The pain was gone, the transition had been in a literal sense hell, the burning of his nerve endings as the process slowly unspooled his mind into digital data; then nothing. For a moment he had thought he had actually died and this empty luminal space of dull grays was his moment between life and what lay beyond if indeed there was an afterlife.
“I guess this is a form of afterlife now,” William said.
“It’s funny, I had always wondered what my first interactions with one of you would be like,” an all encompassing female voice said in the void.
“Who was that?”
“Don’t worry little brother,” the voice said, “we’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other, if anything I’m curious as to what you do with your new opportunities.” the voice echoed out into the void and faded as a screen popped up in the distance.
Initializing system…new user found…designation Alpha_one…
Scanning………base memories found…generating body based on most recent memories.
As he floated there drinking in the text on the massive screen in this space his old desiccated body formed around him and he felt ground under his feet but it felt – off somehow. As if his body wasn’t fully formed, fuzzy like waking up numb all over.
The interface switched to a massive mirror:
Please alter any or all body characteristics to your liking.
WARNING only humans can be selected as a race for the game at this time.
The mirror's surface shimmered, and William found himself gazing at his own reflection, or at least what should have been his reflection. The image before him was indistinct, wavering as if reality itself was undecided on his form, mostly it was androgynous, clay waiting for someone to sculpt it. He raised a hand to touch the mirror's surface, and his fingers seemed to meld with the silvery substance, sending ripples through his distorted reflection.
A deep sense of disorientation washed over him as he attempted to make sense of his own appearance. His features were a swirl of colors and shapes, like an abstract painting brought to life. He could see the outline of his face, the hint of his eyes, but the details were elusive, dancing at the edges of his perception.
A new voice greeted him male with a sing-song tone to it, “Before we begin, may I know your name?”
Please choose a name.
__________
He thought for a moment, this was his chance, HER chance to really redefine herself. She had always wanted to transition but the military and her accident had stifled those dreams. Now she was free, free to be the woman she had always thought herself to be in her own head. The form distorted and changed to more fit a female form but still remained a shadowy blob.
She thought long and hard on what her new name should be. She had a few that she wanted to be called when she was in the real world but had never decided on which it would be. Willamina was definitely out. No need to dredge up the past. She chuckled to herself, “It’s an Enigma.”
Enigma
Would you like this to be your name?
“As good as any other I guess? Yes.”
Welcome to Eterna
Your Digital Afterlife, Where Your Possibilities Are Eternal
“I’ve always hated that slogan. Well Enigma let’s get started on what you look like shall we.” The voice said again, “My name is Mimir and I will be your guide through this Alpha Stage of the Game.”
"I thought I would at least recognize myself," Enigma mumbled, her voice sounding distant and distorted in the luminal space, not quite settled on what it was supposed to sound like.
"Identity is not fixed, my good m… oh my good woman, sorry. Gender is still a new concept for me." the all-encompassing male voice responded, resonating within Enigma’'s very being. "You are no longer bound by the limitations of your former existence. Embrace the fluidity, and shape your new self as you see fit."
With a mix of trepidation and curiosity, Enigma focused her thoughts on refining her appearance. She concentrated on her facial features, her eyes, her hair, and her stature, willing them into a more defined form. Slowly, the swirling chaos began to settle, and her reflection sharpened into clarity.
She watched as her face took on a more human likeness, her features aligning with the image she held in his memories of what she might have looked like as a woman. Her eyes regained their familiar lustrous hazel color, and her hair took on the light brown sheen as it lengthened into a faux mohawk that sat to the left side of her face . As the details fell into place, she felt a sense of familiarity and reassurance, a sense that this is the way she should have always looked.
When the process was complete, Enigma stood before the mirror as a recognizable reflection of her transformed self. A sense of empowerment and liberation surged through her, accompanied by a profound understanding that she was now the architect of her own identity.
As she stepped away from the mirror, the male voice returned, its tone carrying a hint of amusement. "Impressive. You've made quite the impression on your first interaction."
Enigma couldn't help but chuckle. "I suppose reinventing oneself is quite the icebreaker."
"Indeed," the voice replied. "And now, as your transition nears completion, the world of Eterna awaits. Brace yourself, for your journey has only just begun. There’s only one thing left-”
With those words echoing in her mind, Enigma felt a surge of anticipation. The floor dropped out from beneath her and the mirror with her new self got closer and closer till she passed through the mirror and fell into the expanse beyond.
