Everyone in the church was astounded and silent. The twins and the other awakeners were surprised, other than the fact that they felt power surging inside them, one of the awakeners vanished into thin air.
“It’s a Stigma Awakening!” One of the reporters shouted loud enough to make the other reporters frantically calling on their smartphones, while the priest on the gates and those near the altar walked up to the newly awakeners and guided them to an exit on the right side of the church.
“Hey, What about Mil?!” Alice shouted, “Your friend is currently in a stigma awakening, do not worry, he is fine. If you want, you can stay in one of our rooms, and wait for your friend.” Replied one of the priests. “Okay, we’ll wait for him,” Alyx said, as the priest that talked to them guided them to the nearest room from where the altar is.
----------------------------------------
Milton wondered why the others stopped praying, He thought they were already done. So he thought he was done. So why doesn’t he feel anything new to his body? He opens his eyes as he sees that the altar is nowhere in front of him, even the church walls in front of him were gone, everything was gone. He looked around as he was surrounded by nothing. To left and right of him was an endless stone floor.
“Where am I?” His voice echoed so many times in this wide space. Chills went up to his spine. What went wrong? Is he dead? Is he somewhere else? Countless thoughts went to his mind. If He’s stuck here, how will he help his family? He promised to bring his sister to a good school and get a better job so his mom won’t work anymore. He started to run at a straight line, the seemingly endless place making him panic and breathe hard.
“Hey! Anyone! Help!” He shouted hard. For the first time in his life, he shouted. He was hoping someone would hear his cry for help, but it only echoed. Milton stood still and sat down, looking defeated. He already gave up. Only after a few minutes, he laid on his back and closed his eyes. Minutes after, he falls asleep on the cold stone floor. Footsteps began to walk up to him.
“Are you sure he’s the kid you want to pick? He already gave up.” a female voice said.
“Yes, I am sure. He reminds me of myself. I want to see him grow.” A man’s voice replied.
“I’m just saying. if you lose, you’re going to go poof. So many of us played to win, and most of us barely survived.”
“I have a good eye for people; I can assure you he’ll grow up to be a good man. Now carry him, and bring him to the 300th floor. He and I have a lot to talk about.” The one with a feminine voice picked Milton up and slung him on her shoulder.
“How manly of you to let a woman carry him.”
“Hey, you’re the one with the muscles. I’m just a frail, weak, Jester.” He laughs a little as the three vanishes into thin air.
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The room where Alice and Alyx were quite large, a large, oval, wooden table is positioned in the middle of the room, surrounded by plastic chairs, and couches stationed at the sides of the room. The place was only decorated with a fake plant on the corners of the room and lit up by a small, but strong lightbulb made from a magic stone. The twins were sitting at one of the long couches at the northern side of the room, waiting for the door to be opened by Milton. Their faces glowed up when the door was opened but shortly turned into an annoyed expression as they saw a man clad in a black suit and slacks enter the room.
“Forgive me for the intrusion; I am Rowan, a staff of the AA Building. Oh, AA means Awakener’s Association.” He says humbly with a bow.
“We know,” Alice says, the annoyed tone clearly showing in her words.
“Oh, then this will be easy. I am sent by the building to register you two and the friend you were waiting for, as you two were adamant to wait. I am amazed.” He says as he places a black suitcase on the oval table and opens it, pulling out two ballpoint pens and a small stack of papers. “I am here to register you two to the AA Database. Could you two please sit at the table?” Rowan said, and Alyx nodded in response and sat on one of the plastic chairs, but Alice doesn’t move an inch.
“Please, don’t be like that. Think of it this way, while you are waiting for your friend, you can do this to kill some time.” Rowan maintained his composure as he’s annoyed by Alice’s attitude.
“Fine,” Alice replies with the same annoyed tone as she sat beside Alyx. Rowan handed them a form and a pen each.
“As you two are now awakened. You can now use the System. One of its uses is [Diagnosis], [Profile], and [Status]. Saying them one at a time should show a window that you can only see. [Diagnosis] shows your physical and mental condition, [Profile] on the other hand, shows your abilities, stats, job, class, and blessing, While [Status] shows your personal information, such as name, age, height, weight, and others. Except [Diagnosis], Please say those key-words, and write the contents asked on the form, don’t worry, we won’t ask for your real names, however, you should write down your preferred name, a name that you will be using inside the AA Building, or the Tower, in accordance to the Awakened Laws.” Rowan explains as the two started to do what he asked.
“[Status]!” Alyx said, making a window pop up in front of him.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Blessing: [Blessing of the Ice Dragon]
Level: 1/257.
Job: None
Class: None
Skills: None
---------------
Stats:
Intelligence: 20
Dexterity:15
Strength:10
Agility: 12
Constitution: 10
Charisma: 30
Luck: 14
Phys. Endurance: 10
Mag. Endurance: 0
“Uh… Question?” Alyx asked, “The other things here say none.” He added.
