"What the fu…"
The screen shimmered in front of Merline. The pain in his stomach began to fade, and he pushed himself up from all fours into a seated position on the grass.
"Trait manifested," he muttered, reading the words again from the screen. "Primordial Will?"
What does that even mean? Is this real? Did I hit my head or something?
He reached out a hand to touch the screen. The tingling feeling returned as his fingers approached where the screen should be, and his fingers passed right through the blue window.
"Weird," he said to no one.
As soon as he pulled his hand from the space, the window returned to its perfectly still shape. As he moved his head from side to side, it moved with his vision, anchored to some invisible place.
"Hello? System? Can I get some more information here?"
No response.
"Information on… Primordial Will?" he tried again.
The screen stayed the same.
"Ugh, this is like trying to get a straight answer from automated tech support." He exaggerated his words, saying, "I'd like to speak to a representative, please."
Shit, maybe I shouldn't say that. What if some sort of alien answers me?
What is this "System"? What is "Primordial Will"? And what the hell does this have to do with the slime or the Rift?
"Status!" he blurted out, remembering a term used in a few of the articles that talked about awakening.
The screen was replaced by a new one in the blink of an eye. There was no flickering or movement; the old one was just gone, and a new one appeared.
Status
Name: Merline Moore - Level 1
Class: None
HP: 50/50
MP: 60/60
Traits: (1/3)
{Primordial Will}
Physical Stats:
Strength: 4
Agility: 5
Constitution: 5
Vitality: 6
Magical Stats:
Intellect: 6
Willpower: 3
Mana: 6
Wisdom: 6
Active Skills:
(None)
Passive Skills:
(None)
"Okay," he said. "Now we're getting somewhere. Voice commands seem to work, sort of like my home entertainment system."
He stared at the screen for a few minutes, his mind trying to process all of this crazy information.
Strength 4, Agility 5, Constitution 5, Vitality 6… Those are underwhelming. Is five average? What does that even mean in this context? Who am I being compared to? God, what does that mean about my Willpower?
"Physical Stats," he said. The screen seemed to respond to his thoughts, expanding the Physical Stats section.
Physical Stats:
Strength (Physical Power)
Agility (Physical Control)
Constitution (Physical Capacity)
Vitality (Physical Regeneration)
Okay, that's a bit more helpful. But "Physical Power?" What constitutes "power"? I mean, I managed to kill that slime thing, didn't I? Do I get more power? And Strength, what does that mean?
As if reading his mind, a new window popped up.
"Well, guess I don't need to say it out loud…"
Strength - Represents pure physical power, determining a character's ability to lift, carry, and deliver powerful blows. As this stat increases, an Awakened One's muscles may grow larger, becoming more defined and powerful, allowing them to perform feats of strength with greater ease.
"Okay," he muttered. "So basically, how ripped I am." He flexed his arm.
Definitely not ripped. Not even close.
Agility. What's that about Physical Control?
He intentionally directed his thoughts to try and understand more about Agility, and the window changed again.
Agility - Governs how strength is applied. It focuses on speed, coordination, and explosive power through momentum. Awakened with high Agility move more fluidly and with greater precision, their muscles becoming more defined. They appear more graceful, with quicker reflexes and smoother movements.
Ok, maybe this is "ripped"? Strength is more like being "jacked." This System seems to have a thing for muscles. What about Physical Capacity?
Constitution - Reflects an Awakened One's overall health, life points, and endurance. Those with high Constitution tend to have a sturdy appearance and strong bones. They can endure more physical punishment and recover from wounds more effectively.
His eyes drifted back to the top of the screen. "Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will}."
So, that's what it is—a Trait, not a superpower or a skill. The two sections would suggest that there's a difference between the two.
Disappointment pricked at him. He had thought for sure killing that slime would've given him some kind of cool ability. A skill?
Maybe I was supposed to absorb more of those blue things? Was that experience like in a video game?
Maybe I just got unlucky? No fireballs for me; instead, I got a Trait?