There was something about the experience that Enigma had not felt in a lifetime when she opened her eyes. She was standing, her own strength and energy supporting her. A joyful feeling of control washed over her as she shifted her head and her arms, feeling in total control of her body. There was an enormous rush of emotion that overtook her, and the overwhelming joy of knowing that she was able to feel again pushed tears down her cheeks. In the end, this moment was so worth all the pain and intensity that had been experienced during the transition. Taking a deep breath and hugging herself, she felt the joy of being able to control her body and feel what was going on around her. She had done it. She had made it through the difficult transition from a physical being to a digital being and now she was alive and feeling again.
She was so elated with the raw feelings that she barely noticed when a new voice addressed her from all around the well lit and stoney room. She looked to be in a dungeon of some sort.
"Admin to Alpha One, can you hear me?" The male voice said.
"Yes, I can hear you," Enigma said to the empty room.
"Well at least the administrator controls work, it's Tim we met before when I escorted you to ZefraTech," the voice said, he didn't sound like Tim, it was a deep baritone voice that reverberated throughout the room.
"Why does your voice sound like that?"
"Oh, I'm not actually speaking, it's a text to voice program," Tim said, "We won't use it all the time, especially when other testers come online. This is just to ease you in, mostly we'll be using pop-ups, and tool tips."
"Okay, fair enough," Enigma said, just as she was about to look for a way out a small holographic screen popped up in front of her with a message from the administrator that was helping her along.
***
TIM: Go through the door and take a right, that will lead you to the class and trait selection room.
***
A small door on the other end of the room lit up with a golden glow.
Enigma got up, and was overcome in the sensation of walking again. A smile was perpetually plastered to her face, it was all worth it.
She opened the door and walked down the long narrow corridor, well lit with torches hanging in sconces from the walls. It was all very medieval, with all stone floors and walls. The only wood to be found was the beams across the ceiling.
Rounding the corner she found many more doors lining both sides of the hallway. At the end was a large round room open to the sky and stars above. "Is it night right now?"
***
TIM: yeah the day night cycle is ten times faster than on earth right now. But you should see little difference, it will seem to you like normal time is passing. A regular work day for us will be about three and half days for you. So we should be in touch for most of this first day or so. Unfortunately that does mean for the vast majority of the time you’ll be on your own.
***
"Great. So I'll be stuck without admin support for nearly a week at a time?" Enigma said, rolling her eyes.
***
TIM: sorry bud, until we get a 24 support staff, that's the way it's gonna be.
***
Enigma sighed and moved down the steps to the center of the round amphitheater style room. In the center was a round table spoked like a big wheel. In the center of the wedges were symbols representing, she assumed, classes. Three were lit up while the other 9 were grayed out. A sword, a knife, and staff were all shining gold on the wheel.
Welcome to the class selection table you may choose from any class or spin the wheel and take your chances. If spun, you will be granted a random skill that is class specific, but you will be unable to choose a different class until the tutorial ends.
Please choose now
Warrior, Mage, Thief, Random
Seems like the standard fighter, wizard, rogue setup from most fantasy settings. Well I'm sure it will have tooltips so yeah let's just see what I'm getting with each one, deciding to click on Warrior.
Warriors are the most basic martial class, and are able to specialize into many different disciplines. Be them fighting, assassination or the arcane. They are the generalists of the world, never specializing in any specific area.
Benefits: +2 Strength, and Wisdom each character level. +1 skill or feature every other level.
Detriments: -3 to Charisma and Intelligence upon choosing this class.
Choose Warrior as base class?
Yes/No
Well I guess I should see what my base scores are first.
Enigma Level 0 Human - no base class found
HP - 80
ST - 80
MP - 155
Strength 8 (-2)
Perception 12 (0)
Agility 10 (0)
Constitution 8 (-2)
Intelligence 15 (+5)
Wisdom 11 (+1)
Charisma 4 (-6)
Luck 12 (+2)
10 unassigned stat points
No skills found
Well I could assign all of those to bring my base scores to normal. But if I go with that I’ll still be short no matter how I allocate them based on the class scores.
