“Hey Lois, you ok?” Jaden asked, nudging her sleeping form with his foot. He had been the first of the trio to wake up from the deep slumber of mana exhaustion. When she didn’t respond, he sighed, and flopped back down to the ground. Somehow, the party had been dropped somewhere else, away from the nexus and its milling humanity. Once again, the trio found themselves alone together. The waist-high grass, strangely pliant for straw, cushioned his fall nicely. Jaden sighed again, this time in comfort, as he pulled up his status screen.

*************************************

Jaden Harris

Max MP: 12

Free MP: 6/6 (50%)

Stats

Strength: 10 (0%)

Agility: 10 (0%)

Fortitude: 10 (0%)

Endurance: 10 (0%)

Charisma: 10 (0%)

Intelligence:16 (50%)

Magic Resistance: 10 (0%)

*all stats are rounded to the nearest whole number

Skills:

None

Jobs:

+Summoner Level 1

Titles:

None

Status effects:

None

*************************************

Jaden was silently grateful for the simplicity of the leveling system as he looked over the stats. Essentially, he only needed to use whatever attribute had a percentage of his mana in it, and he would gain progress equivalent to the mana used. From this, Jaden had determined that at least for now, a focused stat build would be the way to go. Luckily he could change the distribution of his mana whenever he wished.

Grumbling, Jaden sighed at how pitifully small his numbers were. According to Clip, the values, rather than being indicative of an exact number, were more like multipliers in the relevant area. To be exact, the formula was point one times his personal base value for the relevant attribute. As a result, anything that lacked an investment defaulted to ten since that represented a one times multiplier.

Feeling motion next to him, Jaden closed his status screen, and turned to find Niko staring at him.

“Good morning sleeping beauty.” Jaden said, grinning at her.

“Good morning.” She responded with a shy smile, looking away from his gaze in clear embarrassment.

Jaden reached out and pinched her cheek. “You should have more confidence in yourself. You’re fine the way you are.”

Niko flushed, and turned her head to stare at him, but didn’t say anything. Jaden shrugged, and winked. Before anything else could happen, Jaden’s stomach growled. Laughing, he pushed himself to his feet, and put his hand out to help Niko as well. Dragging her up to a standing position, he turned to Lois next.

“Time to get up, sleepyhead.” When Jaden’s foot nudges failed to wake her, he knelt over her and snickered slightly. Turning his head to wink at Niko again, Jaden used a single point of mana to summon water. In a small stream, half a cup of water fountained on Lois’s face over the course of two seconds. Halfway into the duration, Lois began spluttering. Aware of the danger he had thrust himself into, Jaden jumped back a foot; landing on his backside just as a furious punch pierced the air exactly where his nether regions had been a moment before. Niko began laughing uproariously.

“What the hell Jaden?” Lois spluttered.

“Hey man, you wouldn’t wake up.” Jaden exclaimed, holding his hands in the air placatingly. “I had to get creative. What are friends for, right?”

“What delusional idiot told you we were friends?” Lois grumbled at him.

“If we weren’t friends, I could have used more than one mana. It’s easy to win a wet t-shirt contest if you’re the only one playing.” Jaden winked, and stuck out his tongue to show that he was joking.

“Maybe I should become a summoner so I can summon better friends. I mean really, do you have to flirt with everything that moves?” Lois muttered, tucking wet strands of hair behind her ears as Jaden’s outstretched arm dragged her to her feet.

“Hey, I don’t flirt with everything. Only the highest class of women catch my eye.” Jaden said in a faux-aristocratic voice.

“Whatever Romeo. What job did you choose?”

“Summoner. You?”

“Monk. I wasn’t kidding about that black belt in karate.”

Jobs were essentially a grab-bag of passive buffs that benefitted specific styles of combat, or even lifestyles like crafting, or farming. They could be switched at will, and you always kept any benefits you had previously unlocked. You could only level one at a time though.

The pair turned to Niko.

