The hot bath is massive, looking more like a shallow pool. The water leads to an open window with a view of the ocean. Sitting with water up to my chest I look at Mac, who is sitting across from me. “I really am sorry!” I say again for the third time. Mac continues to stare at me, the steam rising off the water between us.

“What is your health at anyway? That was a lot of blood and… muck that came out of you.” Frowning, he grabs some soap and washes his face for the fifth time, even opening his mouth and scrubbing his tongue.

Swallowing some bile that reached the back of my throat I think the words “Status”.

A blue window appears in front of me.

Name: Reigner

Race: Human

level: 0

Class: Summoner

Health: 680/1220.

HP Regen: 1.5/minute

Stamina: 2370/2370.

SP Regen: 77/minute

Mana: 85/85.

MP Regen: 9/minute

Strength: 96

Constitution: 74

Dexterity: 89

Intelligence: 5

Wisdom: 7

My int and wis are abysmal, but that doesn’t faze me. Just seeing that I have access to them makes me excited. I focus on my class and the window expands, providing more information.

Class: Summoner

Class traits: 25% increase to all summoned items and creatures.

+ 20 health per level

+ 60 mana per level

+ 0.5 mana regen per level.

That bonus looks to be powerful. Might not affect much now, however, a 25% bonus will make quite the difference at higher skill levels.

I check to see if any of my listed skills followed me from the other world and think the word “skills”.

The window is blank. No skills, old or new, appear.

“I’m a bit over half health. It looks like all the points I earned were kept while all the stat points from levels were taken away. I lost all my active and passive skills too. I expected to see something there.”

Mac replies “You have a magic class now, right? Did you check your spells?”

Slapping my forehead, I think the word “spells” and new window pops up in front of me. One I have never had access to until now.

Spells:

Summon Mana Marble (0)

There it is. My first spell. Focusing on the spell, I receive more information.

Summon Mana Marble

Rank: 0

Cost: 30 MP

Effect: 12 MP (base 10)

Description: Summons your mana into a physical form. The marble, when activated, will give the holder some mana. Higher rank increases effect. Summoned item will vanish after 10 hours.

I speak out the words “Summon Mana Marble” and lift my hand out of the water. I feel mana rush down my arm, into my hand and form a slightly opaque glass ball about the size of a ping pong ball. The marble had the same feel and weight of glass. Trying to activate it, I focus on the item with no effect. I try to squeeze it but that doesn’t work either. At least its durable.

Looking back up to Mac, I ask “How do you activate an item?”

“Oh, what did you summon? Try sending your mana into it.”

I toss the marble to Mac and summon another.

Catching the marble Mac says “You don’t have to say the spell out loud. It’s a bad habit to form. Instead think of using the spell and touch your mana. If you use your starting spell a few more times you should gain enough experience to reach level one in your class.”

Focusing on his advice I try and activate the Marble by pushing my mana towards it through my fingers.

The marble fades, becoming more transparent until its completely vanishes from my hand.

Checking, I now have 38 mana left.

Thinking of the spell instead of saying it out loud, I focus on my hand and remember the feeling of mana running down my arm. After a moment the spell activates and I’m holding another marble.

A wave of water rushes out from where I’m sitting and splashes over Mac. A small blue window pops up at the corner of my vision.

+1 Intelligence.

+1 to Mana Marble’s Spell rank.

Level up!

3 placeable attribute points gained.

Sleep or meditation required.

Laughing I say “Look at that. I reached level one.”

Mac wipes his hair out of his face and stares at me for a moment. “I’m leaving.” He pulls himself out the water and walks to the changing room.

Giving Mac some privacy, I decide to stay in the bath a bit longer. I use the time to think over my stats.

My previous class, Hero, automatically increased each of my physical stats by one and gave one free stat point that I could assign how I wanted each level. I was never able to place any points into intelligence or wisdom as they interacted with mana. Each attribute stat had a direct impact on a person and could be gained from either leveling or doing something that exercised the attribute.

In the simple terms that I understand.

Strength increases how hard you hit things and lets you lift heavier objects.

Constitution increases stamina, how long you can hit things for, Health, the number of times you can be hit before dying, and recovery speed, the time it takes until you can hit and be hit again.

Dexterity increases coordination, the ease of landing a hit, and speed, letting you hit things faster.

Intelligence increases mana capacity, letting you cast more spells.

And lastly.

Wisdom increases mana recovery, allowing you to cast more often.

To be fair, it’s a bit more complicated than that but that’s all I bothered to remember.

Bringing up my status, I place two attribute points into intelligence and one into wisdom. A smile tugs the corners of my mouth as I see my magical stats increase.

Closing my status and looking at the marble in my hands, I start laughing. I did it. I casted something. I have mana! Each level brings a new skill or spell. I expect that once I wake up tomorrow, I will have access to a creature summon or offensive spell that will help me kill things and gain experience… No more fighting up close, no more getting drenched in blood and dirt. Feeling tears on my face I laugh harder.