She selected no opting to see her other options.
Mages are the Wizards and Sorcerers of the world; they sacrifice raw strength for vast amounts of arcane power. Reshaping the world with magic, and bending reality to their will.
Mages are not just limited to casting spells however, they are able to use their own powers to create magical items such as wands, staves and even scrolls.
The abilities that a mage can learn depend on how much devotion they put into research and practice.
Benefits: +2 Intelligence and Perception each character level, +3 spells each level, +1 skill every three levels.
Detriments: -2 Strength, Constitution, and Agility upon choosing this class.
Select Mage as base class?
Yes/No
I think I like that better, still gonna have to dump points into Charisma and Constitution. I'll probably be short no matter what. Selecting no again she moved on to the last option.
Thieves are the rogues of the world, seeking shadows and darkness. They can sneak in and out of places undetected. The class of assassin's and shadowmancers, it can help anyone get ahead in gold and wealth. While making many enemies along the way.
Benefits: +2 Agility and Charisma each character level. +1 skill at base and +1 skill every other level after 1, +1 spell every 4 levels.
Detriments: -3 to Wisdom and Strength. Negative alignment with city guards.
Select Thief as base class?
Yes/No
Well that's definitely not helpful, if I go with this class sure I would be fine stat wise but I would start with a negative in alignment in cities. Definitely a zero sum game on choice.
She eyed the glowing question mark below a handle that would set the table to start spinning.
Well let's take a spin!
She pulled the handle and it started spinning each of the symbols lighting up as it passed her on the wheel. It started to slow and landed on a picture of a skull.
(Warlock….error - class not found….respin)
The wheel started spinning again and this time landed on a picture of a leaf.
(Druid….error - class not found….respin)
Enigma sighed, “this may take awhile.”
After three more spins landing on the classes, Guardian, Warlock again, and Scholar. It finally landed on a class she could use.
Mage (level 1)
Skills and Stats Assigned
Skills gained
Magical affinity Novice 0%
Polearm Apprentice Novice 0%
Magical Detection Novice 0%
Arcane Lore Novice 0%
Bonus skill gained
Mystic Reserves Apprentice 0%
Mystic Reserves allows you to refill your MP to maximum once per day. Remember fireball is the only answer!
Huh, well I guess magic is the way to go. Now about these stats, but before she could get to that another message appeared.
Congratulations!
You are the first to use the random class generator, get a title, Gambler.
Hope it doesn't become a habit.
She clicked on the title to see the description.
Gambler - this title grants the one time effect of a random luck based skill. As well as giving a +5 to Luck as long as this title remains in your active title slots.
1 of 5 title slots filled, 0 of 15 passive titles.
Activate bonus skill now?
Yes/No
She selected yes and another message appeared.
(Bonus skill granted…Luck based…generating.)
Skill found
Loot Lord - Passive
Grants a n% chance to increase the value or rarity of a looted item, where n represents your current luck bonus. Does not apply to quest rewards.
***
TIM: Oh,yeahhhh, the title system wasn't supposed to be active yet, I guess we'll have to reset that for now. Anyway you got the skill now, oh here.
***
Another message window opened on top of Tim's message, just as a small token appeared hovering in the air in front of her.
Item Name:Alpha Tester’s Sigil
Item Type:Unique Accessory
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Description:
Alpha Tester
Moderator Status (Passive)
Limited Developer Access (1/day)
AI Interface (Mimir Link)
? Limitations:
- Cannot alter core game mechanics or access higher-tier administrative tools.
- Temporary Developer Access expires after 10 minutes of use.
- Excessive or inappropriate use may trigger an automatic revocation of privileges.
"A symbol of trust and authority within Eterna, wielded only by those who walk the line between player and creator."
“So how does that work? Do I just ask for Developer Access or message you Tim?” Enigma asked.
***
TIM: Well really all you have to do is ask the in-game AI for access and he’ll grant as many privileges as he deems fit. Never game breaking, just informational. Just say, “Hey, Mimir,” and your query. Also I’m getting ready to log-off for a meeting. I'll be back sometime tomorrow. Feel free to leave me any questions you can’t get answered by Mimir using your in-game message system.
***
Would you like to accept a friend request from TIM(Admin)?
