Father Abraham, dressed in his traditional evangelical outfit, received me with surprising friendliness. It was hard to tell if his friendliness was genuine or feigned, as his facial expression gave no clear indication.
"I heard that I can get some skills here for free," I informed him.
He replied with a serious face, "You know nothing in life is free." But shortly after, his face brightened and it was unclear if he was serious or if it was more of a joke.
"Someone with no skills I've never met before. Where are you from, my child?" he asked curiously.
I decided to give him a wrong answer and lied: "From a cryochamber."
"So you're really not from here. Otherwise you would have known that all priests have the [Lie Detection] skill. And I even have the [Block Lie Counter] on max. You couldn't fool me anyway. I'm sorry, I'll deactivate the skill immediately," the priest explained sincerely.
"There is a confidentiality rule for priests, after all," I interjected, making sure our conversation remained confidential.
"That's right," the priest confirmed, nodding. It was obvious that he took his role seriously and would respect my secrets.
"I come from another world," I finally confessed.
"In that case, come with me. I'll give you some abilities," the priest said with a warm smile, inviting me to follow him.
The priest carefully led me into a darkened basement filled with mysterious equipment and gadgets. In the middle of the room was an old, weathered machine that caught my interest. In front of the machine was a hole, placed at about arm's length. The priest walked thoughtfully to a console, which had flashing symbols and switches.
"Put your arm in there," he prompted me, pointing to the machine.
A sense of determination filled me as I realized that this moment could be a turning point in my life. It was an all-or-nothing situation - either I would now gain valuable skills or end up on the dangerous organ black market.
Bravely, I chose to stick my arm into the hole of the machine, ready for the unknown and the eventual pain that might await me.
The machine began to hum softly and I felt a tiny needle gently bore into my arm. The puncture was barely noticeable and I focused on staying calm and waiting for the results.
Suddenly, a clear and quick voice sounded from the NORI system:
["New abilities unlocked.]
["Poison Resistance" unlocked. Harmful substances detected and efficiently removed from the body.]
["Easy Regeneration" unlocked. Minor injuries heal quickly and efficiently. The body recovers more quickly from wounds and cuts."]
Finally, NORI announced,
["Healing Gift" unlocked. You possess the ability to transmit energy and heal others."]
With each announcement, my anticipation and gratitude grew. The certainty of now having increased poison resistance, enhanced regenerative ability, and the ability to heal gave me a sense of confidence in this dangerous world.
With humility and determination, I looked at my hands, which had now become instruments of healing. I felt the responsibility to use these abilities wisely and for the benefit of others. The gifts of NORI opened new ways for me to survive.
"I am immensely grateful to you, Father Abraham," I said with deep gratitude in my voice. "Through your kindness and the gifts of Skills, I now have the opportunity to help others and bring about positive change in this world."
The priest smiled and nodded in agreement. "It has been an honor to help you, my child. May your path be blessed and may you always find the strength and courage to use your abilities for the good of those who need help."
With a final handshake, I said goodbye to Father Abraham and made my way back to my world.
I called the skill
["Backport"]
Suddenly, I felt an invisible energy manifest around me. My body began to shimmer and vibrate as I prepared for the backport. The world around me blurred and slowly faded.