I open the Shop, confusing Bozhidar by handling something unseen, and notice that since my last visit both Expertise and Features have been added. I navigate to features and find an interesting prompt: “Options too varied, please search for specific features.” I open the search, set it to features, and look up “Healing”. A moment later the screen populates with options.
I skim the results until I found the plainly named “Heal Other” feature. Without a shred of doubt, this is going to serve me in the future. I enter the details screen to check its cost and how it works: It will cost me 5 tokens. To make it work, I need to pick a method of application and spend Energy to restore Health. A sidebar notes I might want more Self-Awareness to see how much Energy I’m using and how much Health is restored.
I change over to the Self-Awareness trait and see that Self-Awareness D will cost me 10 tokens and will provide additional information in my Character Sheet.
I decide that both purchases make sense and start with improving my Self-Awareness. As soon as I do, a lengthy notification pops up.
NOTIFICATION
Self-Awareness E improved to Self-Awareness D!
Numerical display of attributes aligned!
Numerical display of reserves aligned!
Additional traits aligned:
Quiet Presence D
Additional skills aligned:
Jury-rigging D
Sewing E
Additional techniques aligned:
Quiet Step D
4 tokens awarded!
20 XP gained!
I do not anticipate so much changing due to one purchase, but welcome the new additions. I’m particularly surprised with the inclusion of Sewing and immediately feel more subdued, probably due to my new trait. The rewards are exciting, though, and my mind is already running away with thoughts on XP spending. I refocus and purchase the Heal Other feature and choose for it to imitate item use in a JRPG—something vague gets thrown in the air and an effect then happens. Then I check my Character Sheet again.
Name: Sebastian Harris
Attributes:
Condition:
Body: 8
Mind: 10
Processing: 11
Luck: 14
Health: 80/80
Focus: 100/100
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Energy: 110/110
Providence: 14/14
Skills:
Traits:
Axe Combat D
Cooking D
Herbology D
Jury-rigging D
Mechanic D
Meditation E
Polearm Combat C
Sewing E
Shield Use D
Stealth D
Combat Sense D
Honesty D
Quiet Presence D
Self-Awareness D
Spending Sense D
Techniques:
Features:
Leg Sweep C
Power Jab C
Quiet Step D
Skewer D
Heal Other
Expertise:
Sub-Systems:
Baking D
Butchering D
Quarterstaff Fighting C
Shield Blocking D
Spear Fighting D
Character Sheet
Clock
Conversation History (Rep)
Expertise
Features
Help File
Notifications
Shop
XP: 80
Tokens: 14
That… has gotten a bit denser. Seeing the numbers for my attributes makes sense, and the reserves are derived very directly from them. Providence surprises me with how small it is. Then I remember Bozhidar is still in the room and appears to be staring at me, confusion evident on his face. “Right, sorry. That got a bit involved. I’m ready for a demonstration now.”
Bozhidar slowly nods, still confused. “All I saw you do is… something I’m not even sure how to describe. What can you demonstrate?”
I smile awkwardly and tilt my head to the side a bit. “I can heal now. Not myself, yet, but others.” I nod towards the tent flap. “Let’s go to Cynna and I’ll demonstrate?”
Bozhidar silently nods his agreement and lets me lead the way. We arrive to the arena shortly after, where I wave to Cynna. She motions for her soldiers to continue drilling and comes over. Her demeanor is a bit hesitant and reserved. “I heard from Bozh that you can’t learn magic… was wondering if I’d see you back here because of that.”
I give her the same awkward smile I gave Bozhidar. “Well, things have changed slightly and… do you have anyone that got injured while training?”
Cynna seems surprised and looks back towards the arena, where a single soldier is sitting off to the side. “It doesn’t happen usually, but we do have one today.” She turns back to me. “Why?”
I smile more confidently. “I think it’s better you see my demonstration too. Let’s go to them.”
Cynna nods and follows me. I try and feel confident, even though I’m uncertain this will work the way I think it will. A few moments later, I’m crouching down next to the soldier to have a look at their injury. Seems like a minor scrape, but still visible and slightly bleeding. I stand up again, focus on Heal Other like I would a technique, and pour 20 Energy into it. Overkill is probably better.
Some unseen force guides my hand to mimic the application I chose and a small spark flies out of my hand at the apex of the movement. A moment later the soldier is enveloped in a gentle green light and their scrape knits together, the blood even moving back into the body. The soldier’s body bears no scar at all.
I look back at Cynna and Bozhidar to see her impressed and him dumbfounded and heavily leaning on his staff. Bozhidar’s mouth opens and closes several times without a sound before he regains his compassion. “That… that is definitely not like any magic I know works.”
“I… I assumed so.” I reply with a sheepish smile. “And that takes me back to my original question, which I’m sure Cynna can also contribute to: assuming I can just make up things I can do, what would best prepare me for the outside world?”