Vinny

Location: 12 Barkley Place, Floor One

Date: July 23rd, 304 PS (Post System)

Time: 12:14 AM

I stood outside of Connor’s house. The well-manicured lawn complimented the two-bedroom hut where my friend and his family lived. I couldn’t work up the courage to see him since he lost his right arm - especially since I am to blame. My stomach churned, and I felt like my breakfast might come back up. I leaned over, my hands on my knees.

“You got this!” I told myself as I knocked on the door. Moments later, Connor’s mother opened the door. “Good morning, Mrs. Timms! Is it okay if I see Connor?”

“Most definitely,” She told me. “Connor’s been asking about you.” Mrs. Timms averted her gaze from me. “He heard about your parents.” I kept my attention on her face. I can’t think about them right now. Connor’s mother stood aside to let me in. I walked solemnly to Connor’s bedroom.

When I entered the bedroom, Connor laid in his bed asleep. I closed the door and locked it - I need to attempt something.

I withdrew a mannequin’s right arm from my backpack. I engraved runic symbols into the limb last night. I etched a set of mind runes, and life runes, so the appendage can connect to his consciousness. I carved the runes on each digit on the fake hand. I drew a strengthening rune on the forearm and the tricep in hopes that it might strengthen the arm.

I lifted Connor’s shirt sleeve to reveal where his arm should be attached. I pulled my etching rod out and lightly etched a rune to attach the fake arm to Connor’s skin. Once I completed the rune, I placed the arm against the skin. I let the mannequin arm go, and it stayed in place. Now I need to make it so Connor can use the arm. Using my wand, I drew a life symbol and channeled all one hundred points of my skill points into the emblem. Once my skill points drained to zero, I pushed the insignia toward the faux arm. When the symbol hit the arm, the mannequin arm glowed blue for a few seconds. When the arm regained its original color, Connor sucked in a deep breath. I turned around, and when I did, a translucent window appeared in front of me.

Congratulations!

You created a new skill!

Autonomous Limb - A rune pattern that can create a working faux limb.

You are the first person to create this skill successfully!

You gained 100 XP!

I squinted my eyes and read the notification once more. Am I the first person to create this kind of skill? After all these years, nobody created an ability like this - wait. The window said I am the first person to successfully create the Autonomous Limb skill.

This discovery is what will make me wealthy, I thought to myself. I looked back at Connor and said a short prayer to Monka for him. After that, I took my leave - I need to head to the Floor One Dungeon.

Vinny

Location: Dungeon Gate, Floor One

Date: July 23rd, 304 PS (Post System)

Time: 1:00 PM

Vendors perched around the entrance to the dungeon—some hawked items Adventurers might need, whereas some vendors set up stations to repair armor and weapons. The sweet aroma of cooked meat filled the air.

I hope Connor’s new arm works for him, I thought to myself. Who knows, maybe he’ll be able to take his trial now. I looked ahead at the line in front of me. I am currently in line waiting for Pandark kebabs.

A Pandark stood in a cage behind the vendor’s kitchen area. The tall, red-eyed panda chewed on a bamboo chute. Every once and awhile, the bear shot beams from its eyes - at the cage. I’ve seen these in person a few times. The ten-foot height of these creatures impress me, but their meat excites me even more.

I made it to the front of the line and ordered three of the delicious smelling meats. Dad bought me these kebabs every time he brought armor and weapons to sell to his friend, Freddy - an Adventurer who travels to Floor One every year. Thinking of my dad made my heart drop, and my breathing became heavy. I leaned against a tree and heard footsteps from behind me.

“Hey stranger,” Came a soft voice from behind me. The scowling face of Astrid, a blonde girl I met before my Dungeon Trial. “Hungry or something?” She nodded toward the meat sticks in my hand.

“Yeah, I’ve been training all day. I’m about to take on this dungeon, what’re you doing here?” I took a large bite from my meal and listened to my acquaintance.

“I’m looking for a party to climb the tower as well. I have a Duelist and a Barrier; I’m a Radiance. Now I need one more person, want to join?” She offered. I thought about it for a moment.

“I’m down,” I told her. “I was going to try to go it alone, but it’ll be easier to have a few people helping.” I paused for two seconds and realized something. “Wait, didn’t you want to be a Duelist? Why do we have two Duelists?” Her gaze lowered to her feet.

“I’m a Radiance,” She mumbled, her eyes darting to the floor. The Radiance class was even rarer than Rune Scratchers.

“Awesome!” I exclaimed. “I’ve never met a Radiance. How does your healing work?” Her class is the best healing class and uses radiating light to heal and to attack. I can recover with my etching, but it isn’t as powerful as what Astrid’s class can do.

The short, blonde girl pulled a staff off of her belt, and light from the jewel atop the metal rod enveloped my body.

You gained the Brainiac buff!

Your Intelligence stat has increased by one for the next two hours.

You heal 1 HP every five seconds!

“Woah!” I yelled, out of breath. “That light was so warm!” Astrid blushed, and her scowl turned into a smile for a millisecond. I shook out a cold chill that ran through my spine. “That’s amazing! What kind of monster did you bond with?”

“You’ll have to see,” She told me with a wink. “What do you say? You down to party with us?” I gave the healer a thumbs up. Astrid made hand gestures in the air; then, a window appeared before me.

Astrid Lord invites you to a party!

Would you like to join?

Accept | Decline

I promptly pressed my index finger on the “Accept” word, and three names appeared in the upper right-hand corner of my vision.

Astrid Lord | Radiance | HP: 210/210 | SP: 260/260

Jason Jean | Duelist | HP: 270/270 | SP: 90/90

Beka Gaston | Barrier | HP: 495/495 | SP: 90/90

“We are right over here if you want to meet everyone,” Astrid offered. She pointed to the right of the cavern’s entrance where a redheaded guy in midnight blue leather armor sat on a log and a short, chestnut-haired girl in red heavy armor that doesn’t fit her too well. The guy, who I assume is Jason, waved at us - they probably saw my name pop-up in their heads up display as well. Instead of responding, I began making my way to the group, and I ate the remainder of my kebabs while walking.

“Hey, what’s going on, guys?” I said, greeting my new party mates. Jason gave me an ear-to-ear smile, and Beka raised her eyebrows quickly as her way of telling me, “hello.”

“Glad to meet you, I’m Jason!” The Duelist said to me, grabbing my right hand and shaking it with both of his meaty hands. “Woah, you have two monsters already?” I gave him a confused look.

“How do you know that?” I asked Jason.

“Look under our names,” Beka told me in a monotone voice. I focused on Astrid’s name, and her name grew in my vision. I noticed a white dot under her name - I’m assuming it’s a bonded monster crystal. I unfocused my eyes, and my vision returned to normal. I looked at Jason’s name and Beka’s name. Jason has a black and white dot, and Beka has a green dot.

“Yeah, my second monster was a gift from a friend,” I told Jason. I reminisced to escapades of last week, and Garth. Thinking of the short-known acquaintance made me wonder where the sly man ran off. “What kind of monsters do you guys have?” Jason perked up at my question.

“I’ve got a freaking sweet Pandark!” Jason exclaimed with an energy I could never hope to match. I looked at the three sticks in my hand, where the Pandark kebabs had been and chuckled.

“Mandark,” Beka said duly. We all looked at Astrid. “I don’t even know what Astrid has.” Beka wore a confused look.

“You guys will just have to see,” The scowl-faced girl said. Beka and I shrugged, whereas Jason deflated. “If you guys are ready, we can head into the tower.”