Focusing his attention on the Trait's name, he tried to will the System to show him more information than just the name. The blue window in front of him changed again, shrinking slightly from the expanded view of Physical Stats.
{Primordial Will} - (Weighted Stat): You are the Chosen of Zaamis. Harnessing your inner strength, your mastery of magic becomes more defined, echoing whispers from the lost Primordials. Your Free Points may only be put into Willpower.
Who the hell is Zaamis?
Weighted Stat? What does that even mean? Is that like… extra strong Willpower or something?
He read the description again and again. Each time, hoping that the words would say something different.
"No. Way." He could feel his heart sinking. "This has to be a joke, right?"
He glanced back at the spot where the slime had been. It was gone, completely dissolved.
Did I get stuck with some kind of garbage Trait because I killed the lamest monster in this place? Should I have gone for something tougher?
The thought almost made him laugh despite the disappointment he felt. He could barely stand. His leg was throbbing, and he was half naked, yet here he was, worried about not picking a harder fight.
He shook his head, trying to clear the unhelpful thoughts.
This is messed up.
All those videos and stories about people getting crazy powers… and I get this?
He remembered the video Mark had sent him. The one with the kid shooting a freaking fireball out of his hand like the Human Torch. He'd made it look so easy. So cool.
And here he was, stuck with… more Willpower?
I mean, I guess it will help me make up for my weakest stat. But only being able to put stats into one thing is never good in games. Of course, some people did it to make cheeky builds, but it was almost always better to go with a well-rounded build.
He groaned in annoyance as he stood up, his legs shaking slightly under his weight. In a huff, he scooped up his pants from where they lay, careful in case there was any slime-goo stuck on them.
"Great," he muttered. He lifted up his pants to see a gaping hole staring back at him. It was an odd shape, but there was clearly a gap in the lower leg, right where the slime decided to get friendly.
He shuddered.
Acid, right? Whatever it was, it didn't agree with my slacks. So… no pants or shredded pants? Decisions, decisions.
"Shredded pants, it is," he sighed and pulled them up. He was grateful at least that the slime didn't seem to leave any residual gunk on them. Thankfully, the belt held... even with the new ventilation system.
His gaze dropped to his right shoe. Or what was left of it? The once-tan leather was gone, reduced to a sad, melted puddle around the rubber sole.
He wrinkled his nose.
Leaving the ruined shoe behind, he limped back toward the portal. Each step sent a jolt up his leg, a sensation that felt like a mix of sunburn and closing his leg in a car door.
A blue screen popped into his vision unbidden. It made Merline flinch. He scanned the written words before grumbling and swishing his hand in the air to make the screen vanish.
Personal Quest: Culling the Forest
Kill 20 Creatures.
Rift Quest: Defending the Meadow
As waves spawn during the red moon, protect the meadow from being overwhelmed.
I honestly don't even want to think about that right now. My head is pounding, and my leg hurts. The adrenaline must be wearing off.
Fuck.
Seeing that the first line said something about killing 20 monsters made Merline want to laugh out loud at his pathetic state. He'd struggled against a slime and barely come out on top of that fight. What other, scarier creatures did the forest have lurking within?
Now that he was thinking a bit more clearly, Merline found it odd to note that he could feel a sort of pulling from his stomach toward the portal ahead of him. It was almost like the Rift was calling to his body.
The portal loomed closer, a swirl of blue light. The orange and pink hues from the setting sun mixed and created streams of lavender. It was mesmerizing, but he couldn't bring himself to appreciate it right now, not with the throbbing in his leg and the bitter taste of disappointment in his mouth.
Awakening. They had made it sound so cool in those articles. Like winning the lottery, but instead, he felt like he had just been handed a participation trophy.
Primordial Will. What a joke. I don't even have the will or confidence to stand up to my own family.
He could already hear Mark's laughter. His friend would try to make it a compliment or something that had an upside rather than the negative it appeared to be. "Willpower, Merline? That's what you got? Man, you always were a stubborn bastard!"
His socked foot found a rock, causing him to hiss, sucking in a breath through his teeth.
