"Oh great, we're here again."
A familiar white room greeted my waking eyes.
I rose, irritated, and took a good look around the room. The bleak, empty, white room remained undisturbed and tranquil. Seemingly untouched from the first time I arrived. A mirror hovered in the middle of the room, as its only decoration and I, genuinely upset at the strange world it had tossed me in, stomped angrily up to it.
"You know, you could give me some warning before throwing me into certain death!"
Of course, the mirror remained silent as mirrors usually do.
"What am I even supposed to do here anyway? Why just throw me here to die for no reason?"
A shimmer upon the silver surface, before several words gave me an answer.
[A journey to the End requires a companion]
An answer I wasn't exactly happy with.
"Huh? That makes no sense."
A shimmer once again, words faded out and new ones appeared before me.
[Select Two Advancements]
[Existing Acquisition]
[New Acquisition]
"This stuff again huh," I was a bit annoyed about the lack of an answer, but at least I got some reward for nearly getting killed those few times. I selected "Existing Acquisition".
[Background Information: Moderate Improvement]
[Danger Sensing: Slight Improvement]
[Thundering Fury: Slight Improvement]
Hold on, the thundering fury looked familiar.
"Mirror, can you show me my status?"
No response.
"What about you Interface?" On my command, a screen entered my view.
[Lucas Li/Level 12 Human/ Physical: 5 (-2) / Mana: 1/ Spiritual: 5]
It would appear that my trials and tribulations were not for naught, and the clear evidence of growth filled me with satisfaction. Though I still had no idea what I was here for and why all this has happened to me, just knowing what I've been through had meant something gave me a sense of relief like no other.
"It's not much... but it's there." I sat there and just admired the numbers in front of me for a while, "Level 12 baby."
After basking in my self worth, I asked: "What is the minus two for Interface?"
[State: Injured/Poisoned]
"Excuse me? Poisoned? How did that happen"
No response.
"Ah, of course, what did I expect. Anyway, is there a skills list for me anywhere?"
[Interface Skills (2/4): Background Information: Level 1/ Danger Sensing: Level 1]
[Regular Skills (1/3): Thundering Fury: Level 2]
[Special Skills: Connection to the Mirror (Temporary): Level 1]
"Is the connection to the mirror why you can do some stuff here that you couldn't back out there?" I was wondering why my soul signature felt extremely lacking back in Ethyal.
[Yes]
"Ah thanks, do you have any skill descriptions available for me?" I bounced in place like a child, giddy at all the new fancy toys I got, "Oh and pull up the magic tab too, I heard I got something there."
[Descriptions:]
[Background Information: Knowledge of the world, possessed by those that are lacking]
[Danger Sensing: A premonition of imminent life-threatening danger]
[Thundering Fury: When reason gives way to anger, your resolve shall strengthen your abilities]
[Connection to the Mirror: Your soul signature is enhanced in this space]
[Magic (1/3):]
[Lightning (1/4): Release Lightning: Your mana is converted into raw electricity]
Reading and rereading all the descriptions filled me with a sense of pride. This dose of self-esteem is something I needed, badly. But in the middle of my gloating, I noticed something missing.
"Hey Interface, what about my chains of light?"
[Angel's Record not currently in possession]
"Wait what? Did I leave it in the cave? Or maybe it dropped when I was carried over here." I replayed the memories in my head, but it was no good, I couldn't remember. I'd have to retrace my steps in order to retrieve it.
[Unknown]
"Dang it!" I was concerned about losing the book, but there was nothing I could do about it now, "I'll have to find when I get back." For now, I turned by attention to the mirror, returned to the advancement screen, and selected new acquisitions.
But nothing popped up on the mirror.
"Err, is this a mistake?"
No response.
"Well, guess my options are pretty narrow."
The upgrade for Thundering Fury looked tempting, but in the ideal circumstance I would like to avoid using that skill. I figured it functioned more like a last resort and I would be better off levelling up something I would actively use.
"Can I get an improvement for Background Information please?"
