“Halt! State your name and classification if you have one!”

…

Fuck.

They froze and, as the guard’s attention further zeroed in on them, attempted to gesture at their neck to convey the fact that they couldn’t talk.

“If you cannot speak, please confirm whether or not you have a non-verbal method of communication.”

At this, they shakily nodded, and added in ‘I can use sign language’ in BSL for good measure. The guard acknowledged their response and swiftly turned away and walked down what is presumable a flight of stairs behind the wall, armour clanking with each step.

Upon registering the fact that the guard was genuinely wearing actual armour, they were knocked out of their currently terrified state and started processing what was going on, swiftly coming to the conclusion that this must be some sort of immersive LARP commune, and significantly reducing the fear they felt.

Interrupting their musings, the guard returned to the top of the gate with what looks like a person wearing blue robes.

“Linguist, this man appears to be unable to speak, instead communicating with strange gestures of the hand. Try to get any information out of him you can, and I’ll be the one to judge him.”

The scholar, after a few seconds, responded. “Guard, I shall have to be closer if this is truly the case.” And then turned to Reto “Traveller, come to the gate so that we may communicate!”

Upset at the shouting, but nonetheless willing to comply, they moved closer to the gate and, immediately upon the supposed linguists arrival, started slowly gesturing.

‘I can’t talk. It’s not entirely physical, but there’s not much I can do about it really’

The linguist stared intently at Retos hands before mumbling under his breath and making incoherent gestures. After only a few minutes of this he responded in kind.

‘I see, a curse then? I do not believe it to be safe to allow you passage until this is investigated, rare as it is the sigils used here can transmit them to anyone else who uses them, and with a curse as subtle as this we will not know until it’s too late.’

What?

Hesitantly, seeming to be questioning their own words, they formed a response.

‘No? It’s not a curse. It’s mental. Because of trauma?’

‘I’m not sure I understand. I don’t know of any trauma that can damage your ability to speak with such limited physical side effects as you claim. I insist I take you to our Cursebreaker before anything else. Once it has been broken or proven unbreakable, We can converse about the circumstances of your arrival at this gate, of all of them. Not to mention where ever you learnt this language.’

Finding the Linguists behaviour odd, but unwilling to question it, they signed back more confidently.

‘So long as I can get something to eat and drink and then be off once you’ve been proven wrong. I can leave afterwards, right?’

‘Oh, but of course! Unless you’ve committed any crimes I see no reason to keep you here, certainly considering you shouldn’t even be here in the first place.’

That’s not ominous at all. It’s completely fine, really. I’m sure it’s nothing.

The linguist gestured towards the guard and, with a grunt, he pushed a lever that caused the gate to slowly, and incredibly loudly, slide open. Filled with renewed hope at putting the trials of the previous few days behind themselves, Reto stepped out of what would hopefully be their very last sudden wilderness excursion.

And then the world froze around them.

[Congratulations!]

Huh?

[For completing your first Accomplishment, you get to pick One skill, and One Classification Aspect!]

What?

[For your first Accomplishment being of medium difficulty or higher, you get to pick One trait!]

What the fuck is this?

[For your first Accomplishment being of uncommon rarity or higher, you get an upgraded version of the skill chosen!]

…

[For descending the great floating mountain of Rouj and finding the hidden military encampment of an enemy nation, you get to pick between three skills, or take a random one suited to your temperament.]

{Desolate Survivalism} – Surviving on a mountain is difficult enough, least of all this one. Reduce requirements for food, water, and sleep. Increase mental and emotional resilience when faced with Desolation

{Unfamiliar Territory} – Often times when faced with something they don’t fully know, people will grow frustrated and confused, but not you. Increase effectiveness of skills and traits when in an unfamiliar location or situation

{Outcast} – Everyone you’ve ever met has planned your demise, or outright ignored you. Gain an increased sense of when someone means ill towards you, and in what manner

I… There’s no way everyone has planned my demise, right?

[For you efforts, you get to pick between three specific aspects to be your core, or one generic option at random.]

{Survival}

{Exploration}

{Communication}

{Magic}

{Magic}?

[You have chosen Magic. This cannot be reversed.]

Wait! I didn’t mean to pick that one! I didn't even get to think about it!

[For your difficult accomplishment, you get to pick between two traits.]

