The smell of stale disinfectant and overcooked cabbage clung to the air like a persistent, unwelcome guest. Christopher Smith, all of eleven years old, adjusted the too-large spectacles precariously perched on his nose, his gaze fixed on the worn pages of a battered copy of "The Hobbit." He sat in his usual corner of the orphanage library, a forgotten alcove by the dusty bookshelves, the world outside fading into a background hum. The matron, Mrs. Higgins, a woman whose smiles felt as brittle as old parchment, had long ago given up trying to get him to socialize. Let him be, she'd say, he wasn't causing any trouble. He was too busy reading anyways.
Chris, as he preferred to be called, didn't mind the solitude. In the quiet of his corner, he could forget the drab grey of the orphanage, forget the bland meals, and forget the nagging feeling of 'something's wrong here, just what the fuck is it?' It had been there as long as he could remember, that odd sense that he was supposed to be somewhere else, doing something else. Like an itch under the skin that he couldn't quite reach. He'd always tried to explain it but it only got him confused looks. And, frankly, those confused looks annoyed the shit out of him.
He wasn't stupid, despite the orphanage's rather lackluster education. Math problems, that others struggled with, seemed to click with him. High school and even some college-level textbooks presented no real challenge. Reading, likewise, was something that he was oddly good at and, even when reading for pleasure, he felt like he absorbed information from the books as easily as someone might inhale the air around them. Yet, socially, he was… well, let's just say that he didn't win popularity awards. He could hold a conversation well enough but, he wasn't what most would consider charismatic by any stretch. He much preferred the company of books to other kids, most days. Though, if anyone got a D group going he was more than willing to join. Even though most of his character sheets often wound up with 'interesting' takes on classic builds.
The orphanage itself was located just off Westminster Bridge Road, a place bustling with the energy of central London. Still, inside its walls, a sort of quiet monotony ruled. Summer vacation had just started, and most kids were out playing, their shouts and laughter a faint echo through the closed windows. Chris, however, remained in his corner. He had finished his last book yesterday, and he couldn't find anything new to read that really caught his eye. Instead, he was just flipping through the various books, looking for something to grab his attention. He found nothing. Instead, he stared at the ceiling, lost in thought about the day to day minutia that he always found himself dealing with. 'I've gotta get something to read, even the newspaper might be better than doing nothing.'
That night, however, was different. Chris fell asleep like he always did but his dreams were nothing he had seen before. Images and events flickered behind his eyelids like a damaged film reel. A lifetime of memories rushed through his mind, fragmented yet whole. He saw himself older, much older, late forties, with a life full of the mundaneness of work, hobbies, the pets he had owned, and everything else in between. Then, that life was ripped away by a violent accident, sharp, searing pain before… nothing. He gasped awake, a cold sweat clinging to his skin, his heart hammering like a trapped bird. 'What the hell was that? No, what the FUCK was that!' The last images replayed in his head, the memories fresh and raw. It had felt so real. So...familiar. He wasn't just some random kid; he had lived another life. A complete other life, and he had just been thrown back into the body of an eleven year old kid.
He pushed himself up from the lumpy mattress and pulled on his glasses, and took a deep breath. The memories, though still shocking, settled into something he could accept, a part of his history now, as much as the orphaned life he had lead thus far. As if on instinct, his eyes flickered upwards, a new UI seeming to take shape before him, the various interfaces becoming clear like a fog clearing over a lake at dawn. He noticed the word [Status] floating above, followed by [Inventory, [Quests] and [Skills]. 'What the actual fuck is going on?' he thought, a mixture of alarm and curiosity filling his mind. Still his brain went with it, even though the more prudent part of him was freaking the fuck out.
He reached out a tentative hand and touched the word [Status]. A new window opened before him, displaying text on a transparent screen. He blinked. This had to be some sort of dream right? Yet, the interface was clear enough, the text simple enough to read, as he studied it with the same voraciousness he used when reading his books.
[Name: Christopher Smith]
[Title: Odd Orphan]
[Race: Human(?)]
[Level: 1] [Age 11]
[Stats]
[HP: 30/30]
[MP: 400/400]
[Stamina: 40/40]
[Attributes]
[Vitality: 3]
[Strength: 5]
[Dexterity: 5]
[Agility: 5]
[Endurance: 4]
[Intelligence: 40]
[Wisdom: 8]
[Attribute Points: 0]
He stared, dumbfounded. 'Okay, so I'm a Human but… question mark? And what is this stuff? HP, MP, Stamina? Stats and Attributes like I'm in an RPG?' He closed that menu with a flick of his fingers and looked back to the main menu that was floating there in front of him. The last life that he lived was one that was filled with video games and this whole interface was something that he was intimately familiar with. The only thing that was missing was the controller, and if he was being honest with himself the ability to be lazy on his couch and not actually have to deal with it all. He had loved games, loved their stories, and more importantly, loved getting lost in worlds so different from his own. 'I guess dying really DOES do weird shit.'
He touched the [Skills] tab and another screen popped up, and more information was there.
[Skills]
[Observe Lvl 1 0.00%]
[Basic Mana Bolt Lvl 1 0.00%]
[Dungeon Creation Lvl 1 0.00%]
[Dungeon Exit Lvl 1 0.00%]
'Okay, observe isn't too crazy, that is what it says it is. Basic Mana Bolt... probably that means some kind of magic.' He ignored the thought of that and looked at the last skills. 'Dungeon Creation? Well that's definitely new. And a Dungeon Exit? Did they come as a set?' he mentally asked himself before his curiosity got the better of him and decided to test them both out. 'If this dungeon creation thing is real and not just some dream then it shouldn't matter if I use it in here right?'
He cleared his throat and gave the command that he felt was correct, "Create Dungeon."
