“Umm it looks like you may have leveled up…” she said with a bit of surprise in her voice.

“Level up? What do you mean? What are you seeing?”

“I have a skill that allows me to see more information about you and so I used it. It has some sort of tier system that ranks how sharp or durable you are. But it also says you’re level two, and you have an upgrade available.”

“I don’t think that is possible human.”

“I think it is...here let’s try it out.” Kass glanced around and remembered she was standing in a puddle of blood in the middle of a cavern next to two dead bodies. “Actually hold on, I’ve got to get us somewhere safer.”

She moved out of the blood and over to a couple rocks near the wall that she thought would at least keep her hidden from sight and give her a little bit of protection if she needed it. “Okay, here we go.” She focused on the option to upgrade the sword and a book materialized in front of her. It was a different book she noticed. Not the same rune covered one she was used to seeing. This one was smaller and seemed to be made of pure silver.

It opened by itself a moment later and revealed a few bits of information. Kass read through it.

Upgrades Available for Whisper

Weight Adjustment - Allows for a slight change in weight

Magic Sheath - Summons a sleeve to store and protect the blade

Annealing - Increases Durability +1

Select One

“Yeah I was right, you totally have an upgrade available. Let’s see it says we can adjust your weight slightly, or we can summon a magic sheath to put you in, or...annealing? Says it increases your durability.”

“I did not know this was possible. Incredible.”

“So what one do you think we should do?”

“I think the choice is rather obvious. With you wielding me it would take a magic sheath to keep you from injuring yourself.” Whisper answered in a completely serious tone.

“Oh I see how it is. Fine. That’s the one I wanted anyways. But really, you sure about that? These are your upgrades, not mine.”

“Quite sure, thank you. You are my wielder, and without you I am just a piece of metal. Useless really.”

“Well when you put it that way…” she said. “Alright here goes it.”

Kass mentally selected the magic sheath option and confirmed it. The book slapped shut and spun twice before disappearing into nothingness as soon as she did and soon Whisper was aglow with a purple light. The light traveled up and down the blade, almost as if it were a part of it, and then, the light flashed brightly and then vanished, revealing a beautiful scabbard.

It was made of the same dark metal the blade was, with a hint of royal purple that seemed to move like a ribbon in the wind down the length of the sleeve. It glimmered in the light of Kass’ orb, reflecting some of the light as she looked at it.

“It’s beautiful...and hey, look!” she noticed the thin cord that was connected to the sheath at the top and bottom, running her hand down the interlocking pieces of metal. “Now I can carry you better.” She swung the sword around her back and placed the cord over her head. It rested neatly upon her right shoulder and held the blade in place. It was perfect.

She noticed the tight fit and figured the magic of it all knew what size she would be. “I love it! This is amazing! Holding onto you while running in the dark was way too hard, I’m really surprised I didn’t kill myself doing that…”

“I believe you almost did…”

“Rolling while in battle doesn’t count. I had to get out of the way somehow…”

“Indeed. Now tell me, did you choose the hero classification?”

“I did, bu-”

“Excellent choice young warrior.”

“No, no, you got it wrong. I tried to pick it, I really did. But then it said that I couldn’t because of the Primal Demon my soul is bound to…”

“You had the option, surely you could accept it when it was available to you. Are you certain?”

“Yeah I tried accepting it a few times but I was in a hurry...and so I chose what I thought was my best option at the time…”

“Which was?”

“I chose Vagabond? That’s good right? It seems pretty good from what I’ve seen.”

“Interesting. This class in unknown to me. Did you at least receive a skill? And a few bonuses to stats?”

“Yeah, I thought it was really good. I got three skills- oh plus another skill that I still have to choose, and I got a lot of stat bonuses.”

“Four skills. Impressive. Of what quality are they?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just like with items or classes, skills have rarities too.”

“Oh I don’t know, it doesn’t say.”

“Hmm...the next time you look, focus on wanting to know that information. It should change according to your desires.”

“Yeah okay, I’ll do that right now. Why does it matter anyways?”

“Rarity generally affects the potential power of, well, everything. It determines many things and so is considered very important when making a decision.”

“So basically whatever is behind all of these pages of information is basically making a decision for you? Doesn’t seem right to be given an option and then always choose the rarer one…”

“Some may see it like that, but even though you know the potential of something doesn’t always make it the better choice. Every skill can be useful in its own way.”

“Yeah I guess you’re right. Still doesn’t make any sense. Then again none of this does.” She sat there for a moment and then called for her book to appear. She navigated to the page that listed each of her skills and focused on wanting to know the rarity of each. New text appeared.

Skills

Illuminate

Level 1

Common

Active - 2 mana per minute

Range: 20 yards

Create a small sphere of light.

Identify

Level 1

Rare

Active - No cost

Allows you to gain more information about identifiable objects.

Dash

Level 1

Uncommon

Active - 50 Mana per use

Range: 5 yards

When used, allows you to move quickly to a desired location.

Skill Available

Class Tree Now Available

“You were right, it says I have one rare skill, one uncommon, and one listed as common. Is that good?”

“To have a rare skill to start out with is good, yes. As long as it is useful to you.”

“It’s Identify, the one I used to inspect you. It also gave me a little bit of information about those beasts I was fighting. I think it’s pretty good. The other two are illuminate and dash, I think I got pretty lucky to be honest.”

“What of your new skill?”

“Let’s see”

New Skills Available

Barrier - Level 1- Uncommon - Absorbs a small amount of physical damage.

Obscure - Level 1 - Uncommon - Become harder to spot for a short duration.

