Town of Beginnings II, Chp. 5_Welcome to the Upward Bound System! (Abandoned Timeline)

Dante examined his status, and his skills. He looked at his summoning skill and wondered, "Virgil." Dante watched as his mana ticked down by 5. Once more he felt something stir within him and then leave him. "At least now I know that's mana I feel."

With his newly acquired mana sense he could feel as his mana was shaped by the skill. A moment later the familiar golden figure of Virgil stood before him. "Hello Dante." Virgil said with a bright smile. Dante took a chance, "Hello friend." Virgil's expression dulled somewhat. Dante felt that perhaps he had overstepped, but that feeling was quickly alleviated when Virgil's smile returned brighter than previously.

"Friend, I like that word. So few have called me such from what little experience i can recall. I will gladly be your friend." Dante smiled, truly happy that he had not negatively impacted his relationship with Virgil. 'Back on task.' Dante thought, "Virgil, can you help me find some shoes and socks in the store and then explain some more of the system to me?" He asked Virgil.

"Certainly, a moment please." Virgil said before waving his fingers in the air for a moment. A dozen screens popped in and out of existence rapidly, until only one remained. Virgil grasped the screen and held it out for Dante, "Tell me what you think of these. I will think they will suit you very well." He said whilst holding his other hand behind his back.

Dante reached out grasping the blue box and then proceeded to examine the displayed item. The item displayed was a comically large set of ruby red clown shoes with rainbow striped socks. Dante looked down whilst restraining a small laugh. "I think the shoe's are a bit too big but i like the socks." Dante said before finally looking back up toward Virgil with a smile.

Virgil removed his other hand from behind his back revealing another blue box. Once more the smiling Virgil reached out, but this time he tapped the screen he held against the one held by Dante.

The clown shoe's flicked down and were replaced by a sturdy looking pair of brown work boots. Like something a person in the military might wear. "I recommend these. They are the most well suited to your current needs and are well within your current price range." Dante nodded a small smile still lingering upon his face.

"Very well i would like to purchase these boots along with the socks." A smaller screen appeared before him stating the price of the selected items, 15 gold. The boots being 10 and the socks 5. "Why are the socks so expensive?" Dante asked, confused.

"They are woven from mana thread. This grants several small advantages, and one major that are conferred to the user, over the kind of socks you're used to. Would you like to hear a few?" Virgil asked like a true showman displaying his wear.

"Let's start with the major benefit please Virgil." Stated Dante still sitting comfy on the side of the bed.

"Of course. That benifit would be fall damage mitigation. Mana thread when it is flooded with mana acts as an excellent shock absorber to a certain extent. I would say with your current mana pool you could be unharmed from a fall of 20 to 25 feet. So long as you landed on your feet and spent sufficient mana." Virgil paused awaiting feedback.

"Nice, so no free jumping off buildings just yet, that's alright." He stated, Virgil's smile became somewhat strained, "I am aware that is a joke. However, i still would not recommend for you to attempt such actions." Virgil said in a worried tone. "Duly noted Virgil. Now the minor benefits?" Dante asked with a small smile.

"Aw yes. The socks are very breathable and help to keep your feel cool or warm depending upon the situation. However there is a small downside here as it imposes a slight penalty to your mana regen for this effect." Virgil said with a smile, a small golden glow emanating from him.

'Trying really hard to sell the socks.' Dante thought as he looked back over to his still open status. "How much is the penalty?" he asked, "Oh for someone of your size only 1.5 mana per minute." Said Virgil.

'That leaves me with 5.4 mana regen per minute.' He thought for a moment before continuing, "I'm going to be able to improve my mana regen soon right?" Dante asked the deciding question.

"Of course, I can show you that in a moment if you would like." Virgil said, his voice hopeful.

"In that case I will accept the purchase." No sooner had he said it than a notice popped up stating his items had been delivered to his inventory. 'Inventory' Dante thought. The familiar blue box appeared. He began positioning the screen between his legs and towards the floor to make it easier to equip his foot wear. He pulled on the socks one at a time feeling as they began warming his feet.

Turning to his status page, he watched as his mana regen ticked downward, stopping at 5.4 mana per minute. He started testing out the socks by placing his feet on the heated flooring again. To his surprise the socks went from warming his feet to keeping them cool against the warm flooring. Dante nodded in approval and dawned the army boots.

