep the time spent on the ground to a minimum.

I try to scream, only finding the outburst cut short by the pain in my feet each time I land on the coals. With several long strides, I make it across the hell. Stepping onto the cold stone floor is hardly a help, with my feet raw and all. I just keep on jumping up and down, taking in quick, sharp breaths.

I almost miss the panel popping up in front of me.

[Quest (medium) walk across hot coals completed]

[Will aptitude increased by 2]

The only reason I can take the moment to read the message is because, as soon as the blue screen appeared, my feet stopped aching. I raise a foot, and look at it. No longer is it burnt raw. Looks like I won’t be condemned to continuing these tests with burnt feet.

Once again, the room changes. Around me, plain white walls are erected. This time, the room is only 2 meters wide and 3 meters long. A painting pops up in front of me, the paint still wet.

[Quest (difficult) - watch paint dry: watch the paint dry without fail until it is completely dry without falling asleep, looking away, or even blinking]

[Rewards for completion - will aptitude increased by 3]

“Watch paint dry. Watch paint dry ?! I can’t even blink? This is shit!” I yell, punching the wall. The wall is, however, significantly more durable than my hand, resulting in me hurting my hand rather than breaking the wall. This just adds to my anger.

In my fit of rage, I blink. The quest ends quicker than it started.

[Quest (difficult) - watch paint dry failed]

[Consequences for failure - none]

[Will aptitude score total calculated]

[Will aptitude score: 3]

My exasperated sigh bounces off the walls until I grow sick of it and punch the wall again. It plays out much the same as it did before. That being, I hurt myself more than the wall.