Frederick's home was well kept and neat for a bachelor. He was a simple man and didn't keep much beyond the basics, but he kept his small wooden cottage tidy. It was on the edge of town and well provisioned for the cold winter nights. He settled into a comfortable cushioned chair once they arrived and threw some logs onto the hot coals of a dim fire that kept the freezing wind at bay. Nick sat across from him on a worn wooden bench and tried to get comfortable. They both enjoyed the heat from the fire burning along the wall in the stone hearth between them for a few minutes

It had been a cold walk back to the cottage from the bar and Nick was clearly lacking appropriate attire. After taking some time to look around the rustic living area and warm his hands near the heat, he turned to Frederick and saw him closely watching him.

"So if ya don't know about the stations how did ya get a class?" Frederick questioned.

"I don't understand what you mean by class." Nick replied hesitantly.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully before continuing, "Look at me and try to glean more. [Identify] me."

Nick tilted his head perplexed as he reflected on Frederick’s words. He had no idea what Frederick meant by [Identify] but as soon as the word crossed his mind it became abundantly clear. A block of text appeared clearly in his mind..

Class: [Carpenter]

“What the hell!?” Nick gasped.

He was astounded. It was like one of the video games he grew up playing where you roleplay a character. You’d pick a class like [Warrior] and you could unlock abilities and skills. If that was true he realized that meant the strange building he entered earlier was the station Frederick referred to and he had already been given a class and several skills.

"You are a [Carpenter]. Do classes give you magic and abilities?" Nick asked excitedly, momentarily forgetting he was stranded on a different planet.

"Some classes have magic aye and abilities is one way to describe what skills provide. It is pretty simple. Ya select a class or take the recommended one when you register at a station for the first time. The class unlocks the [Identify] skill which everyone has and a skill tied to your class. As ya level your class, you can gain new skills or existing ones may improve and evolve. Leveling is a bit of a mystery but it's generally understood a new skill will be granted on average every ten levels.”

Nick took a moment to consider the gravity of what he just learned and then realized he wouldn't be a great warrior saving the princess of the realm. He was a [Merchant]. Unless..

"Can you change classes?" he asked hopefully.

"Nope, assigned for life. It has been a research topic for ages though. There are plenty who wish to change their choice for something else but it is a sad reality for most that end up as farmers or tailors wishing for excitement. At least they have an excuse to live a little longer instead of dying on the frontlines or in frontier lands. Think of your [Status]. What skill did ya get from your class?"

Nick frowned at the news. He wasn't sure what it meant to be a [Merchant] but it seemed he was stuck with it unless he found a different way to get a new class from the station. It made sense if he really was transported by Hez, goddess of traders and merchants. He put the thought to the back of his mind and did as Frederick suggested, thinking of his [Status] the same way he did with [Identify] earlier and got similar results.

Name: Nick Solis

Age: 21

Race: Human

Class: [Merchant]

Level: 1

Skills:

[Identify]

[Personal Station]

Nick sensed his class and each of the skills listed had additional information he could access.

He focused on them in order to reveal a description for each.

[Merchant]

Each successful trade provides experience.

The term successful left him with questions. How did these stations determine what was successful? Could he simply trade an item and money back and forth between another merchant and level endlessly? It was no doubt not nearly that simple, but it gave him something to think about as he moved on to the descriptions of his skills.

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[Identify]

See any sapient creature's Class.

See non-sapient creature's Threat Level.

Range: Eyesight

Limit: None

[Personal Station]

You control a personal station node that can access the station network from any location.

Range: User

Limit: None

Nick was completely lost on what to think about his class and skills.

"Beyond [Identify], all I have is some skill that says I get access to the station network from any location.. Seems pretty lousy. No fireballs or summoning magic that's for sure."

Frederick looked at Nick in disbelief before sputtering out, "Anywhere... without limits?"

"That's what it says….What does station network access mean exactly?." he replied sheepishly.

