"When considering the evolutionary capability of any creature, one must consider the influence of both [Sapience] and Mana. For instance, take the mundane Cow. In regards to Mana, should the Cow be placed in pasture that is Fire-Aligned; say near magma, studies have shown the following as the most probable outcome:

Cow → Dire Cow → Fiery Bull → Burning Bovine → Inferno Oxen

But add [Sapience] to the mix?

Cow → Explosive Bull → Incendiary Tauros → Blazing Minotaur → Herald of Fire

That concludes today's class. Homework will be an essay on, "Why Farming near Volcanoes is a bad idea."

--Jebediah Cowbane, Master Rancher. Recorded Lesson from: "AG666: Intro to Fire, Flame & Farming." AC 1624

With trepidation filling my claws, I prod the "Y" button.

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Congratulations! You are now an Apprentice of the Coast!

Analyzing current [Skills]...

[Analysis] complete.

Upgrading [Skills]!

Please wait...

Upgrade complete!

[Scuttle I] is now [Coast II]!

[Pinch I] is now [Slice II]!

[Mana Sense I] is now [Mana Sense II]!

[Mana Manipulation I] is now [Mana Manipulation II]!

Added [Earth Manipulation I]!

Added [Water Manipulation I]!

View Skills now? Y/N?

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A rush of knowledge barrages into my skull. Disassociated concepts congeal into understanding. Before, when Toriana guided me to learn [Eyes of Intent], she must have muted the flow of information. That, or it was an alternate effect due to the artificial nature of [Physical Reality]. Either way, I could feel an instinctual understanding of how to move Earth & Water. Placing that aside for now, I pull up my [Skills] screen.

Magic Skills Skill: Mana Manipulation II Lvl: 1 Skill: Water Manipulation I Lvl: 1 Effects: Move Mana, relative to skill level. Effects: Move Water, relative to skill level. Current Bonus: 4% faster/accurate shaping Current Bonus: .4% faster/accurate shaping Cost: None (Passive) Cost: 1 Mana per Second Lore: "Wield the might Arcane"- Archmage Vendros Lore: "Nature is like [Water]. It takes the shape of it's container."- Sea Folk Advice Skill: Earth Manipulation I Lvl: 1 Skill: Mana Sense II Lvl: 1 Effects: Move Earth, relative to skill level. Effects: Feel the mana around you. Current Bonus: .4% faster/accurate shaping Current Bonus: 4% greater clarity Cost: 1 Mana per Second Cost: None (Passive) Lore: "I'm always down to [Earth]"- Elemental Saying

Lore: "Begin your path to power." - Mage Guild

More... Skill: Eyes of Intent I Lvl: 1 Effects: Manifest your will Current Bonus: Undefined Cost: Variable Lore: "My sight will end this age." - {REDACTED}

Examining the new layout, I take note of the changes and additions. I haven't practiced at all yet, but I'm thrilled at the thought of moving Earth and Mana and Water around. Continuing with my review, I select 'More' and see,

Physical Skills Skill: Coast II Lvl: 1 Effects: Increase movement speed, relative to skill level Current Bonus: 5% faster movement + 10% faster actions where Water & Earth meet Cost: 2 Stamina per second Lore: "I just like to [Coast]."- Government [Lackey] Skill: Slice II Lvl: 1 Effects: Increased effect of STR on edged weapons, relative to skill level Current Bonus: 5% greater cutting damage Cost: 12 Stamina per attack Lore: "Time to [Slice] & dice." - Royal Chef Skill: Natural Camouflage I Lvl: 7 Effects: Shift your color to match surroundings. Speed/Accuracy improves with skill level. Current Bonus: 2.8% faster shift/accuracy Cost: 1 Stamina per second Lore: "Hide like an cuttlefish, blend like a octopus. Their claws can't hit and their face is a sourpuss.”

This is exciting too! [Scuttle] has gone away and is now [Coast]. Apparently the change was not only in power, but quality as well. The per level amount increased from .4 to .5 per level and it added a situational effect. The transition from [Pinch] to [Slice] is also interesting. [Pinch] increased claw damage, but [Slice] only increases the damage on bladed weapons. I look at the edges of my claws. Are they sharp enough to count? More testing is required. It also had the same quality increase as [Scuttle] and [Coast] did.

A blinking notification at the corner of my eye catches my attention. I bring it up to view and see,

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Congratulations! You have IV New Titles!

Would you like to view them now? Y/N?

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I do? Wow! Go me! I hurriedly select the option for "Y." My eyes glaze at the results,

Titles Name: Triumvirate Unveiled Feat: You have seen the Shadows of Ages Past, the Triumvirate Unveiled. Effect: +5% to Wisdom, Charisma, Intelligence Lore: "I may be blind, yet still I see." - [REDACTED] Name: Kiss from a Crab Feat: *New* - Received a [Divine] Crab Kiss Effect: +1% to All Stats Lore: "There… Used to be a Pretty Crabby Alone on the sea…." - *New* Latest hit from 'Pinniped' Name: Luck of the Crab Feat: *New* - Divinely Announced as the "Luckiest Crab in the History of Existence." Effect: Once per day, [Dodge] attack that would cause your death. Lore: "This… this is ridiculous." - *New* Goddess of Wisdom, flabbergasted Name: [Lore] Contributor II Feat: Performed *New* Feat. Contributed to the [Lore] of Arthos Effect: +1 to Charisma, +1 to Wisdom Lore: "Go forth and forge your legend!" - [Lore]

I'm blushing as I read through the Titles. As I read the second one, I channel my inner Aethir and grumble,

"Just wait until I find this Pinniped guy! I can't believe he wrote a song about me. I've never even met him before! Wait? That happened like an hour ago! Did Toriana commission a song or something?... Did she commission a song about the kiss she gave me?... What does that mean?"

No Crabby! Snap out of it! There was never a chance between the two of you. You came from different shores after all. And it's not like she's *actually* a crab. She's an ancient eldritch deity of unfathomable power. And why would there be a need for a crab goddess anyway? I doubt there is a race of [Sapient] crabs who would be dying for some passion in their lives.

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Meanwhile, on alternate planes of existence...

Charisma: "...and that's why I think we should create a new race and populate a planet full of [Sapient] crabs."

Wisdom: "No."

Intelligence: "No."

Strength: "No."

Vitality: "No."

...

......

Wisdom: "Dexterity?"

Intelligence: "Dexterity, we talked about this! This is a BAD idea! Remember the Sphinx debacle? An entire race of female human cat monsters that noone likes because their idea of a good time is: Riddle or Death."

...

......

Dexterity: *whispers to Charisma* "We'll talk later."

Charisma: "Yay!"

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Back on Arthos:

Placing thoughts of the goddess aside, I decide to open up the notification on the race portion of my status.