This time, it only took a moment for Aira to grasp the connection. Once again, she sensed how much the System had changed the whole reality for her. The level boosts for her base stats were there again, influencing every aspect of her being. Energized, she jumped to her feet and, in one step, approached Lila. The green-haired woman looked in awe at her, raising her hands to protect her head.
But all Aira did was hug Lila again. With a soft growl, of course.
Then, she moved her chair closer to Lila and placed the tablet before them.
========== Character Status and Skill Overview ==========
Name: Aira
Race: Undead
Class: Necrokinetic Enforcer
Level: 100
Strength: ??? [(Base Stat + Level) 1.5]
Agility: ??? [(Base Stat + Level) / 3]
Intelligence: ??? [(Base Stat + Level) / 2]
Endurance: ??? [(Base Stat + Level) 1.5]
--- Skills ---
1. Mana Energy Manipulation (Level 9 / 3000 SP to upgrade to Level 10)
- Description: Allows the user to control and manipulate raw mana for various effects, including enhancing physical attacks, creating barriers, and channeling spells.
- Current effects influenced by the System of this world.
- Ambient Energy: Manipulate ambient energy for advanced offensive and defensive purposes
- Boost Agility: Enhance agility and other energy-related attributes of a target.
- Detect and interpret energy signatures from vast distances.
Maximum distance: [1.5 km x Character Level] = 150
Maximum number of targets: [Skill Level x Character Level] = 900
Mana Cost: ??? / Varies
--- New Skill(s) Available ---
[None]
--- Current Status ---
Health: 103/555
Mana: ???/???
SP Used: 61,694
SP Available: 5,657
XP: 67,351,000 / 69,141,000 (Next Level: 101, Legendary)
--- Active Quests ---
1. ???
2. ???
Aira's fingers trembled as she navigated the interface, taking in the stark changes. She had to accept her new reality. At least for now. But the mere accessibility of the System menu provided some hope. It even hinted that the quest subroutine still worked. In a way.
***
"What does it say?" asked Lila, looking at the tablet. "I can't understand a thing."
Aira grabbed the so familiar slateboard. "I've been studying your language for quite a while now," she wrote. "Maybe it's time for you to study mine?"
"Stars above, you really didn't speak our language in the beginning? You mean to say you really had no idea what anyone was jabbering about at first?" asked Lila.
"Did you think I was just trying to mislead you?" replied Aira. "No, I really am from far away. Far far away."
"But how did you end up here?" asked Lila.
"I'd like to know that too..." wrote Aira. "But that's a long story. It's hard for me to write for too long."
"Anyway, you evaded my question. What does it say?" asked Lila.
"It shows me information about my abilities," wrote Aira. "Including some numbers. You see, these are the digits. Here's 100, that's my level. And that's 555, it's my maximum health. You should probably learn the numbers first. It has to be easier."
"Oh, wow!" said Lila. "Did you notice that you wrote much faster than before? Never thought I'd say it, but pen and paper might be next for you. Maximum health, though? What in all the lands does that even mean? Who thinks of health like it's a bucket of apples?"
"Do you have paper and a pen? Maybe a blank journal I could use?" asked Aira. "And while you are looking for them, I'll write an explanation."
"Don't freak out. I can use magic," she continued while Lila checked her shelves for a blank notebook. "I guess it should sound bizarre for a person in a world where magic doesn't exist. Or, at least, in a community that doesn't have access to magic. However, one of the aspects of my arcane powers is that they manifest to me and other mages through the System. As you see on this tablet, I can access information about my progress and current status. At least, I was able to see it before. Now, it's limited and garbled. And not all of my skills seem to be there. But that's the short explanation."
After Lila read everything, Aira wiped the text and wrote another line: "And I guess it would be safer for us not to keep this information for anyone else to see."
"But you didn't have these... powers when we found you, right?" asked Lila. "Otherwise, you'd just kill all of us on the spot, right?"
Aira spread her hands and then shrugged as if to say it could be a reasonable consideration.
"Yeah, I saw you this morning," said Lila grimly. "Our small patrol wouldn't have a chance. Even if some of us had guns."
She took a moment to think. "So, what has changed?" she asked. "You didn't have your... magic before. But you have it now. And you obviously had your powers earlier today. What is different?"
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
"I sense something within this tablet... this gadget," wrote Aira. "I can connect with it."
Lila stood up abruptly and started pacing around her kitchen. "This is insane. I'm just going mad," she exclaimed. "Magic, you say? Well, bite my boots!" she slapped herself on the forehead. "And here I was thinking 'undead' and 'fairy tales' went hand in hand. Next, you'll be telling me all of you can fly since the Fall."
"Sorry, I don't know anything about the other undead," wrote Aira. "I told you, I'm... not from this area."
"Are the undead different in that place where you came from?" asked Lila. "Where is that place, anyway?"
"It is far away," wrote Aira. "Really far away. It's hard to explain. And it will demand a lot of writing to tell you the full story. Let's table it for now, OK?"
"We still don't have a real answer about your magic," said Lila. "If you can do magic only when you have this tablet in your hands, how did you attack Garrick this morning? By the way, can you show me some of your magic? But not the killing sort, if that's even an option!"
