Cika stepped forward, nodding at Emmanuel before facing the crowd. Her voice was clear, her eyes sweeping over us with an intent gaze. She held herself with a quiet confidence, her back straight and her hands clasped loosely in front of her, exuding a calm yet commanding presence. Each movement was deliberate, as if she wanted to convey both authority and reassurance. "Greetings, everyone. Today, we're going to talk about skills—how they're gained, how they can be increased, and what makes them unique in Valeris." She paused, letting her words settle. "Skills are gained from experience and knowledge, just like in our previous worlds, but here they can be visually tracked. You develop them through hands-on learning, observation, and practical experience. However, there's something more here—sometimes you can also gain skills as rewards."
She gestured towards an easel where a large parchment was displayed, showing a glowing tree-like diagram. The trunk had "Core Skills" written at its base, with branching paths labeled "Subskills," "Mastery," and "Psionics." The branches represented different ways skills could develop: 'Subskills' were specialized abilities that branched off from core skills, such as 'Knife Skills' as a subskill of 'Cooking', 'Hunting" or even "Woodworking.'
'Mastery' indicated the complete proficiency in a particular skill, like reaching the highest level in 'Gardening' to unlock advanced cultivation techniques. 'Psionics' referred to using mental energy to enhance learning speed, such as increasing comprehension or efficiency in crafting. This diagram illustrated how each skill could evolve and the potential interconnections among them.
When you complete certain quests, you may receive skill points that can be assigned to any skill of your choosing, depending on the quest. This is not as common, but it does happen. These points are flexible, and how you use them can significantly impact your progress. It's one of the unique benefits of our world. However," she emphasized, "they can only be used on skills you have already unlocked."
She paused, scanning the crowd. "How many of you have noticed the 'Skills' section in your interface?" A smattering of hands rose cautiously. "Good. For those who haven't, I encourage you to open your interface later and take a look."
"You'll see your unlocked skills, their levels, and even a progress bar that tracks how close you are to the next level."" I had not noticed this before but once I focused on the skill I saw the bar. "Here’s the critical part: experience alone won’t raise your skills. Intentional practice and focused effort are essential. For example, if you want to improve your Cooking skill, simply watching others cook or reading about recipes will provide some foundational knowledge, but it won't increase your skill level. You need to get your hands dirty—chop vegetables, prepare meals, and repeat the process to see real progress. The same applies to skills like Navigation. Understanding maps theoretically is one thing, but going out, getting lost, and finding your way back will elevate your practical understanding and truly increase your skill. In Valeris, the system rewards consistent and intentional actions, so each skill level is a reflection of not just your experience, but the quality of effort you put into it."
The crowd buzzed with murmurs as people exchanged glances. Cika raised her hand to quiet them. "Now, some of you might wonder, 'What happens to the skills I already had before arriving here?' That's a good question. Skills from your previous world can be transferred, but there is a catch." She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. "The systems and rules here are different, so those skills remain blocked until you come across similar abilities in Valeris. Once you experience or practice an equivalent skill here, it will start to unlock, allowing you to use what you already know more effectively. This is why over the next eight weeks, we will be introducing you to many different professions, each with its own set of associated skills."
She smiled faintly, as though sharing a secret. "For some of you, when introduced to a skill, you may find your skill level instantly jumps. That's because it matches with something you already knew—a recognition, if you will, by the interface that you have prior experience. However, if this is your first session here, you likely haven’t experienced that yet. There is still a block on those skills until you go through the unlocking process."
Someone raised their hand hesitantly. "Excuse me," a young man called out, "if skills can be blocked, what happens if we need them urgently, like for survival?"
Cika nodded, her expression softening. "An excellent question. The skills themselves are not entirely blocked; you can still use them, but they will be limited without the psionic abilities attached to them. For example, if you were an excellent hunter before arriving here, you could still hunt, but without psionics, it would feel like hunting in your previous world—effective but lacking the special enhancements. Once you meet with a Skill Counselor, your skills may jump to a higher level if they align with your previous experience, and you'll unlock psionic benefits that make those skills more powerful. However, skills will only fully unlock when you perform or experience them directly. For instance, if you had not unlocked 'History' before today, listening to a lecture this morning might have unlocked it. You can further develop skills by studying at the library, talking to people, or attending lectures. Master-level teachers also provide an accelerated learning experience, making it beneficial to work with them if possible. While you can still learn on your own or from lower-level individuals, the rate of skill growth may not be as fast compared to learning from a master."