He grumbled at the injustice of it all.
Gritting his teeth, he did his best not to limp anymore as he approached the portal.
I won't let this damn world know it's getting to me.
The swirling blue portal shimmered, a one-way ticket back to… well, not normalcy. But at least back to familiar misery.
As he got closer, movement at the portal caught his eye. The surface shimmered and then rippled out from the center as if a rock were dropped in the middle of a pond. Five figures emerged, their forms rippling before solidifying. They strode through the portal with a confidence that made Merline feel a bit ashamed of his last few hours.
They moved with purpose, fanning out, all of them continually scanning the environment. One of them, a woman with red hair pulled back in a tight braid, caught his eye. Her gaze swept over him and lingered for a moment on his barefoot and the shredded remains of his pants. She said something to the group in a quick, clipped tone that he couldn't quite hear. Several of them glanced in his direction and then, just as quickly, dismissed him.
He stood frozen, unsure of what to do. His hand instinctively went to the jacket tied around his waist. Untying it, he held it in his hands nervously.
Should I say something? Should I wave? Maybe they're friendly?
The thought felt absurd the moment it entered his mind.
Friendly? Who comes to another dimension armed to the teeth with-
His thoughts stuttered for a moment.
Wait, what? Swords and spears?
The man in the center of the group took a step forward. He was dressed in cargo pants and a dark T-shirt, like he was out for an evening hike. The only thing that seemed out of place was the spear, which caught both the setting sunlight and Merline's eye repeatedly.
A weapon. Of course. Why didn't I think of that? Wait, why not a gun? That would make things a lot easier, wouldn't it?
Yeah, okay, Merline. You've never even held a gun before.
Alright, asshole-me. I've never killed anything before today, either.
The man stopped a few feet away and stared at Merline. It was clear he had already assessed Merline as a non-threat, and to this group, he probably was.
"You alone?" the man asked in a gruff voice.
"Yeah, just me." Merline's voice cracked a little, betraying his nerves. "I was just leaving, actually, when you guys came in."
The man didn't move, but Merline could see his jaw tighten as he adjusted his grip on the spear shaft.
"Will you answer a few questions first?"
Merline's pulse quickened, and he glanced at the portal. It suddenly felt very far away, and the man clearly meant to block his way unless he answered.
Merline forced a nod, trying to keep his voice calm. "Okay."
The man's eyes took at Merline's state once again. His exposed leg and the dirt smudged across his shirt and hands. Merline resisted the urge to look down and brush himself off.
"What kind of monsters are in here?"
"Monsters?" Merline repeated, the word feeling strange and out of place to say out loud.
"You didn't do that to yourself, did you?" the man gestured with the butt of his spear.
"Right, yeah. Of course not." Merline cleared his throat, trying to regain some composure. "I, uh… I didn't go far from the portal. Just over there by the trees." He pointed, hoping the man didn't notice his hand shaking slightly. "There was a slime monster over there. That's what I fought."
The words hung in the air for a few heartbeats, and Merline began to feel self-conscious.
A slime monster? Seriously, Merline? What are you, twelve?
The woman with the red hair snorted. "Slimes, you're serious?"
Merline's cheeks burned. "It was my first time fighting something like that," he mumbled, shifting the jacket in his hands. "Didn't exactly have a strategy when I came in here."
Stop talking. Just shut up.
The man with the spear let his expression soften a bit. "What else? Anything else you saw? Any other… slime monsters?"
Merline shook his head. "No, just the one."
The man grunted, seemingly unconvinced.
"You killed it, then?" He shifted his weight, the spear held loosely in his hand.
"The slime? Yeah." Merline gestured vaguely in the direction of his earlier scuffle, hoping it was enough of an answer.
The man nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. "So you're Awakened, then?"
Merline repeated the word, feeling strange on his tongue. "I… I guess so? I mean, I got access to the System, if that's what you mean."
"You part of a group?"
"A group?" Merline shook his head. "No, I just…" He gestured back at the swirling blue portal, at a loss for words.
