Despite the exhaustion from his recent death and sudden entrance into a new world, Elias still woke before the sun rose. Melly and Isla slept soundly in their rooms—Melly having been carried to hers after falling asleep against him the night before—but he had managed enough rest with a blanket and the cushions around the fire.
He rose and wandered into what appeared to be Melly’s kitchen. Pots and pans hung from curved metal hooks in a straight line above a basin. One sniff from a four-tiered rack of different-colored powders revealed an array of spices that tickled the nose. And a structure built from metal and brick with wood in its hollowed-out center suggested a way to cook.
The idea had struck him to make breakfast for all three of them, but as he sifted through the food stores in the strangely cool crates and oddly-shaped chests, there wasn’t a single ingredient that he recognized. While he rarely shied away from experimentation, he didn’t want to risk making them ill. Then there remained the matter of how to utilize the tools he had available. He was accustomed to campfires and a strong set of irons; setting a fire indoors without instruction would be foolish.
Meal preparations and campfires guided his thoughts along a pathway that led to hunting, providing, and caring for the island. It was his duty once again to fulfill the role of protector, as Melly had mentioned, though this time it appeared to be on a much grander scale. For that, he would need to replace the armor and weapons he sorely lacked from his prior life.
Elias slid into one of the four chairs at a round, wooden table. “Summon iPaw,” he murmured.
The strange device appeared in his hands, and the center brightened with Ai’s face. Seeing an object materialize from nothing for the second time made his breath catch, and he cradled its sides with care. There were certain creatures he knew who could camouflage themselves to near invisibility, but nothing so complete as this.
How may I assist you, [User Elias]?”
“If you would humor me a moment, can you see me?”
“Yes.”
“So, you can see me doing this?” He passed a hand over the device and then touched his third finger to his thumb.
“Yes. I can see your hand moving.”
“How?”
“It is a technology unfamiliar to you. There would be little to no benefit to your life in Nyarlea with an explanation of its inner workings. Is this all you required of me, [User Elias]?”
That seemed fair enough. “My apologies. It was not my intention to waste your time. First, where can I find weapons? I need a spear and a dagger.” While his full attire had traveled with him, he felt as vulnerable as a newborn kit without his weapons.
“While you can craft your own, you can also purchase weapons from a number of skilled blacksmiths and merchants in Nyarlea, especially within larger cities. You will need Bells for such transactions.”
“Are ‘Bells’ the currency of Nyarlea?”
“Yes.”
“Do I have a single Bell to my name?”
“No.”
He smirked. Whatever the woman in the iPaw’s purpose, each of her responses was wry and succinct, two traits he valued in a teacher. “How do I earn these Bells?”
“There are several ways to earn currency in Nyarlea. Guild Halls provide Quests for men and catgirls alike, which are often rewarded with items and Bells. Combat offers the unique opportunity for rare items and materials that can be sold to merchants and traders. Crafting Skills will allow you to create potions, weapons, armor, food, and more to sell to others.”
“What do these Quests entail?”
“Some necessitate smaller tasks, such as item retrieval or repairs. However, the majority of catgirls need assistance hunting, gathering, or clearing an area to ensure its safe passage.”
“How would I enter combat and accept the majority of Quests without a weapon?”
“Every man begins with a weapon in [Combat Mode] depending on their chosen Class. As you are still in [Civilian Mode] and have yet to choose a Class, you do not have access to yours.”
“You mentioned my ‘Class’ last night, but not this [Combat Mode] function. What Class must I choose to access a spear?”
“[Fighter] would be to your greatest benefit, [User Elias]. Would you like to choose [Fighter] now?”
Elias canted his head. “Is this a decision I can change later?”
“Yes.”
“Then yes, I choose [Fighter].”
“Very well. Please watch the screen closely as I move through each menu option. You can do the same in the future by pressing each one with your fingertip.” Ai disappeared, and a series of yellow rectangles set against a fuchsia background appeared in her place. “This is the [Home] menu, which holds the folder selections for every screen you will require.”