The world around him flickered, the walls of his tiny room blurring before snapping back into focus. But something had changed, something felt different. It felt the same as the orphanage room had before but... more. It was like looking at a photocopy of the orphanage and not the real deal itself. The books had the same worn edges and smell. The air had that awful tinge of old cabbage. But nothing had changed, his location hadn't been altered. Looking back at the menu the various tabs still floated there as though he never left. He checked again,
[Name: Christopher Smith]
[Title: Odd Orphan]
[Race: Human(?)]
[Level: 1] [Age 11]
[Stats]
[HP: 30/30]
[MP: 400/400]
[Stamina: 40/40]
[Attributes]
[Vitality: 3]
[Strength: 5]
[Dexterity: 5]
[Agility: 5]
[Endurance: 4]
[Intelligence: 40]
[Wisdom: 8]
[Attribute Points: 0]
His levels and everything was all the same. So it seemed like he was still him just… somewhere else? 'I'm seriously a video game character now? Or is this an insane dream where I can manipulate a computer interface with my mind?' He shook his head. Both were terrifying but, also kind of awesome, 'Okay let's see if the exit skill works.'
Again he cleared his throat, a bit of nervousness creeping into his voice as he said, "Dungeon Exit."
The blur came again and he found himself back in the same room as before, yet something seemed different, the dull lighting of the early morning had begun to seep through the thin curtains as the sun rose slowly over the city. That had been far faster than it should have been. 'Maybe time moves differently in the dungeons?' He was still unsure but for the time being, he decided to put that mystery on the shelf with all of the others.
He looked back to the skills again,
[Skills]
[Observe Lvl 1 0.00%]
[Basic Mana Bolt Lvl 1 0.00%]
[Dungeon Creation Lvl 1 5.25%]
[Dungeon Exit Lvl 1 2.15%]
'Okay, so that did something at least' He went back and tapped the [Observe] tab, wanting to know more. The text on the screen changed to allow him to focus on a target with his mind. 'Well lets try this.' He focused on his Basic Mana Bolt skill, his mind zeroing in on it. The text displayed in his mind the second he thought of it.
[Basic Mana Bolt Lvl 1 0.00%]
[Damage is 5 x (Int x 0.5)]
'Alright, alright… So it has a damage formula that is based off of my Intelligence stat. So not very impressive at the moment but that means it scales.' He then did the same for the dungeon skills. The Dungeon Creation and Exit skills simply noted that there was a 10 mana cost for each and nothing more. He closed the menu and got to his feet. 'This is insane, completely insane, and I have no idea where to start. Better to just… get to the breakfast before they're out of that watery oatmeal. And then, I need to try this all again.'
As he stepped out of the room, a strange calmness had settled upon him, something new. Gamer's Mind was the only thing that he could come up with in the context of what was happening. His past life and memories had come flooding back but there was nothing of any emotional effect to him. It was just information. That fact alone was unsettling but it allowed him to calmly and rationally assess what he had seen. He decided to try out his observe skill again on the corridor he was walking in, the orphanage around him fading into background detail as he focused on his destination, the mess hall.
The hallway was plain, just as he remembered it. The smell of old wood, dust, and slightly too strong cleaning supplies filled the air as he passed by. The paint, an off white color, was peeling off in patches and in one area he saw how water had dripped down from the ceiling, the water mark spreading outward like some abstract artwork. The floor was likewise as worn with dark scuff marks in heavy traffic areas and it was with the sound of his steps echoing throughout the hall that he arrived at the mess hall where he saw his fellow orphans. He decided that he needed to test what he had discovered in private. Later of course. He had to eat.
The mess hall was a cacophony of clattering cutlery, murmuring conversations, and the rhythmic scrape of metal against enamel. The smell of overcooked oatmeal mingled with the faint hint of burnt toast, creating an aroma that Chris had come to find almost comforting in its predictability. He grabbed a bowl of the grey, lumpy goo and a piece of slightly crisped toast, finding an empty spot at the far end of the table, away from the louder kids. He wasn't avoiding people, not exactly, it was just… easier this way. 'I really need to look at upgrading that food situation. That was something that was a pain in the ass before, I'd hate to have to deal with it again.'
He ate quickly, his mind churning with the possibilities and implications of his newfound abilities. The memories from his past life continued to settle, integrating with his current life without causing too much of a stir. The calmness of Gamer's Mind, it was, was something he found both disturbing and immensely useful in assessing everything. 'Okay, so a Gamer System exists, I have magic of some kind, and I can make dungeons? And that's not even addressing the past life thing! This is officially insane.' He finished his breakfast and excused himself before heading back to the room to see about the Dungeon skill and some privacy to work on the other skills.
His room looked the same, nothing had changed. Yet he had changed, he was different. A system, he decided, to use the gaming term he was familiar with. He was a system with a Gamer System of all things. 'What in the actual fuck am I supposed to do with that?' The past life memories told him what he had done before but that knowledge was pretty much useless as they did not translate well to the world he was in. Well, they were mostly useless, some things did carry over and that was mostly related to the world and how it all operated.
He took a seat on the bed and, looking at the menu, he thought of the Dungeon Creation Skill. A slight shiver ran through him, anticipation making itself known as he cleared his throat again, "Create Dungeon."
The world flickered, blurring at the edges before sharpening into the familiar sight of his small, cluttered room. Except, as always, it wasn't quite right. He found a new skill as well that hadn't been there before. He found it the same way he found all the others by focusing on the menu.
[Skills]
[Observe Lvl 1 0.00%]
[Basic Mana Bolt Lvl 1 0.00%]
[Dungeon Creation Lvl 1 7.25%]
[Dungeon Exit Lvl 1 4.15%]
[Gamers Body Lvl MAX]
[Gamers Mind Lvl MAX]
'Wait. I got more skills out of nowhere? Gamers Body and Mind huh?' He touched the skill and more information came up. It was rather straight forward. They granted complete and absolute immunity to any mental effects as well as letting his body grow as if he was in a game. Pain, fear, charm, mental manipulation, they could not get to him, or at least that's what the text on the screen said. It even blocked people from reading his mind. He had no idea if it was as effective as described but he could believe it, the calmness he felt was almost inhuman despite what he was seeing and dealing with.
