*Date: 33,480 Second Quarter - Chalice Theocracy*
"Open it already," Fox said, his tail swishing impatiently.
"Shut up, I am opening," Lyra muttered.
"Guys, keep it down," Aris warned.
The interface flickered to life, glowing text materializing in the air before him:
**[Name: Aris Orvellis]**
**[Level: 21]** Timer: 10:12:53
**[Race: Human]**: 10% bonus to all stats
**[XP: 10/7,215]**
In the right corner were titles:
**[Adept Healer]**: 3 tier 1 healing spell slots [2/3], 1 tier 2 spell slot [1/1], +2 Manifest, +2 Resonance
- [Curing Touch] RP points: 7/7 (Tier 2)
- [Light Missile] RP points: 5/5 (Tier 1)
- [Minor Shield] RP points: 5/5 (Tier 1)
**[Dabbler Alchemist]**: Tier 1 potion crafting chance 20%, Tier 2 potion crafting chance 5%, Tier 3 potion crafting not available, +1 Endeavor, +1 Harvest
**[Reader]**: Step to scholarly mind. +2 Insight. Learning increased 10%.
**[Lucky Apprentice]**: Double each luck based content. Luck spent [358/1,000]. Luck based content can't be lower than 5%.
**[Blood Initiate]**: Sacrifice your health to gain power.
**[NW points: 5]** Reach 100 for Local Legend
**[Echo: 3]** Captured echo: 2, Created echo: 1
##### Core Body
| Stat | Points |
|------|--------|
| **Vitality** - Overall health & natural recovery | 27 |
| **Force** - Raw muscle; melee damage, lifting, breaking | 31 |
| **Agility** - Reflexes and precision; dodge, aim, stealth | 17 |
| **Resilience** - Toughness vs. trauma, weather, toxins | 11 |
| **Stamina** - Endurance for long exertion or work | 11 |
##### Mind & Spirit
| Stat | Points |
|------|--------|
| **Insight** - Spot details, sense motives, track prey | 13 |
| **Manifest** - Manifesting, power through mind. Create magic | 29 |
| **Will** - Mental fortitude; resist fear or mind magic | 11 |
| **Empathy** - Persuade, soothe, or inspire NPCs | 11 |
| **Resonance** - Sensitivity to narrative echoes; fuels Echo powers | 13 |
##### Social Influence
| Stat | Points |
|------|--------|
| **Renown** - Fame or infamy that sways crowds | NA |
| **Command** - Authority to rally allies or intimidate | NA |
| **Credence** - Reputation for honesty and reliability | NA |
##### Craft & Survival
| Stat | Points |
|------|--------|
| **Ingenuity** - Creative problem-solving, new blueprints | 11 |
| **Endeavor** - Grit for long crafting or building sessions | 12 |
| **Harvest** - Skill at gathering rare resources | 12 |
| **Attunement** - Harmony with nature; read weather, calm beasts | 11 |
##### Hidden / Meta
| Stat | Points |
|------|--------|
| **Narrative Weight (NW)** - Global impact of your deeds; unlocks Resonance Tiers | 5 |
| **Resonance Points (RP)** - Energy to capture or replay Echoes | NA |
| **Mythic Tone** - Your legend's flavor (Hero, Trickster, Monster, etc.) | Temporary |
| **Continuity** - Stability of your personal "story" against decay or rival legends | NA |
"Look, you filled it to level twenty and accumulated in that dungeon nearly level fifteen again. If you continue to get XP, then what is the stone gathering?" Lyra asked.
"That's my line. What is it gathering? Plus my four years of XP will vanish tomorrow."
"Don't worry, you can gather again. You guys have nearly three months before the next dungeon."
Fox pointed at the screen. "You guys are missing what's important. He combined spells and increased its tier. Look." It indicated the Healing Cure skill now had seven out of seven marking.
"Son of a... because it increased tier, charging increased as well," Aris said.
"Yeah, but you are probably near a title upgrade. It will lower again," Lyra assured him.
"Also your templar specific skills won't show at level twenty-one. You should charge that stone more," Fox added.
"I know, I know."
"Okay, it's enough. Leave now. Don't come near me for a while. I am under surveillance. Go study somewhere else," Lyra said firmly.
"Where?"
"I don't know. Go to the basement. Where the potion brewing kid died. I sent the key with the fox. Scram now."
Aris and Fox left Lyra at the library and started walking to the dorm.
"She is on edge," Aris observed.
"Yeah, she normally tries to act carefree savior. But something must have happened," Fox agreed.
"It will turn up."
As they were walking up to the first-year dorm, John Salsor was waiting at the entry. He waved and came near to talk in the corridor where moonlight came through the glasses.
"Congrats on passing the second dungeon. I heard you saved your beast friend," John said.
"Yeah, no thanks to you or your comradery." Aris hissed and the Fox was growling. Aris made a gesture for Fox to go ahead to the dorm.
"Come on, don't act like that."
"Act like what? You thought I had insane potential, but when you realized I was falling behind, you didn't help me or team me up with someone like Kaelan who could've had my back but you just left me to deal with it on my own."
"We had odd numbers."
"Seamus has halfling blood. He could have found a buddy from his mother's side as well. I could have died. Heck, if it wasn't for Orric's resilience I was dead. He jumped in front of a beast to save me. He almost died."
"You are being dramatic. The weak get eliminated in this academy and you passed. Stop acting like a kid."
"I am no kid and I don't buy this 'we are unified' shit. I will surpass any human or fae caught in this stupid doctrine. And I hope you'll live to see me after your fifth dungeon."
"Your funeral, kid. You don't want to take humans as your enemy too." With a threatening look, he left.
Aris was fuming inside but didn't know what to do. He knew some storylines created by game designers affected Chalice's system but they'd had four years and instead of breaking what was created, they were still serving it.
"I should have played low and not made any decisions," he said to himself. But in the end he was kind of happy leaving stupid sects. Even humans would probably see him as irregular as well, like the fae did.
Aris entered his dorm. Fox was looking at him with questioning eyes but Aris wasn't gonna discuss important matters in the dorm with dorm friends present.
He saw both empty beds. Kaelan had transferred to an all-human room and Auren Sylphsong was hurt badly and sleeping at the infirmary. The remaining roommates congratulated Aris. Aris responded with the same enthusiasm.
Orric came near him. "Do you have something going on with that woman?"
"Which woman?"
"Come on. The pretty fae librarian."
"I... no. What are you talking about?"
"I mean you're always near her. Talking to her."
"She is helping me get better. What do you mean pretty? She is way older than us. She is like thirty."
"Fifty," Fox intervened.
"Nah man, she is really pretty. Fae doesn't show their age. If I didn't have an arranged fiancée at the village, I would be all over that," Orric said.
"Dude..." Aris laughed. "You are a wolf. She is fae." Then Aris remembered Lyra probably turned into wolfkin too. He imagined the two of them together. Almost barfed at the idea.
"So, you also don't mix people?"
"No man, I didn't mean it that way. I don't care. Go for it. Her book recommendations helped me merge skills. If you read some instead of knife practice, you could have learned more spells."
"Nah, spells aren't my thing. I just learn enough to be a templar. I will use my potential to build up head-severing skills." He made passed through his hand through his neck.
With that, conversations turned to more school stuff and gossip. When roommates shouted, "It's after dungeon rest already. We have to sleep," they dissolved into their beds.
Aris was making actual friends in this world. All from different races and permanent residents of this universe, but crucial to Aris's survival both physically and mentally.