'Could do the philosophers road, that will definitely get me over 100 wisdom... But something tells me that I should get luck to 100 first if possible. I got telekinesis when Int got to 100. I wonder what I will get when Luck reaches 100?' He pondered a moment.

'I want to see how things here will react to me walking a road so the best beat is probably Beginner's Magic II. Here goes nothing.' He thought as he put 25 points into the road.

You look upon the world and see the mundane made from the arcane, but can the arcane be made from the mundane? +2 Per, Int, Wis...

Congratulations! Your Perception has reached 100!

Analyzing statistics...

Calculating outcome...

You are awarded the Uncommon Semi-Passive skill, Eagle's Sight Lvl. 1!...

Eagle's Sight- You blink and see the world in a whole new light. Grants the user the sight of an eagle. Allows the user to perceive the world in a greater array of colors, including the ultraviolet and microwave light spectrums. The effective range of your sight increases slightly per level of this skill. Base cost: 5 mana, stamina per second. +5 Per, +3 Cha per skill level...

Notice! You have acquired a skill that requires the modifications to parts of your anatomy, being your eyes and brain...

Modifications will not change who you are but allow you to better utilize the new skill...

Health regen will be quartered for 6 hour as the modifications are made...

'That is mildly concerning. Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that the system can or would do this kind of thing. Why does the skill give me Charisma? I wonder how this is going to turn out.' Dante thought as he watched the road text continue.

You have but dipped your toes into the world of magic and yet already you have discovered your first Arcane and Holy cantrips. +3 Int, Luck...

You have collected tomes, growing your own personal library, and made it a goal to learn much about the world you now find yourself in. +2 Wis +4 Spirit...

Scholar I Road has opened to you...

With every spell, every self taught lesson, you feel the bounds of possibility receding. +6 Luck...

With every step you get a little closer to a breakthrough...

Recalculating...

The system wishes to grant you advice in place of further rewards on this road...

Will you accept?

He felt the familiar sensation of walking, a step for every point he invested. A little bit of possibility to carry him forth.

He remembered remaking Light and Dancing lights. He remembered how it felt to wield magic. Deep inside he felt something expand just a bit. Felt something beneath his skin, almost like static and then it faded.

The next notice called his mind back. He remembered the magic fridges and drink dispensers downstairs. For all magics, it could certainly make life easier. Once more he felt something, multiple things within himself grew just a bit. His vision grew just a little sharper. His mind expanded just a little more.

As he read the third notice the feeling changed. No longer was the ground smooth and undefinable material, but felt like smooth wooden boards.

His progress halted, the system awaiting his decision.

He read the lines once, then twice, then a third.

"Um... Virgil?" Dante spoke haltingly, drawing Virgil's attention.

"Yes Dante what seems to be..." But the words died in his throat as he read the notice.

"Virgil, what does this mean other than the obvious?" He asked, caught off guard by the sudden situation he found himself in.

Virgil on the other hand laughed and clapped.

"This is glorious news! Dante, you must accept this opportunity and not let it slip away from you!" Virgil exclaimed in his excitement, only causing Dante to slowly edge away from him on the bed.

He couldn't immediately think of Virgil ever being this excited.

'Well, he is my guide. He hasn't fucked me over so far. How big of an increase could I be losing out on? 10-15 points? Advice from the system actually sounds like it could be really helpful.' He thought for a moment before something caught his eye out the window.

'Why does it look...' He began thinking as he stepped over to the window and looked out then up. Within seconds he had torn open the door and raced outside to gaze up at the sky.

There written upon the sky of this place was a single line, a question.

Will you accept?

This little world of his was bathed in the faint golden light that emanated from those colossal words. To him it seemed almost like a perfect fall day.

But here in this place, he realized...

...there was no sun.

Virgil watched the sky in wonder from the doorway of the hobbit house. After a moment, they both locked eyes and the decision was reached.

"I accept"

To him it wasn't much.

To other's it was the world.

Those golden letters that filled the sky vanished and for a moment nothing happened.

He heard something, but where was it coming from?

He heard the echoing of many voices, and in a blink of his eyes the world changed once more.

----------------------------------------

Now he stood in what seemed to be a grand lecture hall. All around him he saw men and women in robes.

