Disclaimer: I don't own the Legend of Mana or any other game series.
Note: I never intend to make Sean suddenly OP. He's going to work hard.
UltraZeta120: Thank you for the review.
Also thanks to Lupri who added this story to the Gamer Fanfiction community, to the Game On! community for adding it, to Yellow Horse for adding this story to The Archive for Self Inserts and Original Characters and for getting it added to The Video Game Plot community, and to the Video Game Plot community.
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Update (1/9/21): Look at author's notes at the bottom for information on the update.
Chapter 10: Medical Assistance
"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown."
—H.P. Lovecraft
Update (4/4/21): I apologize for this, but the next chapter might not be out for a while. I've worked on it some, but I was recently hired and I have to travel to do onboarding for my new job. I don't know what's going to happen from there, but I don't intend to abandon this story.
Day 6: Undine Day: 12:10 PM
Schierke POV
"Greetings, Schierke. How go the preparations?" Orpheus asked whilst flipping his hood back, revealing his dark grey fur and blue eyes. "Has a healer been found?"
Orpheus brought two guards with him, both dressed in black tunics and dark blue hoods to match his own. Across from him, there sat another male Chobin Hood with rich maroon fur. He sported a navy blue tunic with a dark grey hood, his entourage's attire also matching his own as they took positions behind his chair.
"Have you anything to eat?" Basil asked politely, turning his gaze to Schierke who sat between them at the head of the table. Hyssop stood behind her to the right whilst Dawn, her second-in-command, stood to her left. Shiro sat on his haunches by Schierke's side. "It's been ages since I've had a good meal."
This meeting of the clans took place in a wooden fortress hidden in a location known only to Schierke and past leaders of Clan Reed. Outsiders dubbed them the Luon Highway Chobin Hood Tribe out of ignorance due to their proximity to said highway, which, coincidentally, happened to be one of their main areas of operation.
Magic lamps of the lighting kind hung along the walls, held aloft by sconces. A beautiful green rug ran over the polished floorboards under the length of the table and an unlit fireplace sat behind Schierke's seat. Over it, an illustration of the world was framed.
Along the walls, there stood the banners of the 8 Chobin Hood Clans, proudly displayed in all the clans' territories to show strength, respect, and unity. Orpheus' grey banner, that of Clan Noctis, was emblazoned with a raven in flight, its mighty wings outstretched and a book grasped tightly in its talons. Basil's blue banner, belonging to Clan Loch, wore the image of a brilliant moon hanging over a lake.
Clan Reed's green banner, which sat on both sides of the fireplace, displayed a mighty tree with great roots and thick branches. One could almost mistake it for Yggdrasil were it not for the difference in setting. Given they lived in Fa'Diel, the tree stood for the Tree of Mana, said to be the progenitor of all life and existence.
Orpheus rolled his eyes. "Must you always think with your stomach?"
"Preparing transportation for hundreds of people can be difficult work," Basil replied, matter-of-factly. "Feel I should get something for my services."
"I fully intend for you both to be rewarded in due time, but there are more serious matters at hand," Schierke stated, bringing focus back to the main issue. She regarded them both stoically. "A healer has been found. Dawn and a select group of others recently acquired a human wizard from Norwich."
"Human, eh?" Basil voiced. "You remember the other races are none too fond of us, don't you?"
"Normally, I'd concur." Orpheus grimaced mildly at the admission. "But you need to consider our current lack of knowledge. This sickness is something none of us has encountered until recent and we're no closer to an antidote." He suddenly recalled a quote from a well-known author. "Grim times acquaint a man with strange bedfellows."
Basil nodded. "Preaching to the choir there." He reached up and parted the fur on his face, revealing a jagged scar between his eyes. "But you can just as easily get stabbed in the back."
"We're certain that he is the proper recourse." Dawn informed Schierke of the situation in Domina upon her return and told her of the strange human who held back, who refrained from killing her people. Dawn reasoned their defeat to be the human's fault, given he was the only new element when compared to previous attacks.
"What state is the human currently in?" Orpheus asked.
"Vetch is monitoring his condition," Schierke answered. "She's notified me that his shaking has gone down and that his color is slowly returning. She expects he'll be awake before long."
"Good," Basil said simply. He stood up and stretched, popping his spine. "I'm ready to get this show on the road. Been here for ages."
"We've only been here for a few hours," Orpheus responded in a tired tone. For him, Basil was best handled in small doses. "Nothing to fret about."
"Come back to me when you haven't seen your kids for a few days," Basil retorted. He sniffed, catching the faint scent of lavender mixed with herbs. "How's your project coming along?"
Orpheus sighed. "Progress has been slow. I've tried mixing Faerie Scales and Star Sparkles with Virgin's Breath, but found no positive results."
"We can allocate more resources towards it once matters here have been settled," Schierke said, offering her assistance. The project's completion would be beneficial to their entire race.
Her right ear suddenly twitched and she heard a male voice curse.
"Ugh, this shit smells like Vick's Vapor Rub."
Schierke maintained her tranquil expression as she swiftly learned that their guest was awake.
Sean POV
"Ugh, this shit smells like Vick's Vapor Rub."
His upper body was completely wrapped in white bandages, moistened by a translucent, bright orange paste that numbed his wounds. Sean couldn't help but be reminded of his childhood when his mother used to put the abhorrent medicine on him to clear his sinuses. Even the mild tingling and burning in his nose was present.
"You gave us quite the start there, my friend," Horatio stated affably from where he stood at the foot of the bed, catching Sean's attention. "This one feared you had moved on from this mortal coil."
"How long have you been standing there?" Sean asked with a raised brow, still dazed and confused from the attack on the system. He sat under pristine blue sheets, supported by two pillows placed behind his back.
[System Repair]: 97%...98%...
"Only a few minutes, I assure you. This one heard your heart rate increase from the other side of the door."
"Okay," Sean replied slowly. "Would you mind telling me what happened? Last thing I remember is blacking out."
"Pierced lungs, internal bleeding, cracked ribs," Horatio listed off. "To have been found so quickly after surviving a Stratoavis attack, by such an experienced healer, no less, you must certainly lead a charmed life."
"I wouldn't exactly call getting attacked by a giant bird monster good luck," Sean responded, mildly irritated. He held doubts that the Stratoavis dealt him his injuries, but chose not to voice them to avoid drawing suspicion, especially in uncertain territory. "But thanks for the rescue."
Horatio shook his head. "No, no, my friend, it was not I who saved you. The clan's ladies are the ones deserving of gratitude."
[System Repair]: 99%...100%...
[System Repair Status]: Complete
Updating System...
[Update Status]: 1%...2%...
"Speaking of friends, are mine okay?" Sean asked, feeling calmer with the system back up. "A moogle and a kobold were with me when I passed out. Their names are Soiree and Gengen."
"Your companions are faring well. No harm has befallen them," Horatio replied reassuringly. The black rat's advanced hearing, shared by many of his kind and those of other races, allowed him to also catch minor inflections in Sean's voice. This granted Horatio a greater ability to sense emotions. "I tuoi amici, they are safe. You have nothing to fear."
