I sat perfectly still. My thoughts steady as I felt my mana circulate through my body. It was quiet in Gregor’s apartment with just me here, and while I was endlessly grateful for their help in letting me stay here I was glad to be alone with my thoughts for a few hours. Well, as alone as a guy can get with a crazy person in my head. It had taken a bit of effort to hold the Spell Splinter for Psychometry in my mind just enough to keep Rykas from getting a hold of it and focus on other things like meditation but I got the knack of it after a while.

When Rykas knew he wouldn’t be able to surprise me again and activate it he pissed off somewhere. I don’t really know where in my head he could go off to to sulk. Frontal Cortex? Prefrontal Cortex? Was he looking through my memories? I didn’t feel anything weird so I didn’t think so. You’d feel something if someone tried to dig through your own memories right?

I shook my head and pulled my focus back on my mana as I pushed away the distracting thoughts. Aside from increasing my depressingly small mana pool I’d taken a lot of time to think over my situation and current build. A lot of it’s problems could be contributed to the mistakes I’d made first entering this world. Not having any idea what I was doing and all. But it really showed in my stat and skill point distributions.

I frowned as I kept my eyes shut and brought up my status screen. Feeling my way through the information there instead of using my eyes to look at it. I had five Dexterity now, and one point of Wisdom. For a guy with a class whose signature ability was based on breaking spells down and using their shattered parts for myself. I was utterly mismatched. The minmaxer in me cringed at the sight of my ability point distribution. But again, that just couldn’t have been helped. I’d panicked dumped my first three points into Dexterity to run away from the Shieldguard at the Cathedral. Then Rykas had used two of my points to bring my Dex to five to get the Attribute Ability offered at five points in an Attribute. Leaving me with just the one point to spend in Wisdom. The one stat that probably would have helped me most fight off a mental threat like Rykas.

What was worse was that mismatched balance extended to my Skill point distribution as well. I’d had to take Sub-skills all over the place just to keep up with everything happening to me. First the Sneak related stuff. Distraction, Rogue’s Eye, Quick Cover, Prowler, Mind Map, and Low Profile. Even though picking those up did satisfy the wannabe ninja in my soul, they were all mostly picked up exclusively to escape the Shieldguard. Aside from Mind Map being way too useful for everything, I’d barely used the others. Which depending on how you looked at it, was technically a good thing since I was trying to be a model citizen. But that was besides the point. They’d still been semi panic bought.

Small Blades was the only Skill I had that I hadn’t put any points into at all. Which is why I felt so uneasy when I looked at the upgrades that it had. Upgrades that Rykas had chosen for me. Slash, Stab, Critical Strikes, Thrown Blade, Sneak Attack, and Chain Strike. I clenched my teeth at the memory of how those skills had been used and forced them away. I wasn’t a fighter, a killer, or any other kind of person that could just swing a knife at someone. Even if I had abilities that helped me do exactly that. Hell, even when my life had been threatened fighting those Mauler goons I hadn’t even thought of drawing the knife Gregor had given me. If I’d had to fight monsters, sure that was one thing. But I was in a city full of living breathing people. Fantasy people, but people all the same.

Finally there was Meditation. The Skill I was currently focused on leveling and the subject of my most recent panic buying spree. Rather than focus on things that might actually help with my little mana problem I’d had to pick up a host of Sub-skills just to keep Rykas from hijacking my body. Thought Sculptor, Intangible Aegis, Psychosomatic Shell, Thought Acceleration, and Synaptic Surge. I looked over the list for a long time and while I was disappointed I’d had to pick them up out of desperation rather than any kind of planning on my part… There was some real potential there.

Thought Acceleration stood out the most out of all of them, being what felt like the cream of the crop. And how could it not be? It was basically a super power. My super power. I thought with a smile. Sure I did have a Class that let me cast magic, but I almost killed myself with it so it doesn’t count. Anyway, those couple of extra seconds Thought Acceleration had bought me had been what helped me put Rykas back in his place. Plus, the Sub-skill was only at the first level. And plus plus, I had five Skill points now. Though those five Skill points I had were a product of Rykas trying to take over again, they were still Skill points. Skill points that were starting to burn a hole in my proverbial pocket.

