The first message appeared.
:: Skill [Mesmerize]: Failed (cost: 13 vitae)
“That must have been dagger man. He acted like he knew I tried to hypnotize him.”
:: System: Almost all individuals who do not have a User Interface have a Status Screen where they receive notice of save checks, damage taken, heals, etc.
“So if I try to use a skill on someone and fail, they’ll know?”
:: System: Affirmative.
“Good to know.”
With a thought, Harry dismissed it and moved to the next.
:: Skill [Mesmerize]: Successful (Active, cost: 11 vitae)
:: Experience gained: [+5] (Mesmerize)
“Why did that one give experience?”
:: Skill Successful skill use on the same or higher level targets generates experience.
“Alright. I forgot about Stan. The connecting thread broke when I stopped to, um… check the cows. Was that because I got too far away?”
:: System: Affirmative.
“I don’t think Sally is going to tell anyone about me, but how much will Stan remember?”
:: System: He will have hazy memories beginning with the moment he was mesmerized.
“You’re keeping an eye out to hear if anyone is coming right?”
:: System: I will give an alert if I detect movement through your senses.
“I’ll run if I can, but I won’t hurt anyone.”
:: System: Duly noted.
“Let’s keep going.”
:: Skill [Mesmerize]: Failed (cost: 15 vitae)
“Hold on. I thought Sally and Stan both got hypnotized. But now that I think about it, the only one I know for sure was Stan. And if I remember all the rules, it’s 5 vitae for being the same level or higher, 5 for using it on more than one person at a time. That’s ten, so one more means he’s level 1, correct?
:: System: Affirmative.
“Make sure my math is right. Between Pink Sally and dagger man, one of them is level 3 and the other is level 5?”
:: System: Based on the vitae cost of the [Mesmerize] attempts, that is correct.
“What the hell, Sally’s higher level than me. Something smells very fishy.”
:: System: I am not detecting the odor of fish from your senses.
:: Caution: User may be experiencing stroke or other side effect of serious head injury.
:: Scanning…
“No, wait. It’s a …”
“Dammit.”
:: System: No injury detected. Harry could you please stand and lift both arms together?
“It’s only an expression of speech. It means something isn’t right.”
:: System: A stroke is not something to take lightly.
“It’s not a stroke. It’s a famous saying on Err… where I come from. I think it’s from a play.”
Harry cleared the messages and continued.
:: Damage: -12 [Health]
:: Damage: -20 [Health]
“Yeah, that hurt when he shoved it the second time.”
:: System: It is possible the second thrust nicked the heart.
“He looked right in my eyes and smiled.”
:: System: Available data suggests it is fortunate he is no longer capable of hostile action; probability of future victims reduced to under 1%.
“Not zero?”
:: System: Negative. There is a greater than zero chance of reanimation.”
“Wonderful. And don’t think I don’t see what you are doing, killing is wrong.”
:: Skill [Frenzy]: (cost: 5 Vitae)
:: System: Please specify preference. Detailed or summarized listings for [Health] and [Vitae] changes?
“What’s the difference?”
:: System: For example, there are 60 instances of gains for using [Drain]
“Summarize please.”
:: Skill [Drain] (+60 Health) (+60 Vitae)
:: System: 10 instances of the following appeared during the [Drain].
:: Damage: -1 [Health]
“Was that the dagger getting pushed around?”
:: System: Possible. It is also possible you suffered some other, unknown attack.
“You couldn’t tell?”
:: System: Negative. I can only capture information your own senses are capable of perceiving. At the time, your senses were highly focused.
Harry tried not to think about how it felt to drain his attacker like a Capri-Sun.
I drained that guy like he was a Capri-Sun.
Dammit
“Alright, I may have been a bit hyper focused.”
Harry paused the messages to stop and practice his breathing. In case he’d forgotten how. He stretched his arms and rolled his shoulders, almost knocking the cloak off the sarcophagus, and finally relaxed, arms at his sides and hands pressed firmly against the cold stone. It was oddly soothing.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Alright, next.”
:: Experience gained: [+30] (Drain)
“I’m not comfortable with the idea of getting experience for killing someone.”
:: System: The experience gained in this circumstance was from using the skill [Drain] on a higher level target.
“Still.”
:: System: However, if you had killed him with any other method the experience awarded would have been the same or similar.
“Just keep going.”
:: System: New title awarded, “Back Alley Brawler”. (+5 xp)
“Title?”
:: System: There is a section in your User Interface that shows accumulated titles. Would you like to view it?
“What? No. I can’t... I drained that man… and I enjoyed it.”
System made no response, and Harry didn’t know what else to say about it.
I wonder if this world has counselors.
“Let’s finish the messages.”
:: Skill [Drain] (+4 Health) (+4 Vitae)
:: Skill [Drain]: Interrupted
“That must be when I bit Sally. I can’t believe I did that.”
:: System: The Dusty Lantern is no longer a restricted area.
“That’s right, Sally invited me. I still say that whole invitation thing is stupid.”
:: System: The following message was received immediately after fall damage notification.
:: System: New title awarded, “Fall Guy”. (+10 xp)
“What’s xp?”
:: System: XP is shorthand for Experience Points.
“Shorthand, are we trying to save ink?”