He looked at the Dungeon skill again, seeing the little exp tick up.
He tested it again, "Dungeon Exit."
The world blurred, and snapped back. He was back in his dingy room, a few rays of early morning sunlight filtering through the curtains. He checked the menu again.
[Skills]
[Observe Lvl 1 0.00%]
[Basic Mana Bolt Lvl 1 0.00%]
[Dungeon Creation Lvl 1 13.25%]
[Dungeon Exit Lvl 1 9.15%]
[Gamers Body Lvl MAX]
[Gamers Mind Lvl MAX]
'Alright, both gained some more exp, not much but it's something' he thought as he paced in front of his bed. He had a few more hours before he had to go to lunch. 'Time to see how this combat thing works.' He focused on the Basic Mana Bolt skill, the name of it repeating in his head, as he then reached his hands out. He was imagining what it was in his past life in all the games he had played. It looked like a glowing ball of blueish white light crackled and sparked in front of his palms, slowly swirling as he made it. His concentration, while good, wasn't great and after a moment it dissipated. He tried again, this time making it slightly bigger and threw it into the wall.
A small crack appeared in the wall where it struck and the dust was knocked free from the impact. The menu updated to reflect this,
[Skills]
[Observe Lvl 1 0.00%]
[Basic Mana Bolt Lvl 1 1.43%]
[Dungeon Creation Lvl 1 13.25%]
[Dungeon Exit Lvl 1 9.15%]
[Gamers Body Lvl MAX]
[Gamers Mind Lvl MAX]
'Okay, so I get less experience training than using the Dungeon, which is pretty useful for escaping if nothing else, and hitting walls. How sad.' He repeated it a few more times, aiming the mana bolts into the wall, making them small, then large, and anything else in between. He watched the damage and made note of how it was effected by his intent, trying to understand it more and more as the time ticked by and the exp for the Basic Mana Bolt slowly climbed. Eventually, he went and did something similar with the dungeon skills before it was time for lunch.
He arrived in the mess hall and saw the same scene as before. He grabbed the same bland and dull oatmeal that he had before and took his place at his regular table. He looked around at the orphans eating with a small hum of chatter filling the space before he decided to focus on the menu in front of him.
[Name: Christopher Smith]
[Title: Odd Orphan]
[Race: Human(?)]
[Level: 1] [Age 11]
[Stats]
[HP: 30/30]
[MP: 400/400]
[Stamina: 40/40]
[Attributes]
[Vitality: 3]
[Strength: 5]
[Dexterity: 5]
[Agility: 5]
[Endurance: 4]
[Intelligence: 40]
[Wisdom: 8]
[Attribute Points: 0]
[Skills]
[Observe Lvl 1 0.00%]
[Basic Mana Bolt Lvl 1 4.73%]
[Dungeon Creation Lvl 1 27.25%]
[Dungeon Exit Lvl 1 19.15%]
[Gamers Body Lvl MAX]
[Gamers Mind Lvl MAX]
'Still level 1 but everything else is coming up slightly at least.' He thought as he ate, quickly dismissing the dull food that his mouth was attempting to consume. He took another look around, seeing the other kids, not just kids in general but, some of the kids he grew up with. 'They're not real.' That thought came out of nowhere and it bothered him more than he thought. 'They are real. Just... unimportant to my story? I am in a game of some kind, they must just be background characters. The only thing that matters are stats and levels and all of that junk. No. What the fuck am I even saying?' He blinked as another thought came to his head. 'I shouldn't be thinking like that.'
The Gamer's Mind was interfering somehow. That is the only thing he could come up with. His emotions were there, muted sure, but present and there. But Gamer's Mind was overriding them, making him look at people as nothing but NPCs or background characters or whatever term could be used. 'That is wrong and I am not going to start thinking like that. Not ever.'
His internal argument came to a close as he then looked back to the mess hall, observing the kids before finally focusing on the menu again.
'Right, let's keep moving. After this lunch thing I am going to try and get out of here and make my way to the nearest park and see about this Dungeon creation.'
As soon as he was done he excused himself again and made his way out the mess hall as fast as he could without running, not that running was really a possibility in the old building as the floor would often creak loudly. Once back in his room, he grabbed a small worn out backpack and put a book into it, a story about knights and wizards, something he would enjoy and quickly made his way out of the building. The walk outside was a welcome change from the recycled air of the orphanage and it wasn't long before he found himself in a small, poorly maintained park with a few small trees and a single swing set that had seen better days. There were no people around so it was the perfect place to try and level his skills and finally find a monster or something.
He sat down on a bench under the shade of a thin tree and looked at the interface. He decided to look at the inventory to see if it had anything and was not surprised to see nothing there except how much weight he could carry, 25 kilograms for the moment. He closed it and put the focus on the Dungeon Creation skill. His internal monologue came back online, 'Okay, Create Dungeon right here, and see if it does anything. The orphanage was easy since it was right here. But what about the real world at large? The rules about the copy of the real world are pretty vague but what should happen, should happen.' He cleared his throat and spoke, "Create Dungeon."
The world blurred and then sharpened again, revealing the park exactly as it was before except… 'Well, its darker.' He stood up and looked around, noting that everything had the same dull coloring as it did when he made it in the orphanage. Everything looked similar to how it did out there. He looked back at the menu, and was greeted by the updated skill list.
[Skills]
[Observe Lvl 1 0.00%]
[Basic Mana Bolt Lvl 1 4.73%]
[Dungeon Creation Lvl 1 47.25%]
[Dungeon Exit Lvl 1 39.15%]
[Gamers Body Lvl MAX]
[Gamers Mind Lvl MAX]
'Alright. So that actually worked and it wasn't just me being locked in a single spot. I guess that means that I can travel the city at my leisure without too much concern, at least in the dungeon world.' He wandered around for a few moments, getting used to the space before thinking, 'Okay time for some monster hunting.'
