I've often dreamed of a far off place. Where magic is common, where dragons fly and all arguments are settled at the point of a blade.
Where dangerous creatures, both fair and foul, roam the lands, seas, and skies.
Maidens fair and Knights in stern aspect, roam the lands in search of many things, redemption, recognition, adoration and many more.
I thought that place a mere dreamscape and lived my life as I usually did, hitting the gym, hanging out with friends, flirting with the girls and occasionally taking one or two home.
I played video games, read light novels, but I had a steady job with work on the side that was a result of my unofficial time in the service.
Just a typical guy, for the most part, but that's about it. Not the tallest guy, but fairly cut and make plenty of heads turn my way, dark blonde hair and storm-grey eyes set in a face with a chiseled jaw.
Day to day I'd live my life, do my job, hang out with friends and have fun.
At night when I slept, if I slept at all due to having company, binging or in general just fucking around and forgetting the time.
I would dream of that world and as time went on the dreams got more and more vivid, they even seemed to bleed into some of the games I played.
It all came to a point one night, when looking for a new game to play, I found one that caught my interest.
Why?
Because it would allow you to take a save file and modify it to start new as well as pick starting skills for your character.
Not even thinking about it, I loaded up my best space empire save, and the game seemed to freeze for second before the screen said
"Technology and overall power level of the file exceeds main game early stage parameters."
"Would you like to change technological path and reduce overall power to early stage max?"
"Character points and starting gear will be boosted by commensurate amount to reduced technology, technological path change and power reduction."
"Yes or No?"
Reading through it just to double check, I click yes and the game freezes for a second again, then the screens says
"Primary race in save file is Psionic, overall power reduction impossible, replacing reduction with power limit for early stage.
Power limit set to early mid-stage max, further reduction impossible.
Technological path reroute successful.
Main save population set into stasis, upon reaching certain milestones, more population will be released though main save file population is not high in number.
Due to technological level and power level of population of main save file, after reductions and application of power limit, you are given max character points to choose skills and will be given preferential treatment in starting location."
After I read that I got into the skills because I wanted to see what was available, yes looking back at it now, those screen prompts were odd as hell, but I was tired and I had skills to pick from.
So forgive a guy for wanting to get the skills, set up the character and go to sleep after a day of work and keeping a couple ladies entertained.
After going through the huge ass list of skills I ended up with these.
Active Gains - Every physical action causes Xp gain. IE - walking gains 1xp, combat gains up to 5xp per movement.
Maximum Effort - Xp gain is halved.
Maximum Grind - Xp cost per level is doubled.
Enduring - Longer life expectancy, Human lifespan is tripled.
Winged One - Gives user a pair of wings. Wings are based on personality of user when first activated. Upon activation, wings cannot be disabled.
Magi - Able to use all elements of magic, spell cost is doubled.
Magus - Mana gain per level is doubled.
Geared Up - Reduce levels in combat to equip gear. One level per piece of gear equipped. Level one is not reduced.
Gear Drip - Due to increased xp cost per level and decreased xp gain while choosing Geared Up, levels used to make gear cause the gear to be higher quality for the level used. Early levels make Rare Gear, mid-tier levels make Epic Gear, and high levels make Legendary Gear. All gear made using this skill cannot be stolen. Any gear destroyed automatically restores the level used to make it.
Stable Foundation - Due to increased xp cost per level, level counts as double your level in combat in early levels.
Deep Foundations - Due to unlocking Stable Foundations by increasing xp cost per level and choosing to halve xp gain levels count as three times in early levels and double in mid-tier levels.
Bedrock Foundation - Due to unlocking Deep Foundations and choosing Geared Up, early levels only count as double in combat, mid-tier levels still count as double, but in high levels only fight as if you're 20 levels higher.
After picking through all of the options that I really wanted I still had quite a few character points and the game gave me the option to roll based on my chosen skills.
Once again not even thinking about it because I'd been scrolling through skills for hours I clicked yes then proceeded to finalize everything, though at the time I didn't think about the character customisation not showing up because my bed was calling my name.
I reached out to turn off the computer after closing the game window, so I didn't see the roll results which I found out much, much later.
"Based on chosen skills and main save race being Psionic, chosen skill is Eternal Fallen.
With increased lifespan, wings, increased effort for leveling and being the leader of a Psionic species that cannot die, only get stronger, it is recommended by the Higher Planes that you be granted Eternal life, though it can be cut short by combat, and due to your semi-balanced nature, be granted partial Angelic heritage.
Thus Eternal Fallen is the skill granted to you."
All I knew is that I was tired, so the last thing I remember is saluting the flag on my wall and passing out.