Was I too rash in making my choice so quickly? Maybe.

Was it a shame that I didn’t even share a word with the other [Humans] before departure? Maybe.

Was it wrong of me to care so much about my freedom that I’d put my life at risk to safeguard it? Maybe.

Did you just ask yourself too many questions at once? Definitely.

"I really don’t need your sass right now."

I was getting used to having my mental monologues interrupted, so I just switched back into gear right away and went back to it.

Maybe I should have made more of an effort to get closer to the others, since they would have probably been the ones to have an easier time getting used to me; and I’m saying that because of the questioning looks I got from the caravan’s attendees once I got in front of them (mainly from who I thought were the [Guards]), outright weirded out by my appearance (or at least that’s the impression they gave me).

Maybe I should have gone to some place that would have gotten me a better education regarding the [Nexus], like the [Academies], I could have tolerated the odd looks here and then from those around me.

What I couldn’t tolerate were the 'stream of questions' I usually got, like 'what are you?', 'are you supposed to look like that?', or 'can you stop it with the eyes?'; a thing that, I’m sure, would have been even worse in place that had [Researchers] and [Professors] (which the [Academies] should be filled with).

Would I have to explain what I was every time I met someone new? I sure hope not.

Back to the present: I was currently riding on an old-timey carriage, which was being pulled by something that looked like something between a bear and a pangolin, aptly named (or culturally translated as) an [Armored Bear] (which was classified as an Animal, not a [Monster]), hitched to the front by a simple biter, with the other end in the hands of a cordial grey Nymph.

My carriage was bereft of anything but me and my stuff, and since the ride was surprisingly smooth (hurray for magical suspensions), I took the opportunity to read up on some of the material I was gifted.

After all, I had in front of me 7 hours of monotonous travel, before I would arrive at the central [Aventurer’s Guild].

I was mostly reading what I thought would interest me, dreading to even touch what sounded remotely boring, and focusing on what knowledge would keep me alive the longest, like what edible plants there were in the wild, what type of Animals were the most common, and which [Monster] parts would fetch a pretty penny (it normally was bones, fur, and scales); the common type of rooms in [Dungeons], and [Monster Dens] (which could also be found inside a [Dungeon], or as one), including what they were (or what was deemed proper to tell the public about it, at least); and rarity and classification of enchantments, which I initially found boring, but quickly became a game of 'how overpowered could I make something?', thanks to my [Abilities].

It was when I got to skimming the pages of 'etiquettes of dueling' that I realized I had both no way to protect myself, and attack others.

"Why wasn’t this in the beginners' cantrip!? Why the fuck wouldn’t they teach us at least some of the basics to us, before sending us to our doom!?"

I went from relaxed to sheer panic in a fraction of a second.

Calm down, it will be included in the orientation at the Guild.

And if you can’t wait to do it the correct way, you have one of the books that should touch on it.

I attempt to forcibly calm myself, by trying to keep my breathing steady and deep, but I end up launching myself at the leather bag anyway.

I had read 3 books, I had a total of 12, 2 of which I deemed useless (given they were about 'different languages' and '[Information] cataloging'), so one of the remaining ones had to be the correct one.

" 'Guide for the Adventurer initiate', do you think that’s it?"

First: you need to calm back down, again.

Second: yes, that should be it.

Indeed, my heartbeat was hammering on my sternum once more.

But having what should be the response to my dilemma in my hands did give me a brief moment of respite, that I capitalized on to finally, truly, calm myself.

It didn’t take long to center myself, so I went ahead with perusing the book: And it was a chore.

The first half of the book was about the history of the [Adventuring Guild] (how it was founded, etc.), which wasn’t too bad if you ignored the constant mention of the historical timeline, but then it got the 'inner-politicking', and that’s when I started to have difficulties in paying attention.

I already hinted at the fact that I hate studying, right?

Well, the truth is that I don’t dislike learning about a subject that I like, but when you force me to study something that I don’t care about? I start getting cross-eyed.

I don’t really know if I had ADHD, and I don’t rightly care, but I do wonder about it sometimes.

The book finally gets to the 'meaty bits', starting with what was necessary for an [Adventurer], what was the usual [Group] composition, and how the [Job] generally worked.

If I didn’t have my suspicions about this being a simulation already I would surely have them now: there were 4 roles that any party had to cover, in order to be considered functional, with them being [Guardian] (what we would normally call a Tank: a meat-shield for the rest of the party that could take a beating, and remain standing), [Scout] (just what it sound like: it needs to have scouting and reconnaissance [Abilities], or [Skills], with decent range), [Healer] (someone that can cure, buff, and empower allies), and [Damager] (those that deal the BIG numbers, and it doesn’t matter if it’s up-close or ranged).

And then come the [Quests]: Normally, they could be taken on by [Groups] of 2s, when they covered all 4 roles among them, but sometimes they can require full teams of 'specialists' (4 people recognized by the [Guild] to properly incarnate one role), or generally more people (even 100s at a time).

"There it is, finally!"

Magic-based [Classes], apparently, were required to have some form of 'shielding', and ranged 'attack', but both would be taught at the [Guild] upon registering (there was an initial fee, but it was waived for [Tranferreds].

See? What did I tell you? You should learn to react less rashly.

"True, but I still feel like I won’t be ok until I learn some kind of 'shielding'."

Why? You are being protected by an entire contingency of [Guards], you are perfectly safe.

"Maybe, but better to not trust our [Luck]."

Through your actions, you have gained [+1 Acuity].

"…Do you think she was involved in this?

…And should webe worried about it?"

Are those questions that you really want to know the response of?

"You’re right, never mind.

So… shielding, making a shield…

Would making a sentient floating shield work?"

