“Uh Blaes? Or Alcair guess, could you guys clarify something for me. How are active and passive skills different?”

“Of course” replied Blaes, “an active skill is something you can choose to use or not and will have an SP cost associated with it, while a passive skill is always active and provides a permanent bonus or buff to the user?”

“So passive skills are better then?” asked Micky.

“No, no. Not better not worse” cackled Alcair, “Do different things, each better at different time. Not simple good bad.”

I take it this has something to do with your class recommendations then Micky? asked Blaes. “Do you remind if I take a look at the options you were given? Pass me the stone and I can inspect it too.

Micky shrugged and passed the stone to Blaes who took it in his left hand. “Sure mate, knock yourself out.” As Blaes began to examine the options Micky turned to Alcair. “So what do you think I should choose?”

“What you want to do? Want to study? Be academy boy. Want to make monies be merchant. Want to sing be bard. Simples.” Alcair turned back to his desk and began digging through the books and papers piled there.

“Simples he says” grumbled Micky.

“Yes, simples” responded Alcair without raising his head from the desk. “Choose what you want. Is your life, do what make you happy.”

“Huh, you know what, that’s actually pretty good advice, cheers mate.”

“Of course is good advice. Alcair is amazing. Now stop bothering Alcair while he works.” This last statement was punctuated by one of the towers made from paper collapsing off the side of the desk with a dull thud. With a squeak Alcair dived into the new pile head first, his clawed feet flailing in the air while his robes fell down towards his shoulders.

“Oh BLEEP me dead, that is going to haunt my nightmares. No way anything that scarring can be unseen without copious rum, or maybe a mallet. Blaes mate can we get out of here?”

Blaes finished with the recommendations at precisely the wrong moment and was greeted with the same view which so shocked Mickey “Uh yes, yes let us depart shall we” Blaes said, his voice think with discomfort. Without waiting for an answer he spun on the spot and strode for the door. Micky was only too happy to follow him.

Settled back in Blaes’s office, which was blessedly free of half-naked goblins, Micky sat with a fortifying latte while Blaes had opted for some kind of purple juice which vaguely smelled of pineapple. “So Micky” started Blaes “now you have seen some of the options available to you does anything catch your attention?”

“Whenever I’ve played games that had levels and classes I’ve always played a caster class, so I’m having a hard time adjusting to the fact that this isn’t a game. That it’s my life now” said Mickey.

“Ah you’re from a point in your ‘verse which had developed such games. Were they played with a pen and paper or through some kind of digital device?” asked Blaes.

“I mostly played computer games, but tabletop games have been getting more pop- wait did you say a point in my ‘verse? asked Mickey, a shocked tone entering his voice.

“Why yes, the convergences can bridge with different points in both the time and space of a particular ‘verse. It’s part of the difficulty in returning new arrivals to their homes. It would do you no good to get back to the correct ‘verse only to stranded on the wrong planet or dee in their own past” responded Blaes calmly.

“So time travel is a thing then? asked Micky.

“Yes” answered Blaes “but perhaps not in the way you imagine it. The odds of successfully navigating a series of convergences to arrive at a specific point are simply astronomical. Far beyond anything our astrophysicists have even considered calculating. I fear we are diverging from our topic. You mentioned wanting to learn a casting class?”

Micky shook his head as if to clear it, “yeah, I mean it’s magic, real live magic, how could I not want to learn it.”

“Well in that case we should explore both the mage academian and the bard classes as both a capable of casting magic, although they go about it in different ways. The academian twists and shifts established spells into new forms and can cast both directly damaging spells and those focused on defense. They can also specialize in a school of magic when the class evolves. In contrast to this a bard channels his magic through his voice and can use the power he creates to support and uplift or confuse and degrade those around them. They do have access to some direct evocations but a far narrower range. As I understand it the way a bard chooses to use their gift, either through combat or performance, effects the evolutions available to the class”, Blaes spoken with the informative tone of a teacher hoping a pupil is taking notes rather than slacking in the back of the class.

“Honestly those both sound amazing” said Micky, “but this is like the second or third time I’ve heard or seen something about combat. Everything here seems pretty peaceful though, what’s the story?” Asked Micky.

“Well in town itself things are peaceful the watch sees to that of course” answered Blaes “however, the various prefectures of Outremer sometimes come into conflict although this is rare. The most common causes of conflict come from semi-permanent convergences which form from time to time. Not every verse Outremer connects to is inhabited by sentient life or by those interested is peace and co-operation. These convergence must be permanently closed or life from those worlds would spill into Outremer. The most dangerous of these convergences are unable to be closed and as such must be periodically cleansed to avoid the dangers within spilling out and causing havoc. Such sites are known as dungeons and clearing or managing them is a most lucrative endeavor.”

“Wait, you have got to be BLEEPING me. Let me get this straight dungeons are thing and divers go into them for what, fun and profit?” laughed Micky.

“I believe they are known as delvers, but in essence yes you are correct. It is not just creatures which come through the open convergences but also artifacts and resources, some of which are impossible to obtain in any other way” continued Blaes.

“Oh BLEEP me to death with a BLEEPING shovel, I really have fallen into a Isekai novel haven’t I?” Micky’s palms resumed their now traditional placement on his temples as he hung his head.

“I admit I am unfamiliar with this Isekai you speak of, but I can promise you that this is no novel Micky” said Blaes kindly “is delving something you would be interested in? It is a fantastic source of both experience and funds.”

“Yeah” answered Micky, shaking his head again “that does sound like something I would be interested in.”

“In such wise I would advise against the academian class. While it does have some combat capability it cannot match the synergies a skilled bard brings to a delving team” Blaes seemed genuinely excited about the prospect of Micky choosing a class.

Micky raised his head and sat back in his chair. “OK I’m in. Sign me up. You are looking at Outremer’s newest bard. Let’s do this!”