No matter how hard I tried to make sense of the system notification, I just couldnt wrap my head around it. Since when did the system add ominous little comnts to its notifications? Was I missing sothing here?
Suffice it to say, I put off my decision until I got ho, where I discussed what I had been offered with my parents, who seed just as stumped as I was. Seeing no other option, I postponed the skill evolution until I had the chance to talk to soone of a higher tier. I couldve asked one of our guards, but I didnt trust them enough to share sothing that could land in a lot of trouble if I wasnt careful. As a result, I decided to ask Andros, Reitos guild master. He was tier 5 as well, and he probably knew how to navigate this issue.
From what I could tell, choosing a certain skill would make head down a certain path, none of which sounded like much fun on the surface. Despite all the attached nonsense, the skills practical effects were nothing to scoff at.
I could admit, for example, that [thod to madness] would be an imnse power boost to any spellcaster. I, however, had no relevant knowledge when it ca to spells. Apparently, you had to shape mana into a certain shape and in a certain way to get a certain effect, which would then translate into a spell. The mana would clump together and act as ordered.
Compared to skills, spells were rigid and inflexible. On the other hand, their major advantage was that they lacked many limits that skills seed to be restricted by such as distance, properties and even power. Spellcasting required imnse concentration and mana, but if done correctly, one could cross into the next tier seamlessly.
That all sounded good on paper, until you realised that most spells would never be recognised by the system, which ant that one had to learn new spells each tier, unlike skills that grew just as ones level did.
Few proper spellcasters were worth their salt, but those that reached high tiers were typically people of unparalleled knowledge and wealth.
This was everything Cerion had told , when I had asked him about spells and the like. I only took one thing away from his explanation, though. Spell casters preferred to get stronger by listening to lectures and reading books, rather than killing monsters by the thousands like the rest of us did.
Spellcasting had never been an option for from the start, though. My affinity made sure of that. [thod to madness] was a ground-breaking skill, but I wouldnt be the one to use it.
The next skill, [Crawling road], seed to have a fantastic practical effect. It would allow all of my skills to beco even more powerful in a clash, destabilising my opponents skills and spells on contact, bit by bit. Unfortunately, the bit about sharing pain seed a bit... morbid. I wasnt in any pain when using overloaded skills, thanks to Dark form. Maybe the system hadnt accounted for that? Did I need to be in pain to use the skill?
Not to ntion the skills title itself. [Crawling road]. Who knew what the skill would eventually turn into?
The final skill seed like the most unique of them all. Through sacrifice, I could give sentience to my mana? That seed useful, especially since the mana was loyal.
The added blurb seed the tast of the three as well, though I didnt like the correlation to liches, which beca immortal by separating their essence from their body.
There was only one issue. An obvious, glaring issue. Sacrifice. The sacrifice of what? Others? Myself? My morality? Helios forbid... my family? The risk that ca with this skill seed... enormous.
I retreated into my room and sat on my bed. Hoping to distract myself from these thoughts, I retreated into my ntal palace.
Appearing in the shoddy wooden shack, I didnt even bother looking outside and closed my eyes to ditate.
Ti passed.
-scene transition-
A week later, I left ho. The ti I had spent here the past few months had been... relieving? Was that the word? It had assuaged the fears that my last trial had left in my subconscious. Amber, Helios protect that little bundle of energy, had brought life into the house and had distracted us all from the past, where I had hardly had any ti for my parents.
I hadnt asked how they felt about that ti. I hadnt apologized. On so level, I was afraid of admitting that I had been wrong. I didnt want to sour what we had now for the sake of reopening old wounds, and Amber had done a thorough job keeping my parents occupied.
Most of all, I was happy they didnt ask how I felt, myself. I dont think I couldve answered honestly.
On a brighter note, my skills had finally grown enough to transform, which ant that I was a few days away from reaching tier 3. At this point, I could safely say I had done everything to get the best possible class, apart from tiering up my aura.
Thinking back on the strange skills I had been offered, I sighed. I simply had to choose within the next few days. I couldnt tier up with such a choice left blank.
I turned around and waved at two figures standing in the distance. My parents had refused to send off from the bakery. No, they needed to accompany as far as possible. Even now, mom was waving Ambers little arm herself, as if the little atball understood that I was leaving. Oh well. I would be back within a year at the latest, right? Young kids hardly made any mories at this point...
