Darkness came. The rune was expanding in front of my eyes, until there was a ball of darkness the size of my hand hovering over the bed. I barely managed to remain conscious. I had no mana left, and only one hundred and some HP remaining. As I saw the ball wasn’t intent on moving, I took the time to look at the blue windows.

New skill discovered!

Life conversion is now level 1!

+1,5 END, +1,5 MEN per level.

..

..

Life conversion is now level 4!

+1,5 END, +1,5 MEN.

Mana sense is now level 4!

+1 PER, +1 INT, +1 WIS.

Congratulations! You casted a spell meant for the divine!

New perk acquired : Divine spellcaster.

Divine spellcaster

As one that took a step in the realm of divine magic, mortal magic seems trivial to you.

Reduces standard spell costs, eases learning of new standard spells, eases learning of new manipulation skills, eases creation of standard spells. +30 MEN.

THAT will be useful! I think I understand how good of a gift those spells were.

Congratulations! You created a sentient creature!

New title acquired : Creator.

Creator

You created a sentient existence from nothing. Though imperfect, it’s still a great achievement.

+5% Life affinity, +5% Death affinity. +15 WIS.

Yes, Life affinity! With this, I can avoid Death affinity changing my mind.

Congratulations! You created an elemental!

New perk acquired : Elemental creator.

Elemental creator

You created an elemental, an existence between life and death, born from magic, intent and at least one affinity.

Elemental will be aware of this when meeting you, potentially altering their opinion of you. +5 INT, +5 WIS.

I’m not sure if that’s good. Are they going to like the fact I created an elemental? Or will they try to kill me on sight? Be more specific, damned Will!

Congratulations! You created an undead!

New title acquired : High necromancer.

High necromancer

As one able to create an undead from nothing, you stand at the forefront of necromancy. Your pairs bow to your talent and might.

Any necromancer you meet will be instinctively conscious of your achievement. +10 INT, +10 WIS, +20 MEN, +20 CHA.

Wait, an undead? I thought I created an elemental? Can something be both an elemental and an undead? And I’m a necromancer now? Aren’t there people who hate necromancy? I’m not sure this is a gift, but the stats are pretty cool. And there’s a LOT of it!

Congratulations! You created an elemental undead!

New perk acquired : Elemental necromancer.

Elemental necromancer

As one able to create an undead from nothing but pure affinity, your pairs recognize the progress you’ve made.

Any necromancer you meet will be instinctively conscious of your achievement. +5 INT, +5 WIS, +10 MEN, +10 CHA.

Ok, that spell was clearly something far too powerful for a novice like me. I already got 20 INT and WIS, 30 CHA, and 60 CHA! And there are so much windows still!

Congratulations! You’re now a level 5 ‘Valkyrie’.

+1 to all stats except Luck.

Choose a skill :

Might of the warrior

Prerequisites : 100 STR.

Mind of the warrior

Prerequisites : 100 INT.

Body of the warrior

Prerequisites : 100 END.

Soul of the warrior

Prerequisites : 100 WIS.

I quickly checked every one, but they were pretty much all the same. They all gave +1 in a stat, and +2 in another every level. Might had DEX and STR, Mind had PER and INT, Body had AGI and END, and Soul had CHA and WIS. It’s strange that Hearth of the warrior already gave me some WIS, it seems redundant. I pondered it for a while, then decided for the Body of the warrior. After all, you can’t level up if you’re dead.

Congratulations! You’re now a level 6 ‘Valkyrie’.

+1 to all stats except Luck.

Congratulations! You’re now a level 7 ‘Valkyrie’.

+1 to all stats except Luck.

Congratulations! You’re now a level 8 ‘Valkyrie’.

+1 to all stats except Luck.

Is this serious? I took four levels, from that spell only? I know I almost died, but still. Wait, maybe I still had some experience from hitting Loki? So only three and some levels? It’s still too much!

Congratulations! You’re now a level 9 ‘Truthseeker’.

