ALEXiThymiA: Interlude VIII

Interlude VIII

Saturday

Julie Swinton

Not knowing what to expect, and not a small modicum of fear after seeing the adverse reaction Gina had with her greater skill crystal, Julie couldn’t help but feel hesitant.  Yet, she knew that this was a way she could influence her career path. Also, getting this Analysis crystal first seemed a far better option than getting the Unarmed Combat crystal first. At first it had mostly been a tie between the two options, as she had gotten and received the yellow tier crystal for each dungeon.

Looking at the option before her this was a no brainer. First the tasks for each were insanely tough, but getting this Analysis crystal seemed like it was a lot more advantageous than the combat crystal. For while she still had the Lykanthropy gene running wild in her body. While she could still feel traces of the energy that the virus offered, she had long since been cleared of that. So while the heightened senses, physical attributes, and regeneration were nice and lent themselves well to combat, that was not a path Julie wished to walk. As such, she all but jumped at the chance to take this path of Analysis over combat.

The group had spoken about finding more Tier II dungeons to run, so they could get even more skills. But the Analysis skill, that seemed to be the most important one as it could make is so all four of the people present could then lead future groups of pack members through other Tier II dungeons for similar rewards.

Of course, there was just one thing stopping Julie from getting her class and being able to take the next step as one of the truly awakened.

Looking at the brightly glowing crystal, she paused for a moment almost imagining that she could see her future within the pulsing lights of the stone.

Then with a deep breath, she focused her mind and sent a tendril of energy into the crystal.

(Optional): Class: Researcher (Common), Strategist (Uncommon), Precognitive Combatant (Epic).

Seeing the first two options, Julie mostly decided to ignore the Common and Uncommon classes as they seemed to be a little lackluster in her opinion. Especially as the last class had an Epic rating to it. Seeing the class, Julie couldn’t help but feel drawn to looking at it and seeing what it offered.

Predictive Combatant: Have you fought this battle before, or are you just that much better than your opponent? The Predictive Combatant uses heightened analytics to improve their combat abilities, making it so they can see and react to their opponent before their opponent is even aware. Primary Attributes: Perception and Dexterity. Secondary Attribute: Intelligence.

That was it, just two primary attributes for the class and one secondary. Seeing the class and what it potentially offered her, she felt a slight moment of hesitation. This class could effectively negate the worst aspect of fighting, namely getting hit. By knowing where an opponent would move and strike, she could react quickly in a way that allowed her to avoid or mitigate the worst damages possible from any fight.

Seeing the class, she couldn’t help but think it was the ultimate evolution of what she already had, and what could help out everyone the most. With this class, finishing the campus dungeon would be simple, and just thinking about that, meant that she might be able to evolve her class again from Epic to Legendary or beyond. Realizing this, she almost felt stuck with her choice. Her other two options seemed to be basic, a Researcher and a Strategist? How could that compare to a Predictive Combatant?

In the end, Julie had only one option available to her, which she accepted.

***

Luke Thyme

Luke saw the burst of energy flash over his girlfriend. That word still felt odd thinking, girlfriend. Mentally he felt that he had gone through so much over the past month. For years he thought it was his job to protect his sister, yet looking back on his past, he wondered exactly how much time he spent actually protecting her, versus how much time she let him think he was protecting her.

Shaking his head, he now realized that he clearly underestimated his sister, never letting her grow. Or rather, never seeing the growth she always had, behind her constant workaholic lifestyle. Even this weekend excursion was proving to be taxing. His sister never stopped, in fact he felt that his sister had been holding back this whole weekend. That if she wanted to, she could have solved this dungeon all by herself, without the need of others.

Holding his crystal in hand, he asked his sister just that. “Tell me the truth. You could have done all this by yourself?”

Alexa gave him an odd look. “Of course.” She said in a matter-of-fact tone. Hearing that Luke felt his chest tighten a little bit. “So why did you do it?”

“Why did I spend a weekend with my friends and family? Or why did I help members of my pack get stronger? I hope I don’t need to answer these questions.” Alexa said.

Hearing her, Luke felt like he had been gut punched again, as once again he missed the hidden depth that his sister had to her all this time. It was clear that she was intelligent, probably far smarter than any 16-year-old that Luke had ever known. But to see her now, showed just how mistaken he had been when interacting with her in the past.

“You consider me part of your pack?” Luke asked, suddenly feeling a bit emotional at the comment.

“You were there at the pack meeting right? Also, you are my twin brother. For better or worse, I need you.” Alexa said, her voice a little more animated than he was used to. Though Luke would be lying if he said he didn’t like the way she referred to him. There was also a certain sting to her words, as he had been part of her pack party. The one where earlier in the week she all but declared herself to be an enemy to every other alien faction. At the time he had been there for Julie, or at least that is what he thought at first. Still, he had helped her come up with a plan for the Nurse and Gina’s teacher. He had been there to work through some of the visions he had been having recently.

