The Concept of Crafting

I was dragged out of my sleep several hours later by the soft sound of the door clicking open. A moment later, Allysa poked her head through the crack, and upon seeing me awake, stepped fully inside.

“Hey Lycara, we're back. Oh, yeah, how old are you?"

I think for a minute before responding. “I am nineteen, though, if I was counting correctly while in the mine, I should be twenty today.”

Allysa nods before starting to say something, only to be interrupted by me jumping into the air in surprise as a loud ‘Ding!’ rings out in my mind, accompanied by a blue rectangle appearing in my vision.

She chuckled. “I was going to warn you about that. When a sentient creature reaches adulthood, they gain full access to the World System, or just the system for short. Then… well, the system will explain it better than I could.”

I focus on the screen, reading through the message.

-==÷==-

Welcome [Lycara Mallin] to the World System. Due to reaching the age of adulthood, you will now be granted access to your full [Status] and abilities.

Would you like to see a tutorial?

Y/N

-==÷==-

I knew of the existence of the System, but most who had full access explained little. I guess now I know why. I quickly select yes, as I have little idea what all the functions are.

-==÷==-

Tutorial Activated.

Welcome new user, to the system basics tutorial. We will begin with the commands for the system, which can be inputted verbally or mentally. Note that the words do not matter, simply the intent behind the use.

Status: Opens your status menu.

Inspect: Shows details about an item or creature, amount shown changes depending on level difference, prior knowledge, and association with the object such as having crafted it. Certain skills can modify this command.

[Ability Name]: Think or speak the name of a skill or trait to activate it.

Share: Show a menu or message to a target.

That is all of the main word commands, though there are more functions that simply require only intent to use. Next is the status menu. Please call up yours.

-==÷==-

I glance over at Allysa, who has by now taken a seat in a chair by the door. She just smiles a little before making a continue motion. I mentally use the ‘Status’ command, and another menu slides into existence.

-==÷==-

Name: Lycara Mallin

Race: Aurisal (F)

Titles: Noble, Unbroken

Class: N/A*

Level: N/A

Body: 24 (18)

Mind: 23

Soul: 21

Skills:

Pain Resistance [98%]

Recovery [20%]

Sprint [17%]

Disassociation [65%]

Lance Mastery [99%]

Traits:

Wild Strength

Crippled Form

-==÷==-

-==÷==-

Now we will begin on the status menu.

Race: What species and subspecies you are, if applicable. The (F) indicates the gender, with F as female, M as male, as well as I and H as intersex and hermaphrodite respectively.

Titles: Given for great accomplishments, Titles grant benefits that can range from traits, to skills, to stats.

Class: The class you have chosen, it can evolve if conditions are met. The [ * ] means that choices can be made.

Body: The amount of power your body can produce, how well it is controlled, and how much it can withstand. The number in parentheses is your current amount, taking into account temporary modifiers.

Mind: Reaction speed, processing speed and power, memory, understanding, and mana control.

Soul: Mana pool, magic resistance, soul strength, and willpower.

Skills: Abilities granted through training or other methods, when the percentage next to the skill reaches 100% the skill may evolve.

Traits: Abilities granted by aspects of your body or ancestry.

Note that not all traits are beneficial.

This concludes the system tutorial.

-==÷==-

I have to read through the wall of text three times before it all sinks in. I dismiss the screens and fall back onto the bed, sighing. Just when I thought my life was going to get easier, I now have to deal with not just a missing foot, but the system as well. I reopen my status and decide to start looking through what I have to work with.

-==÷==-

Noble: You are the descendant of a noble house, whether earned or inherited. May your ambition serve you well, and your will be done.

Grants a bonus 3 Mind.

Unbroken: You have endured through situations that would leave stronger people broken, and yet you stand strong.

Grants a bonus 3 Soul and Mind, grants skill [Disassociation].

-==÷==-

Well, that is incredibly pretentious. Sounds about right for nobles. And Unbroken just makes sense. Anyway, on to the skills.

-==÷==-

Pain Resistance: Allows you to push through pain or negate it altogether.

Recovery: Grants faster healing and resource recovery when resting.

Sprint: While running, grants a burst of speed when activated.

Disassociation: Allows you to disconnect your mind from reality, closing off most emotions and preventing all but the most extreme trauma.

Lance Mastery: Grants increased proficiency and skill while wielding a lance or similar weapon.

-==÷==-

[Pain Resistance] makes sense, that must be how I mostly stopped feeling the pain at some point. [Recovery] must be from me trying to heal constantly. [Sprint] must just be one I earned at some point, while [Lance Mastery] I was trained for.

Now it was time to check the traits, and I could already guess what one of them did.

-==÷==-

Wild Strength: You have inherited the strength of your more wild ancestors, allowing you to always be in peak form.

Grants a bonus 4 Body, and immunity to most mundane diseases.

Crippled Form: Through a cruel act or necessity, you have lost some of that which makes you whole.

Grants a bonus 3 Soul, and reduces Body by 6.

-==÷==-

I sigh. Yep, exactly as I thought. At least my Wild Strength mostly counters it, though not fully. I finally close the screens and turn to Allysa, curious as to why she is here.

“So, what did you need?” I ask.

“Ah, finished?” At my nod, she continues. “We finally managed to find all of the slavers, and there are teams raiding them as we speak. I was told to bring you to meet with the guildmaster, and figure out where to go from here. Are you feeling well enough to walk if I help?”

I nod and slowly stand up, holding onto the bed for balance. Walking with only three legs is awkward, but manageable. With Allysa's help, I manage to limp my way out of the bedroom and into the main room, drawing stares from everyone nearby. Those quickly stopped when Allysa glared at them, and we continued on through a side door into another hallway.

She guided me to an ornate wooden door with a brass plaque, and knocked a few times. A light voice invited us into the room, and I took a short breath as Allysa opened the door.

Time to figure out where to go from here.