+1 STR, +1 END, +1 AGI, +1 DEX, +3 PER, +1 INT, +1 WIS, +1 CHA, +1 MEN, +0,5 Luck.

… Incredible. Though I only got one level here. Oh, right, Liberator of gods gives me more experience for my Divine classes. That might explain the explosion of levels.

You have created : Lesser pseudo-soul of Darkness.

Do you wish to bind it to a material body?

Well, the choice is already made, I don’t have a body to give it, and it seems the yes is grayed out.

You have created : Lesser darkness elemental.

Do you wish to name it?

I can’t let a living being go without a name, but I didn’t see anything to help me name it. I don’t even know it’s personality! Can’t I do it later? As if one cue, the window disappeared.

Lesser darkness elemental wants to enter a binding contract with you.

Do you wish to make it you familiar?

Of course I want it! I’m not going to let it alone! I pressed the Yes option in my mind, to see a new window pop up.

As Lesser darkness elemental has not awakened yet, it’s personality isn’t determined. Please think about what you want it to be.

That’s strange. But since there’s no option, I figure I can’t go on without doing it. So, I can think about anything? Like, I could have my own butler, like Alfred…

Input accepted. Pattern identified. Personality being implanted.

Do you wish to name ‘Lesser darkness elemental’ : Alfred?

No, no no no! Stupid Will, I wasn’t done thinking! Come on, you can’t do that… My protest doesn’t seem to change anything, so I agree to the name. After all, it would probably be very disturbing to have been made in the image of someone and not have that name.

Congratulations! You’ve entered a binding agreement with an elemental.

New perk acquired : Elemental familiar.

Elemental familiar

Though they may try to look like some real life creatures, elementals are made of pure magic. As such, they don’t have any blind spot, nor weak points (they can still have elemental weaknesses).

Elemental will be aware of this when meeting you, potentially altering their opinion of you. +5 CHA.

At least I gained some CHA, I think I’ll be in trouble when meeting elementals.

As I was coming to terms with the events, I saw the ball of darkness twitch. It did it again, and again, before slowly moving to take the form of a dark humanoïd shape, barely 50 cm high. Two spots of more intense darkness appeared on the head, in place of eyes. Then the shape bowed.

“Greetings, Mistress Lomero. I wish to thank you for the opportunity to live and serve under you. I’m awaiting my orders.”

The voice was unbelievably deep, but close enough from human range to seem plausible. I looked him into the eyes.

“Hm, A… Alfred, first you don’t need to call me Mistress Lomero. Call me Sarah. Then, I would like to know what you can do.”

I almost asked him what he wanted to do before remembering that he was barely a few minutes old. And I suppose he would have repeated his introductory thanks.

“Sure thing, Mistress Sarah. My powers are limited, but rest assured I will try my utmost to grow them. I don’t have a physical body, but I can force it to become tangible in order to interact with objects. I have a basic knowledge of this world, thought no greater than your own. I can use Darkness and Death magic, to a certain extent. I got a basic martial arts formation from you at creation. And of course, I know how to clean, tidy, cook, and generally maintain a house.”

Of course, you asked for a butler. He can probably distinguish one hundred varieties of tea, or know which fork to use for salad. Well, maybe he can do research.

“If I gave you a computer, could you do research for me?”

“Of course, though I will admit that I prefer books.”

What do you mean you ‘prefer’? You never touched any of those! That damn personality implant.

“Thank you Alfred. Can you tidy up the room, while I do some researches? I will see if I can get you a computer, so you can help me.”

“Yes Mistress. Thank you Mistress.”

He then started to fold the sheets on the bed, distorting his body to do it in a perfect square.

I walked to the computer, before remembering I had to go see Pr Ming-We. What time is it?

“I’m almost late! I need to go, Alfred, please stay here when you’re done.”

“Yes Mistress. When can I expect you to return?”

“I don’t know, around eight. I’ll come get you before we eat.”

“Thank you Mistress. Have fun and be safe.”