Wyn smiles, grateful to have class evolution taken care of. Despite Eden being only a game, Wyn felt more anxious about her class evolution choice than she would’ve expected. With that done, Wyn feels it’s well past time that she returns to Lethisburg to continue her adventure in Eden.
“Alright, Psai, let’s head back to Eden.”
“Excellent! Would you like to allocate your Level Points before returning to Eden?”
Wyn groans. In the excitement of ranking up, she had forgotten about her level points. With a sigh, she pulls up her updated character sheet and sees how many level points are available to her.
NAME: Wyn Abulata
RACE: Human
STATUS: N/A
RANK: Hybrid CLASS: Spellweaver - Level 9
ARCHETYPE: Combat
SECONDARY CLASS: #ERROR, value not expected - Level 7
SECONDARY ARCHETYPE: Control
STATS:
Strength: 9
Endurance: 8
Toughness: 10
Agility: 10
Willpower: 14
Awareness: 11
Intellect: 12
Presence: 15
ABILITIES
First Aid - Common — Upgrade Available
Refined Essentia Manipulation - Common — Upgrade Available
Mage Bolt - Common — Upgrade Available
Basic Insight: Common — Upgrade Available
Illusions of the Beyond - Uncommon
Subtle Spellcasting - Uncommon
Basic Spellweaving - Uncommon
Transmute Essentia - Uncommon
Fortify Self - Uncommon
Flickerstep - Uncommon
Oblivion Shroud: Rare
TITLES
Outworlder - Common
Arcane Consortium Initiate - Common
To Wyn’s surprise, there are quite a few new items on her character sheet. Namely, a new title and two new abilities in addition to her upgraded rank and class. Before she allocates her nine level points, Wyn looks at her new abilities.
Ability: Basic Spellweaving — Uncommon
Description: The most basic ability of any spellweaver. While using essentia abilities, this skill allows the caster to alter a spell’s fundamental aspects mid-cast at the cost of additional essentia. Additionally, it allows the caster to craft spells, though doing so is very difficult at this level.
Ability: Transmute Essentia — Uncommon
Description: Allows the caster to alter the affinity of stored essentia through alchemical or arcane means, provided the correct ingredients are used. Transmutation is inherently unstable, resulting in partial essentia loss.
Wyn makes a note to test out her new spellweaving ability once she’s back in Eden, and examines her new title.
Title: Arcane Consortium Initiate — Common
Description: A new member of the Arcane Consortium, this allows you access to all non-restricted areas of your designated branch of the Arcane Consortium.
Current Branch: Lethisburg
Her new title is quite simple. It’s almost as simple as her Outworlder title, which is granted to all players. But if nothing else, Wyn is proud to have more than one title under her belt.
With her new abilities examined, Wyn is eager to get back into Eden to test them out. But before she gets back to Eden, Wyn wants to allocate all nine of her level points. Though, as Wyn wishes to get back as soon as possible, she makes the choice rather quickly.
Looking over her stats, the most important one for Wyn is her Intellect stat. Increasing it will mean she can hold more Essentia, and given that she’s using almost exclusively essentia abilities, it’s a straightforward choice. She opens her level point menu and selects the Intellect stat increase option.
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Intellect Stat Increase
Cost: 5 Level Points
Current Level Points: 9
Would you like to increase your Intellect from 12 to 13?
Y / N
Wyn gladly selects yes and feels the pool of essentia at the base of her stomach change ever so slightly. It doesn’t grow per se, but Wyn gets the sense that the essentia stored within her pool is now denser, allowing her to store far more within a similar space. It’s a slight difference, but noticeable nonetheless. Wyn wonders what it’ll feel like at even higher levels and renews her determination to reach a high level someday.
With five of her nine points spent, Wyn has four points remaining. Luckily, it takes four points to upgrade any of her common abilities to uncommon, and Wyn knows exactly which ability she wants to upgrade.
Ability: Mage Bolt — Common
Description: A simple bolt of Essentia, deals minor damage to a target.
Would you like to upgrade this ability?
Cost: 4 Level Points
Current Level Points: 4
Y / N
Wyn has thought about upgrading her mage bolt every time she’s been in the interstice so far, and it is well past time she upgrades it. At this point, mage bolt is the only ability she has that deals any damage, and Wyn knows how much she needs to increase her damage output if she’s going to stay competitive with the rest of her team. Timnos and Rennick already well outpace her in terms of their damaging abilities, and she doesn’t want any farther behind those two if she can avoid it.
She selects yes, and a new screen pops up. Unlike before, when the ability simply updated with no additional fanfare, this time multiple options appear, allowing Wyn to select from a variety of options.
