Origin A.R.S. (7 page)

Scott’s eyes lit up immediately. Such a thing was possible? He could develop an advanced class? “I thought it wasn’t possible to completely master the skills of another class?”

“Ah, no. That’s not quite right. You can master multiple classes. You just need to do it one at a time. You can also just upgrade into an advanced version of your current class, which is what most people do.”

“One at a time?”

“Yes, for instance I am a guard but that is not my class. I am a Rogue Knight. I mastered the arts of the rogue and the knight. When you reach level one hundred you can reincarnate as a new class and start again.”

“Really? So, that means that you have reincarnated at least twice now?” Scott had not expected to find someone who had done so in his first town!

“A few more times than that, lad. I was a bit wayward in my early years.”

“Wow, interesting.” Arne was someone who had repeatedly reincarnated. No wonder he could paralyze a horde of monsters with a shout!

Arne smiled. “Reincarnation, few manage to make it the first time. Those who do will tend to get addicted. Each reincarnation is easier afterward because you are a little stronger. It’s almost necessary anyway.”

“Necessary? Why?” asked Scott.

The guard sergeant sighed loudly. “You haven’t faced stronger monsters and opponents yet, but I suspect that you will. I recognize that eagerness in your eyes, lad. You should know that after level one hundred monsters become obscenely powerful.”

That tidbit of information chilled Scott a little. “How obscenely powerful?”

“It would take a powerful group of level one hundred adventurers to take down each monster, even if they are only one level higher. If you have any notion in your head about being strong enough to fight such monsters alone, get them out. You would need to reincarnate repeatedly to become that strong, or you’ll have to unlock some incredible class. It’s possible either way, just not easy.”

Honestly, Scott did not mind the idea of repeatedly reincarnating. He could try all of the classes! Why not, right? “Someone once told me that a truly dedicated adventurer could reach level one hundred in a year. Is that true?”

“A year to reach level one hundred? Lad... Possible is one thing, but you would have to have an incredible bloodlust and you would need to take terrible risks. Most dedicated adventurers who don’t die can make it in a few years the first time.”

Scott rubbed his chin. “Hey, Arne. What’s the highest level you have ever reached, if you don’t mind me asking?”

The man squinted at Scott then laughed loudly. “Lad, that’s quite a question to ask someone who you hardly know. Most people would be highly offended.”

“Ah, I did not know that. I’m sorry.”

Arne waved his hand dismissively. “Its fine, its fine. The highest I have ever made it is level one hundred twenty-two. The lure of reincarnation called to me. Besides, I probably need to reincarnate two or three more times before I will attempt to reach the higher levels.”

The process sounded fascinating, but tedious. In order to fight higher level monsters, he would need to have stats equal to multiple life-times. It could take years to acquire a special class. “I wonder who has the highest level.”

“Highest level... hmmm.” Arne considered the question for a moment.

Scott waited patiently to see what the man would say. Several guardsmen drew close as well. They were suddenly interested in the conversation. Few people revealed anything about their level to others. It was sometimes taboo to even speak of them.

“I think the gods have the highest level, maybe some of the ancient dragons, or demons in the abyss. Us mortals, it’s probably one of the six great kings.”

Scott wanted to ask about the six great kings, but Arne anticipated the question. He waved Scott of with a laugh and a smile.

Arne said, “The six great kings are the rulers of the six strongest countries in the known world. Of course, two of them are actually queens.”

“Ah, it would take a high level to be a king?” asked Scott.

Arne laughed. “Oh yes, lad. If the king is not at a high level, he could be over thrown. I think all of the great kings are around level four hundred or so.”

Scott nearly had a heart attack. Level four hundred? He could flash freeze several rats at level one. Could you even consider someone at level four hundred to even be a human being anymore? They would be more like a walking extinction level event!

“That look in your eyes, I know it well. Yes, they are beyond normal human existence. They hold sway over most of the world because of their great power.”

So, power was everything in this world. It was just as Scott had thought. Further news about reincarnation was useful, but he now knew that he had a long road ahead of him. How many opponents with multiple reincarnations under their belt would he fight in his life time? He could theoretically always survive the encounter, but even so...

***

The soft jangling sound of a door chime served to alert the room to the presence of a new arrival. Dozens of mildly curious eyes turned to the new comer, but dismissed him as uninteresting.

Scott looked around the shop known as Regal Alice. It was not a large building, but it did not need to be. Regal Alice was an accessory shop known to sell Lore rings and similar accessories.

The sorcerer wandered the room for a moment, checking prices and comparing items. He could feel his anus begin to clench with every new price tag that he saw. Even a simple copper bracelet with a basic spell crystal embedded inside it was over twenty thousand Fayth! That bracelet would teach him a single first-circle spell, Torchlight.

He looked through the offerings and shook his head. The prices made sense, but he did not see much that he would care to buy even if he had the money. He was mostly interested in comparing the value of items and seeing what he could easily find in the future.

“My, don’t you see anything that you like Childe?” asked a surprisingly familiar voice.

Scott gasped and looked up. Before him stood someone he did not recognize, yet she looked at him as though he should. “M-”

She cut him off quickly, “Yes, I am Miss Regal Alice, Childe. We have met before, a while back.”

The raven haired woman smiled at him then gestured toward the back of the store. Eyes that had stared at him in dismissal before had shifted to calculating and potentially hateful expressions. Who was he to receive special treatment from the beautiful lore sage?

Beyond the velvet curtain, the two began to talk. Regal Alice laughed softly at the confused young man then waved her hand. “Are you really that surprised?”

