Rowan slowed down and decided to listen. The last time he ignored a warning, he ended up in this situation. If he was a younger man, he would have written Vorn off entirely. Listening to someone younger than himself? No way.
Logically, this was a person that knew better than him, in a world that he was new to, but young Rowan was not the biggest fan of ‘logic’. Hell, he disregarded it entirely where he was able. He had written it off as a tool for cowards to convince themselves to be boring and cautious. A decade of service and a whole host of dead friends later, he could see its use.
It would appear that being free for the first time in forever had made him regress somewhat. He was being impulsive and childish, even if only in his thoughts.
“Why shouldn’t I pick one right now?”
“Why?! Did your parents never… Oh, yeah. Never mind, that’s my fault. I forgot you were new to the System for a second. Basically, it’s considered, and this is putting it politely, incredibly fucking stupid to pick a Path without a System Guide to help you.”
“I don’t see why that should stop me? I know what Path I wish to walk.”
“What! Did you not hear what I just told you! It’s a huge deal!”
“I don’t need someone else to tell me what path I should choose. Magically or otherwise”. Rowan could feel himself slipping. A streak of independence he thought long dead rearing its head.
“Really? Really!? You just got here! Yes, you do! You don’t know anything about magic, aura, or the myriad other Paths out there!”
“I can figure it out.” There had to be something wrong. Why was he acting so childish?
“I really want to just let you do that just to prove to you how monumentally-”
“Did it.” Rowan simultaneously felt embarrassed at his actions, but also an odd sense of… pettiness? Was this all it took to break down the walls he had spent years putting up? Being reincarnated into another body in a different universe… Okay, so putting it like that it was a pretty major change.
“What!?”
“I opened the Class selection process.”
“Hysorin bless me with patience. What did I just say!”
“That you really wanted me to do that?”
“Do you not understand sarcasm?”
“Truthfully, no. Though, I will admit that my ability to comprehend sarcasm had little to do with me being so difficult. I apologize, I do not know what is coming over me.” Rowan started his meditation process that was taught to him by his ‘handler’ in the military. It was supposed to let him think through his actions before he acted rashly, a problem that seemed to have come back with a vengeance.
“Fine. Not like we can go back now. Just… let me see your options.”
Legendary Soldier Path - Legendary
You were a terror on the battlefield in your last life, so much so that it got you a new one! Why tread new ground? Become the soldier you were always born to be but with some extra perks! Your path is of Discipline, Strength, and Honor. +Inspiring Aura +Chain of Command
+8 CON, +8 STR +8 AGI +8 DEX +8 WIS per level.
Dimensional Warrior Path - Mythic
You are a warrior known all across your old dimension, now become one known across multiple! Wield sword and sorcery to tear your enemy down to their very atoms! Your path is of Destruction, Fame, and Bloodlust! +Extradimensional Body
+10 CON +10 STR +10 AGI +10 WIS +10 INT +10 CHA per level.
Blooded Maniac of the First Curse - Transcendent
You have left thousands dead in your wake, and that was in a world without magic. Without the System. Blood inevitably pools where you walk. Screams echo as you pass. The wailing of past souls that have tried to kill you ring out in the void, but none can hear them. Except you. This is not a Path, not a Class. This is who you are. Seize the First Curse, and become a God.
+Avatar of Madness +Walking Terror +Aura of Despair +Deathly Visage +Wails of the Damned +12 more
+ 25 to every Attribute per level.
Magitech Cyborg Path - Legendary
Between this universe and your previous one, technology is vastly different… but understanding it was never what made you good at abusing it! Your path is of Violence, Tinkering, and Improvement! Warning: You will have to enhance yourself. +Magitech Mind +Tinkerer’s Touch
+8 CON +8 DEX +8 INT +8 LUCK +8 Free Points per level.
+25 more Paths, would you like the System to sort them based on your personality?
“That would be helpful.”
These 5 fit you the best according to a personality scan:
Street Rat Path - Common
Though you grew up to be a soldier, you never forgot your roots. Fighting for every meal, and looking after your fellow orphans, you never stepped down from a challenge. Your path is of Desperation, Ingenuity, and Determination.
+2 CON +2 WIS +2 Free Points per level.
