*Jin initiation commencing… Please wait…*
*Transporting (Pi’ve [Human - lvl 1]) to tutorial*
*Tutorial loaded. Good luck*
*Do you wish to [Enter], or [Leave?]. Note that if you choose to leave, you will not be permitted into the tutorial again*
Pi’ve almost pressed leave on reflex, but then he thought that this had to be a dream. He was in shock. He recognised that. He had been in shock only a few years prior when Pi’ve and his father had come home to their home burned down. Well, without the system messages that is, but in many ways it was the same. His mother were nowhere to be seen. She had presumably died in the fire, but it could not be confirmed. And so, Pi’ve had entered a state of shock, they said. He went around believing he was a wizard, and that he could conjure his mother to appear again. He believed that he could find those who had done it, and kill them, because someone must have set it on fire. She were careful. It took several months before he came out of his stupor and managed to normalise.
It felt almost the same, but he felt lucid and conscious this time. And although he wanted to kill, he knew who, or what that was: the crab. That cursed crab. But he was locked in this small room with this projection; this humanoid entity. No doors around him. He must be hallucinating, or indeed been teleported.
But what was this? He had never seen anything like it. Nor had he ever heard anyone speak of something happening to them like this. He stood there thinking about the absurd situation he found himself in. He was searching around, even walking about to see if there was anything to be found. He thought at last that he had nothing to lose. He was locked away forever, or in a unpleasant dream, waiting to be woken. He decided— because this had either to be a dream, or a lapse in reality— that all was already lost.
‘I wish to enter.’ Pi’ve said, but nothing happened. The green [Enter] and red [Leave] still floated in his vision. The humanoid entity still stood in front of him, lingering nonspeaking. Do I?—
He focused on the text floating in front of him which said enter and selected it. He was not quite sure how he had selected it, but somehow he knew that he had succeeded. The text faded away quickly, and another prompt appeared.
*Jin entered… Class selection menu loading… Please wait…*
Class selection? A few seconds went by and another text appeared.
*DING*
Title earned: [One and only (Unique)] - The Jin were once plentiful, now there is only one; you. Move through the world knowing that you are the only one possessing the Jin. +3 to all stats, + 3 free points. Skill granted (Class dependent and selection needed)
A title? What is tha— ‘Aaah!’ Pi’ve yelled as a sudden feeling arose. It did not hurt, though it startled him. A surge of energy within his body which felt like he had suddenly eaten a huge feast after starving ran through his body. The room grew suddenly large as walls appeared and they slid outwards. The entity in front of him stepped forward and now had a discernible face and features. It was clad in a green robe and brown leather belt and boots. Its face had no hair and looked neither male nor female.
‘Prior to entering the second phase of the tutorial, you will be asked to select a class,’ the entity said, ‘upon selecting said class, you will receive tools and articles appropriate for that class, and the tutorial will continue. Do you have any questions?’
Yes! He had hundreds of questions. Though which did he ask first?
‘What is your name?’ It was maybe not the most urgent question, but then again, there were too many.
‘I do not have a name.’ The entity clarified. ‘I am merely a projection provided by the system to guide you through the process. Once finished, I am no longer.’ So the Jin was a system, and I now possess the system?
‘Where am I? What is the Jin?’
‘You are in the tutorial. It is not from where you come. Few have travelled here, and it does not have a name which you would recognise. You are elsewhere.’ The entity said. ‘Jin means many things. It means first. It means life, and it means nature, among many other things. The Jin is what the Jin-elves called “the system”. It is the innermost fabric of existence, shown to those who can influence it as a layer outside normal reality. You now possess the Jin, and may also call yourself Jin, though that is not a title that is given. With Jin comes the “status screen” where you can view your status. The Jin rise through levels as they conquer challenges and gain experience points, which is abbreviated as xp-points by the system. Points are received at level-ups and can be allocated to the stats you wish, raising your power as you go. Skills, either race, class or profession, can be gained as you level, and they can be levelled up to become stronger too, or transfigured to become more potent.’
