I woke in darkness, sprawled out on the floor. The ground was hard stone from the touch and was quite warm. Sitting up I couldn’t see anything, just more darkness. That’s fine. I have become quite comfortable in the dark. You might say I have been moulded by it.
Status!
I thought the word clearly. The command used to summon the hero’s window of information.
That’s strange Nothing appeared in front of me. No window… nothing.
Where am I? The book said it would take me to the Tower’s entrance. Is that where I am?
Rumbling stone pulled my attention to the left and light started to stream in. A crack in the wall widened outwards, revealing a doorway. The light let me see that I was inside a small empty room made of stone. I pulled myself up to my feet and felt weak, my body was not responding as easily as I’m used to. I took a few steps forward and walked slowly to the doorway. Lilly might be upset about me claiming the book but I’m sure she would understand.
Outside the Tower should be a swath of devastated land and red skies. Instead, the sky was a bright blue. Stone buildings, streets, and a large crowd of people stood in front of me behind a small stone fence. Amazing, I have not seen a blue sky since Earth.
Dwarfs, Orcs, Gnomes, Elves, and little fairies flying around could be seen in the crowd of people. Where they here to welcome me home after defeating the tower? However, there were no faces I recognised, no scouts, envoys, or agents I was used to dealing with.
I could also see other races I have never seen before. A humanoid insect looking thing with four arms, and what looked to be human but with animal ears and… is that a tail? Just how many years did I spend inside the tower?
After stepping out of the stone room, everyone looked at me with unhappy expressions on their faces. I ignored them, I have long become used to people staring at me in adoration. I bent my knees a few times, bouncing in place. It felt like my strength has faded. Something to do with the class change maybe. I bounced a few more times to confirm what the feeling was. Less strength? If I had access to my status it could be pretty clear what changed.
After looking down I noticed that I was actually naked, my bits dangling around mid bounce. Bloody hell, what is it with that truck and leaving me without clothes? And no scars? I was used to seeing pale white lines criss-crossing all over my body. Damage taken where healing and potions were not fully effective. Instead my body looked healthy with no blemishes. I reach up and touch my face. Phew, I still have my beard.
“Ahem... Please stop bouncing.” To my left was a man, human by the look, wearing a grey uniform. His hair was black, cut short, and had a tuft of hair on his chin. He held out a bundle of cloth towards me. “Wear this… please”
I used inspect on the bundle but received no response from my skill. Righto. It’s like that, Is it?
Shrugging I took the bundle and shook it loose. It was a long grey robe that felt soft to the touch. I pulled it over my head and adjusted it around my body. “Uh. Cheers, it was starting to get a bit too breezy for my liking”.
He smiled and offered out his hand. “Welcome to GorikTar City. It’s not uncommon for a summoned to be without clothing. My name is Macauley but please just call me Mac. I’m a member of the Tower Knights, a group of people that aid aspiring climbers, provide services to the Tower, and hold a neutral position in the city.”
if I remembered correctly, Diamond city was the name of the city surrounding the Tower, before being destroyed. My first thought was they must have built a new city in the time I was inside tower. My second thought was that this might not the same tower I was just in. Does that mean I died… again? Something to contemplate later.
I shook Mac’s hand. “Thanks. I’m Reigner… Hey, I can’t call up my status. What’s up with that?”
A look of confusion passed over Mac’s face. “You know about that? I’m surprised. Normally summoned have no knowledge of their status. No. You can’t access your status until you unlock your class with an awakening stone.”
Now I’m the one to look confused “Awakening stone?” I have seen a lot of magical items but never heard of an awakening stone before.
“People born here grow up within a mana rich environment which has an impact on the growth of their body. Locals end up unlocking their class at around the age of ten. Summoned however never had that experience and their bodies either become sick from mana within a few weeks of arriving, or on very rare occasions, learn to block out mana completely making it impossible to cast magic.”
Unbelievable. There was no magical class giving rock when I was summoned before. That is something I would have given anything for. Could I have been able to learn and cast magic all this time if I just had access to one?
Grabbing hold of Mac’s hand’s, I sought the most important answer of my existence “Those people… that can’t cast magic… does touching the stone help them gain a class? Are they able to use mana?”
If my future means spending another twenty plus years watching Adventurers cast amazing spells, while I am stuck swinging weapons around… I don’t know what I will do. Start a farm or something.
Mac must have heard the desperation in my voice, he squeezed my hand and smiled. “Yes. Even though Awakening stones are quite common they are still a god ranked artifact. Touching one will clear your body of any mana blockages. You will gain access to your status, discover what your first spell or skill is and… be able to learn and cast magic.”
