Glarings of werecats tend to be highly disorganized with the strongest or most popular member ruling but in their fickle nature leadership tends to change often. They tend to be nomadic and many consider a glaring to be a nescience better ignored than dealt with if possible. They tend to have little care for anything beyond their own group’s entertainment and possessions.

Lykou

The older woman brings me closer to the pedestal of the cloaked man, the Architect is apparently who it depicts.

“Child have you received the blessing and guidance of the Architect before this?” the woman asks.

I just look at her in confusion. Is this supposed to be some supernatural thing? A religion with actual power perhaps?

“I’ll take your look as a no. Have you heard of the gods before?” she continues.

Gods? So, this is a religious thing. Are the gods real here or is it a trick to use me?

“No” I answer, they haven’t tried to do anything against me yet so I shouldn’t expect them of anything.

“Are you not from Althrá?”

Althrá? Something about that name seems familiar. A place but not one from Earth. I shake my head even though I speak their language there is no way I can fake this.

“Don’t worry none of us will tell any of the Althaen Council. Simply touch the statute and the Architect will show you everything else.” She then begins to mutter “dragging children into the war and not even teaching them anything. . .”

She seems genuinely angry over her assumption as I reach and touch the statute of the cloaked figure. A wave of something washes over me for a few seconds. It feels gentle yet powerful, I panic for an instant before I see that it is doing no harm to me. A few screens appear in my vision.

Greeting being from another world, this is the world of Althrá. Due to the ongoing invasion of demonic forces on this word the gods have come to create this system to aid the denizens of this world in surviving. Regardless of the circumstances of your arrival we are unable to return you to your origin while our followers are still under the demonic threat. Instead we extend to you the same benefits as the denizens of this world though to a higher level of access.

Basic knowledge of this system of my design will be directly granted to you, along with the common tongue of this world.

Lykou

Gender: Male

Race: Void Draconian?

Age: 10

Strength 14

Intelligence 15

Mana Potential 8

Skills

SP: 0

Dexterity 14

Wisdom 14

Mana Potency 7

Traits

Titles

Agility 16

Cunning 13

Luck 16

Magic

Options

Endurance 14

Willpower 17

??? 1

Languages

???

Vitality 14

Alertness 15

Perception 12

Classes

Racial Class

Appearance 15

Charisma 11

Health 12/12

Mana 8/8

There is a flash a pain through my mind as basic definitions and layout of this system are carved into my mind. Following this another screen appears in my vision, obscuring the larger screen that is a description of my abilities.

In some contrivance of fate, you already know some of the information that would be given to you. As such you may choose to have an equivalent amount of knowledge on one of the following subjects.

Althaen History

Ki

Mana

Martial Skill

I stare at the new screen for several seconds before a grin breaks out on my face. Before I know it, I touch the word mana, it’s like I always wanted it but couldn’t before. Maybe being here is going to be a good thing. I get to learn magic but that doesn’t seem new to me even though mana itself does. Another flash of pain passes through my mind as a very basic knowledge of mana as the energy that is everywhere and a meditation technique that will help me become aware of it.

Now clear of obscuring images I look over the main page for me. Two things that are a part of me are not known to this system but they are not what draws my eyes but the uncertain entry in the race category. Void Draconian? that is not something from Earth. How can I be this creature? I am human but this thought does not feel as strong as my other thoughts as if I already know it to be wrong. Age feels wrong too but that could be the physical age of this body.

Is there an answer for this? Perhaps there is an answer for this elsewhere in the information I now have access to. I open the screens for Racial Class, Traits and Titles. If there is an answer for me here it will be in them.

Racial Class

Experience

Dragon Knight 5

0/500

Dragon Knight, sounds familiar but this is not what I am looking for. It is probably the answer for why my race is not considered human.

Trait

Description

Accelerated Learning

You learn and improve faster than normal.

Alternate Form: Draconian

+4 Strength/Endurance/Vitality -2 Dexterity Enable: Breath Weapons, Claws, Eyes, Tail, Wings. Increase Height, Partial Transformations

Alternate Form: Dragon

+6 Strength/Endurance/Vitality -4 Dexterity Enable: Breath Weapons, Claws, Eyes, Tail, Wings. Small Dragon

Alternate Form: Human

Base Form

Draconic Longevity

+4 APR, slow aging, extended lifespan

Keen Senses

Your senses are more acute and sensitive.

Magic Resistance

Passive resistance to harmful mana-based effects. Other supernatural effects are also resisted at a lower level

Perfect Recall

Able to remember anything you paid attention to.

Reality Weaver

???

Void Dragon Body

Able to withstand the void of space and the gap between planes. + 2/? to all Attributes. Additional +0/? STR/CON, ???

Void Sustenance

You can supplement yourself with radiation. Drastic reduction in need to sleep, eat, and drink.

??? Familiar

???

My answer is not here either regardless of how interesting these abilities are. There are a great many things about dragons here and it makes me smile. Dragons are the greatest creature in existence and I am one? Reality Weaver must relate to the unknowns on the main screen. Whatever it is, is something that is locked in my lost memories.

Title

Description

Amnesiac

Many of your memories are currently lost, while this has reduced your level and skill regaining them is likely a matter of time. This is also a chance to gain skills your prior currently forgotten ones would impede.

The last section I look at has the answer I am looking for my guess of amnesia was correct and it would seem that I can regain them by attempting to work on the things that I once knew.