The room filled with quiet murmurs as people turned to one another, expressions of curiosity and concern passing between them. Cika held up her hand, signaling for silence, and continued. "This process requires each of you to speak with a Skill Counselor. The counselor will help you unlock any latent skills from your previous life. After today’s session, you will be given a time to meet with your Skill Counselor, so you can begin this process.
For those of you with children under the age of five, their Skill Counselor appointments won’t happen until they turn five. When that time comes, everything they have learned here will suddenly align in their skills, all at once, at the exact hour matching the time they were born on your old world. It is best to make the appointment with the skill counselors at least a week in advance of that date."
I gave a worried glance at Ana. Her birthday was less than a week away. The thought of missing an appointment or mishandling her transition filled me with unease.
Cika paused, allowing the information to sink in, and then stepped forward, her voice dropping slightly as if to make her next point more personal.
"Now, about mastering skills. Mastery is something you should reserve for professions you plan to pursue and for your special personal interests. Some individuals master more than five skills, but those people are the older generation—those who have been here for thirty or more years. Mastery is not only difficult but also unnecessary for most of us. For most, mastering three to five skills is entirely reasonable."
She paused, making sure the crowd understood. "This doesn’t mean you can’t learn other skills, but focusing your efforts will help you grow effectively. The rest can simply be for fun or as supplementary skills.""
She let her gaze drift over the crowd. "Your level in a skill isn’t just a marker of your experience—it’s more than that. Many of you may have already noticed that when you gain a skill level, your understanding improves as well. It’s like a bonus. The effort you put into gaining knowledge doesn’t just reflect what you’ve learned; it multiplies it. For instance, someone who spends days working on something here and gains a skill point might find themselves suddenly possessing the knowledge or abilities that would have taken a month to acquire in your old world. This applies to physical skills as well; for example, someone training in swordsmanship might find that once they reach a new skill level, their reflexes improve drastically, as if they had spent months practicing advanced moves. The same goes for crafting skills like woodworking—mastering a new technique here might give you an instinctive understanding that would take much longer in your previous world."
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
She paused, her lips curving into a slight smile. "That’s the power of psionics—the ability to improve your mind through your own mental energy. Psionics accelerate your understanding and capability beyond what is normally possible."
A hand shot up in the crowd. "Are there limits to how much psionics can boost our learning?"
Cika tilted her head thoughtfully. "Yes and no. Psionics amplify what you already have, but they are not a replacement for effort. If you approach a skill with dedication and focus, the results will be extraordinary. But if you neglect practice, no amount of psionics will make up for it."
She took a deep breath, her eyes brightening. "After today’s session, take some time to reflect. You’ll receive two new quests. The first quest will set an appointment with your Skill Counselor. The second quest is about gaining essential skills. These skills are divided into two categories," She points to another sheet of paper with other skills listed:
- Domestic Skills: cleaning, cooking, sewing, carpentry, and gardening.
- Survival Skills: first aid, basic foraging, fire-building, navigation, and fitness.
"Domestic Skills and Survival Skills. You will need to reach Level 2 in each of these basic skills. Some of you may already have these skills, and they will be unlocked once you meet with your Skill Counselor. Though I have fitness listed here, it could be any physical fitness activity from running, horseback riding, to swimming, and weapons training. I look forward to seeing how each of you grows."
I was getting good at catching when notifications appear because I recieved 2 more quests. Now that I thought about it, the light wasnt really what made me notice but there was an insistince almost like an itch or tap that there was something new to see. I glanced and saw that I had 2 new quests:
Skill Counselor Appointment
Essential Skills Training
Cika walked off stage, and Mica returned, stepping up to the center of the stage with an encouraging smile. "Alright everyone, thank you for your attention today. Now it's time to get started on your quests," Mica announced, her voice carrying a warm enthusiasm. "Please check your interfaces for your counselor appointment schedules and any starting quests you may have received." She paused, giving the crowd a moment to react. "If you have questions or need guidance, there are guides stationed at the back of the room who are ready to assist you. Remember, your Skill Counselor is available to help you transition smoothly, so make sure to take full advantage of that opportunity."
Mica's eyes swept across the room, ensuring everyone understood. "For those of you with young children, please see the receptionist at the Skills Foundery to set up appointments for their future session. We want to make sure every child’s transition is as seamless as possible." She gestured toward a side of the room where a few desks had been set up, each attended by a counselor ready to assist parents.
"Alright," Mica clapped her hands, "You’re all set to begin. Good luck on your journeys, and remember, mastery takes time and practice. Take things one step at a time."
There was a moment of silence and people took in all that they have learned.