Frederick seemed shocked and took a moment to collect himself and his thoughts. Despite Nick’s lack of understanding, it was clear Frederick wasn't prepared for the implications of his skill.

"Nick, ya don't understand how dangerous and violent this world can be. Stations are a driving force behind much of the violence on Proelium, but stations also provide infrastructure to every nation. The problem is station access is restricted to nodes and they are strictly controlled by the nations that control them. They provide the means to run commerce, and allow the movement of goods and people. As a [Merchant], the station market will be where you carry out most of your trades."

"I'll have to take your word on it. This is all a lot to take in and I don’t really understand enough about why that would be so dangerous." Nick said before releasing a deep breath and trying to focus on the most important revelations. "What is the station market all about? That seems important if I am to become a successful merchant."

"The station market is a global hub and facilitates the majority of all trade. You need to test this skill of yours and then you will understand. Station nodes are highly valued and protected. The kingdoms that hold them can assess taxes on their populations making them crucial for managing their people and a key objective for many wars. The problem is when conflict occurs, station network access locks region wide and as the front line shifts the ability to reinforce new areas and supply troops becomes a logistical nightmare. Having access anywhere could change the way battlefields are managed."

"It seems like you know a lot about the war efforts.”.

Frederick sighed before he replied with a serious tone, "I've lived longer than most in this world aye. I worked in the capital for many years before relocating to this small town. It was time to move on before I got myself killed and I'm glad I did. Focus on your station skill and all will be clear if it works as I expect."

Nick nodded seriously and felt his skill naturally activate when he focused. A figure flashed into existence as soon as the skill was active. The figure was a faceless featureless bipedal and a robotic voice began to speak from its location despite having no discernable mouth.

"Activation of Solis station node completed. Select station avatar specifications."

An arm from the figure raised during the last statement and a display panel appeared with a list of features and options that could be edited. Nick quickly looked at the options and they appeared to let him customize the appearance of the station avatar into almost anything he wanted.

Frederick, sitting across the room, cleared his throat and explained, "A station avatar is provided to the owner of each station node. The local noble is generally who controls each node and its avatar. The avatar will be able to answer most any question ya have.”

Nick was amazed. He had never imagined anything like the stations and his mind was buzzing with the impact they would have across virtually everything in Proelium.

Frederick cleared his throat as he noticed Nick’s distant look. “I'm going to get some rest but stay the night and learn what you can from your assistant. We will get ya some new clothes in the morning."

Nick came back to the conversation and managed to compose himself momentarily. "Thank you for everything. I am lucky to have met you when I did. I might be freezing to death out there otherwise."

"Aye, don't mention it. Rest up, ya are going to need the energy."

Frederick stood and grabbed some blankets and a pillow from a cupboard in the corner. He laid them on the floor near the fire before he headed into the back room of the cottage and left Nick alone with the station avatar.

After Frederick left, the gravity of Nick’s situation started to sink in for him. He was in an unknown world with no clue what the local society or customs were. Not to mention, there was magic and apparently mythical creatures. He took a deep breath and released the anxiety that had built up. He was nobody back on Earth. He hadn’t had any special skills that made him stand out but that had suddenly changed.

Based on Frederick's reaction he was unique and people didn’t randomly get teleported between worlds often enough for it to be commonly known. Nick had knowledge and perspective that could be world changing if he could figure out how to recreate some of the things from Earth. He thought if he could learn how to take advantage of his knowledge from Earth and build something of value it would be more than he could have ever hoped to achieve in his life on Earth. Nick clenched his fists at the thought.

The only thing that made him hesitate was his family. Nick was a single child and his parents would be devastated at his disappearance. He had no idea why Hez chose him to send to Proelium but it seemed like it had to be tied to the station skill in some way. He thought if he could learn more about his personal station and understand how it worked maybe he could find a way back. He thought of what Hez said about this world being a better fit for his ambitions and perhaps she was right. Nick took in a deep breath with conviction and released it while unclenching his fists. It was time for him to get to work.