Battle Maniac Path - Rare
Your blood sings in battle like it never does in mundane life. Though you joined the military, it never truly satisfied your lust for battle. You are held down by chains of logic and reasoning. A true battle follows only one reason, might! Show the world your strength! Your path is of Battle, Blood, and Hunting down your next fight! +Tracking +Battle-Healing
+4 CON +4 STR +4 AGI +2 Free Points per level.
Tempered Blade Path - Epic
Your battlelust is the stuff of legend, but so is your restraint. It took years, but you managed to temper your passion with logic, and you are better for it. Some may say that you have gone soft, but when you are unsheathed, they will see that a tempered blade has not lost its heat. It is just hidden, bubbling beneath the surface. Your path is of Battle, Patience, and Explosive Action. +Battle Mind +Tempered Soul
+6 CON +6 STR +6 AGI +6 WIS +6 Free Points per level.
True Warrior Path - Legendary
A True Warrior does not fight for Honor or Fame. He fights because he must. He fights as the wind blows and as gravity attracts. The fact that he must fight is an immutable law. You are a prime example. Your Path is of Battle. You never had a choice to begin with. +Force of Nature
+8 CON +8 STR +8 AGI +8 DEX +8 LUCK per level.
Twin Soul: Body Path - Unique
Be it through random chance or providence, you have merged with another. You are no dullard. You understand the purpose of scholarly pursuits, but they have never been for you. Your passion in life has always been simple. Movement. Fighting. Seeking the next thrill. All your life, your weakness has been equally simple. Logic. Common sense. You had to chain yourself down for the sake of others. Now you can do what you do best, and let your more timid half temper the worst of your outbursts. Truly let yourself free once more. Your Path is of Movement, Battle, and Thrill. +Synchronized Mind
+15 to all physical Attributes per level.
“You were not kidding when you said you were a good soldier! Good gods, I’ve never even heard of a transcendent Path! I mean, absolutely don’t take it, but holy shit are the stats insane! And SEVENTEEN perks!?”
“So what do you think I should pick?”
“Didn’t you say that you didn’t need help deciding your path?” Vorn said, still annoyed.
“I should have listened to you, and I apologize once more. I truly believe we are partners. I just had a... Tantrum. I really need to get a hold of my emotions"
“First, tell me what speaks to you the most, and then I’ll give my opinion.”
“Either [Tempered Blade] or [Body Path]. The others are all good, but they do not speak to me. I will admit that the idea of finally letting loose is appealing. I favor the [Body Path].”
“I was going to say either [Dimensional Warrior] or [Body Path], but based on the descriptions, [Body Path] certainly suits you better. You sure have had an interesting life.”
“Don’t I know it.” Rowan said, before going on to ask, "Also, do you understand what the [+blank] things are at the end of the descriptions?”
“Yeah, those are perks. They are fairly rare, but not unheard of by any means.”
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
“Hmm. I’ll go with [Body Path]. We are already stuck in this mess together, and it truly does appeal to me in a way few others do. I have had to hold myself back for… so long. Before I accept it, do you truly accept becoming my… for lack of a better word, handler?”
“Yeah, I already figured I would have to do that based on how much you scared my uncle. Go ahead and pick it. I’m still mad you decided to pick your Path now, though. You're lucky it was a relatively easy choice.”
“You are right, I got excited and disregarded my own advice about listening to you. On the bright side, at least that’s your problem now.”
“Yay…”
Rowan has accepted the [Twin Soul: Body Path] Class!
Updated status:
Voran - level 1 Twin Soul Warrior
Age: 0 | Class 1: Unselected | Rowan: [Twin Soul: Body Path]
Attributes:
CON: 15
STR: 15
AGI: 15
DEX: 15
WIS: Locked
INT: Locked
CHA: Locked
LUCK: Locked
Perks: Vorn: None| Rowan: Synchronized Mind
Unlock the rest of your attributes by selecting a Path!
Status Effects: Renewed, Attribute Rush [Extreme]
Voran’s body was filled with a rush of energy as it suddenly became stronger. What a rush! They couldn’t stop shaking! Is this what everyone warned them about? Attribute Rush was no joke! No wonder people got addicted to it. Not to mention that getting sixty stat points a level was equivalent to a Mythic Path! Only Emperors had those! Holy shit… and Voran had the potential to get two! But no, he couldn’t get ahead of himself. He had to take this slow.
