I couldn't sleep.
Not even a single wink. At this point had I slept a single time?
My mind gradually wandered… I thought about the past, how things went down despite me not wanting to.
There was a time, when I thought I could solve things with strength. I thought, given my body weight, I could easily overpower random guys who were foolish enough to try and take away what little I had left. Of course, I was still on the streets and barely had much to myself but I did have some decent clothes at the very least.
But I was wrong. It didn't matter if I was physically stronger. Cause I was slow as fuck, had no real training or skills, and the guy on the other side had a pocket knife. Nothing fancy but just one swing made my hand useless. He'd kicked me, on my crotch, over and over again till everything had gone numb and I passed out. When I woke up, everything was gone and I no longer had anything on my body. Just skin and some blood.
And now I didn't even have that.
Staring at my fingers, or rather bones felt odd. Skinless, fleshless, just bones.
They didn't seem to be alive. Yet- yet they moved. They didn't have any warmth, yet, I could feel. I wasn't alive yet… yet I was afraid to die.
I didn't know if I could die or not, and I wasn't eager to test it.
I have to get stronger.
Not just strength but technique and proper backup plans.
Some rays were entering the room. It was already morning. The undead were going back to their homes while typical mortals were coming out. An odd world.
Everything about this world screamed new to me. Yet, not really. After all, I'd read about them in various novels and games. But- this world was exciting regardless and I wanted to know more about it, I wanted to explore more. I wanted to… not be on the streets again. Not go through that hell. Be… free.
I have to get stronger.
A breath out, a breath in. I didn't consciously breathe but I knew if I put my mind to it, I could.
So- with almost all of my resolve in tow, I picked up a book; beginner's magic guide. And started reading.
***
• Sean Jackson
Type: Undead (Skeleton Mage)
Class: URE
Evo: 01
Level: 01
HP: 309/363
MP: 144/214
Strength: C
Stamina: B+
Defense: D+
Speed: B
A. Mana: E+
Affinity: Darkness, Void, Thunder, Water, Wind.
Skill: Necromancy (F), Summon (F), Slave Master (Incomplete), Double shot (Incomplete), Empower (F)
Weakness: Fire, Holy, Absolute Zero
I stared at my stats for a while now. Apparently, I'd gotten a new attribute, Mana.
The book? Despite my intense resolve, I couldn't go through it. I didn't understand anything about magic or how it worked. If anything, Siarre explained things way better.
Considering how my stats didn't really degrade, I didn't care about the leveling thing. Even if it meant increasing the levels all over again. Actually- why was it necessary for the levels to go down when it didn't really change much?
Who even designed these things?
God?
Was there a god in this world?
Siarre and Escalor had mentioned something about a church and humans worshipping gods and stuff but- most in this world worshipped the ten Primearchs or whatever they were called. So had they created the system? Then who created them? And then who created those gods?
Huh.
Arghh….
I was starting to get a little hungry.
So, without really wasting too much effort, I got out of my room and started climbing down. I actually didn't know where Escalor or Vivia were staying at. Kind of an oversight now that I thought about it. Had I taken them for granted?
Making the same mistake again?
I kept on going down. Not looking back. The wood creaked as usual. Took a moment but I managed to get down just fine. Not as crowded as I thought it'd be.
There were some guys chatting in the corner, a guy playing flute and some other guys drinking. Escalor, Siarre, Vivia, none of them were around. Didn't really matter even if they were though.
"Something meat based," I said.
I didn't really need to bother with calling the waitress, cause she just rushed to my side the moment I sat down on a table. Of course, I did garner a lot of attention but I didn't really care much.
"Then would you like our main dish? It's made from beef and deer and-"
"As long as it's good, no complaints from me."
"Then please wait just a minute," She took my order and left.
Meanwhile, I waited.
And basically, a minute later, the food arrived. A platter of thinly cut meat with some veg and some sauce, odd shaped fried things and more sauce. A soup as a palette cleanser and some yogurt.
Rather fast. Too fast actually. I had this odd feeling they'd made that dish for someone else….
Why? Because I kept getting a glare from across the room. And actually, that woman, got up and walked straight for me, taking a seat on my table, directly facing me. "That's my food," she said.
"I don't see your name written on it," I said.
She grumbled but didn't create a scene. "I ordered first."
This woman, seemed to be an adventurer or sorts. She had a horn on her forehead and rather veiny skin with red spots all over. She looked sick but didn't act sick. And probably wasn't sick. Actually, had I even seen sick people in this world yet?
"And? Did I ask them to not give you anything and bring me your food?" I turned to the waitress. "Did I?"
"No sir…" The waitress seemed to be shaking a bit. I suppose she was only trying to-
Sigh.
"If you want, I could share half till the other order comes out and then you could just give me half of your portion and we'll call it a day," I said, reluctantly.
Somewhat reluctant but as she stared at the waitress her glance softened. "Alright."
"Bring some more plates," I said.
"Right away sir…"