"As long as I cooperate, right?" Sean asked rhetorically. "Not to be a dick, but you either want something from me or you're seeking revenge for what happened in Domina. And considering I'm still alive..." Sean gestured to himself. "I'm going with the former."
"Bearing a grudge would serve no purpose, my friend. These ones understand the right of others to defend themselves and those true to the clan hold no fondness for the deeds of the disloyal."
"The Reputation List did show one group for the loyal and another for the traitorous."
[Update Status]: 70%...71%...
"What do you need, then?" Sean inquired evenly.
"Schierke, our leader, is expecting you in the meeting room. All questions shall be answered once there," Horatio replied. "Rest easy in the meantime, my friend. Quill and Vetch should be along soon with food and a fresh change of clothes, not to forget reexamining your injuries."
"Which one of you took off my pants?" Sean deadpanned.
"Your fears are for nothing, my friend." Horatio smiled, finding humor in his discomfort. "Vetch is a fair maiden of high repute who would never dream of violating the healer's code."
"Do you know a Gregory?" The non-sequitur caught Horatio by surprise. "He's an older grey rat, refers to other people as 'my friend' a lot, and is a doormat around his mother."
"A man of culture, I see," Horatio responded, beginning his explanation. "Though your description is, how you say, off the mark, there is a Gregory who serves as a cautionary tale for children amongst my peoples' literature." The rat remembered his mother reading the story to him and the rest of the mischief when he was younger. "It is meant to dissuade them from losing their path, from straying from their parents, their teachings. It serves to teach them to behave, though those beyond childhood have drawn wisdom from it."
"Is it a true story?" Sean asked more out of curiosity than fear.
Horatio shrugged. "Who can say? To this one's knowledge, the tale stemmed from long ago. Some of my people believe it to be real whereas others believe that Gregory was a female, made male to have a deeper impact on the tale's reader." The resplendent rat paused with a frown, once more remembering his mother. "Women were not always favored so highly in my culture."
"Sorry to hear that."
Horatio stepped away from the bed and walked to the door. "For the time being, I would ask you to please stay here." The rat spoke calmly. "This one needs no more feminine ire drawn to his person."
"I had no plans on streaking tonight." Sean's witty remark drew a soft snicker from Horatio as he left the room.
"Finally."
Sean exhaled, being able to decompress and register his new lodgings now that he was alone.
The muddy floor and lack of light clued him into the fact he was placed in the basement. Stone walls and a wooden barred door enhanced the feel of being a prisoner and there were impressions in the floor by the far wall, where crates were once stacked.
The room itself was hastily furnished in time for Sean's arrival.
There was a dresser with a mirror and a bookcase aside from the bed, but the room was still rather spartan. A thin layer of dirt coated the walls and a lantern hung in each corner of the room which gave off just enough light to see. Sean pulled the covers around himself more tightly at the chill that permeated his temporary accommodations. The humidity was none too pleasant either.
The mattress on which he rested was warmer than it should've been, finding the scent of herbs and lavender pressed into it. Sean sniffed his arm and found the same aroma on himself. His skin also felt oily. Red dusted his cheeks when he realized that someone slept with him and he reached a hand under the covers, exhaling in relief when he found no wetness or stickiness.
There were a few minor cuts on his legs, but nothing too serious.
Worried about the extent of his injuries, Sean planted his bare feet on the cold earthen floor and stood up, only to sit back down. He became lightheaded from standing too quickly and experienced a brief dizzy spell. Shaking his head, Sean wrapped the top bed sheet around his waist to hide his modesty and went over to the mirror to examine himself.
"Shouldn't be too much of a problem as long as I stay inside the room."
Pale skin a few steps away from snow white greeted him. Rest eluded Sean like a thief in the night by horrific things, things that he tried vehemently not to focus on, lest he lose it. Dark bags hung underneath two reddened eyes, contrasting sharply with his skin.
Sean swore he could still hear the laughter and shook his head to rid himself of the phantoms of sleep. But perhaps the scariest thing, a sound he wouldn't forget, were the feminine respirations blowing intimately against his ear, promising untold horror should the source awake.
[Update Status]: 99%...100%...
[System Update]: Complete
Welcome to The Gamer v2.0
With this update, all features have been restored and the system security improved, making it impossible for the system to be hacked or tampered with by outside forces, including, but not limited to: Superpowered AIs, Eldritch Entities, Clones, Doppelgangers, Angry Spouses and SCPs.
New Features:
-Reconfigured Options Menu
-Better Map with Legend
-Experience Requirements Reconfigured
-Gamer's Mind Level 2
-Gamer's Body Level 2
-Improved Event Notification with Response Time
-Toggle Skills/Perks
-Settings Menu
-Photo Mode with Album
-Image Gallery
-Access to Encyclopedias from Menu
-Messaging System
-Extras Menu
-Cheat Menu
Gamer's Mind (Passive) Lvl 2
Allows the user to calmly and logically think things through. Allows a peaceful state of mind. Immunity to psychological status effects. Level 2 grants the mind immunity to corruption.
Gamer's Body (Passive) Lvl 2
Grants a body that allows for the user to live the real world like a game. Sleeping in a bed restores HP, TP, MP and removes all negative status effects. Level 2 grants the body immunity to corruption.
Item Used: [Legendary] Artifact: Archer's Arrow
Cartographic Ambition Lvl 4 → Lvl 5
Like a chameleon, Sean's sickly flesh changed back to its healthy light tone as a sudden warmth rushed through his body akin to being wrapped in a clean blanket straight out of the dryer. His eyes turned back to their regular green and the bags under his eyes became less prominent, but faintly lingered.
Sean coughed and rubbed his itchy eyes.
"At least that ordeal is over."
When he took his hands away, Sean looked back at the mirror and immediately jumped backwards, causing the covers around his waist to fall to the floor. He waited a few seconds, unsure if the nightmare was indeed over, and slowly returned to the dresser. Sean raised his right hand to the corner of his eye and gazed uncomfortably into his reflection, into the soulless black orbs which were darker than the depths of space.
A shiver ran up his spine like being dunked in an ice bath, a reminder that the cold hand of death wasn't that far away.
The reflection then disappeared and similar to an 8-ball, a simple sentence appeared in white letters within a sea of black.
[Your presence has been noticed.]
"Of course it has," Sean thought angrily, narrowing his eyes. He rubbed them once more and found the reflective surface was back to normal. Sean slowly inhaled and exhaled audibly. "Just hopefully it's the right kind."
A blue window popped up in front of his face telling Sean of some of his recent gains.
Quest Completed!
Flight of Fancy
A flock of monsters has suddenly appeared with its sight set on Norwich. Dispatch the hate-filled fiends before they carry out their aerial assault on the town.
Reward: 50,000 Exp, 7000 Lucre, Increased Reputation, Bravery Spell Book, Candlelight Spell Book
Bonus: Kill [Stratoavis] Alone: [Failed]
Failure: Potential Death(s), Potential Destruction of Norwich, Decreased Reputation, Loss of Future Quests
Reward: Tornado Spell Book, Sleep Spell Book
Level Up!
