Goldie began inspecting his skills more closely, reading them in the same order they appeared in the list.

Acrobatics Lvl N/A: Reflects body's speed and maneuverability. Skill dependent on Lvl and Agility.

Dagger Mastery Lvl N/A: Reflects proficiency at using daggers. Skill dependent on Lvl, Agility and Strength.

Introspection Lvl 1: Passively increases the effectiveness of your Perception while inside your soul space. Allows you to more easily sense your connection to the realm of power. Effectiveness increases with Lvl.

Pickpocket Lvl N/A: Reflects ability to steal someone's personal belongings while evading their notice. Skill dependent on Lvl and Agility.

Sneak Lvl N/A: Reflects ability to silently move around. Skill dependent on Lvl and Agility.

Essence Concealment Lvl N/A: Activate to obscure your presence. Onlookers will naturally ignore you while the skill is active. Costs 5 Energy per second. Skill dependent on Lvl and Charisma.

Indomitable Will Lvl 8: Increases general effectiveness of Willpower. Also increases Willpower multiplier by 10%. Skill dependent on Lvl and Willpower.

Soul Capture (U) Lvl 1: Capture someone's vessel as it leaves their body. Potency increased on personally slain targets. Skill dependent on Lvl and Willpower.

Error, some skills not found within memory. Must use utilize skills to determine Lvl.

Well that didn't explain very much. At least now Goldie knew what skills depended on what attributes.

What does being dependent on Lvl mean? Does it mean the level displayed on my soul screen, or skill level? Do skill levels make me more proficient?

It's the other way around. The number just represents your proficiency. When a skill levels up, the interface is basically just patting you on the back and saying "congratulations you've gotten better". It's just like when you write an exam and get a good grade. The grade doesn't suddenly make you more knowledgeable, it merely shows how knowledgeable you are.

I mean how dumb would it be if just by practicing cooking and gaining a level, I suddenly figure out how to make more complicated dishes? Totally ridiculous.

I guess you have a point... But then what the heck do I get out of leveling? Is it really just telling me how good I am? And if what you said was true how can some skills have an active effect or give a multiplier?

GAH! When you asked me to help you get your revenge I didn't think you'd need information on basic shit like this? Are you retarded? Actually scratch that, according to your stats that question is already answered. No offense.

Some offense taken. Keep in mind what you might find 'basic knowledge' I haven't even heard of for my whole life!

Okay then, I assume I can expect a bonus to my payment for everything I teach you?

I'll consider it.

Thanks buddy.

Now, I guess I should start at the very bottom. Keep in mind, that all I know is what I was taught growing up. Basically, the interface is just a visualization of your soul vessel and its connection to the realm of power. So, when it tells you "this skill gives X", it really just means that in the process of learning said skill your soul had changed in some way to give you that benefit.

Active skills just mean you need to think about using them. Returning to our earlier example: When cooking a meal, you aren't "activating" a skill. You know how to cook all the time. Skills like Essence Concealment are called spells and need to be "activated". The difference is 'spells' don't rely on your body, but your soul. Because of this, spells tend to require expending Energy. As you practice using a certain spell, the cost goes down and its effectiveness goes up. And before you ask me another stupid question: This efficiency increase is not caused by the interface itself, but just by you learning to more effectively use your resources. Cost becomes quite meaningless later on anyway, as you can choose how much Energy to channel into any given spell.

Now we get to the fun part. A grand benefit of leveling your skills, other than becoming good at a given skill, is investing into paths. Before I go any further, open your path screen.

Goldie projected his will towards the portal he now came to know as "the interface". After doing so a new window popped up.

Open Paths (10p) Newbie 0/5, Ascendant 0/20, Unshackled 0/??, Soul-thief 0/???; Current Paths -- Completed Paths Shadow Walker, Apprentice (Agility); Gained Benefits +1 Agility per 5 levels, +10% Agility

Okay you somehow have two of my paths "completed". That better not be permanently stolen away or else I'll whoop your ass when I'm outta here.

What if I never let you out?

Don't make that joke! If I don't get out of here then I'll make you life a living hell. Nérjâka will seem like bliss in comparison.

Alright don't worry. It isn't like I want to keep a disembodied voice inside my head forever either.

Good.

Now back to the nitty gritty. Apart from the stolen paths, everything seems to be in order. As to what paths do: They generally award some attribute points and sometimes give multipliers. They can also award attributes every few levels, like my Shadow Walker path. Basically your skills can reshape your soul, and investing in paths adapts the energy to better utilize these changes.

Before you get to investing I need to make something clear: Do not overinvest in paths, or you might risk getting too many attributes.