“Erm… Barbarian?”

They stared at the shy, pixie-like, five-foot-five girl. Then they looked at each other.

“At least the job system is fairly open-ended. Maybe we could help her find something better suited to her.” Jaden suggested to Lois.

“No! I… want be strong. Be brave. Please help?” Niko pleaded.

Jaden shrugged. “It’s your choice in the end. I don’t mind.”

Lois sighed. “Fine. I can help teach you karate if you want.”

“Yes please!” Niko exclaimed, bobbing her head up and down vigorously.

“Before we do that guys, can we find something to eat? It’s been days.”

Niko nodded. “Food first.”

“Saying that is all well and good, but… Where are we going to get food?”

Jaden smirked. “Actually I have that covered. Watch this.”

Jaden stuck a hand into his pocket, and retrieved a plastic rectangular box. Lois realized what he was carrying a moment later.

“Wait, have you really been carrying your Magigio cards this entire time? Why?” She asked in exasperation.

“A true duelist never goes anywhere without his deck. Bear with me for a second.” He opened the box, and began rifling through the deck until he found the card he wanted.

“I play the magic card: soldier’s rations!” He declared dramatically, throwing the chosen card out into the air. Defying both wind, and gravity, the card hovered in place for several seconds.

“This card would normally restore five hundred life points, but in this case…” As if reacting to his words, the card emitted a sudden, intense bright light before flying back into his deckholder. On the ground were three military MRE or “meal ready to eat” packets.

“What.” Lois questioned, eyeing the packets suspiciously. Niko, having no qualms, immediately strode forward, and claimed one excitedly.

“You listened to the explanation on how to use magic right? What you need is imagination and focus. I’ve been a Magigio champion five years in a row. It’s not that crazy to think that I could use my cards as a focus for my magic.” Jaden shrugged to punctuate his nonchalant attitude while Lois just shook her head.

As they picked out their meals, Clip appeared from behind Jaden in paperclip form.

“Hey Jaden, I’m here on official business this time.” Clip chirped.

“What’s up?” Jaden asked, pausing his fight to open the thick plastic of the packaging.

“You see, the creator isn’t just the creator, but he’s also somewhat of a collector. Anytime someone invents something unique, he rewards them for their contribution to… I guess you could say society, though that isn’t entirely the right word. Anyway, I’m here to offer you the opportunity to create an entirely new job.” It was hard for Jaden to determine the subtext behind what Clippy was saying through the obnoxious voice, and frozen smile, but he got the impression Clippy was subtly insulting the creator’s personality.

“Sure, why not?” Jaden said, shrugging.

While the human trio ate, Jaden dictated his concept of the new job to Clip. While he didn’t have any control over the actual powers that would be given by the job, he did get to define the underlying concept, and name it. For his part, Clip brought out a post-it pad which floated in the air next to him. Magically, their conversation transcribed itself onto the paper as they spoke.

“Fascinating.” Clip acknowledged, once the job had been fully fleshed out. “A job that combines the ability to both cast proper spells, and act as a summoner. Yet the versatility is balanced by the time required to find the card you need, and only having access to pre-determined effects based on what cards you carry. Very well, while we’ve been talking, the creator has been listening in. He’s thrilled with this new invention. All that’s left is a name.”

“How about duelist?” Jaden offered, based on an old TV show he had watched.

“Sorry, that one’s taken. Try again.”

“Then… king of games?”

Clip paused for several seconds. “The creator approves. Henceforth, this job will be named king of games. Would you like to change jobs now?”

“Is that even a question?” Jaden beamed excitedly.

“Actually yes, consent is key here, but in this case your answer implies consent so close enough.” Clippy intoned.

“What? I thought you were all about messing with people?” Jaden asked in surprise.

“Dude, shut up, my boss is personally watching right now.” Clip hissed at him.

“Oh, my bad. Carry on I guess.” Jaden responded nonchalantly.

