When Director Charles Weatherby heard the Council of Leadership posited the possibility of a connection between the anomaly that occurred in the upper planes and the disruption of the fate matrix, Arch-Mage Mathers immediately contacted the leadership of the Fateweavers. Within the hour, he had arrived at the Tower of Magic. The two disciplines had had their disagreements in the past, but they would put those aside for the sake of the kingdom.
The Director was a short man, with a penchant for staying indoors and avoiding unnecessary physical tasks. However, he knew that this situation called for his personal attention. The Tower of Magic had the most advanced scrying systems available in Oglivarch, and he needed to see what they were dealing with.
‘Why did they make these blasted hallways so long,’ the director groused to himself, as he huffed toward the scrying lab.
Finally making it to the door, he took his time to fix his robes. Air swirled around him as he made sure that he was dry, and that no signs of his exertions remained. Adjusting his favorite hat, he gave himself a once over in a conjured mirror. Nodding to his reflection, he pinged the lab door and readied himself for what was sure to be a meeting that could affect the whole of Oglivarch.
Receiving the signal to enter, Director Weatherby opened the door to Arch-Mages Jennings and Mathers vehemently arguing over some holographic data. In the center of the room was a large display following the movements of a young man going about his day.
Confused as to what was going on, he interrupted the two bickering mages. “What the hell is happening here, I was told that you identified the threat to the matrix of fate!” he said in a pompous voice.
The Arch-Mages went silent and looked at him like they were surprised he was so worked up.
Jennings then turned to Mathers and pointed a finger in accusation. “What did you tell him? The boy isn’t a threat, he’s a scientific phenomenon!”
Mathers stared back like he was insulted. “I didn’t say anything of the sort. Don’t you go pointing your finger at me.”
Weatherby sighed to himself, ‘I hate dealing with mages. It’s always like this.’
He held up his hands and snapped his fingers while imbuing them with essence. A loud ‘SNAP’ echoed thoughout the chamber. “Gentleman, how about you just tell me what’s going on?”
Jennings gave Mathers a look that dared him to start talking. Mathers huffed and went back to the displays.
Sporting a triumphant smile, Jennings walked over to Weatherby and waved for his attention to be directed at the large display. “Meet Mr. Nero Walker. A fourteen year old young man who was forcibly awakened when an extra-dimensional soul burst through the upper planes and settled into a recently unoccupied body just outside Dorchester.”
Eyes widened in surprise, Weatherby looked at the display which was showing Nero walking through a courtyard. “This is the anomaly? How can his appearance cause so much discord in the fate matrix?”
Jennings snorted, “That’s because you barely try to follow the math behind the machine. Your order is buying into your own legend.” Seeing that Weatherby was about to object, he continued, “Calm down and let me explain. You know that the fate matrix looks at inputs from across the kingdom. Those inputs are then followed, and a directional probability matrix is formed. You following me?”
“Yes, everyone knows this.” Weatherby crossed his arms over his pot belly and raised his chin.
Jennings nodded, “Just bear with me. Let’s say for example, the matrix sees that every morning a baker shows up at his shop at 7 and his wife meets her lover at 8. Then it sees that the local department of maintenance announces that they will shut that baker’s street down on a particular day, but someone forgets to file the paperwork to alert the affected locals. The matrix will then produce a prophecy within some percentage of error that the baker will come into conflict with his wife on that particular day.”
“While I recognize the cute way you explained the fate matrix, I fail to see your point,” Weatherby replied.
“Alright, now imagine the matrix notices that a boy who was meant to be dead just appeared resoundingly ‘not dead’, and starts going around interacting with people. What do you think the directional probability matrix will do with that?” Jennings finished with a smile.
Weatherby’s arms dropped to his sides and his head whipped to the screen to see Nero banging on the door to Nicks lab. “Oh…. Oh dear.” he said quietly.
Jennings nodded, his smile growing ever wider. “Oh dear is right. The matrix of fate just needs to collect more data and it will start spewing out new probabilities. In no way, shape, or form, is the boy a threat. Now shut up and watch, I’ve been waiting to see this since yesterday, and he conjured chairs for the both of them.
Weatherby just sat down quietly and intended to just watch and see what the mages were so interested in.
-----
As Nick started getting all his machines up and running, I went over the information he just told me. Was the world as large as it seemed? Maybe. Without globes of both worlds sitting next to each other, how would I know? I needed to stop comparing things to Earth. This was a new world, with new rules.
