In a daze, caught between the realms of unconsciousness and daydreams, Vex found himself wandering through the hazy corridors of a dream. He meandered through an apartment's familiar yet distorting hallways as if guided by an unseen hand—a modest yet cozy space filled with mismatched furniture.
The scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air, intermingled with the soothing aroma of vanilla candles. The walls, adorned with colorful posters, hid the otherwise bare and melancholic shades of brown from the dim light filtering through dusty windows. The expected creak of floorboards under his feet echoed in his mind, a symphony of familiarity and longing.
Outside, the gentle hum of the city was in full swing, with the distant sound of cars honking and people chattering as they went about their daily lives. The sensation of warmth from this dream enveloped Vex, keeping him entranced in a spell until a faint feeling of nostalgia, born of time away from the bygone era, reminded him that this space was no longer home.
As eyelids fluttered open, the disorientation of slumber intermixed with the faint, inky blackness of an endless night seeped in through a crevasse in the cave. As his dream and hazy memories slowly detached from this new reality, Vex recalled his present situation and how a gremlin had attacked him. Quickly untying his shirt and checking his injury, he realized the wound had been healed. However, the cave floor and Vex's clothing were covered in dried blood. Taking a few deep breaths, Vex quietly absorbed the sensation of wholeness that permeated his battered frame. A flex of his fingers, a roll of his shoulders—every movement helped him to detach from his mended injuries and the memories of panic. There wasn't even a cruel souvenir marred upon his skin from yesterday's mishaps.
The glow of the notifications beckoned Vex, dancing at the corner of his vision like mischievous fireflies. His gaze flickered towards them, a silent invitation to acknowledge their presence, but his mind was preoccupied with a different kind of puzzle. Scratching the stubble on his jaw absentmindedly, he tried to sift through the fragmented memories that teased the edges of his consciousness.
Clouded thoughts, a swirling tempest of confusion and uncertainty, brewed within Vex's mind as he grappled with the hazy recollections of his arrival in this enigmatic world. His brows furrowed in deep concentration, trying to unravel the threads of memory woven with the tapestry of everything he felt forced to forget. The character creation screen was already slipping from his memory, eluding him like water, slipping through his grasp whenever he attempted to seize it.
A nagging suspicion lingered at the edges of his consciousness, whispering doubts about his perceived age. Frowning slightly, Vex mulled over the notion that perhaps the number twenty-six attached to his age was nothing more than a facade. The name Vex also felt wrong; it was a mismatched puzzle piece in the fabric of his existence. He knew neither was correct, but he couldn't remember any other changes outside of a vague sense that he had made skill and talent selections.
Then, a flittering memory struck Vex as he recalled his real name, the moniker whispered in jest by childhood friends and sneered at by foes. How had he, Princess Plumb, found himself in this fantastical world where reality blurred with magic and mystery? Wait, why had he been named Princess Plumb? His friends all had names like Jacqueline and David. "Fuck!" Vex thought. His loving parents must have secretly hated him or wished for a girl—no wonder he had chosen to abandon his real name.
Vex shook his head, trying to dispel the confusion that clouded his thoughts.
The name Princess Plumb felt real, but at the same time, no one would name their child something like that. And then there were Vex's memories. All he could remember of his life up and through his early twenties didn't feel like something he had only experienced yesterday. Everything he remembered felt nostalgic and clouded by the distance of age. Most of his memories felt like nothing more than fragments. As Vex grappled with these unsettling revelations, the notifications continued their persistent dance at the edge of his vision, further frustrating him. So, for his sanity's sake, Vex accepted things as they were, at least for the moment.
With an exhale, Vex pushed aside the gnawing sense of loss in his identity. Shaking off the vague remnants of his former self, he refocused on the notifications clamoring for attention and concentration. Squinting and focusing on the periphery, the blinking icon danced like lightning bugs caught in a jar. After several awkward seconds and a complete lack of response from the icon, Vex blinked rapidly, attempting to tap the flashing notification.
As the lack of response continued, Vex felt increasingly irritated. "Show the notifications, you crappy excuse for an interface," he softly muttered, attempting to coax a response out of the strange system.
The blinking prompt remained until Vex's thoughts became a bit more forceful. As he bordered on becoming genuinely angry and mentally demanded the notifications open, the flicker in the corner of his vision expanded into a full window that overlaid on top of the world around him.
Vex stared in amazement at the window before him for several minutes, unable to shake his sense of awe while watching a screen come to life. The window shimmered with a myriad of colors and symbols, displaying a cascade of information that seemed to pulse with life. The entire interface felt intimate and familiar as if it had always been a part of Vex's life. Even the strange characters looked recognizable.