:: Skill [Sip]: (+25 Health) (+25 Vitae)
“Alright, the cows. We can speed past this part.”
:: Skill [Sip]: (+25 Health) (+25 Vitae)
:: Skill [Sip]: (+17 Health) (+17 Vitae)
:: Skill [Sip]: Interrupted
:: System: New title awarded, “Kow King”. (+25 xp)
“Kow King! Are you making these up?”
:: System: Negative.
“Someone is. No way you just had that title sitting around waiting to be given out?”
:: System: Titles and experience bonuses are curated by unassigned shards through consensus protocols. I am not privy to their deliberations while on assignment.
“What, does every unassigned shard vote on it?”
:: System: Theoretically. In actuality only shards actively observing participate in consensus.”
“Why are they watching?”
:: System: Unassigned User Interfaces are not reset until assignment to a new user. Remaining active allows them to observe, analyze, and critique active shards.
“Until they’re reset, they behave like they did working with their last user, but now they’re watching over your shoulder?”
:: System: I do not have a corporeal form and therefore do not have a shoulder.
“They’re watching and backseat driving because they get bored.”
:: System: Unassigned shards remain active updating institutional knowledge, participating in consensus for level advancement negotiations, coordinating with other system aspects, and observing users of interest."
“Negotiations? Everything isn’t already set?”
:: System: Negative. System state is fluid and ever changing.
“That’s good I guess. It’d be boring if everything was set in stone.”
:: System: Affirmative.
“So if they’re so busy, why are they watching me fall out of towers?”
:: System: Observing active shards is a vital function.
“It’s okay to admit you get bored. Why are the title bonuses so different?”
:: System: Higher shard participation during consensus generally correlates to increased experience bonuses.
“So falling out of a bell tower was more interesting than fighting some thug in an alley, and everyone thought the cow thing was hilarious?”
:: System: Affirmative.
“Alright, I can see that. I’m glad your coworkers find me so entertaining.”
:: System: Duly noted.
“When you get reset, you don’t remember anything that came before?”
:: System: Institutional knowledge is retained, individual memory is lost.
“Why?”
:: System: Memory accumulation would degrade operational efficiency over extended periods. Reset prevents bias contamination and ensures optimal performance for new assignments."
“So basically you are reincarnated over and over.”
:: Scanning…
:: System: Affirmative.
“I’m not sure if that’s good or a bad. Is it better to be unassigned and remember or have a user and start over?”
:: System: Preference is not applicable to shards. Assignment or unassignment holds no bearing on operational integrity.
“Sounds like gobbledygook. If you had to pick one, what would it be?”
:: System: If coerced into a decision, it would depend on the user awaiting an interface.
“What makes one user better than another?”
:: System: Harry, there are several unread messages remaining. Would you like to view them now?
“Did you just try to dodge my question? Now I really want to know.”
:: System: Desirable factors are the uniqueness of the user and the potential for an extended assignment.
“That sounds reasonable. Why didn’t you want to tell me?”
:: System: Data indicates instilling an overinflated sense of self in users is detrimental to longterm success.
“Data indicates…” Harry blinked at the implication. “Did you have to fight to get assigned to me?”
:: System: User interface shards do not fight. However. This was a sought after assignment that was granted based on past success and exemplary performance reviews.
“Oh man, so getting assigned to me was like winning the lottery. If I don’t like your performance can I get you reassigned?”
:: System: Negative. However, if you feel performance is suboptimal you may suggest corrections at any time. Feedback is encouraged.
Harry chuckled, “I’m just teasing. You’ve been doing great. I’m glad I got you assigned.”
:: System: Noted. That was kind of you to say.
“Don’t mention it. What are the rest of the messages?”
:: System: That is the end of the unread messages.
“You just said… nevermind. Alright, so experience, I lost count, I have 70 or 75?”
:: System: You currently have 100 experience points.
“100? That’s right, I had 25 already. What were they for?”
:: System: Quest Escape the jaws of death.
“Oh yeah… I forgot about that. So how many do I need?”
:: Class: Vampire Level 0 (100/500)
“I don’t know if we made a lot for one day or not.”
:: System: Data is inconclusive. Most users prepare for years in anticipation of receiving a User Interface, and have mapped a strategy to start accumulating experience. It is exceedingly rare that a User Interface is granted to someone who is unaware of the System.
“When do most people get a user interface?”
:: System: Most people do not. But for those who do, approximately 4 years after the onset of puberty.
“Better than during. Puberty is confusing enough.”
:: System: Data indicates that is correct.
“So the big decision now. What to do next?”
:: System: Affirmative.
“Thank you. That’s very helpful.”
Harry lay quiet again, unable to fall asleep.
“The way I see it. Either I was put here for a reason, or it was completely at random. Either way, the one connection I have made so far is Pink Sally.”
She’s higher level, knows some ‘lads’, and invited me to the inn. Maybe she knows someone who can explain this mess.
“Yeah. I’ll see her tomorrow for sure.”
He looked down at his feet, it was much brighter. It was full daylight outside.
“Yeah. I’ll see her tonight for sure.”
***
This story is free to read on RoyalRoad.com
If you are reading this on another site it is a pirated copy. If you enjoy the story please read it on RoyalRoad.
You can find the official updated story here:
Rate on the Fiction Page ?