The presence leaves them alone and the pressure fades with the chains vanishing as the voice disappears. The seven were thoroughly confused as the overlaid voice was very familiar to each and everyone. But how could this be? The System had spoken to them! And not simply a notification but rather a true voice with inclination, cadence, and without the usual brevity.
If they were to tell their friends what they had just experienced, they would have become the laughing stock at school quickly.
"T-Tara, what was that?" Flame Ribbon asks as they fall to the ground. Sweat drips down their bodies as if they ran a marathon. The Explorer group's energy--Stamina for the body, Focus for the mind, and Spirit for their Essence--were almost drained from their body. Tara didn't honestly fare much better but as her virtual body played by different rules the aftereffects were weakened.
"I-I don't know? There wasn't an Event notification. Did any of you get any sort of Quest?" Tara's met with a resounding no as they laid there.They had a million questions but no couldn't even begin to fathom any answers. This was merely a chatroom supposed to mirror their sessions experiences to an extent but they hadn't expected this of all things. Tara does her best to help them all into a booth close to them.
Their Essence recovers pretty quickly as they are in a restaurant space. As for their Stamina and Focus, they couldn't really tell. Those were part of what were considered Hidden Stats, they explain to Tara. Nobody had a clear idea of how to gauge them or raise them. They only knew such a thing existed because a leveling maniac by the name of Chaos Diver published his findings.
After the 12 hour recommended session time, all players were booted for several hours before they could continue. Despite this, he basically spent a full physical day playing.
During which, he realized that it was impossible to fight continuously, as the virtual body would become tired and the mind less responsive. The developer's then released an official pin to the international forums confirming his findings but also alluded that there were even more Hidden Stats to be discovered. Tara remembers her own Hidden Stats at the mention of that.
After some time, the six finally feel well enough to return to their sessions. More than that they felt even stronger than before! Strangely enough, none of them seem to have any sort of special status or buff to their information.
"I'll be sure to send our Artisans your way!" Flame Ribbon kisses Tara's cheek as the group got up to leave, much to the heckling and whistling of their friends.
Tara wasn't sure if Izel's chat function only works for the four of them, so this was a good way to test it out. A bit of time would be needed for their Artisans to arrive, so Tara could organize her thoughts.
First she attempts to contact Kristen, but like she suspects it only worked for her and the other Story mode players. Then she forms a group call to inform them of what happened and what she had done.
"Well that explains the weird eye symbol that showed up on my hand. Good thing it didn't happen during my exam! Who knew a little coding would reveal an unknown being!" Izel's laughter rings out.
"You said the sword you gave was only Iron tier even though it was just a warm up piece? And that we can actually trade Coin and other items with them?!" Despite not having a video function, Pakeeja's grinning could be heard over the voice call. Tara can imagine the wheels turning around in their head. "That means I can put a few things in motion earlier than planned! I have to go. I'll see all tomorrow in the dream room!"
Pakeeja disconnects from the group chat and the others follow suit, thinking about this new information as well. It was just as well since the rest of Tara's classmates arrived either from a Dungeon run or out in the Field. Of the 17 left of her friends, the 6 who wanted to focus on their professional skills had been at their Trade's Union. After stocking up the ones who ran Dungeons and went adventuring, Tara had these 6 stay behind.
The Witch Elegant Canary and Mage Sleeping Oak wished to become Alchemists, the Vanguard Flying Coop and Pugilist Needle Fan wanted to be Forgers, and the two Infantries Verdant Wheel and Jumping Sash wanted to be an Engineer and Scribe respectfully.
"What's a Scribe?" Tara asks, as the other jobs were rather straightforward. She didn't need to ask about the Engineer as that probably had something to do with building some fantastical technology within Adventure mode.
"Scribes do a lot! We can make Magic Scrolls and arrays, though only low level ones right now. Later though we can make higher tiers, we can even copy down Craft Primers and Art Scrolls or even make new ones!" Jumping Sash, the dagger wielder, explains excitedly.
She knew that her job choice was rare as well as very hard to grow at the current place, but it would all be worth it. If she could supply her friends with magic arrays and even Skill Books, they could then be even stronger. While she wasn't good at combat, this would be her strength and maybe one day others would seek her out for her skillset! Eventually she'd be able to even update a Mage's Book with a flick of her wrist!
Tara nods as it was a skill similar to her learning inscriptions. Truthfully, it wasn't Tara's forte and the only reason she was even vaguely good at it was because of the ancient runes.
"Is it true you can only have one profession?" She asks them all and they nod, or at least as far as they've heard you can only apply to one Union. Tara turns to Verdant Wheel a little helplessly.
Everyone else had a few ideas of how to help but as for him, she was at a bit of a loss. The only thing that came to mind was to try the Oath of the Sun or the Pledge of the Moon chant. If he could channel either energy then maybe it might help him grow? Then again, what if that voice returned and damaged his account because of her?
'There's only one way to find out.' Tara thinks to herself. Unlike in her session where she has to teach someone the incantation, the energy circulation technique appears as a turquoise Spell Primer and amber Art Scroll.
Tara's a little surprised by these forms, but considering that the former was similar to psychic energy and the latter physical energy, it made sense from what she read. Tara quickly explains that the two might help his growth as an Engineer, though since their virtual bodies operated differently, she wasn't entirely sure about the effects.
As Verdant Wheel can choose either as an Infantry, Tara explains that the Craft Primer would enhance his mind while the Art Scroll would empower his body.
After a moment of deliberation on his part, he chooses the Art Scroll. There's a flash of orange in his eyes and though minor, the Essence in the room seems to orbit around him.
"Wow? I don't think my mind has ever been this clear. Are you sure this is only supposed to affect my body?" He asks, a sudden look of realization covering his face as if he suddenly understood a number of things. Not only that but his body felt lighter but also sturdier?
The fact that his mind seems more focused astounds Tara as well. She simply nods as he grins and leaves to go put some new ideas into practice. Seeing Verdant Wheel's excitement and sudden intensity in his eyes, the others were eager to try out the Skills she shared.
"Sash, wait a moment while I help the others," Tara says to the future Scribe. "Do you know if you guys can break down items and learn how to make them?"
"We---huh?" The two Alchemists and Forgers look at each other. It never occurred to them to get Design from already made items? Was that even possible?
Tara trades Elegant Canary a Health Potion and Health Pill for Sleepy Oak. She gives a test sword and chest armor to Flying Coop while Needle Fan got a test axe and a shield. Tara figures having a variety and specialties would be best to help them grow, just like she had.
The Alchemists take the Craft Primer while the Forgers take the Art Scroll, seeming more sure about their Trade than before as something clicks in their minds. As they rush off to go test what she suggested, Tara takes out some of her notes about the basics of inscriptions. "In my world, what you call Magic Scrolls we call inscriptions. Hopefully, the principles are similar enough?"
"My other idea is to see if you can copy item Design and Recipes, as a way to make money while practicing?" Tara entertains the idea of sharing the ancient runes. Though, since she doesn't know their true origins and they had appeared in the other Stories, they might be too important. Jumping Sash takes the Pledge of the Moon chant before rushing to see results!
Tara decides to log off. Putting her helmet aside, she quickly rises from her bed to stretch. Yawning, she heads to their training room. Instead of her usual workout she recalls the basic stances and strikes drilled into her virtual body.
As she hits the empty air, while her movements aren't as fluid nor her impact as heavy, anyone could tell she had practiced these moves many times over.