After several more minutes of staring, Vex's sense of wonder turned into confusion before settling into anger as realization dawned on him. "Fuck! I don't remember how to read."
The luminescent characters before him had morphed, their once-familiar shapes twisting into an indecipherable script. He furrowed his brow in a silent question mark, tilting his head as if the right angle might translate this visual riddle. The letters, once friends, were now paraded as strangers, garbed in enigmatic intricacies he couldn't fathom.
With a deep breath, Vex steadied himself, determined not to let this setback deter him. He focused his mind, trying to will the notifications to shut, but they persisted until he forcefully exerted his thoughts.
Contemplating the need to read and the existence of skill points within this enigmatic system, Vex decided to delve deeper into the system menus. With a resolute expression, he focused on the concept of skill points, attempting to coax the system into showing him how many were available. After a moment of focus, a new window popped into Vex's vision, he assumed, highlighting his available skill points.
Sighing, Vex realized that he also no longer understood how to count as he stared at the section of text that he assumed would have been useful for his predicament. While not an ideal outcome, he could at least confirm the system was responsive, even if it felt like the interactions were strained. Intrigued by the potential interactions, Vex experimented with mental commands, testing the system's limits. With each thought and intention he projected, the system shifted and adapted, molding its window to his will. While he couldn't understand the text, he could call up screens that seemed to customize themselves as he willed the system to display broader concepts, such as his status and character sheet, and individual traits, such as his age or the date and time.
Finally, sending a silent prayer to whichever gods were listening that he had a few skill points despite his relatively short time in the world, Vex focused on assigning a few to his skills. He pictured the concepts of reading and math as tangible constructs. He then envisioned a small portion of skill points flowing from the vault of his potential into the twin investments that promised to help him decipher his newly augmented reality. As he did so, the system brought up a new window.
With a final push of mental effort, akin to the last turning of a rusted key within a stubborn lock, something clicked. The pearly gates of comprehension creaked open, welcoming him back into the realm of legibility. The cryptic characters shimmered, and like a tapestry unraveling, they rewove themselves into a script he could once again understand.
> You have trained your Reading skills to level 3.
>
> You have trained your Mathematics skills to level 2.
Relief cascaded through Vex's body, a soothing balm to the sting of his earlier frustrations. While reading, Vex found that his regained ability to read felt sluggish, forcing him to sound out nearly every word. However, he could at least understand what the system notifications were saying. It was almost enough to soften the sting of remembering that he had endured years of education despite being unable to recall any of it. But just as despair gripped, Vex's foggy memory vaguely recalled that he had traded his old skills during his first few minutes of hazy interactions with the system in this weird world. Abstractly, he took that to mean that the skills from his former life were not lost. With the availability of skill points, Vex hoped that meant he would quickly turn his trades into an advantage. With newfound peace of mind, he infused his thoughts with determination and asked the system to open his full character sheet.
— Character Sheet —
Basic Characteristics
Name: Vex
Level: 3
Tier: None
Class: Erstatz Guildmaster
Race: Realm Walker
Racial Bonus: Augmented Perspective
Status
Health: Full
Mana: Full
Stamina: Full
Ailments: None
Worth
Experience: 817/30,000
Skill Points: 10
Followers
Shadowling Fighter (Summoned Minion)
Shadowling Rogue (Summoned Minion)
Traits
*Guild Domain (Mystical)
*Guild Summon (Shadowlings)
*One for All (Guild)
*Ethereal Vaults (Guild)
*Guild Acquisitions
*The marked trait does not currently meet the minimum skill threshold. Because you have previously met the requirements, your trait will remain usable but will be partially limited.
Skills
*Appraisal: 3/10
*Arcane Binding: MAX
*Arcane Crafting: MAX
*Bargaining: 5/10
*Butchering: 4/10
*Casting: MAX
*Channeling: MAX
*Concentration: MAX
Contracts: MAX
First Aid: 1
Guild Management: MAX
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
*Investigation: 6/10
Knot Tying: 1
Leadership: MAX
*Learning: MAX
Logistics: MAX
Lore - Guild Development: MAX
Lore - Guild Law: MAX
Lore - Arcane History: MAX
*Mana Manipulation: MAX
Mathematics: 2/10
*Meditation: 6/10
*Mysticism: MAX
*Perception: 8/10
*Planar Scholar: MAX
Reading: 3/10
Recruiting: 7/10
*Runescript: MAX
*Scavenging: 4/10
*School of Magic - Astral: MAX
*School of Magic - Darkness: MAX
*School of Magic - Summoning: MAX
*School of Magic - Rituals: MAX
*Spellcraft: MAX
Sprinting: 1
*Teaching: MAX
*Your skill knowledge is locked because you do not presently meet the acquisition requirements. To unlock your skill, you must raise your age or regain the knowledge through other means.