Pi’ve stood still and tried to take in what the entity told him. He struggled to believe a single word of it, but then again, it seemed too real not to. What if it was real?
‘And how can I view this “status screen” you talk about?’ Pi’ve asked tentatively.
‘You will it forth.’
‘I will it forth.’ Pi’ve sighed. He had to wake up soon, this was getting too surreal. He figured that any second now that he would wake up being shaken by Gaudol with the book in his hands, having to explain why there are jars broken in the pantry. He tried, reluctantly, to will the status screen to appear.
Pi’ve jumped. Something did pop up, and it covered much of his vision.
Status
Name: Pi’ve
Age: 20
Race: [Human - lvl 1]
Class: [N/A]
Profession: [N/A]
—
Health - (56/90)
Stamina - (21/80)
—
Stats
Strength - 7
Toughness - 8
Intelligence - 9
Wisdom - 6
Willpower - 7
Perception - 8
Endurance - 8
Free points - 3
—
Race skills
N/A
Class skills
N/A
Profession skills
N/A
Titles
[One and only (Unique)]
What the— It knew his age? And it showed his— health? 56 health points? It was almost half empty. What did it mean to have ninety health? Was that good? Did everybody have ninety health? He remembered that he had been lucky to survive only yesterday and that his body had not recovered from it yet. He felt it still on him. And his stamina was down too. It was low. He did feel weak… Tired. But what was all the other stats? Strength, wisdom, toughness— and they had points behind them. Was seven in strength good? He guessed it had been lower before the title had given him three more points in all stats, though eight in toughness could not be much to brag about. He even had three points which was free. What was free points?
‘What are free points?’ Pi’ve asked.
‘They are points which you are able to allocate to whichever stat you wish yourself. They are extra points given so you may choose to strengthen your path independent of what the system gives you, giving you reign over your own path.’ The entity said.
There was race skills, class skills and profession skills too. What were they?
Then suddenly the status screen faded, and another text came before his eyes.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
*Class selection menu loaded… Please select a class before continuing…*
A selection of classes floated before him. Five in total. He looked through them as they appeared.
Heavy Knight - Basic starting class. A heavy class warrior opting for strength and power over speed and adaptability. Heavy duty weapons is your choice. Axes, shields and two-handed blades and a mighty fist. A warrior in heart, a guardian of the people, and a future hero. Your life goal is to protect the people in your city, and to aid the ruling class. In great leadership comes great progression, both for you and for your people. Bonus stats per level: +2 strength, +2 toughness, +1 wisdom, +1 endurance, +1 free point.
Oh, wow, Pi’ve thought. I could become a knight! If he chooses this class, then Heavy Knight would presumably occupy the class section under his name in the status menu, he concluded. But what would that even do? Pi’ve wondered if he chose this class, would he transform into a metal clad, two handed warrior. He had seen those around the castles in Thergiam. Did they choose this class? No, it said only I possess the Jin. Or the title says so. Nothing would surprise him now. He went to the next class.
Light warrior - Basic starting class. A light class warrior opting for speed and flexibility over strength and damage. The bow and blade are your weapons of choice. The bow, shivs, traps and poisons are your allies. A man true to yourself. You choose service as your path, as you and others decide your targets. Bonus stats per level: +2 agility, +2 perception, +1 intelligence, +1 endurance, +1 free point.
Assassin? No I do not want to kill needlessly. Even for money. It was interesting to think of himself as an assassin though. He had never seen an assassin in his life. But that was expected, as they tended to be hidden. If you saw one, then you would not for long.
Healer - Basic starting class. A class for those opting for the hidden art of powerful casting and healing through alchemy. Your power is in your ability to heal. No decease is incurable; no wound is fatal. Bonus stats per level: +2 wisdom, +2 Willpower, +1 intelligence, +1 perception, +1 free points. Mana points (active pool) is added in addition to health points and stamina points.
Was this a wizard class? He was just about to pick this class, but as he read the next one, he could not believe his eyes.