I shrugged off my preconceptions, and inwardly promised myself that I was going to stop being shocked all the time. There was no feeling so unpleasant to me than being wrong or misinformed; and I’ve been feeling like that since I got here. I stood up to walk over to the testing area.
‘I need to be better. I am better. So the world is fucking huge? That’s just more to see. So I’m living in a dragon’s backyard; one who does whatever the hell it wants? Cool, I chose this world because dragons rule. The world is probably filled with shit I’ve never heard of? My previous world was tiny in comparison and I didn’t know shit while I was there. My stupidity didn’t stop me from building a battery out of a potato when I was in the 5th grade science fair. And it’s certainly not going to stop me from learning how to do the dishes with magic. I hate doing stuff, and magic can make ‘not doing stuff’ a valid lifestyle choice,’ I thought to myself.
My internal monologue ran as I walked over to the testing area. I stood where Nick pointed, and he turned away to start messing with a machine that had nobs and crystals and little holograms that lit up. While Nick was occupied, I was finishing my personalized pep-talk. Slowly, the world came into focus and I heard the now familiar ‘Ding’.
Nick immediately stopped what he was doing and turned around. “What just happened? Specifically... tell me what exactly you did just now. In as much detail as you can manage, tell me how you leveled.” He demanded in a forcibly calm voice. He was practically vibrating while holding himself as still as possible.
I still a felt a little high from my level as I turned my glazed eyes to Nick. “Ah… You pointed for me to stand here. I walked over here. Then I watched you with the cool holograms, then I leveled.” I said.
Nick raised his hands to his face, and looked like he wanted to scratch out his own eyes. “What were you thinking about? What was going on in your mind?”
I thought back, trying to relive the past minute or two. “Well, I was going over all that crap about the world that you told me. Then I came to the conclusion that I was an idiot, and it’s best to ignore as much of it as I could, and forget about whatever I couldn’t ignore. Then, you needed me for testing, so I figured I should focus on that.” I said, proud of my helpful attitude.
‘Uh oh. There is that look again. Nicks ‘you’re an idiot’ face. He looks older, tired. He should get more sleep,’ I thought to myself, as I returned his stare with my most compassionate face, the one I reserved for dogs that are too old to fetch.
Turning back to his machine without another word. Nick said, “Just stand there and don’t do anything. And don’t use your star. I know it’s hard to hold onto, but just hold on for a few seconds.” He started doing stuff, and fiddling with things, and then there were whirring noises and lights. It was all very impressive if you go for sciencey-hologramy-type things.
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I stood in the middle of the platform, as lights moved around me. I said “I haven’t spent any stars yet, I haven’t gotten to that part of the book yet.” Wow, I can feel the essence in the air doing stuff. I have no idea what it’s doing, but it feels like it’s doing something.
“What do you mean you haven’t used your stars. Don’t you feel soul-bloated? Like an uncomfortable feeling where something bad will happen if you don’t direct something. Almost like an instinct?” Nick turned around and all the lights went out.
I blinked as the room returned to focus. “Not really,” I said. I closed my eyes and tried to do an internal audit. “I think I feel what you mean. Kinda like holding a ball and being ready to throw it, but not actually throwing it. Like a sense of anticipation. Is that what you’re talking about?”
I opened my eyes and turned to Nick. He stood there with his hands on his hips. ‘Maybe that’s just his normal face,’ I thought.
“Yes. That’s the feeling I’m talking about. Since your level is so low, and you’ll end up using at least a few stars in each attribute over your life; would you mind using your stars in your mind, body, and soul stat one at a time while I record them?” He said while forcing a smile.
“Is there anything I should know about using stars that you haven’t told me. Because I can tell by the look on your face that you’re up to something. I get that look on my face right before I convince someone to go for the extended warranty,” I said while squinting my eyes to see through his bullshit.
Nick took a second to formulate a reply. “Fine. It’s very rude to offer input on how someone uses their stars. A path is very personal, and I’d get a long talking to by a Wayfinder if they heard about me trying to direct anyone’s path. That said, it would be very beneficial for my analysis of your identity to have me record it.” Nick grumbled.
“Well, I won’t tell if you don’t. Will you promise to hide anything freaky that you find, at least until you talk to me about it?” I hedged to see if I can get something out of my concession.