{Adept} – Your very first action was to complete an accomplishment that should hardly be possible given the circumstances. You truly are Adept.

{One with the Mountain} – You have spent your whole life on the great floating mountain of Rouj, and you will spent the rest of your life there still if you pick this. Gain abilities based on the Mountain. Lose all strength when off the mountain.

…

This is a lot to process.

Too tired to go through the stages of questioning, they almost immediately started acting under the assumption that this was real, not even for a second questioning it.

I guess it really is an Isekai? Does that make me the protagonist then? But why me? And why would a hidden military encampment be on such a great mountain anyway?

Lost in their thoughts, Reto was unable to notice the eyes following them, as they slowly seeped into the stilled world around them. They watched unblinkingly before, with a shuddering breath, leaving swiftly. Reto looked up and whipped their head around, but was unable to catch sight of anything but the still-unmoving world.

Why is everything frozen? I guess because I need to make some choices then. Though, I already chose one by mistake. And I don’t even know what half of this means. Hell, it doesn’t explain adept at all, or give any modifiers so I can actually know approximately how good any of these are. And what is this based on? It seems to think that I’m some sort of new-born…

Their thoughts continued in this direction in some time, mostly consisting of unanswered questions and unevidenced extrapolations.

Who knows how up to date this whole thing is, if it can think I only just came into being, whose to say it doesn’t think this Rouj nation is still around, when it fell decades ago? If that were the case, it would explain the poorly hidden ‘hidden military base’, at least.

Eventually, their thoughts turned back fully to the options presented, dark boxes hanging before their eyes, and it came time to make a decision.

This, is actually really easy. I don’t want to live on a mountain, I want to find my way home. Whilst it certainly seems to be far away, if I could come here I have to be able to get back. So I should probably take {Adept}, right?

Partway through their thought, they were interrupted by a box worming it’s way to the forefront of their vision.

[You have chosen {Adept}!]

It’s really easy to accidently pick something, huh? And why didn’t this one say that it was non-reversible? Could I change it, or is it just less important? Anyway, I don’t much like eating honestly, and the others don’t appear to me, so {Desolate Survivalism} it is, for sure.

[You have chosen {Desolate Survivalism}! Due to the effect of your Accomplishments rarity, this has been given an upgrade! Choose wisely.

{Desolate Survivalism+} – Though you know how to survive, that is all you know, and all you need.

{Born to Desolation} – Having lived in Desolation your whole life, you know the ins and outs of how to stave it off, and to twist it for your own benefit.

{Mana Feeding} – You have managed to survive your whole life in Desolation, where the only thing to possibly survive off of is the plentiful Mana in the air. You can more efficiently consume mana, as well as absorb it much quicker

I hate to say it but I forgot about the upgrade. And why does this thing have to be so ominous, anyway? I thought that capitalising desolation was just an artistic choice, but this makes me inclined to believe otherwise. Which coincidentally also makes me want to not take either of the first two. Plus, theirs the whole ‘that is all you know’ spiel. Ironically, {Mana Feeding} -oops.

[Congratulations! {Desolate Survivalism} has evolved into {Mana Feeding}! Due to the similarity, previous benefits have been retained]

Time resumed it’s normal flow, Reto almost stumbling but managing to avoid it at the last second. Looking around, they realised no-one seems to have noticed what happened, or at least they didn’t comment on it.

I would say that it seems as though no-one might have this, but I suppose the wording implies otherwise? It’s hard to tell, really, but it seems designed for someone of this world. I wonder if this is what the guard meant by classification earlier?

The trio of guard, traveller, and linguist continue onwards, towards the Cursebreaker, Reto wondering all the while whether they should just try to make a break for it. Now armed with the knowledge that not only is this a military camp, but for an enemy nation at that. Plus, the {Outcast} skill says something terrible about the people here and what they may be planning.

Without drinking some water, Reto can’t quite hope to be able to run for long and will likely be caught. Just then, they realised that they should have reduced thirst in accordance with one skill, and in fact shouldn’t need to drink, eat, or sleep at all so long as they have mana. There’s usually a {Stat} for that in games like this, right?

