Determining My Path
(If we can trust what they say: MC really takes their time when they make their decisions right?)
Spoiler :
Last Chance To Participate In The Contest
To find out more about the details either go to chapter 27+ and read the spoiler section at the top of each chapter...or you can be lazy like me and just go down and read the re-posted spoiler section information in the notes area below.
By the way I think I have been lied to...many of you commenters claim that I don't allow enough reader participation in my story, so what do I do? I host this contest which is basically a great big reader participation encouraging event (no I did not intend that acronym whoops)
And what happens...well I get one entry, and one email telling me that most readers are too shy to want to do it, and another message saying that most of you are just lurkers and don't care about participation.
See all those commenters lied!!
Well anyway, to say my piece about this chapter...well I don't think it is as aggravating as the last two chapters so there that...I plan to post three chapters today...(possibly a fourth if I get it done in time) and the fourth is about brothers hatching event...(yay?)
You may have noticed that I am once again rambling on about information that is different then what you expected me to talk about. (MO: I noticed)
The truth is I did not have any further information to share with you on the subject of the next path I chose for I was at an impasse. That is I had no clue which path to choose, and my struggle was such that I couldn’t even really say anything about it through the confusion.
But after taking quite some time, thinking about it…months of agonized conflict I think I have organized my thoughts enough about the subject that I can coherently speak about it.
In my mind all four paths were intriguing in various ways. I was also apprehensive to pick them for some of the same as well as different various reasons.
With the [Perception Empath] path, I liked the idea of becoming more aware of my surroundings. In my somewhat dim memories I had of another life…I had many an experience where such awareness would have come in handy.
I also felt that the discipline of my future second job as a swords wielder would be a good compliment for the discipline it required had the potential to help with controlling my emotions.
I also liked the subtlety of the way the class would make its bearer fade into the background. That aspect was perfect for someone like me who preferred to observe rather then, be in the thick of things with the exception of close combat fighting.
The side effect of being reluctant to harm others, wasn’t as big of a draw back to me as it would be to some for it was a weakness I had already somewhat had in the past. When facing a human or humanoid enemy I would often find myself holding back, especially when if they looked to be of lesser skill then myself.
Which most made me apprehensive to pick this class, was not the potential insanity from oversensitivity nor was it the increased ability to feel pain for I have always thought myself a bit insane and am well used to getting used to pain and overcoming it.
What made me pause was the mention that becoming a Perceptive would mean becoming more emotional, more empathetic and basically more sensitive to emotions in general.
With just my own emotions to worry about, I had already discovered that I was extremely unstable. My self right now was already extremely empathetic as well as emotional…and this class would make me more so?
As I said in the past, one of the main reasons, I wanted to choose the empath class was because I was hoping that it would negate some of that instability, choosing this class would practically invalidate the reasons behind that choice.
In effect instead of continuing to try and circumvent the potential weaknesses such sensitivity entitles as I had been doing. Upon choosing this class I would be flat out embracing them instead. Not exactly a choice that is within my plans.
On the positive side such a choice would be a big show of bravery if not straight out courage. The impressing thought of doing something I thought I was incapable of, is one of the most tempting motivations for choosing this class. I tend to really like a good challenge.
Then moving on to the [Projective Empath] class. I must admit that, to me, this was one of the more appealing choices.
I had already long since gotten a taste of what it meant to control the emotions of others through my experimentation with my brother and the rest of the group, and I had found it to be a mostly pleasurable one.
This class also better suited my planned future 'main class' of swords wielder far better than Perceptive or Energy Vampire because not only just the strengths or just the weaknesses but both of them could potentially be complementary.
A true swordsman was often someone with great dominance and thus was usually seen as someone overbearing and worthy of awe, and Projective seemed to rely on that type of feeling.
I don’t know how my self-created style will change when I try it outside the dream realm, but my old style was all about exploiting the weaknesses of others with my skill. Projective would also come into play during the times that I could not find a weakness to exploit on my own, I could then if I so chose use it to create one for me.
It also really suited my personality as well, I still can fondly recall using my ability to charm(read make delicious food for) those susceptible to it, and thus get myself or far more often hero out of too many troubles to count. I was also not that bad at leadership, and others seemed to agree with me for I would often find myself suddenly in command of other people.
Usually people of similar or lower rank then me but there were times, (times that I knew not to talk about) where I would temporary be allowed to command other heroes as well as my own openly. I think the only major limitation that was preventing my skills in that area to shine was the fact that I was just a peasant, even a “hero’s peasant” wasn’t technically that much higher in rank then an ordinary peasant.
However I was definitely not a peasant any longer. Although I had done some spying (ehem research observations), I still wasn’t too clear on how dragon politics worked. Even so I believe that as being of a dragon bloodline of noble blood and a royal noble at that, the ability to control others would come in handy at the very least.
Another element that is attractive is the idea of sharing my feelings and sometimes my fate with others. In my past life I always felt so alone, in this in-between state of a next life I have allowed myself to feel a lot more, but have still felt a degree of loneliness due to the fact there was an imbalance between myself and those I felt for. Perhaps following this path would teach me the way to finally truly and completely lose my sense of loneliness.
As to the side effects, I didn’t think I would have much trouble with them. Mainly because of my rough life as a peasant I base all my moral decisions on logic rather than empathy (that is before this lifetime I didn't really consider myself to be an emotional person, and though I could fake it I was often rather emotionless).
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
There is also tend to be not the sort of person to get caught up in petty things like my own pride and desires. And just in case either of those checks lessened or got removed entirely, if I turned into a completely different person for instance, I had a contingency plan.