Sean Rent Lvl 16 → Lvl 17
+5 Stat Points
Stat Points: 5 → 10
+2 Perk Points
Perk Points: 32 → 34
New Reputations!
"Sweet Hickory" Jack: (Neutral: 100/499)
Norwich Advance Guard: (Neutral: 100/499)
Due to word getting out about your actions in Norwich, your reputation has changed.
Duelle: +200
Biggs: +100
Wedge: +150
Inspector Boyd: +200
Soiree: +200
Gengen: +200
Norwich Police Department: +200
Town of Norwich: +200
Current Reputations:
Duelle: (Friendly: 900/1999)
Mark: (Friendly: 500/1999)
Biggs: (Neutral: 330/499)
Wedge: (Neutral: 470/499)
Inspector Boyd: (Friendly: 500/1999)
Soiree: (Neutral: 400/499)
Gengen: (Neutral: 350/499)
Magissa: (Unfriendly: -630/-1999)
Forza: (Unfriendly: -700/-1999)
"Sweet Hickory" Jack: (Neutral: 100/499)
Town of Domina: (Friendly: 800/1999)
Town of Norwich: (Neutral: 220/499)
Norwich Police Department (Friendly: 600/1999)
Norwich Advance Guard: (Neutral: 100/499)
Clan Reed (Loyalists): (Neutral: -100/-499)
Clan Reed (Traitors): (Unfriendly: -1200/-1999)
Sean nodded his head. "Nice"
Though his increase in reputation and the quest completion were good, what immediately jumped out at him was the [Messaging System]. Finding it could be useful given his current predicament, Sean decided to see what it was all about.
Messaging System
The Messaging System allows the user to communicate with anyone they have a reputation with over long distances. This system can also be used to send [Party Invites] and can teleport people to within the user's vicinity based on whether or not they accepted the invite. Given the lack of telephone networks, this system can be crucial to the player.
Sean opened the [Messaging System] and it was much like sending a text. He addressed one to Soiree since he felt she would handle the sudden surprise better than the Kobold and sent it off.
Sean: "Are you two doing all right? A black rat just told me that you were both brought here with me. Please respond."
There were more notifications for him to read while Sean waited for the moogle's reply, but before he could, the door swung open and slammed against the wall.
"Stupid man-thing!" A feminine voice barked. "What are you doing out of kip-bed?!"
Sean jumped and whirled around. His widened eyes met the glare of a female rat who stood a few inches taller than himself. Standing just behind her, there was a mouse woman carrying a tray of food. Though she wasn't angry, the mouse didn't look pleased that Sean was up and about, sending him a chastising gaze fittingly similar to a mother finding their child out of bed.
Her expression practically fell off when her eyes trailed downwards and took full stock of Sean's nakedness. She squeaked and turned her head away, a fierce blush coloring her cheeks. The rat woman, on the other hand, showed no visible reaction.
Sean felt a breeze between his knees and glanced down. "Oh, right." He bent down to pick up the covers and wrapped them back around his waist. "Sorry about that."
The female rat's fur was a light grey and her white hair cascaded down slightly past her shoulders, contrasting nicely with her amber eyes. Her voluptuous figure was enhanced by the skimpy clothing she wore which consisted of a dark grey thong and bra made from leather and a brown leather belt around her hips. Leather straps also covered parts of her arms, legs, and neck and her back was covered by a grey cloak with the hood down.
Throwing knives were holstered on her upper arms and vials of liquid and assorted bags and pouches were attached to her belt. Her tail even came equipped with a deadly blade at the end, well-sharpened and ready for battle. The rat's main weapons were two longer knives near her upper legs.
The mouse was slightly chubby, but by no means out of shape. Cream-colored fur covered her body except around her face, chest, and stomach, where white fur grew. She wore a red neckerchief and a bronze-colored gauntlet on her right hand while on her left, there was a brown forearm protector. A brown bag and a single-edged sword were on her back with the bag strap traveling under her left arm and over her right shoulder.
She also wore a red leather cuirass over a white tunic and grey pants.
Sean saw the rat woman's glare hadn't let up. "Just thought I'd stretch my legs a bit," he replied, his surprise having vanished. "I've been in that bed for way too long."
'Observe'
Name: Vetch
Race: ?
Title: ?
Age: ?
Level: ?
Description: The chief healer of Clan Reed. Skilled in the art of seduction.
Name: Quill
Race: ?
Title: ?
Age: ?
Level: ?
Description: An aspiring adventurer, she seeks to find her uncle who she was separated from some time ago.
Observe Lvl 18 → Lvl 19
"You nearly croaked-died. You no use-help that way."
Vetch walked up to Sean and placed her warm hands on his shoulders, steering him firmly towards the bed. He chose not to put up a fight since her amber eyes promised punishment were he to do so. Due to their close proximity, Sean noticed the same herbal smell from before wafting off of Vetch and his heart rate quickened, something both women noticed.
Quill followed along dutifully with a gentle smile, despite still feeling embarrassed.
Sean took a seat on the mattress and stayed still as Vetch started undoing his bandages. If there were any questions pertaining to his immense recovery, Vetch didn't voice them and maintained a neutral expression.
Eight scars decorated Sean's body and were now a faded white. Two puncture wounds marked the center of his back with one to either side of the spine. Five more were located on the front, three long scars on his right side starting at Sean's upper chest and stomach. The marks wrapped around to underneath his arm. Whatever attacked him likely got ahold of him and was forced to let go.
Two scars on Sean's left matched the ones on his right, but the area where his heart resided was left unscathed.
Quill's black eyes looked on in confusion.
She heard of the attack upon the town of Norwich, but the scars on Sean's back were more akin to sword wounds Quill's observed on corpses strewn across battlefields. The ones on his front could've been caused by Stratoavis, but if the bird got ahold of him, surely Sean would've been injured from impacting the ground once he was let go.
She gave her head a slight shake and set the tray down next to Sean, taking her mind off of it.
It was a nice spread comprised of two peanut butter and [Diceberry] jelly sandwiches, [Garlicrown] masked potatoes, and a cup of [Pine o' Clock] juice. Using [Observe] revealed no signs of poison and Sean smiled at Quill while Vetch leaned him forward to check his back.
"Thank you," Sean said earnestly. The numbness from earlier started to fade as Vetch poked and prodded around his scars. "Not just for this, but the rescue, too. The black rat told me it would've been over had you ladies not saved me."
Smiling warmly, Quill moved her flat open right hand to under her mouth and took it away and down from her face in an arc. She then placed her flat hand on her chest and proceeded to interlock her index fingers together twice, back and forth.
Sean titled his head due to not understanding sign language that well, but got the gist of what she was saying through body language and circumstance. He was more intrigued by how a mouse knew American Sign Language (ASL) and that she was able to use it with four fingers on each hand rather than the five normally found on humans.