It depends:

Is it an enchanted physical shield? Then you better be sure that it is sturdy enough to not be pierced, and that the knockback will not simply make it fly away.

Is it an ethereal shield? Then you still need a way to protect yourself from physical attacks, and to make sure it can even withstand enough power to be useful.

"Ok, I got it!"

Do you already have an idea for it?

"Of course: A floating eyeball that can cast different types of shields!"

What is it with you and floating things?

"…Flying stuff looks cool, and floating seems like a more efficient way to go about it?"

You are a child.

"Wha- No, I’m not!"

Do you not remember how difficult it was to make a floating lantern!?

And you want something capable of self-casting now? Are you insane!?

"Ok, maybe I didn’t think it the whole way through…"

No, there is not a “maybe”, you definitely did not think it through.

You need to mind just how much [Mana] you have, and how much [Fatigue] you can handle when constructing a Matrix: I thought we were past this already.

"Ok, Ok, but hear me out: What about… multiple eyeballs, with every single one designed to cast 1 type of shield on command? With, maybe, an extra one that can function as a 'hub' to instruct them all?"

-_- …What?

"And I’ll create every eyeball singularly, pausing to rest in between, meaning that it won’t put much of a strain on me… unless I accidently do them in rapid succession."

Ok, that could work.

But what about the knockback problem?

"Oh, that’s easy: I just have to put an extra vector-reversing-field the opposite way they point their shield."

It is not that easy to create a “vector-reversing-field”.

"Shure it is, I already made one for the lantern."

…How!?

"I mean… that’s how “floating” works, by reversing gravity, right?"

Let us leave it at that.

You would need just the “hub” to be an eye, right? While making the others cubes, no need to waste [Mana] on useless details.

"Fine… but I’ll keep them spherical!"

The shape shouldn’t influence much the cost, so you can do “whatever floats your boat” on that front.

"Heck yeah, “mecha-[Beholder] of shielding” here I come!"

The Beholder appears to be an actual creature: on that note, I would reconsider the name.

I sigh out loud, tired of the mental discussion I was having.

The book was still open, sitting on my lap, so I tell [Buddy] to take a break until I finish this one.

I didn’t learn much more, just that there are sub-classification for roles, and the way people that are valid for more than one are called.

A [Class] normally is already indicative of the role you would best fit, but, unfortunately, that doesn’t apply to me, with a 'unique' [Class].

Timothy (I think that was his name), with the [Blood Brawler], would either grow to be a specialized [Damager] or could dip into being a [Guardian] 'part-time'.

"Too bad he went into the [Army]", I mentally remark with a shrug.

It is not “too bad”, it was the sensate choice for those that sought adventure in the [Nexus].

"There is literally a [Job] called [Adventurer], and you want someone that got “isekaied” to not do it? Are you the one that’s insane!?"

Never mind, it is a lost cause to argue about this with you.

"Damn-right it is!"

You are too hard-headed for your own good.

"…Maybe…"

I really had nothing to rebuke with there.

I will ask you one last time: are you sure that you will not at least try to do something more “normal” for personal defense?

I really wanted to go ahead with my idea, since it possibly cover a lot of weak points [Barriers] normally had; but did I have enough [Mana] for even one of the 'balls'?

I wasn’t sure. Something that could 'cast' was probably very costly to [Create], and since 3 easier creations almost floored me, I was actually kind of reluctant to make any of them.

"Maybe you’re right, maybe I should stick with something easier, and that I can control on my own."

Good, I am glad that we reached an understanding.

What will it be then?

"Hmm… I was thinking about…"

Apparently, thinking outside the box was the easiest way for me, because once brought back into the common way to do things I would get stuck.

You are incorrigible.

There is an entire book on “shielding”, use that for hints.

"There is?"

There was. But I didn’t fling myself at it, as per usual, but I looked for the more basics tomes first, finding 'Teachings about Spell-Weavin'” and 'proper Juxtaposition of Matrixes' (That one sounds kind of cool)

Magic itself was an interesting subject, books about Magic were, once again, a chore to go through.

But at the end of the first one I felt myself vindicated in trying to understand [Matrixes], since it was now certain that people just couldn’t see them, but only 'feel' them with a sixth-sense honed by practice.

Undine wasn’t joking about [Spell-Weaving] being a form of art, even the book said as much (of course by being decidedly less to the point about it, and with more aphorisms, metaphors, and philosophisms that I couldn’t care less for).

The second book instead was about how to not [Dispel] a [Matrix] during its incubation, and, since I can literally see when something goes wrong, I instead learned how to [Dispel] others [Matrixes], and use the [Ability] in other 'interesting' ways.

Talking about [Dispel], something 'funny' happened after I comprehended the subject of the book:

You have learned a new Ability: [Dispel]

Dispel:

One of the most common forms of obstruction, it’s designed to throw Mages into disarray.

Aborts the formation of a Matrix, if it isn’t yet complete, nor active.

"Oh!? Just like that!?"

Possible Evolution of previous Ability detected.

Apply?

"Oh, heck yeah!"

You have successfully Evolved [Dispel] into [Annul], thanks to [Aether-Touched]

Annul:

What you don’t wish to be, will cease to be, because obstructing your will is impossible.

Aborts the activations of Matrixes, dispelling anything not already fully-formed.

"Who’s awesome? This guy!"

I pointed my extended thumbs to my chest.

I cannot believe that just happened.

"Maybe [Fast Learner] is more 'OP' than we thought?"

I think that it is just you that is weird.

"If me being 'weird' means that I will grow ever more powerful, then I’ll take it!"

I was very giddy at this new development: I just became an anti-caster, while being a caster myself (truly, one of the most annoying entities to fight against).

That is good and all, but you are still missing a Barrier.

"Ah, Crap. I got side-tracked."