"That, I don't know," wrote Aira. "About Garrick, I mean. As for the magic, let me think what I can do. It's different here, in this world. I may need to improvise."
"This world?!?" shouted Lila, turning on the spot. "Elder's beard! Are you serious right now?!? By starlight, don't tell me there's a whole realm full of folk like you brewing tea with magic powers."
***
It took Aira some time to calm Lila down. Especially as, for some reason, the woman didn't accept her soft growls as soothing sounds. Eventually, they sat back at the table next to each other and picked up their already cold cups of tea.
Aira took the tablet in one hand and tried to sense the energy paths around them, like she did in the morning, during the execution. The whole process reminded her of mana manipulation in some minute ways. However, simultaneously, it was different, and she had to relearn the delicate operation of the skill from scratch.
She sensed plenty of sources of energy around her, from their bodies to a plant that grew on one of the window sills of Lila's house to the street lamps that were lighted when the darkness blanketed the town.
Slowly, Aira pulled the power from the street lights and some more from the plant, trying to see what came easier and probing where to apply it next.
The energy flowed towards her and demanded an outlet. So, Aira pushed it towards the first thing she saw in front of her: the cup Lila held in her hands. Slowly warming it up.
Lila yelped, almost dropping the vessel out of her hands and grasping it tight only at the last moment. Still, at least half of the warmed-up tea spilled out on the table and Lila's clothes.
Aira grabbed the journal Lila found for her and scribbled: "Sorry! But you asked me to show you my magic."
"Alrighty! So, I walked into that one!" said Lila with a weak smile. "Do you care to explain?"
"How did I warm up your tea?" wrote Aira. "It's magic! And we'll have to burn this page from your notebook to protect this secret."
"No, stupid!" said Lila. "The fact that the magic is different in this world. Does that mean that you are from a different world?"
"Ah, this..." wrote Aira. "Yes, it was a surprise for me as well. I didn't know about other worlds before I was transported here. I don't know how. I don't know why. It just happened one day. When I was ready to celebrate a major achievement, by the way. But again, it's a long story. Right now, we need to figure out what to do next."
"Arrrgh..." growled Lila. "I have so many questions, and I'm not getting enough answers!"
"You tell me!" wrote Aira, drawing a smiley face beside her text. "That's my life since the day you found me."
"Never mind, you are right," said Lila. "We need to get out of the town. You told me this gadget gives you your power. Did you have a chance to test the other gadgets? Do they have the same effect on you?"
"No, I haven't tried," wrote Aira. "I passed out if you remember."
Lila threw a wristband gadget to Aira. "All of us rangers use them," she said. "They allow us simple communication and store some of the information we need on patrols. Like schedule or our routes. And you even got a couple of spares from Garrick, that bastard! Try it on."
Aira caught the device and put it on her wrist. And even after she put the tablet aside, she felt the same energy pulsing within the new gadget. She didn't lose the connection!
Aira pushed her senses deeper, focusing on the small appliance. There was something else there, hidden inside. She closed her eyes as if she was preparing for her meditation. And there they were, the glowing letters appeared in the darkness before her.
--- Current Status ---
Health: 273/555
Mana: ???/???
SP Used: 61,694
SP Available: 5,657
XP: 67,351,000 / 69,141,000 (Next Level: 101, Legendary)
Aira opened her eyes, and the text remained where it should be, floating right in front of her in her vision. It was as if Aira had never left her homeworld, and nothing had changed. However, as soon as she removed the gadget from her wrist, the letters disappeared.
"So?..." asked Lila.
"It works," Aira wrote. "It gives me the same access as the tablet. Maybe even more. Please give me a moment to explore it."
Aira put the wristband back on her hand, closed her eyes again, and focused on the connection. The System was there. As soon as she had one of these gadgets on her body, she could feel her power returning, improving all of her stats. Even if they weren't shown to her explicitly at the moment, the difference was undeniable.
Still, why the question marks? And what was happening with the hidden quests? Without guidance, how would she even know what to do and where to go?
But the worst part wasn't even the hidden stats or quests. She had only one skill left!
Aira spent years gaining levels. That was the source of the nineteen out of her thirty skills. The hundredth level should have provided another one for her, the twentieth. But this opportunity was obviously lost in transit.
The other eleven skills? She had to pay dear for them with her money, time, and blood. Finding a quest that provided a skill as a reward, not just mere XP, was rare. But she did that because she was so focused on getting to the Legendary level as soon as possible.
And now everything was lost!
Moreover, her Mana Manipulation somehow transformed into what...? Energy Manipulation? That was obviously the reason she had these new sensations. That's why she was quite literally able to play with fire. And the connection to these gadgets also had to be related to that skill.
Lila realized that Aira needed some space and went to wash the cups. Aira had to touch her to bring her attention to her notepad.
"Bones and Bark!" Lila exclaimed. "You spooked me!"
"Before we do anything," Aira's text said, "I have one more question for you. Why do you even consider helping me? A filthy undead? Or how else have Garrick and your fellow townsfolk called me this morning?"