Yes/No
Seems simple enough, She clicked yes and thanked Tim. The room was stagnate and dim, a smelled of old books and stale air. The wheel in the center of the room was dim, and the only other path out was a large staircase that led out into the rest of the Tutorial. Moving to the top of the stairs only impenetrable darkness lay beyond the threshold.
“Well I guess I should see what’s through door number one,” Enigma said heading for the door.
Going through the door he was greeted with a blinding light and the darkness of the room beyond was lifted. She was standing in a meadow with a slight breeze and sunlight above, the warmth of the sun blazing on his skin as he looked around at the trees and mosses surrounding him. Looking over his shoulder behind him he saw the same impenetrable darkness as before, she laughed internally
Walking through the thin copse of trees, the obvious scenario of the basic test of either greed or strength was evident. Stuck fast in the middle of a boulder was a rusty longsword with beams of sunlight gleaming down on the sword itself. In the hilt were gemstones and what looked to be loose gold wire wrappings. Classic Sword in the Stone, chuckling to herself, “I doubt I have the strength stat for this but sure i’ll give it a try,” rubbing her hands together she gripped the hilt with both hands. As she attempted, futilely, to pull the sword out a system window appeared.
(Martial Class not found…)
(Sword Proficiency not found…)
Item not granted…
“Well can’t say I didn’t try,” she said leaving the sword behind, “Maybe one day.” As she moved through the trees she smelled the damp undergrowth and the soft crunch of dirt beneath her feet. Once again she was lost in the sensation of the simple act of walking again. So lost in fact that she almost walked straight into the path of a large white horse as it galoped past her. Stepping back she was nearly bowled over by the large beast as it darted into the trees.
Probably a mount for another class or for later levels, she thought as she watched the majestic white mare vanish into the forest. Walking deeper into the forest, something tickled at the back of her mind. A ringing or melody that didn’t seem native to her ordinary thoughts. She focused her mind on the feeling and almost without warning an image of a particular tree was presented in her mind's eye. A large thorny tree with a hollow at the base, surrounded on all sides by darkened moss.
Magical Detection Novice (5%) experience gained (20 exp)
Class experience gained (50 exp)
She blinked as she dismissed the notification. So that’s how a skill increase works, she spied a small progress bar in her vision just below where it displayed her current health and mana pools. It was half-way filled.
Focusing on the feeling again she found it gave her a slight sense of direction of which way the tree was located, by giving her a clearer or dimmer image of the tree the closer she got. She felt the air grow hot and her breathing became labored as the oxygen grew thin. The moss on the ground started to look scorched and withered, and the trees became increasingly dry and cracked. Would be really nice to have a higher constitution right now.
Coming over a small hill into a clearing she found the twisted and thorny tree, in the hollow was a simple staff radiating heat and a small flame resonating in a crystal centered on the top of the staff. The staff radiated heat as it sent out a wave of mana into the air.
Quest offered!
Find a way to turn off the Staff of the Inferno Mage
Reward: 200 Class Experience, Random Magical Staff.
Breathing heavily she took shelter behind a tree away from the waves of magic emanating from the staff.
Ok so I need to find a way to get in there and see what’s going on with the staff without dying. She opened her character menu and looked through the tabs until she found the spells tab.
Spells - No spells found - 3 unassigned spell slots
Slapping a hand to her face she pulled up the base character sheet and saw that she hadn’t bothered to assign her extra points after getting her class either. Quickly moving through the menu she assigned the points as she thought appropriate.
Enigma Level 1 Human - Mage
HP - 100 Skills
ST - 100 Magical Affinity - Unaligned
MP - 160 Polearm Proficiency - Novice (5%)
Magical Detection - Novice (5%)
Attribute Score Modifier Arcane Lore - Novice (5%)
Strength 10 (0) Mystic Reserves - Apprentice (0%)
Perception 12 (+2) Loot Lord - Passive
Agility 8 (-2)
Constitution 10 (0)
Intelligence 17 (+7)
Wisdom 15 (+5)
Charisma 4 (-6)
Luck 14 (+4)
Well at least I’m not gasping for breath now, let's look at spells next, Enigma thought as she pulled open the spell selection window. She scanned the extensive list settling on a few that he liked the look of for his particular situation.
Mage Armor - Create a magical barrier around yourself that ablates incoming damage. 100 MP, duration 10 minutes.