Nick scoffed, “I told you, paths are personal. I’m legally obligated to go over your analysis with you in private. Everything we record here isn’t publicly available. Aside from your soul signature that is, but that is merely used to identify you.”
“In that case. I’ll agree to use my 3 stars on whatever you want, but I need you to do something for me.” I said.
Nick went to the control panel and brought up a bunch of screens. He turned his head over his shoulder and asked, “What?”
“You have to muss up your hair, raise your fists in the air, and exclaim in a shout that ‘THIS IS FOR SCIENCE’!” I said to him while my eyes conveyed how serious I was.
Giving me a look of confusion, he shrugged and then proceeded to rub his hands over his head to muss up his hair. He then raised his fists in the air. And then Nick spoke the immortal words of every crazy-assed mad scientist in history. “This IS for science!” He said in a strong voice, while not at all shouting or looking crazy.
I sighed. “Never mind, you ruined it. Let’s just get this over with. Tell me how to do this, and when.”
Nick lowered his hands. He just shook his head, and went back to his machine. “OK… Open up your identity, and when I say so, focus on your body stat and think about filling it up, as if it were a cup. Go slowly.”
I opened up my identity:
Name
Nero Walker
Level
4
Race
Human
Growth
1%
Tier
1
Condition
100%
Age
14
Center
100%
Body
0
Mind
0
Soul
0
Confluence
10
Stars
3
Pillars
0/0
“I’m ready,” I told Nick, as the machine’s lights were flying all over the place.
“Good. Push 1 star into your body stat now.” He was focused completely on a hologram of me. Only it was a multicolored me, and only a foot tall. There were so many lights around me that I could barely see my image.
I returned my focus to my Body stat and I felt a small tension. It was that feeling when you were throwing a football, and you watched your buddy turn to you to catch it. He was waiting for the throw as he ran. You smoothly released it, and you just KNEW that it was going to hit him in stride. The perfect throw.
Body – Your physical manifestation on this plane of existence. This is YOU given form.
The alert came into mind as a sense of completion filled my body. ‘If I knew it felt like this, I would have spent all my stars in the shower last night,’ I thought to myself as the essence around me shook.
“Holy Shit Nick.” I said. “Does it always feel like that? That was amazing.”
“Focus Nero! Now push a star into your Mind stat.” I heard Nick say.
Mind – Both your tether and controller between this plane of existence and all the others. The Mind is subject to the body and soul, but guides them both. This is YOU.
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t feel anything. I just reveled in the moment. I felt sturdy. I felt complete. I felt like I had just handed in a perfect paper to a teacher, or won an argument with a girlfriend. That moment when everything is right, and you are in control.
“Now the soul Nero.” Nick said calmly.
Soul – The core of who you are. The YOU that is eternal.
I felt like I was back in the void. Devoid of emotion, yet recognizing they exist. I was a flame of creation, a master of my own destiny. I was immortal. All of a sudden, the feeling faded, and I was back in the lab. And now I was feeling sick.
Dropping to my knees, I started throwing up. ‘Gross… coffee and donuts.’ I groused to myself. I wiped my mouth and stood up unsteady legs, while trying to avoid my pile of breakfast. “What the hell was that Nick?” I asked.
Nick didn’t even bother turning around. He was just fiddling with knobs and pressing buttons. “Oh, the nausea? Yeah, that’ll happen when you raise multiple stats without resting. I’m surprised you actually made it through all three. I’ve only ever heard about someone holding a star for long enough to be able to use two of them at once. The study ran for over 2 years. Franklin Archer conducted it. It was a big deal. Poor guy that had volunteered for the study had to be in bed for a couple days afterward. I can now confirm that it’s the strain on your confluence that causes it. Interestingly, you have a high tolerance. Your confluence vs level must be amazing by the way. It’s like your body, mind, and soul are really welded together in there.” Nick kept talking while he was working.
“Hey Nick.” I said.
“Yeah?” he replied.
“You’re an asshole.” I said.
“Oh calm down. It worked out fine.”
“Anything that I’d like to keep secret in there?”
He hummed in thought. “Not really. You’re not abnormally strong, or smart, and your soul is normal enough. It is a little big though. Not really uncommon in any way. The only odd thing is your confluence. But that can be attributed to your unusual awakening.”
I nodded, left the podium and walked toward the sink to wash my mouth out with water. “Hey Nick?” I rinsed and spit.
“Yeah?” he said.
“I’m telling Vera about the stars,” I said as I grabbed a bagel and fresh coffee.