While the knight had been falling through the castle like it didn’t exist, he had no idea what was going on. When he stopped falling and startied floating – he realised what was happening as he stared at the castle above him.

Is this death? Have I died? Am I doomed to watch Delruse from below? Nothing but an empty castle – hey! There’s Patrick! Did he die too? But why isn’t he down here with me? Is the afterlife different for everyone? He’s still sweeping the floor! Does the man never rest? Wait… there’s another person! And another!

John focused, pulling his mind out of his ruminations and his eyes off the castle, he searched for more people – and he found them.

What’s happening? Did everyone die?

No, John, they didn’t. And neither have you.

You again? Get out of my head, you’re an enemy of the… queen.

Actually starting to use that head of yours, for more then your ridiculous imagination, huh?

The knight shuddered. What is she? Why did I feel so… loyal?

She’s a powered, like you are now.

How dare you! John face twisted in disgust. I’m nothing like her!

Just stop being such a freaking idiot for one minute and let me explain, without you going all queen-fanatic on me!

The man bristled, but he didn’t think a word.

Done? Good. You’ve become a user.

John waited. Is that it?

Now listen, there are rules that I –

Listen? Listen?! Here I am, trapped between my home and a dark abyss, and that’s all you’ve got to say!? My Queen just attempted to murder me, for doing my duty! Not only that, but she somehow controlled my thoughts, my mind and my free-fucking-will! She’s probably using her foul influence over all of Delruse! And you tell me to listen? Really? I might not be the best knight, and I’m no scholar, but don’t dare to treat me like an idiot!

I… I… I’m sorry, John. I wasn’t thinking…

I don’t need an apology! I need an explanation!

The voice was silent, seeming to collect itself. John thought he saw a flicker, and he felt himself start to calm down. Before he had the chance to think about it, the voice started talking again.

I am unable to tell you most of what I know, but there are a few things I can. A user is… someone that has been connected to the system. I don’t know the reason behind how or why it happens, besides the fact that it just does. Users are able to grow more powerful, using the system. I was forced to select your growth option for you; you were refusing to listen and you would’ve died if I hadn’t. You have become powered; you gain only a single stat and skill point, but you have a… special ability.

John’s tone was cold. What are stat and skill points? Powered? Ability? Explain.

They are… hard to explain. Uh… this might help…

User

Name: John Stone

Race: Human

Total Level: 1

Classes: None (Available: Delrusian Knight, Guard)

Hit Points: 30/30

Stamina: 13/20

Energy Points: 34/100

Undistributed stat points: 1

Undistributed skill points: 1

Statistics

Strength: +3

Dexterity: +1

Vitality: +3

Endurance: +2

Charisma: +1

Active Skills

N/A

Passive Skills

Delrusian Sword Fighting: +4

Delrusian Plate-Armour Fighting: +3

Delrusian Etiquette: +5

Sleep Resistance: +6

Ability

Conditional Intangibility: +0

This is… you. Everything except your personality, really.

The knight’s rage was forgotten as he stared at the writing in front of him. What?

This is your character-sheet, your stat-block, your status. There are many names for it, but it is just the culmination of your experiences, quantified by the system.

You’re telling me this is… who I am? Class? I’m a noble! Energy? Passive and active skills? And what do all these numbers mean?

It isn’t your social class, it’s more… what you do. You’re are a knight of Delruse, so you have the option to select Delruse Knight class. You also have the Guard class, probably because of how much time you spent watching over that room.

Energy, as well as health and stamina, are the resource pools you have unlocked. Energy is what your ability drains when used – if you run out of energy, you can’t activate your ability. Health is… how physically intact you are; don’t let it reach zero – that’ll mean death for both of us. Stamina is drained whenever you do anything physically strenuous. Each pool’s total is calculated by multiplying the related statistic by ten. Health is linked to Vitality, Stamina to Endurance and Energy is linked to all statistics.