Magician - Basic starting class. A class for those opting for the hidden art of powerful casting and arcane arts. Though no mere man, skills with the weapon comes harder for the magician, but for those who master the arts of magic, any foe and challenge can be overcome. Reality can be shaped as you wish, you only have to will it. Bonus stats per level: +2 Intelligence, +2 wisdom, +2 perception, +1 free points. Mana points (active pool) is added in addition to health points and stamina points.
If this was a dream Pi’ve wished it to end here. Ever since he was a small child he had wished to be wizard. Magician was essentially the same, if not the same, he thought. Even now, at twenty, he longed to become a wizard. He looked at the last class, even if that class was unlikely to be considered after getting the choice of becoming a wizard.
Hunter - Basic starting class. A class for those opting for concealment and taking your prey off guard. The wild, primeval art of hunting is your way, and the forest is your hunting ground. There is no beast too strong for the hunter to slay, and they will fall in your wake. Bonus stats per level: +2 perception, +2 intelligence, +1 endurance, +1 toughness, +1 free points.
Forget that. He would pick magician. There was really nothing to choose between. He could pick magician— or wizard as it was really called, for him at least— and that was what he opted for. Pi’ve, knowing that he had to choose, concentrated on it to select magician and a notification popped up.
*DING*
Class Magician selected. Class status updated to [Wizard - Initiate Mage]
He felt a slight change, though not in his body, but rather in his soul. Suddenly he knew things he did not before, but before he would scour inside his own brain for new information, he had to bask in the fabulous feeling of being a wizard. To his relief, it was actually called wizard, and not magician. Magicians are fake, street performers; wizard demands respect.
[Wizard - Initiate Mage] - The lowest ranked wizard. He may not yet be powerful, but he has ambition and a hunger for learning.
*DING*
Skill gained: [Inspect (Unique)] - Grants the user the ability to inspect an item. Information will be provided about said item upon inspection. Information is dependent on user level and already attained knowledge and will be an accurate representation of the item.
Oh wow. Pi’ve did not know how valuable that skill would be, and so he brushed it to the side for now.
‘I am a wizard.’ Pi’ve said, as he grinned. ‘But—,’
Then the feeling of everything being too good to be true settled. He was laying in Gaudol’s library, passed out by some spell in a book, and he would wake up any time. It was all so bizarre; unbelievable; not real. But there was nothing to do except following along where the dream took him, and so he looked at the status screen one more time, for he had a feeling that the tutorial would not be just picking a class and being sent back to Gaudol.
Status
Name: Pi’ve
Age: 20
Race: [Human - lvl 1]
Class: [Wizard - Initiate Mage]
Profession: [N/A]
—
Health - (57/90)
Mana - (60/60)
Stamina - (40/80)
—
Stats
Strength - 7
Toughness - 8
Intelligence - 9
Wisdom - 6
Willpower - 7
Perception - 8
Endurance - 8
Free points - 3
—
Race skills
[Inspect (Unique)]
Class skills
N/A
Profession skills
N/A
Titles
[One and only (Unique)]
His class now showed that he was a wizard, or more precisely, an initiate mage, which meant that he was just starting out, obviously. He was level 1 after all. His health had improved by one point, which meant that it regenerated over time, slow though it may be. The same with stamina, which went faster. Oh, and he saw that he had indeed received another active pool called mana.
He wondered what choosing a profession would entail. But wait— the skill he had received said it was dependent on the class selection, Pi’ve remembered. Would it not then be a class skill? Why was it a race skill? Maybe because it did not count as actual magic?
While going through this experience, the more and more it began to feel real. Like it was not actually a dream.
*DING*
*The second phase of the tutorial is about to commence… Get ready to be teleported… Time left: 09:54 minutes*
‘Pi’ve of Thergiam. Congratulation on choosing the class magician. Tools and articles will now be presented for you to accept, or leave unclaimed.’ the projection said, and suddenly, on a table which had not been there prior, came several different items.
A staff, a cloak, a satchel and pouch, rope, leather boots, leather belt, and a small knife. He took it all.