He focused again on the [Skills] tab and then, the Basic Mana Bolt Skill. 'It's time to see what I can really do.' He was expecting something big and exciting as he focused on the mana in him and directed it out through his hands, firing off one mana bolt after another at various trees and bushes in the park. He continued this for another twenty minutes, occasionally making larger mana bolts with the same intent to cause damage rather than just hit an object. All the while the numbers kept ticking up, slowly but surely, and it was with one final blast of a larger than usual mana bolt that he saw something move in the forest. It was small, and rather unimpressive with beady little red eyes and long claws. He tried to observe it.
[Dire Rat Lv 5]
[Health: 100/100]
[A large, mutated rat that has been corrupted by the negative energy of the dungeon. It is stronger, faster, and larger than a normal rat.]
'A level 5 Dire Rat. And one hundred health points? It seems that I have finally got a monster to beat on.' He narrowed his eyes at the creature, the calm of his Gamer's Mind only amplifying the focus he had as he took aim with another mana bolt.
The Dire Rat, a mangy creature with a mottled grey coat and teeth that looked sharp enough to shred leather, skittered behind a gnarled tree, its red eyes glinting in the artificial twilight of the dungeon. Chris, despite the calm instilled by his Gamer's Mind, felt a jolt of adrenaline, a mix of excitement and a primal urge to fight. 'Okay, first real enemy. Don't screw this up,' he thought, his hands tingling with anticipation. He channeled his focus, feeling the mana thrumming beneath his skin. He aimed, drew a bead on the creature, and fired a basic mana bolt.
The bolt streaked through the air, a small, pulsating ball of blueish white energy, impacting the tree where the rat had been a moment before, leaving a charred mark on its bark. The rat screeched, a high-pitched, unsettling noise, and darted out from behind the tree, its movements erratic and unpredictable. Chris fired again, this time aiming for the rat directly, and watched as it clipped the creature's side, causing it to hiss in pain. It charged him.
[Skills]
[Observe Lvl 1 0.00%]
[Basic Mana Bolt Lvl 1 13.23%]
[Dungeon Creation Lvl 1 47.25%]
[Dungeon Exit Lvl 1 39.15%]
[Gamers Body Lvl MAX]
[Gamers Mind Lvl MAX]
He noted the increase in exp even as he was forced to dodge to his left as the rat attempted to jump and bite his face. The movement was too slow, too telegraphed for it to have a hope of working. He brought his focus back to the creature and sent another mana bolt to it, this time hitting its leg causing it to fall to the ground. It cried out in pain before scrambling back up and running away into the trees again.
'Alright, a bit clumsy but not bad for a first go.' Chris thought as he followed the wounded rat. He could have simply gone and waited for it to heal but decided that it was worth following it for more combat experience. It was a good reminder to him of how weak he actually was. Even a simple rat could have taken him down if it was lucky enough. 'There is a lot of work to do.'
He ran after the rat, dodging trees and bushes before finally catching up to it where it had stopped by a larger, but just as worn and aged swing set, where it was licking at its wounds. He fired another mana bolt into the injured leg, sending it sprawling again. Chris advanced, mana crackling in his hands. The rat tried to stand but fell with the last few bits of the mana bolt burning through its body, killing it instantly. He stood there for a moment, breathing heavily but not in an exhausted way. The adrenaline he had felt earlier had gone as quickly as it came leaving a calm yet excited sensation in its wake. The exp had shot up and, finally, his first level was up for grabs.
[Skills]
[Observe Lvl 1 0.00%]
[Basic Mana Bolt Lvl 1 22.97%]
[Dungeon Creation Lvl 1 47.25%]
[Dungeon Exit Lvl 1 39.15%]
[Gamers Body Lvl MAX]
[Gamers Mind Lvl MAX]
He pulled up the main menu and looked at it once more, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He tapped the status screen.
[Name: Christopher Smith]
[Title: Odd Orphan]
[Race: Human(?)]
[Level: 2] [Age 11]
[Stats]
[HP: 50/50]
[MP: 400/400]
[Stamina: 40/40]
[Attributes]
[Vitality: 5]
[Strength: 5]
[Dexterity: 5]
[Agility: 5]
[Endurance: 4]
[Intelligence: 40]
[Wisdom: 8]
[Attribute Points: 5]
'Level 2 huh? Alright then, where do you go then? Strength I guess. Five points, for now that is fine. There might be something better that comes along later. This is only level 2.' He allocated the points to his Strength stat and watched as the inventory menu updated to reflect the change. His Strength had also passively increased his carry weight to 50 kilograms from 25 which while useful now, might get to the point that it would be meaningless in the future. His body was also feeling less fragile, if only slightly and not to the point of him being anything like some kind of superman. Yet.
He closed the menu and looked back to where the Dire Rat had died. He pulled up the observe menu again, aiming it at where the rat had fallen, hoping for something to show up.
[Rotten Rat Hide]
[A pelt taken from a Dire Rat. It has little to no value.]
[Weight: 0.3 Kg]
'Ah, an item… and junk loot to boot.' He touched the item and it went into his inventory. He looked back at the screen where it stated that his carry limit was 50 kilograms and the rat hide was now within his inventory. The inventory itself remained the same. Just an empty black screen with the weights recorded at the bottom of it. He closed that and looked at the trees that he had been hitting. He used his observe on them.
[Oak Tree]
[A large oak tree, old and worn by the elements of the world. It is mostly useless outside of a few resources.]
He touched that and another tab appeared.
[Material Makeup]
[Composition: Cellulose, Lignin, Water.]
[Density: 600-800 kg/m3 ]
'Okay... now that is handy.' He closed that window and observed a few more things. Rocks, more trees, the ground itself and they all came up with their composition and other useful bits of information that could possibly be used if he was some kind of blacksmith or craftsman or even an alchemist, 'Ha as if, though maybe later,' but, he was not. For now it was just interesting information that he was cataloging for later use. Or at least that was the plan. He took the same amount of time that it took to level up his Basic Mana Bolt skill to do the same for his Dungeon skills and then, it was time to leave.