Reto Mason Mage Adept Lv.1 Health – 0/0 Will – 15/15 Mana – 30/30 Power

Physical – 1.00

Mental – 1.05

Magical – 1.20

Durability

Physical – 1.00

Mental – 1.10

Magical – 1.10

Speed

Physical – 1.05

Mental – 1.20

Magical – 1.25

Skills Traits {Desolate Survivalism} – {Mana Feeding} {Adept}

Well, there is, I suppose. I wonder what it’s based on though? It seems like, rather than being a measurement it’s a multiplier, probably, which is very interesting. I wonder what it would do if I had no magic? Though, I must have something if I truly can eat it. In general this status screen seems rather different to the ones that I’m used to seeing, though I don’t play many games that have a character sheet like this anyway so I suppose I wouldn’t know too much.

I wonder how the attributes are decided, the top three. It looks like my health is zero which, whilst certainly worrying, seems to imply that it isn’t actually necessary? I guess I won’t die as soon as it empties then, if that can even happen anyway. It also means that, assuming it’s based off stats, calculated with either physical power or physical durability. Most likely, it’s durability. But, with Mana it looks to be the power and durability added together, and Will now that I think about it, so perhaps it’s the same for health? In which case, Mana and Will can be used as mental and magical defence respectively, and Health offense.

Soon however, they had to stop focusing on the topic and start paying attention to their surroundings. More importantly, the large and vaguely ominous building they were being lead towards. It was as their attention moved towards it that the guard spoke up, seeming to have been told of the situation and noticed the direction they were looking.

“Traveller, don’t worry, we aren’t taking you to a jail, this is just the most convenient place for our Cursebreaker to be stationed. It’ll just be a quick visit, and then you’re off on your way.”

Reto almost narrowed their eyes before realising they shouldn’t and swiftly looking away. Whilst ordinarily they may have been fooled, the presence of Outcast means these people cannot be trusted. Quickly glancing around, they attempted to formulate a plan.

At first glance this appears to be an ordinary town really, stone and brick houses just shy of ramshackle, wooden doors, stalls hawking wares. The only thing that stands out is the people. They seemed almost, too sure of themselves. They seemed to walk around each other as if they already knew the other person was there, even when approached from non-visible directions. Not only that, but they seemed to walk with the same pace and stride as both the Guard and Linguist, as if they were all trained by the same instructor.

From outside the gates they never noticed all of this, but it seems being in the middle of it all provided them a better perspective.

However, with the intent of their gaze focused on the townspeople, it seems that they are gazing back. Slowly, they all came to a stop. In front of Reto, the Guard stalled too, causing them to bump into him from behind. Then, after a few seconds, the guard swiftly turns around to grab them, with their already growing unease being the only thing allowing them to react fast enough to avoid being immediately caught.

The fuck!

Their mind went awhirl with thoughts about what could have caused this sudden change in behaviour, whilst helplessly backpedalling into as open an area as they could find, a town square with a large fountain in the middle. As their head whipped around, their hair just too short to cover their eyes in the process, they realised the townspeople have not been idle in the short amount of time that had passed.

They were closing in on the four roads leading out of the square, though for some reason moving incredibly slowly in the process. Though, reaching back a short time in their memory, Reto realised that they were in fact moving at pace above what they were moving at earlier. This seemed as though it should lead them to some sort of obvious conclusion, but alas they were too busy with the matter of actually escaping.

The square looked to be in the process of being set up to be a market, with many half-completed stalls.

It looks like they make these stalls from scratch, rather than having them already be made. Plus, they use only wood rather than cloth like I expected medieval towns to do. Is it because this is another world? I suppose they would have much less reason to use simpler and easier to construct materials when what is plentiful could theoretically be made to be much more effective, right? Assuming that’s possible, anyway.

Their mind, tired from an uncomfortable sleep and series of shocking events happening in such quick succession, was completely unable to stay on one topic, quickly jumping between them until another catches their attention. In fortunate happenstance, this actually allowed them to notice that one of the stalls should provide enough height to climb up to one of the lower buildings.

They have a tiered structure similar to Victorian era structures, except going backwards rather than forwards, possibly to make the square feel more open? Whilst the floors are each taller than the buildings that Reto was used to, the stalls are too. Because of this, climbing to one of them should be easy, and from their they can use the windows to get higher. The entrances to the square have precarious looking arches over the top, bridging the 3rd and highest stories of each of them.