“Not to be rude, but yes!” exclaimed Scott in surprise.

Alice shook her head. “Now, now. There’s nothing rude about that considering the current situation. When I am not guarding the field of New Beginnings I do have to make a living, you know.”

“A living? More like a killing! I figured skill rings would be expensive, but I had no idea!”

Regal Alice gestured toward a set of chairs in the corner and Scott followed her. She poured him a drink and then took one for herself.

“Lemonade?” asked Scott in surprise. It was quite good.

“Yes, I love lemonade... Did you want something with a different sort of bite?” She asked with a twinkle in her eye.

“No, this is great. Thank you.”

“Pity, I could have taught some of my other secrets.”

Scott coughed into his Lemonade when the surprisingly beautiful woman shifted her robe slightly then winked. She could not possibly be making the offer that he thought that she was making. How long
had
she been standing in that field by herself anyway?

The raven-haired beauty raised a hand to her lips and she laughed happily. “Oh childe, that expression is priceless.”

He shook his head. “Tease, I’m sure my level is not high enough to survive that encounter anyway.”

Alice laughed again, louder this time. She raised her glass to the heavens. “May your experience come swiftly then, childe. Though, speed is not always the greatest virtue in such a battle.”

Scott snorted at her then smiled. “Don’t tempt me.”

He had wanted to avoid his next question, but he found that he could not let it go. “Can you tell me why you appeared the way that you did when we first met?”

“Ah, sadly no. There is a rule against speaking of such things. Just know that I was not practicing any form of deceit. Just think of me as a friendly older sister who is interested in you and the things that you do on your travels.”

“Am I really such an interesting spectacle?” asked Scott.

“I am genuinely interested in your thoughts and experiences, sweet boy. I do not particularly care if others consider your thoughts and actions to be interesting. I promise you, that your big sister will be utterly fascinated no matter what you do.” Regal Alice leaned to the side and ‘accidentally’ revealed a few of her remaining secrets.

Scott eyed her sheer inner robe critically. He was a man after all. It was a struggle for the man, but he did eventually manage to look her in the eyes. “There are many countries that would arrest me for my current thoughts regarding my big sister.”

She chuckled softly at him then offered him more lemonade. He took some gladly. They spent a few moments chatting amiably before Regal Alice brought up another subject. “Have you used the ring that I bequeathed to you yet?”

The sorcerer sighed. “I want to, but the experience requirement is eighty thousand points! I feel a knot in my stomach every time I think about acquiring all of that beautiful experience only to have no level gain.”

“True, at your level it is quite a burden. Still, it will be worth it in the end since that particular ring is special.”

“Special?” asked Scott.

“Quite. I poured all of my love and labor into it. It epitomizes my thoughts on the subject of survival and my
desire
to see you do so.” replied the lore sage merchant with a warm smile.

He was confused. Why would she care if he lived or died? “I thank you, but why do you care so much.”

She shook her head. “I can’t tell you that. I am sorry. However, I suspect that you will know in time.”

“You have been so kind to me. Thank you.”

Regal Alice smile once more then sighed softly. “If you’re so appreciative why have I received no hug of thanks? Such a rude childe not to embrace his big sister.”

“Is that how it works?” asked Scott curiously.

“Oh yes, that is certainly how it works...” replied Alice.

“Well, far be it from me to rudely decline my responsibilities.” Scott stood up and opened his arms.

Regal Alice practically leapt from her seat before she moved forward to receive the desired hug. However, they were interrupted by a loud and obnoxious ringing sound. A crystalline sphere in the far left corner had begun to buzz and emit a powerful light.

The lore sage sighed loudly then laughed once more. “Excuse me a moment. I have to take a call...”

“Call...?” asked Scott. They had something like that here?

“Yes, I’m fairly certain that I know who it is. This will only take a moment, dear childe.” Alice sent him a devastatingly seductive wink before suggestively wiggling her way toward the far corner. She was not making any attempt to keep it secret that she had certain interests.

What was with this strange atmosphere? There were things going on at the moment that he had no idea how to process. For one thing, why was Mid or Regal Alice as she was called at the moment, so interested in what he did?

Regal Alice looked at the crystal ball then laughed in a soft, melodic, manner. She winked at Scott again before making a commanding gesture. A wall of light rose up across the room.

Scott was surprised to say the least, but he moved past it when he heard Alice begin to speak with someone else. He strained to hear what was being said, but the voices were muffled. The caller sounded somewhat feminine and more than a little angry, but he could not really tell what was being said. He did see Regal Alice place her fingers to her lips a few times then throw back her head as though she were laughing.

After a few minutes the crystal’s light dimmed and the privacy curtain of light dissipated. Regal Alice walked back over to Scott.

“Is everything alright?”

“Oh, yes childe. My younger sister merely wanted to have a chat with me.” The merry twinkle in her eye and the smirk upon her lips set Scott’s heart aflutter.

“So, do you still need a hug or...?” he asked.

Regal Alice sighed loudly. “Sadly, no. I am afraid that I will need to cut our visit short. Though, next time I suspect that we will have a much longer, deeper, and more
intense
communication.

Scott started to respond, but the sudden loud buzzing sound that emanated from the crystal sphere stopped him. Regal Alice was receiving another call.

She laughed loudly then shook her head as though she had just heard the funniest joke ever told. “Sorry, I’ll have to take this one as well. It could be a while. So, perhaps we could meet again sometime in the future and discuss my skills?”