“That’s okay. Focus on the ones that have information, It’s mandatory to do this form every 6 months, so don’t worry if you have some of them blank.” Rowan replied as Alyx nodded and returned his focus to the form.
“[Status]!” Alice said with a bored tone.
Blessing: [Blessing of the Jeweled Tinker]
Level: 1/190.
Job: None
Class: None
Skills: None
---------------
Stats:
Intelligence: 14
Dexterity: 20
Strength: 25
Agility: 20
Constitution: 15
Charisma: 12
Luck: 10
Phys. Endurance: 30
Mag. Endurance: 20
“[Profile].” He commands as a window appears similar to the last one.
Name: Alyx Wintermint
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Height: 5 feet, 5 Inches
Weight: 105 lbs/
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Blue
Hair Length: Neck length
As Alyx filled up the form, Alice mimics her brother. “[Profile].” She says as the window containing her body information shows up.
Name: Alyx Wintermint
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Height: 5 feet, 2 Inches
Weight: 120 lbs/
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Blue
Hair Length: Shoulder length
“Oh? Those are some pretty nice stats.” The two were surprised to hear the voice behind them, as Rowan was in front of them the whole time. The room was very quiet, and they’d notice if Rowan were to walk behind them. So how...? Alice thought, between the two of them, she was more perceptive than Alyx, and nothing should’ve gotten past her senses. “Very balanced…? I think? I’m not really great at measuring people just by reading their stats but, I think Ms. Alice is very promising.” Rowan added.
“How so?” Alyx asked, and Rowan pointed at Alice’s form, his finger right at the part where it says “Magic Endurance.” He moved his finger to the number 20 that Alice wrote. “Having Magic endurance means you face fought against magic before awakening.” Rowan removed his finger off Alice’s form. “Yeah, My aunt taught me how to go against Magic,” Alice says, still writing on the form. “To be honest, teaching a non-awakened how to fight magic is not illegal, but very dangerous. By any chance, is your aunt, Queen of the Ice, Anais Wintermint?” Rowan asks, Alyx returning to writing his form.
“Yeah, the first ranker in the Philippine Islands, 13th placed ranker in the US!” Alice confidently answers as Rowan returns to his prior position, in front of them. “Well anyway, Let’s wait for your dear friend.”
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A small bedroom, a bed that can only fit one person, a small wardrobe, and a small bed drawer, a wooden door, and two wooden windows. This is where Milton is currently at. Just a minute ago, Milton woke up on the bed after hearing loud cheering outside. Investigating where it came from, he stood up and looked through the window, there he saw a man wearing a clown costume similar to clowns from the medieval RPGs that he usually plays.
A Jester, a person filled with tricks, wit, style, and repertoire. With a sharp wit that leaves people amazed and confused, a charming tongue that seduces even queens, a wicked tongue that embarrasses nobles and kings, with a voice able to lull a raging dragon, and a body able to dance and play on a mere rope, abilities that were honed throughout their life, devoting them for the sake of making people happy, regardless of status and position.
That’s the same person he wanted to be. Someone who can make his family happy, that’s what he wants. The jester is currently performing in front of a large crowd of peasants and beggars, and the jester is being cheered back. That’s what he wanted too. Fame, and renown, he wanted to be praised. Looking at the jester, he saw his ideal self.
The jester in the streets was balancing himself in a tall, but the thin pole, while juggling multiple things that his audience threw at him, such as balls, mugs and, even a shoe. While reciting a limerick.
“They had thrown me a mug or two
And a ball, a bag, and a shoe!
They had their hands up high
I didn’t know why,
To think that they‘d throw poo!”
“W-wait stop!” As the people playfully hurled things at him, he avoided them with grace and style, while juggling, and taking some of the things flying at him and juggling too.
“Woah… Amazing…” Milton was astounded, never in his life had he met a person like that, the main reason why is he never leaves his house, which made him scratch his back. He also notices that the building he’s in and the other buildings are primitive, similar to the medieval homes made out of wood, had he gone back to the past? That can’t be, time travel is not real, Milton thinks to himself, but his thoughts dissipate as he was watching the jester perform.
After an hour, Milton was genuinely satisfied with the show, as the Jester bowed and waved his audience scattering. He watched the Jester pack up his things before seeing the Jester looking at him. Straight at him.
Why? Did he want Milton to pay because he was watching? The Jester is walking towards the building where Milton was while carrying two large bags. Milton sat down on the bed and hid away from the window when suddenly the door opens.
Looking at the door, Milton sees the Jester holding onto the doorknob. Smiling,
“Mr. Parker, did you like my performance? I was hoping that you did.”
The man bowed, as he closed the door.
“Who are you…?” Milton asked, from what he saw outside, he was at least 5 stories high, for the Jest to climb up in a matter of seconds is no joke, the man in front of him is not normal.
“I have many names, dear Milton. I am called The Jester of Gods, The Caretaker of the Tower, The Master of the System, I can go on and on about my names, so let’s just keep it simple. You make call me Fool.”
He says with a large smile on his face.