Everyone started to talk amongst themselves, and some began to leave. I checked my quest log and noticed that my skills counselor appointment was not at the church but at a place called the Skills Foundry. When I looked at the map, I saw it was located near the stables, in a large building near a field. I turned to Alex and Sam and told them about the time of my appointment.
"Hey, looks like my skills counselor appointment is in a quarter of an hour," I said.
They both pulled up their interfaces, checking their quest logs. Sam was the first to respond, "Oh, cool! Mine is right after yours." Alex nodded, looking up at me. "Same here. Guess we’ll all be heading there together."
I felt a wave of relief. "Sounds good."
Sam must have noticed my anxious expression and placed an arm around my shoulders in a comforting gesture.
"It's so nice to have quiet again, now that it's just the four of us," Sam said, their voice soft and genuine. "I like people and talking, but only in small doses. I prefer our small group."
Sam is so intuitive about others' feelings, always knowing the perfect way to comfort or support someone. I wonder if they have a skill in that, or if it's just their natural empathy shining through.
Alex simply smiled, and although they didn’t say anything, I could tell by the way they carried themselves that they thrived in bigger crowds. It was different for me, but knowing they both wanted to be here with me made me feel more confident.
As we made our way towards the Skills Foundry, the structure grew more imposing as we approached it. It was much taller than it had looked on the map, standing out against the open field and smaller surrounding buildings. It was only 2 stories but it was wide and long. A tall individual stood outside, greeting people as they arrived.
They grinned when we approached. "Hello All! I’m Val," they said with what could be considered a southern drawl. "Are you here for your counselor appointments?"
"Yes," I replied. "I have mine in a few minutes." Val gave me a look, and I wondered if they didn’t use minutes as a unit of time here. Maybe they had a different way of tracking time—something I hadn’t learned yet or they just go by quarter hours and use things like soon, or in a moment depending on need. I really need to figure things out more. With the anxiety of the large group of people, I'm honestly not feeling very confident.
"Excellent!" They smiled but it didn’t seem to reach their eyes. "Just head inside, and you’ll find a receptionist who will help you sign in," Val said, nodding toward the door. "Once you’re checked in, a counselor will come out to get you when it's your turn."
We thanked Val and stepped inside. I glanced back as we walked inside and Val was still looking at me with a hard to read expression. It made me worry I had said or did something wrong. The air inside the Skills Foundry was cooler than outside, maybe because it was a brick building, and there was a quiet hum of conversation from others who were waiting. A large desk was stationed near the back wall, with a receptionist seated behind it. I walked up to the desk holding Ana's hand, Alex and Sam following just behind.
"Hello," the receptionist greeted with a polite smile. "Are you here for your skills counseling appointment?"
"Yes, I have one at the 12th hour," I replied, giving her my name.
She nodded, checking her book. "You’re all set. Please take a seat, and your counselor will be out shortly."
Alex and Sam also gave their names and then we found a few empty seats near the corner of the room. Sam plopped down next to me, and Alex took the seat to my left. The three of us sat quietly for a moment, taking in our surroundings. There was one other person who was reading a book and didn’t even look up when we came in.
It wasn’t long before a door on the far side of the room opened, and a counselor stepped out along with another person. The one who was reading got up and greeted the person and they walked out of the room.
The counselor was wearing a simple blue tunic and jeans, and their demeanor was calm and cool.
"Ani?" the counselor called, looking directly at me.
I stood up, giving Alex and Sam a quick glance. Sam smiled at me, giving me a thumbs-up. "You've got this," they said.
I took a deep breath and looked at the counselor. "Is it okay if my daughter Ana joins us?" I asked, trying to sound calm.
The counselor, a tall person with a cool expression, glanced over at the receptionist. "Is Ana already in the system?" they inquired.
The receptionist quickly checked the logbook and nodded. "Yes, she is scheduled for the day of her birthday at the 14th hour."
With that confirmation I received a new quest notification: Bring Ana to her Skills Counselor Appointment. The counselor turned back to me, their expression becoming slightly more serious. "For this session, I would prefer to speak with you alone. It will be more focused that way. That is if Ana feels comfortable waiting here with the receptionist?" They glanced down at Ana with a questioning look.
I knelt down to Ana's level, meeting her eyes. "Ana, would you be okay waiting out here for a bit?" I asked her gently.
Ana studied my face for a moment before smiling and giving a thumbs-up. "I'll be fine, Mama," she signed, her little fingers moving confidently.
I smiled, pulling her into a quick hug. "Okay. Thank you, sweetheart." I looked back at Sam and Alex, who both offered encouraging thumbs-ups as well, their grins comforting me.
I hesitated for just a moment longer, then stood up and followed the counselor through the door.