While Elias digested the thought of the iPaw’s magic interacting with his touch, a thin box flashed around a rectangle he assumed was the aforementioned ‘folder’ labeled [Class Selection]. The image changed once more to a series of thumb-sized portraits of a halino male with white hair wearing different styles of armor.
“Is that me?” he mused.
“Yes.” Ai’s voice sounded, but her picture did not reappear. The white-haired copies scrolled to the side until one labeled [Fighter] arrived at the center. A second box flashed around the tiny fighter, and a new message appeared.
CHANGE TO FIGHTER?
[YES] [NO]
“Please touch [YES] on the screen,” Ai advised.
Elias’s finger hovered over the device. Would it shock him? Disable him?
“[User Elias], did you hear me?”
“I did.”
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Ai reappeared to the lower left of the demand. “You must confirm your selection.”
“What will you do to me once I touch it?”
“I will do nothing. Your Class will change from [Novice] to [Fighter], and you will have access to your [Combat Mode] and weapon.” She frowned. “No harm will come to you from the iPaw.”
Elias prayed to the sweet winds of the evening that Ai was telling the truth. Then he touched his finger to the screen.
The window vanished, and nothing seemed to have happened.
“Thank you. Now, please pay attention as I move between selections once more.”
Another series of flashing boxes appeared around each place on the screen that Elias was meant to touch. The [Class Selection] screen vanished, and a box flashed around another yellow folder labeled [Skill Tree]. This flooded the iPaw with a series of branching lines and pathways that reminded him of the thrice-split rivers near La’enthe’s Cliff.
“Each Base Level you earn will grant you one Stat Point, and each Class Level you earn will grant you one Skill Point. Your Skill Points will be distributed here,” Ai’s voice explained. “Every Class has its own unique Skills to master that will benefit you as you advance to Second Class and Third Class.”
A new box flickered around the blurred sections of the screen. “Once you have completed First Class, you will be able to see the Skills of your Second Class options. For now, concentrate on the four Skills available to you.” The box moved upward to frame the clear text beneath four river-like branches.
“You will find Passive and Active Skills available in your tree,” Ai continued. “Passive Skills are abilities that will always be in effect. Active Skills require you to activate them, typically by saying the Skill name aloud. Active Skills will enter a ‘cool down’ period upon activation. During this period, the Skill will be unavailable for use. Please be mindful of this when choosing when to activate them.”
This must add an intriguing strategic angle to battles. “Thank you. You mentioned last night that First Class is considered complete at Class Level 10, correct?” Elias asked. “Which means I will have 10 of these points to distribute?”
“Yes. It is good to hear that you remember.” She smiled, but it didn’t seem to reach her eyes. “I recommend you read through each Skill and choose carefully. These selections cannot be reversed.”
“Very well. And where will I distribute my Stat Point when I’m finished?”
“You will not receive a Stat Point until you obtain your first Base Level. However, I will show you now for your future reference.”
It was an immense amount of information to absorb in addition to the names and terms of Nyarlea. But in the interest of survival, he committed them to memory by silently repeating every new word and phrase from Melly’s or Ai’s tongues three times. “Thank you, Ai.”
The branches faded, and the [Home] menu reappeared. The guidance box flashed around the [Stats] folder, and a new window appeared with a new list of terms, numbers, and a small portrait of himself in the corner.
Elias
Base Level 1
Fighter Class Level 1
Base Experience: 0/100
Class Experience: 0/100
Health Points: 13/13
Myana Points: 5/5
Energy: 10/10
Strength: 1 +1
Vitality: 1 +1
Dexterity: 1 +1
Agility: 1
Magic: 1
Resistance: 1
“Why do three of these Stats bear an addition sign and a second number?”
Ai appeared on the lower portion of the screen, and three red circles blinked around [Strength], [Vitality], and [Dexterity]. “These are the additional bonus Stat Points you receive from your choice in the [Fighter] Class. Should you change Classes, these bonus Stat Points will change.”
