Bethany and Susanna didn’t bump into anybody as they headed to the meeting square. As such it was only as they entered the square itself that Bethany started to notice the others and the others noticed them. So taken in by everybody’s name plate and associated levels Bethany didn’t notice the whispers that were radiating out from her like ripples on a pond. For the most part everybody appeared to be level 0, there were one or two level 1s dotted around the place, across the whole village though there were probably no more than 10. Bethany imagined that most people had finished the first trial and escaped. That would have been the smart thing. The thing Bethany should have done given how little she had known about the whole situation.

Up on the small stage that was brought out for village meetings stood both Lewis and his father, Sam Askstock; the mayor. The mayor had got himself to level 1 much like Bethany had but Lewis, Lewis had a shiny level 2. That explained the extremely smug look on his face, as he looked down on the rest of the villagers. Only after meeting Lewis’ eye and having him fall into full on hysterics did Bethany properly take in the effect she was having on those around her. Many of those around her age were openly laughing while the adults were murmuring up a storm. She twiddled the star on her dress as her eyes swept the audience for a famililar face. It took her a while to find anybody she recognised, the only possible friendly face in the crowd, Steven. Seeing him near the front she pushed her way towards him leaving her mother behind, chatting to some visibly upset washer women who assumedly weren’t taking the transition well.The group parted for her as she pushed forwards, watching her as she passed. Reaching Steven, she noted he was still level 0, she was so focused on inspecting his level she didn’t see him visibly cringe as he took her in.

“What’s everybody’s problem?” Bethany angry whispered at Steven “Everybody is looking at me weirdly, I’m not the only one who finished 5 trials, hell Lewis is level 2.”

“Erm, it’s not the levels that people are noticing Bethany” Steven said fidgeting nervously as he looked at her nameplate yet again.

“Well, what is it?” Bethany asked,

Steven coughed before steeling his face and devoid of emotion began reading to Bethany, what he and the rest of the town could see above her head

“[Solarslut Bethany Oakfenny, 1]. I’m so sorry”

Bethany felt her face heating up with a combination of embarrassment and rage. She’d all but forgotten about the unflattering title due to her life threatening situation but now, because of Lewis, it was forever there for all to see. An aggressive beacon that would colour her interactions with literally everybody in the future. She whirled around towards the stage and Lewis, where he was staring directly at her, still smirking. She started to march towards him when Steven caught her arm.

“Don’t be stupid Bethany, I know it’s awful and one of these days I’m sure you will make him pay for it. But currently he is still the mayor’s son than you and has been telling anybody who will listen about how strong he was now. Also we are in front of the whole village and whatever these levels mean his is higher than yours. He really isn’t worth it right now.”

Bethany was still seeing red but didn’t pull herself out of Steven’s grip instead she crumpled into him her breathing once more becoming short and shallow. Steven didn’t fully know how to properly comfort Bethany and after having his hand awkwardly hover over her head for a while he gently put it on and started stroking her head.

Bethany found Steven’s attempts at comforts lovely if not misguided and took her hand once more to her broach. She carefully removed it and placed in in her hand as she stopped leaning on Steven and faced the stage. Gripping the broach tightly helped Bethany to ground herself as though sharp it was more discomforting than actually painful. When she met Lewis’ eyes, she didn’t have it in her to give him a death glare nor a sarcastic smile and so instead gave him a hollow look, as though he was merely a piece of wall that her sight had momentarily landed on.

A couple more people had trickled in as Steven and Bethany were chatting, and the attention was finally shifting off Bethany as the crowd instead chatted to those they hadn’t seen in a while about their differing experiences. Similarly, Bethany heard more about Steven’s experience. He clearly had a much tamer time of it than she had and had made it through 4 Trials before deciding the risk was getting too great. He’d been butchering a pig at the time and so while his early Trials had been extremely familiar the fourth had included an alien creature. Steven had just about scrapped by but didn’t feel comfortable working with animals he didn’t know when his life was on the line. Having told Steven an abridged version of her own experience, less crying and almost dying, they fell into a natural lull. Bethany used it to pull up her status, having not looked at it since the aforementioned crying and almost dying.

Name

Bethany Oakfenny

Title(s)

Solarslut

Mana Type

Cosmic (rare)

Level

1

Skills:

Half-staff (common)

1 (5 Trials Complete)

The screen was still extremely sparse. Bethany wasn’t fully sure what the level represented as of yet. In her mind it was one of three things, her total skill levels, her average skill levels, or her sum total skill levels. Much like when she first inspected somebody for their level and name, she felt herself being pulled towards the entry for half-staff on her status. As she focused on it, it expanded out covering the status screen.