"Dungeon Exit." he said to nothing as he was thrown out of the dungeon back into the real world where he noted the sun was far higher in the sky than it was before. Time certainly didn't go the same way in the dungeon as it did out here. He didn't mind though. It was far better that way and allowed him more training opportunities before having to go back. He pulled the backpack onto his back and began making his way back to the orphanage, though with a skip in his step as he did. He was no longer just a sad, lonely kid living in an orphanage. He was something… more. And that thought pleased him more than anything that he had done in the day so far.
He arrived back at the orphanage and, before heading inside, stopped at a nearby store to purchase a notebook and pencil, along with an eraser. The total cost wasn't too much, just a few pounds that he pulled out of his pocket. He had a bit of money saved up from birthdays and odd jobs that he had managed to do when not reading or locked in his own thoughts. After that purchase he re-entered the building and made his way to his room, putting the notebook and supplies under his pillow before making his way to dinner.
The same routine repeated, this time with a slightly different menu, if only barely. It was the same sort of dull food with barely any nutrients, although there were times where he had found a surprise bit of meat or a vegetable that had not been boiled to death. Today was not one of those days. He went to bed and, after thinking for a bit, he pulled out his new notebook and began to write down what he had done today, including his discoveries of the dungeon and his new status screen. 'Alright. Dungeon world. Got it. Gamer system? I can work with that. Time travel, dimension travel, or just waking up in a new world as a different person? Well I can't change it, just need to make the most of it.' He wrote and drew diagrams, detailing the stats and what he had seen and learned about the new world around him. His hand moved across the page as more and more came to mind, adding more and more detail as he did. The system menu updated as he was doing so as well.
[Skills]
[Observe Lvl 1 10.43%]
[Basic Mana Bolt Lvl 1 29.97%]
[Dungeon Creation Lvl 1 87.15%]
[Dungeon Exit Lvl 1 75.09%]
[Gamers Body Lvl MAX]
[Gamers Mind Lvl MAX]
The exp was ticking slowly, ever so slowly, and he couldn't help but sigh as he looked at it all. 'This is going to take forever at this rate.'
His hand continued to write before it stopped as another thought occurred. 'What about actual magic? As in… you know… Hogwarts and wizards and all that?'
His mind, in spite of Gamer's Mind, had gone into overdrive. He paused, a small smile creeping up as he realized what that meant. He wasn't just some dude with a Gamer System, magic and dungeons. He was 'A wizard, Harry… a wizard and a gamer.'
A surge of adrenaline pulsed through him, a feeling he had never felt before, and more importantly, one that Gamers Mind had done little to dampen. 'Alright, okay… I need to learn more. Much more. Tomorrow, the library. And after that, more training.' He placed the notebook under his pillow again, put his glasses on the nearby nightstand, and allowed sleep to claim him, the new possibilities making the thin and lumpy mattress feel like one made of goose down and clouds.
Chris woke with a start, the morning light filtering through the thin curtains. For a moment, he felt a flash of that old, familiar disorientation, a momentary lapse in the calming effect of Gamer's Mind before he got out of bed and his mind snapped back into the present, the memories from his previous life like a worn but well-loved book now, something to reference and remember, but not obsess about. It had all happened, that was all that needed to be said about it.
He reached under his pillow and pulled out the notebook and pencil he had purchased the previous day. He opened it, the pages filled with his almost childish scribbles and drawings from the night before, an inventory of all that he had learned. It was rather chaotic and made little sense to anyone not used to his way of thinking and working out things but to him it made complete sense. His eyes drifted up and, seeing his interface open for him, he mentally focused on it to see the details. He glanced at it, finding a lot of minor things had gone up but there was nothing worth mentioning. He simply put his notebook and pencil aside before getting ready for the day. After all, another meal at the same time of day will be the same kind of food.
He got his food and ate it in record time, a part of his mind still analyzing the events of the day before. He thought back to the combat, to the weak damage his mana bolt did to the Dire Rat and wondered if it was ever going to improve. If all of the combat encounters were going to be like that he wouldn't make it past a level five enemy. It was a grim reminder of how much more work he needed to do.
Once he was done he made his way back to his room where he began to cycle through his skills before choosing the dungeon creation skill. He stood in the middle of his room before once more giving the command. "Create Dungeon."
The room blurred again before snapping back into focus, but this time something was different. There was a small menu in the top right of his vision, where all of the other menus were listed, that contained another tab now, the word [Modifiers] listed underneath it. He glanced at the menu and tapped on [Modifiers].
[Modifiers]
[None]
[Empty]
He clicked the empty modifier. Nothing really changed this time except that all life was absent. No leaves falling, no small woodland creatures scurrying, even the sounds that usually occupied the space were absent. It was oddly peaceful he noted as he decided that was enough of that. He didn't come here to relax, he came here to get stronger. He closed the menu and exited the dungeon to check up on the changes he had acquired.
He returned back to his room with the same calm focus as before. As he reached the notebook and looked to the screen to see the skills that had changed over his last excursion, the change was… less impressive than he hoped it would have been, the Basic Mana Bolt getting a small damage boost while Dungeon Creation and Exit only really went up in exp, nothing else. There was no new skill associated with them. He knew that these things took time but it was still a bit disappointing, nonetheless.
He decided, for the sake of boredom, to use the empty dungeon and make his way to a bookstore in the same street as the orphanage to get another book or two. He entered the empty dungeon and, sure enough, all traces of life were gone. It was oddly chilling if not a bit peaceful as he made his way through the streets of London with no one around.
