After he came to, Tim was met with the scene of Alexander worriedly pacing across the room.

Tim let out a pained groan, alerting Alexander to his presence.

"You're awake! I was starting to think you weren't gonna wake up!"

"How long was I out?" Tim asked drearily.

"It's only been half an hour, give or take," Alexander said. "I was scared half to death when I saw that you weren't breathing."

I don't have to breathe. Noted. Tim thought.

"I think what happened is your body wasn't able to handle being rapidly healed. Sometimes people with weak bodies tend to pass out when they are damaged and healed in quick succession." Alexander said, back to his usual tone.

Tim frowned when Alexander called him weak, but he didn't disagree in the slightest. He knew he was weak, and that's why he needed to awaken. Fast.

Tim couldn't help but doubt the reason behind his blackout. He didn't doubt his body was weak, but he was also unsure if what Alexander was implying was possible with his undead body. It was more likely that he simply took damage from the healing magic Alexander used. Tim recalled from his years of gaming that the undead were especially weak to the holy element, and he was fairly certain that healing magic went under that category.

Tim looked down at his previously ripped hand and noticed it had been reattached.

"I knew my healing magic was weak, but I didn't know it was so weak as to not even stop the bleeding. Actually, I don't even think you were bleeding before I used the healing magic. Anyway, the craziest thing happened. I left your hand on the ground next to you as I was about to leave for help, but then your hand started spewing these bloody strings of flesh, and I-" He stopped. "I'm just glad you're alright."

"That's great and all, but I'm pretty sure there was something wrong with that healing magic," Tim said. "I feel like I just got a crash course in pain."

"I don't know what a crash course is, but I'm sorry to hear that." he said. "You still need to go through that awakening ritual though. Not today, of course, but maybe tomorrow. You need time to rest after that."

"No, I'm fine. Just a little dizzy." Tim said. "I don't see any point in putting it off for another day. It's not like I need to be at my best for an awakening right?"

This made Alexander furrow his brows.

"Well, it's exactly like that, actually." He said. "My first awakening ritual was exhausting both in my mind and my soul. I've been training my body ever since I was a kid and I still collapsed. You need rest."

"I said I'm alright," Tim said. "Wasting time would only make me look bad, correct? I would quite like to clear my name as soon as possible."

Alexander smiled.

"I like your attitude, Tim." He said. "But it really is in your best interests to rest before trying to awaken for the first time, unless your body is stronger than I think, which it isn't."

"What's that supposed to mean? I'm plenty strong-" Tim then stopped as he looked at the bloody stains on the floor where he had previously had his hand shook off.

"I'm not weak." He said. "I'm just allergic to handshakes."

Alexander laughed.

"I really do like you, man." He said. "Enjoy your rest. Once again, call for me if you need anything."

Alexander then walked out the door and shut it behind him.

Tim sighed.

"All right..." He said. "How can I possibly fuck this up?"

For the past few hours, Tim had been simply doing what he was told. Resting.

He had been quick to hop in his comfy bed and was pleasantly surprised when he could still feel the enveloping warmth of the cotton-filled mattress. He had been under the assumption that now that he had the numb body of an undead, he would no longer be able to enjoy such a privilege.

What Tim had been pondering in his mind was how normal it was to be an undead. He had thought it would be far different from his old body, warm and pulsing, but so far, it didn't feel much different than being alive. He could still feel cold and hot. He could still feel the pleasant texture of the sheets on his bed. He could even still feel pain, if not far less than before, which he wouldn't complain about.

It really felt like being undead only came with upsides. He even held all of his senses, including smell. This was something he was worried about. If he was really undead, wouldn't he smell like rotting flesh and blood? If so, why did he smell normal right now? Either he was the nominee for best-smelling zombie, or there is something that separates him from other undead, not that he's met any other undead creatures since his arrival.

Tim was starting to wonder what exactly the difference was between the living and the undead.

Tim had awoken the next day, feeling the same as usual. Well, he never fell asleep, as he found one of the downsides to being undead. You can't enjoy any shut-eye. Then again, you don't get tired either. Not physically, at least. Mental fatigue was something else. Tim had spent a large amount of the previous day pondering different concepts and possible realities for his future in this world, something he wished to ponder further.

Alas, Tim could never get what he wanted, as a loud knock on the door reverberated through the room.

Hearing no sort of greeting at all, Tim was hesitant to open the door. Of course, this mattered little, as the door was unlocked and opened shortly after the fact.

Strutting into the room in an exaggerated manner, displaying their disinterest in being here, was Leah.

"Alex told me to check up on you." She said. "Not that I personally care, of course."

"Nice to see you again, too," Tim said.

"As if." She snorted. "The only place I want to see you is in Hell."

This bitch... Tim thought.

"You really don't like me, huh?" Tim said. "You're not even the tiniest bit curious as to who I am, or how I got here?"

"Honestly, I couldn't care less anymore." She said. "As far as I'm concerned, you're just another weirdo who thinks themself more interesting than they are."

Tim had been trying to hold back his rage for this woman ever since he met her. Be it, he only met her yesterday, but it felt as if she had been tormenting him for decades.

"Just bring me to Alex." Tim snarled.

"It would be my pleasure." She said.

...

As Leah led Tim to his destination, he couldn't help but marvel at his surroundings.

He had never taken the time to look around him when he was previously led to the inn. Yesterday, the only thing on his mind was getting to somewhere that he could potentially relax, but now that he was out and about, he had started to take note of the things around him.

Surrounding him were men and women with dark skin and pointy ears wandering the streets in a fairly orderly fashion. Many of the people roaming the streets were wearing similar attire with leather as the main material.