Which included a plan for the future that was in essence finding or making companions and friends that I could see as equals and who would call me out on my (Bad Word), if I ever stepped over that grey line.
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Reminder: Last day to do the Birthday Contest!
The difference between giving me something on the day of the contest and any other day, is that if you do it on the day of the contest you have an official guarantee that you will get what you want from me (with possibly a few restrictions) if you ask on almost any other day, your results rely entirely on my mood.
If you want something and didn't participate, at most you can increase your odds by referencing this contest by asking for a party favor (tiny level prize) and by the way the consolation prize is quite a bit bigger.
Right now I have only one entry (form included, thanks by the way) however I would like at least two more entries that way I can do a 1st, 2nd and third place like I planned.
Something to keep in mind, guys who complimented/critiqued me/sent me emails is that if you had wanted to participate in the contest all you had to do was add a form to your post and it would have counted (aka I'm not picky)
For your convenience here is the original contest post + update post
Spoiler :
Well I want to host a RF contest! (yay…) basically almost anything goes, however all entries must adhere to the rules of Royalroadl, plus they cannot have a mature rating in their content. (In general keep it PG), and obviously plagiarism is also a no-no, with the exception of fanficting to a certain degree, but it can’t be copied straight from whatever work you are sourcing from, in other words you can use characters and their names but not much else.
In the likely event you need some clarification of what I am talking about here are some examples ideas/loose guidelines of what you can submit.
A fanfic of the/a fanfic! (Min 1,000 words max 2,500 about a RF chapter’s worth)
Fan art, or fic inspired art!
Poetry (no word limits unless it is supposed to have them: like for haiku)
Gratuitous beautiful flattery/compliments for the work or the author
Painful Clever Criticism for the work or the author
Almost anything else you can think of!
Now the reasons you would want do this:
Well…there isn’t really any...especially if you don’t read or like RF however you are free to participate without having read or liked any of my works…you probably just won’t appreciate the prize as much if you win. Now having said that…here are the prizes!
1st place: Almost anything that is within my power!
(So long as it isn’t illegal and doesn’t go against any of my beliefs or willingness) And it can be broken up into segments. That is, you could ask for one big thing, or you could ask for a bunch of smaller things it’s your choice.
2nd place: One ‘medium’ sized thing, can also be broken up into smaller segments
3rd place: One ‘smaller’ sized thing.
Potential Things:
Big Sized
An actual physical thing…(can’t be expensive, extremely limited not recommended)
Help with something through the internet
Free story written by me you decide what kind (don’t see why’d you’d want it…)
Inclusion of a character you created in a future work of mine, your choice which
Inclusion of a plotline or event that you want to see happen your choice which fic
Medium Sized
You decide my next chapter release date or receive the next chapter before other people (minimum of 1 week after last release or we can debate further)
The ability to name/custom create minor characters that will appear in the future of any fic of your choice.
Art made by me, your choice as to what (once again no clue why’d you want it but…)
Poetry made by me, guidelines same as art
Song Lyrics, you decide contents and can provide the music
I will leave a review on a fanfic of your choice, warning: I will be neither cruel nor extremely complementary (essentially
I will just be myself)
Smaller Sized
Free spoilers, completely spelled out for you and explained just message me anytime you are curious
Consolation Prizes
Not only will I include each and every name in the spoiler section of my next RF chapter I will also:
Judge each entry and give you feedback (tell me if you want the feedback to be private)
Give to you an invisible party favor, in the form of a tiny sized prize of your choice (message me if you wish to redeem it and we will work something out)
Other Instructions
You can email me your entry or post it on one of my fics, all works must include the FORM in order to be valid and each participant is limited to one per category, max of 3 categories.
All entries are due by January 31, all entries submitted after will achieve honorable mentions at best.
Judging will will start as soon as entries are received so time depends on amount of entries received.
FORM:
Have You Read Reincarnation Flower Before?: Yes or No
Tell the truth, have you read all/most of it?:
If No for either of the former 2 questions or in the case that the reason for yes is really interesting, why are you entering this contest?:
Entry Type: Art, fic etc.
Why this type:
What prize do you want if you win?:
Judgment Guidelines
1 As said all valid entries must use the FORM (see above), other things that will be judged include quality, what it is vs estimated difficulty and emotional appeal
2 I am the head judge and my word is final.
3 Depending on how many entrants there are I may have to resort to a popularity poll to narrow things down, in such a case anyone who votes by default becomes a secondary judge. (See number 2) (as I thought definitely not likely but felt I had to put it down anyway)
4 I will do my best to remain impartial but as I am human please forgive me my biases if they so happen to arise
****IMPORTANT****
Keep in mind that unless you say otherwise, I will consider your entry to be a birthday gift, and thus I may end up using it in the future (especially if you win) in such a case, though I will give credit, the work will now essentially belong to me and I will do with it what I please.
update:
The contest is not a specific one, so the entry/birthday gift can be almost anything! See chapter 27 spoilers (or just look up) for more information/ideas
By the way a small clarification, if you are feeling shy/desiring privacy, you don't have to share your name. Me sharing your name was and is completely optional, it was intended to be a reward/party favor for those who like attention/fame etc. also if you wish I don't have to post/display what you give me. The purpose of the contest is not to embarrass anyone or for me to get gifts (though I am tempted to make that the reason) the purpose is to celebrate Reincarnation Flower's birthday Frostypine style :) and for anyone and everyone who wants to, to have fun.