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Book 2: Chapter 20
🕑 Added 2024-05-15 13:59:03 +0000 UTCShaun had made it to the entrance to the room where the soiree was to be held 5 minutes early with Gabe and Eric, they had rushed through showering, changing and getting themselves as presentable as possible, for Shaun that meant he had used all the mana he had recuperated healing himself and throwing on a clean shirt and pants, not having anything nicer to wear. There was just over 100 people present, all waiting until they could enter, they had been some of the last to arrive and looking around they couldn’t see that Viv had arrived yet so they decided to wait at the back of the group gathered so they could all decide what they wanted to do before going in. They would either all enter together or separately. They hadn’t really discussed it, they knew they would all be attending but not what the plan was going to be for inside, not that they could really plan for it though.
Just as the 30 minute mark finished a woman appeared at the door to the entrance of the room they would all need to go through and started requesting to inspect peoples orbs before she would admit them entry. Viv still hadn’t appeared, causing some nervousness and worry to creep in.
“Come on Viv, where are you? It doesn’t take this long to get ready.” Gabe muttered to himself, loud enough for all of them to hear, clearly as worried about her not being there as he was.
At this point over half of the gathered people had already been admitted and it was their turn to start lining up to go in, it was all happening quickly, the person allowing those to enter being very efficient at what she was doing. “Both of you should go line up. Go in and mingle, I will wait for Viv.” Shaun said, he needed time to think anyway, he still hadn’t come up with what he was going to say to anyone that asked about his lightning affinity, there was no reasonable explanation as to how he could obtain it outside of also exposing that he had fire and air affinity. His preference was not to expose that to anyone in any of the factions but if he couldn’t come up with something better he wasn’t going to have a choice. They already knew that he had only just gotten it the day prior and the dungeon offered no real way for him to bond it, unless he already had the two basic elements. These people had been around a while, they were in the major factions and knew more about the system and multiverse than he did so they probably already knew how he had done it. There was just no way that he was going to be able to hide how he had done it, he was going to have to fix the truth into at least part of his story.
“What are you still doing out here!” That broke him out of his thoughts, he didn’t know how long he had been standing there for but when he looked up he saw Viv coming up to him, she was in a dress that hung off her shoulders and cur down he front in a low V, she looked beautiful, also very dressed up compared to him. “What are you wearing!”
He quickly thought back to what everyone had been wearing before they entered and realised that most people had dressed up, even Gabe and Eric had been in nicer clothes. They didn’t mention anything to him but he guessed that they thought he either did it for a reason or just didn’t have anything else to where, which was the truth. He groaned out loud when he realised that he had screwed this up, but it was too late. Everyone had already entered the soiree, he and Viv were now the only ones still standing outside.
“You know what, it doesn’t matter. I am glad you waited. You can escort me in like a proper gentleman, even if you are severely underdressed.” Viv said, quickly taking his arm and walking them forward. He wasn’t exactly comfortable in that moment, there was just too many uncertainties around what was going to happen to him in there and Viv must have felt that radiating off of him. “Be confident Shaun! You are literally the most powerful person in the tutorial, act like it!”
As soon as they reached the woman at the door she asked to see both their orbs, which they presented to her, where she then immediately let them pass. As they walked in the door, arm in arm, he tried to act as poised as he could, he didn’t let any of his emotions show on his face and he stood as tall as he could, looking straight ahead and trying to give off an air of absolute confidence.
When they fully entered the room it was much bigger than he had expected and clearly set up with some sort of hierarchy. Many of the clan attendees were gathered around the edges of the room, either standing around tables or settled into seats in groups. In most places they looked to be talking casually with the other people from Earth, although in some areas it looked like the conversations they were having were slightly more serious. Those that were not talking with those from the clans were either standing awkwardly off to the side or gathering food and drink that was prepared for them and being passed around.
“So, he finally decides to welcome us with his presence. Late, but better than not at all I suppose.” As soon as those words were spoken silence enveloped the room, every single person present had stopped whatever they had been doing and turned o look at who Xavier had spoken about. Every eye was now on him, and also Viv, who had made the decision to enter with him. She tensed as soon as Xavier spoke and came to a stop. He couldn’t blame her, this was probably her first experience having an entire room, not to mention 11 very powerful beings, looking solely at where you were. “Come and sit with us Shaun, bring your friend too if you so wish it. There is much to talk about and we haven’t got all night.”
The 11 reps were all sitting at the head of the room, each of them in a throne like chair, it was a position of power, a statement to everyone else gathered that they were above them, more powerful than them and would do as they wished. Shaun would need to walk past all of the people from Earth and all the clan members to reach the reps who had summoned him, like he was on display, everyone would get a chance to look on him as he walked past. Before he started walking again though he looked at Viv who gave him just a small nod in return, it was her consent that she wanted to go with him, for better or worse.
It wasn’t a long distance between them and the reps, but it felt like it was much further than it actually was, many of the gathered people from Earth were giving him curious looks, not sure why he was getting such attention, only his friends knew the real reason. Those from the clans smiled or nodded at him as he walked past, trying to leave a good impression. He knew why, if he did join one of them the power he would bring would bring would boost them up, but none approached him as he walked, they knew that the reps would get there chance before any of the others, that was how this would always work, the strongest always got the first pick.
As soon as he made it to the reps two chairs appeared out of nowhere, on right in front of the major powers and the other slightly behind his to the side. “Sit, please. Take a drink, get settled. There is a lot to talk through.” Xavier said to him and instantly someone came up to him and offered him a drink from a tray before moving and offering the same to Viv. He sat down, preparing himself for the questions that would be coming his way. “We have agreed, for this first meeting at least, that you will speak to all of us as a group, then in the coming days and weeks you will get the opportunity to speak to those of us that wish to speak to you privately. Understood?” Shaun just nodded, not answering with words as he didn’t trust his voice not to crack if he did. Instead he took a sip of his drink, finding that he enjoyed the sweet taste of the liquid, he had another.