"Would you mind translating what she said?" Sean turned his gaze to Vetch, wanting to make sure he understood Quill properly. A faux pas wouldn't be good in a situation like this.
Vetch placed her hand on his forehead and looked him in the eye. "She said-spoke 'you're welcome, my friend." Finally satisfied, she stood up and placed the tray on his lap. "Now eat, man-thing. Schierke is expecting-waiting for you."
"All right, but can I get changed first. I'd rather not be naked and the guy who was just in here said that you were—"
"I said 'eat, man-thing!' I've already seen-glimpsed it all."
"Why did we share a bed?" Sean took a bite of his sandwich, inwardly amazed by how the jelly tasted like raspberry, but then transitioned to strawberry and blackberry. However, the taste wasn't exactly the same, but so much more, going beyond simple earth ingredients. It felt familiar.
"Many species have a good-great sense of smell, man-thing," Vetch answered. "Your filthy-sweaty hide could be smelt from far-long away."
"I guess it's just like back home."
On Earth, rats have very good hearing and a keen sense of smell. There is a specific breed known as the African giant pouched rat that has been trained to sniff out TNT, landmines, and unexploded ordnance. Some rats have even been trained to sniff out diseases such as tuberculosis in people and in 2020, an African giant pouched rat named Magawa was awarded a medal for finding 39 landmines and 28 unexploded munitions in Cambodia.
A quick [Observe] of his arm revealed that Vetch applied a [Scent-Neutralizing Oil] onto his skin, the effects of which were completely worn off.
Sean quickly finished off his sandwich and ate the rest of his meal while Vetch watched him like a hawk and Quill removed some clothes from her bag.
The [Garlicrown] masked potatoes and the [Pine o'Clock] juice tasted like garlic mashed potatoes and pineapples, respectively. Sean now recognized the rush of mana in his chest with every bite and sip he took, but it was on a smaller scale compared to the artifacts. A notification appeared when he finished off his second sandwich.
For consuming special food, the following stats have gone up:
STR: 65 → 80
VIT: 50 → 65
DEX: 72 → 82
INT: 42 → 52
WIS: 46 → 56
SPI: 58 → 73
LUK: 7 → 17
New Recipes Learned!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
Mashed Potatoes
Pineapple Juice
[Food] Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
A simple sandwich made using peanut butter and jelly, jam, or preserves. A staple of school lunches.
Effect: Restores 5% of HP when consumed.
[Food] Mashed Potatoes
A beginner cooking dish where the user peels, boils, and mashes potatoes. Make sure to use plenty of salt.
Effect: Restores 5% of HP and MP when consumed.
[Drink] Pineapple Juice
The juice of a pineapple. Not commonly consumed as a beverage.
Effect: Restores 5% of TP when consumed.
You've gained a new skill!
"Fa'Diel to man-thing!" Vetch snapped her fingers in front of Sean's face, gaining his attention. "Get dressed-clothed." She shoved a replacement pair of blue jeans and a red Hawaiian button-down shirt with a leaf pattern on it into his arms. On the left side of the shirt, there was a pocket on the chest with a light green patch on it. A green leaf design on the patch was missing a small circle.
[Clothing] Coral Nook Inc. Aloha Shirt
Among the items stolen by Clan Reed, this shirt is the property of Terra Nook and Nook Incorporated. Size: Men's Large
"Never played Animal Crossing."
Sean slipped on the pair of underwear that Quill provided him, appreciative that she turned her head away to give him his privacy even though she already got an eyeful.
"Eh, wouldn't be the first time I've been nude in front of a woman."
When he finished slipping on his still intact socks and tennis shoes, Sean stood up and was immediately steered towards the door.
"There's no need to push me," he said to Vetch, who was behind him with her hands on his shoulders. "Just lead me in the right direction."
Vetch didn't respond and guided him out of his cell into a dimly-lit hallway. Quill extinguished the lights behind them and quietly closed the door. Moving down the corridor, Sean picked up four distinct pulses coming from varying distances away, giving him further incentive to go along with what the clan desired. The pair took him up a set of stairs and Sean closed his eyes at the harsh change of light on the first floor.
The guards stationed near the doors around them wore even expressions, barely acknowledging their passing with near unnoticeable nods.
"Damn that's bright."
Sean paused the world around him and opened the [Settings Menu] to fix the [Brightness] level. Another window appeared over the first one with the following text:
Adjust brightness until the logo is barely visible.
The window itself was black with the words "ADJUST BRIGHTNESS" spelled in white letters at the top. This applied to the instructions for adjusting the brightness at the bottom of the screen. In the middle, there was the image of the Insomniac Moon from games such as Ratchet and Clank. A white slider sat over this for changing the brightness levels.
Sean moved the slider to the left and fully opened his eyes.
He also created a new save file while he still had the chance. All of his previous save files were erased by the attack on his system. And, seeing as the menu was already open, Sean decided to read through most of his notifications.
For exercising common sense, you have gained +2 INT and +2 WIS.
INT: 52 → 54
WIS: 56 → 58
For surviving an encounter with [?] and [?], you have gained +50 LUK.
LUK: 17 → 67
For reaching 50 LUK, you've gained a new skill!
Critical Strike (Passive)
Tired of drawn out battles. Struggling against enemies. Now your hits pack the occasional extra punch to make life easier.
Effect: Grants +10% chance to inflict critical damage on a target or enemy. Applies to all forms of physical and magical combat.
For reaching 50 WIS, you've gained a new skill!
Multicasting (Passive)
No longer limited to one spell at a time, the user can now cast multiple spells on his friends or enemies.
Note: The number of spells the gamer is capable of using is determined by the level of the [Mana Manipulation] skill and the level of the [Arcane Mastery] skill.
For reaching 50 INT, you've gained a new skill!
Eidetic Memory (Passive)
Also known as [Photographic Memory], this skill allows the user to completely recall and memorize any experience he goes through or any knowledge he obtains whether that be from reading, sight, sound, etc.
After reading the last notification, a torrent of memories emerged from the depths of his mind, starting with his earliest one when he was around 2 ½ years old. It was of his first Halloween. Sean remembered being dressed up in an awesome Crash Bandicoot costume. One of his uncles came to visit with his three kids and Sean's dad made the costume after watching little Sean laugh at how badly Sean's cousins were failing at the first game. The outfit even came with a replica of Aku Aku.
The memories traveled over the years up to the event that got him expelled from high school and through his college years to the present day. Surprisingly, Sean's head didn't hurt during the course of this. Rather, his head felt like he ran it underneath a shower head spraying out cool water.
Due to your memories being refreshed, the following skills have leveled up:
Yoga Lvl 11 → Lvl 15
Breath Control Lvl 10 → Lvl 17
Physical Endurance Lvl 8 → Lvl 13
Drink Crafting Lvl 1 → Lvl 21
Prayer Lvl 4 → Lvl 10
Jump Lvl 3 → Lvl 12
Due to your memories being refreshed, you've gained/regained the following skills:
Cooking (Active) Lvl 18 [37%]
This skill allows the user to create various kinds of food and meals from a wide range of ingredients. Depending on the ingredients and recipe used, the user can receive different effects from the culinary arts. Recipes can be discovered through experimentation, by trying new foods, or by finding recipes within the lands of Fa'Diel.