Could I escape using the rooves? At the very least it should make it easier for me to see where those so-called teleporters are, and possibly get over to them.

Upon finding their way to the top of the building however, straining their limbs more than they have in at least a few years, they saw that not only is the town much smaller than calling it that should mean, but also that the only notable building appears to be the large building that they were being taken to. Not only that, but it seems the majority of the townspeople are making their way quickly towards them, and the others are going towards the building, presumably to try and cut them off.

Dammit! What am I supposed to do here, exactly? C’mon, there has to be something I could do, right? Maybe one of my {skills}?

[Skills – 1]

{Desolate Survivalism} -- {Mana Feeding} – You have managed to survive your whole life in Desolation, where the only thing to possibly survive off of is the plentiful Mana in the air. You can more efficiently consume mana, as well as absorb it much quicker

Reading the description for their only skill once more, they once again looked to the people, and reconsidered everything they know already.

Okay. So, they move the same, and act the same. Could this be some sort of shared intelligence? Or a {Skill} that made them all get trained in the exact same way? It seems likely for it to be an unnatural effect, possibly one that uses mana. If that were the case, could I ‘eat’ it, disrupting whatever is causing it? That is, if there’s anything happening at all.

Backing up to the corner of the roof to get as much distance from the enemies as possible, and keeping low to avoid falling from the slanted surface, they closed their eyes and tried to activate it. After 10 seconds passed with no result, and the townspeople already making it up to the roof, they started to get worried. On the bridges connected to either side of this building people started arriving, only exacerbating their panic.

How do these fucking {Skills} work anyway?

[Skills – 1]

{Desolate Survivalism} -- {Mana Feeding} – You have managed to survive your whole life in Desolation, where the only thing to possibly survive off of is the plentiful Mana in the air. You can more efficiently consume mana, as well as absorb it much quicker

The appearance of the skill menu yet again gave them an idea. Everything else in this weird system seems to react to their thoughts, so why not this? With this thought they felt their hope return, and their thoughts clear.

Alright then. {Mana Feeding}

Visibly, nothing changed. However, as the people approached them they seemed to get less and less co-ordinated. What at first was a precise march has now became the barely-proficient stumbling of a person that hasn’t had reason to walk under their own skill in years. Not only that, but it seems that the connection is relayed from person to person, though Reto can’t pinpoint exactly what made them think that.

It worked? Yes! Now, how can I get past them exactly?

Whilst the people were disoriented, some still continued to pursue them , albeit seemingly unsure of what reason they could have for doing so. With a reflexive surge of mana, they were able to focus the effect more onto the small group of continued pursuers, causing them to seemingly lose all connection to whatever effect previously permeated them. They fell like a puppet with it’s strings cut, most staring vacantly at the sky, and one beginning to have a breakdown.

Did these people… not realise what they were doing? It seems like they didn’t have control of themselves, based on these reactions. Could it be that this is a genuine complete body control? Though, why would people approach under their own power then? Perhaps it influences them, and induces confusion to make them listen to it more easily? Then at it’s most powerful it would be able to make people do anything, though with the number of them it must be difficult to control. God, this is so fucked up.

With the immediate threats dealt with, they removed their focus from the people, only for them to haltingly get back up. Most appeared to be able to fight it, but it likely won’t take long for them to get completely taken over.

Fuck! If I can’t take them out of the game permanently, how am I supposed to get past? I’ll just have to try to create a path I suppose.

They were forced to put all their focus onto a strip down the middle of them, which should be enough room to climb down the roof and back onto the floor of the square. With that, and this new trick, they’ll be able to make it somewhere, and then figure something else out from there.

As the afflicted recovered in a temporary reprieve, Reto shoved their way through the middle and made the short jumps down to the lower levels. Hopefully, what with the simple control the master presumable has, they should struggle to get down, and as a result buy them some time to run.

This plan was stopped in its tracks when an androgynous figure came into view in the centre of the road to the ominous building. Their (her?) sharp black cloaked billowed out around her, revealing her figure, as well as the sinister-looking silver armour beneath it, and a glinting sword in the same colour. Both have black accents that seem to eat all the light that enters them. Behind her, a small group of people started to slowly shuffle outwards, much slower than the other’s they encountered.

“So. You’re the interloper that thinks he can just barge in here and cut off my people, huh?”