Now then. It was ti to leave. With my shiny tier 5 bracers and tier 4 sword equipped, as well as so well-worn pieces of armor, I headed off into the horizon. Next stop: Reito!
-scene transition-
As I walked through Reitos gates, I imdiately felt at ho among the citys familiar hustle and bustle. It had been a while since I had been here, after all. To keep my identity hidden, I kept my helt on as I made my way to the guild. I wasnt without enemies, and I didnt want to be mobbed by people who recognized from the tournant, either. For a mont, I wondered why I had even bothered with that blasted tournant, until I rembered that I could now actually use skills without fear of being hunted by the church or accused of necromancy. At least within Roa, I was safe to act as I wanted, within limits.
A few minutes later, I was stopped at the gates of the guildhall. Two guards that I recognised from way back were asking for my guild badge. I took it out and took off my helt as well, for good asure. The mont they saw my face, their eyes lit up and they started smiling. They patted my back like we were old friends and talked about how I had made the guild proud and how I had shown those noble bastards. I accepted their praise, but felt a little awkward at the forced interaction. Its not like I had gone there with those goals in mind after all.
Eventually, though, I was let into the guild masters office, where old man Andros waited for with a jubilant smile.
Arthur, my boy! Youve done us all proud! Rashid has been keeping up to date with your situation. I have to admit, it ca as a surprise when you ntioned you were taking a break. Hows the family? he asked with his usual vigour.
Good, thankfully. Little sister joined us a few months back, but apart from that Ive been spending my ti preparing for my class evolution. I answered patiently.
Ah right! Is it that ti already? Considering youre here now, are you going to attempt it? Are you sure youre ready for the trial?
Yes, well, about that...
I carefully explained my issue with my aura skill while Andros occasionally nodded. After hearing the entire story, Andros took a few minutes to think to himself. Eventually, he spoke.
Truthfully, I cant tell you much about this issue. As you know, there are certain types of skills that appear semi-frequently. Core skills, essence skills, and aura skills, just to na a few. I dont have an aura skill myself, so I cant say I understand what youre dealing with. However, there are two things I can share. First of all, Ive only encountered these notes twice. Both tis, they were involved with a rare title or item that I had acquired. The extra little blurb seems to imply so kind of history attached to the creation of the skill, but Im not sure what that entails... The other thing involves a friend of mine. He has an aura skill at tier 5. One ti, he told that auras are an expression of sothing. It involves so kind of reaction that the world has to you as a classer. In other words, auras are, by their very nature, an expression of its user. Maybe you should pick the skill that suits your personality the most? he explained.
It seed like a decent suggestion, though it ca with so difficulties when it ca to practical application.
[thod to madness] was dominant and turned mana into so kind of enslaved force. Sure, I acted overbearing sotis, but I didnt see that as sothing desirable.
[Part of the great sight] acted oppositely. It elevated mana to a godly status, literally placed the importance of mana over everything else that made us mortal, that made us human. This was exactly what I was trying to avoid with ntal palace.
Finally, [Crawling road] involved sharing pain with mana. I had no idea what kind of pain the skill was alluding to, but the ability to share, rather than give or take seed to fit better than the other two.
Andros interrupted my line of thought.
Should I send a letter to your uncle and the guild head? he asked.
...No. No, I dont think thatll be necessary... I muttered. In my heart, I had already made my decision.
A few minutes later, I was heading to the protected room that had been prepared for my class evolution.
As I walked down to the dungeon, I picked the skill I had settled on. My status screen updated before my eyes.
Na: Arthur Titles [Dark prodigy] Class: [Overloading Death Knight] LVL 50 Strength 304 Constitution 300 Dexterity 300 Intelligence 100 Wisdom 263 Affinity 599 Free stat points 0
Skills:
Passive:
[Overloading combustion core](0%), [Dark flow sight](4%), [Cascading mana-intrusive Swordsmanship](16%),
[ntal palace](N/A),[Dark Form](52%), [Crawling road](0%), [Weak mana sense](N/A),[Blackened essence(formative)](0%)
Active:
[Ghost apparation](21%), [Corrosive mark](3%), [Relentless orbs](4%), [Sword laser](1%), [Onyx chain wind](2%), [Aura step](49%)
[Crawling road] would be a long, winding path, no doubt. And yet, here I was, ready to take that first step.
Now, to finally reach tier 3.
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