The Fool's Freedom

It only took a few moments, but it almost felt like the System was struggling. A preposterous notion – however, he had seen someone mess with it before.

This was much different. It was not someone messing with the System, rather he felt knowledge flow into him. It was not his, nor did he understand it, he just knew it was suddenly there as if blown by random winds.

It was still terrifying to an extent, although it felt good too. Who knew having access to a Legacy – something seemingly ingrained in the System would feel like that?

The first option soon appeared before his eyes once again.

Please choose your skill’s advancement.

The Dead Remember (Ancient)

See the flashes from the life of the remains you touch, see their struggles, and see their joy. Witness their final moments and their end, for death comes for all. Beware not to lose yourself.

You can ask questions and once you know enough of the deceased, guide the visions toward the knowledge you seek.

The level of control you can exert depends on your Will and Mind attributes.

Beware the remnants of will that can corrupt your mind.

Beware the anger of the departed.

Use this skill sparingly.

An amazing offer if he had seen one. At first glance, the value of the skill seemed lesser than some of the others he had as it would not improve his power directly, but in the long run… One of the keywords was ‘remains.’ The payoff would be huge, especially since he was just beginning to understand the role of ‘Insight’ and guessed that it would lead to much more.

Did that also mean he could, technically, use the piece of bark from the Void Tree to gleam into its life and experiences? He wouldn’t do that, of course. Just a sliver of will would probably destroy his psyche and kill him or worse. It was a God, not a toy. Arrogance had its limits. However, the possibility was… insane.

Depending on the way he used the skill he could unearth knowledge and secrets through time that would change the course of his growth.

With a thumping heart, Alan closed his eyes and focused on the second one – the one molded by his Legacy. It was as if each step of the way there was someone willing to extend a hand and change the course of his fate. It worried him that one day, he would have to pay back what was given to him. Better than doing it alone.

Alan shook off the strange line of thought.

Will of the Dead (Ancient)

You walk with the dead. Shadows of memories long forgotten by all whisper in your mind and help you down the path you’ve chosen. The dead hold no secrets from the one who wears the past as a second skin.

Witness their lives and remember their deeds. Learn and grow and in time their wills might join the crusade you’ve embarked on.

You can see the lives, and feel the pain of the dead. You can ask questions, and seek the buried knowledge. The level of control you can exert depends on your Will and Mind attributes.

Beware the remnants of will that can corrupt your mind if you’re not ready.

Be wary of the anger of the departed but do not fear it.

Use this skill sparingly.

That was certainly a difference. While parts of the description were very similar, there were changes that opened many questions. Cryptic skill descriptions were quite annoying, but Alan understood that skills and their expression often depended on the one wielding them, especially when it came to something like burrowing into the minds of the dead.

What intrigued him most was the change in the warnings. What would happen if he was ready and why was he supposed to not fear their anger anymore?

And what was that about a crusade at the start? He hadn’t embarked on any crusades.

One way to find out. Shadows only he could see swirled in his mind in join, and others caressed his skin as if his choice had been one of the more meaningful things he had done.

Congratulations! Your skill Remembrance (Epic) has advanced to Will of the Dead (Ancient).

Congratulations! You have met all conditions needed to proceed to the next tier.

Alan waited for more. He was sure there was bound to be an achievement in it for him, as a skill of such tier was not something just anyone could do. Unless of course… others had such skills. The girl who had sent him to the fractal had used a scroll, but… who’s to say that wasn’t a skill and just a consumable? He frowned.

“Well?” Isind asked from the side. The man was almost shaking from excitement and Alan’s stomach sank. He had forgotten about him for a moment there, and sharing his new skill, especially after it was affected by his heritage seemed… wrong. Dangerous even.

What do I do? I can’t lie. Can I skirt around the truth? Can I show him the first option I was given?

“I got the skill, but I’m from a newly integrated world,” Alan started carefully, avoiding the topic of sharing details. Isind didn’t react apart from smiling much wider than possible after Alan’s confirmation. He didn’t seem to care about the second part of his statement; most people seemed to have a way to tell when someone was clueless about things. Integration was a big deal as well, so it was bound to be a popular topic around the Realm. “I expected an achievement for the Ancient skill.”

Isind smiled even wider, “You’d have probably gotten one, barring that no one else or only a small group of others had achieved the same thing. However, I’ve given you help few can have access to. Even if one had unlimited access to corpses, having so many quality ones, especially of a higher tier is not something those from a new world could easily achieve. Plus, each skill is different and each title has different conditions. Now… are you satisfied?”

“Yes,” Alan said. There was a tense silence after that. Isind’s eyes bore into his like drills. I guess I have to give him something, especially if he won’t be asking for much in return. Alan tried to summon the description for [The Dead Remember] in his mind. He hadn’t done that before but surprisingly it worked after a few moments. Then he tried to share it.

Isind’s eyes instantly grew wide and he remained silent for a few moments before he jumped up and pulled Alan into a tight hug to the latter’s surprise. He hadn’t even registered the movement, much less had a chance of dodging.

“Amazing. This is one of the best skills I’ve seen! Oh, the possibilities! Endless, wonderful possibilities! Ah,” he suddenly grew serious, as if nothing remained of his joy. “You need to be careful! Wills can destroy your mind and leave you as nothing more than a drooling mess if you’re not careful. Do not try it with corpses or remains you think are much stronger, or at least do not try it without someone capable of assisting you nearby! Alright?”