There was still the coming concerns with General Mackie that would come to a head here shortly. Concerns that seemed to put him at direct odds with humanity as a whole.

Luke thought about what his sister was saying, then he thought about her last statement, she needs me? From his eyes, Alexa was this amazing unstoppable force that went off in any direction. “You need me?”

“Of course, at the very least you know all my secrets. Also, we are bonded. I need you to do well, so that I can do well.” Alexa said.

“You are referring to that Twin Bond hoodoo thing?” Luke said, a bit mockingly. Suddenly he felt even less confident in his sister, if she believed in rumors like the Twin Bond.

“Just go on and get your class already. Unless of course you are scared.” Alexa said, goading him into action.

Luke was about to bite at the comment, as he pulled up his crystal, then realized something. “You first.”

Alexa just smiled and held up her empty slime covered hands. “I already did a while ago.”

Seeing her, and seeing the range of emotions on her face he could tell she was telling the truth. “You really can have emotions, while you consume crystals?”

Hearing the note of concern in Luke’s voice, Alexa let out a slight nod and a smile. “Yeah. I can.”

“What’s it like?”

“To have emotions? I think that would be obvious.”

“No, not to have emotions, but to have them go away after a time?” Luke asked, his eyes staring at Alexa who all but withered at the stare.

Hearing that, Alexa just let out a sigh. “It is what it is. On the one hand it is amazing as I feel I can finally understand the world. I feel such joy, and am able to work through so many personal problems all at once. Then it is like a switch is flipped and suddenly the world becomes hazy and harder to understand. I remember the emotions and their effect on people, but I have a hard time seeing how people can react so chaotically to those emotions. It is… tough.” Alexa said.

Hearing that Luke nodded in understanding. “You know you could have told me earlier.”

“I know that now.” Alexa said.

Hearing her admission still hurt. For years she had a secret, something that he and his parents would have worked with, would have helped out as much as they could. She could feel emotions with crystals but was too frightened to tell others. He knew that part of it was as she said, that she was afraid others would claim her to be a junkie. But then he also realized there was another aspect to her. Something that she likely wasn’t even aware of. The pity, the way people would once again look at her with sadness. The way her parents would look at her with sadness if they found out. They way they would constantly prop her up with her addiction just to see her truthfully smile. Then the way they would be saddened by the fact that she would always revert back. That would be the worst part of this for her, her knowing that she was letting people down by being herself.

Flick.

Alexa flicked Luke’s forehead, bringing him back to the moment.

“Hey!” Luke said, rubbing at his forehead.

“You’re doing it again.” Alexa said.

“Yeah, I know. I just feel bad that you felt you had to keep it a secret from us.”

“The crystals?” Alexa said, as if she was able to read his mind and instantly follow his logic.

“Yeah. Have you thought about telling mom and dad?”

“I have. Now that they are no longer bound to the elves, I might tell them. But honestly, I think telling them would be bad.”

“How?”

“What if they want to change me? I want to tell them, I really do. But what if they use their contacts and abilities to run dungeons all the time and keep me permanently supplied with crystals.”

“Would that be so bad?” Luke asked. He of course had only found out from one of his visions. One that he first confronted Julie about, then proceeded to bring it up with Alexa who admitted to the whole thing right on the spot. Of course, that was the honest to a fault emotionless Alexa who wouldn’t lie even if it helped save her from punishment.

“It would, as it would ultimately mean that they still felt guilty for what happened. Also, in a way, it would mean that they don’t like me. I mean, I like me. Yeah, I have trouble, but so does everyone. Do I need to change so that others can feel better about me? To feel that I finally fit in a box labeled normal?”

Alexa asked, and it was clear she was visibly distressed by this conversation. Not ever having seen his sister this emotionally distraught, he paused mouth agape as he stared at his sister.

“Uh, I…” Luke tried, but Alexa just shook her head and cut off her brother.

“No, just take your crystal so we can unlock your class. I believe the others will awaken shortly.” Alexa said, turning away and rubbing at the side of her face.

Luke paused for a moment, and realized he had no words to say right now. Alexa was right, forcing her to be like this would be unfair to the real Alexa. She was also right in that soon the others would likely stir awake from their crystal induced comas.

“Right.” Luke said, as he held up his crystal then infused it with a bit of his mana.

Crunch.

The crystal melted and then began flowing over his hand like an overripe egg that randomly cracked open and began spreading out over his open palm. Shortly after the release of energy he was met by system messages.

Skill Growth: Analysis (Tier II): 112%.