Some green, some blue, some red, some yellow...no, gold.

He stood at the front watching the hustle and bustle of...students?

Something felt off, like he shouldn't be here.

He saw multiple species standing in groups, sitting at desks, walking around.

Many were human, others were people with scales, people with fur, some even with horns.

"Um hello can you...Hello? Hello!" Dante tried once, twice, thrice but no one paid him any mind.

He reached out to grasp a man on his shoulder only for him to grab nothing but air.

He was too busy trying to get someone's attention to notice the man walking up behind him.

Dante shuddered as the man passed through him, as if he were...

"Am I a ghost? Like a shadow in this place. Or is it that I am real and this place is but a shadow?" He questioned aloud drawing no attention, none that he saw.

+1 Rp into the Philosopher's road...

He stared at that notice for a long few seconds before he turned, hearing someone walk into the hall through a side door.

As he turned around he saw what he assumed to be the professor standing at the podium at the front of the class. He was an older looking gentleman, with thin salt and pepper hair.

"Good morning class. I am your professor *(^*^(*(^*( and I shall be your instructor for *(^*&^*^%&^$. Today we shall be discussing ^*(^&*(^*(^(*%."

As he listened, some of the words failed to translate.

But why?

"Now, as wizards it is often said that we try to understand magic. To quantify it. All that we may reach greater heights. This is all true for the most part, BUT!..." The professor exclaimed, giving a momentary pause for effect.

"...it's far too often that we forget that magic is more than a cause to an effect. More than a tool to be wielded. For you see magic itself is alive in a way. It has its own whims and desires. We seek to understand magic, but sometimes to reach greater heights we need only allow magic to understand us. If you will turn to page 567 of your text books you will see a first hand account of One Archmage Flatt. Flatt is best known for his many innovations in the field of magic. But we shall discuss those things later in the semester. For now you will note that Archmage Flatt often created little tunes to help in his spell creation. Quite literally singing his spells into existence...Yes you have a question?" The professor paused, seeing a young woman raising her hand.

"Could we see an example of this singing spell creation? I thought the creation of spells always required years of effort or the assistance of outside entities."

--------------------------

The world fell away revealing that he was standing in a dark gray room.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

'I guess the lesson is over. How funny, Archmage Flatt. Reminds me of Erick from Arcs.' he thought for a moment as he ran over what he had just learned in his mind. Only then did he hear the cough.

*Ahem*

Dante looked about the blank space only to see a single man still standing, staring at him.

The professor.

"Hello child, I see the system is giving another new wizard a little push in the right direction. Did you enjoy my lesson?"

Dante was too stunned to speak, what the fuck was going on, who was this guy?

"Ah I see that I might have startled you, my apologies..." the man took a step towards Dante and suddenly he was right in front of him.

A hand reached out and grasped him by his shoulder. He looked into the man's eyes as they seemed to stare into him. Through him.

His eyes weren't a set color. They were always shifting, patterns emerging and falling away.

The man smiled as he reached up and for a moment the mask he wore, the guise of the professor, was pulled back.

He lowered the mask for a second, revealing his face. A face made of light and magic.

It was indescribable, this being was formless and yet they stood together in this place.

In that moment he felt he was staring upon the face of magic. With each second that passed, each second he looked into that light, he felt magic grow a little more clear to him.

"We will meet again Dante, someday..." spoke the being, his voice echoing into eternity.

For a moment he felt that door in the back of his mind open allowing a bit of light to pour in before it closed once more.

Congratulations! You have completed the Beginner's Magic II Road!...

A god of magic has smiled upon you!

You are offered the opportunity to learn 3 cantrips and 6 first level spells free of charge...

To accept this offer please proceed to the nearest Mages guild, there someone will assist you obtaining a level in the Wizard class...

With a blink Dante returned to his soul space. He saw a flash out of the corner of his eye coming from the small hobbit house.

As he stepped inside past Virgil he noticed two things had changed.

Virgil watched from the doorway, taking it all in with Dante.

The first thing he noticed was that there was a fine looking wooden desk next to the wall, opposite the door where there had been none previously. It was bigger than a desk you might find in a modern school but not quite as big as a fridge turned on its side. On each side of the desk it had two small and one large drawer. Opening each drawer revealed them to be empty.

