Cold.
The first sensation my body registered was the cool, smooth material I was laying on.
What the…
Spots of color still flooded my vision as I rolled over to sit. I blinked several times before my fuzzy vision began to clear. What I saw didn’t help much with the disorientation. Though my butt and feet told me I was sitting on a floor, my eyes did not. Underneath me was an expanse of nothing, and yet, everything. Colors floated all around me, some barely visible, and others like streetlights. It reminded me of the long exposure pictures photographers would take of the sky, where the whole galaxy was on display.
I reached out to touch one of the lights but was unable to. My hand simply reached into the void I was surrounded by.
“You won’t be able to touch anything.”
The voice permeated the space around me, coming from all directions.
I immediately jolted my hand back.
“Hello? Who is that?”
“This is your personal slice of the system. Put here to guide you through you process of system integration.”
The system?
“Hello? Where are you?”
“There is no physical form I have. I simply exist within a part of you, Kai.”
Don’t like that it said my name.
“So only I can hear you?”
“Yes.”
“Are you… alive?”
“Not by your concept of alive. I simply am. Every individual integrated into the system has one of “me”. I believe it would assist you to think of me as a mentor for what comes next.”
Okay… like a mentor. A creepy mentor that exists in my mind.
“What is this place around us?”
“The in-between void. A place only accessible to those beginning system integration.”
“Okay. What do we do next?”
Upon my request a menu appeared before my eyes.
Name: Kai (16) Race: Human Level: 1 Skills: N/A Title: N/A Abilities: N/A Health: 25/25 Mana: 10/10 Other...
It really is like a video game...
The box was centered in the middle of my vision, just like clicking on stats in a game.
Looks like some average starting place.
Both my mana and health levels concerned me. Also the lack of skills and abilities. The last box that said other also intrigued me.
"System, what does other mean?"
"Focus on the box to continue to more information."
Weird...
I did as it suggested and focused in on the row. Just like clicking something in a videogame an entirely new list appeared.
Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 11 Stamina: 16 Vitality: 8 Strength: 10 Agility: 7 Equipped Items: N/A Quests: N/A
Looks pretty balanced but I don't know how they all function...
"Hey system? What does all of this mean?"
"Currently not accessible information. Next item is class selection."
So it can't just tell me everything...
CLASS SELECTION:
True Islander (Unique): Presented to those who appreciate and care for their island; this option grants a wide variety of abilities to the wielder.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
What why is there only one option? Isn't there supposed to be tons of options for beginning my journey?
"System why is there only one option?"
"A unique option is only presented to those who qualify for said unique classes. Due to the rarity unique options eliminate any other possibility."
So this class kicked out all my other options... great...
I focused on True Islander and just like the menu, I felt it become selected.
*True Islander Selected*
TRUE ISLANDER BEGINNING SPECIALTIES:
Druid (novice): Branching into different aspects, this allows the wielder to summon common grade nature spirits, use earth magic, and transform into various animals. (stacks with other specialties)
Shaman (novice): Branching into different aspects, this allows the wielder to summon novice grade elemental spirits and use their magic to cast spells. (stacks with other specialties)
Floramancer (novice): Concerned with manipulating plant and earth life, this allows the wielder to control large swaths plants. (stacks with other specialties)
Oceanweaver (novice): Concerned with manipulating seas and river, this allows the wielder to control large areas of water. (stacks with other specialties)
Dang. Feels like I just used a promo code...
The options all looked appealing with different aspects to each. But, I didn't want weak overall skills, or super specialty skills that relied on my environment exclusively. So I settled on the druid option, what appeared to be a medium build with good starting skills.
*Druid Selected*
DRUID (NOVICE) ABILITIES:
Earth manipulator: The user has common manipulation earth abilities. Trap an enemy, create a shield, or throw dirt attacks.
Transform: The user can transform into an animal for 1 mana per minute.
Nature Summoner (common): Can summon a common grade nature spirit. Max: 1.
Immediately I was drawn to the nature spirit ability. I had no idea where Ian or my mom or dad or anybody in the world would be... Having the ability to summon a common grade nature spirit would provide companionship and a bodyguard against whatever the system transformed earth into.