Languages
Native: MAX
*Arcana: Max
*Your language knowledge is locked because you do not presently meet the acquisition requirements. To unlock your language, you must raise your age or regain the knowledge through other means.
Spells
None
* * *
Moving into a cross-legged sitting position on the floor, Vex poured over his character's skill tree. His fingers tapped nervously against his knee as he tried to remember the order in which he had unlocked and maxed each skill. As he scanned his character sheet, he couldn't help but feel a sense of regret for focusing so heavily on the guild skills as his first choice. He couldn't be certain, but he believed that the system likely unlocked the skills based on the order in which he made his choices.
With only scant, hazy memories, Vex realized that answers would not be readily available. So, instead, his attention turned to the next mystery - determining the value of a skill point and how often it could be earned. Furrowing his brow in concentration, Vex attempted to calculate how often new skill points would be unlocked for him to allocate. Unfortunately, only having a couple of points in basic mathematics left Vex with the realization that he was able to do little more than rudimentary addition or subtraction. However, with each passing moment, it became clear that he had a long climb ahead if he wanted to unlock his disabled abilities. The burden settled on his shoulders as he realized how much time and effort it would take to reach the potential he had traded his past for.
As Vex's mind wound down and stopped racing with unsuccessful calculations, he focused on his summoned creatures, assessing their abilities. Though he was tempted to allocate more skill points towards improving his basic mathematics, Vex realized that his top priority was survival. He needed to fully comprehend the capabilities of the Shadowlings and decide where his points would best serve him. So, with a forced mental effort, Vex prompted the system to show more details on the fighter.
— Shadowling (Fighter)—
Basic Characteristics
Name: Unnamed
Level: Inherited
Class: Fighter
Race: Shadowling
Racial Bonus: One With Shadows
Status
Health: Full
Mana: Full
Stamina: Full
Ailments: None
Experience: N/A
Summon Time Remaining: 2:00:00
Traits
*Battle Rhythm
*Bulwark
*Combat Athletics
Skilled Fighter
*Weapons Master
*The marked trait is locked because it has not met the minimum skill threshold.
Skills
Dark Vision (Innate): 2/10
Evasion: 1/10
Shields: 2/10
Footwork: 1/10
Sprinting: 1/10
Swords: 2/10
Taunt: 1/10
Languages
Summoner's Native Language: Inherited
Sign Language - Shadow Cant: MAX
Spells
None
* * *
As Vex scanned the fighter's character sheet, his attention kept returning to the name field. The realization that he had recklessly thrown himself into this world and nearly died washed over him with a wave of shame. He now saw how foolish he had been, too awkward to engage with his Shadowlings and too unassuming to accept that a tiny ball of fur could be dangerous.
With a deep sigh, Vex acknowledged the mistakes he had made. In his acceptance, he felt keenly aware that he needed to improve and adapt to this new world to survive long enough to explore this new reality. As the thoughts of experiencing this new world occupied Vex's focus, it dawned on him that he wasn't considering the possibility of leaving or returning to his old life.
A small voice in the back of Vex's head reminded him that he should be much older than he appeared to be now. He knew he had lived another life before this one, even if he couldn't remember it. This life was the equivalent of a reset, where he found himself starting over in a place filled with magic, and while Vex couldn't find any fault with what he remembered of his old life, he assumed that there was a reason, maybe even a greater comic purpose for him being in this world. Even if he only came to be in this new world by happenstance, he fully intended to embrace his new reality.
Once again, Vex took a deep breath and refocused on the world around him and the present. Everything was still new and overwhelmingly unfamiliar. Determined to make the most of his situation, he pivoted back to exploring the Shadowlings' character sheets, determined to understand their unique abilities and strengths. Believing the skills to be fairly self-explanatory, Vex decided to fill in his larger knowledge gaps by mentally prompting the system to display information for each of the fighter's traits.