Inside the changing room was a set of clothes. A dark blue cotton like fabric that felt soft to the touch. I put on the pants and wrap the robe around me. While taking a moment to work out how to tie the robe closed, I hear feet and girls’ voices talking outside as they pass the changing room’s door.

“Did you hear about what happened in the meditation room?”

“Hear about it? I was helping Sara clean it! The room looked like a murder scene. We had to burn the matts”

“It was the newly summoned right? I heard he came in with the Elder Knight. Jake told me that his muscles are so big he almost mistook him for a pink Orc!”

Giggling, the ladies continue walking. I wait until their voices fade, before stepping out.

Hmm… what way was it again?

Choosing the opposite direction of the gossiping duo, I turn left and walk down the hallway.

The building is like a beautifully decorated maze of interconnecting hallways. Each of the white walls had murals of flowers, fish, clouds, or dragons painted of them. After about five minutes of walking, the hallway opened into a large library. There were countless shelves of books lined up and large comfortable looking lounge chairs scattered around the place. Looking up I could see that there was another floor with more of the same.

I could see some people reading and decide to walk up to the one nearest. A young man with short black hair and no beard. He was wearing the same dark blue robes as myself. He falls under my shadow as I greet him.

“Excuse me. I got a bit lost…”

Slamming his book closed the man stands to his feet in a rush. “What do!-” His eyes, narrowed in anger start to widen as he looks up towards me. “What do…” Clearing his throat he tries again. “What can I do for you? Mister…”

“No need for the mister. The names Reiner. I came here with Elder Knight Torak to use the… to see Hiro and got a bit separated… Do you know where they might be?”

“Right. Yes. Just wait here a moment and I’ll find out for you. Please, have a seat here”

Shrugging I sit down in the chair he just vacated.

I watched as the man walked over to the wall, by the entrance where I just walked in. Touching a panel against the wall he said a few words and then walked back towards me.

“Sounds like they have been looking for you and will be here shortly. My name is Richard, by the way.” Shaking my hand, he continues. “It’s an honour to meet you, Reigner. I must say, you have developed quite the reputation on your first day.”

I scratch the back of my head “Yeah… It’s starting to seem that way. Sorry for interrupting you before. What were you reading?”.

“Take a look”. Richard hands me the book. “It’s an epic love story with lots of struggles. Very engaging.”

Looking at the book, the title read “Down the Rabbit hole” and on the back “The forbidden love story between man and beastkin. Kept apart by two families at war.”

The word Beastkin brings back memories of socially awkward people obsessed with wearing animal costumes back on Earth. Oh no… Have they infected this world? Standing up I push the book back towards Richard “Ooh. Interesting” I lie “Well, I won’t keep you from it any longer. I’ll just wait over there.”

“Nonsense, I couldn’t possibly leave you alone. Please sit. Here, the first chapter is quite thrilling” I step to the side dodging Richard’s attempt to hand the book to me and take a few steps back. “No, no. I think I hear someone coming now. You should continue where you left off. Have a good evening!”

Before he could say another word, I turn around and start walking towards the hallway.

Infront of me is Yui, staring from the doorway. She has changed clothes again. This time she is wearing the same blue robes as mine. Her hair looked silky smooth and was draped over her left shoulder.

“Reigner, there you are. Elder Knight Torak has left and says he will meet you once you try the Tower. A room has been prepared so you can rest here.”

Taking my arm, Yui guides me down the hallway. “Master Gushiken has retired for the evening and asked if you would like to meet with him in the morning for breakfast.”

“Thank you. That sounds nice.”

A few seconds of silence go by while I sort out my thoughts. “Yui… What happened at the Tower lobby… and here… at the Awakening stone. I want to apologise… That was… Never have...”

Feeling Yui shake against my side I look towards her. She lets go of my arm, braces her hands on her legs and starts laughing.

“That was amazing! Never have I seen something so hilarious. The look on Mac’s face as he stood up... And the… the silhouette! I almost wish we left it as a mural!”. Unable to control herself, she bends over herself, laughing harder. “Serves him right for knocking me over.”

“You’re not disgusted then?”

Taking a moment to catch her breath, Yui responds.

“Disgusted? No. I have seen much worse in the tower… and besides, you look good in sandals.” Taking me by the arm again, she pulls me forwards. “Come on. I’ll show you to your room.”

The room was about 5 meters square with a window on the back wall. Inside was a single bed, wardrobe, and a wooden desk with chair tucked under. A platter of meat, sliced fruits, and what looked to be cheese sat on the desk.

Alone in what feels like the first time in days. I sit down on the side of the bed and summon a Mana Marble. Tossing it from hand to hand I think about the life left behind. It doesn’t get any easier the second time round. Laying down on the bed I let myself think of the people and friends I made in the past 27 years… and mourn.