Despite how strong Reiss is now. It didn't start out that way.
=
The 1st Iteration
----------------------------------------
"It's true! I got a new class. I'm not lying."
Reiss stood at the archway of his hometown arguing with tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum.
"A brand new class, what, fell in your lap?"
"If you're an [Agent of Regression], whatever that is, then I'm a [King]."
[Watchman] Richard mocked Reiss while Leo played second fiddle.
"That'd be something if you were a [King]. We are [Watchmen], though. We watch. A [Baker] bakes. A [Smith] smiths. A [Warrior] wars. A [Cobbler], uh... cobbles?"
"A [Cobbler] makes shoes, Leo. And not all [Warrior]'s fight in a war. Most people have the class, you know? Anyone that can fight gets the option to adopt it."
Reiss clutched his short brown hair in exasperation.
"Why won't you believe me?"
"Because you only have one skill and have no idea how to use it."
Reiss' expression was twitching. He groaned loudly through his teeth.
"I have a skill; [Origin Point]. I think it has to do with time. I can go back in time!"
He threw his hands up, exclaiming. A few pedestrians near the outer gate looked at him oddly. Well... Odder than they usually did.
"As if a [Florist] can go back in time."
"Can you go back and prevent your own birth?"
It was unclear if Leo's comment was meant as an insult or a genuine question. Leo was dumb, so Reiss ignored the insult and tried to speak clearly.
"I told you. My skill is called [Origin Point]. It's telling me I can return in time to a specific place. I assume I get other stuff as I level in the class."
Richard nudged Leo's arm.
"Then why don't you demonstrate for us."
"Fine. I will!"
With a huff, Reiss turned his attention to the skill, activating it.
[Origin Point]
[Origin Set: Plains of Jeralt]
[Connection Established.]
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
[Uses Left: 364]
[Confirmation Required]
[Yes] - [No]
"Yes!"
Reiss spoke aloud for emphasis and to inform the others of his prompt.
[Request Denied]
"Request Denied? Why?"
[Unmet Conditions]
"What conditions?"
Reiss asked warily. The guards eyed him suspiciously.
[First Use Conditions: Death]
"Death?"
Both Leo and Richard jumped upon Reiss' surprised shout. They aimed a pair of matching spears toward Reiss' chest.
"Hold! You will not be spouting death threats here."
"Especially not to [Watchmen]!"
Leo being startled was nothing new, but Richard was purposefully egging him on!
"What? No, no, that isn't what I meant."
"No use lying; Leo and I both heard you issue a death threat."
"Come quietly, or we will be forced to use... uh, force."
It took immense willpower for Reiss to maintain his composure.
Idiots! They were the ones who asked. They know I was interfacing with the system. I even asked my questions out loud for their benefit. They can't arrest me for that.
"You-"
"He's resisting! Attack!"
"What? No- Agh!"
=
Reiss was battered and bruised but mostly undamaged. Leo chose to tackle him rather than use his spear like was supposed to.
No, Reiss was only being dragged in handcuffs toward the town square where he would be put into the pillory and then, ceremoniously, pelted with rotten vegetables.
Small miracles.
"I told you. The system says the requirement is death."
Reiss spoke through a swollen lip, making him slur the words.
"You're still lying. You are already in trouble for threatening members of the Watch. If you continue, your punishment will be worse. You will be excommun... excommunini... excommunikat...
"You will be exiled."
"Yes, that!"
"I-"
Richard interrupted Reiss' rebuttal.
"It's not like the town particularly needs a [Florist]. You aren't even at a high level. You are a drain on resources. How often do we have to protect you from the weakest of monsters and give you handouts? Jeralt would do fine without you."
Reiss sucked on his tongue and spat a globule of saliva mixed with blood. He wasn't brave enough to spit on Richard's boot, but the proximity was enough.
A gauntleted fist crashed into Reiss' head.
When lucid thoughts returned, it was amplified with a wet slap, courtesy of a soggy tomato.
"Ow."
The moan was low and drawn out.
=
Richard stood ramrod straight as Leo reported to Captain Worth. Leo retold the events that led to them apprehending the individual who now spent his time being pelted by expired produce.
"Correct me if I am wrong—and I very much doubt I am—you decided it was a good idea to assault and then apprehend a law-abiding citizen of Jeralt... for talking to you."
"He threatened us."
"You attacked him after you inquired about a new class–"
"Which he doesn't have."
Captain Worth's eye twitched.
"As he was explaining his supposed skill, talking aloud to the system for your benefit."
Captain Worth punched a thick finger into Leo's chest for further emphasis.
"In which there is a condition-"
"A supposed condition-"
"Interrupt me again, Watchman, and you will be the one in that pillory being pelted by rocks."
Leo's mouth clapped shut. Richard's back was straighter than a flag pole as sweat dripped down his forehead. Worth looked between the two menacingly.
"As I was saying. The condition of his skill is supposed death."
Worth growled, then became increasingly more animated as he talked.
"And you two idiots wanted him to demonstrate. You attacked Reiss when he 'threatened' you. Which was, in reality, an exclamation of surprise and the answer to your question. Reiss then 'resisted'... Whereupon you beat him to a bloody pulp, put him in chains, knocked him unconscious, and placed him in the pillory instead of bringing him to me for judgment."
Worth's voice crescendoed. Then all too quickly, it dropped low again.
"Am I getting that right, Watchmen?"
Richard didn't dare respond. Leo wasn't the smartest cherry.
"Yes."
*WHACK*
=
Leo blinked his eyes groggily.
Had he been drinking? He usually wasn't such an avid day drinker. They must have been celebrating because his noggin was pounding.
*Splat*
"Oof."
A slimy, wet puss of a tomato slid down Leo's face. Recognition came to him a little late.
"Oh..."
Leo slumped in the pillory.
"Not again."