> The Battle Rhythm trait attunes the user to the intricate and ever-changing nuances of battle. Automatically activated when in combat, the warrior will find themselves in perfect harmony with their environment, becoming a formidable force. Every step and strike will be executed with fluidity and precision, like a dance set to the rhythm of war. With their instincts sharpened to a razor's edge, they will move gracefully and intuitively, anticipating their opponent's every move. In the heat of battle, they are a force to be reckoned with. The battle rhythm trait requires the user to have the following skills: Choreography 6, Perception MAX, Footwork MAX, Evasion 7, Any Weapon Skill 7, Combat Tactics MAX, and Grace MAX.
>
> The Bulwark Trait, honed through rigorous training and experience, elevates one's ability to protect themselves and their companions. As the individual's skill in the defensive arts reaches the apex, they become capable of defending, countering, or redirecting all forms of attack with the aid of armor, even those of a magical or colossal nature. This trait improves with a warrior's skill and the quality of their armor, providing an impenetrable bulwark against any foe. The Bulwark trait requires the user to have the following skills: Shields 7, Blocking Max, Dodge 3, Evasion 5, One Armor Skill Max, Magic Resistance Max, Physical Resistance Max, and Defense Max.
>
> The Combat Athletics trait enhances one's physical abilities, imbuing them with increased strength, agility, and combat prowess. With each punch, strike, and block, the body becomes stronger and more agile. As combat drags on, a well-honed body allows a warrior to push themselves beyond their natural capabilities, only growing more formidable with each passing moment while engaged in battle. The combat athletics trait requires an individual to be skilled in athletics 4, Cardio 4, Strength Training 4, Endurance Training 4, and Exercise 4 to be unlocked.
>
> The skilled fighter trait allows an individual to effortlessly pick up and master any combat skill at an accelerated rate. So long as the fighter is actively attempting to improve in combat or through practice, their efforts will be rewarded with knowledge of their mistakes and how to improve through the use of new techniques and strategies. Those who master the combat arts through this trait are still subject to the normal skill ceiling but will gain significant foresight in battle and a deeper understanding of the art of combat. The trait has no skill requirements and is automatically unlocked.
>
> The weapons master trait bestows an unparalleled understanding of all known weapon forms, equipping an individual with a formidable advantage in any combat situation. With razor-sharp proficiency and unmatched skill, the wielder becomes an unstoppable force on the battlefield, their movements fluid and precise as they expertly handle any weapon that falls into their hands. The weapons master trait requires at least three weapons to be fully mastered before it can be unlocked.
After studying the list of traits, Vex wasn't sure what to think. On the one hand, they seemed perfect for fighters and provided a range of versatile abilities. But on the other hand, they felt common and unremarkable. As a creature currently the size of a lawn gnome, Vex had hoped these traits would give the fighter a more distinct advantage in battle, allowing it to outperform its physical limitations. Instead, he was left feeling worried about anything larger than the gremlin using the Shadowlings as a chew toy.
Tangentially, Vex wondered if his summons could make a sound as he had yet to hear them speak. Realizing that was an inquiry for future Vex, he focused on the rogue's character sheet instead, prompting the system with a concentrated mental request.
— Shadowling (Rogue)—
Basic Characteristics
Name: Unnamed
Level: Inherited
Class: Rogue
Race: Shadowling
Racial Bonus: One With Shadows
Status
Health: Full
Mana: Full
Stamina: Full
Ailments: None
Experience: N/A
Summon Time Remaining: 2:00:00
Traits
*Ambush
*Fast Fingers
Roguish Reflexes
*Precision
*Underhanded Advantage
*The marked trait is locked because it has not met the minimum skill threshold.
Skills
Dark Vision (Innate): 2/10
Daggers: 1/10
Evasion: 1/10
Foraging: 1/10
Poisoning: 1/10
Sprinting: 1/10
Languages
Summoner's Native Language: Inherited
Sign Language - Shadow Cant: MAX
Spells
None
* * *
Flipping between the character sheets for comparison, Vex immediately noticed his fighter's skill-level advantage, likely due to their unlocked trait. With an apparent skill cap of ten across the board, Vex assumed that skills were likely easy to gain but became progressively harder to increase. Otherwise, the primary advantage of the skilled fighter trait made very little sense.
Not remembering the Shadowling's shared racial ability or the onus behind his selection of them, Vex pulled up the system prompt.
> This unique racial ability allows Shadowlings to seamlessly blend into any shadow, becoming one with the darkness around them. Their summon timer, which dictates how long they can remain effectively tangible, does not deplete while they are within dark or dimly lit areas. With this innate skill, the Shadowlings can move undetected through the shadows and excel at striking unsuspecting foes with deadly precision.