On the desk were a small stack of...parchment paper? As well as a quill and ink pot.

Laughing a little he picked up the quill and ink pot.

"Little old fashioned don't you think? What about a pen?" No sooner had he said it than they both began to glow. For a second they flashed forcing him to look away, but when he looked back they were gone and a large pen sat in a holder on the desk.

"Now, that's more like it! Thanks...whoever you...are?" Dante exclaimed with a small bit of amusement, before beginning to contemplate the implications of what just happened.

Turning away from the desk towards the door he noticed that the bookshelf also had changed.

Where once it looked ramshackle, it now looked like a properly made book shelf. In addition he saw several new books adorning its shelves.

But upon closer inspection, all the new books were blank. Dante frowned a bit disappointed by that.

Although his recently purchased book were still filled with text waiting to be read.

"Well at least I can use them for notes." He said as he replaced the book he was holding upon the book shelf.

He smiled as he opened his status for a moment.

He has several stats fairly close to 100, hell his wisdom only needed 1 point. But, still that nagging feeling told him he needed to wait on it.

Raise up his luck, raise...his spirit?

He didn't understand why, like something you can't remember but still it holds sway.

'If I'm going to get a skill then maybe I should raise Spirit first? But is this the optimal way to distribute stats? Is there even really an optimal route, and if so should I even try it?' He paused as another notice appeared briefly.

+1 Rp into the Philosopher's road...

'I suppose that could be a good sign that this debate actually has some merit...'

21 points went to Luck.

Congratulations! You Luck has reached 100!...

Fortune smiles upon you!...

"Well I suppose I'll just go fuck myself then! What the fuck does that even mean!" Dante bellowed he held his face in his hands.

Why was he so angry? Why did he feel so conflicted? What the fuck was he forgetting?

After a few seconds he felt Virgil's hand upon his shoulder. Looking towards him he spoke.

"Any idea what this means Virgil? Any idea what is wrong with me right now?" He asked restraining the emotions that had been surging seconds ago.

"I wish I could tell you Dante." Was his reply, his expression matching his voice in genuine concern and something else he couldn't quite place.

For a long few seconds they stood together unmoving before Dante took a deep breath. Or was it even air he was breathing.

+1 Rp into the Philosopher's road...

He couldn't help but laugh just a little at having a road that actually responded to these kinds of thoughts.

He placed one point into Wisdom.

Congratulations! Your Wisdom has reached 100!...

Calculating...

Then the earlier message repeated.

Fortune smiles upon you!...

You are awarded a moment of Inspiration!...

He felt that familiar door in the back of his mind open but nothing came forth. Instead he felt an inexorable pull as the world moved around him.

For a brief second he saw an open doorway that lead to darkness and then he was through.

He found himself standing in small room, not much larger than 10 feet in width and length, and about 8 feet tall.

It was dark save for the light that came through the still open doorway.

No sooner has he thought that though did the doors slam shut and he was adrift in an ocean of golden light.

The waters spoke to him. He felt lost.

They spoke without words but still he understood. He could find many things here, he need only make a decision.

What could be found here...

Skills...

Knowledge...

The answers to a question...

He felt a great weight pressing down on him even as he tried to stay afloat.

All at once a wave rose up and washed over him, immersing him within the liquid light.

He was so tired from his day of training. His eyes began to drift closed. The world was spinning.

His mind was scattered. He felt like a spider whose web had been cut from its place and was now at the mercy of the wind.

He took a breath and found he could, relief flooding him. He was so tired and still he was being pushed and pulled ever further down.

He just wanted to sleep. But then he remembered the books, the quest. He still had to read them.

For a moment he felt as if the answers to innumerable questions were at his fingertips.

He wanted to sleep but he had to read. To sleep or to read.

Sleep...

Read...

Then it came to him.

Dante blinked as he found himself once more standing before the hobbit house.

"EUREKA!" He exclaimed as threw his hands into the air, balling them into fists all in a symbolic gesture of victory. Virgil took a step back in surprise.

Congratulations! You have obtained the Rare, Semi-Passive skill, Soulful Rest Lvl. 1...

A glorious blue box greeted him.

