When Yoshi woke up, he was in an unfamiliar room. His body felt smaller. He got up and looked in a mirror but didn't recognize the boy he was looking at.
"Where am I?" he said.
A floating screen appeared next to him.
Name: Remus
Age: 17 1/2
House Affiliation: Aquitaine
Region: Southlands
Class: Artificer
Skills: Identify;
Search;
Craft;
Modify;
Store; />
"This is weird," Yoshi said. "It's just like a game interface. I wonder what these skills do?"
He touched the word 'Identify' but nothing happened.
"Maybe I have to specify what I want to identify."
Yoshi, placed his left hand on the frame of his bed and said "identify."
Another floating window popped up with information about the bed frame
Material: 2 X Wood and ¼ X Iron
Size: 6 Units X 4 Units/>
Another window appeared above it.
"Maybe this means that I can replicate this design."
Yoshi pressed yes and the window vanished.
"What if I stored it?" Yoshi said. "If this is a game then I should have an inventory."
Yoshi then said 'Store," and the bed frame disappeared which brought the mattress crashing down on the floor creating a dull thud.
Yoshi panicked a little.
"I better bring the bed back before anyone sees it."
He then said 'Create.'
Items Menu;
1. Bed Frame
2.
/>
After selecting Bed Frame another menu appeared,
Item: Bed Frame
Adjust Size: <>6 Units by <> 4 Units/>
"So I can change the size," Yoshi said to himself. "Maybe a bigger frame."
Bed Frame
Size <>8. Units X <> 6. Units/>
"So I'm limited by my inventory," Yoshi said. "What about smaller?"
4 Units X <> 2 Units/>
"Craft."
A smaller bed frame appeared.
Just at that moment, he heard three knocks on the door.
"Uh-oh," he said to himself. "I have to return everything to normal."
He said 'Modify,' and a familiar menu appeared
6 Units X <> 4 Units/>
"Yes."
The bed returned to its normal size.
"Now who is at the door," he said.
On opening the door, a red-haired woman waited patiently on the other side. She gave a small bow and said, "Master Remus, your father requests your presence in the family room."
Yoshi followed her past a hallway with empty spaces where there was once artwork on the walls. Yoshi wondered what happened to the people who lived there as he was escorted down a wooden stairwell into a spacious room with a fireplace.
A well-dressed man and woman were seated on wooden chairs with worn red cushions while a bespectacled man who smelled faintly like liquor and held a leather sack over his right shoulder stood next to them tapping his foot impatiently. There were two other teenagers present; a boy and a girl. The boy looked like he was 23 and the girl looked only slightly older than Remus. Maybe 19.
"Children, this is Maester Leo," the seated man said. "He came all the way from the Citadel at my request to help us ascertain your classes so that we can choose your path in life."
"Me first," said the older boy as he stepped forward.
"Alright, Master Gregory," the Maester said. "Check Class."
A floating window appeared in front of the man. Yoshi tried to see what was on it but it looked empty.
Maybe I can only see windows that I create, Remus thought.
"Ah, it seems that your class is Ranger just like your father Duke Lucian," he said. "This is not too common, most people with this class tend to become legendary Adventurers."
"As the firstborn son and my heir, he will use it to succeed me as Duke of the Southlands," the seated man said with a broad smile.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you father, but I don't intend to stay here for the rest of my life," Gregory said. "I want to become an adventurer and experience the world."
The seated man looked heartbroken and after a brief pause said "this is very disappointing."
"Mistress Annabelle," the Maester said. "Please step forward."
The second child stepped forward and again the Maester said "Check class," but Yoshi still couldn't see what was written on the status window.
"Ah, your class is Cleric like your mother Duchess Aminala," the Maester said. "You will undoubtedly be a great Lawyer or Accountant."
"She will help us handle our finances and turn our fortunes around," the seated man said proudly.
"I'm also sorry father," Annabelle said. "I have fallen in love with someone from the Merchant's guild and I intend to build a life with him away from the Southlands."
"That is disappointing but I understand," the seated man said. "Your mother came all the way from the far Northland to marry me."
"The children have the same classes as the parents but are determined to pursue different paths in life," the Maester said. "Very interesting."
"You're next, Master Remus," the Maester then said but Yoshi didn't recognize his name and continued to wait.
"Remus, he's talking to you," the father said while pounding his fist on the arm of his chair. "Why is he always so absent-minded?"
"Don't talk like that about your own son," the mother chided. "Perhaps his mind wandered for a moment."
"He should be more attentive to what is right in front of him," the father said. "He's been like this since he was a child."
"Master Remus, step forward I haven't got all day," the Maester said impatiently.
This time, Yoshi came forward.
"Check, class."
A floating window appeared. "Oh dear," the Maester said with surprise.
"What is it, Maester?" the mother asked.
"His class is... Artificer," the Maester replied.
"What in the name of the Seven is an Artificer?" the father asked.
The Maester set down the sack that had been on his back, pulled out a leather-bound book and started furiously flipping through its pages.
After what seemed like an eternity, he said, "artificers seem to be the second rarest classes of people."
"They have the ability to craft extraordinary things," he continued. "I'm afraid I can't immediately give you more information without first returning to the Citadel to do research. I have never heard of an Artificer before."
"Perhaps Remus can succeed you as the Lord of the Southlands since none of his siblings wants the responsibility," the mother suggested.
"He is not a fighter that can lead our men or a druid that can revive our farms," the father replied. "He's not even a bard that can negotiate treaties with the enemies that surround us. I'm afraid the future of the Southlands looks bleak."
"It's fine by me, my plan is also to travel to wherever I can acquire the most knowledge," Remus said.
"All the knowledge in the world is contained at the libraries of the Citadel. After some other business, I will be departing the Southlands in 16 days," the Maester said. "With your father's blessing, you can come along and explore your ability there. I'm sure the Arch-Maester would love to see the product of your rare class."
"That's fine by me," said the Father.