[Thought Acceleration: Increases the speed of neural impulses required for thought processing. Effect is dependent on mana and the user’s ability to remain in a meditative state to remain active.]

I read the description and thought about it. Two Skill points and I’d have a leveled up, super useful Skill to use whenever I wanted. Having the mana to activate it wouldn’t be an issue. Even if the cost of keeping it active went up with its Skill Level, my mana regen was so busted I might be able to keep it up as long as I wanted. And I’d still have three Skill points left over. The only problem with that was the last half of the Sub-Skill’s description. The part about remaining in a meditative state.

That would be a lot harder than I’d like. Even standing still I’d lost my grip on Meditation fighting Rykas the first time and I had a frickn’ Skill dedicated to it. If I ever wanted to use Thought Acceleration while moving, let alone in heated situations. I’d have to pick up some more upgrades from Meditation.

Time to go shopping. I thought to myself. Happy I could finally experience the thrill of selecting upgrades without my life being in danger. I perused the laundry list of options Meditation alone had to offer and not its more combat and sneak oriented spin offs that were its Combat Clarity and Deceitful Mind Skill trees.

Meditation was… well depressingly meditation focused. There were skills that were more monk like in their descriptions. All about finding inner peace, inner harmony, quelling inner turmoil. A lot of very useful stuff if you wanted to run a monastery on a mountain top, but none of that was for me. There were some interesting mana focused Skills that were focused on directing the flow of mana, increasing its regeneration rate, and its potency. But I discarded them after a few minutes. I was doing good in the mana department, despite my current problems. The trouble I was having with mana capacity was one that could be solved on my own if I just meditated enough. Finally, after a good deal of searching. I narrowed down my Skill selections to a final few.

[Mobile Mentalist: Meditate on the move and during simple physical tasks. Complexity of actions that can be performed during mediation increases with Skill level.]

[Equilibrium: Achieve balance between the mental and physical. Increased ability to resist disruptions to meditation with Skill level.]

With Thought Acceleration acting as my emergency panic button, combined with these Skills to keep it active during fights and flights. I actually had a pretty cool trick up my sleeve. I was already fast and slippery with my Dexterity and Acrobatics. And that speed would let me make the most of Thought Acceleration. I wouldn’t know how well it would work until I tested it myself but increased time perception, even by only a few seconds might be the difference between dodging an attack and getting a knife between my ribs.

I shivered at the thought. That could very well be a possibility in my future. But I was taking steps to avoid it. That was the important part. So I spent two points to bring Thought Acceleration up to its second level. Then one point each to pick up Mobile Mentalist and Equilibrium. Leaving me with one point left over I’d save for later.

Testing out my new Meditation upgrades. I stood up from my position on the floor. It felt a bit strange moving with the same mental state I had to hold to circulate my mana but I managed it. I took a few steps, turned around, even jumped in place a few times. Yup, still meditating. I tried doing some more elaborate movements, handstands and other acrobatic stuff. And that was where I felt the first bit of strain in maintaining my Meditation. I crouched down and leapt into the air, and at the apex of my jump I flipped Thought Acceleration on. And it held. Immediately I felt the world slow around me as my hangtime extended for longer than I’d hoped. One Mississippi, Two Mississippi…

I started falling towards the ground in what felt like slow motion. My arms moved in the air, but my movements weren’t accelerated to the same level as my thoughts were. Without that boost they definitely felt a bit sluggish. Like my body and brain were out of sync. They were still fast I could tell but that was purely a result of my Attributes instead of a Skill. Three Mississippi, Four Mississippi…

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I landed on the floor and dropped Thought Acceleration. The world returning to normal as I let out a laugh. Despite all the suck my life had endured since coming here. I felt a real thrill at improving like this. Expanding my abilities. Getting new Skills. I flexed my arm and felt the muscle that would have taken months of hard work and dieting on Earth to achieve.

And then my smile slipped.

If it wasn’t for my status as a Variant Human and the extra Attribute points I received per level. I’d be dead by now.

I fell back into the couch in the living room as I turned the idea over in my head.