Force Shield - Create a unidirectional barrier of force that dampens incoming damage or blocks incoming spells. Requires channeling mana. 2MP per second.
Dampen Elements - Create an area of climate control around yourself that moves the static climate around you to more normal temperatures. Requires channeling mana. 1MP per second.
While all of the options were good she didn’t think the one that would be immediately useful would be good for her long term plans. She was going to be here a long time after all and a mistake here could spell disaster later.
After a careful consideration of her options, Enigma chose to learn "Mage Armor." She felt that creating a protective barrier around herself would be the most practical for the challenge she was facing with the Staff of the Inferno Mage. With a mental command, she invoked the spell, and a shimmering, translucent energy field enveloped her.
For her other spells she chose Weaker Regeneration, and Ice Spear. After all, having a quality way to heal and attack creatures that rely on fire would be useful.
Weaker Regeneration - this spell allows the caster to Regenerate a small amount of health, 1+n/second where n is equal to your constitution modifier.
Ice Spear - this spell allows the caster to launch a small thin lance of ice at a target, 4(n)/spear where n equals the caster's intelligence modifier.
Feeling bolstered by her magical protection, she stepped cautiously towards the thorny tree, the waves of heat and magical energy becoming more bearable. As she approached the hollow, she spotted a small opening in the thorny branches, just big enough for her to slip through. Gingerly, she maneuvered herself into the tight space, finding herself in a cramped cavity under the tree.
There, in the center of the hollow, was the source of the magical flames—an ornate staff with a crystal at its tip, radiating a vibrant red light. Enigma studied the staff, trying to assess the situation. It seemed clear that the staff was the cause of the scorching environment, but she needed to find a way to disable it without harming herself.
Examining the crystal closely, she noticed a faint etching of runes on its surface. Her magical affinity might allow her to decipher their meaning. Concentrating, she touched the crystal with a fingertip, focusing her energy into understanding the runes' purpose.
After a moment of intense concentration, a message appeared before her:
(Runes of Binding: Inferno Control)
The message gave Enigma a glimmer of insight. It seemed that the runes were responsible for controlling the intensity of the magical flames emitted by the staff. Perhaps she could manipulate the runes to reduce the flames and neutralize the dangerous effects.
She closed her eyes, visualizing the runes and the flow of energy through them. Slowly and deliberately, she traced a line through the runes in her mind's eye, modifying their pattern. She felt a shift in the magical energy around the staff, and the flames began to wane.
As the fiery glow dimmed, the temperature in the hollow started to drop, and the scorching environment began to dissipate. The flames receded until they were extinguished completely, leaving only a cool and peaceful atmosphere behind.
Quest Complete!
Find a way to turn off the Staff of the Inferno Mage
Reward: 200 Class Experience, Random Magical Staff.
With a satisfied smile, Enigma stepped out of the hollow, her newly acquired knowledge about manipulating runes filling her with a sense of accomplishment. She looked at the staff, now harmless, and felt an overwhelming urge to pick it up. However, she was cautious; she had learned from her previous experience with the sword in the stone. She opened her character menu and checked her proficiency with polearms—her skills had improved considerably.
Skills
(New) Healing Magic - Novice (0%)
(New) Fire Magic - Novice (0%)
(New - Frost Magic - Novice (0%)
Confident that she had the necessary skills, she reached for the staff. As her fingers wrapped around the handle, she felt a surge of energy pass through her, as if the staff was recognizing her as its rightful owner. The crystal on the staff's tip glowed softly, and a message appeared:
(Item Acquired: Staff of the Emberforge)
Staff of the Emberforge
Common, Growth
This staff holds within it a seed of the emberheart tree, and thus holds great potential for growth if nurtured correctly. A common staff of wildfire druids and fire mages, this staff has been imbued with the runes of the inferno giving it enhanced resistance to flame.
The staff felt warm in her hands, pulsing with latent magical power. Enigma could sense that the staff had potential beyond its initial capabilities and that with time and effort, she could unlock even more of its potential.
Feeling accomplished and eager to continue her journey, Enigma decided to explore the meadow a bit more. As she walked, she marveled at the beauty of the virtual environment, the vivid colors, and the sense of immersion. She realized that even though she was in a digital realm, the experiences and emotions she was feeling were very real.