The store itself was located a few streets over and, upon exiting his dungeon, he found himself directly in the store, no one there as it had not yet opened. He wandered the rows and rows of books, running his fingers along their spines as he read, slowly finding a few that caught his eye. A copy of the Odyssey, a small guide to common herbs, and a biography of a famous explorer. The cost of all of this would probably come out to about ten pounds at most so nothing that would bankrupt him. 'I'll just put these in the inventory for later.' He thought as he 'pocketed' them before then getting out of there as fast as possible and re entering the dungeon.
He found a secluded alley to exist from and, after the familiar sensation of blurring, he was back out in the real world. It was late morning, the sun now high above the buildings as he made his way back to the orphanage where he read his books until the time came for lunch where he met his fellow orphans. As expected the food was mostly the same as usual except they seemed to have had some apples tossed into the oatmeal for a bit of sweetness. He took his regular place and ate at his own pace before the day continued in its repetitive fashion. The next day arrived as the one before and was much the same but with a few changes as it was then, with the sun shining through his window that he saw a letter, an owl with it, sitting on the window sill. His breath caught as he stared at it. The parchment was heavy, and the writing in a vibrant emerald ink.
The bird looked at him and gave a small hoot, before then putting its head forward for a treat. 'Wait… that's an owl… with a letter… is this real?' The memories came back with that realization of what this was and what it all meant. 'Oh shit it is, I'm going to Hogwarts!' he yelled out in the small room before his eyes landed back on the animal still asking for a treat. He pulled a bit of bread from his nightstand, a left over from breakfast before offering it to the owl, which it took and consumed in record time before then reaching out with its leg once more. Tied to it was another bit of paper which Chris took and, after a nod to the bird, he quickly untied it. The owl flew out the window as soon as it was free.
He opened the letter and read the contents, a small smile appearing on his lips, an emotion that even Gamer's Mind couldn't completely suppress.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Smith,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Below that was a list of his items, all of the required textbooks, cauldron, a telescope, a set of basic potions ingredients, and the clothing for it all. As he finished reading he heard a knock on the door and he knew, instinctively, who it was.
He tidied up his room as fast as he could before opening the door to a woman dressed in a severe green robe, a pointed hat perched atop her head, her face framed by a tight bun of grey hair. She had a slight smile on her face, one that she only had at the edges of her lips, but it was a smile nonetheless. Her eyes, a steely blue, scanned him over and over again before stopping when they met his own. 'Professor McGonagall I assume.'
"Mr. Smith?" she asked, her voice firm but with a touch of warmth. "I am Professor McGonagall, from Hogwarts. I received word of your acceptance."
"Yes, ma'am," Chris replied, doing his best to sound polite but his previous life and American style of speaking kept him from sounding British enough. "Please, come in."
She stepped inside and looked around, nodding to herself as she took in his room. There was nothing much to see. A small bed, desk and chair, a night stand with the aforementioned items sitting on them. The books that he purchased that day were stored safely within his inventory, another useful fact of being a Gamer he was learning. The matron, Mrs. Higgins came to the door, peering into the room along with another staff member, a younger woman with curly hair, who was peeking over the matron's shoulder. The both of them looked confused but mostly interested.
"This is Mrs. Higgins, our matron and Miss. Miller," Chris said, gesturing to the two women standing in the doorway. "She has been taking care of me since I got here."
"It is good to meet you Professor," Mrs. Higgins said, not quite masking her shock at seeing someone dressed so oddly. Miss. Miller simply nodded with a slight wave. McGonagall turned to the two women, "It is a pleasure to meet both of you. I know this may come as quite a surprise for both of you, but I am here because Mr. Smith is a wizard and will be attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I will be here to help him with procuring the necessary items for him to be able to attend as a student of the school."
Mrs. Higgins's face scrunched up, as if she had bitten into something that tasted like rancid milk, "Wizard? As in… magic?"
Professor McGonagall nodded, a small smile on her lips, "Indeed. Perhaps, to put your mind at ease, I can show you." She pulled a small stick from inside her robes, and gave it a little flick and in a moment the bed in the room had turned into a small table, covered in small candies and a small tea set. Mrs. Higgins and Miss. Miller looked at each other with wide eyes before both their faces turned to the woman standing in the room with Chris. With another flick it was reverted back to the bed it was.
"Well, I'll be," Miss. Miller whispered, mostly to herself. Mrs Higgins simply stared in shock.
"Yes, well, as I was saying. The cost of Mr. Smiths materials will all be handled by the Ministry of Magic and the school as is standard with Muggleborn students without the means. As for getting him to school he will board the Hogwarts Express on the first of September, which leaves from Kings Cross at eleven in the morning." The room grew quiet for a moment as the staff of the orphanage took it in.
"I will also be taking him with me for now to get his items. It is far better that I do that so to ensure he doesn't get too lost or overwhelmed. I know how it can be for students with a rather… unorthodox beginning." She said with a slight emphasis on the last word.
"We understand." Miss. Miller said nodding to Chris. "We only want the best for him, and… wow."
McGonagall turned her focus back to Chris, a soft smile on her lips. "Shall we go, Mr. Smith?" she asked. "I believe that I already have everything taken care of on my end, so all we have to do is collect them and then make our way to get you settled in."
Chris simply nodded. "Lead the way, Professor," he said, his heart pounding with excitement. This was it. This was really happening.
The walk to the Leaky Cauldron was brisk, Professor McGonagall setting a pace that Chris, despite being an eleven-year-old, found surprisingly easy to keep up with. The streets of London were already bustling, the air filled with the sounds of traffic and the chatter of early morning commuters. He glanced up at the Professor, who was walking with a calm and serene expression, her robes fluttering slightly in the gentle breeze. 'She really is something, kind of intimidating, but also like a kind grandparent' he thought, the calmness that his Gamer's Mind always seemed to bring with it in full effect now. He was still so very new to all of this but at least he was in a better position than he was even just days prior.