Clip huffed. “I am the arbitrator for this entire world fragment, and my power is surpassed only by the creator himself. I was part of the first generation, resident of the first world shard, and have lived for millions of years. I would think you’d show more respect.”

Jaden shrugged. “I hear what you’re saying, but talking to a cartoon paperclip really undermines the divine awe thing.”

Clip sighed. “I suppose I can’t argue that point. Anyway, your job change has been completed, so I’m going to go before I get in trouble with the almighty for smiting you.” With that, Clip disappeared in a blinding flash of light. Jaden rubbed his eyes to clear the black spots as he opened his status page.

*************************************

Jaden Harris

Max MP: 12

Free MP: 6/6 (50%)

Stats

Strength: 10 (0%)

Agility: 10 (0%)

Fortitude: 10 (0%)

Endurance: 10 (0%)

Charisma: 10 (0%)

Intelligence:16 (50%)

Magic Resistance: 10 (0%)

*all stats are rounded to the nearest whole number

Skills:

None

Jobs:

+King of Games Level 1

Titles:

+Originator Level 1

Status effects:

None

*************************************

Mentally clicking on the “Originator” title, he read the description.

*************************************

Originator: This person has created a unique form of magic. You will gain one level of this title for each form of magic created. The growth speed of the originator’s mana pool is increased by 10% for each level of the title.

Current level: 1

Current Bonus: 10%

*************************************

Jaden closed this window, and opened the King of Games page next.

*************************************

King of Games level 1

Key stats: Intelligence, Free Mana

A user of card-based magic, and summoning techniques based around the card game Magigio. At the base level, you gain the following benefits:

-Can see a holographic “card mat” which provides space for placing your cards, as well as the discard pile. This card mat exists outside reality, meaning cards placed on the mat are not subject to danger from battle. Cards may be played off the mat, but will be exposed to physical danger. Others with this job can see your card mat as well.

-Cards placed on the card mat during a battle cannot be reused until the battle is over, or until the deck requires shuffling. This may be changed due to card effects or certain perks of higher job level

-Can purchase cards from the nexus interface in exchange for mana. Costs depend on the value of the card. Mana used for nexus purchases will count toward growing your mana pool.

-During battle, user may only have five cards in their hand at any given time, and another will be drawn automatically whenever they play a card. If all cards in the deck are used, the user may reshuffle their deck, and begin again. Deck must be shuffled in this case, not used as is. The user must draw the top card from their deck, or face a penalty from the arbitrators. At higher job levels, more cards may be held. These restrictions do not apply outside of battle, or if the card mat is not in use. Penalties are given at the discretion of the arbitrator for the current world. Battles held in the void will remain unregulated.

Current level bonuses: none

Arbitrators note: git gud noob.

*************************************

Jaden chuckled, and shook his head when he saw the “arbitrator’s note.” Standing, Jaden packed the trash from his meal back into the plastic bag of the MRE. Eyeing him, his companions did the same.

“So what do we do with these now?” Lois asked, indicating the bags.

“I guess we either toss them or burn them.” Jaden said nonchalantly.

“I’m gonna go for option A.” Lois said, staring at the extremely flammable-looking yellow straw surrounding them.

Jaden nodded, and dropped his trash on the ground. “Agreed.” Lois followed suit a moment later.

“We burn?” Niko asked innocently as she dropped her trash.

“No, we-” Jaden was cut off when Niko snapped her fingers, generating a small stream of flame that immediately ignited the grass. Jaden let out a loud shout, panicking as he used raw thought to generate a wave of water. Unintentionally, alongside the water came a freezing wind. The burgeoning fire was immediately doused in a large clump of ice that fell on it with a thud.

Niko flushed when she realized Jaden and Lois were both staring at her.

“No burn?” Niko asked awkwardly, cringing back from them. Jaden sighed, and patted her on the shoulder wordlessly.

Walking away aimlessly, the trio failed to notice the slight curl of smoke emanating from beneath the chunk of ice.