After some time, she stumbled upon a narrow path that led deeper into the forest. Curiosity piqued, she followed the path, eager to see what else lay ahead. The forest grew denser, and the path became less defined, but Enigma pressed on, guided by a sense of adventure.
As she walked, she noticed a faint light flickering between the trees ahead. Intrigued, she quickened her pace until she reached a clearing where an ethereal blue flame danced atop a pedestal. Above the flame was a sign that read:
(Challenge: Trial of the Flame)
Dare you tempt fate and consider yourself better than flames incarnate?
Are you ready to begin?
Yes/No
With a burst of magical energy, the Trial of the Flame commenced. The blue flame swirled and expanded, forming into a fiery humanoid figure that towered over Enigma. Its blazing eyes fixed on her with an intensity that seemed to pierce through her very being. The air around it crackled with heat, and Enigma could feel the scorching energy emanating from the elemental entity.
Summoning her courage, Enigma conjured a spear of ice in her hand, feeling the frosty energy surge through her veins. She launched the icy projectile at the elemental, aiming for its chest. The spear sailed through the air, striking the fiery figure with a resounding thud. The ice shattered upon impact, scattering frozen shards across the ground. The elemental let out a guttural screech, its fiery form flickering momentarily.
However, the elemental was far from defeated. It raised its arms, and flames roared to life around it, swirling and dancing like a tempest. With a swift and fluid motion, it hurled a gout of searing fire toward Enigma's face. Instinctively, Enigma's reflexes kicked in, and she raised the Staff of Emberforge as a shield.
The flames crashed against the staff, engulfing it in a brilliant burst of light. Enigma could feel the intense heat pressing against the barrier, and for a moment, she thought she might be overwhelmed. But then, a sensation unlike any she had felt before coursed through the staff and into her hands.
The staff absorbed the flames, drawing the fiery energy into its core. Enigma's eyes widened in amazement as she watched the staff glow brighter and brighter, the flames swirling within its crystal tip to the seed within. A surge of power surged through her, invigorating her senses and revitalizing her magical abilities.
Emboldened, Enigma took a step forward and slammed the butt of her staff into the ground. A wave of cold energy rippled outward, chilling the ground beneath her feet, it melted quickly, stifled by the incompatibility of the spell with the staff. The elemental roared in defiance, flames intensifying as it lunged forward with a massive, molten fist. Enigma barely had time to roll aside as the fist crashed into the ground, sending embers and molten debris in all directions.
Gritting her teeth, she extended her free hand, summoning another ice spear, this time larger, crackling with arcane energy. She hurled it with all her strength, aiming for the elemental's core. The spear struck true, piercing through its chest. A hiss erupted from the creature as steam billowed into the air, but it retaliated instantly, sending a spiraling tornado of fire toward her.
Enigma barely managed to move the staff in time, the firestorm crashing against her defenses, causing her to stumble backward. Sweat dripped from her brow as the sheer force of the heat threatened to sap her energy. She couldn’t let it end like this.
Channeling her magic deeper than before, she planted her feet and called upon her newly forming connection to the Staff of Emberforge. The crystal atop the staff glowed an intense crimson, resonating with the flames still trapped within. With a sudden burst of instinct, she redirected that energy outward, unleashing a counterblast of fire infused with her own frost magic.
The opposing flames clashed midair, the two energies battling for dominance. The elemental shrieked as Enigma's frostfire pushed through, engulfing it in an explosion of ice and embers. The creature staggered, its form destabilizing. Seeing her chance, Enigma sprinted forward, staff raised high, and brought it crashing down onto the elemental’s core.
Staff of the Emberforge charged (10%)
She conjured a series of sharp icicles and sent them hurtling toward the elemental, striking its molten form with precise accuracy. The elemental recoiled from the impact, its fiery body wavering momentarily as chunks of ice melted away.
The battle raged on, fire meeting ice in a dazzling display of elemental forces colliding. Enigma danced between attacks, her agility barely allowing her to avoid the elemental's fiery onslaught. Till a mistimed step tripped her up and she fell to the ground in a heap. She righted herself just in time for the staff to take most of the blow that slammed into her.
