'I'm not dim. I swear.' I stared at my scroll in disbelief. 'How. How many times have I looked this thing over?'

Analyze - Level 1

Description: You can delve deeper into the essence of anything written in your pages or within your Aura Detection range. Analyze reveals intricate details such as magical properties, hidden meanings, or historical context, giving your wielder unparalleled insight.

Active: 10 Mana

I grumbled to myself for a few minutes before setting aside my frustration. It wasn't really going to do me any good to be upset. Not like I could actually do anything about it but to fix it. And by fix it, I mean to use the skill that was clearly designed to help me figure things out.

'What do I actually need to figure out?' I mused over everything I believe I had questions about. There was the Bond, and how I got xp. The trait of Living Book gave an explanation, but maybe there was more to it? 'What else, oh! I wonder if I can Analyze the rhythms?' That would be useful if that worked.

'Hmm, 'anything written in your pages'… Maybe not the rhythms then but could be worth a shot.' I glanced back through the conversation I had with Cuttle. 'Initiation Zone? Oh, and in that case, Initiates would be a good one. I'm pretty sure I have it down, but no one actually explained it.'

I checked everything over once more and hummed with satisfaction. It might not be everything, but I was sure it was going to be a pretty decent start.

'Alright, let's start with… 'Bond'.' I focused on the word where Cuttle had written it on my page, at the same time… 'Analyze…?'

Bond: A symbolic vow of trust between two individuals—stronger than friendship, not necessarily romantic, and less binding than a Familiar bond. Often formed by long-term companions. Can fade or break over time if neglected. Demonstrates loyalty and shared commitment.

Mana: 804/814(824)

'Well. That's something at least.' The conversation between us made a bit more sense now. If this was something that people who trusted their lives to each other I could see why he might be a little perturbed by suddenly having a bond. Not only that but with an Initiate as well. 'Which I guess leads into the next bit, eh? Anaylze.'

Initiate: An individual selected from a planet undergoing System evaluation.

Initiate Zone: A designated region where Initiates appear every century during the New Initiation cycle. Each zone marks the entry point for the latest group of off-world arrivals, placed there to begin their trials under the System's watchful eye.

Mana: 784/814(824)

'Okay… I guess that makes sense? But…' I let the sentence die out as I mulled over the two 'definition'. Honestly, that is what Analyze seemed to be doing, giving me the definitions for the words. Which, in a way made sense. 'I am a book after all. Is that why I didn't start in an Initiate Zone? Because I didn't start up as a normal human?'

My focus shifted to look at Cuttle's name. 'Speaking of 'human', I am fairly 100% sure that Cuttle has four arms. So, I'm guessing not human. Analyze.'

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Name: Cuttle Class: [HIDDEN] Tier: [HIDDEN] Health: [HIDDEN] Stamina: [HIDDEN] Mana: [HIDDEN]

'But… what? That tells me nothing.' I scrutinized over the scroll. 'No. Not nothing. It tells me that Cuttle has a Class at the very least. It also tells me a bit about the limits of having a Level 1 Analyze. I bet I would get more if it was higher level.'

I switched to a page further back in my book and quickly labeled it 'Lore Compendium'. 'It came to me in a dream.' I took the time to copy from the scrolls that had popped up with each Analyze into my little compendium.

It seemed to take just a thought to change how I wrote. When 'speaking' with Cuttle earlier, the words scrawled across the page very similarly to my natural handwriting. Now, as I dictated the words and their definitions, they were written out in neat little block letters.

'I'll keep Cuttle's status stuff to myself. It seemed to be a fairly private thing.' As I finished writing, I looked about my void. 'Even if it is just in this little space, it really would be nice to move around. Just a little bit.'

I hummed to myself for a few minutes, long enough to get back to 800 MP. 'Guess they're still setting things up. Did I miss anything? Oh! Here is something. Analyze.'

Artifact: A potent magical item imbued with rare or ancient powers—sometimes even manifesting its own sentience. Artifacts are rarely forged, even by master crafters, and are most often discovered as high-tier Dungeon rewards or bestowed during Grand Events. Many lie scattered throughout the world, abandoned at the final resting place of their previous wielder, awaiting a new owner bold enough to claim them.

Dungeon: A naturally formed concentration of the world's latent energy, condensing into a self-contained realm full of hazards and mysteries. Each dungeon is anchored by a core, the source of its power and structure. Adventurers venture into dungeons to test their skills, gather resources, and claim rare rewards.

Event: A System-coordinated scenario—often presented as a quest, dungeon challenge, or Tower ascent—unfolding on either a local or global scale. Events serve as major trials or opportunities for growth, offering substantial rewards and shaping the world's balance of power.

Tower: A System-generated structure that functions similarly to a dungeon yet is deliberately created rather than formed by nature. Towers pose tiered challenges, with each floor designed to push participants' limits. Completion often grants powerful boons or unlocks higher-level content within the System.

Mana: 764/814(824)

Quickly I add each entry to my Lore Compendium. Including Analyzing and copying the new word: Tower. 'I wonder, are there any Events or Quests for books? If all I do is gain xp passively, it is going to be a while before I get anywhere.'

Something jostled the surface I was on and then hands began to open me up. 'Looks like Cuttle is ready for another chat.'