Vorn was the designated reasonable person now, he couldn’t let himself be swept up in the excitement.
“Nothing is stopping you. You would likely get a Path just as good. I did not get mine from being a good soldier, I got it from being a unique being. Well, I did partially get it from being a good soldier, but it was in a more tangential way.”
“Silence devil! I will not let you tempt me!”
“I’m not a specter or demon. Did we not already cover this?”
“It was a joke…”
“Oh. I am not great with those.”
“Is there anything you're good at besides fighting?”
“I’m good at sewing.”
“Really?”
“I had to repair my clothes a lot.”
“Let me guess. You got in a lot of fights?”
“How did you know?”
“Sigh…”
“Why did you say the word ‘sigh’?”
“It was for effect! Besides, it’s not as if I can sigh mentally! It's a breath, not a word!”
“Then why do it at all?”
*Sigh*
“Oh, you actually sighed that time.”
“You somehow made me so exasperated that I managed it. Congratulations.”
“Thank you?”
Vorn moved on before the conversation could go any further. Trying to joke around with Rowan was pointless. It was like he was a machine, devoid of passion. It wasn’t as if Rowan was the first person bad with social cues he had ever met, but there was something different about him. The others may have been awkward or stilted, but they still had passions. If you got them talking about a subject they liked, it was like flipping a switch, and they could go on for hours! Vorn’s mother was like that, and it was one of his favorite parts of her personality.
Sure, it made for some boring conversations when they were talking about anything but her passions – those being magic, sorcery, and spellcraft – yet Vorn couldn’t find the feelings in him to care. Besides, he and his mother were cut from the same cloth. They mostly found the same things interesting, and whatever differences they had, they always tried to understand as best as they could. Granted, Vorn was certainly better at it, but his mother always tried her best, and that was all that mattered to him.
Melancholy started to invade his mind before he heard jeering behind him. Oh, great. The twins. Uncle had tried to fire them time and time again, but their father was a powerful merchant, so he never got far. Why they decided to work in a mine of all places, Vorn would never know. Sometimes he thought it was just to torture him.
“Oh, what is this I spy? Level one? Has little Vorn finally decided to grow up and give up on becoming a mage?” The first twin said. Vorn could never tell them apart, so he didn’t bother to try. At this point, he just classified them as one being. Maybe they were also a Twin Soul, just one separated at birth? The opposite of a Twin Soul? They were certainly identical enough. In. Every. Insufferable. Way.
“Oh, has Vorn finally accepted his place? I never thought I’d see the day! Mommy would be so disappointed, wouldn’t she? Her baby finally grew into a man! Too bad she couldn’t live to see it!” He cackled at his own terrible joke.
Vorn was tempted, oh so tempted, to punch them in the face. It would be so easy. Common Paths, as the name suggested, made up the overwhelming majority of them, and the Twins were no different. In fact, since they both picked the [Merchant] Path, they had their stats in Charisma and Luck. Where they put their free points, he had no idea, but it shouldn’t matter. They got six stat points a level and were each level fifteen, which meant that they had thirty in Charisma and Luck, and thirty free points to spend.
Even if they spent all their points on Strength, Vorn would still have the advantage. He had a much more balanced build, and this was all before considering that he had one of the greatest soldiers of another universe in his head.
One that was eager for a fight.
But that would be stupid. Their father was a powerful merchant who had his hands in the pockets of nobles, messing with the twins would doom his chances of working in this city ever again. His uncle would have to fire him or go broke as every other merchant suffocated his business. Uncle would never fire him, and he didn’t plan on ruining his only remaining family.
“Yeah, I guess I did grow up. You win. Happy?” Vorn said. Not Voran, as Rowan was thrashing against the restraints on his soul, trying his damndest to break out and beat the shit out of these bastards. He hadn’t been disrespected like this in ages!
“Oh, that’s no fun!” They said in sync. God(s), these two were so fucking creepy, Voran thought.
They could agree on that.
Come on! Let me out! Don’t you want to test out my new Path! Besides, who’s going to miss these two!