They arrived at a rather unassuming looking pub nestled between a bookshop and a music store. "The Leaky Cauldron," Professor McGonagall announced, gesturing to the rather plain door. "A gateway to the magical world." With a wave of her wand, she caused a sign to appear on the front of the building reading "The Leaky Cauldron," not that it had ever gone away, but it was a useful bit of flare that made it look far better than it was before. They stepped inside and, as they did, the atmosphere changed. The interior was dim and cozy, with wooden beams and flickering candles casting long shadows on the walls. It was populated by an eclectic mix of people, some dressed in normal clothing, and others in robes similar to those worn by McGonagall. All stopped what they were doing and stared at the pair that walked into the room, before going back to their business as if nothing had happened. Chris simply took in the scene, his curiosity and calmness both vying for dominance in his mind as he followed the Professor through the room.
They continued through the Leaky Cauldron until they came to a back wall and she tapped a few bricks with her wand. As she did so, the wall shimmered and split open, revealing a narrow, cobblestone street filled with shops and people dressed in all sorts of fantastic attire. It was like stepping into another world. Chris, despite knowing that this was coming, still stared at the scene in awe. His previous life had read about this scene in books many times but actually seeing it in front of him was something else entirely.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley, Mr. Smith," Professor McGonagall said, her voice slightly amused as she watched Chris take in the sight. "This is where we will acquire your school supplies."
They stepped through the archway and into the bustling street. The air was filled with the aroma of parchment, ink, and strange, exotic herbs. Witches and wizards of all ages were going about their business, some haggling over prices, others browsing the shelves of the various shops. A small, crooked shop caught Chris's eye, its window filled with wands of all shapes and sizes. "Ollivander's," he read, his heart skipping a beat.
Professor McGonagall nodded, "That is where we will get your wand. It is custom for all witches and wizards to receive their wands there. It's a rather… finicky process and one that only Ollivander seems to understand." She led Chris towards the shop, and opened the door as the two of them stepped inside. The shop was narrow and dusty, with tall shelves that reached all the way up to the ceiling. It smelled of old wood and something akin to parchment, a mixture of scents that seemed to calm the chaotic nature of his mind, not that it was too turbulent, but the feeling was there. An old man with wide, silvery eyes and a slightly disheveled appearance, emerged from the back, a small smile gracing his lips. This was Mr. Ollivander.
"Ah, a new student," he said, his gaze focused on Chris as though he were peering into his very soul. "Come, come." Ollivander beckoned Chris forward, and after a glance towards McGonagall who was silent as always, he stepped forward.
Ollivander pulled a measuring tape from seemingly out of thin air and started measuring him. The tape flew over his arms and body and he could feel its magical presence. 'I really need to get a wand so I can do magic of my own, it looks so useful.'
"Now," Ollivander said, putting the tape away. "Let's see..." He scanned the shelves with his eyes before walking back and grabbing a long box. "Let us start here." He opened the box and pulled out a wand, "Hawthorn wood, with a unicorn hair core, ten inches, and slightly bendy," he said as he offered it to Chris. "Give it a wave."
Chris, remembering what he had read from his books, took the wand in his hand and gave a little flick as he was directed to do by Ollivander. Nothing happened. "Hmm," Ollivander hummed. "Not quite." He then took it from him and put it back on the shelf and grabbed another box. "Now how about this? Rowan wood with a dragon heartstring core, eleven and a quarter inches, and quite flexible." Chris repeated the motions but, as before, nothing seemed to happen. He did this several times, with Ollivander's expression growing more and more perplexed. This was far more than was typical and something was clearly off with him. Chris watched as more and more wands were taken from the various shelves, some short and stubby, others long and thin. The man seemed to be trying everything in his inventory.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Ollivander stepped into the back of the store. After a few moments, he emerged carrying a long, dark box, his eyes alight with a strange sort of excitement. "I believe this might be it," he said, his voice a low rumble. He carefully opened the box, revealing a wand crafted from a dark, almost black wood with a hilt of polished silver. "Blackthorn wood, with a Thestral hair core, thirteen and a half inches, slightly springy," he said, his gaze unwavering. "Try this."
Chris felt a thrill as he reached out and took the wand in his hand, and he knew instantly, this was the one. As soon as his fingers touched the wand he could feel a hum, a vibration deep inside his chest as the magic of the wand responded to him. He gave it a flick and a shower of sparks erupted from the tip, illuminating the dusty shop in a dazzling light. The magic of the wand responded to him as his own magic responded in kind. 'Oh hell yeah.'
"Yes!" Ollivander exclaimed, clapping his hands together, a wide smile stretching across his face. "Yes, this is the one. A difficult wand, but one with great potential." He closed his eyes for a moment as if he was trying to see something before opening them back to Chris, his smile still wide. "I believe I have a good idea of what your future will be, my boy. A very powerful path you have indeed, and one that many will struggle with, but you…" He closed his eyes again and simply shook his head before looking back to Chris, and offered the wand to him fully.
"Well, this wand will certainly do what you ask of it. Be aware that the blackthorn will not let you idly sit around, it demands action. As for the core... Thestral hair is a very potent core and one that is rarely ever seen, be very careful with this one, Mr. Smith. Now, on to the others," the man then said and, as if nothing had happened, Ollivander turned his attention to Professor McGonagall. "Thank you again, Miss. McGonagall, always a pleasure."
Professor McGonagall nodded, "Indeed," she said, her gaze settling on Chris. "We have much more to do. Now, Mr. Smith, let us get the rest of your supplies." They left the shop, Ollivander's words ringing in Chris's ears. 'A powerful path eh? Well then, I guess it is time to start training, eh?' He smiled and began to follow Professor McGonagall as she made her way deeper into the city to pick up the rest of his things. He felt his stats and skills level up once more from simply wielding the wand but he made no mention of it. It was still something of a mystery to him and something that he would have to experiment with later. The fact that wielding the wand gave him an exp bonus to his status screen was already making him rather excited to try more magic.
