After accepting the Progress Druid class, Synexus was expecting something big to happen, but he didn’t feel any different. He felt he had more information in his head than he did before, but it felt distant in his own head. He couldn’t focus on any given piece of knowledge. He was about to ask the Elder, but then the System stepped in.

  As a Progress Druid you have unlocked the following base skills:

  Gene Library: Level 1

  By researching plants and organisms, you will gain a deeper understanding of their genes. This understanding will be stored in your gene library for you to use any number of times. Gene entries are permanent. Research can be done with any tools you have available if they grant you a further understanding of the aspects of the plant or organism.

  Gene Editing: Level 1

  Chance to change the genes of a plant or simple organism simply by touch. Success rate of the change depends on the level of this skill and the understanding of the genes of the given entity.

  Accelerated Growth: Level 1

  Pour some of your mana into a plant or seed to accelerate the growth. Mana cost is determined by the level of this skill and the complexity of the plant genome.

  Synexus read through the skills with a huge smile on his face. This was perfect for him! He couldn’t believe the skills he had gotten. The more he focused on a specific skill, the more he felt the inherent knowledge of how to use it. He focused on the Gene Library skill and a blank list came up before his eyes. He was so excited to go fill it up, but he did wonder what kind of tools he could use to “research” plants. This would have to be explored very soon, but first the System had pulled up a screen named status.

  Name: Synexus

  Race: Zaxillian

  Class: Progress Druid

  Level: 1

  Health Points: 40/40

  Mana: 40/40

  Stamina: 40/40

  Stats

  Intelligence: 1

  Strength: 1

  Endurance: 1

  Vitality: 1

  Agility: 1

  Perception: 1

  Skills

  Race: Sensing Touch, Enhanced Cognition, Perfect Memory, Silver Blood, Absorb Sunlight

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  Class: Gene Library, Gene Editing, Accelerated Growth

  Achievements

  None

  “Wow this status screen had a lot to unpack. Zaxillian? Is that really what my race is called? I finally know!” Synexus held back a silver tear at feeling that a shroud had been removed from his past. The System had already granted him gifts he couldn’t express gratitude for and there was more. He has race skills and stats now to look at. Hoping that the race skills would provide him with even more unknown information, he decided to start there.

  Race: Zaxillian

  Skills

  Sensing Touch: Through the sensors in your fingertips, gain information about anything you touch. This is more in-depth information than your other senses can gather. The longer you touch an object, the more insight you obtain.

  Enhanced Cognition: Integration with technology through evolution has left your brain with a far faster processing speed than other races.

  Perfect Memory: You will remember everything you see, hear, and touch. You have perfect recall.

  Silver Blood: Your body produces nanobots within your blood cells causing some physical traits to turn silver. Enhanced healing due to nanobot repair. Some healing spells may not work on you. Enhanced sight and hearing due to nanobot integration.

  Absorb Sunlight: Ability to turn sunlight into energy. Your body has no waste due to perfect energy use.

  “This explains so much!” Synexus exclaimed. “Elder, I just discovered why I have silver blood, and silver eyes. Why I can absorb sunlight and why I was able to understand things simply by touching them. It’s all secrets of my race. Zaxillians must have evolved with advanced technology integrated into themselves causing us to have inherent abilities. This is amazing!”

  “Very good. You are learning some of the secrets of your past. I’m happy that you finally got some answers to your burning questions. The System truly is a gift and one you will make good use of, I’m sure. You must work on leveling up now by performing actions of your class. You will also get experience from fighting malevolent creatures which is why we prepared you for combat. But be warned, many who get this power use it for evil. Be wary of others. I know you will not abuse these gifts as so many other flesh beings have.” The Elder spoke with a serious tone. They wanted to be perfectly clear on what they expected of the child they took in so long ago.

  Synexus nodded, so the Elder continued, “You must now leave on your journey. Go East of my domain and find the coastal city of Gale. Find some companions and a ship to cross the sea. Explore this world and all it has to offer. You will be welcome here whenever you find need. You are a friend of the Branch and because of that we have gifts for your journey.”

  The Elder reached out a branch to hand over a bag full of seeds, a sword made of bamboo, and some type of bark armor. Synexus accepted the gifts and as soon as he did, System messages popped up.

  Nature Dimension Bag: A bag holding natural space that can be used to store seeds and plants. Time in the space continues to flow, but plants will not decay. Plants will continue to grow, however.

  Ancient Bamboo Katana: A blade made of indestructible bamboo. A simple, but effective weapon against those that choose to cause harm.

  Elder Branch Armor: Armor made from the Branch Elder’s bark itself. Stronger than most metals, but lighter than a leaf. Enhances your connection to nature. This armor will wither if the Branch Elder perishes.

  “Thank you, Elder. Not just for the gifts, but for everything. You chose to bring a fleshling in and had Syling raise me. It’s because of you that I’m alive. I will not fail you. This is my home, and the Branch are my family. I will miss you all.”

  The Elder nodded and was going to speak when suddenly a smaller Branch came running over.

  “I’m so glad I caught you before you departed. Come here!” Syling embraced Synexus in a hug before continuing to speak, “You are my seedling. I will admit that I was unsure at first, but you have grown on me.” They both laughed at the pun. Syling shook off the laugh and the tears of sap running down their bark to speak once more, “Be safe on our journey and remember all your teachings.” You will be incredible out there. You were never meant to stay here with the Branch, but you are one of us. Gark and Leveve are going to be sad that they missed this. We will await your return because this is not a goodbye forever. We will see each other again.”

  Synexus was choked up with silver tears running down his cheeks. It reminded him so much of the memory of his mother, but Syling was right, this wasn’t a goodbye forever. He finally spoke, “Thank you, Syling. It was an honor to be your seedling. You taught me so much. My mother told me that I would find a new mom and I don’t care what you say, you were my new mother. Not only that, but you gave me siblings. Tell Gark and Leveve that I will miss them greatly. If you run into Branch Harloch, can you tell them the same. I will see you all again, but first I need to discover my own way in this world. Goodbye for now.”

  With that he turned and walked East out of the Branch settlement. Back through the bamboo grove where he arrived, and beyond where his future lies.