Half-staff (common): Level 1 (5 Trials complete)

The half-staff feels more natural in your hands and you will find your grip on it is stronger now.

You can swing your staff 5% faster and are 5% less likely to lose your grip.

Bethany still didn’t feel any different but clearly this would take affect if she was to get her hands on a staff. Hearing the mayor clear his throat she quickly dismissed her screens and settled in to pay attention.

“Thank you for gathering this morning. I know not everybody is here as some haven’t immerged from these so-called Trials but looking around, I see the majority of us are here. Now I would love to come in with platitudes about how safe we are, but we aren’t. There are new dangers at our doors. People are being swept away to alien worlds to be tested, the stakes of which are seemingly the ultimate price.

We need more than ever to come together as a community, we can’t let these dangers stay unchecked in our own homes. These Trials are awarding people powers which can be dangerous in themselves if they aren’t policed. That’s why I’m implementing a new law. Nobody is to go further than a single Trial at a time. That way they aren’t endangering themselves or others. This Trial should also be in a non-combative field, we don’t want people with weapons they don’t understand how to use. However, for the safety of our village from each other and the other towns that are out there. I will be approving a task force who are encouraged to go through as many trials as possible as well as to generally monitor the levels of the others in our small village. If we are careful we can ensure our way of life is only improved by these weird happenings and avoid as much of the dangers they present.”

Thinking that Sam had reached the end of his talk the crowd began to descend into chatter once more, the group seemed generally approving of these changed. Sam cleared his throat once more.

“Ahem, further we have all been greeted by this strange being that calls itself Tem and has claimed to be unrelated to the new dangers. We cannot trust this being. When affronted with them I suggest sitting in silence until the begin grows bored and leaves. They claim to only be visiting 3 more times but again we can trust nothing this being says. Finally, if you could all file forward to report your current skill level and skill for our census that would be appreciated and mandatory. Here you can also register your interest in helping protect our village.”

At this one of two members of the crowd began to clap and shortly almost all of the village had joined in. Bethany was not one of these people. She was fuming, all the hurt and anger she had felt over the title had been morphed into one of rage. This was her chance to become something more and the village was once again trying to take it away? There was no chance she would be allowed on the protection team. Instead, it would be another way to ensure the power stayed with those the mayor, and his son, approved of as well as making sure those with the drive to change things weren’t able to do so. None the less she fell into line behind Steven and began to funnel towards the stage. She was too recognisable to avoid this census, she’d have to be honest and use the next couple of days before her next trial to think of a way around the restrictions.

As she brainstormed the two of them reached the front of the queue.

“Steven Slawly level 0 in butchering” Steven stated copying the general flow of those before him. “However, I did complete 4 trials before leaving so might level up next time despite only doing one Trial.”

And there it was, Steven had given Bethany her next step even if he didn’t realise it. Bethany stepped up next and Lewis pushed aside his father to take her details personally.

“Hello Solarslut”

“Bethany Oakfenny, level 1 in... butter churning”

“no no no that’s not what it says on your nameplate. Your full title please”

“Bethany Oakfenny, level 1 in butter churning”

“Are we going to cause a scene here Solarslut? Do I need to get you thrown in prison for failing to comply with the census? Your full title PLEASE!”

Bethany narrowed her eyes at the boy.

“Solarslut Bethany Oakfenny, a level 1 butter churner”

“Thank you Solarslut, a butter churner? Weren’t you assaulting somebody at the time of the trial, why would you not get a combat skill?”

Bethany attempted what she hoped was a convincing shrug

“Maybe because the act of self defence was with a butter churn plunger or was about a butter churn. Don’t ask me it’s not like we understand anything about this situation”

Bethany gave Lewis a sickeningly sweet smile,

“You can move along then Solarslut, don’t bother expressing an interest in our protection team we want good, innocent people on the squad.”

Lewis dismissed Bethany with a wave of his hand.

“Oh I completed 9 trials in butter churning so don’t be surprised if I end up level 2 when I next appear. It can’t be helped.”

Having said her piece Bethany rushed off the stage before Lewis could retort and having said goodbye to Steven went home to wait for her mother. She sprinted back in an attempt to use up some of the angry energy the meeting had given her.