“When will we gain a [Class]?” Asked Dale once everyone put their [Status Points] at their Maxxed [Stats].

“I think it will be level 5.” Told his sister who seemed like she was on the verge of crying a few minutes before.

“Me too,” said Adrian. “That sounds like a nice number to have a [Class].”

“Ehh, guys I gained a strange skill.” Axel said while looking at nothing, but subconsciously everyone knew that was how the [Status] window worked.

“What does it say?” Adrian asked him.

“It so rare to explain, better if I read it out loud,” Axel said with a confused look. “Congratulations! For merciless killing your enemies with brute force without receiving any damage plus maxing [Constiuta], you have obtained a [Unique] Title. Note: [Unique] skills or titles are only obtainable by one user.”

“That’s it?” Asked Dale. “That seems pretty normal to me.”

“I’m not finished” Growled Axel. “The problem is the title itself. [War-bond Tower]: Your body has become an unbreakable tower that brings chaos whenever you walk. You receive 50% less damage when you are at critical health. If fighting a large group, when an enemy dies its allies must roll a [Voluntat] will save, if they fail they may be inflicted with [Fear] or [Berserker] status alignment. Note: This [Title] is from the [Tarot] set. [Tarot] titles or skills became more powerful when more of them are present.”

During the narration, the group could tell that Axel’s voice was cracking, and Adrian even could feel the colors of the [Status] interface as some weird kind of synesthesia.

“That was a mouthful of [Title].” Commented Adrian.

“Yes.” Affirmed Axel, who needed to take a breath.

“That’s a good [Title].” Said Mike after being silent for a long time. He was recollecting his arrows while listening to Axel’s monologue.

“Indeed” Added Aby. “Not only he receives less damage and makes enemies go crazy, but if we manage to obtain [Titles] or [Skills] from the [Tarot] series they will become more powerful.”

“Anyone knows all tarot cards?” Asked Dale who was retrieving darts from the mantises’ eyes after watching Mike do so.

“The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Justice, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Strength, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, The World, and The Fool. That would only be the Major Arcanas, of course.” Recited Mike without catching breath, everyone looking at him, deadpanned. “What?”

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“Nothing, nothing.” Said Aby.

“But it doesn’t make any sense, then.” Continued Mike.

“What does not make sense?” Asked Adrian.

“Axel’s card” Mike responded. “It should be The Chariot or Justice according to his role. Chariot or Justice are more accurate to his actions but… O, no. Yes, The Tower makes sense.

“What did your inner monologue mean?” Asked Dale once he put all the darts in his pocket.

“The Tower can mean chaos or a sudden change if it's lifted upright. And didn’t the Record message told something about bringing chaos? It may be more suitable than I thought.” Mike explained.

“Riiight,” Dale told him. “And why do you know that much about tarot cards?”

“Personal interest.” Mike answered honestly.

“Seems legit.” Said Dale without giving it more thought.

“What card do you think I am?” Kayle asked overly excited.

“Tarot Cards don’t work like that; I cannot say you—” Mike's explanation was interrupted by Kayle’s watery eyes. Mike sighed. “—maybe The Fool or The Sun.” He gave up.

“The Fool?” Kayle said surprised, that sounded like a bad card.

“It’s not that bad.” Mike started. “The Fool can mean free spirit, but also recklessness. And The Sun can be positivity or one’s inner child.

“The Fool then, I am no child.” Kayle said.

‘Oh, yes you are.’ Thought Adrian. Obviously, he kept that to himself.

“Are we done then?” Asked Aby who was backing up in her stick. “It is time we move on.”

“Can I least know my card?” Requested Dale.

Aby assented with her head and then sighed. “Go on, Mike.”

“Wheel of Fortune without a doubt.” He explained. “It not only means good luck, that you have with [Fortuna], but it also can mean change or a turn in your life, which I must say, it is obvious at our current state.”

Adrian thought that Mike looked intellectual once you get past his cowardness and social awkwardness. He did not talk much, but at the last minutes, he dominated the conversation flow.

“Should we do something with those guys?” Said Axel who was pointing at the dead humanoid praying mantises.

“We could grab them as emergency rations.” Adrian suggested.

“Thanks, but no” Said Aby. “I rather starve before eating one of those… things.” She was clearly repulsed by the idea of eating the human-sized insects.

With that, the group departed once again. They kept walking the open path for half an hour according to Adrian’s [A-celeratioed] title. Now the density was low enough that one could look up to the sky and see that it was already noon — if the star being at its highest meant noon at Mundompio— except that it was 2:00 p.m. Adrian’s [Title] was excellent when one was stranded, but now it only present doubts of the world's astrology.

After a five-minute walk, the group could hear the sound of water flowing.

“It’s a river!” Called out Dale, happy to be able to drink after so long.

“It sounds like it” Commented Adrian. “Stay here, I will scout the terrain.”

Everyone listened to Adrian, they could not afford to be ambushed by another crowd of monsters, after one of them almost died last time. When Adrian left the party sat in a circle, watching at all angles.

Adrian approached ‘slowly’ at the sound’s origin. Even though his speed was a trout pace, he left no sound behind. Soon Adrian arrived at the sound, it was a river. Nothing strange, clear water, no signs of algae, fungus, moss, or frogs. A clear and beautiful river. Except for that [Archimantis Homicida] that was decapitated by Adrian’s daggers while it was drinking from the river. Only a bit of experience was given since it was only level one, but Adrian did acquire something nice.

Congratulations! For stealthily executing your foe with your daggers, you have obtained a new skill.

[Assassinate]: When attacking your objective without being detected and aiming for a vital point, your attack damage will triplicate without any additional stamina consumption.