Soulful Rest

Through a moment of Inspiration you have discovered how to allow your mind to operate within your Soul space independent of your body. Allows users mind to enter their soul space while entering a sleeping state. Small increase to all regens per level of the skill.

Skill may be disrupted due to disturbances from within or from outside the user's soul space. Disturbances include but are not limited to, excessive mental strain, taking damage, or being otherwise shaken awake. Increasing the skill level will allow for greater freedom of actions for the user to perform whilst maintaining Soulful Rest.

Unless toggled off, Soulful Rest will always trigger when the user sleeps. Will trigger automatically when certain conditions are applied to the user.

Then the strain hit him.

Warning you have exceeded....

"Fucking god damn it!" Dante said eliciting a laugh and a slap on the back from Virgil.

"Congratulations on the new skill. A moment of Inspiration? That was very interesting, though I was not able to experience it with you. And you managed it without getting naked, Archimedes would be proud." Virgil said as they both heard something and looked upon the sky.

There four large cracks appeared forming an X shape spreading outward from the apex of the dome high above them.

"Jesus Christ is that what going over your soul capacity looks like in here?" Dante asked and he watched the domed sky in horror.

"Yep, the cracks get worse the more you go over your capacity, and the more of the skill is over. You're 5.3 points over by the way." Virgil said in voice of measured mirth.

Looking at his status he saw he had 5 stat points and 17 Rp.

He though of putting the points into the Philosopher's road but seeing as his mental and metaphysical stats were gaining a sizable lead on his physical stats he thought it best to choose one of the physical roads.

Roads

Planar Traveler I

0/50

Psion I

0/50

Philosopher I

7/25

Physical Improvement I

0/50

Road of the Athlete I

0/50

Risk Taker I

0/250

Scholar I

0/25

15 points went to the Physical Improvement I road.

You are a man of magic and books yet you have trained hard to raise your physical stats and skills. +1 Int, Wis, +2 to all physical stats....

Looking upon the notice he felt static race across his skin and through him.

"Spirit you're up." He said, 11 points went to Spirit.

Congratulations! Your Spirit has exceeded 100!...

The Sage I road has opened to you...

You are found to possess an inventory...

Inventory size has been increased from 1x1x1 cubic meters to 2x2x2 cubic meters...

Inventory has been partitioned into Slots, due to highly increased size...

Please consult your system guide for additional information...

Each slot’s size will be 1 cubic meter...

You now possess 8 inventory slots of 1 cubic meter!...

Soul space is experiencing a period of rapid growth!...

'What the hell?' He thought as he looked upon the sky once more. The cracks that had been there now gone as the sky began to move.

He watched in awe and splendor as the dome that formed the sky receded. He could feel this place growing by the second.

"Beautiful is it not?" Virgil stated as he appeared next to Dante.

"Yes it is." He stated as he stood and watched the edge of this place race outward giving him more space to work with.

After a moment things seemed to settle and the sky no longer seemed to move.

'How much bigger did this place just get? Fuck I really should go explore this place.' he thought and watched as the notices resume.

Calculating additional rewards...

Checking player status...

Players possess Wisdom of 100...

Recalculating...

Expanding status checker...

Health and Stamina exceeding 2,000...

Mana nearing 4,000...

No regenerations exceeding 200...

Recalculating...

Checking player skills...

Reviewing player data...

He felt the change before the notice even appeared. He felt that door in the back of his mind open, but this was not a raging torrent. No he looked upon this small world of his and felt a gentle breeze. Felt a peace settle over him

You have obtained the Rare semi-active skill, Meditation Lvl 1...

Meditation

Allows users to enter into a focused and restful state, increasing regen for Physical stats by 1% per skill level. Increases regen for non-physical stats by 2% per level. Mild increase to all resources and regens per skill level.

Meditation while under mental debuffs can help to alleviate the conditions.

Users may be knocked out of meditative state due to disturbances. Increasing the skill level will allow for greater freedom of actions for the user to perform whilst maintaining meditation.

+5 Wis, +10 Spirit per skill level...

"Tomorrow I need to train up my physical stats...Now that I think about it I should also look for an Alchemist guild or something." He said as he picked up the geology book and began reading.

It was about an hour later that he finished the 10 pages and received todays reward distribution.

+100 exp, +1 large silver...