Chapter 5
It was finally time to learn more about his class, and he could feel his Bracer buzzing with excitement.
Reading over the class information, the generalized druid class description said:
// So, the rules say I gotta be serious here. I hate being serious. Are we best friends yet? Don't answer that.
Druids seek to nurture and protect nature, chase the Wilds, and walk the Winds. There are pathways to do so, however… some are stalwart wardens, guardians and defenders of life.
Most are cultivators, nurturers and healers. Some are like seeds in the wind, bringing life where Nature has all but fallen. Some druids learn to do more than interact with magic, but to channel it. To cycle the magic within themselves as well as in the outside world. Some even seek the deeper meaning of nature, utilizing the full cycle of death and life in a slower, but potentially indomitable path that could ultimately save…or destroy a dying world.
Druids have gotten rarer and rarer. Don’t get me wrong, desert is still nature, but that alone is not enough to trigger the class. Not sure what triggered the synergy that unlocked the druid class for you. Could be a strong, core memory connected with nature. Could be that you have a protective, nurturing way about you. To gain a unique class, though, it’s usually both, and Wayspring Wanderer is a unique druid class.
A unique class is exceedingly rare. Sounds OP, right? Well, it can be. The downside of a Unique Class is you’re a blank slate. You have to create all your own abilities. Eventually, that will be its greatest strength, but for now, you’re weaker than a standard common class.
Unique classes are notoriously slow to grow in power and are unpredictable in that they are personal to the individual. The thing is, this place is dying, so even growing slowly is very quickly going to put you head and shoulders above many.
The most common classes, even the last time I was awake, were a husk of what they used to be. Good news is, your power ceiling is way up. If you happen to run into any surviving ancients, with enough time, you’ll be able to hold your own.
Druids, because of their connection with the world around them, learn simple interactions with the Magic Above, called ????, and the Magic Below, ?????. Okay, that’s stupid, I can’t access the specific names for some stupid reason. I’m not trying to be mysterious. Super simplified: Air and Earth. There’s also Spirit, which interacts with everything in ways that make it impossible to explain easily. Think of Spirit like a catalyst for the other two, but it also has its own uses.
Anyhow, Unique classes do not follow traditional growth but will grow in power long after most classes begin to even out or plateau. Grow in power to unlock its potential, and you could become great… if you survive. //
“If I survive? Seems to be a theme here,” he muttered, knowing it was time to get moving.
Pulling his makeshift pack over his head and sitting it down, Oskar made his way to the top of a gently sloping dune, trying to gain as much information as possible on his location and possible next steps. The moment his head cleared the top of the dune, however, a hot wind hit him in the face with surprising force. He momentarily lost his balance and slid down the dune a short distance before he regained it.
He tightened his shemagh on the top of his head and much more carefully made his way to the top of the dune, thankful for the goggles keeping the sand out of his eyes as he poked his head up just between two streamers of sand blowing off the top of the dune.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
The first thing he noticed was how consistently the wind blew. Just like the freezing wind he’d experienced near the end of his journey here, there were almost no gusts, just a continuous blasting that would be a nightmare if he were forced to walk atop the dune for long. It just didn’t seem possible.
The whole situation was unreal. He tried to will his PUB to give him information and was surprised to see a flicker of blue outline in the distance. He wondered if it would zoom in, but instead, it only clarified the notification.
// I did a careful scan of the area for you. I found some sand. Turn around, I’ll scan the other side too. Want me to count it? No/No //
Oskar tried not to encourage the PUB by chuckling, which was made easier by the overall weight of his situation, finally beginning to present itself. His newfound purpose and confidence wasn’t making Oskar blind to the fact he was a dire situation. He shook off some of the heaviness and straightened carefully, looking over the endless desert. There was a beauty to it, and he’d better learn to see some of it if he didn’t want to feel crushed by the sheer lunacy of the circumstances that brought him here. Might as well try to do what I can with it.
The kid in him couldn’t help but wish he had a wingsuit and a death wish. He looked back at the gently sloping dune behind him and figured he could get away with it once if he was careful and then pushed himself to standing at the top of the dune.
By leaning almost 40 degrees into the wind, he turned around with his back against the constant force and made a small leap, propelling himself forward in the air. He laughed as he landed, sliding down the dune before slowing to a stop and standing.
With a childlike grin on his face, Oskar made his way back down the slope to gather his meager belongings. He’d seen nothing but a massive expanse of sand at the top of the dune.
He wasn’t sure what to do, but he knew staying in place would definitely kill him, so any direction was as good as another if he was careful moving across the top of any dunes. That wind was constant, but he could only imagine what a gust would feel like if he was wrong. He might find himself sandblasted or buried beneath hundreds of pounds of sand.
Oskar glanced down at the leather Bracer and to his surprise, a hologram appeared above it showing a 3D display of his body, the damage indicator outline around his right lower leg still present. He could move it at will to a point, but only as a general shift of position like arms up, fighting stance, or arms crossed.
Looking at the information surrounding the image, the atypical format of the statistics surprised him. He’d expected a strength, intelligence, etcetera followed by a number, but it was closer to what he’d seen in anime, only in three categories overall.
Mind F Rank
Body
F- Rank Spirit F+ Rank
A brief explanation followed:
// F Rank is standard for humans. Some of the other species have D Rank bodies, but your mind stats are on par, and spirit is looking great. You got Moxie, kid! You can also pull this information up in your Goggles overlay.
Main stats consist of a mix of hidden sub-stats that may overlap with one another in the PUB interface, but there’s no point in tracking them because they change so much. For example, lack of sleep might make Mind drop 10% or more. It’s all very mathematical, and no offense, you aren’t giving me Rain Man vibes when it comes to numbers. //
“Rude.”
// I heard that, now hush and listen.
These stats represent actual physical, mental, and spiritual abilities and will grow through training and high-stress situations. Some statistics may be temporary, but reflection and meditation may allow these stat gains to become permanent. Blah, blah, blah.
The stats and their breakdowns are:
Mind comprises the following hidden sub-stats: Wisdom, Intelligence, and to a lesser degree: Spirit, Charisma, Endurance, Moxie. And a little bit of Body.
Body sub-stats: Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Agility, Endurance. Spirit and Mind affects body. Since it houses everything, it’s affected by everything. It’s all connected, baby!
Spirit sub-stats: Self-Control, Creativity, Willpower, Moxie, and to a lesser degree: Mind, Body, and Charisma. //
"Moxie? I have moxie?"
// Barely. //
Rude.
// You didn't say it out loud! I'm proud of you! //