*Nature Summoner (common) selected*
"System, open menu."
Name: Kai (16) Race: Human Level: 1 Skills: N/A Title: True Islander (unique) Specialties: Druid (novice) Unique Abilities: Nature Summoner (common) Health: 25/25 Mana: 10/10 Other...
Everything seemed to be playing out how I expected. Only difference was that my Abilities tab had transformed into Unique Abilities.
"How do I use an ability?"
"You can't, not here. No abilities may be used within the void. Once the system has finished integrating the earth, you will be transported back. Then, you will be granted the knowledge of how to use your ability."
"Wait, aren't you the system?"
"I am a functioning part of the system that deals with individuals own integration and life there after. I am not the over arching system. Simply a piece of it."
"Huh. When will the system be done integrating."
"By the time I finish this sentence."
Another flash blinded me as the motes of far away light exploded at once, creating a cacophony of colors.
----------------------------------------
I've got to stop getting KO'ED by the system... Was my first thought upon regaining consciousness.
For the second time within an hour I was blinking away fuzzy colors from my eyes, whilst laying on cool ground. However, unlike the void, this setting was much more familiar. Trees rose up around from the small clearing I had been transported to. Soft grass was underneath me, and the sky above was still blue. Getting my feet underneath me I decided my next plan of action was to find any sign of other people. Hopefully my parents or Ian. The forestry wasn't too dense so decided to push through the large leaves, stepping across thick root systems. The sunlight cast soft dappled green light onto the floor, guiding my feet as I went in the direction with less trees.
After climbing over the last log in my way, I entered what appeared to be the edge of the island.
It's floating. The island is floating. I'm on a floating island.
I immediately jumped back from the edge of what appeared to be a several hundred foot drop.
So that's what the system meant by changes.
I got onto my stomach and slowly army crawled over to the edge. Peering down it was made clear that the island was most definitely floating. Rocky protrusions extended a few feet from beneath before stopping, leaving hundreds of feet between itself and the ocean far below. On ocean that was covered in islands. Everywhere I looked islands spanned across the horizon. Miles of rough seas separated them, but this definitely wasn't Hawaii anymore. Then I looked to the sky. Far above me Islands also spanned the skies, some of them at cloud level, and some tiny specks far above everything else.
What in the...
TUTORIAL SOON TO COMMENCE.
TUTORIAL (SOLO)
TUTORIAL (DUO)
TIME REMAINING : 1 MINUTE
"Hey system! What does tutorial duo mean?"
"It is a waste of your energy to yell. Speaking or simply thinking a question will still grant a response. Tutorial duo means you complete the tutorial with a partner. Usually it is someone the system determines would increase chances of survival. Choosing tutorial duo means increased danger and decreased survivability."
"I choose duo. Duo."
"I do not complete tasks such as that."
Exacerbated, I focused in on the second option and felt it become selected.
*Tutorial (duo) selected*
The timer continued to count down in the top left of my vision. After selecting an immediate pop sounded in the forest behind me. I turned and ran through the jungle, retracing my steps to where I had been transported.
Reaching the clearing shorty I was surprised to see Ian sitting and looking very confused.
"Ian?"
"Kai?"
"Wasn't expecting to see you!"
"Me neither Ian, me neither."
I helped him up before he brushed himself off, still looking very confused.
"I was about to select my tutorial when I was suddenly transported here... Was that you?"
"Yea and nah. I selected duo but I didn't know it would choose you. Just someone it thought I'd be able to survive with."
"Well I guess because we're friends it thought we'd be able to work well together?"
"I don't really care, just glad to see it's you."
"Me too man. So what class did you choose?"
I was about to respond when I got interrupted by the system, a continual trend.
TUTORIAL COMMENCING
*transporting dungeons*
*Transporting evolved creatures*
*creating terra events*
*activating island barrier*
"Yo what does that mean."
"Ian, why would I know anymore than you?"
He shrugged and opened to respond before a deep rumbling threw us both of our feet.
Do floating islands get earthquakes?