The silver surface rippled and a pulse emitted from the mirror, akin to a loud blast of sound without the noise. Words formed once again upon the shimmering glass.
[Select One Advancements]
[Existing Acquisition]
[New Acquisition]
"It's always something new with this room." I chuckled, finding it funny that the mirror had to be so dramatic, "Okay can I get an improvement for... wait."
I stopped myself, perhaps it wasn't being dramatic, maybe...
"Can you show me Existing Acquisitions?"
[Danger Sensing: Slight Improvement]
[Thundering Fury: Slight Improvement]
"And New Acquisitions?"
[Self Access]
"I KNEW it!" I exclaimed, proud of my quick thinking, "Interface open my Skills real quick."
[Interface Skills (2/4): Background Information: Level 2/ Danger Sensing: Level 1]
Background information was now at level 2.
I see.
"Aha! Looks like some skills are gated behind levels, I don't suppose you can reveal this stuff for me can you Interface?"
No response.
"I'll take that as a no." I sighed, turning my attention upon the mirror, "Description for Self Access."
[Self Access: Fully aware of yourself, you may put numerical values upon your abilities]
I pointed my finger victorious towards the mirror: "I'll take it!"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My eyes snapped open and I let out a groan, everything hurt like someone took a mallet and gave me a good tenderizing.
"Take me back... I want to go back to the white room." I whined.
"I would also request a visitation to this room if at all possible." a soothing voice entered my ears and I jolted up, only to be immediately shoved back down back.
"Recover." Cecily ordered.
"Now now Cecily, don't be so rough with our guest. He's been through quite a lot." familiar heterochromatic eyes entered my vision, one yellow, one green, "Haven't you Lucas?"
"Yes ma'am."
"You may leave Cecily, thank you for your help." golden hair rolled in waves as she nodded her head.
The hooded figure on the left of me organized what appeared to be a tray of some sorts before holding a pale white hand out to me, within it gripped the white notebook I had forgotten about.
"Ah! The record! Thank you so much." I held the book to my chest, feeling that a part of me had been returned.
The dignified woman in gold gave her a strange look before saying: "A fine job indeed."
Cecily bowed and turned to the door, closing it with a soft creak, and with her went about 70% of my enthusiasm.
"I must apologize." a sad jingle rang in my ears as she spoke, "I didn't think they would pull such an untasteful prank; they are usually quite well behaved."
"Well behaved? The Ractor was more well behaved than they were." Perhaps it's the hurt of betrayal that she would leave me to such a fate, but my words were a hint more venomous than I intended them to be, "I would have probably had a hole punched through me by now if the green one didn't decide to have some common sense."
My voice was louder than I intended.
"I thought you said I wouldn't die here! If I was any weaker... if I didn't pull a miracle out of my a**, I would have been a blood stain on the dirt floor!" Ah, looks like I didn't exactly get it out of my system yet, "I trusted you dammit! Are your words just for show? If you want to kill me, then just kill me yourself, don't sick your stupid fairies on me to do the dirty work for you."
A moment of stillness passed, and I was about to hammer away with more words before my anger was halted by a show of remorse.
She bowed her head, slightly but visibly, "I, Clarissa Velhiem, sincerely apologize on behalf of Sapphire, Ruby, and Emerald. I implore you to understand that they are young, sheltered, and do not know the limits of the untrained human body."
I...
huh, uhh, I...
hadn't expect her to actually apologize.
She didn't seem like the type of person who would.
Seeing her lower her head like that made me ashamed at my accusatory words. She and Cecily had saved me when I first arrived her, truth be told I had no right to be so angry when she was being so courteous already.
"Its fine, its fine. I was a bit harsh too, sorry." I scratched my head sheepishly.
She raised her head, "If there is compensation that you would desire for putting your life in harm's way, you are free to ask."
"Oh." well wasn't this convenient, "Could you perhaps teach me magic? The green glowy one that you guys all use to take away the pain."
She gave me a wide-eyed stare before breaking out in a smile.
"I would love to."
Wow.
What a smile it was.