Leveling this skill increases the chances of cooking food successfully and permits the user to try more difficult challenges. This skill includes baking.
Hand-to-Hand Mastery (Passive) Lvl 15 [58%]
The ability to use one's body in combat. This skill applies to the gamer whether they're fighting using their fists, feet, or other body parts. This skill includes the use of gloves and items such as brass knuckles which can open the avenue for new techniques that fighting barehanded wouldn't have unlocked.
Effect: +75% increase in attack damage with fists, feet, gloves, etc.
Effect: +30% increase in attack speed with fists, feet, gloves, etc.
Swimming (Active) Lvl 3 [14%]
This ability allows the user to travel through water using their arms and legs. Can be handy when exploring the depths and searching for sunken treasure. At a high enough level, this skill can remove the drag on the user's movement the water creates.
Effect: Passively increases STR by 9%
Effect: Passively increases VIT by 9%
Effect: Passively increases DEX by 9%
Drawing (Active) Lvl 20 [70%]
A form of visual art where the user makes use of writing instruments such as a pencil to produce imagery and depict the world around them and their inner imagination. Higher levels allow the user to produce better artwork. Could be profitable to the right person.
Juggling (Active) Lvl 5 [25%]
A form of entertainment where the performer tosses multiple objects into the air and catches them without dropping any. At higher levels, the user can juggle more items.
Current Limit: 2 Balls
Effect: Passively increases DEX by 10%
New Recipes Learned!
Lemonade
Fruit Punch
Coffee
Strawberry Daiquiri
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Macaroni and Cheese
Sour Dough Bread
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sirloin Steak
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Caesar Salad
Sean snickered immaturely at the juggling limit. He then paid closer attention to how the [Drawing] skill could bring in some cash.
"Maybe I should take up drawing again."
Back when he was in college, Sean was required to take a few courses to satisfy his humanities credit hour requirements and ended up taking three drawing classes. As for the hand-to-hand mastery, Sean took taekwondo lessons when he was in elementary school for fun. He even managed to reach black belt before quitting.
Juggling was just something he thought looked neat once as a kid. His parents bought him a little juggling kit, but Sean quickly grew bored of it.
Due to being exposed to interdimensional energies, you have gained a new perk!
[Perk] Rift Runner
The fabric of reality is a delicate thing, something not to be trifled with. Beware interloper, for untold consequences follow in the footsteps of the perpetrators, no matter the level of innocence.
Effect: Increases STR by +10 per level up
Effect: Increases SPI by +10 per level up
Effect: [?] will be unlocked when certain criteria are met
Due to being exposed to [?], you have gained a new perk!
[Perk] Oddity
"The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world. So, wake up, Mr. Freeman…wake up and…smell the ashes."
Anomaly. Stranger. One from another land. What path will you choose to take?
Effect: Increases Wood/Plant Elemental Affinity by 200
Effect: Increases Wood/Plant-Based Affinity by +20 per level up
Effect: Increases Chance of Obtaining Rare Produce from Seeds
Due to encountering [?], you have gained a new perk!
[Perk] Moon Presence
Gazing out into the dark of the night, you've always found a certain beauty to the moon and its ethereal glow while others slept in their beds. Even more when it rests amongst the clouds, staring back at you. A muse for many artists throughout the course of time.
Effect: Increases Moon/Space Elemental Affinity by 300
Effect: Increase Moon/Space Elemental Affinity by +20 per level up
Effect: HP, TP, and MP Regen increases by 100% when bathed in the light of the full moon
Effect: All Attributes increase by 100% when bathed in the light of the full moon
Note: The other phases of the moon offer lesser benefits
Due to coming into contact with [?], you have gained a new perk!
[Perk] Ashen One
On the precipice of death, it is often said that a person sees a tunnel with a bright light at the end. You wouldn't know anything about that, fire stealer.
Effect: Increases Fire Elemental Affinity by 200
Effect: Increases Soul Elemental Affinity by 200
Effect: Increases Fire and Soul Elemental Affinities by +20 per level up
Effect: Upon death, the player revives with 20% HP. Can be used once per day.
Effect: [?] will be unlocked when certain criteria are met
You have gained several new skills!
Corruption Resistance (Passive) Lvl 1 [0%]
This skill allows the user to resist corruption in all its forms.
Effect: Has 1% chance to resist corruption
Madness Resistance (Passive) Lvl 1 [0%]
Away from Earth, the writings of Lovecraft and others suddenly become a lot more real. This skill allows the user to resist descending into madness whether that be from the stresses of life or from eldritch abominations.
Effect: Has 1% chance to resist madness
Sense Corruption (Passive) Lvl 1 [0%]
This skill allows the user to sense corruption from certain distances. At higher levels, the user can detect corruption from greater distances and with more precision, even sources that are well hidden.
Range: 3 meters
Mental Fortitude (Passive) Lvl 1 [0%]
Everyone is entitled to their personal thoughts and this skill keeps it that way. It protects the user against the likes of telepathy, mind control, and brainwashing.
Effect: Has 1% chance to resist the mind arts
Purify (Active) Lvl 1 [0%] Cost: 5 MP
This skill allows the user to cleanse a person, monster, object, or even location of corruption and other malevolent influences. Can also be used to filter water and perhaps other things as well.
Effect: Able to cleanse low level corruption
Glitch (Active) Lvl 1 [0%] Cost: Nothing
An ability unique to the gamer, it allows the user to shape and bend reality to their whims. Higher levels could potentially unlock other skills.
Effect: Has 1% Chance of Success
Warning: This ability is not to be used lightly, not even in the direst of circumstances. It can lead to corrupted save files, freezing, and even worse. Tread carefully.
Unlock (Active) Lvl Max
Faced with Restoring the Tree of Mana, wouldn't it be nice to have allies who could stand with you on equal footing? This skill makes that desire a reality. When meeting the right requirements, the player is able to give an ally the knowledge of how to perform a skill or cast a spell.
Note: There are limitations to this skill. Any skill or spell the person learns will start out at Level 1, regardless of the user's level.
New Items Obtained!
[Rare][Summoning Sphere] Werewolf
Using this item gives the user access to the Werewolf summon. Being moon/space-elemental in nature, it is one of the rarer summons. Be mindful of the phases of the moon.
[Rare] Revive Spell Book
[Uncommon] Shooting Stars Spell Book
[?]
"Man," Sean breathed.
If it wasn't for Vetch still holding onto him, Sean might've cheered at the jackpot he just won. Instead, he just grinned with renewed energy. This was dampened by the memory of almost being killed and the fact that he was being held captive, but with [Gamer's Mind] back, everything sort of balanced itself out.
"Sure hope Cthulhu doesn't appear."
Sean unpaused and resumed being pushed down the hallway.
