While I was lost in my own thoughts the pricking sensation, coming from the under-skin barrier formation, reached my head and then stopped. For an instant I winced at the memory of my first attempt, becoming completely hairless was an awful side-effect. Especially with Ausas laughing crazy every time he saw me until my hair regrew, even Llanfil giggled when it happened during her lecture.

The fist message that appeared, after the barrier enveloped my whole body, was what I expected, but the other two were a little outside of what I had guessed, and that sprouted even more questions. Sure, the information that I had about the system were few, and being the first to "play" had its disadvantages, but even my mentors could only guess what could happen to me.

New Magic/Skill UnlockedMana Scales Formation

Mana Scales Formation => Mana Scales Formation I

Mana Scales Formation I => Mana Scales Formation II

Mana Scales Formation II => Mana Scales Formation III

Skill's upgrade condition metMagic => Magic I

New Life's tree Entry UnlockedHuman II

Philosopher

Opening the skill window showed only the growing list of my abilities, no new details or information. On the contrary the stat menu displayed few interesting changes.

SkillsCrafting

Exp +10%

Intuition I

Magic I

Speech recognition I

Enhanced Vision III

Enhanced Hearing III

Mana Scales Formation IIISkills points: 0

NameRaceAverageHuman IHPMP11260/100AtkDefDexWis11511111Exp130/180

Creating my subcutaneous mana-scales consumed forty mp, and I guessed my reduced mana maximum capacity of twenty were due to a reserve for it's upkeep. But it was worth every point, my defence stat skyrocketed to fiftyone, considering my previous eleven it was an excellent result. Being cut off the system during my training didn't permit me to know the exact numbers, but seeing that value was a reward for my efforts.

The experience value increased like always, ten for every skill in that case, but opening the less used part of the whole menu put me into a dilemma.

Life's treeHuman II = Human I + Magic I (Conditions met)

Philosopher = Human I + Magic I + Intuition I (Conditions met)

Reptile-kin (Conditions not met)

From what I knew the major difference between a native and an external entity, me to be more exact, was exactly that. The possibility to choose and change between various races. There were conditions that had to be met, but that ability alone marked a clear line between the possibility of the two.

Trying to concentrate on the entry of the Life's tree menu showed, like always, no results. Probably only the next morning the choice would be available, just like the level-up, but I really hoped to have more information before picking one. But, based on what my ears were telling me, I had far more pressing problem to solve.

To check if it was really time to move I had at least to clear one of my doubts, so I asked the only person I was sure was going to tell me the truth. Sometimes fear, even when unfounded, was a useful tool. The fact that he was still staring at me, waiting for an answer for his question, made my life easier.

- I want to ask you something, what's your base defence?

- Why do you ask?

- Please answer, it's all related to your doubts about me.

- ... when I thought he couldn't be more absurd, asking this kind of questions...

- I can hear you, you know?...

- Fine, if I remember correctly last time I checked at the temple my def was twentytwo.

Llanfis and Ausas already told me that usually people did not have access to the menu like me, so, when they wanted to know their own stat, they visited structures who had the ability to display the system information. But something in Cawic's answer was bugging me, his defence was not as high as I expected.

- How much time passed from the last time you checked?

- Eight years. And now that you know, what do you have to say?

- Well, first of all, thank you for the information, and second... it's better if you and everyone else get ready for some bustle.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to post for the last days, but it's a pretty chaotic month. I will try to write as often as I can, I hope you enjoy reading 001 as much as I like writing.

Bye and apologies again.