It was honestly distressing for Vorn to hear Rowan talk like this. It was like a switch was flipped, and he went from automaton to murderous psycho. Gods, was this what he was like all the time in his childhood!? The [Tempered Blade] description said that it had taken years for him to calm down! Based on Rowan’s personality, Vorn thought that it was an exaggeration. Guess not!
“I’m currently trying to not get us banned from every business in the Empire right now, so if you would kindly calm down, that would be great!”
Seeing his struggle, the twins mistook it for anger.
“Oh, is little Vorn going to cry? Does he want his mommy?” They said in sync once more. Vorn was sure it had to be a Perk or something.
Vorn felt something in his soul snap.
“Oh fuck.”
“Oh do you two ever shut the fuck up!” Rowan finally said, in control.
“W-what happened to your eyes?” They said in perfect sync once more.
“I would be less concerned with my eyes, and more concerned with what I’m going to do to yours!” Rowan growled out.
“H- ha ha. Vo-Vorn got one level and now he thinks he’s hot shit!” They said with false bravado.
“Oh, don’t call me Vorn. He would never do what I’m about to do to you. He doesn’t have the RESOLVE!”
“Rude, and please don’t kill them. I’m the voice of reason, remember? If you absolutely must, you can beat them up, but please don’t go further than that.”
“Oh, you are so fucking lucky that Vorn doesn’t want you dead.” Rowan said, his heart pounding in his ears.
“Brother, I think he’s finally snapped! No matter, we-we’ll just have to teach him a lesson! He can’t beat both of us!”
“Oh? Covering up your fear with comradery? I can respect that. At least you aren’t totally irredeemable.” Before the twins could respond, he rushed them.
“AH!” They shrilly screamed.
Now, there is something you must understand about Rowan. He joined the military at fifteen and served for ten years before dying spectacularly. He does not have control over his emotions gained over decades, and in fact, only a few years ago became able to control them with any reasonable success rate. And he never really got over his anger issues. Just suppressed them.
Rowan met the first twin with a fist to the eye. He carefully modulated his strength, as he wasn’t sure how much force he could exert. Based on the impact, he was almost as strong as his peak in the military, implants and all. And he was only level one. Fuck. Yeah.
Still, the twin took the punch with surprising durability, even if it wasn’t his full strength.
“Ha, is that all you’ve got? We invested all our free points into Constitution, you’ll need to do better than that!” They gloated.
"Huh? What did that mean?"
"Turn on Synchronized Mind. I’ve got an idea as to what it does, and it should help."
Rowan complied, and things instantly became clearer. No longer was he a stranger in a strange land, he understood. Gods, he was an idiot for picking a Class that recklessly!
"Wait. Did these two idiots just admit they put everything in CON? HAHAHA!"
Rowan, with renewed vigor, attacked once more. This time, he knew they could take it. He didn’t hold back.
He rushed the second twin this time. The twin tried to defend with offense, a reckless strategy, and one he couldn’t back up with skill. Rowan ducked under the flimsy punch and shoulder-checked him to the ground. The second twin tried to attack him from behind, but Rowan had been in one too many scuffles to be taken by surprise by that.
Rowan rolled forward before the second twin’s punch even fully extended. His eyes were still closed from throwing the punch, amateur. Rowan grabbed his overextended arm, and flipped him onto the ground, next to his brother.
The fight had taken eleven seconds flat, and like five of them were taken up by the twins gloating. Morons.
“Put me back in control, now.” Vorn demanded.
Rowan complied.
Once he did, Rowan instantly knew something was different. His shackles, which he didn’t even previously know were there, had disappeared. He could go to the forefront whenever he wanted. He was not sure that was a good thing.
Evidently, Vorn wasn’t either.
“You absolute moron! Do you know what you’ve just done!? We’re done! We can never work in this mine – hell, this whole city – again! I thought you were supposed to listen to me? You asked me to be your handler! So why didn’t you listen!”
“I apologize. I let my anger get the best of me. This hasn’t happened in years, but bullies tend to reveal the worst in me. Life was not kind to an orphan living on the streets… But, this is what you signed up for.”
“What? We agreed that I’d be the voice of reason! You didn’t listen!”