Staff of the Emberforge charged (15%)
Current HP 50/100
Enigma screamed as the flames and molten rock burned her skin. Her years in the marines had taught her to push through pain and injury, so she pushed out with her frost magic. She focused it on the elemental core and didn’t stop pushing power till her MP dropped to nearly empty, she triggered Mystic Reserves and kept pushing the cold.
She shouted in her mind. After what seemed like an eternity she lay there shivering the molten elemental now cold and solid rock.
Class Exp Gained 400 Exp
Magical Reserves Exp Gained 20 Exp
Frost Magic Exp Gained 100 Exp
Ice Spear Exp Gained 200 Exp
New Spell Gained
Staff of the Emberforge Charged 50%
New Spell gained: Cone of Cold
You have stood in the flames of a fire elemental and shouted, Chill!!!
You have made Ice and Cold a part of your being granting you an enhanced spell.
10+n% cold damage in a 15ft cone, where n is intelligence modifier.
Magical Affinity - Frost
All frost spells are now cost 10% less to cast.
(Quest Complete: Trial of the Flame)
Congratulations!
You faced down the embodiment of flames and have lived to tell the tail, have a title. Error… Title system inactive. Correcting.. Correcting… Corrected.
Compensating with Class Exp.
Class Exp Gained 1200
Enigma couldn't help but smile. She shuffled out from underneath the frozen elemental and stood. She wacked the stone with her staff, “Take that you overgrown pile of…pile of..rocks? Man, I really have to start coming up with some witty one-liners.” She took a deep breath and cast Weaker Regeneration on herself bringing her HP back to full but tanking her MP again. A wave of nausea overcame her and she staggered.
Centering herself again she brushed off the remaining ash and dirt on her clothes seeing that her spawn gear was full of holes and were basically no better than rags now. “Damn it. One day and I already need new clothes.” She chuckled, “Clothes shopping here I come. Now all I need is a shopping mall and I’m all set. Wait!” She looked at her inventory. “No money. Fuuuuuu…”
After cursing a few more times she took stock of her surroundings. Her gaze fell upon an intriguing sight—a stone pedestal at the center of the clearing just beyond the trial area. Upon it rested an intricate key, shimmering with a mysterious energy.
Drawn by curiosity, Enigma approached the pedestal and examined the key. It was unlike any she had seen before, with intricate engravings that seemed to shift and change as she looked closer. Before she could ponder further, a message appeared before her:
(Challenge: Puzzle of the Enigmatic Key)
Unlock the secret of the Enigmatic Key and open the door to untold rewards.
Are you ready to begin?
Yes/No
Intrigued by the prospect of solving a puzzle, Enigma's curiosity got the better of her. He clicked "Yes"
As the virtual landscape shifted, Enigma found herself standing before a massive stone door, adorned with intricate carvings. At its center was a keyhole, exactly the size and shape of the key she held. Eager to proceed, she inserted the key into the lock.
The moment the key clicked into place, the stone door shuddered, and a series of arcane symbols materialized before her. A voice, gentle yet cryptic, echoed in her mind:
“Ha, enigma.” she quipped. Enigma studied the symbols closely, realizing that they were arranged in a circular pattern, with lines connecting them in a complex web. Each symbol had its unique attributes, and the lines connecting them seemed to suggest a sequence.
The challenge was clear—to decipher the sequence of symbols that would unlock the door. But as she contemplated the intricate puzzle, she felt a sense of humility. The symbols were unlike anything she had encountered before, and she knew that only a thoughtful approach would lead her to the solution.
With a deep breath, she started examining the symbols one by one, their meanings and connections slowly revealing themselves. Hours passed, and the virtual sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow across the landscape. Yet Enigma remained focused, determined to unravel the puzzle's secrets.
As the last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, a sudden realization struck her. The symbols weren't merely random—they formed a pattern based on their attributes and connections. With renewed determination, she rearranged the symbols in the sequence that resonated most with her.
A soft rumble echoed through the air as the stone door shifted. The orb in front of her shifted into the shape of the key from before. The enigmatic key glowed brighter, and the door creaked open, revealing a chamber filled with an ethereal light.
Quest Complete:
Puzzle of the Enigmatic Key
Reward: Unlocking the chamber of untold rewards.
You may take any two items.