Dante smiled as Virgil continued, "Please note that these won't negate fall damage if you fall on something other than your feet. They also will allow you a small amount of propulsion per point of mana spent. Thus you can adjust your positioning even in mid air. This effect can be used reguardless of if you are wearing shoes or not. You just have to wear the socks." Virgil concluded his more or less thorow explanation of the socks.

"Now that we have that out of the way allow me to introduce you to another aspect of the system, Roads." Virgil stated as he snapped his fingers. A new small blue box appeared before him as he closed his inventory.

Road of Beginnings

0/5

Road of the Wizard I

1/10

Road of the Downtrodden

0/10

Road of New Beginnings

0/20

"So that's what it meant by you have started down the road of the wizard. It put a point in for me. That must be why I already have a stat point, sweet!" Dante exlaimed in joy.

"Yes, from the information I can access, it takes some individuals quite some time to discover how to get points into their roads without spending any." Virgil said with a hint of disappointment.

Dante filled this experience away for later. "So these roads reflect who I am?" He asked curious as to the answer.

"Yes. Well in a manner of speaking at least. As you have a few points to spend i would suggest that you complete the Road of Beginnings." Virgil stated, and seeing not the need he did not argue. He inputted the five points and got a few notices, along with a new feeling.

The hardest step is often the first, +1 Strength...

The second step brings you farther from where you started, or is it closer?, +1 Dexterity...

The third step, you are halfway there. +1 Intellect...

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The fourth step, you are almost there, you see the end of this road and the beginnings of many others. +1 Perception...

The fifth step. You have chosen to tread forth. Both for yourself and those you love. +1 Endurance...

Congratulations! You have completed the Road of Beginnings! +1 to all stats! +0.5 to all regens...

The first road of man has been completed. There shall always be a road for you and should one not be open you may tread forth into the unknown and carve out your own...

Dante felt his feet moving though he remained standing still. With each step, each point, he felt something, stretch out before him. It was the feeling you got when you played a grand and expansive game. It reminded him of good times with his friends. "My friends..." Dante turned to Virgil only to see he had gone.

"Virgil!" Once more mana flowed out of him and formed into Virgil. Before he could even ask his question, Virgil answered it. "Apologies the duration of the skill ran out for the mana expended."

Dante looked at his status again.

Strength

Resources

Total

Regen.

Constitution/Vitality

Health

212

(11.3/min)

Endurance

Mana

228

(6.6/min)

Dexterity

Stamina

332

(11.7/min)

Willpower

Road Points

Intellect

Stat Points

Wisdom

Charisma

Luck

Perception

Spirit

He looked at the six stat points and then placed the 9 Rp needed into the Road of the Wizard I. Notices came for every second Rp in the Road.

Many seek out magic to gain power over others. You seek magic for it burns in your heart. +5 mana...

You tread this path in search of things known already to you. +2 Wisdom, +1 Intellect...

You feel yourself growing closer to a breakthrough. +3 Intellect...

The words are coming to you but there are still pieces missing. +2 Wisdom...

The words are on the tip of your tongue. You already know your first spell. Speak it...

Once more felt his feet walking. A longer Road than the one before, stretching out before him. It wanted him to speak a spell? Dante looked at Virgil still smiling his warm smile. It felt good to have friends. He thought of his college friends and D&D.

Dante thought of his parents. Of the love they had for each other as well as him. He remembered all they had given him. He was grateful, and with those pleasant memories, and joy in his heart, he found he did know the spell.

"And on the first day, the lord saw fit to say, "Let there be LIGHT!"

As Dante spoke he reached down to touch his new socks. This spell gave him a different feeling that when he summoned Virgil. He knew why. Where summoning Virgil required his own mana, this was different. Light is a cantrip that requires no mana from the user. Instead it draws its mana from the environment.

Dante watched as his socks seemed to soak in the light emanating from his hands. The socks began to glow, but oddly each strip of color on the socks glowed emanating a light of its own color. "Very interesting." He stated as he observed the effect for a moment. More notices came.

Congratulations! You have completed the Road of the Wizard I!...

+2 Int, +1 Wis, +50 Mana

"Wow. 55 points into Mana! That's more than 5 points in Intellect that i don't have to spend. Thank you very much." He said as he checked his status. Upon reviewing it, he decided to invest some points into his stats. 10 into Constitution, 3 into Intellect, and 2 into wisdom.