Chapter Three
Ambrose’s options lined out in front of him in a notification,
[Warrior: A stamina-based class, people who take this path seek a physical path through the multiverse.]
This might be a class for Ambrose. Physical violence suited him. It wasn’t far off from what he used to do. Like a test, though, he wanted to see all the choices.
[Monk: Monks travel the path of enlightenment and hand-to-hand combat. This is a stamina-based class.]
Ambrose wasn’t certain about the enlightenment part of the class. He liked the hand-to-hand part of it, but he was never the meditation type. He read the next choice.
[Ranger: Connected to nature, those that walk this path usually do so with an animal companion. This is stamina and a mana-based class.]
Ambrose liked animals and had some knowledge of tracking. I wouldn’t say I’m connected to nature. Outside is usually overrated. Ambros’s mouth twitched in a slight smile. Alice used to say the graphics outside were terrible, and the NPCs were programmed poorly.
[Warlock: A mana-based class, warlocks have their inner mana unlocked through a contract with a more powerful entity.]
That sounded a little ominous. I’m no one’s lackey. Not anymore. Ambrose firmed his mouth into a hard line. Yes, he had made a deal, but it was an exchange. He was honoring a bargain, not working for Misaq. This option was out.
[Paladin: Paladins are a mana-based class. Paladins are often considered holy warriors, granted power through faith. This is not strictly true. Paladins are warriors who have unlocked their mana through their convictions. Paladins are unique in that everything they do draws from their mana. Note that choosing this class converts your stamina into mana and bars you from ever having stamina-based skills.]
Ambrose paused. This class felt almost hand-picked for him. He was doing this all based on his convictions. It was the whole reason he agreed to the deal to begin with. A memory flashed through his mind, and suddenly, for a second, he was somewhere else.
“Oh, is it undead?” Alice asked, eyes bright.
Their DM, Alex, grinned,
“Do you want to spend a Divine Sense?”
Alice frowned at him,
“You described a zombie to a T. Come on, Alex.”
Alex grinned again, his brown eyes sparkling.
“Yeah, but you don’t know for sure, do you? Spend a divine sense, and you will.”
Alice rolled her eyes before she flicked them to Ambrose.
“Aren’t you going to back me up here? You’re my tarnished knight, after all.
Ambrose laughed, popping a gummy bear into his mouth,
“The key word there being ‘Tarnished.’ I’ll go to war for you, babe. But I won’t fight the DM. DM is God, you know that.”
Alice grumbled, but it was good-natured.
“Fine, Alex. I’ll use a Divine Sense. Why did we agree to let the rules lawyer DM again?”
Alex laughed evilly as he adjusted his bowtie. Ambrose had teased him about it once, and he had just arched an eyebrow at Ambrose,
“Bowties are cool, Ambrose. Didn’t you hear?”
The memory faded away, and Ambrose swallowed the lump in his throat, clearing it. The choice was clear, and he willed his answer to the System.
[You are now a Paladin! You have unlocked the [Mana Infusion-Common] skill. This skill allows you to infuse various things with mana. You have gained the [Insight-Common] skill. Insight will reveal certain information about people, places, and things that you focus on. Paladins gain +2 attributes per level. You have been given a [Basic Armor Set] and a [Basic Axe] which have been automatically equipped to you. Standby while your profile page is being generated…]
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Name: Ambrose Severen
Level: 1
Race: Human [E-Grade]
Traits: N/A
Class: Paladin [E-Grade]
Profession: N/A
Mana: 200/200
Health: 100/100
Skills: [Mana Infusion-Common], [Insight-Common]
Constitution: 10
Strength: 10
Intellect: 13
Wisdom: 10
Willpower: 20
SC: 0]
Ambrose’s profile was looking very…Noobish. Alice’s voice echoed through his mind. Ambrose smiled at his wife’s voice before a pop sounded next to Ambrose.
“Welcome to the System, Ambrose.”
Ambrose sighed and turned to find Misaq leaning against the wall, arms crossed, a salesman’s smile plastered on his face.
“As you can see, you’re healed and integrated into the System before level ten, as agreed. I am here to complete the rest of our little deal. Starting with this!”