“You seem quite interested in the blessing of the Architect. Do you have any questions?” the older woman asks interrupting my thoughts.

“No, well yes but not about this. Are there books I can read to become familiar with this world and magic?”

“We are not wealthy enough to have many such things. Why do you ask about magic?”

So, they have books but do not want to share them. She mentioned wealth, they did not seem to be a wealthy society but only a society of hunters and gatherers so that does make sense that literature is lacking.

“The Architect gave me knowledge about how to start on the path of magic.”

“You would be better off not bothering, magic is better left to women.”

“Why?” I don’t see why gender would affect the ability to use magic.

“What are your scores for Mana Potential and Potency?”

“Eight and Seven.”

“A value of ten is considered the average value, anything less means you have poor aptitude. Women tend to have higher value in those attributes a balance for the men’s higher average physical abilities.”

I can see the sincerity in her eyes but there is no way I’m going to give up magic. There should be ways to increase those two attributes even if they start lower. Though who knows how long the people of this world would have looked into such an idea. Or maybe not, they may have been too busy with their war against the demons since they had to create something like this system to guide the advancement of their people to deal with it.

I frown at her but she does not react, treating me as a child who just had a dream crushed.

“Holia, you know there is more to magic than just those two things. There are men like me who even with our initial weakness and are great mages.

Child, I am Samuel, what is your name?”

“Lykou” I answer immediately deciding that I like this man and his slightly grandfatherly figure more than the old woman.

“If you can learn the first step of magic I’ll give you advice as long as you are doing well in the other lessons given to the children.”

So, I can get lessons or at least advice on my mana related questions, but I am also going to be subject to being treated as a child. I appear to be a child and I am probably only as skilled as a child because of this amnesiac title. Should I go with it? This world sounds dangerous, it would be in my best interest to go along with these people’s plan.

Can I trust them though? What if they want to raise me to be a frontline soldier to be a shield for their own kind? I should be careful when and if such a time comes. I need to determine why they have accepted me into this pack. Why do they call themselves a pack in the first place as well?

“Why have you so readily accepted me as a member of this pack?” I ask looking at Samuel since he seems to be the kinder of the two.

“Kylana, our alpha decided on it” he answers.

“Why?”

“Because you are covered in the scent of a member of the pack. A female that would take her place as alpha should she return marked you as a member of the pack. For the good of the pack you are one of us.”

So, someone I know from before my amnesia is the reason. That person is a member of this pack and they are respecting her decision. They are a very small group so it does make some sense. I still do not know enough to trust them but I’ll need their protection and guidance, at least in the short term. It is in my best interest to go along with this.

Alana walks back over from her praying to the other statute, “are you ready to meet the other children. There is much for you to learn to be a good hunter.”

I nod and follow her out of the shrine hut and to the field. Dealing with the other ‘children’ is going to be a hassle. Still I need what these people offer if I am going to be able to survive here.

It takes only a short few minutes before we arrive at the field. The other children ignore me except for a few of the older larger boys that give me a look like I am some new toy to be played with. Oh joy, I get to deal with young boys who think they are better than me because they are currently taller, stronger or more aggressive.

The woman who was teaching the youngest of the group how to use a bow leaves them and walks over to us. Kneeling down slightly she asks me a question, “child what is your name?”

I am really going to get annoyed if everyone keeps calling me child, even so I answer “Lykou.”

She nods, “I am Naliya. Come, let’s see what I will need to teach you.”

Straight forwards and exactly what I am here for I nod. She turns and walks me over to where the others were shooting he bows at the sticks covered in straw that must be their equivalent to a practice target roughly three dozen feet before us. The young girl who was practicing passes the crude bow and quiver to Naliya who immediately passes them to me.

I take the bow and move into the stance that just feels right to me. It is not the same one the young girl was just in as I do not face my chest directly at the target. My left leg points at my target while the right foot is perpendicular while my chest is diagonal to the target. I draw the slightly crooked arrow and frown at the poor craftsmanship as I take aim. As I let the arrow loose and can only think the short range of this test as the reason for me being able to hit the target.

“Your stance has some similarities to the elves. Where did you learn it?” Naliya asks.

“I do not know. Memory problems.”

She nods, “I do not know your form but it is good. Empty the quiver if you will.”

I draw a second arrow, and ask “the arrows are not straight and this bow is warped. Is there a better one I can practice with?” just before firing. Once more the short distance graces me with a hit.

“If you continue to shoot as well as you are I will make sure you are given one and join the hunters early.”

So, I can earn one. That is something, rewards based on contribution perhaps? I can work with that make myself valuable and reap the benefits. I continue to shoot and empty the other six arrows left in the partial quiver I was given. Four more arrows hits and the others are misses, even though none of the hits are near the center of the target I seem to have impressed my instructor regardless of this pitiful equipment or perhaps because of it.

“You are better than I thought, remind me to get you a proper bow. You already know how to shoot and practicing with this bow will only harm your skill.

Are you as good with a spear or blade as you are with a bow?”

I shrug, I actually do not know.

“You need to make sure to read through all of the information the Architect grants when you have the chance. You can watch as the others demonstrate the forms, you do not have a spear or blade to practice with anyways.”

Naliya then turns and I follow her until she begins to explain the stances to the children of around five to seven. I watch and many of the things she shows them seem familiar but that is it. I do not know them.