NAME: PAOL

LEVEL 10

ATTRIBUTES - 9

STRENGTH 15

DEXTERITY 11 (+2)

AGILITY 18

INTELLIGENCE 12

WISDOM 14

CONSTITUTION 19

SPIRIT 99

HIT POINTS 171

STAMINA 153

MANA 108

SKILLS - 10 UNASSIGNED POINTS

ANALYZE - 4

DODGE - 5

HIDE - 1

IDENTIFY - 10

SMALL BLADES- 1

SNEAK - 1

SWORDS - 20

Flashpoint - 5% increased swordplay per Swords level (currently 100%); Cost: 2 stamina/minute; no cooldown Mana’s Infusion - Magic is the bane of all melee fighters. Your deep understanding of the blade grants you power in the arcane realm. The effects of this ability will grow as you grow; Cost: 10 mana/minute; no cooldown Danger Sense - Ability to sense incipient attacks; no cost; no cooldown Iron Skin - Adds one point of armor per two levels of Swords. (currently 10)

Even I could tell that I was badly lopsided. Level 20 in Swords while only being Level 10 myself. And none of my other skills even came close. So strange.

Ippon-me.

A whisper in my mind. A teaching. A form.

Yes. That sounded right. A form.

I touched Veritas.

“Those old men seemed pretty indecisive to me.”

After telling me the name of his friend--my savior--Michael had shown me to my room, telling me he wanted some time with his old friend. After I refreshed myself, the king’s council had grilled me for over an hour before sending me back to my room.

After an evening meal and a night of rest, I was reviewing myself and wondering what I was becoming. I needed to know what these words meant. I couldn’t remember my past life, but I still knew that this wasn’t natural.

“His name is Kyrie. The man who saved me.”

Yes.

“Why wouldn’t you tell me before?”

I didn’t know whether he wanted you to know. Maybe he would have and just didn’t have time to tell you. Does his name mean anything to you?

“No. Who is he?”

All I know is that when I have no owner, all is dark and still and then he appears. Sometimes he uses me. Sometimes he gifts me to others. I don’t know why, but I trust him. I know he cares. That I know.

Questions and more questions. And never any answers that made sense.

“Is he of the 200?”

He must be. His longevity demands it.

“Will you tell me what these words mean now? The words that I keep seeing? Please.”

Hesitation.

I...you’re the first owner that I’ve had in this world who sees the words. Outside of Kyrie, none of the 200 have ever wielded me.

“This world? What do you mean? Do you mean as opposed to the Shadow Realm or some other realm?”

No. When I say ‘this world’ I mean here where we are now as well as the Shadow Realm as well as numerous other realms. When I say ‘this world’ I mean all of them.

“Then are you saying you once lived in an entirely different world?”

Yes.

I was incredulous.

“What? How? I don’t understand!”

It’s difficult to explain. This world we live in was...created.

“Are you talking about the gods? Are you a god?”

No! The world--it’s not what you think, Paol. The world was created, and those that you call the 200 came to live here. We fled a war and needed a place to rest. I think there may have been another reason or maybe multiple reasons, but that is what I remember.

“Are you saying the 200 are gods? That you created this world to live in?”

No. I already told you. We’re not gods. Someone created this world--I can’t remember who--but it wasn’t the 200. It was made as a place for us to stay. We needed...I can’t remember. It’s such a blur to me.

“Then what are all the words for? I don’t remember my life before, but I know that’s not how the world works. You don’t just gain levels and become stronger or smarter or have more life. You don’t ‘level up’ a skill and become more dangerous. Getting stronger takes exercise and work. Improving swordsmanship is like any craft. It requires practice and teaching. You don’t just...swing a sword around and suddenly become an expert!”

You’re not an expert yet.

“Don’t try to change the subject! You know what I mean.”

Somehow, I sensed that she sighed.

Yes, I know what you mean. And you’re right--the way to improve your body or your mind or your skillset is not normally something you can quantify with numbers. Except here. In this world. This world was created with rules, and the rules label and measure everything. That’s what you see when you see words.

“But no one else sees these words! Are you telling me that Barnabas or the king or those crotchety old men on his council ‘level up’ like this?”

Actually, in a way, they do. However, they’re just not aware of it. They also do not realize it when they level up. To them they simply get stronger over time as they work hard or practice, just as you said. Only the 200 see the words.

“Then am I of the 200?”

No. I don’t think so. My memory is clouded so I could be wrong, but Joshua also did not recognize you. I am almost positive you are not one of us.

“Then why do I see the words?” I asked despairingly.

I don’t know. It’s shocking. Rafe...I can tell that he’s shocked, too.

“I guess that means Michael will be, too. I’m sure Rafe will tell him.”

That is likely.

“What did you think of him? Of Michael?”

He’s strong. Very strong. I feel like I should know him, but just as I’m about to remember who he is the memory slips away. But I know that he’s important.

I mulled that over for a bit and then asked my next question.

“Why do the 200 see the words, but other people don’t?”

It...has to do with who we were and what this world is to us. I’m sorry. I won’t say more than that. I don’t know if you could handle it. The truth is unlike anything you can imagine, and I don’t know what it will do to you if I tell you.

My hand clenched on her hilt. She STILL wouldn’t tell me. I wanted to scream in frustration and demand answers, but she had already told me more than she ever had before. And I sensed she would tell me nothing more. At least, not yet.

“Am I immortal now? Like the rest of the 200? Will I respawn forever?”

I’m not sure. If I had to guess? Yes. It’s another mystery, a deeply disturbing one.

“Why do I gain in Swords skill so quickly? You said it has to do with affinity? And my past life?”

Yes. When a person dies and needs to respawn, a penalty is levied. However, the Paraclete makes it easier for you to regain that which you have lost, so it doesn’t take as long to get back what you had as it did to learn it in the first place. I believe the penalty is so that people will take dying seriously. Who would want to be a powerful warrior one minute and then a weakling the next?

“It makes no sense!”

She was silent.

Someone knocked on the door.

“Come in,” I called.

Rafe poked his head in. “We haven’t had our daily spar. Let’s get to it! Practice makes perfect, and I still want to see what happens when you hit level 25 in Swords.”

I groaned.

“You always win. I’m not even a challenge for you. Can’t we take a break for today?”

Rafe cocked his head at me.

“Who said you’d be fighting me?”