The world of Aetohria was full of fantasy and mystique. I had discovered the existence of magic and was naturally exited over it.
From what I had seen so far, the world of Aetohria seemed to exist in a rather unique time period when compared to earth. It was like a partial mixture of the middle ages, late Victorian era, and slightly futuristic time period.
Yes, they had flying ships and actual floating islands.
Islands that float! In mid air! Up. In. The. Sky!
It was quite a revelation when Meta disclosed this to me. But that's not the point.
Aetohria had considerable magic technology, enough so to have flying ships and actual Mecha! Yes, suits of armour.
Gundam!
Cough.
I was kidding.
They aren't Gundam but more like exoskeletal suits of armor the sizes of small trucks.
Flying ships and floating islands? It sounds like a dream come true!
Fantasy!
Their technology was futuristic and modern, their style was Victorian, and their lores and habits were middle-aged. The unique blend was captivating.
If this were a novel, I'd say the author must have been kicked by a horse.
However I hadn't been able to experience to what extent myself, I was still only a kid, and the furthest I had been was the front gate of my family manor.
In the end, I could only imagine the outside world of Aetohria described to me by Meta.
"Hey, can't you just show me what the outside world looks like? You know, like that illusion you created before? I mumbled to myself, asking Meta as I walked down the empty passage.
Meta's response was prompt and joyless.
[Negative. Such a sequence requires a considerable amount of Aether, and would be less productive to waste it on something so trivial. On a totally different matter...you do know you do not have to speak aloud to communicate with me, don't you?]
I halted my steps and felt my face heat up with a twinge of embarrassment.
A-ahem
"Of co-"
"..." I paused.
'Of course I knew that. '
[...]
'A-anyways. So Aether, huh. '
As seemingly advanced as Aetohria seemed to be, their technology didn't run from electricity, or steam, or solar, or any other conventional means I was familiar with.
In this world there existed a strange and mysterious energy called Aether that filled the atmosphere. The people of this world were able to harness this power and evolve their civilization to what it was now.
But Aether was much more than just a power source for an engine. In novel terms, Aether was the power system of Aetohria!
I arrived at my room and quickly took a seat on my bed while my window was left open for the sun to trickle in.
I called on my attributes screen one more time and skimmed through my non-existent stats.
...
[Name: Victor Bright
Level: 3
Hp: ???
________
________
Strength:- ???
Speed:- ???
Agility:- ???
Constitution:- ???
Luck:- ???
Aura:- (Null)
Charm:- ???
______
______
...
____
____
Too little information is known
____
___]
...
Despite how I had been going on about taking things casual despite the looming disaster, I hadn't been entirely sitting on my hands and twiddling my thumbs this last few years.
I accepted the calamity would come and there was no changing that. I could only follow the quest and grow strong enough to survive.
It's obvious my default level wouldn't be 3
I had grown stronger indeed!
Sniff sniff. It wasn't easy indeed...sniff sniff.
All the blood and sweat to come this far...
I was truly content with my progress, level three at barely eight back then. I wasn't sure about the standards of this world yet before, but I was certain my progress could be considered slightly above average.
That was until I got my [Inspect] skill.
...my whole world crumbled when I saw people casually working around with numbers like 18, 20, 30 and above. And Adrianne was Level 5 at only 12 years old. And she wasn't even Awakened yet.
I'll have to raise my level if I want to obtain a higher authorization sequence. Since I can't follow up with my other stats, my level counter is the only manner I can use to track my progress. Unfortunately, there isn't even an experience bar or something.
Of course I could do it the old fashioned way like I would without a system.
'Hey, aren't you a system? Shouldn't you be used to make leveling up faster and easier or something? '
[I am only a Guide], so Meta said.
I didn't think much of that response at this point, since I had already grown accustomed to how cryptic the sassy ai was.
I guess how to get stronger and rank up is all on me then. Meta is only a system in name.
[...i heard that.]
'I hoped you would. ' I sneered.
After concluding I would set up a system for myself, I turned to the other matter.
'Meta, explain to me about Aether and it's influence on this world.'
[Affirmative. Aether is a mysterious energy that powers this world. It's tied to the concept of "Heros" and is believed to have descended upon the world centuries ago.]
'What do you mean by "Heros"?' I asked, curious.