"Just wandered in?" The woman finished his sentence, her tone laced with disbelief.
"Look," the man with the spear cut in, his voice firm but not unkind. "We're not trying to scare you or anything. But this place…" He gestured around them at the strange, double-sunned landscape. "It's not something you want to tackle alone."
He paused as if considering something. "We're heading deeper in. We're only Recruits with The Guild, but we've cleared a few of these Rifts already. You're welcome to join us."
Merline's head spun. A group? A guild? The Guild? Deeper in? It all brought up too many questions. He raised his hands and waved passively.
"N-no. Thank you. I'd just like to leave at this point."
The man with the spear held up a hand, his expression softening. "Easy there." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, rectangular card. "Here."
He held it out to Merline. Merline took it, confused. It was a business card. Simple, white, with a name and number printed in neat black lettering.
"John Riley," Merline read aloud, his brow furrowing. "What's this for?"
John shrugged. "Call me. If you decide you want to team up. Or if you just… you know, have questions. Phones don't work in here."
"Oh." Merline tucked the card into his pocket, more out of habit than anything else. "Right."
"So," John said, his tone casual. "What's your Trait?"
"My…?" Merline blinked, momentarily thrown by the question. "How did you know it was a Trait and not a skill?"
John smiled again, this time a little wider. "Everyone unlocks a Trait first. Skills come later. Either learned or earned."
"Oh." Merline felt a flush of heat creep up his neck. "Right."
"So?" John prompted. "What is it?"
Merline hesitated, and John tilted his head. "It's…" Merline cleared his throat, the words catching in his throat. "It's called Primordial Will."
"Primordial Will?" The woman with the red braid raised an eyebrow. "Sounds kinda cool. What's that do?"
Merline ignored her, focusing on John. "It says I can only put Free Points into Willpower."
There was a beat of silence before one of the men standing behind John let out a snort.
John coughed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, that's… uh…" He glanced at the woman with the red braid, then back at Merline. "Look, every Trait has its uses, right?"
"Sure," Merline muttered. He shifted the jacket in his arms and shoved his hands into his pockets, wishing that things were different.
"Willpower is… important," John offered, his voice lacking conviction. "For magic and stuff."
"Right." Merline's voice was flat.
The men behind John exchanged glances, their amusement palpable. Merline could practically hear their thoughts.
Fuck me.
"Well," John said, clapping a hand on Merline's shoulder. "Good luck out there."
Merline nodded curtly, his face burning. He brushed past John, ignoring the stares of the others, and headed straight for the swirling blue portal.
His socked foot found the pavement, and the sudden shift from grass to concrete made him wince. He shielded his eyes, blinking against the sudden noise and light.
It took several seconds for him to adjust just to the real world again. The cascade of noises and chaos of the city disoriented him briefly. The relative peace he felt in the Rift, when he wasn't worried for his life, fleeting in an instant.
People. So many people. Where did they all come from?
"Hey, someone came out!" A voice cut through the general murmur.
"Over here! Look this way!" Another voice, closer this time.
The crowd surged forward, a wave of bodies and noise. Merline stepped back from the flashing lights of what he realized were cameras.
"What was it like?"
"Did you see any monsters?"
"Are you one of the Awakened?"
The questions came at him from all directions, making his head spin and his pulse quicken.
Panic clawed at the edges of his mind.
I need to get out of here.
His eyes darted back and forth, searching for an escape route. To his right, a group of police officers began to push their way through the crowd.
They're coming for me.
He turned and ran, not giving it any more thought.
Ignoring the shouts of protest from behind him, he pushed his way through the small group of people gathered on the backside of the portal.
"Hey, get back here!"
"Stop him!"
His sock-covered foot scraped against the pavement, sending a jolt of pain up his leg. He ignored it, pushing himself harder, and soon, the shouts of the crowd faded behind him as he weaved between abandoned cars.
Merline didn't look back. He just kept running, his one good dress shoe pounding against the pavement.
Away from the portal. Away from the crowd. Away from it all.