“I won’t deny my responsibility, I acted rashly and foolishly, but this was a good trial of what is to come. I do not know why, but my emotions have come back and they are stronger than ever. I’m afraid that just being the ‘voice’ of reason won’t be enough. You’ll have to back it up with action.”
“Fucking fine. Whatever. We’ll talk about that later.”
“Alright, but… why did you let them treat you like that?”
“I just told you, their father is extremely powerful-”
“No, I am not asking why you did not beat them up. I recognize that as someone without a Class, that would have been impossible. I mean, why didn’t you stand up to them verbally? You are much smarter than them, that much is obvious. You could have beaten them in a battle of wits easily.”
“I- They- I just-”
“Is it really that hard to think of a reason?”
“No, I had one, I just… can’t put it into words.”
“Do you want to know what I think?”
“No, but I have a feeling that was rhetorical.”
“It was not. Do you want to know?”
“Sure? I guess.”
“You are insecure. You have clearly been bullied and discouraged your whole life, that much is abundantly clear, and you have let that shape how you view your own inherent value. I was told much of my life that I was an idiot. A moron. A “simple-minded dumbass eager to die and not to learn” was what my squad leader called me. Thinking back on it now, they may have been right. My squad leader, I mean.”
“Real inspiring.”
“Let me finish. I was called all of those things and more, but you know what? I didn’t let them shape me. I took each of those words and buried them so deeply in spite and loathing that instead of hampering me, they furthered my growth. I turned their shit talk into fertilizer.”
“So I’m a victim of my own self-worth then? Is that what you're saying?”
“Essentially. I don’t blame you for not taking my route. I was fueled by a frankly ungodly amount of confidence back then. I did not yet have the years to separate genuine criticism from mindless insults. That was one of my many flaws, and it is no better than yours. An overabundance of confidence can be just as harmful as a lack thereof. Thankfully, you have someone to help you along. I had no such thing.”
“Aren’t you, like, five years older than me?”
“Perhaps, but do you have the experience I do? I don’t just mean on the battlefield, but in life. We are from opposite sides of the spectrum, and if we meet in the middle, then maybe we can negate the worst of our flaws and truly become a better whole.”
“Why the fuck are you so wise right now? Didn’t you just go berserk on the twins, like, two minutes ago? Where was this Rowan then?”
“Like I said, we are from opposite sides of the spectrum. I am no less flawed than you, and in fact, I might be more so. So, what now?”
“Now? We go talk to Uncle.”
“Oh. I am sorry.”
“Why?”
“I saw how… passionate he became when discussing your future. I do not think he has it in him to have a calm conversation.”
“You are the most oddly observant man I have ever met.”
“Do you have most of the men you have met in your head? I have a feeling a good amount of people would surprise you. I frequently underestimated just how useful observation could be until it was used against me more times than I could count. I am hardly the first advanced in the skill.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“I live in your head, I have no choice but to listen.”
“Actually, you live in my soul. Or do we share a soul? Is there a soul space? Are we both just crammed in there- not the point, sorry.”
“I must say, it is very interesting to hear the thoughts people have when they can’t filter them.”
“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up.”
“I am not laughing.”
*Sigh*
“You did it again.”
“My question is, why do you talk like that.”
“Talk like what?”
“Like a robot! Hell, you barely use contractions! I know you can, I’ve heard a few slip by!”
“When I am not in battle, I actively practice a meditation technique that was taught to me by my mentor. My previous ‘handler’. He taught me how to control my emotions, or at least suppress them.”
“And the solution was robot speak?”
“No, it was to stop and consider every word, action, and motion I made. Obviously, I am worse at that when stressed, and I do not bother with it when fighting.”
“So… this is essentially just you but filtered?”
“Basically. Now I have a question.”
“Go for it.”
“How do you know what a robot is?”
“There was a dungeon break a few years ago, men made of metal came spewing forth, and our analyzers told us they were called robots. We captured one of them and it was very disconcerting to hear them speak in such a… strange manner.”
“Are you done putting off the conversation with your uncle?”
“Our.”
“Huh?”
“Our uncle. We share a body now. What’s mine is yours.”
“Ah, so you are still putting it off.”
“Godsdamn it, fine. I’m going.”