I will be able to use magic?... I will be able to use magic!
Unable to control myself I let out a long laugh and jump around. Mac was forced to turn as I was still holding his hands. With mana at my fingertips, I won’t need to wade into the mass of creatures and could just sit back at range. If that book was correct, then my class will now be a Summoner. Thoughts of summoning demons to do all the fighting and heavy lifting for me flow through my mind. Lazy days here I come!
“This Awakening stone. Where is it? Take me to it. I need to touch it... Now”
Mac pulled his hands out of my grip and took a backwards step. “Easy there. We do have one on hand, but I believe a representative of the human sector will be here shortly to pick you up.”
Human sector. Why would someone need to pick me up? These words reeked of politics. Looking around again at the crowd of people I noticed that they were not as intermingled as I first thought. Groups made of singular races stayed close together while giving side eye glances to the others.
Mac sighed “The only reason there is no full out war in the city is for two main reasons. Firstly, the city is ruled by the Broken Spear clan, an Orc faction, and they are very strict about enforcing law, which includes no violence within city limits. Secondly, the Tower Knights. We control access to the early floors and don’t allow fighting between climbers. No one wants to lose Tower access, so the factions have all agreed that conflict inside the Tower, stays in the upper floors. Because of this trade has…”
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Mac’s words started to become just background noise. I didn’t want to be rude, so let him ramble on. Different factions not trusting each other was no big surprise. The history books recording the golden ages of the Tower reported it was much the same, before the threat of total destruction.
Mac turned and greeted a woman walking towards us. “Yui! I did not expect a disciple of Master Gushiken to be on summon watch.”
The newcomer was a human woman that looked to be in her late teenage years. She was wearing flowing black robes with intricate embroidered flower designs, and a dark blue leather chest guard wrapped around her chest. A Japanese styled sword rested against her hip. Her face was beautiful, with smiling dark eyes, soft pink lips, and black hair tied into a bun. She looked Asian, Japanese if I had to guess, and stood around five and a half feet with the top of her head reaching my chin.
Yui clasped Mac’s hands and gave a small bow. “I’m not. I was heading to the Tower and was asked to check out the toy box on the way. This is the first time I have seen a human walk out.”
She turned towards me. “Nice to meet you, I’m Yui. Are you from Earth?”
“Yeah, I’m from Earth, call me Reigner.” I focused back on Mac “Where is that Awakening rock?”
Yui let out a laugh. “You seem very energetic. Looking at your build I bet you will have a warrior class.”
Mac sighed “Normally we would encourage newly summoned to interact with the stone once they have arrived in their sector. Coming to a new world can be a bit overwhelming.” My face tightened and I glared down at him. “However, I can tell how eager you are. Please follow me. We have one in storage.”
Mac led me into a large building with Yui following behind. Inside looked to be a large waiting area. Several adventurers were waiting in line or sat together in groups. Most of the groups only consisted of a single race while the line was filled with more of a combination. There were also a bunch of people of all races wearing heavy grey armour. They must be more of Mac’s order, the Tower Knights.
Mac gestured to the area in front of me. “This is the Tower entrance waiting hall. Wait in here a moment and I will grab the Awakening stone.”
At the head of the line was an Orc in grey robes sitting behind a desk. The Orc gestured to a crystal ball and gave out a slip of paper to the Adventurer in front of him. After the adventurer walked off the same interaction happened with the next person in line.
Since Yui was still following me I might as well ask some questions about this world. “Why toybox?”
“Hmm? Oh! A summoned from earth called it that a long time ago. Named after a children’s toy, jack in the box. It’s a toy that…”
“I know what a jack in the box is. How is that relevant to the stone room?”
“Well, there is a summoned every morning but it’s always random what Tower they walk out of. Much like the toy just without the music.” She giggled lightly. “We can never tell when the door will open, popping out a person.”
“Random tower? There more than one?”
“There are thirty towers in Aruni, the name of this world.” She placed a finger on her chin and tilted her head “If I remember correctly, Aruni is about twice the size of Earth.”
Yui looked behind me, smiled, and gave a wave to someone. Turning around, a group of three human adventurers were walking towards us. The closest one was wearing dark leathers, the one to his left was in colourful robes, and the last one at the rear was in full plate. Rogue, Mage, Warrior.
“Yui! Come to join us in the Tower? Markis is in line getting us a number…” He glanced my way and smiled wryly. “What’s with the Knight? Were you caught doing something you shouldn’t?”
Yui pushed him on the shoulder. “Hah shut-up Jace! You should be happy. You’re no longer the youngest summoned in the sect. This is Reigner, from Earth!”