The various shops and inns looked to be constructed from timber with heavier foundation materials like stone, while the homes featured more primitive and lightweight materials such as bamboo, fiber, and thatch.

Tim could spot certain events taking place as he observed.

There was a woman with a basket in her hands, jotting along with a smile on her face, happy to get a good deal on the product she had bought.

An old man was seen beating a young boy with an especially thick rod of bamboo, perhaps as a punishment for a misdeed.

Lastly, there were the figures of two men, one, a mysterious figure adorned in silver-gold robes, and the other, a human in heavy metal armor. The one in armor was obviously Alex, as the man started waving furiously at Leah and Tim.

As the two groups met, Leah was the first to speak up.

"I brought him like you asked," Leah said. "Now can I go? I don't have all day."

"Yes, you can go," Alex spoke softly. "I don't think you will though. Many people love to watch awakenings, and this is a noble's first. I doubt you can resist that, especially to a teacher on the subject, like yourself."

"We still haven't confirmed that he's a noble." She said.

Alex grinned.

"There's only one way to find out." He said, looking to the robed man beside him.

The robed man removed his hood, revealing a pointy set of elf ears with two golden earrings on his right ear, and two silver on his left.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hodgins." The robed man spoke, his voice both dry and raspy, as well as calm and reassuring. "My name is Geenle, but you may call me Mr. Gee. I will be performing your awakening ritual today. I hope you have the coin to pay up."

How come this guy's name is shortened, but Leandrillus or whatever isn't? Tim mentally complained.

"Very funny, Mr. Gee," Alex said. "You know as well as I that you've been compensated well enough with the vast amounts of booze you've received for free over the years, being the only cleric in the village."

Mr. Gee gave a toothy smile.

"I was only kidding." He laughed. "Mostly, at least."

At this, he looked to Tim, with a seriousness not yet seen before.

"While I may not need coin as payment, I must inquire a different form of compensation from Mr. Hodgins." Mr. Gee said. "As you know, when you undergo an awakening ritual, you must hold onto an unengraved magic tag. This will allow any information that you'd like to engrave onto the tag to be presented on it in the form of writing. In Mr. Hodgins's case, the only required information would be his name."

"What are you getting at?" Alexander butted in.

"I'm saying that as compensation for my doing this ritual for free, I would like Mr. Hodgins here to allow me the privilege of additional details." Mr. Gee said. "While I have already been convinced to do this ritual for the sake of Alex here, I would like to get something out of this exchange as well. Awakening rituals aren't expensive because they require skill and effort, but because the materials needed are somewhat rare. Of course, the skill and effort doesn't hurt."

"What happens if I refuse?" Tim asked.

"Then there will be no more awakening rituals from me." He said. "After this one is complete, and you prove your name, I will provide no more rituals for your ascension. Of course, I will still be glad to heal you and provide all my other services."

"That is highly unnecessary," Alex spoke. "He's already been through enough."

"I'm not asking for a lot." Mr. Gee said. "He can simply refuse and he will still receive this awakening. Besides, he should decide for himself, don't you think?"

As all eyes turned to him, Tim took a moment to think about his answer.

"What type of information?" Tim asked.

Tim asked this as he was hesitant to give away any juicy bits of information just yet. He was content with just proving his name and going on his merry way, eager to explore more of the world. Of course, another thing to take into account was how disorganized and abundant his property panel was when he first opened it. He didn't want to go sorting through old tabs of information, as it would be more than a pain in his backside.

"I'm not saying you must tell me anything too important." Mr. Gee said. "Just the simple stuff like your name, age, and a trait or two. It's fairly negotiable."

Tim let out a sigh of relief. He had not been asked to disclose his properties.

"I thought you were going to ask me to tell you my social security number or something," Tim said. "Sure. I agree with those terms."

Mr. Gee smiled.

"Wonderful!" He cheered. "We can start as soon as you take this tag, and step into the circle."

Mr. Gee stepped out of the way, revealing a circle of Arabic-like glyphs on the ground behind him, just large enough for one person to stand in.

Tim wasted no time, almost excitedly jumping into the circle after grabbing his tag.

Mr. Gee looked to Tim, serious once more.

"I'm sure you've already been told Mr. Hodgins," He spoke. "But awakening rituals aren't exactly sunshine and rainbows. It might not be the most painful sensation you have experienced, but it will be up there. And it only gets worse for each piece of information you direct to the magic tag. But I must implore that you do not, no matter how much you suffer, leave the circle, lest the materials are wasted. Do you understand?"

Tim thought for a single moment, but that was all he needed.

"I understand." He stated.

"Wonderful. Then without further ado, let's get started."

As soon as he finished his sentence, Mr. Gee got on his knees, put his hands to the ground, and started to chant words that even Tim, with his language comprehension skill, could not understand.

Only a few moments after Mr. Gee started chanting, bright motes of light started to rise from the ground inside the circle, swirling around Tim like moths to a flame.

One of the wisps of light entered his chest and for a moment, there was calm.

That moment soon ended as his stomach started convulsing violently, almost bursting before his vision faded to black for what he knew wouldn't be the last time.

General Information

Attribute Property

Name Tim Hodgins Vigor Death 0/1 Race N/A (Undead) Agility Flesh 0/1 Rank Normal Convalescence Hunger 1/1 Spirit Dominion 0/1 Progress to (Copper) rank: 25% Evolution Progress: 0/100 Traits

Affinities

Rebellious Soul

Foreigner

Deathborne

Death Attuned

Hybrid

Death: 100%

Holy: 81% ---> 85%

Celestial 66%

(Raise affinity with other elements to view them.)