‘These numbers’ are the bonuses you have to related actions. A bonus of zero means that statistic is average for your race. For example, if you tried to lift a heavy object, you would have a bonus of three, from your strength statistic. However, these bonuses can be added together. If you swung your sword as hard as you can, you would not have a bonus of three, but a bonus of seven; your strength added to your sword fighting bonus. You can increase your bonuses through training – lift weights for strength, practice and fight with a sword to increase your sword fighting. Same for any of your skills or statistics, just with different methods of improvement. Or you could allocate your points into them as well.

John blinked. He blinked again. You actually explained that very well.

Don’t be so surprised, John. For the first ten minutes of my life, you wouldn’t stop going on and on about your queen.

He bristled, but managed to reign in his anger failed to rise to the surface. You might just be right… wait, first ten minutes of your life?!

I became aware after we bonded. If I was an organic being, that would have been when I was born, so yes.

How do you know all this information, then?!

How did you know how to breath, see and hear, when you were born? You just did. It is instinctual – same as everything I know.

John paused for a moment. Fair enough.

One thing I do know is that you should select your class and allocate your undistributed points.

How?

Well, normally, you’d formulate a plan for your long term growth, but we’re in a bit of a sticky situation. We are stuck on an island, which is also hostile territory, and it’s Queen not only wants us dead, but also has an ability to inspire blind loyalty in her followers. And we’re under her castle. Even though the odds are slim, we have a chance.

You didn’t answer my question…

Oh, uh, sorry. It’s pretty simple – simply will it to happen, and the system will recognise it. I wouldn’t recommend choosing Guard, however, as –

You have selected Delrusian Knight, however, due to special circumstances, the class has been changed.

You are now a Level 1 Forsaken Knight (Delrusian).

You gain the following bonuses.

+1 Strength

+1 Vitality

+1 Endurance

You gain the following skills.

Slash

Block

You will gain the following bonuses for each level of Forsaken Knight.

+1 Strength

+1 Vitality

+1 Endurance

I am a knight – it is who I am – I will not be anything else.

That’s… what I was going to suggest… but before you do anything else, you need to know about stat, skill and ability points.

Ability points? You haven’t spoken a word about them.

Well, in the same way that stat points are for your statistics and skill points are for your skills, ability points are what you can use to strengthen your ability, beyond simple training, anyways.

How do I get them, then?

You can turn your stat and skill points into ability points at a one-to-one ratio. Meaning that while you get one stat and skill point each level, you could use those to upgrade your ability.

John thought, weighing his options.

What do you think, voice? Where should I put my points?

Voice? That just sounds silly…

What am I supposed to call you, then?

Well… uh… I don’t need a name, I’m just your heads-up display for the system…

Heads-up display? I don’t know what that means, but I think I’ll just call you ‘Hud’.

Hud? A-alright.

Hud fell silent.

So? Where should I put my points?

Huh? Oh, umm… I’d recommend focusing on your ability.

Hud sounded more comfortable as he spoke. Seeing as we’re trapped inside the land below the castle, I think allocating both points into your ability will grant you some form of control. Hopefully. I can’t imagine increasing your strength or your [Sleep Resistance] will help us get out of here.

With a bit of concentration, his undistributed points were gone – as much as John wished to see what increasing his strength would be like, he had to admit having strong muscles probably wouldn’t assist in his situation.

User

Name: John Stone

Race: Human

Total Level: 1

Classes: Forsaken Knight (Available: Guard)

Hit Points: 30/30

Stamina: 17/20

Energy Points: 21/100

Undistributed stat points: 0

Undistributed skill points: 0

Statistics

Strength: +4

Dexterity: +1

Vitality: +4

Endurance: +3

Charisma: +1

Active Skills

Slash: +0

Block: +0

Passive Skills

Delrusian Sword Fighting: +4

Delrusian Plate-Armour Fighting: +3

Delrusian Etiquette: +5

Sleep Resistance: +6

Ability

Conditional Intangibility: +0

How do I get rid of this… whatever this is?

It’s a character-sheet, and it’s the same as choosing your class – just will it to close, and it will.

The character-sheet was gone a moment later.

Now, how do I get out of here?

I’ve got no idea.