(Optional): Class: Researcher (Common), Strategist (Uncommon), Whimsical Oracle (Epic).

Twin Bond Link Accessed.

Further Classes Unlocked due to joint Twin Bond accomplishments.

Slotted Class: Prophetic Herald (Legendary)

Additional Optional Classes: Archmagi (Legendary), Battle Champion (Legendary), Dungeon Architect (Mythic)

Seeing the classes available to him, Luke realized a few things. First, his slotted class and all of the major choices provided to him were now only possible due to his bond with his sister. Also, he was a little confused about the last option, the Dungeon Architect. From his understanding, such a class should have been able to be slotted over his Prophetic Herald class. It wasn’t until he brought up the details for his new class that he understood the reason why this class only now became available.

Dungeon Architect (Mythic):You have completed your first dungeon, experienced the fruits of its bounty, and can now begin to understand the full ramifications of the importance of dungeons. This is a class that will allow you to maintain and repair dungeons. Additionally, this class will open any dungeon to you for maintenance purposes, even those that you have previously completed. Working independently or as a team, you can open up any previously completed dungeon to perform routine maintenance, or function checks. By entering a dungeon as an Architect, you will not be forced to face the challenges of the dungeon and can avoid any and all combat as needed. Even going so far as to reset dungeon break counters. Primary Attributes: All.

Seeing that, the reason why this class just became available was a number of factors. First he just completed the dungeon, earning his Dungeon Runner (I) title. Then he also just consumed the crystal reward that helped with his analytical capabilities. Then finally he could see how all of that led him here, to this class option.

He remembered the conversation that Alexa had with Gina. The one where she admitted to being sad that she would never be able to come back to this dungeon. A dungeon she clearly cared for. With this class, he could not only bring himself, but others in to help maintain the dungeon. A fact that he knew he would easily be able to convince Alexa to join him on.

Luke paused, seeing the other two classes. While Archmagi seemed like it would be a fantastic class, he once again felt like he would be following in his sister’s footsteps. Also such a build would deny his sister the ability to ever come back to Bottomless Gorge, lest she also get offered this class. Though he knew the odds of his sister being granted a Mythic class, when her current class was already at the Apex level was slim to none. Also, the idea of being able to stop dungeon breaks without fighting, or the ability to hide within dungeons seemed like it would be perfect.

Seeing the class, he imagined the pack having covert meetings in parts of dungeons that were sealed off from the area that others could access. This meant that he could not only be a key component for his sister, but also be valuable to everyone. Also, his being so closely tied to dungeons meant that he could help repay the trust that his sister had in him. Seeing this as the only real option, as he had kind of hated being forced to be a Prophet, he made his choice.

“Dungeon Architect.” Luke thought to himself, and then he felt a surge of energy fill his mind and body as his mind faded to darkness.

***

Gina Rojas

Having been the first to start slotting their class, Gina was among the first to rise. As she did, she saw Luke collapse and have his body start spasming, only to be caught by Alexa. Alexa held him and moved him to a more comfortable position. Only seeing the way she acted with Luke, did Gina realize she was covered in a checkered covered quilt.

“AH!” Gina all but screamed as she forced her body up out of the sheets. Sheets that she knew was a silken tongue of a mimic posing as a bed. Then after a second, she let out a sigh of relief as she realized the mimic was dead. Not only that, but she recognized this room. This was Alexa’s former bastion of hope.

Looking around, Gina saw that Julie was undergoing her own transformation on the couch. Seeing Julie, a number of statistics and prompts formed in Gina’s mind.

Time to finish melding with class: ~8:42 seconds.

Likelihood that class is combat in nature: 97.3%.

Seeing the readouts, Gina realized her class let her see predictions on things that might or might not happen. There were even extremely low percent chances that Gina found she had to block out, unless her mind get flooded with random variables.

Then looking at Alexa, Gina felt her heart race as so many statistics and probabilities came to mind when looking at her that she almost felt like she was being flooded with details.

Odds that Alexa Thyme will come back to Bottomless Gorge: 100%.

Odds of Friendship with Alexa Thyme: 100%.

Odds that Alexa Thyme finds you attractive: 83%.

Odds of a meaningful relationship with Alexa Thyme: 75%.

Odds of being more than friends with Alexa Thyme: 42%.

Odds of Alexa Thyme having an intimate relationship with someone other than you: Less than 1%.

Seeing the deluge of messages caused Gina’s heart to race, as she realized what it meant. Yeah, the odds were less than fifty percent, but they were there. Better still, she had far more of a chance with Alexa than anyone else did. At least according to her class, which was all she could hope for, a chance.

Seeing the readout, a bright smile filled Gina’s lips as she let the all too familiar line come to her. A line that she couldn’t help but repeat, “so you are saying there is a chance.”