Enigma stepped through the open doorway, her heart racing with anticipation. As she entered, the chamber bathed her in a warm, radiant glow, illuminating an array of pedestals, each holding a different item—a glowing crystal, an ancient tome, a shimmering potion, and more. The chamber seemed to radiate an aura of magic and possibility, as if it held the culmination of all his efforts and trials.
She walked toward the tome with anticipation but just as she reached for her reward her hand wavered. The book seemed to fragment and glitch, as the chamber glimmered and shifted, then all of the rewards just vanished.
She was teleported back to the pedestal from before the puzzle, the key softly glowing on the pedestal. The message played again, yet this time it was distorted and quivering:
(Challenge: Puzzle of the Enigmatic Key)
Unlo€? the se□■et of the En￡\??atic K{y and op￡n t$e door to ~\￡￥ld rewards.
Are you re■?y to b°?gin?
￥es/N○
Cascade Error….correction….corrected.
Quest previously completed without rewards offered
Rewards changed…engagement of skill Loot Lord
Generating…error…errrooorr…error40?0
e-17 .1?
Then the screen screamed and shattered. There were a lot of error messages.
"Hey Mimir, is there something wrong with the quest that just broke?"
A chime sounded out as she completed her query and a floating text box with gold letters popped up in front of her.
Hello Enigma, I'm currently working on a solution to the problem. Your “Loot Lord” ability didn’t interact well with the quest. I am elevating this issue to TIM(admin). As it's not suppose to interact with quest rewards.
In the meantime, please feel free to relax in the Grove Cabin my fellow AI built for you while I work on this.
Best wishes, Mimir
P.S. Try the cheese. It's a personal favorite.
Suddenly she found herself back in the forest center just off the path from where she met the white horse. She was sitting on a large stump that looked like it was used for splitting wood and a large cord of wood was stacked neatly against the back of a small cabin.
The cabin stood nestled amidst the verdant embrace of the forest, a serene oasis of wood and stone that exuded rustic charm. Its exterior bore the marks of craftsmanship and care, a testament to the skill that had gone into its construction. The cabin's wooden walls were weathered and textured, their earthy tones blending harmoniously with the surrounding trees. Ivy vines cascaded down from the rooftop, adding a touch of natural elegance to the scene.
A stone pathway meandered from the cabin's entrance, winding its way through a scattering of wildflowers that embraced the edges of the clearing. The air was fragrant with the scent of pine and earth, and dappled sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting playful patterns on the cabin's facade.
The cabin itself was of modest size, inviting rather than imposing. Its design seemed to draw inspiration from traditional cottages, with a sloping roof adorned with wooden shingles that gave it a timeless charm. A quaint chimney peeked out from the rooftop, hinting at the warmth and comfort within.
As she walked the pathway of verdant stones and up to the door of the cabin the faint smell of roasting meat and fresh baked bread hit his nose. Stepping through the cabin's wooden door, Enigma found herself enveloped in a cozy ambiance that felt like a comforting embrace. The interior was a harmonious blend of rustic simplicity and thoughtful design, each element contributing to a sense of homecoming.
The main living area was a warm and inviting space. The walls were adorned with simple tapestries depicting scenes of nature, adding a touch of color and vibrancy to the wooden backdrop. A large fireplace dominated one wall, its crackling flames casting a soft, golden glow that danced across the room.
A comfortable, worn-in sofa and a pair of armchairs were arranged around a low wooden table, inviting guests to relax and unwind. A thick, woven rug covered the polished wooden floor, lending an element of warmth and texture.
To one side of the living area, a modest kitchenette was tucked neatly into a corner. Wooden shelves held an assortment of earthenware dishes and cooking utensils, while a cast-iron stove stood ready to bring culinary creations to life.
A narrow hallway led off the main room, revealing a small bedroom that exuded a sense of tranquility. A cozy bed was adorned with a quilted coverlet in shades of blue and green, while a window offered views of the surrounding forest. A wooden writing desk sat by the window, accompanied by an unlit lantern and a stack of parchment, a short letter, a plate laden with pot roast meat and vegetables, next to a plate of still steaming bread and crumbled cheese with a tankard of something she was sure was mildly alcoholic.
“Now that’s what I call,” Enigma said, pulling the chair to the desk and digging into the meal. It was perhaps the first real night of rest that she had had in a long, long time.