[Individuals capable of directly interacting with certain aspects of Aether appeared centuries ago. They were known as "Heros" and played a crucial role in shaping the world.]
'I see. And what about Aura and Mana? How do they fit into this?'
[Aura and Mana are two known breakdowns of Aether in the human body and the world. They're connected to the Hero's abilities and the world's life force.]
I silently took notice of certain points Meta hadn't revealed the previous times I'd had it explain to me about Aether.
In summary, Aether was a dominant energy that powered this world, and only certain special Individuals could directly wield the power, and there were two known breakdowns of Aether in this case.
Mana was an aspect which allowed people classified as Mages to cast spells and use Magic.
While Aura was present in those classified as Warriors. Aura can be used in augmenting and refining the physical body and attacks. It was only limited to the human body and weapons in hand, so in some aspects it was inferior when compared to Mana.
Hmm. Meta mentioned an individual can either possess one of the two.
Coincidentally, I possessed Aura and was a 'Hero'. But technically, I wasn't awakened yet.
But I had every intention to change that.
Mastering Aura would be necessary if I had any intentions on getting stronger. Usually, i would be revealed to the presence of the dormant Aura in my body by my family when I was considered of age or worthy.
Or I would awaken naturally when I'm old enough.
Adrianne for example would learn our family Arts and Manipulation when she turns 13, and if she can come out untop during the Coming of age Ritual, she would learn it immediately and be thought by the main family.
If I decided to follow the original plotline, I would only be forcefully awakened by my 13th or 14th birthday, latest by 15, but I didn't want to wait that long anymore.
It wasn't as if I felt the rush to get stronger, I've just decided to take use of any advantages I can get ahead of time. I also knew this passive mentality of mine was flawed. The fact there was no time duration on in the quest, was enough reason for me to run mad, but here I was, planning my thirteenth birthday.
'You mentioned you can awaken me before, didn't you?' I asked.
[Affirmative.], Meta replied, [Awakening the dormant Aether energy deep inside your body is only a matter of stimulation. To awaken Aura, the body must be put under immense strain and pressure, but that is only one crude way humanity had established] Meta explained.
'I don't really get it, but I'm guessing your saying you have other methods of stimulating my dormant Aura without having to break my body? ' I smiled.
[If simplified, yes.] Meta coldly spat.
"Fine, let's do it." I first of all got up to lock my door, then took of my clothes. I walked back to the center of my room, and sat half naked on the cold wooden floor in fetus position.
'I'm ready. ' I said inwardly.
[...was that necessary?]
'Hush. I'm trying to get in the mood. Now do your stuff already.'
[...]
'Don't just go quiet, it makes this more embarrassing! ' I pleaded.
[Affirmative. Then I will be taking temporary control of your body.]Meta all of a sudden said and I only managed an unintelligible response.
"Eh-"
Before I could truly understand, a new string of letters appeared before my eyes on an illusionary interface.
...
[New Skill acquired.
@#%$ rank> has been learned.]
[@#%$ skill, [??? (lvl???)] Is being used.]
...
Then suddenly I felt my consciousness shift. My vision blurred and I felt a surreal sensation of getting pulled out of my body.
...
'huh? ' I opened my eyes to...huh, my room actually.
I was kind of expecting a new and different illusion again this time, but who would have thought I'd still be in place?
But something wasn't right.
I tried moving my body but I couldn't. Neither could I shift my gaze to look around. And when I really tried to force it, my perspective changed.
This time around I was still in my room, but right before my eyes...
'Is that me? '
Right in front of me, was me!
No, to be clearer, that was my body!
What the hell is this? An out of body experience? Did I die?! Did that accursed ai kill me in the end?!
[Negative. You are merely experiencing the effectd of the [???] skill. Temporarily we have switched places.] Suddenly, Meta's voice echoed. But rather than resound from inside my head as usual, its voice was like from all over the place, without a distinctive direction.
'Switched places? ' I didn't like the sound of that.
As if realizing my doubts, Meta added.
[Affirmative. This is necessary for the following process of stimulating your dormant Aura. The skill will automatically deactivate on its own when it is done.]
'...I see,'
So I could switch places with Meta, huh. That's something I had no idea of. Plus, I learned a new skill just like that?
'so...what now? '
[Then I will now begin]