Two new blue boxes occurred in my mind as the announcement was made.

New Title - Outworlder - As a new arrival in this universe, you will progress through the levels noticeably than normal

New Title - Hero - As a hero, you will find it significantly easier to learn new skills, and requirements to consulate skills will be reduced.

The leader of the troop that had approached us, was about 2 meters tall and had a heavy build. He was wearing a set of heavy plate armor. His helm had its visor raised so that I was able to see his face. “ I am James, your first guide to your period of adjustment. It must have been a shock to have been pulled from your world. I will bring you to the rooms that have been set aside for you.”

Looking at all three of us. He held out three rings and stated “You need to take these and wear them or once you leave the mystic circle you will be unable to communicate with the people here in your new world.”

Looking at the rings I mentally chanted “Identify Identify Identify”.

Ring of Communication - This allows the wearer to understand the common languages in the empire of Taal.

Identify improved 2/10

Item Cursed

I mentally immediately chanted “Identify Identify Identify” again, focusing on the issue that the ring was cursed.

Cursed Ring of Communication - This allows the wearer to understand the common languages in the empire of Taal. Makes you desire to follow any and all commands of the families of Taal.

Identify 1 improved 3/10

I could see absolutely no way that I would be able to avoid wearing the ring. The small force in front of us was enough yet there were dozens of even more powerful forces aligned on the other side of what had been the outer boundary. All I could think of was to resist the curse. So as I picked up the ring, I started to internally chant “Resist, Resist, Resist”. Focusing on the curse attached to the ring. I would not be commanded. I am autonomous. I am me, I would never bend myself to an external force. I moved as slowly as I could and placed the ring on the middle finger of my left hand. While the ring looked at first glance to be the wrong size only being able to slide past the first knuckle, I was hoping that if it came down to it I could cut the finger off to remove it if required. But it sized itself and fitted perfectly to the base of the finger. Still chanting “Resist, Resist, Resist” as the ring altered to my hand and then became active. A flood of knowledge of new languages entered my mind. Over the years I had tried to learn various languages, and I was very good at learning new computer languages, human languages had always escaped me. While this was occurring I could feel that my spirit was being attacked

It was more subtle than the flood of information that was entering my mind. I suspected that this was on purpose If my mind was being overwhelmed it was likely I would have never noticed the attempted backdoor attack on my spirit. But the long period, while I was no longer a corporeal being, had meant I was very familiar with the shape of my spirit as it had lived within my mind, or perhaps my mind had lived within my spirit. This resulted in the chanting to succeed. I felt the curse fail to bite and attach itself to my spirit as intended. I heard a cracking sound as a new blue box appeared.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

New Skill - Basic Resistance. 1/10.

New Skill - Basic Curse Resistance. 1/10.

Skill Improvement - Basic Curse Resistance. 2/10

New Skill - Taal languages. 1/1

Curse failed.

Attribute Improved - Will +1

As the new languages became part of my mind the ring faded away and I looked at James wondering if he was going to be able to detect that the curse had failed to take.

He said, “I know that the shock of learning so many languages at one time is considerable, but we have found that it is best not to warn newcomers of the impact of learning new skills.”

I replied “It was a shock. I have tried many times to learn a new language and have only been able to learn a few words. But now I seem to know many languages and feel fluent in all. Thank you for making us so welcome.”

“Every time that you learn a new skill a pattern is impressed on your mind, spirit, or body. Depending on the compatibility of the skill you will suffer. This is the cost of learning a new skill. You should also expect a similar response when a skill upgrades.”

“So where now?”

“First each of you must select your new names. The movement across the spheres wipes out your history. You can choose the same name or pick a new name.”

I Said “I will be known as Fonial”.

The leather wearer said “Shamhila, I am Shamhila”.

The monk? whispered “Dakota”.

James said “Those names are acceptable. We now need to move quickly. The power sources that drive the enchantment that brought you here are being consumed rapidly, and if you remain within the portal formation, when it collapses you will be torn into the smallest shreds. For certain neither I nor my troop will attempt to save you. So we are leaving now!

So Come with me!”

I glanced at my two fellow travelers, who were rapidly falling into the formation. I realized that the last part of the statement was a command that the curse would have me obey. I snapped to attention and quickly joined the troop. We exited the formation. Everywhere the others that had arrived in the portal were also moving out.

Moving out of the formation was a shock, it was as if I had been struck by an immaterial pillow of immense density. When in the formation I was unable to see and hear anything from outside the walls but was able to see and feel the area within in great detail. Once I passed through the shimmering curtain of light the sense of freedom that I was experiencing disappeared. My personal sense of space now scarcely extended 1 mm past my skin.

Waves of pressure flowed from various members both of the military forces and what appeared to be the leaders. Even James was greater and more powerful now that we had left the outer circle. The three of us were visibly shaken up by this experience. For the group that was nearby that contained 21 members most were at the point of collapse. One or two of what only could be the weakest were being supported by some of the troops that were escorting them.

Fortunately, while we were the focus of much attention, the pair that had arrived on the opposite side of the circle, appeared to be garnering the greatest amount of attention. I had not previously felt this strain while within what I now understood was some form of shielding, This sense of being observed was outside the limitations of my normal human experiences. This experience resulted in yet another message in my mind. The sheer pressure clouded all my senses, my hearing was limited, my vision was clouded, and even my skin felt as if it was wrapped in a heavy liquid. I could not sense what this was but it was most uncomfortable. Indeed the pressure on my mind was such that I could barely follow James. I started to chant Resist, Resist, Resist within my mind as this had previously helped.

New Skill - Basic Perception. 1/10.

Attribute Improvement - Will +1.

As we moved out of the crowded space, into the passages, and then alleyways the stress from the attention faded, and the range of my vision improved. Whether this was a result of the lack of external attention or the new skill, it was unclear the degree of the factors. I did suspect that the new skill was the smallest factor. I certainly did not want to come to the attention of most of those people that had occupied that cavernous space.