Chapter Six: Why Are You Blushing?

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"Shhhh."

“Don’t ‘shhhh’ me, Dex. I was minding my own business when you slipped me this, I assume, stolen ring and told me to ‘run and hide’. I’m not four anymore, Dex; I only play hide and seek when I’m feeling naughty.”

Dex flopped into the seat across from Jace, his grin widening. He leaned back, a picture of casual defiance, and glanced around the cabin before settling his gaze on Jace and Alice. “Well, first off, I’m truly offended. The ring was hardly stolen. More of a parting gift from a very old, new friend. But she had stolen something from me first…”

“And what was that?”

“My heart.” He dramatically clasped his chest with both hands. “And a kiss. Which I didn’t really mind. Her husband, on the other hand… I mean honestly, how was I to know she was a royal?”

Ell shook her head. "Dex, you're going to get yourself killed one of these days. And then captured, and killed again and again until you have no choice but to leave Terra Mythica behind."

Dex shrugged, the grin never leaving his face. "What’s life without a little risk? Besides, now, it’s with someone who appreciates fine jewelry. Like me." He winked.

Jace watched the interaction, intrigued by their dynamic. He could see how Ell’s initial wariness melted away in Dex’s presence, replaced by a familiar camaraderie. Alice, on the other hand, remained tense, her eyes focused on her tablet as she pretended not to listen.

“How rude of me. Dex, this is Jace and Alice. Jace and Alice, this is Dex."

"Howdy," Dex said, tipping an imaginary hat. "So, what’s the deal with you two? Friends? Lovers? Enemies? All three?" He raised an eyebrow.

Alice blushed furiously. Ell slapped Dex’s arm. “Now don’t scare the little ones, Dex. They’re my new friends.”

Dex looked at her appraisingly. "Well, first time here, then?" He changed his question, eyes sparkling with a smile.

"It’s all of our first times here, Dex," Ell replied.

“I meant in Terra Mythica. Of course, it’s all of our first times at the great M.O.U.”

Dex waited, but everyone just stared at him.

“Mount Olympus University.”

“Yeah, first time. Just getting used to everything.” Jace nodded.

“Not my first,” Alice interjected, her blush fading as she regained her composure. She offered a polite nod, her gaze lingering on Dex as if trying to decipher him. “Nice to meet you, Dex,” she said, her tone reserved but not unfriendly.

“Well, you’re in for quite the voyage. Just stick with us, and you’ll be fine.” He shot a playful glance at Alice. “And if you ever find yourself in a jam, just remember - it’s all part of the adventure.”

"So, how do you two know each other?" Jace asked.

"Oh, how don’t we? Ow!” Dex was immediately kicked in the leg by Ell.

“Dex and I go way back to Mythos High.”

That tracks, Jace thought.

He had heard of it. It was one of those fancy prep schools for rich kids that were all but guaranteed to get into whichever Terra Mythica university they chose.

"Not sure how I got in, to be honest," Dex said as he leaned back and spread his arms expansively, nodding appreciatively at the ship's cabin.

Jace followed his gaze as Dex took in the opulence of his surroundings. He had seen a cabin like this in a picture somewhere, a relic of a bygone era brought to life with magic and science.

Ell rolled her eyes but smiled. “Dex, you’re impossible. You know exactly why you got in. What I’m not sure about is how you managed to actually graduate. You were nearly expelled, what, a half-dozen times? I swear, they probably graduated you just so they didn’t have to deal with you for another year."

“It’s all because of my natural charm. Some might go so far as to say that I have a sort of animal magnetism,” Dex said, winking at Alice. Ell jabbed him again for this.

Dex shrugged, unbothered. "Now, I’m hoping to get a specialized class in the first year."

Jace's blank expression must have said it all because Ell jumped in. "Oh, you don't know about class specializations? Where did you come from, under a rock?"

He felt a twinge of defensiveness. "I've heard of classes, but specializations?"

Dex leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Ignore her. She was raised with a silver spoon stuck up her little…”

Dex yelped as Ell kicked him hard. “Will you stop that? Anyway, you unlock specializations when you rank up your base Class Title. Most people get them during their last few years at M.O.U. through achievements. If they don't, they still get at least one novice-tier specialization when they graduate."

Dex leaned back against the plush, burgundy upholstery of the ship's cabin, a glint of mischief dancing in his green eyes. The gentle rocking of the ship on the waves created a soothing backdrop as he explained. "Think of it like this," he said, his voice low but animated.

"You have your basic class or titles: Mage, Fighter, Cleric, Rogue. They're technically called Class Titles, but people use Class or Title interchangeably to mean the same thing. They’re not just roles; they’re reflections of what you’ve accomplished. Your actions shape them, not the other way around."

He took a swig from a canteen before tucking it back into his jacket, the flickering gaslight casting shadows across his face. "Now, the real magic happens with specializations. Take a Rogue, for instance. Focus on sneaking and poisons, and you might become an Assassin. But, say you're more into picking pockets? You could become a Thief, nimble-fingered and sly. Or if you’re the kind who loves disarming traps and unlocking doors, you might end up a Trap Finder, or Treasure Hunter."

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Specializations enhance your skills and grant unique abilities. Sure, you might lose a bit of variety, but you gain powerful focuses. Like this one guy I heard about. He went on a rat-killing spree, clearing out basements for months. The System awarded him the title 'Rat Slayer.' And when he took it to the extreme, killing thousands of rats with just a pointy stick, wearing nothing but his heart-covered underwear, he became the 'Hobo Stick Master.' As he was the first to receive it, he got some pretty cool bonuses too."