“Sure,” I appreciate the worry, even if it’s only because you want to profit for me. “What now? Can I go?”

Isind froze. “But of course, you can go, our work is done. For now! Please, take this.” He handed Alan a piece of crystal akin to a card. “It’s a very popular artifact that allows for those without message skills to communicate. It lets you to connect into a sub-system that allows for quick and almost painless communication. A drop of mana will make it yours and yours alone. It probably won’t work properly until the protections of your newly integrated world fall, but using it near a System Pillar or a World Temple in your case should work. I’ll make it worth your while if… in the near or far future, you can assist me with your nifty skill.”

Alan nodded and took the thing, examining it with curiosity. Was that the Realm’s equivalent of a smartphone? “Of course. You’ve done more for me than I’ve asked for.”

“Do you want to try it before you go? See its effects?” Isind suggested with a shaky voice.

Alan hesitated. “I’m very drained and quite honestly, I’m afraid of what might happen. I want to advance to the next tier before experimenting like that.” It was all true. The warnings were enough to make him dread just trying out the skill for a simple reason, although Isind’s presence was a guarantee of safety in a way.

Isind seemed disappointed but nodded. “That’s for the best. Just promise you won’t die!”

Alan laughed, “I don’t plan on it, but who knows what will happen. Actually, do you think I can just… breakthrough here?”

“Oh, no. The Bazaar wouldn’t allow it. A tier-up is a very personal affair and sometimes it draws the attention of… undesirables. I doubt it will be an issue, but the Bazaar doesn’t allow it, even if it’s not explicitly stated. A shade would probably stop you before you got far either way.” Isind helpfully explained.

Pity. I wanted to return to Earth as a tier two. I wonder if Old Greyheart’s hut in the woods would be an alternative. It seemed removed from the Bazaar for a moment there, although the shade still found us.

“Alright then. I’ll look around some more, and then be on my way. Thank you for everything once again. Are you sure I can’t do anything for you right now?”

“Don’t mention it, see you and take care! Eat well and drink your medicine!” Isind said. Alan felt a shudder go down his back.

He quickly left, leaving the enthusiastic man waving at his back as if he were a wife sending her husband away. It was a strange sight, but the shifting paths of the Bazaar soon swallowed Alan and his thoughts quickly moved toward his upcoming tier up.

Would it be a monumental change? Or would it simply raise his attributes and change his class? After learning about patrons and what they entailed, he loathed the thought of remaining a [Warlock] for longer. It was not his path to be subservient to others like Bonez was.

His blood froze and he stopped in the middle of the road. Wasn’t his legacy just that? A Patron in the shape of a fragmented will that guided and helped him. Had he made a deal with the devil? Was [Will of the Dead] perhaps a way for the beautiful woman in his vision to… take his body and be reborn?

No. I can’t be that much of a fool and this can’t be that much of a coincidence. Can she read my thoughts?

The fear that washed over him made the shadows churn wildly around, but they did only that and nothing more. Reflecting his mood, and whispering their nothings. The dead. Remnants of a gone race he supposedly now represented.

The more he thought about it the worse he felt. I just have to make sure not to use [Will of the Dead] like that. Fuck, this might be my paranoia speaking. I thought I was doing better, but it's all coming back the closer I am to returning to Earth. I’ve been trusting people left and right, not that I had much choice. I trust the System but can it be trusted? At the very least my bloodline should be mine alone. I should focus on that, rather than getting more assistance from the Saiya’s legacy.

It all felt like a dream. He summoned the description of his title once again, reading carefully through it.

Title: Inheritor (hidden)

You are the chosen inheritor of Saiya, Witch of Smiling Carnage, Black Star, Butcher of the Golden Arc, and Throne Scourge. A piece of her will remains intact and will seldomly guide you through your journey, as you uncover her knowledge and power and make it your own.

You have a gift for magic which gives you +10% to the Magic attribute.

Your aura may contain a hidden hint of Her presence.

There was nothing worrying, apart from the mention of her presence and the titles that made her sound like a tyrant. It was much more than presence in Alan’s experience. Was there wool over my eyes? Is someone fucking with my mind again, or is it just me that’s blind? Fuck, I can’t even trust my own thoughts sometimes.

Could it simply be trauma left by Florence and his past life rearing its ugly head? Was it his fear of death or a result of all the changes he had gone through recently?

The more he thought about it the more Alan felt like the world was tightening around him, and the whispers of the shadows suddenly felt less comforting than they had been in the past. This was a first.

“What got you looking like a ghost, boy? You smell even worse than the last time,” an old voice suddenly spoke, assaulting his ears like a chainsaw.

Alan looked up. He was in front of Old Greyheart’s hut. The old man was sitting in his chair, looking like the first time they had met, as if time had stood frozen. Alan involuntarily smiled and his mind grew still, focusing on a single thought. Baba Yaga.

Once again, the thought of his grandmother swam up in his mind and the anxiety receded like seawater. I haven’t thought of her in a while. He felt a pang of guilt. All he thought of when he remembered pre-system Alan was how weak and pathetic, he had been.

I’m being paranoid. I’ve been losing sight of myself and who I am. It’s all a part of me, and I’ve lived long before the System came.

“You mute boy? Speak!” the decrepit old man barked with a slight smile. Pressure descended upon Alan, and even though he felt his bones creak, he smiled back.

“I can’t say it’s nice to see you, you old geezer, but I wouldn’t say no to a cup of tea if you’re offering. In fact, I might have some special herbs for you.”