It couldn't have been more than a couple of minutes when Sean was led up a second flight of stairs and unceremoniously shoved into a conference room. He stumbled forward, but managed to catch himself in time and narrowed his eyes over his shoulder at Vetch. The female rat glared right back, daring him to try something.
Quill simply sighed and shook her head. She wrapped her arms around Vetch's waist and picked her up from behind.
"Quill! Put me down this instant-now!" She struggled against Quill's hold, but the mouse was too strong for her. She carried Vetch out of the room to keep her out of trouble.
"No idea what crawled up her ass."
"You'll have to forgive Vetch for any affront," a calm voice stated. "Our situation is precarious and many of us are strained, Mr. Rent."
Sean turned his gaze towards the speaker and found none other than Clan Reed's leader. Shiro sat next to her on his haunches and Hyssop remained behind her. A forest green Chobin Hood wearing a makeshift doctor's uniform stood off to the side.
Name: "Jeweled Sniper" Schierke
Race: ?
Title: ?
Age: ?
Level: ?
Description: The current leader of Clan Reed. The mantle was passed down to her from her father. She prefers the title "Citrine Sniper."
Name: Shiro
Race: ?
Title: ?
Age: ?
Level: ?
Description: He is Schierke's faithful companion, steed, and guard dog. Found by Schierke as a puppy.
Name: Hyssop
Race: ?
Title: ?
Age: ?
Level: ?
Description: A professional assassin under Schierke's command. He only removes his clothes and mask in private and rarely speaks.
Name: Blaine
Race: ?
Title: ?
Age: ?
Level: ?
Description: A healer of Clan Reed. He is in charge of preparing bodies for burial, but lacks the proper qualifications to be called a mortician.
Observe Lvl 19 → Lvl 20
Lvl 20: The user can now see the target's likes and dislikes.
"You know my name already," Sean replied. "But who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?"
"I am Schierke, leader of Clan Reed, and sitting next to me is Shiro."
"Nice dog." With his [Eidetic Memory] skill, Sean recognized the wolfdog from Suikoden 2. He didn't know if Kinnison was around anywhere. "I'm guessing you've met my friends."
"We've been acquainted," Schierke stated succinctly. "They've informed me of your recent actions and how you put yourself in harm's way defending Norwich. Quite noble of you."
Sean scratched his cheek. "I just happened to be there at the right time." He wasn't one to steal credit and preferred humility over arrogance. "The town probably would've been fine with Jack and his men there."
"And Dawn tells me you have a penchant for stealing."
Sean slowly connected the dots and remembered Domina. He now regretted having effectively mugged the tribesman, especially out in the open for everyone to see. "In my defense…" Sean raised his index finger. "They were going to attack the town and I made sure not to kill anyone."
"Most wouldn't hesitate to kill when facing my people," Schierke responded serenely, not bothered by his actions. "For that, you have my thanks."
"Uh, you're welcome, but that's not what you brought me here for, is it?"
"How advanced is your knowledge of the healing arts?"
"I know the [Esuna] and [Cure] spells, but they still need a lot of practice," Sean replied. "Why?"
Schierke turned to Blaine. "Would you mind bringing in the first patient?"
Blaine nodded. "Certainly." He walked over to the doors and spoke with the guards stationed on the other side. Sean's eyes followed him briefly, but they returned back to Schierke in time to receive Soiree's reply.
Soiree: "Sean! Are you okay? Dawn told us you nearly died, kupo!"
Sean paused to type his reply.
Sean: "I've got a few new scars, but I'm no worse for wear. How have they been treating you two?"
Sean unpaused, but would continue to use the [Pause] function to communicate with his friends.
Blaine reentered the room within a few minutes and brought with him a sickly male Chobin Hood. His gait was awkward, legs shaking with each step, and Blaine kept the other guy's arm over his shoulder to support him. His fur was a burnt yellow color.
Name: Zephyr
Race: ?
Title: ?
Age: ?
Level: ?
Description: An aspiring chef. He ate [?] when he was a child and has chased those flavors ever since.
Status Effects: [Poisoned: The Fifth Day]—Produced from inside Mantis Ant, this deadly poison doesn't show symptoms until the third day when the afflicted breaks out into high fevers and chills, reddened eyes and blurry vision, and excessive drowsiness. Unless the antidote is received, those afflicted will die on the fifth day from intense body failure.
"Sounds pretty bad."
Blaine brought Zephyr over to them and sat him gently in one of the available seats. Zephyr sagged visibly in relief, but he still looked terrible with his bloodshot eyes.
"Do you feel you're experienced enough to heal him?" Schierke asked. Her even tone and neutral expression left Sean floundering to get a read on her.
Sean gathered light blue mana around his hand and cast [Esuna] on Zephyr. The spell near instantly cured him, returning Zephyr's eyes back to their normal magenta. The Chobin Hood sat up straighter and his fever went down drastically, but his breathing sounded labored. Sean frowned and cast [Esuna] again to no effect.
He looked to Schierke. "Is poison the only thing they're suffering from because this guy should've been fine by now." Blaine took out a stethoscope and placed it against Zephyr's chest.
"The poison's effects first manifest themselves on the third day," Schierke replied. "Fevers, reddened eyes, and drowsiness are a few of the symptoms, but they grow steadily worse from there."
"Some time into the fourth, the poison, though I'm not sure it should be classified as such, starts attacking the lungs and begins the process of petrification. Following this is an intense heat flooding the body akin to being set on fire and full body paralysis, reducing the victim to a prisoner in their own body incapable of screaming for help," Blaine explained clinically, removing the stethoscope from around his neck. "On the fifth day, the victim's body shuts down and the lungs fully petrify, leaving them to die of suffocation right before their heart stops."
"Shit." "A few more casts should allow me to cure [Petrification]."
Blaine reached into a black bag sitting under the table and pulled out a pair of petrified lungs.
The once healthy, pink respiratory organs were turned a dark purple and the soft tissue possessed the hardness and texture of a brick. Sean blinked and carefully tapped them with his right index finger. A quick [Observe] of Zephyr showed him that the status effect changed. Instead of [Poisoned], it now read [Petrified].
"Why did you bring this?" Sean asked.
Blaine looked at him skeptically. "You do know the [Scan] spell, don't you?"
"I have something similar to it."
"Then you should know that proper medical practitioners use it on patients to find what ails them." Blaine spoke with a hint of condescension. "Really, what healer would be stupid enough to treat a patient without first checking them over?"
"You'd be surprised." "I cured that guy of his fever, didn't I?" Sean pointed to Zephyr.
Blaine rolled his eyes. "Please, that hardly compares to having one's lungs turned to stone, which, need I remind you, I brought the end result here. It would be a smart idea to try scanning it."
"Just let me cast [Esuna] for a while and I'll be able to cure the status effect—I mean symptom." Sean amended.
"Magic doesn't work that way," Blaine commented. "The healing arts take years of practice to master, many hours spent in classrooms and hospitals tending to the ill and injured."
"Let's just say I'm different."
"Care to elaborate?"
Sean snorted. "No. And why should I? I'm still being held captive and my friends are locked up somewhere."