>
> Pondering the description, Vex hazily remembered wanting the Shadowlings in the tutorial because of their stealth-like approach to combat. The strategic application calmed his mind, conjuring images of the tiny assassins roaming the darkness. With that darkly giddy thought, Vex dove into the rogue's traits.
>
> The Ambush trait grants its possessor a powerful advantage in executing surprise attacks. Whether through cunningly laid traps or a hidden blade, those with the Ambush trait don't allow their enemies time to feel fear in their final moments. Surprising an opponent while using the ambush trait highly increases the attacker's precision and lethality, greatly increasing the odds of successfully dispatching an opponent. The Ambush trait requires an individual to be skilled in Poisons 7, Traps 5, Dirty Fighting Max, Ambush Max, and Backstab 8.
>
> The Fast Fingers trait bestows its user with an unparalleled advantage in the delicate art of sleight of hand. With nimble and agile fingers, one can effortlessly manipulate objects and easily deceive unsuspecting onlookers. The slightest movement will be executed with precision and control, making thievery and trickery seamless. The fast fingers trait requires an individual to be skilled in Stealing Max, Lock Picking Max, Stealth Max, and Sleight of Hand Max.
>
> The Roguish Reflexes trait imbues its wielder with lightning-fast speed and unparalleled precision when utilizing related skills. The body becomes a blur as movements are executed with expert dexterity and swift finesse, leaving onlookers in awe and struggling to keep up. With this trait, every action is calculated and executed with pinpoint accuracy, making it a valuable asset for those who rely on quick reflexes in their endeavors. The roguish reflexes trait, once selected, is automatically unlocked.
>
> The Precision trait bestows an uncanny level of precision upon its bearer in physical actions. Every movement and gesture will appear carefully sculpted and polished to perfection, bottled and ready to be unleashed at will. Possessing the precision trait gives one a constant advantage in any physical task or activity, whether it be sports, art, or even everyday tasks. The precision trait requires an individual to be skilled in Precision Max and Grace Max.
>
> The Underhanded Advantage amplifies the effectiveness of using any underhanded tactics in a fight, increasing the effectiveness of deceitful actions' deceptive and cunning nature. Examples of deceptive attacks include using underhanded tactics such as poisoning an opponent, delivering low blows, catching a victim by surprise, and any other despicable method of attack that wouldn't be considered honorable. It allows for a sly and deceitful approach to combat, granting the user an edge that can quickly turn the tide in their favor. The underhanded advantage trait requires an individual to be skilled in Stealth Max, Poisons Max, Dirty Fighting Max, Flanking Max, Critical Strikes Max, and Subterfuge Max.
As he finished reading, Vex debated the value of the rogue's traits and promptly lost himself in a fit of laughter as he imagined the tiny little creature attempting to pick-pocket someone on the street. The Shadowling wouldn't stand a chance of being able to steal from a person without first having to learn a full Cirque Du Soleil routine. And yet, the rest of the traits were exactly what Vex had been hoping for. He had a nearly invisible assassin perfect for ambushing and poisoning targets. The tiny rogue had even come with a point in the poison skill. And as far as Vex could tell, there was nothing that stopped the fighter from picking up the same skills and also poisoning its foes. If the world wasn't completely against him, then maybe the Shadowlings could gain further advantage through magic or maledictions that would offset their diminutive nature.
As Vex's mind continued perusing the character sheets, he was interrupted by a loud grumbling from his stomach. He hesitated, torn between the urge to continue exploring and the reminder that he had not eaten in what felt like days.
With a loud sigh and another large gurgle, the decision came about rather easily. However, while still covered in his owndried blood and surrounded by the scent of stale iron, Vex realized that he needed to prioritize avoiding another near-deadly mistake with the local wildlife. Silently hoping that skill points were moderately easy to acquire, Vex mentally willed the system to allocate three points to a survival skill, hoping it was a thing. The system brought up a window, highlighting that it added the skill to his character sheet. Attempting the same allocation of points with the Dark Vision skill he had seen on the Shadowlings character sheets, Vex discovered that the skill wasn't available to him. Prompting the system for a similar skill resulted in the Darkness Navigation skill being offered. After another brief prompt, learning that the skill provided the user with knowledge of how to move in the dark, Vex added a couple of points.
> You have trained your Survival skill to level 3.
>
> You have trained your Darkness Navigation skill to level 2.
Pleased with his initial choices and the system notification, Vex slowly pushed himself up from the ground, feeling the tingling numbness from sitting in one place for too long. Then, with only the slightest bit of dread, he wiggled out of the cave and back into the dark world before him.