Name:
James Erickson
Class:
Mesmerist (Hidden) / Mage
Level:
1
Experience:
0
Hit Points:
100 (4/Min)
Mana:
250 (8/Min)
Stamina:
100 (4/Min)
To Next Level:
100
Attributes
Strength: 10
Intelligence: 25
Wisdom: 11
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 10
Charisma: 20
Class Skills
Instant Induction
Psychic Healing
Mana Bolt
General Skills
Hypnosis (Master)
Meditation (Int.)
Titles
Mesmer’s Heir (Unique, Hidden)
Well, crap. I got ten more HP, but my HP regen didn’t go up. And what’s with Stamina? Obviously these are not linear gains. Or maybe it’s a combo formula.
One thing I didn’t get is why “Hypnosis” was listed as a general skill. Yes, I was a very good hypnotist, but I could do other things, and the only other skill listed was “Meditation,” which I assumed was related to my self-hypnosis experience. Only one way to find out…
“Information on Hypnosis skill.”
SYSTEM MESSAGE: Hypnosis is a skill anyone can learn. It allows putting a willing subject into a trance state which increases suggestibility and reduces anxiety. It will work on many sapient beings although it works best on humans due to a quirk of their evolution. With sufficient training and experience it can become a System-recognized skill, granting a much better chance for it to work on beings who are part of the System.
Well, that was… confusing. It made sense, but it still didn’t tell me why there weren’t any other skills listed. Something else I was good at…
“Information on Cooking skill.”
SYSTEM MESSAGE: Cooking is a skill anyone can learn, which makes the fact that you don’t have it that much more pathetic. It allows preparing ingredients obtained through the System to make them more nutritious (and more delicious!) Cooking with non-System ingredients has a very low chance of granting or increasing this skill.
Hmm. That helped, except the part where it called me ‘pathetic.’ I was a reasonable cook, but not a pro or even a really dedicated amateur. So until I did some cooking that the System “recognized,” I wouldn’t officially be a Cook. Or something like that. But I had… a really embarrassing amount of knowledge and experience with hypnosis, so it counted even though it had been before this goddamned System, whatever it was, had started. And as long as I was on a roll…
“Information on System.”
SYSTEM MESSAGE: The System is the System is the System. It’s how you interface with the Universe. It’s how the Universe interfaces with you.
QUEST OFFERED: Secret of the System. Learn more about the System. Reward: Variable. Failure Penalty: Ignorance. Refusal Penalty: Ignorance. Accept Quest?
“Quests? SERIOUSLY?” This last was loud enough that Danielle twitched, which reminded me that time was a-wasting. It’s not like I didn’t want to learn more about the System anyway. And I was already ignorant.
“Accept quest.”
QUEST ACCEPTED. Learn more about the System to progress on your quest. Good luck, noob!
Obviously that wasn’t going anywhere fast. And I had to figure out what was going on outside. This little cabin in the Smoky Mountain National Park was nice, and I’d ended up getting along great with the other half-dozen people who’d gone in on our little real-world weekend for people who knew each other mostly online. But we were in the back of beyond and the messages were making me very, very nervous.
“Danielle, WAKE,” I said firmly, snapping again. She went from out of it to wide awake in a flash, just like last time. I was good, but this was almost supernatural. Maybe it was the System.
“Okay, what the fuck,” she said waspishly. “Do not do that again. It was nice, but I’m getting freaked out. What is going on?” While she was talking, she got out of bed and walked toward a dresser that had her clothes on top of it. I couldn’t help but appreciate the view for a second.
Enough of that.
Getting up myself, I started rooting around for my own clothes.
“I don’t know, I swear. I’m seeing the same messages you are. It wanted me to pick a class and stuff. You’re right, it’s like a video game. Do you have more messages?”
She pulled a shirt over her head before answering. “No. They went away when I closed my eyes. Do you?”
“Not right now. They come and go if you ask questions. Say ‘Status.’” Interestingly, when I said it without the intent to see my sheet, nothing happened.
Danielle said “Status,” and blinked. “Okay. It does look like a game. What do you call these?”
“Character sheets, is what I call them. Does it say what your class is? Or anything?” I started shoving my stuff in my suitcase after putting on the first things that came to hand. I checked my phone out of habit, but naturally it wouldn’t even come on so I threw it in with the other stuff. Danielle followed my lead, somewhat distractedly. She barely noticed her phone was inactive.
“No, it says ‘None Chosen.’ There’s numbers for my strength and things, and I have a Special Skill and a Title, whatever that means. No Class Skills or General Skills.”
“What? What’s your Special Skill and your Title?” That might be rude, but Danielle obviously wasn’t a gamer. If I didn’t help her figure out her sheet, it could be life or death. And at least I wouldn’t misuse the information.
“The Special Skill says ‘Magical Catgirl Form,’ and the Title says ‘Nekoprima.’ I don’t… what’s ‘Nekoprima?’” Before I could answer, she twitched.
“When I asked that I got a System Message that says, ‘As you are the first human ever to receive a Magical Catgirl Form, you have been awarded the title “Nekoprima.” This title grants a 100% increase in the effectiveness of all Catgirl Skills and a 50% decrease in Mana costs to use Magical Catgirl Skills, along with a one-time ten-point bonus to Dexterity and Charisma. This Title will not be visible to other beings less than fifty levels higher than you unless you choose to display it.’”
As she finished reading this, her whole body started to quiver and her head lolled on her neck as if she were trancing. I took a quick step to catch her in case she went limp, but it only lasted a second.
“What… what happened?” she said, her voice rough. I couldn’t answer, because suddenly her face was so captivating I forgot how to talk for a minute.
“WHAT?” she said, a note of fear in her voice. “What happened? Why are you looking at me like that?”
I swallowed and pointed at the mirror over the dresser. After taking a deep breath, I managed to get out the words, “Look… mirror.”
She turned to the mirror, frightened, and then her jaw dropped. “I… what… that’s not me. I don’t look like that. That’s not ME!” Her voice was rising sharply and the near panic in her words snapped me out of my daze.