Most of the options are all very similar, just changing out the exact wording of the spell for the different essentia types. Of them, there’s one she recognizes.
Ability: Flame Bolt — Uncommon
Description: Hurl a bolt of flame at a target, dealing fire damage. Requires Fire Affinity Essentia.
Wyn pages through the different magic bolts, ranging from Flame, to Shadow, to Ice, to even stranger options like Poison and Shadow. Each reads much the same, containing simple text and requiring a specific type of essentia. All of them look quite useful, with some, like the shadow bolt, even carrying secondary effects like blinding or poisoning a target. After scrolling through the dozen or so options, she finds one last option that’s much simpler than the rest.
Ability: Improved Mage Bolt — Uncommon
Description: An optimized but simplified projectile of raw essentia. Lacking a specific affinity, the spell deals less damage than other bolt variants.
Wyn is just about to dismiss Improved Mage Bolt as obviously weaker when a new thought catches her short. As a spellweaver, she is meant to craft spells, not simply accept them as they are. She can already adjust a spell’s damage type, and she proved as much earlier by shaping a crude fire bolt using only Refined Essentia Manipulation. If she can do that with a basic ability, then a dedicated skill for creating and manipulating spells should let her recreate the effects of nearly every mage bolt variant, given enough time and practice.
But that’s a problem in itself. Wyn fears being outpaced by her companions, dealing only tiny amounts of damage to their powerful killing blows. If she takes the Improved Mage Bolt as opposed to something like Fire Bolt, then she’ll be doing less damage in the short term in hopes of doing higher damage in the long term.
Wyn lets out a long sigh, and Psai perks up at the sound. “Wyn, are you alright? My records indicate prolonged sighs are a sign of sadness or of a bad mood.”
Wyn shakes her head at Psai. “It’s just decision fatigue.”
“Is there any way I may assist you?”
Wyn smiles at him. Just like Rohn in the real world, Psai’s constant bright tone and childlike energy can’t keep a smile off Wyn’s face for long.
“Not really. I just have to pick an ability and move on with my life.”
Psai considers for a moment. “Would you like my opinion?”
Wyn chuckles and nods. “Sure.”
“You have spent the most time looking at the Improved Mage Bolt. It seems you are interested in that ability. You also tend to pick abilities that are highly adaptable, and given your Spellweaver class, this ability is more likely to be adaptable.”
Wyn considers Psai’s words. He’s right that she’s tended to pick adaptable abilities rather than simpler ones.
Wyn selects Improved Mage Bolt and uses the last of her Level Points to acquire the upgraded ability.
Relief floods through Wyn, glad to finally have the busywork behind her so she can return to what actually matters: casting spells and killing monsters.
“Alright, Psai. Let’s get back to Eden.”
Her perception twists and fades before she can hear his reply. The familiar sensation of the world folding in on itself takes hold as she slips from the interstice and back into Eden.
Wyn’s awareness returns just where she left, sitting at a table outside the Logout tavern. All around her, players gather in the mid-afternoon sunlight as they wait for their turn to log out of Eden. Though things have clearly changed in the short time she was away.
Well, short isn’t accurate. While she was gone for only ten hours in the real world, five days had passed inside of the game.
Wyn shakes her head.
Looking around, Wyn spots an increased number of guards patrolling the city, with most players opting to wear their full armor while inside the city walls rather than more comfortable clothing. On top of that, the weather has changed, giving Wyn a chill.
Looking down, Wyn realizes she never got new equipment. Her simple starter robe is torn, barely covering her. It is no wonder she is so cold; she is wearing little more than the default undergarments Eden provides for the sake of modesty.
Deciding its time to buy some proper equipment, but first, she wants to at least stop looking like her clothing had an unfortunate encounter with a blender.
She spots a nearby clothing store and ducks inside. The place is immaculate, with polished wood shelves and softly glowing crystals lighting the space. Even the mannequins are remarkable, posed in dramatic stances and clad in the finest embroidered fabrics. Before Wyn can take three full steps, a tall elven woman appears behind a counter on the far wall, arriving so rapidly it’s as though she just popped into existence.
The elf beams, launching into an enthusiastic explanation of current Lethisburg fashion. Wyn’s head reels at the lengthy explanation. According to the elf, sleeves are apparently meant to be asymmetrical this season, collars optional but encouraged, and every outfit worth owning involves at least one dramatic flourish that serves no functional purpose whatsoever. The shopkeeper gestures toward an elaborate robe covered in layered fabric panels, metallic threading, far too many decorative tassels. Wyn nods politely, waiting for a pause so she can finally cut into the onslaught of words.