Ell shook her head. "Sounds glamorous."

"I think so. That's the beauty of it. Every title tells a story. Your story."

“Some stories are better not to tell.” She quipped.

The cabin's ambiance was filled with the warm, rich scent of leather and the distant creak of the ship. "Your first title isn’t everything. It’s just the System's way of nudging you towards something to hone your skills on. The real prestige comes with the specialization titles, which are all about your achievements."

The cabin fell into a comfortable silence, the flickering gaslights casting a warm glow over the group. Outside, the ocean rolled gently beneath the ship, the mist parting occasionally to reveal the distant mountain, crowned with clouds, as the ship carried them onward.

Ell nodded enthusiastically. "Dex here is aiming for Rakish Vagabond or something weird like that. As for me, I’m keeping my options open until the right opportunity presents itself. I want to make sure I have the best chances of min-maxing.”

“Min-whating?” Jace asked.

Alice looked up as if about to speak but then said nothing, her expression thoughtful.

Ell stood up, her excitement palpable.

"Here she goes," Dex said, rolling his eyes. "It’s not every day someone knows less than her about an academic subject. Once you get her started, man... wake me when she's done." He leaned back, eyes glazing over as he seemed to disappear into his own thoughts.

Ell sighed, but her smile remained. She glanced to the side, and a prompt appeared in the middle of the room, illuminating their faces with a soft glow.

“Oh, wow! I initiated a quest prompt.”

New Quest

Maybe You'll Learn Something

Your new friends have decided to help you overcome your woeful ignorance of game mechanics. Traveler Ell has nominated herself to teach you the basics that any beginning player should have known before they started.

Objective: Get a passing familiarity with the fundamentals.

Reward: Knowledge is its own reward. Still need more? How about a +1 to Game Mechanics Lore?

Failure: You will stay just as uninformed as you are right now.

Warning: Prepare for an info dump!

Accept | Reject

Jace shook his head and mentally selected [Accept].

"Wait," Jace said, "how did you start a quest? Isn't that something the System usually handles?"

"I can only share what I've heard; there isn't an official explanation for this one. But one of my teachers once said that in Terra Mythica, the System isn't just a set of rules or some overseer. It's more like a living, breathing part of the world—an effect, not a cause. It adapts to each Traveler, shaping their experience based on factors we don't fully understand. Excelsior keeps the System's secrets close to the chest."

Jace had heard all kinds of complaints about the System—how it could be biased, cruel, too friendly, too robotic, too personal. The opinions were all over the place, but one thing was clear: the System interacted differently with everyone.

"Quests, like the one I just kicked off, are less about some grand mission handed down from above and more about what you're doing in the moment. They can come from anyone—Citizens, gods, even other Travelers. The rewards? All over the map. Sometimes, the System itself throws in a quest with a prize. It could be gold, experience, or just the satisfaction of getting the job done."

"Experience—EXP—is not just some number the System hands out either. You earn it, bit by bit, with every challenge you take on. From what I've heard, the System doesn't as much award experience as it tries its best to calculate it based on your growth."

The way she described it, the System felt like it was always there, lurking in the background, guiding Travelers and pushing them to keep up with the strange, ever-changing world of Terra Mythica.

"How does that tie in with specializations?" Jace asked.

"Alright, let’s break it down. As Dex said, specializations are like... advanced titles. They help you focus your skills and become exceptional in specific areas. For example, a Shadow Mage blends stealth and dark magic, perfect for sneaking and casting powerful illusions."

A magical display appeared in the middle of the cabin, showing diagrams and pictures as Ell spoke.

“There are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of specializations. Everyone has their own particular way of getting things done. You can aim for whatever class you want, but it’s best to find out which you have the most affinity for first and go for that, with a bit of min-maxing."

“Min-maxing is when you focus your abilities and skills for your class and don’t waste time and energy on areas you don’t need. But you have to be careful, or you’ll wind up super unbalanced. Imagine a genius with a brain so big he doesn't have the strength to lift it. That would be all points into Intelligence and none into Strength."

"Dex is naturally more agile and is going for a rogue specialization. So, he is going to want to focus on upping his Dexterity.” She paused. “You do know how attribute stats work, right?"

“Of course.” Jace nodded unconvincingly.

"Okay, the basic stats are Strength, Intelligence, Dexterity, Charisma, Constitution, Wisdom, Luck, and Karmic Balance. I like to think of it like dancing with someone."

Alice shook her head and focused even more intently on her tablet.

Ell slid next to Jace, her fingers walking across his shoulder. He tried to swallow and take a deep breath simultaneously, causing him to choke on air. She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Think of it like this: Strength is your ability to lift her or move her without spraining something. Intelligence is your ability to read her body language, sensing her desires and responding in kind. Dexterity is all about the grace and precision, making every movement count. Charisma? That's your ability to charm someone into dancing with you. Constitution measures your stamina, how long you can keep the dance going before you need to take a break. Wisdom is knowing when to be slow and when to intensify the pace, what type of moves go with what type of song. Luck is whether there is the right dance partner around in the first place. And Karmic Balance? That's the measure of how genuine you are. Sort of like a cosmic scale of how much of a douche you are."

She quickly stood back up and took a little bow.

"Welcome to the game, newbie. You'll catch on."

Quest Update

Congratulations, You've Learned Something

You’ve been upgraded from Bungling Buffoon to Incompetent Nincompoop.

+1 to Game Mechanics and Lore.

Keep this up and you’ll be a novice in no time.

Dex's eyes refocused, as if arriving back from somewhere far away. "You done with your lecture, Ell? We should be pulling up shortly. Why are you blushing, Jace?”