"If he doesn't wish to answer, then that's his business," Schierke said, cutting off any impromptu interrogations. She gazed at Sean. "And I apologize for holding you here, but I can't afford a potential cure to leave when so many of my people are suffering."
"I'd be happy to help, but what guarantee do I have that my friends and I will be allowed to walk out of here safely? Or that another town won't be attacked again?"
"I won't deny what we've done in the past, but it wasn't till near a month prior that my clan started attacking towns." Schierke replied. "Until that point, we stuck to robbing traveling caravans of essential items like food and clothing. We're not the scum of the woods that the rumors claim us to be."
Soiree: "We're okay, kupo! They've all been really nice to us. Gengen says hi, kupo!"
Sean: "That's a relief. Please accept these party invites. I'm going to get you two out of here."
From experience, Sean knew that the [Party System] brought his party members onto the world map whenever he went somewhere and that none of his party members could leave their current location as long as they were still in Sean's party. He bet that once he crossed the invisible line from the fortress to the [World Map], Soiree and Gengen would be transported to his side to safety.
"I'm unfamiliar with your people, having recently moved to my new home, but can't your clan just trade for goods."
Blaine scoffed. "And while we're at it, we can journey to a dragon's lair and ask for some gold." He wilted when Schierke stared at him with her blank expression.
"The tension between us and the other races doesn't permit us to do so at this time." There was a hidden bite to her tone, conveying that this avenue of conversation was ended.
Soiree: "We can't leave, kupo! I'm in the infirmary and there are sick children here who need medical care."
Sean: "I'm not going to leave them to die, but if things go south, I have a way to get us out of here safely."
Sure, seeing Zephyr and learning of the poison's symptoms made Sean want to help them, but the mention of children practically sealed the deal. The clan folk were also mostly affable to him and his friends which worked things into the clan's favor. Potential rewards were a plus and he imagined saying no would lead to harsh treatment, possibly an arrow to the head.
"Okay, I'll help all of you, but I may need some mana potions," Sean said, not knowing how big the clan was.
Schierke gave him a small smile. "Good." She stood from the table and approached him with Hyssop and Blaine following along. Zephyr was placed on Shiro's back since he still felt weak. "I'll lead you to the infirmary."
Quest Alert!
Quest Chain!
Robbin' Hood → Healing Hand
Clan Reed has suffered too long under the effects of The Fifth Day, a deadly poison created by Mantis Ant. Cure them of this affliction and prepare for the imminent battle.
Healed: (0/412)
Success: 100,000 Exp, 10,000 Lucre, Increased Reputation with Clan Reed, Clan Loch, and Clan Noctis, Shell Spell Book, Fear Spell Book
Failure: Potential Death(s), Potential Game Over, Decreased Reputation with Clan Reed, Clan Loch, and Clan Noctis
Bonus: ?
Success: ?, ?
Failure: ?
The group left the meeting room and traveled through the log fortress back to the first floor. Some of the guards nodded to Schierke as they passed by.
When they reached the infirmary, Horatio was found inside by one of the children's beds. His hands were covered in glowing blue water and they were placed on both side of a sleeping kid's head. The rat was using the [Medicine] spell to help relieve some of the poison's symptoms. Other members of the clan, those unaffected, were tending to other patients. A quick sweep of the room showed 30 sleeping children lying in beds with 15 to either side of the room.
Sean frowned.
Vetch looked up and scowled at Sean, but the ragged coughs of the youth she was tending to warmed her features. Sean watched her change in posture and observed the similarities between her and the child, not missing the flash of concern in her eyes. He then glanced towards Horatio due to the kid's black fur and wondered if he and Horatio were father and son.
Name: Kieran
Race: Rat
Title: Innocent
Age: 7
Level: Lvl 2
Likes: His Aunt Vetch, Potions, Medicine
Dislikes: Water, Bees, The City of Reverence
Description: Vetch's nephew. Smuggled out of Reverence as a baby. He wants to become a doctor one day.
Status Effects: [Poisoned: The Fifth Day]
"No wonder she's so upset."
Sean's ruminations were interrupted when a fluffy pink pillow wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Sean! You're okay, kupo!" Soiree exclaimed. "When you passed out, I thought the worst had happened." She sent him a wink.
"It's nice to see you, too." Sean smiled down at her and returned the hug, careful of her little wings. Her red pom-pom brushed against his face and Sean turned his head away to keep from sneezing. "All I remember is blacking out and waking up her—Woah!"
A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around the surprised human's waist and lifted him up, taking Soiree along for the ride. They were attached to an excitable Kobold at the other end, one with forest green eyes and a rapidly wagging tail.
"Gengen happy you okay. Me worry about you." The happy canine swung the human from side-to-side.
"Yep, everything's all good," Sean replied uncomfortably. He patted Gengen on the shoulder. "Can you please put me down?"
The kobold planted him back on his feet, but not before catching a whiff of Vetch's scent on him. "Why you smell like her?" Gengen pointed towards Vetch with a confused expression. Soiree released her hold on Sean's neck and flew backwards.
"Oh, that's because we slept together." Sean said nonchalantly.
"She did what?!" Soiree heard rumors in the past concerning the rats and didn't appreciate that Sean might've been taken advantage of in his unconscious state.
"There's nothing to worry about. All we did was sleep." Sean paused. "Though she did take my pants off."
"Don't give them the wrong-false idea, man-thing!" Vetch called from Kieran's bedside. "Your clothes were torn-destroyed!"
"I can only guess at what happened."
He wasn't the only one perplexed concerning the battle in Norwich. Soiree remembered clearly that none of the monsters got even close to them, so Sean's injuries made no sense when she woke up from her nap earlier and Dawn broke the news. She gazed into Sean's eyes with questions on the tip of her tongue, briefly glancing down at his torso then back to his face.
Sean shook his head faintly, letting her know that it wasn't the right time to talk about it. Gengen didn't know what was going on either, but that was probably for the best. Sean felt the kobold wouldn't be as good at keeping a secret as the moogle would.
There was also the matter of Sean's mana.
When they first met the other day, the human's magic felt cool and humid like a sunny spring morning. Now, it was closer to a frozen tundra neighbored by a blazing inferno. To a member of a magic-sensitive race, the change in Sean's mana was even more shocking to Soiree than his injuries. It was utterly mystifying.
Soiree made a mental note to research it later.
"Your name is Sean, correct?"
Name: Dawn
Race: ?
Title: ?
Age: ?
Level: ?
Description: Second-in-command of Clan Reed. She fled her previous clan years ago.
Name: Horatio
Race: ?
Title: ?
Age: ?
Level: ?
Description: A prominent figure in the black market, this suave rat fancies himself a ladies man.
Observe Lvl 20 → Lvl 21
"That's me," Sean responded. "Sure am meeting a lot of new people today." "What's your name?"
Unlike most of the other tribe members, the young woman was covered in grass green fur with white fur around her face and on her hands. The inside of her ears were a darker shade of green in the middle surrounded by white and the outer part was an even darker hue. She wore the standard green tunic, except the material wasn't as loose. This was complemented by a red hood.