“I don’t need anything fancy, thank you. Just simple will do.”
The elf blinks, completely confused by Wyn’s words. How could someone choose to wear anything less than the height of fashion? Surely, Wyn means understated elegance, not just ordinary streetwear.
Seeing the shopkeeper’s mind churning, Wyn clarifies that she wants a shirt and trousers. Nothing more, nothing less. After a moment of visible internal struggle, the elf produces a neatly folded set of clothes that looks entirely ordinary. Wyn sighs with relief, eager to get out of this strange woman’s shop. Wyn buys it and adds an extra set to her inventory just in case.
Wyn leaves the shop dressed in her new simple attire; perfect for the crisp and cool air. Behind her, the shopkeeper pouts, disappointed she couldn’t sell an outworlder on a set of lavish robes. Wyn is dressed like a normal person, and that’s exactly what she wanted.
With basic clothing settled, and plenty of coin remaining in her inventory, Wyn walks the length of the market district in search of someone who might sell equipment fit for a mage. Lethisburg is a town not known for its mages, and that’s shown in the shopping district. Dozens of blacksmiths specializing in all manner of metallurgy line the streets, with some even specializing in enchanted weapons and armor. While Wyn likes the idea of enchanted equipment, she isn’t a fan of walking around the game as the wizard in a full suit of plate armor. That just feels wrong.
Wyn is just about to give up when she notices a tiny stall tucked against the far edge of the market district, its crooked sign reading Blintsy’s Potions and Magical Things. Unlike the surrounding stalls with their careful displays and bright awnings, this one looks like little more than a chaotic heap of odds and ends. Potions lean against one another atop mismatched containers filled with strange objects and forgotten trinkets. Faint strands of essentia seep from many of the items, and she even spots a small cluster of magic wands. Deciding this is her best chance at finding something useful, Wyn steps closer to the stand.
“Greetings and fare thee well, wary traveler. Are ye a warrior in search of potions? Nay, or are you mayhaps a healer in search of a magical salve? Or thusly are you a clever alchemist in need of a great many ingredients for your creations? Look no further than Blintsy’s Potions and Magical Things. For I am Blintsy, your source for all things magical!”
The man, no older than 23, wears a giant pointed purple hat with stars poorly glued on with a long robe to match. His cadence was flawless, like an ancient wizard in one of those old-world cartoons Wyn watched as a kid. Despite being young, it’s like he’s trying to give off the vibe of a thousand year old wizened wizard. Yet despite all that, his flawless portrayal leaves Wyn believing the man before her is actually this wild.
“Ah! It seems you have lost your ability to speak. Fear not, young madam, for at Blintsy’s Potions and Magical Things I’m sure to have something that aids you!”
He digs through the piles of clutter, picking up objects one by one while muttering to himself, before moving on to the next item in his chaotic assortment.
“Wait… I…” Wyn stammers out.
“Aha! Verily the fine lady learns the power of speech!” He says, setting down a handful of potions, “Why didn’t you say so? No matter. What do you need from Blintsy?”
“I, uh.” Wyn struggles to form even the most basic of sentences, dumbstruck by this bizarre man. Thankfully, after sucking down a gulp of air to steady herself, she finds words. “I just reached novice rank, and I need some new robes and a staff.”
Blintsy’s shoulders slump, and he tosses his oversized pointed wizard’s hat to the side.
“Dammit. You’re a player? I gave my whole stupid speech and everything. Fine. What do you want?”
If you've read this far into Eden, I'd greatly appreciate it if you would take the time to give my story a rating, that'd be a huge help.
Lastly, for the stats nerds, here is Wyn's current character sheet with all of the changes made as she ranked up to Novice!
NAME: Wyn Abulata
RACE: Human
STATUS: N/A
RANK: Novice
CLASS: Spellweaver - Level 9
ARCHETYPE: Hybrid
SECONDARY CLASS: #ERROR, value not expected - Level 7
SECONDARY ARCHETYPE: Control
STATS:
Strength: 9
Endurance: 8
Toughness: 10
Agility: 10
Willpower: 14
Awareness: 11
Intellect: 13
Presence: 15
ABILITIES
First Aid - Common
Refined Essentia Manipulation - Common
Basic Insight: Common
Illusions of the Beyond - Common
Improved Mage Bolt - Uncommon
Subtle Spellcasting - Uncommon
Spellweaving - Uncommon
Transmute Essentia - Uncommon
Fortify Self - Uncommon
Flickerstep - Uncommon
Oblivion Shroud: Rare
TITLES
Outworlder - Common
Arcane Consortium Initiate - Common