It was a sobering thought, but it was true. And it was one I was honestly a little uncomfortable with. Having an intrinsic advantage was great for my survival. There was no question about that. But the more time I spent around the people here the more guilty I felt about that unearned advantage. May had grown more open with me as she’d labored on my Sigmatas. Talking about her time in University and how she’d had to work hard to keep up with the more well off students who had families that could buy rare Attribute Crystals for them. I could see how passionate she was about her work as she drew her Sigmatas on me. And the strained expression that came over her face and the stiffness in her body language when she talked about those students was genuinely upsetting to see.

I’d dropped out of college. But I could imagine how much it must have hurt to try your best at something you loved and still fall short because of others that had more money than you.

Then there was Gregor. The nicest guard I’d had the good fortune of running into. The guy gave me a chance for Pete's sake. He was basically a saint. I hadn’t asked him too much about the Syndicate in general in our talks. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I could see that talking about them truly upset Gregor. He’d get a hard look in his eyes, speaking softly as his fists clenched tight in anger. It wasn’t the loud kind of anger that raged against the world. But the quiet, simmering kind that was always focused inward. The kind that wished you were stronger to better protect those around you and fight back against the worst the world had to offer.

Compared to the both of them. I felt like my abilities were wasted on me. What had I done with my ridiculously Olympian level dexterity and acrobatics? Accidently stop a mugging? Offer to teach a kid basic physics?

I steepled my hands and my eyes settled on an empty space in the air as I ruminated on that. What should I be doing then? Playing superhero? Hunting down Syndicate gangs and bringing them to justice?

For the first time, I wished there was some kind of quest or mission system in the world. Hunt down five Blackwater gang members. Save a cat from a tree. Something like that would give me some kind of direction at least. Stop bad guys, help good guys.

I heard a key turn in the lock at the front door and I banished my doubts and misgivings. Forcing my face to relax and erase the frown that had formed there.

“I’m home!” May called out as she entered. And I couldn’t help a smile.

“Hey welcome back.” I said greeting her as I stood. “So listen.” I said a little excitedly. “I think I got it.”

“Got what?” May said before her face beamed. “Oh really!”

“Yup.” I said triumphantly.

I was still a light weight in the mana department. All the mana regen in the world doesn’t help if you can’t afford the casting cost for basic Sigmatas. But after enough time meditating I finally crossed my first major threshold on my journey to become Arch Wizard Toby.

I spun up my Identify Sigmata in my eye that May had worked so hard on and felt it activate as I focused on her.

[Class: Sigmatist (Uncommon)]

[Level: 3]

[Active Effects: None]

I felt the mana go out of me as it Identified May and felt how fast it filled back up again after I’d cast it. I was so focused on the sensation and information that I hadn’t noticed May cross her arms in fron of me.

“Really Toby?” She said sounding disappointed. “Identifying the first girl you see. Have you no shame?”

“I-uh.” I stuttered. “Shit. I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know there was a… oh come on that’s not funny!”

May was clearly smirking as she tried to hide her laughter. “Yes it is.” She said trying to sound serious and failing miserably.

I crossed my arms as May broke down in a fit of laughter. “You actually thought Identifying someone was inappropriate or something? Oh wow. You must be from a really small town.” She said chuckling as her laughter petered out.

“You done yet?” I said warily as May got herself under control.

“Hold on…” May said taking a deep breath. “Yes I think I’m good now.”

“I’m glad to hear you made a full recovery.” I said deadpan.

“Well, I’m glad that your mana pool has recovered its ability to use basic Sigmata.”

I clutched my heart and stumbled back. “Maybelline.” I said in faux shock. “I never thought you’d be the type to openly mock the magically challenged.”

“Magically challenged?” She said in disbelief. “That’s your description of it? Having a mana pool so shallow it couldn’t even use an Identify Sig a few days ago?”

I nodded heavily. As though confirming her words hurt my very soul. “I’m afraid so Madam." I said in a voice that sounded old and weary. "I’m basically disabled.”

“Please!” May said laughing. “You’re the most abled person I know. You move around like someone with Dexterity twice your level!”

I grinned at that. If only she knew.