Dawn regarded him with intrigue, her purple eyes scanning his person carefully. Gengen wasn't the only one to notice the otherworldly scent drifting off of Sean and the human received a decent number of curious looks.
"My name is Dawn. I'm second-in-command of Clan Reed," she informed. "I trust our leader explained everything to you clearly."
"Kind of," Sean replied cordially. "She wants me to cure your people, but I don't know much about what led up to it." He looked at Soiree and suddenly remembered to introduce the others. "These are my friends, Soiree." He gestured his hand to his left. The moogle nodded. "And Gengen." Sean pointed to the kobold with his right thumb. "If you didn't already know."
Sean didn't plan to tell them about the [Messaging System] at this time.
"Hello!" Gengen waved exuberantly.
"Shh!"
"Sorry," Gengen muttered sheepishly. His ears lay flat against his head at their annoyed looks and he gave them an awkward smile.
"We met earlier," Dawn stated simply, wincing at the kobold's volume. "You're the one who 'saved' Domina."
"I don't regret what I did."
Dawn stared at him for a moment, then sighed. "I don't appreciate what happened, but I suppose I should let bygones be bygones, seeing as you left them alive."
"That'd be for the best," Sean replied, not needing any more trouble. "I don't suppose you could explain how your clan wound up like this?" He gestured to the sick children.
Dawn was soon joined by Schierke, who sent some of her guards off to fetch the potions Sean asked for. Hyssop took up position by the doors while Blaine went to help the others look after the sick. Shiro lay down with Zephyr still on him, allowing other tribe members to take Zephyr off his back.
"Chief, I ask permission to guide the human here to the back," Dawn spoke in a respectful tone.
"The three of us will go," Schierke replied. "It will help give our new acquaintance a glimpse of our history."
"All right," Sean said. "Do you guys want to—" His voice petered out when he saw Soiree casting [Soothe] on another child while Gengen stood by her side. The kobold would've gone along were it not for Soiree tapping his head and telling him to stay. "Okay, then."
Horatio was of the mind that the human wouldn't try anything and knew Schierke and Dawn could take care of themselves. The other clan members shared the sentiment, some sending Sean unimpressed looks as they doubted the human would truly be any help at all. However, none of them were stupid or irreverent enough to voice their opinions. They trusted Schierke's judgment and knew her to be a wise leader. Only this made them stomach the strangers' presence.
Quill, meanwhile, paid the goings-on little mind and focused on her duties. She administered another dose of medicine to one of the children to calm down their fever and keep them asleep. She gently patted their head with a concerned expression. The wiggling of her large ears showed that she still heard everything that was being said.
Once out of the infirmary, Sean started casting the [Esuna] spell. The [Multicasting] skill and his levels in [Mana Manipulation] and [Arcane Mastery] allowed him to cast the spell 3 times simultaneously.
Esuna Lvl 1 → Lvl 3
Lvl 3: The user can heal the [Confused] status effect.
SPI: 73 → 75
"Wonder how long this will take."
Dawn watched Sean and the glow of mana around his hands while Schierke faced forward and led them out the front entrance of the fortress.
A large training yard sat before them with training dummies and targets set up for combat and archery practice. Several empty wagons sat ready with Chocobos at the front while Chobin Hoods of various colors were unloading crates of food and other supplies for the incoming influx of occupants. Torches were lit around the fortress' grounds.
A log fence surrounded most of the fortress except for an opening directly ahead for the front gates and one in the back. A roofed, stone well sat off to the side of the front entrance. Guards stood in key positions around the front and back of the property and some were stationed on the balcony above them.
Basil and Orpheus were present and they offered a simple glance before getting back to coordinating their efforts to ensure everything was ready on time. Sean received some poorly hidden scowls, but he was too focused on spellcasting to pay them any mind.
"How long have you been practicing magic?" Dawn asked.
"Around a week," Sean replied to her surprise. "But I've been reading about magic for years." His words were technically true since magic was a common factor in many stories, video games, movies, and so on.
"But reading alone isn't enough. Magic can't just be picked up. It requires sufficient practice."
"So I've been told." "Getting tired of hearing that."
Dawn looked at Schierke uncertainly and she shook her head at Dawn, cutting off any comments or questions.
Around the back, there was a graveyard with wooden crosses placed atop mounds of dirt. Flowers such as hyacinth, camellia, and red roses were placed at the base of some of the grave markers and the graves themselves were neatly spaced apart. A short stone wall encircled the cemetery with an opening for visitors.
"47," Dawn said grimly. "That's how many we've lost."
"All of their names are inscribed here." Schierke pointed to a tombstone taller than Sean in the middle of the graveyard. He saw the list of names and there was room on the gravestone for more.
"Who did this?" Sean asked quietly.
"Mantis Ant is what he calls himself and he made his first appearance shortly after the poison first made itself known." Schierke said, beginning her tale.
Author's Notes: Here's Chapter 10. I wanted to get this out earlier, but it's been a bit of a crazy year as I'm sure you're all aware.
Update (1/9/21): I kept most of what I put in the previous version of this chapter, but I changed a few things because they didn't make sense. I mentioned there were guards around and Sean wouldn't have tried anything, but would they really let him get that close to their children when I've said there are tense relations between the Chobin Hoods and other races. Especially when they don't know whether or not Sean can actually cure them.
I also debated whether Dawn or Schierke should be the one to speak with Sean at the end of the chapter and I jumped back and forth with this between the different drafts before ultimately deciding on both of them. Some details that I took out of this chapter will be moved to Chapter 11 where I'm going to wrap up this first little arc.
Also, many aspects of video games are underutilized across all the Gamer stories online. I've never seen anyone go into a settings menu and adjust the brightness levels in a story nor mess with any of the other settings or options commonly available in most games.
Translation: I tuoi amici (Italian) = Your friends (English)
The second version of the Gamer system will fix an issue I had with experience requirements. Rather than increase the experience Sean needs to level up by crazy amounts, I'll lessen it and give less experience per kill depending on his level.
Any cheats in the cheat menu will either be inaccessible to him at this time or be something that's basically worthless.
In a previous chapter, I said I would genderbend some characters. That number is probably going to go up, but it won't be to insane levels and it won't be for Sean to get laid. There'll be good reasons for it whether it be for comedy or character development. I'm not entirely sure who I'll pair up yet.
Gregory probably won't appear in this story. I have an idea for a Gregory Horror Show fanfiction, but I might not do it.
I was going to have Mantis Ant appear this chapter, but I changed my mind. This boss doesn't speak in the Legend of Mana and he only says a few words in the manga. Mantis Ant sounds like a Saturday morning cartoon villain in the manga and this is part of the reason why I haven't shown him yet. I wanted to show what he's done, but not build him up too much since he pales in comparison to the likes of Deathbringer and Irwin.
Thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited, and followed my story. I really appreciate it and I hope all of you are doing well during these crazy times. Once again, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Please leave a review.