Elias hummed. “In other words, different Classes will grant me different benefits? Is this meant to alter my fighting style?”
“That is correct.”
He tapped the iPaw’s silver frame in thought. “In the interest of remembering everything that I’ve learned so far, would you be so kind as to assist me in understanding each of these terms after my first Base Level?”
This time, Ai’s smile warmed her glowing gaze. “I am here to assist you however you may need, [User Elias].”
“Very good.” For a moment, he considered raising the iPaw to ‘see’ the ingredients in Melly’s house and requesting Ai’s help in navigating breakfast. But that was likely time better spent with Melly and Isla. “You’ve been more than patient with me. That should be all I need for now.”
“As you wish. Finally, as you did last night, once you’ve finished with the device, simply say, ‘Disappear, iPaw’ or ‘Vanish, iPaw.’ Good luck, [User Elias].”
Her portrait disappeared, and Elias pressed the small ‘x’ in the window of his [Stats] screen, just as she’d instructed. One touch to the [Skills] folder on the [Home] menu brought him back to the branching paths. Touching each Skill title at the top prompted a new rectangle to appear in the center of the screen, bearing more information about the Skill.
Level 1 Sword Mastery (Passive): Minor increase in efficiency and damage with swords.
Level 1 Provoke (Active): Gains full enmity of a target enemy. Lowers target’s [Defense], but increases its [Attack]. Duration: 30 seconds. 5 second cool down.
Level 1 Increase Defense (Passive): Minor increase in defense.
Level 1 Deflector (Active/Passive): Requires a shield to use. This grants a toggle to the user. While in effect, damage from attacks is reduced by a minor amount, but damage output is also reduced by the same amount.
Elias read each of them carefully. From Melly’s tale of the fallen king and the dangerous beasts that threatened the island without mercy, protecting himself came before his worries of offensive strength. [Provoke] could prove a viable option in later Levels, especially once he found companions willing to fight beside him, but even that was secondary.
I can’t protect anyone if I fall.
He pressed [Increase Defense]. Another rectangle asked him to confirm the selection, to which he touched [Yes].
“Elias?” Melly yawned from the doorway. “Did you sleep at all?”
“Good morning, Melly. Yes, I slept just fine.” He caught a flash of tiny green ears and bright eyes before they vanished behind Melly’s back. He smiled and dismissed the iPaw. “Is this the famed Isla?”
“Famed?” Isla squeaked.
“Of course. Your mother told me many stories of your heroism.” He leaned forward and clasped his hands together. “I’d hoped you would show me how to make a proper breakfast. I wound my tail into knots in my own attempts.”
“Nu-uh! Did you really?” Isla giggled and hopped out from behind Melly.
“Truly.” He rested his tail in his palm and shook his head. “I’d just barely freed it before you found me.”
Isla clasped Melly’s hand and tugged. “Can we help him? Please?”
Melly’s cheeks pinked, and she hid another yawn behind her palm. “Of course we can, sunshine. We’ll need a nice meal before we meet the queen.”
“The queen! Oh my gosh!” Isla squealed. “I want to meet the queen!”
“One thing at a time, sweet.” Melly laughed. “Breakfast, remember?”
“Ah! Right! Yes!” Isla skipped across the kitchen and took Elias’s hand. “This way, Sir Elias! I’ll show you the coldbox!”
He followed her to the curious crates he’d perused earlier that morning and listened patiently as she recounted the names of each item inside while Melly pulled down two of the pans from the wall and retrieved a handful of utensils, spreading them across the counter space.
Nyarlea was perplexing, intricate, and challenging. But fate’s design had brought him here, and he would do all he could to protect and improve it as earnestly as he had Clan Khopyé.
Ichi Island’s halino people— No. They call themselves catgirls. Ichi Island’s catgirls, like Melly and Isla, deserved to live without constant fear, and most conflicts were resolved at the tip of a tongue or the edge of a blade.
He wondered which Queen Naeemah would prefer.
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