What happens if I overinvest?

Some real bad shit can happen.

Like what? My head explodes?

Your soul could tear apart, causing all the energy within it to forcefully evacuate your body. The effects of this range from harmlessly getting rid of all your stats and bonuses, turning you back into a Gemeen, to, as you jokingly mentioned, making your body spectacularly explode. Which of course would be hilarious, apart from the fact that my soul vessel is right next to yours.

Oh wow...

As I said, some bad shit can happen. A good rule of thumb for calculating one's maximum attribute points is multiplying your current level by five and adding another 45 on top of that. In your case that means currently you could have 95 invested attribute points. Without multipliers though, they just represent how efficiently your soul utilizes certain attributes.

Answering my questions before I ask them. It's like you're reading my mind.

...

You aren't actually reading my mind, are you?

Of course not, I'm just good at guessing what questions a dumb person would ask next.

Goldie sneered, but refrained from giving in to Jeffery's taunting.

In any case I reckon the time has come to finally invest into some paths and stop simply squatting next to my lifeless corpse. I recommend the Newbie path to start, since it gives great benefits for the amount of points invested. Other than that, I have no idea. I've never even heard of all your other paths.

Isn't that good? It must mean they're super special.

Or that they aren't worth being mentioned anywhere. When you enroll in an academy they just look at your natural talents and tailor your curriculum to them. After so many years of study, they already know the best paths to take and how to unlock them. I can't really tell you many details since I dropped out of the academy a few years ago.

Oh... I'm sorry to hear that.

Don't worry. They were all a bunch of uptight pricks anyway. Now stop stalling and get to investing dammit!

Goldie did as he was told an invested five points into the Newbie path. A flurry of messages sprang into view.

Every epic journey has a first step. You have just begun yours.

You have earned 1 Physical attribute point.

You have earned 1 Mental attribute point.

You have earned 1 Special attribute point.

You have earned 1 Universal attribute point.

Congratulations, you have completed the Newbie path!

+1 to all attributes.

Foundation for future learning has been set. Gaining skill levels has been facilitated.

You have concluded the first part of your journey, but there are many more paths to tread. Make sure you choose wisely!

Goldie felt the changes wash over him. He could think more clearly and his eyes picked up much more than they had before. Not only his eyes, each of his senses were sharper than before. His bodily changes were a lot less pronounced than last time, but he definitely felt slightly sturdier and stronger than before.

General Information Attributes (+)

Name Xandon Jefferite Physical Mental Special Species Human STR 8 INT 5,6

CHR 6 Sex Male AGI 18,2 PER 3,5 INS 4,8 Age 33 years CON 8 MEM 7 WLL 9,24

Height 5"7 ft (1,75m) Stats Weight 82 kilograms Health 59,6 +6,5/h Level 10 (max 28) Energy 53,4 +19/h Bonuses +1 Agility per 5 levels; +10% Agility; +10% Willpower Stamina 50,8 +9/min

As he looked over his status screen, he pondered which attributes to further increase.

Yo Jeff, you got any ideas what I should invest into? I'm thinking +1 Agility, +1 Intelligence and +2 Willpower.

Seems fine. I'd tell you to invest in perception to more easily learn shadow magic, but it's clear you aren't cut out for it with your terrible perception multiplier. Also, it's about time you stopped calling me Jeffery. My name is actually Xander Jefferson, I just didn't give Garen my real name. I doubt his name is really Garen either to be honest.

As Goldie input his attribute choices he realized something thanks to Xander's revelation.

That explains why our combined name is so weird! The system seems to have just taken the starting and ending of both our names and mashed them together. My name is Gor-

I already know your name. No need to introduce yourself.

I was only being polite.

I think we're way past politeness at this point.

Fine, how about I ask you another question instead. What determines someone's maximum level? And how do I even gain levels?

Itoyas Ayal! Can't these questions wait until we left this literally bloody alley? You're incredibly lucky no one has found you yet! Also make sure to take my cloak and dagger before you leave. You don't need to worry about the body. It should dissolve within the next hour anyway.

Your bodies dissolve?

It's because when our soul leaves, they get deprived of most of the energy coursing through them. Now stop fucking 'talking' and get a move on!

Goldie hastily ripped the cloak of the corpse and pulled the dagger out of it's eyehole. It already barely resembled a human, having partially turned to ash. He even managed to tear off an arm while recklessly tugging the cloak. The arm still within the sleeve harmlessly crumbled to dust while Goldie quietly crept out of the alleyway.

[Standard skill Aquired: Sneak]

Goldie snorted.