Diagon Alley continued to buzz with activity, the sounds of chattering witches and wizards, the clinking of potion bottles, and the rustle of parchment creating a symphony of magical life. Chris followed Professor McGonagall through the crowds, his eyes wide with fascination, yet his mind was already strategizing on how to best utilize his new inventory ability. The wand, a cool weight in his hand, seemed to hum with barely contained power, and it was all that he could do to keep from casting a simple spell, as the desire was nearly overwhelming.
Their first stop was *Flourish and Blotts, a bookstore stacked high with tomes of every size and color. Professor McGonagall efficiently gathered the necessary textbooks: *The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1; A History of Magic; Magical Theory; A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration; One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi; and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.* Each book was carefully placed into a small satchel and, as she did, Chris was quick to take the opportunity to snatch one for himself when her back was turned, watching the book disappear into the void of his inventory. *'This is too good,'* he thought with glee as he looked around the book store for anything else of value. He picked up a small book on runes, his interest sparked as he added it to his inventory, before looking at his list again.
The next stop was a potions supply shop, *Slug & Jiggers Apothecary*. It smelled of strange herbs, dried insects, and other peculiar substances. Professor McGonagall instructed him to follow as she procured the required ingredients: a set of brass scales, glass vials, a pewter cauldron, and basic potion ingredients like dried nettles, bat spleens, and powdered moonstone. The whole place looked as if it was both an ancient apothecary as well as a place for dark magics, with its shelves going from what looked like normal herbs and roots to jars of pickled eyes and powdered bones. It gave him a weird feeling but, with his Gamers Mind, he was able to put that feeling aside and focus on the task at hand. It was then that he saw the book. Hidden on one shelf, mostly obscured by taller jars, was a large, worn leather book on alchemy. *'Oh, hell yes,'* he thought as he waited for the Professor to turn away and quickly added it to his inventory, adding the cauldron to his inventory as well before she could place it into her satchel.
Their journey continued through Diagon Alley, the sheer variety of shops, people and sounds both astounding and somehow calming at the same time as his Gamer's Mind allowed him to take in all of the details without being overwhelmed. They stopped at *Quality Quidditch Supplies, a shop filled with the latest broomsticks, balls, and other Quidditch equipment. Chris, knowing he wouldn't need anything Quidditch-related for at least a year, only glanced at the store, a small bit of longing, but mostly curiosity, bubbling up inside him as he continued on with the Professor knowing there isn't anything stopping him from coming back later on.
Entering the store labeled *Todd's Trunks and Traveling Trinkets, they purused the trunks, Professor McGonagall letting him know that the basic trunk will do for now. While she was taking one up front to pay he waited till she wasn't in sight, lined up the Inventory screen next to one listed as having three extra large compartments, weight reducing runic arrays, and also being damage resistant, pushed it into the inventory before walking quickly up to the front arriving just as she turns around to look for you. "Alright now that we have this, it can hold your robes, books, and other things we will be buying after this," She says gesturing to the standard trunk she just bought for what looked like two galleons and five sickles. 'Well that trunk isn't getting much use after I get back to the orphanage,' Chris think to himself a barely holding back a smirk as he nods to the Professor and follows her out the door.
They entered *Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, where Madam Malkin, a plump witch with a kind smile, measured Chris for his school robes: three sets of plain black work robes, a pointed hat, and a pair of gloves. As she worked, she chatted with Professor McGonagall about the newest styles, her voice a soothing balm to Chris's over active mind. He used his inventory again, grabbing some of the fabric samples as she worked, all while he was trying to act as normal as he could. It was at that point that Professor McGonagall finally noticed he was up to something.
"Mr. Smith, are you quite alright?" she asked, her brow furrowed slightly.
Chris paused, his hand halfway towards a stack of sample fabrics. "Yes, ma'am," he said, trying to sound as casual as possible. "Just admiring the materials." *'Damn, I'm slipping,'* he thought, forcing himself to look at the clothes more closely as if he was genuinely interested in them, "They're... uh... very soft."
Professor McGonagall's eyes narrowed for a moment, before her expression turned to something that was both amused and annoyed. "Yes, well, they are supposed to be," she said, her voice regaining some of its sternness, "Let's hurry this along." She turned her attention back to Madam Malkin while Chris let out a silent sigh. That had been too close for comfort but the thought of doing it again was already calling out to him.
After that close call with the Professor they also purchased his telescope with Chris sneaking a few extra items and the like into his inventory when the Professor was not looking, along with some extra ink and parchment that he was already planning on using when he got back to the orphanage.
Finally, with the trunk (and inventory) full (mostly), they made their way back through Diagon Alley. Professor McGonagall looked slightly less stern now than before, her expression as if she was just glad that this whole mess was coming to a close. She didn't comment on how light her bag felt or that she couldn't quite account for every single thing, though he could see that her thoughts were turning in that direction. *'She's just as observant as I was before I got this system.'*
Once they were back at the Leaky Cauldron, Professor McGonagall turned to Chris, "Well, Mr. Smith, I believe that is all we need to get for the time being. As I said before, the school and the Ministry will be taking care of the costs of all this. In the mean time I suggest you make the best of your time there and be ready for school on September first." She then turned to the owner of the Leaky Cauldron before giving him a slight nod as she turned back to Chris.
"As I also stated the Hogwarts Express departs from Kings Cross station at 11:00 AM, do try your best to not be late. It will be a long walk if you chose to get there without magic. Or perhaps you could find another way." She said, giving Chris a slight smile before turning back to the door to the outside world. "I shall be seeing you then Mr. Smith."
"Yes ma'am." Chris said as he watched her disappear through the door and back into the London that he was now very familiar with before turning back to the Leaky Cauldron and the patrons inside before setting his course back to the orphanage. His inventory was filled with supplies and books, both that he was allowed to have and ones that he was not. *'This is going to be fun,'* he thought, a grin spreading across his face. His magic was responding to the pull of his emotions, as were the things in his inventory. All that was left now was the waiting. And the training.