Misaq produced a white cloak lined with black stripes. Ambrose took it, running his hands over the soft material. He focused on the cloak, activating insight with a thought.
[Noelle- Mythic]: This is a familiar that takes the shape of a powerful cloak. Whomever the cloak is bound to can will the cloak to manifest as the Arcane White Tiger Noelle. This item grows alongside you on your path and will provide further benefits as you grow. It currently grants +5 to all stats.]
Ambrose immediately put the cloak on, and as he did, a soft presence touched his mind.
“What is that?” Ambrose asked Misaq.
The devil smiled,
“That would be Noelle. Didn’t you read the item description? Mythic items aren’t necessarily mythic because they are powerful, though that’s almost always the case, but because they are often sapient. Anyway, I’m not here to be your field guide on the System, Ambrose. I’m here to fulfill the deal. Let’s go, I’m sending you to your opportunity.”
Misaq came off the wall reaching a hand out towards him.
“No.”
Misaq paused, then sighed, crossing his arms.
“Now would be about the time you elaborate.”
Ambrose didn’t pay the devil any mind. He just went to the side of his bed and looked down at his wife. He reached down and tucked a raven lock behind her ear. His body was quivering, the storm held back by sheer will. He picked up his wife; even in death, she didn’t weigh much. Either the devil realized that it would do him no good to rush the newly minted Paladin, or he cared more than he let on because he did not stop Ambrose from taking his wife outside to his backyard.
He did not stop Ambrose from grabbing a shovel from his garage. Nor did he stop him during the length of time it took for him to dig his wife’s grave. He placed Alice inside the grave and filled it up. When he was done, he stood over the spot. His hands were loose at his sides, his head bowed. His muscles felt like molasses, his eyes heavy.
I miss you so much already, Alice. Ambrose took a deep breath, letting it out. There was no gravestone, and Ambrose hadn’t exactly planned for his wife’s death.
“Alice Severen was kind, witty, a loyal friend, a proud nerd, a wife, and most importantly, a mother. She was brutally murdered by a psychopath who couldn’t handle a single insult. I will balance the scales, Alice. I promise.”
Ambrose dashed his eyes with a clenched fist, practically giving himself a black eye. Then he turned to Misaq.
“Okay, devil. Take me to where I can earn this power.”
Misaq placed a hand on his shoulder, and the world flashed red.
Ambrose and Misaq appeared in a nightmare forest. What is this place? Hell? The trees were purple, so dark they were almost black, with purple leaves that swayed in the wind on branches that looked like tentacles. Bushes, grass, and flowers dotted the forest around us in shades of red, green, purple, and black. The whole area made Ambrose think of one large, ugly bruise.
The night sky was barren of stars, like a black blanket over the world. Off in the distance, Ambrose could hear the water lapping against a shore; the breeze carried the scent of water, rotting fish, and clams. Ambrose wrinkled his nose, fighting down a gag.
“Not pleasant, is it? This place is cursed. Your task, Ambrose? Lift the curse. I’ll give you a hint, you’ll need to find the heart of this place.”
Ambrose looked around, frowning.
“What is this place?”
Misaq smiled,
“Like myself, it has many names. You may have heard it called Avalon.”
Ambrose deepened his frown and blinked a few times.
“Like that island from Arthurian mythology? Really?”
Misaq chuckled,
“The very same. Mind the plants, Ambrose, they get hungry.”
Before Ambrose could ask any more questions, the devil was gone with a faint pop.
He’s beginning to annoy me, Ambrose groused to himself. Ambrose was not at all sure where to go, looking around for anything that might give him a clue. He had his axe now, which he had taken with him after leaving his wife’s grave. He gripped it tight as a low, growling, chittering sound emanated from the treetop.
Ambrose looked up, widening his eyes. That is one evil-looking squirrel, Ambrose thought as he studied the monster before him. It was large, with dark purple fur and violent red eyes. As it chittered, green saliva fell from its mouth, which was full of fangs. The saliva sizzled as it struck a lower branch below. Ambrose used insight on it.
[Cursed Squirrel-Level 10]
Oh, this isn’t going to be fun. Ambrose sighed.