“Now enough of this.” May said waving her hands as if to dispel our silly back and forth. “How was work today? Did you get there without anyone seeing you? No problems at all?”

“Ah…” I blanked. How exactly should I tell her about all the stuff that happened today? Accidently kicking a hulking Mauler in the face? Battling it out with my homicidal head mate for control of my body? Agreeing to tutor a kid on water magic without having any experience with the stuff myself?

“Let me start at the beginning.” I said finally.

I went over my day starting with my run in with the Maulers. I told her what happened and assured May that I was okay and they didn’t know who I was. She’d asked a lot of questions about that and I made sure to not mention anything about how Rykas had fought me over my body. The story was just me, stumbling upon a mugging, helping someone get away, and hiding in a pile of garbage until they left. Open and shut.

Then I went on to tell her about how I’d offered to help tutor a Beast folk kid named Pyga on his Class and how I’d try to improve his ability in using it. May was quiet as I finished, and she seemed to look me over with new eyes.

“What?” I asked. “You don’t think that’s a bad idea do you?”

“No.” May said as she shook her head. “You… You’re really something aren’t you?”

“Me?” I asked. “I don’t follow.”

“You just swoop in and save someone from a mugging on your way to work and try to pass it off as an accident? Toby don’t try to be humble, people don’t accidently stop crimes in progress.”

Instantly I felt a rush of red on my cheeks as I heard what she was getting at. “No May really.” I said hands raised. As if I was trying to fend off her compliment before it could get to me. “That whole thing was just a freak accident. I hadn’t meant to like- you know…” I stalled out as my brain fished for more words and came up empty.

“The moment you fell in on them you kicked one of the bigger Maulers in the head. A Mauler Toby! By the Azure, do you know how big some Beast folk are? And you said he was a Bear too?”

“Well, um. Yeah. But that didn’t really-”

“And you stalled him and the others until the person being mugged could run away?”

“Okay. Stalled is not the word I would-”

“Then you led the other Maulers away and let them chase you till you escaped them?”

“Now you’re just being funny again. I didn’t let any of them chase-”

“Toby!” May said to get my attention and I stopped rambling as she fixed me with a soft glare.

“It’s all right.” She said her eyes twinkling with the light of her Sigmata as she reached out to put a hand on my arm. “You did a good thing today. Don’t try to belittle yourself. I don’t know what you must have gone through or why you have a Rogue class. But…” She trailed off as she smiled softly. And my lips went dry. There was a moment of silence as she and I looked at each other before a bit of red creeped into May’s cheeks and seemed to snap the tension.

“Keep it up!” May said louder than she needed to, giving my shoulder a slap as she stood up. “So! Now that I know the Sigmata I draw on you won’t just be for show anymore. I have had some… ideas I have been meaning to try out.” She said with a manic smile.

I gulped. May wasn’t physically rubbing her hands together maniacally, but she was definitely giving off that vibe.

“Ideas like?” I quested for an answer and May was ready to oblige.

“Do you remember that one story I told you about the girl who had stuck her hands to her hair, when they were supposed to be for climbing on walls?”

I nodded slowly. Not sure if I liked or disliked where this was going.

“I worked out the kinks on that one and in addition to that.” She said her smile growing even wider if that was possible. “I think I worked out the fish hook as well.”

“The fish hook.” I said plainly. “Like, for fishing?”

“Well it started out as a fish hook.” May said pulling a notebook out of her back pocket and flipping it open. “But after seeing how well the hook could latch onto stone and the reel could pull a normal person’s body weight. I decided to make a version that was more…” May waved her hand. “vertically oriented.”

“May.” I said feeling the kind of thrill that I’d only felt when I was about to agree to something awesome. “I believe the word you’re looking for is grappling hook.”

“It’s a former fishing hook.”

“A former fishing hook that can scale buildings?”

“Well it might. If I had someone to test the design on.” She said leadingly. “Someone magically challenged perhaps?”

A magical tattoo of a working grappling hook on my body? Don’t mind if I do. But I couldn’t help a little last minute ribbing.

“Magically challenged is an offensive term.” I said smiling.

I had to keep my hands above my head to keep May’s notebook from smacking my face but I didn’t care. I was laughing the whole time.