“Summoned from Earth? Hah, that explains the lack of shoes. Hello Reigner, I’m Jace as you might have guessed. To my left is the lovely mage Bell and my right is Jack, the groups meat shield”.
“Meat shield? That’s a term I have not heard in a while.”
Jace laughed “Yeah since arriving I have made it my life’s goal to enrich this word with proper tactical language.” He leaned forward and offered his hand. “Tell me Reigner. What year was it when you were summoned?”.
Shaking his hand, I took a moment to remember. It’s not often I think back on earth. “2018. What about yourself?”
“Good strong grip you have there.” He shook his hand like it hurt. “I’m sure you will be treated well in the sect. It was 2010. I was walking home, on the sidewalk, from a gaming group when I was run over from behind.” He scratched the side of his chin. “That’s interesting. Less than a decade on Earth but over ten decades here.”
“Ten decades? As in over a hundred years? You don’t look a day over thirty.”
“Awe shucks, stop it you.” Jace chuckled “Something about the mana in this world keeps us looking young. Growing old and frail is not something you need to worry about here.”
“Thats good to know.” Scanning the room, I kept an eye out for Mac. The sooner I could touch that stone. The sooner I could start learning magic.
Yui mentioned something about going to their headquarters and meeting with someone. I stopped paying attention to them and noticed Mac stepping out of a door. I could see an item in his hand. Was that the god stone?
Unable to contain myself I rushed over to him. “Is that the stone?” My hands shake as I reached out towards the item in his hand.
“Argh!” Mac jumped back with a yelp. “Reigner. Gods! Don’t startle me like that! I bet you end up more of a rogue than warrior. It has been a long time since anyone here has snuck up on me”.
Looking towards my twitching hands, Mac moved the stone behind his back with one hand and held out the other in front of him in a stop gesture. “Before you touch the stone, we really should go somewhere private. Awakening can be quite… emotional.”
“Private is good but you can’t let us miss out on this.” Jace said from behind me. Everyone had followed me. Including a new guy wearing a black robe. Healer maybe? That would complete the group.
Yui grabbed my shoulder from next to me. “The first human to be summoned in over a hundred years… I bet his starting skill will be powerful.”
“Well, if Reigner is okay with it. We can do it inside here.” Mac held on to the door handle.
“Whatever. Less talky more mana unlocky.”
Jace laughed “See, he is cool with it. Let us in Mac.”
Mac opened the door and ushered us inside before entering and closing it behind him
Couches were positioned against the back wall of the room, and in the centre sat a long table with chairs. There were two doors, the one to the left was closed while the one on the right was open, leading into a hallway. Taking a few steps inside, I turned to face Mac expectantly. Everyone else gathered around us in a circle.
Mac raised his hand, palm open, to reveal a crystal ball about the size of a plum. The crystal was filled with blue and purple smoke that slowly swirled around inside.
“This is it? I thought it would be” I made a gesture with my hands “Bigger”.
“They come in all sizes. This is one of the smaller stones and easy to move around. Most of the guilds have stones the size of a melon. More of a decoration and status piece than anything else. They all do the same thing.”
Jace mumbled “Ours is bigger.” under his breath followed by an “Oof”.
“Quiet” Yui said in a loud whisper.
Reaching out I picked up the Awakening stone from Mac’s hand. Everyone in the room was quiet as I held the stone in both my hands.
This is it. Finally. Everything is going to change from this moment. Swords? Forget it. I’m done with them. From now on its magic all the way baby!
The swirling smoke inside the stone started glowing brightly. I could not feel anything and after a moment the light faded. All that remained was a transparent ball of glass.
Glancing up to Mac I asked. “Is that meant to happen?”.
Mac looked dumbfounded and reached out for the stone.
I pulled my hand back. “Wait! I’m feeling something” Something was moving through my body, was this it? Starting from my hands an energy moved through me and rushed into my stomach. So, this is what magic felt like. It’s like… It felt like…
“PFRAAAAP” The back of my robes billowed outwards as I let loose the longest fart in my life.
Everyone was motionless as the sound continued echoing around us. For a moment there was silence, until afoul stench started to waft around the room.
“URGH. I can taste it!” Someone said and then everyone, but Mac and me, pushed against each other in their rush to get out the room. Yui was holding a hand to her mouth as she stumbled out coughing. I’m pretty sure I heard someone gagging too.
Clenching my butt-cheeks, I looked to Mac. “Uh Mac. Could you please guide me to the nearest toilet?
Mac, his face looking very green, pointed to a side door. I placed the clear crystal into his hands and walked stiff legged to the door.
Well, that was not as magical as I was expecting. When he said emotional, I had different ideas than almost making a mess in borrowed robes.