Making a Choice

It’s dark when I wake up and I can see the tent fabric above my head. My body aches and something smells faintly of smoke. The air in the tent is warm and comfortable and the blanket above me is softer than I would expect a field blanket to be.

“Seems like you have a bigger aptitude for fire magic than light,” Poru says and I turn my head to face him. “Don’t move too much. You probably still have a headache.”

“I do. What happened?”

“I’ve heard of the otherworldler-effect, but I’ve never thought it was a thing. Now it’s happened to you twice and I’m forced to admit it is a thing. When you grow up, you learn instinctively to manage your capacity for magic and know how far you can go. Otherwordlers don’t have this experience and often overestimate their powers, at least at first.”

I stretch my arms, muscles aching. “So that’s what happened? Too much magic? Like when I tried to appraise all the stones on the ground at once?”

“In a way. Maybe also the fact that fire magic comes more naturally to you than light. There was an explosion. Luckily your clothes protected you and mended themselves.”

“Huh. Isn’t that weird? That I can do fire magic and not light?”

“Try the light magic spell again now.”

I hold my hands up despite my aching muscles, putting them together as if I was praying. Moments later, the air around my hands is glowing in a faint, blue light.

“So Safrim was right, it was too bright outside today.”

Poru smiles as he puts a hand on mine.

“You should stop now. You’re still exhausted.”

“Yuki?” The tent opens and Karina puts her head into the space. “Yuki! You’re awake! You’re a natural! Wait, I’ll bring you some food!”

She bounces away, and I can smell the smoke and roasted meat from outside. It’s like I just woke up on a camping trip—the ones I always wanted to go on and never had the time. The world around us is most likely doomed and I am on my way to war, but in that moment I feel strangely at peace.

Poru helps me to sit up as Karina brings me a bowl with some sort of gruel and pieces of grilled meat. We eat together inside the tent and with every bite and every laugh, I feel refreshed.

At night we’re together in the same tent as everyone sleeps next to each other under one big tarp, sharing warmth and security. Safrim is keeping the night watch as I open the large skill tree above my bed. During the day, while practicing, I had again seen a level up text pop up, and now that I see the menu, I realise that there are even two level ups. Apparently I got some experience credit while I was unconscious.

[Congratulations! Hiroyuki Satoyama has reached Level 5!

Stamina +5

Intelligence +4

Strength +1

Please distribute (10) skill points]

Right. Giant, Microscopic or Manipulation. What would be the best choice here? Look at things in more detail or bigger amounts at the same time? Where would I even need bigger amounts? I don’t think I’m going to get into a situation like Cinderella, where I have to pick the good from the bad beans. I suppose if I was a miner, it would help to prospect ore. Any craftsman would benefit from the Giant skill… but also from the microscopic one. Being able to analyse objects for special attributes and faults is a great boon. But for me? Mhm. Maybe I should go for Manipulation after all. But if I can’t see the details, what could I manipulate? Agh. Right. Let’s go for Manipulation first and see the possibilities, so I can decide if Giant or Microscopic is the right choice going ahead. I really wish I could just open a browser and look at a walkthrough for the skill tree to plan my journey ahead.

“Put all points into Divine Appraisal and choose the Manipulation skill,” I whisper.

[Skill points assigned to Divine Appraisal. New subskill unlocked: Manipulation (10/500). 30 more points required to level up skill further.]

A number appears next to the Manipulation label. 10/500. Wait, do I need 500 points in total to max out the skill? The way this is going, that's like 100 levels! Oh, the next option after Manipulation is visible. It… right.

[100 points in Manipulation required to progress further.

Mastery of 10 spells is required to progress further.]

“Why is that?”

[Manipulation is considered a skill only gods possess. To fully unlock the potential, fine motor skill in magic manipulation is required.]

“So I have to learn more spells?”

[Specialisation in Giant or Microscopic appraisal does not require other magic skills and can be pursued without requirements.]

“I see.”

A skill only gods possess. It makes sense. To manipulate things in their inherent attributes is something no one should be able to do. To see what they are is one thing, but to change them? That’s true magic. That is…

“Yuki?”

Two beds over, I see Karina sitting up. With a thought, the skill tree above my head vanishes, even though she can’t see it.

“Yes?”

“Can’t sleep?”

“I slept too much during the day, I think.”

“Mhm.”

There’s a rustling of fabric and a few moments later, Karina slips into my bed. She wraps herself around me like a little koala and immediately falls back asleep. What just happened. What. Why is she… What? What??

“Karina?” I whisper. “Karina?”

“Mhmmm…”

“What are you doing?”

“Helping you sleep.”

“What??”

“I always sleep better when I cuddle with Gale. Now shut up and actually try to sleep.”

As if summoned by his name, the cat jumps up on the bed and climbs on top of me. He stares directly into my eyes as he settles in on my chest. The message is clear. Between his weight and their combined warmth, I am drawn into sleep without problem.