“We are each going to take turns asking a question, unfortunately, but I will start. What we all want to know is how did you get an affinity for lightning?” Xavier asked him. All of the others were watching, waiting for an answer as well, but it wasn’t just them, everyone in the room was still silent, listening in on what he was being asked and his responses. When Xavier spoke some of the people from Earth started mumbling to each other, he couldn’t make out their words but it was easy enough to hear in the silent room.
“Its complicated.” Shaun replied, trying to buy some time before he needed to go into a deeper response.
“Uncomplicate it for us then. Start at the beginning if you must.” Xavier's reply had a hint of impatience to it, just enough to give a warning to not waste time and get to the point.
“If you want. You are aware of what we have already gone through in the first and second stage of the tutorial right?” They nodded at him, apparently having been briefed in some way as to what they had encountered before coming to the colosseum. “And you know that the dungeon in the last stage each focused on an element?” Again more nods. “When I was in the fire dungeon, my first one of the last stage, I nearly died, multiple times, and at one point I was so close to death, having been hurt by the monsters. When I was laying there I wished that I had a way to live, to get stronger, to be better. I am not sure what happened but I felt something there, surrounded by so much fire, and I just lost myself to it. I passed out and when I woke up again I had the fire affinity.” It was such a load of shit but he tried to replicate what he had gone through when he had first received his earth affinity. He hoped they believed him but he couldn’t tell, none of them showed any sign of interrupting him or asking questions, yet.
“When I woke up I was stronger, I had more power, and I was able to finish the dungeon. I went to every dungeon trying to replicate that feeling but I couldn’t. Not until I got to the air dungeon. Something clicked in me when I was there, I spent days trying to feel the same way I had when I was in the fire dungeon. It didn’t go well at first but the more I tried, the more I gave myself over to the air, it worked. I got an air affinity there.”
This caused a bit more of a reaction, murmurs spread through the room until Xavier raised a hand to quiet them. “Continue.”
“No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t repeat the process again. It was like water, earth and nature were repelled from me. I did well in those dungeons though which is how I got the orbs in my gauntlet. It wasn’t until I got here, I was curious, you know, about affinities, so I bought a book on them. When I read through it I found that it was possible, but really dangerous to be able to form basic elements in advanced ones. I had air and fire, so I thought, why not try for lightning, risk be damned. So I went in the dungeon, I spent months in there, alone, in pain and doing everything I could think of to get lightning. I succeeded, barely, nearly died so many times, would have died if it wasn’t for my friends saving me when I got out of the dungeon. And that’s how it all happened.” He had thought about this, making it clear that he had tried and failed to bond any of the other basic elements was key to covering up his heritage, but he gave just enough information so as to be able to explain that he had been successful in air and fire, even if it was just a fluke on his part.
“Interesting. You are aware that it is nearly impossible to bond an advanced affinity at such a low level, yes?” Xavier probed, “Usually if someone tries it ends in death.”
“I’m aware, the book said as much. But power is everything, if you didn’t try and get as much power as you can, you may as well give up now. I refuse to be weak.” He put as much confidence as he could in his word, they were true though, and that made it a hell of a lot easier to justify his actions.
“I must say, it is refreshing to see someone so you understand our ways so quickly, especially from someone that has come from a new universe.” This time it was Octavius, who spoke, he represented The Pantheon so the idea that power was everything was very much in line with what they believed. “Now by my count Xavier has asked 2 questions, meaning he will be skipped the next go around.” Octavius chuckled at this with Xavier looking less than pleased but did not object. “My question for you, young Shaun, is what is your class and profession?”
He wasn’t prepared for this question, he had assumed that everything would be aimed at his affinity not anything else. “I was of the understanding that people didn’t openly share such things? That it was private?” He was sure this was pushing some kind of boundary, he didn’t even know why it mattered. Why are they interested in what my class and profession is anyway?
“It is something that those in power generally keep to themselves, however, in situations like this, where you have the most powerful factions all sizing you up, seeing if you are worth bringing into the fold? It is standard that you would answer such questions as you won’t be considered without providing such information.”
Octavius had just made it clear, not only to the other reps but also to everyone present, that there was multiple major powers interested in him. If he didn’t answer he would be rejecting them, all of them, and that in itself would cause waves of chaos as everyone wanted to make it into a major faction, rejecting them would be the height of insult.
“Thank you for educating me on this Octavius, I didn’t know.” He spent a second just thinking over his potions, he could make up a random class and profession but he wouldn’t know if they had some way to check if they existed, not answering wasn’t an option, so he was left with the truth. “My class started as a rogue, when it hit level 25 I chose the Elemental Blade Slinger as my advanced class. For my profession I unlocked the Mana Crafter, and again when I hit level 25 I chose the Elemental Creator.”
Upon answering, the room went into uproar, many of the clans shouting out, exclaiming that it was impossible, the reps were all sitting back in shock. He didn’t know what he did, but apparently his class and/or profession was something he shouldn’t have.
Comments
Dylan Suomela
||…just didn’t have anything else to where…|| wear* ||…the power he would bring would bring would boost them up…|| “would bring” x2 ||…they knew that the reps would get there chance before any of the others…|| their* || As soon as he made it to the reps two chairs appeared out of nowhere, on right in front of the major powers and the other slightly behind his to the side.|| one* right in ||…it is refreshing to see someone so you understand our ways so quickly…|| young* || He spent a second just thinking over his potions…|| options*
