“I’m sorry. I don’t know why that keeps happening,” I said.
“Never mind that! We explored further out and found a dungeon beacon that finally helped us get professions!” Cari said.
I perked up, “Awesome! That explains your spike in levels. What did you get?”
Gregory smiled wide, showing his big goofy hippo teeth. “I am a Surveyor, and Cari got Construction Worker.”
“Very fitting! What kinds of skills come with that?”
Cari shook her head, “You’ll just have to see when we head toward the bubble.”
“Fair enough. I need to pick a new skill real quick before we go- wait. Bubble?”
“It’s been eight days, remember? That’s plenty of time to get some control spheres together.”
“How many bubbles are there?”
“Two that we can see as of the last time we checked.”
“Okay, got it. I’ll be quick.”
“You have five minutes,” Cari huffed. Gregory walked around the area, scanning for something I didn’t get just yet.
“Uh, before I start, I’m guessing that big pile of bodies is more than an hour old?” Gregory nodded. “Of course it is. Honestly, I got a huge boost from the cube, so I’m good with that.”
“Your friends are significantly weaker than you, despite being higher level,” my Soul Chamber’s current resident said telepathically as soon as I entered. The Living Rune shone much more consistently now that it wasn’t being constantly consumed.
“Unique life form, remember?”
“Yes, but you could likely fight me to a draw, and I am nearly three times your level.”
“You think so?” I was curious, but figured fighting in my own soul chamber may not be a great idea.
“We will have no way of testing that until you release me from the chamber.”
“Oh, well, that’s fair. You want out? I had no intention of forcing you to stay if you chose to leave, but you did say you would teach me more of the enchanter class.”
“I am unable to reach out from within, so I have no means of contacting you.”
I hadn’t realized that, but it did make sense. But I had final say with how my soul chamber worked, so I essentially gave the Rune a key. “WIth this, you should be able to leave as you see fit, and speak to me from within.”
“Thank you, All-Devourer.”
“I- don’t think I ever told you my name. Call me Dan. Do you have a name?”
“Okay, Dan. I- not precisely, no. I was originally an enchantment in a wizard’s room on a sea-faring vessel that helped said wizard traverse from the prime plane to the realm of her patron. Maybe something from that.”
“You were part of a complex portal ritual?”
“I was, yes. For quite some time.”
“Hmm. How does Tree sound to you?”
“Why Tree?”
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“Traversal Runic Elder Entity.”
“An acronym? This is acceptable. Though elder has connotations.”
“Yeah, of wisdom and strength!” I said.
“Fine. Did you come for teaching already? I do believe I will stay here for now and rest as I’ve been in that cube for a good while and it feels good to not be constantly consumed.”
“No, I need to select my next enchanter skill.”
“How many levels did you gain from making Soul Chamber?”
“Ten! Hence-”
“Indeed. I shall leave you to it, then.”
“Actually, let me try something, as we are currently in meditation together. Let me know if you can see this.”
I focused on the closest wall of the chamber and text began to appear.
New Profession Skill Options Available: Two.
Total Profession Skill Options Available: Four. Previously unchosen skills improved.
Energy Bolt. Common. You've learned how to separate some of your mana from your pathways, and can project them at foes, dealing moderate magical damage.
Detect Weave. Common. Your understanding of enchanting grants you the ability to analyze and learn what forms were used in the enchantments of Common or lesser ranked magic items.
Runic Equilibrium. Inferior. When balancing opposing affinities such as light and darkness or heat and cold, the additional cost of maintaining the equilibrium is reduced by a minor amount.
Enlightened Feedback. Inferior. When an enchantment attempt fails, a portion of the lost energy is captured by your Soul Chamber. Your next successful enchantment gains a minor increase to its potency.
On another wall I showed Tree my status.
Status
Name: Dan Trench
Humanoid Race: Omnis Vorare 27
Class: Hypocrite Revolutionary 28
Profession: Neophyte Enchanter 27
Max Health: 5960
Max Stamina: 10640
Max Mana: 10290
Agility: 527
Endurance: 515
Intelligence: 515
Perception: 519
Strength: 549
Vitality: 596
Wisdom: 514
Race Skills:
All Stats Must Be Eaten. Unique.
All-Consuming. Unique.
Infinite Tank. Unique.
Sense Power. Inferior.
I Have Two Mouths and I Must Feast. Uncommon.
Class Skills:
Eat the Rich. Uncommon.
Ravenous Cloak. Uncommon.
Purging Surge. Common.
Profession Skills:
Soul Chamber. Epic.
Infuse Object. Inferior.
Etch Rune. Common.
Feast Beam. Uncommon.
Equipped Gear:
Amulet of Holding. Common.
Razorclaw Gauntlets. Inferior.
Steeltusk Leather. Inferior.
“You have Feast Beam. Why is Energy Bolt an option?” Tree asked.
“I didn’t choose it before because I figured I could do it without System help.”
“Which you did. Excellent. So you chose Etch Rune instead of Energy Bolt and Detect Weave?”
“Correct. And now that you are here, I suspect we can figure out the forms used in enchantments without that skill too.”
“You are correct in this. That leaves the final two to discuss. Runic Equilibrium must have been offered from your equilibrium work getting into the cube. A useful skill for someone with normal stats.”
“What are you implying?” I asked cheekily.
“That your stats as you consume your way through the multiverse will grow so monstrous that this skill will be irrelevant for you.”
“That only leaves one choice.”
“And a good one at that, only available to you because you have successfully crafted a Soul Chamber.”
“Do you know what happens when skills are not chosen?”
Tree swirled thoughtfully. “Once you have reached ten skills on your list, you are presented with several options. They differ from person to person, so I do not know with what you will be presented.”
“And do you know what is typical in terms of quantity of skill options per selection?”
“The maximum is three, but typical is two.”
I felt a shake on my shoulder and sighed. “Enlightened Feedback it is! Thank you, Tree. Uh, hey, real quick, Let me know if and when you decide to pop out, just so you don’t go scaring the people around me.”
Tree acknowledged that as I chose the skill and left the chamber.