Tribute - Level 1- Rare - Sacrifice health to heal others.

Select One

“I’ve got another rare option but I don’t think it will help me at all because it’s for healing others...with my own health…”

“Probably not a good idea for you.”

“You can say that again…”

“It’s probably not a good idea for you.”

“No no, I didn’t mean actually say it...it’s an expression...like an idiom, you know? No? Oh well forget it. So should I choose Barrier or Obscure as my next skill?”

“Often I am reminded that you are from another world Kassandra. You are not like most people. Well, most people a thousand years ago… As before, you should decide for yourself.”

“You said that last time but totally tried to talk me into picking the Hero class, don’t deny it. I could totally tell. You just have a lot more experience with this type of stuff than I do.”

“Knowledge is different than experience, but I understand your hesitation. Both options seem plausible. You decide.”

Kass noticed the sword skip completely over the accusation she made and she just shook her head. It was probably in his best interest, and mine. She wasn’t mad at Whisper for wanting her to choose what it thought was the best class, she would have done the same in his position.

“Well I think Barrier would probably be the best since Obscure seems to only give me a chance to be harder to spot, and it says it only lasts for a short time. Do you agree?”

“Yes.”

“Well that was easier than I thought it would be. Why do I feel like I’m signing an important document without thinking it over for a day or two?”

Kass focused on the skill and confirmed her decision, then waited for the new information to appear.

Skills

Illuminate

Level 1

Common

Active - 2 mana per minute

Range: 20 yards

Create a small sphere of light.

Identify

Level 1

Rare

Active - No cost

Allows you to gain more information about identifiable objects.

Dash

Level 1

Uncommon

Active - 50 Mana per use

Range: 5 yards

When used, allows you to move quickly to a desired location.

Barrier

Level 1

Uncommon

Active - 100 mana per use

Range: Self

Creates an ablative shield that envelopes your body, protecting you from physical damage.

Skill Available

Class Tree Now Available

“It sounds pretty good, but it takes a lot of mana. Hey wait...it says another skill is available? Is that a mistake?”

“I fail to see why this would be a mistake.”

“Well I just figured since I just chose one I shouldn’t have another already.”

“What level are you?”

“Umm 57?”

“Hmm, this could mean a new skill every milestone. Indeed powerful if this is the case.”

“Huh, well let’s check it out I guess.”

The new page appeared and Kass read the options out loud.

New Skills Available

Heightened Senses - Level 1 - Uncommon - Passive - Increases awareness with each level.

Overcharge - Level 1 - Rare - Passive - Increase damage done by spells by a static 12.5%. Spell cost increases by a static 25%.

Renewal - Level 1 - Uncommon - Passive - If damaged, heal for a portion of the damage done, in health, after reaching a safe location.

Select One

“I have a feeling this decision is going to be a lot harder.”

“It seems you have received powerful options, though I do not understand their correlation.”

“I was going to ask you that. What kind of skills are normal?”

“It all depends on the class. Each class generally receives skills that directly affect it. For you, however, it seems you receive an arbitrary set. I do not understand the benefits of this. You will acquire skills that do not complement each other.”

“Well what can I do about it?”

“Choose wisely.”

“Well no shit Sherlock…” she mumbled to herself.

Renewal will help me after a fight is over, but won’t do me any good during it...unless I am fighting back to back…

“What does it mean by safe location?”

“I would assume an area devoid of danger.”

“Right…”

Okay so that could come in handy. Overcharge sounds really good for extra damage and all, but I don’t have any spells, unless my light orb can kill something. If I chose that I would be gambling on getting some sort of spell later. Doesn’t seem like the best idea.

Heightened senses could be pretty good for me, but it doesn’t give very much information. Like by how much? Will I even notice a change at first?

“I don’t think I can make this decision. At least not right now.”

“Having another skill will increase your chances of survival.”

“I know, I know, but I have no idea which one will be the best for me.”

“Consider what will be most helpful in your survival now. If the circumstances were different, I would advise you to think towards the future, but this cannot be. It is difficult to plan for the future when you might not survive the present.”

“That means I shouldn’t take Overcharge, even though it sounds amazing...so now that just leaves more awareness or healing after battle. Any suggestions?”

“One would help you not get hurt as often while the other would heal you when you do get hurt. Both viable options.”

“Yeah you’re no help. I’m leaning more towards awareness I think. But that healing though…” She remembered all the times she was injured and helpless in the last few days and almost chose Renewal then and there. No. You need to be stronger Kass, and to get stronger you need to fight. You’re done running. Extra awareness will help during the fight. That’s the one.

She made up her mind and selected Heightened Senses. She checked the new skill.

Skills

Illuminate

Level 1

Common

Active - 2 mana per minute

Range: 20 yards

Create a small sphere of light.

Identify

Level 1

Rare

Active - No cost

Allows you to gain more information about identifiable objects.

Dash

Level 1

Uncommon

Active - 50 Mana per use

Range: 5 yards

When used, allows you to move quickly to a desired location.

Barrier

Level 1

Uncommon

Active - 100 mana per use

Range: Self

Creates an ablative shield that envelopes your body, protecting you from physical damage.

Heightened Senses

Level 1

Uncommon

Passive - No cost

Increases awareness and reaction time.

Class Tree Now Available

Reaction time too? I totally would have chosen that if it would have told me! Stupid ass explanations…

“I chose the heightened senses. It gave me increased awareness as well as increased reaction time.”

“A sound decision human.”

“Alright let’s check out this class tree.”